OLISE Podcast

OLISE
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Welcome to the OLISE Podcast, where we explore the people and places shaping luxury interiors and hospitality around the world. Through honest conversations with designers, founders, creatives, and industry leaders, we uncover the inspirations behind iconic projects and the thinking that drives meaningful, human-centred design. If you love interiors with depth, craft, and global perspective, you’re in the right place. 

  1. Aug 27

    Poetry in Physical Form: Róisín Lafferty on Craft, Colour, and Building a Creative Legacy

    In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie sits down with award-winning designer Róisín Lafferty, founder of Róisín Lafferty Studio and Róisín Lafferty Gallery, for a rich and generous conversation about creativity, craftsmanship, and building a design business with no script to follow. Roisín shares the story of starting her studio at just 24, with no funding, no safety net and no real business plan, and how sixteen years of discipline, curiosity and self-belief have grown it into a team of 26. She speaks candidly about the intimidation of working with far more experienced consultants in her early years, and the importance of asking questions, even the ones that feel stupid. The conversation explores her immersive, installation-style approach to design, fresh from her standout library concept at  WOW!house 2026, her decade-long dream of opening Róisín Lafferty Gallery in Dublin's Fitzwilliam Square, and the sensory, emotionally-driven philosophy behind how she designs with colour, materiality and atmosphere. Róisín also reflects on the creative industries more broadly, from her early career in fashion journalism to her belief that technical skill should never overshadow storytelling, sketching and true creative voice, and shares what travel, art and simply looking up has taught her about inspiration. This episode is a celebration of craft, curiosity, and the quiet confidence of building something entirely your own. In this episode: Inside the WOW!house 2026 library installation, and the concept behind itStarting a design studio at 24, with no funding and no safety netBuilding a 26-person studio over sixteen yearsThe reality of construction, and why creativity must never get lost in processOpening Róisín Lafferty Gallery, a decade-long dream realised in DublinDesigning through colour, tone and atmosphereWhy technical skill should never overshadow storytelling and sketchingThe power of travel, observation, and simply looking upAdvice for the next generation: find your true voice, don't imitateWhat's next for Roisín Lafferty Studio and GalleryHeadline Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Moroso, the iconic Italian furniture house founded in 1952. Renowned for sculptural form, bold colour and artisanal craftsmanship, Moroso has spent over seventy years collaborating with the world's most influential designers, including Patricia Urquiola and Ron Arad, to create furniture that lives at the intersection of design, contemporary art and fashion. https://moroso.it Perfect for: Interior designers, architects, creatives, entrepreneurs, students, and anyone interested in craftsmanship, colour, and building a design business rooted in authenticity. Listen & Watch: Full video available on YouTube. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms Guest Links:  Roisín Lafferty  https://roisinlafferty.com/ https://www.instagram.com/roisinlafferty/  Roisín Lafferty Gallery  https://www.instagram.com/roisinlaffertygallery/  Follow OLISE Magazine:  Website: https://olisemagazine.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olisemagazine/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

    Poetry in Physical Form: Róisín Lafferty on Craft, Colour, and Building a Creative Legacy

  2. Aug 13

    Let's Give It Six Months: Jenny Weiss and Helen Bygraves on Friendship, Risk, and 29 Years of Hill House Interiors

    In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with Jenny Weiss and Helen Bygraves, the founding directors behind Hill House Interiors, for a warm and candid conversation marking 29 years in business together. Jenny and Helen tell the story of how a chance meeting through their ex-husbands, and an impromptu champagne-fuelled trip to Henley, turned into a working partnership built on a six-month trial neither of them expected to outlast a single season. They speak openly about who they were when they started, Jenny rebuilding her confidence after stepping back from work to raise her children, Helen learning to project an air of confidence through years in dance and as British Airways cabin crew, and how those early insecurities went on to shape the way they lead today. The conversation explores how Hill House grew from a single showroom into a 46-person studio with its own Lifestyle Collection, an in-house florist, and a showroom that has stayed in Weybridge by design rather than default. Jenny and Helen open up about the realities of running a creative business with no formal business training, the year they had to borrow significant money to keep going, and the lesson they say they would never trade away. They also reflect on opening their Dubai office after waiting years for a friend on the ground to tell them it was finally the right time, and what it means to have built a team where people stay for ten, fifteen, even sixteen years, including women who have left to have children and returned to thriving careers. This episode is a celebration of friendship, commercial instinct, and a business built one decision, and one six-month trial, at a time. In this episode: How a chance meeting through their ex-husbands led to 29 years in businessStarting Hill House on a six-month trial, and never looking backFrom dance and cabin crew to interior design, Helen's unconventional route inJenny's journey from property renovation to building a design studioWhy the name Hill House has nothing to do with either of their surnamesBuilding the Hill House Lifestyle Collection, and keeping it deliberately accessibleWhy their showroom has stayed in Weybridge, not London, for almost three decadesInside the Chelsea Design Centre pop-up that ran for a yearOpening a Dubai office, and waiting years for the right momentLeadership, team loyalty, and supporting women through motherhood and beyondAdvice for designers thinking about expanding into new marketsWhy neither of them went to business school, and what they learned instead Headline Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Moroso, the iconic Italian furniture house founded in 1952. Renowned for sculptural form, bold colour and artisanal craftsmanship, Moroso has spent over seventy years collaborating with the world's most influential designers, including Patricia Urquiola and Ron Arad, to create furniture that lives at the intersection of design, contemporary art and fashion. https://moroso.it Perfect for: Interior designers, business owners, creative entrepreneurs, design students, and anyone interested in long-term business partnerships, brand building, or expanding into international markets. Listen & Watch: Full video available on YouTube. Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms Guest Links:  Hill House Interiors https://hillhouseinteriors.com/ Hill House Lifestyle https://hillhouselifestyle.com/  Follow OLISE Magazine:  Website: https://olisemagazine.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olisemagazine/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

    Let's Give It Six Months: Jenny Weiss and Helen Bygraves on Friendship, Risk, and 29 Years of Hill House Interiors

  3. Jul 8

    From Mexico City to Miami to Mayfair: Natalia Miyar on Architecture, Identity, and a Decade of Building Beautifully

    In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with award-winning architect and interior designer Natalia Miyar for a candid and deeply personal conversation about identity, resilience, and a decade of building one of London's most distinctive design studios. Natalia shares her unconventional path into architecture, a journey that began in Mexico City, moved through Miami, and led her to London, where she has now spent almost twenty years. She speaks openly about the naivety of starting her own studio, the toughest lessons of the first few years, and why she believes happiness, like resilience, is ultimately a choice. The conversation explores her award-winning hospitality project, The 22 in Grosvenor Square, her instinctive, sensory approach to design, and the deeply personal realisation that women, particularly first-born daughters, are often conditioned to please rather than protect their own peace. Natalia also opens up about leadership, friendship, and what she has learned about giving herself grace, sharing how a decade of running her own business, through a pandemic, Brexit, and constant change, has shaped both her studio and the woman she has become. This episode is a celebration of patience, self-awareness, and the quiet confidence that comes from a decade of showing up. In this episode: From Mexico City to Miami to London, an unconventional path into architectureBuilding a design studio from scratch, and the naivety of the early yearsInside The 22, an immersive hospitality project in Grosvenor SquareDesigning through the senses, scent, texture, light and atmosphereWhy women are conditioned to please, and what it means to unlearn itLeadership built on transparency and bringing your team into the visionSelf-care, silence, and the discipline of switching offA decade of resilience, through a pandemic, Brexit and constant changeWhy happiness is a choice, and failure is simply a lessonAdvice for the next generation of designers and architectsHeadline Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Calibre Climate, specialists in bespoke climate control for high-end homes. Calibre Climate works closely with architects and interior designers to deliver quiet, beautifully integrated air conditioning solutions, creating environments that feel effortless, balanced, and considered. https://www.calibreclimate.com/ Perfect for: Architects, interior designers, creatives, entrepreneurs, students, and anyone interested in resilience, leadership, and building a design business with longevity and purpose. Listen & Watch: Full video available on YouTube Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms Guest Links:  Natalia Miyar Studio https://www.nataliamiyar.com/  Natalia Miyar https://www.instagram.com/nataliamiyar/ Follow OLISE Magazine:  Website: https://olisemagazine.com  Instagram: @olisemagazine  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

    From Mexico City to Miami to Mayfair: Natalia Miyar on Architecture, Identity, and a Decade of Building Beautifully

  4. Jul 3

    No Reference Point, No Limits: Enass Mahmoud on Heritage, Representation, and Building Studio Enass

    In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with interior designer Enass Mahmoud, founder of Studio Enass, for a powerful and honest conversation about heritage, representation, and what it means to build a design career with no roadmap to follow. Enass shares her journey from Sudan and London, growing up surrounded by the colour, craft and eccentric self-expression of Sudanese culture, and how that visual language has shaped her design philosophy. She speaks candidly about the reality of starting out with no industry connections and no Sudanese reference point in design to look to, and how a single social media post for the O2 Arena VIP rooms became the accidental beginning of Studio Enass. The conversation explores her belief that representation in design is bigger than any one career, the importance of building genuine community rather than going it alone, and her evolution from a designer who wanted to hide behind her work to one who understands she has to show up, front and centre, for the people coming up behind her. Enass also reflects on her standout Garden Folly Room at WOW!house 2026, a deeply personal love letter to her Sudanese heritage and British upbringing, and the remarkable story of how she manifested the project a full year before it happened. This episode is a celebration of heritage, community, and the courage to build something the industry has never quite seen before. In this episode: Growing up between Sudan and London, and the influence of Sudanese colour and craftStarting Studio Enass by accident, with no reference point in the industryThe first project, the O2 Arena, and the house that took a client from beige to boldWhy building a personal brand can take years, and why that's okayThe importance of community over going it aloneRepresentation, visibility, and designing for the next generationInside the Garden Folly Room at WOW!house 2026, and the heritage behind itManifesting Wow House a year before the email arrivedWhat's next: lighting design, product lines, and dream commercial spacesHeadline Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Moroso, the iconic Italian furniture house founded in 1952. Renowned for sculptural form, bold colour and artisanal craftsmanship, Moroso has spent over seventy years collaborating with the world's most influential designers, including Patricia Urquiola and Ron Arad, to create furniture that lives at the intersection of design, contemporary art and fashion. https://moroso.it Perfect for:  Interior designers, architects, creatives, entrepreneurs, students, and anyone interested in heritage, representation, and building a design career rooted in identity and authenticity. Listen & Watch: Full video available on YouTube Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms Guest Links:  Studio Enass: https://www.studioenass.com/ Enass Mahmoud: https://www.instagram.com/studioenass/ Follow OLISE Magazine: Website: https://olisemagazine.com Instagram: @olisemagazine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

    No Reference Point, No Limits: Enass Mahmoud on Heritage, Representation, and Building Studio Enass

  5. Jun 1

    From Fashion to Fine Art: Caroline Chinakwe on Identity, Culture, and Building a Lifestyle Brand with Purpose

    In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with artist and founder Caroline Chinakwe for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about identity, creativity, and building a brand that reflects culture and truth. Caroline shares her unconventional journey from a 20-year career in fashion into the art world, a transition that was never planned, but driven by a desire to represent Black women with authenticity, strength, and beauty. She speaks candidly about imposter syndrome, starting again later in life, and why she refused to follow the narrative of the “struggling artist.” The conversation explores the meaning behind Chinakwe, not just as a name, but as a legacy, and how Caroline has built a lifestyle brand rooted in Afrofuturism, storytelling, and emotional connection. From her early experiences growing up between Nigeria and the UK, to creating work that celebrates colour, identity, and culture, her perspective is both honest and empowering. Caroline also opens up about motherhood, risk-taking, and resilience, sharing how being a young mother shaped her independence and drive, and how her work today is not only about creativity, but about visibility, representation, and creating space for others. This episode is a celebration of courage, reinvention, and the power of owning your story. In this episode: • Moving from music to fashion, and ultimately into art • Leaving the fashion industry and finding a new creative direction • Overcoming imposter syndrome and claiming the title of “artist” • The meaning behind Chinakwe and building a brand with legacy • Representation, culture, and redefining how Black women are seen • Creating a lifestyle brand rooted in Afrofuturism • Motherhood, independence, and starting young • Risk-taking, resilience, and building a business with intention • The importance of visibility and creating opportunities for others • Expanding the brand through retail, galleries, and global reach Headline Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Calibre Climate, specialists in bespoke climate control for high-end homes. Calibre Climate works closely with architects and interior designers to deliver quiet, beautifully integrated air conditioning solutions, creating environments that feel effortless, balanced, and considered.  https://www.calibreclimate.com/ Perfect for: Artists, interior designers, creatives, entrepreneurs, students, and anyone interested in identity, culture, storytelling, and building a purpose-led brand. Listen & Watch: Full video available on YouTube Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms Guest Links: Chinakwe https://chinakwe.com/ Caroline Chinakwe https://www.instagram.com/carolinechinakwe/ Follow OLISE Magazine: Website: https://olisemagazine.com Instagram: @olisemagazine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

    From Fashion to Fine Art: Caroline Chinakwe on Identity, Culture, and Building a Lifestyle Brand with Purpose

  6. May 18

    Design, Motherhood and Creative Leadership with Rose Murray of These White Walls

    In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with Rose Murray, founder of These White Walls, for a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation about creativity, identity, and the evolving role of the designer. Rose’s path into interior design was anything but traditional. With a background in anthropology and early experience in editorial, she began her career working alongside Nigella Lawson before moving into festival spaces, scenography, and hospitality. This organic journey shaped her belief that space is never neutral, it is a powerful tool for storytelling, identity, and human connection. Since founding These White Walls, Rose has built an award-winning studio known for its highly personalised, narrative-led approach across both hospitality and residential projects. Her work moves fluidly between public and private spaces, often blurring the line between the two. In this conversation, Rose reflects on the importance of relationships in design, the role of emotional intelligence in working with clients, and why interiors are about far more than aesthetics. She shares how her studio has evolved, from early micromanagement to creating a collaborative environment where creativity can flourish. Rose also speaks candidly about motherhood and leadership, and how becoming a mother has expanded her capacity, sharpened her vision, and reshaped her understanding of legacy. She challenges the lack of visibility for women in business during pregnancy and advocates for a more open, human conversation around creativity, leadership, and life. The episode also explores the future of design, from the impact of AI and technology to the increasing importance of human connection, cultural awareness, and meaningful dialogue in shaping spaces. This is a conversation about intuition, courage, and the belief that design is not just about what we see, but how we live, feel, and connect within a space. In this episode • Rose’s unconventional path from anthropology to interior design  • Working with Nigella Lawson and early editorial influences  • The connection between food, space, and experience  • Founding These White Walls and the meaning behind the name  • Creating a collaborative studio culture and evolving leadership  • Designing across hospitality and residential spaces  • Why relationships and emotional intelligence define great design  • The reality of creating highly private, unseen projects  • The impact of AI and the importance of human creativity  • Motherhood, leadership, and expanding creative capacity  • Representation, visibility, and women in business  • Designing for legacy and the future of the studio Headline Sponsor This episode is supported by Moroso, the luxury Italian design house renowned for turning furniture into works of art. For over 70 years, Moroso has collaborated with leading designers to create bold, expressive pieces that define contemporary interiors. https://www.moroso.it Perfect for Interior designers, architects, creative founders, and anyone interested in the emotional and human side of design, building a studio with purpose, and balancing creativity with leadership, identity, and life. Listen and Watch Full video available on YouTube Audio available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms Guest Links Rose Murray https://www.instagram.com/rose_murray/ These White Walls https://www.thesewhitewalls.com/ Follow OLISE Magazine Website: https://olisemagazine.com Instagram: @olisemagazine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

    Design, Motherhood and Creative Leadership with Rose Murray of These White Walls

  7. Apr 17

    Design Without a Rulebook and the Power of Saying Yes: Brian Woulfe on Global Interiors and Building Designed by Woulfe

    In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White sits down with Brian Woulfe, founder of Designed by Woulfe, for a candid conversation about building an international interior design studio without a traditional path. Brian’s journey into design was anything but conventional. Originally trained as a musician, he found himself unexpectedly working on luxury properties in Thailand during the global recession, an experience that would shape his practical, on-site approach to design and business. Since then, Brian has completed projects across five continents and built Designed by Woulfe into a globally recognised studio known for richly layered residential interiors and deeply personal client relationships. In this conversation, Brian reflects on how saying yes to opportunities helped launch his career, why he believes trends are often misunderstood, and how great interiors are created through interpretation rather than imitation. He shares honest insights into running a design studio, from the realities of entrepreneurship and hiring the right team, to managing complex client relationships and navigating the pressures of creative leadership. Brian also discusses the evolving role of technology and artificial intelligence in design, why luxury will always depend on human connection, and how personal passions such as polo have helped him rediscover balance and avoid creative burnout. This episode explores the realities behind the images: the risks, resilience, and relationships required to build a global design practice. In this episode• How Brian moved from music into interior design • Moving to Thailand and designing luxury villas during the recession • Learning design through construction sites rather than studios • Why saying yes shaped Brian’s career • Building Designed by Woulfe into a global residential studio • Why trends often distract from authentic design • The impact of AI on creativity and design workflows • The importance of relationships in luxury design • Why networking and human connection still drive business • Entrepreneurship, burnout, and finding balance through polo Headline SponsorThis episode is supported by Calibre Climate, specialists in bespoke climate control for high-end homes. Their goal is not just temperature control, but creating environments that feel effortless, balanced, and considered. Calibre Climate works closely with architects and interior designers to deliver quiet, beautifully integrated air conditioning solutions. https://www.calibreclimate.com/ Perfect forInterior designers, architects, studio founders, creative directors, and anyone interested in the realities of building a global design practice, navigating entrepreneurship, and balancing creativity with business leadership. Listen and WatchFull video available on YouTube Audio available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms Guest LinksBrian Woulfe https://www.instagram.com/brianwoulfe/  Designed by Woulfe https://www.designedbywoulfe.com/  Follow OLISE MagazineWebsite: https://olisemagazine.com Instagram: @olisemagazine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

    Design Without a Rulebook and the Power of Saying Yes: Brian Woulfe on Global Interiors and Building Designed by Woulfe

  8. Mar 16

    Cultural Luxury and Global Vision: Clint Nagata on Building BLINK Design Group

    In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White sits down with Clint Nagata, Founder and Creative Partner of BLINK Design Group, for an in depth conversation about global hospitality design, cultural luxury, and building an international studio without ego. From leading iconic projects for One&Only, Six Senses, and Banyan Tree Dubai, to growing BLINK into a 120 person practice across Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, and London, Clint shares what it really takes to scale a creative business while protecting its culture. Born in Hawaii and now based in Bangkok for over 20 years, Clint reflects on how travel shaped his worldview, why he believes luxury is no longer singular, and how cultural luxury designing through the lens of place has become central to Blink’s philosophy. He speaks candidly about walking away from projects when visions do not align, why losses can be more valuable than wins, and how humility, transparency, and friendship underpin his leadership style. Clint also shares the story behind A Wish to Remember, Blink’s internal travel award created in memory of a beloved team member, and explains why exposure to the world is essential if designers are to create meaningful hospitality experiences. This is a conversation about resilience, perspective, mentorship, and what it means to design for the next generation of global luxury travellers. In this episode • Growing BLINK organically into a global hospitality studio • Why cultural luxury is redefining high end design • Designing through interpretation, not imitation • Leadership without ego and building an egoless firm • Moving from creative to business leader • Why losses can be more valuable than wins • Transparency, open studios, and global team culture • Mentorship and shaping the next generation of designers • The story behind A Wish to Remember • Why Morocco is next on Clint’s design horizon Headline Sponsor This episode is supported by Calibre Climate, specialists in bespoke climate control for high end homes. Their goal is not just temperature control, it is creating environments that feel effortless, balanced, and considered. Calibre Climate works closely with architects and interior designers to deliver quiet, beautifully integrated air conditioning solutions. https://www.calibreclimate.com/ Perfect for Interior designers, architects, hospitality professionals, studio founders, creative directors, and anyone interested in global design leadership, cultural storytelling, and building a values led business. Listen and Watch Full video available on YouTube Audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms Guest Link: BLINK Design Group https://www.blinkdg.com/ Follow OLISE Magazine: Website: https://olisemagazine.com Instagram: @olisemagazine LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olise-magazine/

    Cultural Luxury and Global Vision: Clint Nagata on Building BLINK Design Group
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About

Welcome to the OLISE Podcast, where we explore the people and places shaping luxury interiors and hospitality around the world. Through honest conversations with designers, founders, creatives, and industry leaders, we uncover the inspirations behind iconic projects and the thinking that drives meaningful, human-centred design. If you love interiors with depth, craft, and global perspective, you’re in the right place. 

Information

  • Creator
    OLISE
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 OLISE Podcast
  • Show Website
    OLISE Podcast

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