How to Decorate

Betsey Mosby, interior designer and owner of Betsey Moby Interior Design, pairs the contemporary with the tried and true to create spaces that are traditional with a twist. We caught Betsey while she was in Atlanta on a new client project and talked with her about using pieces you already love and how she helps clients develop a space where they can live their life comfortably.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Mentioned In This Episode:

Betsey Mosby

John Derian

Vesper Martini Table

Pinterest

Sunbrella

Hatchimals

@betseymosby

Southern Living Idea House

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Jack of all trades, Eddie Ross is a stylist, author, editor, trained chef, decorator, and thrift store addict. We visited his production studio and event space Maximalist Studios to sit down with him and talk entertaining, his house renovation, and much more.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:The historic renovation of Eddie’s Edgewood Hall, and how they brought it back to life. Eddie’s addiction to thrift stores, and how he stores all his precious finds in his prop house and photo studio.More about Eddie’s new book Modern Mix: Curating Personal Style with Chic & Accessible FindsA home should have a sense of things collected overtime to give the space a personal feel.How to know when to thrift, and when not to thrift. How Eddie made his Butler Pantry dreams come true and made the best use of a small space. What’s in his summer flower drawer, and what a berry spoon is. Some of Eddie’s seasonal tips to spruce things up and make things feel lighter in the summer and cozier in the winter. A behind the scenes look of shooting for House Beautiful, and how it gave Eddie time to really decorate the space and make sure everything felt authentic. People that are friends with designers — please still have us over! We promise not to judge, and just want to escape our home every now and then. What a celery vase is, and why it’s everything. Buffet etiquette including how to navigate the assembly line to maximize time and space. Why “inspiration” on social media can sometimes stress us out, and what to do about it. Some delicious dishes to serve for a party of 20 or fewer guests. Ice cream sandwich station, anyone? Eddie’s entertaining stock kit: cutting board, footed board, cake plate in two sizes, celery glass, low bowl, pitcher, ice bucket, ice scoop, and linen cocktail napkins. Wash and iron your cocktail napkins. You will take great pleasure in the steam. Mentioned In This Episode:

@eddieross

MaximalistStudios

HouseBeautiful | EdgewoodHall

Eddie RossModern Mix

Better Homes & Gardens

Bunny Williams

Herman Wendell

Angie Hranowsky

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Designer Barbara Balongue specializes in hospitality design — restaurants, bars, and boutique hotels. We loved chatting with her about the intricacies of restaurant design, how it impacts our dining experience, and everything those goes into building out a gorgeous venue. She blew our minds with all of the details we’ve never even thought about!

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

The challenges with restaurant designWhy you can take a bigger risk in restaurant design than you might at homeWhy booths are great and why they’re great to use in residential spaces as wellThe science and psychology of restaurant designWe talk about restaurants that haven’t used designers and a client of Barbara’s who was blown away by how interior design changed his bottom lineNew trends in restaurant designHow Barbara chooses color in her projectsRestaurant noise — how to combat it and why its an after thoughtWhy people covet the ‘hotel feel’ when they’re designing their own homesBathroom lighting and everything you need in your guest room

WilliamMcClure

@balonguedesign

BalongueDesign

TheWhiteDogCafe

Schumacher

Autograph

RestaurantImpossible

Sunbrella

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Haven Duddy is the founder of Main Line Haven and works with her team to do it all - from buying and selling, construction and renovation, to staging and interior design. She joins the show this week to talk about why it’s totally okay to embrace your style changing, how she came to start a business that offers a full-service experience in the real estate and design world, and simple things that make big changes in design and renovation.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Haven’s husband worked in construction, and they combined forces to create Main Live Haven, helping people through whatever process they are in. When someone employes Haven to buy or sell real estate, they also get 4 hours of professional interior design service. Philadelphia has a more traditional housing style, and many of Haven’s clients will make changes throughout the years to reflect a more modern and present look. What you love today, you may not love in 10 years. Your style will change, so embrace it! What people get hung up on that they shouldn’t, and simple things that make big changes such as new lighting, updated toilets, glazing tile, and painting cabinets. Living in the house may give you a great idea of the functional way you want to design it. Common mistakes people make when they are renovating a home or looking to design it from scratch. The gals varied thoughts on open floor plans and the trends Haven is seeing with her clients. When you are selling your home, less is more, so get ready for some garage sales! The weirdest thing Haven has seen in someone’s house. The staging of science and general rules we should keep in mind when getting the most for our home. 

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Kimberly Barr is an Interior Designer in the Philadelphia area and is known for her youthful, put-together style. We talk about her love for antiques, not having strict rules, and how we can mix patterns and pieces in a way that brings a modern, fresh look to the traditional. We also get into some pillow talk, where in design you can have fun, and how it’s possible to design family friendly yet elegant spaces.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Kimberly’s inspiration behind mixing the traditional with a twist of elegant and modern. More about Kimberly’s company, Kimberly Barr Interior Design, and how she tends to work with clients from the beginning until completion. Kimberly’s love of working in Philadelphia because it allows her to bring a current feel to old stone homes and mill work within traditional homes. Ways we can mix fabrics without being over the top. Some good rules of thumb for mixing things that may not go together. How many pillows on a sofa is too many, and how to best store pillows instead of just throwing them on the ground! Kimberly may keep her master bedroom all white, but also knows how to design for families, knowing that a space needs to be livable and kid friendly. What a triple pleat is, and why it adds a crisp sophistication to drapery. The price range for working in custom fabrics, and how to know if it’s the right choice for you. When wallpaper is appropriate, and if Kimberly thinks the trend is here to stay. Art and sconces are great opportunities to have some fun and mix it up in a traditional home. Kimberly’s grandma owned an antique store, so her childhood was spent oohing and ahhing over the best antiques. Every situation is different, if you have rules you may be missing an opportunity. 

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Naomi Stein of Design Manifest joins the show this week to share how working with her contractor father gave her an eye for design and a purpose to help others make their lives more functional. We talk about making a room light, bright and comfortable, the big mistakes we tend to overlook in kitchen design, and hacks for small spaces. She also talks about finding that middle balance between your dream and your budget, and things people should look out for when working with an interior designer.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Naomi worked with her father for 12 years which helped her knowledge of working in high-end homes, and honed her skills for taking her clients to the next level. Common mistakes we tend to make including layout, form, and functionWhat Naomi doesn’t want to see in a kitchen, and what appliances she thinks is okayIdeas for storing trash bins in a sleek yet recognizable space, and ideas for housing composting and recycling containers inside a kitchen. Naomi’s best hacks using Ikea cubbies, and what she learned from renovating her own small space, or “twin” as they call it in Philadelphia. A large part of Naomi’s success is the fact that she is very aware with both the artistic vision of a project, along with the realistic overview about budget and what it will take to get it practically aligned. What works when mixing finishes in a kitchenWhere it’s easiest to take risks in the kitchen, and personal examples Naomi has worked with either in her professional life or in her own personal renovations. What to do with outlets! Do we color them, do we have USB outlets, lamps with USB options, etc!

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"The Trim Queen" Jana Phipps stops by the show to tell us all about trims, fringes, tapes, and everything embellishments. She a world-renowned expert and advocate for embellishments and we talk about everything you want to know about the history of trims, how it's changed in the last few decades, how to use them, and how Jana became an expert in the topic. It's a fun conversation you won't want to miss!

What You'll Hear on The Show:

-Jana's background in trim and how she got her nickname 'the Trim Queen'

-How we should be using trims in our homes and why they're so valuable

-A little history of embellishments and where in the world they're made now

-Her Venice experiential tour that's she planning

-How designing trims differs from designing a fabric

-We talk about trends in the trim world

-Exciting collaborations happening in the world

-How to get the most bang for your buck with a trim

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Flower Magazine editor Margot Shaw is back to talk about her new book Living Floral, why we should all be using our 'good stuff,' how to entertain graciously at home, and much more.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

-Margot tells us a little bit about her background

-We talk about her new book Living Floral and why she wrote it

-Why Margot finds the people behind the work so interesting

-How the Flower Magazine readership and mission has grown (organically!)

-We talk entertaining and everything you should know about it

-Flower's mission is to help people live graciously at home indoors and out

-Margot's passion is about inspiring the next generation

-Why you're never to young to start entertaining and learning to host a party

-Why you should use your 'good stuff'

-Mixing high and low pieces on your table and why it makes for a more beautiful table

-Margot tells us a story about entertaining for celebrated designer Charlotte Moss and why she was so nervous about her table and flower arrangement

-Why you shouldn't be intimidated to host your friends

-What is 'tole' and why does Margot love it

-Margot's go-to arrangements

-Why simple can be just as beautiful as an elaborate arrangement

-Margot tells us about what's trending in the world of floral design

-Why setting a beautiful table shows your guests that you care

-We discuss the merits of placecards and why planning your seating is important

SHOW NOTES:

- What we used for our terrariums: Berakna vase, river rocks, pink quartz rock,  jade pebbles

- Dutch Flower Line

- Cut Flower Wholesale

- Living Floral by Rizzoli

- B Brooks Fine Flower

- Flower Magazine

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Designer Amanda Lindroth joined us all the way from the Bahamas to chat with us about her home collection, book, her interior design work, and all of the joys (and difficulties) of decorating homes in your favorite vacation spots. We even talk about the Dunmore Hotel where she used our upholstery pieces. You'll be shocked to hear all that goes into maintaining this beautiful property!

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

• Trials of towels hanging on display where they don’t need to be, soapy stoves, crazy sinks and backordered rugs.

• Triumphs over a beautiful blue outdoor rug, sink and special chair finds.

• Amanda would have been a designer sooner if she knew that was a viable option!

• Amanda grew up living in a house with perfect mathematical scale, and that taught her about proportion right off the bat.

• What it was like for Amanda to grow up in South Florida in the 1970’s, and how it influenced her design now in the Bahamas.

• What people look for when decorating on an island home and resort. Warning — this will make you want to go on vacation ASAP!

• Amanada was intentional with learning about color, and studied it in a serious and motivated fashion.

• Why Amanda loves a pink wall, and it can be a neutral to go with everything.

• Why decorating for people’s second and third homes can often be easier, but they still may get sticker shock when it comes to tax and duties of the island!

• How Amanda navigates doing business in so many locations, and having a team all over the world.

• Setting a tone for using timeless antiques with a modern and contemporary touch.

• The places to spend money and really invest in great quality pieces, and what areas we can super glue it all together.

• Amanda’s thrift shop mentality suites life in the Bahamas well, and it’s not easy to replace things so she pays attention to every single thing she brings in and how she can reuse and recycle.

• Amanda’s book, Island Hopping, that takes us everywhere from Antigua to Cranberry Island.

• What we can expect next from the Amanda Lindroth product line, including lighting in early 2010.

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Susan Jamieson, award-winning interior designer out of Richmond, VA, joins the show to talk about her brand Bridget Beari, her new line of wallpapers, and how her Southern upbringing gave her a foundation for the warm and imaginative style we see today. Susan also talks about the importance of knowing the mood you are trying to create, why we shouldn’t be afraid to use different whites, and her effective and practical steps of mixing patterns together.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Trials of a $600+ power bill, boxwood hedge trimmers, and a broken dishwasher.

Triumphs of outsourcing yard work, an outdoor bench, and dish towel upgrades.

How Susan’s business Bridget Beari has expanded from design to home furnishings to paint and wallpaper.

Wallpaper is having a major moment, and Susan gives her thoughts on why it’s here to stay and not something to be afraid of.

Susan’s line takes the guesswork of picking the right color for the client’s specific design and needs.

Susan loves pushing boundaries and making each project unique to the client based on their taste and the architecture.

How growing up in the south affected her taste and gave her a foundation of working in a Southern style with warmth and hospitality.

How to use texture and contrast when working without color, and why it’s okay to not match whites.

Why neutrals can sometimes be harder to work with than color, and the three main things to think about before you should even pick the color.

The importance of identifying the mood one is trying to create when picking a direction for fabrics, textures, and colors of a room.

Mentioned In This Episode

 Harringdons

Alys Beach

Bridget Beari

Bridget Beari Colors

Susan Jamieson

@bridgetbeari

Ballard Designs

Decorating Dilemmas:

Susan thinks a round entry foyer is amazing, and she would put a round rug and a beautiful lacquered table in the middle with an even larger statement chandelier. She also suggests making it even more Spanish, and adding some jewel box color with crisp white trim to give it even more umph.

Susan would start with balancing the light on both levels, including a lamplight and light in the foyer. She would add a surface fixture outside the front door and maybe a pair of lamps depending on your mood. We love the idea of several fixtures that are grouped together.

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