How to Decorate

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 206: comedian Heather McMahan & designer Jared Hughes Jun 23, 2021

Show notes

We've got a hilarious duo for you today -- comedian Heather McMahan and designer Jared Hughes. They're longtime friends, and they recently made over Heather's bedroom using Ballard Designs products. Today, we're talking about mixing styles, adding traditional elements to a modern design, and more.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

Why Heather designed her whole bedroom around our animal print Robbie Chair
Animal print inspired the whole room
How Jared took Heather's style to the next level and helped her learn what decorating rules to follow and which ones to ignore
Why painting every wall white isn't always the answer
How Jared really reigned in his bold style to ease Heather into the room design
How important is it for your room to look big?
Why a small room isn't necessarily a bad thing
We talk about Heather's mom and how much of a say she has in the design

Show Notes:

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Ep. 205: designer Vicente Wolfe Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

We have a very special episode this week because we're welcoming our new host, Liz! Plus, we've got celebrated designer Vicente Wolfe on the show. He's one of the biggest talents in the design world, he's a published author, and he's here to chat with us about editing, color, mixing styles, and more.

What You'll Hear on the Show:

How his extensive travels inspire him and his design work
Why each room should include the past but always be moving forward
Why you need to branch out and take risks in your room
Why it's the most fascinating to examine rooms that are different than what you'd normally do
Why not being traditionally educated in design has been an advantage in Vicente's work
We talk a bit about gallery walls and how to execute them well

Show Notes:

For more show notes, visit our blog at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

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Ep. 204: thrifting expert Margie of Thrift & Tell Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

We have a fun guest for you today as we welcome Margie from the fashion blog, Thrift and Tell. She is a consignment and thrifting expert, and is sharing her best tips on purchasing luxury items for your wardrobe and home.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

Margie's clever philosophies on getting a great deal
How to mix high and low style in your home
Margie's favorite places to shop for deals
The importance of patience when shopping
Where you should invest your money vs. when to look for a bargain
How to tune out trends

Show Notes:

Find all of the notes or stream the episode at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

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Ep. 203: designer James Farmer Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

Our guest today is back for another episode. He's a garden expert, interior designer, and author of 9 books, James Farmer. We talk about his love of traditional design elements, why the rooms he designs for his clients feel like a hug, and his new book Arriving Home.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

Why James loves traditional design elements and why he works them into his client spaces
James explains his love of oyster plates and how they make their way into his clients' collections
James' lesson on lampshades and why a lampshade can make or break a lamp
James' three sofa layout design trick and when it works best for a space
James' obsession with patterned sofas and why they're just so practical
Why wallpaper and paneling give your home age
We get a lesson on decorating your outdoor rooms

Show Notes:

Find all of the notes or stream the episode at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

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Ep. 202: designer Heidi Callier May 25, 2021

Show notes

Our guest today is Heidi Callier of Heidi Callier Design in Seattle, Washington. Her work has been featured in Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Garden, the Wall Street Journal, and many more. Listen to this episode as she shares decorating tips and advice from her many years of experience in the decorating field.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Heidi talks about neutral colors and how to use them
Heidi shares about her journey to decorating
How to keep colors from feeling depressing and combining different shades
The hosts and Heidi talk about how to balance different colors
How to incorporate different floral patterns
Heidi discusses her own house transformation
The hosts and Heidi talk about brown furniture and how to decorate with it
Heidi shares tips on how to approach layouts of rooms, small spaces, and decorations

Decorating Dilemmas

Hi Jill,

For small spaces, Heidi suggests doing all the interior doors the same color, but everything is dependent on the house itself and the architecture. If you are dealing with a place that has six doors in a small space, then you probably shouldn’t paint the doors a color. But in small doses, you could do all the interior doors the same color and maybe leave the trim white.

Hi Jordan,

What this room needs is a vintage rug, maybe with some violet, purple, or brown undertones to ground the space. There is a lot of white going on in the dining chairs, chandelier, and buffet, so something to richen it up the lighter colors would be lovely and child friendly. Pattern rugs are a great way to hide stains so vintage, wool rugs are wonderful for this.

This room really needs draperies. Go all the way to the ceiling or as high as you can with the rod and all the way to the floor. Put panels on each window so it frames the pretty piece of artwork in between, and keep the colors just a neutral linen with a pinch pleat at the top. Another option would be to layer in some color and patterns through the draperies.

Lastly, for the dining room, there seems to be enough furniture in there. However, a random vintage chair to bring in some floral patterns would be gorgeous.

Good luck, Jill and Jordan!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Learn more about Heidi Callier at her website
Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest

Find all of the show notes on our blog, How to Decorate.

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Ep. 201: designer Corey Damen Jenkins May 18, 2021

Show notes

Our guest today is New York designer Corey Damen Jenkins. Corey is on the AD100 List, Elle Decor’s A List and his work has been featured in House Beautiful, Traditional Homes, The New York Times and more. He won HGTV’s Showhouse Showdown and has recently published his first book called Design Remix: A New Spin on Traditional Rooms.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

The driving force behind Corey’s signature eclectic exuberance
Corey’s background in the design industry
Detroit as the background of Corey’s work
How Corey puts his modern spin on traditional architecture
The importance of light fixture in interior design
Corey discuss his maximalist approach
Corey’s creative process
How Corey negotiates when working with couples with conflicting ideas
The statement opportunity in ceilings
The importance in thoughtfully curating children’s rooms

Mentioned in This Episode:

Corey Damen Jenkins website
Corey’s book
Follow Corey on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

Find all of the show notes on our blog, howtodecorate.com/podcast

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Ep. 200: designer Brian Paquette May 11, 2021

Show notes

Today's guest is Seattle designer Brian Paquette. He joins us to talk about his brand new book At Home: Evocative and Art-Forward Interiors, as well as his unconventional path to design, his love of art, and why he finds so much inspiration in an earthy palette.

What You'll Hear on the Show:

His unconventional background into the design field
Why it's important to listen when working on a clients design (or your own home)
Why he typically favors weaves over patterns in his more permanent pieces
We talk about his book (why Karen loved his captions)
Sense memory in a room and why Brian loves to speak to a client's sense memory
Why Brian creates a signature scent for each of his clients' home
Brian thinks listening and inferring information is his super power
Why asking about a paint color someone used in their home isn't a smart way to choose a paint color
Why he likes a monotone palette for media rooms and bedrooms
Why Brian leaves art to chance in his design projects
Why a home should age and we should accept and enjoy the aging process

Decorating Dilemma:

Brian suggests switching your throw pillow inserts to Trillium which is a down alternative. This is what Brian uses for all of his clients! For the rest of the room, own the blue sofa! Add more blue in with two club chairs to coordinate with your sofa -- it could be pillows, some cording on the chairs, or a similar but different blue fabric on the chair. You're almost there. Just two more chairs will tie it all together.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Brian Paquette Interiors
Brian Paquette on Instagram
At Home: Evocative & Art Forward Interiors, by Brian Paquette
Trillium pillow inserts from PillowFlex

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Ep. 199: designer Kate Lester May 04, 2021

Show notes

Our guest today is California cool designer Kate Lester of Kate Lester Interiors. Her spaces are infused with an airy, coastal vibe and her style embodies easy living. We ask her about incorporating coastal elements into homes not near the water, how to start a room, and more.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

How Kate infuses a clients' personality into their home
We talk about the most important design elements including linens, natural light, windows, and the importance of thinking outside the box in decorating
Why you should follow the architecture of the house during the decorating process
How to increase natural light in a home along with different window treatments.
Why Kate loves vintage rugs and how these are a great way to add patterns and color into a home
Why having a theme or concept board can help prevent lots of wasted time and money.
All about sectionals -- why they're practical and why you should invest here

Decorating Dilemma:

For Lauren's question around how to frame her art, Kate first wants to address everything else first. Are there any layout issues. Is your floor plan just right. You want to nail the core elements in your room first before deciding on any art or accessories. Your frame choice isn't going to make or break your space. It's far more important that your furniture layout function well for everything you want to accomplish in here.

You may want to shift your sofa back from the fireplace a bit and swap your side tables. Your sofa may not be centered on the window anymore, but we think that's fine.

Also, in terms of picking frames for your art, all of the frames in a room don't need to match, so pick the frame that best complements the art piece.

Also, Lauren we just love what you've done with this space so far. Your console looks great, we love your rug, and you have a solid foundation you've built. Great job!

Show Notes:

Follow Kate on her Instagram and her home decorating website.
Shop Kate's finds at Kate Lester Home

Find all of the show notes or stream this episode on our blog, How to Decorate.

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Ep. 198: designer Roger Higgins Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

Today we welcome the delightful Roger Higgins to the show. Roger is a Nashville-based designer that has been creating classic and timeless spaces for his clients for over 25 years. His work has been featured in Traditional Home, Architectural Digest, Style Blueprint, Nashville Lifestyles, and more. Roger takes pride in creating spaces that can not only be admired but lived in. We talk about his love of patterns, dining rooms, breaking the rules, and more. And why he doesn’t sweat the small stuff!

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Trials & Triumphs about Caroline’s basement project, another baby joining the HTD family (which also means a nursery!), and all about Karen’s trip to Scott’s Antique Market.
How Roger is able to pull off a loose and casual style.
Roger loves a neutral couch with patterns and texture.
Our strong feelings on throw pillows.
Why Robert loves his books—especially Elements of Style.
Is painting the walls, trim, molding, etc., all the same color classic or trend?
How to work with couples who have different styles.
Robert’s tips for picking fabrics.
Why does Robert love a dining room so much?
Shedding light on a go-to way to quickly update the look of a room.
Why Robert doesn’t sweat the small stuff.
When is it better to recover or reupholster a piece vs. replace it?

Decorating Dilemma

Hi Jenn,

I personally think the chair can work just as it is. I will always go to draperies because I think they finish the room. The big-ticket items are probably the rug and the upholstery and because they are neutral and soft enough, I would be more inclined to pull a color from the rug and use it in the drapery panel; you only need one long rod along the wall for the panels and place the panels in between the glass sections. They don’t necessarily have to function—more for the aesthetic! The blue color from the rug is really nice. Also, I would change up the warmer-toned pillows like the burgundy and blush. Or find a bridge fabric that has those colors as well as the colors of the rug in it. It’s a very inviting aesthetic you have! So maybe they find something with all of these colors that has a fun pattern. There might be a bit of a sticker shock on the drapery, but it will be SO worth it.

In the kitchen, I would maybe put some faux Roman or valance in the window over the sink. On the wall opposite the sink with the mirror, that would be a great place to maybe install panel molding and paint inside of that the color of your drapery. You could even upholster in there with the drapery fabric. It’ll be a very impactful statement and will tie everything in. I would love to see some kind of large lantern for a lighting fixture or just something heavy over the island. Even one with a shade the color of the drapery like the Margot could be perfect here!

For the bar, if you’re open to painting, I love that pale grey-blue accent color from the rug like I talked about. You could do the cabinets on the bar that color. So, it would be the same color as the drapery and the panel wall in the kitchen. A lamp would also be pretty in there, too. We would take all of the small things out and slowly add them back until you get to the look you want. Caroline likes the idea of tiny art on the wall…almost like wallpaper out of art. Robert and Karen are open to that, but not as sold! Robert is more apt to paint the back wall the same color as the cabinets, stopping the paint on the inside corners just at the top of the window molding. Not on either of the sidewalls; just the back wall.

We know we’ve given you a ton of different ideas here, so we can’t wait to see what you do. But we already love this room. The big stuff is mostly done here; you just need a few tweaks. So great job, Jenn!

Mentioned in This Episode:

R Higgins Interiors

R Higgins Interiors on Instagram

Elements of Styleby Erin Gates

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Ep. 197: interior design duo Tavia Forbes & Monet Masters Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

Our guests today are the interior designers behind the firm Forbes Masters; Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters. Based in Atlanta, they work with high-profile residential and commercial clients and their work has been featured in Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Essence, Architectural Digest, and most recently on The Drew Barrymore Show. They also have a fabulous wallpaper line through Mitchell Black. We talk about how they have married their talents to create bold, eclectic, imaginative designs that reflect their unique personalities. We also discuss the magic of wallpaper, working within a budget, decorating built-ins, and more!

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Trials & Triumphs about spring plants and pollen!
The fascinating story of how Tavia and Monet met and started working together.
How has their relationship and partnership evolved over the years?
How do Tavia and Monet pitch their bold style to clients?
How Forbes Masters commits to maintaining authenticity to their client in their design.
More about their wallpaper line and the inspiration.
The importance of a good installer with wallpaper.
Progress on the design of the Kips Bay Show House.
Where does creative inspiration come from for the duo?
How Tavia and Monet get innovative on a budget.
A very informative Decorating Dilemma all about decorating built-ins!

Decorating Dilemma

Hi Sarah,

First, paint is going to be your friend! It will hide imperfections and create forgiveness for asymmetry. You can either do paint to hide it or a fun wallpaper to make it stand out. You will want to paint the bookcase all the same color in a satin finish and then style it very intentionally. Hardware on your doors will really help accentuate. Long, maybe gold or gunmetal, but definitely not stainless steel. The open space on the side? We really want to knock it down! If you can’t, you could use it to highlight a great piece of art using one of Ballard’s easels and place a large bust or urn in front of it to really fill the space. The key is to be intentional with your styling and consistent. Some examples are turning books horizontal, wrapping them in black or white, using the same baskets, vases, picture frames; or choose 3 different types of vignettes for some diversity. For each shelf, create the same vignette on both sides but at different levels. If the left side has adjustable shelves, you should even them out or even take out that top shelf and hang some art. For a rule of thumb, we say don’t decorate with anything smaller than a cantaloupe!

For furniture layout, we like what you mentioned with the L-shaped sectional and two chairs. Another option is to do two sofas facing each other and accent chairs across from the fireplace. You could even add a bench in front of the fireplace. We also recommend painting that fireplace white or even a German smear. The bookcases should really read as their own pieces of furniture and not blend…so make them stand out by painting them all one consistent color that’s different from the fireplace. There is a sheen on the walls that’s reflecting light; we recommend repainting with a flat finish. Also, the lights have sort of a blue tint and we would go softer to make it warmer. We also suggest some sheer drapery and maybe some wood blinds if you want extra privacy. Finally, not a must-have, but maybe a bigger TV?!

Thanks, Sarah, and good luck!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Forbes Masters Website

Forbes Masters on Instagram

Shop Forbes Masters on Instagram

Forbes Masters on Houzz

Forbes Masters Wallpaper on Mitchell Black

Forbes Masters on The Drew Barrymore Show

Kips Bay Show House

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