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We have a very special episode this week because we're welcoming our new host, Liz! Plus, we've got celebrated designer Vicente Wolfe on the show. He's one of the biggest talents in the design world, he's a published author, and he's here to chat with us about editing, color, mixing styles, and more.What You'll Hear on the Show: How his extensive travels inspire him and his design work Why each room should include the past but always be moving forward Why you need to branch out and take risks in your room Why it's the most fascinating to examine rooms that are different than what you'd normally do Why not being traditionally educated in design has been an advantage in Vicente's work We talk a bit about gallery walls and how to execute them well Show Notes: Bissell Little Green Machine Vicente Wolfe Associates Books by Vicente Wolfe Vicente Wolfe Designs on Instagram For more show notes, visit our blog at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

We have a fun guest for you today as we welcome Margie from the fashion blog, Thrift and Tell. She is a consignment and thrifting expert, and is sharing her best tips on purchasing luxury items for your wardrobe and home. What You'll Hear on This Episode: Margie's clever philosophies on getting a great deal How to mix high and low style in your home Margie's favorite places to shop for deals The importance of patience when shopping Where you should invest your money vs. when to look for a bargain How to tune out trends Show Notes: Thrift & Tell on Instagram Thrift & Tell blog Thrift & Tell on Pinterest Find all of the notes or stream the episode at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

Our guest today is back for another episode. He's a garden expert, interior designer, and author of 9 books, James Farmer. We talk about his love of traditional design elements, why the rooms he designs for his clients feel like a hug, and his new book Arriving Home.What You'll Hear on This Episode: Why James loves traditional design elements and why he works them into his client spaces James explains his love of oyster plates and how they make their way into his clients' collections James' lesson on lampshades and why a lampshade can make or break a lamp James' three sofa layout design trick and when it works best for a space James' obsession with patterned sofas and why they're just so practical Why wallpaper and paneling give your home age We get a lesson on decorating your outdoor rooms Show Notes: James Farmer's Instagram James' Website, Jamesfarmer.com James' latest book, Arriving Home Find all of the notes or stream the episode at howtodecorate.com/podcast.

Our guest today is Heidi Callier of Heidi Callier Design in Seattle, Washington. Her work has been featured in Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Garden, the Wall Street Journal, and many more. Listen to this episode as she shares decorating tips and advice from her many years of experience in the decorating field.What You’ll Hear on This Episode:  Heidi talks about neutral colors and how to use them Heidi shares about her journey to decorating How to keep colors from feeling depressing and combining different shades The hosts and Heidi talk about how to balance different colors How to incorporate different floral patterns Heidi discusses her own house transformation The hosts and Heidi talk about brown furniture and how to decorate with it Heidi shares tips on how to approach layouts of rooms, small spaces, and decorations  Decorating DilemmasHi Jill,For small spaces, Heidi suggests doing all the interior doors the same color, but everything is dependent on the house itself and the architecture. If you are dealing with a place that has six doors in a small space, then you probably shouldn’t paint the doors a color. But in small doses, you could do all the interior doors the same color and maybe leave the trim white. --Hi Jordan,What this room needs is a vintage rug, maybe with some violet, purple, or brown undertones to ground the space. There is a lot of white going on in the dining chairs, chandelier, and buffet, so something to richen it up the lighter colors would be lovely and child friendly. Pattern rugs are a great way to hide stains so vintage, wool rugs are wonderful for this.This room really needs draperies. Go all the way to the ceiling or as high as you can with the rod and all the way to the floor. Put panels on each window so it frames the pretty piece of artwork in between, and keep the colors just a neutral linen with a pinch pleat at the top. Another option would be to layer in some color and patterns through the draperies.Lastly, for the dining room, there seems to be enough furniture in there. However, a random vintage chair to bring in some floral patterns would be gorgeous.Good luck, Jill and Jordan! Mentioned in This Episode: Learn more about Heidi Callier at her website Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest Find all of the show notes on our blog, How to Decorate.

Our guest today is New York designer Corey Damen Jenkins. Corey is on the AD100 List, Elle Decor’s A List and his work has been featured in House Beautiful, Traditional Homes, The New York Times and more. He won HGTV’s Showhouse Showdown and has recently published his first book called Design Remix: A New Spin on Traditional Rooms.What You’ll Hear on This Episode:  The driving force behind Corey’s signature eclectic exuberance Corey’s background in the design industry Detroit as the background of Corey’s work How Corey puts his modern spin on traditional architecture The importance of light fixture in interior design Corey discuss his maximalist approach Corey’s creative process How Corey negotiates when working with couples with conflicting ideas The statement opportunity in ceilings The importance in thoughtfully curating children’s rooms   Mentioned in This Episode: Corey Damen Jenkins website Corey’s book Follow Corey on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

Today's guest is Seattle designer Brian Paquette. He joins us to talk about his brand new book At Home: Evocative and Art-Forward Interiors, as well as his unconventional path to design, his love of art, and why he finds so much inspiration in an earthy palette.What You'll Hear on the Show: His unconventional background into the design field Why it's important to listen when working on a clients design (or your own home) Why he typically favors weaves over patterns in his more permanent pieces We talk about his book (why Karen loved his captions) Sense memory in a room and why Brian loves to speak to a client's sense memory Why Brian creates a signature scent for each of his clients' home Brian thinks listening and inferring information is his super power Why asking about a paint color someone used in their home isn't a smart way to choose a paint color Why he likes a monotone palette for media rooms and bedrooms Why Brian leaves art to chance in his design projects Why a home should age and we should accept and enjoy the aging process Decorating Dilemma:Brian suggests switching your throw pillow inserts to Trillium which is a down alternative. This is what Brian uses for all of his clients! For the rest of the room, own the blue sofa! Add more blue in with two club chairs to coordinate with your sofa -- it could be pillows, some cording on the chairs, or a similar but different blue fabric on the chair. You're almost there. Just two more chairs will tie it all together.Show Notes: Brian Paquette Interiors Brian Paquette on Instagram At Home: Evocative & Art Forward Interiors, by Brian Paquette Trillium pillow inserts from PillowFlex

Our guest today is California cool designer Kate Lester of Kate Lester Interiors. Her spaces are infused with an airy, coastal vibe and her style embodies easy living. We ask her about incorporating coastal elements into homes not near the water, how to start a room, and more.What You'll Hear on This Episode: How Kate infuses a clients' personality into their home We talk about the most important design elements including linens, natural light, windows, and the importance of thinking outside the box in decorating Why you should follow the architecture of the house during the decorating process How to increase natural light in a home along with different window treatments. Why Kate loves vintage rugs and how these are a great way to add patterns and color into a home Why having a theme or concept board can help prevent lots of wasted time and money. All about sectionals -- why they're practical and why you should invest here Decorating Dilemma:For Lauren's question around how to frame her art, Kate first wants to address everything else first. Are there any layout issues. Is your floor plan just right. You want to nail the core elements in your room first before deciding on any art or accessories. Your frame choice isn't going to make or break your space. It's far more important that your furniture layout function well for everything you want to accomplish in here.You may want to shift your sofa back from the fireplace a bit and swap your side tables. Your sofa may not be centered on the window anymore, but we think that's fine.Also, in terms of picking frames for your art, all of the frames in a room don't need to match, so pick the frame that best complements the art piece.Also, Lauren we just love what you've done with this space so far. Your console looks great, we love your rug, and you have a solid foundation you've built. Great job!Show Notes: Follow Kate on her Instagram and her home decorating website. Shop Kate's finds at Kate Lester Home Find all of the show notes or stream this episode on our blog, How to Decorate. 

Today we welcome the delightful Roger Higgins to the show. Roger is a Nashville-based designer that has been creating classic and timeless spaces for his clients for over 25 years. His work has been featured in Traditional Home, Architectural Digest, Style Blueprint, Nashville Lifestyles, and more. Roger takes pride in creating spaces that can not only be admired but lived in. We talk about his love of patterns, dining rooms, breaking the rules, and more. And why he doesn’t sweat the small stuff!What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs about Caroline’s basement project, another baby joining the HTD family (which also means a nursery!), and all about Karen’s trip to Scott’s Antique Market. How Roger is able to pull off a loose and casual style. Roger loves a neutral couch with patterns and texture. Our strong feelings on throw pillows. Why Robert loves his books—especially Elements of Style. Is painting the walls, trim, molding, etc., all the same color classic or trend? How to work with couples who have different styles. Robert’s tips for picking fabrics. Why does Robert love a dining room so much? Shedding light on a go-to way to quickly update the look of a room. Why Robert doesn’t sweat the small stuff. When is it better to recover or reupholster a piece vs. replace it? Decorating Dilemma Hi Jenn,I personally think the chair can work just as it is. I will always go to draperies because I think they finish the room. The big-ticket items are probably the rug and the upholstery and because they are neutral and soft enough, I would be more inclined to pull a color from the rug and use it in the drapery panel; you only need one long rod along the wall for the panels and place the panels in between the glass sections. They don’t necessarily have to function—more for the aesthetic! The blue color from the rug is really nice. Also, I would change up the warmer-toned pillows like the burgundy and blush. Or find a bridge fabric that has those colors as well as the colors of the rug in it. It’s a very inviting aesthetic you have! So maybe they find something with all of these colors that has a fun pattern. There might be a bit of a sticker shock on the drapery, but it will be SO worth it.In the kitchen, I would maybe put some faux Roman or valance in the window over the sink. On the wall opposite the sink with the mirror, that would be a great place to maybe install panel molding and paint inside of that the color of your drapery. You could even upholster in there with the drapery fabric. It’ll be a very impactful statement and will tie everything in. I would love to see some kind of large lantern for a lighting fixture or just something heavy over the island. Even one with a shade the color of the drapery like the Margot could be perfect here!For the bar, if you’re open to painting, I love that pale grey-blue accent color from the rug like I talked about. You could do the cabinets on the bar that color. So, it would be the same color as the drapery and the panel wall in the kitchen. A lamp would also be pretty in there, too. We would take all of the small things out and slowly add them back until you get to the look you want. Caroline likes the idea of tiny art on the wall…almost like wallpaper out of art. Robert and Karen are open to that, but not as sold! Robert is more apt to paint the back wall the same color as the cabinets, stopping the paint on the inside corners just at the top of the window molding. Not on either of the sidewalls; just the back wall.We know we’ve given you a ton of different ideas here, so we can’t wait to see what you do. But we already love this room. The big stuff is mostly done here; you just need a few tweaks. So great job, Jenn!Mentioned in This Episode:R Higgins InteriorsR Higgins Interiors on InstagramElements of Style by Erin Gates

Our guests today are the interior designers behind the firm Forbes Masters; Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters. Based in Atlanta, they work with high-profile residential and commercial clients and their work has been featured in Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Essence, Architectural Digest, and most recently on The Drew Barrymore Show. They also have a fabulous wallpaper line through Mitchell Black. We talk about how they have married their talents to create bold, eclectic, imaginative designs that reflect their unique personalities. We also discuss the magic of wallpaper, working within a budget, decorating built-ins, and more!What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Trials & Triumphs about spring plants and pollen! The fascinating story of how Tavia and Monet met and started working together. How has their relationship and partnership evolved over the years? How do Tavia and Monet pitch their bold style to clients? How Forbes Masters commits to maintaining authenticity to their client in their design. More about their wallpaper line and the inspiration. The importance of a good installer with wallpaper. Progress on the design of the Kips Bay Show House. Where does creative inspiration come from for the duo? How Tavia and Monet get innovative on a budget. A very informative Decorating Dilemma all about decorating built-ins! Decorating Dilemma Hi Sarah,First, paint is going to be your friend! It will hide imperfections and create forgiveness for asymmetry. You can either do paint to hide it or a fun wallpaper to make it stand out. You will want to paint the bookcase all the same color in a satin finish and then style it very intentionally. Hardware on your doors will really help accentuate. Long, maybe gold or gunmetal, but definitely not stainless steel. The open space on the side? We really want to knock it down! If you can’t, you could use it to highlight a great piece of art using one of Ballard’s easels and place a large bust or urn in front of it to really fill the space. The key is to be intentional with your styling and consistent. Some examples are turning books horizontal, wrapping them in black or white, using the same baskets, vases, picture frames; or choose 3 different types of vignettes for some diversity. For each shelf, create the same vignette on both sides but at different levels. If the left side has adjustable shelves, you should even them out or even take out that top shelf and hang some art. For a rule of thumb, we say don’t decorate with anything smaller than a cantaloupe!For furniture layout, we like what you mentioned with the L-shaped sectional and two chairs. Another option is to do two sofas facing each other and accent chairs across from the fireplace. You could even add a bench in front of the fireplace. We also recommend painting that fireplace white or even a German smear. The bookcases should really read as their own pieces of furniture and not blend…so make them stand out by painting them all one consistent color that’s different from the fireplace. There is a sheen on the walls that’s reflecting light; we recommend repainting with a flat finish. Also, the lights have sort of a blue tint and we would go softer to make it warmer. We also suggest some sheer drapery and maybe some wood blinds if you want extra privacy. Finally, not a must-have, but maybe a bigger TV?!Thanks, Sarah, and good luck!Mentioned in This Episode:Forbes Masters WebsiteForbes Masters on InstagramShop Forbes Masters on InstagramForbes Masters on HouzzForbes Masters Wallpaper on Mitchell BlackForbes Masters on The Drew Barrymore ShowKips Bay Show House

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 DilemmaHi Angelique,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 InteriorsInviting Interiors available for Pre-orderEpisode 10: Melanie TurnerMelanie Turner Interiors on Instagram

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 and Style 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 DilemmaHi 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 InstagramClinton Smith StudioClinton’s books on AmazonNew England Home MagazineAtlanta Homes & Lifestyles MagazineA Year at Clove Brook Farm by Christopher Spitzmiller

Today's guest is art expert Katherine 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 Katherine'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.

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 DilemmaHello! 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 LonerganHGTVFarrow & Ball - Studio GreenSouthern LivingSuzanne Kasler@meglonerganinteriors

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 DilemmaEven 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 MedinaWhy is it so hard to choose a paint color?@jacobmedinainteriordesign

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 ArtIlla Gaunt InstagramArtsy

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 StudioSherrell on InstagramBallard Design Room Planner

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 DilemmaHi 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 InteriorsMarie Flanigan on InstagramThe Beauty of HomeForbes & LomaxLutron SwitchesBocci OutletsTelluride Project

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 DesignJean Liu Design on InstagramJean’s Personal Home

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 DilemmaHi 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 GoralnickBarry Goralnick on InstagramGoralnick Architecture and Design on FacebookState Street Project

Today’s guest is Dallas-based interior designer and business coach Traci Connell. Traci’s work has been featured in Traditional Home, Luxe Magazine, and many more. Traci is known for her signature method, “Ease of Glamour”, where she aims to create homes that are easy to design, easy to live in, and overall practical. She tells us what it means to make a home “bulletproof”, how she implements technology in her process, her advice for emerging designers, 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. What Traci means by “bulletproof” homes and the evolution of performance fabrics. What is on the horizon for performance design? When is it okay to choose something more delicate in design? How Traci uses technology to improve clients’ ease of living. What Traci does to make large, open homes feel cozier. How to divide a space with drapery. When to use something classic vs. when to push boundaries. How Traci designed a house for a client that wanted no accessories. Why renovation is more challenging than new construction. What elements does Traci find make a home more joyful? Tips from Traci for aspiring and emerging designers. Decorating Dilemma Hi Courtney,The biggest hiccup here is that it’s a long, narrow space. My initial thought is to flip the areas and put the TV over the fireplace. Then a sofa right in front on the wall in front of the fireplace. There is no room for a coffee table, but you could put two storage ottomans on either side of the sofa in a matching or coordinating fabric. Then you could roll those over when you’re watching TV and almost create a modular-type sectional. At the door where there is a bookshelf of shoes, I think you could use some vertical storage. You could definitely put a little rug right there, too. On the other side of the room where there is a door opening, you could flank two matching storage bookcases and you could store the toys there. That far side of the room is great for a play area. We think toy storage should not be in the entryway but rather where the playing happens…unless they are outside toys! You could also put two swivel chairs there that could be moved around.For the windows, I would add some panels in white oak or seagrass. For the window coverings, I would add Roman shades to all of the windows to match what you already have. If you do move the TV to the rock wall, I would add a light fixture that’s tight to the ceiling but sprawls out. Since you like the blue, you could paint the ceiling a light grey-blue in a satin or flat finish. You could even match the color inside the built-ins. If you really do entertain in this room, you could also add a mobile bar cart. The modular approach to the room will definitely give you more flexibility.For the dining room area with that “awkward space”, I would take out the white shelves in those curved niches. Then maybe wallpaper back in there and/or do floating shelves so it doesn’t go wall-to-wall. You can change the hardware and leave the bottom, but I love the curve. In the middle, if you can, take it all out. A nice and airy art light with a beautiful piece of large art would be lovely. The buffet can then be on the other wall for more storage. And then move a light over there, as well.Where that hole in the floor is where the hearth was, hopefully, you can patch it with wood because it doesn’t seem like you really want a fireplace. A little bit of construction there, but not too much.Well, there you go, Courtney! Those are your marching orders! Good luck!Mentioned in This Episode:Eden Brothers (Atlanta)Kevin Isbell InstagramTraci Connell InteriorsTraci Connell Business CoachTraci Connell InstagramTraci’s Online Design