Talk Shop with Ariel Okin: A Fenimore Lane Production

On this week’s episode, Ariel is joined by the duo behind Weezie Towels, Liz Eichholz and Lindsey Johnson. Launched in 2018, Weezie Towels is not only our favorite brand for gorgeous towels, but also a true embodiment of a modern, luxury direct to consumer brand with a big heart. Weezie’s origin story is the stuff of lore: Newly married, Liz had a lackluster experience looking for embroidered towels. She approached her long-time friend Lindsey, and the two agreed that there was a gap in the market. They hit the ground running to modernize this niche space, eventually introducing the world to Weezie. Liz, Weezie’s Creative Director, was born and raised in Austin, Texas. After receiving a BFA in graphic design from the University of Georgia, she spent five years in New York working in creative, including at Uncommon Goods and Bustle before moving to Savannah, GA with her husband and three children. Managing the business side, CEO Lindsey spent her childhood with stops around the US, before attending Vanderbilt for undergrad, and then Columbia Business School. She spent almost a decade in New York City, before planting roots in Atlanta with her husband and three children. With fifteen years of friendship, and over five years at Weezie (plus six kids between the two of them!), Liz and Lindsey constantly inspire us here, and hopefully you too, as you listen in on the conversation about entrepreneurship in the design world.—Start your own collection of Weezie Towels: https://weezietowels.com/ and use the code TALKSHOP15 for 15% off your entire order. Order ASAP for delivery in time for the holidays!—Follow Liz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liz_weezie/Follow Lindsey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsey_weezie/Follow Weezie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weezietowels/

This week Ariel welcomes our first husband-wife duo to the podcast! Travis and Rhiannon, lead Hageman Homes, a Residential Interior Design and Custom Home Building Firm located in Oakville, Ontario. The couple's path to design began with a love of traditional architecture, decoration and craftsmanship. What started as a custom home building firm has evolved into a boutique design studio where architectural storytelling and deeply personal interiors come together with beautiful results. Rhiannon's full-service interior design approach celebrates the art of layering, from storied antiques and classic textiles to collected pieces that whisper of lives well-lived. Her spaces feel as though they've been thoughtfully assembled over generations, each room telling its own unique story. Travis brings his expertise in engineering, design and construction management to their practice, ensuring that every detail and architectural element is executed with precision and authenticity. Together, the couple believe that truly great homes should feel lived-in and are to be enjoyed, spaces where memories can be made without worry, and where every corner holds something meaningful. Over the last 5 years the Hagemans have built a reputation for creating residences that honor traditional craftsmanship while embracing the way families really live. Their work has garnered attention throughout Canada and the US, with features in Veranda and House & Home, where they continue to craft spaces that feel both sophisticated and deeply personal, designed to be cherished for generations to come. —Learn more about Hageman Homes: https://hagemanhomes.ca/Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hagemanhomesinteriors/

This week we’re journeying to the storied past of NYC and the East Village as Ariel welcomes the founder and visionary behind the Il Buco hospitality group, Donna Lennard. For the last thirty years, Donna has been at the forefront of ingredient-driven Italian/Mediterranean cuisine, winning numerous accolades, including a rare three star New York Times review for il Buco Alimentari. With the recent launch of Il Buco Vita, the group's foray into the home space, Lennard's impact on creating warm, inviting and lasting interiors is even more impactful. Donnabegan her career as an independent film producer and worked in restaurants all over Manhattan during her school years, where she initially met Alberto Avalle, a “foodie” from Umbria. In 1994, she and Alberto stumbled upon a storefront on cobblestoned Bond Street and created il Buco, which was initially opened as an antique shop. Il Buco catered to the tastes of the artists living in the area who quickly discovered thatDonnaand Alberto not only had an eye for beautiful antiques, but also a refined taste for delicious food and wine. It didn’t take long before the store transformed into the buzzy restaurant it remains to date, in a gorgeous interior setting to boot.Since the opening of il Buco,Donnahas opened three more restaurants in New York City, the Hamptons and Ibiza, along with their coveted tabletop and lifestyle brand - il Buco Vita. The common thread weaving each area ofDonna’s locations is an inviting atmosphere of quiet luxury with an exquisite attention to detail.—Visit one of Donna’s Restaurants: https://ilbuco.com/Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilbuco_av/And shop for your own piece from il Buco Vita: https://ilbucovita.com/

This week we’re joined by a guest whose prolific work in the architecture and interiors worlds is, quite literally, historic. Ben Pentreath is an English architectural and interior designer, whose firm has become known for its brilliant master-planning and urban development, along with incredibly detailed and beautiful private homes and playful interiors all over the world. As Ben says, “we love designing spaces that work beautifully for the long term, and feel right for the place.”Ben’s background is in Art History, which he studied at the University of Edinburgh before attending the Prince of Wales’s Institute of Architecture. He worked for five years in New York at Fairfax and Sammons, and then with the Prince’s Foundation, before starting his own practice in 2004.In 2023, Ben Pentreath was awarded the Richard H. Driehaus Prize, given to a living architect whose work embodies the highest principles of traditional and classical architecture and urbanism in contemporary society, and reflects positive cultural, environmental and artistic impacts. Ben is one of the youngest laureates of the award.Along the way, Ben has also established himself as an author, with regular contributions to the Financial Times and other journals, as well as three fantastic books which I adore. His most recent book, An English Vision, a monograph of the work of the practice, is out now with Rizzoli!---Learn more about Ben Pentreath’s Firm: https://www.benpentreath.com/Follow Ben on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benpentreath/Pick up a copy of Ben’s new book: https://pentreath-hall.com/products/english-decoration-copyArchitecture and Design Books Recommendations:Jame Gibbs' Book of Architecture - https://www.amazon.com/Gibbs-Book-Architecture-Eighteenth-Century-Classic/dp/0486466019Ben’s Blog on Living in Vogue - https://pentreath-hall.com/blogs/bens-posts/you-can-t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover