How To Decorate

Today, Bradley Odom joins in to share his background in retail and interior design, the inspiration for his iconic store Dixon Rye, and how he is shaking up the home styling industry. He also discusses the mix of raw and refined, the importance of scale and ways we can make our space well curated and uniquely personal.

Today's guest hails from the music city! We loved chatting with interior designer Kendall Simmons, who talks the Nashville scene, her mix of fun and spunky with timeless pieces to create her own signature style, and why our home should be unique to us - no matter what our mothers may think. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: When looking for new a new lamp, bring yours physically in to the store so you can make sure the shade fits perfectlyCaroline’s recent find in New Orleans, Nadine Blake, and what items she feels shouldn’t be missedThe super important steps to take when you have the feeling of wanting to throw everything out in your houseKendall's journey from Kentucky, to New York, to back south in NashvilleKendall’s work with Campion Platt, and how it helped inspire her to blend modern elements with classic buildingsHow Kendall developed her own aesthetic and continues to keep developing and growing her tastes and proclivitiesKendall’s own personal projects in Nashville, including a loft in a converted f

Robert Leleux joins us for a lively episode where he shares his journey into design and decorating, a sneak peek into his upcoming Southern Style Now Festival and Showhouse, what we should splurge and save on, why we should give our money to people making things with their hands, and how often one should change their sheets.

Lucy Bamman, Market Editor for Hearst Magazines ELLE Decor, Veranda and House Beautiful believes that there is something for everyone in design and decor, and part of the fun is the journey that comes along with finding it. Lucy talks with us about her role as a Market Editor, and how she got into it, what trends she is into now and how she keeps feelers open for what’s good at all times, but also is very specific about what find will work best with what publication. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: What exactly a Market Editor is, and why you can thank them for featuring the best and most unique products, ideas and trendsThe pressure (and fun) that comes with a job like Lucy’s, and what she appreciates most about sourcing for three very esteemed yet different publications and readershipsThe differentiators between her three titles at ELLE Decor, Veranda and House BeautifulThe amazing locations Lucy gets to visit on behalf of work, including Paris, Milan, and Los AngelesThe latest trends Lucy is seeing now

Chances are you have seen our guest Libby Langdon’s work on HGTV and The Today Show and in all of your favorite magazines — House Beautiful, Traditional Homes, and Better Homes and Gardens. We talk with Libby about her trifecta of combining product design, client work, and media and injecting them all into everything she does. She also spills behind the scenes secrets of makeover TV shows, how she learned to install a house in one day, and why she believes that the way you feel about your home reflects every aspect of your life. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Libby’s background of growing up in High Point, North Carolina, the furniture mecca of the world. Her parents were both in the furniture and textile industry, so Libby learned design from all angles at a young ageLibby’s journey from modeling and fashion to hosting FOX Makeover TV show, Design InvasionThe common threads Libby noticed in many homes as a universal struggle including awkward furniture layout and bad lightingThe value of learning to ins

Chances are you have seen our guest Libby Langdon’s work in all of your favorite magazines. Libby has been featured in House Beautiful, Traditional Homes, Better Homes and Gardens, and has been on HGTV and The Today Show. We talk with Libby about her trifecta of combining product design, client work, and media and injecting them all into everything she does. She also spills some secrets of behind the scenes screws of makeover TV shows, how she learned to install a house in one day. Libby believes that the way you feel about your home reflects every aspect of your life, and is here to teach us how to give our home a big hug with real life solutions and inspired decorations.

Kevin Isbell joins us today for a round of Would You Rather? -- Decorating Edition. We also chat about adding texture and soul into a modern home, Kevin’s superpower of using strong color in subtle ways, decorating pet peeves, and his recent Nantucket cottage project featured in House Beautiful. It is apparent that Kevin loves what he does, and is deeply passionate about the craft behind design. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Why a large enough rug is crucial for a well balanced feel within a roomKevin’s fondness for antique and vintage pieces that have a story to tell and that add texture and warmth to the roomWhy Kevin would never do away with accessories and little trinkets that we pick up along the way of experiences and travelThe little accessories that push home design from “nice” to the “wow” factorWhy even the ugliest of chairs have the possibility to be beautifulHow Kevin got into design, playing around with the late 80’s trends of color blockingHow a background in business and business managemen

Elizabeth Bauer joins us today to share her story on how a passion for flea markets and shopping to repurpose led to a career design and a successful shop in the West Village of New York. She talks about the importance of “getting the bones right” of a home upon first moving in, how to make the most of small spaces, and decorating a seaside and vacation home in a playful and sophisticated way. We take listener questions on sprucing up long hallways,  painting vs renovating, and why you shouldn’t be afraid to mix and match whites! What You'll Hear on This Episode: The story of how Elizabeth opened her store and started her business in Greenwich Village 2008How she decides what she picks when shopping to repurpose, and the trends she is looking for now when she hunts and gathersElizabeth’s featured work in House Beautiful in March 2017, featuring stunning de Gournay wallpaper, painted floors, high-gloss aqua lacquer, and French Bistro bar stoolsThe proper prep work to paint, why lacquer costs so much and Eliz

This week we are joined by the very talented Katie Lydon. Originally from London, Katie founded her downtown New York interior design firm in 2002. Katie has been featured in House Beautiful, Elle Decor, The New York Times, and Metropolitan Home. We talk with Katie about her love of color, her recent work with longtime client, author and podcaster Gretchen Rubin, and plans for the renovation of her home. We also speak with Katie about her favorite part of the design process, and ways to inject personality whether you are going for a contemporary, modern or classic look. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: How Katie got into the design fieldKatie’s work with longtime client Gretchen Rubin, featured in the April issue of House BeautifulHer love for Gretchen’s design confidence and bold yet elegant choicesThe return of purple in editorial, and how to use the color purple to create a certain mood in the homeThe similarities between her work in Gretchen’s home and an English countryside room in decor, molding, book

In this episode we are joined with Tori Mellott, Senior Design and Markets Editor for Traditional Home Magazine. We talk trends with Tori from her recent trip at High Point Market, her background and where her love of design emerged from, some fun behind the scenes stories from her career in magazines, the roles and responsibilities of a Markets Editor and why we all feel that it’s impossible to have too many chairs. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How Tori has had the energy and stamina to move (and decorate) 26 times. A trends recap from Tori’s recent High Point Market Trip from all of the latest in designers and furniture manufacturers. Tori mentions the resurgence of canopy beds, traditional stylings, groovy 1970’s lighting, millennial pink, delicate silhouettes, and things just being pretty. Tori’s love for auction shopping, specifically for occasional chairs for both herself and her loved ones. Tori’s travel tips for roaming unencumbered. The growing trend of bright yellow in home decor, and Tori’s c

This week we travel to New York to catch up with interior designer Philip Mitchell and his very cute dogs. Philip is based in New York and Toronto, and has been featured in Traditional Home, House and Home Magazine and Canada’s Style at Home Magazine. We talk with him about his beautiful captain’s house in Nova Scotia, his approach to restoration, fun and affordable ways to add texture and details, and the art of mixing historic with contemporary and modern comfort. What You'll Hear on This Episode: How he and his husband ended up falling in love with Nova Scotia, and purchasing and restoring a 1795 captain’s house in a beautiful Seaside VillageHis love and respect for historic homes, and inspiration to maintain the integrity and sentiment of the original home during the restoration processHow they found an incredible contractor to renovate their home with an artisan yet liveable approach.The differences between current New York and Canada interior design trends and lifestylesA fun “this or that” word game w

We love seeing the way interior designers use our products in their client's spaces, and that's precisely how we found interior designer Whitney Durham. Plus, her home is featured in the Summer 2018 issue of Atlanta Magazine HOME. We talk to her about how she decorates with two rowdy boys at home, her love of original art, and the dreaded over-the-mantel television dilemma. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Whitney tells us how she started her design businessWe talk about decorating with kidsWe talk rugs and rug pags and why indoor/outdoor rugs are a staple for spaces Whitney designs for her clientsWhy animal prints are a neutralHow Whitney likes to treat television in her own home and her clients' spacesWhy she typically chooses neutral paint colors in her roomsWhitney's love of art and why it's so important to a space

This week we go to New York to catch up with Miles Redd, and his design partner in crime David Kaihoi. Miles has been featured in Vogue, W, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest and now he brings his one of a kind style to outdoor furniture at Ballard Designs. We talk with Miles and David about the inspiration behind the new collection, which offers beautifully designed quality pieces that look expensive and high end but are affordable and functional. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Decorating should be fun, and not a source of stress or pressure.How Miles and David overcome a creative dry spell or artistic lull and get in touch with their inspirationThe importance of feasting your eyes on beautiful homes to gather ideas, even if it’s just on vacationWhat it’s like to see things again with wonder and newness from the fresh eye of childrenThe role of performance fabrics and durability in a home with kidsThe balance of giving their younger clients what they want between what is functional and makes the most

Atlanta designer Lauren DeLoach caught our eye at the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Southeastern Designer Showhouse, so we were super excited to have her on today’s episode. She talks with us about why she loves brown furniture, why she uses a check in almost every room, tips on how to decorate bookshelves, and family-friendly design ideas. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: The room that she featured at the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Southeastern Designer Showhouse was one of the most coveted of the dayIdeas to create a balanced and yet lived in look for built-Ins and bookshelves, and what to do when the books you actually love to read don’t fit your color schemeHow the rule of three also applies to colorHer love for using brown furniture and antiques to add layers and history to a homeThe tricks a camera plays in photoshoots, and a sneak peek of what really happens behind the scenes of a shoot Lauren’s insider recommendations for having a kid-friendly yet beautifully decorated houseThe helpful way to add a pop

We hear what keeps award-winning interior designer Suzanne Kasler so busy, and the inspiration behind her new wicker Southport Collection. We talk about her love for pink, modern trends, guilty pleasures and much more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How Suzanne stays relevant in the industry and fresh in her approach through travel, shopping and educationThe more inspired you are, the more it seeps into your client workThe release of Suzanne’s new book Sophisticated Simplicity and her newsletter InspiredHow Suzanne picks certain projects to publish and her approach to photographing her book with designers, stylists and photographersHer go-to accessories for photoshoots and why she keeps them indigenous to the areaHow Suzanne uses lamp slips to create a look of proportion and layeringThe trends of darker walls and wall coverings is something Suzanne is now seeing in every room of the houseThe backstory of Suzanne’s Southport collection and how a daybed in a flea market in Paris was her muse in creating th

With Spring in the air, we thought we'd talk about our outdoor spaces. They're just as important as your indoor spaces, but for many of us, knowing what to do with them can be a challenge. Atlanta landscape architects Spencer Tunnell and Will McDonald of Tunnell & Tunnell Landscape Architecture stopped by to talk about when we need to call a professional, how to add a little curb appeal to your space, why non-native plants aren't a smart choice in many cases, and much more. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: We talk about Curb Appeal and how it isn't so different from interior designI talk about my backyard project and the wild hair got to tear it all upKaren wants turf in her yard. We ask Spencer and Will their thoughts.Taryn asks about why and how you can choose plants that will bloom year roundWe talk about when you should hire a pro to help you and when you can do it yourselfWe talk about consultations and how a professional could help you make a master plan for your property that you could fulfill over t

Almost a year ago Atlanta interior designers Julie Montgomery and Michele Gratch joined forces to create Montgomery Gratch Interiors. We loved hearing about how their unique strengths compliment and challenge each other. We talk family homes, renovations, the fifth wall, and much more. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: They tell us about how they joined their firms and how their individual strengths work togetherWhy you shouldn't wait to decorate until your kids are older and how to make your home kid-friendly and beautifulWhy it's important to consider how you live in your home before starting the decorating processHow to approach your home with a fresh eyeWe talk about showhouses, why they're fun, why they're a great place to learn about decorating, and why you should check one out in your townHow Michele and Julie bring that layered, collected look into your roomWe talk about a friend of Julie and Michelle's who does a bus tour of great shopping placesWhy it's absolutely crucial to make a floorplan and to

This past Fall, Karen met antique dealer Shane Robuck of Robuck & Co on a buying trip to Europe, and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to chat with him about antiques, travel, and his love of furniture. Shane travels the world looking for the most beautiful curiosities and furniture pieces and sells them in his shop in Atlanta. Shane tells us about his love of Italy and his favorite cities for finding the best piecesShane tells us about how he started buying antiques and who helped him educate his eyeThe guiding principal he uses to buy pieces -- gauging with your heart and buying what you loveWe talk about why the millennial generation doesn't buying as many antiquesShane gives us a quick lesson on antiques from various countriesShane tells us the story of buying his tufted sofa with adjustable armsHe tells us what types of antiques are currently trending in his shopTaryn asks about tips about shopping for antiques in a shopWe talk about negotiating and what's a fair price to offer

Atlanta interior designer and owner of Verde Home on the Upper Westside Laura Walker Baird joins the podcast to talk about antiquing overseas, why Europeans rarely hire designers, and her own major home renovation. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: We talk about purging -- what's worth keeping and what needs to be tossedLaura tells us about her time abroad shopping for antiquesWe hear about Laura's bedroom -- mauve with green carpetShe talks about why she wasn't really an interior designer when she lived in ItalyLaura tells us about the proper Italian way to eat spaghettiThe most common issue Laura's clients deal withTaryn asks Laura about her favorite design eraWe talk about getting pieces custom madeLaura talks about accessorizing an unused room in her client's home to make it functional We talk about how to make your dining room more inviting so you'll actually use itLaura tells us about her home renovation which she's recently finished

Design blogger and interior designer Paloma Contreras stopped by the podcast while in Atlanta to talk about her upcoming book, the ten year anniversary of her blog, and how important it is to enjoy living in your home. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: We talk about Remodelista’s 2018 trendsPaloma tells us about her upcoming book publishing in Fall 2018We talk about the difference between finding inspiration and executing a room design based on that inspirationWe ask Paloma about what she’s had to talk clients out ofHow do we incorporate trends without falling victim to those trendsPaloma talks trends and her ‘oops’ momentWhy Paloma is so glad classic rooms are having a big moment in designHow La Dolce Vita got started and eventually evolved into a full service design businessPaloma tells us about her design style and ‘hero fabrics’Why it’s easy for us to incorporate bold patterns and colors into the rooms of the catalog, but how we know most people are going to order something more subduedPaloma talks about