All-In Design
"All-In Design" is IIDA Alabama's podcast that invites you into the dynamic world of commercial interior design. Immerse yourself in the artistry, innovation, and inspiration that shape the spaces where we work, collaborate, and create. Discover the latest trends, cutting-edge technologies, and timeless design principles that define the ever-evolving landscape of commercial interiors.
All-In Design
Episode #54 - Interview with Amelia and Margaret Hicks
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It's a two-fer on this episode of All-In Design, as we speak with Amelia Hicks with Davis Architects and her twin sister Margaret Hicks with Hatcher Schuster Interiors. It was a joy to sit down with both sisters and hear their journey from Tampa to Samford to both working at A/D firms in Birmingham. It's a fun dynamic interviewing two people who know each other so well and we hope you find the discussion as enjoyable as we did.
From the plush recording studios for IIDA Alabama, this is All in Design.
SPEAKER_02And welcome to All in Design, IIDA Alabama's podcast. Thank you for listening. My name is Chad Moore, here with my co-host, Mark Griffo. Hey everybody. We're coming up on our April Fool's edition. Curious as to whether any of you have been like great at pranking or whether any of you have really truly been pranked in a very, very memorable way. It's always kind of curious when folks start talking about those.
SPEAKER_00I love April Fools. I do. I love April Fools. And our guest today, uh, we have twins here today. So I'm super excited to see if they've ever pranked anybody before. Uh so uh super pumped. April Fools.
SPEAKER_02Twins have a great opportunity. I was in Boy Scouts and we had three sets of twins in our scout troop at that time. And we were able to do all sorts of different pranks with the three different sets, and they were identical twins, all three. And so we're able to do lots of different pranks using those guys.
SPEAKER_00I know if I was a twin, I'd know definitely I'd do some pranks. So without further ado, how about we uh introduce the guest? Sure bet. All right, you got it. Uh from Davis Architects, we have Amelia Hicks, and from Hasher, we have Margaret Hicks. Welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_06I'll go first. Amelia Hicks over here. Glad to be here. Um, designer with Davis Architects, like Mark said, grew up in Tampa, got in the business a few years ago. Um see, back in Tampa, grew out or grew up with parents who love design.
SPEAKER_10And your sister?
SPEAKER_06She was there.
SPEAKER_10Oh, she was there too? Yeah.
SPEAKER_06He was there one minute before me. Yep.
SPEAKER_05Um, so one minute apart.
SPEAKER_06Yes, twenty. One minute apart.
SPEAKER_10And so you're the I'm as again, I'm you're the oldest one, but nobody listening can know who you know us well, you can tell I'm the oldest one.
SPEAKER_06Okay. Proud to be the younger one. Someone has to do it, and that's me. Um grew up loving design. All these spaces have mattered to me, the environment and the impact of it. So um our dad, he was a general contractor growing up. Before that, he was a or is, I don't know why I said was, or was I guess I guess I guess he was a builder of historical replicas. So just grew up with people who were passionate about buildings and houses and historical replicas are these uh houses? Houses, yes, historical replica of houses. He always loves the Savannah, Charleston, New Orleans. So our house growing up, where it is still where they live, it's a New Orleans style house, and my mom calls it lovingly the uh fire truck house, fire station, but it's got that wrought iron balcony. Was it a fire station? No, so always loved it. Um I think I always knew I wanted to have a job where there was some road application, and because we're all you know, we're all in buildings, I like how I have a job that I can see what I do, I can see it go from drawings to buildings. So love it. And can't do math, so engineering was never a possibility. Yep. Thank goodness for a calculator.
SPEAKER_05So so Margaret, is your answer the exact same?
SPEAKER_07They're pretty identical. No, not really.
SPEAKER_10Ditto. All I should say.
SPEAKER_07But better at math. Better at math. Um skip the same thing.
SPEAKER_10So what was that one minute like? Was it great?
SPEAKER_07I mean, it lasts a lot lifetime. I'm always the oldest. Yeah. Um I guess some background about me. Is that what y'all want to know? Okay. So also from Tampa. What uh Firehouse. Firehouse. Um, I thought for a long time I wanted to be a teacher, which I'm so thankful I'm not. That would be like the worst thing for me.
SPEAKER_10What what grade were you have second grade.
SPEAKER_07Okay. I know all until high school I wanted to be a teacher, and then high school plans changed.
SPEAKER_05What happened in high school where you're like, oh, I'm no longer gonna be a second grade teacher?
SPEAKER_07I think it was just I realized I liked being creative and she met second graders. Second graders. Yeah. Um I realized that design has so much flexibility, which is so wonderful, and you get to um every day is different. So that was a huge driving point. And then my twin copied me. And now we're both in design.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, so you were the first one to think of it. I was the first one.
SPEAKER_07Amelia had so many ideas growing up.
SPEAKER_10Was Amelia thinking, I'm gonna be a teacher until you switched? But uh but a third grade teacher.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, slightly different. Better, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Did you so so but going back to that, did you so what was yours, Amelia? Like, where were you in terms of like career thought processes?
SPEAKER_06I was all over the place. Um at one point I thought engineering was cool because I met people who were engineers and that is so cool and so fascinating. They get to do math and then math. I was like, oh wait, you don't do like the building and the design, you just do that equation every day. I don't want to do the equation. Right. And then um I also was a big fan of the classics, so but then I realized that involves teaching, so didn't want to do that. So somehow I ended up in the design and creative part where it involves reading and learning and seeing it all come together. But so yeah.
SPEAKER_05Were y'all and this is gonna be a dumb question for twins, but were y'all close growing up? Like have y'all like gotten along, you know, like did you do hobbies together, Girl Scouts? I'm just you know, play soccer, or I'm just making stuff up off the top of my head.
SPEAKER_07Like, yeah, we've always been close. Um we always say like we have the same interests, different personalities, so we balance really well. Um, same sports, both played lacrosse, same friends.
SPEAKER_05Um was one of you more aggressive at lacrosse than the other?
SPEAKER_07I probably I was probably more aggressive.
SPEAKER_04Margaret's making highs in a million likes. You're the more aggressive one.
SPEAKER_06Will you admit this on the camera? I was more aggressive, yet Margaret was better at lacrosse. Like she was the better one.
SPEAKER_10Is that hard for you to say that? No, not at all. Okay, okay. No, no, no. But so you made up for it by being aggressive. Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_06I mean, like I took up more space. I was the president's, you know, rallied the troops.
SPEAKER_10In soccer, like I I was good as far as I knew I knew the game well and I could read the game well. Um and I tried really hard. Like really a lot of effort. Yeah. But I was not the most skilled. I did well. I was fine on the field because again, I could read the game well, you know, it could move into the right spot. A lot of it's just positioning. But it was, you know, a lot of effort, you know, if I missed it, I keep going. Um but as far as skill, not not overly skill. Uh, there's some, I wouldn't say none. You were on the team. Chad was terrible, it's hard as well. I was a decent player, but you made up for your, you know, your deficiencies in different ways. Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. Yeah, yeah. So so okay, so what year did you figure interior design went in high school?
SPEAKER_07Um, I would say towards the end of high school. Okay. And then I knew I wanted to go to a smaller college. We're both from Tampa, Florida, so wanted to go out of the state as well, and found Sanford, which has an interior design program, and also looked at some other schools that really just fell in love with campus. And um I think that just decided my made my decision final when I realized it had design. But like most people in tier design, maybe not most, but some, you get into the degree in um major when you realize it's a lot more technical than you expect, which honestly worked out so well. There's very slight math. It can all be done calculator and you'd be fine.
SPEAKER_10Um shaking her head, no, and she's like, no, not just no math for me.
SPEAKER_07Maybe I try and make math be more involved because I like math, you know? So no math.
SPEAKER_05Had y'all been to Birmingham before? Like before you came to visit Sanford? Some.
SPEAKER_07Um, our mom's from Marin, Alabama, so we grew up going like around Alabama, but always loved Birmingham, has all four seasons. Right.
SPEAKER_05Sorta. I mean, kinda. We had like three seasons in the last like three days. Yes, yesterday.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, all in one week.
SPEAKER_05So we get and then it's just gonna be summer most of the time. Dead summer. Yeah. I guess more seasons than Tampa.
SPEAKER_07Absolutely. Yeah. One season all year round.
SPEAKER_05Right. And so so you you both decide, so was there ever a possibility that you would go to different schools?
SPEAKER_06So we looked at different schools, and um I think it just happened to be the fact that, like, at least for me, the parameters and the criteria I wanted for a school, Sanford kind of was the one that made sense. And I correct me if I'm wrong, you kind of felt the similar way.
SPEAKER_07I never thought about going different school. I knew wherever you would go, we ended up at the same school. Okay.
SPEAKER_10Was that your was your question? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Is it what I meant like was there a possibility like you would go to Sanford and then you would go elsewhere to a different school?
SPEAKER_06I applied to UVA, but even when I applied there, I once I went there, I'm like, this is not where I want to go. This the uh the the space and the town. I don't know.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, yeah. Are you guys gonna start your own design firm someday?
SPEAKER_07People always ask us this. I always say no.
SPEAKER_10You've heard it here the definitive answer. No. No one else needs to ask this question.
SPEAKER_07Shut down the rumors.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Could y'all would y'all ever work at the same firm?
SPEAKER_07No, but it really is nice to no again. But it's nice to bounce off ideas, and it is enjoyable to like discussion.
SPEAKER_10Be in the same industry, same industry, yeah. Shop talk for sure. Right.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, bounce off ideas is definitely great. Yeah. Projects.
SPEAKER_10Um did you hear about so-and-so, that kind of thing?
SPEAKER_07Of course. So-and-so these days. How about this and that? Do you remember? Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_10When I started dating my wife, and you probably had the same thing, Mark, when you started dating Aaron. Um, because she was at a KPS group, my wife was. And so it was it was interesting dating somebody in the industry because there was, there was all that shop talk. And but she was coming from a completely different side of the industry. Yeah, so we would talk about things like she'd walk in and go, Oh, this is such and such carpet. And we're like, oh, carpet, right. Is carpet important? I remember like as a rep early on, wow, it was all I was you know, narrow focus, you know, just furniture is the most important thing. And so going into their library, it was like you turned left and there that was the furniture and turn it to the right, and there were these other binders that weren't important. Yeah, but loads of furniture. Yeah, but it was it was it was super fun to be able to talk shop with somebody and they could talk right back, and it was it was nice. Yeah, that wasn't a question, it was just a comment. It was good. It was good. Anything for us.
SPEAKER_05Thanks for coming on the podcast, guys. I really appreciate it. It was great. While y'all were at Stanford, did y'all intern different places?
SPEAKER_07Yes.
SPEAKER_06I did a summer internship in Jacksonville, which is fun at a residential firm called James Michael Howard. It's great. Um it was I call it during the COVID era, kind of, kind of not, but it was the kind of time where a lot of places either weren't doing interns or internships, or if you did it was half remote, hybrid, whatever, virtual. Uh gosh.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, what year did y'all graduate?
SPEAKER_06I graduated 2022, so this would have been I want to say 2021. It was that summer. And I loved it, it was great. Um loved the office space. I was a big fan of his work, and I wanted to get an insight into the residential side just to see what it's like. And I enjoyed it. I was there during the summer, got to be involved in some projects, more about the finish selection, and then also some with the CA, which it was very interesting to see how like what CA means for residential versus commercial. So I enjoyed getting to see on the inside the behind the scenes.
SPEAKER_10That's cool. Nice.
SPEAKER_07And that summer I interned in Atlanta at a residential firm called Suzanne Castor Interiors, and I wanted to go residentially, so I thought when I was in college, and um loved that experience so much, got to visit so many projects and really learned a lot about the industry. And then said no. And then switched totally.
SPEAKER_10I loved it so much, and then I decided not to do that.
SPEAKER_07Um but where I work now, Hatter Schuster Interiors with Ivy. I um interviewed with her that summer also and loved her in the company, and then ended up interning for her my last semester of senior year and um transitioned into a job. So I I loved commercial. I think it was it's so different residential. But what what we're doing is more hospitality in some areas, so I get a taste of many things, which I so enjoy. Um and so it's a balance of many types of projects.
SPEAKER_10But where do you both find inspiration?
SPEAKER_06I find mine, I think, on walks. Just whether it's walking around inside or outside, no matter where you are. I think I love to read, and then whether it's like I think you learn about elements and designs and principles, and then you go to a a building or outside. Industry books. Okay. I also do love, I will say, I love a good fiction book that describes the surroundings. I think that is always great too. Um but just walking around, I think looking at spaces, I think also because I work in a lot of campus design architecture is Stanford and JSU and UA uh Davis does a lot of that. So I think walk around campuses, it is very interesting to see what that means and how that's different than like a downtown or a different kind of community, or so it is, I think, always inspirational to see how different buildings, how like the inside can bleed on the outside, or vice versa. Right. So I enjoy that.
SPEAKER_07I would say travel. Travel is a huge one for me. Um I think I put like my favorite moment is after a trip on the plane. Yeah, it's like you're coming back from a trip and on your love rows and rows of seating.
SPEAKER_10And everyone can find a nice month.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, very cool. Well, you have no like option except to like think back on what you've done on your trip and look at your pictures, and so that's very inspiring. But if I can't be out in the world traveling, Pinterest will lead to lots of inspiration. And I like to look at my saves and then kind of comb through those when on a project, and usually something s stands out and speaks to me and can be used as inspiration for a concept or a scheme.
SPEAKER_05Do you have a favorite place that you've traveled that like you've left there and been like recently we went to London and um I think anything in Europe's inspiring, so definitely London was one for me.
SPEAKER_07Just w again, like I said, walking around the streets is so inspiring. But really, and this can be in Birmingham or anywhere, I think going to cool design shops can have cool like cool ideas or restaurants, like a really cool restaurant. Um, commercial Birmingham or showrooms, we love showrooms. VI's is pretty great here.
SPEAKER_10Thanks for that. I was gonna say it looks a little rundown, and I thought you guys should like redo it.
SPEAKER_05We're 2027. Here we come. We're you heard it here first. We hit we heard it here first. We've been talking about it for the last six years. But uh, uh yeah, this is breaking news. This is the year we're we're gonna enter probably sometime into the summer a five-month renovation of this entire space.
SPEAKER_07So give me updates every now and then. So seven things happen.
SPEAKER_05So seven, yeah, yeah, five months, it'll be a seven-month project. Yeah. So but yeah, so stay tuned. Yeah.
SPEAKER_10Stay tuned on that. Do you do you go for walks particular areas or it could can be anywhere, but is there what an area that you tour is like normally walk or in Birmingham?
SPEAKER_06I walk in my neighborhood.
SPEAKER_10Okay.
SPEAKER_06Um, like today, I looked like the uh burglar from home alone. What? You don't have to be embarrassed. It was all black and a blue cap. It was very chic.
SPEAKER_05One of the water bandits? Do y'all do y'all live together? Yes. Okay, so she's leaving to go on this walk, and you're like, is that what you're wearing? Is that what you thought?
SPEAKER_07I learned not to say anything. Okay.
SPEAKER_05Not ahead, like, yes, it's exactly what I was thinking.
SPEAKER_07But because we're twins, neighbors, like, oh, I saw you walking. I'm like, are you sure it was me? I think it was the other one.
SPEAKER_10So have either of you intentionally done something to make the other one look bad? Knowing that you might be like recognized.
SPEAKER_06Chad, why would you ever say that? Why do you think that would ever happen? I don't know.
SPEAKER_05I'm using air quotes here. No, yeah. Is the answer, but I think one of them might have a different answer.
SPEAKER_06Unless you have pictures to prove it, I don't think I that ever happened. Um, I think walking my neighborhood, I like that a lot. I think it's cool getting to see either with residential or even commercial. I mean, I love the Dawson Gym next door, and then also the fits beer. Homewood community center, which Davis did back in the day. I had no idea until someone pointed that out, and then they were pointing out uh this detail in the project that they did that could be used in a project that I was doing. So I was like, oh, I'm gonna go get a tour of this community center to be an interested member, but I just needed to see the inside of the building, so that was cool. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04Gotta watch out for these interior designers.
SPEAKER_10There were lots of air quotes with that tour and yeah.
SPEAKER_06Can you add that on the captions for the try to add it to the transcript. I think downtown's good too. We have the uh rotary trail right by our office, so that is great to see the surroundings and all that.
SPEAKER_10Yeah. And I think just having time to yourself to reflect. Yes. Is a big part of it, which when you're on the plane, yeah.
SPEAKER_06Yeah.
SPEAKER_05If you don't have a talkative neighbor or in a giant aluminum tube where you can't move.
SPEAKER_06I think best when I walk, so I mean, I'll even just walk around my office and get you know water from the cooler, not because I want to drink the water, just because I want to move some.
SPEAKER_07But I think you are right. Like anywhere you can sit and be still and see your surroundings, you can find inspiration in some way if you're in somewhere, a cool space.
SPEAKER_10Yeah. Is that the same thing for if you hit creative blocks, same process, or is that a different thing?
SPEAKER_07I think it depends. I think if I'm feeling overwhelmed by seeing too many creative ideas, like taking a step back and having a break can be great, or um like taking a step back and thinking, what can I change? What's a different direction I can go if I feel like I'm going too far one path and might need to pivot to show you can have so many solutions for one type of project.
SPEAKER_10Right. Cool. Um can either of you share a memorable experience working closely with a client that just came off just really natural.
SPEAKER_05So what's funny, what's funny about that? I could tell there's you there's natural pauses in any conversation. Yeah. But every now and there's a little natural pause, and I could tell that Chad's like, where do we go from here? And I intentionally don't help. And I just really not sit there for a minute. So anyway, and I already forgot what you asked, not that the question is directed. It was not for you. Yeah. Yeah. Do you do you all remember it?
SPEAKER_10The question?
SPEAKER_07Sure. Um recently, last year, we worked on a project in Birmingham, a restaurant, bayonet, with a local chef, Ron McDaniel. And I think your question was what's a creative moment you've been inspired dur during a project.
SPEAKER_10Just a experience working with a client that was memorable.
SPEAKER_07Um and good or bad. Only good, only good. And every pro meeting we had, he would bring ideas to the meeting. It was his own ideas. And he was so passionate talking about his dream for the project or vision, and that was very memorable. And of course, I think seeing any project at the end is very memorable because you can seal your hard work.
SPEAKER_10Could there be too many ideas coming from a client? Like if a client's constantly coming to you going, I want this, I want this, I want this.
SPEAKER_07Yes, there can be. But I think that's our job to like take it to help them figure out their priorities.
SPEAKER_05Right. Yeah.
SPEAKER_10These are all great.
SPEAKER_05These are all great.
SPEAKER_07Let's pick one.
SPEAKER_05Quick plug for Bayonet, it's fantastic. Yes. That's a great space. Beautiful space, obviously. But the food. The food is the food is fantastic. What'd you say the chef's name was again?
SPEAKER_07Rob McDaniel.
SPEAKER_05Rob McDaniel. Now, had he had a restaurant before, or is this his first that he's second?
SPEAKER_07He has Helen next door. Okay, that's right. Have y'all been to Helen?
SPEAKER_05Yes. Also fantastic.
SPEAKER_10Also fantastic.
SPEAKER_05Did y'all do that space too?
SPEAKER_07Yes. Before my time, but yes. Okay.
SPEAKER_05Cool. Yeah, so alright, Bayonet and Helen. Go there if you have it. Sponsored by. Sponsored by. Yeah, there you go. Alright, what about you?
SPEAKER_06Gosh. Um I think I've had the privilege of working on Stanford projects, and what's cool is I got to work on like two different spaces, so the user groups were different. So that was what's interesting, like hearing the priorities and the feedback, and even just the commentary for each of the projects. I'm thinking specifically about. like furniture selection and how like for this one space what really mattered they wanted it to be adaptable and flexible based off the type of student in the space. Like they want to be like, okay, well, we want to make sure it's durable and can withstand the weight of a football player because they're going to be in this space. So it needs to be used by all. And then this other person, it was a space that was not going to be used by all of the students on campus, just within the divinity school. So they really cared about like the atmosphere of the space. And it was just funny how like hey, well, this one user wanted me to sit on the stool and make sure everyone can reach the height of the stool. And then this one cared about, okay, well, I want to make sure there's wood tones and they liked the laminate because it was the same name as the I don't know, coffee they use. So just it is funny. I think also the iterations and how you go through the process.
SPEAKER_10They liked the laminate because it was the same name as the coffee they used.
SPEAKER_06Oh that's well what we keep we already chose the laminate and then after we flipped over the chip it goes, oh Java well that's that's a relief because that just makes sense because we like coffee. Yeah. So it was like it was a sign to the client that we've chosen well. Not just the sense of like the design aesthetic but just I relate to because I care about the names of stuff and I know I shouldn't but probably too much. Probably too much. Marta will get me on it because she's like okay.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_07So we do live together and painting our house obviously paint colors have names and it can be making partial to a certain paint color. I feel like the best way to pick paint colors is to not look at the names and step far back. Do you do you agree?
SPEAKER_10I do agree but also I don't know why but I just have you selected the paint color and then saw the name went mm can't use that one.
SPEAKER_07I think it's more so she likes the paint color and I'm like are you sure you like it or do you like the name? And coastal and coastal she loves coastal anything.
SPEAKER_06Coastal plain any of that imagery and oh it hasn't ever imagery name ah feels right. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Which is you know not I feel like the next time y'all go down this route you should do a little experiment where Margaret you take charge and you don't give any names. And then Amelia you have to choose and just like like this is the whatever it is. This is the textile this is the color and then you agree on it like this is what we're going to go with.
SPEAKER_10And then you reveal the names and see if that changes anything that you may have and then that's not actually the names they're actually the next work project I'll go to your office for you.
SPEAKER_07What's cool is though since we're both in design like she mentioned the Sanford project Cybert I was able was it Cybert you're talking about oh that was one of them yeah okay I was able to visit it when they were working on it. And so since we're both in design we both appreciate each other's projects and see them at the end.
SPEAKER_10Is it difficult living together at designing like your house?
SPEAKER_06We're both passionate about the process and the design so I think paint colors is probably the thing where not that it can be challenging but we just are both invested so it's just okay we've got to like sit down, make time and go through it and analyze it and look at it together.
SPEAKER_10But do you have a similar aesthetic so it works relatively well together or I would say yes we do.
SPEAKER_07Okay. The only hard part and it's not your problem is more my problem. Now we're getting into it's not you as we I love projects and so I will try and do five projects at one time and so then it just a long time for then to get done but I enjoy the process.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. And you like one project at a time like let's focus?
SPEAKER_06If that I'm like oh can we just stop for a bit or not have a project. Yeah I'm like can we just enjoy the moment and just like this is enjoying the moment. Yeah so that's very true. Yeah I'm like let's never do the project and then she will do oh let's do it and and five more yeah so yeah I've got pretty strong opinions too but I always pretend like I don't like when Aaron and I are working on on house stuff.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Like we're not saying not so much pretend like I don't like I just kind of let Aaron take the lead. I mean she's she's the professional she does have very strong opinions but they're 99 times out of a hundred correct um and so what happens is she'll loop me in and you know it'll be like well I'm gonna ask you about something I'll be like I don't care and she's like but I I'm gonna ask you because I know you will and then once I'm asked then I will give my opinion.
SPEAKER_07Do you ever get a wrong opinion? Is she ever like mark wrong answer?
SPEAKER_05No not not not necessarily um we that she's told you not that yeah not that she's told me I mean I have fallen into what I would not necessarily call a trap but maybe kind of a trap. Definitely a trap. So we're definitely a trap like we we've been working on our on our kitchen and when we were picking out countertops we were looking at just various stone and and different terrazzo and all this sort of stuff and so you know she's she's she's whittled it down right so I'm not going in. She's got no joke a hundred samples that have been shipped to the house right wow yeah it's overwhelming it's absurd but whatever she's good at what she does. So now I get to look at six right and I will pick out the one that I like and this is actually this is I've got a dozen stories like this that are unrelated to our home where I'll be asked and I'll pick the one that she has also picked. So that's that's nice.
SPEAKER_07Oh wow right now in this particular case with the countertops well do you know that you're doing you're doing the same one as her or is it just like spontaneously no it's spontaneous.
SPEAKER_05I mean from our from our wedding rings to like our countertops would different situations where it's like I'm not I'm not speaking I'm just like letting her pick like when when she was picking out her ring and stuff like that. Like I just kind of it's not my ring so I'm gonna let her pick it out and then it's like which one would you have picked and it's like not a joke like that actually that's the one I would have picked too like that's you know that's crazy meant to be yeah but yeah like but the countertop it's like okay I whittle it down like okay this is the one I like the most and I you know I try to speak the language I mean oh graph graphic design so they'll I always say same sports arena design industry yeah yeah you know adjacent yeah you know and so I'm like you know this speaks to the the history of the house and the material materiality of the house it was a Tarrazzo and she was like great she was like this is the one that I wanted too um and then as like an afterthought thought she's walking away because we've made the decision and then she's like this is also the most expensive one I was about to so Chesney and I have a similar process because again she's an interior designer as well by trade.
SPEAKER_10So she she does all the research and gets all the samples and comes up with you know it's usually a list of three I don't have six I've got three um and often we pick the same one but it's always the most expensive yeah but but you picked it not not Chesney so it's not her fault I mean but yeah fair yeah fair yeah but it's yeah but it's I think it's just you know when you recognize quality quality yeah and you're like okay well that's the best one right yeah it's so true I don't recognize quality I just liked the terrazzo I didn't know it was gonna be the most expensive one it's fine the countertops look great though so you know it works out but I just let her I let her run with it um we did a thing where I'll tell one little story and then I'll shut up but we we when we got married we designed our our our full like wedding suite like the the envelopes the invitations to save the dates and and the the stationery is the word I'm looking for.
SPEAKER_05And we did all that and we we we got very far into the process in terms of kind of the design elements the fonts that we were using the general feel that we were going for paper I mean like we were in it and to wrap this up this story up very quickly we went to bed so fast. Like I went to bed I know yeah I went to sleep with our invitation done right it's finished I went to bed Erin did not and when I woke up she had completely redesigned the entire suite and it was better. I will say that it was better than where I had left it. So she let you have your turn she did she did and I and that but that's places where I will push and pull back is that that kind of thing.
SPEAKER_10But I will recognize right and pick your fights and right and also recognize each other's strengths. Right it was collaborative.
SPEAKER_05It was it was collaborative part of it was eight hours of collaboration you know with her on her own she stayed up till four in the morning redoing everything. Don't underestimate a designer and an all-nighter I mean there's a lot of see I was not like that in school like I was there was a bumper sticker.
SPEAKER_07Yeah exactly and alone time designer her alone time I feel like you get so much done creative minds by themselves the last five minutes meetings are the worst they kill productivity. That is true.
SPEAKER_05Do you guys collaborate on well not collaborate well maybe collaborate but like do you do you bring challenges to projects from your work home and like have the other person look at it.
SPEAKER_10Brainstorm?
SPEAKER_07Like something that you're working on I don't think so I think it's more I'm excited to show what we're working on.
SPEAKER_04Okay. Right.
SPEAKER_07And maybe there's times maybe I'll ask your opinion if I have if we're working on two schemes. I'm curious what she likes more.
SPEAKER_06Um challenges do you have challenges that you share um I think sometimes I enjoy getting to show you if I have part of the puzzle pieces of a project when it comes to the design just getting your feedback okay like what would you like maybe do here or is there a gray court surfacing that you've liked a lot. That's true. But you've also not only liked a chip of it but you've actually used the full thing of it because sometimes I mean I get very wary when it comes to solid surface and courts like okay like we're a solid surface still like I want to make sure it's gonna look good not just by this two by two but in the final install. And can you just cut to the chase and make sure I'm not making a gamble and that's that's the wrong move. So that's been helpful I think knowing because me only doing a few projects that you're gonna have getting to use other people in their projects because then it's just there's more examples of ones that you've used and I think it is interesting seeing the different ones that people gravitate towards when it comes to finishes. So things things like that. And then even the paint colors too was you know just any kind of finish really just more finish.
SPEAKER_07It is exciting that when we had different projects we one of us wanted a finish and other ones like oh my gosh we love that finish. If we don't compare projects at home often and so it's like wait that's kind of wild. Yeah same same thing.
SPEAKER_10Right.
SPEAKER_07So you're also picking the same finishes which happened in school growing up I would say like for testing things we get the same questions wrong. Yeah which that is kind of wild. And so then the same reverse happens. Cheaters. Cheers.
SPEAKER_05Yeah we're losing together did you ever switch sp uh spots in grade school once or twice.
SPEAKER_06Yeah once or twice uh yes we had one class together for sure and I know we switched spots like in the class and the teacher said they did not said said that they did realize it but when reality they had no he was totally fooled.
SPEAKER_05Yeah did you ever take one of the others tests?
SPEAKER_07You can say it now you're grown up and they're not gonna come back and get you okay so this one I had a feeling so I wouldn't say test test but you know how you had those reading would read in school and you would have to take a reading quiz to make the book count. Yeah and so Amelia's always been an avid reader. Right she reads so much I like to read but I'm a much slower reader.
SPEAKER_10You're more of a math person.
SPEAKER_07I'm more a math person. And so one time now we're gonna this is too late now. So one time for our class whoever got the most reading points would get a pizza a pizza dinner. And Camillion was being so helpful and all the books I've read she took my quizzes for me not not telling anyone till after and our mother was like you cannot do that. That's we did you got the pizza dinner?
SPEAKER_06We had the biggest pizza dinner yeah CC's pizza just to get context. Totally worth it not not just dominoes it was CC's that was big right so it ended in second grade.
SPEAKER_10No more that's when that that's when they that's when they stopped so for so April Fools have you guys thought about just what like one goes to hatcher that you guys swaps swap what day of the week is April Fools I actually don't know.
SPEAKER_03I think it's like Wednesday yeah I feel it's in the middle of the week.
SPEAKER_06Yeah yeah it is I think it is Wednesday I would I do I'm too much of a chicken to find out what would happen but I would love I always jok joke about it with certain coworkers how Margaret's there on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I'll be there on Wednesday and Fridays and one of my coworkers would be like which one oh yeah Margaret and he'll he'll go along with it but um I do I am so curious who in my office would actually be able to tell the difference. Right? Like who actually knows me.
SPEAKER_10Just like and how how far you could get through the day before somebody goes wait a minute.
SPEAKER_06And what would give it away?
SPEAKER_05Like would it be the I don't know the laughter I mean sitting here with both of you like it's like when you look different right very similar but you look different and you do have different voices. Yeah. Yes.
SPEAKER_07Um but I don't know I just switch the hairstyles yeah I mean I feel like that you could fool people really easily well Amelia's office you'll have cubicles you can see each other but you don't your camera for your zoom meeting so that would be crazy. That is true.
SPEAKER_05We'll see we'll see we'll see if we do it I mean I feel like maybe that like you know for for you Amelia Davis that it might be a little well I don't know because you've got Ivy that's it but like I feel like your closer knit people that you work with might catch on. Definitely you would hope definitely you don't interact with as much.
SPEAKER_06I would need some co-conspirators for sure. That would be hilarious.
SPEAKER_05If one person just starts saying Amelia then oh yeah Amelia Amelia and see like who's going crazy yeah or have co-conspirators but but one of the but like one of the people that knows you the best they're left out of the conspiracy. So it really does make so it really like confuses them because they're like pretty sure not but like everybody else acting like it yeah.
SPEAKER_06Yeah. And then you do some like you know grand big moment I don't know I think but I'm not sure it's gonna work. I have I have no confidence that I should no you don't wow okay I think it's worth trying.
SPEAKER_10I think it's worth trying. Maybe even maybe not maybe not this April 1st but you know yeah give you a lot of already gave it away so we can't do it this one well I mean this will come out on April 1st oh that's true.
SPEAKER_05Here's a big moment but I'm sure that Ivy and then also everyone at Davis Architects listens to the episodes as soon as they come out they do yeah they come out at 1 a.m we actually all file into the conference room and just turn on the TV that is so nice to hear that is so nice so both of y'all's bosses have been on the show. Stephanie Pope and then Ivy um I would I would imagine I want to put words in your mouths but I would imagine that like working for both of those people is pretty great because they're they're awesome. So do you find like inspiration with your coworkers or co-worker I should say to you Margaret Yes for sure.
SPEAKER_07I mean Ivy as y'all know she's so interesting and just creative and so I've learned so much since working with Ivy and um I feel like every project she can come up with ideas so easily and so quickly um and I've loved looking past on looking at past projects she's done but also like seeing how someone's style can change so much and so it's not it's fluid. It's not like someone has one look or it really is like a design brain working.
SPEAKER_05Have you ever gone back and look at those past projects and been surprised like in like you're like oh like oh that's terrible yeah yeah what was Ivy thinking no just like like oh like I would not have guessed because I think we talked about this a little bit with Ivy in terms of like not having style right like you've been like oh like I'm surprised that like this is a hatcher shouster project. It's great obviously by default.
SPEAKER_07Yeah but like this is not but there are I mean there are some firms that have a a look oh for sure yeah yeah I wouldn't say most of them match the client's brand well so which is the goal. Which is the goal. Right.
SPEAKER_10Yeah yeah because we've talked about that before in the podcast too where it's it really shouldn't be or at least you know the people we've interviewed it was like it shouldn't be about us and us pushing well this is what you should look like. We should you know it's instead it's listening to and internalizing and then kind of coming up and creating their vision and and making it like you said you there are all these different ideas but trying to distill that down into the essence of what they're trying to accomplish.
SPEAKER_07Reflect them. Yeah exactly and have function.
SPEAKER_10Yeah. So um what's what would you say is you know if somebody's going into interior design what what are qualities uh that they should try to have or things that they should you know try to parts of their personality that they should try to buff up on.
SPEAKER_06Things that I'm still learning but knowing that the more I am in the job the more they are important tools to have in your tool belt. Patience that's an important one. Humility I think humility okay knowing when to like put on your student cap and then when to put on your the more you're in it like teacher cap or leader cap because there's gonna be moments where you've got to know okay when to ask questions, when to listen, when to take what's a client or boss or a coworker is saying or architect or consultant and then just I don't know respond by after listening or then um also having confidence to know like okay we're the stewards of the client's project. I guess it's about them but we're the ones on how they get to the project that they want and we all want the best result. So I think trying to how to how to how to balance that and just so um patient humility and confidence? Yes. Some of that yeah that's it. It's all it's all and then you know a calculator obviously um and a calculator.
SPEAKER_10And then I think now that I'm in the job coordination is a big part of the job which is not something that I realize to its full effect while in school and how in reality coordination matters when it comes to both juggling projects and the schedule of the project and the different parts on the project trades different people involved trades yeah when it comes to A V electrical mechanical plumbing finishes architecture yada yah so yeah we've heard that multiple times especially designers that had just come out of school and then they're going into the field and they're like I had no idea that you were dealing with this many people trying to coordinate all these different things.
SPEAKER_06Yeah it's definitely a people job which I mean I think is not talked about enough when it comes to what that means to you I would say I agree with all yours.
SPEAKER_07Also thank you except for one that's where you're wrong. Also I think being open minded which goes to being a listener because um you're ultimately ultimately you want to present what your ideas and hear their feedback and see to be open mind that your ideas might change based on what they say. And also I think being able to think a few steps ahead is so important because timelines can be so quick and so if you're able to think a few steps ahead that can mean you're prepared whether it's like ordering samples in time or anything and not being emotionally attached to your ideas. It's a tough one because personal because things change things change and like um you have to think about what's best for the project and best for the client not what is your favorite when the client's being an idiot what I just did.
SPEAKER_06The eraser is the hurtest button but in the depressed sometimes it's like no I I love that finish. Why are we stings it hurts?
SPEAKER_10But when friends are like I love but do you have uh both of you have like a story about that or do you remember the first time you're like ugh I had such a great solution for this and it got cut or there was one where no I I can't even talk about it.
SPEAKER_07It's too painful it's too painful too my goodness I think there are moments but then thankfully it can change to be you love what you create instead. Okay it gets replaced by it gets replaced it make challenges you to think outside the box and to keep going. But in the moment you kind of mourn for a moment, miss what you liked and then recreate and move on.
SPEAKER_05Realize you weren't married to that idea.
SPEAKER_10Yeah I can't remember which which one of you said but that you were surprised at how um I don't know if it was using technology that is such a big part of the job. Um how has how does technology impact the job and how does it you know do you see technology going forward with with interior
SPEAKER_06I think the accessibility when it comes to what you can give the client, when it comes to the process of the project, I think if you were to look back a long time ago, renderings were not able to be done via the model when it comes to Revit and the three-dimensional and how you can give them sections just like that, elevation.
SPEAKER_10But they got sent away and it would be five days or seven days for it about it.
SPEAKER_06But now we can be, oh well, it's just, you know, do it now while we're in the office. And we can go from black to white to color to sketch, and then also I think technology incorporation when it comes to the use of the space, no matter what it is, conference rooms, even gyms. I I think people want to have mu music playing and all that. I think just making sure that you have that and the flexibility because even the with scheduling the technology that that is at the time of the bid day, that technology is going to possibly change when the bidder is built. You don't want to stay tied and put yourself in a bad spot when you might outgrow that or it might be discontinued and it's a whole new model. So I think that phasing of technology is very interesting and I don't know, been a learning lesson from other people.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, being able to plug an HDMI cable directly into the TV.
SPEAKER_05We're talking about that as it relates to the renovation of the showroom because everything that's all the TVs in this whole space, the exception of the one that are on wheels that you can roll around, are all behind glass. They're on bed, yeah. And you can't you can't access them. And and and it's just one of these things that got brought up in a meeting the other day of like, okay, we're gonna add technology, A V's being added being added into the scope. Are there any like you this has to be a thing? And my has to be to be a thing is we have to be able to access the television. And you know, before I met y'all, I was a rep for six years. And then now just in in and working at the dealership, you know, we have tons of reps coming in and out. I mean, we've had like four that have walked by while we've been recording this podcast. And it's always the same story, and Chad Chad can agree and commiserate as well is like everywhere you go, it's different, right? Especially if you're traveling around to these A and D firms and you're trying to present, or reps are coming in here and you're trying to present, and it's just it changes, it changes rapidly. Everybody does a different way, everybody has the easiest way, or everybody has the hardest way. And so, what my whole solution is like I just want access to the actual television to where I can plug a cord into it, at least as a backup, right?
SPEAKER_10Right.
SPEAKER_05Maybe you have the airplay or maybe you have the puck or whatever it is that you have that's wireless, Microsoft Teams, yes, but you but there has to be a wired solution as well that's easily accessible. Yeah, and that's not you can't do that in every in every space around in in every space that exists in in interiors, but for our needs, you know, that's that was my only like this has to be a thing. I have to be able to access the television.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, I think that that's a fair ask. I mean, because when someone's going into a space like trying to figure out how what is your method, how does this work? But a plug-in, I mean, we can all you find the whole, you can plug it in.
SPEAKER_05So and the cords will change and the adapters will change, but the cords and change and the adapters will change. Yeah, and that'll be fine and that's fine. That's fine. That's an Amazon purchase.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, it's it's doing this for a number of years, couple, just couple. Yeah, I mean, it went from furniture dealerships and design firms, you know, it cracked me up that furniture dealerships had no technology in their conference rooms. True. And so you'd go in and you'd do a presentation and there was nothing. Yeah. And even to plug in, you would have, you know, extension cord to the wall, you know, there was nothing to the table. It's like you guys do sell furniture, right? You know. Um, and then it, you know, then eventually, like so. Initially, when I got started, we had a projector and a white, you know, white uh screen that we would put up, and that's how we present. And then um flat screen TVs started coming out, and people started putting those on the wall, and then they weren't really thought through. So it was just the TV on the wall with a cord that's you know dangling down onto the floor, and that didn't look good. And so then they you know, then it was embedded in the wall, and then it pucks, and and then the technology got so far that nobody knows how to use any of the technology.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, it's a lot cleaner, but it's also a lot more complicated.
SPEAKER_10It's cleaner, and so you go in to present, and a lot of times it's it they go, Oh, yeah, yeah, you know, the last person that was here, they didn't we couldn't, you know, it's and it but it's Bob. Bob knows how to do it. Let me see if I can find Bob.
SPEAKER_06It's always Bob.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, and you go, it's like, oh, Bob's not in. You know, it's like, okay, well, um, you know, so I'm there's been times where I've looked up, I was at a one firm, I looked up the model television because I couldn't find the buttons. I could figure out how to put the cord into it, but I couldn't get into a menu, and there was no um yeah, so I was looking up, I was like, where are the buttons on this thing so I could get to the menu and found a PDF online. It's like, okay, it's under here. Push this button. Resourceful. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Which is a really good rep. Well, I was doing I was doing a presentation with another rep, and that rep was like, well, I guess we're just presenting off the laptop. And so she had her laptop turn. I'm like, we're not doing that. We're not doing that. I can figure this out. Yeah, there's a way to do it.
SPEAKER_06But I'll print out pieces of paper and I'll just pull them off. Like I'm gonna do it.
SPEAKER_10Right, yeah. Old school. Yeah, yeah. Flip your chart. Yep.
SPEAKER_05Here's your brochure.
SPEAKER_10Yeah. Yeah. So what about AI? Have you guys seen AI introduce at all into what you do?
SPEAKER_06There is one thing about AI that I do love, and it's on Photoshop. If you draw a circle, it'll give you an option and it'll say remove blink or change this. And that is helpful. And I've used that personally and professionally, and I like that a lot.
SPEAKER_07So that one's good. I would say for us, my favorite thing about AI is for meetings when we have Zoom calls. Sometimes we'll have Zoom or meeting recap, we'll have it with notes, which is so so handy. Right. But also you can go back and rec watch the recordings. If you miss one detail, it just saves the note taking ability.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, that's nice. Yeah, yeah. I mean, even this podcast, we get there's the transcript that's created. Right. So great. Yeah, which is nice.
SPEAKER_05And that was one we talked about this before we started recording about like whether or not we go back and listen to them, but like I'll write write-ups and stuff for social media, and it's so much easier now because there is a transcript that can just like either be scrolled or searched or have you know, just drop it into Chat GPT and be like pull out some talking points, you know, anecdotes, and then kind of build from there as opposed to be like, well, what did we talk about? I need to go back and listen to the last hour.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, much like we were, I think we were talking before we started recording how we'll for I forget names immediately when I first meet somebody. But even the podcast will get done and like, how's the podcast? Great. Uh what'd you talk about? I don't remember. Yeah, I don't remember. My mind is blank.
SPEAKER_05My mind is blank. Yeah. My my one of my favorite Photoshop AI tools that's super simple is generative expand. Okay. That's interesting. And and one of the ways that I often use it is both for this podcast, but also things for managing the IDA website, and it has to do with headshots. And it's not changing anybody's headshot, it's you know, I want cons so like for the all-in-design branding, right? You know, there's you get a headshot and you put it in the graphic, right? Well, some people take headshots from they get cropped really close up, and some are really far away, right? And the ones that are really close up, it's nice to have the ability to pull the border out so that I can fit the headshot so everybody's headshot is centered the same. So that's my yeah.
SPEAKER_10So you so you can expand the you know that that picture and say generate the background to match the background that's already there.
SPEAKER_07That's that is interesting.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah. When you go, you click on so you open up your your your image, it can be anything actually. Right. And then you click the the you know, and sometimes it's hysterical what it expands it to. Oh yeah, it's but it's wild what it adds sometimes, depending on if there's a lot going on in the background. But yeah, you click the crop tool and then the crop you know outlines the the photo, and then you just drag the the sliders out, and it's just black, but then you've got your your AI bar that pops up and it says generative expand. And you don't have to prompt it. You could probably if you wanted to add a little detail. Yeah, but bunnies, yeah, bunnies, but yeah, and you just click and then it'll fill in, fill in the background.
SPEAKER_07Well, didn't you all do the AI movie during the IDs? Is that AI?
SPEAKER_05That was I was actually not involved in that at all.
SPEAKER_07Really?
SPEAKER_10That was very much AI. All AI, and that was two years ago AI.
SPEAKER_06That was the pre-AI.
SPEAKER_10That was yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_06Did not win the Oscars. I bought I wanted it to win, I'm sorry. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05That was the the the vocals were real people. So like that was me and then Mickey Davis, and Bella Riz.
SPEAKER_10There were four main characters. Mark was one, Sammy was one, um, Mickey and Janine were the other. Yeah. And so took, you know, took their photos, put them into the the software that I was using uh online, and it created an avatar for them. So they became characters. So when they animated it, it was kind of them. And some of them, like it depending on the scene, some of the scenes looked just like them, and others they looked kind of weird. Um trying to get voiceover matched up with lips moving was impossible. They're much better about it now. But um a couple years ago it was terrible. So we did these voiceovers, and like Mark's avatar would be his face, you know, his mouth would be moving, but not in time with what he was saying. And then there was all the different um hallucinization hallucinog-Hallucinations.
SPEAKER_05There we go. Thank you.
SPEAKER_10Um where like you know, they're loading a truck and you know, the box the guy's loading turns into a person. Like if you watch the all sorts of like little things like that going on that were and the truck was like flying at one point, like six feet above the road. Yeah, six, yeah, it was yeah, but that adds character, you know? It made it more fun.
SPEAKER_05It was funny because you changed the script too, like to accommodate some of that. Right. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. What program did you use for that? Uh Midjourney or something?
SPEAKER_10No, it was it there, you know, it's the thing is with you know there's only like six or seven companies that are actually doing AI, like that are actually the the the models that everybody else is using. And then there are there's all these other companies that are AI companies that you might use, but they're just pulling from these six. Oh but I think that one was like XT, it wasn't XTC, but it was something like that. It was like three initials. Um but I was just you know, again, it was probably a Facebook ad where it was like make your own videos. I'm like, okay. It was hilarious. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06Have you done it since? Like now that it's gotten to be on a big one.
SPEAKER_10Well, today, this morning, I was um not quite that, but I was making uh I was playing around with a music video, making fun of um there because I also for the for the podcast we do the an AI song at the end. Oh so if you've listened to the podcast, at least last recently, yeah. Yeah, I mean um so we'll create a an AI song to finish the podcast. And you guys spoiler alert. Yeah, you guys will choose the genre. Yeah, so um but so I thought it would be funny to create a song about the discounting structure for reps and dealers, because it's it's not it's not like 50 off or it's not at all hilarious for people outside of the industry.
SPEAKER_05Right, yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_10It's not fifty percent off or sixty percent off, it's fifty and ten, it's fifty, ten, and five, it's fifty and twenty, that's how we talk about it, which is just absurd. Um so it's it's it's a song. I kind of want to explain it, but I'm not sure. So I'm honoring that.
SPEAKER_05It's math.
SPEAKER_04It is all math, and it's just absurd.
SPEAKER_10So I thought it would be funny to create kind of a rock ballad and like serious, you know, and it's called 50 and 10, and um to create a music video to go with it. And so this morning I was working.
SPEAKER_04It's really gonna be a great hit for everybody. What's wrong with these people?
SPEAKER_10It's for a very niche uh group.
SPEAKER_06I like how you already picked it out. It's gonna be rock battle. Like you had that part picked out.
SPEAKER_10I wanted it to be like serious, even though it's a ridiculous topic.
SPEAKER_06Like, so it's it's gonna be a chant. Like I can see the uh the march now.
SPEAKER_10I don't know if it's really kind of chanting, but yeah, I don't know. We'll see. We'll see. Yeah. Stay tuned, everyone. Stay tuned. Stay tuned. We're 56 minutes, so I guess we're we're ready for a rapid fire. Yep. And I'm gonna let you go first. Okay. Because I usually do. Okay.
SPEAKER_05All right. Yeah, you usually do go first because I'm not as as well prepared. I do have new questions. Oh, dang. So there's that.
SPEAKER_10Um what a treat for you two.
SPEAKER_05I know, right? So excited. Let's let's just get let's just get casual. And these this is for both of you. Uh, what's your go-to gas station snack combo?
SPEAKER_07Okay, peanut butter MMs, and cheeses.
SPEAKER_05Cheeses, okay.
SPEAKER_07Sour cream.
SPEAKER_05No drink? No drink. A water.
SPEAKER_06Okay, a water sour cream and onion Pringles, and then like you get the cup, you go to that soda machine, ice, and water.
SPEAKER_05Okay.
SPEAKER_06Yep.
SPEAKER_05Could you have answered the question for your sister?
SPEAKER_06That's what I'm saying. I don't think so.
SPEAKER_05No.
SPEAKER_06You don't think I would have gotten peanut butter MMs? Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Wow. This is this is this is what we did.
SPEAKER_06You didn't know. Yeah. 26 years of you. No, I think I could have gotten it.
SPEAKER_10So uh Amelia actually gave us a couple questions on the other side. Oh, that's true. Yeah, so I've got it. She did, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, you didn't give us anything, Margaret, but Amelia gave us two.
SPEAKER_10Well, she did. She gave us encouragement. Just so you guys are. Oh, that's true. You guys are doing a great job. Yeah. Um it was like a fun question for the quick round at the end. Ask people what they would sell as a rep as a rep based on their passionate belief or appreciation of the product alone.
SPEAKER_07It's a great question. I know Amelia's answer. Okay. But what's her answer? I think Amelia would say diner mugs. That's what that would be my non-professional answer. Oh, sorry, professional answer.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, I want a professional and a professional answer.
SPEAKER_06She would I told you this before, so let's see how good you listen, how well you listen. Maybe you would say fabric. No.
SPEAKER_04Wrong, wrong, and thanks for playing.
SPEAKER_06K-13, the acoustical spray installation, it sells itself. That's true.
SPEAKER_04This episode is sponsored by K-13. Yeah. The spray installation that sells itself. Anybody rep K-13? Right. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06Yeah. We used it at Cybert, and it was just so funny being in this big space and used to echo, and then you'd go into like the core this one quarter, make one step, and you'd do the same, oh, and it there'd be no echoes. So it's very, very much.
SPEAKER_05She seems just as impressed right now if she did it.
SPEAKER_06There are different lines, and you can custom color, which we did on cyber. It's a very great product. Here she goes. I like her now. If you want to have a salesman personality, I would need to have a product that sells itself, which is and it's not like it's heavy or bulky like tile, I'd break it.
SPEAKER_05So I think you have more salesperson in you than you think.
SPEAKER_06I don't think I do. But I mean, depending upon clientele, maybe I could do like the geriatrics in the nursing homes because they have dementia, so they wouldn't remember.
SPEAKER_05So and they have a need for acoustical insulation.
SPEAKER_06Margaret's so embarrassed right now. She is sitting right there.
SPEAKER_10So most of the time. What was the non-professional answer? What was the what just the first thing? For mine? No, for her.
SPEAKER_07For Amelia, it would be diner mugs. This is true. Drumming your mug. She loves coffee.
SPEAKER_06And so she drinks coffee out of a diner mug. Every morning I use it, I use a diner mug and I'm pretty passionate about it. And like when people come and they it's the you you might say it's just the cabinet you naturally gravitate towards to get a bowl or a cup.
SPEAKER_10Right.
SPEAKER_06And people will go towards it and I'll be like, Do you want this cup over here? Like this is a great cup. Because no one should touch my diner mugs but me.
SPEAKER_05Are they are they branded diner mugs?
SPEAKER_06Yes, there are different ones. Yep.
SPEAKER_05Do you have a favorite one?
SPEAKER_06That answer does change from time to time. Currently, it's the Buddy Broom coffee mug. It's got a dog on it. It's this coffee company from Tampa. And I like their coffee. And it's got this, it's like a black lab, if you will, uh logo, and then it has this Buddy Brew in all caps. So it's gonna be.
SPEAKER_10What if there was a paint color called Buddy Broom?
SPEAKER_06A paint color? Ooh. I was trying to bring it back to the colour.
SPEAKER_04It looks terrible, but it's called Buddy Broom.
SPEAKER_06It's all about the application, Chad. It's all about the application. I mean, if it's a moody room in the kitchen, I mean I could see a thing in a commons area, you know?
SPEAKER_10Yeah. All right.
SPEAKER_07Well, my rapid fire answer is very rapid fire. So record I would say lighting. Lighting? I think lighting. Really? Lighting is so complicated. Decorative lighting. It's a lot of math when we're going to. Okay, it is complicated, but I think it's so interesting, all the light fixtures. Oh, I could never do lighting.
SPEAKER_05That's my answer. What about non-professional? Yeah.
SPEAKER_07Non-professional? Let me think for a moment.
SPEAKER_05Amelia, do you know?
SPEAKER_06I'm trying to think what you'd pick. Uh maybe we could even come back to that one. I should know, but I don't know. What are you passionate about when it comes to products?
SPEAKER_07What did you bring to that party? What product? Favorite things. Um a book. Um book I like. That sound sounds so boring. No, that's not good. Maybe like a journal, like a a calendar and a notepad.
SPEAKER_06No, I don't know.
SPEAKER_07Come back to that.
SPEAKER_05Okay, we'll come back. Make sure we come back to the code. Like, I'm just saying, yeah, lighting. Lighting. Um I'm bouncing around, so we're no no no trend here any in any direction. What's one thing you wish clients cared more about? Man, they're both looking up and thinking.
SPEAKER_07I think restrooms which some of them might, but I do think restrooms can be really interesting to design.
SPEAKER_10And you think most clients are like eh.
SPEAKER_07I would say some don't realize the potential of restrooms until you realize it's gonna be a fun moment. Or like really nice restrooms. Bucky's embraced it.
SPEAKER_10Like Bucky. That's true. No, yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_07Absolutely. Yep. But thinking of like restaurants, restrooms are a cool focal point. Right. Right. Yeah.
SPEAKER_10Sidewalk has a cool restaurant. Restroom.
SPEAKER_05Oh, yeah, with the axe and the door handle and stuff like that. Yeah, yeah. The red tile. Yeah. Which I think is a Davis project. Restaurants. Oh, it is.
SPEAKER_10A sidewalk project.
SPEAKER_06Yes, it is. I was still thinking about what she would have read. So I was distracted. Sidewalk, no.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, that's that's a good point, though, because I've actually been to restaurants and bars where like people have gotten up in our groups, like go to the restroom, and then they come back and they're back, have you been to the bathroom? You need to go check out the restroom. Yeah, I don't even have to go, but I'm gonna go check out the room. Yeah. Okay. All right.
SPEAKER_06Um I would look forward to a project where I think that in Europe, a lot of spaces will do a great job with doing bold paint colors and just like a bold palette. And I think but going from a place like that or even a space in anywhere, and then going to a building that has a lot less color, I think, oh, you know what? Okay, it's still nice, but there's something very I think appealing and attractive and just exciting about a bold color having a statement. So I think some clients do like doing that, and some might be on the safe side, thinking about long-term, just too safe, secure. But I don't know, I think that's what I would say.
SPEAKER_05She approves.
SPEAKER_10I was worried. What would you say is your sister's best quality?
SPEAKER_07She's funny. Thank you.
SPEAKER_10I'm trying to stir the pot.
SPEAKER_06Very accommodating. That's true. That's true. Um very accommodating, very kind, I would say very approachable. I mean, there's a reason why she thinks I'm funny is because she's an I would say an easy grader, so that helps.
SPEAKER_10No, no, no, no. Her best quality is she finds me funny.
SPEAKER_06No, no. No. Very kind.
SPEAKER_05Nice. Um, what's your ideal Saturday with nothing planned?
SPEAKER_10I feel like these are gonna be very different answers for some reason. That was very similar to a question I had.
SPEAKER_07Oh, I would say I'm a go-getter. Like I like waking up and then getting up early and like going for a run. Um I would say having breakfast with friends.
SPEAKER_05So you're going out for breakfast.
SPEAKER_07Going out for breakfast. Um maybe playing some pickleball or tennis, like an active Saturday, being outside as much as possible.
SPEAKER_06Okay, I wake up. I'm in fun pajamas. I get some coffee in my diner mug, obviously. Go to my son's room, there for a bit. Eventually, of course there was no alarm clock. I will stroll outside, a walk outside would be nice.
SPEAKER_10I like still in the fun pajamas?
SPEAKER_06Only if it's very, very cold.
SPEAKER_10Okay.
SPEAKER_06But no, no, no, I'm kidding. She looked horrified.
SPEAKER_05She's like, oh my god. And y'all aren't gonna say anything wow.
SPEAKER_06Y'all aren't gonna call me out. No, seriously. If I'm in pajamas, please tell me because that's not right. Um and there'll be no running.
SPEAKER_05There's this is a judgment-free podcast. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06No, no, I can't.
SPEAKER_05Except when your sister's on and she's like, You're not leaving the house and be straight.
SPEAKER_06I love you know, bending the line, but don't break it, and I shouldn't be wearing pajamas outside. But um, anyway, Saturday, uh breakfast. Obviously, Alex, I don't like to cook. Um, have y'all been to Gus's hot dogs in Crestline Mountain Brook?
SPEAKER_10I have not been to Gus's hot dogs.
SPEAKER_06Okay. This is sponsored to you by. No, um, they have a great burrito, breakfast burrito. Very good. I recommend that. And then Traveling around. I also like the pepper place market. That'd be fun too. And then just later on, you know, get things going on. But yeah.
SPEAKER_10Nice. Yeah, my my question that was similar to that, which you don't have to answer now, was uh you have a completely free weekend. What are you doing? Weird. Yeah, we've done this, I guess, enough together we are also sharing a brain. Um, so I've kind of picked up on uh problem with this question, but you're having a dinner party. What are you serving? So you you you both are having friends over to the house, what are you serving? What are you each taking control of of that process?
SPEAKER_06I make a mean sandwich. Okay. I can make a good sandwich. I make a good ham and cheese slider, so I will take care of that. Okay. Margaret, what are you here to help do? Uh, what are you doing?
SPEAKER_10Make yourself useful.
SPEAKER_07I would say um, I guess the winter, I would say a good soup, like a good white chicken chili. That does not go well with my ham and cheese slider, so something else. And um good grilled cheese.
SPEAKER_05Nice.
SPEAKER_07Yeah.
SPEAKER_05If you had to give a TED talk tomorrow, what's it about? Okay, I actually can't say acoustical whatever, K13.
SPEAKER_06I answered this question and I was pretty happy with my answer because we had this like a trivia get to know people at work kind of thing. And I got a lot of hate from my answer, but I I like it. It was like why Saban like would be like a great leader for Nick Saban. Nick Saban, sorry.
SPEAKER_04I didn't know there was another one. Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06So why he'd be a great leader for any kind of institution, and how he has great leadership traits that I think are pretty universal and will apply to any environment, not just football. There's a whole book about it. Margaret actually gave it to me for my birthday one time. So I thought you would say because he how he could be president. That is what I said for the the question, but I got a lot of hate for it, so I changed it. But yes, that is exact exactly what I said. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_05So I was like, 'cause I was like, I actually don't disagree with that. I guess you're right.
SPEAKER_06I do need to give the full answer. I said president, so I think he'd be a great president.
SPEAKER_10But I think to that, it's funny because uh, you know, you're uh Mark's an Auburn fan. Um my wife went to Auburn. But everyone respected Saban, even though he was the head coach of the the rival team. It seemed like everyone was like, Wait, uh hate hate Alabama. But Saban's pretty good, you know.
SPEAKER_05I'm a weird Auburn fan. I would cheer for Alabama when they were not. Oh wow.
SPEAKER_07I feel like he's gotten more respect since he's switched to be on college. What's it called? College game day. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Well, because he's not kicking everybody's ass. Exactly. Yeah. He's now neutral party.
SPEAKER_06He actually does say some some pretty great stuff. That makes sense. Yeah.
SPEAKER_10Yeah.
SPEAKER_06Okay.
SPEAKER_10All right. Um again back to uh, did you give your TED talk answer?
SPEAKER_07Um I would do Tommy Tupperville would be a great auburn. That is why I that is why I I got hate forward. I don't know, I don't know sports, I have psychic statement. Um I would say um travel, like packing. I love packing for a trip. So I'll do a TikTok on packing for a trip and how all that entails to packing.
SPEAKER_05Are you a fan of uh Marie Kondo? Or Maria? I can't remember her first name.
SPEAKER_07No, I don't watch Marie Kondo. Okay. But I know who she is. I think she's awesome.
SPEAKER_10Do you um carry on or do you check bags? Carry on. Okay. Same. Yeah, same.
SPEAKER_06I also know what you would rep non-professionally.
SPEAKER_10Oh, here we go. Okay. She's been thinking about it the whole time.
SPEAKER_06A light turned on, just fell from the sky. You would rep purses. Thank you. You would, because you love your purses. Wow. How about you're right? You know me so well. Gosh.
SPEAKER_07That did cross my mind actually.
SPEAKER_06So you're okay, you didn't pick that one? You didn't want to do purses? You would get free purses, Margaret. You're right. How much you would save. I mean, come on. Good answer. This makes sense.
SPEAKER_01Thank you. Thank you. I don't know why that struck so funny.
SPEAKER_06That's like the most polite way to say, like, mm-mm. No thanks. It works.
SPEAKER_04You know what her face did?
SPEAKER_05Yeah.
SPEAKER_07You didn't have a better answer, so I don't have a better answer.
SPEAKER_05Okay, we'll go with that.
SPEAKER_10Purses. Okay, purses. You have to be a purse rather. Alright, what job did you want to have as a kid? That was another. That was for me. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06But you got an answer. Oh, teacher.
SPEAKER_10Okay.
SPEAKER_06When you were a kid, that was the first thing you wanted to.
SPEAKER_10When you were a little kid, you were like, I want to be a teacher. Yeah. Okay. Second grade still.
SPEAKER_06Second grade. I was more fun. I don't know if you if you remember it. Mailman. That was one of them. Mailman driver. Mailman. Maildriver. And then also train con train conductor. I was very much transportation-esque.
SPEAKER_10Right.
SPEAKER_06Yeah. I think as a kid, like when someone tells you what jobs are there, those are the ones that you see in movies. So those are the ones that I thought would be cool.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, there's all those uh mailman movies.
SPEAKER_06Yep, exactly.
SPEAKER_04There is one mailman movie.
SPEAKER_06Okay, but that okay, but that was not the movie. No, there were no that that one had to do with because I mean, what do you see every day as a kid? You see the male driver. Right. So that's what you see mean. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05There's a Kevin Costner movie, apocalypse movie called The Postman.
SPEAKER_06I haven't seen it. I love Kevin Costner.
SPEAKER_05And then uh I think in I think the movie's called Jingle All the Way with Sinbad and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Yeah, that was a good one. And I think Sinbad's a Postman. I'm gonna I'm gonna not go on, but I feel like I could probably pick out a few more. There you go, see? Wow. It is in the movies. There's so many. Yeah, there's there's a lot, there's two right there.
SPEAKER_06And they didn't have doors, so I thought that was so fun as a kid. I'm like, wow, like oh, they aren't the freedom.
SPEAKER_05Yes, the freedom. I mean say the trains. They also can hang out.
SPEAKER_07Yes, exactly. That sums her up.
SPEAKER_05Going 15 miles an hour. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07Freedom.
SPEAKER_05Um, what are you trying to get better at right now?
SPEAKER_07Gosh, that's a great question. Currently I'm playing lots of tennis. That's my new hobby, so I play tennis once a week. And getting better and better.
SPEAKER_05Is this new? Like you playing tennis in general or something.
SPEAKER_07So that was a bucket list item from last year, and I picked it up in the fall. And so now I've learned how to play, and now it's getting better.
SPEAKER_05And now you're getting better. Like winning and stuff.
SPEAKER_07We're getting there.
SPEAKER_05Okay. Is this singles or doubles?
SPEAKER_07It's just playing around with friends. But the goal is to get to matches.
SPEAKER_10Okay, cool. So are you keeping you're keeping score, though, right?
SPEAKER_07I win sometimes.
SPEAKER_10Okay.
SPEAKER_07I'm not competitive, but I like playing.
SPEAKER_05I feel like you could be though. I can be. I can be.
SPEAKER_07Am I competitive?
SPEAKER_06Not particularly. You're you're more competitive, but you're not aggressive. So I think that's what's holding you back in your tennis game.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, you're super nice. And she said she's super nice, so it's kind of like, oh, you can have this point. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07If you were to lose more friends but win more games, like think of think of where you'd be right now. But now that it's hopefully warmer weather, more tennis time.
SPEAKER_10Buying tennis instead of pickleball, since that seems to be the I was a pickleballer, but I've you've graduated.
SPEAKER_06I've graduated before I did.
SPEAKER_09Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_06Also, it's a lot easier to get a tennis cord than it is to get a pickleball cord, I mean, these days. Oh.
SPEAKER_05Interesting. Now Chad and I are gonna start playing tennis. No, no, we're not.
SPEAKER_07Tennis league.
SPEAKER_05Oh no, maybe you will. Yeah, yeah. I I used to. I I played tennis in like high school, and by play tennis in high school, I mean we did it a few times during PE.
SPEAKER_10I was on the team.
SPEAKER_05And uh I would just I have to I was terrible. Awful. Just had no control. Okay, so we'll dominate. Ruffo sucks. Alright, what are you trying to get better at?
SPEAKER_06Gosh, there's so many things. Um top of my head, hydrating, trying to hydrate more. Okay. Um what else am I trying to work on? Meaning what I say. I don't know. Trying to use my words carefully. Um gosh, Margaret, do you know what else we're trying to work on? You you would know.
SPEAKER_07I don't know if it's work on, but I feel like you haven't had a lot of time to read and you like reading later.
SPEAKER_06That's true. I've been back in my reading game. I think for a while I've been off the reading game, but now I'm I'm back on it. So that's my good.
SPEAKER_10I do appreciate there's been several of these where you go to answer and you're like both of you, or and you'll turn to your sister and be like, what do you think? What do you think the answer is for you? It's nice to have someone supply you answers integrated polygraph exams.
SPEAKER_06That's not right, yeah.
SPEAKER_10Yeah, so one of my questions was uh do either of you play a sport or a have or have you? Um so that sorry I I could take that off now. Just going through these. Um Do you have a favorite restaurant currently? What is what is your go play? Do you place other outside of Bayonet and Gus's?
SPEAKER_06My favorite semi-casual one. I love friggin' tin. I think they have a great menu. I like how it's seasonal. I think you can tell a good restaurant based off how it changes per season. Um because it's just better food. And then a nice meal out. I like Ovenbird. It's a good one. One of my favorites. Sorry. It's okay.
SPEAKER_10You can have the same one if you can. Okay.
SPEAKER_06I was gonna say Oven Bird. Especially my job chat to be like, okay, you can actually show my Even I'm sorry, this is my podcast.
SPEAKER_07This is mine. If you've ever been to Even Bird, they have a really good beef fat candle. Yes, yes. It's delicious. So sitting outside the patio, Evan Bird.
SPEAKER_10Yeah. It's really good.
SPEAKER_07It's my favorite.
SPEAKER_10Yeah. Great.
SPEAKER_05Um, do I still have one more? I do. You you always keep count.
SPEAKER_10I do. I think we're done, but you can ask another if you really want to ask one.
SPEAKER_05Oh, I do have one more. Okay. I do, because y'all live together. Um what's one chore you absolutely refuse to do?
SPEAKER_07Dang it.
SPEAKER_10And you have to answer for the other.
SPEAKER_07Well. Oh, okay. We can do this. Okay.
SPEAKER_03Where do I start on what Amelia won't do?
SPEAKER_07So there's one chore each we said is our chore. Oh, and so Amelia's is trash girl. And so she takes out the trash.
SPEAKER_03Okay. Because you won't.
SPEAKER_07Well, it was more just I'm like off my list and passing it off to you. Okay. Delegating. Mine's okay, you just elder.
SPEAKER_06I can handle it. I like it because I know what days are trash days. It's Monday and Thursday. Right. I can do it. It's easy.
SPEAKER_05You can walk out in your pajamas and dress like one of the wet bandits and sign.
SPEAKER_06I didn't know you saw that, but yes, I can. Yeah. Oh, sorry, sorry, that was a joke. Okay. What's mine? Uh, you were a plant girl, but we've had a lot of dead plants lately. It's true. Yeah. I know. It's the freeze. It's the freeze.
SPEAKER_03I've been throwing out a lot of plants plants? Yes. Oh, okay. You looked at me like, duh.
SPEAKER_06You want to hear a funny story about you can say it. No, I don't. Okay. Um, go ahead. Uh so it was one of the freezes, and we have this box, window box of ferns, and they died. And um they turned brown. No, no, they hadn't. Yes, they they did turn brown, and we were like, okay, we've got how do we fix this so we don't have these brown ferns. Also, Margaret wanted to go to Lowe's and replace them, and I go, Margaret, we don't need to do that. We can just spray paint them green.
SPEAKER_10That's exactly what I thought. Thank you.
SPEAKER_06So we got this big tall ladder, it was freezing, you know, and we spray painted them. And then a few weeks later, I guess we're coming back from some holiday, and I look at the box and it's just the fronds fall off. You forget how dead leaves fall off.
SPEAKER_05The things die, yeah.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fail.
SPEAKER_05So then glue. It was a starch. Yeah. It was a good thought though. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07So I thought, but I don't know.
SPEAKER_05And you let this happen?
SPEAKER_07Plant girl failed. Failed you.
SPEAKER_05Nice. You've well not only that, you failed twice. Like you let them die, and then you let your sister spray them again.
SPEAKER_07I prefer the inside the house versus the outside, you know.
SPEAKER_10Okay, so indoor plants is your domain?
SPEAKER_07I have one. Okay.
SPEAKER_05A plant.
SPEAKER_07This is plant, girl.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, that's true. Yeah, not plants.
SPEAKER_10Nice. Um, okay, so for our AI song at the end that we have, uh, what genre would you like the song to be? And so uh why don't we one of you pick the genre and the other person has to come up with the line that is the chorus.
SPEAKER_06What's the topic of the song?
SPEAKER_10Just you you two come in on the podcast.
SPEAKER_07Okay. I think rock sounds fun. Rock rock.
SPEAKER_10Alright.
SPEAKER_07Rock is the genre. Of course you picked the easier part. Um, speak first.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, I'll go first. I know, yeah. Believe me, but hold on. Um what was the quote? What was the other part of the chorus? Just kind of a chorus. I'm not a writer.
SPEAKER_10You're a reader?
SPEAKER_06I'm a reader, I'm not a writer. Oh gosh. Um line, or is it like a whole paragraph?
SPEAKER_10No, just one line. Oh, just one line. Yeah. Okay.
SPEAKER_06One line, it can be even though. Watch out, here comes double trouble. Perfect. I had that five minutes ago. I just wanted to make y'all sweat. Don't you worry.
SPEAKER_05Nothing makes actually people sweat more than that question. I believe that. Yeah, they're like, what? Oh, what am I supposed to do? And a lot of times we feed them the answer just based on things we talked about.
SPEAKER_06You like write it down and you'll hold it up.
SPEAKER_10Watch out, here comes double trouble. I love it. Great. Thank you so much for being on. Really enjoyed it. Yeah, it was great. Thank you all so much.
SPEAKER_06So having me. Thanks for having us. I guess her too. You know, you had to add me, so yeah, invite me.
SPEAKER_08Two shadows walk in. They move as one. Same spark, same fire, yeah, same heartbeat. From sketches to specks. They're calling the play. That's when the numbers come out. If you map all the side, it's just it out. Just let's fill the silence with face. What you want is the green is that we can't face left brain, right, brain, left blur to the left. Able fool is jumping. Like a perfectly played space.