How to Decorate

Ep. 196: designer Melanie Turner


Listen Later

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 Dilemma

    Hi Angeliki,


    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 Interiors

    Inviting Interiors available for Pre-order

    Episode 10: Melanie Turner

    Melanie Turner Interiors on Instagram

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    How to DecorateBy Ballard Designs

    • 4.4
    • 4.4
    • 4.4
    • 4.4
    • 4.4

    4.4

    820 ratings


    More shows like How to Decorate

    View all
    The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style by Shannon Ables

    The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style

    883 Listeners

    Uploft Interior Design by Betsy Helmuth

    Uploft Interior Design

    377 Listeners

    Edit Your Life | Simplify + Declutter Your Home, Time, and Mental Space by Christine Koh

    Edit Your Life | Simplify + Declutter Your Home, Time, and Mental Space

    522 Listeners

    Clutterbug - Real-Life Hacks and Tips to Declutter, Organize and Clean your Home Fast by Clutterbug

    Clutterbug - Real-Life Hacks and Tips to Declutter, Organize and Clean your Home Fast

    2,123 Listeners

    Decorating Tips and Tricks by Bespoke FM

    Decorating Tips and Tricks

    815 Listeners

    Business of Home Podcast by Business of Home, Dennis Scully

    Business of Home Podcast

    445 Listeners

    Second Life by Second Life

    Second Life

    2,865 Listeners

    Maximized Minimalist Podcast by Katy Wells

    Maximized Minimalist Podcast

    921 Listeners

    Let's Get Dressed by Liv Perez

    Let's Get Dressed

    274 Listeners

    Dear Alice | Interior Design by Alice Lane

    Dear Alice | Interior Design

    1,515 Listeners

    A Beautiful Mess Podcast by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman

    A Beautiful Mess Podcast

    2,109 Listeners

    The Chairish Podcast by Chairish Inc.

    The Chairish Podcast

    234 Listeners

    Lipstick on the Rim by Sony Music Entertainment

    Lipstick on the Rim

    1,038 Listeners

    The Martha Stewart Podcast by iHeartPodcasts

    The Martha Stewart Podcast

    486 Listeners

    Talk Shop with Ariel Okin: A Fenimore Lane Production by Ariel Okin

    Talk Shop with Ariel Okin: A Fenimore Lane Production

    44 Listeners