Reframing Outdoor Living with Urban Bonfire & Cosentino

Casey: 00:00:32

Hi, I'm Casey.

Rainey: 00:00:33

And I'm Rainey. Welcome to the Reframing Design Podcast. If you're a new designer, a seasoned designer, a homeowner, or a home enthusiast, you are in the right place.

Casey: 00:00:44

We are going to talk about all things design.

Casey: 00:00:46

Our stories, our opinions, our experiences, and we're probably going to chase a few rabbits down a few rabbit holes. But one thing we can guarantee, we will not talk about politics.

Rainey: 00:00:58

Hello.

Casey: 00:00:59

Hello. Hi. How are you?

Rainey: 00:01:00

It's good to see you again. Good to see you.

Casey: 00:01:02

You look so pretty. Improper.

Rainey: 00:01:04

You look so pretty. Actually, we're going to an Astros game after this, so we're both in blue and white.

Casey: 00:01:10

We like to be the unobvious fans.

Rainey: 00:01:12

They are not. Right. We're not wearing. I do have Astro sweater, which I.

Casey: 00:01:16

Do, too, and I love.

Rainey: 00:01:18

I love my Astros sweater. But we don't just walk around wearing all the things.

Casey: 00:01:22

But it's fun to support, and it absolutely, you know, a little subtle, subtle nod.

Rainey: 00:01:26

You see my orange right here?

Casey: 00:01:27

I do. I've got a little orange. Yeah, I do love that. So you're. Anyway, you look beautiful.

Rainey: 00:01:31

How are you?

Casey: 00:01:32

I'm great. I'm absolutely fantastic.

Rainey: 00:01:35

Aren't you, like, just between trips right now? You're heading out again? I think, tomorrow somewhere. Yeah. Where are you going? New York.

Casey: 00:01:42

I think that's. That's a definitely.

Casey: 00:01:44

Yeah.

Rainey: 00:01:44

What are you gonna do there?

Casey: 00:01:45

Gonna play with the boys for 48 hours.

Rainey: 00:01:47

Shut the front door.

Casey: 00:01:49

Both boys.

Casey: 00:01:50

Both boys.

So Josh got there yesterday, spent a fun day with my very dear friend Tracy, running the streets of the city, learning her industry, which is our industry, appliances. She works for Royal Green. I'm going to give them the shout out just because she spent the day with Josh. It was awesome. And then Jake just.

Just landed, and they are going to probably wreak havoc, and then I'll meet them tomorrow.

Rainey: 00:02:12

New York, beware. But by the time the grand boys are there, it'll.

Casey: 00:02:15

It'll be gone. Like, it'll be. Yeah. So it'll be summary. So that's my win. What's your win?

Rainey: 00:02:20

Oh, that's your win.

Casey: 00:02:22

I think it is. I mean, how. And we're going to a play, which.

Rainey: 00:02:25

What are y' all gonna go see?

Casey: 00:02:26

So we're gonna go see. Goodbye. I need to know the name of it, but George Clooney's in it.

Rainey: 00:02:32

I was just gonna say. Is that the Clooney one?

Casey: 00:02:34

That is the Clooney one. And I'm very excited that it's happening because this podcast today that Will, can I just spoil it? Alert.

But our interview people today, our guests are from cnext, and I learned about this from our last CNEXT from this lighting designer. That is not who we have. We have the wonderful Ryan from Bonfire and Patti from Cosentino. But we've heard about this player.

I would not have been aware of it.

Rainey: 00:02:57

Okay, so are you. Are your tickets close enough to be able to, like, totally appreciate the beauty of that man? Clooney's beauty?

Casey: 00:03:06

My goal is that he can see me going, I love you. I love you. And he'll know it's me.

Rainey: 00:03:10

You know, he'll be able to see you and go, oh, I recognize.

Casey: 00:03:17

I see her mouth. Like, he's that close to me.

Rainey: 00:03:19

I love that.

Casey: 00:03:20

So I think we've got.

Rainey: 00:03:20

Let me know how that goes for you.

Casey: 00:03:22

Well, if you don't hear from me, you know how it went. I'm now on a. I'm now out of a groupie.

Rainey: 00:03:27

You're on a.

Casey: 00:03:27

With.

Rainey: 00:03:27

With what's his. Amal and is his name's wife's name Amal or something?

Casey: 00:03:31

She is that stunning woman. Hopefully, she won't get mad.

Rainey: 00:03:33

I've never, like, thought that I don't have a celebrity crush, and everybody has that celebrity crush. I don't have that, and I've wanted one so bad. My closest I ever got was on our honeymoon. I was 18, right.

So on our honeymoon, we saw Hunt for Red Octo, and it was.

Casey: 00:03:49

Who's in that?

Casey: 00:03:50

Oh, my gosh.

Rainey: 00:03:51

The old man who's so cute. He's Sean Connery. Is that who it is?

Casey: 00:03:58

Yes.

Casey: 00:03:58

And thank goodness from the.

Rainey: 00:03:59

Whoever just whispered that off set. Thank you, Sean Connery. And now he's kind of old, and he's still, I'm sure, lovely. But I just was like, oh.

And that is the closest I've ever come to a. Because, you know, I am so in love with my husband, I just cannot.

Casey: 00:04:18

And so I like that you said that. And he is in the room. But she would say that even if he wasn't. I've never known a woman so in love with her husband, which I am. Well done.

And he was the whisperer in the background, just saying the shanty.

Rainey: 00:04:31

I still have butterflies, and I feel very lucky to have that.

Casey: 00:04:35

And I love you, too, Matt. Do not get me wrong. But I do love you both.

Rainey: 00:04:38

Love, Matt.

Casey: 00:04:39

I do love me some George Clooney and Brad Pitt and Jason Bateman and Dax Shepard.

Rainey: 00:04:44

Oh, you have a whole lot. I. Oh, my God.

Casey: 00:04:47

I have four That I. They. I love.

Rainey: 00:04:49

They do it for you.

Casey: 00:04:50

They do. They're just.

Rainey: 00:04:50

Okay, say this again.

Casey: 00:04:52

So. Well, George Clooney and then Brad Pitt, because he's him. But. And really, it's Jason Bateman and Dax Shepard.

Rainey: 00:04:59

Are those more like personalities?

Casey: 00:05:01

Yes. I do like their looks, but I love their personalities. I love them for different reasons, but they. I've just. Anyhow, I love this. So what's your win?

The fact your handsome husband's right there or.

Rainey: 00:05:12

No. So I. I have to tell you that my win.

Casey: 00:05:16

Not.

Rainey: 00:05:17

That's lovely, but is that this last Mother's Day? So when we're recording this, Mother's Day was two days ago. It was the best Mother's Day I've ever had. It was just really phenomenal. It was so great.

Why? Well, Paige kind of had brunch with her and David and the kids, and then they went to Meow Wolf, and Tom and I got up in Reagan.

Our middle daughter went to brunch with us. We had a lovely brunch, and then we took a quilt out to a park. Park here in Houston and just laid it out.

We had a speaker and just laid there under the trees. It's called, I think, Echo park or something. Anyway, I could have just made that up. I make stuff up.

So we just bought an Echo fabric today from S. Harris, so.

Casey: 00:06:02

And then you had the echo dot. The echo was happening.

Rainey: 00:06:05

Echo. Echo's been happening. So anyway, I think it's Echo Park.

But anyway, just laid out on the quilt for the longest time and listened to music and the trees kind of blowing. And then we. It went back to our house and the grandkids and Paige and David came over and we swam and we grilled wonderful food.

And Kate called from LA and FaceTimed in several times. I think she had FOMO a little bit.

And it was just one of those days that when it was over, you think I wouldn't change one minute of today, and there's not enough of those, you know?

Casey: 00:06:41

I know. And. But the simplicity of that day, and I'm not taking away, because it was simple. It's a blanket, some music, and your people in a park. That's it.

Rainey: 00:06:51

That's it.

Casey: 00:06:52

And having the. And let's just give a little shout to the weather of Houston this weekend. I did not go inside. I was like a dog. I was outside.

Rainey: 00:07:01

I refused to go inside.

Casey: 00:07:02

I did. I was like. Even when the lights started going down, I'd turn on the lights so I could read out. I was like, please don't make me go in, Mommy.

I don't want to. I love California weather. You told me. But it didn't get too chilly. Right.

So that's always that beauty of this time here, because it then you still don't need a wrap. You just feel comfortable. But we got a gift this weekend of weather. But I love that. That was, like.

It didn't need to be all the stuff that people think it needs to be. All the fancy. All the fancy. Not so much. I do love a fancy.

Rainey: 00:07:30

Yeah.

Casey: 00:07:30

But not on that day.

Casey: 00:07:31

Yeah.

Rainey: 00:07:32

It was just really good. So that's my win. But I am so excited about our guests today.

Casey: 00:07:37

So excited.

Rainey: 00:07:38

And one of the things that I was thinking about when we were preparing for this pod was about how you and I have taken our separate brands and aligned them in this space. And how when we see people out, they're like, ah, your chemistry and what you guys do together and bring to the space.

We've gotten so many compliments, and you share texts that you get from people, and I share texts back and forth with each other because it's so nice to be firm, you know? But that also happens in our industry. We're two.

I think super rad brands decide that they're gonna kind of come together and create something cool together.

Casey: 00:08:19

I love how you tested that.

Rainey: 00:08:20

That's gonna happen today.

Casey: 00:08:21

It is. And we have learned about them because of a brand that we both love, Santino. We talk about them all the time, and they are not a sponsor.

But we do love them so much. But we learned about them.

Rainey: 00:08:32

That's a good idea. Maybe we should ask, oh, my God.

Casey: 00:08:35

What's our pitch? We'll have to think this through. Let's think about this. But we love them because what they do for us.

And so we've learned about this other brand in this marriage of togetherness because of what Cosentino does and provide for us all.

Rainey: 00:08:48

Next, which we did a whole pod on Scenex on that recap. This was, I think, your fourth Scenex. So for you, just third. But it was your third.

Casey: 00:08:56

Yes.

Rainey: 00:08:57

So for you, it was the next Scene X. For me, it was like a whole new world. Right. Like that Disney song in the background. A whole new world.

And I was blown away by the caliber of brands and people that were there and the access that you had to talk to people and get to know people that in our industry would otherwise not be able to get out of reach.

Casey: 00:09:20

But what I loved about going through with you, because although we are all there together, everybody's just sort of together. Together as people. But nobody's like, seeing stuff together because we all see and are drawn to different things at different times.

So it's like just amoebas, but together. We saw Urban Bonfire's booth and it rocked the hell out of the whole place.

Rainey: 00:09:39

We couldn't even.

Casey: 00:09:40

But the faucet. And so we got that. And that is sort of what is a stamp in my brain of our time together. There is at that booth and what they had done.

And so the fact that now we get to be here in Houston, because that was in full circle. Beautiful. Cabo.

Rainey: 00:09:54

Yep.

Casey: 00:09:54

Nope, nope. Cancun.

Rainey: 00:09:55

Cancun.

Casey: 00:09:56

Sorry. Cabo was here before Cancun. And now we. They're here. They're, like gonna sit with us and tuck toast.

Rainey: 00:10:01

It goes to another whole layer. So, you know, when they split us up and we had, like, private dinners with brands, my host was Urban Bonfire.

Casey: 00:10:10

I love it.

Rainey: 00:10:11

So I got to really go deep with with them and learn more about the brand. And it was mind blowing because for me, in Houston, weather, I had stopped doing outdoor kitchens.

Like, I did everything I could to beg clients to not do them because they're just going to be gross and.

Casey: 00:10:30

Cruddy cobwebs and bugs and you're just like, leaves. So we have. The first time, the first year I went, I got to go to dinner with. It was Benjamin Moore and I got to go with Stefan and here. And so.

How weird.

Rainey: 00:10:46

It's just weird, right?

Casey: 00:10:47

It's like, I love it. So we get to now share them with people who might not otherwise know them.

Rainey: 00:10:54

And so I'm excited. Got two great killer brands. They're.

They're titans in our industry that have decided to collaborate, and we're going to talk to them about that and get to know more about it. So if you're a baby designer, an experienced designer, a homeowner or home enthusiast, you are going to love this one, I promise you.

Casey: 00:11:16

Yeah. Stay tuned. It's going to be amazing.

Rainey: 00:11:20

Before we formally introduce our guests, I have to. I have to clean up from the introduction because when we were resetting the stage, I learned that Sean. That Sean Connery.

I'm so sorry that Sean Connery has actually passed.

Casey: 00:11:38

And I'm so laughing about that.

Rainey: 00:11:40

I'm so sorry to have learned that my crush fast. And then I talked about him as if he were still alive.

So I'm not sure how I missed that note, but I'm positive that whenever he passed, I was really busy doing something fabulous. And so I'm a little sad. So I did. We poured ourselves a little glass of Prosecco, and we're going to continue with our pod. But I have learned that.

So please don't write in and tell me that he's passed away. I have learned. And I'm so sorry. Nope.

Casey: 00:12:12

She's not laughing. Because it's funny.

Rainey: 00:12:14

It is not funny.

Casey: 00:12:15

Dying embarrassed because neither of us knew.

Rainey: 00:12:17

Knew. Okay, on to the next.

Casey: 00:12:19

On to the next. Introductions are gorgeous. Gorgeous.

Rainey: 00:12:22

Look at them.

Casey: 00:12:23

Oh, my God. It's like they planned it.

Rainey: 00:12:25

It's like we're going somewhere. Patty, where are we going?

Casey: 00:12:29

We are going to the Astros. Why do you think I am, like, all decked in blue and orange?

Casey: 00:12:36

Blue and orange. I do love. We are going to have the best time. Everybody represents.

Casey: 00:12:39

I mean, who you know, you gotta dress the part. You're going to the game.

Casey: 00:12:42

Again with the unobvious fanery.

Rainey: 00:12:45

I love it.

Casey: 00:12:45

Exactly.

Casey: 00:12:46

Okay, so Patti Dominguez from Cosentino and.

Rainey: 00:12:50

Ryan Bloom from Urban Bonfire. And you are here all the way from Canada.

Ryan: 00:12:57

From Montreal.

Rainey: 00:12:58

From Montreal. And we got to talk about how you don't have baseball there, that your baseball team went to Washington. You were telling me.

Ryan: 00:13:06

Yeah. Oh, the Montreal Expos used to play when I was a little boy, but they moved.

They couldn't fill a stadium which was 60,000, built for the Olympics in Montreal. And by the end, they were getting 2,800 fans, and they moved the team, and rightfully so.

Rainey: 00:13:20

Got it.

Ryan: 00:13:21

Big loss for our city, but just couldn't support a Major League Baseball team.

Rainey: 00:13:24

But y' all make up for it with hockey, right?

Ryan: 00:13:26

That we do.

Rainey: 00:13:27

That you do. Who's your favorite team?

Casey: 00:13:29

We've never been to a game. A baseball game. Sorry.

Rainey: 00:13:32

That's.

Casey: 00:13:33

I love.

Ryan: 00:13:33

You ever been to a UFC fight?

Casey: 00:13:36

No.

Rainey: 00:13:36

No?

Casey: 00:13:37

No.

Casey: 00:13:37

Have you?

Casey: 00:13:38

No. I had to think. I've been to a boxing match. Very different than UFC fight.

Casey: 00:13:43

I don't even know what that is.

Ryan: 00:13:44

You have the cage fighting that you have.

Casey: 00:13:46

Oh, my God. Like animals.

Ryan: 00:13:47

Not animals.

Casey: 00:13:48

Fighting to almost the dead adult looking like animals. Yes.

Casey: 00:13:52

Yeah.

Rainey: 00:13:54

So who's your favorite hockey team?

Ryan: 00:13:56

The Montreal Canadiens.

Rainey: 00:13:57

There we go. And are they doing well this year?

Ryan: 00:13:59

They. They were not supposed to do well. They made it into the playoffs by a hair.

m has won a Stanley cup since: 1993

Casey: 00:14:17

Oh.

Casey: 00:14:18

Oh, wow. That's a long time.

Rainey: 00:14:20

That's A long time.

Casey: 00:14:21

Who is your. Who is. Who is winning all the Stanley Cups if it's not the Canadas, the Canadiens.

Ryan: 00:14:26

It's interesting. Florida has won Boston. Boston, Los Angeles, Colorado. Adam. Yeah.

Casey: 00:14:33

What? I just. I just lobbed. That was a softball for you. Thank you. That was. You're welcome.

Rainey: 00:14:38

You do that first.

Ryan: 00:14:40

I knew.

Casey: 00:14:40

She knew.

Casey: 00:14:40

Like, why doesn't anyone ask me who my favorite.

Casey: 00:14:44

Well, who do you like baseball or who's your favorite team? We live in a city.

Patty: 00:14:49

I mean, obviously the Astros. There is. There is no other team, is there?

Rainey: 00:14:53

I like her. I do like that she said that.

Casey: 00:14:56

But do you really like? Like.

Casey: 00:14:57

Because I really like.

Casey: 00:14:58

Are you an Astros fan?

Casey: 00:14:59

I am an Astros fan and our best friends, like, we sit in the pool at this resort that we like to go to that we've been. And it's hours and hours of difference, and we literally are listening to the Astros as we're sitting in the pool.

Casey: 00:15:18

That's so cool. That's so cool. Oh, and don't you just love the commentary? Like Sparky. Anyway, the announcers. Anyways. Okay.

And the Astros are not sponsoring us either.

Rainey: 00:15:28

No, we're not being sponsored by them. So. But we just keep talking about everybody.

Casey: 00:15:33

Everybody. Let's talk about you guys and why you guys are here, why you're in town, why are you in the beautiful city of Houston.

Casey: 00:15:41

You came just for the heat.

Casey: 00:15:42

Just in time.

Ryan: 00:15:43

It is quite warm. I will tell you that I am here for a few reasons.

We are having an event at the Cosentino center tomorrow afternoon to launch a new product line that we've been developing with Patty and her team at Cosentino over the last few years. And Texas, to me, is probably the market that we are weakest in and has the greatest potential at this moment in time.

So I am personally, and my team is very. We're really committed to turning that around and I guess plug for cnext.

A lot of the relationships and the meetings and things that I'm having here are direct result of cnec. So you mentioned that in your intro, and it really is true. It's quite a community that's been fostered and continues to grow. So that's why.

Rainey: 00:16:32

So tell us about. For those that don't know what is Urban Bonfire? What is it y' all do?

Ryan: 00:16:38

Oh, boy. Urban Bonfire has been a lot of things over a long time. It started as a. As a passion project that had no form of financial stability to.

p in Montreal that started in: 2013

It was my response to my love for outdoor cooking and outdoor gathering and lack of retail concepts, at least where I lived, that were aligned with that. I thought there were some major flaws in the category.

That grill and barbecue industry had completely alienated and ignored women from its product development and marketing.

Rainey: 00:17:23

Preach that.

Ryan: 00:17:24

There wasn't merchandising. You'd go into a, you know, a Williams Sonoma store, and it was beautiful and curated, and there were packages and classes and workshops.

And the outdoor equivalent was rows of stainless steel barbecues, you know, sold by a bunch of guys who were selling toilets two aisles down.

Rainey: 00:17:42

It's so true.

Casey: 00:17:45

You're so right.

Ryan: 00:17:46

And I believe then and I believe now that people make special memories and things in outdoor spaces as much or more as indoor ones. And for that reason, I thought there was a misalignment.

And with the help and support of my partner Stephane, who you mentioned in your intro, is an engineer. And I can't design anything. I can't sketch. I can't build. With his support, we ended up starting doing some kitchens locally.

We were the first company in Canada to use Dekton in an outdoor kitchen project and decided to shut down retail years later and get into manufacturing. And here we are. But the principle of it all remains the same.

Casey: 00:18:32

I want to add to that. Please go, Please. So if someone asks me, what is Urban Bonfire? I'll look at it and I think, okay.

The very first time that I met Ryan and I heard about their work, one of my fondest memories is how, you know, I'm all about experiences. And you both know that because you've been at Scenics, and, like, I want people to leave.

I feel like it doesn't matter how much you tell me what weird product is. If I know your story, if I can relate to you personally, I immediately will gravitate. And that. That's just who I am. And I told.

So we were talking, and of course I'm like, so where does Urban Bonfire come from? And he showed me the story of he and his family in their campfire with this urban.

With this fire, that they were out by the fire doing s', mores, doing whatever. And that's kind of where the name came from. But it's his memories of he and his family coming from that origin story.

Casey: 00:19:39

Yes, it captured.

Casey: 00:19:41

Exactly. And it's so cool because it's like, I don't know, I always feel like there's something to be said about that. And then it's still just this.

I've seen these guys grow from literally, like he said, having this small showroom and they believed in Dekton, started using it. And then today, with the amount of business and kitchens that they're doing and the service and they're just innovators and they just keep going.

But they're still so true to themselves. These two guys, you know, one's the, you know, drawing, sketching, whatever, and the other one is the sales, you know, client interfacing.

I know sometimes I say Stefan is hot and then this one is the charmer. But then really Stefan likes to be a charmer. But I do think Stefan's hot.

Rainey: 00:20:35

But.

Casey: 00:20:35

He'S too young for me.

Rainey: 00:20:38

So funny.

Casey: 00:20:39

That is, you know, it's an interesting.

Ryan: 00:20:41

Thing and it's a silly analogy and I've heard this for a really long time and I, you know, I accept. But we were talking at dinner at C next and we talked about U2 and simple analogy. Bono once described U2 as edge is the head.

Adam and Larry are the legs. I'm the heart. Very similar. I'm the heart.

I'm the one who's going to go up on stage and be vulnerable and tell the story and break into tears and take the risks and take the shots. Stephane's the head and my team in Montreal and Chicago and Michigan are the legs.

Casey: 00:21:17

I love that, I love that. I really love that. But you do tell this story in such a beautiful way, in such a captivating way.

You did a toast at the lunch and this last past one and you spoke so beautifully about some stuff, you know, stuff that had happened obviously in la and you got very passionate about that and what that meant for you know, what home means to you and you've talked about your start with the bonfire in your place. Do you want to share any of that?

I mean, just how that growing up with that being something that you've now created that other people, families can have. Sure.

Ryan: 00:21:52

It started really my late father and his family.

First generation Canadians coming from post World War II, Holocaust survivor, not an uncommon story for many came from other places to make a better life for themselves. My father was the first in his family to go to university, graduated, worked for the Royal bank of Canada for his entire career.

Started as a teller, ended his career later on completely risk averse for him and his family. You know, father, you know, could barely read, was a tailor, like a typical immigrant story.

For my father to own a home for his family was already an unbelievable accomplishment and prize to have that stability, the idea of owning a second home was so crazy and Nuts.

Never even sort of came into the vision board, but found this little property on a lake an hour north of Montreal and asked my mother's father, father in law, to borrow $28,000 so he could buy it. Hated risk, hated debt.

It was a pride swallowing thing for him to do, but wanted his sons to be able to run around barefoot and play with frogs and go in the forest and just have that experience. So he did it. And the bonfire pit that Patty mentioned was originally used to burn the downed trees and docks.

The property we bought had not been used in almost 30 years. It was for no other purpose but to clean the land. And that's what we spent much of our time doing.

And over time and through my youth, that fire pit became celebratory. Friends, neighbors, guitars, marshmallows, like just basic things.

But I found this sort of magic in the outdoors that is created, I think because we can't control the variables. We can control inside temperature and sun, heat, humidity, everything. Outdoors we can't.

And I think that lack of control gives us that sort of magical experience. And I want.

And the original, albeit quite corny around urban bonfire was sort of the idea of city smart country suite and allowing people in urban environments to have that kind of experience with their friends and family. And that's how the whole thing started.

Rainey: 00:24:05

Okay, so that's the first time I heard that. I feel like. I feel like I needed like a cup of hot cocoa or some popcorn and just captivating.

And it's those kind of impactful moments that create brands that are special. And so that does not surprise me, actually.

Ryan: 00:24:25

Thank you.

Rainey: 00:24:26

Love it.

Casey: 00:24:27

That's what makes me so beautiful. That's why you guys, your story, that's what you have done with Scenex. You brought these brands, the Kohlers that people do know.

Maybe then this will become a household name. But maybe, you know, not quite this frontal loaf right now, but then you bring it in, the origin story and who the Kohlers are. It's not just.

It's that story that is so spectacularly special.

Ryan: 00:24:49

And I'm sorry, and I quickly interject, not dissimilar from Cosentino's.

Casey: 00:24:53

Well, that's. Yes, sorry. Every brand that you bring and you guys have partnered because your origin story is equally. Anyway, so.

Casey: 00:25:00

Yes.

Ryan: 00:25:01

ntino family and the plant in: 2019

And here he is and we're eating together and he's asking us, what can we do better? And I'm just remembering the humility of, you know, this guy's doing more sales during lunch than I'm going to do this year.

He's asking me, schlep from Montreal, what can we do better? And I was very honored for the question.

I said, you know, I heard from the very origin story that Dekton was an outdoor materials designed for facades. And I look in all your marketing, sir, and I don't see a lot of outdoor. And I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not, but I gave him.

And he. Then after lunch, as he's having his cigar, looking out, he. He showed me and pointed to the quarry where he used to pick stones and rocks as a boy.

And that was an. I cannot tell you what the technical features are of Dectin and how it's compressed. I don't. And frankly, I don't care.

The story of it, seeing that commitment to it and hearing his humility, that was enough for me to connect to the brand. So very different scale, different continents. But speaking of what Patty said, the story aspect of it is everything, which.

Rainey: 00:26:24

I have to ask Patti. We've just thrown around the name Cosentino and Decton, and I know what Cosentino is. I use it all of the time.

My studio, if you look around, is full of it. There's a reason for that. And we sell it because we use it and we believe in it.

But if somebody walked up to you and said, patty, I understand you work for Cosentino. What is Cosentino? What do y' all do? What would your answer be?

Casey: 00:26:53

I get that question often. And it's hard because, you know, being in the stone business is not very like glamorous. It's not sexy, sexy or anything.

You know, certainly I don't come from that industry, this industry. I've now been in the industry for 18 years, but I don't. I didn't come from there at all.

And so when someone asks, you want so bad to take more than the two second speech of saying who you are, but you can't. And so you just, you know, Cosentino, what flows naturally for me is we are a family owned business.

We manufacture our stone from Spain and we started our business in the natural state stone business. So we've been in natural stone for the last 80 years where we have our quarries in Spain. But.

But we created a product called Silestone and then Decton was born.

And anyone that, if you probably have heard of, you know, a countertop surface and quartz, you've probably heard of Silestone, and we manufacture that. But if you give me a glass of wine and 10 more minutes, I'll tell you the real story of who Cosentino and what it is.

Because in the end, the story behind how it all really came about is fascinating. And no one tells it better than Paco, because he lived and breathed it. But it's beautiful. And in Houston is where everything began in North America.

So it's even more of. Or really around the world, because Houston put Silestone in the map.

And that is something that is so interesting that we just happened to be in Houston talking about it. But we did. And when Silestone was born, it was because Paco had gone bankrupt three times.

And by the third time, he created this brand and his business partner, who happens to still live in Houston, and it's a great guy from Mexico who is here in Houston. Together they built this brand.

And they went and knocked along with three other guys who are still with us, and went and knocked on doors trying to get the distribution of Silestone in different places. And, you know, the funny thing about designers and thank you for having it in your beautiful showroom, and thank you for saying that you use it.

But my story of Cosentino, when I started working for Cosentino, I was not looking for a job. I was certainly not looking to be in the stone industry. And it all happened in such a weird way.

But bottom line, this will give you everything about what Paco and at that point, Roberto knew and thought about, which was we need. They had all these guys. We had made it because we had gone into the box stores.

And that year we did the two minute warning super bowl ad of Silestone.

And to this day, if you watch anything in the news or in Spain, like, the Spanish people will actually say Cosentino is the first company to ever be in the Super Bowl. I mean, like, that's our claim to fame.

Rainey: 00:30:28

Legendary.

Casey: 00:30:28

And by the way, it's this crappiest.

Rainey: 00:30:32

Super bowl commercial ever.

Casey: 00:30:34

I think we're, like, in the bottom. Like, in the bottom.

Rainey: 00:30:37

When they rated them, you were in the bottom.

Casey: 00:30:39

It was Diana. Diana Pearl, which is like a hideous Silestone color. And it's no Rod.

Casey: 00:30:46

Anybody who put the Diana Pearl.

Casey: 00:30:48

Sorry, David. Rod. No, it's time to change it. If you have Diana Pearl, these ladies will change it for you. We'll give you a discount I love it.

And it's Dennis Rodman in the bathtub.

Casey: 00:31:06

No way.

Casey: 00:31:07

Rubbing his back with, we have got.

Rainey: 00:31:09

To look this up.

Casey: 00:31:10

We have got to look this up.

Casey: 00:31:11

Yeah, you have to. It's actually pretty funny.

Casey: 00:31:14

So.

Casey: 00:31:14

But what Paco and Roberto said to me when I said, what do you want me to do again? Like, it's weird that Peggy McGowan is your neighbor, because she was one of the first people I ever met in this industry. And Eduardo.

I mean, Eduardo, Roberto and Paco said to me, if you go to this show called kbis, which you will go to next year, when you get there, we have a booth. And when you're there, if people come up to you and ask you about Sebastian and Francisco, I'll know you're doing a good job.

Casey: 00:31:51

And for those who don't know, those are her son and husband.

Casey: 00:31:54

And husband.

Rainey: 00:31:55

Tell my story.

Casey: 00:31:57

I love that.

Casey: 00:31:57

And so what they meant by that was relationships. We need someone that can build relationships, because we need that. And Paco would say, we are a relationship company.

And unfortunately, at that point, we were just selling containers and billing transactional. But we weren't building relationships in the design industry at all. And that was my job.

Literally, that was my job description of basically, go out and just build relationships and meet people and tell them our story.

Rainey: 00:32:34

So what did you do the first day? So you wake up, you work for Cosentino, and you have to build relationships. Like, how do you start that?

Casey: 00:32:43

It was awful. So they lied about everything, by the way. They lied. They were like, no, you're not gonna fly that much and travel that much.

Casey: 00:32:53

No.

Casey: 00:32:53

And our expense account is super big bull. All of it is a lie.

Casey: 00:32:57

What they did is they gave her a shirt, and it had a. Had Francisco and Sebastian's picture and then their names down here and just had asked me about my kids.

Rainey: 00:33:04

Walk around. They walk around.

Casey: 00:33:06

That's what.

Rainey: 00:33:06

That's how I'm gonna make my bonus. No.

Casey: 00:33:08

You know, it's funny. It's great that you asked that question, Rainey, because I started working, and the things that I heard was, everyone loves us. We're doing great.

And one of the guys who was a little more arrogant than the others that are really humble, he's actually not with us anymore. But he said, oh, you know, we are, like, the best product in the world. Everyone loves us.

And because of the super bowl ad and because we were doing so well, and because it was growing so rapidly, the fabricator, the distributors, really did love us. That was true for sure. Okay, so I went to a BKBG show, which is the Bath Kitchen buying group show. And it's like speed dating, okay? And it was like.

It was like, in Kansas City. And it was God awful. And I love bkbg. That's not a bash at them, but it was awful because I knew nobody.

And when I sat down in my little table, I put up my little. It said Silestone and some samples. You know, the typical booth, right? Like trade show booth. 10 by 10, just sit. I sat down and it's like speed dating.

You have to go through every booth. So these guys came by, and I still remember them. And they know the story. So if they watch, I'll tell them to make sure they watch.

It's the owners of I lied Kitchen and Bath in Florida. I lied Allied.

Rainey: 00:34:39

Allied, okay?

Casey: 00:34:41

I was like, kitchen and Bath is going to be way more expensive.

Rainey: 00:34:43

Way more expensive.

Casey: 00:34:44

Allied. The front door Feinbergs.

Rainey: 00:34:46

I got it.

Casey: 00:34:46

And Fabulous Brothers. Amazing company, by the way. So the Feinbergs. And they walked by me and they were like, can you please sign this? Like, stamp it? Like, I was here.

Rainey: 00:34:59

I was here.

Casey: 00:34:59

And I said, well, you're not going to sit down. They're like, absolutely not. We don't want to sit down. And I'm like, why?

And they said, we cannot stand your company and we will never do business with you. And I was like, okay, but can we talk about it? They're like, no, thank you. And they walked away.

And they're like, if you don't want to sign it, it's fine, but we're not coming. We're not staying. And then someone else came by and did something similar. And then someone else came by. Meg from RSI in St. Louis, I'll never forget.

And she walked by and she said, why don't we talk about why? You're like. You seem really disturbed and upset. And I said, I just don't understand. I wish somebody could just tell me, why doesn't anyone like us?

And she was like, well, I'll tell you why. And she started going through. She had a great fabricator who she worked with, so she didn't hate us. She started explaining to me our distribution.

Too long of a story to tell right now. But the nutshell is this is like day one, okay?

And the nutshell was no one had ever, you know, we were advertising, but as a designer, you could not reach anyone to get a sample. You could not get anything you needed. And the distributors were controlling it.

And all they were doing was worrying about the box Stores and not about anyone else, but people would see it in a magazine or in the super bowl ad and come in and say, do you by chance have this Diana Pearl? And you're like, I can't sell it because I don't have a sample. I don't know it.

So I started listening to them and of course I went and I went like this to Joe Feinberg and said, can I buy you a drink at the bar and talk? And they were like, oh my God, she's non stop. So we went to the bar and we bought him a drink and we talked. They told me their whole story.

They mainly only use Silestone. We've been working with them for 18 years. They became dear friends. They are an amazing company.

And everything they told me bothered them Two out of the three things we still do, one of them is we sell at box stores. But it doesn't matter anymore because they got the service, they got this, they got that, they got the pricing, they got everything.

But we became friends. And one times one. It was one.

It took a long time because, you know, it's a big country and lots of people and there were lots of people that felt that way. So in the end, day one was super hard because there were maybe, maybe 25 employees, something like that. We were super small.

We didn't have the Cosentino centers we have now. We didn't have any of this structure. So we built that structure.

But building the relationships, to me then the key fundamental thing was just listen for a minute, listen to what's wrong, and then start building some trust with, I will get you some samples and I would get them mailed. And once you get that, you're like, check one. Okay? This person listened and they brought me what I needed.

Casey: 00:38:05

But what I'm hearing too is it sounds like a thread that's going through the company because it's not just listening because we. That's what you asked an uncomfortable question. Because somebody could have listened to the fact nobody wanted your shit that day, but.

And then you're like too scared to ask. Paco Constantino asked you, you asked these customers, why are you not liking us? What are we doing wrong? That's the question people can.

If you don't ask the question and don't listen, but you, you ask the question, which takes a lot of balls, I think.

Casey: 00:38:35

And I was fortunate enough.

Casey: 00:38:37

I mean, I just got a review the other day that I'm still reeling over because it wasn't exactly what I want anyways.

Casey: 00:38:42

But I also was super lucky that I came back and said, hey guys, you think everyone loves us? I mean, everyone hates inaccurate, so let me tell you why. And they listened. And I was not in a leadership position at all.

I was just the National Kitchen and Bath Sales Manager was my title.

Casey: 00:39:02

And now what is it and what age?

Rainey: 00:39:04

Yeah, right. What is your title?

Casey: 00:39:06

It's irrelevant.

Rainey: 00:39:07

I don't know. It's bigger than Goddess J. Constantino.

Casey: 00:39:11

I get all kinds of names of different titles. People introduce me to all kinds of things.

Rainey: 00:39:15

So what year was that?

Casey: 00:39:17

That was: 2007

Casey: 00:39:20

And then when did you guys meet? And at this.

Ryan: 00:39:24

In: 2015

Casey: 00:39:27

Okay,: 2015

Ryan: 00:39:29

That's a very funny story.

Rainey: 00:39:30

So I would love to hear that.

Casey: 00:39:33

It was love at first sight.

Ryan: 00:39:35

It was actually, you know what? I don't think it was love at first sight. I think it was. I think it was Patty seeing something and getting royally pissed off and doing something.

Something about it. That was the. That's what started this. We had used Nekton a lot in Montreal.

We knew the local people and we decided to do a trade show in Toronto because we were starting to explore selling it to other stores. So we drove down the 401 highway, which is six hour drive in our pickup trucks bringing our displays, setting it all up.

And we had tried to reach out to the Toronto person for. For decton, and they didn't call us back. And we tried again.

And for whatever reason, it's, you know, we're a staff of three people at that point, Stephane and I kind of doing everything. And we just said, enough. There was another guy we knew who was doing another product and said, look, we need the trade show. You'll do it.

You'll do it like, you know, done. And Patty and some of her team was called the interior design show, it still exists in Toronto. And she came over to see us and said.

And she was talking to me and I remember it, and I didn't know who she was, I didn't know her position. She was just there visiting Cosentino's local team that was doing this trade show and said, I wonder why you're not using Dekton.

And I said, with all due respect, I really did try. I called, I called again, this. And that was all it took.

Rainey: 00:40:59

Smoke came out of her head.

Ryan: 00:41:01

Not there. But I knew we're similar in that way. Sometimes it's the things you don't say. And I think and I are similar in that way. And that was January.

And I remember about four weeks later, we were at kbis. And we had this booth in the back. I mean, it was in Siberia, but we needed to get into an Uber to find us. Okay. I mean, like, down.

And she invited Stefan and I and one of our multi line reps at the time. And I ended that story with multi line reps, basically a few weeks after that show, because that was anyway long. Another story.

And they invite us to a meeting in this Cosentino booth that has within it its own, like, private office. It's like you're sitting there with Al Capone. It's like this thing, and you've got like 14 people. They're all sitting around.

So what are your strategic plans on Alex, Stefan? Does she know that we sold like, 14 kitchens last year? Like, do they know it? Do they know? But that's what it was. And it started from that.

Casey: 00:41:56

Oh, I love that.

Casey: 00:41:57

And do they know?

Ryan: 00:41:58

And I've said before, you know, I've said, I still don't for the life of me know why. Because there were much bigger players in the market. There really were. We were like the new kids.

And not that Cosentino doesn't have relationships with others, of course, but there was a. I don't. I still to this day don't really know why she put her chips on the Urban Bonfire one when there were a lot better hands to bet on at the time.

But I've always honored it. And I've said then, and I say, there is no chance in hell that Urban Bonfire is where it is without this relationship.

Casey: 00:42:36

I love that. So then what was it? Why did you.

Ryan: 00:42:38

Stefan's looks, probably.

Casey: 00:42:39

I was gonna say, I told you, apparently.

Casey: 00:42:41

Have you not seen Stefan? And you're charming as hell too, so let's just be real.

Ryan: 00:42:45

But that and the bus ticket will get me home.

Casey: 00:42:47

But there are some handsome people in the industry, so there's gotta be one more thing.

Rainey: 00:42:52

Yes.

Casey: 00:42:52

And like. And yes, I will say we have some amazing other partners and definitely have worked with other companies that do wonderful job.

But you know what it was? I think it was this. You know, when you just. You talk to people. You and I talked about it this morning, Casey.

There's people that you connect with that have the same principles. And I remember, number one, we talked about, hey, I love Dekton. He's like. They were like, we love your product.

And the first part of, I love your product, but I couldn't find anyone to respond to me. It's like. But then the second part was, you know, you. You didn't. I wasn't thinking like, oh, we're going to grow so big.

It was more of these people are doing great looking kitchens and I want my product to be with great looking cabinets. And why can't we make that happen? And then when we spoke, we went to Spain pretty quick after that. It was pretty quick.

And I invited him mainly because I wanted. I was like, come see it. And I wanted everyone to meet him.

And I think when we visited in cave, as we invited you then, and he came and we went with these guys that I had invited and they take a long taxi ride where they were. Yeah, that was a horrible experience for him. Like, we did not give him the VIP treatment when he first got there.

Literally, they were like, well, just take a taxi. And he was like, in Alicante, so three hours away. Oh, Lord.

And anyway, instead of being picked up, but everything that Ryan did, number one, he holds his word. He's so true to his word.

Number two, we were, you know, it was like, I was entertaining, obviously, and you entertain certain type of of people, and some people are a lot more gracious than others. And it was like we arrived to wherever we were going.

There's like five of us in the taxi and everyone just gets out and I'm like the only woman in the car. And there you just get out and leave. And he's like, I got this Patty. And he's paying for the taxi. And then he like, can I please? And he's.

And you know when you're traveling, you're alone. You're like, oh, my gosh. So we just.

It was like this moment where we bonded and talked about life, about he's a family and his wife and his children and mine. And I kept like. It was like everything. I'd run an idea and he'd tell me it was true, and everything he said he would do, they did.

And it was like, well, we're going to come out and I think we're just going to use dectant for everything. And I'm like, well, that's a pretty big step for a company to say, I'm not going to use anything else. And they did. And that's really how it started.

And I remember coming back to my meetings and showing Eduardo and being like, look at these guys. Like, they're literally legit, just promoting our product, no one else's. And they're still small, and this is what they're doing.

And then Stefan went to Spain. He got to see. He got to really work with the team, listen to them, and Then they were wanting to be the presenting sponsor of cnext.

And it was like, it was a huge leap of faith because SCENEX was not a name. And it was like, I'll be your presenting sponsor. I trust you 100%, whatever you say. And it was just, how can you not, you know, it's like.

But again, you know, all going back to Paco and the Cosentino family. I will say our core business has always been the kitchen and bath and designer.

And Paco's mentality is even though as big as we are to this day our most profitable, profitable business. And segment, as we segmentize, whether with hospitality, commercial, you know, build track builders, whatever it is.

He always says one relationship and one slab at a time. It's one slab at a time.

Rainey: 00:47:05

So you were talking about when you meet somebody and there's this connectivity, right? You understand they're your people. I've heard this said before, but my dad said it a lot.

And he would say they're cut from the same bolt of cloth, right? They're, they're just cut from the same bolt. And so there's this familiarity that is beyond what you see in here.

And it goes into deeper to maybe not something spiritual that sounds sort of woo woo, but it's at the soul. You just know good people. And that speaks a lot about both of your brands. And so what is it that you guys are.

I'm curious to know more about what this relationship and this brand alignment is about.

Casey: 00:47:47

Yeah, I'm going to throw a little and then I'd love for you to just expand on it, my friend.

But you know when like we have, I would say once a month we have a deep dive call to kind of just let's see where we are, what you're doing, you know, where are we? Every now and then I'm like, hey, I got a big presentation. I'm going to talk about all the amazing things that Urban Bonfire is doing.

And everyone loves to hear about it just because it's so interesting. And I remember one day Stefan and Ryan came to Miami and we had a meeting because they wanted to order a container of material.

A container of material. It's a lot of frickin material. And I was like, what are these guys talking about? It was so interesting because I'm like, I'm so confused.

They're in their retail like they're selling to K and Bs and bringing in their display. Like that's what they're doing. Why would they be doing a container? They're like, we have some news, and we really want to talk to you about this.

So they presented this whole business plan, how they were going to turn their kitchens into a modular business with only deck ton.

And then they brought me a marketing tool with, I think it was four samples at the time with urban bonfire and deck tonight on the marketing tool and a little box, beautifully made, with the four deckton colors. And they came to present it, and they said, this is our program. What do you think?

We want to order these colors, and we want to go big, and we want to get it out so people know that if they want an outdoor kitchen, they can buy it from urban bonfire with decton included and not have to wait for the local fabricator to go measure, install.

Rainey: 00:49:36

Like, genius.

Casey: 00:49:38

I mean, seriously, genius, Genius. So that was a few years back. He started it. A year and a half later, they're like, hey, by the way, we got a contract with William sonoma.

Rainey: 00:49:50

That's a little place. I've heard that little place down the street.

Casey: 00:49:54

And they went and photographed Williams sonoma with dekton.

And, you know, I will say I owe it to many of conversations with you guys for that light bulb to keep going on furniture and my role in running the commercial designer business for cosentino for the last eight years. So that's it. I mean, I think you have so much more to say about it, but the relationships, you know, kept has evolved into that.

And having a brand that just wants to use your product that is like, you can't pay for that, that's huge. It doesn't matter how big they were.

It was this commitment of friendship that has now evolved it obviously into a wonderful business, but still with a lot of respect.

Ryan: 00:50:43

Yeah, I agree. I think it's. And it was never about product as great, and I'm sure as great as decton is. And I, you know, it's an important part of our business.

But it was never about product. It was always about people.

And I think that, having listened to the discussion and I think that whether they know it or not, I think it's sort of in their very essence is cosentino, to me, omits hospitality in its culture in terms of taking care of whether it's the way they receive people at their centers, from food to the little things. There is this notion, if you've worked in hospitality, which I did put myself through school. Patty worked in the hotel industry.

We come from a hospitality background that is seeing the person and empathizing with where they are. And that is, I think, what separates and why it's so difficult to, you know, give Patty a title. Same thing for myself. The title on my business card.

It's nothing to do with what I actually do.

Rainey: 00:51:46

Right. I something to put in the signature line.

Casey: 00:51:49

Right.

Ryan: 00:51:50

I like bringing people and ideas and things together. That is win, win. And that is more about listening than it is about talking. So I don't consider myself in sales. I like to be the glue.

It's really, really what I enjoy bringing sometimes unattainable, often hopefully attainable things together. So what we did with this collection was very simple. There was a customer base. We are very, very data driven.

I look at, I get great amounts of data not only on the projects that we win, but also on the projects that we lose. And I looked at conversion rates and we were losing the most simple projects. The ten foot kitchen.

For somebody who wants it in place for his daughter's suite 16, that's happening in five weeks and doesn't want to go through plans and designers and just want something nice and is left with two choices. I order something online, some shitty stucco island from whatever, or I compromise and I just go out and get another barbecue.

And we realized that was the biggest place of loss in all of our business. So I wanted to remedy that and I basically created with Stefan based on data. Here are the sizes, layouts, shapes, the that we are losing the most of.

Let's do something about it. And bringing in container loads of Dekton allowed us to do a few things. Reduce the cost by a huge amount, reduce the time.

Because if you take out measuring, fabrication, install and all of those things, you're wiping three, sometimes four weeks away and you're saving the consumer a massive amount of money. That was why we created that line. The more interesting and interestingly enough, it still represents a very small percentage of our actual sales.

Overwhelming majority of our sales are led by designers kitchen and bath. Like Paco. One relationship, one slab, one kitchen.

We have a team of 18 designers in our office in Montreal that go back and forth with design professionals every single day. Change this, move that. What if we put the fridge? That's what we do. And that's the bulk of our business.

But we realized, and this is what led to this deeper collaboration on product development, was that there was this huge gap in the market. If you think about the aesthetic design of indoor kitchens.

And I know there's a lot of gray between these two sides, but they fall into typically two kind of camps.

Casey: 00:54:24

The.

Ryan: 00:54:24

There's the camp and I fall into that One, I want big knobs, big handles. I want to see the stainless steel of my range. Like, I like that bold look. There's the other side that wants none of that sleek paneled.

Everything is slim and integrated and just. There's no right, there's no wrong. But these are two. It's literally 50, 50 if you think about the design world on indoor.

That has not existed in the outdoor world. Outdoor has been driven by big stainless steel barbecues with big thermometers and big knobs and big handles.

And I saw this opportunity saying we are not responding to the design professionals need for aesthetic cohesion between indoor and outdoor. When I was growing up in Montreal, I couldn't see my backyard. I had a small screen door. We were eating, couldn't, didn't care.

That doesn't really exist in modern architecture. Everything is now glass. There is almost no blur between indoor and outdoor.

So people are either having to compromise on quality of performance or aesthetic. And I thought that was something really crappy and I wanted to address it.

So we went to work with Cosentino with the intention of delivering a product that would mirror the indoor, sleek and sort of modern aesthetic. It took us almost two years. We had to re engineer our cabinets. Decked on. On doors is, you know, each door is almost £40.

We had to re engineer everything, our hinges, our structure. I remember someone just slap decked it on the. Like, you have to have a lot more discipline with doors than indoors.

Casey: 00:55:59

And the 4 mil ukiyo on the doors, which is absolutely gorgeous.

Ryan: 00:56:03

Yeah.

Casey: 00:56:04

With.

Casey: 00:56:04

They were really the first ones to start doing that. Yeah, yeah.

Ryan: 00:56:07

But outdoors has a lot more disruption. What happens indoors? You don't have to test adhesives for salt and UV and cold. And so we went through a lot of testing and we.

It took us literally two and a half years to bring it to market. And I'm glad that we did. Interesting. I'm the more conservative one in our industry. I would rather be slow than have egg on the face of our clients.

That's just my nature. And we did it and it came to market. And I am still. And I told Patty, I am absolutely, absolutely blown away at the response from the market.

It's obviously something that was lacking or in need. And I'm very proud because we named it the Urban Bonfire Exdectin Collection because it really, really was truly a collaboration.

Patty's team, Valentin and the engineering team in Spain had as much to do with it as we did. We really locked arms and it's been amazing. Yeah. So it's exciting.

Casey: 00:57:04

That was what I was going to ask is if you were sort of getting this container of Decton, and then you guys were the ones kind of trying to formulate around what they sent, but they're actually working with you to come up with the product that's going to be able to withstand.

Casey: 00:57:18

Was there for weeks. Valentine working. And it's just been a really interesting.

And watching it all unfold is amazing because again, it's you guys, like the designers, you know, you're the ones that make this all happen. And I remember one time, one day, he wasn't happy with me. And Ryan called and goes, why doesn't people. Why doesn't they.

Doesn't some of the people understand that the outdoor kitchen doesn't have to be. It's not a kitchen.

It's not a bulky, you know, like, can we show a beautiful ukiyo counter space where you just have your bar area that's already a display of, you know, it doesn't have to be. Oh, no, because, you know, you go into a showroom. No, we don't have room for a big old grill. No one cares about the big old grill.

We're talking about something beautiful that comes from the inside to the outside. And I agree. I mean, I don't. I mean, I know you do. I've been to your house, and I know rainy. But I cannot imagine if we all.

I think entertaining outside is even more love putting all of this back to where we started. It's more of an experience because indoors, you take it for granted. Outdoors, it's like, it's a pretty day. Let's go outside.

Casey: 00:58:38

Yes. And that's exactly how we started. This is her mother's Day. They went to a park with music and a blanket. Being outdoors and what that felt like.

And so when you. And you speak to. It often is quit. You know, as designers, we. That, you know, we stop at the back of the house and we only focus.

And, you know, you're like, open those doors and take that outside. And we, you know, and I think very sometimes, but it's really. It is an extension.

And people say in Houston, oh, we only have, like, a week where we get weather, which is not true. We really do spend a lot more time outdoors. It's not ideal right now, but so we. It needs to be in there, obviously.

Casey: 00:59:16

I mean, six months.

Rainey: 00:59:17

Think about it.

Casey: 00:59:17

We can be out.

Casey: 00:59:18

We're outside this weekend.

Casey: 00:59:19

Yeah.

Rainey: 00:59:20

So I mean, I also think that that's my takeaway from all of this.

As a designer, from what my experience was at sea, next in your collaboration is instead of encouraging people to not do that, to not create those outdoor spaces because it's so gross, and the brick gets so gross and the stucco gets so gross, but your powder coated, gorgeous, unbelievable product with the stone that's indestructible, takes away all of those negatives for me. And it makes me really, as a designer in Houston, Texas, want to make that a priority. And that has been the takeaway for me in this.

Casey: 01:00:03

You're really gaining square footage for people too, whereas we kind of just stopped it there. So it's in a way that I don't think people really understand. And I mean.

And honestly, I'm glad you even brought up just having the thing for the bar, because in your head, you think outdoor kitchen must have. Grill must have. Yes.

Rainey: 01:00:21

Sink must have.

Casey: 01:00:22

Yes. And it's. And that's not how you just.

Ryan: 01:00:24

It isn't design everything psychology as you do indoors. So when you think about cabinetry for the indoors, yes, cooking is a part of it, but there's a lot more. It's functional, it's storage.

It's a whole bunch of different things. The same logic applies to the outdoor. The outdoor setting. And it is often overlooked space.

And what I've seen happen over the last five years in particular, is interior designers now, to your point, not shying away and saying, well, that's the landscaper's job, embracing it for a lot of reasons. There's much better economics for them. They take that outdoor room. And two, if I'm a designer on a property, I don't want to tell people I did every.

Everything except for this. I want my brand and my umbrella and all of the pieces to come together under one vision. And I think that is a newfound opportunity.

And I think why we're seeing this growth in outdoor is specifically correlated to the traditionally interior designer who would have not touched the outdoors. Now embracing it, I think that is the catalyst to the growth in our category more than anything else.

Rainey: 01:01:28

And I also love that. I learned that in your modular system. You can put a cabinet door on this space until you figure out how you need to use this space.

Then it can be retrofitted with drawers or whatever. You'll just ship those to me. It is not something that's complicated.

That's gonna require a bunch of craftsmen to come in and take weeks of tearing up my backyard. I can just slide those in and have a whole different use. So it really is mind blowing.

And I did use get your kit recently and the branding and the presentation is, is what I would expect from Cosentino Yalls brands and the way that you obviously care about what you do aligns. So. Yeah.

Casey: 01:02:11

So what do you guys want to share with us that we haven't asked about your brands together collectively and just what, what you're seeing or feel? I don't know, anything we missed, did we miss anything that you're like? I really want to disagree. Give them this.

Casey: 01:02:25

I think it's, I mean, for me, I think it's just. I love the fact that I'm in awe of designers and how you're always wanting to learn. And I don't take that.

You know, I meet and I'm engaged with so many designers and I wonder, you know, sometimes I feel like, do they really want to go to another PK and CEU and this. But I find it so interesting that people do and they're asking for it and knowledge is power and that is your business.

And so I would say that for anybody that listens or anybody, I just want to say I think it's sometimes the brands take it for granted how much, how valuable these type of things are. And kudos to you all for your podcast, for what you're doing, for continuing to educate and to just talk and listen to people.

I think it's so valuable because to me, sitting right here makes my heart warm because of course I think of, we live in Houston and I met you both through cnext and then us having seen next as now going into our fifth year, you know, speaking of Scenex and all the brands that were there, I can't tell you all, and this is for another podcast, but I cannot tell you what it was to, to have. It was, I think 12 brands with no concept, no idea, nothing. I could assure them no idea if any designer would sign up and pay to go.

And they, they believed and they said yes and they came and we did this event and now we're going to celebrate five years. So the fact that Ryan and Stephan were one of them, to me it's just about listen and just keep your word and just be honest.

And if you can't do something, as Casey told me this morning, if you commit to something, as long as you just apologize and say, I'm sorry I can't get there with your samples or with this today, but I will be there tomorrow. People listen and people, people just appreciate it.

Rainey: 01:04:41

In this age of ghosting, right, the.

Casey: 01:04:43

Ghosting, it's just non essential. And so again, I think I learned that these men have so much of that family, the story.

And I'm so thankful that you guys wanted to hear Urban Bonfire story, because I fell in love with their brand, their product, but most importantly, with their people.

Rainey: 01:05:10

Love that we're about to do our first kitchen. Our firm is about to do our first kitchen with them. And so I'm super excited about it.

The client's excited about it, and I'm excited to walk through your process and experience that. So for the first time, and as.

Ryan: 01:05:26

Patti said, thank you. I really appreciate it. And. And I always will ask, and I genuinely want to know what we can do better? How can we better serve you? How can we learn?

What could we have done better or smarter, faster, more efficiently? That is why I don't. Stephane speaks the design language. I don't.

I struggle with it a lot when I'm at Conversations at cnext and people are talking about clean lines. I don't know what. I still don't know.

Rainey: 01:05:53

Well, you hit it well, because at dinner, like, you're great.

Ryan: 01:05:57

Something with a retro with a bit of a Tuscan. I have no freaking idea what they're talking about. I'm like, that's gonna be the next color.

Casey: 01:06:08

Algerian Tuscan. I'm hoping for the best.

Rainey: 01:06:11

We'll take two.

Casey: 01:06:12

Nod and smile.

Ryan: 01:06:13

But I care. It's crazy at this level of scale, and I can't touch everything, but I really.

I say I care so deeply about each customer and each project because as corny as it sounds at the root of it all, I believe that our products, when brought together with lighting and planting and floor and cut, like, really. It really is a canvas for people's outdoor memories. And I believe that. I believed it then. I still believe it to be true.

And I think we're still in our infancy, and, you know, the design community is going to lead us to the future because they are the conduit to the consumer. They understand.

Casey: 01:06:51

What did you just say? What was the color? See, if you asked.

Ryan: 01:07:02

What thickness, that would look good in a miter dash.

Rainey: 01:07:05

I love that. Well, thank you. Now you're speaking our language. Thank you, guys, for being our guest girl.

Casey: 01:07:12

Dude, cheers.

Rainey: 01:07:15

That.

Casey: 01:07:16

That was so cool.

Rainey: 01:07:16

Is your mind blown?

Casey: 01:07:18

A little bit blown. Algerian Tuscan. I'm trying to picture the color now.

Rainey: 01:07:22

I'm still not over the fact that Sean Connery is dead.

Casey: 01:07:26

I cannot laugh at this.

Rainey: 01:07:28

I can't. I'm sorry. No. I'm laughing at myself.

Casey: 01:07:31

I just can't stop it.

Rainey: 01:07:32

In my own ignorance but wow, that was incredible.

Casey: 01:07:35

And I just love both of them. Stories are so similar in that, like asking the question, getting the answer. That might be uncomfortable at the minute, but like, but I don't know.

I just love.

Rainey: 01:07:47

They are reframing the outdoors. They really are.

Casey: 01:07:51

They really are.

Rainey: 01:07:51

They are taking spaces and saying we can do this. A whole space that. And make. Saying we can do this differently.

Casey: 01:08:01

And we talk all the time about indoors. Indoors and memories inside. But some of the coolest things happen outside.

Because typically, I mean, there are TVs, but you're out with your, you know, you're grilling and there's music and at least how you know somebody's got a ball going dog running. I mean, that's the stuff. That kind of that joyous moment of a day or evening that why aren't, why haven't we spent more time thinking about it?

But now we get to. Because now we know.

Rainey: 01:08:26

But. Well, I really think this is a conduit for that and a conduit for change, especially in our climate and the challenges that we have surrounding it.

It's real here. And I love that. Ryan said, we're here because we want to grow Texas. We want to grow the Houston market.

When I recently had a high end outdoor furniture company sit in my showroom and say, you know, the Houston coast isn't really a coast. Is it really the coast that we focus on? It's not really our market. It's not really high end. Do you think I'm going to buy furniture?

Furniture from them?

Casey: 01:08:57

Oh my God. Okay. Or not. They are not a sponsor.

Rainey: 01:09:01

Not a sponsor.

Casey: 01:09:02

Not a sponsor. But that's so crazy. But I don't think he. I'd like that he said that coming from Canada too. That's what I think.

Houston doesn't get some of the play, but we have some great happening. And obviously Silestone, like I didn't, I didn't know that.

Rainey: 01:09:15

I didn't know this was the birthplace.

Casey: 01:09:18

Yeah. So cheers to that. Man.

Rainey: 01:09:19

I didn't.

Casey: 01:09:20

I loved this. Cheers to this.

Rainey: 01:09:21

So cheers.

So if you want to say anything to us about this particular podcast or ask us about things we could talk about in the future, please email us@helloeframingdesign.com or you can follow me on Instagram @rainierichardsoninteriors.

Casey: 01:09:38

I am CassandraBrandInteriors and if you have any questions or anything like Rainy said, just please reach out. We love hearing stuff from you guys. And do not forget, look outdoors, see what happened and look up sometimes and we got. That's what I was thinking.

We got to think about stuff that goes outdoor.

Rainey: 01:09:56

Follow Cosentino usa. Follow Urban Bonfire. They are unbelievable titans in our industry and they're just going to continue to grow and take us places.

And you're certainly going to see their products in our project. How about let's go up, watch the asteroids win.

Casey: 01:10:15

Let's do it.

Ryan: 01:10:17

That's a wrap for this episode of Reframing the Art of Interior Design. We hope you had a blast and found some inspiration to bring your dream space to life. Feeling inspired to start your own home transformation?

Contact us@helloeframingdesign.com we want to help you make it happen. Don't forget to subscribe, Share and leave a review this show is edited and produced by Truth Work Media.

Until next time, Remember, your space is your story. Make it beautiful.