How To Decorate

This week, we're joined by interior designer Zoe Gowen for a tour of her clients' beautiful cedar shake home in Birmingham, Alabama. Zoe takes us through her design process, sharing how she blended traditional Southern style with modern Dallas influences to create a warm, layered neutral space. She reveals her strategies for incorporating antiques, mixing textures, and creating inviting spaces both indoors and out. What You’ll Hear On This Episode How Zoe transformed a traditional Alabama home with Dallas-inspired clean, neutral aesthetics. Tips for creating warmth and interest in a primarily white and neutral color palette. Strategies for mixing traditional elements with more contemporary pieces. The importance of layering textures and finishes in neutral spaces. How to use wallpaper panels to add architectural interest and define spaces. Tips for making a neutral home kid-friendly and livable. Zoe's approach to designing connected spaces like the living room, kitchen, and breakfast area. How to cre

This week, we're joined by distinguished architect and designer Thomas Kligerman of Kligerman Architecture and Design. Tom takes us on a journey through his rich background and design philosophy, as showcased in his latest book and career monograph "Shingle and Stone." He shares insights on American architecture, the evolution of the shingle style, and how he blends traditional elements with modern design. What You’ll Hear On This Episode Tom's diverse background and how it influences his architectural approach.  The definition and evolution of American architecture, particularly the shingle style.  How Tom reinvents traditional shingle style with modern elements and sculptural forms.  The importance of rooflines and ceilings in architectural design.  Tom's approach to blending indoor and outdoor spaces.  Insights on color use in architecture, including bold choices like all-red exteriors.  How Tom addresses challenges in different geographical locations, like building a shingle-style house in Texas. 

Get ready to dive headfirst into fall with over 200+ NEW products from Ballard Designs!    This week, Caroline and Taryn are joined by Valerie from Ballard’s product design team. The trio not only discuss their favorite new fall products from last week’s launch, but also highlight the creative journey behind each new collection & design, revealing insights into this Fall’s design trends, materials, and the true artistry that goes into each piece.    Don’t miss out! Watch this week’s episode on YouTube to see our new fall products in real time.    What You’ll Hear This Episode: The inspirations that fueled the design of the fall collection. Highlights from the new Dover bed collection and the chic Anderson dining furniture. How to mix classic and modern aesthetics for a timeless look. The role of color and texture in elevating your home decor. Essential elements of multifunctional designs that suit various lifestyles. A closer look at the whimsical Lily canopy bed and its unique features. Insights on se

We are thrilled to announce a NEW House Tour on the Ballard Designs YouTube Channel, available now! This time, Caroline visits the beautifully transformed home of a Schilling & Co. client in Duluth, Georgia. Designers Michelle and Kat from Schilling & Co. discuss their approach to blending colors and patterns, tackling challenging architectural elements, and integrating antique accents to create balanced and functional spaces. They also offer practical advice on perfecting beds, using performance fabrics, and adding personal touches throughout the home. Want to see this beautiful home with your own eyes? WATCH NOW on YouTube! What You’ll Hear On This Episode: 01:49 Designing a Comfortable and Elegant Home 02:59 Color Palette and Layering Techniques 04:16 Challenges of Double Height Living Rooms 09:31 Sunroom Design and Fabric Choices 12:14 Dining Room and Office Design 20:53 Primary Bedroom and Bathroom 25:01 Guest Bedroom and Final Thoughts Also Mentioned: Schilling & Company Ballard Designs'

It's all about the cozy and playful this week with Amy Dalrymple, the Creative Director and Founder of Dalrymple Studio. In our chat, Amy shares tips for personalizing your approach to design, including lessons she's learned in her own career working with a wide variety of clientele. Amy also gives some great advice on creating interiors that are both timeless and full of warmth, designing for longevity, and incorporating bold, primary colors to bring joy and happiness to a space. What You’ll Hear On This Episode Amy's background and journey into interior design, including her childhood exposure to design through her parents' careers. Amy's design philosophy of personalizing spaces to reflect each client's unique personality and her playful approach to create warm and inviting spaces. How to design for longevity while still keeping things fresh and interesting. Advice for starting with a grounding base pattern and adding layers from that. Where Amy goes for inspiration when she needs that little spark.

This week, we welcome seasoned interior designer Jillian O'Neill. She talks about her innovative Design Retreat, an interior design weekend that empowers homeowners to tackle their home projects with confidence and to connect with industry professionals. Jillian discusses the importance of assembling the right design team, maintaining open communication, and embracing flexibility in home renovation projects. Jillian also gives a sneak peek at the upcoming San Antonio event and what attendees can expect!  What You’ll Hear On This Episode The Design Retreat’s purpose is to bridge the gap between homeowners working on a project and professionals. How the Design Retreat can help homeowners gain confidence in their home design projects and empower them to actively participate in the process. A mix of attendees at the retreat, including those building homes, real estate agents, and design enthusiasts. The importance of assembling the right design team and having good communication. Transparency in the desig

We are thrilled to welcome back designer Gail Davis to the show this week: based out of New Jersey, Gail been bringing soulful, elegant interiors to her clients for 15 years. As we catch up, Gail shares details about her latest personal renovation project—a stunning kitchen makeover. Gail also shares some of her own great tips on welcoming southern sensibility with the traditional, embracing the "lived in" look of your home, and how she entertains in style. She highlights the importance of texture in design, her love for cinematic interiors, and how to create spaces that feel like a warm hug. Gail also offers insights on balancing aesthetics with practicality, and shares some of her favorite cleaning hacks for maintaining a beautiful home. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: The “why” behind her renovation. How she made her kitchen both stunning and practical, along with the see through refrigerator that had to go. Realizing that what works for you may not work for everyone. What Gail loves most about he

Our guest this week is DABITO, known for his vibrant use of color, thoughtful approach to space, and signature eclectic maximalist design style. He has captured the hearts of many on social media through his blog, OLD BRAND NEW, where he shares decorating advice on infusing spaces with meaning through bold hues and refreshing decor. We chatted with Dabito about his maximalist style and how to bring bold design choices into a home. We're also excited to share our conversation about his first book, Old Brand New, and how to bring in wisdom from his design journey to your own home. Finally, DABITO gives unique insight on how color can help tell your story and encourage you to experiment with different styles in your home. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: Dabito's journey into interior design, and how growing up in a multigenerational household had an impact on his creativity. Dabito talks about finding a safe space for self-expression while living with his siblings. His love of playing with warm and cool

Summer is in full swing with heat waves and road construction, so time for a fun share session with Trials & Triumphs! Taryn shares her progress on the dining room mural she's been planning for years, as well as her ongoing search for the perfect drapes. Liz installed a new fence but uncovered more than expected in her yard - finding a clever way to remedy the situation. Caroline has been visiting other designers' homes for our new House Tours series, and drawing inspiration along the way. We also chat about diffusers, lampshades, and essential oils while sharing the (sometimes humorous) realities of maintaining a home during these busy summer months. Also Mentioned:  Ballard Designs Watch the Full Episode - Ballard Designs YouTube Atlanta History Center Step Inside Lauren Robbins’ Stunning Augusta, GA Home | How to Decorate House Tours 

We are super excited to be launching a new House Tours series on our YouTube channel! To kick things off, we visited Lauren Robbins' gorgeous Tudor home in Augusta, Georgia. Caroline chatted with Lauren for over an hour about her decorating process and style. Now you can see all the visual details of Lauren's home that bring her design conversations to life, and listen here to their uncut hour-long discussion on this bonus episode. Lauren chats about her bright and happy "pretty room”, bedroom essentials, using colors to tell a story, and more about her signature elegant yet playful, gorgeous style. She also gives some great recommendations on picking an anchor fabric and tips for picking a loved piece to start as a jumping-off point for creating a whole home you love. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: More about the inspiration behind the home’s color palette and “pretty room”. The fun ways that optical illusion creates visual interest in designs. Starting with a loved piece as a jumping-off point. How

This week, we welcome Charleston based designer Betsy Berry. Known for her bold and dramatic approaches to designing traditional homes, Betsy also has a profound appreciation for historic architecture that stems from her upbringing in South Carolina. Betsy chats with us about balancing traditional and modern elements in interior design, preserving the architectural details in Charleston's historic homes, and her process for designing spaces that feel contemporary while celebrating romance and tradition. Betsy also shares her journey from studying fashion design to launching her career in New York and eventually starting her own firm in Charleston. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: Betsy's upbringing in South Carolina and journey from studying fashion design to discovering her passion for interiors.  How working for top designers on extravagant projects for wealthy clients in New York shaped her eye and approach Betsy’s appreciation for the historic architecture she gets to work on in Charleston, from u

This week, we are joined by award-winning Atlanta based designer, Robert Brown. Known for his tailored and highly edited spaces, Robert shares some great tips for blending vintage pieces with a modern aesthetic, finding the right balance of traditional and contemporary, and using antiques in a way that feels fresh and exciting. We also chat with Robert about the similarities between the fashion industry and interior design, tips for navigating the antique market like a pro and how the storytelling aspect of antiquing is just as important as the design.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode: Tips for reimagining antiques to bring character to your space.  How can you tell when something doesn’t work?  Robert talks about a historic house in Atlanta and how it exemplifies starting with the architectural envelope.  Some insider hints for navigating online auctions, and the importance of always doing your research.  How to overcome insecurity about asking questions regarding antiques and making sure you stay in

This week we catch up with Zoe Gowen, owner of El Shoppo, former editor at Southern Living, and Caroline’s former boss! Zoe shares lessons learned during her time scouting and featuring homes across the South, from the importance of highlighting regional styles to the challenges of finding the perfect paint color. Zoe also opens up about how the experience influenced her personal design aesthetic over the years, as well as how her career path led to starting her own decorating business and textiles shop, El Chapo. She gives some great tips for elevating your home while embracing your unique and personal style. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: What Zoe’s time at Southern Living taught her about home decor. Your home should feel like YOU. How the inside of a cucumber serves as color inspiration for Zoe! What are decorating motifs that always work? There is no “one size fits all” approach. Cushion Back vs. Fitted Back Chairs. When it comes to mixing patterns, it’s all about balance and harmony. Why Zo

This week we welcome designer Sabah Monsoor. With a style influenced by her childhood in South India, Sabah shares her appreciation for traditional handcrafts. She recalls visiting pottery villages as a child and studying textiles in art school, experiences that taught her to value diverse techniques of craftsmanship. Sabah also chats with us about how to stir up inspiration and maintain a curious mindset, tips for using natural textures to layer and add an even deeper story to your space, and why we should think of our home as a living, breathing space. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: How growing up in India influenced Sabah’s love of the decorative arts. The diverse techniques Sabah learned while studying textiles and art in school. The importance of functional spaces in your home, such as a mudroom. It’s never too late to put energy into your dreams! Sabah gives great advice on feeding your artistic mind and drawing inspiration from unexpected places. The beauty of a formal room.  Natural materia

It’s been a busy few months of DIY repairs and decluttering—let’s share some trials and triumphs! This time around, the ladies talk about organizing books and who takes it to the next level, gardening projects and home decor updates, moving past wimpy drapery panels, and giving a basement a light, feminine makeover. We’ll also vent about a long struggle with a broken bed and a weekend-long transformation project. You’ll want to hear these updates to celebrate and vent alongside us.  Also Mentioned: Ballard Designs

This week, we welcome Atlanta based designer Bailey Ward. She talks about her love of art and architecture at a young age, and how she developed her style that is chic, traditional, and open to the eclectic. Bailey gives some great advice for those looking to bring in a designer, including the importance of clearly defining your vision and budget before the work even starts. Bailey talks about the “therapy” aspect of design as well, and certain elements of design that help bring about balance and cohesion.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode: How Bailey got interested in art and architecture.  Even at 10 years old, you could find Bailey sketching floor plans!  Clients should study interiors and articulate their style before hiring a designer.  How to find a designer you trust.  Bailey talks more about her “DIY Consultation” packages.  Where to even begin when looking for a designer.  The importance of designers providing a clear breakdown of costs to avoid sticker shock.  Focusing on one space at a tim

We are joined this week by award-winning architect and designer Lucien Rees-Roberts. He discusses his new book published with Rizzoli, Timeless Modern Interiors, showcasing many of his iconic projects through photographs. Lucien shares insights into his design process, including collaborating with architects to understand client needs and editing down designs. In his work, Lucien emphasizes using color, light, and art placement to create beautiful, comfortable modern spaces. We also welcome Erin Fredrickson, a Partner at Rees Roberts + Partners, who shares great advice  for selecting unique, well-made pieces that stand the test of time in both form and function. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: Lucien talks about how growing up in a family of painters influenced his work.  More about Lucien’s design process including collaborating with architects, understanding client needs, and where he starts when editing down designs.  Tips on designing comfortable yet modern spaces, using unique and special furnitur

Get ready for a jolt of kitchen inspiration this week (and some myth-busting) as we re-united with Sophie Donelson, a design expert, journalist, and strategist who celebrates the connection between people and their homes. We last caught up with Sophie back in 2017 (episode #30) when she was the editor-in-chief of House Beautiful Magazine, but this week it’s all about her latest book, Uncommon Kitchens: A Revolutionary Approach to the Most Popular Room in the House.  Sophie provides insight into kitchen design and trends, reminding us that there are many ways to enjoy one’s kitchen. She discusses the idea of “liberated design” -bringing in nostalgic elements that also consider flexibility and functionality rather than following surface-level trends. Sophie shares some great advice on designing spaces that truly reflect how you use your kitchen daily, the “kitchen triangle” concept, and tips on lighting, color palettes, and storage solutions.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode: It’s okay to question and even c

This week, we welcome esteemed landscape architect Edmund Hollander, known for his award-winning career designing natural landscapes that blend with built architecture. In our conversation, we discussed his latest book "The Landscape of Home”, and some expert tips on designing a landscape that will look beautiful and inviting throughout all four seasons. Edmund also talks with us about the importance of having a master plan, working with your hardscape, and the connection between landscape and your favorite musical artist. Get ready for some plant inspiration!  What You’ll Hear On This Episode: Soil testing and designing hardscape for outdoor living spaces.  More about some of the gorgeous spaces and scapes featured in “The Landscape of Home”.  Listening to land when it comes to design composition and getting spatial relationships correct.   Designing gardens with a master plan for optimal functionality and aesthetics.  Landscape design elements, including seasonality, hardscape, and plant selection. 

Atlanta-based interior designer Minhnuyet Hardy joins us this week to discuss common interior design mistakes and how to avoid them. Minhnuyet shares her expertise on proper rug sizing and orientation, as well as drapery width, hardware placement, and lining importance. She gives some great tips for measuring spaces and hanging artwork at the ideal height, pesky furniture delivery challenges, accessorizing with trays, and grouping small items. Follow along with this week's decorating dilemma here on the How to Decorate Blog. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: Common rug size mistakes and how to properly size and orient rugs. Custom rug options for unique spaces. Drapery hardware placement and width considerations. Hanging drapery too low or not having it wide enough. Proper artwork hanging height and placement tips. Furniture delivery challenges in tight spaces. Why the tallest person in the house shouldn’t be the one hanging artwork. Accessorizing with trays and grouping small items. Also Mentioned: