Episode 30 - Art-to-Life: Life as a Masterpiece with Philip Sassano

Transcript

00:12 – Wendy:
Oh, here we are again. Welcome to our Powerhouse Smart Podcast. Um, this is the Powerhouse Cool Collabs podcast where I select from my beautiful network of souls—the coolest leaders in luxury design, build, and real estate.

00:25 – Philip:
Oh, Wendy, you're too kind.

00:27 – Wendy:
Yes. And I share them with our audience. It's commutable, so it's short and sweet, but we get a lot of great content. And you have so much to share, Philip. So without further ado, I want all of you to meet my dear friend, my new friend, Philip Cisano. Welcome, Philip.

00:52 – Philip:
Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for having me on, Wendy. This is great. Any chance we have to converse like this, I think is awesome.

01:00 – Wendy:
Yeah, and you just told me in our pre-conversation that you have a radio show. So when you share your story, please tell me about your radio show.

01:04 – Philip:
Well, actually the radio show is really interesting. I’ve been doing it for about 10 years. The first time I did it, it was a 30-minute show and literally sounded like I was being held hostage against my will to talk design because I was new to radio and scripting everything.

01:34 – Philip:
For the past 10 years, we've been doing this radio program that is now an hour long. It's now on Spotify, carried locally by Lake 961 WLKG here in Lake Geneva. It airs every Sunday live from 7 am to 8 am Central Time and then is available on Spotify anytime.

02:07 – Philip:
It’s all across the board—art, creativity, and how to live a more fulfilling and creative life, all through design.

02:14 – Wendy:
Wow. What's the name of it?

02:17 – Philip:
The Design Coach Radio Show.

02:22 – Wendy:
Okay, I love that. All right, Mr. Design Coach Radio Show, can you please give me your story and how you got to where you are today, which is such a cool niche what you're doing?

02:37 – Philip:
Looking back, having been in business over 25 years, I realize I am the definition of an autodidact—self-taught everything. Like Bunny Williams, Kelly Worler, Thomas O’Brien, many self-taught great artists. I graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in drawing and painting and decided to monetize my craft.

03:24 – Philip:
I started doing high-end decorative paintwork for clients like Christopher Peacock, recreating glazed finishes from Europe in restaurants and residences. Around 2005, clients liked my eye and taste, and we moved into larger projects as a builder/remodeler while retaining our artistic roots.

04:12 – Philip:
I realized I really loved coaching people to create creative outcomes, whether that outcome was a living room, a new build, or an event. The Design Coach felt like the logical name to describe our philosophy and approach.

05:26 – Philip:
By 2015, we blossomed into a full-service interior design and project management firm nationwide, specializing in high-end residential work for clients with multiple homes. Very personal, family-driven, legacy-driven, and asset-driven, focusing on beautification and enjoyment.

06:14 – Philip:
For the past two years, we’ve been helping clients enjoy these amazing properties through our lifestyle team, managing all resources and services to make luxury living seamless.

06:60 – Wendy:
Wow. Very entrepreneurial. Philip, what do you spend most of your time on? Do you lead your teams or work with clients directly?

07:15 – Philip:
I orbit like a comet. I’m an idea factory, focusing on vision alignment and coaching—vendors, clients, and team—making sure everyone’s aligned to deliver great service.

08:20 – Wendy:
So, to reiterate, your services include interior design, building/remodeling, project management, and even helping clients furnish and manage events?

08:54 – Philip:
Exactly. We boil it down to three business units: design-build, furnishing and finishing the home, and lifestyle management to help clients truly enjoy their assets.

10:02 – Philip:
We realized nobody knew the home better than us, so the relationship doesn’t end at project completion. We help clients assimilate and enjoy their homes, especially if they’re new to the area.

10:46 – Wendy:
I never saw that in the industry. Most firms don’t offer this intuitive level of service.

11:15 – Wendy:
Clients love it—they see you as part of the family. You even help with things like outdoor events in December!

12:02 – Philip:
Hosting is work, and we make it easy so clients can enjoy their home without stress.

12:16 – Philip:
By surrounding clients with great people, it’s amazing how much more they share and enjoy their home.

12:31 – Philip:
We build interiors to connect people—creator to patron, families together. Clients often say, “I want to create a space for my grandkids to return to.” It’s soulful and personal.

13:17 – Philip:
Unfortunately, the industry is transactional, focused on trends rather than why we create together.

13:36 – Philip:
We believe society is better when we build things together, creating memories and moments, through design and home management, making the process fun again.

14:08 – Philip:
Our team is amazing—they want to come through, and that’s the culture we’ve crafted. By staying in these relationships, we’re the obvious choice for repeat projects.

14:37 – Wendy:
You truly become part of your clients’ lives, not just a service provider.

14:50 – Philip:
Exactly. Some relationships span 20 years, multiple homes, seeing kids grow. Being part of that journey is special.

15:20 – Wendy:
With Powerhouse Smart, connection points are central, aligning perfectly with your philosophy.

15:51 – Philip:
We extend this to vendors, artists, contractors. My background as a contractor, retailer, fabricator, and artist gives me deep understanding and appreciation of all disciplines.

16:38 – Wendy:
Celebrating your team and vendors as much as your clients makes it rewarding. Are you working nationwide?

17:05 – Philip:
Yes. We work in Naples, Captiva, Sarasota in Florida, Bedford, Pennsylvania, and more, following the relationships.

17:52 – Wendy:
I love the regional influences and letting clients express themselves uniquely in each home.

18:25 – Philip:
In every project, it’s not about me—it’s about helping clients express themselves. Once they realize this, all barriers fall, and the collaboration becomes seamless.

19:07 – Wendy:
It’s fun designing for the same client in multiple styles.

19:21 – Wendy:
And you’re involved in selecting original art for these homes?

19:35 – Philip:
100%. Clients may have historical collectibles or regional art. We incorporate family heirlooms and personal treasures into the design beautifully.

20:33 – Wendy:
You could even teach a B2B session on curating art.

20:45 – Philip:
Our in-house workshop allows us to make custom pieces. Clients resonate with what speaks to them. The maker in me has never left.

21:14 – Wendy:
It’s full circle—life, love, and expression integrated into design.

21:30 – Philip:
We found the right model over time, focusing on service and dedication to clients rather than ourselves.

22:14 – Philip:
The industry could shift from style trends to service trends, making clients the best version of themselves.

23:03 – Wendy:
Here’s how to reach you, Philip. Maybe schedule a hard-hat tour of a project in 2026?

23:20 – Philip:
The Captiva project will be spectacular—plenty to share.

23:34 – Wendy:
I always end with this: How would you define a well-lived life?

23:50 – Philip:
It’s different for everyone. For me, it’s choice—having the honor to explore art, creativity, meet people, and expand experiences. True luxury is creating freely in as many areas of life as possible.

25:10 – Wendy:
I might hire you—I have three adult children getting married soon! Thank you, Philip.

25:29 – Philip:
Thank you, Wendy. Same to you, and thank you for having me.

25:34 – Wendy:
Excellent. Bye.

25:36 – Philip:
Bye.