the GUSSIE

Welcome to Season 2! We are back with more design tips, trends, and (of course) tangents. For our first episode, we delve into our predictions for 2021. Is “Farmhouse Modern” here for good? Will “granny” stay “chic?” We also take-on listener questions, with topics ranging from rentals, to dog proofing, to guest rooms, and more. What’s on our wish lists for the season ahead? You’ll have to tune-in to find out!

In our final episode of Season One, we share our 2021 to-do lists. Some years usher in big projects, like kitchen remodels or new additions. But even without an exciting renovation on the horizon, your home deserves attention. From steam cleaning your sofas, to garage organization and bathroom upkeep, we itemize the small things you can do each year to keep your house in working order. We also discuss the importance of making room in the budget for some fun, aesthetic updates. After all, hard work deserves reward.

Need a little high gloss in your life? In this episode, we welcome, Stephen Dlouhy, founder of premier decorative painting firm “Floe Painting,” and great friend of the GUSSIE. Stephen is our go-to source for all “fine” painting treatments, including high gloss walls, lacquered libraries, Chinoiserie murals, painted floors, stenciled ceilings, and even fireplace surrounds. Get ready to learn how to gussie-up those plain walls and floors and reimagine your life in lacquer.

More than ever, we are all craving places to escape to within our own homes. In this episode we talk about the science of a great bedroom—the most personal room in your house, and often the most challenging room to design. We address everything from obvious Do’s (love a good swing-arm sconce!) to more controversial topics like bedroom TVs (for one of us it’s a MUST!). If your bedroom needs a little gussie-up, this is the episode for you.

In this episode, we sit down with LA-based designer and textile creator Schuyler Samperton. Schuyler has been featured in every noteworthy publication from Vogue to Elle Décor to Architectural Digest. In addition to being super talented and the woman behind some of our favorite patterns, Schuyler is just plain fun. If you don’t know her textile line, you should. Tune in to hear us dish on beautiful patterns, embracing “more is more,” and how to design textiles…but make it fashion.

With the holiday season on the horizon, we’re bringing you our Dining Room Do’s, Don’t’s, and Maybes. From lighting to chair rail to faux plants, we cover it all. Thinking of adding occasional seating? Wondering whether to invest in a statement mirror, or if you should ditch the rug and paint the floors? Tune in to hear our deep dive into Dining Room décor and how to get gussied for the season ahead.

In this episode we sit down with established Washington, D.C. interior designer and creator of one our favorite textile lines, Marika Meyer. Marika had us at “Beatrix,” a floral print inspired by beloved children’s author and accomplished botanical illustrator, Beatrix Potter. Marika’s textiles bring a unique, whimsical vitality to a room, and after meeting Marika – who is as smart and warm as she is talented – it’s easy to see the connection between the designs and the designer. Get ready for a total fangirl moment!

When you walk into a room, what do you notice first? Is it the furniture? The colors? The architecture? When designing for yourself, do you prioritize certain aspects, like art or pattern and textiles? In this episode we introduce our list of the five “love languages” of design and divulge our own personal persuasions. We also discuss why it’s important to know your design love language, and how identifying your area of passion can impact your choices. Wondering what yours is? Tune in and get the gussie.

Do you ever wonder how magazines and design books achieve those picture-perfect interiors? Or why your friend’s house has that ‘gram-worthy appeal, but your own rooms seem to be missing that je ne sais quoi? In this episode we break the fourth wall of design and deliver the tricks of the trade right to you. We’re talking ceilings, trim, lighting, textures, pattern, scale, and why too much symmetry can sink a room. Tune in to get gussied! 

Who loves a good “gussie” more than us!? In this episode we take a closer look at how to “gussie-up” your old pieces – whether it’s grandma’s chair or a great find from a local consignment shop. From repainting to reupholstering to repurposing, we’ve got you covered! We also reveal our secret source for knock-out hardware, and our hacks for turning artifacts into art. It’s time to ditch the shabby and embrace the chic!