Business of Home Podcast – The Thursday Show

Episode: A fresh round of tariff chaos. Plus: Alexa Hampton on 50 years of Kips Bay
Date: October 2, 2025
Host: Dennis Scully
Guests: Fred Nicolaus (Executive Editor, Business of Home), Alexa Hampton (Designer, Kips Bay Co-Chair)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dennis Scully and Fred Nicolaus break down the biggest news affecting the interior design industry—including new tariffs on home goods, Miller Knoll’s earnings report, and the ongoing debate around “Millennial Gray.” The episode then transitions to an in-depth, candid interview with legendary designer Alexa Hampton, reflecting on 50 years of the iconic Kips Bay Decorator Show House and her personal journey with the event. Expect insightful analysis, industry anecdotes, and a touch of levity throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kips Bay Show House: Highlights and History

[00:45-04:12]

• The 50th anniversary edition of Kips Bay faced challenges, including a last-minute change of venue and a location “below 14th Street” for the first time.
  • Fred: “It’s the 50th anniversary, but they lost the house at the last minute... Everyone pulled it together. There’s even a podcast studio. Charles Pavarini designed one.” [01:10]
• International influence noted, with UK decorator Ben Pentreath collaborating with Sanderson.
  • Dennis: “Ben Pentreath... was a welcome addition to the house... our friends at GRAC were one of the unsung stars. There’s... a remarkable trompe l’oeil wallpaper in Alessandro Branca’s room.” [01:40]
• The house features standout rooms—including a writer’s room with Gracie wallpaper.

2. Industry News Roundup

Tariff Chaos Returns

[06:05-13:00]

• The Trump administration announced new tariffs on imported home products: lumber, upholstered furniture (30%), kitchen cabinets and bath vanities (50%, coming Jan 1).
  • Fred: “Are these tariffs really ever a surprise in this day and age?” [06:51]
  • Uncertainty remains about the implementation and potential stacking with existing country-specific tariffs.
  • Dennis: “If these numbers are real, this could have a transformative impact on the industry.” [09:36]
  • Domestic manufacturers' reactions are mixed—some upholstery makers are considering sticking with overseas production (esp. in Vietnam), while local workrooms could see more demand.
  • Stock prices for public furniture companies have mostly declined since the announcement.

Spaces Magazine Relaunch

[13:00-18:40]

• Spaces, a Bay Area shelter magazine, is returning to print after a 6-year hiatus.
  • Fred: “People are excited in that community... to have a publication specifically focused on the Bay Area market.” [14:27]
• Discussion on why San Francisco is underrepresented in design media compared to LA or NY:
  • Confidentiality of tech clients (NDAs), lack of celebrity exposure, and less “Instagrammable” local styles cited as factors.

Miller Knoll Earnings

[18:56-21:40]

• 10% YoY sales increase, but profits pressured by tariffs and costly retail expansion.
• Holly Hunt’s move within the company highlights challenges of integrating high-end trade businesses alongside mainstream retail.
  • Dennis: “Anyone who’s ordered from Holly Hunt knows you’re not picking it up at the cash register on the way out.” [21:40]

Tariffs on Kitchen Cabinets/Vanities

[22:29-28:29]

• 50% tariff will hit January 1, likely raising costs especially at the mainstream/entry level (e.g., IKEA, Home Depot).
• Unlike furniture, domestic cabinetry manufacturers (via KCMA) are openly in favor to protect US jobs.
  • Fred: “There is still something left to save, so we have to take these aggressive measures.” [26:39]
  • Concerns remain about rising housing costs; major retailers (Home Depot, Lowe’s) expected to be hard hit.

The Fate of “Millennial Gray”

[28:56-32:35]

• Gray, particularly “Millennial Gray,” is increasingly divisive within the design world.
  • Fred: “I am a millennial and I am going gray. So this one hits all.” [28:59]
• Some designers see a shift towards browns/caramels or “sad beige”; gray’s ubiquity linked to being a “safe” color that offends no buyers.
  • Dennis: “If it’s as over as everyone thinks it is, it’s probably just about to make a recover. That’s what Jen Gracie and I think.” [32:35]

3. Feature Interview: Alexa Hampton on 50 Years of Kips Bay

[34:43-56:27]

What Is the Kips Bay Show House?

[35:10]

• Annual showcase benefiting the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx (supports 11,000+ children with programming in STEM, arts, etc.).
  • Alexa: “It is a huge honor... There’s a fear factor quality... About six weeks to tear out bathrooms and kitchens and throw up cabinetry and install plaster moldings and borrow, beg and steal.” [35:10]

Early Memories and Show House Culture

• Alexa attended as a child (her father, Mark Hampton, was an early participant).
  • Alexa: “If anything could sound more weird and Upper East Side, I can’t think of it... our field trip was to the Kips Bay Show House.” [37:21]
• Kips Bay as both a New York institution and a launchpad for design careers.

On Designing a Room This Year

[47:26]

• Alexa drew inspiration from an Oscar de la Renta dress for her room’s palette and textiles.
• The bed she used once belonged to the Duchess of Marlborough and was in her parents’ house for 40 years.
  • Alexa: “The room was inspired by an Oscar de la Renta dress... The bed... was the Duchess of Marlborough's and then it was my parents' bed for 40 years in Southampton.” [47:26]
  • Design choices balance tradition (“unabashedly pretty”) with contemporary touches (custom digital fabrics, a paper mantle, custom rugs).

The Emotional Rollercoaster

• The compressed installation window and logistical challenges create extreme stress and demand flexibility.
  • Alexa: “You say pivot, I say we keep our knees bent.” [40:33]
  • “It’s not Kips Bay if you’re not crying.” [51:54]
• Teams often must improvise when materials or furnishings don’t arrive on time or fit the space.

On the Value of Show Houses

• They serve as a philanthropic “audition” for both established and emerging designers.
• Importance of both large and jewel-box small rooms.
• Advice: “If anybody has a chance to go and look at the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club... it is an amazing place, and it’s so inspirational. These kids are brilliant.” [50:07]

Notable Kips Bay Moments/Quotes

• On career launches: “You either decorate like you want to... or you swing for the fences. Those are the two distinct ways you go about show house decorating.” [44:37]
• Legendary staircases (Sasha Bikoff’s Memphis stairs) and the notoriety they bring.

Final Anecdote

• Alexa shares that she’s recording the interview from the show house, literally seated in an out-of-service bathroom for privacy.
  • Alexa: “I am at the show house right now, crouched in an out of service bathroom, sitting on a toilet, doing this podcast with you. Granted, the seat is covered.” [55:46]

4. What Caught Our Eye

[56:32-58:40]

• Fred: Chadduck, a North Carolina company, picking up former EJ Victor lines and staff after EJ Victor’s closure—“a little bit of a silver lining.”
• Dennis: British House & Garden’s giant October issue—a must-read. Plus, an upcoming event at Serena & Lily Chicago focusing on women in art.

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Fred: “For this show, I’d take a sick Dennis Scully over most other healthy podcasters.” [00:45]
• Dennis: “If these numbers are real, this could have a transformative impact on the industry.” [09:36]
• Fred: “Are these tariffs really ever a surprise in this day and age?” [06:51]
• Alexa Hampton: “There’s a fear factor quality to the Kips Bay Show House because you usually have about six weeks to tear out bathrooms and kitchens and throw up cabinetry and install plaster moldings and borrow, beg and steal.” [35:10]
• Alexa Hampton: “You say pivot, I say we keep our knees bent.” [40:33]
• On legendary rooms: “Sasha Bikoff’s incredible Memphis style staircase... It was a calling card of her bravery, her mastery of the style.” [44:12]
• Alexa Hampton: “I am at the show house right now, crouched in an out of service bathroom, sitting on a toilet, doing this podcast with you.” [55:46]

Segment Timestamps

• Kips Bay recap & intro: [00:45–04:12]
• Ray Booth interview flashback: [02:23–04:12]
• Tariff news (industry focus): [06:05–13:00], [22:29–28:29]
• Spaces magazine return & Bay Area design: [13:00–18:40]
• Miller Knoll earnings: [18:56–21:40]
• Millennial Gray debate: [28:56–32:35]
• Alexa Hampton Interview: [34:43–56:27]
• Industry news wrap-up: [56:32–end]

Summary Takeaways

• Industry is experiencing uncertainty and mixed impacts from newly announced tariffs, especially on upholstered furniture and cabinetry.
• Regional design scenes like San Francisco continue to struggle for national attention, partly due to client privacy and lack of easily “packaged” style.
• Large companies like Miller Knoll are caught between margin pressures and growth ambitions.
• The enduring popularity (or villainy) of “Millennial Gray” reveals how color trends reflect deeper generational and economic shifts.
• Kips Bay remains a beloved institution for philanthropy and design experimentation; participating is still an intense, career-shaping, and deeply personal adventure for designers—just ask Alexa Hampton, who brings candor and wit to her retelling of its legacy.

For more on design news, trends, and upcoming workshops, visit Business of Home.