What does it take to design for billionaire homeowners, celebrities like David Goggins, and NFL owners—while staying grounded in soul and intention? For interior designer Nour El Nasrani, it's about more than pretty spaces. It's about feeling. The Lebanese-born, Vegas-based founder of By Nour Design joins Danielle to share how she built a luxury design business from scratch, the spiritual side of design, and what our homes secretly say about us.
Nour shares:
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How she landed her first client.
-
The unlikely moment that changed her career—and made her fire her own boss
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What it was really like designing for Navy SEAL David Goggins
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The unexpected trait she uses to win over high-powered clients (hint: it's not her design degree)
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Why she never starts with a Pinterest or style board—and the questions she asks instead
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He 5 rules for making any room look expensive (without spending a fortune)
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The #1 mistake people make when designing a room (you're probably doing it)
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How to create a home that actually helps you de-stress
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Why mood matters more than trend
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Thee rule she breaks in every room she designs
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How she transformed Danielle's apartment + what the inspiration was behind it!
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Plus, a hilarious round of "Smash or Pass: Beige Edition," and the quote that guides her work: "If a place has a soul, it remains alive forever."
If you've ever wanted a home that feels more like you, this episode is your blueprint.
Follow Nour on Instagram here.
Book rec: Live Beautiful by Athena CalderoneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
No one has all the answers, but when we ask
the right questions, we get a little closer, closer to truths,
closer to each other, even closer to ourselves. I'm journalist
Danielle Robe and each week, my guests and I come
together to challenge the status quo and our own ways
of thinking by daring to ask what if, why not?
(00:28):
And who says?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
So?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Come curious, dig deep, and join the conversation. It's time
to question everything. Hello, Hello, Hello, I hope you had
an amazing two weeks. I know I was. Mi Ia
took a little breather, but it was for a good reason.
I promise. I was launching the Reese's book Club podcast
(00:52):
called Bookmarked, and guys, we have a show. We have
another show, so it's it's really a fun show to
do and it's different than this. So if you need
something to listen to on Tuesdays, go check out Bookmarked.
I promise you'll love it. And as always, we have
questioned everything on Thursdays. But I needed that two week
(01:14):
hiatus because you know, when you launch a show, it
just takes all of you. It requires so many meetings
and recordings and rewrites and research and I just I
just wanted it to be special, you know. And we
have a little housekeeping because I've been mia on hiatus
for two weeks. But I zoom with at least one
(01:35):
person a week, one listener a week, and I actually
it's my favorite part of the week for sure. You
all are just the coolest people. I learn from each
one of you. And the whole point is that I'm
supposed to pour into you and either help you with
your business or ask you certain questions, get to know you.
But honestly, you all pour into me so much. I
(01:55):
get so much from these zooms. So the way to
enter is to email hello at Danielle Robay dot com.
Either send a screenshot of your review of the podcast,
or send a screenshot if you've already done that, send
a screenshot, sending an episode to two friends, two people
that you love, and just sharing the question everything love
(02:17):
and yeah, that's open every single week. We pick one
person a week, sometimes two and yeah. It's just my
way of saying thank you. I deeply appreciate you all.
I pour all of me into this and the fact
that you listen and you care and you engage it
(02:37):
just it means the world to me, thank you and
I love meeting you. So without further ado, let's chat
about our episode today. What makes a room, an apartment,
a house absolutely unforgettable. It's not the price tag, it's
(02:58):
not the name brands, it's not even the size of
the space. It's the soul. If you've been listening for
a while, you've probably heard me quote my grandmother's famous line,
collections are four museums. I was raised in a house
that was anti stuff. My dad used to say, Danielle,
if you buy things, then you have to buy things
(03:19):
to take care of the things, and store the things
and clean the things. He was anti things, and honestly,
he's not wrong. Most of the time, stuff is just stuff.
But this year I learned something new. After my apartment
flooded in December and I had to move, I decided
it was time to officially adult. For the first time ever,
(03:42):
I bought furniture that wasn't from Facebook Marketplace because I
wanted this place to actually feel like home. I had
always I'd spent over a decade feeling transient. I didn't
know where I would live, if I would move to
New York or Miami or Chicago, or what I would do, so,
I just never invested in decorating my space, and I
(04:02):
felt like I was on the go so much it
didn't matter. But this time I wanted it to be different.
I wanted this new place to actually feel like home,
and I had a vision. I wanted it to feel
like a one hotel. Now, if you've been to a
one in any city, you know exactly what I mean.
Wood plants, calming sense. It's intentional and grounded and warm.
(04:25):
But if you haven't been to a one hotel, go
grab a coffee in the lobby. Sometime you'll get it,
I promise. But I also knew enough that I couldn't
do it alone. I scoured the internet. I asked friends
for referrals to designers. I even tried one of those
online designer consultation platforms, but nothing felt quite right. I
(04:47):
needed real help. And then one day I was scrolling
Instagram and I found nor El Masrani. She's an interior
designer based in Vegas, and I was instantly drawn in.
Her work was clean, but not cold. It was thoughtful
but not cluttered. So I cold emailed her. You guys know,
I love a cold email. So much of my life
(05:08):
has been because of a cold email, and then fast
forward we decided to work together, and when I got
to know Nor, I loved her even more. Her design
philosophy is simple but powerful. Your space should tell your
story done right. She feels designed should make you feel something, calm, energized, inspired.
(05:29):
It should make you feel like yourself. And Nor didn't
just build a business creating beautiful homes. She built a
reputation for reading the room literally right, like from NFL
owners to David Goggins. She's known for crafting these very soulful,
elevated spaces that are both luxurious and livable. That's so important.
(05:50):
Who wants a pretty couch that isn't comfortable to sit on? Right?
So today Nor shares how to create a home that
reflects you, what to splurge on, what to skip you know,
I did this within a budget. She shares the trends
that she loves, the ones she says are on their
way out, and the biggest mistakes people make when designing
their space. We also talked about how she transformed mine,
(06:13):
but mostly I wanted you to have access to her
brilliance because she was the first person who made this
whole process feel easy and doable. So whether you're starting fresh,
or you're thinking about refreshing a single room, or just
craving a little inspo, or are thinking about it for
the future, this episode will help you fill your space
(06:34):
with meaning and intention and soul. So the question we're
circling today is what does it really mean to give
a space soul? It's time to question everything with Nora
el Nasrani. Welcome to Question Everett. Thanks, thank you, thank
you for being here. You came all the way from Vegas.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
I'm so happy to be here and I get to
finally meet you in person.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
And redecorate our entire sets. So you redid you did
my entire apartment. Yes, we're not done yet.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
We're not done yet. We're not done yet, but yes.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
But I was really excited for you to redo this
set because we leave the chairs and I was like,
the perfect person is coming in today.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Little things, just moving things, and here the proportions just
really help. Without even realizing it's such small changes that help.
But it's beautiful anyway.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Well, one of the things that I understood better after
working with you was the idea read the room. You
know you hear that phrase like read the room and
when you walk in here, what do you read?
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Honestly, I walk in here and I feel just like
zen and comfortable. I feel like your set is so
like like a chameleon. Like I feel like whoever you're
hosting here will feel comfortable. And then also it lets
the person shine. I feel like, so there's not a
lot in the background that's like taking away from the person.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
So that's kind of how I feel. I feel like
it's comfortable.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
That's so nice of you to say thanks. That was
actually the goal because perfect. I think some sets are
really fun to look at. Yes, but I noticed when
I'm watching interviews, I'm looking at the background, yes, like
what candy do they have?
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Oh my god, I'm looking at the candy, the bubblegum
and the little jar, you.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Know, instead of the person and my favorite profile pieces
like writers I always say, are my rock stars and
my favorite profile pieces when you really see the person, yes.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yes, so it's all like, yeah, so that's what I
see first when I want it.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Thanks for saying great job. When did you realize you
had an eye for design?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
So I've been into design for since I was little,
So I grew up around my DA's an architect. My uncle,
like all my uncles are either architects or into your designers.
I grew up in Lebanon, so I grew up around
that a lot, and I was always into the arts.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I was drawing.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
I was I did like an art show when I
was ten, and I was like selling my art for
like fifty dollars. I mean that was amazing when I
was ten, you know, banking, but so I always liked that.
My mom said, I was always just tearing papers and drawing.
I was never like playing with other things. But anyway,
so I knew I always knew I wanted to be
a designer. And then we moved here and I went
(09:15):
into design. I went to architecture school. Even though my
dad was like, don't do it, doesn't pay well, it's
hard work, but I did it. I mean he was
very supportive, but you know what I mean, He's like,
trust me, I know, but so I've just always loved it.
And then once I started, once I learned the technical
aspect because I didn't have that technical background, and then
my actual like designs got to shine. And then I
(09:39):
realized that people were really receptive to that. And I
was like Yeah, this is good.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
So I didn't know you went to architecture school.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Yeah, I have my bachelor's degree and inter architecture.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
So one of the things that I'm very curious about
is the business aspect of design, because you clearly have
the eye, like you walked in here in two seconds
and figured it out. But business is a whole different
part of this. Yes, did you always have that piece
to or was that sort of learned?
Speaker 2 (10:07):
I mean, I want to say I've always had it,
just I've always felt that entrepreneurial spirit that words always
hard to say, but I've always felt that, Like I
literally watched every episode of Shark thaying I'm like really
into that. And I've always known, even just when I
went to school, I knew I wanted to start a business,
and I knew I had to work to get there,
(10:27):
and I just always had the vision and the goal
and I to get there.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
So the business, yes, it's not.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
You know, it's not every creative person's favorite part, dealing
with all that kind of stuff, But it was nice
that it didn't feel so challenging for me because I've
always learned a lot about it.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Did you start the business as soon as you graduated.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
No, no, not at all.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Starting right after school is really tough because you haven't
gotten the experience. And I did not want to fail
right away. So I'm like, because that's kind of when
you start. You can do it, and I've no people
have done it, but it gives you more chances of
you know, failing getting up, failing getting up. I was like,
I'm going to do this this way. So I went
(11:08):
and I worked for a firm out of college. I
worked there for four years, worked my way up. I
started as like a design assistant, and really quickly she
was giving me senior level projects and I worked my
butt off and I would stay like till one am
working their hot glue gun all over my fingers, like.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
It was rough. What was the hot glue gun? For
material boards?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
We would do like presentation boards with fabrics and tiles. Yeah,
And it was in the hospitality world, so we did
like hotels, casinos. I designed multiple like bars on this
strip and I don't advertise it too much because I
like the residential world.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
But so I worked my way up.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
And I worked my ass off for very little money,
Like salaries were around like twenty thousand dollars at the time,
but so but I knew there was an end goal.
I knew that I'm going to gain this you know,
experience and learn, and I was always seeing a way out.
And then I just from there, I went to a
different firm, and then I wanted to get back into residential.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Because that's what I loved, the luxury residentials fees.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
And then I just made so many connections and the
clients that were, you know, going there, they just we
had a really good connection. And then I started I
ended up working for like a a builder group, like
a like a developer.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
So again I just made all these connections with clients there,
and then they started asking me to take on projects
by myself outside of the company on the weekends and nights,
and I was like, yeah, so I started my first project.
This good story about my first project. My client she
owns a private jet. She has a hangar in Henderson
(12:45):
in Vegas basically, and she had like a famous Hollywood
designer designing her homes in Vegas.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
At the Summit, which is where she lives.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And she's like, you know, my designer, this little hangar
is too small for him. You know, he's not he
doesn't take projects like this, would you take it on
the weekends? And I was like, yeah, of course, but
just no Monday through Friday. I can't pick up the phone,
like I have responsibilities at work.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
She's like, no problem, I did it on the weekend.
She loved it.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
She fired her big time Hollywood designer, shout out, I'm
sure you're great. She fired him and hired me to
design her twenty thousand square foot house.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
And then from there it just it was worse.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Were you ready for that project?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Oh yeah, I was ready?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Twenty thousand square feet?
Speaker 3 (13:32):
That's like how much money is?
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Like how much money worth of furniture does it cost
to square feet?
Speaker 3 (13:40):
At millions?
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Millions?
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Yeah, a lot.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
And you knew how to order, where to order whether
a lot of returns?
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Of course, not one, not a single one, Oh my god.
Yeah yeah, not a single one. But it takes time.
That project took three years, so it takes time. It's
not like we're just going in and rushing and ordering things.
It's room by room. So how it started. Actually, after
the hangar she hired me. We developed a good relationship.
(14:08):
She had a spa room in her house. She's like,
he's just not yea, amen. That house stunning. I love you, Cassandra, it'sycling.
But she she's like, the spa is just not getting me,
and I feel like you get me, so can you
just do the spa? And she wasn't even gonna tell him.
She was just gonna be like, here's my idea, like
her own ideas. Okay, I did this spa like in
(14:31):
one weekend, and she was like, love it done. Do
the rest of the house. So that's how it happened.
But I was so ready for it. I mean I
had been ready for it. I was taking on huge
projects at the firms I was working on, and I
was doing everything from A to Z.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I was like meeting clients.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
I was even helping my old boss write contracts for them.
I was doing material sourcing, presentations, renderings, meeting with them.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I was like I would be in a room full.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Of like twenty guys and suits, because that's how it
works in the hotel industry. There's you know, CEOs, and
it's not just one person. Yeah, And so I was
so ready for it. I just had to see my
end to where I had enough connections, and basically I
started getting so many if these like weekend side jobs
from clients being like, we just want to pay you
(15:20):
and not you know, go through company. And then when
I started basically making more than what I was making
making on weekend projects, more than my yearly salary, I
was like time to lead.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
This is it?
Speaker 1 (15:31):
So that's interesting because I think a lot of designers
or future designers would want to know what kind of
the path is and when to leap. So that's smart.
So you work for a firm, you learn what to do,
and then you can make them.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yeah, and obviously there's so many different avenues and aspects.
I mean, some designers I look up to that are
amazing have not gone this route. They didn't even study it,
and you really don't need to study it, to be honest.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
It help me.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
School helped me a lot with time management and figuring
that out, But school didn't teach me how to design.
You know, design is so specific. You have one teacher
telling you if your work is good or not, like
that's their opinion. But there's so many different avenues. Some
people just don't go to school. They just start doing
their friends stuff and then now all of a sudden
they have a huge business. So but this was my
(16:21):
way that I saw was doable, and this was the
way that I was like comfortable with.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
And just you know, took it there.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
That's awesome. Yeah, who are that you mentioned? Designers you
look up to? Who are the people do you have
like two or yes?
Speaker 2 (16:36):
I mean Jake Arnold? Love him, look up to him.
He's amazing. I've met him because we worked together on
a project that summit.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Kelly Wursler icon.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Obsessed doctor in an airport one oh yes, obsessed.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
She's going through security.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
She's not a celebrity, but she is.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
She is.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
She's an icon. Like Kelly. You talked to her.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
I did because I love Oh.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
My god, I love her. I listened to her on podcasts.
So she took a totally different route. Yeah, she was
completely and so did Jake. His his route was different.
They started just they didn't go to schooling. They just
you know, full force. And I totally admire that. Yeah,
that takes guts to just go full force there.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Absolutely, But I was like.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
You know what, I'm gonna do this and I don't
want to struggle as much.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
So you know that I'm obsessed with questions. Yes, And
one thing I noticed when we had our first Zoom session. Yeah,
was you asked a lot of great questions to get
to know the heart of what I was wanting, particularly
because I actually don't have the words to describe what
I want because I'm not in the design world. I
can imagine a lot of people you meet are the same. Yes,
(17:45):
Oh absolutely, I'm curious what kinds of questions you like
to ask clients when you first meet them to really
get an understanding of what they want.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Yeah, this is such a good question because that's really
what we do, is try to figure out what's in
their head when they don't even know. So that's really good.
My first question is really about their lifestyle because we
can figure I can usually figure out what styles they like,
but I first start with their lifestyle, like how they're
using their space, how many in their family, are they
(18:18):
hosting a lot are they not?
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Where do they like to sit?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
You know, all of those kinds of lifestyle questions really
change the space. And then, secondly, because it's really hard
for clients to pinpoint what style they like, and a
lot of times they like multiple different things and it's
our job to bring it together. I don't want them
to be like I want this you know, I want
to also show what I can do. So what I
ask is, I'll ask them, what's your favorite hotel you've
(18:44):
been to? And we talked about that too, which you
actually told it to me right said it to me right.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Away, but well, because I was like, I want my
apartment to look like the one you tell Yeah, yeah,
such a vibe.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
But so I asked them, like, what's their favorite hotel
they've been to, or a restaurant or a lobby or
just anything. And then they'll say that, and I'll be like,
why did you like that? Is it the way it
makes you feel or is it the moodiness the lighting?
So I try to like decipher from that or then
if they're a little more into a little more involved,
then I'll be like, like magazines, Like one of my
(19:15):
clients she loves ad and she'll flip the magazine. I'm like,
rip me pages that are you know, attractive to you
and that appeal to you, and then she'll rip them
and they're all so different. But then I'm right away
I'm able to just know what she's liking in each one.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
With do you have to ask her or you kind
of get the vibe.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
I get the vibe because sometimes it's hard to it's
hard to ask because they don't even know.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
But that's the thing you can't teach, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
So that's why I'm saying schooling.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Yeah, sure we can go learn how to draw things
or do that, but this is the thing you can't
teach is how to just kind of like decipher what
they're wanting just from some photos. And yeah, it's hard
to explain because that's one thing with this. Yeah, like
you can't be taught. You can't be taught that. You
can be taught other technical things, but you know, that
(20:07):
kind of vision, you cannot be taught.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
It's funny because in the hair and makeup world, like
if you use hair and makeup artists, you'll always say, like,
what are you looking for? And it's very hard to describe.
So what you do is you send photos of celebrities, yes,
and you're like, I like this ad or I like
this look. But the thing is is like you could
look completely different in them, and the makeup isn't going
to translate. The same is design the same in that it's.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Pretty similar because honestly, sometimes like you'll show a picture
of somebody in your like I love her makeup. And
then if they don't, what we see is different from
what the you know, professionals sees, so they'll ask, like,
what specifically do you like there?
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Because they have totally different features.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Yeah, so it's the same with the house you see
in a magazine. I mean the house has totally different features. Yeah,
but what do you like? So I ask it's more
about the mood. She'll be like, I like how fun
this room, or I like how dim this is, or
I like how it makes me feel calm, rather than
I like this sofa in this wallpaper and that. So
it's it's more of that. But yeah, it's pretty similar because.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
What i'm the gardener here is like you're basing it
on this feeling. Like I said to you, I want
to walk in and I want to feel totally calm, yes,
like zen yeah, and you're like okay, got it, and
you right away. So sometimes what do people say, Like
they'll say, I want to come in here and feel inspired.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Not inspired, but they'll say, for example, like one of
my clients is her study her like little office, and
she's like, I don't want it to feel like an office.
I wanted to feel like a fun, funky space, and
she's like funky and cool. She's like, I wanted to
feel like that. I want some color. I want like
collage on the walls. And I was like, okay, got it.
(21:50):
And then I could take it into different directions. But
I usually just I find something that's inspiring me and
I go there and then another thing people ask it
or another client say, I wanted to feel worldly, right,
So meaning to me, that means like they wanted to
feel like items have been collected from all over the
world and things you don't see and things maybe that
(22:11):
you saw in a different country that we bring in.
So that helped me gather things from all over the
world in that house and make it feel like they said,
like European.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
You know. So that's kind of where I draw inspiration. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
So I found your work on Instagram, and then after
we connected, I realized that you have designed for some
pretty high profile clients. One that stood out to me
was Dean Spanos, who's the owner of the Chargers. How
did that relationship come about it?
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Dn and Susie are the loveliest people you'll ever meet. Like,
when Susie calls me on the phone, my face lights up.
She calls my husband. His face lights up like she's
She's truly amazing Dan. And Susie was word of mouth
all my clients have, which is, I'm so blessed that
I have that relationship. But one of the sales agents
I believe can meet to them. And we had I
(23:03):
had one meeting with Susie. We had a lunch and
I didn't even show her my work. We had one
lunch and it was in the start too, so I
didn't have my really nice website and all that. And
she's like, Okay, can you start Monday? And I was like, yes,
of course.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
So you told me that that was a life changing project.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Yes, why it's just working seeing how hard they work
and their work ethic. And for Dean to tell me
that he sees that in me, like the hard work
and that work ethic just meant a lot to me
and meant to me that I'm going on the right
that I'm.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Where I'm supposed to be.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Okay, So honestly, every project I have has been life changing,
not just because of the client, just because the relationship
we've developed, what the end product that I loved, you know,
adding a checklist like I did that you know. So honestly,
they're all equally life changing, but working with them is
just a blessing. They're they're so humble, they're so sweet,
(24:03):
so generous with their time, and we developed an amazing
product to the point where Susie she'll call me randomly
and she'll be like, nor everyone compliments me on this.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
She's a sweetheart. Everyone comes compliments me on this. You're amazing.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
She's like, you're the most talented designer. And know am
was like, that's so sweet. There's so many talented designers
out there.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
So she's just she's calls me Tom, she calls me
to pump me up.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Every time Susie calls me, I get an ego boost.
I'm like, I'm feeling good today.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Okay. Well, client stood out to me is David Goggins.
I love David me too. Okay, I just read anybody
who doesn't know. He's a retired US Navy seal, ultra
marathon runner, ultra distance cyclist, triathlete. He wrote the book
Can't Hurt Me, and it kind of popped off because
he had been through so much in his life and
(24:54):
he decided, you know nothing and no one can hurt me.
It's mind over matter, I know, talk about mental tisness. Yeah,
what is it like working with somebody like that in
a design pupacity?
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
I mean I was nervous. Yeah, I was nervous. David
is a force. He is amazing and Jennifer too, They're
amazing and yeah, the first meeting we had because he
is a nobs kind of guy, right, he will call
it how it is. And the first meeting I was nervous.
I was like, this is David. I need to go,
you know, I need to give him everything he doesn't
(25:29):
know he needs. And the best thing about that project
is they did not give me any direction. They really didn't,
and that's why I was nervous, because they were like, look,
you're the professional we.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Hired, you show us what you would do.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
And I was like, that's honestly a scarier than when
they tell me, you know, I'm like, okay. You know,
Challenge accepted his unit, had we have to do a
lot of remodel to it because the unit he had
actually didn't even have a kitchen and it's in a condo.
It's a very weird layout and we had to get
really creative.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
To get them a kitchen even.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
But the best moment I remember is I had just
done my presentation of just something that I would design
for me. And I had just done my presentation and
I don't think David was there. I think it was
Jennifer and she loved it and she's like, I'll show
it to David tonight. He was doing something much much cooler,
you know. And I get a call and I had
(26:24):
just met my husband and I get a call and
we were together, I mean and my husband were in
the car. I get a call like nine PM from
a random number because he doesn't do phones. I don't
know if you guys know this, nott him and I
answer and he goes, no, it's David Goggins. And I
was like, oh my god. I was like, did he
hate it? And he's like, I just want to tell
(26:46):
you you efen crushed it. And I was like, and
he's on speaker and my husband, who was in the
military too, was like.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Holy beep, it's David. And I was just like, this
is so fun cool. You crushed it? Yeah, And he
said it much more.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
You know, I'm not gonna I can't do, you know
what he does. But he's so passionate and for his passion,
for him to show me that passion about how much
he loved it. And then the next time I can say,
I can tell so many stories because these are so fun.
But the next time we had a secondary meeting to
finalize the rest of the house, he got so pumped
he threw the papers on the ground and he was
(27:25):
hyping me up. And I was just like, this is
truly amazing because it shows that this is what I
just what I would design for me, that they loved
it too.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Did his philosophy rub off on you at all?
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (27:37):
Yeah, I mean you started running.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
You know, I was actually in cross country my whole life,
but now I hate it. I hate running so and
you know, props to everyone who can. But yeah, I mean,
being around someone like that, it's it's hard not to
you know, you yeah, you admire them so much that
you're like that. But you know, I've I've always grown
up with that tough mental My dad is, you know,
(28:03):
taught us to be resilient to get up. You know,
some may call it tough love, but I loved it
because it taught me to be resilient and that it
reminded me a lot of what he.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Says, Yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Yeah, I can't imagine for somebody like that his space
needs to be a sanctuary. Yes, because he's doing a
lot during the day. Yeah, so he needs to come
home and enjoy the space that he's in. What are
your rules for making a home a sanctuary?
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Number one, declutter it's number one.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
But everything else, I throw everything.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
If it doesn't mean anything to you, toss it. But
a sanctuary, it's it's really just.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
A feeling, you know, if your day is so hectic,
I usually tend to design the space to be a
lot more zen and a lot less things around, and
a lot less you know, perfectly styled all the time.
It needs to give you a leeway to just whether
you're lounging down on the couch, you know, you get up,
that couch still needs to feel like it's put together.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
What do you think somebody's home says about them?
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Hmmm?
Speaker 2 (29:09):
I mean, I think I think it really shows their personality, But.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
Like, what do you think it says about their true self?
Speaker 2 (29:16):
It really shows how they are on their day to
day life. Like if your home is a little more
eclectic to me, like you're probably a little more you know,
fun and a little more open to risks. You're a
little more of a risk taker. Interesting, and if your
house is a little more subdued, a little more you
know safe, Like it also kind of says that about
you that maybe you are a little safe in your
(29:38):
day to day life, but your personality shows. I mean,
if a house it's booty, that can tell you that
person has that cool, you know, edgy vibe. But yeah,
I mean a space says a lot about you.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
I mean also what you value, right, Like if you
have certain art, it's like, okay that this person cares
about art more than maybe they care about their tables.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
Or one hundred.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
That's great. Yeah, that's a great point. And also the
functionality of the space how you're using it. If you're
valuing comfort over an esthetic that like can't be touched really,
so yeah, exactly what you value in this space is
such a good one.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Have you ever designed a space for somebody who only
cared about aesthetic, like they were like, I don't care
how uncomfortable a chair I.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
Wish, I wish.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
I mean, yeah, sometimes Jake Arnold's work looks like that
to me, Like I'm like, and I'm it may be not,
but it's also perfect.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
How do you set down I know, like the.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Space for Chrissy t. Egan and John Legend.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Yeah, I know. Yond I feel like it's what I've seen.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
You know, it actually reads very comfortable okay to me,
But yeah, I can see I can see some as
a little more cutting edge. And I love like they
had that tree like right in the middle of the house.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
Yes, but I love that.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
There's a fine line between that and you know, you
may get that client that's like, I don't care, We'll
deal with it, you know, do what you do, and
that's a dream client.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
You have this quote on your Instagram bio that I
really love. It says, if a place has a soul,
it remains alive forever. Yeah, how do you give a
place a soul? What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (31:15):
I love this quote. I saw it.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
I was in a hotel Villadesta in Lake Como five
years ago and I saw this quote and since then,
I've like, this is so may I'm like living by it.
What to me, a place that has a soul can
really show your character, can really show that you put
your heart into it. You're not afraid to put objects
that someone else may not like you know, it's it's you.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
And for me, if a place feels.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
A little you know, to what do they call it nowadays,
like Beijing boring? You know, but it just it's adding
your own like so hard to explain, but I feel
like a lot of my projects I put my clients
like mine and their souls into to it. I'm like,
I want to bring you things that you truly enjoy
(32:04):
and things that maybe like give you like a feeling
when you look at them, like this art piece or
this vase or this little fun chair in the corner.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
So just bringing in soul.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
And it doesn't have to mean that it needs to
be colorful and eclectic, but you need to have some
unexpected moments in there. You need it to feel unique
to your person.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
What emotional needs are you trying to meet when you
create a space.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
So this kind of goes I think this kind of
goes back to like.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
If you have a hectic day, you know, hectic life,
hectic work, that you probably want your space to feel
a little more zen. And you know, if your days
are a bit more maybe a little less challenging, I
guess maybe you can have a little more fun in
the house and dedicate a little bit more to that.
So we're always trying to give a feeling of home.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
To be honest, how do you think because your home,
you said, is very like Wabbi Sabbi and Zen.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Right, Yes, I'm trying. It's not a forever home, but
I'm trying.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
How do you design to solve for stress? Can you
give me two or three examples?
Speaker 2 (33:09):
First and foremost is having decluttering and having let everything
have its own space. Okay, so designating objects to spaces
really helps because then you know where everything goes, so
that kind of helps you distress and not being like, oh,
where's every why's everything?
Speaker 3 (33:26):
You know? All over? The other thing is colors too.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
If there's a color that distresses you, some might be blue,
some might be green, some might be white, you know,
and we do have a lot of you know, white
in our house too, and to me it just calms
me those colors and then you have to bring in
a little contrast in that. But you know, and beyond that,
it's really the layout. The layout of the space. You
(33:51):
need enough, you know, movement room, you need enough, you know, egress,
like to walk around between things and not feel so
tight and you know, just can fluttered. I guess I
can find.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
Do you think that design can actually heal something in people?
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (34:09):
I mean absolutely, I think absolutely you can. I mean
maybe maybe separately from a home, on like a bigger
societal level. You know, we see our buildings now and
our houses are all like soa cookie cutter, and I
feel like you really find a join in someone when
they walk into a space, whether it's a building, a hospital,
a school, and you feel like it's open, there's daylight.
(34:32):
It almost heals something and you're like you walk in
and you're like breathing like fresh air.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
Yeah. One of the questions you asked me that I
love was how do you use your space? What are
you using it for? And I had some very specific
things because I work from home, so I'm like, I
do my makeup, my hair and makeup, Like I have
a station that I need, Yes, I have a podcasting space,
so on and so forth. And it made me think
about human first design, which I learned about a few
(34:57):
years ago. And the idea on a societal level is
that like parks, benches, public spaces have been designed as
spaces and then people fit into them, and human first
design is the opposite. You think about the person living
in the space. So for instance, if it's for kids,
you would make the desks shorter, the water fountains are
(35:19):
toilets smaller. And I realized there's this like golden rule
or golden ratio. It's built off of six foot one male.
The average height of men is not six foot even. So,
like if you go into a bathroom and it's like
the shower is so tall, it's because it was built
for the golden ratio. You're really designing human first. Is
(35:40):
that something that they're teaching in schools now or is
that something that you've cultivated.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
I've definitely cultivated that because that's I pride myself in
having a deep connection with my clients and fitting it
to their needs. Yeah, they don't necessarily teach that. They
teach us the golden ratio in school. I can't tell
you how many times we have to study in tests
on that.
Speaker 1 (36:01):
I need to fix the goal. I mean, it makes
me especially mad when I put my luggage up for
TSA's on the conveyor belt because I only do carry
on maintenance like you, and it's so high because.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
It's I know they're high. Yes, I know I.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Get anyways, but.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
You know I love it.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
Yeah, I mean, you really got a design for your
client to have a successful project. That's you know, I
could argue that that's why those the cookie cutter build
their grade should we call them, you know, not trying
to say those are bad, but you can argue that
functionality they don't work because they're not tailored to a
specific person.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
So yeah, that's a great point.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
Okay, this is the big question, yes, because I know
everybody listening that's thinking about designing or redesigning their space
wants to know the biggest mistakes that clients make when
they start with a designer. Easy, I'm gonna tell you,
be brutally honest.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
I'm going to tell you the biggest mistake clients my
client make before they hire me and why they come.
They put too much reliance on the contractor and the
architect and they think that they're designing their space because
a lot of them try and every single time one
of my clients has gone to their contractor architect first,
(37:18):
they've come right back to me and we had lost
a bit of time there. So my advice is always
start with your designer. That's the space you're in every day.
That's what you're seeing every day. So hire your designer first.
Contractors and architects are great. I think when everybody does
what they do best, that's a successful project. There's this
(37:39):
saying at jack of all trades is a master of none,
and it's really really true, like everybody has a specialty
and expertise. And when you hire your designer first, or
even at the same time as your team, a designer
can really get ahead and tell you some of the
things that we can change to the architecture of the
house to make it more functional internally, because an architect
may be looking at on the outside and the contractor
(38:01):
is looking at budgets and the buildout on the timeline.
But designer can help really pull it all in together.
And even with budgets, a designer can really help you
figure out what's worth splurging on and what's not. And
so I see that mistake happening all the time with
clients hiring their contractor maybe their contractor says.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
I can design it. I'll you know, I'll design it.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
For you, or at the arctech And the most successful
projects was when all three of us work as a.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Team Okay, that's that's so interesting. I didn't know that.
Is there anything else that comes to mind?
Speaker 2 (38:37):
The other biggest thing is proportions. That's the one thing
that if somebody's self designing or even yeah, yeah, I mean,
if somebody is self designing their space, that's the one
thing I see people get wrong. But ninety nine percent
of the time is the proportions.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Yeah, say more like do you because what I see
is that people under estate make the size of the
furniture you need. They usually make things too small, like
the chandelier is too small or this coffee table is
too small.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Exactly, yes.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
And the thing with putting items that are smaller than
the space calls for now your host to space feels
small and feels off. So but there's different ways that proportions,
the right proportions can help your space. For example, if
you have low ceilings and you're building like let's say
a cabinet wall or something, try to keep things lower,
like if you're doing.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
Let's say, like a little shelf.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
It's going to be hard to explain, but make some
things lower, like maybe you have a little ledge that's
lower rather than tall cabinets with shelving on top. And
that's going to help your trick your eye to thinking
that the space is taller because of the things we're
using in it. So maybe your furniture is a little
bit lower to help give more height to the to
(39:50):
the space. But the other thing is is I see
a lot of the times arts too small, couches, rugs.
It's a big one. Rugs are too so go bigger.
If if you're in doubt, just go bigger.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
You know, what is the first piece of furniture that
you purchase when you're designing a space? Do you start
with the coffee table? No?
Speaker 2 (40:09):
I usually start with whatever the biggest item in the
room is. Okay, So if it's a living room, a sofa,
if it's a bedroom, a bed, so we I always
like to start with the bigger piece because that helps
tell me what other space I have to work with,
because that's the more important piece in that room.
Speaker 1 (40:26):
That's actually a really helpful small tip. Oh good, that's
really good. What are spots in people's homes where we
could probably benefit from some bigger small changes? Are there
areas that you gravitate towards.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Areas in people's homes? Hmm, to think about that, one.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
I'll tell you tell me more, I mean, and you
tell me.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
This question is coming from if the esthetic is fun
and eclectic and cluttered, then it works. Yeah, but most
people's is not. Most people's design is a little bit zen.
And I find too many coffee table books, too many plants,
Like it's just very much right, right, What do you
think people could benefit from, God looking through the nore lens.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Yeah, yeah, so like the less is more concept, Yeah,
I think what people The thing is, it can be
done the right way.
Speaker 3 (41:19):
Even less is more is also great.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
But also sometimes more is more is great, you know,
especially in this era of like maximalism. But I think
where people go wrong is like the layout of things.
Like let's take your example, your you know, yeah example
for example, like the coffee table books. Yeah, there might
be a lot, there might be a lot of accessories
on the shelf, but it's about how you put it together,
(41:44):
Like there has to be there has to be a
height variance, like the specific heighth variance that helps. So
whether you start with something let's say on the left
corner that's a bit taller, and then you have to
supplement it with something in the middle. Maybe that's like
like a book, like something a little shallower, and then
you have to come down to that corner and maybe
put like a grouping of two.
Speaker 3 (42:06):
So it's more about arranging.
Speaker 2 (42:09):
I think a lot of people have the right stuff,
but the arrangement is what's off. I mean, we just
kind of did that here in your studio, even though
it's gorgeous, just little things that we arranged to give
a little more height, you know, to the background, a
little more.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Yeah, just I was shocked how little things made a
big difference. Yes, like moving one book.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
Yes, yes, moving, yes, exactly.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
What was your childhood home?
Speaker 2 (42:35):
Like? My childhood home is my favorite home. So I
grew up in Lebanon, and the homes there back in
the Mediterranean, basically they are really like homogeneous with the
land around it, so which I love and which is
what's hard to replicate when you're outside of that land.
But the house I grew up when was all rocks,
(42:59):
Like the whole thing was made out of you know,
the stacked stone, so there was no drywall on the
inside of the house, the X tier in the interior
where it was all one material. You can tell there
was like true craftsmen in there. This It was this
chimney stove top, real oak flooring, you know, with the
parquet flooring. It was just gorgeous and even though it
(43:21):
wasn't a big space, it really felt like home. And
that home is still in our family. My uncle now
has it because we had to sell to move here,
but I love visiting. It's gorgeous, you know, it just
it really feels like what everyone is trying to go
back to. Is that kind of like simple life of
(43:42):
like growing your own vegetables and fruits and living in
a house that really makes you feel cozy and warm.
Speaker 1 (43:51):
Do you think that growing up in that house influenced
how you designed today?
Speaker 3 (43:56):
Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (43:57):
I mean I've always said that my style gives an
o to my Mediterranean you know, heritage, And what I
love most is that they designed the space is there
to be homogeneous with the land around it and to
kind of like take inspiration from that. So you see
a lot of the raw natural materials, the plasters, the stone,
the limestone, the woods, and that real like craftsmanship. So
(44:21):
I really try to bring that almost in every project.
Even if the project doesn't have that look, there's always
that bit of like twist in there. Yeah, And I
always like to add something a little unexpected than you
see from a typical like Mediterranean style.
Speaker 3 (44:35):
But yeah, yeah I did.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
One of the things I've been talking about with my
friends a lot lately is home ownership, because it's nearly
impossible to buy a home in La. Are there tips
you have for making a space feel lux without spending
a ton of money?
Speaker 3 (44:50):
Yes? Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
I mean luxury design doesn't have to always mean a
huge budget. It means being intentional with what you buy,
taking your time, not going to a showman, just buying
everything you see and putting it together. It's really about
taking the time, adding functionality to the space, letting things
speak to you, almost like you see an object that
you know that you kind of develop a feeling for.
(45:14):
But there's tons of little things like honestly, window coverings,
window treatments and coverings can really really change up a space.
And we saw that with your space too. And it's
something that's really easy that you can just put up
and it really helps cozy it down from that. You know,
cookie cutter looks, so that helps a lot. You know,
fresh coat of paint always helps to that's a good one. Yeah, fresh,
(45:38):
You know, nothing cannot be solved without a fresh.
Speaker 3 (45:41):
Code oft I like that.
Speaker 1 (45:43):
Yeah, okay, what's worth investing in and what's worth saving
it in the house.
Speaker 2 (45:48):
So I would say what's worth investing in the most
is the pieces that you use the most that you're
gonna be Like, for example, your sofa. You're on that
every single day. You know you're gathering, you're hosting, you're
developing memories there, so you want that piece to really
last you. So I think bigger pieces like that, whether
it's sofa or for example, your bed and your bedding.
(46:11):
Like a good betting, you know, you really feel like
you're on a cloud. So I would say invest in
the pieces that you're using the most, especially if you
can get things that are modular, like like one of
my sofas, for example, because I know that we'll probably
be moving soon. It's a modular piece. I can always
add on to it in the future. So that's nice too.
Speaker 1 (46:31):
But that's one of the perils of design is you
spend money on a space and then when you move. Yes,
it's very hard. No matter how nice the piece is,
it just always fits a little.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
I know, it's hard. Yeah, modular furniture is really nice.
Speaker 1 (46:44):
For that give me Five steps to make any room gorgeous.
Speaker 3 (46:47):
Okay, five steps to make your room gorgeous. Okay.
Speaker 2 (46:50):
Number one, paint your walls, baseboards, and ceiling the same color.
Speaker 1 (46:56):
It's good.
Speaker 3 (46:56):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (46:57):
Number two, no accident walls. Please ditch the accent walls.
It is your room is supposed to feel, you know,
one space. Number three, like I said before, go bigger rugs,
go bigger curtains, go taller, art larger, so it really
really helps. Number four, use raw and natural materials, you know, hardware, stones,
(47:21):
anything that you can that you feel like you're finding
in nature. Yes, raw, bronze finished for example, bronze hardware versus.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
A matte black hardware.
Speaker 2 (47:31):
And then number five layer with textures. Do a lot
of layering, whether it's textures, colors, at things in varying heights.
So the room should feel layered, and that really will
get you good room.
Speaker 3 (47:46):
That was so good.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
All the kids are clapping like this. They want to
give you a silent clap.
Speaker 4 (47:49):
That was so good.
Speaker 1 (47:51):
Okay, rapid fire, Okay, are you ready?
Speaker 3 (47:56):
Yes, I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (47:57):
What's the first thing you noticed when you walk into
somebody home.
Speaker 2 (48:01):
I want to say clutter, but I don't want to
sound like I'm judging anyone, but functionality.
Speaker 1 (48:06):
When you start out designing a room, what's the first
piece you start with.
Speaker 3 (48:10):
The biggest item in the room?
Speaker 1 (48:11):
Interior designer, hot take, Oh.
Speaker 2 (48:14):
Ditch the orchids orchids. It feels like you're in the
dentist office. Do not display orchids.
Speaker 1 (48:20):
My dad was a dentist, and I agree. What's the
fastest way to make a room look more expensive?
Speaker 3 (48:28):
Room look more expensive? Proportions? Okay, the right proportions.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
What's a design rule that's totally outdated?
Speaker 2 (48:35):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (48:36):
I have so many?
Speaker 2 (48:37):
Okay that you can't you have to only use light
colors in a smaller room. A small room can also
be moody and dark. Not mixing metals, overhead lighting or
over that.
Speaker 1 (48:49):
What's your toxic trade as a designer?
Speaker 3 (48:52):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (48:52):
Yeah, my designs are never easy, Like contractors are borderline
love me and hate me because I'm always challenging them.
Speaker 1 (48:59):
That's cool. Yeah, what's one thing that renters can do
to make their home feel custom and LUs But like
you know, when you rent, you can't change furnishings.
Speaker 2 (49:07):
The first thing I would do is change all your
overhead lighting to a warm white.
Speaker 3 (49:12):
Yeah, we have to do It's so easy.
Speaker 2 (49:17):
Really, it's so easy, my husband, this.
Speaker 1 (49:23):
Whole process has been like sort of a test for
me because I hate doing real life things.
Speaker 3 (49:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (49:29):
Yeah, I love working like I hate.
Speaker 3 (49:33):
Figuring out lighting.
Speaker 1 (49:34):
I hate fixing the dishwasher. Yes, so this has been
a good test ring. I'm going to fix my lighting.
Speaker 3 (49:38):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (49:39):
Yes, what's a design rule?
Speaker 3 (49:40):
You love to break overhead lighting?
Speaker 1 (49:43):
Don't do it?
Speaker 3 (49:44):
I hate overhead lighting. Yes, it's not a you know,
it's really to do. It's hard.
Speaker 2 (49:49):
I mean, the house is with it. You know, it's
like per code. But you know there's I love dim lighting.
I love lighting that's grounded, like your floor lines are
table lamps, and you.
Speaker 1 (49:59):
Know love Do you do warm lighting not cold?
Speaker 3 (50:02):
Yes? Warm lighting? Yes.
Speaker 1 (50:04):
The item that you would save from your house if
you could only pick one thing.
Speaker 2 (50:08):
So my husband and I we di wied a coffee
table and I love it so much. I drew like
an organic shape on a piece of wood. He cut it,
we stained it, we trimmed it, and it looks so gorgeous.
So we're saving that. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (50:24):
Okay, what's a book that you've read that changed your life?
Something you think everybody should read.
Speaker 2 (50:29):
So, I mean definitely while working with David Goggins, you know,
I've read his books Can't Hurt Me and Never Finish,
and they're really they're really just so inspirational.
Speaker 1 (50:38):
So yeah, what's something that every woman should try once?
Speaker 2 (50:43):
What's something every woman should try once? I know, try
going out with no makeup. Some are nice, some are fancy.
Get dressed up and lose the makeup and feel confident.
Speaker 1 (50:55):
That's no one's ever said that.
Speaker 3 (50:57):
That's a great Yeah, you'll it.
Speaker 2 (51:00):
You'll be surprised how much it changes your confidence and
your ability to be like I don't care.
Speaker 3 (51:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (51:07):
Hey, grab the Question Everything card game next to you
and pick a card whicheverone calls to you. It's like taro.
Speaker 3 (51:14):
Okay, we got to mix them up.
Speaker 2 (51:16):
Yeah, how would you describe yourself to a stranger? M
How would I describe myself? I feel like I'm a
very excited person. In fact, I get excited over things.
I care a lot about things, and then I'm a
little fun and crazy sometimes and loyal. That's really loyal
(51:39):
to friends, to family, to that. Yeah, hopefully that's how
they would describe me to.
Speaker 1 (51:46):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (51:47):
Current faves, Yes, love that people are always asking me
about that.
Speaker 1 (51:52):
Current faves. Okay, current faves. What's your favorite stone right now?
Speaker 2 (51:57):
I love Chapel Beije or in that family, go to
off white paint Baby Fawn.
Speaker 3 (52:04):
By Benjamin Moore. Love it? I love you? Yeah, because
I just used it and it's now my new favorite.
Speaker 1 (52:11):
A design style you love.
Speaker 2 (52:14):
So. I love Wabbi sabi, but not the mainstream wabi
sabi that everyone's now. That term is being used very loosely,
the you know, pure form of wobbi sabi that you
know axel Vervort does stunning.
Speaker 3 (52:27):
Agreed.
Speaker 1 (52:27):
Yeah, if you had to choose one favorite store to
furnish a house.
Speaker 3 (52:31):
With, oh the future, perfect, gorgeous.
Speaker 1 (52:34):
A brand you're obsessed with.
Speaker 2 (52:37):
Okay, I'm gonna give you lighting, furniture and accessories because
I just can't pick one furniture. I'm obsessed with Andreana Shamaris.
She does custom like raw natural wood furniture, accessories, l
Ees collection, and lighting apparatus.
Speaker 3 (52:53):
Obsessed.
Speaker 1 (52:54):
A color you didn't expect to love, but you do?
Speaker 3 (52:57):
Purple?
Speaker 2 (52:58):
What?
Speaker 3 (52:58):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (53:00):
Like lilac or deep purple? What are we talking about?
Every single shade of purple? I just use this stone
that has purples and greens. It's called four season. That
might have to be my new favorite stone.
Speaker 2 (53:11):
In your question, gorgeous burgundy, I mean your burgundy tophaser
purple is burgundy purple.
Speaker 3 (53:17):
It's a shade of it.
Speaker 1 (53:18):
My god.
Speaker 3 (53:19):
Yeah, we're putting in that family.
Speaker 1 (53:20):
Okay, in art style that you're craving in homes right now.
Speaker 3 (53:24):
Oh, tapestry on the walls.
Speaker 1 (53:27):
Cool. Yeah, that's very Turkish if you like. Yeah, a
design rule, you're happily breaking.
Speaker 2 (53:32):
Design room, happily breaking, mixing wood tones and mixing metals.
Speaker 1 (53:37):
A coffee table book you always include.
Speaker 2 (53:39):
That's really hard because coffee table books are so so
specific to my clients. So there's not one I'm ever
repeating because it just doesn't make sense.
Speaker 3 (53:47):
But I love Acoline.
Speaker 2 (53:49):
That's the brand that you can They have the best
coffee table books.
Speaker 1 (53:52):
Cool. A product you stockpile before it sells out.
Speaker 2 (53:57):
A product, so it's not specifically a product, but once
you find cutlery or like dishes, like or cups something,
and you love stock pilot because it will go out
of stock and then you have to get a whole
news and.
Speaker 1 (54:09):
Then you break on and yes, yes or yeah, exactly
a plant or floral that you're using NonStop.
Speaker 3 (54:15):
Plant.
Speaker 2 (54:17):
I love a plant called Song of India. It's gorgeous.
And then flowers, love laurals, nanculous.
Speaker 3 (54:26):
I don't know if I'm saying it. Oh you said,
say much better.
Speaker 1 (54:29):
I'm like, they're beautiful, Yeah, gorgeous, gorgeous hardware finish. You're
having a love affair with bronze most design forward hotel
you stayed in.
Speaker 3 (54:38):
I love the Santa Monica Proper.
Speaker 1 (54:40):
Oh yeah, Kelly Wrozler interior design account that you're stalking
on Instagram.
Speaker 2 (54:47):
I love Visual Pleasure magazines. Visual Pleasure mag the handle.
Speaker 1 (54:51):
Most underrated styling object, plants cool. You are so talented
and wonderful and you're really truly a wonderful person to.
Speaker 3 (55:01):
Work Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (55:03):
You've been amazing to work with. I feel like I'm
working with like a best friend, like me. So much fun.
Speaker 1 (55:08):
We really have. We giggled a lot. Okay, you know
what time it is. Today's a good day to have
a good day. I'll see you next week.
No one has all the answers, but when we ask
the right questions, we get a little closer, closer to truths,
closer to each other, even closer to ourselves. I'm journalist
Danielle Robe and each week, my guests and I come
together to challenge the status quo and our own ways
of thinking by daring to ask what if, why not?
(00:28):
And who says?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
So?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Come curious, dig deep, and join the conversation. It's time
to question everything. Hello, Hello, Hello, I hope you had
an amazing two weeks. I know I was. Mi Ia
took a little breather, but it was for a good reason.
I promise. I was launching the Reese's book Club podcast
(00:52):
called Bookmarked, and guys, we have a show. We have
another show, so it's it's really a fun show to
do and it's different than this. So if you need
something to listen to on Tuesdays, go check out Bookmarked.
I promise you'll love it. And as always, we have
questioned everything on Thursdays. But I needed that two week
(01:14):
hiatus because you know, when you launch a show, it
just takes all of you. It requires so many meetings
and recordings and rewrites and research and I just I
just wanted it to be special, you know. And we
have a little housekeeping because I've been mia on hiatus
for two weeks. But I zoom with at least one
(01:35):
person a week, one listener a week, and I actually
it's my favorite part of the week for sure. You
all are just the coolest people. I learn from each
one of you. And the whole point is that I'm
supposed to pour into you and either help you with
your business or ask you certain questions, get to know you.
But honestly, you all pour into me so much. I
(01:55):
get so much from these zooms. So the way to
enter is to email hello at Danielle Robay dot com.
Either send a screenshot of your review of the podcast,
or send a screenshot if you've already done that, send
a screenshot, sending an episode to two friends, two people
that you love, and just sharing the question everything love
(02:17):
and yeah, that's open every single week. We pick one
person a week, sometimes two and yeah. It's just my
way of saying thank you. I deeply appreciate you all.
I pour all of me into this and the fact
that you listen and you care and you engage it
(02:37):
just it means the world to me, thank you and
I love meeting you. So without further ado, let's chat
about our episode today. What makes a room, an apartment,
a house absolutely unforgettable. It's not the price tag, it's
(02:58):
not the name brands, it's not even the size of
the space. It's the soul. If you've been listening for
a while, you've probably heard me quote my grandmother's famous line,
collections are four museums. I was raised in a house
that was anti stuff. My dad used to say, Danielle,
if you buy things, then you have to buy things
(03:19):
to take care of the things, and store the things
and clean the things. He was anti things, and honestly,
he's not wrong. Most of the time, stuff is just stuff.
But this year I learned something new. After my apartment
flooded in December and I had to move, I decided
it was time to officially adult. For the first time ever,
(03:42):
I bought furniture that wasn't from Facebook Marketplace because I
wanted this place to actually feel like home. I had
always I'd spent over a decade feeling transient. I didn't
know where I would live, if I would move to
New York or Miami or Chicago, or what I would do, so,
I just never invested in decorating my space, and I
(04:02):
felt like I was on the go so much it
didn't matter. But this time I wanted it to be different.
I wanted this new place to actually feel like home,
and I had a vision. I wanted it to feel
like a one hotel. Now, if you've been to a
one in any city, you know exactly what I mean.
Wood plants, calming sense. It's intentional and grounded and warm.
(04:25):
But if you haven't been to a one hotel, go
grab a coffee in the lobby. Sometime you'll get it,
I promise. But I also knew enough that I couldn't
do it alone. I scoured the internet. I asked friends
for referrals to designers. I even tried one of those
online designer consultation platforms, but nothing felt quite right. I
(04:47):
needed real help. And then one day I was scrolling
Instagram and I found nor El Masrani. She's an interior
designer based in Vegas, and I was instantly drawn in.
Her work was clean, but not cold. It was thoughtful
but not cluttered. So I cold emailed her. You guys know,
I love a cold email. So much of my life
(05:08):
has been because of a cold email, and then fast
forward we decided to work together, and when I got
to know Nor, I loved her even more. Her design
philosophy is simple but powerful. Your space should tell your
story done right. She feels designed should make you feel something, calm, energized, inspired.
(05:29):
It should make you feel like yourself. And Nor didn't
just build a business creating beautiful homes. She built a
reputation for reading the room literally right, like from NFL
owners to David Goggins. She's known for crafting these very soulful,
elevated spaces that are both luxurious and livable. That's so important.
(05:50):
Who wants a pretty couch that isn't comfortable to sit on? Right?
So today Nor shares how to create a home that
reflects you, what to splurge on, what to skip you know,
I did this within a budget. She shares the trends
that she loves, the ones she says are on their
way out, and the biggest mistakes people make when designing
their space. We also talked about how she transformed mine,
(06:13):
but mostly I wanted you to have access to her
brilliance because she was the first person who made this
whole process feel easy and doable. So whether you're starting fresh,
or you're thinking about refreshing a single room, or just
craving a little inspo, or are thinking about it for
the future, this episode will help you fill your space
(06:34):
with meaning and intention and soul. So the question we're
circling today is what does it really mean to give
a space soul? It's time to question everything with Nora
el Nasrani. Welcome to Question Everett. Thanks, thank you, thank
you for being here. You came all the way from Vegas.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
I'm so happy to be here and I get to
finally meet you in person.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
And redecorate our entire sets. So you redid you did
my entire apartment. Yes, we're not done yet.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
We're not done yet. We're not done yet, but yes.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
But I was really excited for you to redo this
set because we leave the chairs and I was like,
the perfect person is coming in today.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Little things, just moving things, and here the proportions just
really help. Without even realizing it's such small changes that help.
But it's beautiful anyway.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Well, one of the things that I understood better after
working with you was the idea read the room. You
know you hear that phrase like read the room and
when you walk in here, what do you read?
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Honestly, I walk in here and I feel just like
zen and comfortable. I feel like your set is so
like like a chameleon. Like I feel like whoever you're
hosting here will feel comfortable. And then also it lets
the person shine. I feel like, so there's not a
lot in the background that's like taking away from the person.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
So that's kind of how I feel. I feel like
it's comfortable.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
That's so nice of you to say thanks. That was
actually the goal because perfect. I think some sets are
really fun to look at. Yes, but I noticed when
I'm watching interviews, I'm looking at the background, yes, like
what candy do they have?
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Oh my god, I'm looking at the candy, the bubblegum
and the little jar, you.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Know, instead of the person and my favorite profile pieces
like writers I always say, are my rock stars and
my favorite profile pieces when you really see the person, yes.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Yes, so it's all like, yeah, so that's what I
see first when I want it.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Thanks for saying great job. When did you realize you
had an eye for design?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
So I've been into design for since I was little,
So I grew up around my DA's an architect. My uncle,
like all my uncles are either architects or into your designers.
I grew up in Lebanon, so I grew up around
that a lot, and I was always into the arts.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
I was drawing.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
I was I did like an art show when I
was ten, and I was like selling my art for
like fifty dollars. I mean that was amazing when I
was ten, you know, banking, but so I always liked that.
My mom said, I was always just tearing papers and drawing.
I was never like playing with other things. But anyway,
so I knew I always knew I wanted to be
a designer. And then we moved here and I went
(09:15):
into design. I went to architecture school. Even though my
dad was like, don't do it, doesn't pay well, it's
hard work, but I did it. I mean he was
very supportive, but you know what I mean, He's like,
trust me, I know, but so I've just always loved it.
And then once I started, once I learned the technical
aspect because I didn't have that technical background, and then
my actual like designs got to shine. And then I
(09:39):
realized that people were really receptive to that. And I
was like Yeah, this is good.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
So I didn't know you went to architecture school.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Yeah, I have my bachelor's degree and inter architecture.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
So one of the things that I'm very curious about
is the business aspect of design, because you clearly have
the eye, like you walked in here in two seconds
and figured it out. But business is a whole different
part of this. Yes, did you always have that piece
to or was that sort of learned?
Speaker 2 (10:07):
I mean, I want to say I've always had it,
just I've always felt that entrepreneurial spirit that words always
hard to say, but I've always felt that, Like I
literally watched every episode of Shark thaying I'm like really
into that. And I've always known, even just when I
went to school, I knew I wanted to start a business,
and I knew I had to work to get there,
(10:27):
and I just always had the vision and the goal
and I to get there.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
So the business, yes, it's not.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
You know, it's not every creative person's favorite part, dealing
with all that kind of stuff, But it was nice
that it didn't feel so challenging for me because I've
always learned a lot about it.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Did you start the business as soon as you graduated.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
No, no, not at all.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Starting right after school is really tough because you haven't
gotten the experience. And I did not want to fail
right away. So I'm like, because that's kind of when
you start. You can do it, and I've no people
have done it, but it gives you more chances of
you know, failing getting up, failing getting up. I was like,
I'm going to do this this way. So I went
(11:08):
and I worked for a firm out of college. I
worked there for four years, worked my way up. I
started as like a design assistant, and really quickly she
was giving me senior level projects and I worked my
butt off and I would stay like till one am
working their hot glue gun all over my fingers, like.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
It was rough. What was the hot glue gun? For
material boards?
Speaker 2 (11:29):
We would do like presentation boards with fabrics and tiles. Yeah,
And it was in the hospitality world, so we did
like hotels, casinos. I designed multiple like bars on this
strip and I don't advertise it too much because I
like the residential world.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
But so I worked my way up.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
And I worked my ass off for very little money,
Like salaries were around like twenty thousand dollars at the time,
but so but I knew there was an end goal.
I knew that I'm going to gain this you know,
experience and learn, and I was always seeing a way out.
And then I just from there, I went to a
different firm, and then I wanted to get back into residential.
Speaker 3 (12:06):
Because that's what I loved, the luxury residentials fees.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
And then I just made so many connections and the
clients that were, you know, going there, they just we
had a really good connection. And then I started I
ended up working for like a a builder group, like
a like a developer.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
So again I just made all these connections with clients there,
and then they started asking me to take on projects
by myself outside of the company on the weekends and nights,
and I was like, yeah, so I started my first project.
This good story about my first project. My client she
owns a private jet. She has a hangar in Henderson
(12:45):
in Vegas basically, and she had like a famous Hollywood
designer designing her homes in Vegas.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
At the Summit, which is where she lives.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And she's like, you know, my designer, this little hangar
is too small for him. You know, he's not he
doesn't take projects like this, would you take it on
the weekends? And I was like, yeah, of course, but
just no Monday through Friday. I can't pick up the phone,
like I have responsibilities at work.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
She's like, no problem, I did it on the weekend.
She loved it.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
She fired her big time Hollywood designer, shout out, I'm
sure you're great. She fired him and hired me to
design her twenty thousand square foot house.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
And then from there it just it was worse.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Were you ready for that project?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Oh yeah, I was ready?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Twenty thousand square feet?
Speaker 3 (13:32):
That's like how much money is?
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Like how much money worth of furniture does it cost
to square feet?
Speaker 3 (13:40):
At millions?
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Millions?
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Yeah, a lot.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
And you knew how to order, where to order whether
a lot of returns?
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Of course, not one, not a single one, Oh my god.
Yeah yeah, not a single one. But it takes time.
That project took three years, so it takes time. It's
not like we're just going in and rushing and ordering things.
It's room by room. So how it started. Actually, after
the hangar she hired me. We developed a good relationship.
(14:08):
She had a spa room in her house. She's like,
he's just not yea, amen. That house stunning. I love you, Cassandra, it'sycling.
But she she's like, the spa is just not getting me,
and I feel like you get me, so can you
just do the spa? And she wasn't even gonna tell him.
She was just gonna be like, here's my idea, like
her own ideas. Okay, I did this spa like in
(14:31):
one weekend, and she was like, love it done. Do
the rest of the house. So that's how it happened.
But I was so ready for it. I mean I
had been ready for it. I was taking on huge
projects at the firms I was working on, and I
was doing everything from A to Z.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I was like meeting clients.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
I was even helping my old boss write contracts for them.
I was doing material sourcing, presentations, renderings, meeting with them.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I was like I would be in a room full.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Of like twenty guys and suits, because that's how it
works in the hotel industry. There's you know, CEOs, and
it's not just one person. Yeah, And so I was
so ready for it. I just had to see my
end to where I had enough connections, and basically I
started getting so many if these like weekend side jobs
from clients being like, we just want to pay you
(15:20):
and not you know, go through company. And then when
I started basically making more than what I was making
making on weekend projects, more than my yearly salary, I
was like time to lead.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
This is it?
Speaker 1 (15:31):
So that's interesting because I think a lot of designers
or future designers would want to know what kind of
the path is and when to leap. So that's smart.
So you work for a firm, you learn what to do,
and then you can make them.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yeah, and obviously there's so many different avenues and aspects.
I mean, some designers I look up to that are
amazing have not gone this route. They didn't even study it,
and you really don't need to study it, to be honest.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
It help me.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
School helped me a lot with time management and figuring
that out, But school didn't teach me how to design.
You know, design is so specific. You have one teacher
telling you if your work is good or not, like
that's their opinion. But there's so many different avenues. Some
people just don't go to school. They just start doing
their friends stuff and then now all of a sudden
they have a huge business. So but this was my
(16:21):
way that I saw was doable, and this was the
way that I was like comfortable with.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
And just you know, took it there.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
That's awesome. Yeah, who are that you mentioned? Designers you
look up to? Who are the people do you have
like two or yes?
Speaker 2 (16:36):
I mean Jake Arnold? Love him, look up to him.
He's amazing. I've met him because we worked together on
a project that summit.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Kelly Wursler icon.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Obsessed doctor in an airport one oh yes, obsessed.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
She's going through security.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
She's not a celebrity, but she is.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
She is.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
She's an icon. Like Kelly. You talked to her.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
I did because I love Oh.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
My god, I love her. I listened to her on podcasts.
So she took a totally different route. Yeah, she was
completely and so did Jake. His his route was different.
They started just they didn't go to schooling. They just
you know, full force. And I totally admire that. Yeah,
that takes guts to just go full force there.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Absolutely, But I was like.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
You know what, I'm gonna do this and I don't
want to struggle as much.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
So you know that I'm obsessed with questions. Yes, And
one thing I noticed when we had our first Zoom session. Yeah,
was you asked a lot of great questions to get
to know the heart of what I was wanting, particularly
because I actually don't have the words to describe what
I want because I'm not in the design world. I
can imagine a lot of people you meet are the same. Yes,
(17:45):
Oh absolutely, I'm curious what kinds of questions you like
to ask clients when you first meet them to really
get an understanding of what they want.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Yeah, this is such a good question because that's really
what we do, is try to figure out what's in
their head when they don't even know. So that's really good.
My first question is really about their lifestyle because we
can figure I can usually figure out what styles they like,
but I first start with their lifestyle, like how they're
using their space, how many in their family, are they
(18:18):
hosting a lot are they not?
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Where do they like to sit?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
You know, all of those kinds of lifestyle questions really
change the space. And then, secondly, because it's really hard
for clients to pinpoint what style they like, and a
lot of times they like multiple different things and it's
our job to bring it together. I don't want them
to be like I want this you know, I want
to also show what I can do. So what I
ask is, I'll ask them, what's your favorite hotel you've
(18:44):
been to? And we talked about that too, which you
actually told it to me right said it to me right.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Away, but well, because I was like, I want my
apartment to look like the one you tell Yeah, yeah,
such a vibe.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
But so I asked them, like, what's their favorite hotel
they've been to, or a restaurant or a lobby or
just anything. And then they'll say that, and I'll be like,
why did you like that? Is it the way it
makes you feel or is it the moodiness the lighting?
So I try to like decipher from that or then
if they're a little more into a little more involved,
then I'll be like, like magazines, Like one of my
(19:15):
clients she loves ad and she'll flip the magazine. I'm like,
rip me pages that are you know, attractive to you
and that appeal to you, and then she'll rip them
and they're all so different. But then I'm right away
I'm able to just know what she's liking in each one.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
With do you have to ask her or you kind
of get the vibe.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
I get the vibe because sometimes it's hard to it's
hard to ask because they don't even know.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
But that's the thing you can't teach, yeah, exactly.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
So that's why I'm saying schooling.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Yeah, sure we can go learn how to draw things
or do that, but this is the thing you can't
teach is how to just kind of like decipher what
they're wanting just from some photos. And yeah, it's hard
to explain because that's one thing with this. Yeah, like
you can't be taught. You can't be taught that. You
can be taught other technical things, but you know, that
(20:07):
kind of vision, you cannot be taught.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
It's funny because in the hair and makeup world, like
if you use hair and makeup artists, you'll always say, like,
what are you looking for? And it's very hard to describe.
So what you do is you send photos of celebrities, yes,
and you're like, I like this ad or I like
this look. But the thing is is like you could
look completely different in them, and the makeup isn't going
to translate. The same is design the same in that it's.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Pretty similar because honestly, sometimes like you'll show a picture
of somebody in your like I love her makeup. And
then if they don't, what we see is different from
what the you know, professionals sees, so they'll ask, like,
what specifically do you like there?
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Because they have totally different features.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Yeah, so it's the same with the house you see
in a magazine. I mean the house has totally different features. Yeah,
but what do you like? So I ask it's more
about the mood. She'll be like, I like how fun
this room, or I like how dim this is, or
I like how it makes me feel calm, rather than
I like this sofa in this wallpaper and that. So
it's it's more of that. But yeah, it's pretty similar because.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
What i'm the gardener here is like you're basing it
on this feeling. Like I said to you, I want
to walk in and I want to feel totally calm, yes,
like zen yeah, and you're like okay, got it, and
you right away. So sometimes what do people say, Like
they'll say, I want to come in here and feel inspired.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Not inspired, but they'll say, for example, like one of
my clients is her study her like little office, and
she's like, I don't want it to feel like an office.
I wanted to feel like a fun, funky space, and
she's like funky and cool. She's like, I wanted to
feel like that. I want some color. I want like
collage on the walls. And I was like, okay, got it.
(21:50):
And then I could take it into different directions. But
I usually just I find something that's inspiring me and
I go there and then another thing people ask it
or another client say, I wanted to feel worldly, right,
So meaning to me, that means like they wanted to
feel like items have been collected from all over the
world and things you don't see and things maybe that
(22:11):
you saw in a different country that we bring in.
So that helped me gather things from all over the
world in that house and make it feel like they said,
like European.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
You know. So that's kind of where I draw inspiration. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
So I found your work on Instagram, and then after
we connected, I realized that you have designed for some
pretty high profile clients. One that stood out to me
was Dean Spanos, who's the owner of the Chargers. How
did that relationship come about it?
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Dn and Susie are the loveliest people you'll ever meet. Like,
when Susie calls me on the phone, my face lights up.
She calls my husband. His face lights up like she's
She's truly amazing Dan. And Susie was word of mouth
all my clients have, which is, I'm so blessed that
I have that relationship. But one of the sales agents
I believe can meet to them. And we had I
(23:03):
had one meeting with Susie. We had a lunch and
I didn't even show her my work. We had one
lunch and it was in the start too, so I
didn't have my really nice website and all that. And
she's like, Okay, can you start Monday? And I was like, yes,
of course.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
So you told me that that was a life changing project.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Yes, why it's just working seeing how hard they work
and their work ethic. And for Dean to tell me
that he sees that in me, like the hard work
and that work ethic just meant a lot to me
and meant to me that I'm going on the right
that I'm.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Where I'm supposed to be.
Speaker 2 (23:40):
Okay, So honestly, every project I have has been life changing,
not just because of the client, just because the relationship
we've developed, what the end product that I loved, you know,
adding a checklist like I did that you know. So honestly,
they're all equally life changing, but working with them is
just a blessing. They're they're so humble, they're so sweet,
(24:03):
so generous with their time, and we developed an amazing
product to the point where Susie she'll call me randomly
and she'll be like, nor everyone compliments me on this.
Speaker 3 (24:14):
She's a sweetheart. Everyone comes compliments me on this. You're amazing.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
She's like, you're the most talented designer. And know am
was like, that's so sweet. There's so many talented designers
out there.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
So she's just she's calls me Tom, she calls me
to pump me up.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Every time Susie calls me, I get an ego boost.
I'm like, I'm feeling good today.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Okay. Well, client stood out to me is David Goggins.
I love David me too. Okay, I just read anybody
who doesn't know. He's a retired US Navy seal, ultra
marathon runner, ultra distance cyclist, triathlete. He wrote the book
Can't Hurt Me, and it kind of popped off because
he had been through so much in his life and
(24:54):
he decided, you know nothing and no one can hurt me.
It's mind over matter, I know, talk about mental tisness. Yeah,
what is it like working with somebody like that in
a design pupacity?
Speaker 3 (25:07):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
I mean I was nervous. Yeah, I was nervous. David
is a force. He is amazing and Jennifer too, They're
amazing and yeah, the first meeting we had because he
is a nobs kind of guy, right, he will call
it how it is. And the first meeting I was nervous.
I was like, this is David. I need to go,
you know, I need to give him everything he doesn't
(25:29):
know he needs. And the best thing about that project
is they did not give me any direction. They really didn't,
and that's why I was nervous, because they were like, look,
you're the professional we.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Hired, you show us what you would do.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
And I was like, that's honestly a scarier than when
they tell me, you know, I'm like, okay. You know,
Challenge accepted his unit, had we have to do a
lot of remodel to it because the unit he had
actually didn't even have a kitchen and it's in a condo.
It's a very weird layout and we had to get
really creative.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
To get them a kitchen even.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
But the best moment I remember is I had just
done my presentation of just something that I would design
for me. And I had just done my presentation and
I don't think David was there. I think it was
Jennifer and she loved it and she's like, I'll show
it to David tonight. He was doing something much much cooler,
you know. And I get a call and I had
(26:24):
just met my husband and I get a call and
we were together, I mean and my husband were in
the car. I get a call like nine PM from
a random number because he doesn't do phones. I don't
know if you guys know this, nott him and I
answer and he goes, no, it's David Goggins. And I
was like, oh my god. I was like, did he
hate it? And he's like, I just want to tell
(26:46):
you you efen crushed it. And I was like, and
he's on speaker and my husband, who was in the
military too, was like.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Holy beep, it's David. And I was just like, this
is so fun cool. You crushed it? Yeah, And he
said it much more.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
You know, I'm not gonna I can't do, you know
what he does. But he's so passionate and for his passion,
for him to show me that passion about how much
he loved it. And then the next time I can say,
I can tell so many stories because these are so fun.
But the next time we had a secondary meeting to
finalize the rest of the house, he got so pumped
he threw the papers on the ground and he was
(27:25):
hyping me up. And I was just like, this is
truly amazing because it shows that this is what I
just what I would design for me, that they loved
it too.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Did his philosophy rub off on you at all?
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (27:37):
Yeah, I mean you started running.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
You know, I was actually in cross country my whole life,
but now I hate it. I hate running so and
you know, props to everyone who can. But yeah, I mean,
being around someone like that, it's it's hard not to
you know, you yeah, you admire them so much that
you're like that. But you know, I've I've always grown
up with that tough mental My dad is, you know,
(28:03):
taught us to be resilient to get up. You know,
some may call it tough love, but I loved it
because it taught me to be resilient and that it
reminded me a lot of what he.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Says, Yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
Yeah, I can't imagine for somebody like that his space
needs to be a sanctuary. Yes, because he's doing a
lot during the day. Yeah, so he needs to come
home and enjoy the space that he's in. What are
your rules for making a home a sanctuary?
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Number one, declutter it's number one.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
But everything else, I throw everything.
Speaker 3 (28:38):
If it doesn't mean anything to you, toss it. But
a sanctuary, it's it's really just.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
A feeling, you know, if your day is so hectic,
I usually tend to design the space to be a
lot more zen and a lot less things around, and
a lot less you know, perfectly styled all the time.
It needs to give you a leeway to just whether
you're lounging down on the couch, you know, you get up,
that couch still needs to feel like it's put together.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
What do you think somebody's home says about them?
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Hmmm?
Speaker 2 (29:09):
I mean, I think I think it really shows their personality, But.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
Like, what do you think it says about their true self?
Speaker 2 (29:16):
It really shows how they are on their day to
day life. Like if your home is a little more
eclectic to me, like you're probably a little more you know,
fun and a little more open to risks. You're a
little more of a risk taker. Interesting, and if your
house is a little more subdued, a little more you
know safe, Like it also kind of says that about
you that maybe you are a little safe in your
(29:38):
day to day life, but your personality shows. I mean,
if a house it's booty, that can tell you that
person has that cool, you know, edgy vibe. But yeah,
I mean a space says a lot about you.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
I mean also what you value, right, Like if you
have certain art, it's like, okay that this person cares
about art more than maybe they care about their tables.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
Or one hundred.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
That's great. Yeah, that's a great point. And also the
functionality of the space how you're using it. If you're
valuing comfort over an esthetic that like can't be touched really,
so yeah, exactly what you value in this space is
such a good one.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Have you ever designed a space for somebody who only
cared about aesthetic, like they were like, I don't care
how uncomfortable a chair I.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
Wish, I wish.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
I mean, yeah, sometimes Jake Arnold's work looks like that
to me, Like I'm like, and I'm it may be not,
but it's also perfect.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
How do you set down I know, like the.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Space for Chrissy t. Egan and John Legend.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Yeah, I know. Yond I feel like it's what I've seen.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
You know, it actually reads very comfortable okay to me,
But yeah, I can see I can see some as
a little more cutting edge. And I love like they
had that tree like right in the middle of the house.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
Yes, but I love that.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
There's a fine line between that and you know, you
may get that client that's like, I don't care, We'll
deal with it, you know, do what you do, and
that's a dream client.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
You have this quote on your Instagram bio that I
really love. It says, if a place has a soul,
it remains alive forever. Yeah, how do you give a
place a soul? What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (31:15):
I love this quote. I saw it.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
I was in a hotel Villadesta in Lake Como five
years ago and I saw this quote and since then,
I've like, this is so may I'm like living by it.
What to me, a place that has a soul can
really show your character, can really show that you put
your heart into it. You're not afraid to put objects
that someone else may not like you know, it's it's you.
Speaker 3 (31:40):
And for me, if a place feels.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
A little you know, to what do they call it nowadays,
like Beijing boring? You know, but it just it's adding
your own like so hard to explain, but I feel
like a lot of my projects I put my clients
like mine and their souls into to it. I'm like,
I want to bring you things that you truly enjoy
(32:04):
and things that maybe like give you like a feeling
when you look at them, like this art piece or
this vase or this little fun chair in the corner.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
So just bringing in soul.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
And it doesn't have to mean that it needs to
be colorful and eclectic, but you need to have some
unexpected moments in there. You need it to feel unique
to your person.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
What emotional needs are you trying to meet when you
create a space.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
So this kind of goes I think this kind of
goes back to like.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
If you have a hectic day, you know, hectic life,
hectic work, that you probably want your space to feel
a little more zen. And you know, if your days
are a bit more maybe a little less challenging, I
guess maybe you can have a little more fun in
the house and dedicate a little bit more to that.
So we're always trying to give a feeling of home.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
To be honest, how do you think because your home,
you said, is very like Wabbi Sabbi and Zen.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
Right, Yes, I'm trying. It's not a forever home, but
I'm trying.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
How do you design to solve for stress? Can you
give me two or three examples?
Speaker 2 (33:09):
First and foremost is having decluttering and having let everything
have its own space. Okay, so designating objects to spaces
really helps because then you know where everything goes, so
that kind of helps you distress and not being like, oh,
where's every why's everything?
Speaker 3 (33:26):
You know? All over? The other thing is colors too.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
If there's a color that distresses you, some might be blue,
some might be green, some might be white, you know,
and we do have a lot of you know, white
in our house too, and to me it just calms
me those colors and then you have to bring in
a little contrast in that. But you know, and beyond that,
it's really the layout. The layout of the space. You
(33:51):
need enough, you know, movement room, you need enough, you know, egress,
like to walk around between things and not feel so
tight and you know, just can fluttered. I guess I
can find.
Speaker 3 (34:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
Do you think that design can actually heal something in people?
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (34:09):
I mean absolutely, I think absolutely you can. I mean
maybe maybe separately from a home, on like a bigger
societal level. You know, we see our buildings now and
our houses are all like soa cookie cutter, and I
feel like you really find a join in someone when
they walk into a space, whether it's a building, a hospital,
a school, and you feel like it's open, there's daylight.
(34:32):
It almost heals something and you're like you walk in
and you're like breathing like fresh air.
Speaker 1 (34:36):
Yeah. One of the questions you asked me that I
love was how do you use your space? What are
you using it for? And I had some very specific
things because I work from home, so I'm like, I
do my makeup, my hair and makeup, Like I have
a station that I need, Yes, I have a podcasting space,
so on and so forth. And it made me think
about human first design, which I learned about a few
(34:57):
years ago. And the idea on a societal level is
that like parks, benches, public spaces have been designed as
spaces and then people fit into them, and human first
design is the opposite. You think about the person living
in the space. So for instance, if it's for kids,
you would make the desks shorter, the water fountains are
(35:19):
toilets smaller. And I realized there's this like golden rule
or golden ratio. It's built off of six foot one male.
The average height of men is not six foot even. So,
like if you go into a bathroom and it's like
the shower is so tall, it's because it was built
for the golden ratio. You're really designing human first. Is
(35:40):
that something that they're teaching in schools now or is
that something that you've cultivated.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
I've definitely cultivated that because that's I pride myself in
having a deep connection with my clients and fitting it
to their needs. Yeah, they don't necessarily teach that. They
teach us the golden ratio in school. I can't tell
you how many times we have to study in tests
on that.
Speaker 1 (36:01):
I need to fix the goal. I mean, it makes
me especially mad when I put my luggage up for
TSA's on the conveyor belt because I only do carry
on maintenance like you, and it's so high because.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
It's I know they're high. Yes, I know I.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Get anyways, but.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
You know I love it.
Speaker 2 (36:20):
Yeah, I mean, you really got a design for your
client to have a successful project. That's you know, I
could argue that that's why those the cookie cutter build
their grade should we call them, you know, not trying
to say those are bad, but you can argue that
functionality they don't work because they're not tailored to a
specific person.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
So yeah, that's a great point.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
Okay, this is the big question, yes, because I know
everybody listening that's thinking about designing or redesigning their space
wants to know the biggest mistakes that clients make when
they start with a designer. Easy, I'm gonna tell you,
be brutally honest.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
I'm going to tell you the biggest mistake clients my
client make before they hire me and why they come.
They put too much reliance on the contractor and the
architect and they think that they're designing their space because
a lot of them try and every single time one
of my clients has gone to their contractor architect first,
(37:18):
they've come right back to me and we had lost
a bit of time there. So my advice is always
start with your designer. That's the space you're in every day.
That's what you're seeing every day. So hire your designer first.
Contractors and architects are great. I think when everybody does
what they do best, that's a successful project. There's this
(37:39):
saying at jack of all trades is a master of none,
and it's really really true, like everybody has a specialty
and expertise. And when you hire your designer first, or
even at the same time as your team, a designer
can really get ahead and tell you some of the
things that we can change to the architecture of the
house to make it more functional internally, because an architect
may be looking at on the outside and the contractor
(38:01):
is looking at budgets and the buildout on the timeline.
But designer can help really pull it all in together.
And even with budgets, a designer can really help you
figure out what's worth splurging on and what's not. And
so I see that mistake happening all the time with
clients hiring their contractor maybe their contractor says.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
I can design it. I'll you know, I'll design it.
Speaker 2 (38:24):
For you, or at the arctech And the most successful
projects was when all three of us work as a.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Team Okay, that's that's so interesting. I didn't know that.
Is there anything else that comes to mind?
Speaker 2 (38:37):
The other biggest thing is proportions. That's the one thing
that if somebody's self designing or even yeah, yeah, I mean,
if somebody is self designing their space, that's the one
thing I see people get wrong. But ninety nine percent
of the time is the proportions.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Yeah, say more like do you because what I see
is that people under estate make the size of the
furniture you need. They usually make things too small, like
the chandelier is too small or this coffee table is
too small.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Exactly, yes.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
And the thing with putting items that are smaller than
the space calls for now your host to space feels
small and feels off. So but there's different ways that proportions,
the right proportions can help your space. For example, if
you have low ceilings and you're building like let's say
a cabinet wall or something, try to keep things lower,
like if you're doing.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
Let's say, like a little shelf.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
It's going to be hard to explain, but make some
things lower, like maybe you have a little ledge that's
lower rather than tall cabinets with shelving on top. And
that's going to help your trick your eye to thinking
that the space is taller because of the things we're
using in it. So maybe your furniture is a little
bit lower to help give more height to the to
(39:50):
the space. But the other thing is is I see
a lot of the times arts too small, couches, rugs.
It's a big one. Rugs are too so go bigger.
If if you're in doubt, just go bigger.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
You know, what is the first piece of furniture that
you purchase when you're designing a space? Do you start
with the coffee table? No?
Speaker 2 (40:09):
I usually start with whatever the biggest item in the
room is. Okay, So if it's a living room, a sofa,
if it's a bedroom, a bed, so we I always
like to start with the bigger piece because that helps
tell me what other space I have to work with,
because that's the more important piece in that room.
Speaker 1 (40:26):
That's actually a really helpful small tip. Oh good, that's
really good. What are spots in people's homes where we
could probably benefit from some bigger small changes? Are there
areas that you gravitate towards.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Areas in people's homes? Hmm, to think about that, one.
Speaker 1 (40:45):
I'll tell you tell me more, I mean, and you
tell me.
Speaker 3 (40:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
This question is coming from if the esthetic is fun
and eclectic and cluttered, then it works. Yeah, but most
people's is not. Most people's design is a little bit zen.
And I find too many coffee table books, too many plants,
Like it's just very much right, right, What do you
think people could benefit from, God looking through the nore lens.
Speaker 2 (41:13):
Yeah, yeah, so like the less is more concept, Yeah,
I think what people The thing is, it can be
done the right way.
Speaker 3 (41:19):
Even less is more is also great.
Speaker 2 (41:21):
But also sometimes more is more is great, you know,
especially in this era of like maximalism. But I think
where people go wrong is like the layout of things.
Like let's take your example, your you know, yeah example
for example, like the coffee table books. Yeah, there might
be a lot, there might be a lot of accessories
on the shelf, but it's about how you put it together,
(41:44):
Like there has to be there has to be a
height variance, like the specific heighth variance that helps. So
whether you start with something let's say on the left
corner that's a bit taller, and then you have to
supplement it with something in the middle. Maybe that's like
like a book, like something a little shallower, and then
you have to come down to that corner and maybe
put like a grouping of two.
Speaker 3 (42:06):
So it's more about arranging.
Speaker 2 (42:09):
I think a lot of people have the right stuff,
but the arrangement is what's off. I mean, we just
kind of did that here in your studio, even though
it's gorgeous, just little things that we arranged to give
a little more height, you know, to the background, a
little more.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Yeah, just I was shocked how little things made a
big difference. Yes, like moving one book.
Speaker 3 (42:31):
Yes, yes, moving, yes, exactly.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
What was your childhood home?
Speaker 2 (42:35):
Like? My childhood home is my favorite home. So I
grew up in Lebanon, and the homes there back in
the Mediterranean, basically they are really like homogeneous with the
land around it, so which I love and which is
what's hard to replicate when you're outside of that land.
But the house I grew up when was all rocks,
(42:59):
Like the whole thing was made out of you know,
the stacked stone, so there was no drywall on the
inside of the house, the X tier in the interior
where it was all one material. You can tell there
was like true craftsmen in there. This It was this
chimney stove top, real oak flooring, you know, with the
parquet flooring. It was just gorgeous and even though it
(43:21):
wasn't a big space, it really felt like home. And
that home is still in our family. My uncle now
has it because we had to sell to move here,
but I love visiting. It's gorgeous, you know, it just
it really feels like what everyone is trying to go
back to. Is that kind of like simple life of
(43:42):
like growing your own vegetables and fruits and living in
a house that really makes you feel cozy and warm.
Speaker 1 (43:51):
Do you think that growing up in that house influenced
how you designed today?
Speaker 3 (43:56):
Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (43:57):
I mean I've always said that my style gives an
o to my Mediterranean you know, heritage, And what I
love most is that they designed the space is there
to be homogeneous with the land around it and to
kind of like take inspiration from that. So you see
a lot of the raw natural materials, the plasters, the stone,
the limestone, the woods, and that real like craftsmanship. So
(44:21):
I really try to bring that almost in every project.
Even if the project doesn't have that look, there's always
that bit of like twist in there. Yeah, And I
always like to add something a little unexpected than you
see from a typical like Mediterranean style.
Speaker 3 (44:35):
But yeah, yeah I did.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
One of the things I've been talking about with my
friends a lot lately is home ownership, because it's nearly
impossible to buy a home in La. Are there tips
you have for making a space feel lux without spending
a ton of money?
Speaker 3 (44:50):
Yes? Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (44:51):
I mean luxury design doesn't have to always mean a
huge budget. It means being intentional with what you buy,
taking your time, not going to a showman, just buying
everything you see and putting it together. It's really about
taking the time, adding functionality to the space, letting things
speak to you, almost like you see an object that
you know that you kind of develop a feeling for.
(45:14):
But there's tons of little things like honestly, window coverings,
window treatments and coverings can really really change up a space.
And we saw that with your space too. And it's
something that's really easy that you can just put up
and it really helps cozy it down from that. You know,
cookie cutter looks, so that helps a lot. You know,
fresh coat of paint always helps to that's a good one. Yeah, fresh,
(45:38):
You know, nothing cannot be solved without a fresh.
Speaker 3 (45:41):
Code oft I like that.
Speaker 1 (45:43):
Yeah, okay, what's worth investing in and what's worth saving
it in the house.
Speaker 2 (45:48):
So I would say what's worth investing in the most
is the pieces that you use the most that you're
gonna be Like, for example, your sofa. You're on that
every single day. You know you're gathering, you're hosting, you're
developing memories there, so you want that piece to really
last you. So I think bigger pieces like that, whether
it's sofa or for example, your bed and your bedding.
(46:11):
Like a good betting, you know, you really feel like
you're on a cloud. So I would say invest in
the pieces that you're using the most, especially if you
can get things that are modular, like like one of
my sofas, for example, because I know that we'll probably
be moving soon. It's a modular piece. I can always
add on to it in the future. So that's nice too.
Speaker 1 (46:31):
But that's one of the perils of design is you
spend money on a space and then when you move. Yes,
it's very hard. No matter how nice the piece is,
it just always fits a little.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
I know, it's hard. Yeah, modular furniture is really nice.
Speaker 1 (46:44):
For that give me Five steps to make any room gorgeous.
Speaker 3 (46:47):
Okay, five steps to make your room gorgeous. Okay.
Speaker 2 (46:50):
Number one, paint your walls, baseboards, and ceiling the same color.
Speaker 1 (46:56):
It's good.
Speaker 3 (46:56):
That's good.
Speaker 2 (46:57):
Number two, no accident walls. Please ditch the accent walls.
It is your room is supposed to feel, you know,
one space. Number three, like I said before, go bigger rugs,
go bigger curtains, go taller, art larger, so it really
really helps. Number four, use raw and natural materials, you know, hardware, stones,
(47:21):
anything that you can that you feel like you're finding
in nature. Yes, raw, bronze finished for example, bronze hardware versus.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
A matte black hardware.
Speaker 2 (47:31):
And then number five layer with textures. Do a lot
of layering, whether it's textures, colors, at things in varying heights.
So the room should feel layered, and that really will
get you good room.
Speaker 3 (47:46):
That was so good.
Speaker 1 (47:47):
All the kids are clapping like this. They want to
give you a silent clap.
Speaker 4 (47:49):
That was so good.
Speaker 1 (47:51):
Okay, rapid fire, Okay, are you ready?
Speaker 3 (47:56):
Yes, I'm ready.
Speaker 1 (47:57):
What's the first thing you noticed when you walk into
somebody home.
Speaker 2 (48:01):
I want to say clutter, but I don't want to
sound like I'm judging anyone, but functionality.
Speaker 1 (48:06):
When you start out designing a room, what's the first
piece you start with.
Speaker 3 (48:10):
The biggest item in the room?
Speaker 1 (48:11):
Interior designer, hot take, Oh.
Speaker 2 (48:14):
Ditch the orchids orchids. It feels like you're in the
dentist office. Do not display orchids.
Speaker 1 (48:20):
My dad was a dentist, and I agree. What's the
fastest way to make a room look more expensive?
Speaker 3 (48:28):
Room look more expensive? Proportions? Okay, the right proportions.
Speaker 1 (48:32):
What's a design rule that's totally outdated?
Speaker 2 (48:35):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (48:36):
I have so many?
Speaker 2 (48:37):
Okay that you can't you have to only use light
colors in a smaller room. A small room can also
be moody and dark. Not mixing metals, overhead lighting or
over that.
Speaker 1 (48:49):
What's your toxic trade as a designer?
Speaker 3 (48:52):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (48:52):
Yeah, my designs are never easy, Like contractors are borderline
love me and hate me because I'm always challenging them.
Speaker 1 (48:59):
That's cool. Yeah, what's one thing that renters can do
to make their home feel custom and LUs But like
you know, when you rent, you can't change furnishings.
Speaker 2 (49:07):
The first thing I would do is change all your
overhead lighting to a warm white.
Speaker 3 (49:12):
Yeah, we have to do It's so easy.
Speaker 2 (49:17):
Really, it's so easy, my husband, this.
Speaker 1 (49:23):
Whole process has been like sort of a test for
me because I hate doing real life things.
Speaker 3 (49:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (49:29):
Yeah, I love working like I hate.
Speaker 3 (49:33):
Figuring out lighting.
Speaker 1 (49:34):
I hate fixing the dishwasher. Yes, so this has been
a good test ring. I'm going to fix my lighting.
Speaker 3 (49:38):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (49:39):
Yes, what's a design rule?
Speaker 3 (49:40):
You love to break overhead lighting?
Speaker 1 (49:43):
Don't do it?
Speaker 3 (49:44):
I hate overhead lighting. Yes, it's not a you know,
it's really to do. It's hard.
Speaker 2 (49:49):
I mean, the house is with it. You know, it's
like per code. But you know there's I love dim lighting.
I love lighting that's grounded, like your floor lines are
table lamps, and you.
Speaker 1 (49:59):
Know love Do you do warm lighting not cold?
Speaker 3 (50:02):
Yes? Warm lighting? Yes.
Speaker 1 (50:04):
The item that you would save from your house if
you could only pick one thing.
Speaker 2 (50:08):
So my husband and I we di wied a coffee
table and I love it so much. I drew like
an organic shape on a piece of wood. He cut it,
we stained it, we trimmed it, and it looks so gorgeous.
So we're saving that. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (50:24):
Okay, what's a book that you've read that changed your life?
Something you think everybody should read.
Speaker 2 (50:29):
So, I mean definitely while working with David Goggins, you know,
I've read his books Can't Hurt Me and Never Finish,
and they're really they're really just so inspirational.
Speaker 1 (50:38):
So yeah, what's something that every woman should try once?
Speaker 2 (50:43):
What's something every woman should try once? I know, try
going out with no makeup. Some are nice, some are fancy.
Get dressed up and lose the makeup and feel confident.
Speaker 1 (50:55):
That's no one's ever said that.
Speaker 3 (50:57):
That's a great Yeah, you'll it.
Speaker 2 (51:00):
You'll be surprised how much it changes your confidence and
your ability to be like I don't care.
Speaker 3 (51:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (51:07):
Hey, grab the Question Everything card game next to you
and pick a card whicheverone calls to you. It's like taro.
Speaker 3 (51:14):
Okay, we got to mix them up.
Speaker 2 (51:16):
Yeah, how would you describe yourself to a stranger? M
How would I describe myself? I feel like I'm a
very excited person. In fact, I get excited over things.
I care a lot about things, and then I'm a
little fun and crazy sometimes and loyal. That's really loyal
(51:39):
to friends, to family, to that. Yeah, hopefully that's how
they would describe me to.
Speaker 1 (51:46):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (51:47):
Current faves, Yes, love that people are always asking me
about that.
Speaker 1 (51:52):
Current faves. Okay, current faves. What's your favorite stone right now?
Speaker 2 (51:57):
I love Chapel Beije or in that family, go to
off white paint Baby Fawn.
Speaker 3 (52:04):
By Benjamin Moore. Love it? I love you? Yeah, because
I just used it and it's now my new favorite.
Speaker 1 (52:11):
A design style you love.
Speaker 2 (52:14):
So. I love Wabbi sabi, but not the mainstream wabi
sabi that everyone's now. That term is being used very loosely,
the you know, pure form of wobbi sabi that you
know axel Vervort does stunning.
Speaker 3 (52:27):
Agreed.
Speaker 1 (52:27):
Yeah, if you had to choose one favorite store to
furnish a house.
Speaker 3 (52:31):
With, oh the future, perfect, gorgeous.
Speaker 1 (52:34):
A brand you're obsessed with.
Speaker 2 (52:37):
Okay, I'm gonna give you lighting, furniture and accessories because
I just can't pick one furniture. I'm obsessed with Andreana Shamaris.
She does custom like raw natural wood furniture, accessories, l
Ees collection, and lighting apparatus.
Speaker 3 (52:53):
Obsessed.
Speaker 1 (52:54):
A color you didn't expect to love, but you do?
Speaker 3 (52:57):
Purple?
Speaker 2 (52:58):
What?
Speaker 3 (52:58):
Yes?
Speaker 4 (53:00):
Like lilac or deep purple? What are we talking about?
Every single shade of purple? I just use this stone
that has purples and greens. It's called four season. That
might have to be my new favorite stone.
Speaker 2 (53:11):
In your question, gorgeous burgundy, I mean your burgundy tophaser
purple is burgundy purple.
Speaker 3 (53:17):
It's a shade of it.
Speaker 1 (53:18):
My god.
Speaker 3 (53:19):
Yeah, we're putting in that family.
Speaker 1 (53:20):
Okay, in art style that you're craving in homes right now.
Speaker 3 (53:24):
Oh, tapestry on the walls.
Speaker 1 (53:27):
Cool. Yeah, that's very Turkish if you like. Yeah, a
design rule, you're happily breaking.
Speaker 2 (53:32):
Design room, happily breaking, mixing wood tones and mixing metals.
Speaker 1 (53:37):
A coffee table book you always include.
Speaker 2 (53:39):
That's really hard because coffee table books are so so
specific to my clients. So there's not one I'm ever
repeating because it just doesn't make sense.
Speaker 3 (53:47):
But I love Acoline.
Speaker 2 (53:49):
That's the brand that you can They have the best
coffee table books.
Speaker 1 (53:52):
Cool. A product you stockpile before it sells out.
Speaker 2 (53:57):
A product, so it's not specifically a product, but once
you find cutlery or like dishes, like or cups something,
and you love stock pilot because it will go out
of stock and then you have to get a whole
news and.
Speaker 1 (54:09):
Then you break on and yes, yes or yeah, exactly
a plant or floral that you're using NonStop.
Speaker 3 (54:15):
Plant.
Speaker 2 (54:17):
I love a plant called Song of India. It's gorgeous.
And then flowers, love laurals, nanculous.
Speaker 3 (54:26):
I don't know if I'm saying it. Oh you said,
say much better.
Speaker 1 (54:29):
I'm like, they're beautiful, Yeah, gorgeous, gorgeous hardware finish. You're
having a love affair with bronze most design forward hotel
you stayed in.
Speaker 3 (54:38):
I love the Santa Monica Proper.
Speaker 1 (54:40):
Oh yeah, Kelly Wrozler interior design account that you're stalking
on Instagram.
Speaker 2 (54:47):
I love Visual Pleasure magazines. Visual Pleasure mag the handle.
Speaker 1 (54:51):
Most underrated styling object, plants cool. You are so talented
and wonderful and you're really truly a wonderful person to.
Speaker 3 (55:01):
Work Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (55:03):
You've been amazing to work with. I feel like I'm
working with like a best friend, like me. So much fun.
Speaker 1 (55:08):
We really have. We giggled a lot. Okay, you know
what time it is. Today's a good day to have
a good day. I'll see you next week.
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