How to Decorate

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 196: designer Melanie Turner Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

We are thrilled to welcome award-winning interior designer Melanie Turner, previously heard on Episode 10, back to the show! Melanie’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Veranda, Traditional Home, House Beautiful, and she just authored her first book Inviting Interiors: A Fresh Take on Beautiful Rooms. She is the founder of Atlanta-based Melanie Turner Interiors and has now launched a storefront in Montana. We talk about Melanie’s extremely varied style, her new book, her thoughts on colors, decorating with kids, putting a joyful spin on practicality, and so much more.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

All about Melanie’s new book Inviting Interiors: A Fresh Take on Beautiful Rooms.
Where does Melanie’s unique creativity come from?
How to have a house palette without being too matchy-matchy.
Utilizing everything in your home.
Pushing the boundaries with colors.
The misconceptions about a family home and decorating with kids in the house.
Making your house the most comfortable by thinking about how you live.
What’s a hot kitchen and a cold kitchen?
Melanie’s signature is often using distinctive art.
Back to Melanie’s kitchens!
Books are often the great divider with designers. What are Melanie’s thoughts?
What does Melanie think future color trends will be?
How to turn creature comforts into something that brings you joy.

Decorating Dilemma

Hi Angeliki,

Since you said you are done with dark colors, I wouldn’t paint the room that color you have picked out. Although it’s beautiful, it’s very saturated and will make the room feel dark. I would go one to two shades lighter if you want to do a color and be sure to add some white. Otherwise, I would paint it white and look for that teal in an accent pillow, chair, or something else small. The other thing I would suggest is moving the furniture around. I think the bed right next to the door and closet makes the space feel cramped. I would put the bed opposite the wall of the closet, put the desk closest to the door, and the dresser closest to the window so now you have two nightstands where you can add two lights on either side. The bookcase should be on the left as you open the door. That will leave you a clean Zoom background for when you’re working at your desk. We’re going to send you this drawing to show you where to put things!

Another fun thing you could do would be to paint some of this furniture — properly! Be sure to sand so it doesn’t peel. If you end up painting the room white or ivory, then you could paint one of the pieces that teal you liked.

We would really love to see some after photos! Good luck and thanks for listening all the way from Greece!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Melanie Turner Interiors

Inviting Interiorsavailable for Pre-order

Episode 10: Melanie Turner

Melanie Turner Interiors on Instagram

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Ep. 195: designer Clinton Smith Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

Today’s guest is the multi-talented Clinton Smith. Clinton is a New York-based designer, creative director, award-winning magazine editor, and author of several books. From 2013-2018 he was the Editor in Chief for Veranda and is now the Editor at Large for New England Home Magazine andStyle Editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. With two decades of experience, Clinton is considered an expert in the fields of interior design, architecture, outdoor living, entertaining, and other luxury lifestyle topics.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

How did Clinton get his start?
When and how did Clinton come to write his first book?
What is the job of a magazine editor?
What are Clinton’s favorite magazines to read?
Where does Clinton keep his large magazine collection?
More about the Christopher Spitzmiller and book that Clinton collaborated on.
The differences in design and architecture between New York and New England.
How to put a twist on trends or look for microtrends.
How do designers get published?
How does Clinton stay up to date on the latest design books?

Decorating Dilemma

Hi Christine,

You’re lucky to have some great architecture in your home—the craftsman detail is amazing! So here is a piece of advice that you didn’t ask for, but I think you can draw more attention to the detail by changing out the hardware on those drawers (unless it’s original then keep it). I like the bar setup you have but I would maybe just get a larger tray. You could add some votives or low pillar candles to reflect the light against the mirrored backsplash. I like where you’re headed with the plants against the taller glass-front cabinets. I would just put two overscale planters there and fill them with English ivy or some other fern to really anchor the space. I think the three in there are too small and you can really make a statement with two large ones. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you could use some of those stick-on battery-operated lights to illuminate the glassware in those cabinets.

FYI, Ballard also has these beautiful LED rechargeable lamps that have a dimmer and these wonderful metal shades. One last suggestion is our acrylic easel where you could add a little painting for a pop of color. We know you have great taste because of your coffee table books we see by Tom Sheer and Alexa Hampton!

You gave us an easy one, Christine…thank you!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Clinton Smith on Instagram

Clinton Smith Studio

Clinton’s books on Amazon

New England Home Magazine

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Magazine

A Year at Clove Brook Farm by Christopher Spitzmiller

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Ep. 194: art expert Katharine Earnhardt Mar 30, 2021

Show notes

Today's guest is art expert Katharine Earnhardt of Mason Lane Art. She's been in the art industry for 15 years and started her consultation business with the goal of making art more approachable and enjoyable for her clients. We ask her all the nitty gritty questions including understanding prices, rules of display, and sourcing the best artists.

What You'll Hear on the Show:

During trials and triumphs we talk about yard projects and Karen's exciting news!
We talk about Katharine's background and education in art
How and why she started her business
Her talent for envisioning how a space should look when it's finished
Building a collection with a variety of styles and mediums
Why the art shouldn't match the room but should echo the overall vibe or feeling
What goes into pricing an art piece
Rules of hanging and displaying art

Show Notes:

Eden Brothers -- where Karen and Caroline bought their bulbs
Mason Lane Art
Mason Lane on Instagram

Find all of the show notes at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

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Ep. 193: Houston week designer Meg Lonergan Mar 26, 2021

Show notes

It’s the final day of Houston week, and we close it out with Meg Lonergan, Founder and Principal Designer of Meg Lonergan Interiors. Since founding her firm in 2009, Meg has become one of Houston’s most in-demand designers. She talks with us about mixing classic with contemporary, how to balance investing in nice pieces while still knowing that we change our tastes and minds over the years, and get a behind-the-scenes look from her work featured on HGTV and Southern Living. Meg also has some great ideas for helping children appreciate the finer things in their home while creating an environment that welcomes play and comfortability.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Meg is originally from South Louisiana, but she has lived all over the world and this is a huge influence on her style and open mind when it comes to working with clients.
Don’t let a bold sofa scare you! Meg shares some of her ideas for working with bright and vibrant colors.
Meg’s own home is filled with funky patterns and textures, and she loves the surprise element of design.
It’s okay for your house to evolve over the years. Try to plan ahead and stay flexible, but know that things such as toy storage are more temporary.
The importance of teaching children to be around nice things, even if there is a major spill every now and then.
How she incorporated color with the HGTV home.
Why Meg believes designers should push their clients to think outside the box - if you aren’t a little scared every now and then your designer isn’t doing it right!
Meg’s experience working with dark, moody colors for the bedroom.
Ideas for mixing your taste with the design of the home, and what to do when they are vastly different.

Decorating Dilemma

Hello! Thank you for writing in. First, we would suggest painting your cabinets a cool color. We agree that it would make it feel charming and English! Meg thinks you should do an oval or round breakfast table, and lighting is very important. We aren’t feeling the dark grout. Next, check out Ballards Seagrass rug, and layer a small rug on top to maximize your space. Even though we mention off-center art, we wouldn’t do anything off-center for your built-in. It’s all about creating a warm ambiance here, and two cabinets painted white like the trim on the house with some pretty hardware could add a nice touch. For your entryway, a console table with lamps would be nice. Under the console table, you could put some storage cubes plus a mirror on the wall for a last-minute look as you head out. Warming up the kitchen will help balance the big navy blue sectional couch. We heard that you like Jonathan Adler, and adding a pop of saturated color even by adding pillows or art can add that special funky touch. You have your work cut out for you, but we believe in you and are glad you reached out!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Meg Lonergan

HGTV

Farrow & Ball - Studio Green

Southern Living

Suzanne Kasler

@meglonerganinteriors

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Ep. 192: Houston Week Jacob Medina Mar 25, 2021

Show notes

Houston Week continues with Day 4 featuring the awesome and talented Jacob Medina. Jacob started his design firm, Jacob Medina Interiors in 2016 and now people seek out this boutique interior design firm for their expertise on everything from clean and handsome to luxe and funky. Jacob talks with us about his interesting path to design, starting with a degree in biology and teaching himself many of the basics and important technological skills. He shares the inspiration behind his handsome style featuring clean lines and a little twist of style and funk and tells us why there is no such thing as too many chairs. Jacob also gives us his real thoughts on using gray, how to emulate his purple kitchen, and the importance of starting with a cabinet plan in the kitchen. Jacob makes us laugh (and agree) when he makes the analogy between a good designer and a good marriage counselor — trying their best to make everyone happy with the end results!

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Jacob is not your average designer — he started with a degree in biology and was pre-med! He taught himself many of the programs he knows today.
Jacob and his team focus on everything from residential projects including new construction, home renovation, and decorating.
Yes, he is chair obsessed! There is no such thing as too many chairs, especially once we start entertaining again!
How Jacob uses custom pieces and vintage to capture the essence of what the client is looking for in their soul.
Gray will be here to stay, but Jacob tells us how to use it responsibly without making it boring or drab.
Jacob talks about painting a kitchen a light mauve / purple color — and it works!
The importance of starting with a cabinet plan.
Ideas for keeping your kitchen neutral but adding a bold colored backsplash.
Colors Jacob wants to see more inclusion of mustard yellow, rusty colors, and more patterns! We also talk about mixing plaids and florals and warm / cool tones.
Changing the front door can make such a big difference!
Everyone needs a little funky art in their life.
Hacks for testing paint on your wall, and finding your favorite whites!

Decorating Dilemma

Even though we talked a lot about finding your best white paint color in this episode, Jacob doesn’t think white would be best here. A pale greige would be a good place to start. Check out Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray for a starter idea! We think moving the desk to where the table is facing the window could be a great idea and less boxed in. A square or rectangle table would be best, or maybe a banquette to go with the table you’ve already got, but not a round or oval table. A navy wall could feel neutral and not too much with some larger art on the long wall. As far as your coffee table, if it serves a function such as storage or a space to eat, then we can keep it. If not, you may want three different-sized tables for drinks instead!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Jacob Medina

Why is it so hard to choose a paint color?

@jacobmedinainteriordesign

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Ep. 191: Houston Week Art Advisor Illa Gaunt Mar 24, 2021

Show notes

We continue on Day 3 of Houston Week with a conversation with Texas native and art advisor Illa Gaunt. Illa holds several degrees and has over fifteen years of experience in the art world in both galleries and major auction houses. She has developed a following on Instagram for her fascinating mini art history lessons, which is how we found her! Illa’s goal is to help people not be intimidated by art and curating a personal collection. We talk about how and where to buy art, putting a contemporary spin on family portraits, inspiring art in children, and more.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Trials & Triumphs about dust jackets on books, a black cat on a white sofa, spring planting projects, and some funny decorating videos on designer Kevin Isbell’s Instagram.
More about Illa’s art history lessons on Instagram.
How Illa got into her field.
How does Illa know when art is “right” for her client?
Should we think of art as an investment when we buy it?
How does an emerging artist really catch Illa’s eye?
How to reframe and modernize family portraits.
What Illa says to people who think they can do contemporary art themselves.
What are some general guidelines to have for an art budget?
Tips for where to buy art and how to get a checklist from a gallery.
How is Illa instilling a love for art in children?
Does Illa save all of her children’s artwork?

Mentioned in This Episode:

Illa Gaunt Art

Illa Gaunt Instagram

Artsy

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Ep. 190: Houston Week Designer Sherrell Neal Mar 23, 2021

Show notes

Today we continue to Day 2 of Houston Week with our guest Sherrell Neal. Sherell’s work has been featured in Houston Chronicle, Modern Luxury Interiors Texas, and more. In 2019, she won a Ruby Award from the American Society of Interior Designers. Sherrell specializes in creating timeless spaces by incorporating classic elements and antiques with a modern approach. We talk about how her love of design came from an early age and her attention to detail, craftsmanship, and functionality creates a unique and thoughtful look for her clients.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Sherrell’s thoughtful and lasting approach to design.
How Sherrell caught the bug early for design while working on remodels with her contractor father.
The importance of proper design and thinking of all the details—big and small.
Do fabric shades and wood finishes need to match in a room?
Embracing the imperfections and wear-and-tear of antiques.
Pattern mixing and rule-breaking in Sherrell’s work, particularly in the River Oaks house project.
How Sherrell recommends using and designing built-ins.
When is it appropriate to use a valence on drapery?
How Sherrell was able to add leather chairs to a room while keeping it light and airy.

Decorating Dilemma

Hi Ashley,

I think rugs have a magical way of defining a space. If you don’t already have a large rug (5’x7’ or 6’x9’) that you can put in front of the door that goes beyond the entry to define it, I would get one. The entryway can always involve consoles, mirrors, artwork, and lighting. If you have a console, a round or rectangular mirror would be nice. Then on either side of the console, you could add buffet lamps — or one nice colored ceramic lamp balanced with some fresh flowers, a stack of books or other elements.

In terms of the living room layout, I would probably not float the sofa and instead move it back against the window. If you had any other chairs you could mirror the sofa. Sofa on the left, keep your fireplace in the center, and chairs on the right, and maybe some lower items like ottomans can float around in the middle. If there is no room to do that idea, you could add floor lamps on each side of the sofa. I definitely think the room needs more lighting. I’m not sure of the dimensions, but you could always use the Ballard Room Planner to map it out. I would probably move the shelving unit completely to the door wall along with the basket you have next to it. You could put some art above the basket or take it out completely and put an ottoman or leave a place for shoes. I would rearrange the shelves, so they aren’t all full, add some pretty elements, and adjust the books so some of them are horizontal. The console I would move to the wall where the etagere bookshelf is—just swap them!

Lastly, if you are able to make the sofa fit against the windows, definitely get a neutral rug that defines that space that is separate from the entryway rug. With the entryway rug, you can definitely have a lot more fun with color and personality.

Good luck, Ashley!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Sherrell Design Studio

Sherrell on Instagram

Ballard Design Room Planner

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Ep. 189: Houston Week Designer Marie Flanigan Mar 22, 2021

Show notes

It’s Houston Week! We are kicking it off with Houston-based designer Marie Flanigan. Marie is an award-winning interior designer and the author of The Beauty of Home. Her work has also been featured in publications such as Architectural Digest, ELLE décor, Vogue, Southern Living, Traditional Home, and she also recently had a role on HGTV’s internationally broadcast series Property Brothers: Brother vs. Brother. We talk about Marie’s love of texture, fireplaces, breaking conventions, and the importance of how a space makes you feel.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

How Marie transitioned from her career in architecture to design.
Molding or no molding?
Marie’s love of using fireplaces as the focal point.
How to decide on a focal point in a room.
How lighting changes and affects design.
Marie’s guidelines for mixing materials, particularly wood.
Creating a flex space in the home using sliding doors.
All about a growing topic: home offices.
How Marie uses sconces.
A bedroom in the Telluride project.
How Marie likes to use sculptures and “found objects” as art.
What is so thrilling about tension in design?

Decorating Dilemma

Hi Caryn,

The first thing I would do is come up with a way to make the dining room feel special. Add drapery, paneling throughout the room, and I definitely think it’s important to case the entry. One thing that casing does for rooms is it allows you to start and stop a wall finish. Then I would take a look at the architecture of the space to see if first I could recess the mud function into the wall and then be able to close it off with doors. That way when you are using the dining room, you could shut off the mess that accumulates in mudrooms. If that’s not possible, I would definitely go with the paneling idea and let the mudroom cabinets be an extension of that paneling so that it follows the same detail of molding on the cabinets. Just make sure you have doors in that area so you can “hide the mess”. You could perhaps lacquer the room or choose a fun color to paint all of the woodwork so that way the garage door just disappears, or you could even have the paneling go across the doors to hide it. Another thought is if you don’t use the dining room often, you could restyle the dining room table so it’s more of a round entryway table and you relocate the chairs to somewhere else while they aren’t in use. If you really want to embrace this as a more casual room, you could even do a built-in banquette under the windows and change from a round table to a square or rectangular table that would allow it to be pushed towards the corner more. Then you could use that bar cabinet for storage. A large area rug could also help to feel the space larger.

Good luck, Caryn!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Marie Flanigan Interiors

Marie Flanigan on Instagram

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Ep. 188: designer Jean Liu Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

Today our guest is Dallas designer Jean Liu. Her full-service interior design firm, Jean Liu Designs, specializes in high-end residential and commercial projects. In 2018 Jean was named one of House Beautiful’s 10 Next Wave Designers. Her work has also been featured in Traditional Home, Town & Country, Architectural Digest, Luxe, The Wallstreet Journal, and many others. We talk about Jean’s love for bold art, how to create a “Zen” kitchen, Jean’s great house with a great room, and much more.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

How to start enjoying art in your space.
What is an art trainer?
Jean’s unconventional path to a career in design.
How Jean created a Zen kitchen.
What Jean recommends for designing with kids in mind.
Jean used to stalk her current house from afar…and one day she finally got it!
What was Jean’s process for designing her own home?
Designing a great room with different functions.
Strategies for reusing furniture when moving to a new space.
What motivates people to take on a brand-new style?
How to make warm spaces in rooms that aren’t inherently cozy.

Decorating Dilemma

Hi Laura,

Yes, definitely take the symmetry into account and we have three recommendations for you. First, is to consider adding a linear fixture over your island that runs the length of the island. This will help detract the eye from the lack of symmetry and the true center of the room. Another option, given your husband’s height, would be to use a flush mount or semi flush mount throughout the kitchen. We love the Greta fixture! Finally, the last option we suggest is using gooseneck sconces over your window to let the lighting be handled through recessed cans throughout. What direction your windows are facing and the natural light you get may influence your choice. We usually recommend with any kitchen remodel that you strongly consider adding LED under cabinet lighting. You could also add some small lamps or tiny accents to your surfaces. We are all big fans of having dimmers for all lighting, as well!

One thing to keep in mind is that you’ll never really be looking at the room straight-on, so it won’t be as noticeable as you may be worrying about. It’s great that you’re keeping it in mind, but don’t let it trip you up too much!

Good luck, Laura!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Jean Liu Design

Jean Liu Design on Instagram

Jean’s Personal Home

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Ep. 187: architect & interior designer Barry Goralnick Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

Our guest today is New York-based architect and interior designer Barry Goralnick. His firm customizes projects to include everything from early planning stages in building to interior design, to product design — check out their impressive collections! Barry’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, ELLE décor, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and he is also a featured designer in Rizzoli’s new best-selling book Interior Design Master Class – 100 Lessons from America’s Finest Designers on the Art of Decoration, among many, many other accolades. We discuss how Barry’s background in fine art & literature influenced his varied style, decorating for small and big spaces, his tips for getting back to basics, and more.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Why Barry is an architect and an interior designer.
How would Barry describe his style?
What Barry’s recommendations are for decorating built-ins.
More on the State Street project in Brooklyn with built-ins, wood finishes, and an upright piano.
Barry’s take on open floor plans; especially during the post COVID era.
How to pack a lot into a small space while keeping it functional yet glamorous.
Barry’s tips on what to do when getting stuck in the design process.
Decorating Dilemma about how to modernize a cabin in the Smoky Mountains.

Decorating Dilemma

Hi Christine,

One thing I would remove is the stone around the peninsula in the kitchen; it looks inauthentic to me. If you extended the top, you could create a place for barstools. It’s hard to tell from the photo, but if you’re considering changing the cabinets at all perhaps you could turn the peninsula into an island. There are even some great freestanding kitchen islands available.

I like the idea of painting the cabinets and painting the walls. It will help break up the monolithic theme. I would not paint the cabinets and the wall behind the fireplace the same color. I would choose a light color for that wall and maybe even pull from the stone. Also, even if you just paint the wall behind the hearth it will not only bring some contrast, but it will make the space feel taller. If you want to keep some of the wood, you could maybe sand it down and do a clear or light finish to lighten it up a bit, so you keep that rustic mountain feel.

I know you didn’t ask me, but the drapes need to go! I would either do some shades or floor lengths. Regarding the banquette, I wouldn’t do a built-in one, but I like the idea of a long bench. If this is a vacation home, you want to be as flexible as possible and be able to shift things around. I am not a huge fan of the black railings since they are kind of heavy; even if they were light grey with a wood rail on top it would lighten it up. In terms of overall decorating, we think you should choose some stylish, well-scaled furniture and don’t go kitschy with it. If you leave even half of the wood in there, you don’t need anything else that nods to the Smoky Mountains. And don’t get furniture in the same color wood! We definitely recommend adding some upholstery and softness to the space. If it’s a rental space, we highly suggest performance fabric!

We are excited for you. Do we get a free weekend to stay there now?! Send us the photos…and the listing!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Barry Goralnick

Barry Goralnick on Instagram

Goralnick Architecture and Design on Facebook

State Street Project

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