iDesign Lab: The Design Podcast with Tiffany & Scott Woolley

• The Design Legacy Behind America’s Most Iconic Furniture Brands: Alex Shuford III

  Send us a textA fabric mill, a poker-legend origin story, and a furniture factory that almost never sleeps—until a global shutdown forced the lights off. We invited Alex Schuford III, CEO of Century Furniture and the Rock House Farm Family of Brands, to share how a third-generation leader protects legacy without freezing it in amber. From buying Hancock & Moore and Hickory Chair to keeping nine North Carolina factories humming, Alex opens the playbook on brand autonomy, storytelling, and the small details that separate timeless from forgettable.We dig into the retail lessons that shaped his operator’s eye—why asking for the order still matters, how factory utilization drives culture and profit, and what makes a showroom genuinely inspiring in a world trained by RH and Arhaus. Alex explains why conglomerates stumble when they homogenize identities, and how empowering presidents at Century, Hickory Chair, Highland House, Hancock & Moore, Jessica Charles, and Maitland-Smith keeps each brand sharp—even when they compete with each other. He also makes a compelling case for why interior designers are AI-proof: taste, empathy, and on-site orchestration can be augmented by tools, but not replaced.You’ll hear the story of a product review where Thomas O’Brien spotted a molding mistake from 25 feet away, and a crisis moment where the team found touchless thermometers in the baby aisle to legally restart operations—a tiny win that became cultural lore. The throughline is clear: craftsmanship lives in people, details compound into beauty, and trust is earned one consistent decision at a time. If you care about design, legacy brands, or how to lead through pressure, this conversation delivers practical wisdom and good company.If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a design-obsessed friend, and leave a quick review—what detail do you always notice first?Support the showLearn more at:https://twinteriors.com/podcast/ https://scottwoolley.com

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• How Sarah Trop Turns Old Homes and Heirlooms into Sustainable Beauty

  Send us a textWhat if the most powerful design choice isn’t “new,” but “true”? We sit with HGTV’s Flea Market Flip champion and Funcycled founder, Sarah Trop, to explore how story, sustainability, and craft can elevate everyday spaces without erasing their past. From turning a roll-top desk into a showstopping bar to flipping arched cabinet doors for a shaker look, Sarah shows why preserving good bones often beats a full gut—and how a smart “kitchen facelift” can save serious money while keeping character intact.We unpack her journey from nap-time furniture repaints to a full-service studio and storefront, fueled by a faith-rooted, trauma-informed approach. Sarah reveals how she sells bold visions to clients who can’t “see” the final room yet, using AI tools like Midjourney alongside SketchUp and CAD to quickly communicate mood, proportion, and flow. We dig into the materials that matter—low VOC, water-based lacquers for durability without toxicity—and the sourcing strategies that transform heirlooms into modern anchors. Expect candid stories from HGTV’s pressure cooker, the art of selling with narrative, and the craftsmanship behind upcycling that feels intentional, not improvised.We also get real about building a business and a life. Sarah shares lessons from Entrepreneurs’ Organization on scaling, cash, and leadership—and the life-wheel exercise that prompted a radical health reset. Travel threads it all together, from Budapest rooftops to Parisian doors, inspiring palettes, patterns, and finishes that translate into timeless rooms. If you care about historic preservation, sustainable design, and client-first storytelling, this conversation will give you practical tactics and fresh courage to keep the soul in your spaces.If this resonates, follow and subscribe for more thoughtful design talks. Share with a friend who’s deciding between gut and keep-the-bones, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.Learn more at:https://twinteriors.com/podcast/ https://scottwoolley.com

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• Design With Heart: Elaine Schneider on Process, Vision Boards, and Personal Spaces

  Send us a textWhat if your home felt like a clear reflection of who you are—down to the curve of a chair and the rhythm of a hallway? We sit with designer Elaine Schneider, founder of Echo Environments, to unpack how a retail-architecture veteran who once designed Nordstrom’s flagship now crafts residential spaces that echo the lives inside them. The throughline is powerful and practical: a client-led vision board, five to seven guiding words, and a bulletproof process that protects every decision from concept to install.Elaine takes us inside the phases that make complex projects work. We explore how to translate feelings into form, why interior architecture should lead furniture, and how 3D modeling de-risks intricate rooms—from theaters with layered panels to touch-latch secret doors. She shares the discipline she carried from retail: sequence matters, documentation is nonnegotiable, and construction needs dictate design cadence. We talk flow, sightlines, focal walls, and the small choices that add up to spaces people love to use.We also go coast to coast: working remotely on historic homes, navigating review boards, and balancing one or two large builds with a few smaller ones to keep quality high. Elaine’s sourcing is project-driven, including standout finds at High Point—an artisan brass atelier and richly detailed upholstery—that spark unexpected solutions. Trends take a back seat to the client’s words; “loungy” can invite organic curves, while heritage settings call for layered detail and warm craft. If you care about homes that feel honest, human, and beautifully made, this conversation gives you a roadmap you can actually use.Enjoyed this story-driven deep dive into process and craft? Follow the show, share it with a friend who loves design, and leave a quick review—what word would define your dream home?Learn more at:https://twinteriors.com/podcast/ https://scottwoolley.com

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• Inside POLYWOOD: Design, Durability, and a Circular Future with Lindsay Schleis

  Send us a textWhat if the best-looking thing on your patio was also the toughest and the most sustainable? We sit down with Lindsay Schleis, VP of Business Development at POLYWOOD, to trace how recycled HDPE becomes design-forward outdoor furniture that survives salt air, summer storms, and years of use—without sacrificing style or speed.Lindsay takes us from laser sorters and UV-stable pellets to CNC-milled “lumber” and an on-demand, just‑in‑time factory that ships most orders in 7–10 business days. We dig into finishes that move beyond the classic Adirondack look—vintage textures and woodlike select tones—plus a Designer Series with hidden hardware made for architects and interior designers. Collaborations get their moment too: Martha Stewart’s Chinoiserie collection pushed POLYWOOD to extrude 24-inch boards and laser-cut intricate backs, unlocking cast-metal detail in a recyclable material.We explore what matters most to coastal clients: real durability. From hurricane-tested testimonials to hospitality-grade testing that meets ASTM and BIFMA standards, the brand’s 20-year warranty is grounded in engineering and an in-house lab. You’ll hear how mixed materials—sling seats and woven accents—elevate comfort and silhouette, why the modern Edge collection is trending (with sectional options), and how the trade program streamlines specs, drop shipping, and soon COM cushions with new Sunbrella fabrics. Distribution spans DTC, retail, specialty dealers, the design trade, and hospitality worldwide, with U.S. manufacturing in Indiana and North Carolina reducing lead times.We also swap ideas for what’s next—outdoor bars, towel returns, and cabana storage that match the same sustainability and performance. If you’re designing by the coast, outfitting a boutique hotel, or refreshing a backyard to actually last, this conversation is your blueprint for durable, beautiful outdoor living.If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, share it with a design friend, and leave a quick review—then head to polywood.com to explore the Designer Program and sample what’s possible.Learn more at:https://twinteriors.com/podcast/ https://scottwoolley.com

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• From Belts to Brand: Hadley Pollet's Journey of Ethical Design

  Send us a textHow does a moment of personal tragedy transform into a thriving 20-year fashion legacy? For Hadley Pollet, it began with a simple belt made from vintage trims wrapped around a buckle—a design that caught the eye of five strangers at a Boston brewery who all asked the same question: "Where did you get that belt?"That serendipitous moment sparked the beginning of an accessories brand built on the radical notion that fashion should be personal, not disposable. With no formal fashion education but armed with innate creative talent and business savvy gained from publishing and PR careers, Hadley found herself at a crossroads after 9/11 claimed the life of her mother's husband. This profound loss became the catalyst for reinvention, pushing her to embrace design as both creative outlet and healing process.What sets the Hadley Pollet brand apart isn't just its vibrant colors or distinctive jacquard designs, but its deep commitment to ethical production and female empowerment. Hadley personally visits every factory partner, ensuring they're locally owned (preferably by women) and that female workers receive equal pay to men—sometimes having frank conversations with male owners about wage equity. This matriarchal business model extends to an artisan training program that teaches craftspeople in developing regions how to cross-pollinate techniques and reach global markets.While many designers chase department store distribution, Hadley deliberately shuns these channels, criticizing them for "building their business on the backs of creatives." Instead, she partners with small boutiques that create meaningful shopping experiences and understand the brand's unique value. As she explains, "There's too much sameness in the world"—a philosophy that's kept her brand vibrant while others struggle with unsold inventory and identity crises.Ready to discover accessories that speak to your authentic self? Explore the colorful world of Hadley Pollet and join a community of women who understand that true style comes from expressing who you really are, not following what everyone else is wearing.Learn more at:https://twinteriors.com/podcast/ https://scottwoolley.com

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