How To Decorate

We are back with our special series highlighting the FLOWER magazine showhouse here in Atlanta, and the fun continues with acclaimed designer Barry Dixon. His work can be found all over the world, and on the pages of your favorite magazines like House Beautiful, Traditional Home and of course, Flower magazine. Barry talks about designing for all five senses, telling the story of a space from beginning to end, and his choice of textiles, colors, and books in the beautifully inspiring library. Ballard Designs is proud to be one of the sponsors of the house, and we are so excited to share all the gorgeous spaces with you. 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: Barry talks about the foundation of the library, and the little bit of Hollywood Regency appeal to the house. The views of the exterior are such an important part of the beauty of any interior. Some

This episode continues our special series highlighting the FLOWER magazine showhouse here in Atlanta. Ballard Designs is proud to be one of the sponsors of the house, and we are so excited to share all the gorgeous spaces with you. Each day this week we will interview a different designer from the showhouse to talk about the room they designed, their inspiration, trends throughout the space, and much more. This episode features Julie Dodson, of Dodson Interiors. For 20 years, she has brought chic French inspired spaces to her Houston clientele. Her love of antiques and ability to add a fresh spin on traditional elements is evident in her polished spaces that she creates her clients. Julie talks about the inspiration for the showroom, her choice of the color palette, and how we can find the balance between the old and the new with antiques. 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

We are continuing our special series highlighting the FLOWER magazine showhouse here in Atlanta. Ballard Designs is proud to be one of the sponsors of the house, and we are so excited to share all the gorgeous spaces with you. Each day this week we will interview a different designer from the showhouse to talk about the room they designed, their inspiration, trends throughout the space, and much more. Our guest today, Melanie Milner, discusses her work on the scullery in the showhouse. Melanie is an Atlanta-based designer with The Design Atelier known for her timeless style and use of colors. Her work has been featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyle, LUXE, and more. 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: What is a scullery and why did it speak to Melanie? Why Melanie worked alongside the dining room team of the showhouse to coordinate designs. Melanie c

This episode kicks off a special series we’re doing highlighting the FLOWER magazine showhouse here in Atlanta. Ballard Designs is proud to be one of the sponsors of the house, and we are so excited to share all the gorgeous spaces with you. Each day this week we will interview a different designer from the showhouse to talk about the room they designed, their inspiration, trends throughout the space, and much more. Our first designer, Nellie Jane Howard Ossi of Mrs. Howard Design Firm walks us through her powder room design for the house. She’s a lead designer, a domestic expert, and has a tabletop line coming out next year with Dillards. 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: How did Nellie get the chance to work on the showhouse? What was Nellie’s inspiration for how to begin the powder room design and what is the theme? How do you account for no na

Today's lovely guest is English designer Emma Sims-Hilditch. Emma got her start designing sets for Ridley Scott before opening her own firm, Sims Hilditch, in 2009. Her work has been featured in Vogue, House & Garden, The Telegraph, and many other publications. We discuss Emma’s new book The Evolution of Home: English Interiors for a New Era and her tips for decorating the English way. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: What has been the evolution of Emma’s design style through childhood, travels, and beyond? How does Emma find balance between rustic and clean, modern styles? Why does Emma paint her house twice a year? Why light plays such an important role in color and hue choices. Why is storage in the bedroom priority #1 for Emma? Emma encourages people not to always get hung up on symmetry and matching; nature is the perfect example of this. The case for brown furniture! What Emma likes to consider for home office spaces. How did working in set design influence Emma’s design style? What does Emm

We have a major treat for you today, in the form of a great conversation with the dean of American design, celebrated interior designer Stephen Sills. You’ve seen Stephen’s work in your favorite design magazines including Architectural Digest, Town and Country, Elle Decor, and many more. Stephen walks us through his new book, a Vision for Design, and a few of the recent projects featured in the book, including stunning homes in Florida, New York City, and his own Connecticut home. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Considerations when choosing a wallpaper. How dining rooms are becoming less formal and more usable. How to use boards to see the whole of the house, and work with layout and scale. What should you consider when choosing a shape and size for a sofa? What has changed in Stephen’s Connecticut home over the 30 years he has lived there. In Stephen’s work, how does he approach both beauty and functionality of the space? What’s next for Stephen now that the book is out? How Stephen curated certai

Welcome back to another Trials & Triumphs episode! Last time Caroline shared with us that lightning struck her house and did some damage. She took the opportunity to make some additional upgrades while doing those repairs. The Schwartz House is nearly finished and Taryn is very happy with her wallpaper choices; but not so happy with the broken appliances. Liz has no trials OR triumphs to report, but this episode got her thinking about what she wants to do next in her house. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Turning lemons into lemonade, Caroline took the opportunity to add a medicine cabinet after a lightning strike destroyed part of her house. Caroline’s medicine cabinet addition led her to add some other design elements to both her primary bathroom and powder room. Caroline took advantage of the Ballard clearance sale and found a life-changing new way to dry clothes. The good news is the last big appliances arrived in The Schwartz House, bad news is they aren’t working. The pool is just about ready i

Today we are deep diving into rugs. They are a foundational part of any space and very functional, but can be quite challenging. Not only are rugs expensive, but they are high traffic and take up a lot of space. So to discuss such an important and high commitment design element, we brought in our rug expert and 23 year veteran here at Ballard Designs–Carmen Barbee. Carmen breaks down the different types of rugs, how to care for them, her favorite tips and tricks, and so much more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: What are the common rug materials? Is there a rulebook for where rugs should be throughout the house? Why is natural fiber not kid or pet friendly? What role does synthetic fibers play in rug making? When it comes to hand knots, the smaller the hand knot the more expensive it is. How to care for wool rugs. What is an oushak rug? What is a flat woven rug? What is a kilim rug?  Every rug needs a rug pad. What does it do? The difference between hand tufted and hand hooked rugs. Are machine

Toronto-based interior designer Anne Hepfer joins the podcast to talk about her new book, Mood, plus why her client work is led by emotion. Anne shares her design work is anchored in rooms that make her clients' feel and how we can all bring more feeling into our spaces. On the show you'll hear: The evolution of Anne's new book, Mood Her path to writing her book on her own before shopping it to a publisher The format and concept of the book, and all of the heart she poured into the book Why it's important to uncover your emotional triggers and use them in your decorating Color as a way to evoke emotion in a room, but how to bring emotion into a neutral room too Pattern and why it's such an inspiration to Anne's work Why it's important to consider texture when choosing upholstery items Anne shares the inspiration behind her lake house, which has a totally different feel than her house in the city Anne's passion for travel and how it refills her design cup Why asking yourself the 'why' questions are

We are so thrilled to welcome award-winning design duo Jamie Drake and Caleb Anderson of the design firm Drake/Anderson. Their iconic work has been featured in several issues of Shelter, on the AD100 List, ELLE DECOR’s A-List, and they’ve also received the highest awards and accolades in the industry. They are known for luxurious and sophisticated residential and commercial spaces that are fearless and bold. Their new book Bold: The Interiors of Drake/Anderson is available for pre-order now. We discuss that book and their best tips for how to design fearlessly. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How did they get started on the book and chose their projects? The common thread throughout their book is that the contemporary work is informed by history and their traditional work also includes modern elements. What is the thought process while blending the bold elements? Where does the fearlessness come from? How can others become more fearless? Do they tend to influence their clients to be bolder or are bold

Today we are so excited to have Ballard’s in-house bedding & bath expert Amy Jourdan on the podcast. Amy knows everything about thread counts, materials, mixing and matching, and more. She designs all of the gorgeous beds in our catalog, and she knows what makes the perfect bed. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How to design a bed with not just look but function in mind. What are some of the most popular bedding materials for sheets and how do they differ? What are popular materials for duvets, coverlets, and quilts? Tips for layering the bed from basics to catalog-worthy. What is the bell of the bed? What to think about when mixing materials on a bed. All about how to arrange pillows depending on bed size and design goal. Our love of the lumbar. A tip for how to find the right orientation of the duvet cover. What are we doing with box springs? The trend now is a shift from headboards to platform beds. What is the best way to style kid’s beds? What are the different duvet fillings? Is a signatu

Perhaps the biggest of triumphs after two years of trials; Taryn finally moved into her new house! Plus, Liz and Caroline catch us up with all the Trials & Triumphs of their homes from bookcases to lightning, and more. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Liz finished her bedroom wallpaper project, but it uncovered a new “problem”. The hunter green lining; Liz found a great paint color and is styling her bookcase. Caroline’s house was struck by lightning…really! Since Caroline now has to fix her living room, she’s going to repaint the walls and possibly the ceiling. A BIG triumph for Taryn; they are in the house! But there are still workers in the house. Taryn is making strides in her outdoor space. Taryn installed, and then uninstalled, and then reinstalled some lighting (and outlets). A lesson to be learned; have the rugs cleaned BEFORE you move all of your furniture around. The fun is in the details but so is the devil. Taryn updates us on the service and selection available from Blinds.com. Now i

Today we are joined by designer David Jimenez, owner and founder of David Jimenez Studio. David is a creative force who got his start working at household names like Banana Republic, Pottery Barn, and Restoration Hardware. Six years ago he left his corporate job to move to Paris and start his design business, and he now designs spaces all over the world for his clients in that enigmatic Parisian style. His style is effortless, dripping in antiques, but also livable and fresh. This fall he is publishing his first book Parisian by Design: Interiors by David Jimenez. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: We gush over David’s new book Parisian by Design and discuss how it came together. David’s work history started by folding clothes in the Gap and eventually, it led him to Paris. A staple in Parisian design is using and reusing antiques and heirloom pieces. One of David’s tips for layering a room is setting a mood and finding joy within the room during the process. Gallery walls are a big component to Parisian

We are joined today by Houston-based designer Amanda Holliday. Amanda opened her firm, Amanda Brooke Interiors, in 2019 after working commercial and residential design for many years. Her approach is a balance of contemporary and vintage, architectural and organic, and she is an expert in experiential storytelling through your space. Amanda shares with us all of her tips, tricks, and creative ways to change your aesthetic. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Where can you start when you are getting sick of your home? What are your options for changing your aesthetic if you can’t change things structurally? What swaps make the biggest impact in changing a room? How plaster can be used to transform a space. Why Amanda likes to break the rules when it comes to artwork and accessories. How does Amanda like to style bookcases? Some of Amanda’s tips to revitalize and repurpose furniture. How to use accent lighting to completely revamp a room. The many nuances of and versatility of lampshades. Options for c

Today we welcome award-winning designer Lorraine Enwright. Lorraine was the lead designer of the 2021 Serenbe Showhouse, and she also recently won Bath of the Year from Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. We chat with Lorraine about what sets a room apart to achieve a designer look. We discuss the main differences in using a designer vs. going at it alone, why focal points are so important, and why Lorraine says the last 5% is the most important part of the room design. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: What are the main differences between those rooms done by a designer vs. a homeowner? What resources does a designer have at their disposal? Where do you begin the discovery process for a client that doesn’t know what they want? How can someone understand scale and spatial relationships? Why an emotional and instinctual connection to a style is important to pay attention to. The details and last layers in the space are what really complete a room. Where do people often go wrong with their details without using

Dallas-based interior designer Elle Cole joins the show this week to walk us through how to design the perfect entertaining environment. Now that we are reopening our homes up to people and hosting again, Elle’s tips can get you back to feeling confident hosting events from a casual friend gathering to a larger holiday feast. Elle sheds some light on how to create the right vibe using the five senses, tips for creating an easy space to access your entertaining goodies, and her recommendation on creating a welcoming atmosphere from the minute your guests walk in up until it’s time to go home.  She gives her expert advice on the staple furniture pieces a dining room needs including a table of course, along with chairs, artwork, and décor. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Be clear on who and what you are entertaining for. Asking more questions about what you are looking to get out of entertaining each specific event is key. Why starting with color and the five senses can help create a welcoming atmosphere.

We are back with this month’s trials and triumphs. Last time, Taryn was ready to move into The Schwartz House, but some new trials are holding up their move-in date. Liz gives us an update – the good and the bad – on her meeting with the architect. Plus, Caroline shares all of the tips she learned from TikTok on how to make the perfect bed! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Taryn is still not living in her house; what’s the hold-up? So what IS ready in The Schwartz House? Tips on different types of blinds. How is Taryn feeling about her paint colors? Liz met with the architect for her kitchen. What are they planning for the stove? In coming up with a plan for remodeling her bathroom, Liz found out nothing is up to code. Caroline’s tips for making the perfect bed. Thank you, TikTok! Speaking of bed-making, how does everyone do theirs? Please email us if you have any tips for getting wrinkles out of duvet covers! Mentioned in This Episode: The Schwartz House Blinds.com Blindster June Kantha Quil

We are so excited to be joined today by Des Moines based art advisor and gallery owner Liz Lidgett. Liz works with clients in more than 45 states and 7 countries. She has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Business Insider, and Forbes. Part of what makes Liz’s business so successful is her accessible approach to art. For Liz, art is for everyone. We talk about all the ins and outs of how to feel good about your art investment, how to release the fear and intimidation around art galleries, and much more! What You’ll Hear on This Episode: How being based in the Midwest impacts Liz’s view on art as well as her business. Liz’s philosophy that “art is for everyone” is intricate to her design. Art and art galleries are for everyone; no one should ever feel like they don’t belong. How do you buy art if you don’t know anything about it? Why it’s important to know more about the artists behind their work. What to do when your taste varies greatly from your partner’s. How does Liz suggest buying art onlin

We had such positive feedback on our last episode with landscape architect Brantley Snipes, that we decided we had to have her back for part 2! Brantley is a Mississippi-based landscape architect as well as the owner, lead designer, and project manager for Brantley Snipes Landscape Design. Among many accolades, Brantley was named to the Greenwood Commonwealth’s Top 30 under 40. The last time we had Brantley on the show, we talked a lot about plants and softscaping. Today we “dive” into pools and other hardscaping elements. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: What to consider when deciding to build a patio. What are the pros and cons of concrete and when is it best to use it? What other hard materials should be considered and when? When should you consider using loose stone? How to determine the size, depth, shape, etc. of a pool. What to consider for the surrounding area of a pool; especially when kids are using it. All about pool tiles…and why are they so limited?! Considering liner vs. gunite pool su

The team welcomes Atlanta-based designer Hope Austin to the show today. Hope’s passion for craft started while working in design showrooms such as Brunschwig & Fils and Schumacher. She created her own brand, Hope Austin Interiors, where she works closely with her clients to create homes that are beautiful, comfortable and keep function top of mind. Hope talks about what’s going to make certain pieces last, starting with choosing a sofa that you like with fabric and patterns you will be excited about for years to come. She talks about how to treat the fabrics, some tips for having a nice sofa with kids and pets, and how to best clean when the inevitable wear and tear does happen. Hope also shares what she is putting in clients’ homes regarding counter stools, and how we can shop with realistic expectations. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: What really makes a sofa last? Hope gives her tips for having a nice sofa that is both kid and pet friendly. How do you do a white sofa? How you can use high performan