Dwell Educational Programming

Sep 13, 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM

Join Dwell at the Home Tours Headquarters for a series of hands-on, practical discussions with design professionals. Each of these 30 minute briefings will introduce you to new ideas that you can directly apply to your own home projects. You’ll hear about creating modern sustainable landscapes, developing user-friendly interiors and fostering collaborative relationships between homeowners and design professionals.
This programming is free and open to the public.

SATURDAY, 10:00AM and 1:00PM
SUNDAY, 11:00AM and 2:00PM
Translating Vision into Reality
Laura Skinner, Laura Skinner Interior Design
According to Interior Designer Laura Skinner, "Design at its best is a deeply collaborative enterprise balancing function, vision, and art, always remembering to have some fun along the way." In this discussion, Laura will offer hands-on advice and communication tips for developing successful working relationships with a design team. She will focus on how to collaborate with design and building professionals to ensure your home or business reflects who you are and what you value.

SATURDAY, 11:00AM and 2:00PM
SUNDAY, Noon and 3:00PM
Modern Kitchen Design: The Human Dimension
Alvaro Echeverri, Sozo Studio Modern Kitchen Architecture
Architect and designer Alvaro Echeverri, Project Manager for Sozo Studio Modern Kitchen Architecture, will discuss the latest in sustainable materials and ergonomic design for the kitchen and answer your kitchen questions. What are the myths and facts behind cabinets made of MDF? Particle board? Plywood? What should you look for in quality cabinet construction? He will have various materials to look at, including various substrates and engineered, dyed, and textured woods. Alvaro will also show how Sozo Studio addresses common kitchen complaints, including unreachable cabinets, wasted space, and spaces that are difficult to access.

SATURDAY, Noon and 3:00PM
Fabulous Plants for Modern Gardens in San Francisco.
Nicholas Staddon, Monrovia
Nicholas Staddon, New Plants Guru for Monrovia, whets our appetites for really great plants that work in the San Francisco Bay Area – both planted in the ground and in containers. In the last few years Nicholas has developed a consuming passion for plants that enhance the Modern garden; we will see some of his favorite picks including old and new plants. Some are so new they won’t hit the market for a year or so. Come get a first-hand look at the these gorgeous innovations and make sure you save a place in your garden for these "smokers" as Nicholas would call them.

SUNDAY, 10:00AM and 1:00PM
Creating Sustainable Artistic Habitats
James Pettigrew and Sean Stout, Organic Mechanics
James Pettigrew and Sean Stout will discuss their techniques for designing, installing and maintaining gardens with an emphasis on sustainability and creating habitat with artistic flair.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm
Tours of the Headquarters
Throughout the weekend, participants can enjoy behind-the-scenes tours of the new Matarozzi/Pelsinger Builders’ office and new Gast Architects’ office. Led by building architect Aidlin Darling Design, contractor/developer Matarozzi/Pelsinger Builders, and tenant Gast Architects, the tours will look at the sustainable systems and striking architecture that went into the creation of this unique multi-use building.

Stick around the Headquarters on Saturday evening from 4:00-6:00PM to meet the Dwell team and enjoy wine, Izze cocktails and mocktails, and light food!

Speaker Bios
Laura Skinner
A seasoned professional, Laura Skinner currently works from Menlo Park studio, Laura Skinner Interior Design. Uniquely personal in her approach and deeply respectful of good architecture, her interior design projects have ranged from new homes and remodels to small scale retail/commercial. Laura's perspective on the design industry has been informed by owning her own firm as well as contracting with design firms large and small, including a 40 person AD top 100 design firm in San Francisco and smaller boutique firms on the Peninsula including The Wiseman Group, and Lisa Staprans Interior Design.

Alvaro Echeverri
Alvaro practiced architecture in his native Colombia where he managed a 70-person CAD department for a modern office furniture manufacturer. He also worked in the design department for Xey, a Spanish modern kitchen manufacturer. He graduated from the University of Valle, Cali, Colombia.

Nicholas Staddon
Nicholas Staddon is the Director of New Plant Introductions for Monrovia, and has been a Monrovia Craftsman for 18 years. Working with breeders, hybridizers, and professional Plant Explorers, he scours the globe for new creations and discoveries in the plant world. Nicholas was born in England, where he attended Otley Agricultural College and received his awards in Agricultural Science. Before joining Monrovia, he worked in New Mexico, managing garden centers in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. He says of New Mexico, "One of the most beautiful places in the world—the vistas will move your heart and the gardening will break it." Nicholas now resides in California and continues to be consumed with a passion for plants and animals. He travels extensively for Monrovia in his quest for great new and notable plants for American gardeners.