170 – Industry: Phyllis and Charrisse

Phyllis Harbinger + Charrisse Johnston: Oh the Places You'll Go Today in the lounge, Nick catches up with Phyllis Harbinger while he's just outside her soon-to-be new apartment in Miami. Nick is in town for the grand opening of the new Porcelanosa Miami showroom. He also has the pleasure of interviewing Charrisse Johnston, past Chair of ASID National Board of Directors and Interior Design Practice Leader at Steinberg. What’s So Great About Miami? Nick asks Phyllis why she chose to Miami and her first answer is simple: She doesn’t like the cold. Additionally, she had always liked Florida but was never sure about living there. When her sister took Phyllis on a trip to Miami as part of a birthday celebration, she found herself falling in love with the city. The culture was intoxicating with its rich diversity and vibrant energy; something she says helps keep her young. Not just that, but Phyllis loves speaking Spanish, which Miami enables her to do a lot of. She compares the culture of Miami to that of New York but with more cleanliness and greater energy. The Miami Renaissance Nick asks Phyllis to describe what’s happening in the design scene of Miami. She tells him that it’s ever-changing with new showrooms, restaurants, hotels, and all sorts of things going up on a weekly basis. The city is going through a renaissance period where a lot of old designs are being integrated with new ones and Phyllis invites anyone interested in seeing great design to visit Miami for that reason. Plus, Art Basel is now being held in Miami from December 7-10, along with ICFF which was held in October. The Art Deco Festival will also be happening in South Beach, Florida. With so many things going on, there’s never a dull moment in Miami. When Phyllis closes on her new apartment, she plans on renting it out from May to October to accommodate the influx Miami sees of South Africans vacationing there for their winter. This will not be the first time Phyllis has rented out a property to travelers; she sees it as a fun challenge because it requires her to make the space something she can fully enjoy along with her renters. As Phyllis says her goodbyes, she reminds listeners to visit her on her website if they would like to use her consulting services and learn more about her. Getting to Know Charrisse Johnston Charrisse values functionality over style when it comes to her personal fashion, but if she were to choose a favorite accessory, it would be her handbag she always receives compliments on. Charrisse and her siblings are first-generation Americans from Chinese-American parents and that Chinese was her first language. Since her parents never used profanities in the household, she and her two brothers and one sister would make up nonsense profanities in Chinese and tattle on each other, only to be met with confusion from her mother and father. Charrisse’s favorite movie is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, though she forgets the name at first. Charrisse notes how in today’s society, “you feel like you’re not worthy unless you’re going one-million miles-per-hour all the time,” which isn’t healthy. She argues that while we as a culture generally recognize this, more people need to actually take and appreciate time for themselves. Charrisse talks about how in L.A., professionals who don’t feel the need to dress up and aren’t required to go into the office every day are often the most successful. As such, we shouldn’t feel too guilty for giving ourselves a break. From Doctor to Designer: Charrisse's Journey to Interior Design As the oldest of four siblings in a Chinese-American family, Charrisse was groomed to be a doctor. She attended John Hopkins University and majored in biology with the intent to apply for medical school after graduation. During her time at the university, however, she learned that she was more interested in knowing what made people ...