How to Decorate

By Ballard DesignsBusiness Arts Design

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Typical duration
60 min
per episode

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How to Decorate episodes

September 29, 2020Ep. 160: designer Sean Scherer
Painter, shop owner, decorator, and author Sean Scherer joins us this week. We talk about creating authentic interiors that tell a story, and Sean shares the inspiration behind his new book, Kabinett & Kammer. We also talk with Sean about using scale and composition to keep balance and flow within a room, using small objects and bright colors to create a large impact, and why it’s okay to just go ahead and purchase that piece you’ve been eyeing up.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode:
Trials and triumphs on some expensive roman shades, rewiring a lamp, a broken chair, tree talk, and exciting new house plans!
In Sean’s new book, Kabinett & Kammer, he celebrates practical yet beautiful interiors in an honest and humble way. It’s all about taking the things we already have and love and displaying them in a new way to get a striking effect.
Sean’s mother was a collector, and by watching her reorganize and repurpose, he fell in love with the process.
In Sean’s new book, Anderson Cooper wrote the foreword and appreciated the aspect of how we can create a unique and authentic sanctuary for ourselves in our home.
We can play with scale to make smaller objects more noticeable, and also use smaller objects as a way to experiment with bright colors.
How Sean shops for the Kabinett & Kammer storefront, and uses the shop as another form of artistic output.
If you really love something, buy it! It’s all part of building a conversation in our home that shows what we love and who we are.
Ways we can take an object and successfully use it out of context, like a great taxidermy piece.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Karen's roller shades
Kabinett & Kammer
Kabinett & Kammer Book
@kabinettandkammer

Find all of the Show Notes at Ballarddesigns.com/podcast

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1 hr 10 min
September 22, 2020Ep. 159: How to Pick the Perfect Chair
There's so much more that goes into shopping for a great chair than just picking what looks pretty. We invited our in-house upholstery experts Kelly, our Merchant and Buyer, and Hillary from our Product Design team to share their insights. We talk about everything from chair height, placement, arms, ottomans, and everything in between. We pick their brains on what to look for when purchasing a chair, and where to splurge vs. save in the chair department. Whether you want to swivel, recline, or sit up pin-straight, this is the episode for you.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode:
Just as important to consider how you are going to use a chair is how you are going to use the space where the chair is going. That will determine the function whether it’s for office use, entertaining,
What instances you would want high back chairs vs. lower back chairs.
The best chairs for entertaining, and the best times that you can sacrifice comfort for something a little tighter.
How your frame is the foundation of a chair and the different types of frames we use based on the specific engineer and general construction of the chair.
The best choices for an office chair that can support long hours at the computer, now that many of us are working from home for the foreseeable future.
What pitch is on a chair, and how the experts at Ballard design and development team determine that a pitch is right.
The different styles of arms on a chair, and which ones are better fitting different functions.
Ballard over 300 upholstery options and many of the performance fabrics are perfect for families, pets, and clumsy drink spillers.
When are ottomans are appropriate, and how much lower they should be than our seat.
Even our experts have scratches on their leather couches, so it’s okay to not be perfect if you do decide on leather!

Mentioned In This Episode:
Ballard Chairs
Ballard Sofas
Slipcovers Chairs
Sharon Sofa
Kathryn Upholstered Sofa
Sofia Upholstered Sofa

Find all of the Show Notes at Ballarddesigns.com/podcast

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59 min
September 15, 2020Ep. 158: designer Katie Ridder
We kick off this week with some tree talk, then welcome our guest, Interior Designer Katie Ridder. We couldn’t be more excited to talk with Katie about her new book, More Rooms, which is yummy beyond words and featuring color and exquisite details out of this world. We talk with Katie about her bold choices, her love affair with custom banquettes, her advice on bedding, and how she counters colorful choices with colors and tones that blend together seamlessly.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode:
Trials and triumphs about a big plant overhaul, a much needed cushion deep cleaning, rotting plants, and spooky chic Halloween decor.
More behind the amazing details and bold statements of color featured in Katie’s work, how she dreams up all the details without it feeling too busy or overdone.
How she chooses color scheme and builds on it with all the colors, and why you need to just trust her when she mentions bringing in a brown couch.
Why she chooses quiet carpets when you have colorful carpet schemes.
More about her love affair with custom banquettes, and fun ways to add seating options for everyday living and entertaining in a home.
How to make a cozy study, especially now since so many of us are working from home.
Her advice on beds, low profile mattresses, and her choice of bedding.
What working with large publications such as House Beautiful and House and Garden opened her eye to different styles and learning about scale in person.
Katie’s advice for outdoor rooms, and how she has really gotten more into gardening during this time of quarantine.
Ways that we can make sure our furniture and design choices are in scale.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Katie Ridder
@katieridderinc
Penn & Fletcher
Swedish Grace
Charles Beckley
1800 Matress
Trees Atlanta
Suzanne Kasler
Decorating Dilemma:
Thank you for writing! Here are our suggestions: we don’t think the rug is too large. You can cut it down a little bit if you want, and it would not hurt the value too much. Katie agrees that your instinct to get rid of the cabinet under the TV is right, along with putting the TV on the wall. Check out some of our Ballard console tables to anchor the side of the room. Also, we would lacquer the chairs and use a performance fabric for the cushions.
Find all of the Show Notes at Ballarddesigns.com/podcast

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1 hr 17 min
September 08, 2020Ep. 157: designer Joy Moyler
Award-winning interior designer Joy Moyler joins the show this week to share how we can carve off a little slice of luxury in our own homes. Joy works with actual royalty, along with dream celebrity clients such as Leonardo Dicaprio and John Mayer. Based in New York, Joy absolutely loves creating a whole home for her clients and talks about ways we can make both simple and layered designs clean and stunning. She shares what textiles and pieces are making her do a happy dance these days, and how working with huge brands such as Revlon and Ralph Lauren helped bring her eye for fashion into winning design creations.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode:
Joy shares the benefits of working with different design firms and both residential and commercial projects.
The same way that others mentored her, Joy pays it forward with hiring interns and mentoring the budding designers of tomorrow.
How Joy works with clients who choose to layer heritage pieces, and those who opt for a minimal and simplistic style.
What she loved working with huge brands such as Revlon, Armani, Ralph Lauren, and how fashion ties in so heavily with home design.
What the celebrities are doing in their houses that we aren’t doing at ours, besides having multiple homes.
What a meeting with Leo is really like, and how Joy fought back a flu to attend a movie premiere!
A glimpse of what it looks like when Joy designs home from soup to nuts, including their flat-ware and tables.
More about the Stone Barn Dairy Farm in update New York, which house some of the luckiest cows on earth!
Joy’s tips for using fashion textiles as window treatments or cushions.
Simplicity can sometimes be even more complicated.
Which of Joy’s projects she would take on as her own home.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Armani
Joy Moyler Interiors
@joymoylerinteriors
Decorating Dilemma:
Joy thinks putting some artwork on the walls will create other focal points in the space. Definitely some colorful area rugs and Joy recommends a lighter printed window treatment. This will help soften it up and create a break from all the beige. A more translucent textile that is a lighter color instead of the blue would look better. For painting your walls, something celadon or light blue would look good. Thank you for writing, and be sure to keep us updated!
Find all of the Show Notes at Ballarddesigns.com/podcast

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1 hr 2 min
September 01, 2020Ep. 156: designer Marshall Watson
New York-based designer Marshall Watson joins us this week to talk about trusting your intuition, his connection to Swedish design, and more. We also talk with Marshall about the importance of creating a floor plan and knowing a home’s architecture before going in on a big design. Marshall also talks about his new book, The Art of Elegance: Classic Interiors which pairs his personal stories of beautiful homes with photos showing their elegance and luxury.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode:
Why hiring a New York designer is the best - just ask Marshall how many unexpected obstacles and challenges come up when designing in small spaces that need both beauty and function.
Marshall believes in getting the architecture right first, then other design elements will fall into place.
Marshall is a native of Kansas City and graduated with three majors from Stanford University. He also has a love for theatre design and made it onto the Soap Opera As The World Turns as an actor!
We can interview ourselves when about to design our own homes, much like Marshall would interview a client. The first place to start is asking “how can I spoil myself in the best way possible?”
How to find artisans you trust and find it pleasurable to work with.
Marshall doesn’t believe in bad taste - there are opportunities to take a vision and make it fit.
Marshall shares how he got into Swedish design, and how the Swedish sensibility is practical, clean, and geared to bring more light in a home.
Decorating Dilemma:
Brenda, we love that you love color and pattern. Marshall believes in pulling spaces together, and the tables along with the wallpaper as well. It would be nice to have a stack of two photos on top of it, preferably with the frames being the same color as the consoles so they are unified. He would put two frames and a pair of pictures that are a large print or have a large mat. A suggestion would be painting the wooden part of the chandelier white, along with the base of the table. You have a lot of doors, you might as well paint them the same color and celebrate them. An indoor/outdoor carpet four inches from the wall could help accentuate and tie together the shapes while embracing what you have already done.
If you decide to paint the entry, you can’t paint the ceiling white because it will look cheap. You can use a little of the wall color, but dark walls mean a somewhat darker ceiling. If budget allows, you may want to think about new flooring for the entry-way to fit your bold and colorful vibe.
Mentioned In This Episode:
The Art of Elegance
Marshall Watson Interiors
@MarshallWatsonInteriors

Find all of the Show Notes at Ballarddesigns.com/podcast

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1 hr 22 min
August 25, 2020Ep. 155: designer Carmeon Hamilton
This week, we are happy to welcome Carmeon Hamilton, a Memphis based designer who is also behind Nubi Interiors. Carmeon talks to us about the positive effects great design can have on our mood, how her background in retail merchandising and working around construction gave her a solid foundation, and her book that teaches us to all be better plant parents. Carmeon also shares some great plant purchasing and plant care tips, and affordable ways to spruce up our home and add extra space as we continue to work remotely.
What You’ll Hear on This Episode:
Trials and Triumphs about ways to make your space better at no cost, a drop ceiling replacement, new cabinetry, and paint jar organization.
How Carmeon went from having the best designed dorm room in college to switching from physical therapy to design as her focus in college.
The ways that working with construction and architecture gave Carmeon an understanding of what a project needed before interior design can even begin.
Carmeon’s work in healthcare showed her how important a well designed space is for our mood, and a large part of that is having plants and beautiful greenery to care for!
Some great tips for picking plants and keeping them alive, for even the most newbie plant parents.
How to balance working from home and comprise your vision when you are co-workers with your husband and even children.
A few of the great ways Carmeon utilizes double use furniture in her living room and kitchen, creating more space for guests and entertaining.
How to use accent walls in a way that is not cheesy, and if you are going to go for it, really go for it.
The most genius idea for more counter space in the bathroom so those toothbrushes aren’t always on display.
Tips and tricks on picking the right container or planter for your plant for the best growth and drainage.
How she shops for plants, and yes you can get amazing plants and flowers at your neighborhood grocery stores, and also support local businesses as well.

Mentioned In This Episode:
11 Zero-Cost Room-Changing Ideas
Carmeon Hamilton
Nubi’s Guide to Plant Parenting
@carmeon.hamilton
Ballard Beds, Daybeds & Headboards

Decorating Dilemma
We would paint the cabinetry, walls, and wet bar area all one color, and you can continue to use it for office space if you are like the rest of us working from home! We also would find a different location for the TV, possibly mounting it on the wall. The windows are challenging, but we definitely would think about a scenario where you build in a day bed with some sconces on the wall and some good funky shades. You have a lot of options, and we look forward to hearing which direction you go!

Find all of the Show Notes at Howtodecorate.com/podcast

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1 hr 23 min
August 18, 2020Ep. 154: designer Tish Mills
Tish Mills is known for creating peaceful yet livable spaces that reflect the homeowners personality. She joins us this week to talk about her love of construction, how a great design team makes the whole thing seem effortless, and ways we can create peace and harmony in our busy homes and lives. We also reminisce about the showroom we worked on together in 2014, and draw from that how to take pieces and customize them in a beautiful way that is meaningful to you.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode:
Trials and triumphs on good neighbor relations when it comes to painting, a fun pastel door color, the wrong sized curtains (take two), and a few of the best options for good ergonomics when working from home until who knows when.
The difference between console and desks in terms of height and surface working area.
Why Tish used the word “peaceful” when it comes to her design, and examples of projects that fit this description perfectly, including a home with fluted kitchen cabinets.
How a great team in design can make a project seem effortless.
More about Tish’s love of construction, and how it’s like a mix to go through labor and to therapy when doing a major remodel.
Tish’s dad was one of the four major developers of Hilton Head, so construction is in her blood.
Why planning ahead and knowing our traffic patterns can help make the best decisions in every aspect of design, as early as we can.
How Tish works with her clients to use pieces that are personal and meaningful that they collect over time, rather than feeling like they need to furnish and decorate in a hurry.
How we can use earth tones correctly.
More about the Not Your Average Downsize project which boasted a 30,000 square foot incredible home.
Using metals as the base for your interiors, and options that you may not have otherwise thought about.
More about the showhouse we did together in 2014 at the Atlanta Symphony Showhouse, and what we can learn about taking objects and customizing them to make them feel like your own.

Mentioned In This Episode:
@tishmills
Tish Mills
Carin Console
Rachel Cannon - Ep #44 Forward Thinking with Ballard Designs

Decorating Dilemma:
We love this question, and love that you are up for a change. Tish agrees 100% that the bed facing the fireplace is too expected, and doesn’t feel that you need to move the chandelier. Do some floor to ceiling panels, and weight the treatments slightly more to equalize the windows. Do complimentary tables on the side, and they do not have to match. The part of the door to the right of the fireplace that you don’t use, the mirror feels a little out of place, so you could find another place for it. You can also put a nice comfy chair there and create a seating area or cozy reading nook. Art is important in this space, and Tish would float a piece of art over the headboard. There are also some “lazy” options that we suggest, and we won’t tell anyone if you decide to go for them!
Find all of the Show Notes at Ballarddesigns.com/podcast

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1 hr 34 min
August 11, 2020Ep. 153: designer Jena Salmon
We kick off this week’s show with our favorite design books, and what better time to start reading then now, while we are all still at home? Then, we welcome designer Jena Salmon from Atlanta to talk about her style that incorporates classic and traditional with a little funk. Jena discusses her love of color, how novices can get started with bold choices that will stand the test of time, tips and tricks for wallpaper, and ways to mix in traditional older pieces with modern furniture and design.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode:
Our top books in design for beginners, fancy homes, “normals”, and everyone in between!
Design books can be an investment themselves, but they are a great accessory and also make for great gifts and trading.
Jena’s style is funky, but also classic and traditional. She shares how just using one acrylic or contemporary piece out of context can make a big difference.
How to choose colors that are bold but stand the test of time.
An inner glimpse at a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired house that Jena is working on, and how she captures the client’s requests with the overall architecture of a home.
How we can save money and time by using wallpaper in the most efficient ways.
Why Jena chose blue and tile tile, and how this can create classic neutrality also found in plain white kitchens.
What happens with showrooms after they are done, and why a designer would want to do one.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Habitat by Lauren
Tom Scheerer
No Place Like Home - by Madeline Stuart
Vacation at Home - by Vern Yip
Modern Mix by Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar
Bunny Williams
One Man’s Folly by Furlow Gatewood
Gil Schafer
Soul of the Home - by Tara Shaw
The Art of Place - by Lee Ledbetter
The Big Book of Chic - by Miles Redd
Jena Salmon
@jenasalmon
Decorating Dilemma:
Thank you for writing in! We would make sure everything is painted the same color and in flat paint so there is not a lot of reflection. Since you have young children, they are going to need a place to play and a TV above the fireplace will work here. Check out our Coventry Benches that would provide some great space for storage and also additional seating options. A solid tall piece of furniture could also be used for storage without competing with color. Behind the sofa, a drop leaf table could be a great option for eating and more storage. Great for kids and it will soon serve as your new dining room table/drop space for walking in the door, etc!
Find all of the Show Notes at Ballarddesigns.com/podcast

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1 hr 6 min
August 04, 2020Ep. 152: design firm Massucco Warner
This week we give a warm welcome to Julie Massucco Kleiner and Melissa Warner, founding designers of the West Coast-based firm Massucco Warner. Their portfolio is a joy to look at, so we couldn’t wait to catch up with them to talk about using color, texture, and unexpected details in an approachable way. We also talk with Julie and Melissa about patterns, their great lamp game, making the most of the space in a double-height room, the importance of using samples, and color threading from room to room.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode:
Why Julie and Melissa love working with color so much, and how they pull it off in such a fun and approachable way.
Neutral doesn’t always have to mean beige or white, it can be navy blue or any other solid color when done correctly.
Ways we can color thread throughout our home so colors complement rather than compete with one another.
Using samples are important and leave them out long enough to decide if it really is a fit for your everyday life long term.
Ways that Julie and Melissa create beautiful and chic looks in high traffic areas using textures such as faux leather.
How to use a colors you may be unsure of, like mustard yellow in a kitchen.
Recommendations for tying in our outdoor furniture with indoor colors so they seamlessly flow.
A few rules of thumb for using patterns and how adding another color can help break up and tone down the pattern.
Ways to create a focal point from scratch.
Lamps can be a great source of color and flair to a room without making a huge commitment.
How to treat a double-height room without over-engineering it.
Mentioned In This Episode:
@massuccowarner
Massucco Warner
Decorating Dilemma:
The table and the chairs totally fit the room, but we think you can tweak the size of the rug and beef it up to cover more space! You want to be able to pull your chairs out and still have them on the rug. As far as your seats, it’s super easy to unscrew cushions (and even may be fun to do@) and recover them with a navy and white performance fabric. Two smaller lights over the island and a big one over the dining table could be a great call!
Find all of the Show Notes at Ballarddesigns.com/podcast.

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1 hr 9 min
July 28, 2020Ep. 151: designer Courtney McLeod
Let’s bring some joy and color into our week with Courtney McLeod, the designer behind Right Meets Left Interiors. Known for her beautiful and fun yet sophisticated body of work, Courtney is a true pro at using color to create joy and personality in her clients' homes. She talks with us about taking risks in business and in design, ways that we can start to incorporate more color in our design, and how to use color in small spaces.
What You’ll Hear On This Episode:
Trials and triumphs about new art lighting up our homes, a doctor’s visit for the pup, and great solutions for those unorganized beach towels.
How Courtney’s background of business and the finance industry mixes with her artistic side to create a perfect balance of mixing creativity with the analytical.
Courtney’s process at Right Meets Left Design is all about listening to her clients and interpreting their desires and dreams into what is doable for their particular situation, taste, and budget.
Color doesn’t always have to be loud, but it can be just as interesting when it is soft.
Having a contrast of shapes creates an interesting and engaging space, so it’s not all about going all angular or all circular.
Ways we can work with color, even if it intimidates us. Also, using color in small spaces and busting the myth that you can’t use bold color in a small space.
Do what feels good for you when it comes to color and pieces that you love. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks, or if you aren’t able to use it in your home just yet - you will one day!
The inspiration behind Courtney’s super cute designs in both New Orleans and Antiqua.
Fun and imaginative ideas for kids rooms that are interactive and great to stand the test of time including a comic book mural wall.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Melissa McGill
Ballard Cabot Hook
Sherwin Williams Dynamic Blue
@rightmeetsleftinteriordesign
Right Meets Left Interior Design

Decorating Dilemma:
The tile to the ceiling is one of our favorite tricks, so we are glad you did that, and your space already has incredible bones and structure! It looks like you already have an area for counter stools in the kitchen and a really great dining area, so maybe make the center section more of a seating area and snacking area. We would recommend a tight back bench so you don’t get the squishiness when you sit on it and you can have an upright feel. Check out our banquette sofas, and one that was skirted would add some softness with a classic dining table look. For a chandelier, something smaller and undersized that looked like a little jewel would be super cool.
____________________________________________________________________
Your pieces have great lines, and we do agree that the brown feels a bit heavy. The two head chairs with chartreuse cushions would be excellent as white, making the cushions pop even more. Check out the Ballard chair options here, If you do decide to go for print, pick a print where your accent color is that smallest color in that print. You will be surprised how the solid will pair with the print.

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1 hr 15 min

About How to Decorate

From the publisher's feed

We want to teach you how to decorate! We'll help you unleash your inner decorator with interviews from interior designers, sharing the trials and triumphs from our own homes, and answering your…