Stay ConnectedGrandma’s Silver explores the culture of everyday life, from design and interiors to food, tradition, and the rituals that shape how we live.
Hosted by Allie Kochinsky, each episode features thoughtful, approachable conversations with designers, historians, and tastemakers, uncovering the meaning behind timeless style and enduring traditions.
New episodes every Wednesday.
Copyright: © Copyright Allie Kochinsky
Why do we collectively change our wardrobes the second the leaves turn? In this episode of Grandma's Silver, we explore the fascinating history, cultural rituals, and marketing machines behind the official "autumn dress code."
Every fall, we pack away our summer linens and reach for specific textures: plaid, flannel, tweed, wool, corduroy, and heavy cable-knit sweaters. But this seasonal wardrobe reset is about much more than dropping temperatures.
Joining host Allie Kochinsky to unpack the social meaning behind what we wear is acclaimed fashion historian and author Deirdre Clemente. Together, they trace the unexpected origins of your favorite everyday garments and explore how heritage style became a multi-billion-dollar seasonal industry.
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In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky steps into the crisp air of upstate New York to explore the rich history of the Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard. Built in 1856, this water-powered mill has survived centuries by blending historical preservation with the cozy rituals of the fall harvest.
Joining the conversation is second-generation owner Bill Michaels, who shares how his parents saved the abandoned structure in 1962 after falling in love with its lore. Bill pulls back the curtain on the multi-generational family legacy, the engineering behind their original 1889 water-hydraulic press, and why the act of gathering for fresh cider, mill-aged cheese, and applewood smoked traditions matters more than ever today.
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In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky is joined by Ric and Stephanie Barbatelli, co-owners of E. Braun & Co., the historic New York linen house whose roots trace back to Vienna in 1893. Together, they continue a legacy built on exceptional craftsmanship, timeless design, and the belief that everyday objects should be made to last.
The conversation explores the forgotten traditions surrounding household linens, from bedding to beautiful tables.
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In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky sits down with Marissa Geoffroy, Chief Creative Officer and third-generation leader of Sherle Wagner International, to explore the intersection of artistry, craftsmanship, and family legacy.
Sherle Wagner transformed kitchen and bath fixtures into high-quality works of art, proving that even the most functional objects in a home can be thoughtfully and beautifully designed and made. As both a fine artist and the steward of her family's American design house, Marissa shares how she balances honoring tradition while guiding the company into its next chapter.
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In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky is joined by Michael and Lucas Krauss, the father-and-son team behind Authentic Designs, a Vermont-based company that has handcrafted historically inspired lighting for more than sixty years.
As part of the podcast's collaboration with Colonial Williamsburg's WILLIAMSBURG brand, this episode explores how traditional lighting has shaped everyday life for generations, from welcoming guests at the front door to creating a gathering place around a table. Michael and Lucas share the story of their family-run business, the artistry behind handcrafted lighting, and how a collaboration with WILLIAMSBURG continue a tradition of American craftsmanship rooted in history.
Along the way, the group discusses why historic design feels relevant today and what it means to create products meant to last.
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Why do marching band uniforms trigger such fierce, lifelong nostalgia? Whether you marched in a halftime show decades ago or watched from the bleachers, the wool, buttons, and feather plumes of vintage uniforms hold a unique place in American material culture.
In this episode of Grandma's Silver, we explore the theatrical pageantry and stories stitched into the seams of marching band attire. To do this, we're "traveling" to Greenville, Illinois, to step inside the legendary DeMoulin Museum with founder and curator John Goldsmith.
DeMoulin Brothers & Co. is one of the oldest and most iconic uniform manufacturers in the United States. However, their corporate history has a surprisingly bizarre origin story rooted in creating eccentric secret society initiation pranks before the uniforms they're known for today.
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What does it mean to live the vacationing spirit? In this episode of Grandma's Silver, we explore the enduring allure of coastal design with acclaimed interior designer Krista Watterworth Alterman.
You've heard of coastal style. But true coastal living is about more than kitschy seaside decor; it's an architectural and cultural response to landscape, light, and heritage. Today, the aesthetic is shifting away from literal beach themes and moving toward a more disciplined expression of luxury.
Joining host Allie Kochinsky to break down this evolution is Krista Watterworth Alterman, the former HGTV host and Executive & Creative Director of Krista + Home, the luxury interior design division of Vesta. With over twenty years of experience designing legacy resort destinations and multi-million-dollar private residences across the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, Krista brings an understanding of how spaces can be simultaneously high-design and emotionally resonant.
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Can you design a community, or does community have to grow on its own?
When Disney developed Celebration, Florida in the 1990s, the vision extended beyond beautiful homes and charming streets. Inspired by traditional American town planning and New Urbanism, Celebration was created as a walkable community where architecture, public spaces, and everyday life might naturally foster stronger human connection.
In this episode of Grandma's Silver, we look beyond the headlines and nostalgia to explore what Celebration, Florida has become over the past three decades. Allie Kochinsky is joined by Kathleen Sipio, the Executive Director of the Celebration Foundation, to discuss how traditions take root when a town has no historic roots, why recurring community rituals matter, and what it takes to transform a neighborhood of strangers into a place where people genuinely feel they belong. We also explore the Foundation's work in strengthening community through arts, education, volunteerism, scholarships, and civic engagement.
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In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky sits down with interior designer Lindsey Walsh to explore how our homes evolve alongside the lives we build within them.
Before launching her New Jersey-based design firm, Lindsey traveled the world for her high-level marketing job, experiencing architecture, interiors, and traditions across Asia, Europe, and South America. Today, she brings those influences together with an appreciation for classic design to create personal, welcoming, and enduring spaces.
The conversation goes beyond decor. Lindsey shares how travel shapes perspective, why meaningful homes are collected, and how developing your own sense of style is less about trend than careful attention.
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In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky sits down with Matthew Monk, the Linda Eaton Curator of Textiles at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, to explore the remarkable stories stitched into historic textiles.
Using Winterthur's exhibition Stitched in Place as their starting point, they discuss how needlwork projects preserve craftsmanship, but also reveal all sorts of things about identity, belonging, and family history.
Matthew shares how curators and historians "read" textiles as primary sources, the clues hidden in stitches and motifs, and why handmade objects continue to resonate in today's digital world.
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