How To Decorate

Our guest today is interior designer Lilse McKenna. Before starting her own firm, she worked with designers Markham Roberts and Lindsey Coral Harper and drew inspiration from their styles. She has since had her work featured in House Beautiful, The Wallstreet Journal, Real Simple, and more. Her signature style is rooted in tradition yet layered with colors, textures, and patterns. We talk about how she uses layers, where she searches for killer fabrics, her best budget buys, and more! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Why Lilse wants your interior to make you “think”. How did Lilse get started? What does Lilse love about fabrics? Tips for the pattern people and non-pattern people. What are Lilse’s rules for sconces, wall art… and mattress heights? What are Lilse’s thoughts on the “Grandmillennial” style? Are vertical line patterns in wallpaper a new trend? Where does Lilse like to save vs. splurge on items? Decorating Dilemma Hi Melissa, I like the Pinterest example you showed with the custom showe

We are beyond thrilled to welcome our guest today, Charlotte Lucas, of Charlotte Lucas Interior Design based in Charlotte, North Carolina! Since starting her business in 2012 she has been featured in ELLE DECOR, Southern Living, Veranda, House Beautiful, and more. Charlotte also has an incredible fabric and wallpaper line called House of Harris. We talk about Charlotte’s love of color and patterns, how she balances funky and traditional, using layers, and more! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs with nursery completion, organizing kid clothes, basement flooding, house updates, and caretaker insight. Charlotte’s approach to choosing bold upholstery. How Charlotte helps her clients visualize their spaces with artist renderings. What is Charlotte’s process for getting to know the client and their tastes? When, where, and how does Charlotte use a contrast wall? How does Charlotte balance traditional and daring styles? More about Charlotte’s fabric & wallpaper line House of Harris. Charlo

We are so thrilled to welcome back our guest today, Janie Molster, who you may have heard on episode 117. She is an interior designer from Richmond, Virginia known for decorating spaces with exuberant color and a masterful mix of antique and contemporary pieces. Since we last spoke to her in 2019, she has written a book called House Dressing: Interiors for Colorful Living. Today we chat about her signature color usage, antiques, the importance of balance, and designing your house for TODAY and not waiting for someday! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs with gallery walls and wires, soft washing a 90 year old house, getting rid of bats, new windows and doors, finding the perfect nursery rug, and doggies ruining the perfect nursery rug. Janie’s philosophy is to make homes glamorous yet durable. Balance is the key! What are Janie’s rules when it comes to window treatments? How does Janie do pink so well? How to still have fun and be bold with neutral colors. What are Janie's tips to shop

Our guest today, Barbara de Vries, has a most impressive and varied background as a creative. Her prolific career includes launching CK at Calvin Klein, working on projects for Ralph Lauren and Pantone, creating her own fashion line, and co-founding her own publishing and media company. She also worked as a model and an environmental activist. Today we talk to Barbara about her new book, Coming Home: Modern Rustic, Creative Living in Dutch Interiors. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Barbara’s adventurous career path. How Barbara’s Dutch lineage has inspired her philosophy and style. The difference between using the old and the new in the US vs. Europe. How the work from home movement is evolving our spaces. Cultural differences make a big difference in kitchen size and design. Why we all can benefit from using more daily conservation efforts. A Decorating Dilemma about the power of well-adjusted drapes. What can we learn about Dutch Interior Design to take into our own homes? Barbara was a model an

We are so excited to welcome back one of our favorite guests, Philip Mitchell, of Philip Mitchell Designs to the show! He is a Toronto and New York-based designer with a full-service firm. He has been featured in House Beautiful, Better Homes & Gardens, House & Home, Veranda, Architectural Digest, and more. His upcoming book, Collected Interiors: Rooms That Tell a Story, is available for pre-order now. We talk about Philip’s love of storytelling, finding joy in the unexpected, a commitment to loving your space, and ART! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Discussing Philip’s new book and his belief that a house should tell a story. Philip’s two questions he asks all clients. What are some exercises we can do to edit our own design ideas? How Philip breathes new life into old pieces. Philip’s philosophy and approach to art. Why Philip thinks loving a piece is more important than style or investment value. Philip loves unconventional places to display art. When does Phillip like to place lighting on art?

We loved our first episode with Designer Ashley Whittaker so much that we are thrilled to have her back this week to talk about her new book, The Well-Love House: Creating Homes with Color, Comfort, and Drama. Ashley talks about her love of natural and durable materials and how we can have an indestructible yet elegant home. She shares tips on adding some beautiful pieces to keep things fresh and happy, how to tell if your furniture is talking to each other and what’s going to make a room feel inviting vs. off-limits. Ashley also shares some stories behind the photos in her beautiful book and a few client success stories that we can learn from in undertaking our own design adventures. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Ashley’s goal of “set it and forget it” when it comes to designing well-loved homes. The ingredients of a comfortable family room and how to still add elegance and beauty. Examples of natural fabric and textures that can take some wear and tear but still hold up beautifully. How to know whe

Our guest today, Kimberley Seldon, does a little bit of everything in the design space. She’s a designer, TV show host, business coach for interior designers, keynote speaker, and a design podcast host. Kimberley takes us through the evolution of her journey in the design world, her “3-legged stool” approach, tips for the business of design, and more. We also take a Decorating Dilemma where we discuss the importance of being clear on your vision before you go into any big project. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs in construction, landscaping, keeping a tidy house, and working from home. How did Kimberley go from the TV world to the design world to the business coach world? What is Kimberley’s client process? How Kimberley turned her speaking engagements into a brand. Business lessons that Kimberley has learned. Kimberley believes in staying mostly in a style without doing a “theme”. What is Kimberley’s 80/20 rule? What is Kimberley’s approach to mixing woods? Final thoughts on th

We are so excited to welcome back Erin Gates, of Erin Gates Design, to the show. She joined us for an episode back in 2017 at the beginning of the podcast days! Erin is a true Renaissance woman in the design world. In addition to running her design firm, she has authored two bestselling books, has an extremely popular blog, “Elements of Style”, several product collections, a personal home renovation, and is raising a family! We discuss how to decorate with family in mind without sacrificing style, the resurgence of the home office, and other tips from Erin’s wealth of knowledge. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs about grading the backyard, rodents in the house, and toddler “remodeling”. How did Erin make her way into design? What’s next for Erin? What are some misconceptions and tips about decorating with family in mind? Which performance fabrics does Erin recommend (and not recommend)? What does Erin look for in rugs? How has the pandemic impacted home office design? What are Erin’

Our guest today is Charlotte-based interior designer, Gray Walker, of Gray Walker Interiors. She’s a 20 year industry veteran known for her feminine design that mixes both modern and antique elements. Her work has been featured in publications such as Traditional Home, House Beautiful, Southern Living, and many more. Gray shares tips on how she manages to create a fresh look while showcasing heirloom pieces, where she makes bold choices, her love of outdoor lighting, and more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: When did Gray first know she wanted to be an interior designer? How does Gray begin the discovery process for her clients? How is Gray’s home decorated and what is her current home project? What is Gray’s philosophy and approach to using colors throughout the house? The importance of outdoor lighting. How Gray uses upholstered doors and where to get one. Where does Gray like to take risks in decorating? Decorating Dilemma  Hi Bethany, I think you could do the quartzite countertops like in the

This week we welcome our Senior VP of Merchandising and Design, Skye Kirby Westcott back to the show. We talk with Skye about the inspiration behind our latest Fall collection, a lighten-up look we’re calling ‘Light & Livable.’ Listen in as we chat about Skye's vision for this collection, where she found her inspiration, and the fall pieces you need now. What You'll Hear on This Show: Trials & Triumphs about rugs for Caroline's nursery, how Liz is tackling her storage dilemmas, and an update on Taryn's home build. How Skye's time in California inspired the look of our Light and Livable spaces. The design decisions that went into creating this collection. How to successfully pull off a neutral room. Accessorizing and editing spaces so you are only living with things you really love.  How to mix wood tones in a room. Skye's favorite pieces from our Light & Livable collection. Show Notes: Ballard Designs Fall Look Book Shop the Light & Livable Collection Light & Livable videos @skykirbywestcott

Our guest today is textile designer Candice Kaye of Candice Kaye Design. Candice first got her start in interior design then fell in love with textiles and continued her education at FIT in New York. With her background in design and textiles, Candice has found a unique niche for her work in the hospitality and branding space that is recognized all over the world. We dive into how Candice landed in this space, the technical aspects of it, and her personal design tips. What You'll Hear on This Show: Trials & Triumphs about indoor plant success, plumbing fixtures, renovations, painting the floors while the family’s away, building walls, attacking a brick wall, decorating a baby nursery, and wallpaper chat. Candice describes what her unique niche in the design world is. What is the branding process like with Candice’s clients? How Candice begun the wallpaper design process that she uses today. Candice's best tips on mixing patterns and textures. The point in the design process when a client brings in Cand

Our guest today is Kara Cox of Kara Cox Interiors in Greensboro, North Carolina. She's a North Carolina native in furniture country, so you know she's passionate about craftsmanship, handmade details, and supporting local artisans. We talk about her own home renovation and how to take on a big project for yourself.  What You'll Hear on This Show: Why she loves being a Southern designer Her background and how she got her first clients How her style has evolved over time influenced by her own home projects How she prepares her clients for home renovations Details that set her clients' rooms apart Show Notes: Kara Cox Interiors Kara Cox on Instagram Find all of the show notes on our blog, howtodecorate.com/podcast

Our guests today are Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos, partners at Mark Williams Design. They share with us their thoughts on how homes are changing with their clients' changing needs, how to approach design challenges, and more. What You'll Hear on Today's Episode: How Mark and Niki got their starts in the design industry How homes have been evolving over the last couple of years Why it's important for your home to bring strength and optimism to your life Challenges their clients' have had that have influenced their architectural and design choices Why it's important for all of us to look honestly at our daily lives and address challenges with design How Mark and Niki work antique pieces into their clients' homes Show Notes: Mark Williams Design Mark Williams on Instagram Niki Papadopoulos on Instagram Find all of the show notes at howtodecorate.com/podcast

Our guest today is interior designer Ariene Bethea from Charlotte, North Carolina. She has a decor shop called Dressing Rooms Interior Studio, where she offers full service interior design and a carefully curated mix of vintage finds collected by Ariene herself.   What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How Ariene got her start in interior design The Ariene was able to open her own brick and mortar shop How to breathe new life into vintage pieces Factors that go into pricing upholstered pieces Ariene’s perspective on the energy of color Mentioned in This Episode: Visit Dressing Room Interior’s website. Follow Ariene on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Find all of the show notes at howtodecorate.com/podcast

Mother-daughter design duo Lauren and Suzanne McGrath of McGrath II join the show to share their love of the classics. We talk about the way they approach their client spaces, investing in antiques, floor plans, and more. What You'll Hear on This Show: Trials & Triumphs this week Why Suzanne and Lauren fell in love with classic design and how they approach their client spaces Why taking chances is an essential element of designing a traditional space How they often tweak or even transform old furniture for their designs Why old houses often make their jobs easier We talk all about kids rooms -- how to design with longevity, style, and comfort Bedrooms in general and why they think of the primary bedroom as one of the most important spaces in a home Lauren gives us a lesson in dressing the bed Show Notes: McGrath II McGrath II on Instagram Good Bones, Great Pieces by Suzanne & Lauren McGrath Ballard Designs Room Planner Find all of the show notes at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

We've got a hilarious duo for you today -- comedian Heather McMahan and designer Jared Hughes. They're longtime friends, and they recently made over Heather's bedroom using Ballard Designs products. Today, we're talking about mixing styles, adding traditional elements to a modern design, and more. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Why Heather designed her whole bedroom around our animal print Robbie Chair Animal print inspired the whole room How Jared took Heather's style to the next level and helped her learn what decorating rules to follow and which ones to ignore Why painting every wall white isn't always the answer How Jared really reigned in his bold style to ease Heather into the room design How important is it for your room to look big? Why a small room isn't necessarily a bad thing We talk about Heather's mom and how much of a say she has in the design Show Notes: Heather McMahan's Tour Schedule Heather on Instagram Jared on Instagram Jared Hughes Design Robbie Chair in Serengeti Fabri

We have a very special episode this week because we're welcoming our new host, Liz! Plus, we've got celebrated designer Vicente Wolfe on the show. He's one of the biggest talents in the design world, he's a published author, and he's here to chat with us about editing, color, mixing styles, and more. What You'll Hear on the Show: How his extensive travels inspire him and his design work Why each room should include the past but always be moving forward Why you need to branch out and take risks in your room Why it's the most fascinating to examine rooms that are different than what you'd normally do Why not being traditionally educated in design has been an advantage in Vicente's work We talk a bit about gallery walls and how to execute them well Show Notes: Bissell Little Green Machine Vicente Wolfe Associates Books by Vicente Wolfe Vicente Wolfe Designs on Instagram For more show notes, visit our blog at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

We have a fun guest for you today as we welcome Margie from the fashion blog, Thrift and Tell. She is a consignment and thrifting expert, and is sharing her best tips on purchasing luxury items for your wardrobe and home. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Margie's clever philosophies on getting a great deal How to mix high and low style in your home Margie's favorite places to shop for deals The importance of patience when shopping Where you should invest your money vs. when to look for a bargain How to tune out trends Show Notes: Thrift & Tell on Instagram Thrift & Tell blog Thrift & Tell on Pinterest Find all of the notes or stream the episode at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

Our guest today is back for another episode. He's a garden expert, interior designer, and author of 9 books, James Farmer. We talk about his love of traditional design elements, why the rooms he designs for his clients feel like a hug, and his new book Arriving Home. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Why James loves traditional design elements and why he works them into his client spaces James explains his love of oyster plates and how they make their way into his clients' collections James' lesson on lampshades and why a lampshade can make or break a lamp James' three sofa layout design trick and when it works best for a space James' obsession with patterned sofas and why they're just so practical Why wallpaper and paneling give your home age We get a lesson on decorating your outdoor rooms Show Notes: James Farmer's Instagram James' Website, Jamesfarmer.com James' latest book, Arriving Home Find all of the notes or stream the episode at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

Our guest today is Heidi Callier of Heidi Callier Design in Seattle, Washington. Her work has been featured in Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Garden, the Wall Street Journal, and many more. Listen to this episode as she shares decorating tips and advice from her many years of experience in the decorating field. What You’ll Hear on This Episode:  Heidi talks about neutral colors and how to use them Heidi shares about her journey to decorating How to keep colors from feeling depressing and combining different shades The hosts and Heidi talk about how to balance different colors How to incorporate different floral patterns Heidi discusses her own house transformation The hosts and Heidi talk about brown furniture and how to decorate with it Heidi shares tips on how to approach layouts of rooms, small spaces, and decorations   Decorating Dilemmas Hi Jill, For small spaces, Heidi suggests doing all the interior doors the same color, but everything is dependent on the house itself and the ar