Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The 50 States Project is a yearlong series of candid conversations with interior designers we admire, state by state. Today, were chatting with Tiffany Skilling, who founded her Indianapolis-based firm in 2015 and gained early clients by leading tours of her own home on the local neighborhood associations house walk. In addition to sharing the renovation of her house and home office, she talks about seeing the potential in old homes, the in-person design activity she misses most during quarantine, and why she doesnt want her firm to grow much bigger.

Tell me a little bit about the design scene in Indianapolisthe types of clients and size of the projects youre working on.The firm started out with just me five years ago. I did small projects, one room at a timeId do a kitchen, or a living rooms furnishings, and a half-bath or a master bath. Now, it's evolved. We really like to focus on whole houses, and specifically in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood and the surrounding area in midtown Indianapolis. And we like to focus on renovating historic homes.

How did you focus in on that niche specifically?Ive always loved historic homes. Im originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. My husband and I lived in Cold Spring, New York, for a while before moving back to the Midwest. We lived in Grand Rapids for a year in an old farmhouseit was the first house [built] in that area, and then all these larger, beautiful historic homes popped up over time. We got our first taste of old houses there, and then four and a half years ago we moved to the Meridian-Kessler area of Indianapolis and bought a fixer-upper. Its been a labor of love, this house. But moving into this area brought me my clients. I was lucky enough to be on the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood association home tour right after we finished the house, so several thousand people went through it, and my businessI wouldnt say it exploded, but I really started to gain interest.

So, on the house tour, were you also saying, Im a designer and you can hire me to do this?Yes. You had an option to be at the home during the tour, and I was so proud of it that I wanted to be one of the docents. I hung out there, answered questions and shamelessly handed out my business card. If you want something, you gotta make it happen.

Since then, its all been word of mouth, and Ive had amazing opportunity after amazing opportunityand wonderful clients who believe in us, who Im now on second and third projects with. At this point, we really are focusing on whole houses, which is super fun. I mean, its kind of crazy right now. Some of our houses have been halted; some are still under construction.

The kitchen Skilling designed for her own homeAshlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative

What are you working on right now?Whole-house wise, we have a refresh thats underwaywe went in and changed the exterior, including paint colors, windows, lighting, and then new wood floors, paint, trim and lighting inside, and we redid their master bath. Thats almost done. And then we have another house, a large Tudor that weve completely transformed. We changed the entire floor plan but kept all of the beautiful elements. And then were transforming a large Greek Revival home too, and it also has an addition. Those are our big projects, and then we have all kinds of little ones going on in between.

How many projects are you typically working on at one time?Large-scale, I would say three to five. Smaller-scale, probably 10 to 15. And then we have our repeat clients who will say, Hey, I need a lighting update, or I need some new art, or I need a new sofa. We always have them coming back, so we have to have room for them too.

What does your team look like now?Well, right this minute, its a little different because were all in the shelter-in-place atmosphere. But in general, Kelly Colby is our director of operations; she handles billing clients and doing all of our QuickBooks along with assisting me with design. And then Donna Porter is our design coordinator. She just joined usshe was actually a client of ours, and we just finished their whole house in January, but she started working with us in September because she loved the process so much and I was like, Ooh! We need you! She works for us about 15 hours a week, keeping the office in shape by making sure that samples go in and out properly and that our crazy library of samples is always in order.

Your own sample librarian!She is. Shes amazing. And shes kind of my mom too. She always takes care of me. She makes sure that the printer has ink and orders us new business cards, that kind of stuff. And then we work the Ashlee Kindred on our photography and social media.

Skilling's living room, which helped her net early clientsAshlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative

Youre all working out of an office in your home, right?So, this house that we bought, were the third owners. It was a Lutheran parsonage, and then this other family bought it and owned it for 40 years. It hadnt been touched besides a 1960s renovation to the kitchen. It was a three-bedroom house with a bunch of small, compartmentalized rooms, but a huge dining room because it was a place for the clergy to meet. Only the main floor was finished, but the attic was huge. It had 9-foot ceilings, and the floor joists supported a second floor. We knew that before we bought the house.

We did a renovation in two phases: First, we did the main floor. At the time, one of the bedrooms that was off the kitchen and made that into our laundry room and also my office. But we knew that there was always going to be a phase two for the attic, which we finished a year and a half ago. We added three bedrooms and two baths upstairs, which completely transformed how this house worked. Our old master bedroom became my office. I was like, Oh, my gosh, I have my own space now. Because for the first couple of years, my office was in the laundry room but I really worked at our kitchen island. I had crap there all day, every day, and it drove everyone crazy.

Did you have a team at that point, or did you have your own dedicated space by the time you had a team?Kelly and I worked together at my kitchen island for a year and a half. She just went along with it, and it was great. She and I laugh about it nowwhen the major construction was going on upstairs, adding plumbing lines and electrical to this empty shell of a space, it was so loud we couldnt even hear anything. So its funny to look back and remember that. Now were bursting at the seams in this office!

The first-floor home office where Skilling and her team workAshlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative

Where do you typically shop?We have a lot of direct relationships with reps, so I dont go to the design center [in Indianapolis] a lot. There are times that we do get there, and theyre a fantastic resource. But I find that for where we are located, how we work, and the efficiencies for our business, having reps come right to us when there are new products, its sometimes more efficient to work [with them] directly.

For fabrics and wallcoverings, I love Thibaut, Schumacher, Phillip Jeffries and Quadrille. I love Stark for carpet, and we also work with a local company called Blakeleys that carries a lot of different carpet brands. I like DuChateau for hardwood flooring; for tile, I have a special place in my heart for Rookwood Tiletheyre an amazing, small, historic tile company. Theyve been around since the late 1800s and are a women-owned company, and 80 percent of their employees are women too. They also do really beautiful ceramics. We also work with The Tile Shop, Louisville Tile and another local tile company called Architectural Brick & Tile. And for lighting, we tend to use Visual Comfort in most of our projects, as well as Currey & Company, Urban Electric Co., and Arteriors. Whoever is really easy to work with, theyre the ones who are kind of our tried-and-true.

You studied textile and apparel design and then worked as a fashion designer and clothing production manager. How did you get your start in design, and what was your journey to launching your own firm?I had stopped working [as a stylist] at Anthropologie and took a little time off. I had our second child and really just didnt know what I wanted to do anymore. We were renovating a house in Carmel, Indiana. I knew I really loved interior design, and I could take the skill sets I had through fashion design and the different industries Ive been in and create a business. The big step was right before we moved [from Carmel] to this home in the Meridian-Kessler area. I just took the leap [in 2015], and people started hiring me.

With the shelter-in-place order, how much work is on hold for you right now, and how are you approaching that pause?For the first couple weeks, some projects were still going pretty heavy. I was finalizing whole-house lighting plans in two different homes and a couple other large-scale deliverables that I needed to give to some contractors who are still moving forward. Construction in Indiana is still essential, for the most part, so those projects kept me busy for the first couple of weeks. Last week was slower, but in a good waymy kids were technically on spring break. Then this week has kind of been like, What do I do next?

Last Friday, I had a potential client contact me through Instagram, saying that they have a new build that they wanted to talk to me about, so now I have a call with them tomorrow. Thats starting in the fall. Then I have two other future new-builds happening. One is slated to start in the fall, so were working on exterior renderings right now. People are still thinking about the future, so things are still going on. And then I have another new client that we just signed that wants to do two furnishing projects and she is OK with doing them virtually. So we had a FaceTime call last week, and then she uploaded photos and video of the two rooms she wants to work on, and did a little walkthrough for me, and shes providing me with measurements, and were moving forward.

So its a little slower, and there are some things that are on pauselike a couple of stair-runners that we havent installed because the clients dont want people in their houses. Our amazing workroom that does all of our custom draperies is on pause right now. But you know what? Its fine. You know? We are where we are right now. We also canceled a couple of photo shoots. Im kind of sad that we cant show our work on those right now, but were just trying to do our part.

Skilling's officeAshlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative

The home's master bedroomAshlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative

Left: Skilling's office Ashlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative | Right: The home's master bedroom Ashlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative

Before the coronavirus, what was the biggest challenge you were looking at in the business, and how were you thinking about opportunities to grow?Last year, our goal was to rebrand. We revised the website and did a new logo. This year, its really about refinement and trying to do all of our processes better, be more efficient. But growth-wise, I dont necessarily want [the firm] to get bigger. I know that thats crazy.

No, I think thats really interesting.The workload we have is a lot for our small company. My biggest challenge is that sometimes Ive taken on too much and not known when to say no. But in the end, the only people hurt by it are me and my family because Im working too much. This year is about knowing when to say no and knowing when to work smarter, not harder.

How do you start to do that? I feel like thats something thats so much easier to recognize in hindsight.For me, its after so many times of doing it and then realizing, Oh, why did I take that? Ive done it so many times now, that its just [making myself] pause for a second and really think, Is this a project that will bring me growth and positivity?

Sometimes you look at a project and youre like, Nope, red flag. Its not going to be a good fit. Not because its not a great project, its just not a project for my firm. Ive taken thinking about those things to heartreflecting on previous jobs and knowing if something would be good or not. And Kelly, who works with me, is an amazing voice of reason too. Shes like, Tiffany, are you sure thats one you want to do? She makes me think a little deeper sometimes instead of just saying yes all the time. And its hard to say noit really is! But we do it a lot now.

Is it about saying no to projects, or is it about adjusting timelines until youre available for those projects?If clients are willing to wait for us, then we absolutely will put them on schedule when we think that we can fit that project in. Like, if its a kitchenkitchens arent crazy anymore for us, so usually those will be two months out, depending on our schedule. But we have really overcommitted in the last couple of years, [to the point] that I found myself constantly gasping for air because I just said yes all the time. I feel like we have just come out of that in the last couple of months, and now that I am on the other side of itthere was a great project [recently], a new build that was right down the street from me, so easy to do. But they wanted to meet right away and to make these selections immediately. They had this timeline that I could not, with my current capacity of clients, there was no way that I could make it work unless I bent over backwards, so I had to say no! It was not fun.

The home's denAshlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative

Saying no to things means less revenue. How do you balance the health of the firm versus the revenue side of the decision?It could mean more revenue, but then were not supporting our current clients and working to their full capacity, so then I might not be billing the hours that I really should be for them. So I feel like it kind of evens out. Now if I wanted to grow more and hire another designer, we could take more, but then theres a whole other aspect to that too. Im trying to figure out where we really want to be in the scheme of things and right now, I like being [small] and not taking on too much anymore.

I love that. Its so refreshing, because I feel like the external pressure is to always get bigger, to grow, to take on more. Yeah, and you know, I felt that.

I would like to get bigger in terms of gaining more of a following on Instagram. But in regards to overwhelming ourselves with projects, I think if people want to work with us, I would hope that theyre willing to wait. And if not, then its not meant to be.

How do you approach billing?Our design agreement says that we bill by the hour, in 15-minute increments for everything that we do for the project, and that we bill at the end of every month. Now, of course, if Im just doing a quick text to someone, I dont bill my clients for that. But anything from doing actual project work, making selections, renderings, space plansif were on a call, if someday we meet in person againwe bill for that time.

Has there ever been pushback around that? I would say, one in 50 clients question it.

How have you managed that? Thats amazing.Theres always going to be that one person who challenges you. But our clients really respect us and the work we do. I mean, they dont even flinch at what we're billing at the end of the month. Were very thorough in what we say that we do. I have my billable hours in front of me right now: For one client, a 15-minute FaceTime call. Another client, hardware schedule, 1 hour. Im really old-school, so I have a pen and a pad of paper and I write my billable hours as Im going through. I dont have any crazy program that I use, I just write them down as I go. I could be losing hours doing it that way, but I feel I've gotten really good at it, for the most part. Then I take a picture of my pad of paper and send it to Kelly, who enters it into Ivy.

The open dining area offers views into the kitchenAshlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative

A breakfast table in the kitchenAshlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative

Left: The open dining area offers views into the kitchen Ashlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative | Right: A breakfast table in the kitchen Ashlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative

Speaking of Ivy, what tech has been essential to make the firm run?We really like Ivy. It integrates really well with QuickBooks, so we use those two hand in hand. I probably dont use Ivy to its full capacityI still do my mood boards in Pages. I like doing them that way, its easy, it doesnt take too long. I do all of my space plans in AutoCAD. And I still do a lot of hand drafting. I did take a lot of classeswhile I do not have an interior design degree, I have taken a lot of classes at IUPUI. It was almost to get an associates, but then I decided to quit because I just couldnt handle it anymore. Going to school full-time, working full-time, and with the kids, it was too much! I was like, What am I doing?

When did you do that?I did that the first couple of years of having my firm. It was insane. I do not recommend it.

Thats a lot all at once. What made you want to start?The first drive for that was because I felt that I needed itbut I only felt that I needed it because I didnt believe in myself enough. My husband always told me, You do not need to do this. People do need to go to school, dont get me wrong, and I feel like in the end, it was invaluable. I learned so much. And I needed that for my story. I love that Steve Jobs quote, You can't connect the dots moving forward, only looking back. I know that I needed to do that. But I also knew there was a time when I needed to be done.

What were the most useful elements of those courses?AutoCAD. I took several AutoCAD classes and a couple of Revit classes, though I dont use Revit because its a little more robust than what I really need. I took several classes on lighting design, a ton of space planning classes, some mechanical design, an introduction to building construction. It was enough for me to learn what I needed to understand about how the trades and construction work. I wouldnt say I have formal training, but weve done enough projects now that I think Im kind of there.

Though the upstairs of the home was immense, the second story had never been built. Skilling had to add a staircase for access when she renovated.Ashlee Kindred, Ash and Co. Creative

What shaped your aesthetic, and what are the influences that have informed the look and feel of what you do?I think the most beautiful designs are ones that have this rich layering to them. I am a very avid antiquer. Its killing me right now that I cant. I mean, I antique weekly. Im always going to junk shops and antique shops and finding treasuresthats what I call them. On any given day, theres a bunch of what my husband calls crap in my office. My mother-in-law and I started antiquing together years ago, and she taught me a lot too. She has a really great eye. Also, my background in the fashion industry [has influenced me]its a lot of things rolled up into one.

When youre antiquing, are you buying with a client or a place for that piece in mind? Or are you buying because you know it's a good piece and youll find a place for it?Both! I have a running list right now of clients who want specific things. Actually, right before all of this happened, I found this beautiful wardrobe for a clientI had the dimensions with me in a Google doc of exactly what could fit in this space. We took away their foyer closet when we renovated their kitchen, so they still needed a place to put coats. I came upon this beautiful armoire, and it fit perfectly for them. I found several sets of antique corbels a couple months ago, and I only have one set left. They found homes in different projects, but when I bought them, I had no idea where they were going.

Is there risk in that, or has that worked out well for you historically?To me theres no risk, because we are always using what I am sourcing in staging for photo shoots, and most of the time, whatever we stage, clients will buy some of it. So its always rotating. One client recently said, Hey, I need something for my dining table. So I was like, Lets go shopping with Tiffany, and I texted her all of these pictures of things that I had that would work. Then I walked down the street with this antique foot bath and dropped it off on her porch yesterday. And she sent me a picture of it this morning!

Are you optimistic about what the next, two, three, five years hold? Where do you hope to be? I hope to continue working on these beautiful old homes, telling the story of these homes for our clients. I feel like its so special to be a part of, and you really develop these rich relationships with people, and I hope people continue to want to do that with us. I would love to start designing some furnishings, whether its tabletop, decorlike vases or objectsor I really love doing custom artwork. Now that were in this slow time, I have a bunch of custom artwork, some original pieces by me that Im going to upload to our e-commerce site. I hope maybe that evolves a little bit. I would love to design wallcoverings and maybe some textiles. Things like that. I would love to grow in that way. In regard to home design, I dont know if I want to be any bigger than we are.

To learn more about Tiffany Skilling, visit her website or find her on Instagram.

Homepage photo: Tiffany Skilling | Chloe Lane Photography

Originally posted here:
How this Indiana designer used her own home to nab clients - Business of Home

Toward the end of March, designer Eny Lee Parker posed a challenge on Instagram: Create your dream home in miniature using polymer clay.

Parker is a ceramics artist known for her spherical furniture and jewelry designs, many of which are inspired by the natural world. She recorded her own room-making process on Instagram Stories in hopes of inspiring others to participate in the event, dubbed Clay Play.

I started three weeks ago when New York City started to quarantine, Parker tells Eleanor Gibson of Dezeen. I knew that for me, I'd have to keep myself busy so my mind wouldn't focus on the bad news happening everywhere. You need a balance of being well-informed while finding positivity to stay sane and safe.

Viewers can watch Parkers process via Instagram, from the textures she adds to a miniature chair and sofa to her development of a tiny version of a lamp seen in the videos background. The artists final design features a checkered rug, blue double doors and a wavy coffee table set in the center of the room.

Semi-transparent sconces appear flanked by black polymer clay chain links that resemble the ceramic chains frequently seen in Parkers work; in real life, the motif adorns vases, dangles from earrings and dots entire curtains. A vase of tulips is the designers favorite part of the room, she says in her Instagram Story.

I thought of ways to start a challenge that people could do while being home, Parker tells Dezeen. Polymer clay was my go-to since I focus on ceramics, and creating an ideal room seemed fitting since we are all in our homes.

Parkers designs are based on natural shapes ranging from the beach to, most recently, individual brain cells. As the New York Times Lizzie Feidelson reported in March, the artists latest collection of 11 lamps was inspired by 20th-century Spanish scientist Santiago Ramn y Cajals pen-and-ink drawings, which she stumbled upon while exploring a secondhand book store.

To share the fun and encourage participation in the Clay Play challenge, Parker sent materials to seven fans who didnt have them on hand. By the contest deadline of April 2, 46 artists, architects and designers had sent in submissions.

Entries feature stained glass, elaborate fireplaces, multiple levels and sunsets in the background, among other creative touches. One finalist recreated a Pablo Picasso mural on their ideal rooms wall, while another used mirrors to create the illusion of an infinite space. The clay miniatures made use of furnishings from favorite designers, including several of Parkers own creations.

Four days ago, the artist shared snapshots of the nine finalists on Instagram and put the final decision to a vote. The poll has since garnered more than 7,500 comments. Parker has yet to announce the contests winner and runner-up (who will receive a small Oo lamp and daisy sconce, respectively, as prizes), but in the meantime, those interested can scroll through the dozens of submissions to see where artists wish they were spending their stay-at-home periods.

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These Artists Used Clay to Build Their Dream Homes in Miniature - Smithsonian.com

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Fashion brands (at least the good ones) are informed by the zeitgeist. They cull the best from the worlds of cuisine, books, art, music, interiors, and beyond, and infuse that into their collections. They are magpies, creating distinctive neststheir boutiques and displays at retail outletsthat aim to captivate consumers and let them dream. But in the midst of an economic downturn as the result of the coronavirus outbreak, which has forced nonessential businesses to shutter, traffic at these spaces is nonexistent. So to provide the general public, who are quarantined in their homes, with their cultural fill, many are taking all these captured elements to their online platforms.

Some of the biggest labels have enlisted their contacts from disparate industries to provide entertainment and education in the form of videos, interviews, performances, and active audience participation. Admittedly, Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services are at the top of our queues. But in between episodes of Tiger King and Little Fires Everywhere, were plugging into a podcast with a feminist painter, discovering the secret ingredient in a delectable recipe from a top chef, taking out our sketchbooks and re-creating beautiful images, and immersing ourselves in other enlightening programming that raises our spirits. And in these distressing times, everyone could use some of that.

In March, the storied French label, under the direction of creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, instituted a podcast series dubbed Dior Talks. Here, host Katy Hessel interviews a series of feminist artists and curators, asking them about their lives, their work, and the journeys they took to become luminaries in the modern-day womens rights movement.

Titled Prada Possible Conversations (a riff off Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, the Met's Spring 2012 Costume Institute exhibition), the luxury Italian brand will host a series of one-on-one discussions on its Instagram account. The first is between Pamela Golbin and Alexander Fury and about fashion in the time of crises, which will be go live on April 14 at 12 p.m.

In a program called McQueen Creators, the English designer label is unearthing images from its archives and asking its Instagram audience to reimagine them using materials found at home.

Spanning all its online platformsInstagram, YouTube, Weibo, Line, Kakao, Spotify, Apple Music, and its websitethe Italian label intends to showcase chefs, artists, writers, musicians, film directors, and designers in what it calls a laboratory of creativity.

On April, the eponymous designer hosted a chat with model Halima Aden on her brands Instagram account.

Under the helm of creative director Jonathan Anderson, the Spanish label has created Loewe en Casa, a digital initiative that highlights its collaborators and burgeoning creatives, including the finalist of its Loewe Foundation Craft Prize.

The luxury footwear brand has partnered with the Mental Health Foundation on a project called Smile, which is essentially a coloring book made up of the eponymous designers favorite sketches.

The French maison enlisted Belgian singer Angle to stream a live performance on its Instagram account, encouraging the masses to stay at home.

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Fashion Brands Bringing You the Best in Music and Culture on Social Media - HarpersBAZAAR.com

NEW YORK, United States In the last few weeks, Brandon Maxwell has invited thousands of people into his home. The American designer known for his take on classic tailoring hosts a daily Instagram live stream from his Manhattan apartment where he doles out career advice and lets followers pick his brain, or tell him whats on their minds. One teenage girl introduced the designer to her grandmother.

Maxwell used Instagram Live before the coronavirus pandemic, but his broadcasts, which he calls B Spoke, have become more frequent since most of his followers were confined to their homes. Theyve also become more important to Maxwell, who recognises how the pandemic has spread loneliness as much as the virus itself.

I've always tried to use platforms to talk really honestly about where I'm at and what I'm feeling, in hopes that maybe somebody else sees that and we can start a dialogue, Maxwell said. It just helps you feel more connected in a world [where] you've become so very disconnected.

Maxwell isnt alone in turning to Instagram Live to alleviate the tedium of quarantine. Fashion has embraced the platforms live-stream feature, producing videos that run the gamut from fully produced programmes to off-the-cuff chats. Revolve, a digital multi-brand retailer, partners with fitness influencers to stream daily at-home workouts (in just under two days, one saved livestream workout resulted in 247,000 views, significantly higher than other saved videos on the brands profile.)

You're probably not thinking that much about going shopping right now.

Chanel commissioned Belgian singer Angele to serenade viewers, while accessories brand Mulberry has taken to poetry readings and live performances. Amsterdam-based Scotch and Soda broadcasts its At Home with Scotch series every Friday, including live streams that explore yoga and artist studio tours. The designer Jeremy Scott popped up on Miley Cyrus stream to discuss recycled fashion. Rihanna hosted the Fenty Social Club with live DJ sets and performances (and an augmented reality DJ booth to accompany live stream.)

Instagram introduced the option to post live streams that disappear after 24 hours in 2016, but the feature never achieved the runaway popularity of its disappearing Stories, which launched the same year. IGTV, an effort to build out the platforms long-form video capabilities and more directly compete with YouTube, got off to a slow start in 2018.

Brands are leaning more heavily than usual on Instagram because thats where their customers are. Viewership of live streams is up 80 percent in the last month, according to Instagram. Plus, with stores closed and real-life gatherings outlawed in many countries, social media is practically the only marketing game in town.

[Instagram] Live serves as a platform for you to best connect with your consumer in a human way right now, said Samantha Edwards, co-founder of digital strategy and marketing firm The Charles Agency.

For designers like Maxwell, who is his brand, informal interactions with fans work best. The designer said his broadcasts have boosted engagement with his profile, which is the biggest driver of traffic to his brands e-commerce site. Marc Jacobs, who has long had a bright social media presence, is using the platform in a similar vein, speaking casually to longtime collaborators like those atLove magazine in a recent livestream.

Larger brands are using Instagram Live as a replacement for the busy calendar of resort shows and summer music festivals that have been cancelled or postponed due to Covid-19.

In mid-March, Loewe launched its Loewe en Casa digital series, featuring the brands Craft Prize artists (part of the Loewe Foundations annual competition awarding a cash prize to the winner). The artists host live streams on subjects ranging from metalwork and weaving to furniture design. On April 7, as part of the series, artist Koichi Lo took 68,000 viewers on a live studio tour, among the brands most-viewed videos on the platform.

Levis, a regular sponsor of international music festivals and concert series, has hired musicians like Snoop Dogg and country music star Brett Young to play its 5:01 Live shows, a nod to the brands best-selling 501 jeans as well as the daily stream time. Levis said permanent posts about the live streams have double the engagement of normal posts.

We don't need to push that too hard right now.

Levis has dedicated $500,000 to the series, which came together in about a week, said Chief Marketing Officer Jen Sey.

Measuring the impact of live streams is difficult. Viewers can share or like the videos, but because they disappear unless a brand saves them to their profile, third parties have trouble measuring their reach. Other issues, including the inability to tag the Live videos in the same way as a permanent feed post, inhibit the ability to track brand mentions, which help contribute to measurements of earned media value, an industry-standard metric determining overall impact. In any event, the goal is often to keep consumers engaged rather than to convince them to open their wallets.

In this crisis, everyone is scared and we acknowledge that you're probably not thinking that much about going shopping right now, you're probably not really thinking of buying jeans, Sey said. We don't need to push that too hard right now.

Livestreams work best as part of a wider marketing strategy, said Edwards. Unlike the main feed or Stories, followers can interact in real time with a brand. A product could be promoted directly on a brands main feed, while Stories can be used to demonstrate how it should be worn, and then a question-and-answer session can be streamed via Instagram Live.

Its still too soon to determine whether any of the coronavirus-era content will boost a brands social media engagement and more importantly its sales but its worth experimenting with for the time being.

This is the most perfect opportunity for brands to test a variation of different content formats, whether it's more down and dirty and gritty, or it's super premium and elevated and curated, said The Charles Agency Co-Founder Aaron Edwards.

Were tracking the latest on the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the global fashion business. Visit ourlive blogfor everything you need to know.

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How to Win at Instagram Live | Intelligence, BoF Professional - The Business of Fashion

Shops and museums may be closedto stop the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus,but that doesnt mean you cant appreciate design from the comfort of your own home. Specifically, from your home in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

New Horizons is the latest release in the Animal Crossing franchise for Nintendo Switch and the game comes with more than a few design tools for fans to express their creativity from redecorating their homes to designing their own clothes. Some creatives were quick to use these tools to incorporate the work of their favourite artists in the game.

This gamer covered their floor and walls with Yayoi Kusamas signature polka dots and even adorned their home with an artwork of her famous pumpkin. As for the outfit, user @pericpotter created their own yukata, but printed it with the trademark motif of luxury fashion brand Fendi. This impressive ensemble is one of many snapshots shared on the niche yet innovative Animal Crossing Fashion ArchiveInstagram account managed by Kara Chung.Now, at the height of cherry blossom season, the page is full of adorable villagers dressed in high-brow streetwear with a backdrop of sakura in full bloom.

This trendsetter paired a Noah cap with Converse All Stars and a Maison Kitsunpullover.

This islander could easily belong on the streets of Omotesando with an outfit snagged from a Balenciaga fashion show.

One gamer even went as far as making a Billie Eilish lookalike in a neon green get up and made a parody of the singers song titled Bass Guy.

If youd rather prioritise your house interior than focus on your 'fits, Yayoi Kusama's polka dots are just the beginning when it comes to decking your walls in modern art. M Woods, a private art museum in Beijing, has released remarkable snapshots of its own virtual art galleries in Animal Crossing, complete with re-creations of exhibitions by artists such as Andy Warhol.

Have an artist or designer you'd like to channel to add some flair to your virtual world? Now is as good a time as any to get those creative juices flowing.

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The best books about Tokyo

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Animal Crossing players are re-creating their favourite designers and artists in the game - Time Out

As the coronavirus pandemic causes offices across North America to shut down, professionals who can work remotely have made the abrupt transition to doing their jobs from their homes.

And theyre getting creative with making it work with or without their ergonomic chairs, second monitors and cubicles.

Here are some of the most adaptive, creative home office arrangements HuffPost has seen.

Quotes were condensed for clarity and length.

1. Ironing boards become height-adjustable desks.

Debbie Pedersen

Without a desk at home and being fairly short in stature at 5 feet tall, my kitchen table is way too high to work at comfortably. My ironing board can be set quite low to suit my height, or to stand throughout the day. Debbie Pedersen, insurance worker based in Edmonton, Canada

Jessica Chaloux Hill

Ive been working at home since March 16. I stand at my work office and was missing that, so had to get creative. It has been wonderful to stand. Ive got big windows in front of me and can see outside (no windows at work). I have a bench close by for seating as necessary. Jessica Chaloux Hill, human resources professional based in Vermont

2. A master bathroom becomes an office.

Angela Small

My job is to track incoming donations [for my food bank], which I am lucky enough to be able to do at home, but most of my co-workers are on the front lines and handing out food to people in our area who are in need.

I have two little boys, ages 5 and 7, who are home right now. My only quiet options were the unfinished basement or the bathroom! I went with the bathroom because it has the most natural light. I have been making phone calls from my closet so it doesnt sound like Im making calls from a bathroom! My husband is a truck driver who delivers eggs to grocery stores, so I have to share the bathroom with him when he gets home from work each day. Its a little crazy but Im so thankful to be working right now and were doing the best we can. Angela Small, gift processor at New Hope Ministries food bank in Pennsylvania

3. Kitchens become all-in-one office spaces.

Rachel Cresci

My cooking/emptying-the-dishwasher/refilling-my-coffee-cup game has been on point. Rachel Cresci, high school science teacher based in Reno, Nevada

Elizabeth Goecke

I started at my little desk, then the dining table, then the dinette and they all were terribly uncomfortable for the length of time I needed to sit and work. I remembered our company presidents standing desk and thought Id give that a try. Elizabeth Goecke, billing analyst based in Tampa, Florida

4. A dining table becomes an ergonomic office with the help of a wrist rest made from rice and socks.

Angie Wilbur

Most people were told to work from home, but I dont have a home office or anywhere to put one. I set this up on my dining room table in order to have a little more ergonomic setup so my neck and back pain and eye strain wouldnt be quite so bad. It seems to be helping! Angie Wilbur, supervisory supply systems analyst for the defense logistics agency Disposition Services based out of Battle Creek, Michigan

5. Child-sized desks become adult-sized desks.

Marie Moreau

Marie Moreau

I feel like I am working in the middle of a messy toy store, since Im sitting next to a huge pile of over 100 stuffed animals. Although it does have benefits, like when I am getting overwhelmed with poor speed due to remotely accessing my work computer, I have many tins of my daughters putty I can take my aggression out on. Marie Moreau, senior graphic designer for a memorialization company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Kacey S.

My husband [who works as a sales manager] has been using our sons tool bench, [and] he has to ask him at night if he can use it for the next day. With two toddlers and an 8-month old, child-free tables are limited. Kacey S., associate director at Boston nonprofit

6. A homemade fort becomes a workplace oasis from distractions.

Kayla Morin-Riordan

I used my nephews fort kit to cordon off my office so I cant get distracted when I see how messy the rest of the house is. Stole the cushions off the couch, grabbed a camp lantern and were good to go! Kayla Morin-Riordan, childrens librarian based in New Hampshire

7. Parents get creative with managing their new young co-workers.

Molly Lisenko

The toddler mattress addition was just circumstance and rolling with the punches. My 2-year-old loves dragging that thing around the house; she fell asleep on my lap while I was working, the mattress was behind my chair so I laid her down on it to nap while I finished up my work day. I brought in the 6-foot folding table a week-and-a-half into simultaneously working from home and my school-aged childrens e-learning. I had been using a small sofa table as a writing desk and needed more space. Molly Lisenko, accounting clerk for a tire and wheel distributor based in South Bend, Indiana

Catherine Dublin

My husband is working out of our home office, so I had to set up an office in my sons nursery. I work for the City of Palmetto as an accountant in Palmetto, Florida. My work hours in the office are typically 9 to 5, but as you can imagine, working with a 9-month-old in the house feels like a 24-hour work schedule. Catherine Dublin, accountant based in Palmetto, Florida

Saskia de Groot

My husband and I both work in the hospitality industry, based in Miami, Florida. I have a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old that have been out of school since March 16. Once we were mandated to work from home, we outfitted our tiny guest room into a makeshift office.

Kids and/or husband walking in while Im having video calls and constant interruptions of house life has been an adjustment. However, given the current environment, Im ever grateful that I still have a job, the ability to work from home and that Im healthy and that my family is healthy and happy. But once this is over, I will hop, skip and jump back to the office as I do miss the separation and being able to compartmentalize my life. Saskia de Groot, independent contractor for a hotel company

A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus

Continued here:
12 Of The Most Clever Work-From-Home Spaces Created In Quarantine So Far - HuffPost

While much-needed PPE is finally starting to make its way to Irish hospitals, there are still plenty of other healthcare workers lacking in protective equipment.

Niall Whitty, a product designer from Gorey, County Wexford, has found himself out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he's decided to use his time to try and fill this gap in his local community.

The 24-year-old is using a 3D printer to create face shields and ear protectors.

He spoke to Buzz.ie about what inspired the project.

"I won a 3D printer while I was in college and it had been sitting in the corner of my room gathering dust.

"I'm in a group of product designers who have created a model for creating face masks.

"There's around 100 of us in the country and after having three or four OK'd, I've stepped it up and I'm making them daily now."

Niall explained that his interest has always been in products that can make a difference in people's lives.

"Even going back to college, I never wanted to design things for the sake of it, I always wanted to make things that can help people.

"For my final year project I designed a cutlery set for people suffering with MS.

"For me the best thing about design is making things that can help people in areas that have been overlooked."

While the design he's using is not HSE approved for hospitals yet, the face shields can help healthcare workers in nursing homes, vets and even GPs.

"It takes me an hour and 25 minutes to make a face shield. It's about providing equipment for people in the interim while manufacturers try to keep up with demand.

"The response has been great and we've had inquiries from GPs in smaller practices, dentists, vets and nursing homes.

"All these people who don't yet have access to protective equipment.

"At the moment we've got a back order.

"We've delivered a couple of face masks to a local nursing home already."

Niall's mother Margarita runs a children's clothes shop in Gorey called Jalanda and they used the shop's social media to spread the word about the project.

The response has been so good that Niall is looking to step up his production of face shields, which will require two or three more 3D printers.

To do this, he's set up a GoFundMePage and he's been "overwhelmed" at the support from the local community.

He's making no profit from the work and all of the money donated will go towards creating as many face shields as possible as demand grows.

At the moment, Niall is making "12 or 13 in a day at a push" but with extra printers he hopes to greatly increase his output.

At the time of writing, Niall's GoFundMe has raised over 2,000.

For Niall, it's all about doing his bit in the battle against the global pandemic.

"A few people have said to me, 'it'll look great on your CV', but it's not about that at all for me really.

"I used to do a bit of work as a magician and it wasn't the thrill of tricking people or anything I liked, it was just about putting a smile on somebody's face and bringing them a little bit of joy.

"I've got the printer here, and with the two new ones I've ordered I'll be able to produce more soon, I just want to do my bit and help out as much as I can."

You can donate to Niall's GoFundMe page here.

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Exclusive: Wexford product designer creating 3D printed PPE - Buzz.ie

We're taking design notes from Maana Homes, a luxury boutique hotel in Kyoto that espouses "peace as the new luxury"

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With the anxiety fuelled by the coronavirus pandemic, it's understandable that more of us are seeking a sense of calm in our lives. You see it with the explosion of mindfulness and meditation apps, as well as the growing desire to create clean, Zen-like surroundings at home.

When it comes to Zen, Japan reigns supreme. From the minimalist structures of renowned architect Tadao Ando to organisational experts like Marie Kondo, a desire for simplicity informs not just the Japanese aesthetic but their entire way of life.

There's no better place to embrace this ethos than in the ancient capital of Kyoto. While it is one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations, the city has only recently seen a surge in design-driven hotelsthere's the arrival of Aman Kyoto in late 2019 and the upcoming openings of Ace Hotel Kyoto this month and Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto in August, designed by Kengo Kuma and Andre Fu respectively. Established hotels aside, it is also ripe for independent brands like Maana Homes to thrive.

(Related: Temples, Ryokans And Tombstones: A Slow Travel Guide To Kyoto, Japan)

For those looking for a more local experience, the starting point is to find a machiyaa traditional Kyoto townhousewhich is what differentiates Maana Homes from the rest of the players. Essentially, Maana is a collection of renovated traditional townhouses created with standards of five-star hotels in mind. The start-up brand was founded by a hospitality designer from Los Angeles and a creative director from New York who wanted to craft luxury vacation homes that marry style, substance and a strong sense of place.

(Related: Watch The Tatler Guide To Kyoto And Osaka)

We look for homes with character and properties with intrinsic qualities such as good light, natural scenery and, of course, a charming neighbourhood, says co-founder Irene Chang. Their incredibly calming retreats are curated to help travellers to take it slow and learn more about themselves. According to the founders, their spaces are designed to show that peace is the new luxury.

Through their thoughtful renovation of century-old houses in Kyoto, guests can enjoy two soulful spaces: Maana Kyoto and Maana Kamo. The former sits on a quiet street in a central district and the latter on the bank of the buzzing Kamo River.

By the end of 2020hopefully, a time when we can all travel againMaana will be introducing another four homes into the mix as well as a restaurant, all situated in Kyotos hip Higashiyama neighbourhood. But for now, follow Tatler's guide to #stayinghome so we can #traveltomorrow.

Excerpt from:
Maana Homes Is The Minimalist Space You Need To Find Your Zen - Tatler Singapore

The value of a luxury beachside residence at Torquay has gone into overdrive since V8 Supercars Bathurst winner Will Davison sold in 2017.

The amazing Wolveridge Architects home has hit the market again, with price hopes of $3.1 million to $3.3 million for the three-bedroom concrete and timber design.

The two-storey residence at 261 The Esplanade, Torquay, is neatly wedged between Whites Beach and The Sands championship golf course.

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McCartney, Torquay listing agent Tim Carson said its one of the best homes in the Surf Coast capital.

It was short-listed for the Victorian Architecture Awards in 2013.

The current owners paid $2.25 million when they bought it from Davison in 2017.

They are professional couple looking to relocate for work. But this has been the best home theyve lived in, Mr Carson said.

Theyve lived in about 20 homes and theyve moved around quite a bit for work, he said.

The house, built by renowned local builder John Walker, is ideal for people who love to entertain and enjoy the homes emphasis on indoor-outdoor living.

Three bedroom suites are upstairs, including ensuites and built-in wardrobes and a dressing room to the main bedroom.

A dedicated study with built-in cabinetry is next to the designer kitchen with custom concrete and ultra-high-end resin bench tops and Miele appliances.

Two living spaces include an intimate lounge/media room with an open fireplace, while 5m ceilings soar above the expansive dining and living room opening out onto the north-facing entertaining area and a 13m in-ground pool.

Polished concrete floors and large sliding doors and windows and cedar exterior battens embody the beach lifestyle.

Honestly, this is one of the best homes that Ive ever seen, Mr Carson said.

You just walk in and see the quality, the architecture and the practicality of it.

Its such a beautiful living home, no space is wasted.

Youve got beautiful concrete floors and the outlook to the north-facing in-ground pool.

See the article here:
Beachside home described as the best in Torquay hits market with $3 million-plus price hopes - NEWS.com.au

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With roughly 20 percent of the NBA regular season left to be played, every team could use some extra time to sort out unanswered questions.

Whether it be lottery-bound teams developing young cores or playoff hopefuls that are trying to incorporate trade-deadline additions, every team still needs more time to evaluate its roster.

When the NBA resumes, these are the biggest issues teams should seek clarity for.

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The Atlanta Hawks gave up the Brooklyn Nets' first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick and Evan Turner to get Clint Capela from the Houston Rockets in a four-team deal at the trade deadline. Two months later, we still have no idea how he fits on the roster.

Capela had been sidelined with plantar fasciitis and a bone bruise in his heel since Jan. 29 and was scheduled to be reevaluated March 18. At that point there would have only been 13 games left on Atlanta's schedule.

Since the team is stocked with young talent at the four other positions, Atlanta's trade for the 25-year-old Capela made sense. Heaveraged 14.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocks per game and shot 64.5 percent from the field in Houston over the past three years, playing strong defense that should help the Hawks'No. 28 ranking (114.8 rating) in the category.

Spacing could become an issue given Capela's lack of shooting, but power forward John Collins is up to a career-high 40.1 percent mark from three to help ease any concerns.

Depending on the severity of Capela's injuries, we may not get our answer until next season.

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While the Boston Celtics were probably hoping to snag Tristan Thompson or John Henson on the buyout market, they'll have to settle for a center combination of Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter and Robert Williams III.

With Theis locked in as starter, the 28-year-old is averaging 9.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and shooting 56.5 percent in just 23.8 minutes per game. Despite his modest size, the 6'8", 245-pound Theis is a good athlete who times his shot contests well.

Come the playoffs, however, his lack of size could be an issue.

If the postseason started with the current seedings, Boston would face the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round in a No. 3 vs. No. 6 series. That means a Theis-Joel Embiid matchup, with Embiid standing four inches taller and outmuscling Theis by 35 pounds.

If Boston were to advance, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol of the Toronto Raptors would likely be up next, followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez in the Eastern Conference Finals.

While Theis has done a solid job, can he hold up night after night against much bigger, stronger competition in the playoffs?

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Taking over for the fired Kenny Atkinson, Jacque Vaughn coached just two games with the Brooklyn Nets before the NBA was suspended March 11.

While he went 2-0 in those games, which included an impressive road win over the Los Angeles Lakers, he'll likely need a far bigger sample size to make a case for keeping the job past this season.

Slapped with the interim tag, Vaughn does bring an impressive resume with him to get a contract extension.

He's a former NBA point guard, playing 12 seasons for the Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets and San Antonio Spurs. He's played alongside guys like John Stockton, Karl Malone, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Tim Duncan, learning from some all-time coaching greats in Jerry Sloan and Gregg Popovich.

He also brings head-coaching experience, leading the Magic from 2012 to 2015.

While former head coaches like Tyronn Lue, Mark Jackson and David Fizdale may all be considered, Vaughn shouldn't be ruled out.

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Devonte' Graham began his season on the Charlotte Hornets'bench before the organization quickly figured out he was its best player.

Averaging 18.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game, Graham has become a beacon of hope on a miserable Hornets roster that still has to pay Terry Rozier $36.8 million over the next two years.

Still, it's fair to question Graham's ceiling and role on a playoff team.

Despite his high scoring and assist marks, the 25-year-old is shooting just 38.2 percent from the field. Of the 57 players who have taken at least 750 shots this season, heranks lastin field-goal percentage.

A split from playing alongside Rozier may help, as Graham has a true shooting percentage of 59.0 off the bench, compared to 52.9 percent as a starter. On the season, he owns a net rating of minus-6.0 when sharing the court with Rozier, compared to minus-1.5 when Graham is in the game and Rozier sits. His true shooting jumps from 51.1 percent to 57.3 percent when getting the floor to himself, as well.

If the Hornets don't want to move Rozier and his contract to the bench, then letting Graham thrive as a reserve may be the better option.

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Is the Chicago Bulls' rebuild at the point of drafting for position, or is this still a best-player-available sort of deal?

That's what Chicago has to figure out, and it has more questions than answers regarding foundational pieces.

Wendell Carter Jr. is safe at center, having averaged 11.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game, with a plus-4.0on/off rating this year. Injuries have stalled his first two seasons, but he's got star potential and can anchor a defense.

Coby White has made major improvements as the year's gone on from the point guard position, but he's not a true pass-first floor general. Zach LaVine is averaging 25.5 points per game but has spent more time at small forward this season than his native shooting guard.

Otto Porter Jr. was brilliant after coming over in a trade from the Washington Wizards last season but has played in just 14 games this year because of foot problems and holds a player option for 2020-21. Power forward didn't look like a need with Lauri Markkanen in tow, but his production has dipped across the board.

Center looks like the only position the Bulls should avoid in the draft, with more time needed to evaluate the other spots.

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While the Cleveland Cavaliers can be patient with their young backcourt of Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Kevin Porter Jr., they may need to make a decision on 26-year-old Andre Drummond soon.

Acquiring him for a pair of expiring contracts and a 2023 second-round pick was fine, especially with the level of production (17.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks in 28.1 minutes per game) he's given Cleveland in his first eight games.

With the Cavs' three young guards averaging 20 years in age, does Drummond still fit a rebuilding timeline when he's set to turn 27 in August? General manager Koby Altman seems to think so.

"Absolutely, we consider him a potential long-term play," Altman said in a conference call after the trade deadline. "Obviously, he has a player option that if he picks up, we think we're in good shape in terms of our cap space. There's no better money spent than on Andre Drummond if he picks up his option."

Barring a trade, Drummond will almost certainly be back with the Cavaliers next season on a $28.8 million player option.

After that, the Cavs may be wary of investing in a non-modern center who's approaching 30.

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When talking NBA title contenders, the Dallas Mavericks often get left out of the conversation.

But why? Dallas has the NBA's sixth-highest net rating (plus-5.8), ahead of teams such as the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets.

They've also had the No. 1-ranked offense nearly all season (115.8 rating), with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis thriving in their roles.

While this makes the Mavs seem underrated, they have their faults.

They have fallen to seventh place in the Western Conference standings. The defense is just 17th overall, and losing Dwight Powell to a torn right Achilles in January was a devastating blow.

Getting out of the seventh seed is a big deal, as moving up to sixth means the difference between playing the Los Angeles Clippers or the Nuggets in the first round.

But without a postseason, we probably won't know how to properly value this team.

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Michael Porter Jr. has all the makings of a star.

He possesses a 6'10", 218-pound athletic frame that seems a model for today's power forward. His 42.2 percent shooting from three on 102 attempts proves his outside game should be sustainable, and his 16.5 total rebound percentage is already better than Paul Millsap's (13.5).

Despite all these positive qualities, Porter Jr. is averaging just 14.0 minutes in his 48 games, starting just once.

While head coach Michael Malone doesn't appear to be the biggest fan of playing a rookie for a team with title hopes, the Nuggets will need clarity on his progress before the offseason.

Millsap is 35 and set to become an unrestricted free agent. Backup Jerami Grant has a player option for $9.3 million that he could easily decline.

At some point, Porter Jr. will play a big role for the Nuggets. They need to find out if he's ready for the promotion.

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By keeping veteran point guard Derrick Rose at the trade deadline, the Detroit Pistons signaled they may not be ready to dive into a deep rebuild.

While Drummond was essentially traded for cap space and Reggie Jackson waived, Rose remains under contract for next season, and Blake Griffin has two years and $75.8 million remaining on his deal.

Griffin had season-ending knee surgery in early January, meaning the Pistons will be hard-pressed to find a taker for his contract.

If Griffin and Rose are both coming back, should Detroit still try to make the playoffs?

One of the few teams with significant cap space this summer, the Pistons could try to entice a player such as Fred VanVleet or DeMar DeRozan (player option) to jump on board if they don't want to go the rebuilding route. Bringing back center Christian Wood (21.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists per game, .560/.408/.734 as a starter) is a must as well.

With the Eastern Conference still incredibly weak toward the bottom, it's reasonable to think of Detroit as a playoff team next season.

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Andrew Wiggins has built a reputation for being an inefficient scorer who doesn't provide much rebounding or ball distribution, despite his obvious athletic gifts.

So far with the Golden State Warriors, that hasn't changed.

Wiggins' true shooting percentage has remainedabout the samegoing from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Warriors (53.5 percent to 54.2 percent), as have his rebounding (7.9 total rebound percentage to 7.4) and passing (18.1 assist percentage to 18.2).

The 25-year-old small forward has never been a good defender, either, an issue that could show up more on a title-hopeful Warriors team.

So much of Golden State's success over the past decade has revolved not just around outside shooting, but also ball movement and defense. Those aren't Wiggins' strengths.

Six years into Wiggins' career, can the Warriors instill some of those things, or do they just have to accept that this is who he is?

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By swapping center Clint Capela in a trade for Robert Covington, the Houston Rockets committed to a small-ball unit that's worked really well.

An 8-6 record with Covington in the lineup doesn't seem that special, but the lineups he's joined have been extremely successful.

The five-man unit of James Harden, Russell Westbrook, P.J. Tucker, Danuel House and Covington has a net rating of plus-10.7 in 164 total minutes. With Eric Gordon instead of House, Houston is still a plus-7.1 in 45 minutes together.

In theory, this should work in the postseason when defenses regularly switch. Having extra wings on the floor who can move, contest shots and cut off driving lanes should help.

Having to play a series against one of the Western Conference's premier bigs (Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic) could prove problematic for the Rockets, however.

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Victor Oladipo only played 13 games this season before the NBA went on hiatus and looked far from the player who's been named a two-time All-Star with the Indiana Pacers.

Without him, Indiana would probably be lucky to make it past the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. With him at his best, the Pacers have a chance at winning multiple series.

We've seen what Oladipo can do as a No. 1 option in the postseason, pushing LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in 2018. During that series, he averaged22.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game, and shot 40.4 percent from three..

In his first eight contests back from a quad injury this season, Oladipo predictably struggled. His averages of 10.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game on 33.3 percent shooting were far from what we've grown accustomed to from the 2013 No. 2 overall pick.

In the five games after that, however, Oladipo looked much better, putting up averages of 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals and shooting 47.1 percent overall in 27.4 minutes per contest.

The extra time off may be good for Oladipo.

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The Los Angeles Clippers were playing some of their best basketball before the suspension, claiming second place in the Western Conference behind the additions of Marcus Morris Sr. and Reggie Jackson.

Since the All-Star break, the Clippers had the best net rating in the NBA (plus-11.5), comfortably ahead of the second-placed Los Angeles Lakers (plus-6.9).

Only the Lakers had posted a better record since the break, going 8-2 to the Clippers' 7-2 mark.

This means no ground gained for the Clips, who trail the Lakers by 5.5 games in the West. Getting the No. 1 seed would mean home-court advantage in a potential Western Conference Finals matchup with the Lakers, a meeting that seems inevitable.

While it wouldn't be a typical home-court advantage situation, given both teams play in the same arena, changing out the court to the Clippers' logo and covering up the Lakers' championship banners could create a psychological advantage, especially since would mean they had caught James and Co. for the No. 1 seed.

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As unbelievable as it may be, a James-led team hasn't finished with the NBA's best record since the 2012-13 Miami Heat went 66-16.

This year, the Los Angeles Lakers have a chance.

Sitting at 49-14, they trail the Milwaukee Bucks by only three games with 19 contests to go, assuming the NBA plays out the rest of the regular season.

While there's still a chance the Clippers close the 5.5-game gap in the West, the Lakers should be motivated to get home-court advantage because of a potential Finals against the Bucks.

James has begun his last five NBA Finals on the road, ever since starting in Miami in 2013. Opening a Finals in Los Angeles for a pair of games would be huge, especially considering Milwaukee is 28-3 at home this season.

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The rest is here:
The Question Every NBA Team Has Failed to Answer in 2019-20 - Bleacher Report