The Pro Perspective

Cultivating a high-end design studio takes more than creative instinct—it requires filling seats with the right people.In this special episode recorded live at the inaugural Houzz Pro Design Summit, Aymee Kuhlman, Founder and CEO of Light & Dwell, unpacks when to scale or stay boutique, why you should hire for culture-fit first, and the “secret sauce” to running a thriving firm as a non-designer.Want more insights like this? Follow The Pro Perspective on your favorite podcast platform or head here to browse previous episodes now: https://pro.houzz.com/for-pros/podcast-the-pro-perspectiveTo learn more about Houzz Pro’s best-in-class business management software, visit: https://houzz.com/pro

Behind every standout vacation rental is a designer anticipating guest needs. In this episode, Jessica Duce, Owner and Principal Designer at JDuce Design and co-founder of Vacation Rental Designers, shares how she blends data-backed strategy with bold creative risks to "stop the scroll" in a sea of listings, the importance of designing for accessibility, and the massive opportunity for manufacturers to partner with passionate designers.

Building a crew of allies that become a powerful referral network means championing collaboration over competition.
In this episode, Bryan Burkhart, co-founder of $100M custom builder Burkhart Brothers Construction, shares why choosing to focus solely on construction while partnering with great architects and designers helped accelerate his growth—and the real reason radical transparency wins 90% of his bids.
Want more insights like this? Follow The Pro Perspective on your favorite podcast platform or head here to browse previous episodes now: https://pro.houzz.com/for-pros/podcast-the-pro-perspective
To learn more about Houzz Pro’s best-in-class business management software, visit: https://houzz.com/pro

The future of home remodeling is ahead of schedule—and staying ahead yourself means fusing high-tech tools with a human edge. In this episode, Michael Sauri, founder and president of TriVista USA Design and Build, talks through how AI and 3D are rewiring renovations, the ROI of staying human on the digital jobsite, and why letting his creative “freak flag fly” changed everything.

This year’s Kitchen and Bath Industry Show was buzzing with can’t-miss insights and inspiration. In this episode, founder of Home Renovation School and KBIS insider Julee Ireland shares her top takeaways from the show, tips for visiting in 2027, and why attending events like these help design firms thrive.