How to Decorate

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 19 with Margot Shaw of Flower Magazine May 30, 2017

Show notes

Flower Magazine editor in chief and founder Margot Shaw joins us from Birmingham to talk about flowers, being a green thumb, and why she decided to start Flower Magazine. We talk fake flowers, the etiquette for cutting from the yard, and why your containers or vases are as important as the flowers you're trying to arrange.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

-Taryn's very upsetting wardrobe malfunction

-Karen talks about how she oxycleans everything

-Taryn's triumph is that she had a piece of art framed

-Karen shares the mystery of her collapsed faux boxwood balls

-Karen's triumph was painting her back fence black

-My triumph is that I had my Nala Stool reupholstered in our Natural Woven Sand fabric which looks just like raffia

-My trial is a recurring experience in which my neighbor's get to see my pajamas

-Margot shares the incredible story of how she started Flower Magazine

-We talk about how people are really the cornerstone of the magazine, not plants

-She shares that she does not in fact ... have a green thumb

-How her daughter's wedding started her in a whole new career

-Margot says that a French hand tied is the best method for arranging flowers for beginners

-Margot shares her favorite flower to arrange with -- garden roses

-The secret to a great flower arrangement is really in the container

-Why flowers and floral patterns are considered to be feminine

-How leaves and flowers actually form the foundation of so many classic forms -- like acanthus leaves and Corinthian columns

-What flowers (or style of arranging flowers) are trendy right now

-Why it's actually harder to make an arrangement look organic and effortless

-Her favorite greenery to add to her flower arrangements

-We talk about fake flowers, or 'permanent botanicals'

-We all admit to whether we've cut flowers from our neighbors' yards

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Ep. 18 with designer Mark D. Sikes May 23, 2017

Show notes

This week we have a very special guest all the way from California, interior designer Mark D. Sikes. Mark is a veritable renaissance man with a furniture line, fabric collection, rug collection, book, fashion line, and of course his interior design business. He shares the story of how his Los Angeles home landed on the cover of House Beautiful, his love of fashion and experience working in fashion, how he approaches a new space, and how to get that effortless California style in your home.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

Taryn's trial involves the yearly dilemma of pollen versus outdoor furniture.Karen gives us tips for pruning hydrangeas.My London travel momento is both my trial and my triumph.Karen's guest bedroom saga continues. This week, she's talking about paint.Mark shares the process of designing his furniture collection and where his inspiration comes fromHow his degree in finance helps his interior design businessWe press him on how he started his MDS Stripes fashion lineMark loves a stripe -- so much that he started a striped clothing line -- so he schools us on mixing stripes togetherWhy no room should ever look perfectHis one design rule is that a space looks like it's been created over timeWe talk about California style and how we can bring a little of it into our homesHe shares the inspiration and plan for the Coastal Living Idea House that he's designing in Newport, Rhode IslandWe talk about his living room in the Southern Living Idea House which was all neutralOf course we have to ask him his decorating pet peevesMark shares the incredible story of how his house landed on the cover of House BeautifulHis decorating advice for anyone looking to start out in the design industry

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Ep. 17 with Domino Magazine's Jessica Romm Perez May 16, 2017

Show notes

We recently traveled to High Point, North Carolina for their Spring Market and had the chance to sit down with some of our favorite tastemakers. This week, we're sharing our interview with the Editor in Chief of Domino Magazine, Jessica Romm Perez. She's worked at some of our favorite magazines -- Martha Stewart, Food & Wine, and Elle Decor just to name a few -- so we loved chatting with her about what trends she's seeing at market, her recent home renovation, and how her team dreams up such a gorgeous issue! Of course we couldn't end the episode without her answering your decorating questions!

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

We're in High Point Market in North Carolina interviewing interior designers and editorsWe talk about why we love market and what it isKaren's triumph is the new bed she put in her guest bedroomHer trial is that her guest bedroom closet won't close because of the bed!We talk about how everything in Karen's house is from Ballard but why it doesn't actually look like our catalog or storeTaryn's trial and triumph is a new console table she got from the Ballard outletMy triumph is that I took a macaron making class with my mom and now I'm a macaron expert!My trial is that I missed my rose bush blooming while I was in London, and it won't bloom again until next year. So disappointing! Also the saying about roses that I couldn't remember is, "First it sleeps, then it creeps, then it leaps."We talk about her favorite part of market, how her editorial team decides which trends to feature in the magazine, and what is exciting her right now at marketShe shares her best tips for decorating with kids, including organizing kid's toys in her small New York apartmentHow systems are a crucial part of her decorating and organizing strategyHow she stepped into the role of editor in chief at such a beloved brand and magazineWe talk about our favorite recent features in the latest issue of Domino, like the crudite platter Karen recently triedJessica talks about their focus at Domino which is focusing on real, attainable living by real people. It's not just about a fantasy, everything they share is attainable.Jessica shares her rules for mixing metals in your home -- just go for it!She shares her most recent home purchase and talks about her home renovationWhat colors she's gravitating toward and why color impacts the mood of your home

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Ep. 16 Mother's Day Edition May 09, 2017

Show notes

This week, we're bringing you a very special Mother's Day edition. Our guests are our three moms! We gave them a little pop quiz and challenged them on how well they know us and how well we know them. We talk about our childhood bedrooms, how our styles differ, and much more.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE

My trial which consisted of being in the middle of the Atlanta I-85 interstate collapseTaryn recaps her travels to South Africa, including what she brought home on the planeTaryn's sweet lab Baylor came home from the daycare with a tumorKaren talks about her carpenter bee problem and her gardening triumphWe played a game with our moms where we made them fill out a quiz to see how well they knew usWe talk color, wallpaper, sentimental things, and hoarding tendenciesWe talk about our childhood bedroomsWe share another round of entertaining disasters

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Ep. 15 with Gen Sohr of Pencil & Paper Co May 02, 2017

Show notes

Our guest this week has seriously enviable style that blends vibrant colors with doses of white and black. We love the way she uses vintage pieces but creates rooms that feel totally fresh and modern. Gen Sohr is one half of the husband and wife team at Pencil and Paper Company, and we had to pick her brain about decorating with kids, color, pattern, thrift shopping, and how she and Ben manage to do it all, and together no less!

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

Taryn tells us about her fun new findI shopped my house to redo my living room mantelKaren tells us about the mysterious dots all over her kitchen and den and her clever solution to her tray which scratches her coffee tableWe talk favorite paint colors and color palettes with GenWhat it's like working with her husband, how they met, and when they decided to open their businessWe talk about her new hometown of Nashville and how the city has changed since they've moved thereDoes she have any pet peeves when she visits friends' homesHer go-to white paint colorWhat she loves most about helping her clients with their homesHow she has and hasn't comprised her home decor for her two young kidsRenovations, moving, and why there's always something on the horizonWe talk about her love for thrift shopping and scouring the flea marketShe talks about her son's love of design

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Ep. 14 with designer Beth Webb Apr 25, 2017

Show notes

Interior designer Beth Webb's spaces are comfortable, tailored, and utterly timeless, so you can our imagine our delight when she joined us for this week's episode of the podcast. We talk about her recent challenge of blending her own style with her new husbands, we talk entertaining, southern hospitality, and the importance of great lighting, among other things.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE

My garden related triumph and allergy related trialTaryn has a cleaning conundrum she needs help solvingTaryn talks about her recent accessory additionKaren's stranger danger experience in her neighborhoodWhy it's so great to be an interior designer in AtlantaWe talk the business of design, including comraderie, client relationships, and social mediaHow she's combined her own style aesthetic with her new husband's more contemporary styleWhat are her decorating pet peevesThe importance of having layers of light in your spaceWhy scale is so important, why it's hard to teach, and how to approach scale in your own home

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Ep. 13 with Bunny Williams Apr 11, 2017

Show notes

Hold onto your earbuds because our guest today is none other than our own design partner, author, acclaimed interior designer, and hostess extraordinaire Bunny Williams! We traveled to Bunny's office in New York to record this special episode in her office, and she definitely did not disappoint. Bunny shares some incredible decorating tips and stories, including how she furnished her first apartment and decorating her home in the Dominican Republic. We talk about her new outdoor furniture collection La Colina, and of course she answers your decorating questions!

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

We talk about my red lipstick trial and Karen schools us in her red lipstick protocolKaren's cord control decorating triumphTaryn talks about the incredible meal and incredible decor at Marcel in AtlantaHer trial involves public speakingBunny tells us why she decided to do a product line with Ballard DesignsShe tells us about how we're all faced with the same dilemma when it comes to decorating -- budgetWhy only buying things you love is the best investment in your homeHer proudest achievement in her first apartment in New YorkHer first big purchase was a good sofa, and why it's important for everyone to buy a really good oneBunny addresses the big pet question -- do hers get on the furniture and what does she do about it?We talk entertaining, why she's so comfortable with it, and what corners you can cut to make it easier on yourselfShe tells us about her home in the Dominican RepublicShe tells us about the time her husband John wanted to veto her decor choicesWe talk about redecorating and why it's not necessary if you get it right the first timeWe talk about her decorating pet peeve -- furniture that's always against the wallShe gives us a lesson on laying out your roomHostess etiquette, especially when it comes to drinks and coastersShe tells us about her new outdoor furniture collection, La ColinaWhy she never buys a chair online

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Ep. 12 with editor Betsy Riley Mar 28, 2017

Show notes

**Disclaimer: We had some technical difficulty with one of our mics. It refused to cooperate! We hope you'll enjoy the show anyway.**

Being the design-aholics we are, we couldn’t turn down an opportunity to interview the Editor-in-Chief of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME, Betsy Riley. We have Betsy to thank for reviving the title in 2015. Each issue brings some of the most gorgeous and inspiring spaces in Atlanta, so we were thrilled to pick her brain about what makes a house magazine-worthy and how she decorates in her own home.

WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE:

Karen’s bathroom-related entertaining disaster Karen tested our Brian Patrick Flynn’s drapery training trickTaryn talks about her entertaining pet peeve — everyone gravitating to the kitchenTaryn’s shade swap with a big lighting lesson — take your lamp base to the store!Why some beautiful homes just aren’t right for a magazineHow she picks which homes to feature and what types of spaces don’t make it to the magazineWhat her biggest decorating challenge isWhy you have to be able to let things goBetsy’s tips for making your spaces look good in photographsWe talk about Betsy’s black and white issue

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Ep. 11 with Suzanne Kasler Mar 14, 2017

Show notes

Today's guest is not only one of our favorite designers and a hometown hero in the design world, she's also our design partner, Suzanne Kasler. Suzanne's interiors are usually riddled with classic furniture pieces, but she presents them with a modern point of view. They're tailored, edited, and punctuated with color. We launched our first collection with Suzanne in 2011, and ever since then, we've been making design magic together, so we're thrilled to have her as our guest today on the blog!

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON TODAY'S SHOW:

Karen's recent framing victory inspired by Natalie Nassar's houseTaryn talks about a product she recently designedA new hobby I'm trying outSuzanne talks about showhouses and why she loves themWhy she likes to keep her team smallHow she does it all and where she finds her creative energyHow her love of shopping translates to design inspirationWhy Suzanne can't share her favorite places to shopWhy she started working with design partnersWe talk about her new outdoor furniture collection, her Directoire collection in whiteWhy you should start planning your outdoor space earlySuzanne talks about using white as a paint color and she uses it so much in her clients' homesSuzanne talks about her 'architectural envelope' and why she pays so much attention to the architecture of her clients' homes

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Bonus Boston Episode #2 with Katie Hutchison Mar 02, 2017

Show notes

We're opening a new store outside of Boston at Natick Mall, and to celebrate, we wanted to talk to some local design talents. You may remember me mentioning Katie Hutchison's book The New Small House on our episode with Annette Joseph. We ended up connecting with Katie and were thrilled when she agreed to join us for a live podcast episode from the floor of our brand new store! Since we're live, you'll notice lots of background noise (we apologize in advance), but we loved picking Katie's brain about living in a small house, designing a small house, and takeaways even those of us not in small houses can utilize in our own spaces!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL HEAR:

The background story of Katie book and how it came to be
We talk about Katie's own house which we briefly talks about in the book
The 'keys' Katie discusses in the book which each of the small houses have in common and which we can all utilize, like 'pockets for privacy'
Taryn and I both talk about our experiences seeing the 'pockets of privacy' at work
The variety of styles illustrated in the book
We talk about the glass, kit house featured in the book
How long it took the write and shoot the book
How she found all of the houses for the book
Ways those of us who aren't planning a large renovation can maximize the space we have
We talk about the tiny house movement and how a tiny house differs from the houses in her book
We talk about built-ins and how important they are for making small spaces super functional
We talk about Katie's outdoor spaces and the many outdoor rooms in the book
Katie tells us about her gardening mishaps, like transplanting weeds
We talk about the strange things we've all found in our yard from previous owners
We ask Katie about her favorite style of architect
Common mistakes people make when they're designing a new home
Why the answer to your home woes may not necessarily mean adding more space but reworking the space you already have
Why the location of private and public spaces are so important for the way you live in your home

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