How To Decorate

Our guest today is New York designer Corey Damen Jenkins. Corey is on the AD100 List, Elle Decor’s A List and his work has been featured in House Beautiful, Traditional Homes, The New York Times and more. He won HGTV’s Showhouse Showdown and has recently published his first book called Design Remix: A New Spin on Traditional Rooms. What You’ll Hear on This Episode:  The driving force behind Corey’s signature eclectic exuberance Corey’s background in the design industry Detroit as the background of Corey’s work How Corey puts his modern spin on traditional architecture The importance of light fixture in interior design Corey discuss his maximalist approach Corey’s creative process How Corey negotiates when working with couples with conflicting ideas The statement opportunity in ceilings The importance in thoughtfully curating children’s rooms    Mentioned in This Episode: Corey Damen Jenkins website Corey’s book Follow Corey on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Find all of the show notes on our

Today's guest is Seattle designer Brian Paquette. He joins us to talk about his brand new book At Home: Evocative and Art-Forward Interiors, as well as his unconventional path to design, his love of art, and why he finds so much inspiration in an earthy palette. What You'll Hear on the Show: His unconventional background into the design field Why it's important to listen when working on a clients design (or your own home) Why he typically favors weaves over patterns in his more permanent pieces We talk about his book (why Karen loved his captions) Sense memory in a room and why Brian loves to speak to a client's sense memory Why Brian creates a signature scent for each of his clients' home Brian thinks listening and inferring information is his super power Why asking about a paint color someone used in their home isn't a smart way to choose a paint color Why he likes a monotone palette for media rooms and bedrooms Why Brian leaves art to chance in his design projects Why a home should age and we sh

Our guest today is California cool designer Kate Lester of Kate Lester Interiors. Her spaces are infused with an airy, coastal vibe and her style embodies easy living. We ask her about incorporating coastal elements into homes not near the water, how to start a room, and more. What You'll Hear on This Episode: How Kate infuses a clients' personality into their home We talk about the most important design elements including linens, natural light, windows, and the importance of thinking outside the box in decorating Why you should follow the architecture of the house during the decorating process How to increase natural light in a home along with different window treatments. Why Kate loves vintage rugs and how these are a great way to add patterns and color into a home Why having a theme or concept board can help prevent lots of wasted time and money. All about sectionals -- why they're practical and why you should invest here Decorating Dilemma: For Lauren's question around how to frame her art, Kate

Today we welcome the delightful Roger Higgins to the show. Roger is a Nashville-based designer that has been creating classic and timeless spaces for his clients for over 25 years. His work has been featured in Traditional Home, Architectural Digest, Style Blueprint, Nashville Lifestyles, and more. Roger takes pride in creating spaces that can not only be admired but lived in. We talk about his love of patterns, dining rooms, breaking the rules, and more. And why he doesn’t sweat the small stuff! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs about Caroline’s basement project, another baby joining the HTD family (which also means a nursery!), and all about Karen’s trip to Scott’s Antique Market. How Roger is able to pull off a loose and casual style. Roger loves a neutral couch with patterns and texture. Our strong feelings on throw pillows. Why Robert loves his books—especially Elements of Style. Is painting the walls, trim, molding, etc., all the same color classic or trend? How to work with

Our guests today are the interior designers behind the firm Forbes Masters; Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters. Based in Atlanta, they work with high-profile residential and commercial clients and their work has been featured in Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Essence, Architectural Digest, and most recently on The Drew Barrymore Show. They also have a fabulous wallpaper line through Mitchell Black. We talk about how they have married their talents to create bold, eclectic, imaginative designs that reflect their unique personalities. We also discuss the magic of wallpaper, working within a budget, decorating built-ins, and more! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs about spring plants and pollen! The fascinating story of how Tavia and Monet met and started working together. How has their relationship and partnership evolved over the years? How do Tavia and Monet pitch their bold style to clients? How Forbes Masters commits to maintaining authenticity to their client in their design. More about

We are thrilled to welcome award-winning interior designer Melanie Turner, previously heard on Episode 10, back to the show! Melanie’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Veranda, Traditional Home, House Beautiful, and she just authored her first book Inviting Interiors: A Fresh Take on Beautiful Rooms. She is the founder of Atlanta-based Melanie Turner Interiors and has now launched a storefront in Montana. We talk about Melanie’s extremely varied style, her new book, her thoughts on colors, decorating with kids, putting a joyful spin on practicality, and so much more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: All about Melanie’s new book Inviting Interiors: A Fresh Take on Beautiful Rooms. Where does Melanie’s unique creativity come from? How to have a house palette without being too matchy-matchy. Utilizing everything in your home. Pushing the boundaries with colors. The misconceptions about a family home and decorating with kids in the house. Making your house the most comfortable by thinking

Today’s guest is the multi-talented Clinton Smith. Clinton is a New York-based designer, creative director, award-winning magazine editor, and author of several books. From 2013-2018 he was the Editor in Chief for Veranda and is now the Editor at Large for New England Home Magazine and Style Editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. With two decades of experience, Clinton is considered an expert in the fields of interior design, architecture, outdoor living, entertaining, and other luxury lifestyle topics. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How did Clinton get his start? When and how did Clinton come to write his first book? What is the job of a magazine editor? What are Clinton’s favorite magazines to read? Where does Clinton keep his large magazine collection? More about the Christopher Spitzmiller and book that Clinton collaborated on. The differences in design and architecture between New York and New England. How to put a twist on trends or look for microtrends. How do designers get published? Ho

Today's guest is art expert Katharine Earnhardt of Mason Lane Art. She's been in the art industry for 15 years and started her consultation business with the goal of making art more approachable and enjoyable for her clients. We ask her all the nitty gritty questions including understanding prices, rules of display, and sourcing the best artists. What You'll Hear on the Show: During trials and triumphs we talk about yard projects and Karen's exciting news! We talk about Katharine's background and education in art How and why she started her business Her talent for envisioning how a space should look when it's finished Building a collection with a variety of styles and mediums Why the art shouldn't match the room but should echo the overall vibe or feeling What goes into pricing an art piece Rules of hanging and displaying art Show Notes: Eden Brothers -- where Karen and Caroline bought their bulbs Mason Lane Art Mason Lane on Instagram Find all of the show notes at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

It’s the final day of Houston week, and we close it out with Meg Lonergan, Founder and Principal Designer of Meg Lonergan Interiors. Since founding her firm in 2009, Meg has become one of Houston’s most in-demand designers. She talks with us about mixing classic with contemporary, how to balance investing in nice pieces while still knowing that we change our tastes and minds over the years, and get a behind-the-scenes look from her work featured on HGTV and Southern Living. Meg also has some great ideas for helping children appreciate the finer things in their home while creating an environment that welcomes play and comfortability. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Meg is originally from South Louisiana, but she has lived all over the world and this is a huge influence on her style and open mind when it comes to working with clients. Don’t let a bold sofa scare you! Meg shares some of her ideas for working with bright and vibrant colors. Meg’s own home is filled with funky patterns and textures, and she

Houston Week continues with Day 4 featuring the awesome and talented Jacob Medina. Jacob started his design firm, Jacob Medina Interiors in 2016 and now people seek out this boutique interior design firm for their expertise on everything from clean and handsome to luxe and funky. Jacob talks with us about his interesting path to design, starting with a degree in biology and teaching himself many of the basics and important technological skills. He shares the inspiration behind his handsome style featuring clean lines and a little twist of style and funk and tells us why there is no such thing as too many chairs. Jacob also gives us his real thoughts on using gray, how to emulate his purple kitchen, and the importance of starting with a cabinet plan in the kitchen. Jacob makes us laugh (and agree) when he makes the analogy between a good designer and a good marriage counselor — trying their best to make everyone happy with the end results! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Jacob is not your average designer

We continue on Day 3 of Houston Week with a conversation with Texas native and art advisor Illa Gaunt. Illa holds several degrees and has over fifteen years of experience in the art world in both galleries and major auction houses. She has developed a following on Instagram for her fascinating mini art history lessons, which is how we found her! Illa’s goal is to help people not be intimidated by art and curating a personal collection. We talk about how and where to buy art, putting a contemporary spin on family portraits, inspiring art in children, and more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs about dust jackets on books, a black cat on a white sofa, spring planting projects, and some funny decorating videos on designer Kevin Isbell’s Instagram. More about Illa’s art history lessons on Instagram. How Illa got into her field. How does Illa know when art is “right” for her client? Should we think of art as an investment when we buy it? How does an emerging artist really catch Illa’s eye

Today we continue to Day 2 of Houston Week with our guest Sherrell Neal. Sherell’s work has been featured in Houston Chronicle, Modern Luxury Interiors Texas, and more. In 2019, she won a Ruby Award from the American Society of Interior Designers. Sherrell specializes in creating timeless spaces by incorporating classic elements and antiques with a modern approach. We talk about how her love of design came from an early age and her attention to detail, craftsmanship, and functionality creates a unique and thoughtful look for her clients. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Sherrell’s thoughtful and lasting approach to design. How Sherrell caught the bug early for design while working on remodels with her contractor father. The importance of proper design and thinking of all the details—big and small. Do fabric shades and wood finishes need to match in a room? Embracing the imperfections and wear-and-tear of antiques. Pattern mixing and rule-breaking in Sherrell’s work, particularly in the River Oaks hou

It’s Houston Week! We are kicking it off with Houston-based designer Marie Flanigan. Marie is an award-winning interior designer and the author of The Beauty of Home. Her work has also been featured in publications such as Architectural Digest, ELLE décor, Vogue, Southern Living, Traditional Home, and she also recently had a role on HGTV’s internationally broadcast series Property Brothers: Brother vs. Brother. We talk about Marie’s love of texture, fireplaces, breaking conventions, and the importance of how a space makes you feel. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How Marie transitioned from her career in architecture to design. Molding or no molding? Marie’s love of using fireplaces as the focal point. How to decide on a focal point in a room. How lighting changes and affects design. Marie’s guidelines for mixing materials, particularly wood. Creating a flex space in the home using sliding doors. All about a growing topic: home offices. How Marie uses sconces. A bedroom in the Telluride project.

Today our guest is Dallas designer Jean Liu. Her full-service interior design firm, Jean Liu Designs, specializes in high-end residential and commercial projects. In 2018 Jean was named one of House Beautiful’s 10 Next Wave Designers. Her work has also been featured in Traditional Home, Town & Country, Architectural Digest, Luxe, The Wallstreet Journal, and many others. We talk about Jean’s love for bold art, how to create a “Zen” kitchen, Jean’s great house with a great room, and much more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How to start enjoying art in your space. What is an art trainer? Jean’s unconventional path to a career in design. How Jean created a Zen kitchen. What Jean recommends for designing with kids in mind. Jean used to stalk her current house from afar…and one day she finally got it! What was Jean’s process for designing her own home? Designing a great room with different functions. Strategies for reusing furniture when moving to a new space. What motivates people to take on a brand

Our guest today is New York-based architect and interior designer Barry Goralnick. His firm customizes projects to include everything from early planning stages in building to interior design, to product design — check out their impressive collections! Barry’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, ELLE décor, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and he is also a featured designer in Rizzoli’s new best-selling book Interior Design Master Class – 100 Lessons from America’s Finest Designers on the Art of Decoration, among many, many other accolades. We discuss how Barry’s background in fine art & literature influenced his varied style, decorating for small and big spaces, his tips for getting back to basics, and more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Why Barry is an architect and an interior designer. How would Barry describe his style? What Barry’s recommendations are for decorating built-ins. More on the State Street project in Brooklyn with built-ins, wood finishes, and an upright piano. Barry’s

Today’s guest is Dallas-based interior designer and business coach Traci Connell. Traci’s work has been featured in Traditional Home, Luxe Magazine, and many more. Traci is known for her signature method, “Ease of Glamour”, where she aims to create homes that are easy to design, easy to live in, and overall practical. She tells us what it means to make a home “bulletproof”, how she implements technology in her process, her advice for emerging designers, and more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs about dust jackets on books, a black cat on a white sofa, spring planting projects, and some funny decorating videos on designer Kevin Isbell’s Instagram. What Traci means by “bulletproof” homes and the evolution of performance fabrics. What is on the horizon for performance design? When is it okay to choose something more delicate in design? How Traci uses technology to improve clients’ ease of living. What Traci does to make large, open homes feel cozier. How to divide a space with drapery.

Our guests today are a husband-and-wife team, Britt and Damian Zunino, of the Manhattan based architecture and interiors firm Studio DB. Their work has been featured in Luxe Magazine, Architectural Digest, The New York Times, ELLE Decor, and many others. We talk about their love of creative spaces, how New York has influenced their style, and how they aim to create a space that is beautiful but also livable, their collaboration process, and more. Their work exudes a swankiness that we really love, so be sure to check out their portfolio! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How Britt would describe their style. Discussing the curvilinear elements, features, materials, color palette and other customization they chose for The Symon project. More about Britt and Damian’s unique country home outside of the city. Britt’s tips for making bold choices start with choosing a color palette. Designing around the unique pipes in the TriBeCa Franklin Street Loft. How to design when you have very high ceilings. Why you

Our guest today is San Antonio-based interior designer, Alison Giese, who recently relocated from Northern Virginia. Her work has been featured in Rue Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Home, and more. Alison’s signature style is to give the homes she designs character and soul, while still keeping it minimal and elegant. Be sure to follow her on Instagram and check out her Monday Mood Boards every week! We love them and so will you. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs! Taryn welcomed baby Miles! Ordering blinds, the Cat Lawyer, carpeting the basement, and finding a perfect workspace in the home. Alison’s career began in sales before she pivoted to design. How her time in Brazil influenced Alison’s style. Redefining what neutral colors are and Alison’s selection process. Cabinetry and hardware trends and preferences. How Alison uses “restraint” and minimalism in her design. Breathing life into a space with greenery. How many towels to display in bathrooms. When and where to

We are thrilled to welcome back our guest today Andrew Cogar who is an architect and president of the award-winning firm Historical Concepts. We discuss his new book, Visions of Home: Timeless Design, Modern Sensibility, collaboration, the narrative of a house, a closer look at a historic Charleston single house, designing around honesty, the concept of the creative process, and more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs! Karen’s lingering Christmas issues, the Wilcox mirror, adorable doormats, our love of Etsy, Taryn’s old bricks, where to store the extra toilet paper, and Caroline’s new dishwasher. What are some examples of “sparks of joy” as it relates to architecture? Why collaboration is a fun puzzle. What is the concept of a “house narrative”? Recent shifts around the open floor plan. Considering the guest experience and privacy in a house. Reinterpreting the historic Charleston single house featured in Andrew’s book. The importance of designing even the small spaces. Why it’s im

Today’s guest is Boston-based interior designer, Lindsay Atapattu, of LEB Interiors. Her spaces incorporate traditional elements in a clean, edited way. We talk about her love of traditional and where it meets modern, which elements are making a comeback, which elements are trending, designing with kids in mind, using color and chintz, and more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs! Updates on Taryn’s house and waiting for the baby to arrive, a new bed and sofa from Ballard, empty nesting, innovative ways to hide cords and devices using an IR repeater, and missing curtains. How Boston and Lindsay’s family background has affected her style. How Lindsay decorates areas that are not considered “beautiful”. Lindsay recommends decorating in layers and buying quality items that will last, but also looking for budget items. Where should families with kids splurge, and save, their dollars? Which traditional style elements are coming back? Decorating for kids’ rooms. What elements are trending