How To Decorate

Atlanta interior designer Nancy Braithwaite stops by the podcast to talk about her signature style, her book Simplicity, how she trained her eye to see rather than just look, and of course she helps us answer your decorating questions. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: -Nancy talks to us about her style, how she zeroed in on it, and what steps she takes creating it  -Nancy talks about seeing vs. looking  -Nancy compares dressing a room with dressing yourself, and why accessories sometimes take away from your design  -Why proportion and scale are crucial to creating a well designed room  -She tells us a story about being mesmerized at a decorators showhouse in New York and how it changed the ways she decorates  -We ask Nancy how we can train our eyes to see instead of look  -Nancy tells us about working with Deanne Levison, one of the top American antiques dealers in the country  -How Nancy and Deanne came to work together and their adventures at antique shows all over the country  -How to compose your room --

We couldn't pass up the opportunity to sit down with Jason & John, the Madcap Cottage Gents, at their home in High Point, North Carolina. They graciously invited us over for dinner, and before we dug into their spread, we discussed all of the gorgeous details in their home, their upcoming book Prints Charming, and much more. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Taryn shares her trial -- putting toilet bowl cleaner in her dishwasher!Her triumph was successfully getting her dog's drool off her car's leather interiorI share my newest go-to appetizer for entertainingKaren's triumph was getting some new goodies from Etsy for her summer vacationWe talk about Jason & John's upcoming book, Prints CharmingThe guys talk about why you should always talk to the antique dealer to hear the story of the pieceWe discuss many of the details in Jason and John's home -- like the way they hung art in their librarySo many pieces in their home have special details they've customized themselvesWe talk about creating seating areas --

This week, we're bringing you another interview from our time at High Point Market. Living on the Gulf Coast, interior designer Cindy Meador specializes in decorating and furnishing second homes. From 10,000 square foot houses to high rise beach condos, Cindy and her team have done it all, and she's sharing a lot of behind the scenes tidbits with us. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Taryn's trial and triumph was yardwork-related My trial was a disgusting rodent that was in our yard, and my triumph was the peony arrangements I got to do at our event at the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Karen's triumph was doing a professional looking hydrangea arrangement for her friend's birthday Her trial was the string lights in her backyard falling down We ask Cindy how her work became featured in a cocktail book We talk about how style differs from region to region Cindy often will start working with a client on their second home, then later work on their primary residence We talk about designing a home for a cli

It took some persuasion, but we finally got our Senior Director of Merchandising Phil Lancaster, or "The Professor," on the podcast! Phil knows it all, teaches us some furniture history, tells us all about how furniture is made, what you need to look for, and generally schools us on the nitty gritty details of furniture and antiques. If you're wondering how to look for quality in your next furniture piece, this is the episode you need to listen to. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: We start off with a furniture lesson on modern vs. contemporaryHow does modern differ from mid-century modern?What's going to make it from the furniture being created right now? How do we know what will last?There's a lot of innovation around lighting right now in new types of light bulbsWe discuss light bulbs and why the color they give off is so importantWhat's the difference between an antique and vintageWe talk about his 100 year old house, how he bought it from the original owners, and how he loves the huntHow important it is

Lisa Mende's room in the Traditional Home Southern Style Now Showhouse stopped us in our tracks, so we knew we had to get her on the podcast. Her spaces are bold, jubilant, and inviting, and we quickly learned that she herself is too. If you've ever had questions about paint, then this is an episode you have to listen to. We talk about choosing paint colors, paint finishes, fan decks, why you can't just look at the paint chip, and Lisa gives us all her favorite paint colors. What You'll Hear on This Episode: I talk about Tom Sheerer's book Tom Sheerer Decorates which I devoured over Memorial Day weekendTaryn talks about her leaky roof and how the dry cleaner got out the stain in her blue dress (which she discussed in the last episode)Lisa tells us all about her 'she shed' in the Traditional House showhouse in New OrleansWe talk about her guest house becoming the center of the party during the showhouse openingWe talk about showhouses, how designers are paired with sponsors, and why we love showhouses so much

Flower Magazine editor in chief and founder Margot Shaw joins us from Birmingham to talk about flowers, being a green thumb, and why she decided to start Flower Magazine. We talk fake flowers, the etiquette for cutting from the yard, and why your containers or vases are as important as the flowers you're trying to arrange. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: -Taryn's very upsetting wardrobe malfunction  -Karen talks about how she oxycleans everything  -Taryn's triumph is that she had a piece of art framed  -Karen shares the mystery of her collapsed faux boxwood balls  -Karen's triumph was painting her back fence black  -My triumph is that I had my Nala Stool reupholstered in our Natural Woven Sand fabric which looks just like raffia  -My trial is a recurring experience in which my neighbor's get to see my pajamas  -Margot shares the incredible story of how she started Flower Magazine  -We talk about how people are really the cornerstone of the magazine, not plants  -She shares that she does not in fact ... hav

This week we have a very special guest all the way from California, interior designer Mark D. Sikes. Mark is a veritable renaissance man with a furniture line, fabric collection, rug collection, book, fashion line, and of course his interior design business. He shares the story of how his Los Angeles home landed on the cover of House Beautiful, his love of fashion and experience working in fashion, how he approaches a new space, and how to get that effortless California style in your home. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: Taryn's trial involves the yearly dilemma of pollen versus outdoor furniture.Karen gives us tips for pruning hydrangeas.My London travel momento is both my trial and my triumph.Karen's guest bedroom saga continues. This week, she's talking about paint.Mark shares the process of designing his furniture collection and where his inspiration comes fromHow his degree in finance helps his interior design businessWe press him on how he started his MDS Stripes fashion lineMark loves a stripe -- so

We recently traveled to High Point, North Carolina for their Spring Market and had the chance to sit down with some of our favorite tastemakers. This week, we're sharing our interview with the Editor in Chief of Domino Magazine, Jessica Romm Perez. She's worked at some of our favorite magazines -- Martha Stewart, Food & Wine, and Elle Decor just to name a few -- so we loved chatting with her about what trends she's seeing at market, her recent home renovation, and how her team dreams up such a gorgeous issue! Of course we couldn't end the episode without her answering your decorating questions! WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: We're in High Point Market in North Carolina interviewing interior designers and editorsWe talk about why we love market and what it isKaren's triumph is the new bed she put in her guest bedroomHer trial is that her guest bedroom closet won't close because of the bed!We talk about how everything in Karen's house is from Ballard but why it doesn't actually look like our catalog or stor

This week, we're bringing you a very special Mother's Day edition. Our guests are our three moms! We gave them a little pop quiz and challenged them on how well they know us and how well we know them. We talk about our childhood bedrooms, how our styles differ, and much more. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE My trial which consisted of being in the middle of the Atlanta I-85 interstate collapseTaryn recaps her travels to South Africa, including what she brought home on the planeTaryn's sweet lab Baylor came home from the daycare with a tumorKaren talks about her carpenter bee problem and her gardening triumphWe played a game with our moms where we made them fill out a quiz to see how well they knew usWe talk color, wallpaper, sentimental things, and hoarding tendenciesWe talk about our childhood bedroomsWe share another round of entertaining disasters

Our guest this week has seriously enviable style that blends vibrant colors with doses of white and black. We love the way she uses vintage pieces but creates rooms that feel totally fresh and modern. Gen Sohr is one half of the husband and wife team at Pencil and Paper Company, and we had to pick her brain about decorating with kids, color, pattern, thrift shopping, and how she and Ben manage to do it all, and together no less! WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: Taryn tells us about her fun new findI shopped my house to redo my living room mantelKaren tells us about the mysterious dots all over her kitchen and den and her clever solution to her tray which scratches her coffee tableWe talk favorite paint colors and color palettes with GenWhat it's like working with her husband, how they met, and when they decided to open their businessWe talk about her new hometown of Nashville and how the city has changed since they've moved thereDoes she have any pet peeves when she visits friends' homesHer go-to white pain

Interior designer Beth Webb's spaces are comfortable, tailored, and utterly timeless, so you can our imagine our delight when she joined us for this week's episode of the podcast. We talk about her recent challenge of blending her own style with her new husbands, we talk entertaining, southern hospitality, and the importance of great lighting, among other things. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE My garden related triumph and allergy related trialTaryn has a cleaning conundrum she needs help solvingTaryn talks about her recent accessory additionKaren's stranger danger experience in her neighborhoodWhy it's so great to be an interior designer in AtlantaWe talk the business of design, including comraderie, client relationships, and social mediaHow she's combined her own style aesthetic with her new husband's more contemporary styleWhat are her decorating pet peevesThe importance of having layers of light in your spaceWhy scale is so important, why it's hard to teach, and how to approach scale in your own home

Hold onto your earbuds because our guest today is none other than our own design partner, author, acclaimed interior designer, and hostess extraordinaire Bunny Williams! We traveled to Bunny's office in New York to record this special episode in her office, and she definitely did not disappoint. Bunny shares some incredible decorating tips and stories, including how she furnished her first apartment and decorating her home in the Dominican Republic. We talk about her new outdoor furniture collection La Colina, and of course she answers your decorating questions! WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: We talk about my red lipstick trial and Karen schools us in her red lipstick protocolKaren's cord control decorating triumphTaryn talks about the incredible meal and incredible decor at Marcel in AtlantaHer trial involves public speakingBunny tells us why she decided to do a product line with Ballard DesignsShe tells us about how we're all faced with the same dilemma when it comes to decorating -- budgetWhy only buyi

**Disclaimer: We had some technical difficulty with one of our mics. It refused to cooperate! We hope you'll enjoy the show anyway.** Being the design-aholics we are, we couldn’t turn down an opportunity to interview the Editor-in-Chief of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME, Betsy Riley. We have Betsy to thank for reviving the title in 2015. Each issue brings some of the most gorgeous and inspiring spaces in Atlanta, so we were thrilled to pick her brain about what makes a house magazine-worthy and how she decorates in her own home. WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE: Karen’s bathroom-related entertaining disaster Karen tested our Brian Patrick Flynn’s drapery training trickTaryn talks about her entertaining pet peeve — everyone gravitating to the kitchenTaryn’s shade swap with a big lighting lesson — take your lamp base to the store!Why some beautiful homes just aren’t right for a magazineHow she picks which homes to feature and what types of spaces don’t make it to the magazineWhat her biggest decorating challenge isW

Today's guest is not only one of our favorite designers and a hometown hero in the design world, she's also our design partner, Suzanne Kasler. Suzanne's interiors are usually riddled with classic furniture pieces, but she presents them with a modern point of view. They're tailored, edited, and punctuated with color. We launched our first collection with Suzanne in 2011, and ever since then, we've been making design magic together, so we're thrilled to have her as our guest today on the blog! WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON TODAY'S SHOW: Karen's recent framing victory inspired by Natalie Nassar's houseTaryn talks about a product she recently designedA new hobby I'm trying outSuzanne talks about showhouses and why she loves themWhy she likes to keep her team smallHow she does it all and where she finds her creative energyHow her love of shopping translates to design inspirationWhy Suzanne can't share her favorite places to shopWhy she started working with design partnersWe talk about her new outdoor furniture collection,

We're opening a new store outside of Boston at Natick Mall, and to celebrate, we wanted to talk to some local design talents. You may remember me mentioning Katie Hutchison's book The New Small House on our episode with Annette Joseph. We ended up connecting with Katie and were thrilled when she agreed to join us for a live podcast episode from the floor of our brand new store! Since we're live, you'll notice lots of background noise (we apologize in advance), but we loved picking Katie's brain about living in a small house, designing a small house, and takeaways even those of us not in small houses can utilize in our own spaces! IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL HEAR: The background story of Katie book and how it came to be We talk about Katie's own house which we briefly talks about in the book The 'keys' Katie discusses in the book which each of the small houses have in common and which we can all utilize, like 'pockets for privacy' Taryn and I both talk about our experiences seeing the 'pockets of privacy' at

We're big fans of interior designer, blogger, and author Erin Gates, so when we headed to our new Boston store at Natick Mall, we knew we had to sit down with this local stylemaker. She joined us for our first live podcast recording in the front window of our brand new store to talk about designing for families, her massive home renovation, and so much more. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE: We talk about what guys universally love and hate How one finished room can inspire a client to finish the whole house We talk about which room you should invest in and complete first She shares the topic of her new book, decorating for families and why you don't have to dumb down your decor just because you have kids and pets Why having a well-designed master bedroom is so important The misconceptions many people have about what they can and can't have in their home if they have families Why white is actually appropriate -- if you have bleach on hand! How much Erin's team has grown and how delighted they all ar

We can't help but be struck by how powerful yet restrained interior designer Melanie Turner's spaces are, and we were even more struck by how down-to-earth and cool she is. In only seven short years after opening her interior design business, she's earned such accolades as Veranda's Southeastern Designer of the Year, Trad Home's Top 10 Designers, Architectural Digest's 2010 Kitchen of the Year, and many more. We were beyond thrilled when she sat down to talk with us about her recents trip to Morocco, the power of vision boards, why she never puts bookshelves in a home, and so much more. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THE SHOW: How Melanie uses vision boards to turn her dreams into reality We talk about the photo shoot Ballard Designs did at Melanie's house The powerful history of her historic home and the spiritual connection she has to it Why she feels like a steward of her house instead of an owner She talks about how practical the home is for modern life, even though it was built in 1923 We talk a bit about A

Go ahead and pinch us because we can’t quite believe we get to introduce this week’s podcast guest, interior designer Miles Redd! We were beside ourselves when he agreed to sit down with us while recently in his hometown of Atlanta (and ours). Plus, he’s our first AD100 Designer on the podcast. Miles’ spaces are packed with style, drama, and whimsy, plus we were struck with how darn nice he is!  WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE: Karen’s juju hat insect infestation The next addition Karen made to her ongoing guest bedroom project Taryn painted her carport Sherwin Williams Vogue Green Taryn needs help with her guest bathroom because her beadboard wainscoting makes it difficult to hang a mirror My all-time worst trial involving a ‘ceiling pimple’ How Miles got his start at NYU and made his way to John Rosselli His time at Oscar de la Renta Why it’s important to trust your own instincts and take risks Miles talks to us about color and why it’s all about relationships Why you should tackle your walls a

Natalie has worked with us here at Ballard Designs for years, so when we caught a glimpse of her chic, layered family home, we knew we had to share. We posted her whole home tour here on How to Decorate yesterday, but we couldn't pass up the opportunity to get even more decorating goodness out of her to share on the podcast! We talk about decorating with kids, styling, layering, and so much more! WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THE SHOW: I hosted my largest ever dinner party and I give you a whole run down My seriously embarrassing 'trial' that involves my robot vacuum Another installment of Taryn's dog chewing disasters Taryn tells us about her trip to South America and what she brought back We ask Natalie about her style which she calls 'collected, global' Why Natalie likes to choose neutrals for her large furniture pieces, then adds in colorful accessories Her history with Ballard Designs and how she got started styling rooms We talk about her dining room, which you can see here Natalie talks to us about ho

This week on the podcast, we're talking with stylist, entertaining expert, author, and workshop master of ceremonies, Annette Joseph. Annette does it all and makes it look so easy. We sat down to talk about the villa in Italy she's renovating, her workshops, how she got into styling, and so much more! What You'll Hear on the Show: How Karen did a mini bathroom makeover in her guest suite How Annette started styling What it was like pitching a show to Bravo and shooting a pilot Annette has been vacationing in Italy since she was a kid Annette talks about her upcoming book about Italy Why it's hard to be an ex-patriot in Italy Why it's always better to go shopping in Italy with an actual Italian (or someone who knows everyone) The scoop on buying real estate in Italy ... and renovating from a different continent Italy's all about 'juice' The faux pas Annette committed recently while walking around her property How they ended up buying the property they chose All about the workshops she hosts -- per