John Ryan and Wendy Lynn are back with a behind-the-scenes look at their Holiday House show house collaboration in Wellington, Florida. From getting selected for the inaugural South Florida designer showcase to building an entire luxury bedroom in just five weeks, this episode dives into the reality of designing under pressure, working with sponsors, making bold creative decisions, and creating the room everyone now calls “the sex room.”
The duo shares how their friendship made collaboration seamless, the challenges of sourcing custom pieces on impossible timelines, and the risks they took to create a dark, moody, high-end space that stands out from traditional Palm Beach interiors. They also break down the sponsorship process, vendor relationships, wallpaper drama, custom furniture details, and the design choices that turned their room into one of the most talked-about spaces in the house.
If you love interior design, show houses, luxury finishes, or hearing the unfiltered reality behind the scenes of the design industry, this episode is for you.
Topics include:
• Holiday House Wellington and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation
• Designing a luxury room in five weeks
• Collaboration between two interior designers
• Creative risks in Palm Beach interiors
• Sponsorships and vendor relationships
• Color drenching and moody design trends
• Custom upholstery, wallpaper, and luxury finishes
• The story behind the “sex room” nickname
What is Design. Drink. Dish.?
Design, Drink, and Dish is where interior design meets happy hour and nothing’s off limits. Hosted by John Ryan and Wendy Davis, two best friends with their own design studios, this podcast dives into the unfiltered, unglamorous, and often hilarious side of the industry. From impossible clients to unrealistic expectations, we’re talking about what really happens behind the perfectly staged photos. Grab a drink (I’ll show you how to make one), pull up a chair, and get ready for real stories, honest opinions, and a little chaos because design isn’t always pretty, but it’s never boring.