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How to Decorate

How to Decorate

Written by: Ballard Designs
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 We want to teach you how to decorate! We'll help you unleash your inner decorator with interviews from interior designers, sharing the trials and triumphs from our own homes, and answering your burning decorating questions. Brought to you from the Ballard Designs team. Art Economics
Episodes
  • Ep. 448: The Art of the Edit with Page House Studio

    Ep. 448: The Art of the Edit with Page House Studio
    Jan 13 2026
    The team is thrilled to welcome Meredith Page and Liz Livingston, the creative duo behind the Atlanta-based design firm Page House Studio. With a combined 15 years of experience in interiors and fashion, they joined forces in 2023 to create a studio that focuses on bespoke design and a curated collection of accessories—specifically, their signature pedestals. Meredith and Liz join Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to discuss how they transitioned from coworkers to business partners, the power of elevating everyday objects, and why "the edit" is the most crucial step in any design project. They share their secrets for creating dynamic vignettes, the importance of "triangulation" in styling, and why a pedestal is the missing ingredient your bookshelf needs. Quick Decorating Takeaways: Elevate with Pedestals: Give your small treasures and collectibles the importance they deserve by placing them on a pedestal. This adds instant height and architecture to a vignette, preventing small items from getting lost on a shelf or table. Master "Triangulation": When styling a surface, visualize a triangle to guide your arrangement. Group items to create high and low points (the peaks and corners of the triangle) to establish a natural flow and rhythm for the eye. Photograph to Edit: If a room feels cluttered or "off," take a photo of it with your phone. Viewing the space through a lens often highlights imbalances or clutter that your eye misses in person, helping you know exactly what to remove. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: 00:00 Welcome & Introductions 01:00 Meredith & Liz’s origin story: From fashion styling to interior design 05:00 Why they launched a product line focused on pedestals 09:00 How to use pedestals to layer depth and height in shelves 13:00 The "Rule of Threes" vs. "Triangulation" in styling 18:00 Mixing materials: Acrylic, wood, and stone 24:00 The Art of the Edit: How to remove items to let a room breathe 30:00 Why you should treat your accessories like a "wardrobe" for your home 35:00 Decorating Dilemma: Styling a large, awkward coffee table 42:00 Tips for finding unique vintage pieces 58:00 Closing notes & where to find Page House Studio Also Mentioned: Page House Studio | Website Follow them on Instagram: @pagehousestudio 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Ep. 447: Trends vs. Timelessness with Lisa Staton

    Ep. 447: Trends vs. Timelessness with Lisa Staton
    Jan 6 2026
    We're excited to welcome Seattle-based interior designer Lisa Staton to the show. With more than 20 years of experience, her firm is known for seamlessly blending current trends with timeless appeal to create spaces that feel both fresh and rooted in history. Lisa joins Taryn and Caroline to discuss her East Coast upbringing, how she navigates the "algorithm era" of design, and why she believes every room needs a mix of old and new. She shares her philosophy on "Soup and Symphony" design, how to choose the right white paint for your region, and why the house itself is always the first client. Quick Decorating Takeaways: Use the House as Your Guide: Let the home's original architecture be your "guiding life force" when renovating. Matching details like millwork to the original style creates a cohesive foundation, allowing for trendy updates without losing character. Practice "Soup and Symphony": Focus on how all design elements work together rather than critiquing individual pieces. Like a soup or symphony, the magic lies in the harmonious blend of textures, colors, and furniture, not just the single ingredients. Respect Your Region's Light: Choose paint colors based on your specific location's light, not just what looks good in photos. For example, the blue-toned light of the Pacific Northwest calls for warmer whites to avoid sterility, unlike a sun-drenched desert home. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: 00:00 Welcome & Introductions 01:45 Lisa’s background: From Boston history to Sotheby’s art auctions 04:00 The "Algorithm Effect": How social media homogenizes design 06:00 Balancing high-end design with accessible updates 09:00 How to respect architecture without creating a "period piece" 11:00 Designing for location: Why a Cape Cod style doesn't always work in Arizona 13:00 The collaborative process and avoiding "reverse Google search" design 15:00 The "Soup and Symphony" analogy for cohesive interiors 19:00 Mixing traditional cabinetry with sleek, modern furniture 25:00 Designing for the Pacific Northwest: Coziness and light management 28:00 Lisa’s go-to white paints for different lights 31:00 Tips for choosing exterior paint colors 36:00 Decorating Dilemma: Updating a beige-on-beige rental apartment 44:00 Why you should embrace "weird" art and vintage finds 52:00 Closing notes & where to find Lisa Also Mentioned: Lisa Staton Design | Website Follow Lisa on Instagram: @lisastatondesign Paint Colors Mentioned: Sherwin Williams Alabaster, Benjamin Moore Simply White, Lancaster White, Swiss Coffee 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 mins
  • Ep. 446: Santa Fe Style & The Art of Layering with French & French Interiors

    Ep. 446: Santa Fe Style & The Art of Layering with French & French Interiors
    Dec 30 2025
    We're excited to welcome husband-and-wife design duo Heather and Matt French to the show. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, their firm, French & French Interiors, is known for creating luxurious yet livable spaces that are rich in color, pattern, and storytelling. Heather and Matt join Caroline and Liz to discuss their unique journey from careers in natural medicine and building to becoming interior designers. They share how they blend their Southern roots with the distinct architecture of the American Southwest, why they believe in "softening" a harsh landscape with cozy florals, and how they turned their own home into a "designer lab." Quick Decorating Takeaways: Find Your "Keystone" Fabric: Heather anchors her elaborate color palettes with a single multi-colored "keystone" fabric that serves as a roadmap for the entire design scheme. Create a Respite from the Environment: Rather than mimicking harsh outdoor landscapes, Heather and Matt recommend using soft florals and wallpapers to create a cozy indoor respite. Study the Masters: Matt emphasizes that studying design history and legends like Sister Parish can be just as valuable as a formal degree for developing a great eye. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: 00:00 Welcome & Introductions 02:00 From Alabama to Santa Fe: Heather & Matt’s pivot into design 06:00 The "Shelter Magazine Budget": Prioritizing beauty in their first renovation 09:00 The historic Applegate Estate project and respecting Santa Fe style 15:00 Blending Southern traditionalism with Southwest architecture 18:00 Why florals are essential for softening "harsh" environments 26:00 How to build a color palette using a "Keystone Fabric" 30:00 The importance of design books and knowing the industry's history 40:00 Designing their own home as a creative laboratory 46:00 Collaborating with their teenage daughter on a "sunset-themed" room 52:00 Closing notes & where to find French & French Also Mentioned: French & French Interiors | Website Follow them on Instagram: @frenchandfrenchinteriors Designers/Books Mentioned: Sister Parish, Mario Buatta, Kathryn Ireland, Bunny Williams, Furlow Gatewood 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
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