Business of Home Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Thursday Show: What happened at High Point? Plus: Why Williams-Sonoma is suing Dupe.com Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the industry, including Design Manager’s new acquisitions, why Williams Sonoma is suing Dupe.com, and Amazon’s rumored $20 sofa. Later, BOH editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen joins the show to recap High Point Market.

This episode is sponsored by Kohler and Klafs

LINKS
High Point Market
Business of Home

Susana Simonpietri of Chango wants to break the cycle of toxic workplaces Oct 28, 2024

Show notes

After an artistic childhood in San Juan, Puerto Rico, interior designer Susana Simonpietri’s early studies took her to Europe and then New York, where she went on to work for some of the industry’s biggest names. Since going out on her own in the wake of the great recession, Simonpietri has built up a team of 30, published her work widely in top shelter magazines, and brought a warm, thoughtfully edited approach to projects across the country

On this episode of the podcast, Simonpietri speaks with host Dennis Scully about how past experiences have taught her to screen clients carefully, how she learned to hire and work with the next generation of designers, and why she’s determined to break the industry cycle of toxic workplaces.

This episode is sponsored by Four Hands and Surya
LINKS
Chango
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

The Thursday Show: Is design media too celebrity-obsessed? Plus: The Ticking Tent heads to Brooklyn Oct 24, 2024

Show notes

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the industry, including more fallout from Hurricane Helene, a renovation boom and what a controversial celebrity home tour says about the state of design media. Later, Christina Juarez and Ben Reynaert share the story of their shoppable event, The Ticking Tent.

This episode is sponsored by Loloi and Isla Porter
LINKS
The Thursday Show live at High Point Market
The Ticking Tent
Business of Home

Ruggable's 'overnight success' was a decade in the making Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

In recent years, Ruggable’s machine washable rugs have become a bona fide hit product, but the company is anything but an overnight success. Founder Jeneva Bell’s story is an agonizing tale of false starts, setbacks and roadblocks—it took almost a decade of effort to get Ruggable off the ground. Today the company employs hundreds across three factories, and drops regular collaborations with top designers like Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Jonathan Adler and Justina Blakeney.

On this episode of the podcast Bell tells host Dennis Scully about how she found the resilience to get through hard times, why reading memoirs beats looking at social media, and why there’s more to success than just hard work.

This episode is sponsored by Four Hands and Surya
LINKS
Ruggable
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

The Thursday Show: Banana Republic quits furniture, Havenly makes a buy. Plus: The state of play in home retail Oct 17, 2024

Show notes

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the industry, including Havenly’s newest acquisition, Banana Republic’s exit from furniture, and why Hearst’s AI deal is drawing backlash. Later, columnist Warren Shoulberg joins the show to break down the state of play in home retail.

This episode is sponsored by Loloi and Isla Porter
LINKS
The Thursday Show live at High Point Market
Warren Shoulberg
Business of Home

Mark D. Sikes's muse is America Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

Mark D. Sikes came to design as a second career after decades in retail, but he’s made up for lost time. In just over ten years, he’s released three best-selling books, earned a spot on the AD100, and worked for high-profile clients like Reese Witherspoon, Nancy Meyers and Dr. Jill Biden. More recently, Sikes brought his take on classic American style to Blair House, redesigning an iconic Washington residence used to host heads of state: its guest list includes everyone from Winston Churchill to Justin Trudeau.

On this episode of the podcast, Sikes speaks to host Dennis Scully about why consistency has been the key to his success, the surprising strategy that helped his books take off, and why his muse is America.

This episode is sponsored by Four Hands and Surya
LINKS
Mark D. Sikes
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

The Thursday Show: East Fork's Alex Matisse on rebuilding after Helene. Plus: Will a wave of silicosis lawsuits upend the engineered stone industry? Oct 10, 2024

Show notes

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the industry, including a quick end to the dockworkers strike, the shuttering of an online antiques site, and a look at whether a wave of silicosis lawsuits will upend the world of engineered stone. Later, East Fork CEO Alex Matisse joins the show to talk about Helene's impact and what comes next for North Carolina.

This episode is sponsored by Loloi and Isla Porter

HELENE RELIEF
Red Cross of North Carolina
BeLoved Asheville

LINKS
East Fork
Business of Home

From coronations to red telephone booths, Watts 1874 is a textile brand intertwined with British history Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

Watts dates back to the late 19th century, when three architects banded together to start a company that made fabrics and decor for both the church and residential use. Over the course of the next 150 years, Watts’ history would be intertwined with Britain’s—it produced garments worn during the coronations of Edward VII, Elizabeth II and Charles III. Today, it’s also a modern fabric and wallcoverings brand, sold to designers all over the world.

On this episode of the podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks to Watts’ creative director Fiona Flint and its managing director Marie Severine de Caraman Chimay (better known as “MS”) about how the company has survived a century and a half by staying nimble, the ups and downs of doing business in America, and how they walk the line between celebrating their history and looking to the future.

This episode is sponsored by Four Hands and Surya
LINKS
Watts 1874
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

The Thursday Show: Helene hits North Carolina and dockworkers strike. Plus: Nasozi Kakembo's African decor edit Oct 03, 2024

Show notes

BOH executive editor Fred Nicolaus and host Dennis Scully discuss the biggest news in the industry, including this week’s port strike, why Zillow is highlighting climate risks, and Hurricane Helene’s impact on the design community. Later, designer and author Nasozi Kakembo joins the show to talk about her book on African decor.

This episode is sponsored by Loloi and Isla Porter

HELENE RELIEF
Red Cross of North Carolina
BeLoved Asheville

LINKS
Nasozi Kakembo
Business of Home

Peter Sallick on Waterworks' next chapter, and the biggest challenge the design trade faces today Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

Started as a shop for bathroom hardware in the 1970s, Waterworks has grown over the decades into a $200 million kitchen and bath company with national scale. Eight years after being acquired by RH, more growth is on the horizon: RH CEO Gary Friedman has said Waterworks could one day be a billion-dollar brand.

On this episode of the podcast, CEO Peter Sallick talks with host Dennis Scully about what he’s learned from Friedman, finding the balance between art and engineering, and why the biggest challenge trade brands face is simply letting consumers know they exist.

This episode is sponsored by Loloi, Crypton and Rowe
LINKS
Waterworks
Dennis Scully
Business of Home