How to Decorate

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 118: designer Madeline Stuart Dec 10, 2019

Show notes

Celebrated Los Angeles Designer Madeline Stuart joins the show today. Madeline talks about her new book, No Place Like Home and a more inside look at some of the articles and photographs featured in the book. She also talks with us about the research that goes into a new project, her passion for both design and architecture, reinventing the wheel with each home, her love of vintage lighting, and the design elements she goes back to time and time again.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

The design process behind her Madeline’s new book, No Place Like Home, and why it’s a great read along with the beautiful photos.
Madeline’s passion for incorporating difference influences to create a cohesive story in each home.
Madeline’s collaborative process (sometimes!) when working with a client, in order to get them to feel that they have the space to really express their design desires.
Why Madeline loves some good vintage lighting, and some impressive lighting stats on a few of the larger homes she has worked with.
How Madeline also draws much of her design inspiration from the architecture and general form of the house to create a space that fits together.
Even in the fanciest homes, furniture should be something that guests can sit, relax, and feel comfortable in.
Examples of moments where Madeline scaled back the accessories and objects for a photoshoot, rather than try to stuff it with decor.
What Madeline refers to as the “mosh pit approach” to decorating.
What to do when your house style doesn’t match your decorating style.
The wide range of Madeline’s projects including Hispano Moresque in La Jolla, Streamline Moderne in Los Angeles, and Spanish Revival in Santa Monica.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Decorating Dilemma

Madeline recommends hiring a professional, who you can work with on layout, proportion, scale and much more. Also, find examples of spaces that have a neutral background, and you can begin to get ideas on using items such as textured rugs and vintage finds to add value to a bland space. Just because you may not like the outside doesn’t mean you can’t create an inside that totally fits your style!

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Ep. 117: designer Janie Molster Dec 03, 2019

Show notes

Janie Molster, Interior Designer in the Richmond, Virginia area, is known for her fun and light-hearted designs, mixing the beautiful with the well-choreographed messy. She joins the show this week to talk about her love of pink, decorating for the holidays, and why we don’t always have to go with the traditional red and green. We also all talk about decorating with comfort in mind first, when twin beds may be the way to go and creating symmetry that is pleasing to the eye.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

More about Janie’s style, recently described as “pretty, happy, and layered.” To some, it may look like it’s done with abandon, but really it is choreographed with a ton of thought.
The juxtaposition between the old and new in a home, and Janie’s suggestion that people mix and match objects they most love together even if it’s different style-wise.
Janie’s top tree decorating tips including ribbon, colors, and not worrying about blending homemade with fancy.
Janie’s love of pink since she was little, and ways we can create a Christmas-y feel without having to be tied to the traditional red and green.
What a story about Disney cartoons with hairy arms has to do with design!
New idea: Christmas trees that come with a remote?
When twin beds and be engaging and pleasing, especially for people like Janie who do a lot of hosting.
Why she loves pairs to create symmetry that is pleasing to the eye, and constantly recycling and swapping items from room to room.
Janie explains her love of an upholstered headboard and gives some unique design thoughts on using them to spruce and liven up a room.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Janie Molster Designs

@JanieMolsterDesigns

House Beautiful

“In Defense of Twins”

Decorating Dilemma

If your budget allows, Janie loves your idea of wallpaper. She would not only wallpaper the walls, but the ceilings as well, wrapping front to back. A stripe or vertical pattern can be really fun, and you can run it up the eaves vertically and across on top to create a cabana tent effect. The funky trimmed doors are so fun and filled with personality, and they could be so fun to accent as well. Great job and we are very impressed by you! One final note: Janie also thought having a custom headboard made could be really cool to get the feel of an arched headboard.

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If there is room on the other end of the sofa, a chair could go nicely there. Janie recommends creating two seating arrangements: one that is oriented to the TV and the other one under the windows. If you layered a room size rug and your current rug on top, it could hide a little of the asymmetry. If you are looking to fill up some wall space, more artwork or mirrors can look great — and only get a bookshelf if you are really needing space for more books! Our final thought is that adding some drapery could be great for adding some softness to the room.

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Ep. 116: designer Timothy Corrigan Nov 26, 2019

Show notes

This week we start off by talking about holiday decorating with some tree talk and gift wrapping strategy. Then, we welcome the great Timothy Corrigan to talk about his chateau addiction, his signature style described as “comfortably elegant”, and his new book The New Elegance. Timothy believes our home is the place to bring out our best selves, elegance doesn’t always have to take a lot of effort to achieve, and there is nothing better than mixing styles and quality.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Trials on a broken Sunbrella storage ottoman, and triumphs on appreciating a beautiful fall day in a great home, toy organization, and a valance using Ballard hardware.
What Timothy means when he says elegance is misunderstood, and how it can transcend any style.
More about Timothy’s new book The New Elegance - a great read that shares the stories of homes in which he has defined a new contemporary elegance.
Ways we can include classic design principles in our busy life.
If you are comfortable in your home, everyone has a better experience. Research shows that when you like your environment, you are healthier.
Why Timothy believes we don’t have to always trade-off beauty for comfort, and the liveability aspect of our design is so important to the overall experience.
Timothy was working in advertising in New York then moved to Europe at the age of 30, and it opened up his eyes to the world of beauty and design.
When Timothy became an auction addict, and why he views it as a great opportunity to learn and gain information on the history of pieces.
Timothy’s love of chateaus and his detailing of how people live in them and update them to meet their modern needs in his book An Invitation to Chateau du Grand-Luce.
Design is about learning, exploring and then figuring out how to do it yourself to meet your scale and proportion.
Tim explains why color very much shapes the way you experience a room.
How to know what to respect the integrity of the home, yet also update the architecture to reflect the function and style of what you may need today.
Surround yourself with things you love, and feel free to mix and match from colors, accessories, and furniture that speak to you.
The primary types of symmetry, and how understanding them can help us design in a way that compliments and highlight proportion and space.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Timothy Corrigan Books

@timothycorrigan

Decorating Dilemma

Hello Denmark! The views outside your windows are so dreamy. To Tim, the biggest issue is starting to create some separation between the living and dining area. He would recommend a rug under the sofa and chairs in the living area, to ground it and make it feel more cozy and comfortable. Next, if you put a sofa table behind it with objects (or table lamps) to subtly divide space and open it up in an interesting way to make it feel even bigger. Also, some softening to the space will make it feel more inviting. As far as your dining space, a longer oval or rectangle table anchored horizontally could work very well.

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You can move the banquette back a foot up against one day, which would tremendously open the space up. This is a perfect example that we don’t have to be a slave to our home. We like the chairs you have, and think the combination as it is looks sweet and pretty. Window treatments are important to make you feel safe and protect your privacy, so go ahead and put some curtains in.

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Ep. 115: designer Tammy Connor Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

Interior Designer Tammy Connor’s goal is to make hard work look easy and to focus on implementing more about what her clients really love vs. what’s in trend for the moment. Tammy joins the show this week to talk about her signature style of real, livable homes, how she ended up going from working in Alabama to Atlanta, and why rules really are meant to be broken when it comes to design. Tammy also talks about her projects including The Sword Gate House in Charleston, her Seaside Cottage, and Sewanee Cabin. You’ll also hear Tammy’s tricks of the trade to creating the perfect “man room”, and yes - it involves leather.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Tammy’s goal is to help her clients make their home look less perfect, and more like they just have great taste and have collected beloved pieces over time.
Trends may come and go, but a believable color scheme and authentic use of a home will always stay in vogue.
Tammy feels we must know the rules before we break them, and you can follow what you love rather than jumping on every latest trend.
The advice Tammy would give to young entrepreneurs from opening up her own business at 25, and what she may do differently if she had a second chance.
Tammy loves working with people on their first home, but by the time they get to their second or third, the wheels are already set in motion and they trust her vision much more.
More about her first client, The Sword Gate House in Charleston, and how she landed the chance to work on this historically significant home.
The differing approach Tammy had for projects such as a Central Park Apartment, her Showhouses, and the Historic Hunting Pavilion.
Why it’s important to have a thread throughout rooms that both ties them together and gives our eyes a place to rest.
Ways Tammy uses proportion and 3d to work with small and large spaces that can have challenging spacial issues.
Neutral upholstery can serve to highlight other objects and put the focus on other things in the room.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Tammy Connor Interior Design

Historic Hunting Plantation

@tammyconnor

Sewanee Cabin

Decorating Dilemma

Two things you can do. You can keep the red brick and paint the rest of the trim to match the windows and doors. Or, if you wanted to do a whitewash on the brick and paint the trim green instead of blue. A good green is...wait for it... Charleston Green! We love what you have done so far, and you are really stepping up that ranch!

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Ep. 114: designer Jennifer Nanni Nov 12, 2019

Show notes

This week we welcome Jennifer Nanni, owner of Rittenhouse Home in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Jennifer talks about how her hobby in design and a naturally great eye for spaces turned into a sought after business with critical acclaim in Luxury Interior Design. Jennifer talks about the kitchen being the hub and heart of a home, what trends she is seeing in kitchens and living rooms currently, and designing for aesthetic meeting the needs of form and function. Jennifer shares her personal design loves, what finishes and materials she is using heavily now, and how she manages to have a white living room sofa with five children.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Trials regarding some expensive drawer upgrades, and squirrels vs. a cutting garden.
Triumphs of gaining a whole new wardrobe when you Marie Kondo it up, pleated shower curtains, and what cayenne pepper has to do with a successful bird feeder.
Jennifer’s business started as a hobby and she was always a purveyor of beautiful things with an eye for design.
Jennifer is Italian, and she feels the heart of every home is in the kitchen. She discusses what she loves about electronics in kitchens, and how they help us become better cooks.
More about the use of gold finish in kitchens, and how it can go with our existing brass and metal.
How we can glam up a kitchen using seating, hardware, lighting, and certain backsplashes.
Ways we can carry the glam from our kitchen to a living room using subtle accents and shine.
Not everything needs to be matchy-matchy, and Jennifer is a big proponent of integrating personal style instead of transient trends.
What Jennifer’s personal kitchen looks like, and how she created it to function for her children ranging from 3 to 14 years old.
The “magic” fabrics that have us not worrying too much about our rugs and sofas.
Why rug pads in the nursery are a great idea.
How Jennifer takes risks with her design, including creative closet solutions, tile, and colors.
More about Jennifer’s showroom, and how it showcases how she can work in different mediums but still tie in a beautiful space together.
What wattage is best for different lights, and what brightness we use in the bedroom.
Walk-in showers are awesome, but we are still loving a tub in the home as well!

Mentioned In This Episode:

Ikea Hackers

Renee’s Garden

Rittenhouse Home

Jennifer Nanni’s Instagram

Decorating Dilemma

We love how vibrant your teal is! Check out Benjamin Moore Classic or Nimbus Gray. They will be in the same color tone as your teal.

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You can do one lamp on each nightstand, and a taller one on the dresser. Another option would be to get the remote so you can turn on all the lights as soon as you walk in. Add some surfaces in the room, and fill them with some lamps and light and you will be in a great position!

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Ep. 113: designer Susan Sully Nov 05, 2019

Show notes

This week, we welcome best selling author of over 18 books, Susan Sully. She tells us all about Southern Hospitality At Home, her new book that details the inspiration behind the art of finding joy and generosity in hospitality. Susan talks about what surprised her most about the history of Southern homes and hospitality in her research for the book, the importance of a welcoming entrance hall, why the door was almost always open in the South and her go to tips for entertaining at home. We also talk about dining room etiquette including the rules on lighting candles, ways we can update tradition, and incorporating high/low into your entertaining.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Trials regarding a cool Ballard lamp, a Prosciutto haunted hand, and failed kitchen outlets.
Triumphs of rediscovering the right way to use a fan, a killer centerpiece, and new dining table.
Why Susan thinks that hospitality and comfort have remained so ingrained in Southern culture.
Why old Southern houses work with the climate to encourage an environment of fun times and great parties.
Why porches were arranged on the side in Charleston, and the difference between a porch, Side piazza, and gallery.
No matter how big or small the entrance way in a home, do something to make it welcoming.
The hilarious story of how cheese straws and the bald eagle are both a thing.
Some of Susan’s must-haves for decorating including cloth napkins, beautiful place cards, comfortable chairs, things that gleam and glimmer, and how to get ahead of the game by setting the table the night before.
The etiquette around lighting candles, and ways we can update tradition with boldly colored candlesticks and candle holders.
What we need in our guest rooms to make our special visitors feel appreciated and welcomed.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Susan Sully books

Susan Sully

@susan.sully

Southern Hospitality At Home

Devon Lamps

Blair Bench

Mrs. Whaley’s Garden

University of Georgia

Erika Powell

Florida Water

The Charleston Silver Lady

Decorating Dilemma

Susan loves the idea of a wicker bar cart with you changing out flowers or greenery. She said a polypropylene runner to put along the front of your house, to soften up the floor and bring color. You can paint the bar cart a color to go with it. We love the idea of having that table next to your door, with plants on it to add some depth and color.

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One of Susan’s mottos is “there is no problem that a good curtain can’t fix”, but here it can be dramatic and make it feel like a pavillion. Her advice is a very long curtain rod with two panels on either side all the way down the floor. Susan also throws out that two curtain rods with two panels on either side and treating them on individual windows may work really well too. We also throw in the idea of Roman shades, to help add softness.

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Ep. 112: designer Jennie Seward Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

Interior Designer Jennie Seward began her career as a colorist and designer of fabric and wall coverings. Jennie shares how she managed to fall in love with surface design, and with the help of a few side hustles, worked her way up to opening her company Jennie Seward Interior Design. Jennie also talks about her love for color, her custom decoupage lamps and decorative accessories, and her passion for designing beautiful wall coverings and fabrics. We also talk about the importance of paying attention to the exterior when designing as well, what goes behind her “Traditional With a Twist” style, and where Jennie recommends we save vs. splurge.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Trials regarding a fractured tibia, mother in laws, and a lesson in entertaining with silver spoons and hot dishes.
Triumphs about the Final Cut outlet, new sofas, and a power audit to help bring down the electricity bill. Also, a discovery about a cordless serving heating warming tray — thanks genius listener Sharon!
Jennie describes her style as “Traditional with a Twist”, and loves working with a variety of clients and projects.
Jennie was always either designing rooms or upgrading her fort as a child. She has a natural talent to take a space and bring it to a new level of beauty.
Good things happen when you go above and beyond your job, and say “yes” to side hustles that move you further in your dream.
Jennie works for her clients to create an interior that feels fresh but includes any important historical objects they are holding on to from their family.
Jennie is a fan of wallpaper, and sees how it adds so much to freshen up a room.
Where to splurge on beautiful fabrics such as wallpaper, and where to save, like seagrass and sisal rugs.
Why Jennie recommends buying the ugliest house on the best block, and the importance of both interior and exterior for curb appeal.
Great design is not about the price you pay, but rather the choices you make.
As you are going through a project, always be open to make sure the next step is the right decision.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Final Cut

Cuisinart Warming Tray

Decorating Dilemma

You either need to paint or reupholster your sofa. We don’t know the size of the room, but we are thinking painting might be easier. Jennie is already on the hunt for a fabric that will pull it together, and check out some Ballard custom drapery. If you love your gray wall and don’t want to paint, consider a new sofa! If you don’t like your sofa, don’t waste any resources trying to match it until you can purchase one that you love!

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Maybe a Person table would work, since it’s neutral we have a lot of options such as a marble top and chair with fabrics to help with the hard surfaces. A round table works best in a square room. Think of it as a conscious contrast rather than a near match to be intentionally different.

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Ep. 111: designer Betsey Mosby Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

Betsey Mosby, interior designer and owner of Betsey Moby Interior Design, pairs the contemporary with the tried and true to create spaces that are traditional with a twist. We caught Betsey while she was in Atlanta on a new client project and talked with her about using pieces you already love and how she helps clients develop a space where they can live their life comfortably.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Trials regarding a hornet’s nest, a NYC apartment fire, and a not so hidden garbage can.
Triumphs on some great Target Anniversary purchases, new living room love and nice looking melamine plates.
Betsey works with clients to use what they already love, and to add new furniture and accessories that will stand the test of time.
Betsey is all about helping clients develop a space where they can live comfortably in an environment that suits their particular lifestyle.
Betsey took an unconventional path to design, but her background as a CPA helped her in the business and entrepreneurial side of things.
Your best advertisement is your last client.
When Betsey starts a room at a showhouse, it is her to her truest form.
Why a good power wash can have performance furniture and rugs looking just like new.
Embrace where you are at every stage of design.
We can make our own rules when it comes to creating new places for guests to sit and be comfortable while entertaining.
Hanging art on the headboard is a new way to make the space interesting.
Monograms are a way to add a classy touch to soft goods such as towels and linens.
Betsey’s use of lattice in a room to create a warm yet polished look.
More about the Southern Idea Living Showhouse.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Betsey Mosby

John Derian

Vesper Martini Table

Southern Living Idea House

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Ep. 110: stylist and editor Eddie Ross Oct 15, 2019

Show notes

Jack of all trades, Eddie Ross is a stylist, author, editor, trained chef, decorator, and thrift store addict. We visited his production studio and event space Maximalist Studios to sit down with him and talk entertaining, his house renovation, and much more.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:The historic renovation of Eddie’s Edgewood Hall, and how they brought it back to life. Eddie’s addiction to thrift stores, and how he stores all his precious finds in his prop house and photo studio.More about Eddie’s new book Modern Mix: Curating Personal Style with Chic & Accessible FindsA home should have a sense of things collected overtime to give the space a personal feel.How to know when to thrift, and when not to thrift. How Eddie made his Butler Pantry dreams come true and made the best use of a small space. What’s in his summer flower drawer, and what a berry spoon is. Some of Eddie’s seasonal tips to spruce things up and make things feel lighter in the summer and cozier in the winter. A behind the scenes look of shooting for House Beautiful, and how it gave Eddie time to really decorate the space and make sure everything felt authentic. People that are friends with designers — please still have us over! We promise not to judge, and just want to escape our home every now and then. What a celery vase is, and why it’s everything. Buffet etiquette including how to navigate the assembly line to maximize time and space. Why “inspiration” on social media can sometimes stress us out, and what to do about it. Some delicious dishes to serve for a party of 20 or fewer guests. Ice cream sandwich station, anyone? Eddie’s entertaining stock kit: cutting board, footed board, cake plate in two sizes, celery glass, low bowl, pitcher, ice bucket, ice scoop, and linen cocktail napkins. Wash and iron your cocktail napkins. You will take great pleasure in the steam. Mentioned In This Episode:

@eddieross

MaximalistStudios

HouseBeautiful | EdgewoodHall

Eddie RossModern Mix

Better Homes & Gardens

Bunny Williams

Herman Wendell

Angie Hranowsky

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Ep. 109: designer Barbara Balongue Oct 08, 2019

Show notes

Designer Barbara Balongue specializes in hospitality design — restaurants, bars, and boutique hotels. We loved chatting with her about the intricacies of restaurant design, how it impacts our dining experience, and everything those goes into building out a gorgeous venue. She blew our minds with all of the details we’ve never even thought about!

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

The challenges with restaurant designWhy you can take a bigger risk in restaurant design than you might at homeWhy booths are great and why they’re great to use in residential spaces as wellThe science and psychology of restaurant designWe talk about restaurants that haven’t used designers and a client of Barbara’s who was blown away by how interior design changed his bottom lineNew trends in restaurant designHow Barbara chooses color in her projectsRestaurant noise — how to combat it and why its an after thoughtWhy people covet the ‘hotel feel’ when they’re designing their own homesBathroom lighting and everything you need in your guest room

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