Kim Radovich, principal of Kim Radovich Interiors and Kim E. Courtney Home and president emeritus of ASID NY Metro, welcomed 12 fellow designers from across the country for her debut Design Retreat, an exclusive professional workshop hosted at her Huntington Bay home on Long Island. The inaugural two-day event featured in-depth conversations with industry experts who covered a range of topics, including marketing and business management.

Highlights included a spirited discussion with editor Sabine Rothman about how to navigate the ever-changing world of publishing, a conversation with Holiday House founder Iris Dankner about the benefits and nuances of participating in a showhouse, and sessions on business development and licensing that provided actionable insight and direct engagement. Participants also learned strategies for assessing the right amount of insurance and how to deal with difficult clients. The weekend was presented in partnership with Phillip Jeffries and Caracole.

“My dream with Design Retreat was to create a two-day event where designers could connect with like-minded souls and dive deep to explore the challenges of navigating the ever-changing design industry,” said Radovich. “This intimate group forged new relationships while learning strategies to bring their design careers to the next level. It was an entrepreneurial detox, and just the recharge everyone needed. Hosting this at my home, Harbor Hill, on the beautiful North Shore of Long Island, made it all the more special for me.”

“Design Retreat was a great way to unplug, recharge, and come together with other professionals,” added attendee Eryn Oruncak, founder of Élan Design in Washington, D.C. “It gave designers a forum to share information and ideas openly, knowing that all was fair game and on the table. The saying goes, ‘Knowledge is power,’ and that is exactly what this program is meant to provide: power.”

“We all become so busy and caught up in our businesses that we often need to reset, relearn, rethink, and listen to the needs of our colleagues, customers, and each other,” said Michelle Rosson, vice president of sales for Caracole. “Our business has changed and is continuing to change at a rapid pace. Having the opportunity to reconnect to why we do this and to be inspired to inspire was invaluable. Perfection at every touch point.”

Images by Daniel Gonzales.