Interior Design with Kandrac and Kole

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Your Design Dilemmas Mar 18, 2020

Show notes

This Episode is Sponsored by Helser Brothers Hardware.

Helser brothers are a fully custom manufacturer of drapery hardware. It is run by Brothers Jay and Mark. Jay was an expert independent drapery installer and designs new products that are install friendly and engineered for strength and Mark, a talented metal worker with a mind of an engineer, has been regarded as a mechanical genius by all who know him.

Helser has an outstanding reputation and has been in business for 24 years. Their customer service agents known as "The Rod Squad" include retired interior designers and drapery workroom owners with decades of experience.

They can customize anything and any order over $100 is shipped free. You can see their products at helserbrothers.com or find them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Listen to our interview with Jay Helser on Episode 71.

In this episode: Question #1: Ming from woodland hills, CA"I've always liked crown moldings and would like them in my house but my ceilings are only 7-1/2' high. Would crown moldings only make the ceiling feel lower?" Question #2: Poppy from Chicago, IL "How much art is too much art in a room when you're filling walls? What are your go to alternatives to art when you already have a lot of art in one room but still have blank wall space?" Question #3: Tyler from Nashville, TN "What are the rules about mixing furniture wood colors/styles in one space?" Question #4: Tracy (Interior DesigneR) from Richmond, VA "What would be the most important thing you can do as a newbie to set yourself up for success and your best advice to someone just starting out in the interior design business?" Question #5: Justine from Sanfranciso, CA "How do I spruce up a rental? What is the best investment furniture pieces when you don't know how long you'll be there? With the economy unstable right now, what is the best way to make the most of your spaces with less?" Question #6: Lauren from Alpharetta, GA "How do you deal with PTSD from a remodel gone bad? I had a very bad experience with a renovation of my Master Bath. I am now wanting to do some renovations to my kitchen but am paralyzed for fear of another problem. What is your suggestion on how to overcome this?" Question #7: Roberta from St. Louis, Missouri "What greenery or faux décor should I put in my outside window boxes in the winter?"

Guest Brownlee Currey Mar 04, 2020

Show notes

1. Intro

Today we are super excited to sit down and chat with long-time friend and CEO of the infamous lighting brand Currey & Co. Brownlee Currey. Currey & Company (https://curreyandcompany.com) is a wholesale manufacturer of not only lighting but furniture and accent pieces as well. Their innovative furnishings can be found around the world in residential, contract and hospitality spaces. Celebrating their 32nd year in business, we've got lots to chat about with Brownlee.

This podcast is sponsored by the one and only https://curreyandcompany.com.

2. Welcome Brownlee!

A little background – I never realized that your Mom and Dad, Susan and Robert actually started the company back in 1988 as a purveyor of historic garden furnishings. Which actually makes perfect sense since we've been to their beautiful home in Sparta and walked thru the gardens. How did the business expand to lighting and furnishings and where did you jump in?

3. Your Travels

Currey is headquartered in Atlanta but employs approx. 550 people throughout the U.S., the Philippines, China and India. We live vicariously thru you watching all of your unique travels on Facebook. Tell us about visiting your factories and what you do when you are there.

Currey has quite a special menu of benefits you offer your employees – tell us about how you invest in your people.

4. Your Hobby – Bonsai

If you are a designer and have visiting a Currey showroom especially at High Point, you will notice a beautiful and unique collection of Bonsai trees in all different shapes and sizes around the showroom. I've never appreciated Bonsai trees until I saw how beautiful they are in your showroom. Tell us a little bit more about this passion of yours.

5. The Future

Besides your incredible 16,000 sq. ft. showroom in Highpoint and your newly renovated showrooms in Dallas and Las Vegas, what else is coming down the pike for Currey?

As a manufacturer and importer, what are your thoughts on the corona virus as well as tarrifs?

Sunshine on a Ranney Day Non-Profit Feb 19, 2020

Show notes

We are happy to introduce our guests this morning Peter and Holly Ranney. They are the founders of "Sunshine on a Ranney Day" which is a non-profit organization that renovates homes for children with special needs here in Atlanta. Through partnerships and donors, they provide, at no cost, wheelchair accessible bathrooms, dream bedrooms and in-home therapy rooms.

A. The history:

1. When was it founded?

2. What inspired them to create this?

B. How does it run?

1. Board members

2. General contractors

3. Interior Designers

4. Volunteers

C. How are kids chosen?

a. Application Process – posted twice per year

D. Partners: To name a few, Rooms to Go, Cambria, Delta, The Braves, California Closets, as well as Media Partners, WSB, I Heart Media and Non-Profit partners, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Make a Wish Georgia and Camp Twin Lakes. Please see the website for the entire list.

1. Tell us about some of the projects

2. What was the most memorable project?

3. Do you plan to expand outside of the Atlanta area?

4. How can people get involved?

Guest Shelly Rosenberg on Designing for Families Living with Special Needs and Disability Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

Shelly Rosenberg has been a luxury interior designer in Dallas for 20 years. As a mother of 3 children with learning differences and special needs, she has dedicated her profession to creating and designing adaptive spaces towards what she calls the "differently abled". We met Shelly several years ago at an interior design industry design event. She has joined us on several trips to Guatemala helping us build homes and support orphanages there.

We are so proud of Shelly and all that she has been through in her life and what she has accomplished. We are honored to have her as a guest so she can share with you what Acorn and Oak is all about and the products she has created that enhance the lives of the special needs community.

Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole – You Won't Believe What We Are Working On Jan 22, 2020

Show notes

1. Intro

We get a lot of resumes from wanna be interns as well as inquiries from kind people saying they'd love to work for us. To be honest, they don't teach these kids in school the real-world stuff. I guess that's what internships are for. Since people are always curious about what we are busy doing, we thought we'd share what we are up to as 2020 unfolds. You might not believe it…

Project #1 – Multi Family Leasing Center in Buckhead, Atlanta – beginning after a 9 month stall

Project #2 – Multi Family Leasing Center Expansion in Buckhead – collaborative stages

Project #3 – Multi Family Luxury Apartment communities – 22 floors of elevator lobbies

Project #4 – Multi Family Luxury Apartment – Model, Leasing Center, Roof Top Amenity Space

Project #5 – New build/new move in on a budget

Project #6 – Recently completed kitchen renovation getting ready for photography

Project #7 – Recently completed party barn getting ready for photography

Project #8 – Family Room/Kitchen/Living Room getting ready for install

Project #9 – Multi Family Clubhouse needing to be designed

Project #10 – Designing new collateral based on our launch and rebrand

Project #11 – Ambassadors for Spotlight on Art

Project #12 – Highpoint Market Insider Tour Guides

Project #13 – Preparing for Guatemala

Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole – Guest Jay Helser of Helser Brothers Hardware Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

Intro:

We are excited to have Jay Helser as our guest today. We were very honored that Helser Brothers was our very first "podcast sponsor". It's so nice to do business with nice people who not only have a lot of pride in their company but do so many things right!

1. A Bit About Helser

1. Fully custom manufacturer of drapery hardware sold to the trade
  1. Their customer service agents (called the "Rod Squad") are trained to help designers and drapery workrooms work out solutions to difficult window configurations. They are "retired" interior designers and drapery workroom owners with many decades of experience.
2. They have an outstanding reputation
3. Any order over $100 is shipped free
4. Equipped with vintage tools to produce hand forged wrought iron hardware and modern tools to produce contemporary hardware
5. 24 years in business. Started with his brother Mark when they were in their mid 20's
Tell us about the "early days"
1. Your background
2. The "doorbell" story ☺
3. Your family
HELSER BROTHERS today
1. How many employees do you have?
2. What is the size of your office/operation?
3. What challenges do you face?
4. What are the biggest changes in the industry that you've seen in your 24 years in business?
5. What are you most proud of?
6. What is the future of Helser Brothers?

A Branding Conversation with Phil Phalen – Part 2 Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

This podcast is sponsored by dowel furniture - https://www.dowelfurniturecompany.com

1. INTRO

If you missed our VERY engaging and worthwhile Episode 67 podcast you might want to rewind before listening today. We had so much fun spending time with brand strategist and world-wide speaker Phil Phalen that we quickly invited him back for Round 2.

2. A LITTLE BACKGROUND

We have worked with Phil in a variety of ways – group coaching, a brand audit, fun in Vegas, as a podcast guest and sponsor and so much more. We are huge fans of his skill set and really believe that everybody needs a PHIL in their rolodex of important people. WELCOME PHIL!

3. EVERYTHING MATTERS

On your website, philpallen.co, you discuss your point of view on the importance of Photography, Establishing a Brand Identity, Brand Strategy and Website design.

Can you break down each one of these and give us your thoughts on why they are so crucial to creating a successful brand?

4. AUXILARY CONTENT

As Kandrac & Kole has multiple design service options, a podcast and a blog, you too have a variety of content available to your audience from a blog, to a podcast to E-books & worksheets. Do you recommend this for everybody?

5. KEEP IN TOUCH

Phil – what is the best way for people to get in touch with you to keep the conversation going? https://www.philpallen.co

Color Forecast 2020 with Guest Sue Wadden - Sherwin Williams Director of Color Marketing Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

Intro – We are thrilled that Sue Wadden, the Director of Color Marketing for Sherwin Williams, agreed to join us again, this time to discuss the Colormix 2020.
1. Discusses her working career and how she landed at Sherwin Williams and became Director of Color Marketing
Sue Wadden's background:
1. Mantra
2. Heart
3. Alive
4. Play
5. Haven
Colormix Forecast 2020 – What it is, how the collection was built and why these palettes speak about wellness and nurturing.
1. Who participates?
2. Who makes up the team, how many and their background?
3. How long it takes to build these palettes
4. 45 colors
5. Sue's favorite
6. Other than interior designers and the general public, who uses this information?
process
1. Why this color was selected
color of the year - Naval SW6244
More Details - You can go to http://wwww.sherwinwilliams.com to see videos of the 5 color themes.

High Point Market October 2019 Design Trends Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

1. INTRO We weren't able to make it to the October High Point Furniture Market show because we had just returned from our adventures at the Roundtop Antiques Fair and had to get down to business. Good thing we have lots of talented and knowledgeable designer buddies who would fill us in on the latest and greatest trends. We asked them to call in and give us their top finds so that we could share them with you.

2. BACKGROUND ON HIGH POINT MARKET You probably all know this but in case you are new to the design world, here's the scoop of what the High Point Furniture Market is. The High Point Market held in High Point, North Carolina, is the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world, with over 10 million square feet and roughly 2000 exhibitors throughout about 180 buildings. It is put on semi-annually and it's a must destination to be "in the know".

3. DESIGNERS A. Lisa Peck, Lilu Interiors, Minneapolis, MN - www.liluinteriors.com i. Color lovers ii. Organic in modern forms iii. Seventies influence

B. Michele Plachter, Michele Plachter Design, Philadelphia, PA - https://micheleplachter.com i. Curves ii. Color iii. Competitive Pricing

C. Leslie Carothers – the Kaleidoscope Project and Savour Partnership, Houston, TX i. Pop and Slogan Art ii. Color iii. Curves iv. Textures – nubbly

D. Patti Johnson – Patti Johnson Interiors, Lebanon, OH - https://pattijohnsoninteriors.com i. Moving away from grey – lighter and fresher ii. Use of white upholstery iii. Use of blue – away from navy and towards royal, teal and baby blue iv. Return of glam – away from industrial and rustic and more high end looks v. Marriage of stone with case goods – natural and man-made being mixed

E. Ginger Hartford, Eurdesign Studio , Dallas - www.eurdesignstudio.com i. Artful living ii. Wall Art trends - modern, nature and fresh iii. Form Design

F. Deborah von Donop – DVD Interior Design, Greenwich, CT - https://www.dvdinteriordesign.com i. Color and washed whites ii. Light and calming pinks iii. Nature inspired

G. Kara Cox – Kara Cox Interiors, Charlotte, NC - https://www.karacoxinteriors.com i. Gesso finish – chalky white ii. Deep blush like merlot iii. Furniture as art – curved backs, open arms, multiple materials

H. Cynthia Porche – Cynthia Porche Interiors, Atlanta, GA - http://cynthiaporcheinteriors.com i. Curated elements in design – color pops in velvet and linen ii.Mixing modern with organic – metals with wovens iii. Soft nod to traditional in a transitional way

Everything You Need to Know About Branding with guest Phil Pallen Nov 13, 2019

Show notes

1. This podcast is sponsored by Helser Brothers Hardware

Helser Brothers is a fully custom manufacturer of drapery hardware. It is run by brothers Jay and Mark. Jay was an expert independent drapery installer and designs new products that are installer friendly and engineered for strength and Mark, a talented metal worker with a mind of an engineer, has been regarded as a mechanical genius by all who know him.

They can customize anything and any order over $100 is shipped free. you can see their products at helserbrothers.com or find them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

1. INTRO

We are very excited to have Phil Pallen as our guest today. A social media expert, keynote speaker as well as a smart, funny and well-traveled guy who is the guru of "branding". We met Phil about 3 years ago while at a Designer Mastermind with Kelli Ellis in Las Vegas. His mantra – "A personal brand isn't a luxury, it's a necessity" and believes you need to use social media to promote your brand. We engaged in a "brand audit" with Phil and that is the reason our podcast exists today!

1. BACKGROUND
  1. Where did you grow up?
  2. Where did you go to school?
  3. What made you decide to choose "branding"

1. SERVICES
  1. BRAND AUDIT
    1. positioning
    2. mood board
    3. action items
  2. BRAND IDENTITY
  3. WEBSITE DESIGN
  4. BRAND STRATEGY

1. YOUR CLIENTS
2. SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  1. WHERE
  2. TOPICS
3. BEST ADVICE TO GIVE TO SOMEONE NEW IN BUSINESS OR SOMEONE RE-BRANDING

1. YOUR TRAVELS
  1. Home Swap
  2. Where have you been?
  3. Where are you living now?
  4. Your VRBO

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