How to Decorate

Robert Leleux joins us for a lively episode where he shares his journey into design and decorating, a sneak peek into his upcoming Southern Style Now Festival and Showhouse, what we should splurge and save on, why we should give our money to people making things with their hands, and how often one should change their sheets.

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Lucy Bamman, Market Editor for Hearst Magazines ELLE Decor, Veranda and House Beautiful believes that there is something for everyone in design and decor, and part of the fun is the journey that comes along with finding it. Lucy talks with us about her role as a Market Editor, and how she got into it, what trends she is into now and how she keeps feelers open for what’s good at all times, but also is very specific about what find will work best with what publication.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

What exactly a Market Editor is, and why you can thank them for featuring the best and most unique products, ideas and trendsThe pressure (and fun) that comes with a job like Lucy’s, and what she appreciates most about sourcing for three very esteemed yet different publications and readershipsThe differentiators between her three titles at ELLE Decor, Veranda and House BeautifulThe amazing locations Lucy gets to visit on behalf of work, including Paris, Milan, and Los AngelesThe latest trends Lucy is seeing now, including moving from brass to more natural materials such as wicker and straw, and interesting color patterns and choicesHow she edits her own home when she constantly has so much input and information flying her way, and how she brings in her love of textiles in her own decoratingWhy Lucy urges us not to fear color and bold choices. Even if you turn a sofa and put it on another wall, or change the paint or throw pillows, you can completely change the whole mood and make it as sophisticated or funky as you wantHer background and education, and how she learned her practicals from Richard Keith LanghamLucy’s experience with Keith teaching her to know her colors, think like a true designer, and not be afraid to mix it all up and have funHow Lucy’s job at One Kings Lane set her up for editing and spritzing in beautiful vintage pieces to demonstrate the beauty of collecting pieces over timeTips for small spaces including the use of lower shelves under coffee tablesHow to be your own Market Editor when you don’t necessarily have the house to decorate in quite yetHow to know when to refurbish, and when to do away with the old for something new

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Chances are you have seen our guest Libby Langdon’s work on HGTV and The Today Show and in all of your favorite magazines — House Beautiful, Traditional Homes, and Better Homes and Gardens. We talk with Libby about her trifecta of combining product design, client work, and media and injecting them all into everything she does. She also spills behind the scenes secrets of makeover TV shows, how she learned to install a house in one day, and why she believes that the way you feel about your home reflects every aspect of your life.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

Libby’s background of growing up in High Point, North Carolina, the furniture mecca of the world. Her parents were both in the furniture and textile industry, so Libby learned design from all angles at a young ageLibby’s journey from modeling and fashion to hosting FOX Makeover TV show, Design InvasionThe common threads Libby noticed in many homes as a universal struggle including awkward furniture layout and bad lightingThe value of learning to install a house in one day, and how to design for the look that the homeowner desires.Libby’s hilarious behind the scenes moments of Design Invasion where she surprised unsuspecting people early in the morning to completely transform their house in one dayLibby’s passion for skills cooking and event planning, and how she balances that with her busy acting and interior design careersThe common concern of clients that they will grow tire of a certain color, and how Libby walks them through picking colors that will stand the test of timeHow a painting of a goldfish inspired an entire one-day home makeoverHer Rumson, NJ project that was featured in House BeautifulSome of Libby’s favorite moments from her work on makeover television showsThe blending of exterior and interior design, and how we can mix and match indoor and outdoor products in designLibby’s love of a Trellis printHer hands-on approach to design and creation, rather than white labeling and putting her name on products already createdWhat Libby is designing now in her partnership with Kas Rugs, and when we can expect it to be ready on the marketThe ways that Libby introduces her clients to the world of lighting and lamps, and some practical tips to get our lighting on point using dimmers, appropriate wattage and remote controlsDecorating for small spaces, and why leaving space white may not be the best answerThe benefits of living with less, and why smaller spaces have many luxurious benefits. We can also learn more with her new book, Small Space Solutions

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Chances are you have seen our guest Libby Langdon’s work in all of your favorite magazines. Libby has been featured in House Beautiful, Traditional Homes, Better Homes and Gardens, and has been on HGTV and The Today Show. We talk with Libby about her trifecta of combining product design, client work, and media and injecting them all into everything she does. She also spills some secrets of behind the scenes screws of makeover TV shows, how she learned to install a house in one day. Libby believes that the way you feel about your home reflects every aspect of your life, and is here to teach us how to give our home a big hug with real life solutions and inspired decorations.

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Kevin Isbell joins us today for a round of Would You Rather? -- Decorating Edition. We also chat about adding texture and soul into a modern home, Kevin’s superpower of using strong color in subtle ways, decorating pet peeves, and his recent Nantucket cottage project featured in House Beautiful. It is apparent that Kevin loves what he does, and is deeply passionate about the craft behind design.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

Why a large enough rug is crucial for a well balanced feel within a roomKevin’s fondness for antique and vintage pieces that have a story to tell and that add texture and warmth to the roomWhy Kevin would never do away with accessories and little trinkets that we pick up along the way of experiences and travelThe little accessories that push home design from “nice” to the “wow” factorWhy even the ugliest of chairs have the possibility to be beautifulHow Kevin got into design, playing around with the late 80’s trends of color blockingHow a background in business and business management helps set you up for running a successful career in interior design. Kevin combined the desire from his parents for him to get a business background, and his own love of architecture and designThe difference of furnishing vs decorating a homeKevin’s cross country adventure from San Francisco to New York in 2001Kevin’s house in Nantucket recently featured in House Beautiful, and how he maintained the basic structure in the house while completely changing the decorFacts on Nantucket’s global industry that inspired Kevin’s choices when picking decor and accentsHow he combines his old-soul and craftsman mentality with modern day social media. Kevin’s time lapse videos on Instagram are works of art themselves, and give another personal touch to his projects.How Kevin revamped a timeless Greenwich, Connecticut home, and made it approachable and livable with the beauty of a showhomeThe balance of high, low and knowing when to invest compared to when to hold back and save moneyKevin’s use of strong color in a subtle ways and how he mixes several colors in one room, and how Kevin changes color usage depending on geographic location and settingThe real commitment needed to really go all in on a pop of color, and why accent rooms shouldn’t be just one colorful piece in a neutral roomKevin’s choice of Ballard’s Original Office Collection for his workspace

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Elizabeth Bauer joins us today to share her story on how a passion for flea markets and shopping to repurpose led to a career design and a successful shop in the West Village of New York. She talks about the importance of “getting the bones right” of a home upon first moving in, how to make the most of small spaces, and decorating a seaside and vacation home in a playful and sophisticated way. We take listener questions on sprucing up long hallways,  painting vs renovating, and why you shouldn’t be afraid to mix and match whites!

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

The story of how Elizabeth opened her store and started her business in Greenwich Village 2008How she decides what she picks when shopping to repurpose, and the trends she is looking for now when she hunts and gathersElizabeth’s featured work in House Beautiful in March 2017, featuring stunning de Gournay wallpaper, painted floors, high-gloss aqua lacquer, and French Bistro bar stoolsThe proper prep work to paint, why lacquer costs so much and Elizabeth’s choice of tone and color palette when painting wood floorsDesigning for clients with children, and the way Elizabeth’s own design has changed now that she has a family. Elizabeth believes in using (and enjoying) her furnitureElizabeth’s tips on how to put those ugly chair and couch arm covers to good useHow to embrace and work with having a large television in your homeHow to compromise design and style with the husband happiness factorThe opportunity to create a luxurious space in a small apartment or studio, and why Elizabeth believes a small space can create an amazing feel, whether it’s layered, bright and colorful or tranquil and simpleElizabeth’s home in Nantucket, and how she plays up the nautical and New England themeThe solution to matching whites, and why different whites isn’t something to fret over

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This week we are joined by the very talented Katie Lydon. Originally from London, Katie founded her downtown New York interior design firm in 2002. Katie has been featured in House Beautiful, Elle Decor, The New York Times, and Metropolitan Home. We talk with Katie about her love of color, her recent work with longtime client, author and podcaster Gretchen Rubin, and plans for the renovation of her home. We also speak with Katie about her favorite part of the design process, and ways to inject personality whether you are going for a contemporary, modern or classic look.

WHAT YOU'LL HEAR ON THIS EPISODE:

How Katie got into the design fieldKatie’s work with longtime client Gretchen Rubin, featured in the April issue of House BeautifulHer love for Gretchen’s design confidence and bold yet elegant choicesThe return of purple in editorial, and how to use the color purple to create a certain mood in the homeThe similarities between her work in Gretchen’s home and an English countryside room in decor, molding, bookcases, and abundance of seatingSome practical tips and tricks of furniture arrangement, seating options and creating intimacy in a large spaceKatie’s editing and simplicity in both contemporary and traditional spaces, and her method of letting the people bring the majority of the character and personality into the spaceKatie’s plans to renovate her own home, including updating the loft with central AC, new kitchen area and mud roomHow to pick fixtures and finishes in your kitchen that will stand the test of time and last through trendsHow to cover the basics yet push the envelope when designing a home for a familyThe importance of living in a space before renovating itKatie’s design pet peeves, and why she may move tables at your home while you aren’t lookingThe differences between English design and American design, and where Katie draws her inspiration from within each of them

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In this episode we are joined with Tori Mellott, Senior Design and Markets Editor for Traditional Home Magazine. We talk trends with Tori from her recent trip at High Point Market, her background and where her love of design emerged from, some fun behind the scenes stories from her career in magazines, the roles and responsibilities of a Markets Editor and why we all feel that it’s impossible to have too many chairs.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

How Tori has had the energy and stamina to move (and decorate) 26 times.

A trends recap from Tori’s recent High Point Market Trip from all of the latest in designers and furniture manufacturers. Tori mentions the resurgence of canopy beds, traditional stylings, groovy 1970’s lighting, millennial pink, delicate silhouettes, and things just being pretty.

Tori’s love for auction shopping, specifically for occasional chairs for both herself and her loved ones.

Tori’s travel tips for roaming unencumbered.

The growing trend of bright yellow in home decor, and Tori’s closet.

The responsibilities and duties of a Markets Editor.

When Tori sees something that she wants, she waits on it. If she is still wanting it after one year, she knows it’s the real deal.

Why it’s important to know your audience when pitching a magazine editor.

Tori’s very own real life personal version of The Devil Wears Prada during an internship at NYU, and how it led to an internship at HomeStyle Magazine.

Caroline’s amazing memory when it comes to designer and pictorials.

Her personal side project of helping her sister decorate.

How to know when to splurge, and when to save, on interior design.

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This week we travel to New York to catch up with interior designer Philip Mitchell and his very cute dogs. Philip is based in New York and Toronto, and has been featured in Traditional Home, House and Home Magazine and Canada’s Style at Home Magazine. We talk with him about his beautiful captain’s house in Nova Scotia, his approach to restoration, fun and affordable ways to add texture and details, and the art of mixing historic with contemporary and modern comfort.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

How he and his husband ended up falling in love with Nova Scotia, and purchasing and restoring a 1795 captain’s house in a beautiful Seaside VillageHis love and respect for historic homes, and inspiration to maintain the integrity and sentiment of the original home during the restoration processHow they found an incredible contractor to renovate their home with an artisan yet liveable approach.The differences between current New York and Canada interior design trends and lifestylesA fun “this or that” word game where we put Philip to the test of some of his favorite things including textures, finishings, patterns, panel molding and storage optionsWhy you shouldn’t be afraid to reuse what you already have, and take your drapery with you when moving outIn interior design - if you love it, you can incorporate itPhilip’s attitude towards furniture and pieces is to not focus on perfection, but comfort and the beauty within the story.What Philip means when he says he is “big on appropriateness”How to have the big talk with your partner about painting the wood in a roomPhilip’s journey into interior design through growing up surrounded by women that appreciated a beautifully furnished home and environmentHis participation with the 2018 Kips Bay Show House to benefit the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club charityWhat Philip personally collects throughout his own travels and personal experiences

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We love seeing the way interior designers use our products in their client's spaces, and that's precisely how we found interior designer Whitney Durham. Plus, her home is featured in the Summer 2018 issue of Atlanta Magazine HOME. We talk to her about how she decorates with two rowdy boys at home, her love of original art, and the dreaded over-the-mantel television dilemma.

What You'll Hear on This Episode:

Whitney tells us how she started her design businessWe talk about decorating with kidsWe talk rugs and rug pags and why indoor/outdoor rugs are a staple for spaces Whitney designs for her clientsWhy animal prints are a neutralHow Whitney likes to treat television in her own home and her clients' spacesWhy she typically chooses neutral paint colors in her roomsWhitney's love of art and why it's so important to a space

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