Convo x Design Podcast
I recently had the fabulous opportunity to sit down with Josh Cooperman on his Convo x Design podcast! With over 25 years’ experience in broadcasting, Josh uses his platform to share stories from the world of design and dive deeper into who and what makes our industry tick. We chatted about the GSID process, what people want from their homes right now, and how we engage with our clients through each step of their project. Check out some of the highlights!
How did I get here?
This was one of the first questions Josh asked me, and I always love answering it. I was inspired creatively growing up by my mother and stepfather, but pursued a degree in industrial engineering. I worked with Fortune 500 consumer product companies in supply chain management. (Who would have thought years later, “supply chain” would be a hot topic of conversation.) I loved the process-oriented nature of the role, but felt like I needed a creative outlet. I took a class in interior design at the Rhode Island School of Design while living in Boston (along with some others that I talked about with Josh), and something clicked. It was the perfect marriage of my creative and technical abilities, so I took the leap to pursuing my masters in interior design and architecture at Drexel and haven’t looked back!
“When is the design ‘done’?”
As we chatted about our design process, Josh noted that it’s unique and posed a really interesting point: how do we know that a design is “done”? I explained in more depth during the conversation, but the process allows us to adapt and pivot to unique needs and challenges that our clients have. We establish trust with the client so that they have confidence in their choice to hire us based on our experience, portfolio, and expertise. That trust allows us to say “this space meets all your wants and needs and is complete,” and they sign off because they are confident in us. Active listening is a big part of understanding our clients’ needs, and Josh and I discussed what that means as well!
The state of design in a post-covid world
In the context of the past few years, Josh wanted to know if we’ve seen design needs change. The short answer is yes! As so many of us got used to spending a great deal of time at home, priorities shifted to reflect that. Now we incorporate health and wellness needs into most homes. That looks different for everyone; some clients ask for more zen spaces for yoga and meditation, while others want serious home gyms complete with cardio and weight lifting. Sometimes we need to cover the full range in one home based on varying interests. Another key element is the desire for more casual spaces that will allow our clients to maximize every inch of their homes. Dining rooms and living rooms aren’t just for special occasions anymore. We really customize our designs to fit the needs of the people who live in them. Lastly, Josh noted that kitchens are a big investment in the past few years. I definitely feel this is driven by that need for homes to be fully livable, especially when it comes to the heart of the home. Advances in smaller appliances, beverage centers, refrigerator drawers, and secondary kitchen spaces have opened up a new world of possibilities here.
Our New Hope farmhouse kitchen
When he brought up kitchens, Josh mentioned how much he loves our New Hope farmhouse kitchen (and so do we!). He asked what steered the design of this particular project. We approached it with one main question: how do our clients want to use the space? We firmly believe that a kitchen has to function for you. It can be a beautiful space aesthetically, but it also must solve your pain points and prioritize practicality and daily use. This home is also a farm, and our clients love to garden and cook. We started with selecting appliances and creating their layout, and then moved to the cabinetry. Finally, we layered in organizational components, detailing, and finishes for a perfect blend of practicality and style.
We talked about so much more, from AI to the difference between residential and commercial projects. It was a lot of fun to see where the conversation took us. For the full interview, listen to the Convo x Design episode wherever you get your podcasts, or visit the website to listen now!
Header image: Lexy Pierce for The Scout Guide Main Line and Philadelphia
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Glenna Stone Interior Design is an award-winning Philadelphia interior design firm serving Philadelphia, the Main Line, and surrounding cities. Utilizing her background and training in interior design, architecture, and engineering, Glenna specializes in creating interiors for residential and commercial design settings. We invite you to visit our website, view our portfolio, and catch up on the latest interior design concepts on our blog!