Business of Home Podcast

Calling Ken Fulk an “interior designer” doesn’t do him justice—Fulk’s San Francisco firm does everything from weekly floral arrangements to branding to planning extravagant events, complete with costumes, fireworks and mariachi bands.  For the right client, he’ll even design a wedding—famously, he created a theatrical fairy-tale experience for early Facebook president Sean Parker. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Fulk speaks with host Dennis Scully about what silicon valley moguls want from interior design, why he’s been taking ownership stakes in his projects, and what lessons he’s learning from the era of social distancing. This episode is sponsored by Dedon and High Point Market.

It was already a tough time for magazines and digital publications—now, with advertisers on the run, and new challenges, like socially distanced photoshoots, it’s even tougher. But editors and publishers are finding ways to tackle the problems of the moment,  and with their fingers on the pulse of the industry, they know better than anyone what matters most right now. In conversations with Apartment Therapy’s Maxwell Ryan, Domino’s Tracy Cho, and Luxe’s Pamela Jaccarino, host Dennis Scully takes a look at how the design media is coping with COVID-19. This episode is sponsored by DEDON and High Point Market.

You may not know Geoff Hawkes by name, but you know his furniture. For almost two decades, his manufacturing company, Rochdale Spears, has combined high-end craftsmanship with production at scale, making collections for retailers like RH, Anthropologie, and Williams Sonoma—as well as luxury hotels, and the company’s own line, Sonder Living. In this episode of the podcast, Hawkes speaks with host Dennis Scully about everything from how RH became such a phenomenon to what the coronavirus will mean for the design industry. This episode is sponsored by DEDON and Industry West.

Debbie Propst joined the furnishings giant Herman Miller as president of retail this January, after seven years at One Kings Lane—within a matter of weeks, her roadmap for the company hit an unexpected snag. But Debbie’s team has been pivoting to address the disruption of the coronavirus, fast-tracking digital efforts and looking for opportunities amidst the uncertainty. On this episode of the podcast, she speaks with host Dennis Scully about her time at One Kings Lane; the past and future of retail; and what it’s like to start a new leadership role in the midst of a crisis. This episode is sponsored by DEDON and Industry West. 

Andrew’s Kotchen’s design and architecture firm, Workshop/APD, has always taken a creative and thoughtful approach to business—and a pandemic is no exception. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Kotchen speaks with host Dennis Scully about how the crisis has changed his preconceived notions about company culture, what lessons he learned from the 2008 recession, and what opportunities might emerge from this uncertain time. This episode was sponsored by Rebecca Atwood Designs and Universal Furniture.

As COVID-19 continues to spread, stay-at-home orders, disrupted supply chains and a rattled marketplace all present unique challenges for the companies that produce our industry’s finest products. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks to a range of leaders to hear how they’re tackling the difficulties of this unprecedented time: Jonathan Glatt of handmade furniture company O&G studio, Sara Fritsch of lighting and lifestyle brand Schoolhouse and Andrew Crone of North Carolina furniture maker Chaddock. This episode was sponsored by Universal Furniture and Rebecca Atwood Designs.  

It’s too soon to say precisely what the economic fallout from COVID-19 will be, but many in the design industry are preparing for a challenging time. This week on the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks with two people who made it through the 2008 downturn to get some perspective on what may lie ahead. First, interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins shares the story about how he started his firm in the midst of that financial crisis. Then, financial advisor Jared Miller discusses how he helped top design firms survive the era. This episode is sponsored by Rebecca Atwood Designs and Universal Furniture. 

Kyle Bunting began his decorative hide rug business in 2001, and the product took the market by storm—soon his inventive creations were in showhouses, magazines and the best showrooms across the country. But recently Kyle made the decision to pull out of all representation and sell direct to designers. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, he chats with host Dennis Scully about the story behind his unique company, and talked about the opportunities—and challenges—of going independent. This episode is sponsored by Rebecca Atwood Designs and Universal Furniture.

Raised in France, educated in England, and currently based in Los Angeles, interior designer Peter Dunham has had a charmed life and career—to chat with him is to take a rollicking tour from the grit and glamour of 1970s New York, to early career advice from David Hicks, to a showhouse kitchen that led to nabbing Jennifer Garner as a client. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, he speaks with host Dennis Scully about his renowned shop, Hollywood at Home; what effect Restoration Hardware has had on American taste, and why, despite these troubling times, he’s staying optimistic. This episode is sponsored by Henrybuilt and Buildlane. 

The spread of COVID-19 has created no small amount of uncertainty in the world, and the design community is no exception. On today’s episode of the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks to leaders in the design industry to find out how they plan to navigate the choppy waters, and what we can expect once we’re in the clear. This episode was sponsored by Buildlane and Henrybuilt.