181: I guess we're making project yearbooks now?

In this episode, Shaun and Rebecca catch up on summer schedules, parenting, old photos, and the strange feeling of realizing how much of our lives has been documented somewhere. That leads them into a bigger conversation about memory, storytelling, and how interior designers can capture the deeper meaning behind the homes they create.

They also dig into industry changes, including Pooky Lighting being acquired by Visual Comfort, the challenges of buying from vendors as interior designers, and why designers need to keep educating clients on craft, quality, and the human story behind furnishings. Then, in true Hot Young Designers Club fashion, they build an entire new client experience idea in real time: a project “yearbook” or home storybook that documents the process, the people, the sourcing stories, the funny renovation moments, and the emotional history of a finished project.

In this episode they discuss:

• How summer schedules, parenting seasons, and changing family dynamics affect work and daily life
• Why documenting homes, childhood rooms, and personal spaces can become meaningful later
• The weird nostalgia of old party photos, VHS tapes, club photographers, and early internet documentation
• Pooky Lighting’s acquisition by Visual Comfort and what corporate ownership can mean for beloved design brands
• Why interior designers need vendors, trade programs, and manufacturers that actually support the design industry
• How storytelling helps clients understand the value of custom furniture, vintage pieces, traditional upholstery, and artisan-made goods
• The idea of creating a project yearbook, home storybook, or client keepsake after a design project wraps
• Why local design communities, regional magazines, and city planning should pay more attention to residential interiors and creative industries

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