What does luxury residential design actually look like in Central Ohio right now? In this episode, Nick and Paul pull back the curtain on four active projects to break down the specific design decisions that define high-end homes in Columbus and the surrounding region.

They start with indoor-outdoor living, a concept more commonly associated with the West Coast that is gaining traction in Ohio. One project features a nearly 40-foot accordion door system that opens the entire dining and living room to an outdoor entertaining space. They discuss the engineering behind it, including the steel header systems, tempered floor-to-ceiling glass panels, and the track configurations that make these massive openings possible.

From there, the conversation moves to hillside construction. One of their current projects sits as high as 30 feet above grade, requiring a structural approach built entirely on steel columns and concrete footers rather than traditional foundations. Nick and Paul explain how the team navigated site challenges, including the decision to build up rather than cut into the hillside, and what that means for both cost and long-term resilience.

The episode also covers kitchen island design. Multiple clients have recently requested completely flat islands with no sink, prioritizing clean counter space for entertaining. The team's approach has been to scale the island large enough that prep areas and open surfaces coexist without compromise.

Finally, they share lessons from working across different climates, including projects in Tucson, Arizona and experiences in New Mexico, and how regional differences in weather, materials, and building culture influence the way they approach residential architecture back in Ohio.

Randy Roberty, AIA, NCARB, Director of Design and Architecture at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, joins us to explore how thoughtful design shapes the dining experience - from the moment you walk through the door to the invisible details you feel but never notice.

With 113 restaurant openings across 20 concepts, Cameron Mitchell has become one of the Midwest's most influential hospitality groups. Randy shares the philosophy behind their approach: why first impressions matter more than most realize, how lighting and acoustics drive connection, and why back-of-house design is just as critical as the dining room.

We also discuss Columbus as a restaurant testing ground, the discipline of walking away from sites that don't fit, and what's next - including their first hotel project at Bridge Park.

Whether you're an architect, restaurateur, or just someone who appreciates a well-designed space, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at what separates good restaurants from great ones.