Podcast Summary: Trade Tales with Kaitlin Petersen — Richard Anuszkiewicz on Launching a New Creative Studio
Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Kaitlin Petersen (Editor in Chief, Business of Home)
Guest: Richard Anuszkiewicz, designer and founder of Wraith Design Studio

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode of Trade Tales, Kaitlin Petersen sits down with acclaimed kitchen and bath designer Richard Anuszkiewicz to discuss the launch of his new firm, Wraith Design Studio. The conversation explores Richard’s journey from aspiring student to creative director and entrepreneur, delving into themes of nurturing creativity, facing career obstacles, maintaining a growth mindset, the balance of technology and humanity in design, and developing a boutique business philosophy. Throughout, Richard shares the lessons, reflections, and vision that have shaped his career and new entrepreneurial path.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Richard’s Early Creative Drive and First Industry Exposure

• Passion for Design from Youth:

  • Richard recalls, “Whenever my friends in school were getting the latest PlayStation consoles, middle school, I was getting the latest drafting software... it really was a sincere passion.” [03:00]
  • Took an architectural course at Carnegie Mellon while in high school in Pittsburgh.

• Industry Aha Moment:

  • As a college student, Richard attended his first Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in 2008:

    “I was a kid in a candy store. That was a very aha moment for me because it made the industry very tangible and just really inspired me and opened my eyes to this greater world.” [03:44]

Building a Career: Key Milestones and Mentorship

• NKBA Recognition and Early Growth:

  • Oversaw showroom design at a Virginia design/build firm, leading to his selection for the inaugural NKBA 30 under 30 and a position at a Maryland architecture firm.
  • Became executive director of Millwork and Casework, learning on the job in an environment “where there were no free passes.” [04:21]

• Lessons from Senior Colleagues:

  • Described his transition: “I felt like I went from elementary school to college there. They were all practicing architects, and it was a sink or swim opportunity, and I’m grateful that I started to swim.” [04:21]

• Youngest in the Room:

  • Richard recounts being 15 years younger than his peers in leadership and the challenges of proving himself:

    “It was almost jarring to feel like they were communicating in a different language... I walked in and went right to the front chair... because I wanted to be taken seriously.” [08:31]

  • Takeaway: Consistency and commitment trump experience alone.

Mindset, Resilience, and Growth

• Adopting a Growth Perspective:

  • Shares a favorite Oprah quote that inspires his approach to challenges:

    “When life gives you challenges, reflect on it with, instead of woe is me or why is this happening to me? It’s what is this here to teach me?” [07:38]

• Parental Influence:

  • “It was always instilled in me at a very young age to never give up and never quit. My parents were really big on... if you signed up for something... you had to see it through.” [11:18]

Building a Voice Within a Firm

• Professional Speaking and Dual Paths:

  • Winning industry accolades opened doors for speaking nationally and teaching continuing education, alongside firm responsibilities.
  • On balancing side projects and main roles:

    “Design is not only my career, but it is a hobby to me as well.” [12:37]

• Clear Communication and Mutual Support:

  • Stresses the importance of clear goals and open communication with firm leadership, and gratitude for mentors who encouraged his ambition.
  • “You shouldn’t have to dim your light for someone else or to be a part of something else.” [14:24]

Creative Directorship at Monogram

• Unique, Dream-Driven Role:

  • Describes defining the full visual voice for the Monogram kitchen brand:

    “As creative director, we had to define a visual voice to the brand. And I was really able to develop that... there’s a look and a feel to the brand... you’d be able to identify that as a Monogram kitchen.” [20:42]

  • Balanced public-facing work at Monogram with private client projects requiring discretion and versatility.
  • Signature look: Brass and gold elements as Monogram's visual identity.

• Philosophy on Style:

  • “I’ve always really tried to pride myself in having a golden thread to details... but not being tied to a very specific look or style.” [22:41]

Launching Wraith Design Studio

• Announcement:

  • “I am officially launching my own firm... Wraith Design Studio. I wanted to think of Wraith as this idea to challenge convention, inspire thought, and ultimately cultivate the next generation of creatives and home.” [25:16]

• Meaning Behind ‘Wraith’:

  • Each letter represents firm values:
    • R(A): Richard Anuszkiewicz
    • I: Interior Architecture
    • T: Technology (cutting-edge, AI, digital tools)
    • H: Humanity (“We can never replace soul and feeling. Relationships are everything to me.”) [26:36]

• Boutique Studio Ethos:

  • Emphasizing a small, selective team and mission-driven projects:

    “We can be mindful of the type of work we are taking on and being very thoughtful with the proper design details and able to really create what I view as design excellence.” [29:15]

• Vision for Longevity and Timelessness:

  • “Does the project align with the greater mission? Are the right people involved and do we feel like this is something that has longevity to it?” [30:46]

Business Structure and Readiness

• Project-Specific Flexibility:

  • Wraith’s business approach adapts to each project, whether product-driven or service-driven.

• On Entrepreneurship Readiness:

  • Warns against jumping in too soon:

    “Sometimes designers... take that leap into entrepreneurship too quickly when they don’t necessarily understand the proper process... Find a balance to realize there are things you need to learn along the way.” [34:26]

  • Emphasizes business acumen as critical: “A vast majority of creative brains are not wired to handle that business side as clearly as it might need.” [35:21]

• Growth through Reflection:

  • Credits a mentor’s advice to reevaluate every six months, and a recent personal experience with a loved one’s health as pivotal in spurring his decision to launch the firm. [32:18]

Leadership Philosophy

• Remembering Your Roots:
  • “You can’t lose sight of where you came from... I also really, you know, started from the ground up. And so I just relate, as I’m saying... what I was yearning for from a mentor or leader when I was in my journey.” [40:59]
  • Stresses the importance of investment and seeing value beyond monetary compensation.

Defining Success

• Evolving Perspective:

  • “I did not understand the power of my creativity... I really didn’t fully understand that value or how special that was till much later in my career.” [43:21]

• Personal Definition:

  • “Success is defined by the person in their own life... there are different levels or tiers to success and there’s different ways to define it.” [44:15]
  • Highlights the importance of a positive mindset and adapting your definition of success as you grow.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Creative Collaboration:

  “I jokingly have referenced the idea of the Avengers, if you will. When you can sit down at a table and everyone’s bringing their own superpower, really, magic can happen.”
  — Richard [00:02]

• On Adversity:

  “When life gives you challenges, reflect on it with, instead of woe is me or why is this happening to me? It’s what is this here to teach me?”
  — Richard (quoting Oprah) [07:38]

• On Leadership and Perspective:

  “You can’t lose sight of where you came from... what I was yearning for from a mentor or leader when I was in my journey.”
  — Richard [40:59]

• On Success:

  “The ladder just keeps going above you... you’re then climbing to the next level and you see that level and you want to achieve it.”
  — Richard [44:15]

Key Timestamps

• 00:02 — Richard on creative teamwork (“Avengers” analogy)
• 03:00 — Richard’s early passion for design
• 03:44 — First exposure to the kitchen & bath industry
• 04:21 — NKBA recognition, early professional growth
• 08:31 — Being the youngest in leadership at architecture firm
• 07:38 — Mindset shift via Oprah’s quote
• 12:37 — Balancing side projects and firm roles
• 20:42 — Creative director role at Monogram
• 25:16 — Announcing Wraith Design Studio
• 29:15 — Boutique studio vision
• 32:18 — Impactful moments leading to entrepreneurship
• 34:26 — Advice for would-be business launchers
• 40:59 — Approaching leadership as experience grows
• 43:21 — Realizing creative value; perspective on success
• 44:15 — Success is personal and ever-evolving

Conclusion

This episode is a thoughtful look at what it means to grow creatively, embrace career uncertainty, and build something lasting with intention and heart. Richard’s insights and reflections provide valuable lessons for designers and entrepreneurs alike, focusing on clarity, communication, adaptability, and the ever-important human touch within a rapidly evolving profession.