Design Time Domino Magazine

Good design has soul. Brigette Romanek came to design via an unexpected path. First, she designed an accessories collection and her own home, then she started decorating for friends and fell in love with the process. She established her design firm and an approach built on classical and modern elements, and is known for her sculptural but accessible perspective. Brigette is a talented plant mama and collector, and her warmth and spirit inform her craft. Tune in as we explore Brigette’s eye for all things vintage and what colors she’s loving—plus how to embrace the history of a place while updating it for family life.

Mat Sanders lives and breathes design. He shares his knowledge and styling ideas with humor and passion, whether it’s on his social channels; designing for celebrity clients; or on his new short-format TV show, Werrrk!, where he helps businesses redefine themselves with design. Mat brings an editorial approach to interiors and furniture collections, and is generous with his talent and innovative approach. Listen in on my conversation with Mat...it’s fun, inspiring, and surprising, but it’s also enlightening, as he tells us about how to follow your vision—whatever your creative endeavor may be.

Dexter and Byron Peart have an incredible breadth of experience and inspirations to draw from. The Montreal-based identical twin brothers are the founders and creators of luxury accessories and fashion brand WANT Les Essentiels and their current venture, Goodee, a marketplace and retail platform for mission-led design brands and makers. Dexter and Byron sold WANT in 2017 to explore new opportunities and followed their heart and passion into the home.

In their words: Goodee is a place where good design and good purpose intersect.

They seek to elevate and sell items for the home that are timeless, made with intention, and inspire consumers to prioritize social impact with their purchases. Tune in to hear what drove the inspiration for a purpose-led marketplace that empowers their customers to impact change with what they buy.

Athena Calderone approaches her life and work through an inspiring lens: to make things more beautiful. She’s had incredible success with her two books—the James Beard Award–winning Cook Beautiful and her most recent, Live Beautiful, both rooted in the idea of bringing inspiration to every day and exploring your home to find your personal style. Her content—via her Instagram account and website, EyeSwoon—has especially resonated this past year, as people are looking for ways to celebrate moments at home. From her own homes in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, and Amagansett, New York, Athena documents daily living in a way that’s anything but ordinary. Her popular podcast, More Than One Thing, launched earlier this year and explores the ideas of multifaceted creative careers and unexpected trajectories. Listen in as we learn how Athena’s generous spirit and warmth helped her build a loyal following, who are eager to see what she’s cooking up next.

Christopher Griffin is all about sharing. From his Brooklyn apartment, Christopher (also known as Plant Kween) has shared his plant-care expertise, joyful ideas, and styling knowledge with his Instagram audience throughout quarantine. Her approach to personal well-being and balance is informed by her lush oasis, with hundreds of plants gracing every corner. He shares his plant journey and the love and energy he brings to the process with humor and infectious joy.

As an educator at New York University’s LGBTQ+ Center, Christopher draws an important parallel between caring for plants (or green girls, as he calls them) and caring for yourself. That nurturing mentality is something we could all aspire to, and his focus on community and activism fueled by positivity is inspiring. Tune in as we discover his plant-based takeaways, daily meditations on life, and tips for creating a home that brings you joy.

Justina Blakeney radiates joy. The designer, artist, and creative director of Jungalow is the author of two New York Times best-selling books—The New Bohemians: Cool and Collected Homes and The New Bohemians Handbook: Come Home to Good Vibes—and that’s exactly what Justina is all about: creating a space that is all about good vibes. She really understands how to live well and maximize spaces designed around the things that are important to you. She’s a master at coming up with ideas for making your space cooler, more original, and fun. Her own home features well-designed hang zones like a garage–turned–sunken living room, lounge space, outdoor shower, pass-through outdoor bar, and the ultimate tiled garden and patio. She’s an incredible plant mama, artist, mother, musician, and color expert whose work and craft are defined by her personal experiences and a range of influences, including Moroccan zellige tile and patterns, as well as Indian textiles and the Italian joy of living. Listen in as we go on her journey—from life in her 20s living in Florence and owning an O.G. lifestyle boutique with her sister to building a design empire and media platform from her home base in Los Angeles.