How to Decorate

Ep. 276: A Vision to Design with Stephen Sills


Listen Later

We have a major treat for you today, in the form of a great conversation with the dean of American design, celebrated interior designer Stephen Sills. You’ve seen Stephen’s work in your favorite design magazines including Architectural Digest, Town and Country, Elle Decor, and many more. Stephen walks us through his new book, a Vision for Design, and a few of the recent projects featured in the book, including stunning homes in Florida, New York City, and his own Connecticut home.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


  • Considerations when choosing a wallpaper.
  • How dining rooms are becoming less formal and more usable.
  • How to use boards to see the whole of the house, and work with layout and scale.
  • What should you consider when choosing a shape and size for a sofa?
  • What has changed in Stephen’s Connecticut home over the 30 years he has lived there.
  • In Stephen’s work, how does he approach both beauty and functionality of the space?
  • What’s next for Stephen now that the book is out?
  • How Stephen curated certain moods and atmospheres in the different homes featured in a Vision for Design.
  • How you can bring some of Stephen’s expert eye into your design decisions.

  • Mentioned in This Episode:

    Stephen Sills

    A Vision for Design

    Hello, and thank you for writing! First, when hanging art, it’s all about your choice and intuition. We think you should make a choice between a height that works for you, and a height that the guests can enjoy. Stephen agrees that it’s always nice to look up at art instead of just looking straight at it. The bigger the painting, the higher you can hang it. The smaller the painting, the lower it could be. Hope this helps!

    ...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

    797 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

    888 Listeners

    Affordable Interior Design by Uploft by Betsy Helmuth

    Affordable Interior Design by Uploft

    360 Listeners

    A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design  Business Podcast by LuAnn Nigara

    A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

    760 Listeners

    Decorating Tips and Tricks by Bespoke FM

    Decorating Tips and Tricks

    775 Listeners

    Business of Home Podcast by Business of Home, Dennis Scully

    Business of Home Podcast

    380 Listeners

    House Guest by Country & Town House | Interior Designer Interviews by Country and Town House

    House Guest by Country & Town House | Interior Designer Interviews

    40 Listeners

    Maximized Minimalist Podcast by Katy Wells

    Maximized Minimalist Podcast

    894 Listeners

    The Everyday Style School by Jennifer Mackey Mary

    The Everyday Style School

    474 Listeners

    Dear Alice | Interior Design by Alice Lane

    Dear Alice | Interior Design

    1,462 Listeners

    A Beautiful Mess Podcast by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman

    A Beautiful Mess Podcast

    1,989 Listeners

    The Chairish Podcast by Chairish Inc.

    The Chairish Podcast

    234 Listeners

    Trade Tales by Business of Home, Kaitlin Petersen

    Trade Tales

    73 Listeners

    The Interior Collective by IDCO Studio

    The Interior Collective

    278 Listeners

    HER Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing by Heather Riggs - Stylist, Image Consultant & Color Analyst for Women

    HER Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing

    121 Listeners

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

    Talk Shop with Ariel Okin: A Fenimore Lane Production

    38 Listeners