Talk Shop with Ariel Okin: A Fenimore Lane Production

Elizabeth Lawrence // Rising from Intern to Partner with Bunny Williams Jan 22, 2025

This week we're wrapping up season three with an incredible guest. Elizabeth Lawrence’s design origin story is one to inspire – rising from intern to partner at one of the most prestigious interior design firms in the country. Originally hailing from Wilmington, Delaware, the classically trained interior designer attended the University of Richmond and then the New York School of Interior Design. After graduation, a coveted internship with Bunny Williams led to a job as a Junior Designer, and she rose through the ranks, from Senior Designer to becoming the firm’s first ever Partner – a major accomplishment.

Together, Elizabeth and Bunny run Williams Lawrence, the interior design firm formerly known as Bunny Williams Inc., and the firm’s product line, Bunny Williams Home. Elizabeth has been honored by the New York School of Interior Design, and her work has been widely published in media outlets including Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Veranda, Galerie, Milieu, and others, as well as being featured in Bunny’s newest interior design course on Create Academy, “How to Design Your Dream Home.”

Thank you again for joining us for this season and stay tuned for season three coming this Spring!

Lee Ann and Allie Thornton // The Creative Mother-Daughter Duo Building an Interior Design Legacy Jan 15, 2025

This week we’re welcoming a mother-daughter duo, the creative forces behind Lee Ann Thornton Interiors. Lee Ann and her daughter, Allie, are known for their soothing color palettes and incredibly warm and inviting interiors, and believe in creating homes filled with meaningful furnishings and charming details that bring joy, comfort, and inspiration.

Since launching her eponymous boutique design firm in 2003, Lee Ann has developed a reputation for creating high-end residential and commercial projects rooted in classical designs, and infused with an Anglophile thread. In 2016, Allie joined her mom, starting as a project manager, designer, and now, partner. She brings to the team a fresh, preppy, bohemian style, a welcomed thread to Lee Ann’s timeless and classic sensibilities, and each approaches their work with both warmth and thoughtful attention to detail. Lee Ann and Allie’s work has been featured in magazines like House Beautiful, Coastal Living, Luxe, and others, and we are so thrilled to have the mother-daughter duo on today.

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Follow Lee Ann and Allie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leeannthorntoninteriors/

Learn more about their firm: https://leeannthornton.com/

Dabito // Old Brand New, From a Blog to a World of Color and Inspiration Jan 08, 2025

We return this week as we are diving fully into the world of color, as Ariel’s welcomes the fabulous tastemaker and author Dabito to the podcast! His bold use of color and eclectic maximalism has cemented him as an always refreshing and ever-evolving influence in the world of interior design.

In 2010, Dabito launched his blog, Old Brand New – an outlet to express himself and explore a broad range of creative mediums. Before jumping into interiors, his background varied in multimedia art forms, in printmaking, photography and graphic design. Since then, Old Brand New has amassed a devoted following across multiple platforms, and has been recognized by Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, Architectural Digest and House Beautiful.

Dabito's guiding design philosophy is that everyone can harness the power of color and meaningful objects to tell a moving and personal story in their home. He splits his time between Los Angeles and New Orleans with his husband, Ryan, and their fur babies, Luigi, Sterling, and Verbena.

So tune in for a conversation full of joy, color and advice! The best way to ring in the new year!

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Follow Dabito on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dabito/

Learn more about his blog and book, Old Brand New: https://www.oldbrandnew.com/

Check out his current collabs with Mitzi and Brooklinen:

https://www.mitzi.com/Products/Feature/Dabito

https://www.brooklinen.com/pages/dabito

And listen to his jukebox playlists on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/122877525

Callie Stanton // Go Behind the Scenes at Auberge Resorts Collection Dec 18, 2024

This week Ariel is headed into the hospitality world, as she welcomes Callie Stanton, Senior Vice President of Brand for Auberge Resorts Collection. For any design aficionado, Auberge properties are a must visit – their one-of-a-kind properties truly capture the soul of each destination. With 28 hotels and resorts around the globe, each one is unique, immersive, and incredibly luxurious – not to mention stunning. Beautiful, unique design is at the core of the Auberge experience.

With over 15 years in the marketing industry, Callie leads all brand communications, strategic partnerships, social media, and influencer marketing for Auberge. We here at Talk Shop are beyond lucky to not only call her a friend, but also to have the opportunity to work with her on our annual Fenimore Lane Design Summit at the Mayflower Inn & Spa, an Auberge Resorts Collection property in the Connecticut countryside.

Prior to joining Auberge, Callie spent eleven years at Nike Communications, a New York-based luxury communications agency, where she led the hospitality, real estate, and lifestyle divisions, and her first role in the industry was at the iconic Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side. She often jokes that she feels more at home at a hotel than anywhere else in the world, so we’d say she picked the perfect career.

Join Ariel as we go behind the scenes of some of the most beautiful properties in the world!

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Find your next Auberge destination: https://aubergeresorts.com/

Follow Callie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callieestanton/

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From Ariel and the Talk Shop team, we'd like to wish you all a very happy holidays. We'll be taking a short break and return in the new year with even more incredible guests. So have a happy new year and see you in 2025!

Liz Eichholz and Lindsey Johnson // The Story Of Weezie Towels And Entrepreneurship In The Design World Dec 11, 2024

On this week’s episode, Ariel is joined by the duo behind Weezie Towels, Liz Eichholz and Lindsey Johnson. Launched in 2018, Weezie Towels is not only our favorite brand for gorgeous towels, but also a true embodiment of a modern, luxury direct to consumer brand with a big heart. Weezie’s origin story is the stuff of lore: Newly married, Liz had a lackluster experience looking for embroidered towels. She approached her long-time friend Lindsey, and the two agreed that there was a gap in the market. They hit the ground running to modernize this niche space, eventually introducing the world to Weezie.

Liz, Weezie’s Creative Director, was born and raised in Austin, Texas. After receiving a BFA in graphic design from the University of Georgia, she spent five years in New York working in creative, including at Uncommon Goods and Bustle before moving to Savannah, GA with her husband and three children. Managing the business side, CEO Lindsey spent her childhood with stops around the US, before attending Vanderbilt for undergrad, and then Columbia Business School. She spent almost a decade in New York City, before planting roots in Atlanta with her husband and three children.

With fifteen years of friendship, and over five years at Weezie (plus six kids between the two of them!), Liz and Lindsey constantly inspire us here, and hopefully you too, as you listen in on the conversation about entrepreneurship in the design world.

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Start your own collection of Weezie Towels: https://weezietowels.com/ and use the code TALKSHOP15 for 15% off your entire order. Order ASAP for delivery in time for the holidays!

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Follow Liz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liz_weezie/

Follow Lindsey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsey_weezie/

Follow Weezie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weezietowels/

Rhiannon & Travis Hageman // A Couple's Journey Scaling a Design/Build Firm in Five Years Dec 04, 2024

This week Ariel welcomes our first husband-wife duo to the podcast! Travis and Rhiannon, lead Hageman Homes, a Residential Interior Design and Custom Home Building Firm located in Oakville, Ontario. The couple's path to design began with a love of traditional architecture, decoration and craftsmanship. What started as a custom home building firm has evolved into a boutique design studio where architectural storytelling and deeply personal interiors come together with beautiful results.

Rhiannon's full-service interior design approach celebrates the art of layering, from storied antiques and classic textiles to collected pieces that whisper of lives well-lived. Her spaces feel as though they've been thoughtfully assembled over generations, each room telling its own unique story. Travis brings his expertise in engineering, design and construction management to their practice, ensuring that every detail and architectural element is executed with precision and authenticity. Together, the couple believe that truly great homes should feel lived-in and are to be enjoyed, spaces where memories can be made without worry, and where every corner holds something meaningful.

Over the last 5 years the Hagemans have built a reputation for creating residences that honor traditional craftsmanship while embracing the way families really live. Their work has garnered attention throughout Canada and the US, with features in Veranda and House & Home, where they continue to craft spaces that feel both sophisticated and deeply personal, designed to be cherished for generations to come.

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Learn more about Hageman Homes: https://hagemanhomes.ca/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hagemanhomesinteriors/

Donna Lennard // The Visionary and Founder Behind il Buco, From Film to Antiques, and Building a Community Nov 20, 2024

This week we’re journeying to the storied past of NYC and the East Village as Ariel welcomes the founder and visionary behind the Il Buco hospitality group, Donna Lennard. For the last thirty years, Donna has been at the forefront of ingredient-driven Italian/Mediterranean cuisine, winning numerous accolades, including a rare three star New York Times review for il Buco Alimentari. With the recent launch of Il Buco Vita, the group's foray into the home space, Lennard's impact on creating warm, inviting and lasting interiors is even more impactful.

Donnabegan her career as an independent film producer and worked in restaurants all over Manhattan during her school years, where she initially met Alberto Avalle, a “foodie” from Umbria. In 1994, she and Alberto stumbled upon a storefront on cobblestoned Bond Street and created il Buco, which was initially opened as an antique shop. Il Buco catered to the tastes of the artists living in the area who quickly discovered thatDonnaand Alberto not only had an eye for beautiful antiques, but also a refined taste for delicious food and wine. It didn’t take long before the store transformed into the buzzy restaurant it remains to date, in a gorgeous interior setting to boot.

Since the opening of il Buco,Donnahas opened three more restaurants in New York City, the Hamptons and Ibiza, along with their coveted tabletop and lifestyle brand - il Buco Vita. The common thread weaving each area ofDonna’s locations is an inviting atmosphere of quiet luxury with an exquisite attention to detail.

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Visit one of Donna’s Restaurants: https://ilbuco.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilbuco_av/

And shop for your own piece from il Buco Vita: https://ilbucovita.com/

Ben Pentreath // An English Vision, from Urban Planning to Designing Beautiful Homes Oct 30, 2024

This week we’re joined by a guest whose prolific work in the architecture and interiors worlds is, quite literally, historic. Ben Pentreath is an English architectural and interior designer, whose firm has become known for its brilliant master-planning and urban development, along with incredibly detailed and beautiful private homes and playful interiors all over the world. As Ben says, “we love designing spaces that work beautifully for the long term, and feel right for the place.”

Ben’s background is in Art History, which he studied at the University of Edinburgh before attending the Prince of Wales’s Institute of Architecture. He worked for five years in New York at Fairfax and Sammons, and then with the Prince’s Foundation, before starting his own practice in 2004.

In 2023, Ben Pentreath was awarded the Richard H. Driehaus Prize, given to a living architect whose work embodies the highest principles of traditional and classical architecture and urbanism in contemporary society, and reflects positive cultural, environmental and artistic impacts. Ben is one of the youngest laureates of the award.

Along the way, Ben has also established himself as an author, with regular contributions to the Financial Times and other journals, as well as three fantastic books which I adore. His most recent book, An English Vision, a monograph of the work of the practice, is out now with Rizzoli!

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Learn more about Ben Pentreath’s Firm: https://www.benpentreath.com/

Follow Ben on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benpentreath/

Pick up a copy of Ben’s new book: https://pentreath-hall.com/products/english-decoration-copy

Architecture and Design Books Recommendations:

Jame Gibbs' Book of Architecture - https://www.amazon.com/Gibbs-Book-Architecture-Eighteenth-Century-Classic/dp/0486466019

Ben’s Blog on Living in Vogue - https://pentreath-hall.com/blogs/bens-posts/you-can-t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover

Alexandra Kaehler // From a Lifestyle Blog to a Next Wave Designer Oct 23, 2024

This week we’re joined by a designer who found her calling for interiors through a lifestyle blog she started on the side of her day job, back in 2009. Alexandra Kaehler (known as Alex!) is a talented interior designer whose work has been recognized on prestigious industry lists such as House Beautiful’s Next Wave and Luxe Magazine’s “Gold List”.

Alex began what she believed to be her dream career in advertising, and soon realized interior design was actually her calling. Through her blog, and a postgraduate program at Harrington College of Design, Alex began to take on clients, and eventually opened her firm, Alexandra Kaehler Design, in 2011. Alex believes the most important element of design is to fill your home with things you love – nothing should be so fragile or delicate that you aren’t able to enjoy it. If you ask Alex, a home is meant to be loved and lived in. (And we agree!)

More than a decade out since founding her firm, Alex still calls Chicago her home, with her husband and children. Her beautiful work has been featured in numerous publications and websites including House Beautiful, Domino, Luxe, Vogue, The Chicago Tribune, and The Wall Street Journal, and you can follow the behind the scenes of her own home renovation of a historic property in the Chicago suburbs, on her Instagram account, @alexkaehlerdeisgn.

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Learn more about Alexandra’s firm: https://alexandrakaehler.com/

Follow Alexandra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexkaehlerdesign

Alessandra Branca // Expert Advice from a Prolific Interior Designer on Blending her Italian and American Roots Oct 16, 2024

This week we’re honored to welcome an incredibly talented interior designer with a prolific career, Alessandra Branca. Born and raised in Rome, Alessandra has called Chicago home for over 30 years. Alessandra acquired her love for classical beauty from her Italian upbringing, and those roots still speak to her soul today. Her designs are anchored by classical details: rich colors, patterns and textures, antique and custom furnishings, modern and European art, and distinctive accessories.

As an Art History student, Alessandra started collecting architectural and natural history prints, and after attending college and then moving to America, she opened a print business. Her shop, fashioned to look like a charming home, led to requests from customers to decorate for them, and the rest was history.

Alessandra’s work has been featured in countless magazines, including Architectural Digest, Town & Country, The New York Times, Veranda, and Elle Decor, and has been recognized within the industry with a myriad of awards, including House Beautiful’s Master Class.

Inspiration comes from all facets of Alessandra’s life, including design, history, art, nature, and travel, and she is continually seeking and exploring – I was incredibly inspired by this conversation and I hope you will be too.

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Follow Alessandra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abranca

Learn more about her work: https://branca.com/

Mandy Cheng // From Set Design to Interior Design, On Career Pivots, Creativity and Growing A Small Firm into an AD100 Business Oct 09, 2024

This week’s guest cut her teeth on the fabulous sets of Hollywood, before transitioning her set design experience into a career: as one of the most sought-after interior designers in LA.

Mandy Cheng launched her solo design career first as a production and graphic designer in the film industry. You can find her design work in music videos for chart-topping names such as J.Cole, and One Republic, & DJ Snake, and her graphic design on projects ranging from 20th Century Women and Ladybird to Beyonce's Lemonade.

Mandy quickly realized she had a passion for interiors, and she has received widespread acclaim: her work on Emmy Raver-Lampman and Daveed Diggs’s home, landed the April 2021 cover of AD, and she most recently designed Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita’s home, which was featured in AD and their fan-favorite platform, Open Door.

Since she founded Mandy Cheng Design, Mandy has been named to the prestigious AD 100 list for three years in a row, and has designed a wide range of spaces, including residential and commercial, all spanning the country.

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Learn more about Mandy Cheng’s Design Studio: https://www.mandychengdesign.com/

And follow Mandy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandychengdesign/

Hannah Weil McKinley and Leah Melby Clinton // On Career Pivots, Entrepreneurship, and Starting a Print Magazine Made By and For Women Oct 03, 2024

For this week’s episode, it’s a Talk Shop first, as we welcome a duo (!) – lifelong friends and now co-founders,Hannah Weil McKinley and Leah Melby Clinton.

Hannah and Leah first met over a decade ago, during their time spent in editorial at POPSUGAR–a pop culture site that covers all things from fashion to beauty to shopping. After the birth of Hannah’s first daughter, she felt a seismic shift, and began to look for and share more candid stories around motherhood and womanhood. Across the country, Leah started to kick around an idea of creating a space for community. Then the pandemic hit, and the beginnings of In Kind took route.

Printed twice yearly, and available digitally, In Kind is thoughtfully curated and touches on the conversations modern women are having: about motherhood, career, ambition, personal style, and of course, interiors. As Hannah and Leah say, In Kind is a conversation around the things that really matter, focused on capturing, exploring, and supporting the questions and dreams that women are having with each other. (And I agree, as a personal fan of the magazine.)

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Learn more about In Kind: https://inkindmagazine.com/

And follow Hannah and Leah on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/hannahmck20

https://www.instagram.com/leahmelbyclinton

Jennifer Gracie // Behind the Scenes at a Legacy Family Business, Finding Inspiration All Around You, and Embracing an Unpredictable Style Sep 25, 2024

We’re thrilled to kick off Season Three with the fifth-generation creative leader of an incredible 125 year-old family business: Jennifer Gracie. Gracie creates some of the most beautiful and beloved custom hand-painted wallpapers in the world, utilized by many esteemed designers and celebrities around the globe.

Founded in 1928 in New York City, James Gracie originally sold custom lamps and home furnishings, until the 1920s, when the company began to offer Chinese and Japanese furniture, screens, and porcelain. Soon after, Gracie became the first company to import hand painted wallpapers to the United States since the 1700’s. Today, the studio has showrooms in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas, and several exclusive collaborations with luxury companies such as Aerin, Estee Lauder, Stubbs and Wooton, and more.

Our guest this week is Gracie's Creative Director, Jennifer, who oversees the company’s day-to-day operations, social media, new collections, inspirations for custom projects and more. Alongside her brother and company president, Mike, and Jenn’s son and Sales Director, Zach Shea, they continue to carry out Charles R. Gracie’s legacy and maintain the family’s generations-long commitment to exceptional design.

“The Art of Gracie”, available now from Rizzoli, is a glorious celebration of America’s most storied hand painted wallpaper company, featuring dozens of rooms by today’s top interior designers.

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Follow Gracie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/graciestudio/

Pick up your own copy of “The Art of Gracie” plus learn more about the upcoming book tour: https://graciestudio.com/the-art-of-gracie-book

Season Three Coming Next Week - Wednesday, September 25th! Sep 18, 2024

Join me, Ariel Okin, interior designer, editor and writer, as I kick off season three of my design podcast, Talk Shop. Each week, I welcome the foremost tastemakers from around the globe to chat about how they built their businesses, where they find inspiration for new projects, and key pieces of advice they’ve learned along the way. And you don’t have to wait long, as we welcome our first guest of season three next Wednesday, September 25th.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. See you soon!

How to Complete a Room with Lighting // Live from the Fenimore Lane Design Summit May 29, 2024

In our final episode for the season, the theme is all about lighting a room, live from our second panel from the Fenimore Lane Design Summit, held at the Mayflower Inn & Spa. In partnership with Mitzi, Ariel is joined by fellow Mitzi Tastemaker, Anthony D’Argenzio of Zio and Sons, on the how-tos of decorative lighting and how they've styled some of the most popular fixtures from their Mitzi Tastemaker collections. With a special nod to our moderator Luxe Magazine’s Grace Beuley Hunt. Tune in for their bright and lively discussion!

Thank you again for joining us for this season and stay tuned for season three coming this Fall!

Follow our panelist and moderator:

Anthony D’Argenzio: https://www.instagram.com/zioandsons/

Grace Beuley Hunt: https://www.instagram.com/gracebeuley/

Learn more about Mitzi’s ceiling, wall and lighting offers: https://mitzi.com/

And their Tastemakers: https://mitzi.com/Tastemakers

Palette Play | Annie Meyers-Shyer and Joa Studholme join Ariel to talk Color in Design | Live from the Fenimore Lane Design Summit! May 22, 2024

Recorded live this past Saturday at the Mayflower Inn and Spa, in partnership with Farrow & Ball, Ariel is joined by two fellow best-in-class panelists to chat color and interior design: This Oak House’s, Annie Meyers-Shyer and Farrow & Ball's Colour Consultant and author, Joa Studholme. Special thank you to our moderator Luxe Magazine’s Grace Beuley Hunt. We sit down to discuss our love of color, how we interact with it in a room, and share a few tips & tricks for choosing the right color for your home.

Follow our panelists:

Annie Meyers-Shyer - https://www.instagram.com/thisoakhouse/

Joa Studholme - https://www.instagram.com/joastudholme/

Grace Beuley Hunt - https://www.instagram.com/gracebeuley/

Learn more about Farrow & Ball’s new wallpapers and current color catalog: https://www.farrow-ball.com/

Amanda Jones Vaughan // A Personal Touch from Design Start-Ups to Fashion Powerhouses to Her Own Brand May 08, 2024

This week Ariel welcomes her friend, Amanda Jones Vaughan. A creative consultant and tastemaker with a career path that runs the gamut from cutting edge interior design startups to fashion powerhouses, Amanda has done it all. From NET-A-PORTER and J. Crew, to most recently, Editor-At-Large for Over The Moon, Amanda’s day-to-day involves overseeing events, content partnerships, and VIP services along with sharing top trends, product picks and styling content for brides and beyond.

After over a decade in Manhattan, Amanda returned to Philadelphia with her husband and 3 lively boys, where she is continuing to provide her keen sense of brand building through a growing consulting and styling business.

Follow Amanda over on Instagram and to learn where you can subscribe to her weekly newsletter, “That Said,” where she will be sharing her fresh take on aesthetics, an enthusiasm for unique finds and a healthy, humorous dose of motherhood reality.

https://www.instagram.com/amandajonesvaughan/

Books recommended by Amanda:

Move and Work by Malene Birger: https://www.amazon.com/Move-Work-Malene-Birger/dp/3832798099

Mr & Mrs Clark: Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell: https://www.artbook.com/9788836653768.html

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Also, we’re not wrapped for the season yet! Come back on May 22nd and the 29th for two special episodes recorded live from the Fenimore Lane Design Summit. And hopefully see you all at the Mayflower Inn on Saturday, May 18th!

Learn more about the Fenimore Lane Design Summit:

https://aubergeresorts.com/mayflower/experiences/fenimore-lane-design-summit/

Hillary W. Taylor // From Law to Design, Twenty Years of Fresh, Authentic and Traditional Styling May 01, 2024

On this week’s episode of Talk Shop, Ariel is joined by the accomplished interior designer, Hillary W. Taylor. Having grown up in the San Francisco area, Hillary learned the art of designing the home environment from her mother. After graduating from Princeton, she worked for an investment banking firm, before realizing design might be much more her style, and founding her business, Hillary W Taylor Interiors in 2003.

Known for her neo-traditional design style that seamlessly blends classic elegance with contemporary elements. Her work exudes a sense of refined sophistication, creating spaces that are both timeless and inviting. With a keen eye for detail, Hillary blends colors, textures and patterns to achieve a sense of balance and harmony, with a bit of her own eclectic charm.

And when Hillary is not in the design studio, one might find her digging in the dirt, on the running trail, or cheering on one of her four children at their sports games, all while awaiting her next plane ride to adventure.

Learn more about Hillary’s design firm: https://hillarytaylorinteriors.com/

Eliza Crater Harris // A Nostalgic, Playful and Layered Career Built on a Legacy of Women Apr 24, 2024

This week is all about legacy, as Ariel joined by Eliza Crater Harris, the Chief Creative Officer of American heritage brand, Sister Parish Design. As the great-granddaughter of design icon Sister Parish, Eliza's work honors her family's design legacy by overseeing product development, textile production, visual merchandising, and marketing initiatives for Sister Parish Design.

After graduating from the University of St. Andrews in 2011, Eliza began her career in the decorative arts in New York City, training under some of the most prestigious design firms in the country. From there Eliza joined her family business in 2018, and under Eliza's creative vision, the company continues to honor the story of great American houses. Sister believed that to decorate is to dream and Sister Parish Design is a family of dreamers.

Learn more about Sister Parish Design: https://sisterparishdesign.com/

Tori Mellott // Starry Moments from a Storied Career in Publishing, Advice for Designers, and a Book Announcement! Apr 17, 2024

Ariel’s guest this week has over two decades of experience in the interiors world, both in print and digital. Tori Mellott is the Style Director at Frederic Magazine, and Director of Video Content at Frederic Media. Throughout her storied career, with stops at House Beautiful, Domino Magazine, Martha Stewart and Traditional Home, to name a few, Tori has curated a deep understanding of print and digital storytelling.

When she’s not behind the editor’s desk, Tori is a face many know in the industry both as a social media personality as the Instagram Live host for Schumacher, as well as a mentor to various designers, stylists, photographers, writers and editors in the industry.

Originally from a small town in western Pennsylvania, Tori now resides in New York City with her ten year old twin daughters. Listen in as Ariel has a lovely conversation with this industry legend!

Follow Tori’s design inspirations on her instagram at https://www.instagram.com/torimellott/

Katie Rosenfeld // A Design Career Built Through Social Media, Finding Maturity Within Her Design, and Bringing a Furniture Business to Life Apr 11, 2024

On this week’s episode of Talk Shop, Ariel is joined by Katie Rosenfeld, a fellow self-taught designer, whose career started on Wall Street, but eventually led to design through starting her blog, Bogle Street, in 2007. Originally from Tampa, Florida, she would spend time in New York and Los Angeles before landing in Massachusetts with her family. In 2012, after her Boston home was published in Better Homes and Gardens, Katie would launch her design career and eventually her own firm, Katie Rosenfeld & Co.
Katie is equal parts vintage and modern, never trendy and always comfortable, she brings this same sense of stylish-ease to her designs. Her firm’s goal is to design a home to feel warm, comfortable and familiar, but thoughtfully designed, well-functioning and beautiful. At the end of the day, Katie’s aim is a home that reflects the clients’ life ― with Katie’s signature warmth and layers peppered throughout.
Learn more about Katie’s firm: https://katierosenfeldandco.com/

And her upcoming retail site for Vanity and Co: https://www.instagram.com/vanityandcompany/

Caroline Gidiere // From Litigator to Interior Designer, The Enduring Beauty of Classic Homes, and the Importance of Design in the South Apr 03, 2024

Joining Ariel this week is Caroline Gidiere, an acclaimed interior designer and tastemaker based in Birmingham, Alabama. Caroline’s design aesthetic is a modern take on traditional interiors, using beautiful pieces and classic textiles to create spaces that are fresh and timeless.

Raised in the South, Caroline’s principles of design were absorbed by watching her mother, a talented seamstress who wasn’t afraid of a complicated pattern or roll of wallpaper. But Caroline didn’t always work in design – after years as a business and litigation lawyer, where she even even clerked for a federal judge for a few years, Caroline eventually found her way to design full time with the help of her husband, after designing her own home, which was featured on the cover of Veranda Magazine in 2020.

Pick up your own copy of Emily’s recent book, “Mario Buatta: Anatomy of a Decorator”:

https://www.amazon.com/Mario-Buatta-Emily-Evans-Eerdmans/dp/0847873579

And learn more about the gallery and upcoming exhibitions: https://www.eerdmansnewyork.com/

Emily Evans Eerdmans // A Colorful Career Filled with Close Mentorship, Writing on Design, and Opening a Gallery to Highlight Artists and Makers Mar 27, 2024

Join us this week as we dive into design history with Emily Evans Eerdmans. Emily is the founder of Eerdmans, a fine and decorative arts gallery and consultancy in New York City. Her most recent book, Mario Buatta: Anatomy of a Decorator, is now available. A close friend of Mario’s, Emily oversaw the dispersal of his estate, including the blockbuster auction of the Prince of Chintz’s prized possessions at Sotheby’s. Emily’s book presents the key learnings and decorative history of Buatta, one of America’s most famous interior decorators.
Along with Anatomy of a Decorator, Emily has also authored a long list of books, including monographs on Madeleine Castaing and Henri Samuel. With a Master’s degree in Fine and Decorative Arts from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, Emily has taught design history at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the New York School of Interior Design.

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Pick up your own copy of Emily’s recent book, “Mario Buatta: Anatomy of a Decorator”: https://www.amazon.com/Mario-Buatta-Emily-Evans-Eerdmans/dp/0847873579

And learn more about the gallery and upcoming exhibitions: https://www.eerdmansnewyork.com/

Heidi Caillier // Discovering Your Passion for Design, Creating a Sense of Place in a Home, and Mixing an Eclectic and Layered Style in a Space Mar 20, 2024

On this week’s episode of Talk Shop, we’re headed to the Northwest and welcoming Seattle-based designer Heidi Caillier to the show. A master of pattern and tone, Heidi is known for her unexpected blend of elements and styles, with her layered, lived-in spaces feeling well-traveled, timeless, and fresh. Drawing on the sentiment of nostalgia, Caillier believes that decor and furniture should possess a timeless quality which grows with the home.

Before starting her Seattle-based full-service interior design firm, Heidi Caillier came to the design world through her blog, which would lead to her first job at a design firm. After working under designers for a few years, Heidi would eventually start her own studio.

Aided by a small team from her studio in Seattle, Heidi oversees high-end residential and hospitality projects across the US. And while location, architecture, and lifestyle inform the creative direction, it is the desires and lifestyle of every client which always steers the narrative.

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Learn more about Heidi’s Firm: https://heidicaillierdesign.com/

And pick up a copy of her debut book, Heidi Caillier: Memories of Home: Interiors: https://www.rizzoliusa.com/book/9780847873470/

Annie Meyers-Shyer // A life Inspired by Film & Design with a Few Home Renovations Lessons Along the Way Mar 13, 2024

This week Ariel welcomes an admirer of design with a different perspective– the client side. Annie Meyers-Shyer has meticulously been documenting the renovation of her family’s historic home in sunny Los Angeles on her instagram account, @thisoakhouse – and it’s quickly become a fan favorite, amassing tens of thousands of followers in a matter of weeks.

Originally from LA, Annie comes from a life grown up in Hollywood, thanks to her filmmaking parents, the iconic writer, director and producer Nancy Meyers and her father, also a writer, director and producer, Charles Shyer. Annie’s love for design and fashion has followed her from a young age, as a fresh out of college editor at Harper's Bazaar to working on the PR team at Chanel, and has most recently landed her in the form of a modern day design oracle. Ariel sat down with Annie to chat all things interiors, home inspiration, renovation musts and don'ts, and more!

Follow Annie at https://www.instagram.com/thisoakhouse

Bunny Williams // A Walk Through Her Storied Career, Life in and Outside of the Garden Mar 06, 2024

This week on Talk Shop, Ariel welcomes one of the most talented names in design, the queen of contemporary American decorating, Bunny Williams. Known for balancing refined beauty, welcoming livable appeal, and attention to detail, Bunny is one of Architectural Digest’s “AD100 Hall of Fame” members, among many other accolades.

Born and raised in the countryside near Charlottesville, Virginia, Bunny moved to New York after college and kicked off her career at the antique gallery Stair & Co., followed by 22 years with the iconic design firm, Parish-Hadley Associates. In 1998, Bunny founded her own firm, Bunny Williams Inc, and design history was made. Last year, Bunny welcomed business partner Elizabeth Lawrence to join her under the firm’s new name, Williams Lawrence. Bunny’s businesses include Bunny Williams Home, the firm’s line of furnishings, lighting, art, and accessories; and licensed product lines with Ballard Designs, Lee Jofa, Dash & Albert, Currey & Company, and Mirror Home.

And if that doesn’t keep her busy enough, Bunny is the author of eight design books and is a sought-after speaker and mentor on decoration, gardening, and entertaining. Her most recent book, “Bunny Williams: Life in the Garden,”, leads readers on an intimate look at her much celebrated home and gardens in the Connecticut Berkshires that she has spent the last 40 years developing.

Learn more about Bunny’s firm, Williams Lawrence: https://williamslawrence.com/

Plus order a copy of your own of “Life in the Garden”: https://www.rizzoliusa.com/book/9780847899692

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Join Ariel and Fenimore Lane at the Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington, CT for a celebration of design on Saturday, May 18th. Pick up your tickets now: https://aubergeresorts.com/mayflower/experiences/fenimore-lane-design-summit/

Gil Schafer // The Architecture Gene, Importance of Mentoring, and the Unique Experiences of Writing a Book Feb 28, 2024

On this week’s episode of Talk Shop, Ariel is joined by one of the nation's most beloved and leading experts on contemporary classical architecture, Gil Schafer. A member of Architectural Digest’s AD100, Gil’s work is often referred to as the pinnacle of traditional architecture in today’s time. With a Masters in Architecture from Yale, Gil studied under industry legends, and before founding his own firm, worked for several highly respected firms, including spending (nearly) a decade at Ferguson & Shamamian Architects.

Gil founded G. P. Schafer Architect in 2002, which in 2023 was renamed Schafer Buccellato Architects. The firm’s passion for integrating landscape and interior decoration into the architecture of a project is a significant hallmark of their work — and as Gil says, what makes a great home isn’t its size, or its features necessarily – it’s being a place that you can feel at home in both the big and small moments of life.

Gil’s recent book, “Home At Last: Enduring Design for the New American House,” is available now. Pick up your copy at: https://www.rizzoliusa.com/book/9780847899784/

And learn more about Gil and his firm: https://schaferbuccellato.com/

Brigette Romanek // On Finding Joy In Your Career, Pursuing Your Passions, and What Liveable Luxe Really Means In Interiors Feb 21, 2024

For our first episode of season two, Ariel welcomes award-winning AD100 interior designer to the stars, Brigette Romanek. Based in Los Angeles, Brigette founded her eponymous firm in 2018, and over the last five years has proven her uncanny ability to create stunning interiors that delight without sacrificing livability.
Never trendy, her spaces are fresh, functional, and aesthetically alive – and her star-studded client list is expansive, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Joe Jonas, Christian Bale, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, just to name a few. Ariel and Brigette chat about how her years of traveling and pursuing different creative careers with gusto have inspired her approach to design. Livable Luxe, Brigette’s first book, is available now. A collection of personal stories and distinctive residential interiors that highlight the luxurious yet casual homes in her roster from Los Angeles to New York, Brigette's book is a beautiful compendium of her firm's work.

Season Two Coming This Wednesday, February 21st! Feb 19, 2024

Join me, Ariel Okin, interior designer, editor and writer, as I kick off season two of my design podcast, Talk Shop. Each week, I welcome the foremost tastemakers from around the globe to chat about how they built their businesses, where they find inspiration for new projects, and key pieces of advice they’ve learned along the way. And you don’t have to wait long, as episode one of the new season is coming this Wednesday, February 21st. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. See you soon!

Madeleine Luckel // A Career Through Costume History to Decorative Arts and the Inspirations Along the Way Dec 13, 2023

To wrap our first season of Talk Shop, Ariel welcomes Madeleine Luckel, a senior design editor at Architectural Digest, where she covers national and international design, including overseeing web-exclusive home tours and an archive-focused newsletter. With a master of Arts in Costume Studies from NYU and a BA in Classics from Brown University, Madeleine has previously worked at Vogue and Vogue.com where she covered a variety of design-related topics.

Along with being one of the loveliest people we know – Madeleine holds an encyclopedic knowledge of fashion and textiles that rivals any historian. Join Ariel as the two chat about Madeleine’s sense of style and joie de vivre, her fascinating career path, and where she finds inspiration.

Thank you again for joining us for the first season and stay tuned for season 2 coming in 2024!

Mieke ten Have // From Domino to Vogue, charting a course in the interiors world, and the best way to hone one's eye Dec 06, 2023

On the next episode of Talk Shop, Ariel Okin welcomes the brilliant interiors writer, editor and stylist, Mieke ten Have.

Mieke parlayed her editorial eye into creative direction for interior designers, architects, and home brands, after years working as a magazine editor. Mieke is a frequent contributor to Architectural Digest and House & Garden UK, among other publications, along with being a contributing writer to several books.

Describing her style as “Granny-chic”, Mieke's design sensibility is all about pieces that are beautiful, strange, and conversation starting. You can spot her floral arrangements a mile away, and her personal style and sense of space and the way it can translate on a page is truly singular in the industry. In her downtime not jetting off to shoots around the globe, Mieke lives between Manhattan, where she grew up, and Dutchess County, New York, with her husband and two beautiful children.

Hadley Keller // The Evolution of Design Editorial, the Joys of Collecting, and Advice for Breaking in as a Writer Nov 29, 2023

On this week’s episode Ariel welcomes her friend, the talented interiors editor and writer Hadley Keller, to the podcast. Hadley currently serves as Director of Editorial and Community Engagement at the Design Leadership Network, a community of top interior designers across the country. Previously, Hadley was Digital Director at House Beautiful, the nation’s oldest continuously-published shelter magazine, where she oversaw all digital content as well as brand franchises, including the Next Wave list of on-the-rise designers, which Ariel is so grateful to be on.

Splitting her time between New York and Washington, Hadley sits on the board of the Oasis Alliance, a nonprofit providing pro-bono design service to trauma survivors, and is a member of the White House Historic Association’s Next Gen Leaders cohort. She is a frequent speaker at design industry events and published her first book, about the architecture at Windsor in Florida, with Vendome in 2021.

Tune in for a friendly and thoughtful conversation about the evolution of design editorial, advice for how to pitch to an editor, and where Hadley finds inspiration!

Peter Pennoyer // A Career Built in and Around New York City, Working with Historical Challenges and Favorite Books to Collect Nov 22, 2023

This week on Talk Shop, Ariel welcomes Peter Pennoyer, an illustrious classical architect and author with over 35 years of experience in residential, institutional and commercial architecture. Known for deftly fusing history and creative invention into timeless contemporary designs, Peter, who was born and raised in New York City, formed Peter Pennoyer Architects in 1990.

Since then, the Manhattan-based firm has become an award-winning and highly recognized leader in new construction, renovation, and historic conservation for residential, commercial, and institutional commissions across the United States and abroad. Along with working on over 200 projects, Peter is also an accomplished author, publishing five books with his co-author, Anne Walker. Their newest collaboration, Peter Pennoyer Architects: City | Country is available now.

Louise Roe // From a TV Host to Design, the Origin of Sharland England and Tips for Sourcing Vintage Pieces for Your Own Home Nov 15, 2023

Joining Ariel this week on Talk Shop is Louise Roe – an iconic figure in the fashion and lifestyle industry who has worked as an editor, TV host, and writer for over 15 years. With a storied career that includes stints as a former fashion editor-at-large for Glamour magazine, as well as time writing for Vogue, Elle, The Telegraph and House & Garden magazine, Louise’s personal style is clearly honed and undeniably chic.

After a decade in LA, Louise returned to England with her husband, Mackenzie, and their two young daughters, where she turned her passion for interior design into the next stage of her career, founding Sharland England in 2021. Tune in as Louise and Ariel discuss what drew her to pave a new path in design, the origin story of her brand Sharland England, where she finds inspiration, and all about her love for rattan.

Jake Arnold // On Ascending From an Internship to a Career, Having Faith In Intuition, and Growing a Brand While Maintaining Boundaries Nov 08, 2023

On this week's episode of Talk Shop, Ariel welcomes the fabulously talented AD100 Designer, Jake Arnold, to the podcast. Jake’s work – eponymous with ease, luxury, and comfort – is at the forefront of a new wave of designers, creating fresh, modern spaces that transcend time and trends. Along with designing homes and spaces for celebrities like John Legend & Chrissy Teigen, Jake has collaborated on collections with top brands including Parachute, Lulu & Georgia, and most recently, Crate & Barrel. Earlier this year, the e-design platform that Jake co-founded with his best friend Leo, called The Expert, (where Ariel is one of the Expert designers!) launched an e-commerce line, providing consumers access to the best of the trade brands, rare vintage, and made-to-order showrooms from The Expert’s impressive roster of designers. And Jake’s first book, Redefining Comfort, is now available.

Paloma Contreras // On Career Pivots, The Best Design Advice Ever Received, and Following your Passion Nov 01, 2023

Welcome to the very first episode of Talk Shop, where Ariel is joined by her friend, talented Elle Decor A-List designer, Paloma Contreras. Based in Houston, Texas, Paloma’s design sensibility is a modern take on traditional style– gravitating toward classic silhouettes and timeless pieces, paired with a touch of glamour and an infusion of color. Paloma is known for designing beautiful interiors in her signature modern-meets-traditional aesthetic, resulting in spaces that feel polished, refined, and effortless.

Paloma has repeatedly been named to the prestigious ELLE Decor “A-List” of the top interior designers in the world, as well as House Beautiful's "Next Wave" list, and more. Paloma and her work have been featured in numerous publications, including ELLE Decor, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal.

In addition to her timeless designs, Paloma is a sought-after speaker, author, product designer and shopkeeper. But her most important title is mother, to her beautiful daughter, Margot. You can find her lighting collection at Visual Comfort, and her curated retail shop, Paloma & Co, in Houston. Paloma’s newest book, The New Classic Home, is now available.

Talk Shop with Ariel Okin Coming November 1st! Oct 25, 2023

Have you ever wondered what inspires the world’s top interior designers? What makes an artisan or shopkeeper light up with inspiration, or how entrepreneurs in the creative space run their own businesses?

Join me, Ariel Okin, interior designer, editor and writer, as I welcome the foremost tastemakers from around the globe on my brand new podcast, Talk Shop coming November 1st! Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. See you soon!

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