Business of Home Podcast

Thomas Lavin—founder of the Los Angeles multiline showroom that bears his name—got his start working in another showroom, Kneedler Fauchere, where he honed his aesthetic and developed a keen instinct for sales. In 2000 he went out on his own, and over the past two decades has built a thriving business representing some of the finest brands in the industry. In this episode of the podcast, Lavin talks with host Dennis Scully about the pressures on the multiline model, how he’s teaching the next generation of designers to sell to their clients, and whether industry pricing should be more transparent.This episode is sponsored by The Bruno Effect and Ben Soleimani Take our first ever listener survey and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a free BOH Insider membership!

Bew White started Summer Classics in the late 70s, almost by chance. After coming across a tag in a shop with the words “Summer Classics' ' written on it, the phrase struck a chord, and he dreamt up a company. Today, along with its sister indoor brand Gabby and growing accessories line Wendy Jane, Summer Classics has become a powerhouse of the industry. The story of the company’s growth is full of ups, downs, twists and turns—it’s a journey White recounts in a memoir he published this summer.In the latest episode of the podcast, he discusses some incredible tales from his book. He also explains why the industry’s lead time crisis isn’t over yet, how RH was able to get so big so fast, and why pivoting to working with designers helped save Summer Classics from the great recession. This episode is sponsored by The Bruno Effect and Ben Soleimani LINKSBew White's memoir "A Summer Classic"Summer ClassicsGabbyDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Brian McCarthy began his career with a bang—right out of design school he was hired on at the legendary firm Parish Hadley, where he worked alongside future luminaries of the profession like Bunny Williams and David Kleinberg. When he left in 1992, it was the beginning of a sparkling solo career: McCarthy’s inspired interiors have won him a spot on the Elle Decor A-List and the AD100, and in 2020 he received the Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement award from the New York School of Interior Design—an accolade fittingly named for his first mentor.  In this episode of the podcast, he speaks with host Dennis Scully about what it was like to start his career at the best firm in the world, how he vets clients, and the secret to building a great design team. This episode is sponsored by Crypton Home Fabrics and Hooker Furniture. LINKSBrian McCarthyDennis ScullyBusiness of Home 

A celebrated interior designer whose work has graced the cover of countless shelter publications, Victoria Hagan, who is often described as the reigning queen of restrained elegance, is one of the defining talents of her generation. On this episode of podcast, she speaks with host Dennis Scully about what she’s learned from working on projects during COVID, why the business is getting faster, and the no-nonsense advice she gives people who are considering a career in design.This episode is sponsored by Crypton Home Fabrics and Hooker Furniture. LINKSVictoria HaganDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Editorial coverage of design wasn’t always meant for the masses—that is, until reporters like Suzanne Slesin started writing about it. Beginning in the late 1970’s, Slesin helped usher in a new era at publications like New York Magazine and the New York Times home section, where she wrote some of the first service pieces and examined the greater cultural impact of interiors. From the top seat at popular titles like HomeStyle and House & Garden and most recently as publisher and founder of Pointed Leaf Press, she’s watched the rise and fall of influential design movements with a keen eye and a front-row seat. This episode is sponsored by Crypton Home Fabrics and Hooker Furniture. LINKSPointed Leaf PressDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

A little more than a decade ago, the world of digital printing was a different place, dominated by manufacturers and largely devoid of artists and designers. In 2007, Mariam Naficy set out to change that, founding Minted as a stationery company that would use emerging tech to promote the work of independent artists and designers. Nearly 15 years later, the company continues to stay ahead of the curve through its crowdsourced design competitions—giving consumers a hand in what’s sold on the site while simultaneously offering an early glimpse into rising trends.This episode is sponsored by Crypton Home Fabrics and Hooker Furniture. LINKSMintedDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

John Danzer, the founder of exterior furniture brand Munder Skiles, has always approached his work with an academic rigor—he spent years researching and lecturing on the history of garden furniture before making a single piece. Now, he produces a full collection, and does his own outdoor design work for clients on the side. On this episode of the podcast, Danzer speaks with host Dennis Scully about the surprising history of teak, taking design inspiration from Thomas Jefferson, and the speech that made him drop everything, switch careers and follow his passion.  This episode is sponsored by SideDoor and Moore & Giles. LINKSMunder SkilesDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Tom Kligerman is a co-founder of the award-winning architectural firm Ike Kligerman Barkley. His work, often on shingle style homes, has been featured in countless publications—including a 26 year run on Architectural Digest’s AD100 list. On this episode of show, he speaks with host Dennis Scully about the pros and cons of being known for a particular design style, how he experiments with client presentations, and how even prestigious architects land clients on Instagram.This episode is sponsored by SideDoor and Moore & Giles Leather.LINKSTom KligermanIke Kligerman BarkleyDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Jay and Schuylar Sweet are the father and son duo at the helm of Boyd Lighting. Their story begins a century ago when Jay’s grandfather founded the business after witnessing one of the earliest commercial lighting expositions. Boyd began as a custom lighting business working with architects in the SF Bay Area. The company has evolved as Jay suggested moving into a product line operation. And now Skylar’s startup sensibilities are coming to the fore. On this episode of the podcast, host Dennis Scully spoke with Jay and Schuylar about the moves that put their company on the map, how they got smart about designer collaborations, and what it means to lead a century old company into the next 100 years.   This podcast is sponsored by SideDoor and Moore & GilesLINKSBoyd LightingDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Timur Yumusaklar joined F. Schumacher and Co. in 2015, when the company still consisted of its heritage fabric and rug brands. He quickly set to work bringing the 131-year-old business up to date, developing the designer membership community Freddie, acquiring Los Angeles–based paint brand Backdrop and transforming the company’s newspaper into the glossy Frederic. In this episode of the podcast, Yumusaklar tells host Dennis Scully about his efforts to usher Schumacher—and the industry at large—into a brighter future.   This episode is sponsored by Moore & Giles and SideDoor