How to Decorate

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 49: Landscape Architects Spencer Tunnell and Will McDonald Apr 24, 2018

Show notes

With Spring in the air, we thought we'd talk about our outdoor spaces. They're just as important as your indoor spaces, but for many of us, knowing what to do with them can be a challenge. Atlanta landscape architects Spencer Tunnell and Will McDonald of Tunnell & Tunnell Landscape Architecture stopped by to talk about when we need to call a professional, how to add a little curb appeal to your space, why non-native plants aren't a smart choice in many cases, and much more.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

We talk about Curb Appeal and how it isn't so different from interior designI talk about my backyard project and the wild hair got to tear it all upKaren wants turf in her yard. We ask Spencer and Will their thoughts.Taryn asks about why and how you can choose plants that will bloom year roundWe talk about when you should hire a pro to help you and when you can do it yourselfWe talk about consultations and how a professional could help you make a master plan for your property that you could fulfill over timeTaryn talks about her experience splitting plants and her neighbor who's helped her learned what'll work in her yardWe ask Will and Spencer about their favorite plantsWe talk about goats and how you can use them to rid your yard of invasive speciesWhy it's dangerous to plant non-native plantsTaryn wants to know about all of the pine trees in her yard

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Ep. 48 with Montgomery Gratch Interiors Apr 10, 2018

Show notes

Almost a year ago Atlanta interior designers Julie Montgomery and Michele Gratch joined forces to create Montgomery Gratch Interiors. We loved hearing about how their unique strengths compliment and challenge each other. We talk family homes, renovations, the fifth wall, and much more.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

They tell us about how they joined their firms and how their individual strengths work togetherWhy you shouldn't wait to decorate until your kids are older and how to make your home kid-friendly and beautifulWhy it's important to consider how you live in your home before starting the decorating processHow to approach your home with a fresh eyeWe talk about showhouses, why they're fun, why they're a great place to learn about decorating, and why you should check one out in your townHow Michele and Julie bring that layered, collected look into your roomWe talk about a friend of Julie and Michelle's who does a bus tour of great shopping placesWhy it's absolutely crucial to make a floorplan and to measure before buying anythingKaren asks Michelle and Julie for tips on how to encourage dinner party guests to use her living roomThoughts on decorating outdoor spaces, especially the dilemma of keeping cushions clean and pollen-freeWe talk about renovations -- kitchen trends, how to make an impact on the ceiling, and moreMichelle and Julie tell us about their client who has a wine bar in her closet

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Ep. 47 with antiques dealer Shane Robuck Mar 27, 2018

Show notes

This past Fall, Karen met antique dealer Shane Robuck of Robuck & Co on a buying trip to Europe, and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to chat with him about antiques, travel, and his love of furniture. Shane travels the world looking for the most beautiful curiosities and furniture pieces and sells them in his shop in Atlanta.

Shane tells us about his love of Italy and his favorite cities for finding the best piecesShane tells us about how he started buying antiques and who helped him educate his eyeThe guiding principal he uses to buy pieces -- gauging with your heart and buying what you loveWe talk about why the millennial generation doesn't buying as many antiquesShane gives us a quick lesson on antiques from various countriesShane tells us the story of buying his tufted sofa with adjustable armsHe tells us what types of antiques are currently trending in his shopTaryn asks about tips about shopping for antiques in a shopWe talk about negotiating and what's a fair price to offer

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Ep. 46 designer Laura Walker Baird of Verde Home Mar 13, 2018

Show notes

Atlanta interior designer and owner of Verde Home on the Upper Westside Laura Walker Baird joins the podcast to talk about antiquing overseas, why Europeans rarely hire designers, and her own major home renovation.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

We talk about purging -- what's worth keeping and what needs to be tossedLaura tells us about her time abroad shopping for antiquesWe hear about Laura's bedroom -- mauve with green carpetShe talks about why she wasn't really an interior designer when she lived in ItalyLaura tells us about the proper Italian way to eat spaghettiThe most common issue Laura's clients deal withTaryn asks Laura about her favorite design eraWe talk about getting pieces custom madeLaura talks about accessorizing an unused room in her client's home to make it functional We talk about how to make your dining room more inviting so you'll actually use itLaura tells us about her home renovation which she's recently finished

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Ep. 45 with designer Paloma Contreras Feb 27, 2018

Show notes

Design blogger and interior designer Paloma Contreras stopped by the podcast while in Atlanta to talk about her upcoming book, the ten year anniversary of her blog, and how important it is to enjoy living in your home.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

We talk about Remodelista’s 2018 trendsPaloma tells us about her upcoming book publishing in Fall 2018We talk about the difference between finding inspiration and executing a room design based on that inspirationWe ask Paloma about what she’s had to talk clients out ofHow do we incorporate trends without falling victim to those trendsPaloma talks trends and her ‘oops’ momentWhy Paloma is so glad classic rooms are having a big moment in designHow La Dolce Vita got started and eventually evolved into a full service design businessPaloma tells us about her design style and ‘hero fabrics’Why it’s easy for us to incorporate bold patterns and colors into the rooms of the catalog, but how we know most people are going to order something more subduedPaloma talks about the process of writing a book and how important it was to schedule blocks of time to writeWhy it’s important to know how to live and love in your homeThe biggest faux pas as a dinner party guestPaloma’s favorite ways to inject personality into your home – travel souvenirs and colorHoles in your décor – should you wait to fill a blank space until you find something perfect or do you add in something inexpensive and temporary?Taryn and Karen ask for Paloma’s suggestions to replace their juju hats

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Ep. 44: Performance Fabrics 101 Feb 13, 2018

Show notes

We've gotten lots of questions from listeners about performance fabrics. What are they? Why are they so durable? Are they safe to use in our homes? We thought we'd answer all of your questions, so we went straight to the source. Kimberly Peoples and Emily Cosgrove of Sunbrella stopped by the podcast to give us a 101 lesson in performance fabrics. Plus we talk about our newest collection of over 100 performance fabrics we're adding to our line.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

Why our performance fabrics by Sunbrella are stainproof, fadeproof, and super durableWe talk about the 'face test' and why we're so excited to use our new performance fabrics on our furnitureEmily talks about how she became a textile designerKimberly and Emily tell us about all the cool green and eco-friendly aspects about the Sunbrella companyWe talk through common stains and the handy chart that'll make cleanup a breezeWhich furniture pieces you should consider using performance fabrics onWe talk about some of our favorite fabrics in the new collectionWe help Kimberly sort through her own decorating dilemma

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Ep. 43 with designer Rachel Cannon Jan 30, 2018

Show notes

While in Atlanta for market, Baton Rouge interior designer Rachel Cannon stopped by the podcast to talk brown furniture, waiting for that perfect piece, letting your layout dictate your furniture pieces, and her 'cantaloupe' bookshelf styling trick. Definitely don't miss this one!

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

First things first, we get a lesson in how to say 'Baton Rouge'Rachel talks about her first room and the most important decorating lesson her mom taught herRachel talks about why your room dictates your furniture layout and the pieces you needRachel tells us her number one piece of dream furnitureWe give Rachel all our Scott's Antique Market tips and we talk about AmericasMart in AtlantaWe quiz Rachel on her tips for dressing up a space while keeping it comfortableWhy paint color isn't necessarily the best route if you want a colorful homeRachel shares her favorite paint colorsWe talk bookshelves and how to fill all that space without it being clutteredRachel's 'cantaloupe' trick for bookshelf stylingWe ask Rachel who about her designer inspirations -- Suzanne Kasler, Kelly Wearstler, and Phoebe Howard

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Ep. 42 with designer Barbara Westbrook Jan 16, 2018

Show notes

The impossibly talented Barbara Westbrook stops by the podcast to talk antiquing, her book Gracious Rooms, her client work, renovating her homes, and her decorating pet peeve. And of course, we answer your decorating questions!

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

Barbara tells us about some of her earliest memories antiquing with her mom in a shop in her hometown of Lynchberg, VirginiaHow she ended up in Atlanta in the interior design business working for one of our podcast guestsBarbara tells us a story of Suzanne Kasler's bathroom, and we talk about Miles Redd's mirrored bathroomWe talk about Barbara's previous home in a historic neighborhood in AtlantaShe talks about why it's a good idea to live in your home before you renovateBarbara tells us about why she bought her new house and the improvements she's making to itWe talk about collecting items you love and finding a place for them laterWhy she loves designing kitchens and how she'd love to just design kitchens one dayHer best lesson for designing a kitchen or bathroom -- edited the design down to two 'tricks'How she transitioned from a petite home to a larger homeWe talk about picture frames and Barbara's approach to incorporating them into your decor

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Ep. 41 with The Peak of Chic's Jennifer Boles Jan 02, 2018

Show notes

Atlanta native Jennifer Boles of The Peak of Chic stops by the podcast to give us a decorating history lesson, her favorite decor books, and much more. We talk about the origins of her book In with the Old: Classic Decor from A to Z and the concept for her next book coming out Fall 2018.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

Jennifer tells us about her book obsession and how she started The Peak of ChicJennifer shares the five big names in decorating that you need to have in your design education -- Elsie de Wolfe, Dorothy Draper, Billy Baldwin, Albert Hadley, and Nancy Lancaster and John FowlerJennifer tells us about how Dorothy Draper's Decorating is Fun was the impetus for her study and obsession with decorating historyWe talk about how Jennifer almost worked at BallardWe talk about decorating books and which ones Jennifer says we have to have in our librariesJennifer talks about one of her favorite new decor books -- ArdrossanWe talk about working old things into your home so it doesn't feel outdatedJennifer talks about how her first book In with the Old: Classic Decor from A to Z came about The one thing that immediately dates a roomWe talk about classic pieces and how they come in and out of fashionWe talk about where you should spend your decorating dollars

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Ep. 40: with Maison Studios' Anne Scott Shelley and Allison Smith Dec 19, 2017

Show notes

Okay, when Anne Scott Shelley and Allison Smith of Maison Studios stopped by for this episode of the podcast, we had a serious case of the giggles! Get ready for a fun episode, where the decorating duo behind this 30A interior design firm talks vacation homes, granny chic, online shopping, and much more.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode

How Anne Scott and Allison started working together and they’re different strengths in their partnershipWhy they love unconventional color palettes in beach homesWhere they like to save money in their projects, especially since they often decorate second homesWe talk about how far outdoor fabrics have come and why they’re great for beach homesAllison shares her love for granny floralsThey talk about how their approach to decorating may differ from most shoppers because they’re decorating rental homesWe talk about cafe curtains and why they’re aren’t considered ‘granny’ anymoreWe talk about plates on walls and why they’re classicAnne Scott and Allison share their favorite places for finding vintage and antiquesWe talk about about our Atlanta store opening and why the Maison girls will need to come visit us!How do you create a beachy feel without going kitschyAnne Scott and Allison also share how you bring a beachy vibe to your home if you’re nowhere near the water

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