Business of Home Podcast

Though David Kleinberg came from humble beginnings in suburban Long Island, an early interest in interiors and a chance encounter with decorators Robert Denning and Vincent Fourcade soon sent him on a journey alongside the most influential names in the New York interior design world. Kleinberg went on to work for renowned designers Albert Hadley and Sister Parish, spending 16 years at the pair’s firm before departing to build an institution of his own. Since founding David Kleinberg Design Associates in 1997, he’s used his insider knowledge of the industry as a foundation for a business that’s willing to adapt to changing client behavior.This episode is sponsored by The House of Rohl and the Future of Home conference. LINKSDavid KleinbergDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

When Paige Cleveland, Brook Perdigon and Alexis Hartman began meeting for coffee in the early days of the pandemic, they didn’t realize that their casual conversations would evolve into a new model for navigating the industry. The trio of textile designers are putting their ideas to the test with the California Collective—a unique partnership in which they pool business expertise and resources to sell directly to designers in their home state. In this episode of the podcast, the group tells host Dennis Scully about pulling their products out of California showrooms, their early experiences with the new model, and how a more transparent industry could be best-suited to evolving client expectations. This episode was sponsored by The House of Rohl and The Future of Home conference.LINKSBrook PerdigonRule of ThreeLake AugustCalifornia CollectiveDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

1stDibs has come a long way from its origins as an online marketplace for antique dealers—the platform now offers everything from jewelry to art to contemporary design. In recent years, the company also shifted business models to a direct e-commerce approach. That change may have ruffled a few feathers, but it set the stage for 1stDibs to go public, another big step in scaling up. On this episode of the podcast, 1stDibs CEO David Rosenblatt speaks with host Dennis Scully about the new visibility that came with last month’s IPO, why the industry’s future is online—and what that means for designers and the way they charge.This episode is sponsored by The House of Rohl and the Future of Home conference.LINKS1stdibs1stdibs files to go publicDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Marc Szafran is the president of Holly Hunt. Szafran took on the role in a strange moment—just weeks before the pandemic turned the world on its head. Now, as life returns to normal, he’s steering the iconic company through a busy time, with a massive new showroom in LA, and a big push on e-commerce in the works. On this episode of the show, Szafran tells host Dennis Scully about his past experience running business operations for Thom Filicia and Michael S. Smith, why Holly Hunt won’t be exploring retail, and what it’s like to take over for a legend of the industry.This episode is sponsored by House of Rohl and Future of HomeLINKSHolly HuntDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Jiun Ho's life story has been an incredible journey—one that took him all the way from Kuala Lumpur to Ames Iowa. Today he oversees a thriving interior design business in San Francisco, as well as a line of furniture, lighting and textiles carried in top showrooms around the world—including a few of his own. On this episode of the podcast he speaks with host Dennis Scully about how he learned to stop listening to the market and trust his own vision, what’s got to change about multiline showrooms, and how he earned the nickname “Mr. Overachiever.”This episode is sponsored by Atlanta Market and House of Rohl.LINKSJiun HoJiun Ho: Experience (Pointed Leaf Press)Dennis ScullyBusiness of Home

www.businessofhome.comA veteran of the trade and a master of her craft, Janice Parker has crafted exquisite landscapes for countless high-profile residential projects and won dozens of awards for her work. If you flip open a glossy design magazine and see beautiful rolling lawns, charming stone paths and a colorful garden, there’s a good chance she had something to do with it. On this episode of the podcast, Parker speaks with host Dennis Scully about the red hot market for exotic trees, how climate change is directly affecting her work, and whether our pandemic-inspired obsession with outdoor living will last. This episode is sponsored by Atlanta Market and The House of RohlLINKSJanice ParkerDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Founded in 2011, the Black Interior Designers Network provides support, mentorship and advocacy for black designers in the industry. In this episode of the podcast host Dennis Scully speaks to BIDN president Keia McSwain, an interior designer based out of Denver, Colorado; and BIDN chief development officer Kia Weatherspoon, whose Washington, D.C. firm Determined by Design brings a high-end aesthetic to affordable housing projects.They discuss what has and hasn’t changed since the racial reckoning of last summer, bringing beautiful design to every income bracket, and pushing for progress in an industry that’s slow to change.  This episode was sponsored by Atlanta Market and The House of Rohl.LINKSBIDNKeia McSwainKia WeatherspoonThe Iconic HomeDennis ScullyBusiness of Home 

A unique challenge of the digital age: As more and more product is sold online, it’s easier and easier for designers' clients to shop around, cutting them out of the equation. Entrepreneurs Lynsey Humphrey and Chad Smith want to fight back against that with an online platform called Sidedoor. In the process, they're looking to help old school trade brands compete in a new era.  In this episode of the podcast, Humphrey and Smith speak to host Dennis Scully about the enormous task of gathering data, why they don’t do returns, and the stark choices facing the design industry as the world goes online. This episode is sponsored by Atlanta Market and RohlLINKSSidedoorDennis ScullyBusiness of Home

Justina Blakeney is a designer, author, artist, and creator of Jungalow—a lifestyle brand that celebrates bright colors, lively patterns, and indoor greenery in abundance. Jungalow’s success has catapulted Justina to design-world fame, leading to licensing partnerships with everyone from Loloi Rugs and Fabricut to Target and Anthropologie—not to mention a handful of bestselling books. In this episode of the podcast she chats with host Dennis Scully about harnessing the incredible power of social media, the difference between being an artist and a designer, and how a winding career path took her to just the right place.This episode is sponsored by Crypton and Room & Board.LINKSJustina BlakeneyJungalowDennis Scully Business of Home

A hundred-year-old company with plenty of heritage under its belt, Poltrona Frau took English furniture and gave it an Italian twist. Now the company is a European institution, known for its fine leatherwork—and for supplying interiors to Italy’s iconic sports car makers like Ferrari and Maserati. Over here in the states, Poltrona Frau is a little less well-known, but CEO Nicola Coropulis wants to change that.  On this episode of the podcast he tells host Dennis Scully about how his company is tapping into a growing appetite for interior design in China, the mistake it made when it first came to America, and what it’s like to look at the market with Italian glasses on.  This episode is sponsored by Crypton and Room & BoardLINKSPoltrona FrauThe Vanity Fair chairDennis ScullyBusiness of Home