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- [00:04]
A
Welcome to Confessions of an Interior Designer. I'm your host, Caroline Turner. Here we talk through the crazy stories that they certainly don't tell you in design school, because, let's face it, every space has its sins. Are you ready to hear confession? Confession. Welcome to Confessions of an Interior Designer. Today I'm here with Robert Gigliotti, a content creator, model, and interior decorator based in Los Angeles. Robert, thank you so much for being here. I'm so excited to talk to you.
- [00:33]
B
Thanks for having me. This is, like, my first podcast, and I couldn't be more excited.
- [00:37]
A
I love that. And thank you for trusting us with your first podcast. Hopefully, it'll be fun. Okay, so the question I always ask everyone when they come in is, how did you get here? And I wanna know a little bit just about generally your life and also career. And then I might stop you and have a couple questions in between. But, yeah, I'd love to know, how'd you get here?
- [00:57]
B
Okay, cool. Yeah. I mean, the first thing that came to my mind was delusion.
- [01:03]
A
I love that answer.
- [01:04]
B
Yeah. Like, I was always that kid. And I feel like people always think that, like, I'm meant for something bigger than myself. Like, I've always wanted to be an entertainer in some realm. I remember my fifth grade yearbook. I said, when I grow up, I want to be Ryan Seacrest. So, like, this is my first intro to, like, being a talk show host or something like that.
- [01:22]
A
That's iconic, honestly.
- [01:24]
B
Yeah. I host my own talk show through my TikTok, so I kind of just like, put the power into my own hands.
- [01:29]
A
Yeah.
- [01:30]
B
But other than that, I'm the youngest of six kids, and I'm from Connecticut, so my mom is, like, iconic. She went to school for horticulture, worked at a florist, so she's always wanted, like, a beautiful space.
- [01:43]
A
Yeah.
- [01:44]
B
So I, like, remember her using sponges to paint my kitchen as a kid when it was like, the Italian Olive Garden aesthetic was all the things.
- [01:53]
A
Tuscan kitchen. Yep.
- [01:54]
B
I'm remembering Tuscan kitchen. Yeah. With a rooster. Everything.
- [01:58]
A
Gotta have a rooster, sister.
- [01:59]
B
Totally. Take plants over the fridge.
- [02:02]
A
The cabinets don't go to the ceiling. You have decorations. All of it.
- [02:05]
B
Yes. Literally all of that, like, cliche. And she always was just into design. She's into real estate. And my mom's my best friend, so I was a little wingman. And through, like, college, she started stopping real estate and more, investing in properties, remodeling them. Cool. And then selling them, as well as doing her own house. And this is when I really got into it. So I helped her with the projects, I helped her with her house, which I could be more creative. And then I always just started helping people. I've always been that friend that everyone goes to for opinions, whether it's like their hair. I also went to cosmetology school. I love.
- [02:42]
A
Oh my God, you really are a jack of all trades.
- [02:44]
B
It's a random thing, literally.
- [02:46]
A
That's crazy.
- [02:47]
B
But yeah, anything visual that I can see the end of, that's what I love. So I just quit my full time job of four years in May to do this full time, which is advertising. Because I was just like, why not?
- [03:00]
A
Congratulations.
- [03:01]
B
Thank you. The time's now. And yeah, so that's how I ended up here making content, kind of just making over my space with like zero budget. Most of the stuff that thrifted, pretty much everything in the frame other than my boyfriend took that photo is thrifted and I painted that painting. Every single thing else is thrifted.
- [03:20]
A
Amazing.
- [03:20]
B
So just showing you don't need the biggest budget.
- [03:23]
A
Absolutely.
- [03:24]
B
I mean, hopefully one day I will have the biggest budget.
- [03:27]
A
You will.
- [03:28]
B
I will be buying nice things. But for now this is what I do and I love it.
- [03:33]
A
Well, and something about working within a budget that like, are not our clients budgets is that you really have to be creative and it creates spaces that you wouldn't do otherwise because if you had all the money, you would do the thing you thought of first. And I mean, I can speak for myself with my home. It's totally the same. Easily the least amount we've ever spent on a CTI project.
- [03:54]
B
Totally.
- [03:55]
A
It's the one they point to. Because I didn't have anyone controlling my decisions, I just got to like, do it. And I feel like that's when you really can like let your talent shine and then when the bug really bites you because you're like, oh my God, if I didn't have these people telling me what to do, this could be insane.
- [04:11]
B
For sure. And like I always say on my social media, take your time. And like, your first idea is always your worst. And that's what I love about thrifting because I will go without a coffee table for six months until I find the right one. And I did go to to college for four years and the only thing I really took from it, other than life issues is this one teacher for an assignment for an advertising class would have you write a hundred ideas for the same project. And I was like, this is so hard. I always thought my first idea was the best. And then he would go through them with you, you narrow them down to 50 and then through the 50 to 20, and then you'd pick your best of that and it would always be like idea number 76 that I ended up going with.
- [04:50]
A
Wow, what a life lesson.
- [04:53]
B
Yeah, I kind of do that with design. If you just mood board a space and order everything online and like, don't trial and error or find it on travels or throughout going to stores, that's how it looks flat in my eyes.
- [05:05]
A
I completely agree. And I feel like that's what, as a content creator, I'm sure you get this where people are like, how do I do this? How do I get your space? How do I? And it's like, you don't. Yeah, that's the whole point. You find what you love and you collect it and then you place it where you love. And I promise your house will look as collected as mine. But for you, not for me. The more people can learn that, the more freedom you have to, like, make decisions and choose things you love. And to your point, do it slowly. I feel like we even on full homes that were top to bottom renovating, we don't always fill all the art spot. So that way, through travel and all of that, they can collect and it becomes something that's like really special and personal. And to your point, if you buy everything from Restoration Hardware, it's done. But does it have any feel? Is there any character? Is there any interest? No.
- [05:56]
B
Yeah. And I feel like people know me most from my Ick series. I do with my friend Ethan. And at the end of the day, some people view it as us, like hating on people and telling people what to do in their homes. But most, when you look the icks are people just following what's on the homepage of Anthropology. Homepage of Restoration Hardware.
- [06:13]
A
Absolutely.
- [06:14]
B
And it becomes an ick because it's just copying and replicating that Pinterest photo.
- [06:18]
A
Absolutely.
- [06:19]
B
And we kind of encourage people, do what you like. If you love that thing, you wouldn't be worried about people on the Internet telling you that. It might not be chic, but if you love it, you love it. But I feel like most people get those things because someone else did it first.
- [06:33]
A
That's so true. I feel like even with putting our work on the Internet, for me, I've certainly had videos do well and then they hit the wrong side of the Internet and then people who know nothing are giving you the craziest advice. The craziest advice. And for me, it doesn't ding me because I know that I did a good job, and I know I actually do this job for a living. People pay me. These are people who are, like, I don't know. In their basement in Omaha, Nebraska. Like, it's not the same thing. And I feel like if you're confident in that about yourself, it's easier to just be like, okay, that's your opinion. Moving on. People are hiring me for what I do, which is, like, the best feeling ever.
- [07:14]
B
Totally. I was just going to say I'm glad I started social media kind of when I was 26. I'm 27 now, where my frontal lobe is developed. And I got to a place because being from Connecticut was all very much, what car do you have in the driveway? Where are you going to college?
- [07:28]
A
Yeah.
- [07:28]
B
What do you do for a living? What is your LinkedIn profile? And I started at an age where I realized, if anyone is judging you based on the decor you have in your home, the car you drive, the clothes you wear, like, I'm plastered in tattoos. 90% of the people probably think I'm crazy, but those people don't matter.
- [07:45]
A
Absolutely.
- [07:45]
B
That's why I'm happy with, like, if I get any hate comments. And, like, at the end of the day, I'm not judging with my Ick series saying, like, if you have this, you're lesser than. I'm just simply saying it's not for me. Which is fine.
- [07:57]
A
Completely.
- [07:58]
B
Yeah. I'm happy. I'm gonna place that. Like, any comment. I just like it's entertainment. I send a screenshot and send it to my friends. I'm like, look how funny this is.
- [08:05]
A
Wait, that's what I do, too. It helps a lot. It really does.
- [08:08]
B
That's disgusting. Ugly brown trim. And I'm like, okay, slay.
- [08:13]
A
You care, though. You left a comment, babe, so you must care some. No, it's so true. Someone called me a Nepo baby on a video the other day. It's like, I wish if you saw the business loan that I had to take out, you would be horrified. Horrified. It's just funny. Like, I want to frame it and put it in my house that someone thinks that it's amazing.
- [08:35]
B
We wish, right?
- [08:37]
A
I know. I wish. All right. I loved learning about you and how this all came to be. And if you're ready, I think we should jump into some confessions.
- [08:53]
B
I'm so ready.
- [08:54]
A
Okay, let's do it. And at the end of the confessions, we will give either the person who's writing in or the person who's at fault in the story. Penance. So I don't know if you grew up religious. I grew up Catholic. Penance is what the priest gives you when you confess. So ours is not really three Hail Marys. It's more like a martini and a bubble bag or to break up with him or something to that effect. Okay. So just keep that in mind.
- [09:20]
B
Okay, let's do it.
- [09:21]
A
The first one is called the Red Room request.
- [09:26]
B
Okay.
- [09:27]
A
When I was in college, I interned for this high end design firm outside of Pennsylvania. Now where this confession takes place is important because you'd think this would take place in LA Vegas or even New York City, but nope. Good old Pennsylvania, right outside of Pittsburgh. All of our clients were fairly wealthy, normal people, except for this one couple. They were super serious, super awkward and almost borderline rude. We couldn't get a good read on them. And they had bizarre style. Wanted this weird mix of modern with African tribal elements from their travels. Not really our style, but I was just an intern, so what did I know? Which things from your travels? I think 100% should go in your home. But I think you can't just buy things from one place. Like you can't go on one vacation and then buy all the things. And that looks collected. It has to. You know, you're traveling, you're doing different things, there's different memories attached and that's what makes it special, I think. In one of our meetings with the couple, we were going over initial designs for their basement remodel and their three story home. And they mentioned they liked to host parties and wanted a place for entertaining. My first thought was, who would want to hang out with these people? But again, what do I know? We were going over ideas of what they might want for their space. Large bar, movie theater, big tv. They seemed so disinterested in all of our ideas. Then the husband butts in and says, this sounds fine, but we're going to need another room for our extracurricular activities. Okay, again, in my head I'm like, what? These people don't strike me as the kind of people who would want a golf simulator or bowling alley. My boss continued to ask some follow up questions around what they were thinking. And he said as matter of factly as if he was ordering a burger, we would like a red room. But tasteful. Cue the longest pause of my life. I thought, surely he means like a literal room painted red. Right? I don't know what this means. I'm like 20. At the time, my boss acted so casual and was like, we could absolutely do that. And asked them to send over some inspiration of what they were thinking. My boss and I left the meeting and I asked so stupidly. So they want an entire room just painted red. Why would they want that? You should have seen the look on my boss face. Poor woman had to then explain to me what that meant and what really goes down in a red room, which is so fucking embarrassing. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Kill me. They sent their inspiration, which included photos I'm certain no designer should ever have to see. And in their email included. We'd also like the shower in the basement to fit at least 10 people. Love 10 people. I almost spit out my coffee. I don't even wanna know why, but I was starting to get the gist. I dove into research like the professional I am on incognito mode in Google. We went with deep burgundy walls and velvet paneling, custom leather seating and moody lighting you'd normally see in a speakeasy. The shower was another story entirely. Fully tiled in black marble with 14 shower heads and a bench the size of a twin bed.
- [12:32]
B
Wow.
- [12:33]
A
Oh, my God. The biggest piece, a custom chandelier handmade with Murano glass that looked delicate, but, as the husband put it, could handle some movement. I decided not to ask for clarification on what he meant by that. When the project was finally done, I gave them the walkthrough. They were thrilled. The wife kept saying, it's exactly what we imagined. And I thought, is it? Because I didn't imagine this at all. What's funny is that we did actually end up photographing this project for print publication, but conveniently left out the basement entirely. If you do a little research, I'm sure you won't have too hard of a time finding the project, which is a really good challenge for the Internet. And we're gonna take that. I'm confident. I know, right? Okay, first of all, thoughts? That is wild.
- [13:20]
B
I mean, yeah, it kind of, like, is reminding me of Extreme Home Makeover when then, like, one person said they like horses and needed to do, like, a whole horse themed room, but, like, X rated.
- [13:32]
A
Morgan and I are pointing at each other because we talk about this all the time. I wanted to do a video series on, like, if you like horses, here's what your room can look like instead of living inside of a literal horse.
- [13:44]
B
The hay on the walls.
- [13:45]
A
The hay on the walls. Like, oh, my, I cannot believe you just said that. It's exactly that. They read 50 Shades of Gray one time and we're like, we want a red room.
- [13:53]
B
Honestly, I'm here for it.
- [13:55]
A
Live your hobbies, babe. Do what's best for you.
- [13:58]
B
At least they're making it chic, you know?
- [14:00]
A
Yeah. I mean, they let a designer do it. I just wonder, like, I'm gonna get a little specific in a room like that. I feel like you need very specific things to, like, hold all of the equipment.
- [14:12]
B
Yeah.
- [14:12]
A
And so what I wanna know is, did they have to do research? Like, did the client send them the equipment they had and wanted to put?
- [14:20]
B
Oh, yeah.
- [14:21]
A
Like, I have so many. If we do a kitchen, our clients send us all of their small appliances and when. So if you're doing this custom room, you would be like, okay, we need, like, a chain on the wall here. We need this here. How do you. Oh, my God. I feel like the details on that would be pretty personal.
- [14:38]
B
Yeah. I mean, I remember my mom did, like, a hanging swing in, like, a place, and you really have to reinforce the ceiling. So they probably had to be like, if we want a swing in their room, like, we need to put some extra beams in the extra beam.
- [14:52]
A
No, exactly. That had to be planned for ahead of time. I just wanna know the conversation, like, with the contractor. I would just love to be in that. In that conversation. And also, that's not to say we're yucking anyone's yum. Like, if they wanna do that, that is totally fine. I just. Honestly, it is crazy what we learn about people in this drop. Because it's so intimate.
- [15:14]
B
Right. I mean, I think this could be a good business idea. Someone nicheifying the red room business.
- [15:20]
A
I completely agree.
- [15:21]
B
Right.
- [15:21]
A
A dominatrix turned interior designer.
- [15:24]
B
Literally. I think it's amazing. I think I would be most offended if I didn't get invited over to the party, like, after. Right. I'm like, they don't think I'm cute enough.
- [15:34]
A
I love that response. The housewarming party is a little bit different than the normal housewarming parties.
- [15:40]
B
Totally.
- [15:40]
A
I love that.
- [15:41]
B
But, yeah, I guess if they're open in other aspects of their life, I guess they didn't feel awkwardness asking. But I could never.
- [15:51]
A
I could never. I fear I would have to do that myself. I would have to design that room myself, because I could not. Yeah, no, there's no way.
- [15:58]
B
But what a perk of homeowning. Like, you can really do whatever you want.
- [16:02]
A
It's so true. And I. They certainly aren't concerned about resale value. So we're just like, we want what we want. Which, honestly, I hope one Day I get to that point where I'm not having to think about resale value and I can just do whatever I want.
- [16:16]
B
Isn't that, like, the epitome of success? I've always said, like, not worrying about resale value or not having a phone case on my phone because I'm like, who cares? I could just replace it. That's like success. Or going to the grocery store and not, like, checking which peanut butter is most expensive.
- [16:29]
A
But that is being wealthy, in my opinion. You just, like, money doesn't enter the stratosphere for you. It's just, like, not a concern.
- [16:35]
B
Yeah. You're like, I want that peanut butter.
- [16:37]
A
Can't relate. But I'm happy for them.
- [16:40]
B
Yes.
- [16:42]
A
Oh, my God.
- [16:42]
B
I think that's a good project to be an intern on. Like, get thrown in it.
- [16:46]
A
Right. I know you really, really see the craziest parts of the industry. I mean, we've certainly had clients where you find out things that if you just met them as a friend, you certainly would not find out. And I think there's like, we are all sort of duty bound for the majority of things to do what they ask and make it as beautiful as possible, because that's our jobs. But there are some things where you're just like, I didn't wake up this morning thinking I would have to design a sex dungeon.
- [17:14]
B
Yeah.
- [17:14]
A
Which is essentially what they designed.
- [17:17]
B
I love it.
- [17:17]
A
Like, you don't go. And you're like, sex dungeon day. Like, you're. You know.
- [17:21]
B
I mean. But that honestly sounds like a fun project. Like, I have ideas going through my head.
- [17:25]
A
I do, too. The way that I would have, like, draperies.
- [17:29]
B
Yeah. I was gonna say curtains everywhere.
- [17:31]
A
There would be tassels. That's, like, slightly different burgundy color. If it were me, I would have, like, velvet all over the wall. Yeah. I mean, it sounds stunning. And I really wish they at least took a couple of photos because I would kill to see that.
- [17:45]
B
The salon I go to has, like, vintage whips hung on the wall.
- [17:51]
A
Amazing.
- [17:51]
B
That's the core. And the wallpaper in the bathroom is a very queer, friendly space. Like a bunch of topless girls. And I love it.
- [17:59]
A
I love that.
- [17:59]
B
I think that's one of our salon versus, like, boucle everything and pompous grass.
- [18:03]
A
And I think you're right. It's the. Who was I talking to this about someone? The fucked up shoe theory. Like, you add something in that's not normal or not expected, and that's what makes the space so interesting and different. And I feel like, when people are willing to take chances with their spaces, that's when everyone's like, oh, my God, I wanna live in that house. But they probably wouldn't make those same decisions if they were the one who was building the house. It's very interesting. I feel like how that works. Okay. Penance. Do you have any penance for. And no one did anything wrong in this situation. I think, if anything, my penance for the Internet would be maybe revisiting the 50 Shades of Grey sort of storyline. I think that could be very fun to relive their intern times and just take them back, you know, I think that could be nice.
- [18:56]
B
I love that. I think that is a great idea. Because maybe she won't be as afraid of it as she used to be if she reads the books.
- [19:05]
A
I know. I mean, it sounds like she was really young. And I feel like at 20 from a small town, I would have been like, what the fuck is this?
- [19:11]
B
Yeah.
- [19:12]
A
But now, yeah, I think it could be fun to sort of revisit your time as a young designer.
- [19:16]
B
I love that.
- [19:17]
A
Unless you have any penance, we'll go to the next one.
- [19:19]
B
You know, yours was really good, so I agree with you for sure.
- [19:23]
A
Okay, great. We'll take that.
- [19:24]
B
Or maybe make a mood board of how she would do it now as an adult. Anything she would change.
- [19:29]
A
Yeah. Like, if she's a designer on her own now, I would love to see what she would have done. I mean, I have no idea how old this person is, but I was 2010 years ago. So even 10 years ago, I feel like it would have been an entirely different room than I would do now. That's a great one. I love that. And if you do, send us the mood board. Cause I wanna see. Yes, I'll send it your way, Robert. I'll send it your way. I'll send it your way. Okay. Next story is called I Burglarized a Broach.
- [20:06]
B
Okay.
- [20:07]
A
This is probably the closest I've ever come to actually breaking the law. And it happened to be on a job, and it still keeps me up some nights. I was working on a renovation for an old Victorian home in a small town in the South. This home was such a gem. Layers of history in every corner. The clients were a couple with young children who'd inherited it from the wife's great aunt. The couple had no real connection to the home, but when the opportunity arose to move their family to this house, they luckily saw the potential in the home and hired my firm to renovate the home. Top to bottom. Trust me when I say it was beautiful but needed a lot of work. Since it was a full gut job, most of the stuff in the home they didn't want and they told me to toss or donate. I think that's some foreshadowing there for us. During the demo, the contractor started peeling back wallpaper that had to be close to a century old. And the main contractor called me to come to the house to see this hidden cubby behind a built in bookcase.
- [21:01]
B
That's like my dream, right?
- [21:03]
A
Treasure.
- [21:03]
B
I want to renovate a house with haunted stuff. Or like treasure in the wal.
- [21:08]
A
Oh my God. Little cubbies with all the treasure. That's like the ideal scenario. We really wanted to preserve the historic nature of the home. So I went to the home to see what he had found and if we should remove it or keep it in the design. I opened it expecting maybe some old letters or random knick knacks, but instead I found this absolutely stunning antique brooch sitting on the cubby ledge. It was delicate but clearly expensive with this deep, rich sapphire at the center surrounded by tiny diamonds. The thing was, I'd never seen a piece of jewelry quite like it. And it felt almost enchanted, like it was meant to be lost forever or hidden until the right person found it. At first I thought about telling the homeowners, but they were so disinterested in the home's history and I convinced myself that they wouldn't care, that they'd probably just pawn it. I thought maybe this is a sign, a little reward for all the blood, sweat and tears I've poured into this place. So I slipped the brooch into my pocket, telling myself I'd figure out what to do with it later. I brought the brooch home, hiding it in a jewelry box in my bedroom. Fast forward over a year and a half, the project wrapped up and the clients never said anything to me. I still have the brooch tucked away in my jewelry box. Truthfully, I don't think of the brooch much anymore, but I still needed to confess. I know I should probably return it or at least anonymously drop it off at the house. But something about it feels like it's mine now. Like fate meant for me to have it. Should I feel guilty? I've had the brooch for almost three years now, and I've worn it exactly once to a holiday event. And I have to say it looked damn good. Please absolve me of my sins so I can wear the brooch without guilt.
- [22:45]
B
I don't know how to feel. I feel like I would feel the same way. Guilty.
- [22:49]
A
Yeah.
- [22:49]
B
But at the same time, I've been in that position where, like I was saying, I've worked with a bunch of like house flips projects and I've taken stuff from the house because they were like, we don't want it.
- [23:00]
A
Yes, absolutely.
- [23:01]
B
So they didn't know it was there and they said they didn't want it. Anything. They didn't care. Then it's free reign. It is the component of hidden in the wall, though.
- [23:13]
A
I think the hidden in the wall implies value.
- [23:16]
B
Yeah.
- [23:16]
A
Because it's like someone was stashing that for a rainy day.
- [23:20]
B
Yeah, it is.
- [23:21]
A
You're right. It's such a conundrum because I have too, there have been clients who are like, oh, no, we're ripping all this out. We don't want it. And even if I don't take it, contractors will like sub. You know, it's better than throwing it in a landfill. So we're always like, yeah, let's take it or we'll donate it or whatever. So I agree with you on that aspect. And I feel like if it was just out in the house and they could have seen it at one point, it would be like, no questions asked. Yeah, the hidden nature, to your point, is the hard part. But I'm also super woo woo. So I feel like I would be like, yeah, no, this is fate. The universe meant this for me, even if it didn't.
- [23:57]
B
Yeah. I mean, I guess it comes down to like, how much I like the brooch. Like, if I loved it, it would probably come home with me. If I was indifferent, I would call them up before taking it home, you know?
- [24:07]
A
Yes, I think you're right about that.
- [24:09]
B
But is that like, slimy?
- [24:11]
A
I mean, look, I'm not here to judge. I was talking to Morgan about this because I was saying that, yeah, if I didn't like the clients, maybe I wouldn't feel so bad. But I feel like if it was clients that were really respectful with my time, didn't argue about bills, like it was all like a perfect project. I feel like just cause those clients I wanna like protect with my soul, I feel like I would have told them, yeah, if it was a job, that the clients were assholes. They wasted a bunch of my time. I mean, I honestly still don't think I would because the Catholic guilt would eat me alive. But I get it. Like, I totally get, like, I undercharged for this project. These people are assholes. I'm taking the brooch. Dumbass I'm taking the dog, dumbass. Yeah, no, it does.
- [24:56]
B
You know what? They never asked for it.
- [24:58]
A
Right?
- [24:58]
B
They never knew anything was missing. And so, like, I can kind of relate to this. My mom is like the messiest person ever. And yeah, I keep talking about my mom because I love her.
- [25:07]
A
No, I love it.
- [25:08]
B
She lives with her boyfriend now. And I'm always, when I go home, I clean up her space. And she'll even be like, I'll buy you dinner, take you out to dinner, clean up for me. Because she knows I like to do it.
- [25:16]
A
I need a son like that.
- [25:17]
B
And so, like, she keeps every magazine and I recycled all the magazines. And her amazing boyfriend, who's so great. Love him, comes home, was like, where's that Star wars magazine I got for your nephew?
- [25:29]
A
Fuck.
- [25:30]
B
And I'm like, like, do I tell him that I'm gonna literally crumple it up and like it's under layers of garbage? Oh, no. And I was like, do I tell him? Do I tell him like? And I did. And I went and like, found the magazine again at like a Barnes and Noble. It was like some special edition for my nephew that he got. That was so sweet.
- [25:48]
A
So sweet.
- [25:48]
B
It's cause he asked for it, like.
- [25:50]
A
Yeah.
- [25:50]
B
If he had never asked for it, he would have never known it was gone.
- [25:53]
A
No harm, no foul.
- [25:54]
B
Yeah, yeah. Or it could have been just trash. So I think it was just trash to them if they never asked.
- [26:00]
A
I mean, that's definitely a possibility that it was literally just trash for them. Someone would know about it. I know Morgan is saying that she feels like if it were an heirloom or something in a will or like it was passed down to someone, like someone would have said something.
- [26:14]
B
Totally.
- [26:15]
A
My assumption is that a woman who wanted to leave her marriage before a no fault divorce or wanted to leave a situation, or maybe it was like a daughter, somebody wanted to leave a situation and was hiding that piece to then either be able to sell it or trade it or whatever. And it was like their get out of this situation and it was like a last ditch effort for them. So they hid it. So that way it's not in jeopardy. There's no way that's true. I literally made that up. But in my head it makes sense.
- [26:41]
B
Yeah.
- [26:42]
A
Cause I feel like genuinely, why else hide it? Or you're not hiding it from people who live in your home, so what's the point of that?
- [26:48]
B
Well, that's the case. She's an icon who's good at drywall and hiding things. Because, like, I'm obsessed.
- [26:54]
A
I completely agree. I mean, you know what it probably is, realistically? Someone put it in there, and then they died, and no one knew it was in there. And then they drywalled over it. And it's probably, like, five generations of different families, and they, to your point, never would have known. This is a tricky one. It really is. It really, really is.
- [27:13]
B
It reminds me of another thing, if I can. Like, I came up with another tangent, but it reminded me of my sister. So, like, youngest is six. So one sister's two years older than me. And it's crazy. She just had a baby, so it feels crazy. Now I'm talking about this. But. So her and I were addicted to our, like, pacifiers, our binkies. And we were, like, probably, like, four still with them. Like, and my dad just came home one day and was like, we're done with them. We're done. Cut them apart, like, all this stuff. And my sister's one of the smartest people I've ever met, and I guess she hid some. And then when my mom renovated 10 years later and, like, opened up the walls, there was, like, 12 Binkies that we have no clue how she got behind the walls that she was hiding and stashing. Yeah.
- [27:55]
A
She's literally an icon. It's so funny you're saying this, because my mom talks about this all the time. I also. We called them passies in the South. I loved my passy. I had it until I was, like, three. And she poked holes in them. Cause then you can't suck. And she said that she, like, poked holes in all of them but didn't take them away, so I just wouldn't want them. And she said I would walk around the house sucking on it if it didn't suck. I would throw it down. And then, like, a couple hours later, I would come out with a paci that there was no holes. My mom's like, where did you get that? I was clearly hiding them so I could still use my passy without her knowing.
- [28:30]
B
Yeah. So now I think it was like, sisters maybe stealing each other's clothes. And she's like, I'm hiding this so you won't take my brooch. And then she just forgot where she put it.
- [28:37]
A
You're so right. That is so real. I think all sisters. Morgan has a sister, and I feel like that's definitely Drax for sure.
- [28:45]
B
Yeah.
- [28:46]
A
Oh, my God, I love that. Okay, well, I feel like there can be some real penance for this one. And I feel like My penance is going to be to give or donate or something. One of their favorite pieces. So like something that means something to them, something that would also bring someone else joy and that they pass it on in some way, whether they leave it in public and someone gets it or they give it to someone or something. But I feel like the exchanging of something special might create some equilibrium with karma is how I would feel. That sounds so woo woo. But that's how I would feel.
- [29:24]
B
Okay. I came up with two ideas, if that's okay.
- [29:28]
A
Please tell me both. Tell me both.
- [29:29]
B
I think the first one, so she can like ease her feeling of guilt would be have a friend or a partner go through her house and take one thing.
- [29:36]
A
Yeah.
- [29:37]
B
And don't go looking for it. Just see like, how long it takes her to realize what is gone. Because maybe it's like one specific spoon or a cup and she'll never notice. Or an earring. And if she does notice, and maybe she's like, I should return the brooch.
- [29:49]
A
Because maybe that's even better.
- [29:52]
B
Or maybe she'll never realize what they took. Give them, have them set a calendar date like two months later and be like, this is what I took.
- [29:58]
A
Honestly? Yeah, that's a great idea.
- [30:01]
B
Because it's like sometimes you won't even realize if my favorite pair of shoes was gone, I think it would take me like three months to be like, wait, where are those shoes?
- [30:08]
A
And I would automatically assume I left them somewhere or lost it. Like, I would never assume someone took it. I would just be like, yep, well, I guess it's gone.
- [30:17]
B
It's gone. Yeah. The other one. I saw this trend a while ago where people in the baby aisle at Targets, you know how they would see next to diapers a purse put back and the mom had to put the purse back to get the diapers.
- [30:30]
A
Yes, yes.
- [30:31]
B
So they were hiding like a $20 bill in diapers things. And since she found something that she loves for fate, maybe she could do something like that. Like high to 20 and some formula or something. I love that. And then that mom would be like, oh my God, this was fate.
- [30:43]
A
Yeah.
- [30:43]
B
I should have found this $20.
- [30:45]
A
And creating fate for someone else when you never know how much they might need it. I think that is beautiful. I love that.
- [30:52]
B
Yes.
- [30:52]
A
Robert, those are so good. And you wanna come be my co host? Because I feel like you have better penance than I do.
- [30:56]
B
Sure, sure, sure.
- [31:03]
A
Before we get into some questions, I wanted to do a quick little rapid fire round with you. This is new. We haven't done this before. And it is because you make these iconic ick videos, and I watch every single one, and I have to say, I agree with all of them. There's never been one where I'm like, nope, I feel like you. Yeah, those are great. So our version is heaven, purgatory, or hell. And I'm gonna give you a couple of just, like, rapid fire things, and you can tell me heaven, meaning you love purgatory. Could go 5050 or hell. Hate.
- [31:37]
B
Cool.
- [31:38]
A
You ready?
- [31:39]
B
I'm ready. I'm excited.
- [31:40]
A
All white kitchens.
- [31:42]
B
Okay. Let's do purgatory for that. Because fair. If it's a warm white, I'm here for that. I love things to be clean. I think it'd be done so well. I'm from Connecticut, coastal area, and I grew up in a white kitchen, so I'm 50. 50 on it.
- [31:59]
A
I love that. And to your point, white kitchens, if they're done well, they can be some of the most beautiful spaces in your home. So I can completely agree with you.
- [32:08]
B
Yeah.
- [32:09]
A
I would like. 50% of our clients are still asking for white kitchens.
- [32:13]
B
Yeah. The resale value. If Martha Stewart is making it, she can make a white kitchen and make it cozy.
- [32:19]
A
Absolutely. One of my clients just said, I want Ina Garten's kitchen, and it's white. And that's what we'll do. Amen.
- [32:26]
B
Love it.
- [32:27]
A
Okay. Eclectic spaces.
- [32:29]
B
Heaven. I think people ask what my style is, and I would say that because I have, like, a chrome modern side table next to a vintage chair next to something mid century next to an art fact. I think that's what the mix. The mix. You don't shop at one place.
- [32:46]
A
Yep.
- [32:47]
B
And I say with my tattoos. I think I'm like a critic of tattoos too. I know I love everyone's tattoos, but you can tell when people just do one style. It kind of looks like a gimmick. That's what my friend Ethan and I always say. It's like a theme. Your house is boho aesthetic. The coastal aesthetic is too themed, and it almost looks like you're at Disney or something like that. So eclectic is 100% like an old rustic table with modern chairs. I love that. That's my favorite.
- [33:13]
A
Completely agree. I love that. And I. You're right. Your style is absolutely eclectic. That's what I would call it too.
- [33:19]
B
Thank you.
- [33:20]
A
Color drenching. How do you feel about color drenching?
- [33:23]
B
Can I repeat?
- [33:24]
A
Yeah.
- [33:25]
B
Because I love color drenching. Love, love, love, love, love. Heaven.
- [33:29]
A
I also love color drenching.
- [33:31]
B
Yeah.
- [33:31]
A
I feel like it's the best way to make the biggest impact. And what some people. What I have to explain to my clients is that color drenching actually makes the space more calm. Like, if you do white trim and a white ceiling with blue walls, chaos. Why are you doing that? Please don't. I'm begging you. Like, this is not. It feels like. Yeah, just like a normal person's house. And that's not what you're hiring a designer for.
- [33:55]
B
Totally.
- [33:55]
A
And I feel like the color drenching, like, really takes it to a next level and it's like commitment.
- [34:00]
B
Yeah. I think I would say if I had to, like, recon all my icks I've done my biggest ick I see because it's so common, is like. Yeah. Like you're saying a bright blue wall with white trim and a white ceiling, Especially when it's just an accent wall and they leave the trim.
- [34:16]
A
Don't even get me started.
- [34:17]
B
I recently saw a YouTuber and I'm not going to expose anyone, but she did an act, a color drenched wall, did the window, did the walls, did the ceiling, but left her trim white. And I was. I'm fine with, like, you could kind of. I don't know if you can see in mine, but I have painted my walls cream, the ceiling cream, but the trim is dark. So if you're gonna do the blue walls, maybe even like an off white, I'll be happy with that. Or just like, play around. It doesn't need to be all one color, but it's that, like, candy cane. They make it look like a candy cane or something.
- [34:49]
A
I completely agree. It really takes me back to, like, my southern roots. Like, every house in the south has a white ceiling, white trim and colorful walls. And it's just not.
- [34:58]
B
Yeah, yeah.
- [34:59]
A
It's just pedestrian. And it's like, not. But you're not committing enough.
- [35:03]
B
Yeah. And I think, I guess this could be confusing. Like, if it's a light color on your walls, white trim is fine. But if you're gonna do like a bold, rich.
- [35:10]
A
Yeah.
- [35:11]
B
My hallway's this cognac copper color. And if I had white trim with that.
- [35:16]
A
Yum.
- [35:16]
B
I know I'm like, I could swing the camera, but I don't know what would come in my mess. I shoved over there. But yeah, if I left the trim white, I don't even know what vibe that would be.
- [35:26]
A
It makes me feel uneasy.
- [35:29]
B
Yeah.
- [35:30]
A
Like, I think a space that's all the same color or all the tone, you know, whatever. It gives your eyes, like, it glides your eye over it almost. And you're not like, starting and stopping. I have white trim in this room, and I don't love it.
- [35:45]
B
Yeah. I want to see more color drenching in nurseries and stuff like that. No more sad beige nurseries.
- [35:52]
A
I know.
- [35:53]
B
Or if you can do beige, paint all the trim, make it like this cozy nook of warmth.
- [35:58]
A
I completely agree. Yeah.
- [36:01]
B
Yeah.
- [36:01]
A
One of my favorite things to do is to avoid the, like, sad beige. If you're going creamy on the walls, almost everything else needs to have color. If you're going super color drenched. I actually love, like an all cream tan, neutral furniture in like a high gloss green space.
- [36:19]
B
Yeah.
- [36:20]
A
Cause it's. That's the drama. And then you're toning it down with the furniture. Whereas if you're doing, like, more subdued walls, then the furniture really gets to sing. And I feel when you're doing both, that's when it can become, like, overly stylized, in my opinion.
- [36:34]
B
Yeah, I agree. Can I ask you a question? Please.
- [36:38]
A
I would love that. No one ever asks me a question.
- [36:40]
B
Well, yeah, because we were just talking about side beige, and clearly I'm gonna say I'm wearing beige. My fireplace is beige. I painted my wall. It's a creamy white. I love beige. It's probably my favorite color. Beige and chocolate brown. And I get that on TikTok every day. Of course it's brown. Of course it's brown. Of course it's brown. Honestly, like, I feel like we both have gone to the darker blond. The beige blond.
- [37:01]
A
Yes. Yes.
- [37:02]
B
I was always putting sun in in my hair, and in the summer, my hair. I'm naturally blonde. Will get super light, but I recently toned it darker. Like, I want to be beige. I love it, but it's adding contrast. So what is your, like, suggestion when people love beige? I see you have, like, creamier walls with burgundy curtains, but I think it doesn't apply. Like an ick. It's not. Yes or no. Beige could be amazing.
- [37:24]
A
Yes. I actually have this conversation with clients a lot because I love beige. I also love putty. I love, like, any of those sort of, like, chalky. Yeah. And clients are like, I don't want it to look like the 90s, which is fair. The way I think about spaces is like, if it were a movie set and you saw it 10 years from now, would you be like, that was in 2024 or that was in blah, blah, blah? And so for me, contrast, I think, is a great point. I also think that bringing in things that, like I said, everything else has a story, everything else has personality. And then the walls are what is giving the other pieces that stage. I also think doing, like a beige wall, like, color drenching beige, would actually not be something I would really do. And I feel like that's what you're saying with certain colors, you do need contrast, and you do need. I mean, I'm saying that. And then we definitely have. It's like on the pinkier side, but we have color drenched in, like, a pinky beige bedroom. And it's stunning. It's, like, so calming. So I didn't give you a very good answer. I do think it's very based on your architecture, based on everything else you have and just like, how you're creating the mix.
- [38:35]
B
And I liked what you said about, like, the decade thing.
- [38:38]
A
Yeah.
- [38:39]
B
Like back to my ick videos. It's a lot of those timestamp things, you know, like, you don't.
- [38:43]
A
Yes.
- [38:44]
B
I just went and toured a house for fun. Cause I love that.
- [38:46]
A
I love doing that. I do that all the time. I do that all the time.
- [38:50]
B
Multimillion dollar house in la. And I'm like, this is beautiful. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. But it's 2024. It's like, I could tell by the color of the Zalige tiles, which are beautiful, but the mix with that and this, I was like, it's not back to the white kitchen. I grew up with that house. My mom has sold it years and years ago, and I lived there when I was in third grade. So how many years ago is that?
- [39:13]
A
Eighteen.
- [39:13]
B
A lot. Many, many years ago. And I still think that kitchen is timeless. You know, like, I would still have that exact kitchen in my home today.
- [39:22]
A
I love that.
- [39:23]
B
And that's what I love about design. Like, I don't. In my apartment, I don't know the last time it was renovated, probably the 90s. And I'm obsessed with it.
- [39:30]
A
That's my favorite thing. And I feel like it's about being a good steward of your home. Like, the way I feel about it is the things that are stuck, we try to keep in the home's architecture and age. And then everything else can be whatever you want. And if you stick with that formula, you kind of can't go wrong, because that's the mix without people knowing how to mix.
- [39:50]
B
Yeah.
- [39:51]
A
Like, that's creating a mix of architecture and furniture. You have the architectural details that are to the house and then the furniture that could even be from Facebook Marketplace. And people are like, oh, my God. This home is stunning. It's very. And I think you won't get a timestamp if you do that. If Your house is 1920s and the architecture is 1920s, the furniture can be from CB2 or whatever it is. And because the architecture is right, it will, like, make everything else feel more expensive and more elevated, you know?
- [40:21]
B
Totally.
- [40:22]
A
And speaking of, that actually brings me to another heaven. Purgatory or hell, which is CB2 furniture. This is. I feel, like, controversial. I want to know your take.
- [40:33]
B
I'm going to say purgatory.
- [40:35]
A
Okay. I like that answer because there's a.
- [40:39]
B
Credenza I've wanted for years. I think it might be part of, like, the Lenny Kravitz collection. It's wood with, like, steel. I've made videos about it. Cause I want CB2. Come on, please. Send it to me.
- [40:50]
A
Please, guys.
- [40:51]
B
Yeah. And if you're a follower of. I love wood and, like, chrome and nickel and stainless mixed together, that's like, my favorite. But they're following on the trends so fast. You never know, like, with the quality. So that's the thing. It's like, it's too fast. Almost like, I think it's just quality.
- [41:11]
A
The trend cycle is out of control.
- [41:13]
B
Yeah. So I think they can't be, like, manufacturing it that well. If it's, like, you see it in Elsa Hosk's home, and then the next day it's on their shelves. So. But. But I think it is probably the coolest accessible one. I guess I agree for people who want it to, like, be a little more playful, because, like, for younger, I guess, Urban Outfitters did that for a while, but that quality is not great.
- [41:38]
A
Terrible.
- [41:38]
B
Yeah. Like, if you want cool stuff and you're not an interior designer, don't know where to source things, CB2 is good for that.
- [41:46]
A
And I mean, there's filler pieces. There's, like, small pieces that you can bring in that don't break the bank. They do. You know, I will say their materiality is probably better than most of the. The prefab furniture you can get. But it's interesting because I feel like, also with all of their designer collections, they're really like Athena Calderon for Crate and barrel, which obviously, CB2, crate and barrel are the same company. I love her work. She does incredible, incredible stuff. But a lot of the pieces were repros of vintage orientique pieces. And so for me, that's devaluing. What. But we do. I feel like the remaking of a French chair. And of course, I agree with you, accessible price point, I feel like, is very important, and I do love that. I just wish there were smaller companies focused on accessible price points, but maybe slower.
- [42:38]
B
Yeah.
- [42:38]
A
And I think our society in general has just gotten used to having everything immediately. And, like, when people had to wait four months for their sofa, they, like, melt down. It's like the sofa has to be built. Someone has to build that. And so I agree with you. I feel like it's too fast. There's no way that's all being done, like, in the best quality. There's just no way.
- [42:59]
B
And I will say, like, on sub two hell for subitu decor, like a marble soap dish that's $70.
- [43:06]
A
Yep.
- [43:07]
B
That is. No. For me as a thrifter a day even before this, like, today, I found this, like, cute, real marble little dish for $1.99 that I'm gonna put rings in by my sink when I wash my. And you can find so many cool things. Thrifting. And I know people always love to give me. Oh, I live here. I live here. My dream. When I do road trips, I love road trips. I look for thrift stores in the Goodwills, and that's where I'm finding it. Middle of nowhere. Kentucky is where I'm finding the best stuff.
- [43:35]
A
Absolutely. The cities that actually are less metropolitan have the best stuff. The best stuff, you're missing out, and they're cheaper.
- [43:45]
B
There's a parking lot. You don't have to pay low. Park like, three miles away, and then carry it all. Like, something about a parking lot with a big superstore thrift store is just heaven to me.
- [43:55]
A
I love that you're so Connecticut. Yeah, I do, too. Like, I love a parking lot. I love a drive through. I love those conveniences. We both live in cities where. Well, I guess, yeah, la's hit or miss. I feel like with parking lots and Chicago's the same, there's perks to living in big cities. But, man, I do sometimes understand the appeal of, like, the quieter life. Being able to drive to Target in five minutes and park not in a parking deck and just walk in.
- [44:19]
B
Yes. It's just like, I want to go run into Target, but I don't want to swivel around a parking garage, like, two hours. That's my biggest thing about living in a city. I can't complain because I love la. I love it so much.
- [44:31]
A
But where do you live in la? What neighborhood are you in?
- [44:34]
B
I'm in West Hollywood, so I am.
- [44:37]
A
That's where I lived.
- [44:38]
B
Oh, really?
- [44:39]
A
Right. Off of Beverly, across from Lemonade.
- [44:42]
B
I know exactly where that is.
- [44:44]
A
Oh, amazing.
- [44:44]
B
Yeah. I love it over here because I do love east la, which people, like, consider maybe like the Brooklyn of la, but the houses in West Hollywood are really beautiful. I am able to get a yard for my dogs.
- [44:57]
A
The dream.
- [44:59]
B
And I feel like if I'm going to live in la, I want to see celebrities, I want to see nice cars. Like, if I'm paying for this, I want to feel like I'm in la. Like I can just go to Brooklyn. Then if I want to be in Brooklyn, I want to see a famous person a day.
- [45:10]
A
I completely agree.
- [45:11]
B
I feed off of it. I'm like, at the gym and I'm like, who's here? So that's what I like. And with this job now, I feel like everything's happening over, which is good too.
- [45:22]
A
Yeah, that's really exciting. How long have you lived in la?
- [45:25]
B
A little over two years.
- [45:27]
A
Yeah. That's great. I feel like there are people who are built for LA and people who are not. I am not. But the city itself, the people like the opportunities. It's endless. And I do think it's literally snowing here today, so your sunshine is. I'm very, very jealous.
- [45:44]
B
But there's something amazing about that, you know?
- [45:47]
A
Ugh. I'm the scene from Gilmore Girls when it's the first snow that runs through my head. Every single. I've been here eight years and the first snow, there is something pretty magical about that. I definitely agree.
- [46:00]
B
Yeah.
- [46:00]
A
Okay. I have one more. Heaven, Purgatory or hell? And then we're going to move to some questions. Jonathan Adler, Quirky Urban Outfitters decor.
- [46:11]
B
Okay, this is 100% hell. This is like how my Ick series started. I get it. I get it. Like, life needs to be lighter, you know?
- [46:21]
A
Yeah.
- [46:22]
B
Have some funny stuff. But from a design lens and from, like, that's what I talk about. I don't like it. You know what I mean? I just don't.
- [46:31]
A
Yeah. Period. And that's fine.
- [46:33]
B
And I know we talked about this earlier, I don't drink. And now after seeing those, Jonathan Adler's decor and stuff like that, it's opened my eyes to, like, how much liquor and alcohol is literally everywhere. And yes, drug paraphernalia. And not that I'm very, like, sensitive to that, but it's crazy that something that I'm not, like, even trying to get deep that affects so many people. Life is now like, the main decor.
- [46:59]
A
Yeah.
- [46:59]
B
And I'm not saying, like, people who have A built in bar in their house. That's beautiful when it's done right. But like we have bar carts. We have people spending $200 on the rocket ship that says rum on it. That kind of just baffles me.
- [47:12]
A
I completely agree with you. Yeah, it's like alcohol's a hobby.
- [47:16]
B
It's the same as like hanging golf balls on your wall. I'll never be here for that.
- [47:20]
A
Or hay on your walls. Like, it's just not. It's too literal and it's not gonna work. I agree.
- [47:25]
B
But to each their own. I collect many benches and chairs now because I found them and I think they're so cute. So people probably think that's so cute. Really weird.
- [47:33]
A
No, that's the cutest collection I've ever heard of in my life. Yeah, I collect ashtrays, so that's a bit less charming. But there's so many cool ones like it into it. Now we're going to segue into some listener questions. So the first one is, do you feel like trends are moving way quicker than they used to, which we just talked about?
- [47:58]
B
Yeah, totally. And I think honestly there's pros and cons to it. I think what I've kind of come to accept is I think about myself as a child in Connecticut and I'm kind of like the first generation of phones. So I got an iPhone in sixth grade, which sounds crazy. I was like the first in my school. Like, whatever.
- [48:20]
A
But you were a big man on campus. Like, I'm positive. I remember the first girl who had a razor phone. And we were like, yeah. Oh my God. She's basically royalty. Like, it's a big deal.
- [48:32]
B
Mostly because I was the youngest of six and my mom was like retired as a mom. I was like, I could walk to my school. So she's like, I just need to make sure you're getting home safe. I didn't even use that. Like, kept it in my bag the whole day.
- [48:40]
A
But I love it.
- [48:42]
B
There's something beautiful about. I grew up in that town, afraid to come out of the closet just in vineyard vines golf clothes. Because that's what I saw. My dad's and all the dads and that's the only thing they sold in the stores. And then now I go back and I see kids, my like kids that age in sixth grade with pink hair and baggy jeans and Justin Bieber look alike. And I think that's something great about trends in social media and Pinterest is that I only had what the stores were around me and the people around me. So that's why I look like a 40 year old man at 12. Because I even. Or it was what's on TV and that was Jersey Shore. So honestly, I did have shutter shades and like a Miami T shirt at some point.
- [49:21]
A
Jim Dan Laundry.
- [49:22]
B
Yeah, literally. And that's just what I was exposed to. So I think there's something cool about trends cascading. I've learned so much from Pinterest. I mean, I have millions of coffee table books that I do look through for inspiration, but that used to be really the only way.
- [49:38]
A
Yep.
- [49:39]
B
So it's kind of nice that trends makes you less individual, but I think it kind of also helps you be individual because I wouldn't have had access to anything anyone in LA was doing before.
- [49:54]
A
I love that outlook. I think that's lovely.
- [49:56]
B
Yeah.
- [49:56]
A
I think we hear so much about trends being in hyperspeed and they are, but the idea that like that trickle down effect could be helping so many people in small towns in small environments that they can't be themselves or not even that they can't. They don't know. Cause they've. To your point, they've never been exposed to anything else. It's like when you see, you know, something on the TV for the first time and you're like, whoa, that's possible. Like that's available. That's an option. I mean, I feel that way about my job. I feel that way about so many things. Growing up in a small town, it's like you feel like, whoa, we're living in two different worlds. I think that's so lovely.
- [50:33]
B
Yeah. Like it becomes even just saying, like at the gym, looking, seeing what famous people are there, that is so normal. And I'm so privileged and lucky to like live the life I have now. But there's so many people that don't have circumstances that can get them to this point. And when people are like crapping on like Hailey Bieber glazed donut nails or stuff like that, I'm like, what about that girl that sees those and thinks they're beautiful and they make her feel more confident? So I'm here for trends for that.
- [50:57]
A
I love that.
- [50:58]
B
And I guess the bad side of trends is I did. I don't. I'm gonna expose myself. I got a Mario Bellini sofa dupe from Home Depot. Granted.
- [51:08]
A
Oh my gosh.
- [51:09]
B
This was because I couldn't afford a couch and my mom had a credit to Home Depot and was like, this is my. You moved to la? My gift. And that was the only Decent thing I could find.
- [51:17]
A
Perfect.
- [51:17]
B
But that's when a trend goes too far. Because was like, I didn't want the, like, cup holder sofa, you know, that like, reclined. But then when Home Depot's making it, that's when trends I'm like, it's a bridge too far. Yeah, it's too far. And I fell for it.
- [51:30]
A
When it's made it to Home Depot's arena and I fell for it.
- [51:33]
B
And then I went to Facebook Marketplace within weeks because I found my couch at a thrift store. And I don't care if people think that's dirty. I cleaned it and hopefully it's making someone else happy. But yeah, it didn't last long. It was the most uncomfortable thing on earth. And that's when I tried goes too far.
- [51:51]
A
Well, and it also goes to like, trying to fill a space. I know for the first couple of places I lived in, like, before I owned, I had the mindset of like, well, I don't own this. I'm not gonna live here forever, and I don't have a bunch of money, so I'm just gonna buy something to fill the whole world. Market, Target, whatever. And of course, again, that can create some creativity out of lesser materials. But I feel like anytime I bought something from Target, anything like that, I six months later, a year later, were like, I hate this. And it's just garbage. And so buying something that is from a thrift store, that used to mean something to someone and now you've made it into a different memory. Cause finding something at a thrift store, on Facebook, Marketplace, whatever, there's like, the thrill of the hunt.
- [52:36]
B
Yeah.
- [52:37]
A
I also think it's creating this, like, individuality. To your point that almost because the trends are so fast, people are just hopping out of the trend cycle entirely and they're having to, like, find their own personal style. And I think that is what I hope is the outcome for, like, the massively sped up trend cycle.
- [52:58]
B
Yeah. Like, I can't keep up. Who can?
- [53:01]
A
And I have had people say, oh, my God, I just bought this. Can I keep it? And it's like, yes, girl, you bought it. I'm not. Which is what you're saying about the icks. Like, if you liked it, if you wanted it, that's personal style. Keep going. But you can't take everyone's opinion and then change your style constantly because that's how you get on that merry girl round of never having anything for yourself. I feel that's truly you, you know?
- [53:29]
B
Totally.
- [53:30]
A
Last question. I started my firm Almost three years ago, and I've noticed a decline in clients over the past year or so. I'm an older millennial that's not up to date with social media. But it feels more evident that I need to start leveraging social media to get CL clients. How can I start leveraging TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to gain traction?
- [53:48]
B
Okay.
- [53:49]
A
It's a big question.
- [53:50]
B
Yeah. There is something that really helped me, and this is my secret of the trade of social media. Okay.
- [53:58]
A
Oh, my God. I'm excited.
- [53:59]
B
And hopefully this is helpful and I'm gonna make a bunch of people's lives right now because I actually see people and I say, I wish I had a platform to tell people this. I guess I could make a TikTok about it, but I haven't.
- [54:11]
A
I'm so excited.
- [54:12]
B
I think what people getting started in social media, and it was like a tough pill for me to swallow as well, is it's not about you until you're a Kim Kardashian or a Hailey Bieber. No. I'm the ends to a means. So it's making content for people. Now. I'm getting to a point where some people might care what my new tattoo is, but it's a small few. It's advice for you when you're getting a new tattoo or colors you should be using in your home, not colors I use. That is genius on projects because nobody cares. What I do is what they can do is. Everyone is on social media, usually for ways you can help. So if you want to use social media to help your firm, tell people how you help a client. So this is how you can get a pantry in your small kitchen without taking up cabinet space or something along those lines. And use your projects. It's a service you're providing for someone. So it's not how I wash my hair. It's products to wash your hair. Hair to make your hair shiny.
- [55:10]
A
You're solving a problem. Morgan and I are mind blown over here. Like, oh, yeah. And Morgan is my marketing director, so we're both, oh, my God, that's genius.
- [55:22]
B
So I see it all the time now. And I tell my friends who also make content, don't tell people what you're putting in your green smoothies. Tell people what they need to put in their green smoothie to get glowing skin. Not how you got glowing skin. I want to know how I can get it. I don't care about your skin. I care about myself skin.
- [55:37]
A
It's so true. Like, I did this, so you should want to Versus like, they don't give a fuck about me.
- [55:43]
B
Yeah.
- [55:43]
A
Here's what you can do to. Yeah, that is. And I mean, you're right. If you're creating. You're creating value by solving a problem, period. So the idea that, like, this is how you can get extra storage in your kitchen, I mean, that's a viral video right there. Because it's. The majority of people have that problem. That is.
- [56:03]
B
Yeah.
- [56:04]
A
Genius.
- [56:05]
B
And I tried to be like, if you're feeling like your house is boring, let me show you my thrifted mugs. And then you can get inspired to go thrift the mugs. And then your house won't be boring. You're going to open the cabinet to make your coffee. Sit down. If you're working from home or just having your morning coffee and be excited. Versus a white ceramic.
- [56:21]
A
Yeah.
- [56:22]
B
Scratched up one from Target. Which are fine, obviously, but it's kind of just helping others. And then hopefully I'll get to a point where I can just, like, put the camera up and be like, I'm making toast and, like, prop it off that. But I have to get my way there.
- [56:37]
A
I think you will. And I can't wait until I get on a live and you're like, just putting toast in the toaster. Don't worry about it.
- [56:44]
B
I know.
- [56:44]
A
I love it.
- [56:45]
B
I wanna start going live. I haven't really done that, but I think I should.
- [56:49]
A
There's, like. This is actually such an interesting topic. Cause I feel like we're finding out how much money is in going live. The numbers that people are bringing in are crazy astronomical. $50,000 alive, depending on what they're doing and how many viewers they have. Like, that is. Yeah, sorry. It's very, very gauche to talk about money on a podcast or on any platform, but I also think social media is like, very much the wild, wild west in that way.
- [57:15]
B
Yeah.
- [57:15]
A
And it is something that's so fascinating. I find that these marketing budgets are so bloated and massive. And it's like, because of influencers, which has. The way we market. It's fascinating. Okay, so lastly, my firm's tagline is interiors that make you feel. So, Robert, what is something that made you feel this week?
- [57:39]
B
What is something that made me feel? Actually, my best friend visited for her birthday and we got a motel room in Ojai, California, which, if you don't know or people listening, Ojai is like, oh, my God. Cross of hippie farm. It's like a warm cookie in a town. If you've seen Easy A the movie. It's filmed there?
- [57:58]
A
Yep.
- [57:59]
B
So we went, we thrifted. I found a bunch of vintage ornaments and I've never really been a Christmas person, but this year I'm changing my narrative and being a Christmas person, so I'm excited. I actually before this went to get a tree, but they're not even selling them yet. I'm too early, I guess. So I drove LA traffic to get a tree and came home empty handed, but.
- [58:19]
A
And it didn't exist. That's so upsetting. So upsetting.
- [58:22]
B
Yeah. That made me feel warm and lucky that she flew from New York to come see me.
- [58:28]
A
Yeah. That is so sweet.
- [58:30]
B
We were just chill.
- [58:31]
A
I love that. And I feel like time with your people that like have known you for a long time, there's nothing more like heartwarming and just lovely. Oh my God. That's a great answer. Well, Robert, thank you so much. This has been incredible and so fun. Where can we find you? Where should we look to see all of your awesome content?
- [58:49]
B
Yeah, I have an Instagram, a TikTok and a YouTube. My username on all is robertgigs g I g s and perfect. Yeah. If you could follow me, that'd mean the world. This is my full time job now, so it is scary. So I rely on you guys. But I'll make it up to you. If you give me a follow, I'll try to entertain you.
- [59:07]
A
You're so likable. I feel like how could people not.
- [59:10]
B
Oh, thank you.
- [59:11]
A
It's very. You have like that energy about you.
- [59:13]
B
I have a delusion like that nobody cares about me. But I'm like, well, I got asked to be on an amazing podcast. So I was gonna say that's proof in itself. Yeah, that's like something we were saying going live. I'm like, would anyone show up? I don't know, but I have the anniversary imposter syndrome.
- [59:28]
A
Yeah.
- [59:28]
B
Yes. Yes.
- [59:29]
A
Well, and sorry to circle back to what you said earlier. That's exactly what I was gonna say. Thank you. That imposter syndrome, I feel like if you're saying you need to do this, it's easy to be like, but what do I know? But you do know. That's the whole point. And that's why people are tuning in. So to be able to just like tell yourself, okay, there are people who are interested in this. I think it's sometimes healthy to not have like everyone, you know, whatever. But I do think that that is, yeah. Getting past that imposter syndrome and being able to give advice and give value is genius and perfect. Amazing. Thank you, Robert, so much. This has been so fun. Okay. For everyone who's listening, we would be eternally grateful if you could rate and subscribe. I know that's cheesy. I'm sorry, I have to ask. And until then, see you next week. And peace be with.