Advertise on podcast: Grandma's Silver

Why do we collectively change our wardrobes the second the leaves turn? In this episode of Grandma's Silver, we explore the fascinating history, cultural rituals, and marketing machines behind the official "autumn dress code."  Every fall, we pack away our summer linens and reach for specific textures: plaid, flannel, tweed, wool, corduroy, and heavy cable-knit sweaters. But this seasonal wardrobe reset is about much more than dropping temperatures. Joining host Allie Kochinsky to unpack the social meaning behind what we wear is acclaimed fashion historian and author Deirdre Clemente. Together, they trace the unexpected origins of your favorite everyday garments and explore how heritage style became a multi-billion-dollar seasonal industry. In this episode:  The history of fall fabricsHow collegiate style and heritage retail giants commercialized the "fall aesthetic."Fashion as cultural memoryRESOURCES:  Visit Deirdre's website here.Follow along on Instagram. Purchase Dress Casual: How College Students Redefined American Style. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky steps into the crisp air of upstate New York to explore the rich history of the Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard. Built in 1856, this water-powered mill has survived centuries by blending historical preservation with the cozy rituals of the fall harvest. Joining the conversation is second-generation owner Bill Michaels, who shares how his parents saved the abandoned structure in 1962 after falling in love with its lore. Bill pulls back the curtain on the multi-generational family legacy, the engineering behind their original 1889 water-hydraulic press, and why the act of gathering for fresh cider, mill-aged cheese, and applewood smoked traditions matters more than ever today.  RESOURCES: Visit the Fly Creek website.Follow along on Instagram and/or Facebook. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky is joined by Ric and Stephanie Barbatelli, co-owners of E. Braun & Co., the historic New York linen house whose roots trace back to Vienna in 1893. Together, they continue a legacy built on exceptional craftsmanship, timeless design, and the belief that everyday objects should be made to last. The conversation explores the forgotten traditions surrounding household linens, from bedding to beautiful tables. In this episode: The history of E. Braun & Co.Why fine linens were once treasured family heirloomsThe craftsmanship behind luxury bedding and table linensWhy buying fewer, better things is timelessRESOURCES: Visit the E. Braun & Co. website here. Follow along on Instagram and/or Facebook. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky sits down with Marissa Geoffroy, Chief Creative Officer and third-generation leader of Sherle Wagner International, to explore the intersection of artistry, craftsmanship, and family legacy. Sherle Wagner transformed kitchen and bath fixtures into high-quality works of art, proving that even the most functional objects in a home can be thoughtfully and beautifully designed and made. As both a fine artist and the steward of her family's American design house, Marissa shares how she balances honoring tradition while guiding the company into its next chapter. In this episode: The history of Sherle Wagner InternationalWhat it means to steward a third-generation family businessWhy beautifully made everyday objects matterThe relationship between fine art and functional designCraftsmanship and legacyRestoring the Plaza Hotel's swan sinksThe making of The Art of the BathRESOURCES: Visit the Sherle Wagner website here.Follow along on Instagram.Purchase the book. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky is joined by Michael and Lucas Krauss, the father-and-son team behind Authentic Designs, a Vermont-based company that has handcrafted historically inspired lighting for more than sixty years. As part of the podcast's collaboration with Colonial Williamsburg's WILLIAMSBURG brand, this episode explores how traditional lighting has shaped everyday life for generations, from welcoming guests at the front door to creating a gathering place around a table. Michael and Lucas share the story of their family-run business, the artistry behind handcrafted lighting, and how a collaboration with WILLIAMSBURG continue a tradition of American craftsmanship rooted in history. Along the way, the group discusses why historic design feels relevant today and what it means to create products meant to last. In this episode: The story behind Authentic DesignsWhy historically inspired lighting still resonatesThe craftsmanship behind handmade American lightingLighting as an essential part of hospitality and homeCollaborating with the WILLIAMSBURG brandCreating heirloom-quality objects that illuminate daily lifeRESOURCES: Visit the Authentic Designs website here.Follow along on Instagram and/or Facebook. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

Why do marching band uniforms trigger such fierce, lifelong nostalgia? Whether you marched in a halftime show decades ago or watched from the bleachers, the wool, buttons, and feather plumes of vintage uniforms hold a unique place in American material culture. In this episode of Grandma's Silver, we explore the theatrical pageantry and stories stitched into the seams of marching band attire. To do this, we're "traveling" to Greenville, Illinois, to step inside the legendary DeMoulin Museum with founder and curator John Goldsmith. DeMoulin Brothers & Co. is one of the oldest and most iconic uniform manufacturers in the United States. However, their corporate history has a surprisingly bizarre origin story rooted in creating eccentric secret society initiation pranks before the uniforms they're known for today. In this episode:  How a family shifted from pranks to outfitting the nation's halftime shows.The shift from heavy fabrics to more versatile uniforms.Why marching band alumni make pilgrimages to the museum and save uniform fragments as family heirlooms.RESOURCES: Learn more and plan your visit to the DeMoulin Museum.Follow along on Instagram and/or Facebook. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

What does it mean to live the vacationing spirit? In this episode of Grandma's Silver, we explore the enduring allure of coastal design with acclaimed interior designer Krista Watterworth Alterman. You've heard of coastal style. But true coastal living is about more than kitschy seaside decor; it's an architectural and cultural response to landscape, light, and heritage. Today, the aesthetic is shifting away from literal beach themes and moving toward a more disciplined expression of luxury. Joining host Allie Kochinsky to break down this evolution is Krista Watterworth Alterman, the former HGTV host and Executive & Creative Director of Krista + Home, the luxury interior design division of Vesta. With over twenty years of experience designing legacy resort destinations and multi-million-dollar private residences across the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, Krista brings an understanding of how spaces can be simultaneously high-design and emotionally resonant. In this episode: How the traditional elements of seaside decor transformed into a modern vision of luxury informed by travel, culture, and architecture.Why balancing permanence with modernity is essential when crafting legacy homes that stand the test of time.Translating high design into spaces that handle real life with ease, intentionality, and visual clarity.RESOURCES: Visit Krista's website.Follow along on her business Instagram or personal account. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

Can you design a community, or does community have to grow on its own? When Disney developed Celebration, Florida in the 1990s, the vision extended beyond beautiful homes and charming streets. Inspired by traditional American town planning and New Urbanism, Celebration was created as a walkable community where architecture, public spaces, and everyday life might naturally foster stronger human connection. In this episode of Grandma's Silver, we look beyond the headlines and nostalgia to explore what Celebration, Florida has become over the past three decades. Allie Kochinsky is joined by Kathleen Sipio, the Executive Director of the Celebration Foundation, to discuss how traditions take root when a town has no historic roots, why recurring community rituals matter, and what it takes to transform a neighborhood of strangers into a place where people genuinely feel they belong. We also explore the Foundation's work in strengthening community through arts, education, volunteerism, scholarships, and civic engagement. In this episode: The origins and vision behind Celebration, Florida and Disney's town planning.Can architecture encourage connection and encourage bonding?Why traditions and recurring events help brand-new communities thrive.The importance of walkability and public spaces.Practical ways to build stronger communities and deeper relationships wherever you live.RESOURCES: Learn more about the Celebration Foundation.Follow along on Instagram and/or Facebook. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky sits down with interior designer Lindsey Walsh to explore how our homes evolve alongside the lives we build within them. Before launching her New Jersey-based design firm, Lindsey traveled the world for her high-level marketing job, experiencing architecture, interiors, and traditions across Asia, Europe, and South America. Today, she brings those influences together with an appreciation for classic design to create personal, welcoming, and enduring spaces.   The conversation goes beyond decor. Lindsey shares how travel shapes perspective, why meaningful homes are collected, and how developing your own sense of style is less about trend than careful attention. In this episode: Why the best homes evolve with usHow travel influences how we see designDeveloping an eye for timeless interiorsCreating a home that tells your storyRESOURCES: Visit Lindsey's website here.Follow along on Instagram. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky sits down with Matthew Monk, the Linda Eaton Curator of Textiles at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, to explore the remarkable stories stitched into historic textiles. Using Winterthur's exhibition Stitched in Place as their starting point, they discuss how needlwork projects preserve craftsmanship, but also reveal all sorts of things about identity, belonging, and family history.  Matthew shares how curators and historians "read" textiles as primary sources, the clues hidden in stitches and motifs, and why handmade objects continue to resonate in today's digital world.  In this episode: The inspiration behind the exhibitHow historic needlework preserves memory and identityReading textiles as primary sourcesThe stories behind Winterthur's textile collectionsWhy handmade objects resonation todayHow needlework connects us to placeWinterthur's upcoming conferenceRESOURCES: Visit Winterthur! Learn more here.Follow Winterthur on Instagram here! If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky sits down with Lauren Wodicka, artist, designer, and founder of LBW Studio, for a conversation about developing an eye for beauty, collecting intentionally, and creating homes that evolve over time. Before launching her interior design studio, Lauren built a career as an artist and gallery owner, helping her fine art clients curate spaces filled with art and antiques. That foundation continues to shape her approach today as she helps clients create homes that feel personal and, as she puts it, "paints their story." In this episode: Developing taste through observationThe influence of art on interior designCollecting meaningful objects confidentlyWhat historic properties teach us about permanenceAuthentic interiorsRESOURCES: Visit the LBW Studio website here.Follow along on Instagram and/or Pinterest. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky is joined by Sarah Moore, founder and principal designer of Sarah Catherine Design, for a conversation about character and the elements of a house that feel layered and detailed. Growing up among historic Southern neighborhoods, Sarah developed an early appreciation for homes with stories. Today, she brings that perspective to her work, designing timeliness interiors across the Southeast that blend classic influences with a fresh, livable approach. They discuss the impact of historic homes on modern living, why materials and attention to detail matter, and how to create spaces that feel collected and layered. In this episode: Historic Southern homesWhat gives a home character and lasting appealLessons modern homeowners can learn from older housesDesigning for everyday lifeTimelessness vs. trend-driven designRESOURCES: Visit Sarah Catherine Design here.Shop Sweet Home by SCD.Follow Sarah on Instagram and/or Pinterest. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

As part of the Grandma's Silver conversation series surrounding American Craftsmanship with Colonial Williamsburg's WILLIAMSBURG brand, this conversation explores the journey of American cotton with Red Land Cotton, particularly what it means to preserve domestic textile manufacturing.  Anna Brakefield, co-founder, shares how a visit to Colonial Williamsburg inspired a collaboration with WILLIAMSBURG brand, translating historic textile patterns into a collection designed for modern homes. Along the way, learn why everyday household linens were once heirlooms, what has been lost as textile production moved overseas, and why craftsmanship, stewardship, and quality still matter in everyday objects. In this episode: The story behind Red Land Cotton and its family farm in AlabamaThe journey from seed to sheetWhy American textile manufacturing mattersHistoric linens and heirloom beddingThe collaboration with Colonial Williamsburg's WILLIAMSBURG brandThe relationship between craftsmanship and preservationResources: Visit Red Land Cotton's website here.Follow along on Instagram and/or Facebook.Read about the collaboration and shop. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

In this episode of Grandma's Silver, Allie Kochinsky sits down with Peggy Cornett, longtime Curator of Plants at Monticello, former director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants, and author of Thomas Jefferson's Flowers, to explore gardens as living records of history. Together, they discuss how historic landscapes preserve stories of daily life, seasonal rhythms, beauty, labor, and cultural exchange. Drawing on more than four decades of preserving Thomas Jefferson's botanical legacy, Peggy shares what the flowers cultivated at Monticello reveal about Jefferson's botanical interests, his international network of plant exchanges, and the many people, including enslaved gardeners and laborers, whose knowledge and work shaped the landscape. The detective work behind restoring historic gardens is also explored, along with how historians reconstruct landscapes from letters, archaeological evidence, and plant records, and why heirloom plants can serve as a form of living inheritance. In this episode, they discuss: The inspiration behind Thomas Jefferson's FlowersHow gardens function as living historical documentsJefferson's passion for flowers and botanical exchangeThe people whose labor sustained Monticello's gardensRestoring historic landscapesHeirloom plantsSeasonal rhythms in early AmericaWhat gardens reveal about identity and placeRESOURCES Visit Monticello's website here.Purchase the book on Monticello's site, or on Amazon. If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.

This week, Allie Kochinsky virtually travels to Summerville, South Carolina, a historic Lowcountry town that proudly calls itself the "Birthplace of Sweet Tea." At the center of the conversation is the town's Sweet Tea Trail, a self-guided experience connecting local businesses, history, food, and community through one of the South's most iconic traditions. But this episode isn't simply about a beverage; it's about hospitality as identity. About preserving small-town character in a changing South. About tourism rooted in storytelling rather than spectacle. And about why certain traditions, even simple ones, continue to hold emotional power. Allie, joined by Cassie Ford, Director of Tourism, explores the history of Summerville, the cultural mythology surrounding sweet tea, and what local traditions reveal about the places we call home. RESOURCES:  Take a visit to the Summerville website here.Follow along on Facebook and/or Instagram.Learn more about the Sweet Tea Trail! If you enjoy Grandma’s Silver, follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend who loves heritage, design, and timeless living.