2 DAYS AGO

When Design Becomes The Problem

Send a text Ever wonder why a room that photographs beautifully feels stressful to sit in? We dig into the science with Dr. Anja Jamrozik, an environmental psychologist turned product leader, to reveal how light, noise, temperature, faces in view, and even app layouts quietly steer your focus, memory, and stress. The big shift: your brain treats physical and digital spaces as environments, and environments train behavior. We trace Dr. Anja’s path from cognitive neuroscience to running living lab experiments that tweaked lighting, temperature, and noise—then uncovered a wild effect: when those were off, people swore air quality was worse, even when sensors proved it hadn’t changed. That holistic judgment explains common design fails, from echoey glass partitions and “watched” feelings in open plans to dark contrast corners no one uses. The fix is empathy and intention: design for the activity, not the rendering. Shield sightlines for deep work, tame acoustics, and make beauty serve function. Then we take those lessons into software. Switching tabs is a digital doorway that wipes working memory. We break down how to keep critical info in context, structure comparisons side by side, and weave in biophilic cues—subtle motion, natural textures, and seasonal color shifts—to restore attention. Control matters too: let people shape their digital “rooms” the way they move furniture at home. We also explore the pull of handmade work. Evidence shows people value handmade objects more and feel more competent when they make things—if the outcome lasts. In an AI-saturated world, the human signature, with all its variation and patina, may matter more than ever. Along the way, Dr. Anja offers one high-impact move you can try this week: work by a window with a view to boost working memory and inhibition. Add a plant, soften sound, and run a five-minute meta-check: what rose to awareness is your data. If this sparked ideas, help others find it—follow the show, subscribe, and leave a quick review. Share it with someone who craves a calmer home office or a more humane app. Your space can teach your brain to focus; let’s design it to help.

45 min

17 FEB

Renovate Smarter, Not Faster

Send a text Renovation success isn’t about swinging hammers faster—it’s about slowing down where it counts. We sit with Danny Wang, Head of Growth Initiatives at Block Renovation, to unpack the real engine of a smooth project: planning, trust, and aligned expectations. From the first Pinterest save to the final walkthrough, we map the steps that keep your timeline, budget, and sanity intact. Danny shares the upstream moves that prevent downstream chaos: define scope with precision, price against a real plan, order materials early, and lock permits before demo. We get specific on contractor selection—how to read detailed bids, why outlier prices are a trap, what milestone-based payments look like, and how a GC’s subs actually dictate finish quality. You’ll learn the red and green flags that matter, plus a simple test to gauge how a contractor handles friction and options when surprises pop up. We also tackle the money decisions that change daily life. Invest in function and skilled labor; don’t let fragile materials or complex patterns outpace installer expertise. Choose plumbing systems you can trust, be honest about maintenance on stone and grout, and budget a 10–15% contingency for the unknown. For high impact on a lean budget, start with lighting, paint, and floors. If you’re eyeing resale, prioritize infrastructure—windows, roof, doors—and storage that shows beautifully; for long-term living, tailor the layout to your routines and keep finishes timeless. By the end, you’ll know how to start early, avoid the “rush premium,” and use a designer strategically to catch issues invisible to the untrained eye—glare, task lighting, ergonomics, and code constraints. Renovation is change management for your home and your habits. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend planning a project, and leave a review with the one question you’re asking every contractor now.

1h 12m

10 FEB

Our Prehistoric Brains at Home

Send a text Ever walked into a beautiful room and felt strangely tense? We dig into why spaces that photograph well can still exhaust your brain—and how small, science-backed changes can flip a room from draining to restorative. With Dr. Sally Augustin, environmental psychologist and author of Designology, we unpack how design cues shape stress, focus, creativity and the way we treat each other. We start with clutter and minimalism, revealing how both visual overload and visual scarcity strain attention. From there, we map out biophilic design in practical terms: one plant per sightline, real materials like wood with visible grain, and the “meadow on a spring day” test to balance calm with gentle richness. We break down the hidden cost of glare, why matte beats mirror shine, and how shiny hospital floors can even change how people walk. Then we get tactical with light: cooler, brighter overhead light for analysis; warmer, dimmer lamps for creativity and connection; and the habit shift that gets blinds back up to restore daylight benefits. Behavior shifts come from seating and layout too. A thin cushion softens negotiations. A slight recline lowers arousal in tough talks. Round and oval tables reduce hierarchy signals, while moving chairs off the short ends of a rectangle makes conversation more equal. Orientation matters: give people a backstop and a view to reduce vigilance and distraction. We also tackle sound the realistic way—open offices fail when speech bleeds into focus zones. Very soft nature sounds can mask language without feeling manipulative, and subtlety is the rule for any scent or sound if you want buy-in. Culture and language shape form preferences more than we think—curves often feel welcoming, sharp right angles signal speed—so context matters, especially when people are under stress. And throughout, we keep perspective: design is powerful, but it works best alongside aligned incentives and real knowledge. The takeaway is simple and freeing—design for your inner chipmunk, aim for the meadow, place light like the sun, and ignore trends that fight human nature. If this conversation sparked ideas, follow and subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a calmer, smarter space.

1h 13m

TRAILER

Room to Think Trailer

Send a text Hosted by Lyssia, Head of Brand at LiLi Tile, Room to Think explores the intersection of interior design and psychology. Each episode features conversations with architects, designers, artists, neuroscientists, psychologists, and makers who understand both the beauty and the science behind the spaces we live in. Together, we unpack how your home quietly shapes your mood, habits, energy, and relationships, and translate those insights into practical takeaways you can apply to your own space immediately. The goal is simple: to help you build a better life by design. Welcome to Room to Think.

1 min

3 FEB

From Bottle Service To Bedroom Bliss

Send a text Some rooms nudge you to relax, connect, and smile before you’ve said a word. Others feel loud, flat, or awkward. We wanted to know why, so we brought on designer–builder John Sofio to break down the psychology of space—from high-energy nightclubs to quiet, restorative homes—and the small, invisible choices that change how people feel. John shares how a simple shift to figure-eight circulation transformed his club projects by giving guests agency and relief in crowded rooms. We dig into spatial hierarchy, VIP psychology, and why bar corners and “blockers” create intimacy without walls. Then we translate those ideas to homes and restaurants: compress ceilings over seating, expand in circulation, keep lamps low and warm, and aim for 30–40% soft surfaces so conversation stays rich, not shouty. If you’ve ever left a restaurant exhausted by the noise, you’ll love his acoustic playbook. We also get hands-on with materials and proportions. John explains how handmade details carry soul, why durability can coexist with beauty, and how kevlar-backed upholstery, thin cushions, and solid cores keep hospitality seating comfortable and tough. He shares precise dimensions for seats, backs, and tables that make bodies relax—and talks through a practical three-color paint system that sculpts light in any room. Throughout, he returns to a powerful mindset: treat your home as a machine for living and tune it to give you energy back. If you’re designing a venue, upgrading a dining room, or just trying to make your living room feel more like you, this conversation gives you real steps to build flow, calm, and connection. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves design meets psychology, and leave a review to tell us which idea you’ll try first.

1h 9m

27 JAN

Designing Places That Feel Human

Send a text Your surroundings are shaping your mood before you take a single step. We sit down with Professor Justin Hollander to unpack the hidden psychology of places—why our brains hunt for faces in facades, how ornament and craft earn long-term care, and what happens when cities are designed for cars instead of people. From the figural primitive to the power of light materials and human-scale detail, this conversation connects neuroscience with everyday design choices you can make at home and across a neighborhood. We dig into the realities of shrinking cities and the courage it takes to “plan for decline” so daily life still feels coherent and humane. Hollander explains why some historic forms endure—active ground floors, symmetry, texture—and how blank walls and oversized boxes flatten our attention and sap joy. We explore the social fabric too: third places, wide sidewalks, and plazas that draw people out of their homes, counter loneliness, and create the casual contact that makes communities resilient. On the practical side, you’ll hear research-backed takeaways: break up blank walls, balance detail with visual breath, aim for a view or “primal vista,” and consider lighter tones to boost mood. At the city scale, we challenge the status quo with a case for new towns planned for walking, biking, and mixed use, enabled by smarter zoning. We also touch on the 20-minute city and emerging links between walkability and brain health, showing how thoughtful design can support memory and well-being over a lifetime. If this sparks ideas for your home or your block, join us for more design-meets-psychology insights—subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show. About the Guest Professor Justin Hollander is Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University. His research focuses on how environments influence human behavior, combining urban planning, neuroscience, psychology, and design. Learn More About Professor Hollander’s Work Tufts University Faculty Profile https://facultyprofiles.tufts.edu/justin-hollander Research article: How facades and materials impact perception and emotion https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09613218.2025.2506065 Book: Cognitive Architecture: Designing for How We Respond to the Built Environment https://a.co/d/jby9U51

51 min

19 JAN

The Emotional Life of Wood

Send a text What if the most beautiful parts of your home are the ones that survived the most stress? We sit down with sculptor and designer Miriam Carpenter to explore how wood records its life in burl, spalting, mineral streaks, and movement—and why those marks of strain feel so human. Miriam shares how she begins with concept before choosing a material, letting the season of her life dictate whether she turns to wood, bronze, or clay. From a floating table that honors a fallen tree’s resilience to side tables that reveal hidden complexity only when you kneel and look closely, her work invites a slower, more attentive way of seeing. We also talk stewardship and sourcing. Miriam partners with local lumber brokers who mill trees only after they’ve fallen or been responsibly removed, keeping a living chain of trust and history intact. Some pieces come from centuries-old oaks, transforming dormant giants into objects that breathe in new spaces. Along the way, we unpack the emotional difference between handmade and mass-produced furniture. Fast design isn’t just an aesthetic problem—it can dull our sense of meaning. Handmade objects carry human signatures that we can feel; they teach us to slow down, repair, and reconnect. Natural light, honest materials, and clutter-free surfaces become tools for mental clarity and everyday calm. If you want an immediate shift, start with one small act: choose a handmade item you already own and give it care—oil a wooden bowl, dust a beloved mug, or move a crafted piece into the center of your daily view. That single gesture can spark a repair culture at home and reset your relationship with your space. Press play to learn how resilience in trees mirrors resilience in people, and how design choices can nurture well-being, attention, and belonging. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves spaces with soul.

45 min

11 JAN

Foxes, Folk Art, And The Feel Of Home

Send a text What if your home could hold your favorite memories in plain sight? We sit down with artist and designer Adam Trest to explore how Southern roots, a tiny museum, and an unexpected detour through architecture shaped a language of pattern, color, and story you can actually live with. From the joyful foxes that became a family mantra to the blue-and-white collection sparked by a week inside Portuguese ceramic studios, Adam shows how meaning sneaks into our work—and why the story often reveals itself only after the paint dries. We dig into the craft behind whimsy: why rabbits on a restaurant floor or birds that form a hidden nest can reset a mood, and how the Arts and Crafts movement inspires him to put beauty where people least expect it. Adam breaks down his approach to color—using restraint, anchoring a palette, and letting hues “talk” to each other—so tiles stay bold yet livable. He opens the door to his studio too: white walls, a massive plywood desk, familiar soundtracks during composition, audiobooks during the rhythmic refinement of pattern, and a sketchbook packed with notes and messy thumbnails that eliminates creative block before it starts. Along the way, we trade practical advice for choosing art you love over trend-chasing, and for building rooms that feel collected rather than copied. You’ll hear how parenting recharged Adam’s perspective, why character homes age with grace, and how small spaces—like a jewel-box pantry—can hold huge personality. If you’re curious about storytelling through design, living with handcrafted details, and making color choices that lift your mood daily, this conversation is your guide. If this resonated with you, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves thoughtful design, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Your space can tell a better story—start writing it today.

1h 2m

Room to Think

Episodes

When Design Becomes The Problem

Renovate Smarter, Not Faster

Our Prehistoric Brains at Home

Room to Think Trailer

From Bottle Service To Bedroom Bliss

Designing Places That Feel Human

The Emotional Life of Wood

Foxes, Folk Art, And The Feel Of Home

Trailer

Room to Think Trailer

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