Podcast Summary

Business of Home Podcast – The Thursday Show: Design Week Dispatches from Paris and London. Plus: A Robot Might Be Making Your Next Sofa
Host: Dennis Scully
Co-Host: Kaitlin Petersen
Air Date: January 22, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode takes listeners on a vibrant journey through Paris and London’s recent design weeks, highlighting not only the standout launches and mood in each city but also the shifting business realities facing designers and manufacturers—especially with the latest U.S. tariffs and tech disruptions. The hosts, Dennis Scully and Kaitlin Petersen, recount their firsthand experiences at events like Deco Off, Maison & Objet, and Design Destination London, talk about the buzz (and anxiety) around American tariffs on European goods, and introduce a thought-provoking story about furniture robotics in North Carolina.

Special guests from the Design Destination London team offer an insider’s look at how that event is reshaping industry networking and British-American design relations. The episode is peppered with key insights about industry trends, memorable scenes from iconic showrooms and parties, and predictions for what’s next.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tariffs and Transatlantic Anxiety

• [03:57] President Trump announced new tariffs: 10% on goods from eight European countries (including France and the UK), rising to 25% by June 1st.
  • Effect on Industry: "British brands we've talked to... this really caught them by surprise and really has them rethinking their go-to-market strategy." (Kaitlin Petersen, [04:43])
  • Many brands that just raised prices in response to previous tariff rounds are concerned about being hit again.
  • U.S. designers finally ready to source European product may now be priced out.
• [06:08] Previous sense of post-pandemic “stability” shattered—nothing is certain; designers and manufacturers must stay agile.

2. Paris Design Week Highlights

• [09:27] Kaitlin led BOH members on immersive “field trips” to ateliers—emphasizing the deep heritage of French craft.
• The Magic of Paris Events:
  • [10:27] Dennis: "The reason to come to Paris is to see so many of the people behind these brands present to you with all of the passion and excitement and the creativity."
  • Standout moments:
    • Patrick Frey’s big theater presentation energizing hundreds of designers.
    • Liberty’s 150th Anniversary pop-up: “[They] did a great job of showing how early motifs... had been reinterpreted... with nods to their history, but also really with an eye to the future.” (Kaitlin, [11:57])
    • Unique, ephemeral installations: The thrill of fleeting, immersive pop-ups.
    • RH (Restoration Hardware) Paris Gallery: Overwhelming demand, queues out the door, and a distinct focus on hospitality rather than product alone. “Everyone is taking pictures of themselves and videos... people discover the Cloud Sofa for the first time…” (Dennis, [18:04])
    • Maison & Objet: Corey Damen Jenkins’ collection launch for Icolts; uptick in handmade and eco-friendly materials, “floor and wall tiles made from apples” (Kaitlin, [26:45]).

3. London’s Event Evolution: Design Destination London

• [28:45] DDL has exploded from 100 designers in 2024 to 350 in 2026, drawing major U.S. and UK brands and buyers.
• Well-Orchestrated Experience:
  • “This show is organized... where there’s moments for kind of showroom discovery... and these immersive kind of experiences with some of the sponsoring brands.” (Kaitlin, [28:45])
  • Detailed itineraries foster effortless connections, discovery, and targeted learning.
  • “Manufacturers are meeting some of their big clients for the first time,” demonstrating the event’s networking power. (Dennis, [34:00])
• Paris vs. London:
  • Paris: Energetic, party-driven, less structured, overwhelming.
  • London: Intentional, focused, sample-driven, strong on education.
  • “There’s something really interesting about... coming here to London, where so much focus is really on product education and going home with samples.” (Kaitlin, [33:00])

4. Robots Enter American Upholstery Manufacturing

• [37:13] Introduction of Cathedral, a startup piloting robotics for upholstery manufacturing in North Carolina.
  • Cathedral founders: Arts and entrepreneurship backgrounds; working with an (unnamed) High Point manufacturer.
  • The robot is integrated at an early production stage, not final upholstery.
  • “...a way to be a support mechanism for... people who just would love an extra helping hand. Even if it’s a robotic arm, perhaps.” (Dennis, [39:27])
  • Labor shortages and lack of government support for craft in the U.S. compared to France.
  • Hosts express eagerness to visit and report firsthand. “Robotics are an inevitable transition... I hope in a helpful and constructive way...” (Dennis, [41:46])

5. 2016 Interiors Nostalgia

• [42:56] A look back at how social media and interiors felt less complicated—prompted by a recent Elle Decor story.
  • “There was a yearning for a more carefree approach to posting...” (Kaitlin, [42:56])
  • Both reflect on less sophisticated (and stressful) times in brand presentation and editorial content.
  • “SEO didn’t dominate everything. We still weren’t sure what to do with our websites... It really was the wild west of how digital media was going sit...” (Kaitlin, [45:19])
  • Conclusion: It’s fun to look back, but the industry thrives even through constant change.

Special Segment: Design Destination London Team Interview ([49:07]–[67:36])

Guests:

• Lauren Heads (Founder, DDL)
• Claire German (CEO, Design Centre Chelsea Harbour)
• Charlotte Roberts (Bruce Gilliam Pollard; Pimlico Road commercial curator)

Origins & Growth of DDL

• Grew organically from a “hair-brain scheme” in 2024, blossoming into a major trade event for the U.S./UK design industry.
• Partnerships with flagship districts (Chelsea Harbour, Pimlico Road) and 17 host sponsor brands.
• Invitation system: Sponsors submit their top trade clients, resulting in 2,000 invites and 350 attendees this year.

What Makes London a Key Design Destination?

• “The combination of the Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour and Pimlico Road makes London one of the most valuable destinations in the world.” (Lauren, [58:31])
• Pimlico Road: Carefully curated, craftsmanship-focused mix; “...globally synonymous with high-class design and interiors.” (Charlotte, [56:57])
• Collaborations across neighborhoods strengthen the UK design scene and provide American visitors with unique direct brand experiences.

Why American Designers Come

• American designers are major buyers; events aim to foster relationships and inspiration in situ, not direct sales.
• “My dream is to do the ultimate country house…”—American attendees seek deeper understanding of British style. (Claire, [61:10])

How to Get Invited

• Must be a top client to a host sponsor brand—“They need to buy the product...” (Lauren, [63:23])
• The cap keeps the experience intimate and focused.

The Paris-London Double Header

• DDL deliberately follows Paris’s Deco Off, providing “frenetic” energy and inspiration in Paris before a more intimate, immersive London experience.

Noteworthy Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Paris experience:
  “The reason to come to Paris is to see so many of the people behind these brands present to you with all of the passion and the creativity.” (Dennis, [10:27])

• On Liberty’s pop-up:
  “They did a great job of showing how... motifs and patterns had been reinterpreted... nods to their history, but also really with an eye to the future.” (Kaitlin, [11:57])

• On RH Paris:
  “...It was less about the furniture... But it was also interesting to see people discover that brand for the first time and what they thought it meant.” (Dennis, [18:04])

• On American market importance:
  “The American market’s the most important market in the world... it’s where the business market is unrivaled.” (Lauren, [60:42])

• On trade event model:
  “Maybe 25, 30 will come and wouldn’t that be fun? ...The first year that we did it...we had 100 people who said, yeah, we’re coming.” (Lauren, [49:41])

Industry News & Final Highlights

• Leadership changes at Deco Off may be coming [70:02]—stay tuned.
• Friend-of-the-podcast Bella Mancini rebrands her firm as Mancini Burns Design, reflecting a broader industry trend in succession planning. (Kaitlin, [67:53])
• Charles Cohen’s Pacific Design Center situation continues to develop, with potential financial and ownership implications. (Dennis, [69:02])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:57 – U.S. Tariff Drama & Immediate Reactions
• 09:27 – Paris Design Week: Field Trips & Debuts
• 10:27 – Why the Paris Experience Matters
• 11:57 – Liberty’s Anniversary Installation
• 14:02 – Ralph Lauren, Kendall Wilkinson, and Hospitality Activations
• 18:04 – RH Paris Review
• 21:15 – RH Design Office & European Expansion
• 24:12 – Maison & Objet, Corey Damen Jenkins and International Market Trends
• 28:45 – Design Destination London: Format & Growth
• 37:13 – Robots Enter Upholstery Manufacturing
• 42:56 – 2016 Nostalgia in Interiors & Media
• 49:07 – Interview: DDL Origins, Growth, and Invitation Process (Lauren, Claire, Charlotte)
• 58:31 – Why London is Unmissable for Designers
• 65:35 – Differences Between Paris and London Experiences
• 67:53 – Standout Industry News: Bella Mancini Rebrand, Charles Cohen Update, Forthcoming Deco Off Changes

Tone & Style

• Warm, conversational, witty, and sometimes self-deprecating.
• Energetic and affectionate about design, but direct and pragmatic when discussing business challenges.
• Generous with praise, especially for industry colleagues and innovators.

Summary for First-Time Listeners

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking an insider’s look at how the design world is navigating big cultural moments––from the joy and spectacle of European design weeks, to the anxieties and opportunities of changing trade realities, to the dawning future of automation in furniture. The hosts’ banter, alongside voices from London’s design leadership, brings these developments to life in vivid detail. Whether you’re a designer, a brand, or just a passionate follower of interiors, you’ll walk away with fresh insights, a sense of where the industry is headed, and perhaps a little extra design wanderlust.