Design Build Diaries

Patrick Cunningham always keeps a sketchpad within reach. Not because a client asked — because the ideas don’t wait.The co-founder of C & C Partners has spent four decades translating the personalities, dreams, and budgets of Southern California’s most discerning homeowners into architecture that feels inevitable. In this conversation, Patrick walks us through what that actually looks like: pools cantilevered off sheer cliffs, underground tunnels connecting guest houses to main residences, and a glass cube engineered to float beside an Antoine Predock landmark in Manhattan Beach. He talks about learning to read a client — whether they’re a fireplace-and-a-book person or a home theater and rooftop infinity pool person — and then finding the architecture that fits that life.He also opens up about what drives him: a sketchpad always within reach, a library full of architecture books, and a biannual tour of high-end custom homes across the country with a network of elite design-build peers. With nearly 30 projects currently on the board spanning seven distinct architectural styles, this episode is a masterclass in creative range without creative compromise.If this episode gave you something to think about, leave us a rating — it’s the single best way to help another architecture lover find the show.Follow the show so you never miss a conversation like this one.Patrick Cunningham is the co-founder and principal architect of CNC Partners, a fully integrated design-build firm based in Southern California. Since co-founding the firm with his brother Michael in 1987, Patrick has led the design of some of the region's most distinctive custom homes — from cliffside estates in Beverly Hills and Pacific Palisades to award-worthy reimaginings of architectural landmarks in Manhattan Beach and beyond.A lifelong student of architecture, Patrick trained alongside builders from the start, believing that great design and skilled construction are inseparable. Today, CNC Partners operates with 22 professionals and has nearly 30 active projects on the board — spanning Scandinavian, modern French, mountain modern, Japanese-Craftsman, and European styles. Patrick's daughter Brianna and his nephew have recently joined the firm as part-owners, ensuring the next chapter of CNC Partners stays in the family.

Lindsie Davis, the creative force behind Blueberry Jones Design, joins the show to share her unique journey from a background in art and textile studies to becoming one of Austin’s top interior designers. She details how her early education in fashion design and printmaking at Texas Tech provided a foundation for her current work, particularly in the way she layers colors and patterns. Lindsie credits her grandmother, an avid decorator and antique collector, for instilling a natural appreciation for rich, cultured environments that eventually led her to this career path.The conversation dives into the entrepreneurial leap Lindsie took to start her own firm, spurred by a "what do you have to lose" push from her husband. She explains the sentimental origin of her company's name—Blueberry being her daughter’s nickname—and discusses the first project that truly felt like a reflection of her own style: the home she built and designed from the ground up. This personal connection to design remains at the heart of her firm, where she aims to create spaces that are both refined and deeply personal.Lindsie also sheds light on her specific design philosophy, which balances playfulness with restraint. She emphasizes the importance of curation over time, arguing that a home should never feel like a showroom but rather an evolving collection of items that spark joy. Looking toward the future, she reveals exciting new ventures, including a boutique guest experience in Wimberley, Texas, and her continued commitment to helping clients embrace bold, joyful design.

In this episode of Beyond the Design, we sit down with Light and Dwell founder Aymee Kuhlman and design principal Katie Cunningham—two creative powerhouses who believe a home should be more than a backdrop. They share how a farm childhood in Oregon, grandmothers who collected antiques, and a mother who painted murals in the eighties quietly shaped their design eyes and set them on a path toward interiors that feel deeply personal and lived in. From early guinea-pig projects for friends to full-scale renovations, Aymee and Katie trace how curiosity and courage slowly turned a side passion into a nationally recognized studio.Together, Aymee and Katie unpack their client-focused, designer-led philosophy and what it really takes to translate a family’s stories, habits, and hopes into spaces they can grow old in. They explain why they’re just as interested in how a room will be used on an ordinary Tuesday as how it will photograph, and why they intentionally break certain “design rules” to make homes truly livable. You will hear how they educate clients in the age of Pinterest and fast furniture, set realistic expectations around timelines, and use intuition and trust-building as some of their strongest design tools.We also go behind the scenes of some of Light and Dwell’s most memorable projects—from a sprawling compound in Mexico to a cozy lake house in Montana and a Victorian in New York—and talk about what it means to be named one of Architectural Digest’s New American Voices. Aymee and Katie get candid about running a remote boutique studio, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and the legacy they hope to leave in the homes they touch. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to design a home that holds your whole life—highs, lows, and everything in between—this conversation will stay with you long after you listen.

In this episode of Beyond the Design, we sit down with Calgary-based interior designer Stephanie Martin, founder of Stephanie Martin Interior Design, to explore how she built a career around creating deeply personal, timeless homes that truly reflect the people who live in them. From a childhood spent wandering show homes, hunting at garage sales, and redesigning her bedroom every year, Stephanie always had an instinct for spaces—even if she didn’t initially see it as a viable career path.She shares how a detour into business school and a plan to follow her parents into law unexpectedly redirected her toward design when an art history elective lit her up in a way nothing else did. With her family’s encouragement, she switched programs, found her fit in design school, and graduated straight into a brutal recession in Calgary that left almost no traditional jobs available.Instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, Stephanie created one—pounding the pavement with homemade flyers, door knocking, and offering consultations through a furniture store to slowly build her portfolio, reputation, and confidence. In this conversation, she reflects on those scrappy early days and how they shaped the resilient, client-centered practice she leads today.

Brad Ramsey has built a remarkable career defined by integrity, creativity, and an uncompromising eye for detail. From his roots in Georgia to becoming one of Nashville's most sought-after interior designers, Brad shares how his artistic background and early wanderings through construction sites shaped his instinctual design philosophy. Starting his firm in 2013 from his basement and growing it into a boutique team of highly skilled creatives, Brad discusses the pivotal moments—from his first solo project to hiring his first employee—that taught him the true meaning of commitment and quality.In this episode, Brad reveals his core design philosophy: "Listen with intent and design with intuition." He explains how this approach requires more than hearing clients—it demands truly listening, asking poignant questions, and absorbing their lifestyle and personality before moving into the design process. Featured in House Beautiful's 2024 Emerging Designers and recently named to the Lux Gold List of 2026, Brad discusses how Nashville's growth and vibrant design culture have elevated not just his work, but the entire industry. His projects, which span two to three years, combine his signature aesthetic of elegance and comfort—proving that beautiful design doesn't require endless budgets, just thoughtfulness and intention.Brad emphasizes the importance of leading with kindness, both within his team and with clients, builders, and industry partners. He believes that design's future lies not in replacing human connection with technology, but in using smart tools to enhance personalized, human-centered work. As Nashville continues to evolve into a major design hub, Brad's approach to collaborative, client-inspired design serves as a model for the industry. He's creating spaces that are more than beautiful—they're healing environments where people can find peace and comfort amidst life's chaos.

In this inspiring episode of Beyond the Design, we welcome Summer Jensen, founder of Hawk and Company, whose design philosophy merges luxurious minimalism with deep Hawaiian values and a profound connection to nature. Growing up in Hawaii climbing waterfalls and spending afternoons at the beach, Summer wasn't exposed to traditional architecture the way mainland children might be—but that absence became her greatest strength. When she arrived at school on the mainland, she discovered a whole world of design that had been waiting for her, and she's spent her career capturing "moments of awesomeness"—spaces that evoke the serenity of walking through a rainforest or sitting peacefully on a beach, bringing those emotional experiences into the built environment.Summer shares the meaning behind her firm's name Hawk and Company, explaining the Hawaiian concept of aumakua (spirit protectors) and how she was named after the hawk—Kamali'i Hokua Ka'iolani, meaning "the royal star child of the heavenly hawk." She discusses how working on ultra-luxury projects in London and Monaco exposed her to the environmental cost of high-end design, inspiring her shift toward sustainability without compromising beauty or quality. During COVID, when hundreds of ships backed up at the Port of Long Beach, Summer made a pivotal decision: rather than wait for imported stone, she visited local yards and sourced hundreds of slabs that had been discarded—cracked in transmission or considered imperfect—and transformed them into tiles and finishes that elevated craft over material cost. This project recently earned her the DNA Paris Award for Sustainability, her first sustainable design recognition.The conversation explores Summer's philosophy that luxury isn't a commodity but an experience—it's not about the cow skin of a handbag, but the farmhand who raised unmarred calves, the tannery worker who created supple texture, and the maker's craft that brings it all together. She discusses her approach to biophilic design (going beyond obvious greenery to integrate nature through circulation patterns, seasonal light, and even room placement that follows sunrise to sunset), her commitment to asking vendors hard questions about sourcing and sustainability, and why she believes designers have a duty to consider health and safety in homes where people spend 90% of their lives. With insights into her background as a professional hula dancer who traveled the world before discovering design, her pre-dawn work sessions where she draws every single detail herself, and her next frontier of developing sustainable housing with integrated food systems and net-zero energy, this episode offers wisdom about creating spaces that honor both people and planet.

What does it take to build a successful textile brand when you're competing against legacy companies with household names? Otis Weis answers that question by sharing his decade-long journey of growing Otis Textiles from a 20-fabric startup to a 260-SKU collection that serves hundreds of high-end design firms across the United States and internationally. After leaving investment banking due to health issues, Otis discovered his passion for textiles while helping his mother Catherine Ireland streamline her fabric business, ultimately deciding to create his own line focused on woven fabrics with a contemporary, California-inspired aesthetic.Otis reveals the unconventional strategies that fueled his success, particularly his decision to abandon the traditional showroom model in favor of selling directly to designers. By sending branded boxes containing his entire collection to nearly 3,000 design firms, maintaining exceptional inventory levels, and offering fast turnaround on custom orders through integrated relationships with Italian mills, Otis created a competitive advantage based on service and accessibility rather than marketing spend. He discusses the importance of listening to customers—noting how simultaneous requests for similar colors or textures reveal emerging trends—and his philosophy of creating timeless fabrics that remain relevant season after season.The episode also explores the practical challenges of running a textile business, from navigating complex tariff regulations to deciding whether to expand into new categories like wallcoverings or furniture. Otis shares his perspective on pricing integrity during economic uncertainty, the value of working with small artisan mills where generations of expertise create irreplaceable quality, and why he chose to launch outdoor fabrics despite initially wanting to focus solely on natural fibers. His approach—organic growth, relationship-building, and refusing to compromise quality for scale—offers a refreshing alternative to the rapid-exit startup mentality and demonstrates how staying true to your vision can build both profitability and legacy.

In this episode, we sit down with Steven Cooper, principal designer of Cooper Pacific Kitchens and Cabinet Los Angeles, to explore the intersection of art and functionality in kitchen design. As Cooper Pacific Kitchens approaches its 40th anniversary, Steven shares insights from nearly four decades of creating bespoke kitchens for clients around the world—from Tokyo to Palm Beach's iconic Tiffany's building. He discusses his collaboration with British brand Cabinet, his work on the Le Cornue global design council, and how Los Angeles' diverse architectural landscape continues to inspire his creative vision.Steven takes us through his design philosophy, emphasizing the critical balance between form and function, the importance of listening deeply to clients, and how beauty can transform everyday rituals into meaningful moments. He shares the lessons learned from his father and grandfather—both builders who instilled in him the value of meticulous craftsmanship and the mantra "measure twice, cut once." From mixing materials in unexpected ways to appreciating the patina that natural stone develops over time, Steven reveals what makes a kitchen not just functional, but soulful.Whether you're a design enthusiast, a homeowner dreaming of your perfect kitchen, or simply someone who appreciates the artistry of well-crafted spaces, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a designer who sees kitchens as more than just rooms—they're stages where life's most authentic moments unfold. Join us as Steven Cooper shares his journey, his passion for natural materials, and his vision for the future of personalized, intentional design.

Interior designer and architect Benjamin Johnston brings a deeply human approach to creating refined, timeless spaces that defy categorization and trends. With formal training in architecture including a master's degree and experience working on mega-scale developments in Tokyo for Cesar Pelli, Benjamin made the deliberate choice to reverse scale and work at the intimate level of interiors. His path wasn't linear—he spent years taking on diverse projects from graphic design to furniture to small remodels, slowly building his craft and learning from each challenge. That foundation of hands-on problem-solving, combined with rigorous architectural training in critical thinking and design history, informs his work today leading a 23-person firm with projects spanning continents and cultures.Benjamin's design DNA is encapsulated in three words: classic, curated, and cool. Classic refers not just to aesthetic but to timeless principles of balance, symmetry (or deliberate asymmetry), and mixing time periods and cultures to defy trends. Curated means every piece is selected with intention and purpose, telling a specific story rather than just filling space. Cool comes from his clients—Benjamin sees his role as editor rather than author, pulling out their personalities, collections, and meaningful objects to create spaces that reflect their unique stories. He loves breaking rules, particularly around scale and proportion, such as installing oversized lighting fixtures that defy textbook formulas but create memorable, dramatic moments. His approach to theatricality in design—thinking about stars, supporting casts, and choruses within a room—stems from childhood experiences watching Houston Ballet productions and classic films.Recent years have brought new dimensions to Benjamin's practice: his debut book "Refined Interiors" with Rizzoli, product collaborations focused on customizable, American-made pieces that solve problems rather than replicate existing offerings, and upcoming lighting and tile collections. He's passionate about creating opportunities for his team of young designers to work on significant projects early in their careers, encouraging them to embrace failure as learning and think without fear. Benjamin's mission—create beauty, spread positivity, and enable others to do the same—extends from his client relationships to manufacturing partnerships supporting craftspeople in workrooms across the country. As he looks ahead, he remains excited by curve balls like a current boutique hotel project and committed to the belief that as long as we inhabit physical spaces, thoughtful, human-centered design will remain essential.

Laura Williams, founder of Living Oak Design in Austin, Texas, joins the show to share her remarkable journey from opera singer to sought-after interior designer. Growing up in a creative family of musicians and artists, Laura always had an eye for design—she was the kid constantly rearranging furniture in her room. After studying opera through college and working in the fast-paced design scenes of New York City and Miami, Laura developed the grit and work ethic that would later fuel her entrepreneurial success. When she became a mother, she stepped away from corporate life to focus on her young children, but her passion for design never faded.What started as a part-time venture while her kids were in school has evolved into a thriving full-service design firm with a team of seven, a retail showroom, and projects spanning full home renovations to intimate bathroom refreshes. Laura's design philosophy centers on creating cozy, lived-in spaces that reflect the personalities and needs of the families who inhabit them. She believes in timeless design over trends, incorporating meaningful heirlooms and personal stories into every project. Her approach has resonated particularly well with families navigating the same life stage she's in, as she understands firsthand the practical considerations of designing kid-friendly yet sophisticated spaces.Beyond her design work, Laura is launching her podcast "Here With Laura," expanding her retail store with monthly community events, and dreaming of creating a Magnolia-style experience with Living Oak stores across the country. She shares candid insights about learning to delegate as her team grows, the importance of finding your community when starting a business, and her philosophy that "busy is a choice." Laura's story is a testament to turning creative passion into a successful business while maintaining balance as a present mother and entrepreneur.