How To Decorate

Decorator Fran Keenan joins the show this week to discuss her transition from magazine editor at Cottage Living to working with clients, and where she fell in love with the idea of functional and beautiful living. She also talks about how her family influences her work and vice versa, her love of transformation, what colors she currently loves working with most, and the importance of staying true to the personal narrative of the client. Fran’s background as an editor at Cottage Living, and how that influences her to this very day when working on a design project.What steps Fran took to launch her career as an interior designer, and how it went along with the time in her life where she wanted flexibility to spend time with her family.What Fran loves most about working with homeowners.More about the “alphabet” room, and ways Fran has succeeded from thinking outside of the box.How to not have a boring laundry room — drinks anyone?!Fran’s love of mixing functionality with style and warmth.Her use of earthy colors

Stylist, writer, editor and producer Stacy Kunstel swings by to talk about the fun of adding colors, how she works with interior designers, where she finds inspiration as a stylist and why it call comes down to being different in design. She also discusses what’s new in style and what we can expect in a few years, along with her personal favorite trends. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Stacy’s attraction to big colors and patterns, and how she mixes it with the traditional. Why tradition doesn’t have to be boring - it can be big, bright and graphic. Color makes people happy! How Stacy picked the colors in her product line that were both on trend and ones she loved that has stood the test of time. Stacy’s encouragement to mix lacquer with natural wood. More about her furniture line, and how it came to be. Why it’s your personality and point of view that makes the space so special and a feature so interesting. Why taking some time to sit and organize ideas and visions is a game changer. What a “drink drop” ta

Scott Kravet is referred to as the Indiana Jones of the Fabric World. As the Executive Creative Director of Kravet Fabrics, it is his job to travel the world and find the best textile to make the dreams of others come true. Today he joins the show to talk about his family business and passion for fabrics, what he puts in his own personal house, fabric care, and trends in the fabric world. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials and Triumphs including roofs, roses, rugs, benches and baby proofing. How Scott and his team travel all over the world to source out the best textiles. The wide array of textiles Scott works within the material, design and time period. The different lines that are in the Kravet line, and how the designer collaborations came to be. The family story of their passion for fabrics and the vision for generations to come. Scott’s role of overseeing a team of 45 people at Kravet. How Scott feels about digital printing, the pros, and the cons, and how it has improved over the years. A glimpse

Interior Designer Kate Singer joins the show to talk about her experiences with showhome designs, what she loves to mix to keep classic and traditional design style fresh, creating a sanctuary no matter where you are, and why loving colors (and neutrals!) may be something woven into our DNA.

This week we talk to the ladies of Pappas Miron, Tatyana and Alexandra, childhood friends and designers that have worked together since 2003. They talk with us about their contemporary and warm styles that mix together to create timeless and comfortable spaces. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: More about Tatyana and Alexandra’s updated traditional and modern eclectic style. Where their love of contemporary furniture comes from. How someone that loves a contemporary space can inject more warmth into their space. The challenges they are solving on a regular basis regarding weird layouts and smaller spaces in New York. Their creative use of closets, bins, and blanket boxes to provide even more storage for those with children. The way they encourage their clients to incorporate their warm personal style. What their individual homes look like, and how they each use texture and mood. Dark doesn’t always have to be sad and depressing. Tatyana and Alexandra’s advice for going over the top in a great way with pattern

This week, we have mother-daughter design duo Ann and Elizabeth Pyne from McMillen Interior Design and Decoration, the oldest interior design firm in the country. They share why we should be fearless in design, the idea behind each room having a thesis, and a glimpse into what it is like to work as a mother-daughter dynamic. They also tell us about the three most important things to think about design wise when purchasing or renting a place, and rules for decorating with an infant. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Why we should be fearless and courageous in our career paths. An example of what they mean by each room having a thesis. The differences in Ann and Elizabeth’s design style, and how they complement each other’s range of style to create a fantastic finished product. You have to deal with the space first, and the client second. What elements are classic and won’t go out of style, and what Ann and Elizabeth have seen stand the test of time. Their own individual spaces, and Ann’s description of her 8

Renowned interior designer Alexa Hampton has done it all — TV, books, magazines, you name it and Alexa has been featured there. Today, she joins the show to talk about growing up with her  designer father Mark Hampton, the inspiration behind her two books, Decorating in Detail and Language of Interior Design, her recent travels for an upcoming furniture collection, and why there is no room for snobbery in design. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: What has been Alexa’s biggest challenges over the many different collections she has created and titles she juggles. Alexa’s habit of drawing on a photograph as a low tech and practical way that gave her a “Eureka” moment. Her father’s designation between a decorator and a designer. People may not realize how much they really can put in a room. Alexa’s self-described “rookie mistake” when redoing her bedroom, and the lesson learned in bouncing back after a misstep. More about Alexa’s trips to Vietnam to check out prototypes for her new furniture collection, and goin

This week on the show, we've got design duo Anne Maxwell Foster and Suysel dePedro Cunningham of the design firm Tilton Fenwick. This pattern powerhouse is known for mixing prints and the bold color palettes they work into their clients' homes. In addition to their wallpaper and fabric lines, they're moms, masters of collaboration, and big Ballard fans! What You'll Hear on the Show: Why their partnership makes their designs strongerHow Anne and Suysel met and what sparked their initial creative projectsWe talk about their fabric collections for Duralee and what inspires their printsAnne and Suysel tell us about their most recent Duralee collection, inspired by a trip to PortugalWe talk about the design process of their patternsWhy surprising color palettes are their favorite way to refresh vintage printsWhy using a textile collection book can help you if you're intimidated by the volume of fabrics at a design centerHow they mix patterns together and why fabrics are a great place to startWe talk about their

Interior designer Jenny Wolf  draws from her clients' personalities when designing a space, and we love the way her spaces feel organic and collected. On the show, we talk editing, collecting, Jenny's new shop, and how to work with a designer on a budget. What You'll Hear on This Show: We talk editing and how important it is to your home -- just like in your closetWhy Jenny thinks it's important to be honest with her clients about the pieces they already haveHow her two girls affect her decorating styleJenny tells us about her latest project -- a store in Pound Ridge, New YorkWhat we can expect in her new store and why the project has been serendipitous We talk about decorating her girls' rooms

As the host of the podcast A Well-Designed Business, LuAnn Nigara is a wealth of knowledge about the business of running and interior design studio, so we wanted to share that valuable information with you! LuAnn is passionate about entrepreneurship and coaching interior designers through the challenges of running their own business. If you're an interior designer with your own shop, this is the episode for you! What You'll Hear on This Show: What led LuAnn to starting her podcast, A Well-Designed BusinessWhat separates the most successful interior designers from the rest of the packPillars of running a successful interior design businessWe talk about systems and why you should iron them outWe talk about billing and the challenges of explaining your fee structure

We kick off today’s episode with some talk about our favorite Super Bowl hosting tips, tricks, and recipes. Then, we are joined by the incredible architect Gil Schafer. Gil shares his love of embracing tradition and memory, why we should pursue our ideas with rigor and clarity, and the importance of moving past our comfort zone. We also talk with Gil about simple design using beautiful materials, collaboration, his work with Miles Redd, and how he makes new places feel as though they have a history.

Nicki Clendening is known for her eclectic style and ability to incorporate vintage and thrift store treasures into her design projects. Today, she talks about how to weave in old with the new, what she looks for when shopping at flea markets and antique stores, the opening of her design studio Scout Design and online store Beetle, and why blue painters tape should be your best friend. We will also hear some Trials and Triumphs, and get Nicki’s feedback on how to bring a small space together. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials and triumphs including new cookbooks, missing plants, cool performance rugs and more How Nicki’s dreams progressed from being Indiana Jones to working and living in New York, making money doing exactly what she loves to do What shopping for a client looks like, and if Nicki has ever had buyers remorse More about Nicki’s design studio, Scout Design Where she likes to go to shop for both herself and Beetle, and how she finds one of a kind pieces to add to her collection The inspira

Brian McCarthy is an A-List designer with experience on projects all over the globe. His design projects are clean yet bold, traditional and contemporary with a fantastic eye for picking incredibly gorgeous art. Today, he shares how to create compositions that embrace the bespoke nature of the project, how we can shop for art on a budget, and what to consider when designing a boat. Brian is also the author of Luminous Interiors and Parish-Hadley Tree of Life, which he co-authored with Bunny Williams. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Taryn’s trial which includes Atlanta’s shocking ratistic (rat statistic) and how she and her husband are working to solve it Caroline’s trial when breaking down her beautiful Christmas tree, leading to possibly the biggest LED light knot, mess and spilled paste mixture in history Karen’s trial (but she owns being a 60%’er at least) of upholstering the doors in her guest bedroom. However, she made up for it with the best Christmas gift ever to her husband thanks to artist Lacy Fr

This week, we are five peas in a podcast with besties and designers Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia. These hilarious gentlemen talk to us about how they met at the gym and eventually became members of the smash show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and a sneak peek into their new show Get a Room on Bravo. They also talk about why bad taste is better than no taste, their love of using design to tell a story, and how authenticity is the number one design trend in modern day culture. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: The hilarious story on how Thom and Carson met at the gym How they auditioned and got picked for Queer Eye, and went on to bond filming over 100 episodes together Their mutual love for taking on both large budget “dream” projects, and more small affordable DIY’s The impressive knowledge that there is a difference between draperies and curtains Thom and Carson’s tips to make a big impact with small places and smaller things Why we shouldn’t be afraid to mix brands and prices in design, the same way

On the first day of the year, we thought it apropos to talk about 2019 color trends, so of course, we went straight to the source - Benjamin Moore's Ellen O'Neill. As the Director of Strategic Design Intelligence, Ellen and her team pick the color of the year. Naturally we had to get the lowdown on how the color is picked, why they chose this year's color, how paint is named, and many more of your top paint and color questions. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Ellen talks through how they pick the color of the year, including what she calls 'color embeds' or when her first hints of what trending colors areWhat type of influences there are in picking the color of the yearEllen's 'personal palette' and why she is drawn to itWe talk about this year's Color of the Year -- Metropolitan AF-690What makes Metropolitan special, why it's the color of the year, and why we should love this hueColor naming -- how the name of a paint color factors into whether it becomes the color of the year, as well as the complication

Over the course of writing her nine design books, author and design expert Susanna Salk has learned a thing or two about decorating. Today, she joins us to share her journey in becoming a bestselling Design Author, stylist, and host of the Quintessence design series, and (our favorite) Ballard partner. She talks about why it’s fun to be fearless, her new book The Power of Pattern, how to mix and choose combinations that work, ways to use wallpaper and store photos, and how to know when you’ve gone too far. What You'll Hear on This Episode: How our partnership with Susanna came about organically.How one can mix patterns and choose colors fearlessly.The inspiration behind her new book, The Power of Pattern, and why every pattern featured up close and personal is one that Susanna personally loves.The rules of patterns, and where someone can start if it’s a new concept.Photo storage solutions including having a section in your home to display them, keeping them in an ottoman, and creating an online nostalgia fol

Lifestyle entrepreneur India joins the podcast to talk about her new book, A Slice of England, in which chronicles the process of decorating her home in England, as well as her other family homes. On the show, we talk about her upbringing into design royalty with iconic designer David Hicks as her father, what being an author, model and entrepreneur has taught her, amazing ways we can decorate without spending a lot of money and her new business model that empowers women. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: A firsthand look at India’s upbringing with her father, iconic designer David Hicks, along with some fun American culture references of his workIndia’s love of storytelling within her brand, books and decorWhy India believes that good taste and design are by no means dependent on moneyWhy she prefers an inclusive and accessible style in design, especially for those of us with families and petsMore about India’s home in Harbour Island, and their intention to take it back in time to the 18th CenturyThe true s

Today we welcome Andrew Cogar, architect for Historical Concepts, and interior designer Kristin Kong! We talk to them about designing and building from the ground up, the balance of architecture and design together and the way the two fields complement each other, what to know when finding an architect or interior designer to work on your home, and some smart tips to help navigate this major investment. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Taryn’s trial in the eyeglass world, and her triumph in seeing the comedian Celeste Barber live. Yes, you can have Prosecco on tap at your office too. The ongoing saga of Karen’s basement and her husband’s dream bar. Caroline’s Christmas Tree trials and triumph, and how to correctly flock your tree to give it that beautiful snow misted look. How the recession changed the relationship between architects and designers. The ways architects and designers inspire and complement each other. What Andrew and his team look for in renovations at Historical Concepts, and why one of their

Today we welcome Chip and Pauli Wade! You probably know Chip from the hundreds of episodes from the 14 shows he has been on during his impressive 12 year (and climbing) TV career so far. At just over 1,500 renovations in the past 12 years, he is always learning and pushing the envelope and loves seeing projects go from start to finish. We talk about Chip and Pauli’s partnership in all things work and personal life, how to discern between entertainment and real life renovation, how to plan and invest in design and decor correctly, and when we should embark on a DIY project vs. outsource to a professional, and how he is changing the dynamic of how the digital purchasing experience for both individuals and brands. What You'll Hear on This Episode: The way Chip fell into TV, starting out previously as a structural engineer.Real life in the fast paced crazy environment twist of Chip’s shows, including over 1,500 renovations in the past 12 years.How Chip and Pauli met, fell in love and became partners and cheerlea

Design superstar and podcast fan favorite Bunny Williams joins us to talk about her new studio and creative getaway, her new upholstery collection, how to change a room with a simple few statement pieces, and a whole Living Room 101 lesson. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Bunny's new office that is adjacent to her home and how she converted a four bedroom house into one giant room with a beautiful viewA glimpse into her busy New York office and how she finds time and space to get inspiredHer new book “Affairs with Other Houses” due in the springHow Bunny Williams Home started 10 years ago, built out of a need for certain products for Bunny’s design projects and how it grew into upholstery, lighting and accessoriesThe optimum size and height of a drink table and why no guest should ever be without a place to set their drinksThe addition of modern fixtures in a traditional home and the ability to mix contemporary with antiqueBunny’s tips for organizing things by groups to create an interesting statementBreak