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.

Mark Font and Andrea Yebra of Viefe share how a family business that began with wooden buttons nearly 100 years ago evolved into one of Europe’s most respected makers of knobs, handles, and home accessories.

This conversation explores Viefe’s journey from its roots in Catalonia’s woodturning tradition to becoming a global design brand with a growing U.S. presence. Mark and Andrea discuss their manufacturing approach, the art of merchandising, their U.S. showroom strategy, and how they balance tradition, innovation, and design trends while navigating tariffs and global supply chains.

Origins of Viefe

• Founded nearly 100 years ago by Font’s great-grandfather, originally a baker who shifted into woodturning
• Early products: toy accessories, then wooden and later plastic buttons
• Expansion into knobs and handles in the late 2000s

The Shift from Buttons to Handles

• Market pressure from low-cost production in Asia made buttons less viable
• In 2009, launched the first Viefe handle collection
• By 2017, phased out buttons entirely, focusing on knobs, handles, hooks, and accessories

Craft, Manufacturing & Design Process

• Manufacturing in Spain, Turkey, China, Vietnam, India, and Europe
• Wood turning origins, now largely CNC milling for precision
• Design philosophy: trend-spotting through travel, trade shows, customer input
• Internal design briefs and team collaboration for new collections

U.S. Expansion Strategy

• Entered U.S. market ~2019–2020 with warehouse in Canada
• First KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) in 2020, right before the pandemic shutdown
• Approach: bypass national distributors, instead build direct relationships with showrooms and reps
• Current rep coverage: California, New York, Florida, Texas, Midwest, New England, and more

Navigating the Pandemic

• Lucky timing: completed a new large facility in Spain right before COVID
• Warehouse expansion allowed stockpiling and meeting surging demand during home-renovation boom
• Grew 70% in one year despite shutdowns

Merchandising & Showroom Strategy

• Display boards: a challenge in U.S. vs. Europe
• Striking a balance between finishes vs. collections on boards
• Special attention to long handles and accessories (like doorstops, hooks, appliance handles)
• Showrooms customize boards; Viefe provides guidance and options

Cultural & Market Adaptation

• American market requires bigger sizes, bolder finishes—“go big or go home”
• Regional taste differences: California vs. New York vs. Midwest
• Good design seen as universal, but scale and finish matter by market
• Example: Brooklyn Collection works globally; Chassis line tailored for U.S. industrial aesthetic

Global Supply Chain & Tariffs

• Viefe manufactures worldwide but keeps wood production local in Spain
• Adapting to tariffs, supply chain volatility, and pricing confusion
• Chose to delay raising prices rather than constantly shifting costs

This episode of Doctoring Up Design features a conversation with Ignacio Rodriguez of Ignacio Rodriguez Architects, a Los Angeles firm with deep roots in the community and an internationally influenced way of thinking about design.

I’m Josh Cooperman, host of Convo By Design and in this episode of Doctoring Up Design, the official podcast of Design Hardware and Flooring in Los Angeles, we explore the inner workings of some of the most talented creatives in the world, based in Southern California,

Ignacio Rodriguez, CEO of Ignacio Rodriguez Architects in Los Angeles, blends artistry, cultural influences, and forward-thinking design in his residential work. From his upbringing in Long Beach’s diverse creative environment to navigating post-pandemic lifestyle shifts, Rodriguez shares how openness, security, and longevity guide his architectural vision. In this conversation, he unpacks how contemporary demands are reshaping homes—without sacrificing beauty or purpose.

Show Topics Outline:

1. Background and Career Path
2. Design Philosophy and Signature Elements
3. Long Beach’s Influence
4. Security and Resilience in Design
5. Post-Pandemic Functional Shifts
6. Looking Ahead
7. Closing Thoughts

That’s a wrap on another episode. Ignacio, thank you for the time and willingness to share. Please check the show notes for links to the speakers and other resources associate with this talk. Thank you Michele Solomons and Avi Balsam with Design Hardware for hosting these conversations and making them available. That is part of their commitment to the design and architecture community.

If you are in Los Angeles and have some time, come visit us in the showroom, 6053 West 3rd Street. In LA just up the street from the Grove.

If you enjoy what you hear, subscribe to the show so you receive each new episode automatically to your podcast feed. You can also join in the conversation on Instagram @DesignHardware. Thanks for listening, see you next time.

This panel explored the critical challenges facing designers, manufacturers, and distributors as they navigate supply chain instability, shifting global manufacturing strategies, recycled content sourcing, and client expectations amid tight deadlines—especially in wildfire-impacted areas like Altadena and Pacific Palisades and features; Melissa Zellner - Director of Marketing | ASSA ABLOY Group, Anthony Powsney _ Regional Sales Manager | Zip Water, Emile Zmenak, Managing Partner | Urbania Canada and Jay Williams, Senior Director | The AZEK Company

Key Themes and Takeaways:

Manufacturing Strategy & Location Flexibility:

Supply Chain Pressure & Preemptive Planning:

Tariffs & Pricing Instability:
Communication Breakdown & Trust:
Transparent Relationships & Education:

Planning for Large-Scale Rebuilds:

Resilience Through Partnership:

Supply Chain Uncertainty & Design Resilience — A Blueprint for Moving Forward

Designers today face a reality that feels less like a puzzle and more like a moving target. Supply chains are in constant flux, tariffs are reshaping pricing strategies overnight, and manufacturing must strike a careful balance between cost, speed, and sustainability. In this recent panel hosted by Doctoring Up Design, industry leaders from manufacturing, distribution, and design gathered to talk candidly about what's changing, what's working, and how designers can better navigate a turbulent environment—particularly when working on wildfire rebuilds or urgent residential timelines.

Manufacturing Is No Longer Local or Global—It’s Strategic

The conversation began with a look at where products are made and how that affects availability and pricing. One manufacturer described their hybrid model: U.S.-grown timber processed and partially assembled domestically, with finishing done in locations like Southeast Asia and Cartagena. Why? Because even with wages at $28/hour and benefits, they couldn’t hire enough skilled labor in Central Michigan.

“We built a state-of-the-art factory,” one panelist explained. “We had people interested in sawing timber, but no one wanted to stay through the manufacturing process.” That labor challenge forced the company to rethink what “Made in the USA” really means—and how they could still meet that standard while staying economically viable.

Recycled Materials & Smart Sourcing Offer New Hope

Communication Isn’t Just Important—It’s Non-Negotiable

Rebuilding After Disaster Requires a Different Playbook

Budgeting and Flexibility Go Hand in Hand

“We're all going to have to compromise somewhere,” one panelist said. “But when you work with people you trust, you know they’ll do everything they can to help.”

Final Thoughts: Partnership Is the New Competitive Advantage

Ultimately, design is a human business, not just a technical one. Whether it’s a manufacturer innovating with 48-hour veneer drying or a showroom that calls to walk you through every option, success depends on real relationships. If one leg of the stool—manufacturer, showroom, or designer—breaks, the whole system collapses.

But when all three collaborate, communicate, and plan together, they can weather any disruption—and even build something better than what came before.

California’s escalating wildfire crisis is forcing a radical rethink in residential architecture. With fires growing in intensity, frequency, and unpredictability, architects, planners, and policymakers are coming together to define a new blueprint for resilient, sustainable living in the wildland-urban interface. In May, I journeyed to Design Hardware for the Spring Design Thought Leadership Summit, something we do four times a year at Design Hardware to delve into trending ideas and concepts bubbling up through the design and architecture community. After hosting these events for over 6-years at Design Hardware, I always come away with a fresh perspective on emerging ideas and this time was no exception. The idea this time was to isolate the concepts and ideas that are needed now to address climate change, specifically fire related issues and develop them into actionable strategies for building—and rebuilding—homes in fire-prone areas.

The day was broken down into two parts. The first was specifically about fire-related building issues discussed during a panel featuring architect Greg Chasen of Chasen Architects and Ben Stapleton and Becky Feldman of the USGBC-CA. The second panel covered Market and supply chain issues being affected by both a surge in demand due to rebuilding and exacerbated by the on-again-off-again tariffs. That program will be published here as well so check back for publication.

This panel covers a lot. Thank you Becky, Ben and Greg for taking part and helping move the ball forward with such a challenging and difficult subject.

PANEL

Thank you Becky, Greg and Ben. More conversations like this will ultimately make California’s shelter industry stronger and more resilient. Please check the show notes for links to the speakers and other resources associate with this talk. Thank you Michele Solomons and Avi Balsam with Design Hardware for hosting these conversations and making them available. That is part of their commitment to the design and architecture community. If you enjoy what you hear, subscribe to the show so you receive each new episode automatically to your podcast feed. You can also join in the conversation on Instagram @DesignHardwareandFlooring. Thanks for listening, see you next time.

I’m Josh Cooperman, host and publisher of Convo By Design as well as Doctoring Up Design, the official podcast of Design Hardware and Flooring in Los Angeles. This is year 6 of Doctoring Up Design, a show that was created to help design specifiers address some of the pain points professionals in the architecture, interior design and landscape architecture space face on a daily basis.

Today on the show, you are going to hear from Parini Mehta, AIA LEED AP, Tanner Clapham, AIA and Michael Stebbins, AIA from CO Architects. CO Architects, a firm dedicated to perpetual innovation and continual improvement through collaboration. This is a firm dedicated to creating lasting impact through design and the following conversation is evidence of that.

This conversation is about the collaborative nature of an architecture firm that allows their architects to work on different types of projects and share their typology specialty while learning new ones in real time. Today, we are discussing; education architecture, healthcare, medical facilities, laboratory architecture, research and exploring the idea of future-proofing structures from affects of both seen and unseen factors. I’m so appreciative for this opportunity to explore these ides with the incredible creatives. I really enjoyed it and I hope you do too.

Thank you Parini, Michael and Tanner for taking the time to visit. Thank you to all of the professionals at CO Architects for your skill and willingness to share. Thank you for sharing this time together. Thank you for subscribing and downloading Doctoring Up Design. Thank you Michele Solomons and Avi Balsam with Design Hardware for your commitment to this incredible and durable industry. Thanks again for listening, see you next time.