Beyond the Design

Cray Bauxmont-Flynn
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Design
  • Updated Semiweekly

Step into the captivating world of design with Beyond the Design. Unveiling the untold stories and shedding light on the real heroes shaping the industry, this podcast goes beyond the glamour to explore the journeys, experiences, and profound insights of visionary leaders. Each episode ignites a sense of curiosity, delving into the intersection of living in a creative atmosphere and tackling the industry's most pressing issues. Prepare to be inspired as we engage with today's foremost practitioners, including renowned designers, architects, manufacturers, emerging brands, and influential tastemakers. Their wisdom will quench your thirst for design and empower you to forge connections and embrace transformative ideas. From the realms of architecture, interior design, furniture, and urban planning to the intricacies of creativity and visionary perspectives, Beyond the Design covers an expansive range of topics. As a devoted design enthusiast, you'll find a treasure trove of inspiration here. Join us as we pull back the curtain and hear firsthand from the trailblazers of the design industry. Discover their thoughts on the ever-evolving landscape of creativity, emerging trends, sustainability, and their own personal narratives. Get ready to embark on a journey of profound insights and positive disruption in the world of design.

  1. 4h ago

    Why Living With Style Is About Lifestyle, and Integrity with Brittany Farinas

    Brittany Farinas’s connection to design began at six years old while spending time in the furniture showroom where her mother worked. By age 21, while attending college and trying to chart a lucrative yet passionate path, she launched her own firm, House of One. Lacking formal experience at other firms, Brittany built her business through sheer drive, balancing a real estate license, waitressing at night, and working in a real estate office by day, all while managing clients in between. Her relentless work ethic earned her early word-of-mouth referrals, proving that credibility comes from delivering value rather than age. Starting a firm at such a young age meant confronting industry biases, but Brittany Farinas channeled those challenges into sharpening her instincts as a leader. Over time, she shifted away from the initial "yes girl" mindset and hustle mentality that drove her early career. Early on, she felt the pressure to accept every project, hit external milestones, and constantly pitch new portfolio work. However, experiencing burnout and eventually becoming a mother transformed her approach, grounding her in intention, peace, and health. Today, Brittany Farinas leads House of One with confidence, authenticity, and selective curation. Reflecting on her evolution, she embraces every past challenge as a necessary learning experience that shaped her strategic vision. Rather than measuring success by the volume of projects, she focuses on delivering a high-value, deeply considered service for clients who align with her firm's standards and values.

  2. Aug 14

    Crafting Quality in the West: Jeremiah Young on Architecture, Scale, and Timeless Interior Design

    Jeremiah Young’s path to becoming the principal designer and owner of Kibler & Kirch was anything but conventional. Having moved constantly as a child—living in 17 different places before age 17—Jeremiah found his early stability at his grandparents' house. That longing for a restorative environment planted a deep appreciation for the power of home. Moving to Montana as a teenager in 1994, he first stepped into Kibler & Kirch and felt an immediate aesthetic connection. Though he pursued an English Literature degree, worked as a librarian, and ran a clothing boutique, Jeremiah continuously self-educated in design, architecture, and textiles. In 2010, after discovering that Kibler & Kirch’s founders were planning a retirement sale, Jeremiah stepped in to acquire and reimagine the business. Drawing on the firm’s established reputation—originally founded in 1990 and named after the founders’ grandmothers—he preserved its core identity while shifting it from a retail store into a full-service design firm. Today, Jeremiah leads the 35-year-old firm, honoring its origins while guiding high-end residential and commercial projects across the West. Jeremiah's journey reflects a deep respect for historical continuity, hard work, and serendipity. From buying the firm he admired as a teenager to recently acquiring a historic 1905 Victorian home from its original family, his life’s work revolves around preserving stories and crafting meaningful spaces.

  3. Aug 7

    Designing Beyond Trends: Amy Courtney on Crafting High-Quality, Bold Interior Spaces

    Amy Courtney’s entry into interior design wasn’t an intentional career detour—it was the environment she grew up in. Raised in New Rochelle, New York, by a mother who was an interior designer and painter, and a father who worked as a carpenter, Amy lived at the direct intersection of construction and aesthetics. Her parents operated a general contracting business and flipped every home the family lived in, resulting in Amy living in approximately 20 different houses in the same school district before heading to college. By simply observing her parents, attending client meetings, and visiting fabric showrooms, she absorbed the fundamentals of craftsmanship, finishing touches, and job-site tools early on. Her formal career began in Connecticut, where she worked for seven years as a designer in an interior design retail store. While that role provided foundation and experience, Amy found the prevailing regional style—dominated by coastal neutrals and repetitive light woods—uninspiring. Seeking broader creative opportunities, she moved to New York City, where she encountered eclectic clients who embraced bold color palettes, pattern mixing, and custom designs. This transition allowed her to draw directly from her mother’s artistic influence and lean into her innate love for vibrant, expressive spaces. Reflecting on her years working within larger firm structures and retail sales settings, Amy eventually identified what she did not want for her own business. She rejected corporate environments driven purely by escalating sales quotas and rushed deadlines, choosing instead to establish an independent practice focused on intentional work. Today, Amy brings her full background—from childhood job-site exposure to city-driven creative boldness—into running a specialized firm that balances construction rigor with detailed interior styling.

  4. Jul 31

    Noz Nozawa on Spatial Freedom, Creative Boundaries, and Designing for Joy

    Noz Nozawa’s awareness of how spatial environments shape human emotion began during a challenging childhood. Growing up in a difficult domestic situation where she was not permitted to alter or personalize the common areas of the house, her bedroom became her solitary sanctuary. It wasn't until she went away to college and moved into her very first apartment in San Francisco that she experienced the transformative autonomy of shaping her own living quarters. That initial taste of spatial independence was immediately put to the test by a notoriously messy roommate. Noz recalls an extreme living environment marked by neglected appliances and mold growing on abandoned iced tea containers left on the floor. During a Christmas break, Noz gifted her roommate a complete clean-up of the apartment. The immediate, palpable relief they both felt upon returning to a clean, ordered home provided Noz with her very first visceral lesson: physical surroundings directly dictate mental health, emotional clarity, and daily sanity. This early realization served as the underlying foundation for Noz Design, which she established 12 years ago after transitioning out of marketing. Over a decade later, Noz has built a celebrated, multi-faceted practice known for its vibrant, deeply expressive interiors. Her journey illustrates how navigating early personal constraints can cultivate a profound empathy for human living spaces, fueling a multi-decade career centered on wellness and personal sanctuary. Find more about Noz at: nozdesign.com @noznozawa

  5. Jul 24

    Timeless Soul with Kara Childress

    Kara Childress’ illustrious career in interior design has spanned over four decades, tracing back to her professional beginnings in 1984. Operating long before the advent of digital mood boards, Pinterest, or internet algorithms, Kara’s early career was built on the foundation of hands-on physical discovery and pure relationships. Based in Houston, Texas, she began her design journey with a deep curiosity for European design history, establishing a clear lane that would guide her studio's signature "old-world meets modern living" aesthetic. Her early path was shaped by a distinct work ethic and the dual challenge of growing a high-level business while raising a family. Kara candidly reflects on the early days of juggling school carpools and client presentations, admitting that she used to battle a sense of guilt about balancing her demanding career with motherhood. Decades later, however, those same children have grown up to follow in her entrepreneurial footsteps, showing her how deeply her passion and dedication influenced their own lives and career trajectories. Today, Kara stands as one of the Southwest's most celebrated design figures, leading a tight-knit team of women who she warmly refers to as her extended family. Her journey from the analogue design landscapes of the mid-1980s to the cusp of publishing her first major monograph is a testament to the power of authenticity, patience, and a refusal to compromise on quality.

  6. Jul 17

    Deke Rogers on Timeless Antiques, the Layered Design Philosophy, and Living History

    In this episode, Deke Rogers shares the thoughtful philosophy and hands-on approach that have made him one of the South’s most respected voices in antiques, interiors, and timeless design. As the founder of Collected for the Home, his celebrated brick-and-mortar retail studios—now with locations in both Birmingham, Alabama, and New Orleans—serve as living expressions of his belief that every object carries a story worth preserving. Throughout the conversation, Deke explains why true character should never be sacrificed in the pursuit of perfection. He challenges the growing trend of aggressively restoring antique furnishings, cautioning that excessive bleaching and refinishing often erase the very history that gives a piece its value, beauty, and soul. Rather than attempting to make antiques look new, he champions preserving their authentic patina as a testament to generations of craftsmanship and use. Deke also reveals how he creates interiors that feel collected rather than decorated. His process centers on balance, proportion, and personality—thoughtfully blending 18th- and 19th-century antiques with clean Mid-Century and contemporary pieces to produce spaces that are layered, dynamic, and deeply personal. Every composition is driven by the homeowner’s story rather than adherence to a single historical period or design style. For collectors, designers, and homeowners alike, Deke offers practical insights into mixing wood tones, textures, finishes, and eras without sacrificing harmony. His perspective transforms decorating into an exercise in storytelling, demonstrating that the most compelling interiors are those that embrace history, celebrate craftsmanship, and reflect the lives of the people who inhabit them. Whether through his design work or the carefully curated collections found inside Collected for the Home, Deke Rogers reminds us that timeless interiors are built through authenticity, thoughtful curation, and an appreciation for the beauty that only time can create.

  7. Jul 3

    Orchestrating Space with Kari Bennett

    Kari Bennett’s professional evolution is a compelling story of shifting from purely creative instincts to high-level systemic mastery. In the earlier chapters of her career, she identified strictly as a traditional interior designer, focusing heavily on aesthetics, material curation, and spatial beauty. However, as she navigated the complex execution of major commercial and residential projects, she recognized that exceptional design could not exist without bulletproof operational structures. This realization marked a major turning point, pushing her to study the underlying mechanics of business efficiency. This evolutionary shift ultimately led to the founding and scaling of Edge Design, widely known as EdgeID. Rather than letting her business be dictated by the chaotic, fragmented workflows common in the design trade, Kari intentionally built a studio defined by clear parameters, reliable execution pathways, and ironclad operational precision. She transitioned her internal identity from a singular creative individual to a master strategist, building an ecosystem where ideas are never left as abstract sketches but are systematically Karid all the way through to physical reality. Today, Kari stands as a celebrated firm leader who successfully balances a busy professional career with a vibrant, grounding family life that includes her husband, three children, and the family dog. She candidly acknowledges that her passion for her craft is what fuels her drive every single morning, making her genuinely look forward to stepping into the car and tackling new design challenges. Her journey serves as an inspiring blueprint for creative entrepreneurs, proving that true professional fulfillment comes from marrying artistic talent with a passion for building lasting people and systems.

  8. Jun 26

    Vern Yip's Philosophy of Purposeful Spaces

    In this episode, Vern Yip shares the exact tactical methods, operational frameworks, and professional philosophies that define his approach to spatial creation. He challenges the standard, clinical view of home remodeling by establishing a definitive design baseline: exceptional design is never simply about superficial aesthetics. Instead, his methodical approach prioritizes creating highly intentional environments that celebrate a homeowner's unique story and actively reflect their core personal values. Tactically, Vern treats space planning like a meticulous narrative puzzle. His discovery process focuses heavily on understanding a client's specific daily behaviors, routines, and underlying psychological needs before any material selections or floor plans are drafted. He argues that this deep operational layer cannot simply be taught in a standard classroom; rather, it requires a designer to cultivate a fine tuned instinct for reading human behavior and translating daily habits into highly optimized circulation pathways and functional zones. For listeners looking to refine their own living environments or execute complex renovations, Vern's philosophy offers a clear roadmap. He emphasizes the tactical balance between high performance and visual comfort, steering clients away from fleeting, over-hyped internet trends that quickly lose their value. By focusing on structural integrity, proper scale, and purposeful detail, his studio constructs enduring backdrops that simplify daily living and allow a physical structure to gracefully adapt over a multi-generational lifecycle.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Step into the captivating world of design with Beyond the Design. Unveiling the untold stories and shedding light on the real heroes shaping the industry, this podcast goes beyond the glamour to explore the journeys, experiences, and profound insights of visionary leaders. Each episode ignites a sense of curiosity, delving into the intersection of living in a creative atmosphere and tackling the industry's most pressing issues. Prepare to be inspired as we engage with today's foremost practitioners, including renowned designers, architects, manufacturers, emerging brands, and influential tastemakers. Their wisdom will quench your thirst for design and empower you to forge connections and embrace transformative ideas. From the realms of architecture, interior design, furniture, and urban planning to the intricacies of creativity and visionary perspectives, Beyond the Design covers an expansive range of topics. As a devoted design enthusiast, you'll find a treasure trove of inspiration here. Join us as we pull back the curtain and hear firsthand from the trailblazers of the design industry. Discover their thoughts on the ever-evolving landscape of creativity, emerging trends, sustainability, and their own personal narratives. Get ready to embark on a journey of profound insights and positive disruption in the world of design.

Information

  • Creator
    Cray Bauxmont-Flynn
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    122
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Cray Bauxmont-Flynn
  • Show Website
    Beyond the Design

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