How to Decorate

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 137: design firm Toledo Geller Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

Virginia and Jessica, who own the boutique design firm Toledo Geller, join the show this week. This design duo who were just named House Beautiful’s “New Wave Designers” talk about the interesting way they met, how their styles compliment one another, and a home should be designed to fit your lifestyle.

What You’ll Hear On This Episode

The intention behind the way they design spaces
Yes, it is possible to meet your next business partner on Craigslist. Virginia and Jessica are perfect examples.
How their different styles compliment each other
Each of their signature design go-to’s when working on a project
Why both women believe we can work around anything, and examples of how they found solutions in challenging times.
Projects where they worked holistically and made sure the decor was perfectly trimmed and tailored to the space.
Ways that we can work with the architecture and blueprint of the home to decorate it in a way that really brings out how it was meant to be presented.
Why we shouldn’t be scared of everyday wear and tear because they are memories and part of experiencing life.
More about Jessica’s New Jersey Home and the inspiration behind all the beautiful patterns and textures.
How we make a room feel happy and joyous using colors and a play on patterns.
Why Virginia and Jessica ask their clients what they wear when they entertain, and what the answer tells them about their clients.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Toledo Geller

House Beautiful

Casa Bohemia

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Ep. 136: organizing expert Clara Schoen Apr 07, 2020

Show notes

Luxury home organizing expert Clara Schoen joins the show, to talk about what it takes to be a professional organizing expert, and gives her advice on how we can best use this time to get our home tidy and streamlined. Clara also talks about how we can get our family excited and onboard for organizing, how to get through the sentimental part of throwing things away, and what products she finds the most helpful as an organization investment.

What You’ll Hear On This Episode

How one gets into the organizing space in the first place, and how it’s different than organizing for yourself.
Why labeling things really does help you save time, and how to get your family onboard (and maybe even excited?!) about labeling.
What organization products Clara feels is worth the investment, and where we can save money.
Clara’s advice on organizing things that can create clutter such as junk drawer items, extra pens, and chords.
Organizing can be an emotional or sentimental practice, so how to feel better about ditching things you really won’t use.
How to get things looking clean and uniform, and where we spend small amounts of money to have everything looking streamlined.
How Clara folds clothes, and tips for getting our closets under control and storing handbags.
Great ways to organize sentimental items that the kids create, and why it’s okay to not keep everything they bring home from school.
How we store and file away our important papers, so that they are easy to find and clearly labeled.
Great tip: stores will load paint for you in your car, so you don’t even have to go in the store!

Mentioned In This Episode:

The Home Organized

@thehomeorganized_

Ballard Desk Organizers

Decorating Dilemma:

It’s all about thinking big! A 36 inch round skirted table that fits your own vibe with a big round ceramic lamp would look great. Feel free to buy larger things, like big artwork, as you have a good amount of space to fill. This will add height and presence to the room. We also bet your friend Taryn may paint something for you, if you ask nicely! Some modular seating that flow around the room could work to add more seating, and you do have the space for it.

The color of the headboard depends on how much light comes in the room, and how much you want to create a little cocoon feeling in the room. We like a color called Urbane Bronze, so check it out and see if it would work for you. Also, deep purple or green would go great. Think about getting bigger lamps, with something big and exaggerated with drama and pizazz.

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Ep. 135: bonus Trials & Triumph episode Apr 02, 2020

Show notes

We are back with a bonus episode, filling you in on exactly what we’ve been up to at home, and sharing our successes and challenges during this time. Whether it’s family cocktail hour or more time with the family, we are definitely finding a silver lining in this time. We also share what we’ve been ordering online, how to decorate using things already inside your home, and which of us is wearing high heels with our athleisure.

What You’ll Hear On This Episode:

The ways we are passing the time - planting flowers, creating yummy meals, online shopping, tackling long term projects, and a lot of home decorating!
How we are all keeping our sanity by creating a functional home office and sacred space to have some alone time in.
Even just cleaning a nook once a day will give you a good sense of control and accomplishment.
What parts of our home we are just upgrading, and which ones we are completely reorganizing.
How we are staying sane with our partners and family being around 24/7.
Cute ways to make arrangements or centerpieces on the dining room table using what you already have in the house.
How this time is making us appreciate our homes even more and the effort we put in to making the little details nice and enjoyable.
The plans we have coming up to make our homes and outside spaces even better.
What are are ordering online, tackling our to do list one by one.
Yes, yoga pants really are that comfortable during this time, but it also feels good to slap on some mascara and brush the hair every now and then.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Gallery Easel

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Ep. 134: designer Rachel Cannon Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

Interior Designer Rachel Cannon is a self described Loudmouth Introvert, hence why this is the title of her new podcast. She returns to the show to discuss exactly what a loudmouth introvert is, the importance of having a quiet room or space in the house, and why introverts need a space like this for their rest and rejuvenation. Rachel gives some tips on setting up a quiet space and how we can begin right away with our schedules now being pointed more towards home.

What You’ll Hear On This Episode

What a “Loudmouth Introvert” means to Rachel, and why our assumptions about introvert and extrovert aren’t always right.
How the Loudmouth Introvert podcast was born, and the epiphany she had that the more she designed her show for introverts like herself, the more traction the episodes got.
The importance of introverts being able to have a quiet room and space to recharge themselves and take care of their mental health.
There are no design rules when it comes to a quiet room, just a separate space that is soothing and comforting.
What features Rachel designed in her quiet room that serve to provide relaxation and deep focus.
Tips for setting up a successful work from home space, which we all need as we stay home for the next several months.
Yes, we do have a “Zen Den” at Ballard where employees can go in and have a quiet moment themselves.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Rachel Cannon

Loudmouth Introvert

@rclinteriors

Saturday Style with Karen Profita

Myers Carpet

Decorating Dilemma:

What a beautiful room! It’s really about filling it up with texture and getting the right proportion down. We feel as though getting some decorative Birch logs in there would look beautiful and add some raw texture to fill up the room. Since the room is so large, you could probably keep the rug and get a big natural fiber rug underneath it, and when you are ready, get a larger couch. Some drapes and a bigger rug would also help fill up the room. Thank you and be sure to send us the after photos!

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Ep. 133: homeschooling expert and supermom Erika Ward Mar 24, 2020

Show notes

While we are inside and schools are closed for the time being, we thought an episode on homeschooling could be helpful. This week, we welcome Erika Ward, owner of Erika Ward Interiors, based in Atlanta, Georgia. As a mother of 5 who homeschooled her children through their education, this supermom has great advice for us on how to create a space that welcomes both fun and learning, what sort of things we can do to transform our home into a homeschooling space, and ways we can keep our home beautiful with our kids running around full time inside of them.

What You’ll Hear On this Episode

Why Erika decided to homeschool her kids, and how it helped her raise them in a way that was aligned with her values.
How to schedule better so that you allow for learning, play, and fun.
Ways to create spaces so that kids don’t feel trapped, but they also don’t feel too comfortable.
How Erika transformed her home using tables and chairs to set exact spaces for learning, but also provided an area for her kids to get up, move around, and do the work they need to.
Lunch and snack time can be a challenging area for homeschooling parents, and Erika explains her winning strategy.
Hot tip for keeping the house looking great with little ones around full time - put all the beautiful things in spaces and crevices they can’t reach.
Ways that we can get our kids to be accountable and tidy up in their playroom.
Tips for designing a space that can stay functional and is worth the investment.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Erika Ward

#5: Erika Ward

#89: Traci Zeller

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Ep. 132: event planners Laura Maddox and Sara Parker Mar 17, 2020

Show notes

The planning and event duo Laura Maddox and Sara Parker, who started and run Magnolia Celebrates, join the show to talk about their vast experience in events. Laura and Sara share how event planning mixes with design, the home decor they are seeing used in events, and all you need to know about registries.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Laura and Sara’s combined experience of working both as an Executive Assistant to a CEO and planning over 2,000 events.
How we can plan smaller events such as a baby shower and have it be just as beautiful and memorable as a huge one.
How to curate a theme and weave in personalized decor and keep it elegant instead of cheesy.
What things we can think about to combine both beautiful decor and a comfortable guest experience.
If there is an alternative to flowers, and what other home decor items Laura and Sara see currently at events.
Registries — what you should pick and how, what you shouldn’t pick, and how we all feel about going off the registry to purchase your gift.
Who puts their China in the dishwasher, and why.
How to set the lighting and mood at an event, why this can make or break the night, and why it’s crucial to use a dimmer.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Magnolia Celebrates
BallardDesignsRegistry

Decorating Dilemma:

We suggest making things a tad less busy by taking the dark green from the wall paper and implementing it also on the vanity, molding and crown. Add a more modern light fixture, along with some cool abstract art and acrylic frames. If you could install a toilet paper holder on the side of your vanity, that will help declutter. Update your faucet and hardware, and take it from Taryn — you can get a pretty sweet one for$40!

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Ep. 131: Dilemma Blitz with Tanya Mar 10, 2020

Show notes

We’ve had so many of your wonderful Decorating Dilemma’s come in that we wanted to do a special episode focused just on them. To join us, we welcome Tanya from the Designs Solutions team to answer your questions including topics on how to emphasize existing cool architecture, what the cantaloupe rule is and why you may want to follow it, what paint colors Tanya recommends for certain looks, and her advice on how to decorate for young active kids when you know they will want a fresh start in a short time.

Decorating Dilemma:

We think a huge full bodied floor mirror would look great on the wall, and you can even get the kind that has a shelf down the middle for extra display options for a tiny entry such as this one. For inspiration, check out our Hollen Entryway Mirror. Add some bright pieces of art. A demi-lune can also be a great solution in a tight space, so you can display items but not have the corners clipping your hips as you walk by. You can add 3 or 4 sconces, and grouping of long pendants with lights on dimmers could look beautiful as you are going down the stairs. Get something that is glass, instead of full metal.
Caroline painted it gray using a Benjamin Moore Metropolitan Gray high gloss enamel, which was actually the color of 2019! Make sure your painter does the ceiling before the grass cloth, so you have a tidier finish.
In terms of storage, smaller modular pieces that are seperated would be a great solution for you. Check out these acrylic frame ideas that you can attach artwork to and easily change out. A nice plaid with the navy walls could look great, and check out our friend Brian Patrick Flynn for inspiration on how to use bold patterns and colors, and big geometrical shapes to give a clean but masculine feel. Since they will be playing a ton in the rooms, it really all comes down to concealed storage.
This is already a beautiful room, and we love your style, so great job! You know how much we love dimmers, so this could add even more lighting options. As you walk into the room, something open and not heavy will break up and help visually. Don’t feel bad about poking a hole in the rug to run your wires, and we love that you layered these rugs too. A new sofa, and a little round table with some cool ottoman stools could be beautiful. Check out our Banquettes for some fun options, which will also serve to warm up your room too.
Paint the brick white to create a uniform look, so at least visually it appears more cohesive. You can paint it the same tone and do it in a higher gloss finish with an eggshell that is the same tone, but get that area evened out. Center the mirror over the firebox, and you may want to employ the “cantaloupe rule”, where you edit down items to have fewer but bigger accessories. We have styling guides for shelves and this can help you minimize and pull off a fresh look.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Ballard Designs Design Solutions

Miles Redd

Bunny Williams's gray ceiling trick

Hollen Entry Mirror

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Ep. 130: designer Lauren Lowe Mar 03, 2020

Show notes

Lauren Lowe of Lauren Elaine Interiors in Atlanta joins the show to talk about her unique perspective from moving from the world of commercial design to residential. Lauren discusses her style which highlights the classic and adds a timeless Southern twist. She also talks with us about her new home, rules of thumb for creating seating a room with a limited layout, and her use of both masculine and feminine textiles.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

More about Lauren’s new home including a sneak peek of some of her personal favorite choices for decor.
Why she sold an open concept home for a major fixer upper that was half the square footage.
What didn’t make the cut including gaudy and the quirky, and how we can know what looks good as old and antique, and what we may want to part with.
What she liked about the house structurally, and what things she changed.
How the right paint color can make a big difference, and why you want to pay attention to painting the crown, door and ceiling.
What the learning curve was like for Lauren to go from commercial to residential, and ways her commercial background has helped her residential projects.
How to get seating in a room that has a limited layout.
Why the silhouette and style of a sofa can make a big impact.
Yes, it’s possible to have a beautiful home even with active kids and a playroom filled with toys, and in fact it’s even more important to have a beautiful house when you have children.
Lauren walks through how she picks textiles and explains how we can make different patterns work together seamlessly.
How to have success using prints that are both masculine and feminine.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Atlanta Home and Lifestyles

@laurenelaineinteriors

Lauren Elaine Interiors

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Ep. 129: design duo Lathem Gordon and Cate Dunning Feb 25, 2020

Show notes

Design duo Lathem Gordon and Cate Dunning from GordonDunning join the show this week to talk about their Atlanta based boutique interior design firm. GordonDunning was recently named House Beautiful’s Next Wave Designers, and we totally understand why. Lathem and Cate works with their clients to honor the story of the house, and this team has a knack for creating beauty in working both with the new and old. Lathem and Cate also chat with us about not worrying if you’ll get tired of a decision, how to use sectionals properly, and why things need to actually be comfortable instead of just looking that way.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Lathem and Cate are very simpatico, but they do share what they disagree on including lights, and toilet paper display!
What each of their go to’s are in terms of design and decor, and the inspiration behind them.
What it was like to be named as House Beautiful’s Next Wave Designers.
What things we should be hanging on to for antique purposes, and what relics we may be better off parting with.
How their company GordingDunning works with clients to tell the story of the home, and weave it in with how they want their present and future to look.
Ways that we can bring the spirit of an old home into a new house.
A few examples of projects in their portfolio where the style ranged from playful and cheerful, mature and refined, to classic and southern.
Let’s not make decisions based on fear that we will get sick of it! We are more likely to like our choices for a longer term when we finish it completely instead of stopping midway.
What frames can make a house look more textured and charming, and how to bring proportion and scale into your frame choices.
Things don’t need to look comfortable, they need to be comfortable.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Decorating Dilemma

Good for you for taking a risk, first of all! Your plan sounds like a good one, but it’s not the only option. There are multiple ways to tackle, and it really comes down to your budget and which one works best for you. We like the French Door idea towards the living room, and love your idea of closing the off arch to close off your office. You could do built in bookcases on the wall, and do something with the mill work to make the offset french door make sense. Since there is a lot of height, there’s an opportunity.

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Ep. 128: floral expert Scott Shepherd Feb 18, 2020

Show notes

Scott Shepherd has worked in the floral industry for 27 years, and as the host of the very popular podcast The Flower Podcast, he is the go to guy on all things floral. He shares his expertise to talk with us about how we can tell if a flower is fresh, what goes behind the cost of flowers, how we can utilize our local farmer’s markets, and tricks and tips to keep our flowers fresher and more beautiful for even longer!

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Trials and triumphs on a romantic rosemary hedge, Ninja air fryers and crispers, important dermatologist news, growing plants from seeds, and some drapery workarounds.
More about Scott’s podcast The Flower Podcast, and some of the super cool takeaways he has from interviewing people all over the world in the flower industry.
How social media has affected the flower industry, and what we now expect from our florals.
What it’s really like to work in a flower shop when you have high volume clients mixed with individual personalized orders.
How Scott and his team find flowers, and how he finds brokers and importers for rare yet important flowers such as autumn eucalyptus.
The most popular flowers and greenery for both high end and affordable weddings.
What really goes behind the cost of purchasing flowers from a florist, including transportation, inspection, and details you may not have thought of that adds to the expense.
A step by step method of what to do should we buy flowers from our local grocery store to keep them fresh and beautiful for as long as possible.
Why hydrangeas are Scott’s favorite flower, and the lowdown on how we should actually cut them.
Why we use floral film, and how to use it properly.
How we know what type of vase to use with our flowers.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Ninja Air Fryer

Floret

The Flower Podcast

Faith Flowers

Reeves

Syndicate Sales

Decorating Dilemma

If you are open to moving the tables, flanking them with matching lamps and botanicals with a large print on either side would add both symmetry and drama. If you paint the banister black, that could look fresh and modern!

______________________________________

You may want to move the console to where the TV is, and put the little leggy chair under the TV, push it all closer together and that way it opens it up for comfortable seating and opens up the options to make the room appear even bigger. Buy yourself those great chairs that you love, or at least start making a plan using our room planner tool!

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