Couture &amp; Construction

Welcome back to Couture & Construction! In this episode, host Andrew Denny sits down with Monica Lavin, the creative force behind Art of the Entry and the Lavin Label. Throughout the discussion, they explore the significance of crafting captivating entryways, from Monica's journey to starting her own design company to innovative ideas in mailbox and hardware design. Monica shares insights on using sustainable materials and creating heirloom-quality exterior accents to delight her clients and add classic curb appeal to historic neighborhoods.

Andrew and Monica also discuss the emotional impact of well-designed entrances, the role of social media in branding for small businesses, and Monica’s journey of restoring her historic home in Charleston.
Have a guest you’d love to hear on the show? Send us a text!

Episode Timestamps:

02:04 Monica's Journey: From Education to Design

07:39 The Birth of Art of the Entry

16:32 Design Philosophy and Inspirations

24:12 Timeless and Inviting Entryways

26:05 Travel Inspirations

27:39 The Arrival Experience

33:03 The Impact of Social Media on Small Businesses

40:11 Manufacturing Challenges and Successes

44:42 Future of Entryway Design

47:15 Rapid Fire Questions

Connect with Monica

About Couture & Construction: Hosted by Andrew Denny of Textures Nashville, Couture & Construction is an uplifting podcast dedicated to the many different aspects of the luxury building industry. Through thoughtful conversations with makers and business owners, Couture & Construction is a weekly podcast that breaks down the luxury side of the construction industry. Join us as we share the stories and introduce you to the people behind beautiful spaces.

Holiday Gifting Masterclass with Gift House

Couture & Construction

11/18/24 • 33 min

Welcome back to Couture & Construction! In today’s episode, host Andrew Denny explores the ins and outs of holiday gifting with Jennifer Geny Slice and Leslie Rolfe Hazen from the Nashville-based Gift House. Gift House specializes in full-service gifting, providing tailored solutions for corporate events, weddings, and special occasions.

Andrew and our guests discuss the importance of meaningful, high-quality gifts, the role of local vendors, and the meticulous process of creating personalized gifts. Jennifer and Leslie offer expert advice on what makes a great gift, essential budgeting tips, and the significance of understanding the recipient's needs.

Have a guest you’d love to hear on the show? Send us a text!

Episode Timestamps

00:49 Meet the Guests: Jennifer and Leslie

02:40 Jennifer and Leslie Reminisce About Meaningful Gifts in Their Lives

04:43 Designing the Perfect Gift

05:31 The Inspiration Behind Gift House

07:25 Understanding the Recipient's Perspective

10:55 The Ethos of Gift House

12:40 Client Interaction and Customization

16:57 Holiday Gifting Timelines

18:20 Local Vendor Collaborations

20:15 Avoiding Bad Gift Ideas

21:53 Budgeting for Corporate Gifts

25:32 Year-Round Gifting Opportunities

28:02 Personalizing Gifts for Recipients

29:25 Rapid Fire Questions

Learn more about Gift House

How to Host a Garden to Table Summer Soiree: the Live Season Finale Event!

Couture & Construction

05/23/22 • 28 min

Welcome to the Season 4 Finale of Couture & Construction! We are an uplifting podcast dedicated to the many different aspects of the luxury building industry.
For the last week in the month of May we are going to be doing our final dive into what you need to know about summer living. This week for our season finale we will be going behind the scenes with a live panel of guests to discuss everything that goes into hosting a garden-to-table summer soiree. We had the pleasure of sitting down with three incredibly talented & multifaceted women in business to answer all of our questions! Andrew is joined by Sarah Ruzic of Tennessee Kitchen Gardens, Laura Rodriguez the holistic chef & auto-immune disease warrior, and also Alexandra Rhett the founder of the marketing firm Exit Eleven Marketing.
Our amazing neighbors Kolo opened up their doors & invited us to sit down on their patio with these three amazing guests to discuss our season ending topic. We get a great array of advice from each guest & by the end of the episode, you will be an expert & have the confidence to host your very own garden-to-table summer soiree! There's also live listeners in the house that ask some of the questions that you may be thinking about during the recording. Enjoy!
Season Finale Video:
YouTube
Follow Sarah Ruzic:
Website
Instagram
Follow Laura Rodriguez:
Website
Instagram
Follow Alexandra Rhett:
Website
And again, a special thank you to our amazing friends at Kolo for hosting us!

Modern Interpretations of Southern Architecture with D. Stanley Dixon

Couture & Construction

06/24/24 • 35 min

Welcome to the final episode of Couture & Construction's 8th Season! We are an uplifting podcast dedicated to the many different aspects of the luxury building industry.
This week, for our 121st episode of the podcast, we are so excited to have on one of the most awarded guests we've ever had. We are so excited to have the chance to end our season with an iconic southern architect! Joining us we have D. Stanley Dixon, the owner & principal of D. Stanley Dixon Architect.
Andrew travels to Atlanta to sit down in Stan's office to discuss the modern interpretations of traditional southern architecture. We also get some fascinating details into what what led Stan to this point in his career & what he is beginning to think about his legacy! Tune in to be motivated & help us wrap up our 8th season.
Connect with D. Stanley Dixon:
Website
Instagram
Home

Southern Elegance: Exploring Charleston Design with Betsy Berry

Couture & Construction

10/28/24 • 37 min

Welcome back to Couture & Construction! In today’s episode, host Andrew Denny sits with Betsy Berry, founder and principal designer of B. Berry Interiors, in Charleston, South Carolina. Betsy shares her journey from growing up in the Lowcountry to working for one of the top design firms in New York City and eventually starting her own firm.

Andrew and Betsy discuss Southern Charm, community, and historical preservation amidst modern influences. Highlights include the balancing act of growing a business and challenges such as the impact that weather has on historic homes.

Have a guest you’d love to hear on the show? Send us a text!

Episode Timestamps:

01:08 Meet Betsy Berry

03:32 Betsy’s Journey into Design

03:51 Influence of Southern Roots

05:30 New York Adventures

08:24 Starting B. Berry Interiors

12:07 Defining Southern Elegance

14:10 Balancing Historical and Modern Design

21:54 Sourcing Materials in Charleston

25:43 Charleston's Expanding Design Influence

33:14 B. Berry Interiors' Unique Approach

35:08 Rapid Fire Questions
Connect with Betsy

Happier, Healthier & Smarter Living

Couture & Construction

09/14/20 • 64 min

Welcome back to the nineteenth episode of Couture & Construction, an uplifting podcast dedicated to the many different aspects of the luxury building industry. This week we have the pleasure of sitting down with one of the most fun new guests we've ever had! We have Heather Looney, a Designer & the Vice President of the luxury home builder Castle Homes! Andrew sits down with Heather to discuss building the happiest, healthiest & smartest home possible. They also discuss some fun insights about Heather, including what she recommends to maintain mental & physical wellness!

2023 Design Trends: Roundtable with Richard Anuszkiewicz, Kylee Chatham, Cara Highfield & Scott Moore

Couture & Construction

12/26/22 • 66 min

Welcome back to Season 5 of Couture & Construction! We are an uplifting podcast dedicated to the many different aspects of the luxury building industry.
This week is not only our 88th episode of the podcast, but is also our season 5 finale! We have a very special episode planned to end the 5th season with a phenomenal round table discussion to look at the design trends on the horizon for 2023. Richard Anuszkiewicz takes over the mic as our host, with guests Kylee Chatham of Artistic Tile, Cara Highfield of Ferguson & Scott Moore of Textures Flooring!
These phenomenal guests join us at the table hosted by Richard to discuss the upcoming design trends for the new year. They also help give the listeners some incredible insight on what trends are leaving the market, as well as some great advice for your 2023 project!
Connect with Richard Anuszkiewicz
LinkedIn
Website
Connect with Kylee Chatham
LinkedIn
Website
Connect with Cara Highfield
LinkedIn
Website
Connect with Scott Moore
LinkedIn
Website

All About Landscape Lighting with Pelham McMurry

Couture & Construction

03/27/23 • 33 min

Welcome to Season 6 of Couture & Construction! We are an uplifting podcast dedicated to the many different aspects of the luxury building industry.
This week, for our 90th episode of the podcast, we discuss everything under the sun that goes into landscape lighting. We have the pleasure of sitting down with Pelham McMurry of Light Up Nashville for an illuminating conversation!
Pelham joins us at the table to break down the importance of landscape lighting & to help shed light on what it can do for you in your space. From the perfect lumen level to lighting your summertime dinner party, to helping deter your home from the potential of break-ins, Pelham helps explain how landscape lighting can change your home!
Light Up Nashville:
Website
Instagram
LinkedIn

Fluent in Construction: A Female Contractor’s POV with Elizabeth Scruggs

Couture & Construction

11/25/24 • 39 min

Welcome back to Couture and Construction! In today’s episode, host Andrew Denny sits down with Elizabeth Scruggs, the general contractor and principal designer of Superior Construction and Design, LLC. Elizabeth shares her unique journey as one of the few female contractors in Middle Tennessee, her early inspiration, and the evolution of her business into a full-service firm.

They discuss the importance of holistic design from foundations to furnishings, the role of education and community at High Point Market, and the intricacies of building a home tailored to clients' needs. Elizabeth also touches on the challenges and joys of her work, emphasizing the importance of thorough planning and design.

Have a guest you’d love to hear on the show? Send us a text!

Episode Timestamps:

01:15 Getting to Know Elizabeth Scruggs

02:32 Early Inspirations and First Steps in Design

03:52 Building the First Home and Entering Construction

07:01 Challenges and Learning Curves in Construction

11:09 Evolution of Superior Construction and Design

17:10 High Point Market and the Importance of Community

24:04 Planning and Budgeting for Dream Homes

28:13 Venturing into Commercial Projects

30:23 The Importance of Designers in Custom Homes

31:11 The Evolution of the Furniture Market

37:59 Rapid Fire Questions

Learn more about Elizabeth Scruggs and Superior Construction and Design

Collaborating for the Client: Vendor Partnerships in Luxury Design with SAV Digital Environments

Couture & Construction

11/11/24 • 50 min

Welcome back to Couture & Construction! In today’s episode, host Andrew Denny explores the importance of collaboration in the luxury design space with the team at SAV Digital Environments, a leader in home technology and smart solutions for luxury residences.

Andrew and our guests discuss how vendors from different trades can collaborate to elevate the client experience in high-end residential projects. The guests share their insights on overcoming challenges, fostering relationships, and evolving expectations in the industry, particularly with the influence of younger, tech-savvy builders.

This episode highlights the benefits of teamwork and shared knowledge in delivering cohesive and innovative design solutions.

Have a guest you’d love to hear on the show? Send us a text!

Episode Timestamps

00:22 Meet the SAV Team

00:53 Exploring the Power of Collaboration

05:30 The Importance of Relationships

08:06 Collaboration Through Industry Groups

14:50 Lessons from Other Trades

22:33 The Value of Authentic Empathy

24:37 Community and Competition in Construction

30:19 Adapting to New Market Trends

34:06 The Importance of Communication

34:51 Building Relationships Through Collaboration

37:29 Embracing Technology in Construction

46:46 Advice for Breaking Barriers

47:27 Rapid Fire Q&A

Learn more about SAV Digital Environments