Happy New Year, and welcome to our first episode of 2026. I’m Josh Cooperman with Convo By Design and have bee hosting Doctoring Up Design, the official podcast of Design Hardware. If you haven’t been into the showroom before, or its been a while, please come back and see all of the new updates and additions to this remarkable space, where we host industry education events, like the one you are going to hear today. This is a throwback to the first Environment Check event held in the showroom back in 2022.

It has been a year since the catastrophic fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena. What have we learned? I would say we have learned a lot, but much of it isn’t new. So, periodically, in addition to all the new content we create here at Design Hardware, we are going to add some throwbacks that make sense. Like the program you are going to hear on this episode of Doctoring Up Design.

Design Hardware hosted a vital forum on how the intersection of gray water reclamation, native landscaping, and green building policy is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for human survival.

We, gathered a "Brain Trust" of sustainability experts at the Design Hardware showroom in Los Angeles. The conversation moves past the surface-level "crunchy granola" stereotypes of eco-design and dives into the hard science of urban resilience.

From the "double waste" of California’s current water infrastructure to the vanishing craft of climate-appropriate landscaping, the panel explores how designers and architects must act as "Building Scientists." The consensus is clear: awareness and education are the only tools powerful enough to shift policy from a reactive "whisper" to a proactive “scream." And that “scream” was heard loud and clear a year ago. Let’s explore ways to minimize this in the future. This feels like a good way to do that. Listen to a few hot talks from the following conversation and see if they don’t resonate. Because this was a conversation from 2022.

Participants:

Josh Cooperman | Convo By Design

Design Hardware | DesignHardware.com

Cassie Aoyagi | Form LA Landscaping

Leigh Jerard | Greywater Corps

Tim Barber | Tim Barber Architects

Ben Stapleton | USGBC California

Explore the forces shaping interior design in 2026. Experts discuss how tariffs, trade policies, and material sourcing are impacting projects, while highlighting innovative, practical design solutions. We will be exploring and you will be sharing how technology, sustainability, and evolving client expectations are transforming workflows—and actionable strategies to keep your interior design practice competitive and ahead of the curve.

This conversation features:

Eva Hughes | Black House Beige

Rachael Grochowsky | RHG Architecture

Priya Vij | hapny Home

Shelly Sandoval | Lauzon Collection

Recorded live at Design Hardware, this episode of Doctoring Up Design unpacks how designers, architects, specifiers, and manufacturers are navigating one of the most turbulent periods the industry has seen in years. The panel — Eva Hughes (Black House Beige), Shelly Sandoval (Lauzon Ltd.), Rachel Grachowski (RHG Architecture & Design), and Priya Vij (hapny Home — explores the widening communication gap between clients, trades, and vendors; the collapse of predictable supply chains; and the new demands placed on professionals in an AI-accelerated landscape.

Conversations center on language breakdown (“modern,” “wellness,” “luxury”), vendor inconsistency, shifting budgets, tariffs, fluctuating stock, and the need to reinvent specification workflows. The group also examines the role of AI — not as a threat to designers — but as an accelerant for those who learn to wield it effectively.

• Design as a Translation Problem — Why identical terms mean different things to designers, architects, clients, and showrooms.
• Vendor Volatility — Rapid inventory changes, inaccurate stock reports, dye-lot inconsistencies, and pricing fluctuations.
• Specification Reform — Early procurement, high–low budgeting, over-communication, and storage strategies.
• Expectation Engineering — How professionals are reframing client education around uncertainty.
• Two Opposing Realities — A manufacturer with stable Canadian supply vs. small businesses battered by tariffs and freight volatility.
• AI as a Multiplier, Not a Replacement — Where the panel is currently using it (renderings, ideation, room scenes) and where they aren’t (yet).
• Critical Thinking vs. Prompt Thinking — The emerging tension around new skillsets needed in design practice.

Eva Hughes – Black House Beige
https://blackhousebeige.com

Shelly Sandoval – Lauzon Flooring
https://lauzonflooring.com

Rachel Grabowski – RG Architecture & Design
https://rhgdesign.com/

Priya Vij– hapny Home
https://hapnyhome.com

On this episode of Doctoring Up Design, we explore the evolution of Rocky Mountain Hardware, a 100% U.S.-made architectural hardware brand based in Idaho. Christian Nickum, CEO and President of Rocky Mountain Hardware shares the company’s origins, family-driven growth, and the design philosophy that blends craftsmanship, versatility, and innovation. From custom projects to a nationwide distributor network, listeners get an inside look at how Rocky Mountain Hardware supports designers, architects, and homeowners alike.

Learn how a small mountain-town shop grew into a nationally recognized brand, producing bronze, brass, and aluminum hardware for a variety of architectural styles. We discuss design processes, trade partnerships, and the innovative “Road Show” that brings products and expertise directly to design professionals.

This episode is brought to you by Rocky Mountain Hardware, offering fully U.S.-manufactured architectural hardware for residential, commercial, and hospitality projects.

• Origins of Rocky Mountain Hardware
  
  • Founding story by Christian’s father in Sun Valley, Idaho.
• • Early focus on custom windows and doors, transition to architectural hardware.
• • First hardware products and the early years of growth.
• Company Evolution & Leadership
  
  • Christian joins the business in 1996, taking over production.
• • Scaling operations, investment in manufacturing, and expansion to three Idaho facilities.
• • Transition from regional to national reach through distributor networks.
• Design Philosophy & Product Development
  
  • Blending rustic mountain inspiration with contemporary design trends.
• • Focus on bronze, brass, and other alloy hardware, and finishes.
• • Internal design team vs. external collaborations with designers nationwide.
• Custom Work & Full-Suite Solutions
  
  • “Never say no” approach to creating unique hardware and home accessories.
• • Ability to outfit complete spaces—residential, hospitality, and commercial.
• • Coordinating with designers for cohesive project-wide solutions.
• Trade Relationships & Distribution
  
  • Importance of showrooms, independent reps, and distributor network.
• • Navigating post-pandemic supply chain challenges and pricing volatility.
• • How Rocky Mountain Hardware supports designers and clients in project execution.
• Innovations & Outreach: The Road Show
  
  • Concept, history, and impact of the mobile showroom.
• • Benefits for distributors, design teams, and homeowners.
• • Continuous engagement with trade events and design conferences.
• Takeaways for Designers & Architects
  
  • Emphasis on 100% U.S.-made, high-quality architectural hardware.
• • Versatility across styles: mountain modern, traditional, rustic, contemporary.
• • Insight into how Rocky Mountain Hardware can support entire projects.