Building on Tradition: A Conversation with Bill Curtis & Russell Windham

Building on Tradition: A Conversation with Bill Curtis & Russell Windham

Author: Ariel Okin October 29, 2025 Duration: 51:04

Welcome back to a brand-new season of Talk Shop with Ariel Okin, brought to you by ShopMy! With ShopMy, you can discover and shop the pieces experts actually use and love in their own homes—all in one beautifully curated place.

To kick off Season 5, Ariel sits down with two of the most respected names in American architecture: Bill Curtis and Russell Windham, founding principals of the award-winning Houston-based firm Curtis & Windham Architects.

For more than three decades, Bill and Russell have collaborated to create homes and gardens that celebrate classical design through a modern lens—grounded in craftsmanship, proportion, and a deep respect for history, yet always infused with warmth and livability.

Bill, who began his career working under the legendary architect Allan Greenberg, brings a scholar’s eye to architecture’s historic roots. Russell, whose background in both architecture and interiors lends a refined sensitivity to scale and comfort, complements that expertise with an instinct for how people truly live.

Together, they’ve built a body of work that has been widely published and honored with countless awards, and most recently captured in their new book with Rizzoli, Building on Tradition—a stunning follow-up to their first monograph, A Vision of Place. 

Tune in as Ariel talks with Bill and Russell about their creative partnership, the evolution of their firm, and what it means to design homes that stand the test of time.

Learn more: https://www.curtisandwindham.com/

Follow Bill and Russell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curtisandwindham/

Explore their ShopMy storefront: https://shopmy.us/shop/curtisandwindham?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=paid_sponsorship&utm_campaign=curtisandwindham-storefront

Get Started on ShopMy Today

Join Ariel and our Season 5 guests on ShopMy by creating a free shopper account, then start building wishlists and shopping your favorite pieces: https://shopmy.us/home/shoppers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=paid_sponsorship&utm_campaign=talkshop


Behind every beautiful room is a story, and Talk Shop with Ariel Okin: A Fenimore Lane Production uncovers them. Hosted by Ariel Okin, a House Beautiful Next Wave Designer and founder of Fenimore Lane, this podcast moves beyond glossy magazine spreads to explore the real, human elements of design. Ariel, who also writes for publications like Vogue and Architectural Digest, brings her insider’s perspective to conversations with leading interior designers, shopkeepers, and artisans from around the world. Each episode feels like an intimate chat between colleagues, where you’ll hear about the practicalities of running a creative business, the unexpected sources where professionals find inspiration, and the personal journeys that shape a distinctive aesthetic. Rather than just discussing trends, these dialogues get into the nuts and bolts-how a favorite fabric source was discovered, the challenges of launching a brand, or the philosophy behind a curated shop. It’s for anyone curious about the layers of thought and effort that create a lived-in, beautiful space. Listening to this podcast offers a masterclass in taste and entrepreneurship, straight from the voices defining the field today.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 58

Talk Shop with Ariel Okin: A Fenimore Lane Production
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