How To Decorate

This week, New York based designer Tom Scheerer joins the show to talk about his background practicing architectural and interior design since 1985. Tom talks about his new book, More Decorating, and the inspiration behind the projects that display his sophisticated yet relaxed style. We also discuss incorporating more light and air into design, areas that we are okay to splurge and save, and why showering with your plants may not be the worst idea yet. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: More about Tom’s books, More Decorating, which came out in September of 2019, and Tom Scheerer Decorates, 2013. More about each of Tom’s six properties, and why each of them are special to him in their different ways. How Tom gets a strong picture in his mind early on when taking on a new project. Situations where Tom used found objects and works of art already existing inside the clients home. We pick Tom’s brain on using big sconces, communal headboards, and matching dressers to the wall art. Tom explains his own styli

Welcome to our special holiday bonus episode, to wrap up the year and answer all your remaining questions! Thank you so much for all the letters, inquiries, and fun over the past year and we look forward to answering even more questions in the New Year. We are joined by designer Maggie Griffin to help answer your questions, you may remember Maggie from a previous episode, and winning our special “Best Instagram To Follow” award. We answer questions from all types of dilemmas in this episode, including creating rooms that feel modern yet established, using upholstery to get more texture, how to spruce up a guest room, and tips to win when mixing contemporary with classic. Mentioned In This Episode: Ballard Designs Maggie Griffin Design @maggiegriffindesign Tammy Connor The Shade Room Decorating Dilemma Lisa. Hi Lisa! It depends more on the feel you want to create for the room, but a leather ottoman is always a great place to start. It looks great and is easy to clean. You don’t want all bold patterns in t

Designer Vern Yip returns to the show to tell us about his new book, Vacation at Home and gives us insight into 18 special steps to create your everyday getaway inside your home. He talks about why we feel so relaxed on vacation and in luxury environments, and how we can start to foster that in our homes with a foundation that helps us live the way we want, and takes things off our “to do” list permanently. Vern also shares how he keeps his personal home so beautiful with kids and over 500 lbs of dogs, why fewer but bigger may be better, and a few suggestions for picking out a color scheme that will work best for your home. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Vern Yip is back to talk about his new book Vacation at Home, but first, we must give a special nod to his book Design Wise that won the podcast’s award for “Best Design Book”. A special quick mindfulness practice to gain clarity on how to visualize a space that gives you that feeling of rest and regeneration. Some great ideas on decluttering, storing m

Textile designer Lisa Fine joins the show this week to talk about how she got into textile design, the path that unfolded after a trip to India, and the top things we should know when working with textiles. Lisa also shares the inspiration behind her new book, Near & Far, and wisdom she has inherited from starting and running her own business. This episode will also support that there is beauty in imperfection, and if you love something you can find a place for it in your home. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How Lisa got into textile design, and why she feels it is such a crucial piece to having a home that is both stylish and comfortable. The travels to India that got Lisa even more passionate about textiles, and also what she loves so much about Persian textiles. A few twists and turns that occurred while Lisa was growing her own business, and how she took them as learning lessons to get even better. Why Lisa loves a hand-printed linen so much, and how it creates a natural yet custom made look. Be

Interior Designer Lisa Furey joins the show to talk about keeping neutrals chic yet interesting, her award-winning luxury boutique firm, Lisa Furey Interiors in Philadelphia, and how she fell in love with her Palmetto Bluff vacation home. Lisa shares how she went from a career as a divorce lawyer, her passion for the “bricks and sticks” aspect of design and building, and her approach to creating beautiful and practical homes that are just as livable as they are beautiful. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials and Triumphs featuring misbehaving bats, ruthless bin cleaning, leaf blowers, and delegating out Christmas light tasks. Tips on ribbons and accessories that are both kid-proof and beautiful for the holidays. Real talk on where everyone stands on ornaments as Christmas gifts. How Lisa’s core business is Lisa Furey Interiors in Philadelphia on the mainline, but she also does work in Georgia and South Carolina. More about Lisa’s projects including the Beach Cottage in South Carolina, the main house

Celebrated Los Angeles Designer Madeline Stuart joins the show today. Madeline talks about her new book, No Place Like Home and a more inside look at some of the articles and photographs featured in the book. She also talks with us about the research that goes into a new project, her passion for both design and architecture, reinventing the wheel with each home, her love of vintage lighting, and the design elements she goes back to time and time again. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: The design process behind her Madeline’s new book, No Place Like Home, and why it’s a great read along with the beautiful photos. Madeline’s passion for incorporating difference influences to create a cohesive story in each home. Madeline’s collaborative process (sometimes!) when working with a client, in order to get them to feel that they have the space to really express their design desires. Why Madeline loves some good vintage lighting, and some impressive lighting stats on a few of the larger homes she has worked with.

Janie Molster, Interior Designer in the Richmond, Virginia area, is known for her fun and light-hearted designs, mixing the beautiful with the well-choreographed messy. She joins the show this week to talk about her love of pink, decorating for the holidays, and why we don’t always have to go with the traditional red and green. We also all talk about decorating with comfort in mind first, when twin beds may be the way to go and creating symmetry that is pleasing to the eye. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: More about Janie’s style, recently described as “pretty, happy, and layered.” To some, it may look like it’s done with abandon, but really it is choreographed with a ton of thought. The juxtaposition between the old and new in a home, and Janie’s suggestion that people mix and match objects they most love together even if it’s different style-wise. Janie’s top tree decorating tips including ribbon, colors, and not worrying about blending homemade with fancy. Janie’s love of pink since she was little, a

This week we start off by talking about holiday decorating with some tree talk and gift wrapping strategy. Then, we welcome the great Timothy Corrigan to talk about his chateau addiction, his signature style described as “comfortably elegant”, and his new book The New Elegance. Timothy believes our home is the place to bring out our best selves, elegance doesn’t always have to take a lot of effort to achieve, and there is nothing better than mixing styles and quality. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials on a broken Sunbrella storage ottoman, and triumphs on appreciating a beautiful fall day in a great home, toy organization, and a valance using Ballard hardware. What Timothy means when he says elegance is misunderstood, and how it can transcend any style. More about Timothy’s new book The New Elegance - a great read that shares the stories of homes in which he has defined a new contemporary elegance. Ways we can include classic design principles in our busy life. If you are comfortable in your home,

Interior Designer Tammy Connor’s goal is to make hard work look easy and to focus on implementing more about what her clients really love vs. what’s in trend for the moment. Tammy joins the show this week to talk about her signature style of real, livable homes, how she ended up going from working in Alabama to Atlanta, and why rules really are meant to be broken when it comes to design. Tammy also talks about her projects including The Sword Gate House in Charleston, her Seaside Cottage, and Sewanee Cabin. You’ll also hear Tammy’s tricks of the trade to creating the perfect “man room”, and yes - it involves leather. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Tammy’s goal is to help her clients make their home look less perfect, and more like they just have great taste and have collected beloved pieces over time. Trends may come and go, but a believable color scheme and authentic use of a home will always stay in vogue. Tammy feels we must know the rules before we break them, and you can follow what you love rather

This week we welcome Jennifer Nanni, owner of Rittenhouse Home in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Jennifer talks about how her hobby in design and a naturally great eye for spaces turned into a sought after business with critical acclaim in Luxury Interior Design. Jennifer talks about the kitchen being the hub and heart of a home, what trends she is seeing in kitchens and living rooms currently, and designing for aesthetic meeting the needs of form and function. Jennifer shares her personal design loves, what finishes and materials she is using heavily now, and how she manages to have a white living room sofa with five children. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials regarding some expensive drawer upgrades, and squirrels vs. a cutting garden. Triumphs of gaining a whole new wardrobe when you Marie Kondo it up, pleated shower curtains, and what cayenne pepper has to do with a successful bird feeder. Jennifer’s business started as a hobby and she was always a purveyor of beautiful things with an eye for design. J

This week, we welcome best selling author of over 18 books, Susan Sully. She tells us all about Southern Hospitality At Home, her new book that details the inspiration behind the art of finding joy and generosity in hospitality. Susan talks about what surprised her most about the history of Southern homes and hospitality in her research for the book, the importance of a welcoming entrance hall, why the door was almost always open in the South and her go to tips for entertaining at home. We also talk about dining room etiquette including the rules on lighting candles, ways we can update tradition, and incorporating high/low into your entertaining. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials regarding a cool Ballard lamp, a Prosciutto haunted hand, and failed kitchen outlets. Triumphs of rediscovering the right way to use a fan, a killer centerpiece, and new dining table. Why Susan thinks that hospitality and comfort have remained so ingrained in Southern culture. Why old Southern houses work with the climate

Interior Designer Jennie Seward began her career as a colorist and designer of fabric and wall coverings. Jennie shares how she managed to fall in love with surface design, and with the help of a few side hustles, worked her way up to opening her company Jennie Seward Interior Design. Jennie also talks about her love for color, her custom decoupage lamps and decorative accessories, and her passion for designing beautiful wall coverings and fabrics. We also talk about the importance of paying attention to the exterior when designing as well, what goes behind her “Traditional With a Twist” style, and where Jennie recommends we save vs. splurge. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials regarding a fractured tibia, mother in laws, and a lesson in entertaining with silver spoons and hot dishes. Triumphs about the Final Cut outlet, new sofas, and a power audit to help bring down the electricity bill. Also, a discovery about a cordless serving heating warming tray — thanks genius listener Sharon! Jennie describes

Betsey Mosby, interior designer and owner of Betsey Moby Interior Design, pairs the contemporary with the tried and true to create spaces that are traditional with a twist. We caught Betsey while she was in Atlanta on a new client project and talked with her about using pieces you already love and how she helps clients develop a space where they can live their life comfortably. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials regarding a hornet’s nest, a NYC apartment fire, and a not so hidden garbage can. Triumphs on some great Target Anniversary purchases, new living room love and nice looking melamine plates. Betsey works with clients to use what they already love, and to add new furniture and accessories that will stand the test of time. Betsey is all about helping clients develop a space where they can live comfortably in an environment that suits their particular lifestyle. Betsey took an unconventional path to design, but her background as a CPA helped her in the business and entrepreneurial side of thing

Jack of all trades, Eddie Ross is a stylist, author, editor, trained chef, decorator, and thrift store addict. We visited his production studio and event space Maximalist Studios to sit down with him and talk entertaining, his house renovation, and much more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode:The historic renovation of Eddie’s Edgewood Hall, and how they brought it back to life. Eddie’s addiction to thrift stores, and how he stores all his precious finds in his prop house and photo studio.More about Eddie’s new book Modern Mix: Curating Personal Style with Chic & Accessible FindsA home should have a sense of things collected overtime to give the space a personal feel.How to know when to thrift, and when not to thrift. How Eddie made his Butler Pantry dreams come true and made the best use of a small space. What’s in his summer flower drawer, and what a berry spoon is. Some of Eddie’s seasonal tips to spruce things up and make things feel lighter in the summer and cozier in the winter. A behind the scenes look

Designer Barbara Balongue specializes in hospitality design — restaurants, bars, and boutique hotels. We loved chatting with her about the intricacies of restaurant design, how it impacts our dining experience, and everything those goes into building out a gorgeous venue. She blew our minds with all of the details we’ve never even thought about! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: The challenges with restaurant designWhy you can take a bigger risk in restaurant design than you might at homeWhy booths are great and why they’re great to use in residential spaces as wellThe science and psychology of restaurant designWe talk about restaurants that haven’t used designers and a client of Barbara’s who was blown away by how interior design changed his bottom lineNew trends in restaurant designHow Barbara chooses color in her projectsRestaurant noise — how to combat it and why its an after thoughtWhy people covet the ‘hotel feel’ when they’re designing their own homesBathroom lighting and everything you need in your

Haven Duddy is the founder of Main Line Haven and works with her team to do it all - from buying and selling, construction and renovation, to staging and interior design. She joins the show this week to talk about why it’s totally okay to embrace your style changing, how she came to start a business that offers a full-service experience in the real estate and design world, and simple things that make big changes in design and renovation. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Haven’s husband worked in construction, and they combined forces to create Main Live Haven, helping people through whatever process they are in. When someone employes Haven to buy or sell real estate, they also get 4 hours of professional interior design service. Philadelphia has a more traditional housing style, and many of Haven’s clients will make changes throughout the years to reflect a more modern and present look. What you love today, you may not love in 10 years. Your style will change, so embrace it! What people get hung up on tha

Kimberly Barr is an Interior Designer in the Philadelphia area and is known for her youthful, put-together style. We talk about her love for antiques, not having strict rules, and how we can mix patterns and pieces in a way that brings a modern, fresh look to the traditional. We also get into some pillow talk, where in design you can have fun, and how it’s possible to design family friendly yet elegant spaces. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Kimberly’s inspiration behind mixing the traditional with a twist of elegant and modern. More about Kimberly’s company, Kimberly Barr Interior Design, and how she tends to work with clients from the beginning until completion. Kimberly’s love of working in Philadelphia because it allows her to bring a current feel to old stone homes and mill work within traditional homes. Ways we can mix fabrics without being over the top. Some good rules of thumb for mixing things that may not go together. How many pillows on a sofa is too many, and how to best store pillows instead of

Naomi Stein of Design Manifest joins the show this week to share how working with her contractor father gave her an eye for design and a purpose to help others make their lives more functional. We talk about making a room light, bright and comfortable, the big mistakes we tend to overlook in kitchen design, and hacks for small spaces. She also talks about finding that middle balance between your dream and your budget, and things people should look out for when working with an interior designer. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Naomi worked with her father for 12 years which helped her knowledge of working in high-end homes, and honed her skills for taking her clients to the next level. Common mistakes we tend to make including layout, form, and functionWhat Naomi doesn’t want to see in a kitchen, and what appliances she thinks is okayIdeas for storing trash bins in a sleek yet recognizable space, and ideas for housing composting and recycling containers inside a kitchen. Naomi’s best hacks using Ikea cubbie

"The Trim Queen" Jana Phipps stops by the show to tell us all about trims, fringes, tapes, and everything embellishments. She a world-renowned expert and advocate for embellishments and we talk about everything you want to know about the history of trims, how it's changed in the last few decades, how to use them, and how Jana became an expert in the topic. It's a fun conversation you won't want to miss! What You'll Hear on The Show: -Jana's background in trim and how she got her nickname 'the Trim Queen' -How we should be using trims in our homes and why they're so valuable -A little history of embellishments and where in the world they're made now -Her Venice experiential tour that's she planning -How designing trims differs from designing a fabric -We talk about trends in the trim world -Exciting collaborations happening in the world -How to get the most bang for your buck with a trim

Flower Magazine editor Margot Shaw is back to talk about her new book Living Floral, why we should all be using our 'good stuff,' how to entertain graciously at home, and much more. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: -Margot tells us a little bit about her background -We talk about her new book Living Floral and why she wrote it -Why Margot finds the people behind the work so interesting -How the Flower Magazine readership and mission has grown (organically!) -We talk entertaining and everything you should know about it -Flower's mission is to help people live graciously at home indoors and out -Margot's passion is about inspiring the next generation -Why you're never to young to start entertaining and learning to host a party -Why you should use your 'good stuff' -Mixing high and low pieces on your table and why it makes for a more beautiful table -Margot tells us a story about entertaining for celebrated designer Charlotte Moss and why she was so nervous about her table and flower arrangement -Why you shoul