Vancouver artist Zoë Pawlak joins Aly Velji to share her journey as an artist, creative collaboration, and how she pushes herself to expand herself beyond the traditional canvas. We get into original art vs. planned obsolescence, fashion and rug collaborations, collecting with intention, and why creative discipline matters as much as inspiration. Recorded live at IDS Vancouver inside our custom booth by Bureau.
In this episode, we talk about
Why spiritual wellness fuels creative flow
Original art vs. planned obsolescence and how to build a meaningful collection
From canvases to hand-knotted rugs, fashion collabs and the Vessels & Muses Oracle Deck: making art you can live with
The real economics of a working artist: pricing, partners, and creative capacity
Why collaboration (with makers, brands, designers) elevates the work
Travel as muse: LA, NYC, Mexico City, New Mexico skies - and the permission to rest
Zoë’s favs: music, mood, and studio rituals (yes, one song on repeat counts)
About Zoë Pawlak
Zoë Pawlak is a Vancouver-based artist known for telling honest, vulnerable stories through painting, drawing, and industrial design. With 18 years of professional practice, her work explores emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness. Her latest creation, the Vessels & Muses Oracle Deck, pairs 40 of her artworks with journal prompts for daily reflection.
A graduate of NSCAD and Concordia with studies at Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, Zoë’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Interior Design, and Martha Stewart Living, and collected by the Government of Canada, Cobie Smulders, and Club Monaco.
Website: https://www.zoepawlak.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoepawlak/
Substack: https://zopawlak.substack.com/
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
SILK & SNOW
Better Materials, Thoughtfully Made
Silk & Snow is a Canadian home goods brand creating beautifully crafted pieces from high-quality, responsibly sourced materials — designed to elevate your everyday. From mattresses and modular sofas to bedding and décor, everything they make blends comfort, quality, and conscious design.
Visit silkandsnow.com or explore their stores across Canada.
INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW
As Canada’s premier showcase of new products, superstar designers, and avant-garde concepts from North America and beyond, IDS is the platform to experience the importance of design firsthand, uncovering not just what’s new and what’s next, but taking part in the larger conversation around design. Experiential and transformative, we bring together compelling concepts, innovative products, upcoming talent and key experts in the industry so you can be inspired by the best of the future.
BUREAU
Bureau is a furniture and design company specializing in workspace fit-outs and made-to-order furnishings. We believe that modern workspaces are decidedly unmodern, fixed on out-of-touch, catalogue cliché notions on what it means to make deep and meaningful work. Utilizing data and technology, we design spaces that flex and modulate to the ever-changing, often abstract needs and behaviours of its people, furnishing businesses with the tools they need to shape workspaces that work.
Website: withbureau.com/ca/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bureau.global
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/bureauglobal/?originalSubdomain=ca
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast:
Instagram: @designs_av
YouTube: Aly Velji Designs Podcasts
Website: alyveljidesigns.com
Award-winning Vancouver designer Karin Bohn—founder and creative director of House of Bohn and host of Netflix’s Restaurants on the Edge—joins Aly Velji live from IDS Vancouver to talk about creativity, collaboration, and the courage to scale back to move forward. This conversation dives into the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur, creative burnout, and how to build a business with soul.
In this episode, we talk about
• The evolution of House of Bohn and building a West Coast design brand
• The reality of creative design concepts vs. what actually gets executed.
• Why “smaller team, bigger impact” can be the smartest creative move
• The TikTok-ification of design and how social media warps taste and process
• Collaboration, community, and saying yes to projects that stretch your craft
• What’s actually on Karin’s playlist and what keeps her grounded
• Design heroes from Kelly Wearstler to Ferris Rafauli—and what they teach about rigor and risk
About Karin Bohn
Karin Bohn is the Founder and Creative Director of House of Bohn, an award-winning Vancouver-based interior design studio celebrated for its bold, eclectic, and timeless aesthetic. Since launching in 2009, Karin has redefined modern interiors across luxury residential, multi-family, restaurant, and hospitality spaces—establishing House of Bohn as one of Canada’s most influential design firms.
Beyond her studio work, Karin is the design host of Netflix’s hit series Restaurants on the Edge, a sought-after keynote speaker at the Interior Design Show (IDS), and a regular voice in publications including The Globe and Mail, House & Home, and Western Living. Through her popular YouTube channel, she offers an unfiltered look into her creative process and entrepreneurial journey, inspiring a global community of design lovers and fellow creatives.
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
ROBINSON Lighting & BathBringing Homes to Life.
ROBINSON Lighting & Bath is Canada’s largest retailer of lighting and plumbing. With 34 showroom and warehouse locations nationwide, they offer Canada’s best selection of design-forward lighting and bath products. Whether it’s a whole-home plan or the perfect statement piece, their design-savvy team helps bring every detail to life.
Website: https://www.robinsonco.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RobinsonLtgBath
INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW
As Canada’s premier showcase of new products, superstar designers, and avant-garde concepts from North America and beyond, IDS is the platform to experience the importance of design firsthand, uncovering not just what’s new and what’s next, but taking part in the larger conversation around design. Experiential and transformative, we bring together compelling concepts, innovative products, upcoming talent and key experts in the industry so you can be inspired by the best of the future.
BUREAU
Bureau is a furniture and design company specializing in workspace fit-outs and made-to-order furnishings. We believe that modern workspaces are decidedly unmodern, fixed on out-of-touch, catalogue cliché notions on what it means to make deep and meaningful work. Utilizing data and technology, we design spaces that flex and modulate to the ever-changing, often abstract needs and behaviours of its people, furnishing businesses with the tools they need to shape workspaces that work.
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast:
Instagram: @designs_av
YouTube: Aly Velji Designs Podcasts
Website: alyveljidesigns.com
This week, my fellow design lover and friend Sophie Burke, joins me for another AVD Inspire episode inside our custom recording booth by Bureau x IDS Vancouver. She is the founder of Sophie Burke Design, an award winning Vancouver interior designer known for West Coast interiors with quiet luxury, subtle sophistication, and beautiful restraint. We talk about human centered design, heritage home renovation, why professional interior photography matters, and how collaborations elevate every project. From London design roots to Pacific Northwest style, this is a masterclass in timeless interiors you will actually want to live in.
In this episode:
• The West Coast style and Pacific Northwest aesthetic that define Sophie Burke Design
• Human centered design and what livable truly means
• Why timeless interiors are all about intentional layering, texture and patina
• The power of collaboration and community in modern design
• Sophie’s design confessions — and the trend she’s ready to let go
• Career breakthroughs, London beginnings, and a new chapter in Vancouver
About Sophie Burke
Sophie Burke is the founder and principal of Sophie Burke Design, a Vancouver based interior design studio recognized for creativity, subtle sophistication and attention to detail. Awards include Western Living Designer of the Year 2024 and House and Home Interior Designer of the Year, with features across leading Canadian design media. Her studio’s ethos centers on thoughtful design that supports wellbeing and stands the test of time
Connect with Sophie Burke
Website: https://www.sophieburkedesign.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophieburkedesign
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
BRIZO®
BRIZO® is a luxury fittings brand for people who understand that fashion isn’t just about the clothes they wear—but their entire lifestyle. The high-end brand has a strong emphasis on refined style, design and trend, with a large variety of finishes and customization options. Full artistic collections that tell a story.
The Frank Lloyd Wright® Kitchen Collection by Brizo® celebrates the spirit of a true visionary - a restless reinventor whose only constant was change, reveling in natural beauty, intentional asymmetry, and contrast, and looking not to the past but to the future.
Get inspired and explore: brizofaucet.ca
Subscribe for design inspiration: brizofaucet.ca/newsletter
@brizofaucet | Pinterest | Facebook
INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW
As Canada’s premier showcase of new products, superstar designers, and avant-garde concepts from North America and beyond, IDS is the platform to experience the importance of design firsthand, uncovering not just what’s new and what’s next, but taking part in the larger conversation around design. Experiential and transformative, we bring together compelling concepts, innovative products, upcoming talent and key experts in the industry so you can be inspired by the best of the future.
BUREAU
Bureau is a furniture and design company specializing in workspace fit-outs and made-to-order furnishings. We believe that modern workspaces are decidedly unmodern, fixed on out-of-touch, catalogue cliché notions on what it means to make deep and meaningful work. Utilizing data and technology, we design spaces that flex and modulate to the ever-changing, often abstract needs and behaviours of its people, furnishing businesses with the tools they need to shape workspaces that work.
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast:
Instagram: @designs_av
YouTube: Aly Velji Designs Podcasts
Website: alyveljidesigns.com
Season 2 of AVD Inspire continues live from IDS Vancouver inside our custom recording booth by Bureau and this one’s a total glow-up! Aly sits down with Matthew McCormick, the brilliant mind behind Matthew McCormick Studio, to talk about all things light, creativity, and collaboration.
Known for his sculptural lighting and quietly powerful presence in the global design scene, Matthew opens up about his creative process, career-defining moments, and what it really takes to make lighting unforgettable. This episode is packed with inspiration, humility, and design confessions that will change how you see the light.
About Matthew McCormick
He is the Founder/Creative Director of Matthew McCormick Studio, an award-winning lighting design studio based in Vancouver. His sculptural creations explore the intersection of art, architecture, and engineering, bringing depth and emotion to the spaces they illuminate.
Matthew’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Wallpaper, Azure, and Vogue Living. From intimate residences to international design exhibitions, his pieces reflect a refined sense of craftsmanship and curiosity that continues to shape modern lighting today.
Connect with Matthew
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
MASTERGRAIN
The Canadian brand redefining modern living with premium fiberglass entry doors, available across North America.
At MASTERGRAIN, we believe a door is more than just an entryway—that's why we're committed to building the best door on Earth. Born from precision tooling expertise, our journey began in 2008 when Weber Manufacturing Technologies in Midland, Ontario, set out to redefine what's possible in entryway design. Every door we create begins with craftsmanship and comes to life through a fully integrated manufacturing process—designed, engineered, and manufactured entirely in Canada.
The result: architectural doors that combine material integrity, design freedom, and a seamless aesthetic worthy of the spaces they define.
EXCLUSIVE PROMO for our AVD listeners!
Get a FREE Tedee PRO Smart Lock when you purchase a MASTERGRAIN door system paired with a multipoint lock system (some T&Cs apply).
Simply enter the promo code MGTEDEE in the product field when you place your order. All the promo details are included below: https://mastergrain.com/fall-dm-get-a-quote/
INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW
As Canada’s premier showcase of new products, superstar designers, and avant-garde concepts from North America and beyond, IDS is the platform to experience the importance of design firsthand, uncovering not just what’s new and what’s next, but taking part in the larger conversation around design. Experiential and transformative, we bring together compelling concepts, innovative products, upcoming talent and key experts in the industry so you can be inspired by the best of the future.
BUREAU
Bureau is a furniture and design company specializing in workspace fit-outs and made-to-order furnishings. We believe that modern workspaces are decidedly unmodern, fixed on out-of-touch, catalogue cliché notions on what it means to make deep and meaningful work. Utilizing data and technology, we design spaces that flex and modulate to the ever-changing, often abstract needs and behaviours of its people, furnishing businesses with the tools they need to shape workspaces that work.
We’re keeping the Design Confessions rolling, recorded live from IDS Vancouver inside our custom recording booth by Bureau. Today I’m joined by the incredibly talented Ema Peter - an award-winning architectural and interior photographer whose images make you feel something.
Ema’s work has that rare, emotional pull - the kind that stops you mid-scroll and makes you want to step right into space. We talk about the beauty of raw, honest work, the comeback of analog, and how to capture that spark that makes a photo unforgettable. From her early days at Magnum in Paris to shooting globally recognized projects, Ema’s philosophy is simple but powerful: create work that truly touches people.
In this episode, we talk about:
• Why raw work moves people and why imperfection can be magic
• How to photograph spaces that tell a story and stop you in your tracks
• The creative comeback of analog and tactile inspiration
• The balance between art and marketing in architectural photography
• The danger of overusing AI and keeping design real and human
• Why details often speak louder than wide shots
• Ema’s design confession — and what she refuses to do the “easy” way
• How music, mood, and intuition shape every shoot
About Ema Peter
Ema Peter is the founder and creative director of Ema Peter Photography, based in Vancouver. Since launching her studio in 2005, she has become one of Canada’s most celebrated architectural photographers, known for capturing spaces with emotion, precision, and soul.
Trained in both the visual arts and photojournalism - with experience at the Magnum Photo Agency in Paris - Ema brings over 20 years of expertise and an unrelenting passion for her craft. Her work has been recognized internationally, earning awards from Architizer A+, Dezeen, Spotlight, Créateur Design, and more.
Connect with Ema Peter
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
EMTEK
Personal style lives in the details. For over 40 years, EMTEK’s has helped design lovers transform houses into homes with customizable door and cabinet hardware. Each moment is an opportunity to express your taste and invite others to experience your home as only you can imagine it. Assembled to order in California with short lead times, helping designers make each choice a statement: your statement.
FREE Finish Ring for Designers!
Visit https://www.emtek.com/finishring/ and use the Promo Code: AVD
INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW
As Canada’s premier showcase of new products, superstar designers, and avant-garde concepts from North America and beyond, IDS is the platform to experience the importance of design firsthand, uncovering not just what’s new and what’s next, but taking part in the larger conversation around design. Experiential and transformative, we bring together compelling concepts, innovative products, upcoming talent and key experts in the industry so you can be inspired by the best of the future.
BUREAU
Bureau is a furniture and design company specializing in workspace fit-outs and made-to-order furnishings. We believe that modern workspaces are decidedly unmodern, fixed on out-of-touch, catalogue cliché notions on what it means to make deep and meaningful work. Utilizing data and technology, we design spaces that flex and modulate to the ever-changing, often abstract needs and behaviours of its people, furnishing businesses with the tools they need to shape workspaces that work.
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast:
Instagram: @designs_av
YouTube: Aly Velji Designs Podcasts
Website: alyveljidesigns.com
Season 2 is here, design lovers! And I couldn’t be more excited to kick things off with someone who has been such a champion of my work and the Canadian design scene: Anicka Quin. She’s the VP of Content at Canada Wide Media and the powerhouse behind Western Living, Vancouver Magazine, BC Business, BC Living, and TV Week. Basically, she’s the woman keeping Western Canada on the design map — and doing it with serious style.
Anicka and I go way back, and this chat feels full-circle. Usually she’s the one interviewing me, but this time the tables are turned. We dive into her unexpected path from music writer to magazine editor, the real secrets of what gets published (and what doesn’t), and of course her very first Design Confession. Spoiler: it involves rain showers and let’s just say…I know many of you can 100% relate!
We also talk about the future of design, the rise of layered and lived-in spaces, and why AI can never replace the creativity, connection, and magic that real people bring to the process. Oh, and she shares her design heroes, favorite cities, and what’s on her playlist right now. (Yes, there’s a little George Michael love in there!)
In this episode, we talk about
Anicka’s journey from music journalism to award-winning magazine editor • What makes a home publish-worthy at Western Living • The design trend she secretly can’t stand • Why mentorship and happy accidents can change your career • How Canadian designers are shaking things up on a national stage • Timeless design, Paris cafés, and why George Michael always gets her on the dance floor
About Anicka Quin
Anicka Quin is VP of Content at Canada Wide Media, where she leads the editorial teams behind Western Living, Vancouver Magazine, BC Business, BC Living, and TV Week. Known for elevating Western Canada’s design scene to national recognition, Anicka has been at the helm of Western Living since 2010, guiding its legacy of celebrating architecture, interiors, and culture.
Connect with Anicka & Western Living
Instagram: @aniqua
Western Living Magazine: westernliving.ca/subscribe
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
ROBINSON Lighting & Bath
Bringing Homes to Life.
ROBINSON Lighting & Bath is Canada’s largest retailer of lighting and plumbing. With 34 showroom and warehouse locations nationwide, they offer Canada’s best selection of design-forward lighting and bath products. Whether it’s a whole-home plan or the perfect statement piece, their design-savvy team helps bring every detail to life.
Website: robinsonco.ca
Instagram: @RobinsonLtgBath
Facebook: Robinson Lighting & Bath
Interior Design Show (IDS)
As Canada’s premier showcase of new products, superstar designers, and avant-garde concepts from North America and beyond, IDS is the platform to experience the importance of design firsthand, uncovering not just what’s new and what’s next, but taking part in the larger conversation around design. Experiential and transformative, IDS brings together compelling concepts, innovative products, upcoming talent, and key experts in the industry to inspire with the best of the future.
Website: interiordesignshow.com
Instagram: @interiordesignshow
LinkedIn: Interior Design Show
Bureau
Bureau is a furniture and design company specializing in workspace fit-outs and made-to-order furnishings. We believe that modern workspaces are decidedly unmodern, fixed on out-of-touch, catalogue cliché notions of what it means to make deep and meaningful work. Utilizing data and technology, we design spaces that flex and modulate to the ever-changing, often abstract needs and behaviours of people, furnishing businesses with the tools they need to shape workspaces that work.
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast
Instagram: @designs_av
YouTube: Aly Velji Designs Podcasts
Website: alyveljidesigns.com
For our season finale of AVD Inspire, I’m joined by someone who’s not only curating Canada’s biggest design stage but also shaping where the industry is heading: Will Sorrell, National Director of the Interior Design Show (IDS).
Will’s journey is a story of global vision meeting Canadian design. Raised in London by designer parents, he spent 20 years curating and producing exhibitions across 16 countries before making the leap to Canada. Today, he leads IDS Toronto and IDS Vancouver — reimagining what design shows can be and ensuring Canadian talent shines on an international stage.
In this conversation, we dive into Will’s London-to-Victoria shift (from high-speed city life to paddleboarding the Pacific), how IDS is evolving to meet the needs of the trade, and the bold moves reshaping the future of IDS.
And because you know I love a little spoiler — we're excited to share some exciting news: AVD Inspire Season 2 will be recorded live at IDS Vancouver this fall!
In this episode, we talk about:
About Will Sorrell
Will Sorrell is the National Director of the Interior Design Show (IDS). Over the last 20 years, Will has curated and produced events and exhibitions across 16 different countries, supporting the global design industry and celebrating innovation. Formerly with London’s acclaimed Design Junction (winner of Best UK Tradeshow, 2018), he now leads IDS Toronto and IDS Vancouver, shaping the conversations and connections that define Canadian design today.
Connect with IDS & Will Sorrell
Interior Design Show (IDS): https://interiordesignshow.com/
Instagram (IDS): https://www.instagram.com/interiordesignshow/
LinkedIn (IDS): https://www.linkedin.com/company/interior-design-show/
Instagram (Will Sorrell): https://www.instagram.com/willsorrell/
LinkedIn (Will Sorrell): LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-sorrell-22b2601b/
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
ROBINSON Lighting & Bath
Bringing Homes to Life.
ROBINSON Lighting & Bath is Canada’s largest retailer of lighting and plumbing. Operating from 34 showroom and warehouse locations, we offer a wide selection of the industry’s best brands to design-conscious homeowners, designers and trades in Canada.
Western Living Magazine
A huge thank you to our media sponsor, Western Living Magazine.
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast:
Instagram: @designs_av
YouTube: Aly Velji Designs Podcasts
Website: alyveljidesigns.com
This week on AVD Inspire, I’m joined by the brilliant Laura Noriega — Founder and Creative Director of TRIBUTO, a design brand that celebrates Mexico’s cultural heritage through timeless, handmade objects.
Laura’s story is all about leaving, returning, and rediscovering her creative roots. She studied and worked in Barcelona, Milan, and even Kyoto — chasing inspiration all over the world. But when she returned to Guadalajara, she found her true calling: reconnecting with her culture and championing the artisans who keep traditional craft alive.
Together with her sister, Laura built TRIBUTO into a brand that’s as much about people and poetry as it is about products. But what really lights Laura up is community, collaboration, and proving that craft is not a thing of the past — it’s the future.
In this episode, we talk about:
– Laura’s journey from studying abroad to returning home to Guadalajara
– How her friend’s simple drawing shifted the entire course of her life
– Founding TRIBUTO with her sister and why family makes the best creative partners
– Why Mexico’s artisans and workshops are having a global design moment
– The challenges (and beauty) of weaving tradition into contemporary design
– Measuring real impact and what it means to uplift communities through craft
– Guadalajara’s rise as a design destination (and why you need to visit!)
– Laura’s rituals that keep her grounded...literally!
About Laura Noriega
Laura Noriega is a Mexican designer, thinker, and collaborator with a background in Product Design and Interior Architecture. She is the Founder and Creative Director of TRIBUTO, the brand she launched with her sister to design and produce handmade objects rooted in cultural heritage and traditional local production.
Her work has been celebrated globally — from Architectural Digest México’s AD100 Creative Gurus to PHAIDON’s Designed for Life: The World’s Best Product Designers and Salone Satellite: 20 Years of Creativity. Beyond beautiful objects, Laura is passionate about teaching, leading workshops, and creating processes that spark dialogue between contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship.
Connect with Laura & TRIBUTO
Want more of Laura’s world of culture, craft, and creative collaboration? Follow her here:
Website: tributo.mx
Instagram: @tributomx | @laura_noriega
Facebook: TRIBUTO
Special Thanks to Our Sponsor — Centura Tile
From coast to coast for you! For over 96 years, Centura Tile has brought Canadians the very best in wall and floor coverings—offering innovative, carefully curated products, bespoke solutions, and expert guidance from concept to creation. With 13 branches nationwide, our reliable, friendly service and deep technical expertise help turn every design vision into a one-of-a-kind interior.
Website: centura.ca
Media Sponsor: Western Living Magazine
A huge thank you to our media sponsor, Western Living Magazine.
Get your free subscription at westernliving.ca/subscribe
Follow: @westernliving
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast:
Instagram: @designs_av
YouTube: Aly Velji Designs Podcasts
Website: alyveljidesigns.com
This week on AVD Inspire, I’m joined by the inspiring and grounded TJ Edmondson — President & Owner of Windsor Workshop and Co-Founder of Local Made Market. His story is a masterclass in following your gut, taking the leap, and building a life with your hands, your heart, and a whole lot of sawdust.
TJ’s journey began in the world of management consulting, racking up hotel loyalty points and living out of airport lounges. But when the pandemic hit, he swapped boardrooms for the woodshop, taking over one of North America’s most iconic furniture makers and carrying forward its legacy of handcrafted Windsor chairs.
His work has been featured in Country Living Magazine, House & Home, Style at Home, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Muskoka Life, Parks Canada, and Kabin Magazine — but beyond the press, it’s his commitment to preserving fine woodworking in Canada, mentoring the next generation of makers, and collaborating with other artisans that makes this conversation so special.
In this heart-to-heart filled with craft, community, and real talk, we get into:
– The leap from a secure corporate career to owning a heritage woodworking business
– How TJ found Windsor Workshop (yes, it involves a “business for sale” listing)
– Keeping 300-year-old joinery techniques alive in a modern market
– The realities of manufacturing high-quality furniture in Canada
– Building community among makers and why collaboration beats competition
– Launching Local Made Market and celebrating Canadian craftsmanship
– Balancing tradition with innovation to reach new audiences
– TJ’s personal grounding rituals (spoiler: sawdust and yoga)
Whether you’re a maker, a dreamer, or someone craving the courage to rewrite your story, this episode will remind you that your “one day” can start the moment you decide to build it.
Connect with TJ Edmondson
Want more of TJ’s world of craftsmanship, collaboration, and Canadian-made design? Follow him here:
Sponsored by Lux Windows
Lux Windows and Doors offers a complete line of Canadian crafted windows and doors designed to meet the highest standards of durability, reliability, and aesthetic appeal. We continually strive to manufacture the best windows and doors possible, and service our clients with unparalleled care and commitment to quality. Crafted specifically for your home and style, every window and door bears our hallmark attention to detail.
Media Sponsor: Western Living Magazine
A huge thank you to our media sponsor, Western Living Magazine.
Get your free subscription at westernliving.ca/subscribe
Follow: @westernliving
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast
Instagram: @designs_av
YouTube: Aly Velji Designs Podcasts
Website: alyveljidesigns.com
This week on AVD Inspire, I’m joined by the brilliant and bold Simone Elizabeth Saunders, one of Canada’s most celebrated contemporary textile artists. Her hand-tufted portraits are more than art — they’re powerful statements rooted in Black womanhood, visual storytelling, and ancestral connection.
Simone's rise from a decade-long career in theatre to becoming a globally recognized fiber artist is nothing short of inspiring. Her work has been exhibited in major galleries from Toronto to Miami, featured in Forbes, CBC, and Colossal, and now lives inside her stunning new book, Encompass the Galaxy.
In this heart-to-heart full of vibes and real talk, we talk about:– The transition from performing arts to contemporary textile art– Centering Black identity, feminine strength, and history in visual work– Tufting, punch needle, and the tactile power of fiber-based storytelling– How Simone curated Noir Nouveau for Contemporary Calgary’s LOOK Gala– Trusting your voice (even when the world doesn’t get it yet)– Creative rituals, spiritual practice, and the role of ancestral wisdom in her art– The reality of being a Black female artist navigating today’s art world
Whether you're an artist, a dreamer, or someone seeking creative courage, this episode will remind you that your story is your superpower — and that art is a revolutionary act.
Connect with Simone Elizabeth Saunders
Want more of Simone’s vibrant, powerful world? Follow her here:
Website: simoneelizabethsaunders.com
Instagram: @simoneelizabethsaunders
YouTube: Simone Elizabeth Saunders
Sponsored by Bow Valley College
Bow Valley College is Calgary's College. In 2025, we are celebrating 60 years of launching professional journeys and providing students with opportunities to advance and evolve their careers. As Calgary's largest downtown post-secondary campus, we are a catalyst for change through our students and graduates.
Website: bowvalleycollege.ca
Instagram : @bowvalley
Linkedin : Bow Valley College on LinkedIn
Media Sponsor: Western Living Magazine
A huge thank you to our media sponsor, Western Living Magazine.
Get your free subscription at westernliving.ca/subscribe
Follow: @westernliving
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast
Instagram: @designs_av
YouTube: Aly Velji Designs Podcasts
Website: alyveljidesigns.com
This week on AVD Inspire, Aly sits down with lighting designer and creative entrepreneur Kate MacNeill, founder of Concord Custom Lighting — the all-female Canadian studio known for crafting bespoke light fixtures for luxury residential and high-end hospitality interiors.
In this episode, we dive into:
How Kate built a women-led lighting design studio from scratch
The behind-the-scenes process of custom lighting manufacturing
How to turn a design vision into a functional, code-compliant product
What it really takes to thrive as a female founder in the design industry
How to overcome imposter syndrome and trust your creative instincts
Kate opens up about leaving behind a commerce degree and stepping into the world of industrial design, fabrication, and creative business ownership. Her lighting work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House & Home, The Globe and Mail, Dezeen, and The Local Project (Australia) — and we get into the raw, real moments that shaped her journey.
Plus, we chat about our recent commercial design collab, why Canadian-made design matters, and the beauty of building a brand that empowers creativity, collaboration, and craftsmanship.
“Sometimes you just need to take the leap… because the pain of living out of alignment becomes too heavy to carry.”
Connect with Kate MacNeill & Concord Custom Lighting
Website: thisisconcord.com
Instagram: @concordlights
Presented in Partnership With Napoleon FireplacesNapoleon Fireplaces, a Canadian owned and operated manufacturer, combines smart design with standout style, offering gas and electric fireplaces in a wide range of sizes, styles, and price points. Built for easy installation and long-term performance, their innovative portfolio gives designers flexible, customizable options for any space, from traditional to contemporary and everything in between.
Website: napoleon.com
Instagram: @napoleonfireplace
Facebook: Napoleon Products
Media Sponsor: Western Living Magazine
A huge thank you to our media sponsor, Western Living Magazine.
Get your free subscription at westernliving.ca/subscribe
Follow: @westernliving
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast:
This week on AVD Inspire, I’m sitting down with one of my oldest (and most fabulous) friends — Stanley Sun, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Mason Studio.
Before he was designing hotels, restaurants, exhibitions, and retail spaces around the world, Stanley was deep in the world of neuroscience. That’s right…he almost became a doctor! But thankfully for all of us, he followed his heart (and his talent) straight into the world of design.
In this episode, we’re talking about what it really means to bring your whole self into your creative work — your background, your culture, your quirks, all of it. Stanley opens up about discovering your true identity, working with intention, and how community-building is at the center of everything Mason Studio does.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Connect with Stanley & Mason Studio:
Presented in Partnership With:
BRIZO® – Fashion Forward. Lifestyle Focused.BRIZO® is a luxury fittings brand for people who understand that fashion isn’t just about the clothes they wear—but their entire lifestyle. The high-end brand has a strong emphasis on refined style, design and trend, with a large variety of finishes and customization options. Full artistic collections that tell a story.
Get inspired and explore: brizofaucet.ca
Subscribe for design inspiration: brizofaucet.ca/newsletter
Media Sponsor: Western Living Magazine
A huge thank you to our media sponsor, Western Living Magazine.
Get your free subscription at westernliving.ca/subscribe
Follow: @westernliving
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast:
This week on AVD Inspire, Aly Velji sits down with Jonathan Sotto — Director of Business Development at the Global Creative Design Studio Yabu Pushelberg — for a conversation that’s equal parts style, soul, and show-stopping resilience.
From cold-calling firms straight out of school to now leading business across Asia and the Americas, Jonathan shares the behind-the-scenes story of how grit, good timing, and knowing when to pivot shaped his two-decade journey in the world of design. The two dive into everything from imposter syndrome to the importance of feedback, what it's like to make bold career decisions, and why giving back to yourself matters just as much as giving your all.
Also on the table? RuPaul’s Drag Race, Beyoncé and how childhood experiences totally shape who you are today
Whether you’re in design or just designing your life, this one’s for you.
What We Cover:
The Beyoncé tee moment and a designer friendship born in Vegas
Growing up Filipino and dreaming of overcoming stereotypes
Discovering design through Lego, grid paper, and career pivots
Cold-calling firms in 2005 — and the hustle before LinkedIn
Facing rejection and finally landing a job at Yabu Pushelberg
Leaving a dream job to move abroad and grow personally
What it means to “promote” design instead of “doing” design
Navigating imposter syndrome and finding your voice
About Jonathan Sotto:
By day, he’s pushing boundaries as the Director of Business Development at Yabu Pushelberg. By night? He's a Karaoke king and full-time Drag Race aficionado. With over 20 years of creative experience in interior design and building relationships with people, Jonathan brings equal parts heart and hustle to everything he does.
Instagram: @yesitsjonathan
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathansotto
Special Thanks to Our Partner:
ROBINSON Lighting & Bath — Bringing Homes to Life.
ROBINSON Lighting & Bath is Canada’s largest retailer of lighting and plumbing. Operating from 34 showroom and warehouse locations, we offer a wide selection of the industry’s best brands to design-conscious homeowners, designers and trades in Canada.
Media Sponsor: Western Living Magazine
A huge thanks to our Media Sponsor, Western Living Magazine!
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast
What happens when you step away from something safe to pursue something soulful? In this inspiring episode of AVD Inspire, Aly Velji sits down with Toronto-based contemporary artist Murray Duncan to talk about creativity, courage, and the choice to start again—this time with purpose.
After years of running his beloved retail store Hardware in Toronto, Canada, Murray followed an inner pull toward art. That leap turned into a career rooted in storytelling, emotion, and deep personal alignment. His work often described as an emotional visual diary—has now been featured in top publications and homes across North America.
From his upcoming paperwork collection to collaborations with leading designers and galleries, Murray shares the mindset shift that made it all possible, and the unexpected joy of building a life that finally feels like home.
In This Episode:
Connect with Murray Duncan:
SPONSORED BY: Divine FlooringDivine Flooring is a design-forward flooring brand known for curating premium surfaces that elevate spaces with style and soul. From luxury hardwood to innovative vinyl, they partner with designers, builders, and homeowners to craft interiors that leave a lasting impression.
Aly’s own home features Divine Flooring’s “Cosmopolitan Naked” hardwood in a stunning chevron pattern—because real transformation starts from the ground up.
MEDIA SPONSOR: Western Living Magazine
A huge thanks to our Media Sponsor, Western Living Magazine!Get your free subscription at westernliving.ca/subscribe
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast
What is style, really? In this vibrant, heartfelt and hilarious conversation, Aly Velji sits down with legendary stylist and creative force Peter Papapetrou to talk about how fashion, identity, and creativity evolve across decades, cities, and life chapters.
From the basement fashion shows of his youth to styling for The Marilyn Denis Show and working with couture houses like Giambattista Valli, Peter opens up about the hustle and the joy behind his colorful career.
Now splitting his time between Toronto and Miami, Peter shares how marriage, moving abroad, vintage fashion in Amsterdam, and reconnecting with silence reshaped his creative vision—and why he’s finally turning the lens on himself.
In This Episode:
Peter’s incredible journey including his humble beginnings as a kid to becoming a Canadian style icon
Fashion vs. Style: The soul of how we show up
His favourite memories from being on The Marilyn Denis Show
Vintage shopping in Amsterdam & rediscovering personal style
What TV taught him about storytelling, humility, and impact
Grounding rituals, creative freedom, and what’s next
Connect with Peter Papapetrou:
SPONSORED BY: TONIC LIVINGCreate a home that’s as stylish and soulful as Peter’s wardrobe.
Tonic Living offers high-quality, handcrafted home textiles—for upholstery, window treatments and accessories plus a robust collection of decorative throw pillows—designed and handcrafted in Toronto headquarters (made in Canada).
Media Sponsor: Western Living Magazine
A huge thanks to our Media Sponsor, Western Living Magazine! Get your free subscription at westernliving.ca/subscribe
Follow on Instagram: @westernliving
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast
To launch the AVD INSPIRE Podcast, Aly Velji sits down with none other than Canadian media legend Marilyn Denis — in a heartfelt, full-circle moment that’s as personal as it is powerful.
From her 49-year reign across Canadian radio and television to her timeless wisdom on reinvention, legacy, and self-worth, Marilyn opens up like never before. The two dive into everything from therapy and personal check-ins to career pivots, iconic interviews, and their shared Calgary connection — with a few surprises along the way (Stevie Nicks, Beyoncé, and a very memorable birch tree wallpaper).
Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering the magic of Marilyn Denis, this warm, funny, and deeply inspiring conversation will leave you feeling like you just had breakfast with your bestie.
Follow Marilyn Denis
Stay connected and tune in to The Marilyn Denis Show on CHUM 104.5 (iHeartRadio):
Presented in Partnership With:
Bow Valley College
Celebrating 60 years as Calgary's largest downtown post-secondary campus. We are a catalyst for change through our students and graduates.
Learn more about the City Maker campaign: inspire.bowvalleycollege.ca/city-maker
Media Sponsor: Western Living Magazine
A huge thanks to our Media Sponsor, Western Living Magazine!
Get your free subscription at westernliving.ca/subscribe
Follow on Instagram: @westernliving
Follow Aly Velji Designs & the AVD Podcast
This is where creativity gets lit.
Interior designer and creative director Aly Velji invites you into the vibrant, real, and sometimes messy world of artistry, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.
In this AVD Inspire teaser, Aly shares what sparked this passion project, what’s in store for Season One, and why launching this podcast on his birthday (June 24th) means more than ever.
Whether you're in a creative funk, plotting your next big pivot, or just craving real talk with purpose-driven people — this podcast is your new go-to.
Expect intimate convos with Aly’s closest friends and creative muses — artists, makers, and icons who are making bold moves, navigating real-life ups and downs, and sharing the rituals that keep them grounded.
Hit SUBSCRIBE and get ready to be inspired.
Official launch drops June 24th.
Want to know about Interior Designer Aly Velji? Click here to discover his award-winning Calgary design firm.