On June 11th, we hosted a panel discussion titled, “Giving Back,” where we invited leaders in Boston’s build-design community to share their stunning stories on what they are doing to make the world a better place. It was so inspirational that we wanted to make it available for streaming. Julie Arcari, of Landry & Arcari Rugs and Carpeting, Patty Watson, of Taste Design Inc. in Middletown, RI, and Paul Reidt, of Kochman Reidt + Haigh Cabinetmakers, made up the panel, with Kevin moderating. Julie Arcari, of Landry & Arcari Rugs and Carpeting, shared how she and her family wanted to make sure their team could afford homes and enjoy a secure life. What she calls a “sort of extension” of this care led to a focus on girls of their weavers who were being denied an education in Afghanistan. Over the years her fundraising to support the schooling formalized into the “5 Under 40” event, with partner New England Home, raising almost $700,000 for Barakat Inc, the organization making it happen. Additional charitable partnerships with Sola: School of Leadership Afghanistan, and GoodWeave have followed. Patty Watson, of Taste Design Inc., spoke of her team’s practice of finishing their projects with original art and how this positioned the firm to identify a unique way they could change the lives of artists: creating an artist-in-residency program within their own office space. Over the course of the year-long placement, they introduce the artist to their community, including their clients. They also get granular, covering “how to price…present…[and] frame their work.” Unexpected was the transformation of her team, where they are now very comfortable “recommending…brokering…and commissioning art and doing really custom pieces for their clients.” To date “500 clients, 75 art placements, and 35 commissioned pieces” have been made, with each commissioned piece representing at least one year of work. Paul Reidt, of Kochman Reidt + Haigh Cabinetmakers, as well as the founder of the long-running B/A/D Talks, shared how he founded this discussion series because at the time, there wasn’t a program where builders, architects, and designers could get together in such a way. In addition, Paul mentioned building a space on his own property for people seeking medical care in the Boston area, most of whom are families seeking care for their children, with stays often lasting for months. But he opened his portion of the panel by praising North Bennet Street School, of which he is a long-time board member. He reminded the audience that the School is the oldest trade school in the country that started as a “settlement house during a period of heavy immigration…to provide the means of transitioning to a new world for people,” including not just trade skills but language instruction and a social component, too. He also spoke eloquently of how “there’s not been enough value put on what we call ‘hand trades.’” Kevin moderated the panel but also took some time to share his own stories of giving over the years. He began with the importance of storysharing, acknowledging the importance of how those who give need to share how they do it so they can not only inspire others but share how these programs originated and were carried out. He spoke of the work he’s done with the ICAA, Historic New England, BRAGB, IFDA, PRO New England, Boston Preservation Alliance, and more, in trying to connect them to his world. The educational outreach taking place in the Boiler Room, such as the Boiler Room Breakfast Club and Coffee & Cabinets events, are another way Cradock gives back. Pro-bono work with the Eliot School, Loring Greenough House, and the Wellesley ABC home were mentioned. He closed with the simple message: “Find something that connects with your values and contribute.” Original date of panel: 6/11/26 Media partner: New England Home
