In this episode of Architecture, Design & Photography, Trent Bell welcomes back architect Rick Staub, co-founder of Your Modern Cottage and partner at Point One Architects, for their first in-studio conversation.

Together, Trent and Rick explore how homeowner expectations have shifted in the age of HGTV, Pinterest, Instagram, DIY culture, and AI. They discuss the growing gap between what people think design is — often a collection of images, trends, and wish-list rooms — and what it actually requires: strategy, discipline, budget awareness, trust, and a deep understanding of how people live.

Rick shares why good residential design goes far beyond aesthetics. From the emotional impact of a home to the importance of proportion, balance, natural light, privacy, flexibility, and long-term livability, he makes the case that architecture should help people feel grounded, calm, and supported in their daily lives.

The conversation also touches on the value of working with architects and builders early in the process, the danger of designing from superficial trends, why budget conversations need to happen sooner, and how homeowners can become better prepared before building, renovating, or buying land.

Our previous episode with Rick: https://youtu.be/gvrBtOeAzfU

More from Rick Staub:
Website: https://www.yourmoderncottage.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourmoderncottage
Point One Architects: https://pointonearchitects.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointonearchitects/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-staub-7751115/

More from us:
Website: www.adppodcast.com I
nstagram: http://instagram.com/adppod_

In this episode of Architecture, Design & Photography, Trent Bell sits down with architect and author Danish Kurani to discuss his latest book, The Spaces That Make Us: Why Design Is Broken and How We Can Create a Happier, Healthier World.

Trent and Danish explore the powerful ways architecture and environmental design shape our psychology, behavior, relationships, and overall well-being. From the spaces we grow up in to the cities we move through every day, the discuss how thoughtful design can influence how we connect, feel, and live.

The Spaces That Make Us: Why Design Is Broken and How We Can Create a Happier, Healthier World: https://www.amazon.com/Spaces-That-Make-Us-Healthier/dp/1400249120

About Danish Kurani: Danish Kurani sees how buildings are failing to nourish people. After witnessing how poorly designed environments hold back people across the globe – from the middle of Manhattan to villages in India – he’s made it his mission to remake architecture for human flourishing. His groundbreaking designs for New York City, Google, and communities on four continents prove that thoughtful architecture can unlock human potential.

Named one of the World’s Most Innovative Architects by Fast Company, Kurani has pioneered a human-centered approach that’s transforming lives worldwide. His work spans from floating homes in disaster-prone areas to schools in informal settlements, always focusing on one question: how can architecture solve our most pressing social challenges?

A Harvard-trained architect and urban designer, Kurani’s architectural ideas have been shared at leading institutions including Stanford, MIT, Harvard, and Columbia, and featured in TIME, World Economic Forum, and the Wall Street Journal. National governments recognize him as a leading voice in social impact architecture – not because he builds beautiful buildings, but because he builds spaces that work for real people.

More from Danish Kurani:

Website - https://danishkurani.com
Architecture Website: https://kurani.us/
LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/danishkurani

More from us:

Website: www.adppodcast.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/adppod_

In this episode of Architecture, Design & Photography, Trent Bell sits down with Mike Corsie of Terrapin Landscapes to talk about building a business from the ground up, evolving from lawn care into high-end design-build work, and creating landscapes that feel deeply rooted in Maine.

Mike reflects on 25 years in business, the turning points that helped shape Terrapin’s identity, and the importance of craftsmanship, trust, and doing what you say you’re going to do. The conversation also explores how landscape can tie architecture to place, why native plants and stone matter, and how great outdoor spaces become part of the experience of home.

They also get into the bigger picture: the realities of running a seasonal business, the pressures of creative work, the changing character of coastal Maine, and the tension between thoughtful development and preserving what makes a place feel authentic.

About Terrapin Landscapes:
In 2001, Terrapin consisted of Mike Corsie, a truck, and a mower. He built a network of clients in the community around his home of Kennebunkport and delivered on the promise of deeply personal, quality work. Over the years, he invested what he earned back into the business, adding equipment and building an equally committed team. He connected with clients who wanted much more than a manicured lawn and began flexing the design principles that you recognize in Terrapin today: natural stonework, native plants, careful shoreline stabilization, and an overarching sense of belonging.

Today, Terrapin is recognized as one of Southern Maine’s premier landscape companies, with a full-time crew of landscapers, masons, and horticulturists, a fleet of hard earned trucks, and a gorgeous design office in Arundel, ME.

More from Terrapin Landscapes:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrapinlandscapes/
Website: https://terrapinlandscapes.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrapinlandscapes/

More from us:
Website: www.adppodcast.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/adppod_