Shirley Meisels is the founder and creative force behind the Toronto interior design studio M House Inc. With over 20 years of experience, she brings a sharp eye for detail, a deep respect for craftsmanship, and an intuitive understanding of how spaces should reflect the people who live in them.

Her creative journey began early, sketching fashion designs as a child, and later led her to pursue a degree in Fashion Design at Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson. Although she began her career as a wardrobe stylist, her passion gradually shifted toward interior spaces. After more than a decade working in fashion for magazines, film, and television, where she often created full-set environments for major brands, Shirley transitioned into interiors. She brought with her the same editorial sensibility and visual clarity that shaped her earlier work.

What began with small, self-initiated design projects eventually evolved into a thriving practice. Shirley’s work has been featured in national publications, and M House Inc. has built a loyal, client-based following through referrals. The studio is known for its versatility, with projects ranging from contemporary new builds to thoughtful heritage renovations. At the heart of it all is her collaborative process, her commitment to clear communication, and her ability to design with both precision and personality.

Beyond her client work, Shirley recently launched W House Inc., a mentorship initiative created to support young designers. Drawing from her own path, which she navigated without a mentor or online resources, she now shares the insights, tools, and strategies that can help others build confident, capable practices of their own.

Her ability to adapt, learn, and lead with generosity continues to shape not only remarkable homes but also a growing community of emerging designers.

Curated Podcast Sponsors:

Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/

Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/

The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/

Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.ca

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Gene Sandoval’s story is one of vision, resilience, and impact. Born in the Philippines, Gene grew up immersed in the world of craft and creation, watching shipbuilders shape vessels from simple materials in his family’s shipyard. By the time he was a teenager, his artistic instincts and fascination with form had already drawn him to architecture. At just 18, Gene left behind the comforts of home, arriving in the US to study at the University of Oregon. There, he transitioned from mastering the visual language of design to learning how to think critically, communicate ideas, and push boundaries.

In 1989, Gene joined ZGF (Zimmer Gunsul Frasca) in Portland at a time when jobs were scarce and AutoCAD was just being introduced. He started by doing everything from assembling drawing boards to working 100 plus hour weeks on competitions, absorbing the firm’s culture and contributing to its rise. Within a decade, he’d become a principal. By 37, Gene was named partner, one of the first people of color and immigrants to hold that title at the firm, breaking new ground not just in architecture, but in representation.

Gene’s projects span from early additions to the Portland International Airport to designing world class facilities for Nike. But his most powerful work is also deeply personal. In a beautifully full circle moment, Gene helped lead the design of the new PDX terminal, a space that reimagines the immigrant’s first step into America. Built with regional mass timber, the terminal is not only a feat of engineering and sustainability, it is a symbol of ingenuity, equity, and community resilience. His ten year journey on the project included bringing together rural suppliers, an emerging fabrication company (Timberlab), and a cross disciplinary team that delivered one of the most iconic airport spaces in North America.

This episode traces Gene’s remarkable career, from drawing on notebook pages as a boy in Manila to shaping some of the Pacific Northwest’s most ambitious projects. It is a celebration of craft, collaboration, and the immigrant spirit that continues to shape architecture in North America.

Curated Podcast Sponsors:

Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/

The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/

Sound Solutions: https://www.soundsolutions.ca/

Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Olly Bray is the founder of OB Architecture, an award-winning practice with studios in Winchester, London, and Chamonix. On this episode, Olly traces the personal and professional path that shaped his architectural journey, from childhood drawings in his grandfather’s Munich studio to launching a firm now designing homes and multi-unit developments across the UK and the French Alps.

Olly shares how an early familial nudge toward architecture eventually became his calling, and how formative experiences at the University of Bath and TU Delft sparked a lifelong commitment to balancing structure with creativity. We dive into his practice’s evolution, from a solo operation launched out of his living room to a cross-border firm driven by design quality, contextual sensitivity, and clear client communication.

He reflects candidly on the business of architecture, the realities of hiring, scaling, and financial pressure, building a values-led culture, and learning to explain architectural value without architectural jargon. We explore OB’s dual focus on high-end private homes and complex urban residential developments, including their growing role in shaping city housing landscapes through planning-savvy, design-forward solutions.

Now based in Chamonix, Olly discusses the decision to build a mountain-focused arm of the firm called OB Mountain and what it’s like to launch anew, professionally and personally, as a designer, partner, and parent.

This conversation is a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it means to build a practice with integrity, curiosity, and ambition and how reinvention can be both a professional necessity and a personal gift.

Curated Podcast Sponsors:

Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/

Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/

The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast