How to Decorate

We are kicking off a special three-part holiday series! For the next few weeks, Caroline, Taryn, and Liz are each taking a turn replaying their absolute favorite holiday episode from the podcast archives.

To start us off, Caroline revisits Episode 117 with Richmond interior designer Janie Molster. Caroline chose this episode because it completely changed her philosophy on holiday decorating. Janie explains why you don't need to force "red and green" if it doesn't fit your home, sharing her secrets for a holiday look that feels traditional yet surprising. She covers everything from managing a "hodgepodge" family tree to wrapping oddly shaped gifts.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:

Coordinate, Don't Clash: Your holiday decor should enhance your room, not fight with it. If your room has a pink and blue palette, use pink or blue ribbon and ornaments rather than forcing traditional red and green.

The "Squint" Test: To ensure your tree has that professional glow, step back and squint your eyes at the lit tree. This blurs the details and highlights any dark "holes" where you need to add more lights.

Unify with Ribbon: If you have a family tree filled with mismatched sentimental ornaments, use a high-quality, wide-wired ribbon to weave through the branches. It acts as a unifying element that ties the whole look together.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

00:00 Caroline introduces the Holiday Throwback series

02:00 How to decorate a "Pink House" for Christmas

04:00 Janie’s tip for layering different types of greenery (magnolia, holly, pine)

06:00 Choosing a ribbon color that matches your permanent decor

08:00 Strategies for decorating a tree with kids and family ornaments

11:00 The "Butcher Paper" hack for wrapping large or oddly shaped toys

14:00 Lighting tips: The "Squint Test" and using dimmers

16:00 Decorating Dilemma 1: How to handle a bedroom with awkward dormer windows (Wallpaper is the answer!)

23:00 Decorating Dilemma 2: Furniture layout for a 70s build family room

32:00 Closing thoughts

Also Mentioned:

Janie Molster Designs | Website

Follow Janie on Instagram: @janiemolsterdesigns

Butcher block paper (Home Depot) for gift wrapping

Shop Ballard Designs

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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We're excited to welcome interior designer Sara Hillery to the show! Based in Richmond, Virginia, Sara’s firm blends function with one-of-a-kind decorative pieces to create story-driven rooms. Named a "Next Wave Designer" by House Beautiful and featured in Veranda and The Wall Street Journal, Sara joins Caroline and Liz to demystify "transitional" design and share her spirited approach to holiday decorating.

Sara explains how she balances antiques with clean lines to create timeless spaces, her method for editing a room like an onion, and how she reinvents her holiday decorating theme every single year. She also shares her secret for keeping Christmas trees alive and her favorite way to spark conversation at dinner parties.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:

Peel the Onion: When defining your style, pin up everything you love on a board, then "peel back the layers of the onion" by removing items until you reach a harmonious balance of favorite pieces.

Create a "Thread" Between Rooms: You don't need to paint every room the same color, but rooms should have equal "tonal weight" and a unifying thread (like a specific welt or texture) so you can move a chair from one room to another without it looking out of place.

Hydrate Your Holiday: To keep fresh greenery and trees from drying out, soak garlands in water overnight before hanging them, and add a little Miracle-Gro to your Christmas tree water to keep it fresh and prevent needle drop.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

Also Mentioned:

Sara Hillery Interior Design | Website 

Follow Sara on Instagram: @sarahilleryinteriordesign 

Maymont House (Victorian Christmas Inspiration) 

Shop Ballard Designs 

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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The ladies are beyond thrilled to welcome iconic interior designer Peter Dunham to the show. After opening his design firm over 25 years ago in Los Angeles, Peter redefined the "Southern California casual" look, creating his own legendary design shop, Hollywood at Home, as well as his own textile, wallpaper, and furniture lines. He joins Taryn and Liz to discuss his debut book, The World of Peter Dunham: Global Style from Paris to Hollywood.

Peter shares his fascinating journey from selling real estate in New York to designing for Jennifer Garner in LA, and how a meeting with Albert Hadley launched his textile career. He breaks down his philosophy on why a home’s "vibe" matters more than its look, how to use his "toolkit" to fix architectural issues, and why green is the ultimate neutral.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:

Follow the 70/30 Rule for Vibe: Peter suggests a home should be 70% planned and 30% serendipity (found objects, art, travel souvenirs). A true "vibe" comes from these collected, imperfect layers rather than a perfect showroom look.

Treat Green as a Neutral: Because we see green constantly in nature, the human eye reads it as a neutral. A green sofa anchors a room and seamlessly connects the indoors to the view outside.

Use Decor to Fix Architecture: Use Peter’s "toolkit" to correct a room's flaws—whether it's using mirrors on window returns (the sides of the jambs) to create airiness, or placing a bookshelf over a window to block a bad view.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

00:00 Welcome & Introductions

01:00 Peter’s background: From French roots to English boarding school

07:00 Falling in love with New York City and working in real estate

13:00 Moving to LA, flipping houses, and finding creative satisfaction

16:00 The "Jennifer Garner" project and his first Show House kitchen

20:00 The start of the textile line and a meeting with Albert Hadley

24:00 Creating "Hollywood at Home" and Almont Yard

28:00 Inspiration: David Hicks, geometric patterns, and tribal rhythms

32:00 Balancing "Dollar Prints" with large scale patterns

36:00 Defining "Vibe" vs. "Look" in a home

40:00 The importance of serendipity and patience in collecting

50:00 Approachable ways to start collecting art (lithographs and photography)

55:00 How to bring "Charm" into a space

58:00 The Designer’s Toolkit: Using mirrors and fixing architecture

01:04:00 Why the green sofa follows Peter everywhere

01:08:00 Closing notes & where to find Peter’s book

Also Mentioned:

The World of Peter Dunham: Global Style from Paris to Hollywood (Available Now)

Hollywood at Home | Website

Peter Dunham Textiles

Follow Peter on Instagram: @peterdunhamdesign & @hollywoodathome

Shop Ballard Designs

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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This week, the ladies welcome to the show Patrick Shelton, Senior Vice President of Sales at Valdese Weavers, to decode what “performance fabrics” really mean and how to choose the right one for your home.

With hands-on training across spinning, dyeing, weaving, finishing, and testing, Patrick explains yarn-based versus finish-based performance (and where InsideOut, Crypton Home, Sunbrella, and Ballard’s Performance Queen’s Velvet fit), how to read fiber content, and what to expect for cleanability, durability, and fade resistance.

What You'll Hear This Episode:

00:00 Introduction to Ballor Designs Podcast

Key Takeaways on Performance Fabrics:

Also Mentioned:

• Shop Performance Fabrics at Ballard Designs - ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3LJf3Pg

• Valdese Weavers, Company Website - ⁠https://bit.ly/3X2wUD6

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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This week, the ladies welcome Atlanta interior designer and HGTV Dream Home alum Brian Patrick Flynn to the show. Brian shares how a decade-plus in production design shaped his approach to color, materials, and storytelling, plus how becoming a dad is refocusing his work closer to home.

The conversation spans his House Tour with Ballard, the realities of designing for camera versus real life, why he loves 5000K bulbs (and we don’t), and how he mixes fresh traditional with retro ’80s cues without feeling theme-y. Brian also digs into set design secrets (continuity, multiple-scale props), candid career pivots, and a rapid-fire “in vs. out” on trends from beige and pleated shades to white houses with black trim.

What You'll Hear This Episode:

00:00 Introduction to Ballard Designs Podcast

Also Mentioned:

• Watch Brian's House Tour with Ballard - ⁠https://bit.ly/487OiN1

• Brian Patrick Flynn on Instagram - @bpatrickflynn

• Shop Ballard Designs - ⁠https://bit.ly/4oGtjXL⁠

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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This week we welcome London-based interior designer Nicola Harding to the show to discuss her latest book "Homing Instinct." Nicola—whose work spans boutique hotels, restaurants, and royalty—shares her unconventional path into design, the influence of garden design on her interiors, and her human-led approach to layouts, color, and pattern.

Listen to discover Nicola's strategy for finding a home’s "spirit" by listening to people and place; she also recounts a church-to-restaurant conversion, a vivid Italian project rich in terracottas and dusty reds, and the practical origins of her furniture and homewares line, all underscored by a commitment to craftsmanship and locally made materials.

Key Takeaways:

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

• 00:00 Introduction

• 00:34 Meet Nicola Harding: London-based designer

• 01:40 An unusual path into interior design

• 05:33 From garden design to interiors: lessons learned

• 07:36 Creating placement and flow: start with layout

• 11:00 Questions that unlock how a home should work

• 15:00 How light influences activity and layout choices

• 17:56 Choosing paint: why color often comes early in Nicola’s process

• 19:30 Using paint to dial mood and atmosphere

• 21:00 Accent color instincts and natural palettes

• 23:48 Pattern play: stripes, checks, and scale as neutrals

• 25:16 The importance of natural pigments and vintage fabrics

• 27:08 Finding a home’s spirit: listening to clients and place

• 29:00 Design challenge: converting a church into a restaurant

• 30:41 The Italian project: layered neutrals and earthy reds

• 35:00 How Nicola selects and tests saturated wall colors

• 37:08 Developing a furniture collection from real project needs

• 40:00 Local makers, ethical production, and functional design details

• 42:33 Writing Homing Instinct: revisiting projects and collaborators

• 44:00 Current projects: varied architecture and shifting palettes

• 46:00 Where to follow Nicola and buy the book

• 47:30 Conclusion

Also Mentioned:

• Order your copy of Homing Instinct - https://bit.ly/4hGV6Ex

• Nicola Harding & Co. Website - https://bit.ly/3Lfa4pn

• Nicola Harding on Instagram - @nicolahardingandco

• Shop Ballard Designs - https://bit.ly/4oGtjXL

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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This week, we’re thrilled to welcome featured Ballard Designs artist Anne Bohne to the show to discuss her creative journey, the inspiration behind her coastal and Southern landscapes, and how she translates hand‑painted art into textiles and home decor.

Anne shares the inspiration behind her techniques (why she loves watercolor for its immediacy and acrylic for looser washes), ways to collect and live with art, and playful ideas—like painted mats and wrapped frames—that make artwork feel personal and playful in a home.

Key Takeaways:

- Watercolor is forgiving and portable; acrylic on raw canvas or Birch board yields lively effects.

- Layer florals with geometric or block motifs for balance—look to antique textiles for inspiration.

- Start collecting with what delights you (prints included); rotate art through rooms to refresh a space.

- Painted mats, fabric‑wrapped frames, and bespoke framing add playful, personal touches.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

00:00 Welcome & Introductions

01:00 Meet Anne Bohne — background & early influences

02:30 College show that launched her career

04:00 Working in textile/surface design with Beth Lacefield

07:00 Favorite mediums: watercolor, acrylic, and Birch board

11:00 Translating art into repeat patterns and fabric

15:00 Landscapes, light, and color inspirations from the Southeast

20:00 Animal portraits—joyful, looser watercolor sketches

24:00 Collecting art: university shows, prints, and commissions

30:00 Size, scale, and framing (floater frames, painted mats)

36:00 Current color & pattern trends: terracotta, muddy greens, florals vs. geometrics

43:00 Creative framing ideas and DIY touches

49:00 Nurseries, commissions, and how art grows with a family

55:00 Where to find Anne’s work & follow her

Also Mentioned:

- Anne Bohne on Instagram: @annebohneart

- Anne Bohne’s website & shop: annebohneart.com (originals, prints, commissions)

- Shop Anne’s Exclusive Art Collection with Ballard: https://bit.ly/3LbXarZ

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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The ladies welcome back interior designer, author, and TV personality Vern Yip to discuss his new book Color Pattern Texture: The Foundations to Make Your Home Your Own as well as his recently released HBO series Home Reimagined.

Vern breaks down a few designer secrets for how to use color, pattern, and texture together, why meaningful pieces and physical samples matter, and how to layer scale and tonal variation for rooms that feel personal and enduring. He also shares kid-friendly design tips, smart ways to compromise on shared spaces, and how to bring human scale and warmth to large, unconventional structure.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

00:00 Welcome & Introductions

Decorating Dilemma:

Hi Melissa,

Great job—your cabin already feels warm and personal. Vern applauds your pattern-forward choices (that rug and Francis Floral pillows are perfect) and suggests orienting seating to make the fireplace/TV the clear focal point. His practical solution: swap the sectional so it faces the mantle/TV, add a swivel chair for flexible conversation/viewing, and favor fewer, larger pieces (a well-scaled sectional + one or two chairs) to make the small room feel more expansive and comfortable.

Vern also notes lowering the mantle and using floor-to-ceiling drapery, appropriately scaled lighting, and a substantial rug will bring human scale and coziness to the lofty elements.

You’re on the right track — these tweaks will maximize seating and make the space more functional without losing your Ralph Lauren–inspired vibe.

— How to Decorate

Also Mentioned:

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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Caroline and Liz welcome back Southern GA-based interior designer and eight‑time author James Farmer to discuss his new book Home Again: A Return to Gracious Interiors. James explains the personal inspirations behind his lifelong oeuvre, how he reworked rooms at his Farmdale home, and his approach to layering tradition, comfort, and seasonality.

From a lofty Auburn condo to a Nantucket‑tinged Vineyard retreat and a playful Oxford game‑day house, he shows how geometry, scale, heirlooms, and unexpected color (yes—coral) make spaces feel lived‑in and welcoming. The episode closes with a listener dilemma about choosing paint for a new build and James’s practical advice on finish schedules and decision sequencing.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

Also Mentioned:

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Caroline and Liz welcome back duo designers Lathem Gordon and Cate Dunning to the show of the design duo Gordon Dunning in our NEW Atlanta podcast studio!

Lathem and Cate demystify the client-designer relationship, walk through their step-by-step process (including their famous Love‑Hate meeting), and share practical guidance on budgets, timelines, communication, construction walkthroughs, sourcing art, and finishing touches. Whether you’re hiring a designer for a single room, a phased project, or a whole-home build, they explain what to expect, what questions to ask, and how to get the most from the partnership.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

Also Mentioned:

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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