How To Decorate

This week, we have the pleasure of hosting Mary Beth Anderson as our guest. In addition to being the accomplished producer behind several popular TV shows including HGTV’s Brother vs Brother, Restored by the Fords, My Lottery Dream Home, Design Star, and Good Bones, Mary Beth is the fearless leader behind Ballard’s new TV show, Design School, set to launch on QVC+ on March 24th hosted by our very own Caroline! Mary Beth provides an overview of what viewers can expect from Design School, and how it differs from her previous projects (we think this will be her favorite). She shares some fun behind-the-scenes information about her experience producing design TV, and some of her favorite moments from taping. Get ready for some decorating dilemmas and much more to be on a TV channel near you, very soon.  What You’ll Hear on This Episode:  What was the genesis of the TV show?  How can we watch it?  Will some of my favorite podcast guests be on the TV show?  What is the format of the show, and how is it differen

This week marks the 300th episode of our podcast, which means it's time to attempt our very first lightning round Decorating Dilemma Q&A special episode! Thank you so much for listening and support the How to Decorate podcast over the years. To honor our podcasting milestone, today's episode is all about authentically answering your home decorating questions: Caroline, Taryn, and Liz break down your Instagram-submitted questions by topic, from decorating with patterns and colors, living room layouts, outdoor styling questions, and even a few mystery wildcard questions. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: When will the color gray die? What are some good color trends for traditional transitional designs? Why the color wheel is a great tool for picking a color palette. Decorating with patterns versus solids. Is there a limit to the number of chairs in a room? The power of pattern in your room. How to create a zone in your home. How do you style a coffee table? How to add cozy ambiance for outdoor space l

Our guest this week is renowned architect Bobby McAlpine. His eponymous firm, McAlpine, is known for blending modern and traditional elements to create bold, soulful, and poetic homes meant to capture imaginations while still feeling familiar. Bobby joins the pod to talk about his new book, Romantic Modernism, out on March 21st, and discusses some of the sculptural elements he brought into the architecture, the influence theater and drama have had on his work, and the personification of his home including knowing his boy house needed a sister. Bobby also shares what life on a private island is really like and how we can include soft yet beautiful drapery in our homes to give us that romantic yet modern twist. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How the silver and gold crayons represent classicism and modernism to Bobby. How Bobby decides when to really go for it in some elements in the house and when to remove them. How has the experience of living in the house in Atlanta been compared to what Bobby imagined

Our guest this week is good friend Susanna Salk: design expert, successful YouTube creator, and author of over 14 books. Susanna talks with us about her new book, Making a House a Home, and some of the things she’s been most surprised about in the designer’s homes. She also discusses the difference between a designer’s home vs. a non-designers home and how we can bring that casual elegance into our own life, and gives insight into why spring cleaning isn’t exactly her thing including ways to edit your wardrobe and home in an easier, more consistent way. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How does Susanna find the time and inspiration to come up with her book concepts? Some of Susanna’s favorite tips and tricks that she has brought into her own space that she saw in a designer’s house. Making a House a Home is for everyone, both designers and novices alike. What are visual landscapes? How we can tie visual landscapes together using the dinner guest analogy. Your rooms don't have to look perfect, but they

It’s all about Trials and Triumphs this week as we talk about power outages and faulty fireplaces, beautiful drapes, a lack of hot water, Liz's recent trip to Paris, and why you should always store your warranties in a safe place. We also talk about new ventures in wallpaper and some of our favorite artist girl crushes. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Triumphs including finally having a fence around the pool - super ready for summer! New ventures in wallpaper, including Anna French’s Thibaut and Peter Dunham. Liz’s trip to Paris was a definite triumph. A trial on a bathroom tile redo. Sometimes, you just have to try and try again. You’re not alone if you’ve ever run a bath and just had four droplets of cold water come out. Mentioned in This Episode: Ballard Designs Caitlin McGauley Gracie Whitney McGregor

We welcome internationally recognized interior designer Suzanne Rheinstein to talk about her third book A Welcoming Elegance and how she chose the beautifully photographed homes of the featured clients. Suzanne shares some great tips for those learning to decorate on how to transition into new spaces and re-imagine them, and how we can blend contemporary with antique. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: The inspiration behind Suzanne’s new book, A Warming Elegance. How to use your home as a place to help a transition in your life. The inspiration for the house in Montecito. Blending contemporary with antique. Suzanne’s love for drawings and old and new. What are your favorite ways to make your home feel casual? Suzanne’s zest for a party featuring all ages. Mentioned in This Episode: Ballard Designs A Warming Elegance Suzanne Website Decorating Dilemma We are here to assist you with decorating your entryway and hallway! First, if you want to do vinyl wallpaper and find an all-over pattern that

We welcome Elizabeth Lawrence, Interior Designer and Partner at Bunny Williams Inc. Elizabeth is an iconic designer known for her layered approach to traditional interiors, and her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor House, and much more. Elizabeth talks about her journey from intern to partner with Bunny, a few of her favorite Bunny-isms that make a room feel layered and comfortable, and some current things she’s loving in 2023. Elizabeth talks about her personal jumping-off point when starting in a home and how to add more creature comforts to your home. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Elizabeth talks about her journey from intern to partner. How does Elizabeth’s personal style both align and dovetail with Bunny’s? The one color both she and Bunny aren’t a fan of. What about an unusual space that doesn’t have a natural layout? Are there different types of seating or things that one could try? Ideas for moving around furniture in a simple way that yields powerful changes. Menti

We catch up this week with Atlanta-based designer Mallory Mathison, who blends the classical richness of the past with endless design possibilities for today. Mallory’s work has been featured in Southern Homes, Atlanta Homes, and most recently in the 2022 Flower Magazine Show House here in Atlanta. We talked with Mallory about how much we loved her room, and the steps she took to create a glowy, gilded garden room. Mallory shares what she loves about showrooms, and shares a few key pieces of wisdom to make your space classic and comfortable, and always ready for the perfect party. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Mallory’s process of creating a character-driven showroom. How Mallory chose warm glittery glowy lighting and the perfect pink in her Show House room. How did Mallory hang her mirror in the show house on top of the beautiful fabric over a daybed? How do we make our bars look amazing and what can we do to be always party ready? The importance of staying on the good side of a contractor. Wicker

It’s a really exciting show this week as we hear about the 2023 Ballard Designs Trend Report from Taryn and Hillary in Product Design. In this special episode, both Product Designers break down the latest in key interior design trends including color, finishings, wallpaper, and hospitality design. From a well-traveled home to color choices to a Barbie pink renaissance, we’ve got the latest and trendiest in interior design covered to help make your home an even more beautiful sanctuary. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: What is a trend report, and why did they go through this exercise? What’s popping in pattern and color? Some aspects of the well-traveled home. The indoor garden movement? Sign us up. A Pink Renaissance! Are we really living in a Barbie dream house? Trends for 2023 colors like Pantone, raspberry, and terracotta. Are chrome finishes going to get even more popular this year? Trends in fabric and wallpaper. Mentioned in This Episode: Ballard Designs

It’s all about getting out of the routine and the regular this week as we welcome New York-based interior designer Stewart Manger to the show. Stewart has worked in some of the most celebrated design offices in the United States, and we talk to him about learning from David Easton, Bunny Williams, and David Kleinberg as well as his advice for new and upcoming designers. Stewart shares the inspiration behind his new book, Romancing The Home, and gives us a few expert tips on balancing both style and comfort in design. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How the point of view comes from the voice of the house as well as the client. Stewart’s ability to naturally blend traditional and modern while bringing in contemporary. How working with celebrated names like David Easton, Bunny Williams, and David Kleinberg influenced him and what elements of their work and habits he draws into his own practice now. How can we better distribute patterns around the room? How small details can have a large impact, such as le

Karen Mooney, our fearless leader and President of Ballard Designs, joins us to celebrate the milestone of Ballard’s 40th Anniversary. We dive into the company history, how Ballard Designs grew into what it is now, and then Karen shares a few of her favorite trends over her 22 years with the brand. Then, we talk about what’s next for Ballard as it enter 2023 and everything beyond. Thank you so much for your support for Ballard Designs: we couldn’t have helped inspire home decorators over the past 40 years without our lovely patrons, community, and listeners like you. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Who is Helen Ballard? The 40-year story of Ballard Designs. The value add of upholstery and unique other special touches Ballard is proud to give their customers. The history of architecture and design and the importance of mixing both high and low. Okay for real, how do you sneak an ottoman into a room during a coffee break? What really went on in the Ballard backroom? What products do we think “what was

It’s a very special episode this week as we welcome Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason, the brainchild of the husband and wife team behind AphroChic. Their latest release, AphroChic: Celebrating the Legacy of the Black Family Home, is a gorgeous and impactful book that showcases the stories of numerous homes and the in-depth conversations with the residents that celebrate their unique family story. Jeanine and Bryan talk about the inspiration behind the book and how the story of home begins way before we enter the home we’re in now. They talk about the decision to create a design book that is also a history book, and the intention of storytelling in a way that is educational, expansive, and entertaining. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Jeanine and Bryan talk about their journey into Aphrochic and their “why” behind the book. The families selected were some designers, but also teachers, chef, writers, and just people with aesthetic and authentic taste. Aphrochic shows that design is so much more than just ch

We welcome the wonderful Suzanne Tucker to the show this week, where she gives us a preview of her third book published last month, Extraordinary Interiors. Suzanne is recognized as one of the country’s leading interior designers, known for her endearing style, attention to detail, and passion for architectural and decorative arts. Suzanne talks with us about many things including the beauty of having a second set of eyes when making interior design decisions, how to put your own stamp on something, and why the bones of a room or space matters first before you start adding the extra things on top of it. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How to put your own stamp on something in a way that gives it your personal touch. The beauty of having a trusted friend and pair of eyes when it comes to design. Why multi pigmented paint is such a great choice, and how it changes a room hour by hour. How bringing in art that you love and feel connected to can tie a room together stylistically. Why should we start with t

It’s a fun trials and triumphs episode this week! We cover everything from fancy diffusers from Target to fill your home with lovely scents, and how pressure washing a white home can make a world of a difference. Liz finally tells the “tub story”, and we discuss how a new house doesn’t mean it comes without issues and putting some TLC into it. At the end, everyone shares their holiday plans and we dream about shopping in Paris. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Diffusers are great for old homes with a funky smell, or new homes with older dogs that also have a funky smell. Some tips for hosting a book club at your home. More on woven blinds and how they can level up a room. Some of the first steps What do you do with your kids when you’re having people over? Wait, do our kids actually think we’re cool? As Liz heads to Paris, we share some of our favorite places to shop there. Mentioned in This Episode: E. Dehillerin

This week we welcome New York based prop stylist Robin Zachary. After working as the Creative Director for Bridal Guide Magazine, Robin launched her prop styling career and has since founded The Prop Styling Experience: a popular prop styling workshop. Robin talks with us about how to start styling with the things you already have and love, advice for those looking to get into the field, and more about her book, Styling Beyond Instagram: Take Your Prop Styling Skills From the Square to the Street.  What You’ll Hear on This Episode: What exactly does a prop stylist do? What are some of the biggest misconceptions about prop styling? Advice for those looking to get into prop styling. What led Robin to develop both her workshop and book? How Instagram and Pinterest have changed the world of photography. Robin’s great advice on how you can make things look beautiful on a daily basis. How to find the perfect pillow cover for your sofa. Some of the inspiration behind Styling Beyond Instagram. A plug for

We’ve got a great duo here this week on How to Decorate: Rachel Barrett, Editor in Chief of Country Living and acclaimed singer songwriter, serial house renovator and contributing Country Living writer Holly Williams. In the November issue of Country Living, we get to see the beautiful country house they renovated using some Ballard products. We hear the story of how they came to collaborate and the little details that turned out to be one big vision. They also talk about working in a tight timeline, along with some behind the scenes moments of a not so glamorous photo shoot. We also talk about fun ideas for ping pong rooms, how bold colors can make a big difference, and the importance of having a touchstone item. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How to create a cohesive vision for a project, especially when working in a tight timeline. Maybe you should look on Craigslist for real estate? How they incorporated an itch to use hunting lodge decor in their farmhouse. The importance of starting with a neutra

This week features Veronica Solomon, Houston interior designer and CEO and Creative Director of Casa Vilora Interiors. Veronica is also a mentor and a professional coach to other interior designers looking to build their businesses in the design community. She talks about the development of her bold style, her love of the eclectic and layered looks, her inspiration for taking more risks, and how not to be afraid of a dark wall.  What You’ll Hear on This Episode: What does it mean to be eclectic?  Are there certain rooms where Veronica feels like it makes sense to be a little more bold?  When is the right time to use draperies? Veronica’s advice on taking more risks in a way that is calculated and intentional. Low commitment but big splash items that can lend themselves to be a little more bold such as art and light fixtures.  How to know when it’s time to just call a designer?  Thinking about putting your favorite color everywhere on the wall? Veronica shares why you may want to think again, and how t

We are so excited to have former host Karen Mooney back on the show! On this special holiday episode, Karen gives us an update on her life since becoming President of Ballard Designs, walks us through her new beach house design, shares her favorite holiday Ballard products, and joins Caroline, Taryn, and Liz in giving tips for entertaining, holiday decorating, gift ideas, and more. Also, be sure to check out Ballard Design's Black Friday Deals while they last! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Karen gives us an update of what she’s been up to since becoming President of Ballard. Karen surprises us, and herself, with how colorful she has decorated her beach house. How the podcast has helped Karen expand and embolden her design style. We each offer our best hosting tips. Thanksgiving dinner in the day or the evening? Karen gives us her secret recipe for gravy. How to set the table so it breaks the ice for guests. What are the main parts of the house we decorate for the holidays? How to accent faux deco

We conclude our special series highlighting the FLOWER Magazine Atlanta Showhouse with a recap of our in-person tour! Ballard Designs is proud to be one of the sponsors of the house. We share our initial thoughts and takeaways and go room by room to marvel at each designer’s work. Our biggest takeaway? The house is so awe-inspiring that we have to go again! And if you’re local, we highly recommend a visit. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: We start with the breathtaking entryway which includes textures, patterns, and a plethora of wallpaper. We dig into the wallpaper, the details, and the cohesiveness of the house. We are hoarse from talking so much at the showhouse; everyone was so inspiring and welcoming! The house had everything you could imagine; including LIVE birds! Did we mention there was pink marble? We attempt to pick our favorite room. Is it even possible? Which room had hand-painted tiger wallpaper? Each space, even the small ones, was designed as its own room. A reminder to maximize ev

We are back with our special series highlighting the FLOWER magazine showhouse here in Atlanta. This episode features the celebrated Dallas-based interior designer, Cathy Kincaid. Known for her use of color and her exquisite eye for antiques, Cathy talks to us about how no detail is too small, her love of cozy bedrooms, and her tips for creating elegant yet livable designs inside your home. Cathy talks more about different ways to personalize your bedroom including getting clear on how you like your lighting, bed dressings, textiles, and furniture set up. If you’d like to visit the house in person you can purchase tickets here, and also follow along with the podcast series whether you can see it in person or not! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Cathy loves smaller bedrooms and finds them to be super cozy. What was Cathy’s inspiration behind the color choice in the bedroom, other than it being the woman's domain? The influence of the baby Taj on the bedroom design. Cathy dives more into her choice of fa