PETERMAX is the creative force behind both The Powder Room & Manny's in Austin, Texas. He has designed spaces with various industry leaders such as MGM International, RH, Starwood Capital, ARIA Hotel, The Light Group and most recently Lobos Hospitality.
In this conversation, we discuss the ups and downs of Peter's career so far, how trends follow the convicted, Kelly Wearstler and the Proper Hotel, the importance of operating beyond your comfort zone, storytelling and his process for designing luxury spaces, and more.
Peter's Links
Website: www.petermaxco.com/
Instagram: / petermax_co
Powder Room: / powderroomatx
00:00 - Intro
00:21 - Peter's job title
1:27 - What is an artist?
1:49 - Peter's design background
2:23 - What drives Peter / Bonsai tree
3:02 - Artists are infused into their work / Peter is infused into the Powder Room experience
3:51 - Designing homes
4:18 - Hospitality's impact on culture
4:50 - Austin's Culture is positively influenced by Lobos
5:17 - A few career highlights so far
5:41 - Kelly Wearstler and the Proper Hotel
6:49 - Peter's approach to designing spaces
7:50 - Tension between Peter's personal taste and the Powder Room
9:02 - In every project, you have to push the boundaries of your own comfort
10:39 - Growing up in South Dakota
12:00 - Pursuing architecture
12:48 - Peter's early career trajectory
13:42 - Humbling whiplash in 2008
14:20 - Apprenticing with an LA based designer with a background in Hollywood
16:03 - Designing spaces is hard
17:26 - How Peter teamed up with Lobos Hospitality
18:07 - Early conversations about the creation of Manny's and Powder Room
21:09 - The story within the design of Powder Room
25:12 - Humbling moments and mastery
27:59 - Timelessness, Design Trends, and The Office
30:58 - Cheers, behind the scenes
32:06 - Why do people feel good in certain spaces
35:33 - Why are buildings and spaces getting uglier as civilization gets wealthier?
37:14 - Regulations impact on spaces
38:17 - Peter's madness