Robert Polacek Featured on Close Up Radio

RoseBernard Studio co-founder and creative director Robert “Roby” Polacek was featured in a two-part Close Up Radio interview in July 2026. The discussion centered on hospitality design, historic objects and how the studio turns hotels and other public spaces into calmer, more experiential environments.

Why it matters: - Polacek’s work sits at the intersection of hospitality design, brand strategy and guest experience. - RoseBernard Studio is focusing on spaces that do more than function. The goal is to make hotels, restaurants, offices and mixed-use projects feel calmer, more memorable and more useful. - The studio is also exploring sustainability and archival methods, including repurposing materials and creating furnishings from mycelium.

What happened: - Close Up Radio featured Robert “Roby” Polacek of RoseBernard Studio in a two-part interview in July 2026. - Jim Masters hosted the first interview on Monday, July 6, at 12 p.m. Eastern and 9 a.m. Pacific. - Doug Llewelyn hosted the second interview on Monday, July 13, at 12 p.m. Eastern and 9 a.m. Pacific. - The program highlighted Polacek’s work as an artist and designer of hospitality and mixed-use spaces.

The details: - Polacek described design elements such as a 12-foot-tall mirror, a Victorian-era bench and vanity trays made from mercury glass. - Polacek said he learned craft and hands-on making from his grandfather, who was a master carpenter. - Polacek said he has been sourcing Victorian furniture for a revamp of the Hotel del Coronado in California. - The Hotel del Coronado interior dates to the late 1800s, and parts of it changed in the 1960s. - Polacek said objects in the hotel, including glassware, carry history tied to parties, artist salons and former owners such as Hollywood stars, gold rush pioneers and foreign dignitaries. - RoseBernard Studio was co-founded by Polacek and Justin Columbik and takes its name from their grandparents. - The firm was created after The Puccini Group closed following the death of Polacek’s mentor. - RoseBernard Studio has offices in San Francisco, with affiliates in London, Milan and other global centers. - Polacek has worked with Marriott, Hyatt and Waldorf Astoria, along with celebrities, chefs and hospitality leaders. - The studio supports clients from brand development and standards through installation and construction. - RoseBernard Studio is developing ways to catalog and archive objects through the DHO and to recycle and repurpose materials.

Between the lines: - The interview framed hospitality design as emotional infrastructure, not just decoration. - Polacek’s comments suggest travelers value spaces that reduce stress and create what he calls “dwell time.” - The Hotel del Coronado project shows how historic properties can be updated without losing the sense of provenance that gives them character. - RoseBernard Studio’s mix of strategy, operations and design gives the firm a broader role than a traditional interiors shop.

What’s next: - RoseBernard Studio will continue work on the Hotel del Coronado revamp. - The studio is expected to keep advancing new approaches to object archiving, material reuse and hospitality programming. - More information is available on the company’s website.

The bottom line: - Polacek is pitching hospitality design as a way to shape mood, memory and guest behavior, not just fill a room.