Podcasts about caesarstone

00:00 Brought to You By ...00:21 Intro00:31 $52 Million Damages in Silicosis Trial03:08 Cosentino: Challenges beyond 2Q 202405:37 A Word from Quantra06:50 Exports Key for Cachoeiro Stone Show08:43 ISFA Annual Meet Set for Miami Area10:20 Porcelain Training Next Month in Austin, Texas11:59 UMI to Distribute Vicostone Along East Coast12:51 TCNA Gets Green Education Grant13:57 Silicosis Assessment Docs from NSI15:15 Hegland Now VP Sales/Marketing at Park15:57 Outro16:25 Brought to You By ...Radio Stone Update is presented on the second and fourth Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we are grateful to speak with David Cullen, CEO of Caesrsrtone Australia.Join us as we explore the story behind the leading stone benchtop provider in the domestic market and the incredible challenges they faced due to the rapid implementation of bans on the use of crystalline silica.Caesarstone® is a global leader in premium surfaces, a forerunner of porcelain surfaces, and the pioneer of multi-material benchtops, having been at the forefront of this category since 1987. They design, manufacture, and market engineered stone surfaces that secure safety and guarantee durability to bring everlasting beauty for residential and commercial applications, indoors and outdoors.If you want to connect with David Cullen and Caesarstone Australia, here are the details:Website: https://www.caesarstone.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caesarstoneau/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaesarstoneAUSupport the Show.If you'd like to be a part of the show or have any feedback, contact us at: tilingconnect@gmail.comListen or Follow: LinktreeReview: Apple Podcast Share: SpotifyWatch: YouTubeSubscribe: Buzzsprout

00:19 Intro00:30 Caesarstone First Quarter 2024 Results03:57 Marmomac Trade Mission in Chicago05:28 A Word from TAB Quartz06:37 U.S. Hard-Surface Imports in 1Q 202409:36 Summer 2024 Digital Seminars from BACA Systemss10:55 Silica Safety with NSI's Jim Hieb12:06 Kubesh Joins NSI's Board13:13 2024 NTCA Tom Ade Scholarship Winners14:09 Thorntree Honored by Italian Tile Industry15:10 OutroThis edition of Radio Stone Update is underwritten by TAB Quartz.Radio Stone Update is presented on the first and third Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

Caesarstone optimistic for 2024 after tumultuous year; U.S. hard-surface imports readjust after end of post-pandemic boom; Cosentino hosts C.Next in Cabo.00:30 Caesarstone Plans Ahead After Tumultuous 202304:30 A Word from TAB Quartz05:43 U.S. Hard-Surface Imports Down 15% in 202308:29 Cosentino Offers C.Next Sessions in Cabo11:01 Neolith Taps Sanchez as CEO for North America, LATAM12:27 Brazil Shows Natural Stone's Best at KBIS14:14 NSI Honors Arcot, OsterhoutRadio Stone Update is presented on the first and third Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

Biesse acquiring the GMM Group of companies; Caesarstone shutters its U.S. plant in Georgia; Bankert new ISFA exec director.00:19 Intro00:31 Biesse Acquires GMM Group03:02 Caesarstone Shutting U.S. Factory04:03 A Word from Quantra05:15 Marissa Bankert New ISFA Exec Director06:45 King Tile & Construction Enters U.S. Market08:27 Stone Industry Education 2014 Schedule Set10:02 NSI Elects Dumais, Niedbalski as Directors11:12 MSI Opens New Las Vegas Location11:57 Elena Grant Joins NTCA Staff12:53 OutroThis edition of Radio Stone Update is brought to you by Quantra quartz surfaces.Radio Stone Update is presented on the first and third Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

- What are your property market predictions for 2024?  - I'm building a house and we're using Caesarstone benchtops. What should we do in light of the ban you mentioned in this weeks episode?  - I live in Perth and noticed you guys mainly talk about East Coast property markets - what is the current state of play in Perth/Western Australia? 

Silicosis heads the list of top news for the year, but there's plenty of other areas that made the headlines in the world of hard surfaces.00:30  Intro01:01  Silicosis Update: Australia, California04:30  Caesarstone Reorganizes, Closes U.S. Factory07:34  A Word from Quantra08:47  Manu Shah, MSI Founder, Retires.11:01  Tariffs: India Quartz Rate Re-Reset, Section 301 Appeal14:47  Trade Shows Continue Revival in 202317:14  Cosentino Plans U.S. Florida Factory; TN Tile-Slab20:47  Polycor Acquires All of ROCAMAT22:01  OutroThis edition is brought to you by Quantra.Radio Stone Update is presented on the first and third Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

Caesarstone reports another quarterly loss; Portobello Group opens Tennessee facility; and a special interview with StoneMart 2024 organizers  and sourcing direct from India.Radio Stone Update is presented on the first and third Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

Caroline Till is a consultant, author, curator, and academic. She founded Franklin Till, along with Kate Franklin, in 2010 and, since then, the future research agency has worked with the likes of international textile exhibition Heimtextil, paper giant GF Smith, Caesarstone, Tarkett, and IKEA's former blue sky thinking agency, Space 10. The pair has published magazines such as Viewpoint and Viewpoint Colour and co-written the influential book Radical Matter, as well as curating Our Time on Earth, a touring exhibition about the future of the planet which started at London's Barbican last year.  Not only that, but for many years, Caroline headed up the Material Futures course at Central Saint Martins, which has produced a number of designers that have appeared on this podcast. She's also a speaker who is much in demand internationally and opened the talks programme at this year's Material Matters fair.In this episode we talk about: being a climate optimist; why Franklin Till specialises in material and colour; her issues with trends; turning down projects; not being keen on the word ‘sustainability'; defining regenerative design; the importance of seduction; issues with capitalism; thinking of materials as systems; technology's relationship with nature; and the benefits of studying textile design. However, we kick off with her objection to the UK's current Home Secretary, Suella Braverman… Our thanks go to the headline sponsor for this series of the podcast – and the Material Matters 2023 fair – the brilliant lighting specialist, Bert Frank. For more details go to: bertfrank.co.ukSupport the show

Caesarstpme. Cosentino to expand U.S. and Canadian design centers by year's end; U.S. ceramic-tile use dips in first-half 2023; more China-quartz transshippers affirmed by U.S. Customs.Radio Stone Update is presented on the first and third Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

Lapitec is the first manufacturer to meet EU sintered-stone guidelines; Caesarstone posts large loss for second quarter 2023; natural stone beats man-made in green comparison; more. 0:00 Intro0:32 Lapitec is First EU Sintered Stone2:05 A Word From Quantra3:17 Large Loss in Second Quarter '23 for Caesarstone5:11 Natural Stone Beats Man-made in Green Comparison6:47 Hydrogen to Power New Iris Ceramica Factory8:34 Laminam to Open 5 North American Facilities10:20 Park Industries® to Hold ParkFest on Oct. 3-411:57 Prodim International Celebrates 25th at Marmomac12:47 OutroRadio Stone Update is presented on the first and third Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

Federal court challenge ends on China quartz-surface tariffs, but continues on India duties; Caesarstone to close oldest plant as part of corporate revamp; Cutting Edge Countertops hires a president; and the Tile Council of North America goes to the dogs (again).0:31 Update on China, India Quartz-Tariff Challenges3:19 Caesarstone to Close Original Quartz Factory6:17 A Word from TAB Quartz7:27 Heerdegen is First President of Cutting Edge Countertops8:47 TCNA Goes to the Dogs (Again)10:08 Brazil Takes Natural-Stone Message Worldwide11:40 Artisan Group Holds 10th Annual Meeting12:31 NTCA Presents Annual Trade HonorsRadio Stone Update is presented every Wednesday at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

A familiar face is the new CEO of Caesarstone; a French limestone quarry gets the NSI's Sustainability rating; LX Hausys opens its first U.S. direct-to-consumer showroom; more.0:29 Shiran Back as Caesarstone CEO2:53 French Quarry Gets Sustainability Tag 4:12 A Word from TAB5:20 LX Hausys Opens 1st U.S. Consumer Showroom6:41 MSI Gets New Seattle-area Location  8:12 Cambria Debuts New San Francisco-area Facility 9:19 Stone Panels International CEU Educator of the Year  11:11 McDermott Newest Artisan Group Member11:54 DeLuca New Shape Technology CEO12:42 Alpha Professional Tools Hire Matheus, SmithThis edition of Radio Stone Update is brought to you by TAB Surfaces, celebrating 25-plus years of producing premium natural stone and TAB Quartz, the high-density slabs with Tab's proprietary high-gloss luster technology. Radio Stone Update is presented on the first and third Wednesdays every month at 9 a.m. everywhere on Earth with the latest news and insights in hard surfaces. Check our archives at www.radiostoneupdate.com.

In this episode, we're chatting about the best part of the KDR process – making the choices and selections for your brand-new home. The one you've created moodboards for on Pinterest and saved in Instagram, the one you've been planning and visualising in your mind for what feels like forever. In this exciting episode, we chat with three highly regarded designers in the home styling space - Interior Design Queen Jen Bishop, also known as the ‘Interiors Addict,' Neil Sookee, Product Design Manager for Laminex, who has been supplying beautiful products to the building industry for over 80 years, and the talented Interior Design Manager at Carlisle, Jess Hodges, who creates the beautiful and inspirational display homes. Whether home styling comes naturally to you, or you find it a little stressful – it doesn't matter, because our team today will help you pull your vision together and shape what will become the home you are proud to say is yours. They chat about all things décor and design including where they get their inspiration from, some of the latest and greatest trends and must-haves in new homes, colour choices and profile options, and how customers go about making their new home selections when they build with Carlisle in the largest and newest customer showroom in the industry – Spectra. Carlisle's exclusive showroom offers customers the unique opportunity to browse through 3,500 products from well-known brands like Laminex, CSR Hebel, Beacon Lighting, Caesarstone and Beaumont Tiles, across 2,500 square meters – with real life kitchens, bathrooms and laundry displays to help make their appointment even easier. Keep your ears for what each of the designers are absolutely loving right now – including some very eclectic wallpaper. SPECIAL GUESTS:Interiors Addict - Jen BishopNeil Sookee – Product Design Manager, Laminex AUJessica Hodges – Interior Design Manager, Carlisle HomesBITS OF GOLD:Find more information about Spectra, or explore the showroom from the comfort of your home with our Virtual TourDownload Carlisle's new KDR Information Pack which details the entire process from start to finish, including all the acronyms, a block suitability checklist and why you should consider a KDR.Visit us at one of our many display homes or at carlislehomes.com.au.Stay in touch and follow Carlisle Homes on Instagram @carlislehomesIf you're enjoying this series, please leave us a review on Apple or Spotify, or if you have a friend who's thinking about undertaking a KDR – send them the link!Proudly supported by CSR Hebel Australia and Laminex

On this episode of The Mic, host Debbie Millman interviews product designer Kickie Chudikova and interior designer Sara Bengur in front of a live audience of New York City creatives for this special season opener. From the vibrant colors of Kickie's childhood kitchen in Slovakia, to Sara's advice on which direction your bed should face according to the Vastu tradition, join us for a jam-packed episode all about nature's influence on the design process.   This live recording of The Mic was part of a special celebration of Caesarstone and NYCxDESIGN's initiative, the IMPACTxDESIGN competition. Kickie Chudikova's winning design, Spiral of Life, is an undulating, experimental seating installation manufactured using Caesarstone quartz, now on view in DUMBO's Pedestrian Plaza.

00:32  Caesarstone Announces 2Q 2022 Results3:05  SESA Goes to 50 Members4:07  Park Industries Announces September Expo6:11  U.S. Hard-Surface Imports for June7:24  Construction Resources Changes Ownership10:03  Pangaea Stone Goes All Solar for Roof11:04  MSI Noted in Top 50 by Selling Power11:51 R.I.S.E. House #44 for Natural Stone Institute13:07  BB Industries Named Top Workplace in Knoxville

Caesarstone first-quarter 2022 sets a revenue record; energy, clay crunch bedevils Europe's big tile producers; new granite from Maine will shore up Statue of Liberty base; more. 00:32Record Q1 for Caesarstone in 202203:46Russian-Ukranian War Impacts Europe Tile05:29SESA Sponsors Manufactured-Stone Pavilion at TISE 202308:11Maine Granite Heading to Statue of Liberty10:09MSI Opens New Wisconsin Facility11:44ISFA Mineral-Surfaces Fab Training13:06Park Industries Digital Expo Next Month in Denver13:56LATICRETE named CTDA Supplier of the Year

Kimberly Grigg welcomes Heather Bernstein of HKB Interior Design out of San Francisco to the show. Kimberly and Heather discuss sustainability in design elements, shifting away from stark white in color palettes, and Heather's love of using stone in design. Heather shares ideas for how versatile stone can be throughout the home.   Heather Bernstein grew up with design as second nature, surrounded by her designer mother's work and influence. After graduation she taught English in Thailand for 14 months and came home to work in real estate before spending time in the corporate world. Design proved to be her calling, however, and after working with a business partner on a co-owned design firm, she branched out on her own with HKB Interior Design just over two years ago. Heather describes her aesthetic as very different from her mother's but with the use of antiques and sustainability always at the core.   Kimberly's use of color is well known but Heather prefers a more neutral palette and they discuss how when working with neutrals, texture becomes your color. Heather has been working away from stark white recently, embracing warmer tones, and she has a vast knowledge of and love for stone in her designs. Kimberly learns the best sealant Heather recommends for stonework to avoid patina. And Heather shares some inspired design ideas from her own new home, stone elements beyond countertops, and insight from her years of experience with thinking outside the box to create a beautiful vibe. Resources discussed in this episode: HKB Interior Design HKB Interior Design Instagram Quartz and Quartzite Caesarstone MORE AntiEtch   About Heather Bernstein:   Heather Bernstein, owner of HKB Interior Design, is a master interior designer with over a decade of experience in the industry. Heather's bubbly yet professional personality leaves its mark on every home she touches with her personalized, warm approach to interiors. Heather's love for beautiful spaces originated from her time spent absorbing her mother's skill in interior design and running her independent firm. After graduating college, Heather moved to Thailand to teach English which expanded her senses and empathy for other cultures that commonly shows in her designs. Soon after, Heather accepted a corporate position for a Fortune 500 leading specialty retailer of high-quality products. This experience not only enhances her passion for design but can also be attributed to her well-rounded creativity and organizational skills that now come as second nature. When Heather isn't working with clients, you will find her chasing around her two boys and golden retriever. Heather continues to embrace travel as a necessary pleasure, is constantly seeking out the best sushi on the market, and is frequently socializing in her community, enjoying laughs over a good glass of wine. --    Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.   Transcription Heather Bernstein  00:00 Yeah, and you just said, the, I think, the biggest thing - you said, clients get afraid. So this, I think, is the biggest thing you can do in design. If you really want to elevate your space, be afraid, have a touch of fear that it's too bold or too much. And go for it.   Kimberly Grigg  00:23 Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg. And I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers like yourselves how to decorate. And when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, well, buckle up honey, because it's time to design. So hello there design lovers and enthusiasts, thank you as always for being here. And I'm so excited to be bringing you this episode. In fact, I've been talking to my guest ahead of time, and I just learned something that I didn't know about marble. And I'm going to be sharing that with you, as is Heather, and I can't wait. So today's guest is Heather Bernstein of HKB Designs. They're out of San Francisco. And we're going to talk a lot about sustainable design, interior design, and specifically about how to incorporate natural stone into your home and designs and, more importantly, how to take care of it. So welcome Heather Bernstein, glad to have you here.   Heather Bernstein  01:48 Thank you. I'm glad to be here.   Kimberly Grigg  01:50 Thank you. So I know you've been home battling COVID. Sorry to hear that. And I hope it wasn't horrible. But we forgive you in advance if your throat gets scratchy or whatever. Because, like, that is no joke. I haven't had COVID yet, but seems like everyone I know has, including my children and all that stuff, and I know it's no picnic.   Heather Bernstein  02:14 Rough nights, for sure.   Kimberly Grigg  02:16 I'm sure. So you're in the Bay Area, as is my number five child. I have six children and number five moved to San Francisco. And I've been out quite a few times, and oh my gosh, what a beautiful area architecturally. Like, wow. I can't even imagine what it's like to actually get to design there. Because the architecture is on fire.   Heather Bernstein  02:41 It's amazing. I think the best part about it is that no two projects are the same there. You have sprawling ranchers, you have Victorians that are straight up and down, you have every different kind of home, which is amazing. And especially in Marin, where we are, we're in the mountains. And so all the homes are so different based on where they are in the land. If they're on a hill, it's, you know, they're on stilts, and if there happened to be in the flats, then you know, they build for that.   Kimberly Grigg  03:19 Yeah, I actually was in Marin, and beautiful area and intriguing. So do you do different aesthetic styles? Or do you kind of focus on one?   Heather Bernstein  03:32 I would say we stay true to who we are. Meaning, we don't like to do anything that doesn't speak to our brand and what we're about and what we love. But we definitely can span from traditional to contemporary and everything in between, depending on what the client wants in the style of the home. I will say, though, our favorite thing is to take a very traditional home. We just did one of the classic Victorians on Steiner Street in San Francisco where 'Full House' was filmed. And we did a very contemporary interior, which was really, really fun to juxtapose against the classic kind of all the wood paneling. And it was just unexpected. And everybody that walks in there is surprised and it's fun and exciting.   Kimberly Grigg  04:29 How cool. So how'd you make your way into the design space? Because I think you have a corporate background, right?   Heather Bernstein  04:36 Yes. So I grew up actually here in the East Bay, so in the Bay Area but just through the Caldecott Tunnel, in a little town called Alamo, and my mom was a designer all growing up. So for 35 years, it's all I knew. We - and she, when she started out, she did all of her own sewing, all of her own upholstery, she made every window treatment, every roman shade out of our dining room. And I remember being in middle school or even elementary and most kids have to take their shoes off when they go in the house, we had to leave ours on because there was always pins and needles on the floor. And so I just, I grew up with it, and then, I guess it was about junior or senior year, my mom would start - by the time I think I was in college, like I'd gotten into school, so it must have been senior year - she would pull me out of school and say, 'Hey, let's go to the Design Center. You can come help me for the day'. And I just thought it was magical, and getting to shop and put things together for people to make their spaces something that they loved, was really just magical. So then I went to school, I went to Boulder. I graduated, I moved to Thailand for about 14 months, I taught English to high schoolers there, I just wanted to get out and experience something different. And travel, which I did, I spent a month in India, and really just - and that was after my junior year abroad in Italy - so I really tried to, like, just see different places in the world. And then I came back and I got my real estate license. And I was selling apartments downtown south of Market in San Francisco, where it was completely undeveloped, and it was like a ghost town. And now it's the sprawling amazing gentrified neighborhood, which is incredible. But real estate was not for me, I called one of my dear friends who worked at William Sonoma corporate and I said 'I need a job'. And she said, 'Great, come be an assistant, my assistant buyer'. And so I did. And I was there for five or six years, climbed up the ladder to a senior buyer, which was really, really fun and exciting. I for sure drink the Kool Aid for the first three years. And then I started to become a little disillusioned and the world was faltering as, you know, we neared 2008. And then I was laid off and I remember crying the night before they were gonna announce layoffs thinking, this is my chance, if I don't get laid off I don't know if I'll be brave enough to start my design business. And so I wanted to be laid off, which was very counterintuitive, because the world was ending. But I was laid off, with 700 others, and that was in January. And by March, I had started our S corp and I had a business partner, we joined forces and said, 'Let's do this together'. We were both going to start our own businesses, and we just said that's silly. And so I started Nest about 15 years ago. And we worked alongside each other for 12 great years. And then when COVID hit, it just kind of felt like things were changing in my life. I had been through a divorce and met a wonderful man. We joined our families and had a Brady Bunch. And I was really just, like, cleaning house and making sure that everyone around me... and it was it was a positive experience every day. And I wanted to feel that in my work and create that space, and so we both went out on our own, and that's when I started HKB. And it's been about two, two and a half years. And I have one of my oldest employees, who has been with me for 10 years. And then we have an assistant buyer who is amazing. She came from the corporate event space and when COVID hit she she jumped ship and came on to try this whole new world and she loves it, and we love having her, so it's been really positive.   Kimberly Grigg  09:08 Sounds like things just kind of lined up. Which always tells me that you're in the right space. And based on your website, you're definitely definitely in the right space. So I got to know, is your aesthetic similar to your mother's?   Heather Bernstein  09:26 No. Definitely not. She was like the consummate traditionalist with the fringe and the Sweet Pea wallpaper and the Laura Ashley and very froofy, and so, no, I actually went the opposite. And my old business partner was very traditional, and I just, I think I ran from that and became very contemporary. Anything clean lined, even mid century, modern, I was more drawn to. But now I'm starting to have this appreciation, I don't know if it's getting older, or just learning that having pieces that are from family from, you know, 100 years ago is really special. So I think I'm definitely being able to merge my style. And we just built a house for the past year, my partner and I, to fit all six of us. And it's been such a labor of love. And it will be photographed, hopefully, in the next couple of months once we get our final furniture pieces. But it definitely has a combo of very clean lines, but also some traditional pieces thrown in.   Kimberly Grigg  10:55 Sure. And I think that, I'm sure you're experiencing supply chain issues as most of us are, and, you know, my original aesthetic incorporated antiques and older pieces really juxtaposed with modern, and it was always my favorite style. But as I got busier and busier, it was just easier to order than to go antiquing on the weekends, or go antiquing, and just, like, be looking for these pieces. And I... my aesthetic sort of shifted because I was doing so many installations every single week, I didn't have time or energy, except to get it ordered. And I had assistance for all of that. So that's kind of my business in those middle years became all about ordering, tracking, ordering, tracking, ordering tracking. But, now with all of this supply chain, I'm back to my roots, I feel like Kunta Kinte. Like, let's start with that antique, baby. Let's get rid of some of those antiques that are leftover in the warehouse. Let's repurpose, let's rethink, let's re-upholster, let's do all of these things, because I don't have the patience for 28 months for upholster to arrive. And I know my clients don't have that kind of patience, either. So I think that necessity is the mother of invention. And I know that on your site, you do talk a lot about sustainability. And I think that's a, sounds like maybe a really big part of your brand. So talk to me a little bit about sustainability, why it's important to you, and how you incorporate sustainability into your designs.   Heather Bernstein  12:38 Yeah, I think just living in the Bay Area, it's kind of been hammered into us for our whole lives. You know, like, we recycled before recycling was even a thing, I think. And so it really allows you to design consciously and with thought and care. And antiques are such a beautiful part of that because there's only one, and it's available, like you said - I'm not, you know, we just got a quote for a client and it said 36 weeks, and I was trying to even calculate that in my head-   Kimberly Grigg  13:17 - it doesn't sound that big. But when you're calculating 36 weeks, you're like, whoa!   Heather Bernstein  13:24 Yeah, the client was like 'is that a joke?' Yeah, I could make that in 36 weeks.   Kimberly Grigg  13:29 Right? Exactly.   Heather Bernstein  13:31 And so, I think, really incorporating pieces that are already out there, that don't take any footprint to make, and to just infuse them in our designs is really special, and also conscious for the environment. So I think it's important to think that way and to infuse that in your design, and really be smart about it.   Kimberly Grigg  14:02 Yes. So agree. So tell me, Heather, what inspires you?   Heather Bernstein  14:08 You know, I just, I love being outside. It's so funny because I had a girlfriend over last night. We're newly friends, she's going through a divorce, so I'm kind of helping her through it.   Kimberly Grigg  14:22 Right.   Heather Bernstein  14:22 And my partner and I went on a mountain bike ride yesterday for, like, two hours just in nature, huffing and puffing, it was so beautiful. And I was telling her about it - and we had our bikes stolen a couple months ago and so we just got her new bikes, yesterday was our first ride, we were breaking them in, we were so excited - and she was like, 'you mountain bike. I did not know that about you'. And I was laughing. My dad was a mountain bike coach in high school, and I really, I think, am a girly-girl but I love to get down and dirty, and yesterday was my favorite day. We spent three hours in the garden planting, and then got on our bikes and went on a ride for two hours. And it just felt so productive. And the vitamin D, I don't know, there's something, for me, about being outside. And we clearly live, like, in the redwoods, and in this beautiful space where we can do that. And I think that is the number one thing that inspires me. Because, yeah, travel inspires me, but we can't travel every day. But we can be outside every day in nature and take it in and just revel in the beauty of it. And that is... and then, of course, my family inspires me every day. And they're just, we're an evolving, very fun family, you know - the boys are 9 and 10, the girls are 13 and 16 - and just watching their personalities and the hormones and I'm just always so curious.   Kimberly Grigg  14:29 It's so true. And I've never thought about it as family being inspiring. Supportive. But, you know, when I think back on things that we've been through - because we're a blended family as well, we're definitely the Brady Bunch. Three and three. And so, three girls, three boys.   Heather Bernstein  16:26 Oh my gosh.   Kimberly Grigg  16:26 Two were his, two we adopted, and two are biological. So it is, like.... but their spaces in life have really been an inspiration that I've probably just taken for granted as my personal life that does merge with my work life. You know, I don't necessarily know that I process that on a daily basis, until you just said it. But I can think of times when yes, my - like right now, one of my daughters is very much into boho chic. And, you know, it's just a boho chic moment. And yet I have a client with three daughters, and they are in their boho chic periods, and I can do that very well because of the inspiration that I've garnered from my daughter - what she sees on social media, what she likes, what she follows, what she wants in her own spaces, all those things - you know, has brought about an inspiration that I probably wouldn't have been interested in that style. I just wouldn't. It's just not, it doesn't necessarily speak to my personal aesthetic, but I champion being versed in all styles. And I usually get versed when someone asked me to do one. And then it's, like, I study for days and hours, and, you know, when you do this I do think that you can study a particular genre for long periods of time. And you can do it, like it's in us, we have to be a certain amount of chameleon to be able to do what we do, unless we have a particular style that we repeat, and we repeat, and we repeat. That's a little bit different. But that brings me to this question, you know, my listener is, she's not necessarily a DIYer, but she is someone who wants to make her home beautiful. And for whatever reason, she's probably not going to hire a designer, she's going to want to do it herself. She wants to be successful. But she wants her own stamp. And, again, there's many reasons that this person ends up in this space. But I'm curious, do you think that creativity can be learned?   Heather Bernstein  18:45 Hmm, I definitely think... I believe in the right brain / left brain, and, you know, the very cerebral right brain and mathematical - which I know did not come easy for me, like, even in corporate America when I lived in spreadsheets, I just, it was heavy. I felt heavy.   Kimberly Grigg  19:12 Sure.   Heather Bernstein  19:12 And so the left brain creative space, definitely think... everybody has a left brain. And so it's in them. It's just drawing it out. So what is it? You can be creative in your cooking, in your food, and how you plate something or how you think to make something that you're going to put in your body. You can be creative in your garden, and what.... My partner just made this amazing trellis for his green beans - he's so excited about his green beans, and his cucumbers climb on this trellis - that he sat out there for hours and made, and I watched him, like, that's so creative. Like how, I wouldn't have thought of that. So I definitely think there are avenues of creativity that are different for everybody. You know, obviously you think of an artist and you're like, yes, you're creative. I think what we do is definitely, you have to have some creative bones in your body, and your left brain working, but there are so many different ways to be creative. So I think...   Kimberly Grigg  20:22 For sure. And I do find, I think this, like, sometimes when people are hiring me to do a job, they don't have confidence in their creativity, or time, you know, it takes a lot of time to do what we do. And so.... but I do think that it's in there, almost with everyone, left and right brain. Like I'm... definitely my left brain is more trained than my right brain, my right brain came out of the womb screaming, 'I'm here and I'm creative' and my other brain is like, 'alright, bring her along, bring her along, you got this'. And I exercise that muscle very often, because I want it, I want the balance of the two. And, as you know, running a business requires the two. But I do find that a person who doesn't necessarily think they're very creative, it's also maybe they're not as passionate as you and I are about the subject.   Heather Bernstein  21:28 Or like you said, they're nervous. And once you put one foot in front of the other, and you just start doing, you become more confident in your creativity.   Kimberly Grigg  21:37 And I think you can exercise that muscle. And I thought a long time about this, since I teach classes to people who are, who think, who want to aspire to have that beautiful home on their own. And I really had to sit with this, do I think that they can do this? Because if they can't, you're just beating your head against the wall. And if they can, and there's ways that you can do it, then you probably can get somewhere.   Heather Bernstein  22:06 Even if they can come away with one or two, like, a-ha moments, it can help them transform one space, and then two, and then three spaces... and do this one or two things. That's, that's beautiful, because they're making their space more their own and more....   Kimberly Grigg  22:27 And I encourage people at that stage, especially if they don't have the confidence yet, 'all right, you do you and you go through the process' but then it's okay to hire someone to consult with you. It's okay to hire a professional to say, 'move this to the right three inches' because you will learn from that experience as well. I think sometimes people are afraid that, you know, someone like you and I are going to come in with all this vast experience and, like, intimidate them in some way. But it really is, like, I know when I'm doing my own work, heck, I come into my office and say to the other designers here, 'hey, what do you think about this?'   Heather Bernstein  23:11 100%!   Kimberly Grigg  23:12 Like, you know, because it's mine. It's personal. It's intimate, and, like, oh god.   Heather Bernstein  23:17 And it's hard.   Kimberly Grigg  23:20 It's so hard, so you know, I'm glad you're a kindred spirit in that way. So I'm anxious to hear your answer to this. So here's an empty space, Heather, what's your process? Like, what do you do?   Heather Bernstein  23:34 Hmm. Well, in the traditional sense, we put pen to paper and, you know, draw it in CAD and lay it out. But, throw that away because so often we check our measurements from our CAD drawing in the space and we're like, huh, that doesn't feel right. And so then we get out our old fashioned tape measure, which I literally have one every spot I am in.   Kimberly Grigg  24:05 It's attached to my fingers.   Heather Bernstein  24:08 And we measure it out and we think through, like, how does this person live? How do they entertain? Do they have a family? We go through all the process and we know - whether it's for our client or, I'm just thinking of my home that I just did - and, you know, okay this is our living room but it is not a formal living room, it has a TV, and we want it to be comfy and cozy. And it was like, okay yes a sofa, but how about a day bed where you can literally just lounge with a couple of the kids. So really thinking through who's going to use the space, how the space is going to be used, and then laying it out with your trusty tape measure, and just knowing 'okay, we're going to do a sofa, a day bed, and a pair of chairs, and then maybe we'll throw in a bench or two little benches at the, you know, by the fireplace just to pull up for extra seating because we need that'. Because there are so many of us, there are not eight of us, but there are six of us... so yeah, that's I think. But then if I back up and think through, like, the very first thing we do, is we create a vibe board. And this is the most important step because it dictates the design for every room in the house. And that offers consistency in our designs. And so we start with our vibe board, we send it to the client, we have a meeting, and we go through every image. And it's not like you're going to have this in your home, it's more like, how does this vibe board feel? It evokes a mood and what is that and you love it? And if you don't, we're back to the drawing board. So that is how we start. And then, obviously, you know, our handy tape measure comes into play.   Kimberly Grigg  26:18 Well, I tell people, like, they'll bring me plans - I do a lot of design builds, where I'm making all the selections, and it's a year and a half of building, and I love that kind of work - but when it comes to, like, I'll get, you know, into the project, and I inevitably have clients say, 'well, okay, let's order furniture, let's order our furniture right now, right now', we're still 12 months out. And, like, I understand the backlog more than most, however, I start saying it's different on paper than it is in person. It just is. And I want to feel the space before I commit. And yes, this sofa fits, yes, this is probably where we're going with this, however, I want this feeling, this vibe, to feel like you - client - and I also want it to be respectful of the architecture and the home itself. And sometimes you can't get that from a blueprint. And I think that's what you're saying, this vibe board does have this significant role, because this is what - whether every little piece in that vibe board is going in this house, probably not - but it does speak volumes to how this space is going to feel. Right?   Heather Bernstein  27:45 100%. We... when we did my home, and I say 'we' because my senior designer, Reed, was such a big part of it. It's so hard to design for yourself, I don't know why, maybe it's just me, but I've learned that from many other designers, I've heard them say the same thing. But we found this image from this amazing artist, and it's this woman with a blank face being hugged by this big, fat, wonderful, what looks like cashmere ,blanket. And I was like 'THAT - that is my home. That is what I want'. I want you to walk in and feel like you are being hugged by a cashmere blanket. And just settle into the comfort of it and the cozy.   Kimberly Grigg  28:33 I love this.   Heather Bernstein  28:35 And so, I can kind of, I can show you, my - if you can see - there she is. And so this was the start of our vibe. And it just, it all came to, you know, to be from that one image. So often times, you know, we find one image and it's amazing, and just describes the whole thing.   Kimberly Grigg  29:02 And I like to say to people, you know, when you're scrolling on Pinterest or whatever, you're not just looking for rooms, like rooms are important. Like, I get a lot from people out of the rooms that they select. But I say don't just look at rooms, look at images that speak to you. Because what you just showed me was more of a piece of art with this woman in this cashmere blanket this big, thick fluffy... that sparks 'How do I want to feel in my home?'   Heather Bernstein  29:33 Yes.   Kimberly Grigg  29:33 And that's the thing that I sometimes think people miss. They'll bring me a picture of something on Pinterest and I'm, like, so you sort of want me to copy this room? Like, because you got the wrong girl for that. Like, I don't know how to do that very well. I can look at something, I can get a vibe, and I certainly can give you a different version of that that feels that way, but it won't be that. Like, that's just not in me, it's just not. But I think it's more if people can settle into what that space needs to feel like to them, as the people who live there, then I think you tap into something that resonates with a person. And, in the end, I say this, I'm not gonna live here, I'm probably going to come visit you because we will become friends over this, but you're gonna live here.This house should look like you, not me, and get comfortable with that. Because if you don't know who that is, we're going to find out. And it sounds like you have a similar process. And, which, I love that process. I'm not the girl who does this look. And I don't have a look, I have your look. And that's the best I can say about that. So I want to segue, in a minute, into materials. And this is really how we were introduced, is you're kind of known for your use of materials. And I know that you deal a lot in stone. So first define for people what a natural stone is versus a synthetic stone, because I think there's a lot of product in the market and people get confused with materials.   Heather Bernstein  31:14 Yeah. Yeah, there's so many options out there, which is amazing and been really wonderful to design with all these options. But yes, natural stone is cut from the quarry, whether it's from Italy, Portugal, South America, it is a block of magnificent stone, cut from a quarry, and then sliced up into pieces. And what you see is what you get, no two are alike, they're like snowflakes. Synthetic stone is conglomerate, so they grind it up and glue it together, and it's very hardy. It can also be porcelain. I do think synthetic materials, synthetic slabs, have come a long way. We used to, you would see like Corian or quartz, everybody's heard of quartz, a lot of people call it Caesarstone. It's like Kleenex versus tissue: Kleenex is the brand, tissue is the thing. The Caesarstone is the brand, is one brand out of millions, it seems like these days, and quartz is the synthetic material. And there's a time and a place for it. And we have to love all materials because we're blessed to get to do many different spaces and many different places. But if you think about it, a man-made material can't live outside. So, like, if we're doing a built-in kitchen outside, we would never put a quartz outside because the heat can do things to it. Whereas a natural stone has already lived outside and it's totally fine outside. So - and there is something about natural stone that we love, that none are the same, and so every project with natural stone is unique. So we love, love, marble quartzite - not to be confused with quartz - limestone, soapstone, slate. We love these natural materials, but, you know, some of them are more porous than others. And that's where the proper sealant comes in, and treating them so that they last a lifetime.   Kimberly Grigg  33:39 So before we get into this sealant, I think that this is appropriate to say.... because a lot of people get really, really nervous about using natural stone as countertops. And I understand it, and most vendors that I work with will, you know, they'll terrify my client even though I say do not open your mouth and tell clients. But, like, let's just say I want to use marble on my kitchen countertops. And they're like, oh, no, no, no, no, no, and we won't, and all that stuff. So, first question is: Do you ever use natural stone as countertops?   Heather Bernstein  34:22 Every day. All the time.   Kimberly Grigg  34:24 Yay girl. That's what I wanted to hear.   Heather Bernstein  34:26 I had marble in my last kitchen, I have quartzite in this kitchen, I have a soapstone vanity in my powder room, I have a Calcutta vanity in my master bathroom. And, yes, it's all porous but it's beautiful and there are ways, there are two ways to think about it. One is this is a natural stone. It can be, it can last 1000 years as your countertop and you can let it patina as it will. Meaning you will see rings from water, wine, you will see spots from lemon or lime acid etching it. Think about the oldest bar you've been to in Italy, and that counter is marble and it has been there for 100 years, and it's, that is the patina you will get. The other side of it is, you can seal it and it will look as beautiful as it did on install day, as it does four years later. So do not be afraid.   Kimberly Grigg  35:36 What is the sealant? This is so exciting.   Heather Bernstein  35:40 It's called MORE AntiEtch. A gentleman named Steve Wolf used to work for DuPont and he had a lot of experience in mixing these compounds, and he left, and said 'I'm gonna make this sealant that you roll on to natural stone that is impenetrable'. And you only have to seal it like once every 10 to 20 years versus every year. And it works. It's a matte finish so it looks, if you have honed stone, it looks just like the stone. I mean you can't tell that there's any sealant on it. And it truly helps stop the effects of citrus and etching and staining, and you can leave coffee and red wine rings on your counter overnight, and then wipe the next day, and it's fine.   Kimberly Grigg  36:42 And this is M O O R?   Heather Bernstein  36:46 MOOR. MORE AntiEtch.   Kimberly Grigg  36:49 AntiEtch.   Heather Bernstein  36:49 No, M O R E. MORE AntiEtch.   Kimberly Grigg  36:52 MORE AntiEtch. Because I'm going to link it, of course. It'll be in the show notes, everyone. But I have marble countertops in my kitchen and I'm very particular about them, I don't like the patina for that particular area. And someone recently said to me there's a product now that you can use to seal. And I thought I'm gonna wait till I hear a little more about this before - because I have a lot of countertop in my kitchen - but I bet you it's the same product and I would be a fan. When you say matte, how does it work on a glossier finish or does it matte it down?   Heather Bernstein  37:30 They have two. They have a polished option and a honed option. Yeah  MoreSurfaceCare.com - M O R E. And they have different sealants for the different stones. So I have a different sealant on my quartzite than I did on my marble. So they really honed in on what the product is and created something spectacular. I don't understand what the compound is but I don't need to, I just know that it works.   Kimberly Grigg  38:03 Which is so amazing. And when we started this conversation, you've had this product in your homes for, now, a couple of years. So you know it's tried and true, because you tried it and it's true.   Heather Bernstein  38:14 Yep.   Kimberly Grigg  38:15 Which is so exciting because people will say to me, 'oh my god, I love that marble, but I'm not doing that, I'm too scared, my husband is sloppy, I spill red wine', all those things that, you know... and then I, as a designer, don't want to live with 'oh my gosh, like, I'm gonna get a phone call in three years and you're gonna be upset'. So this is a way to offset that and I'm thrilled to know about it and I'm going to be talking about it a lot too on my show. Because, you know, I love a product that will solve. Design is a lot about finding the best solutions to problems in your home and this solves a problem. And, you know, not spending hours on it, I do have a couple of questions, though, about stone because, like, I think there's also unusual ways to use stone, not just on a countertop. And I noticed on your site, you do some things. Tell me some things, other things, you've done with stone that are beautiful, that, you know, someone could incorporate into their homes.   Heather Bernstein  39:23 Yeah, I think our favorite thing right now is doing integrated sinks. So for a powder room just taking a slab and cutting it up to make a sink look like it was carved out of a block of soapstone or marble or quartzite, where the sink is fully integrated, I think is so beautiful. Because it's seamless and it looks like it was just carved out of a chunk of stone, and I love that heft, and that feel. We also use slab for fireplace surrounds all the time. Not only are they so functional because of their heat resistant qualities, but they're beautiful. And there's so many designs you can do with different mantles and, really, you can do anything with stone. It's amazing. Of course outdoor spaces. Even just with a remnant we have leftover, we'll, you know, cut a round top and put it on an iron base for outside. And clients are like, 'oh my gosh, this is amazing, I love our table', and nobody has it. And that's beautiful. So, yeah, that is... we use stone in every room. It's wonderful.   Kimberly Grigg  40:42 Yeah. It is wonderful. And I do the same with remnants. I'm doing a top for a coffee table right now. And it was just a little leftover piece, and, you know, it's so pretty, and it's so important. And it can elevate something to an entirely different level.   Heather Bernstein  41:01 Yeah.   Kimberly Grigg  41:01 And it can make it unique to you. Which are all the things that, to me, scream good design. So in your portfolio, you tend to have more neutral palettes. But... so tell me, how do you insert color? Or do you?   Heather Bernstein  41:18 I will say we used to use color a lot more than we did, and something shifted. And I think it was a combination of things. For me, my old business was being dissolved and I was transitioning to this new business where it was mine, solely mine. And then, you know, we're all stuck at home. And I was looking around, and I was - I don't want to say getting sick of - but I was finding myself, like, with really bold colors and patterns. I was... it was jarring to me. And I felt like I just wanted to take it down 10 notches and just breathe in more neutral tones, but lots of texture. And that's where our shift happened. And I don't know, I don't know if it was gradual or if it was one day, but we just started doing these vibe boards that evoked this very calm, soothing feeling. And nothing, like, too bright or jarring. And so that's kind of the direction where we've gone. Like, I'm looking at this as like a rug that's going in my bedroom, it's just, like, soft blue-gray. And then this is the headboard fabric. And the texture is what made us swoon for it.   Kimberly Grigg  42:53 You know, I say - especially when someone comes to me for a neutral palette, because I'm known for color, but can I do a neutral palette, I have done bazillions - but if you're going to do a neutral palette, then texture becomes your color.   Heather Bernstein  43:11 So do you have certain things that you do in homes that is unique to you, your aesthetic, something more like signature?   Heather Bernstein  43:11 100%. I actually think it's harder sometimes than designing with color, because that is like play on play on play, and you're layer layer layer. With textures, it's like, okay, this is velvet, we don't want another velvet, so we need to really think through the next, you know... okay, what is it? Oh, it's a chunky linen. And so really thinking through that is almost harder. But, in the end, it feels so natural and so warm and comfy and cozy. And so we love that.   Heather Bernstein  43:55 You know, I would say right now, the past couple of years, we have moved away from white kitchens - white, white, white, white, white - and we are going warm. And so we are doing wrist white oak cabinets, or custom walnut cabinets, or a color like this deep rich almost hunter green that brings in nature. And so I think right now, our signature is not a white kitchen. And I have seen white kitchens on our website because that's how we did it for so many years.   Kimberly Grigg  44:44 And it's white kitchen to death. It's white everything today.   Heather Bernstein  44:47 And a client will come and say 'I want a white kitchen, I'm coming to you' and we're like 'oh no'. And then we're like, 'well what if we do a soft gray?' and they're like 'oh, oh, can I see what that would look like?' And then they're like, 'oh, that feels nice'. And so, just warming it up, I think, has been... and also, everything has been so stark white for so long, that white, gray, white, gray, that we're really warming it up. So, like, more of, like, a warm white or an ivory. It just, it feels - and I'm saying this as my office is white white - but this canvas, this natural colored canvas, is where we are right now. We're warming it up.   Kimberly Grigg  45:44 And probably using warmer whites when you're using white.   Heather Bernstein  45:48 100%. So instead of super white.   Kimberly Grigg  45:52 Warmer whites. Yes, yes. And then that plays well with other warm colors that are branching off into other rooms and spaces. And I think it's kind of important, because subliminally we're all over-exposed to whatever is trending, even us. I mean, we get, we start seeing so so so so much of something and the next thing you know, we're doing it. And I think the average person is as well. And before you know it, and really by the time you've - not us necessarily - but by the time the person who doesn't do this professionally is incorporating into their homes, this subliminal image, it's already trending out. And, you know, I mean, think of the gray in the last 10 years. Think of the white white white, think of the white with millennial pink. I mean, all my, like, it's everywhere, right? And then I'm so sick of it, like I don't really want to do it, I want to give you something special, even though your heart is set on that white with millennial pink pop. It's the pop that's doing it for you, probably. And it's not that I don't like either color, or it's not that I don't like those looks, it's just been in my face.   Heather Bernstein  47:08 Yes.   Kimberly Grigg  47:09 And an overexposure. So it does make me, though, want to ask this - because I think about this from the perspective of someone listening to this show and gaining and garnering - like, what are things we can leave them with? So what are tips that people can incorporate that they can elevate their home to more of a designer level? Like what kinds of things can somebody really pull off?   Heather Bernstein  47:39 Yeah, you know, I think there are a few just, like, tricks that aren't even tricks. They're just inherent in what we know. But to explain it to someone and someone to say, 'oh, yeah, I never thought, I never knew that'. Like, an area rug. If you have a sprawling living room, you know, family room, whatever it is, and you put a five by eight postage stamp rug in there, your room is going to come crashing in and feel this big. But if you do a 10 x 14 rug, or a custom size to fit the space, your room will feel the size that it is. And so, I think that is something that we see all the time. That we walk in and we're like, 'oh yeah, it feels small, because you have the wrong size rug'. And that helps define your space so easily. It's like dummy proof. You know, like, once you learn like, 'oh, this is the right size rug for this room'. And that's why there are those standard rug sizes - 8 x 10, 9 x 12, 10 x 14 - because those are some standard room sizes.   Kimberly Grigg  48:55 And your point - nothing kills a space worse than that 5 x 7 rug in this huge room. And yes, it does support the furniture, perhaps, but it - I've never really thought about, I've never put it into those words, you did it so eloquently - but all of a sudden your room just shrinks. And you've got this pretty massive space. I mean people get afraid to go big. Don't you think?   Heather Bernstein  49:23 Yeah. 100%   Kimberly Grigg  49:25 Like they'll get these little bitty accessories, or they'll buy this little bitty lamp, and I'm like, 'oh, love, like, we cannot put that lamp by this high headboard'.   Heather Bernstein  49:37 Yeah. And you just said, I think the biggest thing, you said clients get afraid. So this, I think, is the biggest thing you can do in design. If you really want to elevate your space, be afraid. Have a touch of fear that it's too bold or too much, and go for it. Do a title that scares you. We, my boys' bathroom - there's no window, we put a skylight in, but there's no window - and I was like, you know what, I'm just going to enhance the darkness and do black. Black tile, black floors, black everywhere with an oak vanity and a big mirror to reflect as much light as I can get in this space. And it is by far our favorite bathroom.   Kimberly Grigg  50:31 It sounds amazing.   Heather Bernstein  50:33 Yeah, it's so fun.   Kimberly Grigg  50:35 So bold.   Heather Bernstein  50:36 And even as a designer - and I know everything that's out there, and even the stuff I don't know, I'll learn about and, you know, be like, 'oh, that's so much cooler than what I did' - but even I have to tell myself to be brave sometimes. And, like, yes, do that. Don't play it safe.   Kimberly Grigg  50:57 But you know what, I think it's why you're successful. I know that it has a lot to do with my success. Because, you know, we can all pick some things that go nicely, play nicely together. And we can break some rules and, you know, get the scale off a little bit, get this off a little bit. But I think that the reason people use me as their designer - and I have a feeling it's you too - is because we will take that risk. And we'll believe in it so hard that our clients know that if we believe in it that much, that it's worth the risk. And that we'll fix it if it goes wrong. Like, you know, I've taken risks that haven't worked. But I'd rather take that risk than cheat my client out of what it could have been, if I had stayed in the box. And, you know, I think, like, I can't wait to get out of the box when I'm working on a job, like I cannot. But I also have a lot of years of experience. So I'm not afraid to get out of the box. Yet when we don't get out of the box, and I play it safe, the room is flat to me, or the project is flat. And sometimes people just won't let you and you finally just give up in, like, frustration, and you're like, 'okay, if you won't do it, then I'm not gonna lose any more sleep about this, I'm telling you, it would be 1000 times better if you let me do it this way, but you're not doing it so here we go'. And eventually, you can get to that. But when you get to get out - and I can tell the girl that puts black tile all over a dark bathroom, I know you can take a risk, and I love it. Love it. I can't wait to see the photographs of this bathroom. I think it sounds spectacular. So.   Heather Bernstein  52:47 Yeah, no. Breaking rules. Breaking the rules is so fun.   Kimberly Grigg  52:51 Yeah, exactly. And allow yourself, yeah, allow yourself to do it. So is - obviously beauty is important to you - so, but why? Why should people care? Why is beauty important?   Heather Bernstein  53:09 My partner and I have this conversation quite a bit because he's like, 'function is better'. And I'm like, 'no beauty is better'. I mean women were high heels, you think they wear them because they're comfortable? No. We wear them because they're beautiful, right? And they elongate our calf and our leg. And there are reasons for why we do things. And I think I have learned, through this project over the past year, my own project, that beauty - the most beautiful is where it functions and is beautiful. Because that appeals to everyone. Yeah, you can just have beauty. But it also can be functional. It's like a 10 out of 10. And so I've really tried to instill in my gals, like, 'Okay, but how are they going to use that? And does it, will it work for them?' Because just pulling something that's beautiful is easy. But making sure that it works for the people, the place, the space, is the ultimate beauty. And so I've really - just in doing my own project - I've really put a focus on that. And it's been, it's been really helpful. For us and for our clients.   Kimberly Grigg  54:38 Well said, well said Heather. So it's time for my signature question, which goes a little like this. If you had a hashtag that really spoke to your legacy of design, what would it be?   Heather Bernstein  54:58 So funny. I am looking in my notes because I used to have, when I started this company two years ago, I had this saying... ah, this is it. Are you ready?   Kimberly Grigg  55:14 I'm ready.   Heather Bernstein  55:15 I should have it memorized. The courage to grow requires the ability to let go. Oh, it is that... let's be brave and mighty and go for it. Then you will grow.   Kimberly Grigg  55:33 Yes, Heather. I cannot believe this time has flown. Like, you and I could just do this...   Heather Bernstein  55:40 I know.   Kimberly Grigg  55:40 I could tell. Maybe when I come to the Bay Area, I'm going-   Heather Bernstein  55:44 - it's my roots. My grandmother was from Georgia.   Kimberly Grigg  55:48 Yeah. Oh, wow. So there we are. So how can people find you?   Heather Bernstein  55:53 HKB Interior Design.com. And I would love to... we travel. We have a project in Denver right now. So yeah, reach out.   Kimberly Grigg  56:08 So great. Well, Heather, I thoroughly have enjoyed getting to know you. It's so funny because our introduction was over the sealant. But, gosh, there's many more layers to you, girl.   Heather Bernstein  56:21 Oh, thank you.   Kimberly Grigg  56:25 Thank you. I appreciate this so much. And you guys got to go take a look at this girl's work. She's spectacular. And I can't wait to get to know you more. And so I'm going to say to our listeners, bye for now and I will see you next time and thanks for listening. And of course be sure to go rate, review, and subscribe to our show.   Kimberly Grigg  56:49 Thanks for listening to Decorate Like A Design Boss. If you want more info on how to decorate your space like a pro, visit KimberlyGriggDesigns.com. See you next week!

Kim Chadwick is the Director of Australian Trend Forecast and the creator of the Designer Colour Wheel.During 30 years in the design industry, Kim has chosen the colours of the inherently Australian corrugated roofs for Colorbond, hand selected colours for Wattyl and Dulux, created bathrooms for Laminex, curated complete house solutions for Brickworks Building Products, developed product style guides for Officeworks, and trends for Australia.Kim has written trend columns the Paint Quality Institute, published trend forecasts for Colourways, won best stand at Designex for Caesarstone and best overall renovation and addition, HIA Victoria, for her own home. Kim talks with us about what exactly is colour, how it affects our designs and how it affects us in our homes and places of work.This podcast is brought to you in association with Caroma, proud sponsors of the Residential Series of podcasts.  For more information on Caroma, please go to: https://www.caroma.com.au

Caesarstone sees $1.5 million in worldwide revenues by 2025; U.S. hard-surface imports up from November, far ahead of December 2020; Wyoming capitol project gets Grande Pinnacle honors.0:32Caesarstone anticipates $1 billion in worldwide revenues by 2025.3:22Wyoming capitol restoration gets top Pinnacles honor.7:15U.S. hard-surfaces imports up at year's end.8:25Dal-Tile celebrates 75th anniversary.10:17 Nebraska granite shipment in Washington state truck crash.11:00LATICRETE appoints Jerry Perkins to board of directors.

If and when it happens do you wonder, "Can stress cause diarrhea?" You'll find the answer today.Diarrhea is certainly not the topic anyone wants to talk about, but if you have it, even if you sit in silence with it, you do want to know about it.So I brought a guest on today to talk all about it.Who is Isabel Smith?Isabel Smith, MS RD CDN, Founder of Isabel Smith Nutrition, is a nationally recognized Integrative Registered Dietitian, Health and Lifestyle Expert, as well as a Certified Level 2 Reiki Practitioner. At Isabel Smith Nutrition, Isabel and her team work with clients and groups in the areas of hormonal balance, weight loss and intuitive eating, thyroid health, blood sugar control, oncology, digestive health (celiac, IBS/IBD, allergies and sensitivities), athletic performance, and allergies and immune health.In addition to private clients, Isabel works with corporations and executives in the areas of nutrition, health, time management, stress management, employee wellness, and more.Corporate clients have included companies such as Madison Square Garden and Hearst. Isabel's expert opinion is often featured in print and online and can be found in Elle, Mind Body Green, Readers Digest, Women's Health/ Men's Health and others. As an adviser, consultant, and brand ambassador for various food and health-minded brands she has worked with NOW Foods, Life Extension, Anheuser-Busch, KIND, Biotta Juice, and Caesarstone to name a few. In addition to her brand work, Isabel is also an Angel Investor in CPG brands. In her spare time, Isabel can be found creating new recipes, trying out new exercise classes, practicing yoga and running in Central Park with her Yorkshire Terriers, Sasha and Henry.Can Stress Cause Diarrhea (Episode 28 with Isabel Smith)Click HERE to save this show for later.Resources MentionedEpisode 20: Podcast Topics {Q&A 3 with A Gutsy Girl}Bristol Stool ScaleFructoseSucroseIsabel on InstagramIsabel's websiteWork with Isabel (I've added her to the Master Gutsy Resources Spreadsheet under "Practitioner Referrals"Stressful {Episode 18 with Dr. Marcus Cirelli}Is Stress Causing My Digestive DistressThe Importance of Shifting from Stress to Happiness8 Stress Management Tactics Don't Miss These ThoughtsThe work Isabel doesWhy the gut? The reason why Isabel thinks it's so important to focus on."We find there is always an origin in the gut."Where does diarrhea fall on the Bristol Stool ScaleThe difference between loose stool and urgency with bowel movementsWhat are the causes of diarrhea?When is diarrhea a cause for concern?"Keep a food log!" [HERE is my personal physical gut healing journey journal. The Instant PDF download can be purchased directly below.]Testing optionsListener question: “I have been plagued with diarrhea for 15 years. My diagnosis is Microscopic colitis, and specifically collagenic colitis. My gastro lady asserts that no matter what bugs live in my gut, it would make no difference to my problems and the need to take Entocort (a steroid). And my functional practitioner disagrees. So ANY information from your expert would make a world of difference to me!”Listener question: Are there any supplements that can help with diarrhea?What people get wrong when it comes to diarrhea?"Worry and anxiety will make it worse."Gender differences when it comes to diarrhea"Colon Cancer for our generation is on the rise."Isabel's 3 convictions around gut health and gut healing More from A Gutsy Girl1. Welcome to A Gutsy Girl Podcast2. Hang out on Instagram3. BFF's on YouTube4. Free resource: The Master Gutsy Spreadsheet5. Rated-G Email ClubWrap UpTime to wrap this up. As always, a huge goal for this show is to connect with even more people. Feel free to send an email to our team at podcast@agutsygirl.com. We want to hear questions, comments, show ideas, etc.Did you enjoy this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Xox,SKH Connect with A Gutsy GirlThrough the websiteOn InstagramVia LinkedIn

If and when it happens do you wonder, "Can stress cause diarrhea?" You'll find the answer today.Diarrhea is certainly not the topic anyone wants to talk about, but if you have it, even if you sit in silence with it, you do want to know about it.So I brought a guest on today to talk all about it.Who is Isabel Smith?Isabel Smith, MS RD CDN, Founder of Isabel Smith Nutrition, is a nationally recognized Integrative Registered Dietitian, Health and Lifestyle Expert, as well as a Certified Level 2 Reiki Practitioner. At Isabel Smith Nutrition, Isabel and her team work with clients and groups in the areas of hormonal balance, weight loss and intuitive eating, thyroid health, blood sugar control, oncology, digestive health (celiac, IBS/IBD, allergies and sensitivities), athletic performance, and allergies and immune health.In addition to private clients, Isabel works with corporations and executives in the areas of nutrition, health, time management, stress management, employee wellness, and more.Corporate clients have included companies such as Madison Square Garden and Hearst. Isabel's expert opinion is often featured in print and online and can be found in Elle, Mind Body Green, Readers Digest, Women's Health/ Men's Health and others. As an adviser, consultant, and brand ambassador  for various food and health-minded brands she has worked with NOW Foods, Life Extension, Anheuser-Busch, KIND, Biotta Juice, and Caesarstone to name a few. In addition to her brand work, Isabel is also an Angel Investor in CPG brands. In her spare time, Isabel can be found creating new recipes, trying out new exercise classes, practicing yoga and running in Central Park with her Yorkshire Terriers, Sasha and Henry.Can Stress Cause Diarrhea (Episode 28 with Isabel Smith)Click HERE to save this show for later.Resources MentionedEpisode 20: Podcast Topics {Q&A 3 with A Gutsy Girl}Bristol Stool ScaleFructoseSucroseIsabel on InstagramIsabel's websiteWork with Isabel (I've added her to the Master Gutsy Resources Spreadsheet under "Practitioner Referrals"Stressful {Episode 18 with Dr. Marcus Cirelli}Is Stress Causing My Digestive DistressThe Importance of Shifting from Stress to Happiness8 Stress Management Tactics Don't Miss These ThoughtsThe work Isabel doesWhy the gut? The reason why Isabel thinks it's so important to focus on."We find there is always an origin in the gut."Where does diarrhea fall on the Bristol Stool ScaleThe difference between loose stool and urgency with bowel movementsWhat are the causes of diarrhea?When is diarrhea a cause for concern?"Keep a food log!" [HERE is my personal physical gut healing journey journal. The Instant PDF download can be purchased directly below.]Testing optionsListener question: “I have been plagued with diarrhea for 15 years. My diagnosis is Microscopic colitis, and specifically collagenic colitis. My gastro lady asserts that no matter what bugs live in my gut, it would make no difference to my problems and the need to take Entocort (a steroid). And my functional practitioner disagrees. So ANY information from your expert would make a world of difference to me!”Listener question: Are there any supplements that can help with diarrhea?What people get wrong when it comes to diarrhea?"Worry and anxiety will make it worse."Gender differences when it comes to diarrhea"Colon Cancer for our generation is on the rise."Isabel's 3 convictions around gut health and gut healing More from A Gutsy Girl1. Welcome to A Gutsy Girl Podcast2. Hang out on Instagram3. BFF's on YouTube4. Free resource: The Master Gutsy Spreadsheet5. Rated-G Email ClubWrap UpTime to wrap this up. As always, a huge goal for this show is to connect with even more people. Feel free to send an email to our team at podcast@agutsygirl.com. We want to hear questions, comments, show ideas, etc.Did you enjoy this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Xox,SKH

Laminam doubles production at its automated Italian porcelain-panel factory; Caesarstone sets a new record for third-quarter revenues; Cutting Edge Countertops donates more than $14,000 to Habitat for Humanity; more.00:21Laminam Doubles Production at Italian Plant  02:04Caesarstone Sets 3Q Revenue Record04:22Cutting Edge Countertops Supports Habitat for Humanity 05:11Internships Eased by Natural Stone U. Program 06:40Costentino Gets Spain-US C-of-C Honor08:19Kaeser Compressors Paying Shipping Offsets09:01Spanish Web Portal for Natural Stone Institute 09:52BB Industries Gets ISFA Envision Award 

There's  a plan to expand natural-stone exhibition at The International Surface Event; TISE and Coverings open online registrations for 2022 shows; Caesarstone issues a corporate-responsibility report.00:08TISE to Expand Natural-Stone Presence  02:25TISE Online Re  04:19Coverings Opens Online Registration and Honors Nominations  06:41Pink Stone Challenge in October  07:58NTCA Craftspersons of the Year  09:19Caesarstone Publishes ESG Report  11:22Cosentino City Center in Atlanta  12:05MSI Acquires U.S. LVT Plant  12:47Green Building CEU Now Available  

The general 25% China goods tariff is challenged by 30 hard-surface-industry companies. Also: Cambria points U.S. customs officials to quartz-tariff evasion through Malaysia: there'll be no virtual trade-show floor for KBIS this year; Caesarstone expects to pick up quick from low performance in 4th-quarter 2020.

In 2008, the economy had tanked and John McDonald was left at a crossroads. Rather than withdraw into comfort, he took the opportunity to do something a bit crazy. John was a woodworker who spent time at trade shows, and someone once suggested that he make cabinet doors that fit with IKEA cabinets. With nothing to lose, John launched Semihandmade to do just that. Now, a decade later, Semihandmade has seen consistent double-digit growth year over year and has been featured in countless blogs, interior design social posts, on the feeds of influencers worldwide, and in the homes of tens of thousands of people. On this episode of Up Next in Commerce, John tells the story from start to finish, including how he built a successful ecommerce custom cabinet model on the backs of the IKEA brand, and how he’s now launching into the DTC space with the first US-made custom cabinet DTC offering, BOXI. From finding the right partners, to building an omnichannel approach that doesn’t handcuff your resources, to challenging yourself to strive for more, you’ll learn something from John and his story that just might help you level up your ecommerce business, too.  Main Takeaways:Perfect Partners: For ecommerce brands taking on an omnichannel approach, there is no reason to tie up a lot of your resources into retail spaces and showrooms. Instead, exploring partnership opportunities with other brands in a similar category might be a mutually beneficial way to expand your brand, the brand you partner with, and offer an in-store experience to customers who seek one.Meeting the Moment: The world of home furnishings and interior design is changing rapidly, especially as A.I. and VR technology enter the marketplace. With that tech, users are gaining more flexibility to design their own spaces without leaving home, which means there is an opening for DTC companies that are tech-first. Step Up or Step Out: You can’t let competition scare you, let it inspire you to raise your game. By surrounding yourself with the best and forcing yourself to compete against them, you have to level up to simply survive, and succeed expectations to grow your business in a meaningful way.For an in-depth look at this episode, check out the full transcript below. Quotes have been edited for clarity and length.---Up Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Respond quickly to changing customer needs with flexible Ecommerce connected to marketing, sales, and service. Deliver intelligent commerce experiences your customers can trust, across every channel. Together, we’re ready for what’s next in commerce. Learn more at salesforce.com/commerce---Transcript:Stephanie:Hey, everyone. Welcome back to Up Next In Commerce. This is your host, Stephanie Postles, Cofounder at Mission.org. Today, I had the pleasure of chatting with John McDonald, the Founder and CEO at Semihandmade and also Boxi. John, welcome.John:Thanks for having me. It's great to be here.Stephanie:I'm really excited to have you on. Before we get started, I was hoping you could give me a little background, and for anyone who doesn't know what Semihandmade is and also Boxi, how did you start it? What is it? How do I think about it?John:Sure. Semihandmade is a company that's been around, I guess, just over 10 years now. We're based in Southern California. We make doors that fit IKEA cabinets. What that means is, if you want to buy a kitchen, bathroom, closet media system, IKEA, for the most part, gives you the amazing flexibility of not buying their doors. For a kitchen, you'd buy the cabinets, you'd buy the interior components. Then we have over 40 different options from entry level doors to some really high-end, one-of-a-kind offerings.Stephanie:I love that. Do I think of it like white labeling? You take IKEA's [inaudible] and then you can add like rose gold fixtures on it, yeah?John:Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. The credit, obviously, goes back to IKEA. This is an ever expanding ecosystem that's been around probably for 15 years now. People that make amazing slipcovers that you can put on their sofas. People that make furniture legs, companies like us that make fantastic cabinet doors. It's a way to get a really high-end look for a really mid-level price.Stephanie:Cool.John:I'm even fortunate to grow quite a bit with that.Stephanie:That's great. How did you come to this idea?John:I'm always honest and clear that this was ... It's a spectacular idea that somebody gave to me.Stephanie:Who gave it to you?John:I think his name is David Stewart. I think he's a photographer. Look, I'm 53. I don't know if I'm older than a lot of the people you talk to.Stephanie:A little.John:I came to things a little bit later. I had moved to California from the East Coast when I was 21. Well, wanted to get rich and famous, work in the film business, didn't really have any kind of plan, bounced around with that, was writing, not making any money like everybody else I knew waiting tables. Then I woke up in my early 30s and said, I got to do something with my life. It was post 9/11, which is a wake-up call for a lot of people. I tried a bunch of different things. Then I somehow landed in woodworking and furniture making at first and cabinetry. I got good at it.John:Through the late '90s and early 2000s, that's what I was doing, Southern California based custom furniture and cabinetry company called Handmade. I worked hard. I approached it like a business into my late 30s, which was different than a lot of other people I knew, the craftspeople, spectacular artists, but just no head for business, no interest in business. I always looked at it like as a business like any other. That's what I was doing through, again, the early 2000s. I was networking and blogs just started to happen. I was doing a lot of woodworking shows but also design shows. At one of those design shows in 2008, I think somebody came up to me, this guy randomly and said, "Have you ever thought about making doors for IKEA cabinets?"Stephanie:Was that something that others were doing? Why did he have that idea? Then was like, I'm going to tell John to do that.John:It's interesting. Again, I always want to give credit where credit is due. On top of him, there was a company called Scherr's based in North Dakota that has been making doors for IKEA cabinets just a little bit prior to that. People are always making their own doors as well. It is because IKEA lets you not buy doors when you buy their kitchens. I don't know why he mentioned it. I think part of it was because when I did those shows, it was a show called Whelan Design, which is a great show in Southern California at the time and back when Dwell magazine was really in its heyday and just an iconic brand.John:I was always like the one off independent company. It was me and all the big brands. It would be like Kohler and Caesarstone and Sub-Zero. I was there alongside them with my little custom furniture setup. I don't know if he took a liking to me, but we just spent that day, the Friday and then the following day just talking about it. I had no idea what he was talking about at first.Stephanie:That's awesome. Then for people listening, I know when I first heard of your brand and was looking through it. I'm like, oh, it's just like a small thing, a big thing. Then I was looking through some of the stats and you've been named like the fastest growing private company every year by Inc. magazine [inaudible].John:Well, yeah, one of. Yeah, one of many. Inc. 500 originally, we've been on that list, I think, six or seven years now.Stephanie:You've had double digit growth for almost a decade, year every year.John:Yeah. It's exciting. It's, again, one of many things. I try to be candid and clear, but I never expected this. I never thought in a million years I'd be doing this. Every year that we were fortunate to grow, even my ambition or dreams, it got bigger. It's like get to a million, get to two million, get to five million. It's been exciting. Believe me, I don't take it for granted. That's why I enjoy doing things like this, because I always ... At 40, I was newly divorced. I didn't have any kids at the time. I have a son now. He was nine. I lived in my shop for a year, because I got divorced.John:I didn't have anywhere to live. I had options, but I wanted to hide. I lived in my woodworking shop. I lived on my sofa with my dog. I just said, I got to do something else. It was a huge wakeup call. Then that's when the conversation I had, I think, six to nine months prior. It was like, maybe I should try this. Again, in terms of the second acts in life, whatever, I was 40 and had no clue. 10 years later, more than 10 years later, it's different.Stephanie:Yeah, that's very inspirational. Cool to hear about and cool to see where you can start and where it can grow to. How did you grow the company? From starting out where you're woodworking, you're building stuff, and then you're like, okay, I'm going to buy IKEA stuff and make it better. How did you get in front of people and be found in general?John:Like anything, Stephanie, it's like you look back on it and as much as it was, a long journey at times were so challenging, whatever. You get through it, and you gloss over it. It's only when conversations like this that I do get an opportunity to look back. The reality was, again, I had a nice custom furniture cabinetry business. I had some really good clients. I work with some good architects and designers. Then in 2008, the market tanked. Everybody went in the dumpster. I had to do something else. Things had slowed down.John:I started saying to a couple designers and architects, "What if we try to do integrate some IKEA cabinetry into the custom project." Because at the end of the day, a box is a box, and you're just going to see the outside of the beautiful panels and the doors. There were a few people that took a chance on that. That's how it ... It's like anything. I was 100% custom in 2009. Then it's like, okay, you can start mixing it in and starting to organically ... I don't even know what kind of ... I wasn't doing advertising. Blogs had just taken off.John:Apartment therapy had seen see me at a design show and written about me, which was amazing. That was a really big deal. L.A. Times did a story on me, which is incredible. Yet it was always organic. Through 2010 and 2011, it became, okay, now we're doing half custom, half IKEA. Then every year, it's a little bit more headed towards full IKEA. The truth is, I don't know when it was, maybe 2013, when it was fully just making doors for IKEA. It was fun. It was always a steady progression, always growing every year.Stephanie:Yeah, sustainably growing, which is a lot different than a lot of the brand.John:Yeah, profitable every year. Beginning, doubling every year, which, again, was not what I expected. Part of that, what's funny too is I have a lot of incredibly supportive family, but also friends, guys that I grew up with. When I was in California at 21, or 22, or 29, or whatever, they were amazing. They love me. They were supportive, but they probably had no clue where I was headed. I didn't either. Now, it's fun. I gave them a hard time constantly about the fact that they probably gave up on me.John:Not in a bad way, but it's just ... I mean, I do think that there is a time to cash in your chips. It's great to have dreams. There was an interesting like Scott Galloway kind of thing recently about if you should follow your dream. His overly simplistic thing is definitely do not follow your dream. Because unless you're willing to pay your bills to start because following just exclusively your dream can be incredibly impractical. The people that you admire, suddenly, the people that I admire weren't these head up in the clouds kind of people. They worked really hard. I geek out on founder stories, things, podcasts like this. I'm fascinated by that. It's never an overnight thing, or at least it's rarely. Again, I'm 53 now. This is all house money.Stephanie:Wow, that's awesome. When you started, getting more money, you're doubling growth, more revenue, obviously. Where did you invest? How did you think about investing that? Because I'm sure you're like, woo-hoo! I'm going to go have fun now.John:No.Stephanie:No?John:It was never like that, no. It's interesting. I would say I like nice things like some people do. I'm pretty frugal. In terms of the business, everything lives inside the business. I had a partner at that point. Up until three years ago, we made everything in-house. I was the original guy making the doors and packing them up and then shipping them in New York or different places. Then my partner at the time, Ivan, came on board. He was the guy cutting the doors. Now, we were fortunate to grow.John:Eventually, we had close to 35, I think 35 or 40 people that were working in production. Up until three years ago, we topped out at 75 people and half of them were making products. Now I'm proud to say we don't make anything in-house. Everything, it's made around the US, some at the top manufacturers in the country. That was a huge shift. To answer your question, everything is in the business. That's why you see revenue numbers are different than other things.Stephanie:Yeah. What were some mistakes maybe that you remember where you're like, ooh, I would have avoided this if I were to do it again, or especially in the more maybe the past five years or something. Not early on when you're just ...John:Right. If we're going to say 10 years ago, the mistakes that I made were unavoidable in the sense that I was creating this out of thin air. Ivan and I were just making stuff up as we went along. We were two guys. He's a little bit younger than me. He came out from Boston. I came out from Philadelphia to be writers. In some ways, no business starting this kind of business. In the last five years, it's probably the mistakes that I've made are ... I don't know, maybe waiting too long to really build up the team, which is not to say that we didn't have good people, we did.John:Part of my job now is just looking at the next 12 months and 18 months and say, hopefully, where are we going to be? Where do we think we're going to be? What are we going to need then? As someone who is ... Again, I think pretty honest about their limitations or whatever, we only thrive with people that are smarter, better, or more experienced than me. That's one of the biggest changes in the last at least six months, where we really just hit the gas and brought in some really amazing complementary pieces.Stephanie:Yeah, cool. How do you think about building on top of another company? What if IKEA changes their cabinet line or does something different, did that ever worry you, building a business that's ... I mean, a lot of businesses are built on another businesses, obviously. How did you think about that?John:We've always been after market. With IKEA, it's pretty well documented. We've gone up and down with them. I think in most ways, they appreciate what we do. Certainly, it's undeniable that we sell kitchens that people wouldn't normally buy if we weren't available. They also, I think, hate a little bit that we're there. I don't know this is arrogant or anything to say. They're not going to change their model because of us. They're never going to not sell doors. Even if they did, I would say to people like, "Then just buy the doors that literally cost $2."John:Then we'll pay for them and recycle. Their model is that a la carte wide range of pricing. We've always been respectful. Again, I have immense respect for them and what they built. It's extraordinary. Even when my fiancé and I moved into a new house and it's like going there, buying the basics for the house, it's just nobody can beat it [inaudible].Stephanie:Yup. I'm doing that now as well. I think, like you said, you're opening up a market that they probably wouldn't have access, otherwise. When I'm about finishing this house now, I honestly would not have thought to go to IKEA to get cabinets. I don't know. Then when I saw you guys, I'm like, oh, well then you can have the finishings and the colors and the things that I actually want. I don't actually care what a cabinet is like inside or behind the scenes, but I care about how it looks. A lot of the IKEA stuff does look like you know sometimes.John:Yeah, it's understandable. Because at that scale, you can't get that fancy and creative. This is the part where I drop names, just in the sense that what I do love is we work with some really cool people that do make IKEA more accessible. It is people like Karlie Kloss and Coco Rocha and all kinds of celebrities and high end designers and influencers. They, more so than us, have normalized IKEA. That's good for everybody. If design is supposed to be democratic and accessible to everybody, there's nothing more accessible than IKEA. Obviously, Amazon, Wayfair, and things like that.Stephanie:Walmart? Walmart is coming back. I have bought rugs now, a little egg wicker chair. It's from following influencers. I'm like, Walmart is coming back.John:You're right. It's funny, because the same thing with my fiancé, Stephanie. Yesterday, she was looking at different coffee tables. She said, "This is ... " She showed me a thing. I was like, "That's awesome." She said, "Oh, it's like the Kelly Clarkson line." I was like, "This is great." It's true. Look, certainly, you can make the argument that some of that stuff is more disposable and it's going to go into a landfill and less sustainable. I understand that. The reality is, not everyone has the same access to disposable. If you can get cool stuff, it's reasonably priced and it lasts for a few years. I don't know. It's hard to turn that down.Stephanie:You mentioned that you partner with influencers and celebrities. How does that relationship work?John:Yeah. I think that's always been a huge differentiator for us, one of several things. From the start, I always felt no self-consciousness about reaching out to people. Whether it was blogs, I would say, "This is what we're doing. Here are some photos. I'd love for you to write about us." Or even influencers. The biggest one and the one that we worked with the most is Sarah Sherman Samuel. We've had a door line with Sarah for three years. That's a situation where, god, I think 2014 or 2015, she reached out and said, "Hey, I bought a bungalow in Venice. I love IKEA cabinets.John:I wonder if we could partner on some doors." We did a small collaboration, gave her a tiny discount. She painted the doors. She styled everything. She took photography. The kitchen went completely viral. It's one of those kitchens that is everywhere. I think a really cool Farrow & Ball paints, brass and mixture of this light green and white. That just opened the door to all these other relationships. People saw that and started reaching out to us. It's been an amazing thing. The truth is, we've gotten to a point where we've had to pull back on that because it's just a different way to market the brand. It can be expensive. It's definitely grown us, there's no doubt about it.Stephanie:Have you thought about Netflix series? I'm just thinking, wow, they should be on a home remodel type of show. How perfect is that? People always trying to do amazing things on a budget on like the HGTV [inaudible].John:Yeah. We've talked about that stuff in the past. I like that stuff. Again, I don't know. I do think it's interesting our growth. That's how I always look at things, behind the scenes of how businesses grow, especially within that. I do like someone we haven't worked with in a while, the Studio McGee, the Netflix series, which is great. That's really interesting, especially after listening to another podcast like our friends at Business of Home, where ... I left the podcast with so much more respect.John:Because my interaction with them was a long time ago, and then I just see the photos and the beautiful stuff. Just the growth that they've had and the behind the scenes, and again, hearing their story is really extraordinary. I enjoy watching that stuff. I don't know if I want to watch this. I get sick of hearing myself talk. Maybe if it's everybody else, that might work.Stephanie:Yeah. I was just thinking like, wow, that'd be a really good partnership strategy. I always bring up the Container Store partnership that they had on the Netflix series and just how much Container Store sales went up after that series.John:[inaudible]Stephanie:I can see why, same thing with cabinets and stuff.John:Yeah, it's interesting. Because even that, again, I'm a lot older than you, but in the early '90s, whenever Trading Spaces came on and that was huge like ...Stephanie:I watch Trading Spaces, just to be clear.John:I mean, even in the '80s, the godfather of that is like Bob Vila in this old house. That's definitely before your time. That was restoring amazing New England homes and stuff. It was master carpenter, Norm. I think Norm Abram is absolute craftsman. That was the start. Then you had Trading Spaces. Even now, you would have thought, after 10 years, that goes away, and it hasn't. That's the thing. Is it the ladies like Home Edit and stuff like that? I don't know. It hasn't evaded, it just only grown. Obviously, Chip and Joanna Gaines and the dynasty that they have built. It doesn't show any sign of stopping.Stephanie:Yeah. It seems like the world is now just moving to a more curated collections like I'm going to look for someone who knows my style, so I don't have to waste time looking at everything. Whereas before, it's like, oh, I'm going to go to Target to get this, and then I'm going to go to Dollar Tree to get this. I make it up. I think, 10 years ago is very much about DIY, but all over the place. Now, it's like, okay, I'm going to follow Chip and Joanna Gaines, their line at Target, whatever that is, and follow the people that I know are my style and be ready to immerge myself in that brand.John:Yeah. The interesting, whether it's the 180 to that is the amount of growth that Restoration Hardware has had, where it's just almost like meteoric, being a complete luxury brand and selling the whole experience. It is like the Ralph Lauren of today, and now as they move towards hospitality restaurants and sounds like hotels. Part of your brain thinks, man, you can't sustain that. How do you keep growing? There is a market for that. Even when you watch the Studio McGee, their services are not expensive. Amber Interiors, who we work with, people like that, incredibly talented, at the really high end of the market. They keep growing.Stephanie:Yup. Tell me a bit about your omnichannel approach. I saw that you had showrooms around the country. Then you're, obviously, online as well. Now you're moving into DTC. How do you think about keeping a cohesive story of your brand but also expanding and reaching a lot of people on different channels?John:I guess the biggest challenge, if it is the biggest, it's just the fact that what we're selling comes at a higher price point than the average online purchase. We sell certainly, if you're doing a GODMORGON bathroom vanity, that then may cost $150, $300, $400. We're selling cabinet doors and panels and complementary trim and things like that that can cost $3,000, $5,000, $20,000. Again, it's not buying a pair of Warby's or an Olay bag for a couple hundred bucks. There's a lot to it, a lot of back and forth. Excuse me.John:Showrooms we're always a part of we've got to show people our product, especially when we're asking them to spend that much. The benefit of IKEA is, even though they're still a privately held company, there are only, I think, less than 60 around the US. What I could say to people to say to you, Stephanie, or wherever, like you're in New York, go to one of the five local IKEAs. Then come into our mini ... I never want to call it a showroom, because it could be 200 square feet. It's got some cabinetry in it. It's got door samples, things like that. There would be a whole experience.John:I would always say, if you want to see a kitchen, go to IKEA and you can see 15 kitchens or see 20 kitchens. Want to see the doors? Come see us. We've had that in New York, in Brooklyn, in Chicago, obviously, in LA, Minneapolis, a bunch of different places. Again, trying to be reasonable about that. I don't want the overhead of signing leases if I don't have to. What we've typically done and we will continue to do even more so is partner with other great brands. It is like a multi-brand approach.John:With our lighting friends, with hardware companies like Rejuvenation, Fireclay Tile, upcoming collaboration with Caesarstone, it's partnering with Cambria in the past. It's just saying, let's do this collectively. Because the kitchen is, as someone said to me, "The base purchase, if you're fortunate to have him as a house, there's a car, and then maybe there's your kitchen." We're trying to grow the company that way. We started what I think is an amazing ... I got to [inaudible] blog anymore. It's that. [inaudible] stories that launched last summer.John:That was the idea that I wanted to bring together all these great writers, great content to help promote the brand, of course, but also expand us, again, to make that cliché to becoming a lifestyle brand. On the one hand, it would be enough to have a really successful cabinet door company. I just think we have the opportunity to do so much more. That's what something else we can talk about, is this brand Boxi, which is going to launch at the beginning of March. That really is direct to consumer. That's our own product, no IKEA. That's a whole different thing for us.Stephanie:Alright. Let's move there next after my one thought. I've many ideas when talking to you now.John:Awesome.Stephanie:What about having like partnering with IKEA on their AR app or developing your own AR app, instead of having to have a showroom, being going to IKEA, pull up your phone, and then you can swipe through the designs of ours, and you can see exactly what that trim would look like, what that doorknob or whatever, so then you eliminate showroom.John:It is interesting. Look, the thing with IKEA, they have partnered with people in the past. Obviously, places like Target have done an amazing job of that completely. As you said, Walmart too.. It always seem like the natural fit with us. If you were going to do it with anybody, it would be us. In terms of AI, yeah. IKEA has been slow and is put a huge push in the last couple years of their online presence and their economy. They have an app they launched last month. What we are doing with the new brand is working with a 3D AI company called Skip. It's going to launch in the next few months. That lets you basically not go in showrooms.John:There are ways to order this new line of cabinets, and one of them is to make an appointment and someone comes to your house and 3D scans your room. Then you design remotely. With 80 hours of AI and machine learning and everything else, it's compressing that and then presenting you with design options.Stephanie:That's cool.John:That's where we're headed. All has changed dramatically in the last year. COVID or not, it was headed towards that. The new iPhones have the camera technology where you can almost do that. Maybe in 12 to 15 months, you don't even need a guy to come to your house. You can do it with your iPhone. They're already pretty close.Stephanie:Yeah, I think it's fair. I have a little tape measure app on my phone and it says, okay, scan the whole room. You do that and then you can measure everything. The placeholders all around the room for you and [inaudible].John:Yeah, it's fascinating. Even brands like Primer that launched last year, which do the work with other brand partners, and you want to click on like the Hygge and West Wallpaper, you can hold it up to your wall. They'll show you different swatches and things like that. It's interesting. For us, yeah, that is part of what we think is a differentiator. IKEA is always going to have massive brick and mortar. Even though they move in some cities towards smaller footprints, it's still footprints that are 20,000 to 150,000, as opposed to 300,000. There's another cabinet line that's launching.John:It just launched, it's got a 30,000 square foot showroom on the East Coast and 100 kitchens. You go in and wear the AR or the VR goggles. That's completely different because you're looking at some space that has nothing to do with yours. It's kind of what you're saying. The point is, things are changing so fast. With Boxi, it is saying, can you make this as DTC as possible? The caveat being, it could cost $10,000 to $15,000, to $20,000. It's not like ...Stephanie:Okay. Tell me what is Boxi then since we [crosstalk].John:Boxi is the first American direct to consumer cabinet brand. It's a cabinet system for the entire home. It's basically taking the last 10, 11 years of everything we've learned from IKEA and saying, let's try and offer something. I don't know, if it's ... I don't want to say better than IKEA. Because again, I've huge respect for them. It's a more complete package. Certainly, the quality is there. The accessibility is there. One of many things that we're going to improve on is the fact that Semihandmade customers have to go to IKEA first.John:It's a two-part process where you've got to go to IKEA. You've got to order the cabinets and hardware. Then you've got to order the doors from us. Thank God that they do, but especially in the last year, IKEA, like a lot of people, has suffered horribly with supply chain issues. We have customers now, unfortunately, it's January, they're hearing, cabinet boxes might not be available for three, four, or five months because ...Stephanie:I ordered a couch from Pottery Barn and four months out. [crosstalk] order, I just didn't look, I guess.John:As a business, on a personal level, that annoys me because I want ... That's a whole thing. We have such ridiculous expectations because they're easily met or they have been up until now. Not to blame Amazon because that's too easy. I'm a hypocrite about Amazon too. With Boxi, we're saying, no big box stores. Somebody can come to you, things ship, leave the factory in a week. Part of what we're doing, you're from Palo Alto, I don't know if you're born there, but it's almost like an In-N-Out Burger West Coast approach. Meaning we're going to do a limited number of items, and we're going to do it great. If you want ...John:What they do is they're great. What's interesting about that is they ... I think just little background on burgers. I think the founder was best friends with Carl Karcher who started Carl's Jr., another big West Coast place. In the '50s, they open hamburger stands right next to each other. The In-N-Out guy's thing was always, I'm not worried about competition. You're welcome to open across the street from me, next door, or whatever, because I'm just going to bury you. I'll just be that much better. Not like in an obnoxious, overly competitive way. Just like, this is going to raise our game. With us, with Boxi, yeah, limited selection, fast turnaround ships in a week, never need to go to a big box store. It's built in the US at a really competitive price point. That's the idea.Stephanie:I love that it's built in the US. I think that a lot of companies right now are bringing things back into the US and some are struggling seeing how expensive things can be and what was happening overseas and maybe how it's just different here. What did you guys learn from IKEA that you're taking with you? Then what are you discarding where you're like, we're going to do this different though?John:Again, in some ways, I learned everything from IKEA. Look, I learned a couple things. One of them is you can't compete with them in terms of pricing. That's the most basic thing. I always say like, with Amazon, the same thing, you can't ... I mean, then the turnaround lead time. Up until recently, with COVID, you could buy a kitchen today and bring it home today. Nobody else could do that at a crazy price. Best of all, really high quality. IKEA, to their credit, pretty much every year, as long as I can remember, the last 10 years, is right at the top of like J.D. Power customer satisfaction in terms of quality, customer service, things like that.John:You could complain about certain products from IKEA and their quality, but their kitchens, I think, are inarguable. As much as I'm not affiliated with them directly, I always get defensive when people would slag them. Because it's also understanding that the product that they offer, and this blows some Americans minds, but it's a particleboard core with a melamine skin, a three-quarter melamine box. That standard in the entire world for kitchen cabinets. The most expensive cabinet brands in the world are constructed the same way.John:In the US, that's less the case because 70% of the market wants a frame around their cabinet. It's literally a face frame cabinet. The European style that IKEA is called frameless 32 millimeter. Again, I've learned everything. We're deeply indebted to them.Stephanie:Well, is there anything that you're changing though now that you are exploring DTC that's [crosstalk]?John:Yeah. We'll always have the ability. With Semihandmade, one of the differentiators were ... You'll always have this when you're smaller, we're microscopic compared to them. It's just being able to be nimble, to be able to get more custom, to be able to offer certain versatility that they could never do. Limited run doors, ability to do appliance panels for really anything. The Semihandmade, we could always do that. We can do upgrades with matching ... We used to do open cabinets that match your doors and things like that. We do less of that now.John:With Boxi, what will be interesting is because the hope is anybody to scale and to have short lead times, quick turnaround, we're not going to offer as much customization. We've learned like what ... In terms of people's taste. We have eight doors, which are basically the biggest sellers for Semihandmade. It's basic white, gray, black, and some wood tones. It's not saying like we have at Semihandmade of 45 choices. That's fun to me. Because if anything, you can have too many options and that is paralyzing.Stephanie:Yup. Just going to say that I appreciate when things are curated or you showed me something cute and I'm just like, "I'll have that." Whatever that is, the white, the gold, and the brown, perfect. That's what I want. Not choose every single piece of it. Which I think is for a lot of ecommerce, that's what I've heard throughout many interviews, is don't give so many choices, show people what you think or know that they're going to want based off of preferences or how they're interacting with your site or whatever it may be.John:That's part of if there'd been multiple challenges with getting Boxi off the ground understandably. I think the biggest one is like you said, with even a call today, there was seven of us on the screen and I said, "If the seven of us were the typical technology guys or girls that knew nothing about socks, but we're launching a socks brand, we wouldn't bring all this baggage to it about what we thought we knew." With Semihandmade, we have all this great knowledge, but some of it can get in the way with the new brand.John:Because the new brand, for it to really work, you can't do all the customization. There are certain things that Semihandmade where we'll make exceptions and we'll do things. Of course, you always want to service the customer, first and foremost. It's just recognizing that if the goal is for this really to take off and grow, which I think it will, we have to be a little stricter, a little more brand fidelity, like say, this is who we are, this is how we get to where we want to go, and then stick to that.Stephanie:Yeah, that seems tricky. Having two different hats where you and your team are like, we know what works, this is what works, we build a company that does this. Then having a slow creep where you turn the other brand into the same thing. Like you said, you have to really be strict about creating a whole new company with a new vision and making sure everyone's on board and not just let the old company creep in and [crosstalk].John:I think in some ways too, whether in a good way or a bad way, the fact that we've been fortunate to have growth and success for Semihandmade, it's either made it easier or harder to get the new venture off. Because it buys you certain time. If we were a startup, we raised funding. We've got 18 months to runway all these different things that will be different. Probably, things have taken longer. On the other hand, we wouldn't have been able to do it. When this launches, what we leverage is, yeah, it's 10 years of Semihandmade. It's 25,000 projects. It's incredible.John:We have 2,000 semipro designers around the country that are champing at the bit to offer this. It's relationships we've got with Rejuvination and Kaff appliances and Caesarstone that are going to be partners. I continue to remind people and even myself like if we were a startup, we'd never have this stuff. We wouldn't have five, six amazing influencer projects that you're going to roll out in the next six weeks with the new launch. You'd be launching and then keeping your fingers crossed.Stephanie:Yeah, yeah. Okay, cool. Alright, so let's move over to the lightning round. The lightning round is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. This is where I'm going to ask you a question and you have one minute or less, prepare, get your water, [inaudible], shake it out, do what you got to do. Alright, are you ready, John?John:Yup.Stephanie:Alright. What one thing will have the biggest impact on ecommerce in the next year?John:That's great question. Do I have a minute for this?Stephanie:Yeah, a minute.John:I think it depends. I'm cynical about the fact that in some ways, yeah, a lot of companies have taken off, Instacart and things like that, but even like Wayfair. I was reading Bed Bath & Beyond today. I think the question is whether or not that'll be sustained. When life comes back to normal, which hopefully, inevitably will, certainly, people will be more inclined to shop online. There's no doubt about that. The world is changing. It's not going to go back. There are companies that have gotten a little frothier or whatever that I think that artificial is going to wear off. It's normalized.John:It's great. There's stuff I would have never done. Even with not ecomm, but with Zoom, we hired a new president, Beth and Molly, who runs marketing and stuff. I hired three of our highest people remotely. They're based in New York. I would have never done that. I would never trusted people or trusted myself. Now, it's normal.Stephanie:Yeah. I was slow with grocery delivery and curbside pickup. It forced me to do that because I was the one who always want to go to the grocery store, look around with my friends, whatever it maybe. Now, I'm like, oh, I don't really want to go there anymore. There's no point. I'll save my time and do other things.John:It is amazing. To me, it's more interesting to see how those people make money. That's the part where it's one thing to do great revenue. Obviously, profitability is a thing, unless it's not your money, unless you have a thing too. When it is your money, it's much more of a focus.Stephanie:Yeah. We just had someone from Intel on who was saying that they work with a hardware store and they're struggling because contractors were coming in and placing 40, 50 item orders for curbside pickup.John:All of it?Stephanie:Because they're like, why would I send in my contractor and paid him to be there for two to three hours when I could just have you all do it. They're struggling with trying to figure out the program because they weren't really expecting them.John:Yeah, that's interesting.Stephanie:I'm like, that's scary. What's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for you?John:Business wise or otherwise?Stephanie:Anything, whatever comes to mind.John:I guess the biggest cliché was my son's mom having my son. That's probably ...Stephanie:That's a good one. Having three kids, I appreciate that answer.John:I mean that from heart.Stephanie:Yeah, that's a good one. What's up next on your reading list?John:I constantly have five or six books I'm reading. That's interesting too, whether it's because I pursued writing for a long time. I haven't made the jump to eBooks. There are few writers that I correspond with on Twitter. Twitter is another thing that I didn't use that much before this. I've asked them like, "Well, what's the feeling on eBooks? Is it like cheating or whatever?" Of course, these guys and girls want to sell books. They're not considered cheating if you buy their eBook. The response I got from a bunch of them was, it's best in some ways for nonfiction.John:I read tons of nonfiction. I'm reading Say Nothing, which is a story about the troubles in Ireland. I'm finishing a great book on ecommerce called the Billion Dollar Brands book, something like that. That's spectacular. I've got so many. I'm reading a book on Chinatown, the making of the movie. I love a lot of different things. It is mainly. It's less fiction now. It is more nonfiction.Stephanie:Very cool. What is your favorite cabinet design? What's in your house?John:My house, it's interesting. Because in my house that I share with my son who I split custody with, we have a more contemporary kitchen. It's walnut. It's unique. We sell a fair amount of walnut and it is one of a kind. Every kitchen is different. That's a little more contemporary, even though it's wood. It's contemporary. In the house with my fiancé, where she lives, that's a more traditional. It's a shaker kitchen. It's got some really pretty hardware. I guess I'm very particular about what I like. In general, even when we she and I have arguments about furniture, I just say like, "Buy something quality and it'll fit with everything else." I know it's a copout, but that's where I'm landed. I love eclectic as long as it's nice quality.Stephanie:Yeah, cool. Alright and then the last one, if you were to have a podcast, what would it be about? Who would your first guest be?John:That's a great question. I like a lot of probably IKEA. I like a lot of different things. Even podcasts, same thing. I didn't listen to before, frankly, a year ago. I listened to one the other day. Marc Maron was really talented, funny guy who've been doing podcast for about 10 years. He had this guy, Daniel Lanois, who's a big time record producer, did U2 and all kinds of amazing people. I was amazed at the depth of Maron's knowledge of music. I don't have that. I don't know. I like diverse things. I don't know if I could do it.John:Because I like to think I'm a good listener, but I'm probably not because I'm always ready to say something. Obviously, like in your spot or whatever, to do it well, you should be listening to people. Again, I love screenwriting podcasts. I like anything. I like news, podcasts.Stephanie:Okay, so it'd be a little bit of everything. I like that. That's cool.John:I could do this kind of thing. If we're talking about remodeling, if anything, would always have an edge to it. If I were going to do a show, that's the thing. I gravitate less, maybe not towards Gordon Ramsay, but like Anthony Bourdain. There would be an edge to it. It wouldn't be ... Even when I was inside people's houses, I don't know if I was combative. I had very strong opinions about with architects and designers and homeowners and what I thought they should want. The one thing I don't like is when it's all sweet and sacristy and artificial. Totally with an edge.Stephanie:I like that. That sounds good. Alright, John, well, this has been a pleasure having you on. Where can people find out more about you and your work?John:Sure. Semihandmade, we can do semihandmade.com. Then Boxi, which launches March 1st, is at boxiliving, B-O-X-I-L-I-V-I-N-G.com.Stephanie:Okay, thanks.John:I appreciate the time. This has been great.Stephanie:Yeah. Thanks so much for coming on. It was fun.John:Thanks for having me, Stephanie.

Kitchen splashbacks are an important practical requirement in a kitchen. But choosing the right materials can be fraught with danger. Your kitchen renovation is such a big investment!But don’t worry - we talk through the things you need to think about when it comes to colour, texture and shape for your kitchen splashback (or backsplash for our North American friends).So in this episode of At Home with Lauren Keenan, we help you with some advice on how to make the right selections for your kitchen and how to choose a splashback that will look great now and still feel current in five years time.Get in touch if you have a topic you want us to talk about on the podcast. Same goes if you want to hire Lauren to help create your perfect home, from a room refresh to a renovation or new build - check out Lauren’s work.Visit our website: www.laurenkeenan.com.auAnd read the story we’ve posted with more info about today’s episode in our stories page https://laurenkeenan.com.au/stories/Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurenkeenanhomeFollow us on Instagram:Lauren is @laurenkeenanhomeScott is @travellingman_auFollow us on Twitter:Lauren is @_lauren_keenanScott is @scott_keenanAnd thanks for listening to the show, your authority on home, lifestyle and interior design!

The U.S. government considers tariffs on Vietnamese goods in light of currency manipulation charges. Also, Caesarstone buys a U.S. stone supplier, and Coverings extends entry deadlines for its 2021 awards.This edition of Radio Stone Update is sponsored by Quantra, manufacturers of the world's toughest, most beautiful quartz surfaces made with up-to-the-minute Italian technology… in yet another brand new state-of-the-art factory.  http://www.quantra.inVietnam tariff considered https://www.stoneupdate.com/news-info/latest-stuff/1965-vietnam-tariff-issue-debatedCaesarstone buys Omicron Granite and Marblehttps://www.stoneupdate.com/news-info/company-insider/1974-caesarstone-acquires-omicron-granite-tileCoverings Award deadline extendedhttps://www.stoneupdate.com/events/shows-seminars-workshops/1967-coverings-extends-2021-awards-deadlinesNo public hearing on Marble CO quarry actionhttps://www.aspentimes.com/news/u-s-army-corps-wont-hold-public-hearing-on-marble-quarry/More in Natural Stone Institute online library https://www.stoneupdate.com/news-info/association-beat/1971-online-stone-resource-library-growsIndia show moves from February to Novemberhttps://www.stoneupdate.com/events/shows-seminars-workshops/1970-india-stone-event-postponed-until-novemberMast new president of ISFAhttps://www.stoneupdate.com/news-info/association-beat/1966-isfa-selects-mast-as-new-presidentBrooks new prexy NTCAhttps://www.stoneupdate.com/news-info/association-beat/1973-brookes-new-president-of-ntcaKaeser expanding US headquartershttps://www.stoneupdate.com/news-info/company-insider/1968-kaeser-compressors-expanding-u-s-hqMarble slab UK really Roman antiquityhttps://people.com/human-interest/woman-finds-roman-marble-slab-in-garden-worth-20000/

There are so many benchtops on the market, yet there is a trend for going for one particular style that seems to give a clean, crisp finish to the kitchen at the start. Kitchen bench tops probably get the biggest workout in your home. They take centerstage of your home, they are the statement of the quality that defines your home, and they are often the silent participant in many family discussions. Today we learn about the different quality of benchtops out there and how to choose the best one for your kitchen. Tania Bell is an award winning interior decorator and designer, design writer, mentor and business owner. Tania has a wide variety of knowledge and experience when it comes to kitchen design, being in the interior design industry since 2004. Coupled with her builder husband, Tania has collaborated on some head-turning kitchens throughout Melbourne.Tell us first up, what's the best kitchen you've ever worked in?1. What are the types of benchtops we could be using in our kitchens?2. Monica from Waurn Ponds has heard some interesting concerns about how Caesarstone or Reconstituted Stone is made. It's very popular in Melbourne kitchens. What is great about Caesarstone and what are the downfalls?3. What about natural granite and marble, how well do they work in a kitchen?4. Timber benchtops were once the go- Blackwood, Tasmanian Oak and Tasmanian Myrtle were all popular in the 80s and 90's. How well do they last?5. Commercial kitchens tend to use stainless steel, why don't we adopt that more in our residential kitchens?6. Laminex has been around since day dot, what are some of the great qualities about Laminex, what are some of the bad qualities?7. What about some of the man-made benchtops- corian, porcelain and any other new types of benchtops on the market?8. When we go to source our benchtops, what should we be asking the kitchen companies about the manufacturing processes?9. Should we trust that our kitchen company is looking after us when it comes to benchtops, or should we shop around to see who else can provide a similar product for a better price?10. What should we be looking for in terms of:      a. Value For Money      b. Long Lasting      c. Great Wearing      d. Looks Good11. What would be your Top 5 best benchtops?12. What's your big tip for those looking at building a kitchen now? Special Offer:For Real Estate Right listeners who would love to get going on an interior design project with their home, Tania is offering a 25% discount on her 'Ask the Design Expert' Consultation which gives you 2 hours of brainstorming and design advice to go with your project. Tania from Green Room Interiors can be contacted on 0425 739 701 Email: info@greenroominteriors.com.auWebsite: https://www.greenroominteriors.com.au    

Tessa Isset presents the Metropolitan Collection by Caesarstone. This collection highlights dimensional surfaces and unpolished colors.To view the video and additional goodies visit https://snackbreak.co/caesarstone

U.S. hard-surface imports make a major step up in their own COVID-19 recovery; Caesarstone buys a majority share in a porcelain-slab plant; NSF's new standards need your attention; and more.Caesarstone Buys Lioli Majority Sharehttps://www.stoneupdate.com/news-info/company-insider/1919-caesarstone-buying-porcelain-slab-producerNatural Stone Update Virtual Stone Summit https://www.stoneworld.com/stone-industry-education/septemberKBIS Moving Ahead, Opens Registration for February Show https://kbis.com/Marmomac Firms Up 2020 Online Event https://www.marmomac.com/en/home-english/NSF and “Solid Surface” Standards http://magazine.stonemag.com/summer-2020/summer2019-perspectives/Hurricane Laura Wrecks Repaired Marble https://www.therecordlive.com/story/2020/09/02/news/laura-wrecks-courthouse-marble-again/29304.html

Taly is VP of Global Business Development & Alliances at Ayehu Software, a high growth startup transforming Enterprise IT Process Automation through leveraging AI and ML. Previously, she was VP of Business Development at Uptima and held leadership positions at IVN, CaesarStone, Unilever, and Super-Pharm. Taly is an LP at J-Ventures, an executive member at HighPowerWomen and a three-time windsurfing champion and a bronze medalist in the World Windsurfing Championship!

Splashbacks can be a key feature of your kitchen and create a real point of difference. In this episode Frances outlines several splashback materials including glass, stone, windows, mirror and porcelain, that can be used, including her favourite – tiles. Further, she discusses how a splashback is a wonderful opportunity to inject colour, texture or shape into your kitchen. She is a real advocate in the splashback being a chance to reflect your personality and create a point a difference. SHOWNOTES: Adding a splashback is a great way to make a statement and inject some of what you love into your kitchen. A splashback is a great opportunity to inject, colour, shape or texture to differentiate your kitchen and make it a reflection of what you love. Different types of Splashback options; Stone Seamless between benchtop and splashback. Unified and seamless look Easy to clean Types of Stones Reconstituted Stone (e.g Caesarstone, Silestone, Smart stone)- It's not something that can be used as a Splashback with a stovetop that has a naked flame due to the resin used in its production. Natural stone is not bound by resin or polymer so it can be used close to a naked flame. Porcelain/Dekton  Same aesthetic as stone for a seamless finish. Fire-resistant, so able to be used with a gas cooktop Glass Maintenance: Needs to be cleaned regularly – may look streaky Can be a bland aesthetic Not as cost-effective as other options Colour changes behind the glass due to the green tint in the glass Mirror Sophisticated Creates an illusion of space, so great for small kitchens. Bronzed or tinted mirror add an additional level of sophistication Maintenance of regular  cleaning Cleaning can also make it look streaky Quite expensive Window Ensure there is a view out from the window (greenery, landscaping), so there is something to look out to. Great for bringing the outside in Maintenance- needs daily cleaning Tiles Adds personality, colour, shape and texture to your kitchen. A lot of variety to choose from at varying price points. Amazing choice and variety to choose from Creates a beautiful point of difference Can be more -effective Grout – can be spray sealed or use epoxy grout that is nonporous and won’t discolour. Metaline Great for makeovers when you don’t want to strip out your current splashback or want simple cost effective option. Slight reflective metallic finish 3mm applied directly over current splashback. Can be easily cut and installed by a cabinet maker Limited colours Has a similar effect to glass type look Things to consider; Think about GPOs in splashback and how they impact the aesthetic.          Are there any other options available? Do you want to use             Pop up GPOs? Budget, your style, colours, maintenance have it as a feature or not.   Available Services; Overwhelmed by the amount of decisions that need to be made when creating stylish, functional and durable Kitchen? What materials to select, what colours will co-ordinate together, what design is going to best suit space, and your requirements. We offer several kitchen design packages to assist with your kitchen design – be it a makeover, renovation or new kitchen. Click the link here to find more. Get the help of an expert and save yourself from making costly mistakes with a free Forever Home chat. White Pebble Interiors provides the vision and direction you need, offering innovative solutions that will maximise the floor plan, space available and colour scheme. Book a chat here; Related Resources: Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2 Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1 Episode 14: Forever Home LIVE- Joinery Drawings and Why Do Them Early On Episode 30: Kitchen Design Essentials -Kitchen Design Layouts and Location Episode 32: Kitchen Design Essentials – The Builder’s Insight How to Choose the Right Bench Top Top 5 tips for selecting benchtops

This week on the Podcast we were fortunate to host Arik Tendler, Chief of Sales at Cambria. Arik has tremendous experience building companies, infrastructure, and of course, marketing. He was the founder of Caesarstone and Vdara. Tendler is now the chief of sales at Cambria, responsible for identifying target segments, resolving logistical obstacles and bottlenecks, and generating demand through innovation. He oversees Cambria worldwide sales activity and will be tasked with activating aggressive and insightful efforts to further build sales channels across the continent

Welcome to episode 25 of The kbbreview Podcast from Taylist Media with your host Andy Davies.In this episode we're looking at how kbb retailers can do more with the data they collect from their current, previous and potentially new clients. Using good data can hugely improve the effectivness of your marketing, according to our guest David Barker from Inspire KBB.Then we welcome Amir Reske to the podcast, he's the MD of Caesarstone for Europe, Middle East and Africa and he's got some great insight into how the UK market compares to the rest of Europe as we all emerge from lockdown to differing degrees.Anyone retailers interested in post FREE job ads on kbbreview.com as part of our Save Our Skills campaign can find out more at this Q&A.You find out more about David Barker and Inspire KBB hereAnd all about Caesarstone here.DESERTED KITCHEN ISLAND DISCSDavid chose Distant Sun by Crowded HouseAmir chose Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi

This week on the Podcast we were fortunate to host Arik Tendler, Chief of Sales at Cambria. Arik has tremendous experience building companies, infrastructure, and of course, marketing. He was the founder of Caesarstone and Vdara. Tendler is now the chief of sales at Cambria, responsible for identifying target segments, resolving logistical obstacles and bottlenecks, and generating demand through innovation. He oversees Cambria worldwide sales activity and will be tasked with activating aggressive and insightful efforts to further build sales channels across the continent

Underwritten in June by Cloud Xiamen Stone Fair, the new 24/7 way to connect with the stone industry worldwide.Global Countertop Study: https://www.stoneupdate.com/news-info/latest-stuff/1873-covid-19-affecting-global-countertop-demandAustralia State Registers Half of Stone Workforce for Silicosis Monitoring https://slabnsheet.com/silica-health-assessments-pass-halfway-target/Why So Much of a White Look in Quartz? Caesarstone's Elizabeth Margles Explains:  http://magazine.stonemag.com/march-april2020/quartz-intro-integra/Is Covid-19 Ailing U.S. Import Markets? http://latest.hardsurfacereport.comBraxton-Bragg's Ice Cream Wagon (see attached article) https://www.stoneupdate.com/news-info/company-insider/1875-rick-stimac-good-humor-and-tool-manFabricator Countertops Local Heroes https://www.stoneupdate.com/news-info/latest-stuff/1872-fabricator-sponsors-countertops-for-local-heroesCloud Xiamen Stone Fair offers uninterrupted service online throughout the year. The Cloud Xiamen platform enables product showcases, business negotiations and information exchange. Periodical webinars about hot topics will be held on Cloud Xiamen Stone Fair as well. We hope to see you soon at the physical fair, the 20th China Xiamen International Stone Fair, this October in Xiamen, China.

Adam and Stromer give updates on their current projects, help fans with home improvement questions, and sing some classic disco. Thanks for supporting our sponsors! TommyJohn.com/Adam EightSleep.com/ACE Geico.com

Choosing your kitchen countertop is one the more fun and exciting choices that you’ll make for your new home.  Choices should be made based on the material’s appearance, durability, maintenance and price.  This week we’ll cover the most common types of materials used for kitchen and bathroom countertops, including laminate, ceramic and porcelain tiles, solid surface options, like Corian, butcher block, stainless steel, concrete, soapstone, marble, granite, quartzite and quartz (Silestone and Caesarstone).  There’s a difference between quartzite and quartz, you know?  We’ll talk about all of those options in this week’s mini lesson. Show notes at www.BYHYU.com

Episode 99.1 - Domenic Oppedisano from Caesarstone discusses countertops and surfaces

Jim Gillies Week continues as he and Jeff Fischer take a look at the market post-midterm elections. Plus they analyze earnings from Activision Blizzard, Bridgepoint Education, and CaesarStone. 

Episode 72.1 - Domenic Oppedisano from Caesarstone discusses countertops and surfaces

Tool up and geek out inside the world of DIY Network's 'Rescue Renovations' Kayleen McCabe who's talking about DIY Network's new iPhone app where she's sharing her 'essential tools.' And get ready to talk color trends, inspirations, and gorgeous surfaces with Caesarstone's head of color development Maggie Amir. Licensed contractor and 2009 Stud Finder winner Kayleen McCabe found her passion for remodeling after tackling an entire kitchen renovation in her early twenties. Since then, Kayleen has used her unique combination of gutsy innovation and expert trade tricks to take on any home improvement challenge she can find, including renovating a massive duplex that took six months to complete. This outdoorsy Denver native is fearless in the face of demolition, always ready with the perfect power tool, and willing to go to any lengths to bring out the existing charm in a home. This episode airs Wednesday, November 28th at 8pm.

Tool up and geek out inside the world of DIY Network's 'Rescue Renovations' Kayleen McCabe who's talking about DIY Network's new iPhone app where she's sharing her 'essential tools.' And get ready to talk color trends, inspirations, and gorgeous surfaces with Caesarstone's head of color development Maggie Amir. Licensed contractor and 2009 Stud Finder winner Kayleen McCabe found her passion for remodeling after tackling an entire kitchen renovation in her early twenties. Since then, Kayleen has used her unique combination of gutsy innovation and expert trade tricks to take on any home improvement challenge she can find, including renovating a massive duplex that took six months to complete. This outdoorsy Denver native is fearless in the face of demolition, always ready with the perfect power tool, and willing to go to any lengths to bring out the existing charm in a home. This episode airs Wednesday, November 28th at 8pm.

Caesastone provides a premium natural quartz surface with remakable style and endurance in House Beautiful’s Kitchen of the Year

CaesarStone explores the technology in unique composite countertops made of quartz surfacing and introduces the newest colors in their collection.