All-In Design

Episode #47 - Interview with Jennifer Curry

• Chad Moore & Mark Griffo • Season 2 • Episode 47

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Join us on this last episode of the year where we speak with Jennifer Curry of Design Innovations. Jenn is a current board member of IIDA and walks us through her journey into interior design - from space planning at a young age with bits of paper, getting her degree in interior design at Auburn University, and landing an internship and ultimately a job at her current employer. Thank you for listening and we hope you have a wonderful holiday season. 

SPEAKER_07:

From the plus recording studios for IIDA Alabama. This is All in Design. Hello and welcome to All in Design IDA Alabama's podcast. Thank you for listening. My name's Chad Moore here with my co-host Mark Griffo.

SPEAKER_00:

Hey everybody.

SPEAKER_07:

I'm saying that. I'm in my head listening to myself, and I'm thinking I've said the exact same thing. And so I don't even I don't even think about it. Like it's just coming out of my mouth without thinking about it. And so I hand it over to Mark, and Mark goes, hey everybody. And then I'm waiting for it, and it wasn't coming.

SPEAKER_00:

It wasn't. And I don't know. I was choking on my tea or something. But we're off to a really good start.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah. We've got a guest today.

SPEAKER_00:

We do have a guest today. We're very excited about this guest. This episode should be as long as it normally is, which is about an hour. Yeah. But the guest has a heart out. Yes. Because tonight, not when this airs, but tonight is the IIDA Alabama holiday party. That's correct. And this person is valet parking. Which will have valet parking. So if you didn't come to the party and you were concerned about there being valet party parking, again, off to a good start, you've missed out. Right. So anyway, without further ado, uh, I'm happy to introduce Jen Curry with Design Innovation. She's a designer there. She is also on the board with us. What's your position on the board?

SPEAKER_08:

I am at Signature Events.

SPEAKER_00:

Signature Events, that's right. Yeah, because you're in charge of Signature Events. Director of Signature Events. Well, we're glad to have you on the show. Um why don't you tell people about yourself?

SPEAKER_08:

Okay, great. Well, first off, thanks for having me on here. Super excited to talk and laugh it up with you guys. But um We'll see about that. Okay, well, Mark, I'm sorry, choke. No promises. No promises. Um, where do you want me to begin? You want me to start?

SPEAKER_00:

How about we begin in uh let's see, I'm from Chelsea, Alabama, where I grew up my whole life.

SPEAKER_08:

I did. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

So that was the first answer on the uh the questionnaire.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah. I think a lot of people know where Chelsea is, right? I would think so.

SPEAKER_07:

I yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I kind of looked it up. I was like, yeah, it's around here. But I'm wasn't like 100% like exactly where it was around.

SPEAKER_00:

Really?

SPEAKER_07:

Kinda, yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, that's funny. Yeah. I guess I've just known a lot of people from Chelsea. Okay. Oh, really?

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Or that lived out there. Well, you know, Shannon, our our friend and designer and fellow board member Shannon Bayless. Who's also part of Signature Events. Yes. Your boss on the board.

SPEAKER_05:

She is my boss.

SPEAKER_00:

She is your boss on the board? I didn't know that. I just do the web stuff. I don't pay attention to anything else. You don't come to any of the events. I don't go to anything. I may not come tonight. Please do. There's Valet Parking Mark. Okay, well, I'll be there. Okay, so Chelsea. So you grew up in Chelsea, Alabama.

SPEAKER_08:

I did. So um we moved out there like a really long time ago when there was just a McDonald's and a Winduosi.

SPEAKER_00:

Back when it was one stoplight, now there's like four.

SPEAKER_08:

Yes. Now there's a lot of them.

SPEAKER_07:

So that's the McDonald's you pass on 280 as you're heading out to Auburn. Yep. Yeah. That's Chelsea. Mm-hmm. Okay.

SPEAKER_08:

Sure is. So that's when we first moved out there. Now it's booming. And there's like a hotel.

SPEAKER_07:

There's like two McDonald's.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, exactly. Two McCaffrey. So many coffee shops now. And I was like, wow, I only had one back in the day, and I was very fortunate for that.

unknown:

Right.

SPEAKER_08:

So, but yeah, so I lived out there my whole entire life. Um and honestly, even when I started at design innovations, it was very convenient because as y'all know, we were at the Narrows. Yes. So they were like right there. Like five, six minutes away from my house. So I loved it. It was great. But um I ended up doing Jeff State for two years. So staying kind of local, staying near home. And I completed all my core classes. I completed math, science, history, English. Just decided that would be a better route for me and then go to more of a larger university. So in 2018, I transferred to Auburn and Oregon to the interior design program. So even though I had hours that equated to a junior, I started back out as a freshman again.

SPEAKER_07:

Right, yeah, because they're their design program, you've got a kind of a year of classes before you apply to be in the school, is that right?

SPEAKER_08:

So you um your freshman year, you are actually you can take classes like you know, everybody's taking the core base, right? But you're also um kind of in competition in a sense to get into the program. So yeah, so I had that, and when I'm transferred there, um I had already completed my core classes, which transferred with me, which was great. So I didn't have to start.

SPEAKER_07:

So you can focus at almost exclusively on interior design classes.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, so I was able to do that. Now granted, um, I still had classes like Nutrition or Family Global or anything like that, still had to take those um at Auburn, but I was able to focus a lot on interior design, which was great. Um before I left for Auburn, my parents made me promise I wouldn't start working. They were like, please just get into the program first and then you can have a job.

SPEAKER_07:

Was that a problem? Like you're just prone to have a job since she was five.

SPEAKER_00:

She was a workaholic.

SPEAKER_06:

Stop working, focus on please quit working, sweetie.

SPEAKER_08:

Sorry. But yes, it was a problem. I loved to work. It was a problem. Once I got my first vehicle, which was a Ford F-150. Oh, yeah. If y'all do not know me, I'm five foot, so me driving a Ford F-150 was great. Awesome. I come out of that truck and it'sy bitsy me coming out like, hey.

SPEAKER_07:

Fall out of the truck.

SPEAKER_08:

Hey, I learned how to hoist myself. Do you drop a ladder down? No, one of those. I just wore heels.

SPEAKER_05:

There you go. There you go.

SPEAKER_08:

But um, once I got that, you had to fill it with gas, and the only way to fill it with gas is get a job. So I got a job. Um, but so yeah, they made me promise to not work when I was in Auburn in my first year. They really wanted me to focus on getting into the program. And so I made that promise up until about, you know, right before finals of the last semester of freshman year for Auburn. And I nailed a job, like pretty much right before finals. And my parents were like, No, you didn't. And I was like, Yes, I did. I apologize in advance.

SPEAKER_00:

I apologize in advance for this thing I've already done. I mean, I have this job.

SPEAKER_06:

That I actively pursued for continuing work.

SPEAKER_08:

I apologize before starting the job. Okay. So, you know.

SPEAKER_07:

But you you went after the job. I did. Were there other jobs you were, or just that was the one you were wanting?

SPEAKER_08:

That was the one I was wanting. Um, so I a lot of people know this, but I ended up starting out at Rhapsody of Auburn, which was an easy walk from where I needed to be at Auburn, which was Spider Hall. And I could just walk over to Rap City of A. R. A.

SPEAKER_07:

P to Spider Hall. Yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

I know.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, yeah. Yep.

SPEAKER_08:

Excited to see the new building though.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. I'm not gonna lie, I was like, that's not how you spell rap. You're like, what? W R A P. Okay. Yes, there you go. Go on.

SPEAKER_08:

But um I ended up starting there, and um Tell people a little bit about Rhapsody. So Rhapsody is a gift store, and they are located throughout Alabama now. They have multiple locations. When I first started, we only had the Hoover and the Auburn location. But now we've got Trustville, we've got Homewood.

SPEAKER_07:

Do you still work for them? I do not. Maybe it's just and we.

SPEAKER_08:

I really enjoyed working for them. It was a really good experience. I'm not kidding. They are they're great people.

SPEAKER_07:

So does design innovations know that you're still working for them? No. Your parents? Oh man.

SPEAKER_04:

Let's not get into them.

SPEAKER_08:

But um, so they're a gift store and they just have multiple different lines between jewelry and clothing, candles, you know, you name it, they probably got it. But um, so I started out there and it was I was what you call a rapet, which is a sales associate. A rapette? Okay. Yeah, so kind of like Smurfett, but rapette. I like it. Um so I started out there and I was working and everything, and it was going great, and I ended up getting promoted to visuals manager and key holder. So, you know, I worked my way up there, which was really fun.

SPEAKER_06:

But you don't have the fun title.

SPEAKER_08:

Well, no more rabbette.

SPEAKER_00:

I guess I could be a rabbette, but once a rapette, always a rabbette. I was about to say once a rapette, always a rap-pet.

SPEAKER_08:

So, um, but I did that, and then um just continuing through college and everything, and then once May of 2021 came, I needed an internship in order to graduate from the program. So um I ended up landing a job at Design Innovations, which used to be located at the Narrows, as we discussed before, and it was gold to me because five minutes away. You know, Ansley talked about it, she was like, it was a terrible journey out there, and I was like, oh man, it was a breeze. Yeah, so good. Right in my backyard.

SPEAKER_07:

How did you how did you land that internship?

SPEAKER_08:

So I ended up reaching out to her via email and um also you know just having my resume attached to them.

SPEAKER_07:

Were you familiar with them or just you were just a cold call, right? Pretty much. Okay, and you're like, which one's closest to home?

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, I mean that one was really close to home, and I was like, this is great.

SPEAKER_00:

While also being the one she wanted the most. Exactly. Yes, of course. I did. Ansley.

SPEAKER_08:

Um but I actually had already landed another internship.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh, the pot thickens. Yes.

SPEAKER_08:

Yes, so where um and a company around here too. Okay.

SPEAKER_06:

Oh man, almost at her. I know. Maybe tonight at the Christmas party for some drinks we can pry it out.

SPEAKER_08:

Hey now. But I had landed another internship and um Ansley had ended up calling me like after I had told her she had reached back out and she was like, Hey, you know, I really liked how this interview went. Like, could you work here? Like, I would like to have you. And I was like, uh see, when you're thinking about this is like a first time that I've actually had something where I had like two offers, and I was like, Oh, um What do I do?

SPEAKER_07:

Yes, I will work for both of you.

SPEAKER_08:

I probably I had already like pretty much in I was already still with Rap City too, so I was like, Yeah, probably not do three jobs. That would probably not be great. But um, so she had asked me if I would come out to the office and take a tour. And so I was like, okay, like I'll come out there. So I came out and I just remember her walking around that corner and I was like, oh my gosh, she's so tiny. I'm tall. She knows this. I I love Aith Lee. It's so great. But I was just like, Was this a deciding factor?

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, it was. Um, I'm just kidding. But proximity and height.

SPEAKER_08:

Sometimes we're the same height, sometimes we're not, and I'm a little taller, so I take the one. But no, she um came around and she was just so nice and so genuine, showed me what I would be doing if I ended up working there. Was like, wow, this is gonna be a lot, you know, like a really good experience. Good challenge if I end up working here. So I did decide that I would end up rejecting the other offer and Ansley's. Yep.

SPEAKER_06:

How tall are they? I don't know, great question.

SPEAKER_08:

But, you know, in the end, like I knew it was a great decision. Like I learned so much from design innovations during my internship, and it was valuable information that I was able to take back to Auburn when I returned back to Auburn.

SPEAKER_04:

Right.

SPEAKER_08:

Um, but Ansley asked me to continue through the fall. And so when I left Design Innovations, she asked if I could work remote and then drive back up once a week back to um the Narrows.

SPEAKER_07:

Right. So in that so at that point you had you still had just one semester left? Is that I did. Okay.

SPEAKER_08:

Yes, I graduated in December, so I was kind of like a I don't know, that's like an off-season graduate, right? Right.

SPEAKER_00:

I think I think it's on season because I also graduated in December. Really? Because I got five football seasons out of my time at Auburn. So I got an extra, I got a bonus football season.

SPEAKER_07:

Is that was that your reasoning too? Was do you wanted another football season?

SPEAKER_08:

Uh mine was more of I'm kind of ready to be out of school. Right. Since I had already done two years. Right. Listen, we already discussed I like working, so I was ready to go back and go work. So um, but yeah, so I ended up working remotely, still working at Rap City too, and then also completing my last semester, which really didn't have a lot. So, you know, it was manageable easily. Um, but once I completed Christmas, I decided to, you know, completely go remote for Ansley at Design Innovations, knew it would be better for my career and in my best interest.

SPEAKER_00:

So were you still living in Auburn?

SPEAKER_08:

I was.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah. So I would just drive up once a week if I, you know, if they needed anything, I would do that. And then I would go back down. I had a night class, so I had to leave by a certain time and everything. But other than that, it was pretty smooth sailing that last semester. It was great.

SPEAKER_07:

So you started at Design Innovations January of 2022. Right?

SPEAKER_08:

Uh yes, full time.

SPEAKER_07:

So almost four years now. Mm-hmm. Nice. And then you graduated and then husband not too long after, right? A year late later?

SPEAKER_08:

Um, so we actually got engaged right before I graduated. We had a longer engagement. Um, but we eloped and um yeah, it was great. So uh we had good money for like a honeymoon. Save money, yeah. Yeah, yeah. And you know, get a house earlier on.

SPEAKER_07:

So engagement, I guess, came right before you graduated, and then you get married the next year?

SPEAKER_08:

We got married in uh 2023.

SPEAKER_07:

Okay. Yes. Okay.

SPEAKER_08:

So we ended up doing that and it was great.

SPEAKER_00:

When did you move to Birmingham?

SPEAKER_08:

Um, so I moved back to Birmingham December of 2021. And then I started full time for Ansley in January 2013.

SPEAKER_00:

Split second, I thought you were about to say I still live in Auburn. I drive up once a week. Wow.

SPEAKER_08:

I go down to Auburn frequently though. Um my sister's down there, so I go and see her a lot. Is she in school? Yes. She is.

SPEAKER_07:

And um is she also an interior designer or something else?

SPEAKER_08:

She is not. She started out in psychology. Okay. Um, she has now moved from psychology, but I do not remember exactly what it's called.

SPEAKER_07:

We'll call her and ask her.

SPEAKER_08:

Yes, that would be a good idea.

SPEAKER_00:

We'll do it.

SPEAKER_07:

So tell us more about Andrew. I want to know more about your husband. You started to list some things about him on our questionnaire.

SPEAKER_08:

I did. Um so a few things that I listed, but also said the list could continue to go on. Um, he's super good looking. That's number one. Super good looking.

SPEAKER_06:

She wrote that on that. That was one of those things. Yeah, it was yeah. I highlighted it.

SPEAKER_08:

I see that over there. Um, secondly, he's the most poor person I know. He has carried me through highs and lows. So I appreciate him a lot for sticking with me during some unpleasant moments of my life.

SPEAKER_00:

Is he gonna be here tonight? Is he coming to the party? He's not.

SPEAKER_08:

He's not. Like I could DM him and see if he can come.

SPEAKER_00:

Tell him, yeah, he's invited. Tell him there's valet.

SPEAKER_08:

Okay.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh, yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah, so I wanted to know what was like next, because you wrote most supportive, good looking. List could go on on and on about him. I want to know if just if just a couple more. What's number three, what's number four?

SPEAKER_08:

Okay, well, he is super hilarious. He's able to mimic a lot of different voices.

SPEAKER_07:

Oh cool. Like what? What is he good at?

SPEAKER_08:

Um, so he does a New Jersey voice really good. Like, I don't know how, but he does it really well. Where's he from? Auburn. Okay. Alabama. But he's able to do that. He can do a Trump voice, he can do that. He can just mimic a lot of people. He does Elmo.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. Oh, wow. Okay.

SPEAKER_08:

So he's just very talented in his own way.

SPEAKER_00:

You know, there's people who have careers in that. Yeah. So, you know, if he ever wants to branch out from what he's doing now and become a voice actor.

SPEAKER_07:

Not that no, if he's or just or you can do a cameo thing. Use the that the cameo service we'll do. You can do voice acting on that.

SPEAKER_08:

Very true. Very true. Alumno. Actually, he'll probably hear this, so we'll be good.

SPEAKER_07:

Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

All right. Does he like to work as much as you?

SPEAKER_08:

Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. Yeah. Well then this so having another job will be right up the alley. So voice actor.

SPEAKER_08:

Probably, yeah. No, he'll be perfectly fine with it. We'll we'll discuss it later.

SPEAKER_07:

Okay. When did you know you wanted to become an interior designer? How did that come about?

SPEAKER_08:

Um, so when I was little, I used to have a bad habit of rearranging my room. And my mom ended up starting to create a contract with me so that I could only rearrange my room once a month. And that was okay.

SPEAKER_00:

That was okay. Whoops. So you can so you said as a bad habit because you were rearranging your room how often?

SPEAKER_08:

Like every like three days or so. Like it became a problem.

SPEAKER_00:

How much furniture did you have in your room? Really not a lot.

SPEAKER_06:

Where were you putting it really can creative up here?

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah, wow. Because I could come up with like three ways to rearrange the furniture. The beds over here, or here, or here. This wall, this wall, or this wall.

SPEAKER_08:

I don't know. I guess I just love doing it. So she would she made this contract and how old were you at the time when this contract? Oh, that's a great question. Um, I mean, I guess it was probably I guess the contract cop probably came out like when I was like seven or eight, maybe like a little over then.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

Um, and I would cut pieces of paper out to represent like a nightstand or a bed, you know, different colors and everything. I would label them. I had a perimeter to work with, and I would shift it around, glue it to the paper, hand it to her, and we would sign off on it.

SPEAKER_00:

Wow.

SPEAKER_08:

I can't say I upheld my end of the bargain a lot, but we did sign off on the city. We have multiple breaches of contract.

SPEAKER_07:

Yes. We've already established they said do not work. And then she went ahead and got a job. Yep. So some rules are made to be broken.

SPEAKER_00:

Where where at at at eight years old did you like see that I'm gonna like what did you see a a floor plan somewhere? And like where an eight-year-old is figuring out, like, oh, I'm gonna cut out like a two-dimensional shape to represent all these things and I'm gonna rearrange them.

SPEAKER_08:

Um, so my mom, she used to kind of draw floor plans for like the church and everything, and so that's kind of where I started to see like what floor plans really were and how they kind of functioned, and so I knew that I could do that with my bedroom. And that's kind of where it all started. Now, I didn't know at that time that would lead to interior design or anything. It's just that's where I got my love for space planning. Right. It was starting just with my bedroom. And so once I ended up doing all that and everything, um I Started working, you know, various different places, but talking to people and kind of learning their stories about them and what they like and everything, you just start to kind of put things together and you know that, like, okay, well, floor plans, talking to people, socializing. I also ended up working at a sister store at one point called Urban Home Market in Lee Branch and they did residential design. So that's where I got to see more floor plans, how things come together, and that's how it kind of all clicked of like, yeah, I'm going to college for interior design. I don't know what type of design, I just know I'm going.

SPEAKER_07:

Right.

SPEAKER_08:

So that's kind of where it all clicked and started to come together.

SPEAKER_00:

So fast fast forwarding to present day. So we've had um Ainsley on the show before, and she is the now owner of Design Innovations. For those people who missed the episode, I'm sure no one missed it. But for people who did miss it, um tell us a little bit about DI and what kind of work they do.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, so design innovations were primarily healthcare. Um we focus on those spaces, but in addition to that, we've recently been picking up some education and church spaces. So been growing a little bit on that end. Um but we are a small company. There's me and Ashley Stahl, Jennifer Tillman, Ann Slee Dreer, and um we also have a great intern from Stanford, Audrey.

SPEAKER_07:

Oh, cool. Nice.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, so all interior firm, but we work with various different architects and clients. Right. So it's great.

SPEAKER_07:

And so you you probably you didn't have any experience with healthcare design. No, I did not. Right, but you obviously do now.

SPEAKER_08:

I do.

SPEAKER_07:

Right. Yeah. Is it um do you find was there anything surprising about that, or did was that part of your decision-making process when you decided to work there? Kind of like, oh, I've never really done that before, and that would be interesting to learn more about it.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, I think um so in school we did healthcare interior design at Auburn and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a great fit, but um still at that time didn't know what I wanted to do. Was still going through the classes and everything. Um and when Ansley, you know, when we talked about working there and everything, it was primarily healthcare, and I was like, okay, you know, just kinda wanted to give it a whirl, see what it would be like. And I kind of fell in love with it. So it was great, you know, and she I mean, they've all taught me a lot of stuff throughout my four years at design innovation. So, you know, I have them to thank for it absolutely.

SPEAKER_00:

Do you have a favorite project?

SPEAKER_08:

A favorite project?

SPEAKER_00:

Um or least favorite project. Which project is the worst you've ever worked? No, don't answer that question.

SPEAKER_08:

No, no. Um, I like all of our projects. But my favorite project was I'm trying to make sure that like I didn't like overlap one of the questions.

SPEAKER_07:

Some of the questions are redundant.

SPEAKER_08:

So I was wondering about that. I was like, are some of these kind of redundant? I wasn't quite sure.

SPEAKER_07:

But it's interesting because you do like some people were like, well, I already answered this in the previous question. Yes, yeah. But sometimes we'll get completely different answers. So um it's just kind of it's really to play mind games.

SPEAKER_08:

Yep, because I was like, I feel like I answered that in the other one, so I didn't skip it. I apologize. Um but apology accepted.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_08:

My favorite project is probably one that just recently completed, and it is in Florida, and it was a large-scale project. So with this project, um, I was the lead designer now, granted. I don't have my license yet, so Ansley was still checking my work and everything, but there was a lot of management that I did on my end, and it was just really cool being able to do various different spaces from adults to children.

SPEAKER_07:

And did you have the little slips of paper to rearrange your to show them how to do?

SPEAKER_08:

See, uh since that time I have to speak an argument that it went across her eyes.

SPEAKER_00:

I closed my eyes. Oh, I still saw them.

SPEAKER_08:

But uh I was able to use um software to do this.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, interesting, cool.

SPEAKER_08:

Quite frankly, it was faster if you believe it or not. Um but it was really fun being able to um watch this whole space come together for these people, and then now they get to use it and grow with it, and that's you know, that's what you're doing.

SPEAKER_00:

What kind of what kind of project is it?

SPEAKER_08:

It was a church. A church, okay. Yep, and so we had multiple different areas. We had the Sanctuary Commons, we had a kids' space and um an adults area, and then in addition to that they had an academy. So it was really cool. Oh, cool. Wow. It got lots of various different aspects, you know, from a fun color palette for kids and like going to a little bit more neutral palette for adults, and you know, it was just great variety throughout. So it was really fun. I enjoyed it.

SPEAKER_07:

There was uh one of your answers, it was the shortest answer you had, it was four words. Um but I liked it. Uh, shuffling through her page. I know. How do you approach collaborating with clients to understand their vision and preferences? Oh, this was a good one.

SPEAKER_08:

Oh, yes. Um so I said listen first, design second. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07:

Um So how how does I mean I guess I'm I'm setting up kind of how do you you had this project in Florida. What's what's the process when you meet with a client? How does that work?

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, so we ended up meeting with a client and we um went and kind of listened to them about I mean, we were touring the whole entire space. The space was existing. We were renovating it. And so, you know, we're kind of listening to them, learning a little bit more about the pastor, and then also learning about the community that they serve. And so, you know, trying to think of these spaces individually of like, okay, do they want it to go towards their brand? Do they want to go a completely different direction? You know, just kind of hearing multiple different things of what they want, what they need, and then you know, kind of organizing it from there. So once we were able to gather all that information, we were able to take it back and create some palettes for them that would be um kind of like right at what they wanted, but also exceeding it in a way. You know, you always want to put your best on the board. And so we were able to do that, show it to them. They were a great client, and so they were really happy with all of it, and again, I'm just really happy it was completed and they enjoy the space. Right. It's always the best result.

SPEAKER_00:

Did you get a chance to photograph it? Yes. Okay, cool. It's always good. You're gonna go check it out. I'm gonna go check it out. Okay. You know, we you know, I mean with what I do, I'm always trying to get photographs of our projects, but it can be difficult, right? Depending on you know how fast. Yeah, they w they and they want their new awesome space. They want to get in. They want to get in. So you know, I'm glad y'all I'm glad y'all.

SPEAKER_08:

We love getting pictures of our spaces for the website, it's really good. And also just social media in general, you know. You want you want um future clients to be able to see what you can do.

SPEAKER_00:

So well, uh that's actually gonna lead up to my next question, which I feel like that I've asked a version of this question in the last several shows that have almost gotten me in trouble. Yes. But it's only because I'm curious, right? Is because so like so you guys are based in you're here in Birmingham, but you don't you're doing a project in Florida. Was it a referral? Like are you able to tell us how y'all met?

SPEAKER_08:

Um, it was we were pretty much brought on um by by a company is how we were kind of brought on. So we they recognize it. So that's like a referral.

SPEAKER_00:

Like I mean, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, it was pretty much a referral, and they thought, you know, we would kind of be like a good fit for this. And so we did, and it was great. So awesome.

SPEAKER_07:

That's great. Yeah, so I mean I I what I got from your your answer was that you don't come in with design ideas ahead of time. You you sit down first.

SPEAKER_08:

I just think it's very important to listen to people. Everybody has, you know. Okay, I'm sorry. What were you gonna say? Marcy Maysby. Are you doing what you did to Bridget?

SPEAKER_00:

I'm doing what I do with my wife. She talks about listening, and I just go, What? And that one was so subtle. It was neither one of you heard me. No, and I completely derailed the answer. So uh I'll just use my world for every minutes. Do you need a cup of tea? You and Jen can take over. Why don't you take a step out from my well, you know, I forgot my rapid fire questions. Oh, did you really? I did. I did. But I already have a solution for it. Okay, sorry. Anyway, what was your question, Chad? Because it was really good, and the answer was awesome.

SPEAKER_06:

Just get there.

SPEAKER_07:

I don't remember what I asked, really. I don't remember what I'm saying. I can roll the tape back. Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

Okay, I'm screw everything up my shining moment.

SPEAKER_05:

And with intermission. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07:

No, I guess I'd I'd asked, you know, you don't come in with a preconceived idea already in mind. You meet with the client first and kind of get their, you know, and kind of do that research process process.

SPEAKER_08:

Yes, we want to hear what they want, what they need, and then you know, take that back with us and you know, execute it for them so that way they can see everything, what they were envisioning.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah, because uh and the reason I thought of it was I was driving down a road in town, and there's an architectural firm in town that does phenomenal work, absolutely, like won awards, but they have a certain style. And so I was driving by this house and it's under construction. I was like, oh, that reminds me of uh such and such, you know. And then the signs in the yard, I'm like, it's one of theirs. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes, but and so I kind of feel like the people that go to them to do their work is looking for that sort of work. They're looking for that style, like this is their design style.

SPEAKER_05:

Right.

SPEAKER_07:

But from what I'm getting from you is that they know, you know, that they can kind of come to you all and you're gonna do it. Yeah, kind of do it, listen to what they've got. Obviously gonna do a phenomenal job with it, but to kind of tailor it exactly to them.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, and Ansley's always kind of said this about us is we don't have a design style, you know, there's not one way to do it. Um, so we you know, pride a lot in what our clients want and taking that information and doing that, but you know, adding some flair to it for them too. So that way they can see something they weren't necessarily envisioning yet.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah, and that was one of your answers as well, is kind of what is your design philosophy. And you were like, there's just not one way really that you don't necessarily have one.

SPEAKER_08:

No, there's not one way to do anything, whether it's you know, regarding a design style or space planning or anything, you know, I was kind of thinking about this before I came here. Um we are here to like teach our interns and help them gather information and think about things. But our intern was working on a floor plan. I was like, oh, I didn't even think of that. You know? So I say, you know, you can learn from anybody. It doesn't matter. So I mean, that's why I always say, you know, we're here to teach them, but they also teach us a lot of stuff too. So it's always great.

SPEAKER_00:

Is there anything that you have learned since you've been an intern at DI to now that I don't want to say surprises you, but you're like, oh, like I don't know, like what in the course of your four years of now being employed as a professional, right? Is there something, you know, now that you're in it, is there anything that kind of surprises you where like it would you wouldn't have expected it while you were in still in school? Or when you were the eight-year-old Jen, you know, cutting paper.

SPEAKER_08:

Um, so I do know something that shocked me kind of when I came from a student coming into like working and everything. Floor planes change. They do. Columns, structural, everything can change. Right. Until, you know, it's signed and sealed, it's it can change. I did not know that.

SPEAKER_00:

I can see you. You're like, you're like, and done. And then the next day the floor plan comes back, and you're like, and damn it.

SPEAKER_08:

Literally, we had this project when I was an intern, and I was constantly we were working in AutoCAD this time. It the floor plan was constantly updating, and I was like, how's going on here? It's like a trick. You know, mine was just furniture. You can rearrange frontry easily, but no, this was like doors, windows, columns, column got my way. Is this normal?

SPEAKER_07:

Is this a normal thing? Or is it like just this is a weird one?

SPEAKER_08:

I did ask Ansley. I did ask her. I said, uh, is this normal? And she was like, Yes. And I was like, Okay, good, good to know. I'm out.

SPEAKER_04:

I actually thought you were about to say no, but you were like, Yes.

SPEAKER_08:

No, it was very unique. So I will say that was something that kind of shot me. Now, granted, you know, four years in, I do know that happens. It does not shock me anymore.

SPEAKER_07:

So I'll do you um where do you normally find inspiration?

SPEAKER_08:

Everywhere. It doesn't matter where I am, as long as you're, you know, kind of having your eyes open and looking around. I mean, I'm kind of getting inspiration looking out here at BI, you know, just kind of looking at it.

SPEAKER_00:

It is an inspiring place, isn't it? It's great.

SPEAKER_06:

It's great. You know what you should you guys should all tear it down and renovate. We should.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, we should we should do that one day. One day. Well, see, this is better because we're, you know, the first, and I don't know if I think we've talked about this. We have talked about this in the last few episodes. We used to record these in the conference room that has like no windows and no natural light.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00:

And then so now we're we're in here and it's you know, get a little bit more of a view and you get to make faces of people walking by.

SPEAKER_07:

We were in a c we were in a uh a very nice closet. This way I would it's it's it looks it looks like this room. Okay, but it it's got the four walls, there's not windows there, and then it also tends to be where lots of chairs and things get stored. Boxes. Boxes and beers and that's why I mean it's a very nice closet. Yeah, it looks like a nice closet.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

This is this is better, but we we had done a couple of episodes really kind of going back to when we recorded Jonathan at Neocon and we were in the middle of the showroom, in the middle of the booth. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07:

And then when we were the name of the manufacturer, I think it was Think Space.

SPEAKER_00:

Think Space, yeah, that's right. Um and then and then when we were recorded uh a few episodes in Huntsville, we were in a nice big conference room glass conference room and windows, too. Right.

SPEAKER_07:

And it was and it was and it was Sam in your office who was kind of like you should activate the space.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. Right. Yeah, yeah. So cool. But yeah, so that's how that's probably so. I'm I give you all that to say I'm glad to hear you sit here and be inspired.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00:

Do you do you take back to your inspiration question and answer though? Do you take stock of what inspires you? Like, do you write it down? Do you take photos? Do you save articles?

SPEAKER_08:

I think it depends on what it is. Like I do have a file, like you know, if you see something on social media, whether it be Facebook, Instagram, anything like that, I will screenshot it and save it. Right. You know, just to kind of refer back to if I ever want to do something with it. But um, but she's not traveling here, she's not writing anything down.

SPEAKER_07:

I've noticed. No, or taking a photo. No, like, yeah.

SPEAKER_05:

Well, isn't it kind of weird if I just randomly did this right now?

SPEAKER_00:

It would actually be awesome. Would you please, please do it? But do it when people walk by, so they'd be like, wow, they are really holding her attention.

SPEAKER_05:

Need Valerie to walk by then.

SPEAKER_07:

Or the next person that goes by, we should all get the phones out and take pictures of that person.

SPEAKER_00:

I like that idea. I like that idea. I like the way you think. How did how did you get involved in uh IDA?

SPEAKER_08:

Um so Ansley was on the board at one time, and she thought it would be a really good idea for me to be on the board. And before doing anything, I do kind of like some research beforehand. And so I ended up.

SPEAKER_06:

We passed mustard, I guess.

SPEAKER_08:

We I ended up um calling Laura and just kind of talking to her and you know, seeing what it would be like on the board, seeing where I could fit in. Like, you know, I didn't know what role I should go for um because I love working with students. Is this Laura Harrison? Um I like doing social media, I like, you know, doing events, planning things. So I was like, I don't know where I'm fit. So um ended up talking to her and it went really great. And then um Ansley um and Jennifer Tillman, they really wanted me to be on it. So they were like, just tell us what you want. And I was like, I don't know what I want. So I ended up telling them, okay, let's just do signature events. I do a lot of like planning and everything, and so you know, or OCD in a sense. But um ended up getting nominated to be director, and so I was super excited to see Shannon was gonna be on it and I was gonna be working with her again, so I was looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_07:

Nice. Yeah. Nice. And not to to jump, I guess, all the way to the very back of our questionnaire, but yeah, you you work on kind of special events as a side hustle kind of where you make banners and signs and floor arrangements and things like that.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, so um kind of like a side hustle. I do do um balloon arches for like parties, showers, anything like that. I do those, and then I recently picked up the painted banners. I used to do acrylic signage. I picked that up during COVID, you know, had a lot of free time.

SPEAKER_06:

So I think I'm gonna do acrylic banners. Didn't we all?

SPEAKER_05:

Didn't we all do acrylic banners?

SPEAKER_08:

It was casual. Um, but so I just always had a knack for it and I've always enjoyed it. I love parties. I think they're so fun, especially kids' parties. They're so cute. So, you know, I've done um is there a company name? No, I just do it, you know. People who know that I do it or if you know you know right.

SPEAKER_07:

Now a lot of people are gonna know. Yes.

SPEAKER_08:

I know y'all are gonna make me come up with a company name, aren't you?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, we will. We're gonna make you come up with a company name. Yeah. There's one you're gonna be finding and insured. You're gonna have a Facebook page and a logo.

SPEAKER_05:

We'll be taking suggestions after this.

SPEAKER_00:

Do you ever do nothing? Um We're answering this question.

SPEAKER_08:

Is it a fire rapid question? Because the answer I guess is no.

SPEAKER_00:

I don't know. We'll see how good I get when I get to the rapid fire part, and maybe I'll just I'll count that as one.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah. Is it one of those things like if when you do try to slow down, you feel like you're because I know like over the holidays. Yeah. Like over the holidays, you know, we're not like so next week, the 19th, we were talking about that before we started recording, where like the end of the month ends on the 19th for the most part. And so then you're you're on vacation in essence, and you're at home or you're at your parents' house or whatever, and you're just sitting around like, I feel like I should be doing something.

SPEAKER_08:

Um yeah, I actually asked Ansley and Jennifer Tillman today. I said, Has anybody started ordering their groceries for Christmas yet? Because I know I just completed mine, so um like you mean your groceries like for your meals and stuff? Yeah, just like the simpler ones like corn casserole or like green bean cakes and stuff like that. So I went ahead and like ordered that and got that ready because you know, you'll get like meats from honey baked ham or something. So I decided to do that. But I'm very proactive and then yes, I do feel kinda lazy if I'm just sitting down not doing anything. So cleaning the house will probably happen next. Um I do not really make it a balloon arch? Yes, probably. We are hosting two Christmases this year.

SPEAKER_07:

So Oh is it is that both sides of the family or just random people?

SPEAKER_05:

Both sides of the family. Like if she says random people, are you gonna invite yourself?

SPEAKER_00:

Because I was going to. I was gonna invite myself. Yeah. So we have several things that we're doing. Um, and if you want to help, you're more than welcome.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

You know, because sometimes I like doing nothing. And then, you know, like we're having a little thing.

SPEAKER_08:

Um well, if you want to do nothing, I'll do something.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, ow, I like that. See, yeah, this is this is a good combo. This is great, yeah. This is a good combo. Um, yeah, because we're doing things this weekend and I have not started on them yet at all.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh.

SPEAKER_00:

So it'll be fine though. Right. I mean, you know, I can I just gotta like run to like Hop City and get some beer and wine. She looks a little anxious, like she's like, uh, you haven't started?

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, a little bit.

SPEAKER_00:

It'll be okay. It'll be fine.

SPEAKER_08:

Stressing me out, Mark.

SPEAKER_00:

It'll be fine. You know. Just trust, trust the process.

SPEAKER_08:

Call if you need ideas.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Are you um when you do your your your your Christmas dinners, your Christmas parties, are you one of these people that has like these? I've seen a lot of this on Facebook and Instagram lately, these massive tablescapes.

SPEAKER_08:

Okay, this is actually our first time doing it. We just year, so this is our first time hosting. Nice. Yeah, I'm really excited. This is a big deal. I am so excited. Don't mess up. I know. That's the only problem. Yeah, it's basically.

SPEAKER_07:

Okay, who's going first? Which side of the family's going first? Because they're the trial run. Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_08:

Well, actually, so I guess technically we'll have three Christmases because we'll have my mom's on um, well, my dad will be Christmas Eve, my mom's side will be on Christmas Day, and then Andrew's family will be like after Christmas. But I'm not hosting that one. We'll just like go down, so it'll be easier.

SPEAKER_06:

Okay, so you're only hosting two. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. And you're in your side. Mm-hmm. Okay.

SPEAKER_08:

Correct. So we'll have that. And I'm excited about it. And yes, I have a very large table already figured out. Ansley said I could go steal magnolia leaves from her tree in the backyard. So you're gonna have like the the chargers and the and the the napkin rings and the candles and well, I was thinking like the magnolia leaves, and then I was thinking like some candles or something in the center.

SPEAKER_00:

Sounds lovely and simple. I like it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

Minimalist is my I think it's sourceful because go into a backyard getting some leaves, perfect.

SPEAKER_00:

Did you know uh or do you know Claire that worked at Pool?

SPEAKER_08:

Uh-huh. McLean.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, Claire McLean. So she uh she she moved back home to Valdasta and um and recently uh she has she and I guess another friend have started this like supper club. They have, and they do great tables super elaborate table tablescapes. Okay, like so but and they're beautiful, like they're very ornate and lush, and like there's not a detail that's left out. But I I always look at these photos and videos that they post online, and I think one, that's beautiful, and that would be a lot of fun. There's little table cards with it. But then I wonder, like, what do they do with all the stuff after? Right. Once you have it, right? Because they had a like a fall one and then and then a winter one, you know, so like it was complete completely new stuff. Right. I mean, I guess I could just like DM Claire and ask her what she does with all this.

SPEAKER_08:

Maybe but I was about to say, you want me to call her for a while. You know, you want to put her on now?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

We haven't done anything.

SPEAKER_00:

So you're not going that that elaborate.

SPEAKER_08:

Um, no, like Claire is challenging textures and patterns and everything. Mine will be like a little bit more less than that, but it will still look good. Oh, of course. I'll send you a picture.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, sweet. You should um that should be your next business, and then you can start an Instagram page with your tablescapes.

SPEAKER_08:

There you go.

SPEAKER_07:

So business number three. So working at design innovations, your party planning balloon arches.

SPEAKER_00:

I don't know. I think it could be it's I think you could make it its own thing.

SPEAKER_08:

Oh, yeah, true.

SPEAKER_00:

And then don't forget she's still a rapette. Right. I'm not always. Always once a rapette, always a rap.

SPEAKER_07:

You were saying we had we now have a new score, but it's opening soon.

SPEAKER_00:

Six years later, she's like we.

SPEAKER_08:

We listen, I always say we, even in like, it doesn't matter if it's emails, whether it's a design or anything, it's always we. It always is.

SPEAKER_07:

Which means yes. Yes, yes, which we're trying to be like really inspiring with that change. All right, so I think we should we're 45 minutes in. The rapid fires usually aren't rapid fire. They're not. We have to tell They might be because I don't have any. We have to tell a story about Elf on the Shelf, apparently, as well. Um you've got a heart out at four o'clock. So why don't we move to to rapid fire? You're gonna, I guess, chat GPT, some questions real quick. Okay. I'll ask my first one. Hold on. Because unlike Mark, I have mine ready. What is the one what is the one thing that you truly want for Christmas?

SPEAKER_08:

That I truly want for Christmas would probably be this heated vest.

SPEAKER_00:

Mmm. Is it uh uh what kind of br what brand is it?

SPEAKER_04:

Uh is Do you know?

SPEAKER_00:

I got Aaron one a few years ago. Okay. And literally like two. I was that's I was gonna say o' walla, but that's your that's my water bottle, but I figured something similar. Yes.

SPEAKER_07:

They make water belt bottles and heated best. That's what they're known for.

SPEAKER_00:

People diversify now in weird sort of ways. Yeah. Um yeah, and so I bought one for Aaron several years ago, and literally like two weeks ago, um she pulled it out of the closet. And she was like, Yeah, she's like, I'm gonna wear my heated vest. And I was like, Cool, great. I'm glad you're I'm glad you used to be for the first time? No, not yeah, but for the first time in a while, you know. And uh dust it off. And she was and she looked at me and she goes, Where's the battery? And I was like, Well, is it not in the in the vest? In the vest, right? Which is where it goes. Yes. Right, it goes in the vest. Like on the inside. Yeah, Jen's looking at me like, duh, right? Right, which is an appropriate response.

SPEAKER_07:

Otherwise it's gotta be plugged into the wall and you can't really walk around. Right, yeah. You know, you're tethered.

SPEAKER_00:

You're tethered. Yeah, so she she doesn't know where the battery is. And now it's just a vest. It's not heated at all.

SPEAKER_08:

Can you get battery replacements?

SPEAKER_00:

I'm sure you can't. We didn't go that far. She just pawn it back up and then grab a coat.

SPEAKER_07:

Okay. Oh, okay. So maybe that'd be something you could research and give her for Christmas as a battery.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. We don't really do gifts, so but this is this will be a nice little nice little surprise. You guys don't do gifts? Not really. I mean, I usually always kind of surprise her with a little something. Okay. And have for like 11 years now. Right. And then she'll be like, oh, I didn't get you anything. And I'm like, I know how this works. But I don't have to get like I can sincerely not give anything to Erin on Christmas Day, and she would not care. Okay. But I always think of something like kind of last minute. Yeah, I do like the better. She would actually be really excited about it.

SPEAKER_07:

Great. Hopefully she doesn't listen to it. And she does, she won't listen.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, it's fine. I could actually get it and put a card in there and really say, This is from Chad.

SPEAKER_05:

There you go.

SPEAKER_00:

So perfect. Yeah. I don't even have to purchase anything.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, no, you didn't have to do anything.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. If you're not getting her a gift, I am. Yeah. Thanks, buddy. Appreciate it. Yeah. Um, all right. So I did I didn't go Chat GPT, I went Gemini. Okay. Which is Google's version for people who don't know.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah, I mean ChatGPT is starting to lose their prominence.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, there's like Gemini and Claude. You know, I don't really use Claude because every time they advertise, they advertise that they do code. Right. And like, I just want to know random questions. Right. Um Grok is pretty good too, but I feel like Elon's probably stealing all my information. Um anyway, Grok is X's or Twitter's. Oh. Uh ChatGPT version. Um okay, so I didn't give it anything. I just said I need five random hilarious podcast questions right now. I didn't say anything else. So the first one is if you had to replace your hands with a pair of non-hand items right now, what two items would you choose?

SPEAKER_08:

Two items.

SPEAKER_00:

You don't know why it said two items. I think it confused itself. She's looking around the table.

SPEAKER_07:

She's looking around the table and she's also like clapping her fingertips together. Yeah, kind of like kind of like the penguin would.

SPEAKER_08:

At first I thought you were going to say one item, and I was like, I guess like tongs with rubber ends, so that way you could still type or something and grab things. Oh, that's a good idea.

SPEAKER_00:

And you're still using your hands, but I can imagine you with like so you mean like half a tongue on one hand and half a tongue on the other hand.

SPEAKER_08:

But like with the silicone ends.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes. Yes, of course. Of course.

SPEAKER_08:

That's very important. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07:

That's a good answer. That was a great question. Why did you name your dog Aspen?

SPEAKER_08:

Um, so we I I don't know, I really like the name Aspen, but after we named her Aspen, we said any future animals would be named after trees. Okay. So we would have like Henceforth. Yes. Let it be known.

SPEAKER_06:

Her mom put one together. Yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

I pray she does not listen to this.

SPEAKER_00:

I I love it. It's like on one hand, it's very arbitrary, and on the other hand, we're like, we're gonna run with it. We can do whatever we want for the rest of our lives, but we're gonna stick with trees. Trees.

SPEAKER_08:

I just think it's so cool. It's also cute. You know, there's like so many different types of trees that you can start.

SPEAKER_00:

You get like a giant dog and name it sequoia.

SPEAKER_08:

Sequoia.

SPEAKER_04:

And then just say sick.

SPEAKER_07:

Like, she's making a face like that's not gonna be sequoia. I thought that was actually a pretty good idea. Well, part of the problem with sequoia is it's such a long word. Yeah. Come here, boy. Like that takes a while.

SPEAKER_06:

Sequoia's a girl.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Oh. What are you gonna name your next dog Pine? Um, I don't know, maybe like Dogwood.

SPEAKER_06:

Ask your question. Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. What is the I really want I'm looking forward to this answer. What is the least appropriate song you've ever c gotten caught singing out loud?

SPEAKER_08:

I don't know, because like I feel like the inappropriate songs are singing it with that group that also sings the inappropriate songs. So I don't think like you're getting caught.

SPEAKER_00:

So, alright, I've got a little I'll I'll readjust the question. Have you ever caught yourself singing along to a song, whether in a group or by yourself, where you're like, wow, this song is nasty. Don't worry, your mom's not listening.

SPEAKER_08:

Everything's great. Everything's great. Everything's fantastic.

SPEAKER_07:

I had um the for me answering that question, a lot of the songs, there were rap songs that I grew up with. And so they were, you know, I was a kid, you need to hear the lyrics and you're singing the lyrics, having no idea what they're talking about. And so when we did the ID Awards at the Florentine, the soundtrack was rap music, hip hop. And so I reached out and to several people that is into that genre, and so they were sending things, and then I was look researching, and so there were several songs where I was like, Oh yeah, love that song, and then started going through it, and I'm like, Oh my god. Yeah, oh my god, no, we can't put we can't do this one.

SPEAKER_05:

No, we cannot play this for all to here.

SPEAKER_00:

Yep. So when also you learn, I because I had a similar experience just uh when really when I got a Spotify account like 10 years ago. It's like I'm like just gonna go, you know, mine these songs that I remember, but I never bought the album. Right. And then I learned that like the album version is very different than the radio edit. Sure. Yes.

SPEAKER_08:

So I would say I'm really bad at like songs. Just I am. I listen to the radio. Not even really listen to the radio.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm usually is this your confession that you don't care about music?

SPEAKER_08:

I do care about music because my husband does do music. Oh, that's right.

SPEAKER_00:

And she cares about his music. Yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

I just he is so good looking. So bad. He is so good looking. You're right, Chad. He really is. Shout out to Andrew. Is it my turn?

SPEAKER_07:

It's my turn. Yeah. What's the best trip vacation you've been on, and what's the next one you are planning?

SPEAKER_08:

Uh did you say what's the best one?

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

Probably mine and Andrew's honeymoon. We went on a cruise and we got to go to Honduras, Belize, Mexico, and uh the Bahamas. Okay. So I would probably say that was the best one because we had both never done a cruise before. Right. We ended up swimming with dolphins and manatees. Cool. I thought that was a really cool experience. So um we did my dad's number one rule, which was please do not eat food from a street vendor in any of these countries. Okay. We ate food from them. So we're fine that was.

SPEAKER_00:

So that's a little bit I'm not arguing with your dad.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

But that's a little bit of kind of misinformation, if you will.

SPEAKER_08:

I thought it was delicious, and quite frankly, we want to experience everything.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, because most of the places that do street food in the various corners of the globe, it's usually local. They're doing local stuff. Right. Right. So they know what they're doing, they know how they're doing it. I mean, there's exceptions to every rule, like if they're pulling water out of the barrel that they got from the, you know, dirty river, that's a different sort of sort of story. A lot of people get food poisoning because they're in like a Vietnam and they go someplace and they order a cheeseburger. Or like a del they want like a Reuben sandwich. Right. And the only reason that that food exists is because they're like catering to tourists. Right. But you could walk out on the sidewalk and there's a guy out there cooking, cooking up, you know, fish that he caught that day.

SPEAKER_05:

Right.

SPEAKER_00:

So so good on you for not listening to your dad. That seems to be a general theme. Andrew and I are very I just don't listen to my parents. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07:

I'll work. My parents gave me one rule on the trip, and then of course we didn't follow it.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

Are you going to put that as my like line on Instagram? The rule breaker.

SPEAKER_00:

The rule breaker, yes. Yeah. Jim Curry, the rule breaker. I follow rules. Um these are these are dumb. These are dumb. I'm gonna keep reading them. Uh go for it. Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses?

SPEAKER_08:

I don't like birds. Oh. I guess the horses, because I I can't do birds.

SPEAKER_00:

So you're are you scared of birds?

SPEAKER_08:

Yes.

SPEAKER_00:

Interesting. I've known several people that are scared of birds, and it fascinates me.

SPEAKER_08:

I've watched my brother get chased by a peacock. I've watched, yeah, birds, they're scary. But you've never been chased. No. No, I stay away from them. Okay. Yes. Alright. I have been chased by geese though. I don't like geese.

SPEAKER_00:

That is that is a bird. Oh yeah, you are, right? No, I've never been chased. I have been chased by geese.

SPEAKER_01:

She just left.

SPEAKER_00:

She flew the coup. Terrible. Oof. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07:

All right. Outside of your neck for floral arrangements, signs, and banners, what other talent would people be surprised to know you have?

SPEAKER_08:

And there are talent they'd be surprised I can do. Um, I guess it's not really a surprise. I can like paint, I can do watercolor, and um I can sketch with like oils and everything and acrylic.

SPEAKER_05:

Okay.

SPEAKER_08:

So I, you know, I did a lot of art back in school and it stuck with me, so I've always enjoyed it. I don't know if that's necessarily a surprise though. I didn't list it on there, so I guess it is.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. I'm surprised. Which it kind of is related to my next question, which is what's what's what's the most useless talent or skill you possess? Useless and you can and can you describe it in detail? Oh, hair flip. Yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

I don't know if I have any useless talent. Oh, okay. I'm just kidding. No useless talents. Um useless talent?

SPEAKER_00:

You don't have time for useless talents.

SPEAKER_08:

No.

SPEAKER_00:

You're too that was the answer. Right. Next question.

SPEAKER_07:

I'm going to circle back to kind of the first question was talking about Christmas gifts. What was the most memorable Christmas gift you got as a child?

SPEAKER_08:

Most memorable one. I would probably say my Nintendo DS as a kid. Sweet. My parents with big items like to um kind of create this riddle for you to find your gift.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh. Yes. Okay. So on. It's hidden? Yes. Okay.

SPEAKER_08:

It is. And they also did this with my first phone. So they did certain things where, you know, it's the first number on the mailbox across the street or something. You know, they they have to do it. So you're leaving the house. Yes.

SPEAKER_05:

Were you like in your pajamas? Like running around? Yes.

SPEAKER_04:

A lot of it was inside. Go to the one McDonald's. I need someone to drive it.

SPEAKER_08:

Um but I do remember them giving me my Nintendo DS. I wanted it so bad. I love games, and so when they gave it to me, that was just gold to me. Nice. I still have it. I still have it.

SPEAKER_07:

So what's what what's a game on there you can dominate? Mario Kart. Mario Kart.

SPEAKER_08:

Thousand percent.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. Thousand, yeah. Very matter, like almost threatening.

SPEAKER_08:

So now, if you ask my sister, she dominates us all. Okay. It's hard to beat her.

SPEAKER_00:

So she's better at you.

SPEAKER_08:

She's better than me, yeah.

SPEAKER_07:

You might want to get her on here or something. But I think she answered two of our questions. Yeah. So it's like outside of your knack for floor arrangements, what's one talent that you have that most people say? Mario Kart, and then what's useless skill do you have?

SPEAKER_00:

Mario Kart.

SPEAKER_04:

I I don't find that useless. I think you're I think your sister finds it useless.

SPEAKER_00:

Probably eat my dust. She's like, give up, Jen. You're never gonna beat me.

SPEAKER_08:

I don't know if anybody will.

SPEAKER_00:

Um I'm I was trying to quickly type in something else, and it's just I'm just wasting time. I don't know if I like this one, but I'm gonna read it anyway. What is a conspiracy theory that you secretly wish was true?

SPEAKER_08:

A conspiracy theory that I think or wish was true?

SPEAKER_00:

Or make one up?

SPEAKER_08:

I don't know.

SPEAKER_00:

See, I knew that wasn't a good question. That wasn't a good question. Jim and I, you suck. I kind of want to type that in there, but then I'm afraid that like the robots are gonna remember everything you ever said ever. Mm-hmm. Yeah. They will kill you first. Yep. Do you have a favorite holiday song?

SPEAKER_07:

Holiday song, um That your h attractive husband sings.

SPEAKER_08:

That he sings? I do like Michael Bootleg. I do like music.

SPEAKER_00:

As you're sitting there thinking, I'm remembering that you don't like music except your husband's, right? So that question is kind of crappy. I like it. You're like holiday song? Ugh.

SPEAKER_06:

And I tried to save it.

SPEAKER_08:

I do listen to the Rayos, I like, you know, Michael Boole is on there a lot. So I do like his Christmas songs, any of the ones that he sings. But I mean, I don't know. I like all the Christmas songs, so I'm fine with anything as long as it's Christmas.

SPEAKER_00:

That's a good good answer.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah. Yeah. And Merry Christmas to everyone's listening. So this will come out on the 15th, so this will be our last podcast prior to the holiday. That's right. Yeah. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to everyone. Merry Christmas. And thank you so much for coming on. Before we get you off, um podcast we usually end with a song about AI, which you did talk about, which but we didn't get to that in the questions as far as like the future of interior design and seeing what happens with AI. But usually you how much time do we have? Um it is she's gotta be there in 18 minutes.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh we got plenty of time because we're forgetting something.

SPEAKER_07:

Okay. Oh, right. Elf's story.

SPEAKER_08:

Oh yes, okay. I'll do this as like a quick one. Okay. We got 18 minutes. You want me to say like what we talked about at dinner?

SPEAKER_07:

I think well, I think I think there needs to be uh a backstory. Yeah. So early November there was an industry event where I dressed as Elf on the Shelf. So I have an Elf on the Shelf costume. And then last week we had the IDA board dinner, which Mark did not make it to. Uh he was at the Gresham Smith Christmas party. Um But at I was at the time I was selling that costume on Facebook Marketplace. And for whatever reason that night it was blowing up. I was getting multiple people asking if it was available. And I was sitting next to Bridget, who was our last guest on the podcast, and she's like, Oh, you should keep it, and we should just take you around to design furbs.

SPEAKER_08:

Yes, and that's where it all began. And we were also talking about your kids and how they have multiple ones as well. Yes. And then you did say you were selling it and you were selling two of them.

SPEAKER_07:

Right, because I I had ordered the first one and it got lost in transit, and so I got a uh a refund on that one and ordered another, but then the original one showed up. So I had two costumes I was getting rid of.

SPEAKER_08:

Well, anyways, I was sitting across from Bridget and I was overhearing this conversation, and then I got really bummed that Chad was not going to be keeping this outfit because I started coming up with the ideas of us sneaking Chad into different firms. Like the one person just has to listen. And we would set Chad up, you know, you know, with a row of chairs, and he's sitting at the front, leaning the caboose, you know, he has like a sign, he's dressed as an elf, he doesn't move. And so we were thinking this would be great. A different setup for every firm. I told him we would use design as design innovations as a guinea pig. I was like, it's a perfect starter. I was like, we can set you up on the transaction counter, packing peanuts everywhere. Pick you up.

SPEAKER_07:

The thing that cracked me up about it was the way like Chris Bridget was like, oh yeah, we can move you around to different firms, and I'm like, I'm not an inanimate object. I can walk in. You don't have to like move me in.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, so we all started coming up with different ideas of how to set up chat in all these firms. Right. And everybody got really excited, started pitching in of they would let the they would open the door.

SPEAKER_07:

It did, like it was starting around the table where people are like, I can get you into our firm early. Yeah. And I'm like, there's no way this is happening. I for one think it's a fantastic idea. I know you would. I like the idea in theory because I like absurdist humor, and it would be absurd to like as people show up in the office and there's a a guy dressed as a shelf just sitting there. But the uh logistics of it, especially since we were already in December, I'm like, hey honey, um, I can't take the kids to school for the rest of the month because I've got to be going to these firms. Yeah, shelf. And then I was also thinking, like, how long do I sit there in character and before I go? Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

Before enough people have walked in. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06:

All right, all right. See you by everybody. Yeah. That was funny.

SPEAKER_07:

What if what if you did it where can I get on my phone after a while and like respond to emails? Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Chad is the worst rep in December. He is just not responding at all.

SPEAKER_07:

Between the hours of 6 in the morning, 6 30, because we were talking early. Like some people get because people get in early.

SPEAKER_00:

So what if what if it got reworked um to where Elf on the Shelf appeared while uh Design Studio was at a lunch and learn. And they come out from their lunch and learn, and then you're in the office space.

SPEAKER_08:

I think sneaking them in is way cooler.

SPEAKER_06:

Okay, yeah, now I can see again in your face. You're like. She's like, nah. I hear I'm listening. Yeah. I hear you. But no.

SPEAKER_05:

But hear me out. Yeah, but hear me out.

SPEAKER_06:

No. Well, yeah. But just like my parents, I've got a better idea than the one you gave me. Did you sell both costumes? Yes. Okay.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh, they did pick them up?

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah, they did pick them up. Yeah, yeah, I'm sorry. Well, I think again, it was too it was too late already into the season. This needs a little more planning than some some people that have had uh several glasses of wine. Um planning. It was a great idea. Yeah, I mean everybody was pitching it. I mean, everyone seemed really excited about it. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_08:

And we were all laughing very ignored about it.

SPEAKER_07:

Morgan had mentioned as we were talking about the real elves, that you know, sometimes like the kids' underwear gets in like a parachute. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, I could bring some of my underwear. Yeah, we hang it from the ceiling. Or like, what's going on right now? It is next level. There's always there's always next year. There's always next year. So don't be surprised if you're listening next December and you get to work and I'm there on a shelf somewhere. Yes. Don't touch seven in the morning. Yeah, don't touch him. His magic will be lost. Yep. There we go. Alright, so get out of here. Um I don't mean it to say like that. Get out of here. I was going to say, before you get out of here, uh, I need three words for our um song to finish the podcast. Three random words that I'll put into the song generator. Just three random words. It'll be probably a Christmas song.

SPEAKER_08:

Okay. Sung by your husband. Mike Mug and Ploud.

SPEAKER_07:

Mike, mug, and plaid. Nice. All right. Perfect. Great. Thanks for coming on. And um, I'll see you in a few minutes at the Christmas party. Yeah. Thanks, Jen. Thank everyone listening, and uh Happy New Year.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, oh yeah, yeah. Happy New Year. Merry Christmas. Yeah, happy oh yeah, happy new year. Yeah. Because they'll hear I don't know what I'm saying. Yeah. I'm just gonna flub it on the way out, too.

SPEAKER_07:

And we're out.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

We're winding down the earlier flowing by around the mic we left off tonight. A muck full of chick, cookies.

SPEAKER_03:

It's cozy to find out.