

Business of Home Podcast
Business of Home, Dennis Scully
Business of Home's host Dennis Scully interviews thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives about the changes and challenges facing the interior design community.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 21, 2022 • 52min
Timothy Corrigan: "Designers are brands"
A fixture in the top tier of the international design scene since the late nineties, Timothy Corrigan has been on every magazine’s honor roll, won numerous awards, and is the only American to be recognized by the French Heritage Society for his work. His clients have included everyone from Madonna and David Schwimmer to the Qatari royal family—every month Tim makes a loop around the world to attend to a truly global clientele. On this episode of the podcast, he speaks with host Dennis Scully about why he likes to hire employees with first careers outside of design, how work life balance is overrated, and how transparency is the only way forward for the industry.This episode is sponsored by Amazon Ads and Universal FurnitureLINKSTimothy CorriganDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Nov 14, 2022 • 53min
Lori Weitzner: "Ask for what you want, not what you think is possible"
It’s difficult to sum up Lori Weitzner’s career quickly. From her partnership with fabric icon Jack Lenor Larsen to her longtime relationship with Samuel & Sons to her own wallcovering line to her jewelry to her book on color, she’s truly a multifaceted talent. On this episode of the podcast, she speaks with host Dennis Scully about learning to make the best of criticism and setbacks, her strong feelings on performance fabrics, and the future of shopping in the trade. This episode is sponsored by Amazon Ads and Universal FurnitureLINKSThe Bruno EffectDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Nov 7, 2022 • 49min
Is there room for another online antiques marketplace?
As the likes of 1stdibs and Chairish have embraced a transactional, click-to-buy model for buying and selling online, Carmine Bruno is going in the other direction. His site, The Bruno Effect, offers something of an old-school system—it simply connects dealers with shoppers, then gets out of the way. On this episode of the podcast, Bruno speaks with host Dennis Scully about the growing pains of entrepreneurship, why he thinks there’s room at the top for another online marketplace, and how the internet has changed the culture of the antiques business.This episode is sponsored by Amazon Ads and Universal FurnitureLINKSThe Bruno EffectDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Oct 31, 2022 • 44min
What happened at High Point Market?
Twice a year, thousands of designers and retail buyers descend on a small town in North Carolina for High Point Market. A trade show, a conference, a networking event, and at night a party — High Point is the home industry’s South by Southwest. The fall edition just wrapped, and to recap the event, this week on the podcast Business of Home’s editor-in-chief Kaitlin Petersen and retail columnist Warren Shoulberg join host Dennis Scully on the show. They discuss their Market highlights, why the supply chain crisis isn’t a hot topic anymore, and how the industry is reacting to the possibility of a recession.This episode is sponsored by Amazon Ads and Universal FurnitureLINKSHigh Point MarketKaitlin PetersenWarren ShoulbergDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Oct 24, 2022 • 55min
Beth Webb: "Too many designers discount themselves"
After starting her career in the art world, a chance encounter at a dinner party got Beth Webb into design, and she hasn’t looked back. With projects in top magazines, a book through Rizzoli and a licensed collection with Arteriors, she’s one of the South’s most notable talents. On this episode of the podcast, she speaks with host Dennis Scully about how she’s navigating runaway costs and neverending lead times, why HR is the toughest part of the design business, and why landing big clients takes a “try everything” approach. This episode is sponsored by Loloi Rugs and Modern Matter. LINKSBeth WebbDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Oct 17, 2022 • 1h 4min
Fortuny has had a wild century. Its owners are thinking about the next 100 years
With a 19th century inventor, a countess, and a tragic car crash, the story of Italian fabric brand Fortuny feels like an epic novel. Here, Mickey and Maury Riad—the brothers behind the company’s modern incarnation—share the tale of Fortuny’s first century, as well as their strategy for the next 100 years.They also tell host Dennis Scully what they learned from the shutdown of their startup Fuigo, how they’re thinking about a potential downturn, and why they believe—with the right technology—the design industry could do so much better. This episode is sponsored by Loloi Rugs and Modern Matter. LINKSFortunyDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Oct 10, 2022 • 50min
Jenni Kayne's CEO says the brand is just getting started in home
This week on the Business of Home Podcast, host Dennis Scully is joined by Julia Hunter, the CEO of the lifestyle brand Jenni Kayne. Founded in 2002 by Kayne herself, the company built its name in fashion, selling elevated basics in neutral tones. In 2017, Julia led the brand to explore textiles and eventually furniture—home is now a 20 million dollar business for Jenni Kayne. On the show, Hunter speaks about why influencer marketing has so much untapped potential in home, the reason she and her team bought and renovated a house, and why sticking to beige has worked so well for Jenni Kayne. This episode is sponsored by Loloi Rugs and Modern Matter. LINKSJenni KayneDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Oct 3, 2022 • 47min
Gabriel Hendifar of Apparatus is embracing the fantasy
Founded in 2012 as a lighting studio by then-partners Gabriel Hendifar and Jeremy Anderson, Apparatus has quickly become one the industry’s most talked-about brands. Dividing its collections into “acts” and staging elaborate events to celebrate their release, the company brings the spirit of immersive theater to the business of selling high-end lighting and furniture. In this episode of the podcast, Hendifar, artistic director of Apparatus, speaks with host Dennis Scully about what it means to put narrative first in design, why Apparatus’s parties are as important as their products, and why emerging from a split with his original partner has given him the confidence to dream even bigger.This episode is sponsored by Loloi Rugs and Modern Matter. LINKSApparatusDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Sep 26, 2022 • 53min
Suzanne Kasler on why the design business is better (and harder) than ever
A midwestern native trained in commercial design, Suzanne Kasler made two big pivots in the mid-1990s: she moved to Atlanta, and began working exclusively on residential projects. Both changes turned out to be prescient: She quickly became one of the south’s biggest names, and is now a nationally recognized designer, regularly earning a spot on the AD100 and Elle Decor’s A-List—not to mention a robust portfolio of product licenses with everyone from Hickory Chair to Visual Comfort to Ballard Design.On this episode of the podcast, she speaks with host Dennis Scully about why business is about more than just productivity, why she focuses on pricing transparency with clients, and how the logistical challenges of the pandemic have changed her firm forever.This episode is sponsored by CryptonLINKSSuzanne KaslerDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Sep 19, 2022 • 1h 1min
Billy Cotton tried to quit interior design. The universe had other ideas
From creating a line of tableware to design projects that landed him on the AD100, Billy Cotton’s career has seen him apply his talents to a wide range of pursuits. Recently, after a short stint as Ralph Lauren Home’s creative director, he’s returned to the role that keeps calling him back —interior designer. On this episode of the show, he speaks with host Dennis Scully about why he likes to hire former waiters for his firm, how perception doesn’t always match reality in the design industry, and why he’s always counted on hard work to get him through difficult times.This episode is sponsored by CryptonLINKSBilly CottonDennis ScullyBusiness of Home