Couture & Construction
Couture & Construction
Art of the Entry with Monica Lavin
Welcome back to Couture & Construction! In this episode, host Andrew Denny sits down with Monica Lavin, the creative force behind Art of the Entry and the Lavin Label. Throughout the discussion, they explore the significance of crafting captivating entryways, from Monica's journey to starting her own design company to innovative ideas in mailbox and hardware design. Monica shares insights on using sustainable materials and creating heirloom-quality exterior accents to delight her clients and add classic curb appeal to historic neighborhoods.
Andrew and Monica also discuss the emotional impact of well-designed entrances, the role of social media in branding for small businesses, and Monica’s journey of restoring her historic home in Charleston.
Have a guest you’d love to hear on the show? Send us a text!
Episode Timestamps:
02:04 Monica's Journey: From Education to Design
07:39 The Birth of Art of the Entry
16:32 Design Philosophy and Inspirations
24:12 Timeless and Inviting Entryways
26:05 Travel Inspirations
27:39 The Arrival Experience
33:03 The Impact of Social Media on Small Businesses
40:11 Manufacturing Challenges and Successes
44:42 Future of Entryway Design
47:15 Rapid Fire Questions
Connect with Monica
About Couture & Construction: Hosted by Andrew Denny of Textures Nashville, Couture & Construction is an uplifting podcast dedicated to the many different aspects of the luxury building industry. Through thoughtful conversations with makers and business owners, Couture & Construction is a weekly podcast that breaks down the luxury side of the construction industry. Join us as we share the stories and introduce you to the people behind beautiful spaces.
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Art of the Entry with Monica Lavin
Andrew Denny: Welcome back to Couture and Construction. I'm your host, Andrew Denny. And today we're recording from the beautiful city of Charleston, where we're diving into the world of first impressions and home design. Our guest is Monica Lavin, is a visionary in luxury design and founder of Art of the Entry. A boutique company specializing in crafting stunning entryways that set the tone for the entire home.
With a background in fine art and a passion for architecture, Monica has dedicated her career to perfecting the balance between aesthetics and functionality in the spaces that greet you the moment you step inside. Let's dive into Monica's approach to designing unforgettable entryways and the story behind her company.
Monica, welcome. Thank you for being here today. Thank you for giving us some of your time. Before we jump into the topics, just tell us a little bit about who you are aside from your company and what you do.
Monica Lavin: Great. Well, welcome to Charleston. I'm happy to be, I'm happy to be here and we're having beautiful fall weather and I'm excited for you to experience the city at this time of year.
Andrew Denny: Thank you. Thank
Monica Lavin: you. Um, although we're indoors, but recording this when we should be outside. But Can they add like birds tweeting in the background? I'm sure they can. Anything to help the atmosphere. But no, my name is Monica Lavin. I was born in West Virginia. I have always been drawn to design. I feel like I'm very creative and always kind of had this entrepreneurial spirit.
And so I think it was just a matter of years when I started my own company. We live in Mount Pleasant. I just told you that we bought a house downtown. So we are currently Demoing, renovating, doing all the fun things, hopefully with a move in date of spring, but that will likely be summer.
Yeah, yeah. We know that.
Monica Lavin: Yeah,
right. Or fall.
Monica Lavin: It's fine. Um, and I have a four year old daughter who keeps me on my toes, for sure.
Andrew Denny: Oh, that's awesome. That's awesome. So, um, you have, um, A pretty diverse background that brought you to this point. Your background is in education. Talk to us about how you ended up at, you know, where you are with the Art of the Entry, like you started an education and, and I won't spoil it for everybody, but you've worked at some pretty cool places.
None that were, I'm sure some, but. Certainly you wouldn't you wouldn't think beautiful entry with some of the places you've worked so
Monica Lavin: Great. Yeah, that is sure. Um, yeah, it's definitely been a winding path but a fun one for sure and I truly think that The path that you were on is really what you're meant to be and will bring you back as long as you truly have a passion So I grew up in a very small town in west.
Virginia. I wouldn't even say we were middle class I honestly didn't even know that you could Be an interior designer as a profession and make money. I thought it was just a hobby and ended up going to an in state school on a scholarship. And everyone was like, Oh, what are you going to major in? And you know, really in my community, it's like doctors and lawyers and teachers.
And so I thought, okay, I'll go in for education. And I remember kind of looking at the catalog for, um, majors and I saw an interior design program.
Andrew Denny: Cool.
Monica Lavin: Yeah. And I was like, all right, you know, maybe I'll sign up for this. And I went to the first class, like the first lecture, and the professor was like, if you were here in interior design to make money.
You need to change your major. I was like, well, all right. Um, so went back to education, ended up getting my master's. I really loved it. I love the connection with the students. I love to learn. I know that sounds so like nerdy and
kind of
Monica Lavin: ridiculous, but I truly am a lifelong learner and I'm so easily inspired.
So anyway, I was in my graduate year, I was an internship at a public school. That was about 45 minutes away, and I was teaching the second graders, who I loved, but I just remember thinking I had this aha moment, Andrew, and I was like, I don't know if this is for me, like the setting coming into a school every day.
It just, probably a little
Andrew Denny: panic set in, yes, I'm
Monica Lavin: graduating in like, you know, a year with the degree in this, like, what am I going to do? And I learned that there was a NASA facility in West Virginia, about 20 minutes outside of the university. And so I looked into it and found that they had an educator resource center.
And the idea of this center really was to help train local K through 12 educators on how to integrate technology into their curriculum to their instruction, help them with their pedagogy. And. I thought to myself, you know what, this could be an opportunity because I had a focus on elementary education.
I thought if I could somehow land something with them and work in technology, maybe that could lead to like corporate training or HR training. I really had no idea. So I went to NASA.
Andrew Denny: And
Monica Lavin: like my red Honda Civic and pulled up and just talked to the supervisor and said, Hey, I'm a graduate student at Western University. How do we not have some type of program between the two of us? And said, Let me come on board and help you. And, you know, create these podcasts, what we're doing now, or create, like blogs and all these things.
And he said, Yes, And so his name was Todd Ensign and he, honestly, I think changed the trajectory of my life and it just, he believed in me and he was also probably just like, I need, what is she doing here?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Great,
Monica Lavin: like how did you even get in here? Um, that's probably the bigger question he was thinking, but really kind of changed the trajectory and I, I, I loved that, again, I was able to be creative and we were teaching teachers how to use video conferencing and how to use social media to engage with their students and just that connection part.
And I loved it.
Andrew Denny: That's so cool. So from
Monica Lavin: there, ended up, didn't want to stay in West Virginia only because I was young. I wanted to experience different places, mainly places around water would have been nice. And so one of my friends told me that. They were like, you know, Monica, I think you would really love Charleston, South Carolina.
It's just a happy place. I think you'd like it. And so looked into it, ended up getting a job here at the College of Charleston as an instructional technologist, pretty much what I was doing at NASA, but for the College of Charleston and did that for a couple of years, um, moved up to become the director of my department and then taught a couple of adjunct courses for the school of education.
Yeah. So just kind of really learned everything that I'm. doing now really in my business of how to create emails, how to use Photoshop, you know, like all the things that you need to kind of keep a business sustaining and growing and all the things.
Andrew Denny: So very, very cool.
Monica Lavin: Yeah.
Andrew Denny: And incredibly, like, as you shared a, a really neat but purposeful path.
I mean, it seems like you're just putting one foot in front of the next and, and doing what makes you happy and feel fulfilled. So congratulations on that. Thank you. So. Entryways. Mm
Monica Lavin: hmm.
Andrew Denny: Tell me about that.
Monica Lavin: Okay. So, when I was working at the college, I started a blog, part time, and this was in, like, 2015, maybe?
And I've noticed that all of my content that I was creating was centered around entryways, mainly the exterior facade of a building. I was drawn to the architecture, um, again, it just took me back to the design that I've always had in my heart. And I've noticed that that content Because I had a background in technology and social media, I would look online and see that the content specifically related to entries would perform the best.
And that was obviously because I had a true passion and I was spending more time doing it. And I always knew that I wanted to start. a company just didn't know what it was at the time and I was walking around my neighborhood at the time we lived in told you we were uh in St. Simon's there for Sea Island and I was walking around the neighborhood and there were a lot of these newer homes being built or homes being renovated you know it's all a cycle I guess in a neighborhood and they were beautiful they worked with the best architects in town the best landscape designers in town and then Andrew you Their mailbox looked
terrible.
They had
Monica Lavin: the ugliest mailbox and the numbers
were like
Monica Lavin: falling off of it.
And
Monica Lavin: this is truly the first impression,
Andrew Denny: right? The very first impression. The very
Monica Lavin: first impression.
Andrew Denny: Wow.
Monica Lavin: I just thought, what, how, where is the disconnect? Like this is. The soul of your house and the entryway is such an important part And your mailbox and your house numbers like all of these elements are part of your entryway And what happened?
I mean how many ugly mailboxes have you seen? I bet you see a lot.
Andrew Denny: I bet you You know, now that you pointed out quite a few,
Monica Lavin: you're going to notice them even more now that I've mentioned it.
Andrew Denny: I'm probably will never be able to unsee that
Monica Lavin: about that, but it's just
Andrew Denny: but what a great point.
Monica Lavin: It speaks. Yeah, it's in the details.
Yeah. So I went home and I researched.
Andrew Denny: Did your friends and family? Think you were crazy at that moment. Yeah. Was they like, what are you talking about? These homes are beautiful.
Monica Lavin: Well, yeah, and they and they're like, whatcha doing? And I'm like, I, this is obviously fast forward when I started R, the entry, but I'm like, I designed mailboxes, , you know, they're like.
Okay, um,
But
Monica Lavin: it really was just like wow, all right, so, uh, you're gonna stop what you're doing it's a College and design mailboxes. Um, yeah, it's it was it's been really fun. Um But yeah, it just, I clearly have a passion for it and I think it's really important. And there's just this void in the marketplace.
I look, like I said, I was researching and looked online and I couldn't find any that were beautiful, like nothing, none that were designed for it. I mean, a lot of good mailboxes are out there, but they're modern, they're contemporary, but nothing that would fit in, in the streets of downtown Charleston or, you know, some of the suburbs in Nashville.
So there was clearly a disconnect. That was it. And I said, that was
Andrew Denny: the aha moment. That
Monica Lavin: was it. Yeah, I was walking around my neighborhood with my two dogs looking at a really terrible looking getting
Andrew Denny: frustrated. That's what
Monica Lavin: did it for me. Yeah. Yeah. So boy,
Andrew Denny: what happened next?
Monica Lavin: So it took a lot of time to figure out how to start a business.
As you know, I don't have a background in business. And I just kind of had to figure this out. I listened to a lot of podcasts, read a lot of books, um, took a lot of notes and finally was able to kind of build a performa, build a case study and found some and like ended up raising capital. from some investors and finally started Art of the Entry earlier this spring.
We did a soft launch. I mean, you are in this business. You know how hard it is to find skilled craftsmen. That's
Andrew Denny: crazy. That
Monica Lavin: truly are dedicated to their passion and their craft. And that was probably the hardest part for me was,
Andrew Denny: it's the intangible, it's the, it's the thing in this business that, you know, it's, it's funny not to get sidetracked, but you know, there is a lot of money pouring into anything service related and what those investors find out very, very quickly is it's not about the money, it's about the people and the skill,
right?
Andrew Denny: It makes it difficult and. The statistics show that, you know, we're just losing skill year after year after year, so it becomes much more of a precious commodity as time goes on, hopefully with kind of a return to I was equated to like slow food movement that we saw in the late nineties and early two thousands that we're still seeing now that returned to craft.
I'm hoping that there's an entire generation of people that are learning those skills
Monica Lavin: because
Andrew Denny: it's not like a one year thing.
Monica Lavin: Can revitalize it. That's right. That's right. It's just, well, and for Art of the Entry, I mean, I obviously were a luxury brand. I needed to find the right craftsman to bring these products to life.
And I can tell you, there were a lot of samples that just, you know, didn't even
Andrew Denny: meet expectations.
Monica Lavin: No, that's that's the right way to put it. Didn't even meet expectations. Um, so it took a very, very long time to find factories and foundries to create these accents that we're creating. And we're still in this process.
And it is, um, it's tricky, but it takes time and time pays off. And you just have to keep You just have to have the fortitude to keep going.
Andrew Denny: Yeah, and, and so speak to a moment, uh, or just briefly, how did you develop? So obviously the standard is you, right? Because you're, you're the founder of the business.
But how, how are you communicating that standard to the people that had to, you know, ideations, one thing, implementations, another? Mm hmm. Talk to me about that development of a standard and, and just how you walked through that. I think our listeners would appreciate hearing that perspective and what it does take to make that happen.
Monica Lavin: Yeah. Well, I think at first, you know, you try your best to communicate what your brand entails. You share your brand guide, you share your culture, you share your lookalike audience. You know, who is that? It's a veranda reader, a female, someone who's a design enthusiast, you know, all of that. They assure you, Oh, I got it.
Right. And then you get the sample and it's not up to part. And so it literally is just a painstaking process of then finding other products that are out there or finding other companies and sharing that with the factory or the foundry men that you're working with to say, No, this is really what we want.
And it is just a painstaking process. It's slow. It's a slow process. It's a learning process. And sometimes you get to a point where you've had four or five. You know, this is this was us. We've had four or five iterations of our mailbox and just this. The skill just wasn't where I needed it to be. And so I had to go to another factory.
But I think it's a lot more of handholding than what we think. You know, when you send off a drawing and a design, I I had to hire a product designer that could also help me buffer between, you know, my background is not in lost wax casting, right? But my product designer who's on my team can help communicate, you know, kind of things that we're missing and like that.
Yeah. Like kind of help with that. It's not really a language barrier, but it kind of is. But it is. Yeah. It's almost yeah.
Andrew Denny: I often tell people that I'm a translator. I can understand what you're saying and I can Tell this guy over here what, what the expectation is, and, and that's, can
Monica Lavin: I hire you for Art of the Entry?
Andrew Denny: If you have 20 years, because that's how long it's taken me.
Monica Lavin: So that's where we are. But you know, our main purpose of Art of the Entry, our goal is truly to create insanely beautiful products for your audience. Entry and we're just and obviously the luxury is included in that, you know, it's up to a standard.
But the other thing that, you know, is interesting is because all of our products are outdoor, they're outdoor rated, they're sent to an independent lab for testing. And so we really make sure that, you know, I have my standard, but then I also have standards that are in the industry to make sure that these products are you know, durable and are going to be a purchase of a lifetime.
Yeah. Stay
Andrew Denny: in the test of time, which is again, a hallmark of luxury, right?
Yeah, that is true. It should
Andrew Denny: be almost an heirloom type piece. Yeah. So your design, talk to me about the process of designing these pieces and where do you derive inspiration from and how do you, I'd just kind of like to know the whole process.
Where do you seek feedback? Tell, tell me about that. Sure.
Monica Lavin: Well, I would say that our products are rooted. In practicality, whether or not I want it to be, it doesn't matter. Like, think about the products in your entry. You have house numbers needed for emergency personnel, right? Visitors coming to your house.
That's right.
Monica Lavin: You have a mailbox. You have to receive post by the United States government, right? Um, by the post service, we have doormats. I mean, all of these things are truly practical elements that you have to have in your entry. So. What's fun for me is when I travel, when I walk my neighborhood, when I go to a new city, whatever it might be, when I'm looking at someone's entry, I see all of these elements, but I don't think someone, I know that someone has not truly thought about it.
Thought about these little guys, like just how to make them luxury, how to make them. So they match the level of the products and furnishings and textiles. It's in your interior. Like there is a major gap. Like, I don't want to go to a big box store, get these beautiful finishes for my exterior. So that's the fun part for me, actually, is seeing all of these elements that are truly.
On most everyone's exterior, and I can say, Wait a minute, like, you know, something's missing. Let's truly give this mailbox some care and the attention that it deserves, right? Like, so we we look at this mailbox and we and I think that's the best thing about it. You know, sometimes when I look at my bio and it's like, oh, you, oh, you're not actually trained in this or you don't have a background in product design or, but I think therein lies the beauty that I never had a bad experience and I can truly think outside of the box.
Absolutely.
Andrew Denny: You're not handicapped. Yeah. Like I
Monica Lavin: can truly, it's like, you know, James Dyson with the vacuum cleaner, like he created this. Cyclonic I guess is what you call it vacuum and he went and tried to sell it this amazing design he was a great adventure and went and tried to sell it to a Vacuum company and they couldn't even see the beauty.
Yeah, because they they're modeled Their business model relied on selling vacuums in the bags, and so I don't want to be that company that can't see the true beauty and the opportunity and where it might lie. So I put the mailbox. We truly just look at it and we think, Why does why does it have to be galvanized steel?
It doesn't does the hardware. Could it be a beautiful unlacquered brass? Um, the flag. Like, why does it have to be this? red metal flag. Why can't it be like a resin rattan? Um, it's truly just reimagining. And then like the box, our post mount mailbox that we have coming out, we have this beautiful lattice design around the box.
I mean, it is truly reimagining, you know, the shape that we've had You know, since hundreds of years ago, years now, but yeah, I guess it first started in France and then moved to the U. S. But, yeah, so and that's kind of where it starts. It's just literally we don't work within a confinement. I don't know. We just it is a true creative process, and that's what I love about it.
Andrew Denny: So what are the companies that are, you know, so door hardware as an example, what are the companies that you look to for inspiration?
Monica Lavin: There is a local company, well not really local, but it's called Bird Hardware, and they carry a lot of like high end, you know, brands, whether it's
Andrew Denny: Baldwin or Rocky Mountain.
Rocky Mountain is what I was thinking,
Monica Lavin: that you can go in and see. Those are probably, I mean, those are who we're working with for our renovation.
Okay, cool. You know, like
Monica Lavin: Baldwin, just, you know, I'm drawn to the more traditional style.
Yeah, yeah. I love Baldwin stuff. But
Monica Lavin: let me ask you this. Mm
hmm. Yeah.
Yeah.
Monica Lavin: What, what brand, what company do you go for when you want to buy a new mailbox?
Andrew Denny: I have no idea.
Monica Lavin: There isn't one.
Andrew Denny: Yeah.
Monica Lavin: Well, Art of the Entry, obviously. That was, should I ask that question again? What company do you go to? Art of the Entry, the only
Andrew Denny: luxury company that I would have anywhere near my home.
Monica Lavin: Right, exactly. But
Andrew Denny: that's such a great point. So you saw this niche and to me, that's probably one of the most important things is go where? Other companies aren't.
Monica Lavin: Yeah.
Andrew Denny: And that's a great point. I didn't
Monica Lavin: know that at the time. I wish it was more intentional as I say it, but, um, I didn't know that at the time.
It was truly just following my passion.
Andrew Denny: So what materials are you working with? Like, so you mentioned unlacquered brass, which is one of my favorite. We
Monica Lavin: do. We work a lot with brass. Obviously it's Beautiful material. Mm-Hmm, . We have solid breast door knockers that are made in a foundry in New York. Um, you can do, you know, multiple finishes with it.
It's easy to, you know, it's malleable. Things like that. I love a
Andrew Denny: door knocker. Um, absolutely love a door knocker.
Monica Lavin: Yeah. I'm really, we have two, uh, door knockers that were, uh, that are, we're releasing and. They're just, they're just like anything you've ever seen, but yet still traditional and timeless, which I think is like the heart of our brand.
And then also we really love jute. So we have some doormats that are in jute and, you know, it's biodegradable. Um, it's again, easy to braid if you want to hand dye it for certain colors. It, it's great at trapping dirt, which is what it should do. We try to stick with. You know, jute that are, that's kind of like good for the environment, sustainable, things like that.
The products that we make with metal, we know we've talked about this, but we truly want it to be a one time purchase. Um, we want this to kind of last you a lifetime, you know, with the house that you're in to answer your question. But as the, you know, our line and our collections grow and everything, you know, we're hoping to use like a bunch of a variety of like, you know, mixing metals and materials, whether that might be with lighting or planters and things like that.
Um, yeah.
Andrew Denny: So, when you're looking at the exterior entryway, and, you know, you're, you're picturing all sorts of different architectural styles. Is there a common thread, like, in your research, have you found a common thread?
Monica Lavin: Among all of the architectural styles?
Andrew Denny: Well, they all
Monica Lavin: have a door.
Andrew Denny: And one that comes to mind for me is they all say they all signify welcoming.
Yes. We have, you know, two ends of the spectrum from modern to classical. Like I live in a colonial style home, neighbor, House is a mid century modern to me. There's overlap in all of those designs. So when you're creating Really from the ground up an entirely new line and almost a new type of product.
Monica Lavin: Yeah, it's almost like a new category Yeah, it's almost like yeah,
Andrew Denny: like , how do you marry on my own? Some of these elements so that they can be appropriate or are you further in the niche? Don't, and you want it to be I don't marry the elements. Okay.
Monica Lavin: I don't, I am truly designing for somebody who has a more traditional Mm-Hmm.
I who appreciates layers.
Mm-Hmm. ,
Monica Lavin: who wants a timeless, inviting entry with a little bit of personality.
Mm-Hmm. .
Monica Lavin: Right, but something that truly is going to stand the test of time. So, you know, just being in Charleston, you know, a homes that might be colonial, federal, the house we're buying is like a Greek revival kind of style with the pillars.
And I still think that it works there. Um, but yeah, it's definitely more of a traditional landscape and I, and that is where my heart is and where my expertise is. And so, I'm not the brand that's going to capture this for everyone, you know, that's looking for accents. It's truly, um, when they come to the website, they know immediately if this is a fit for them.
Andrew Denny: So talk to me about proportion. How important is that when you're doing development?
Monica Lavin: Honestly, I would say that's something I don't have to worry about as much because most of the, it's, it's interesting to say most of the basis of the products are there, right? Like a house number, a mailbox. So I'm already working with something per se, or a planter, a door knocker.
And so, I mean, obviously after, while we're creating the design, we make sure it looks perfect. And sometimes we want something a little bigger, like our door knocker is a little bit larger for like stately homes and to really make an impact. But that's kind of the, I don't really have to worry about that aspect as much.
We're more of, okay, how can we take elements around the city and around our day to day life and bring them in? So we have a solid brass door knocker with a classic like ring and we've just totally kind of reimagined It is a, it's a good staple and we have like vines, you know, around it, just something that you haven't seen before, but yet it's still based on an historical element.
Andrew Denny: Yeah.
Monica Lavin: You know?
Andrew Denny: So have you traveled far and wide to look at entries?
Monica Lavin: Oh yes. Yes. Yeah.
Andrew Denny: What are some of your favorite?
Monica Lavin: Do you remember one that has been really
Andrew Denny: inspirational?
Monica Lavin: Yes, I do. And I remember it was probably after I initially came up with the idea of the mailboxes and the Art of the Entry when I was in my neighborhood, and we went to France.
I think it was Annecy. And where else? Oh, Avignon. And I just remembered just looking at the The doors and the hardware and the grandeur of these entries and the colors, the pastels that were being used and like, you know, the Provence blue. Um, yeah. And then we just went back to France this past summer and.
There is just something so special about like having I feel like the entry is like this glimpse into someone's personality, you know, like it is.
Andrew Denny: So that's the common thread. Yeah, it's
Monica Lavin: just it's this place where they can. You know, of course you might have to, you know, abide by, you know, here, the BAR, the Board of Architectural Review, and whether it's like HOA, but other than that, I feel like that's where Art of the Entry comes in, is we can, you know, provide these beautiful pieces that I feel like it adds jewelry to your house, and without it, it's not complete.
Andrew Denny: Yeah.
Monica Lavin: You know?
Andrew Denny: I think that's a great point. I think that's a great point, and it's so interesting to me how underserved this element is. So
Monica Lavin: Well, think about So, your Yeah. You, you are, you just arrived in Charleston like three hours ago, but later you're going to go to a hotel and, you know, my husband's in hospitality.
So you're pulling your car around. I mean, within the first five seconds of arriving at that hotel, you already have. Your mind made up, right? Like, is it? And is it because of the beautiful gardens that surround it? Is it the front doors? Could it be the lighting? Is it the flooring? Is it the staff? I mean, is it that they have a signature scent in their lobby?
That arrival experience at a hotel is how I see the arrival of coming home for you, for your family, for your neighbors, the passerbys. That is that experience. So yes, I create, we say it's timeless accents for treasured exteriors. But also it's this feeling. It's this feeling of nostalgia that that's what I want to create.
And you know, I think back to when I was in West Virginia and I was sitting with my grandmother on her front porch. And, you know, Just those memories that we've cherished. I mean, I can smell the plants that she had like right out right outside of her railing, and I would walk across the street to the general store and come back and have like a caramel bar.
I mean, it's it's all of that, right? Like, that's what I want to create for me for my daughter, but also for other people that are shopping the brand. And um, And we're in this luxury audience, and this is what's important to them. They hire the best landscape architect, right? They hire you for their millwork and their flooring.
And they hire, you know, one of their favorite architects. Now just go the extra mile to make sure that you have the entry exactly how you want it to be and that it's warm and inviting. Because I truly believe that that feeling starts from the outside in.
Andrew Denny: I think that's an incredible point, and it's one that I'm sure our audience would agree with this.
Monica Lavin: I
Andrew Denny: hope so. Well, I definitely think it is because it's, it's not only tone setting, but it's evocative. Like, as you were just sharing about your memories growing up. Like it's a big part of it. Tell me just your personal likes, dislikes on entries. Are you, so there's a lot of new, uh, obviously modern, we have big glass and steel down to, you know, I was thinking about an entry, a very famous entry, and I'll probably butcher this, but it's number 10 Downing.
So where the British prime minister's residence is, and it's this beautiful black lacquer door and it's, it's so simple, but so elegant, the hardware I mean, it's just reflective. It's absolutely beautiful. Tell me about some of just your personal likes and dislikes with with that.
Monica Lavin: Oh, interesting. Uh, it's so hard to pinpoint it because I can see a beautiful black lacquer door against a Like creamy beige with you know, maybe even like tone on tone shutters and just looking so sharp but then I can also see you know a stucco house that might have a Painted green door, you know and also Making yeah Also just
you know
Monica Lavin: making my heart sing or just or like a beautiful mahogany door, yeah You So I truly think it is It's not that I don't like modern or contemporary.
It's just that's not what i'm just not what you're.
Yeah
Monica Lavin: But I do I just love design. I love a thoughtful design and that's what sings to me I don't think it's necessarily like one way or the other now. I do love some lattice So if there's like some lattice side panels or you know, any climbing roses kind of go after my heart Um You know, that kind of thing, a lot of like, molding, but um, dental molding, all of that, but As long as it's good design, I appreciate it.
Andrew Denny: You mentioned planters earlier. Are y'all doing any sort of planters or just kind of corresponding with planters?
Monica Lavin: We are. We, in our spring collection, we are launching some planters. Oh, share a little bit
Andrew Denny: about those. They,
Monica Lavin: um, we're doing two different colorways. Okay. Like in a, uh, probably like a coconut milky white.
Oh, wow. And then one in a bronze and they're going to be made out of steel and so like a metal because we haven't really seen anything like it out there. But it's also lightweight because like what I hate and you know, you can see me that I am like five one and somewhat petite, but, um, You know, I kind of want to move some of the planters myself in my garden.
And then when you have these enormously heavy that you can't even
move. Yeah, it's like, okay, well, I guess it's just
Monica Lavin: right. So I wanted something that obviously was beautiful. It has a very scalloped edge, but not too feminine.
Okay.
Monica Lavin: Right, and like kind of a fluted vase, because we don't want to come across too feminine.
We still want to work for homes that are like stately and, you know, that kind of thing. But yeah, so those will be coming out in the spring, which I'm pretty, pretty excited about.
Andrew Denny: Now talk to me about the Lavin label, because that launches this week.
Monica Lavin: So Art of the Entry launches this
Andrew Denny: week, which has been around for a long time, right?
Yes. Yeah. Very
Monica Lavin: good. Yeah. for a good bit, but that is kind of the lifestyle side. Okay. I hate this term, but it's a blog. So we started in 2015 and we've had some partnerships with like Sub Zero and Wolf and it was kind of my foray into this whole luxury world. And we've worked with some shelter publications like Southern Living and our home was featured in that a few years ago.
And it really was just this great I mean, you know social media is social media people either love it or they hate it I feel like it it has helped grow my business for laven label and also For Art of the Entry to set me up for success
Andrew Denny: But I can't argue with that. Yeah,
Monica Lavin: but I do feel like sometimes social It can connect you with other people, but it can help you lose a connection within yourself when you're just looking at feeds and design, and you're truly just you're losing your sense of self very fortunate to have built.
Have used social media to help grow it at a time when it was new and exciting and interesting But it's a very different landscape than what it is now with Art of the Entry and how I kind of utilize social media
Andrew Denny: With Art of the Entry. How are you utilizing social media?
Monica Lavin: We're doing a lot more videos.
Okay, we Obviously are a luxury brand, but we also want to bring a little bit more personality into it. So we're doing, um, you know, to launch our wall mount mailboxes. We have a A video of my daughter, who's four years old, and she is in a postman postman outfit, and she's in this cute little mail truck.
That's an electric vehicle, and she's like riding around. And so I just I, I wanted it to just spark joy rather than just kind of with Lavin Label, I was just treating it as a business posting so many times, you know, hitting all the check marks with Art of the Entry. It's like, I'm going to have fun with this in a way that still is in a line with the brand, obviously.
So. Yeah.
Andrew Denny: Well, I'm, I've got to tell you, I'm just beyond intrigued with this whole new category. Um, well, and it really is because it's the jewelry. I mean, you can look the homes we work in. There's probably not a bad entry. There's probably varying degrees of good entries. But it really is the jewelry and it's the details and I love how you talk about layering the elements.
Um, and to get back to, this is a term I use all the time and everybody that knows me is so sick of hearing it, but pretty plus pretty equals pretty. So Like it doesn't really necessarily matter the style or the inspiration if you put a really pretty element, it just adds something like it. It can't detract.
And, uh, I
Monica Lavin: truly think that. I mean, I know that our products only not, you know, are pretty, but they add value.
Andrew Denny: Yeah,
Monica Lavin: totally. They add value as a homeowner. Yeah.
Andrew Denny: And if you're trying to sell your house. You're interacting with this every day, though. Right. It's, it's one of those things where it's truly, uh, it brings a small amount of joy.
It's nothing different than what we make.
Right.
Andrew Denny: Like, it's the same exact thing. Really, when you're in touch with it, it's a higher level. Quality of life. It's something you just enjoy and that's not necessarily anything with price or anything else, but it's, it really does make a home a home and it does make those memories, those heirloom little touches that, that are just a unique,
Monica Lavin: I believe that good design and kind of like what you're saying, but that good design has an impact on, you know, your health, your mood.
Why else would we? Spend so much time creating these beautiful, thoughtful interiors and exteriors, right? Like it has a, I don't know, it's just,
Andrew Denny: well, here, here's the thing. We. In my lifetime, and I use this often, if you walk into a new gas station, okay, it's incredibly curated and nice, like really nice.
Should I be talking
Monica Lavin: to Parkers about their Art of the Entry? But
Andrew Denny: I'm telling you, I'm telling you it's, it's, so our lives are the lived experience through design. In our lifetimes has has gone from something that used to be for the very elite among us now down to every man, right? And, uh, the details matter.
And, uh, I just think it's really, really fun what you're doing. I think it's, it's a really neat niche.
Monica Lavin: And I think when you walk around the city, if you've, for listeners that like haven't, or that have been to Charleston, I mean, Charlestonians, they love details. They love an entry. They have, I mean, we have the most beautiful wrought iron gates and that's like your first, you know, interaction with the home.
And then you go through the wrought iron gate and for it. Charleston Single, you have another entry that opens up to the porch. And then once you're on the porch, then you have the main entry of the home. So there's just all of these, like, points of contact you have with your guests. And while you're walking along the porch, you can look to the right, and there's likely a beautiful parterre garden with a fountain.
You know, like, it is all about just Have you heard of Southern Hospitality? Yeah, right. It's for a reason, you know, and, and you can, it's very evident. It starts with that little journey.
Andrew Denny: It starts with that journey. And probably even before that. Because that leads you to the people. Yeah, absolutely. In the
Monica Lavin: street, in the canopies of oak trees, you know, that it, it all, you know.
Andrew Denny: But you know what's so funny is, is I think about Charleston, but the other place that immediately comes to mind is New York City. That's what you're going Like the upper east side. Yeah, right. Like the brownstones anywhere, any urban environment where you have an entry that that before suburbia happened, this is this is how we lived
Monica Lavin: where the homes aren't spread so far that they are all in line.
And that is what helps create this
Andrew Denny: individualism. Yeah. And the atmosphere and the tone. And the
connection. Yeah.
Andrew Denny: Yeah. So I think that it's a, it's a really, really neat thing. Um, I'm excited for you. That's, that's a, that's a big deal. And very niche, but tell me, so have you found success? Do you feel like you have good manufacturer now?
Monica Lavin: I do. Yes. We have a factory in Portugal that, that hand molds all of our tiles. Cause we have hand painted, um, Portuguese tiles for your home with the numbers on it. Um, yeah, it's really lovely. Just like a special touch. And then we have a foundry in New York that has been amazing and been featured in Architectural Digest and has really kind of from the beginning has gotten the quality.
Now they might not be the best communicator, but we'll get there. Um, you know, every business has a challenge.
Andrew Denny: How long have they been around?
Monica Lavin: Oh, that's a good question. I'll come back with that. I, I know that it is a family owned business, but I'd have to check on when they first actually started. But they're the ones that do the lost wax casting.
Andrew Denny: The craftsmen in the Northeast are really, really good. And for
Monica Lavin: our door knockers, I wanted to have them made in the U. S. I knew that I could find someone here that could help with that. The mailboxes, I've tried to have them, uh, made in the U. S. And if you can believe it or not, it's pretty much impossible, unless you're one of, like, the large giants that, you know, are creating them.
Um, kind of have a little monopoly on that. But Yeah, so, but I, I really feel we've finally come to the point where I'm very happy with our, um, factories. And I think as a result of going back and forth and back and forth, our relationships are very strong now, right? Like, they truly understand the brand and what Art of the Entry offers.
And, and you know, you just, I, from the beginning, You know, if something would come back, you know, whether it was like engraving our logo and there was an issue, you know, they would be like, Oh, we'll fix it. And I'm like, Nope, I need to see the product because I felt like if I would Give them a little bit.
The next time they come back, they know that the quality isn't there, right? Like, I just feel like they would kind of chip and chip and chip away from where truly Art of the Entry is. And so I feel really good where we are. And honestly, there's been they're amazing women and Charleston that own businesses, um, and that have been on this journey before me, and they're so supportive and willing to share a lot of their factories and their connections, which is something I didn't.
Expect so that's been pretty amazing.
Andrew Denny: Yeah, rising tide raises all ships
Monica Lavin: like it doesn't have to be competitive
Andrew Denny: Mhm. Mhm. Very, very cool. So final question before we move into, I have two questions actually. Um, I want you to, you're in the middle or at the beginning of a renovation. How much time have you spent on it?
on the entryway as compared to the rest of the
Monica Lavin: house. Oh, entry. This is the problem. Have
you
Andrew Denny: made
it past the
Monica Lavin: entry yet? No, this is actually the problem that we are facing is that I am such an entry driven person clearly. If people are still listening to this podcast, they know that by now. But the home that we purchased, we're not fans of the entry, I know, I know, and it is like we almost didn't buy it because of that.
And so we're working with a really great architect, Lauren Sanchez here, who is, you know, here in town. And we're also trying, you know, preservation is really important in Charleston as well and reverting buildings back to the original
kind of
Monica Lavin: structures. And so we're really working with her to create something that I not only like, like, but I'm obsessed with in love.
And so that's where we are. We, Oh, it has been a journey, but we're going to get there. It's going to take a lot of time. Poor Lauren has no idea what she's gotten into. Uh, but you know, I mentioned my husband is in hospitality and he is good at design as well. So we just, you know, we're not going to settle for something that we don't love.
You have
Andrew Denny: to have like the best entry, but it also has to
Monica Lavin: be in line with You know, our neighborhood and the other homes on the street. And so you have to bring in those elements and colors and all of them. Do they
Andrew Denny: have good game? Does your screen have good game?
Monica Lavin: Yeah, they don't know it yet, but they're going to get little letters in their mailbox of like, Hey, can I use your house for a photo shoot coming up?
They're going to get to know me really well. That's
Andrew Denny: fun.
Monica Lavin: Yeah.
Andrew Denny: And then finally, where do you see. Uh, just kind of the future of the entryway. Obviously, we have a lot of accumulated past to get us to where we are. Do you see changes the way we're living where it could become even more important?
Monica Lavin: I mean, I think definitely COVID has helped, you know, has kind of changed that landscape and people are really kind of honestly thinking of their porch as an extension of their living room.
Right. Where they're like outdoor living, wanting to be outside. I also think that, you know, I read a bunch of shelter magazines, home magazines, so like Architectural Digest, Veranda, whatever it might, Frederick, and I do see there's a lot more attention to detail with accents and that's interiors is what I'm speaking to.
But hopefully, you know, we'll start to see, and hopefully spearhead this as well. But we'll start to see some of those. You know, like small details being used in the exterior, you know, whether that might be like a sweet little brass bell that's on the side of a gate or, you know, just the little things that aren't necessary, but just that add value and, um, really kind of.
Help translate the personality of the homeowner, but I've definitely seen you know shift toward details and also like investing in pieces that Are gonna carry you through the seasons and not this one time purchase You know which tricky is it is Halloween season And I'm, I'm trying to, I'm, I may be in the inflatable era right now because I,
because
Monica Lavin: I have a four year old and I'm really trying not to, but it might happen this year because it just brings her so much joy.
Andrew Denny: We have a 12 foot inflatable ghost right now and little, little happy ghosts hanging from our magnolias in Nashville. So, uh, yeah.
Monica Lavin: I mean, but, so that's, that also is, you know, with Art of the Entry, I hope we can start growing into seasonal decor and Halloween accents that aren't chintzy and cheesy, but are something that really you can, you know, put out, feel good about.
Yeah, that are
Andrew Denny: heirlooms. Yeah, and like keep
Monica Lavin: year after year, and that your children might want to use, you know, just something that is, I don't know, just not kitschy. Yeah. Yeah.
Andrew Denny: Well, very cool. Very cool. Thank you. I love your perspective. I love what you're doing. Thanks. I think that is fantastic. Okay. So now it is time for our rapid fire segment so our listeners can get just a little glimpse into how Monica thinks.
Spring or fall?
Monica Lavin: Spring.
Andrew Denny: Really? Because of the fog. Even with a day like today.
Monica Lavin: I know it's hard, but, you know, Jasmine in Charleston sure smells lovely. Okay. Perfect. Yeah. It's pretty nice.
Andrew Denny: If you could collaborate with any artist or anyone within the design industry, who would it be?
Monica Lavin: Hmm. Uh, probably Nancy Meyers.
Uh, only because she just has this, like, she creates nostalgia. I don't even know how she does it. But in, you know, realistically, probably architects or someone who really, you know, You know, hones in on their trade. So like Brandon Ingram, he's an architect in Atlanta, which is someone who really understands design, scale, and architecture.
Andrew Denny: Morning routine must have.
Monica Lavin: Ooh, uh, an iced matcha. Mm hmm. After my workout. Yep. Every morning.
Andrew Denny: Favorite building in Charleston.
Monica Lavin: My favorite building in Charleston. There are some really beautiful ones, so it's hard to narrow, but I would say two meetings straight in. It's at a Queen Anne Victorian style house that is right across the street from White Point Gardens.
It overlooks the batteries. It's right on the water. It just has beautiful arches. You have the ironwork. You have the gardens. You have Tiffany custom glass. It is just Yeah, that's what homes are made out of.
Yeah,
Monica Lavin: I think actually someone, a company just bought it South Street and created a little retreat for some of like their members.
It's no longer an inn, but it is just this beautiful white stately home. Yeah,
Andrew Denny: that's awesome.
Monica Lavin: Yeah, it has everything.
Andrew Denny: Well, Monica, you have been amazing. Thank you so much for joining me today.
Thanks for having me.
Andrew Denny: I've loved hearing about what you do. I think it's gonna, I think it's gonna be a big hit.
Let's hope. It is, it is,
Andrew Denny: it is. Monica, thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your insights into the art of creating. Impactful entryways. It's clear that your passion for design and fine art has elevated a space often overlooked into something extraordinary. Listeners. We hope you've enjoyed today's episode and gained a fresh perspective on the significance of entryway design.
Be sure to check out the show notes for more information about Monica and The Art of the Entry, we'll be back next week with another exciting guest in Charleston. So stay tuned and follow us on Instagram at Couture and construction for updates. If you love today's episode, please share it with your friends or write a review on your preferred podcast platform.
Couture and construction is proudly presented by textures Nashville where creativity and craftsmanship converge produced by. Knuckle Dragger Studios and Chelsea Rand recorded in Charleston, South Carolina. Until next time, keep cultivating creativity.