How to Decorate

Brian McCarthy is an A-List designer with experience on projects all over the globe. His design projects are clean yet bold, traditional and contemporary with a fantastic eye for picking incredibly gorgeous art. Today, he shares how to create compositions that embrace the bespoke nature of the project, how we can shop for art on a budget, and what to consider when designing a boat. Brian is also the author of Luminous Interiors and Parish-Hadley Tree of Life, which he co-authored with Bunny Williams.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Taryn’s trial which includes Atlanta’s shocking ratistic (rat statistic) and how she and her husband are working to solve it

Caroline’s trial when breaking down her beautiful Christmas tree, leading to possibly the biggest LED light knot, mess and spilled paste mixture in history

Karen’s trial (but she owns being a 60%’er at least) of upholstering the doors in her guest bedroom. However, she made up for it with the best Christmas gift ever to her husband thanks to artist Lacy Freeman

How the idea for Parish-Hadley: Tree of Life came about, which lead to him first writing Luminous Interiors

How he handles clients that “ghost” him, and the reasons why he would possibly turn potential clients down

How Brian’s design creates a joyful scrapbook in people’s lives, to cover the beauty and art that makes up their personal lives

How working with Parish-Hadley informed the unique way he lays out a room

Brian’s tips for creating a composition that works, including why you should never leave home without a folding ruler

The glamorous makeover Brian gave to a storied New York apartment, and his tips to deviating from the expected path of design

How we can shop for art on a budget, and where Brian finds art for his clients

How designing for a yacht differs from designing for a home

The importance of finding a mentor when developing an understanding of cost, and honing in on what art and pieces speak to you

Simple easy ways to refresh your space and continue with maintenance that won’t break the bank

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This week, we are five peas in a podcast with besties and designers Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia. These hilarious gentlemen talk to us about how they met at the gym and eventually became members of the smash show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and a sneak peek into their new show Get a Room on Bravo. They also talk about why bad taste is better than no taste, their love of using design to tell a story, and how authenticity is the number one design trend in modern day culture.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

The hilarious story on how Thom and Carson met at the gym

How they auditioned and got picked for Queer Eye, and went on to bond filming over 100 episodes together

Their mutual love for taking on both large budget “dream” projects, and more small affordable DIY’s

The impressive knowledge that there is a difference between draperies and curtains

Thom and Carson’s tips to make a big impact with small places and smaller things

Why we shouldn’t be afraid to mix brands and prices in design, the same way we do with fashion

More about anchor pieces in each room, and why it’s crucial to invest in at least these items

What makes their design show Get a Room unique, and how the show was developed

Carson and Thom’s mission when working with people: to tell their story and bring it out in a beautiful way, and be serious about design while not taking themselves (or life) too seriously

Why your kitchen may be your new living room

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On the first day of the year, we thought it apropos to talk about 2019 color trends, so of course, we went straight to the source - Benjamin Moore's Ellen O'Neill. As the Director of Strategic Design Intelligence, Ellen and her team pick the color of the year. Naturally we had to get the lowdown on how the color is picked, why they chose this year's color, how paint is named, and many more of your top paint and color questions.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

Ellen talks through how they pick the color of the year, including what she calls 'color embeds' or when her first hints of what trending colors areWhat type of influences there are in picking the color of the yearEllen's 'personal palette' and why she is drawn to itWe talk about this year's Color of the Year -- Metropolitan AF-690What makes Metropolitan special, why it's the color of the year, and why we should love this hueColor naming -- how the name of a paint color factors into whether it becomes the color of the year, as well as the complications of naming colors in generalWhat is a 'chip pull' and how it changes once the color of the year is announcedWhat the word 'metamaric' means and why that makes matching colors trickyWhy Benjamin Moore hasn't added any new colors in a number of yearsWhether you'll get the same quality and color of paint if you have another paint company color match a Benjamin Moore colorEllen shares with us the top 10 grays in Benjamin Moore's catalogThe secrecy involved in the Color of YearWe talk about the timeline -- when they pick the next year's Color of the YearEllen's background and how one starts to work in colorHow to get started picking a paint color for your space

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Over the course of writing her nine design books, author and design expert Susanna Salk has learned a thing or two about decorating. Today, she joins us to share her journey in becoming a bestselling Design Author, stylist, and host of the Quintessence design series, and (our favorite) Ballard partner. She talks about why it’s fun to be fearless, her new book The Power of Pattern, how to mix and choose combinations that work, ways to use wallpaper and store photos, and how to know when you’ve gone too far.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

How our partnership with Susanna came about organically.How one can mix patterns and choose colors fearlessly.The inspiration behind her new book, The Power of Pattern, and why every pattern featured up close and personal is one that Susanna personally loves.The rules of patterns, and where someone can start if it’s a new concept.Photo storage solutions including having a section in your home to display them, keeping them in an ottoman, and creating an online nostalgia folder.Susanna’s recommendation on what we should display on our mantles.The obsession / labor of love project that Susanna’s husband welcomed in renovating their barn.Yes, you can have a rug in your bathroom!Pattern doesn’t have to be a print, it can also be a texture.Why wallpaper may be your solution for weird ceiling shapes and difficult rooms.How Susanna picks topics for her design series Quintessence.How it came about for Susanna and Stacey Bewkes to create the Quintessence video series, and some of the highlights of their already amazing filming locations.Tip: edit out and only keep what you are in love with.If all else fails - no ugly spoon holders!Susanna’s jewelry and closet rule - if you can’t fit what you have, something must go.Use pictures to guide you and remind you of what you love.

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Lifestyle entrepreneur India joins the podcast to talk about her new book, A Slice of England, in which chronicles the process of decorating her home in England, as well as her other family homes. On the show, we talk about her upbringing into design royalty with iconic designer David Hicks as her father, what being an author, model and entrepreneur has taught her, amazing ways we can decorate without spending a lot of money and her new business model that empowers women.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

A firsthand look at India’s upbringing with her father, iconic designer David Hicks, along with some fun American culture references of his workIndia’s love of storytelling within her brand, books and decorWhy India believes that good taste and design are by no means dependent on moneyWhy she prefers an inclusive and accessible style in design, especially for those of us with families and petsMore about India’s home in Harbour Island, and their intention to take it back in time to the 18th CenturyThe true story that India and her partner David really had only one argument when designing their American FarmhouseHow India works antiques into her home, and expert ways to not be intimidated when mixing traditional and contemporaryWhat makes India’s new home collection so near and dear to her heartHow India’s company is giving women a chance to become ambassadors and work on their own time with a network of other amazing womenThe sunscreen that India swears byWhat room is most special to IndiaHow to keep a coastal home from being clicheThe inspiration behind her book, A Slice of England

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Today we welcome Andrew Cogar, architect for Historical Concepts, and interior designer Kristin Kong! We talk to them about designing and building from the ground up, the balance of architecture and design together and the way the two fields complement each other, what to know when finding an architect or interior designer to work on your home, and some smart tips to help navigate this major investment.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Taryn’s trial in the eyeglass world, and her triumph in seeing the comedian Celeste Barber live.

Yes, you can have Prosecco on tap at your office too.

The ongoing saga of Karen’s basement and her husband’s dream bar.

Caroline’s Christmas Tree trials and triumph, and how to correctly flock your tree to give it that beautiful snow misted look.

How the recession changed the relationship between architects and designers.

The ways architects and designers inspire and complement each other.

What Andrew and his team look for in renovations at Historical Concepts, and why one of their core values is to be “appropriate”.

How Andrew helps steer and educate clients in the direction of quality, skill and proportion.

Why seeing is believing holds true for what both Andrew and Kristin do.

Andrew and Kristin’s expert tips to add an interior designer early on in the project.

The importance of communication and trust in the process of both renovation and design.

Why the challenges that arise between architects and designers can actually be an opening for better dialog and a stronger partnership.

Personal stories from both Kristin and Andrew on some of the projects they are most proud of.

How both Andrew and Kristin weave in trends but still keep the integrity and lifestyle needs of the project.

Why it’s important to have a master plan, no matter how small the project is.

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Today we welcome Chip and Pauli Wade! You probably know Chip from the hundreds of episodes from the 14 shows he has been on during his impressive 12 year (and climbing) TV career so far. At just over 1,500 renovations in the past 12 years, he is always learning and pushing the envelope and loves seeing projects go from start to finish. We talk about Chip and Pauli’s partnership in all things work and personal life, how to discern between entertainment and real life renovation, how to plan and invest in design and decor correctly, and when we should embark on a DIY project vs. outsource to a professional, and how he is changing the dynamic of how the digital purchasing experience for both individuals and brands.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

The way Chip fell into TV, starting out previously as a structural engineer.Real life in the fast paced crazy environment twist of Chip’s shows, including over 1,500 renovations in the past 12 years.How Chip and Pauli met, fell in love and became partners and cheerleaders for each other both in romantic and business life.What Chip feels is the most challenging in decorating and design, and despite what you think, it's not making things look good!Who makes up all of Chip and Pauli's team, and why each and every role is pivotal to help homeowners make all the right choices along the way.The biggest problems of e-commerce and online retail when it comes to curated confidence.Why something functioning correctly in a room or house is more important than having it just because it was featured on TV or the front page of an editorial spread.>The type of approach Chip uses when working with first time and potential clients to craft a concept of what is most suitable for their needs.Why most of us are doing master bedroom design completely wrong, and how we can remedy it.Little tweaks in our storage, layout, and function that can save us thousands of dollars and square footage of space.Chips love of multipurpose function.Some DIY projects that have spiraled out of control, both from us and Chip and Pauli.As much as he (and we) love DIY, we hear Chip’s top recommendations on when to outsource to a professional.Chip's new multipurpose and multifunctional furniture line, Xtraroom. 

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Design superstar and podcast fan favorite Bunny Williams joins us to talk about her new studio and creative getaway, her new upholstery collection, how to change a room with a simple few statement pieces, and a whole Living Room 101 lesson.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

Bunny's new office that is adjacent to her home and how she converted a four bedroom house into one giant room with a beautiful viewA glimpse into her busy New York office and how she finds time and space to get inspiredHer new book “Affairs with Other Houses” due in the springHow Bunny Williams Home started 10 years ago, built out of a need for certain products for Bunny’s design projects and how it grew into upholstery, lighting and accessoriesThe optimum size and height of a drink table and why no guest should ever be without a place to set their drinksThe addition of modern fixtures in a traditional home and the ability to mix contemporary with antiqueBunny’s tips for organizing things by groups to create an interesting statementBreak up the finishes, textures and colors so each piece stands out on it’s ownHow to know what brown furniture to keep as is and which to paintWhy pieces should move around throughout the house over time, even as your tastes changeWhy we should invest in wonderful furniture pieces as a lifetime purchaseWhy the furniture has to fit the scale and proportions of the room it is going in, so you may want to opt for the 7 foot couch vs the 9 foot couchHer new upholstery collection, including a scallop backed sofa, chairs and casegoodsThe origin of the name of 'slipper chairs'Raffia as a great way to provide a clean and streamlined texture to a roomLighting options including standing lamps, and lighting fixtures on an end tableWhy your collection of items should be personal to you and not something you have someone else purchase just to fill the roomHow studying magazines will give you the confidence to make decisions in your own home

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Today, Bradley Odom joins in to share his background in retail and interior design, the inspiration for his iconic store Dixon Rye, and how he is shaking up the home styling industry. He also discusses the mix of raw and refined, the importance of scale and ways we can make our space well curated and uniquely personal.

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Today's guest hails from the music city! We loved chatting with interior designer Kendall Simmons, who talks the Nashville scene, her mix of fun and spunky with timeless pieces to create her own signature style, and why our home should be unique to us - no matter what our mothers may think.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

When looking for new a new lamp, bring yours physically in to the store so you can make sure the shade fits perfectlyCaroline’s recent find in New Orleans, Nadine Blake, and what items she feels shouldn’t be missedThe super important steps to take when you have the feeling of wanting to throw everything out in your houseKendall's journey from Kentucky, to New York, to back south in NashvilleKendall’s work with Campion Platt, and how it helped inspire her to blend modern elements with classic buildingsHow Kendall developed her own aesthetic and continues to keep developing and growing her tastes and proclivitiesKendall’s own personal projects in Nashville, including a loft in a converted factory building, and short term rentalWhy her beautifully designed short term rental is so popularEven if you don’t have a huge budget, Kendall feels it’s very important to have as many local art pieces as you canKendall’s “no rules” rules for gallery walls and her favorite artists for you to Google right awayHow Kendall uses spatial and verbal descriptions when working with clients to help them understand the impact their decor choices will have on the roomThe perfect condition for having different color trims and themes throughout the houseThe criteria for painting a room dark and what to expect when you paint it in high glossKendall and her husband’s commitment to travel and some of the interesting life perspective they have learned along the wayKendall's advice for what to collect on your travelsHer top three shopping spots in the entire worldKendall’s top secret insider information about flea markets in ParisThe weirdest things Kendall has bought throughout her travels, and what landed her to get questioned in the airport security lineKendall’s high / low mix that allows for her clients to stay within their budget, yet splurge on some forever pieces

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