"Better Half" Series: Bob Cho, the Man Behind Oh Joy!

By Lexi Green
March 17, 2011

As the saying goes, “Behind every great man there stands a great woman.” Turns out the reverse is often equally true, especially in the case of some of today's greatest female design bloggers and the men who stand behind them. Today, we launch our "Better Half" series featuring The Inside Source writer Lexi Green's interviews with the husbands of four trailblazing design bloggers who play an integral part in their wives' sites—from business management to brainstorming to writing articles. We kick things off with a conversation with Bob Cho, the "Better Half" of Joy Cho, founder and editor of Oh Joy!— The Editors

A heavyweight in the design blogging world, Joy Cho boats over 18,000 daily readers who check to in to Oh Joy! blog to read about the latest in design, fashion, and food. And lifestyle blogger Joy Cho's opinion is a precious commodity within the design community. Top magazines, small start-up businesses, major brands, and aspiring creatives follow her musings and seek Joy Cho's style advice, not to mention a moment with her many influential readers. Bob Cho (Photo credit: Bonnie Tsang)

Bob Cho is never far behind. He serves as a sounding board for Joy’s business ideas, playfully crediting his background as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with helping to name Joy’s branding and career advisory business, “Oh Joy! Rx.” (This on top of the blog and a graphic design business Joy also maintains.) As if supporting his wife behind the scenes isn’t enough, Bob also writes his own monthly Oh Joy! column, entitled Oh Bob, in which he shares his more masculine design finds with Oh Joy!'s blog fan base.

We had a chance to sit down with Bob Cho to hear more about when he first discovered Joy was the artistic type (3rd grade!), the perks of being a husband to a top design blogger, and his favorite design and fashion trends for men right now.

The Inside Source: How did you and Joy Cho meet?

Bob Cho: Joy and I met back in 1996. She went to high school with a few of my cousins who she was working on a project with for English class. Since I was just around and not doing much (a serious case of senioritis at that point), I was enlisted to help with their project. We became friends, and then I asked her to be my date to my senior prom. She said yes, and we've been together ever since.

The Inside Source: When did you discover her penchant for design?

Bob Cho: Joy has always been incredibly artistic, and I actually knew about her ability years before I met her. We went to the same elementary school (I was one year ahead). I remembered seeing her name on a piece she did for the school art show. I received second place in the art show for the 4th grade. Joy got first place for the 3rd grade. Little did I know that I would marry this incredibly talented person twenty years later…

The Inside Source: How would you describe your own relationship with the world of design?

Bob Cho: I've always been interested in art. My older brother went to Syracuse for graphic design, and for a while I thought I was going to follow in his footsteps. I actually won my high school art show back in the day. But, I've always been much more of a tinkerer and problem solver than an artist or designer. So I went to college with the intention of being a surgeon, which I thought was a great melding of the two worlds of science and creativity.

(Image provided by hi Oh Bob! column)

The Inside Source: Do you and Joy see eye to eye when it comes to design and fashion?

Bob Cho: We definitely both appreciate unexpected details. For example, we both love the floral placket in the cuff of one of my Paul Smith shirts that can only be seen when the cuffs are undone. We both also love "pops of color" and details that make you feel as though someone really put extra thought into their work.

I am much more a fan of minimalism than Joy is, though; I think that everything should have some function, whereas Joy appreciates some “superfluousness” as a function of abject creativity. That's probably a result of my job as an orthopedic surgeon, where function is everything.

The Inside Source: Finish this sentence: "Before Joy, I never knew that..."

Bob Cho: How many different home decor items one could actually acquire in the home! I think we have every teacup and vase on the planet. I don't think most of them have ever been used, but Joy says they're pretty and so we have to have them!

The Inside Source: Are there any Oh Joy! blog columns (besides Oh Bob, naturally) that you especially love?

Bob Cho: I love the food segments—mostly because I get to taste all the subjects featured!

The Inside Source: What are some of your favorite fashion trends and design items to feature within your “Oh Bob” column?

Bob Cho: My favorite things to feature are things that I actually own or want to own. I try and make sure that the items I feature are functional and things a real guy would use or wear. Guys get a bad rap! Most guys I know would like to be stylish and just need a nudge in the right direction to get there.

"Oh Bob" features on Oh Joy!

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Primary Prep
Photo Credit: hi Oh Bob! column
Preppy Lumberjack
Feeling like giving props to pops

The Inside Source: What are your favorite interior design trends right now?

Bob Cho: I love how men's fashion is going back to appreciation of old world craftsmanship. Things like my shell cordovan Alden boots that I bought from J. Crew. They are completely handmade in the USA with exquisite attention to detail. The leather alone takes 6 months to make. You just can't get things like these out of an assembly line.

I am a huge fan of textural contrast—like a thick wool or linen tie instead of silk. Brands like Band of Brothers, Pierrepont Hicks, and The Hill-Side do this better than anyone right now. Interestingly, these guys all do fit and proportion better than anyone else as well.

I do love mid-century homes and interiors as well, but I think there is a danger of this trend being overdone. I once had to ask Joy if she wished we were living in the Brady Bunch house... I think that's when the light turned on for her as well that mid-century, like almost anything else, should probably be consumed in moderation.

The Inside Source: Fill in the blanks. The best perk of being the husband to a top design blogger is...

Bob Cho: Looking at the world with a completely different perspective.

The Inside Source: The weirdest part about being the husband to a well-known design blogger is...

Bob Cho: When people recognize her on the street and you can tell how nervous they are to meet her. Joy is totally gracious and loves talking to her fans.

The Inside Source: Right now the top three design-related gift ideas Joy Cho would absolutely love are...

Bob Cho: Kate Spade anything (especially shoes), a year's supply of cupcakes, and a 1950's Porsche 356.

The Inside Source: The design-related gifts I would absolutely love are...

Bob Cho: Bespoke shoes from Lodger or Edward Green, a Saville Row suit, and a 1960's Shelby Cobra 427.

The Inside Source: How do you use eBay online auctions?

Bob Cho: I love using eBay to find deals on technology, like my camera and home theater speakers. I am always amazed how I can find things that are really obscure, or find someone who wants to buy something I have.

Lately, I've been looking at shoes from high-end American brands like Alden, Allen-Edmonds, or Florsheim by Duckie Brown. I also look for Japanese or European market items from brands like Paul Smith, as they tend to have a better selection of items than we get in the U.S. For Joy, I have a search saved for a pair of Tretorn wool sneakers from J.Crew that sold out in minutes. No luck yet, but I know I'll find them someday...

Bob searched eBay for items that he could see adding to his wardrobe, featuring on Oh Bob, or wrapping up for Joy:

Roll over items for details

Eames Era Ply Craft Miller Knoll Bentwood Lounge Chair

(starting bid, $899)

Men's Paul Smith Suit

(buy it now price, $462.53)

Pantherella Argyle Merino Wool Over-the-Calf Socks

(buy it now price, $29)

Florsheim by Duckie Brown Navy Perforated Shoes

(buy it now price, $134.40)

1961 Porsche 356 S.

(sold for $69,500)

1. "What a beautiful and comfortable looking chair. This would definitely fit in with the rest of the design ethos in our house. It needs reupholstering, but it is in great condition otherwise."

2. "I love that this suit is traditional, but with a very modern fit. And I love that it comes from a bloke from across the pond! This couldn't happen without eBay!"

3. "An easy way to add some color to an outfit is with colorful socks. And these are from Pantherella, so they are made with the utmost English quality."

4. "Can't you see Joy driving one of these, with the top down and a scarf wrapped around her head like Audrey Hepburn? One of the most iconic cars of all time."

5. "I am definitely a shoe hound, and these are distinctive without being gaudy. Chiseled toe, perforated detail and navy color make you stand out in the office."

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