What if your home could hold your favorite memories in plain sight? We sit down with artist and designer Adam Trest to explore how Southern roots, a tiny museum, and an unexpected detour through architecture shaped a language of pattern, color, and story you can actually live with. From the joyful foxes that became a family mantra to the blue-and-white collection sparked by a week inside Portuguese ceramic studios, Adam shows how meaning sneaks into our work—and why the story often reveals itself only after the paint dries.

We dig into the craft behind whimsy: why rabbits on a restaurant floor or birds that form a hidden nest can reset a mood, and how the Arts and Crafts movement inspires him to put beauty where people least expect it. Adam breaks down his approach to color—using restraint, anchoring a palette, and letting hues “talk” to each other—so tiles stay bold yet livable. He opens the door to his studio too: white walls, a massive plywood desk, familiar soundtracks during composition, audiobooks during the rhythmic refinement of pattern, and a sketchbook packed with notes and messy thumbnails that eliminates creative block before it starts.

Along the way, we trade practical advice for choosing art you love over trend-chasing, and for building rooms that feel collected rather than copied. You’ll hear how parenting recharged Adam’s perspective, why character homes age with grace, and how small spaces—like a jewel-box pantry—can hold huge personality. If you’re curious about storytelling through design, living with handcrafted details, and making color choices that lift your mood daily, this conversation is your guide.

If this resonated with you, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves thoughtful design, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Your space can tell a better story—start writing it today.