Hospitality Design Talks

In this episode of Hospitality Design Talks, host Rachel Larraine Crawford sits down with abstract artist Lindsey Lyons to explore how art can become a living part of a hospitality experience—not an afterthought.Lindsey shares her path from early “perfect” art-making to process-driven abstraction shaped by California’s rugged coastlines, volcanic landscapes, and a fascination with deep time. Her work is tactile and intentional—often built with sand, found materials, and embedded remnants that carry subtle histories—inviting guests into a sensory pause in a world dominated by screens.Together, Rachel and Lindsey discuss how thoughtfully selected art supports flow, strengthens brand story, and creates emotional touchpoints guests remember (and return for). They also unpack common misconceptions around cost and accessibility, and what it can look like to commission original work through a clear, collaborative process—especially when art is considered early alongside lighting and spatial planning.About Lindsey:Lindsey Lyons is a Southern California–based artist who divides her time between Los Angeles and the mountains of the Los Padres National Forest. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from California College of the Arts and a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College, where she designed a major, Art and Social Change. In addition to her studio practice, Lyons has been deeply engaged in the arts community as an independent curator, educator, and advisory board member for the nonprofit Root Division. She spent many years working in alumni relations and events at California College of the Arts and the San Francisco Art Institute before relocating to Los Angeles in 2016, where she co-founded the Binder of Women art collective with fellow artists and worked in communications at the contemporary international gallery Regen Projects. Lyons has exhibited throughout California, including at Guerrero Gallery, The Pit, Southern Exposure, and the Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, among others. Her work has also been shown internationally in Copenhagen, Denmark, and she has completed artist residencies in Iceland, San Francisco, and the Mount Hood backcountry. Originally from Sarasota, Florida, she has a lifelong interest in coastal environments, and her abstract paintings and sculptures are deeply informed by geology, memory, and the varied landscapes of California. Lyons often incorporates sand and found materials into the layers of her work, creating tactile complexity. These textured surfaces respond to shifting light, revealing changes in shadow and depth throughout the day, offering an evolving presence within a space.Connect with Lindsey:[email protected]/lindseynlyons instagram.com/lindseylyonsstudioConnect with Rachel LarraineWebsiteInstagramInterior Design ServicesWant more guidance from me? Sign up to appear on the Holistic Hospitality Design Podcast for a design audit. You can book your design audit here.

Today on Hospitality Design Talks, host Rachel Larraine Crawford sits down with Amy Morris of The Morris Project to talk about the real reason most hospitality brands struggle: it’s not a marketing problem — it’s a clarity problem. Amy shares how she helps founders define who they are in one to two sentences (and why every decision — interiors, hiring, menus, and guest touch points — should flow from that).You’ll hear Amy’s approach to building a brand with the whole team (not just the owner), why consistency is what makes something feel elevated (not price), and the small, often-forgotten details that create big guest “chemistry”—from the host stand to the bathroom to the menu design. Plus, she offers an easy brand clarity audit you can do this week to see if your team is aligned or accidentally creating confusion.Connect with Amy Morris / The Morris Project:Find Amy on Instagram (The Morris Project)Email: [email protected] Amy’s Brand Guideline HereConnect with Rachel LarraineWebsiteInstagramInterior Design ServicesNewsletter Sign UpWant more guidance from me? Sign up to appear on the Holistic Hospitality Design Podcast for a design audit. You can book your design audit here.

Lighting is doing far more than helping guests see — it’s shaping how long they stay, how comfortable they feel, and how much they spend. In this episode of Hospitality Design Talks, host Rachel Larraine Crawford sits down with Martin Epstein, founder of Tazz Lighting, to unpack how intentional, layered lighting quietly drives guest behavior, brand perception, and business performance.With decades of hands-on experience — from electrical contracting to large-scale hospitality projects — Martin shares why lighting should be treated as a strategic system, not an afterthought. Together, they explore how hospitality lighting has evolved from purely aesthetic to deeply experiential, operational, and human-centered.Whether you’re opening a new restaurant, renovating a hotel, or refining an existing guest experience, this episode offers practical insights into how lighting can become your most powerful (and invisible) team member.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why lighting acts as a “silent host” that influences guest mood, dwell time, and spendingThe biggest lighting mistakes Martin sees in hospitality spaces — and how to avoid themWhat “layered lighting” really means, and why even light levels kill atmosphereHow warm color temperatures (like 2700K) support comfort, intimacy, and lingeringWhy lighting controls and scene programming are non-negotiable for hospitality spacesHow lighting transitions throughout the day without guests consciously noticingWhat tunable white and circadian lighting are — and where they truly make senseWhy you should never leave lighting decisions solely to an electricianHow early collaboration between designers, lighting experts, and contractors saves money and stressTrends shaping hospitality lighting today — from tunable systems to intelligent controlsMartin’s advice for owner-operators planning lighting in 2026 and beyondKey Takeaway:Thoughtful lighting isn’t about adding more fixtures — it’s about designing comfort, flow, and emotion. When lighting is planned early, layered intentionally, and controlled intelligently, it enhances guest experience, reinforces brand identity, and quietly supports revenue without ever demanding attention.About the Guest:Martin Epstein ,President & Co-Founder, Tazz Lighting, Inc.Martin Epstein is the President and co-founder of Tazz Lighting, Inc., a premier San Diego-based lightingdesign, distribution, and consultation firm known for delivering innovative and high-quality lighting solutionsfor residential, commercial, and architectural projects. With over three decades of experience in the lightingindustry, Martin has built a reputation for excellence rooted in deep technical expertise, thoughtful designsensibility, and a client-centered approach.Tazz Lighting has guided projects from concept through completion, partnering with architects, designers,builders, and homeowners to elevate spaces through carefully curated lighting, advanced control systems, andenergy...

In this episode of Hospitality Design Talks, host Rachel Larraine Crawford sits down with her longtime teacher and mentor, Amanda Sophia, for a conversation that blends feng shui, seasonal wisdom, and conscious business—with a special focus on the “in-between” season we’re in right now (that liminal space between the Year of the Snake and the incoming Fire Horse).Together, Rachel and Amanda explore how your space—whether it’s your home, studio, restaurant, spa, or retreat property—acts as a living mirror for your energy, your patterns, and your next level. This is a grounded, soulful episode about clearing what’s no longer aligned, choosing collaborations from full-body yes, and setting your business up for expansion without burnout.What you’ll learn in this episodeThe liminal space isn’t “behind schedule”—it’s sacredAmanda reframes January as a time that often asks us to slow down, reflect, and stop forcing momentum just because the calendar flipped. Instead of hustling, she invites you to tune into nature’s timing—winter as rest, dreaming, integration… the space where clarity actually lands.Feng Shui as a soul mirror (not just aesthetics)Amanda shares a deeper view of feng shui: your home or business isn’t random—it’s often a soul match. You’re drawn to certain spaces because they reflect your energetic blueprint, and they can also support your healing and evolution. Your environment mirrors back what’s happening internally—clutter, broken items, stuck corners, loose handles… all of it carries information.Fire Horse themes for conscious entrepreneurs + owner-operatorsAs we move into a Fire Horse year, the energy shifts toward:expansion, movement, opportunityheart-led leadership (integrity matters more than ever)authentic expression (no watering down your true work)collaboration—but only with full alignmentAmanda also names the shadow side: with fire + speed comes the risk of burnout, scattered energy, and saying yes too quickly. The medicine? Grounding and deep nervous-system support.A practical feng shui focus for hospitality spaces (restaurants, spas, hotels)Amanda gives clear, beginner-friendly guidance for activating supportive energy in your business this year:Southeast: the most auspicious energy (prosperity, joy, success, “peach blossom” connection energy). Simple activation ideas: a candle ritual, meaningful symbolism of prosperity, or planting something outdoors in the SE area.East: another highly supportive prosperity area. Activation ideas: a salt lamp, fiery-toned crystals, uplifting intention, daily energetic practices in that zone.South: the area to support with metal to help neutralize more challenging energy. Examples: a metal bowl with coins, bronze décor, metal objects...

In this guest episode of Hospitality Design Talks, host Rachel Larraine Crawford sits down with Lindsay Wynn—a San Diego + New York–based creative who’s spent nearly two decades weaving together hospitality, fine art, photography, and brand experience. Lindsay shares how her path (from waiting tables → opening restaurants → working with Jean-Georges → fashion/beauty/alcohol campaigns → building integrated brand activations) shaped the way she approaches hospitality today: not as a “one-and-done” meal, but as a through-line in the human experience, from the moment someone arrives to how they feel when they return home.Together, Rachel and Lindsay dig into what it really takes to craft experiences that feel intentional, holistic, and human—and why collaboration is one of the most powerful tools hospitality owners have right now. Lindsay breaks down her approach to building “brand universes,” how she helps clients uncover what they actually want (even when it starts as a messy mix of ideas), and why the best spaces aren’t just trendy—they’re rooted in story, materiality, and meaning.What you’ll learn in this episodeLindsay’s origin story: how art school, fine art, and hospitality operations shaped her creative edge and problem-solving styleWhy post-COVID hospitality needs more than aesthetics—it needs connection, intimacy, and real emotional resonanceWhat it means to have an integrated approach (brand values, visuals, content, activation) instead of disconnected marketingA standout case study: a month-long sexual health pop-up designed as an educational, inclusive, community-centered resource (built during the Roe v. Wade overturn era)How to present “big” or unconventional creative ideas without shocking clients—meeting people where they areWhy collaboration works (and what gets in the way): egos, control, and the fear of doing it differentlyA concrete collab example: Dow of Clay x The Friendly — ceramics + pizza + wine, an interactive event that lowered the barrier to entry for art through hospitalityLindsay’s take on trends: how to build something memorable without copying the same Pinterest formulas (and yes—why gray floors are a hard no)The power of deep research: Pinterest plus books, libraries, history, and details that create a richer design storyPractical encouragement for owner-operators: find your thing, obsess over it, and build your business around what you genuinely loveKey takeawaysDesign + hospitality work best when they’re embodied. A beautiful space still needs warmth, flow, and a sense of belonging.Collaboration is a growth strategy—not just for marketing, but for community, cross-pollination, and richer guest experiences.Your “thing” is your advantage. In a world of fast trends and short attention spans, what’s specific and true about you is what sticks.Depth beats...