The Thursday Show: Will California ban quartz? Plus: Suzanne Tucker previews the San Francisco Fall Show

Dennis Scully (0:07)

This is Business of Home. I'm Dennis Scully, and welcome to the Thursday Show.

Later on, I'll be speaking with Suzanne Tucker about the San Francisco Falls Show. But first, we're going to catch up on the news, including a courts ban in California, the decline of mid-century modern, and how designers should feel about AI agents. To do all that, I'm joined by Business of Home's executive editor, Fred Nicolaus. Hi, Fred.

Fred Nicolaus (0:34)

Hi, Dennis, how's it going?

Dennis Scully (0:35)

Great, how you doing?

Fred Nicolaus (0:37)

Doing good. I saw you were up at the Design Social in Connecticut last night, how were the festivities?

Dennis Scully (0:41)

A good time was had in Darien, Connecticut with the Design Social crew, a very fun event.

Fred Nicolaus (0:47)

I know, but I was disappointed to see that you weren't moderating the panel. Scully's going to an event, I expect him to be moderating the panel.

Dennis Scully (0:54)

Well, I was sitting in the front row, I think for many, it probably felt like I was going to jump in at any moment.

Fred Nicolaus (1:00)

Yes, I'm sure you were sitting on your hands to avoid jumping in. But there will be plenty of opportunities to see Dennis Scully live on stage next week. High Point has really crept up on me. You're going to be down in North Carolina, so will Caitlin. What should people put on their calendars?

Dennis Scully (1:14)

I know, it's really crept up on me as well, and Caitlin and I both just have a whole array of things where we'll be appearing, including each of us will be at the High Point Theater. So Caitlin will be at the High Point Theater on Saturday, at 3 p.m. She'll be talking with the leaders of the High Point Market Authority and the NKBA.

And I will be at the High Point Theater on Sunday at 3 p.m. with none other than Jeremiah Brent and Jean Stofer and Amber Lewis for this inaugural Best of Design contest where I'm hoping I'd have one of those giant checks for $10,000 that I get to hand to some lucky winner. That's the prop that I'm asking for in this whole thing.

Fred Nicolaus (1:57)

Well, that sounds unmissable. If not for Jeremiah Brent, Jean Stofer, Amber Lewis, then for Scully with a giant check. But those are only two events. BOH is going to be doing all kinds of things at High Point Market. There's so many we can't even plug them on the show, but we do have a handy-dandy High Point Guide, the Designer's Guide to High Point Market. It'll be on hand at Market.

It's also available on our website right now. So head on over to businessofhome.com to make your plans for North Carolina if you're headed down that way.

But in the meantime, let's look back on Monday's episode, the conversation with Alabama architect Jeffrey Dungan and the one-time owner of a private plane. That was my favorite element of the conversation.

Dennis Scully (2:36)

Yes, and you'll learn the story of how Jeff started an interior design firm at one point, which he says was a disastrous idea and a quick way to lose a lot of money as was having a private plane. But darn, he did love that plane and being on the cover of that airplane magazine. Yeah, he had a lot of setbacks but found remarkable success nonetheless.

Fred Nicolaus (2:59)

Yeah, I know. That's probably like, what is it? Your first hire should be someone to do the books, and your second big splurge is a jet for your architecture firm. Yeah, I don't know. Such a fun conversation. I love how Jeff really represents both sides of the brain. He's such a soulful guy. This is a guy who's moved to tears when he walks into a beautiful building. But he also has this really complicated mathematical way of proportioning bonuses for his employees that he gets into. This very unique formula he's developed. So there's something for everyone, sort of both sides, the creative, the art, the science of it all. He really is a Renaissance man, to be sure.

Dennis Scully (3:33)

It was a very moving story about him getting on the path to becoming an architect, something that he didn't even know was a profession or didn't even know what an architect was.

And he fortunately found Auburn and found some classmates in the name of Gray Davis and Ray Booth, among others, with whom he had some darn good times, I'm sure, and also learned a profession that he has gone on to excel in. So it's a great conversation. It's always a pleasure to speak with him. And I hope that people enjoy it. We're going to get into the news in just a moment, but first a quick break.