← How to Decorate
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- [00:02]
A
Welcome to how to Decorate from Ballard Designs, a weekly podcast all about the trials and triumphs of decorating and redecorating your home. I'm Caroline. I'm on the marketing team.
- [00:11]
B
And I'm Taryn, and I'm a product designer.
- [00:13]
C
I'm Liz. I head of the creative team. We're your hosts.
- [00:16]
A
Join the expert team at Ballard Designs for tips, tricks, and tales from interior designers, stylists, and other talents in the design world.
- [00:23]
B
Plus, we'll answer your decorating dilemmas at the end of each episode.
- [00:26]
C
We love answering your questions, so don't forget to email us@podcastallardesigns.net now, on with the show.
- [00:34]
A
Okay, so we are talking today about our New Year's resolutions. We've never done an episode like this before, but we thought that we would discuss goals, resolutions for the upcoming year, and then at the end of the year, we can hold ourselves accountable.
- [00:54]
B
Yes, they're like, goals. Yes, we are making goals. Sorry. The dog is visiting today too. See? Say hi.
- [01:00]
A
Yeah, we have an extra co host today for those that are listening.
- [01:02]
B
So if you hear any yawns, it is not us.
- [01:06]
A
He just did the little dog spin and curled up in Taryn's lap. So cute. Okay, so we're just gonna go through. Do we want to start with goals first? It could be house projects, or it could be even, you know, habits around the house that you want to, you know, work on or something. It doesn't have to necessarily be something huge. Yeah. Who wants to Maybe we could do each do one and kind of go in.
- [01:30]
B
Yeah, let's see. Because I feel like mine are intertwined. Like, most of my resolutions slash goals for the year are things for the house. Because I'll live better in the house.
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A
Okay.
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C
You know, so good.
- [01:44]
A
Okay, well, then you start.
- [01:45]
C
Okay. I need some inspiration.
- [01:48]
B
So for me, the basement is a treacherous territory. I've talked about how David started putting down flooring, stopped putting down flooring. We had reasons make sense. But the flooring is still sliding around the doors. He bought interior room doors for the basement that he just, like, shoved in the holes and didn't actually, like, put up. And so the doors then were just dangerously, like, falling. Yep. Okay, so it's treacherous. And when we moved in, we had young kids, and when we moved out of our other house, so every time I've moved, I've been in a state, too, where I wasn't able to, like, carry anything and help a lot. So David moved a whole bunch into this back room because we have A very large basement.
- [02:34]
A
So there's.
- [02:35]
B
If you go to the deepest point, no windows. It's one big massive room. And that's where we have Christmas storage and our holiday storage. Then there's a whole bunch of stuff that was just extra furniture that moved with us. Doesn't live upstairs, doesn't really have a home. Probably should have been sold or given away, but just in the period of life, it was like we had the space to shove it.
- [02:58]
C
Right.
- [02:59]
B
Classic. Like, people with less space are much better at editing. And this is one of those cases where we needed to edit versus shoving this back room. So it's one big room. Then you come out of that room and there's like a space that David has set a tv and there's a nice place. There'll be nice room for a sectional TV. His space.
- [03:16]
A
Bring up teenage space.
- [03:18]
B
Teenage space 100% in 10 years, right?
- [03:21]
C
You got time.
- [03:22]
B
Yes, there's time, but yes, there's that space. And then there's the water heater room. And then there's a room that's. I've kept all the kids clothing in storage. With young kids, you're changing out sizes a lot. With two boys, I've kept the sizes down there. So it's been like stacked bins with sizing of clothing. So there's a lot of like kids storage in there. And then you keep going and there's another space. And then there's a gym space and then there's a bedroom that has windows. So the gym and the bedroom are on one long side that have windows. We want to finish those out to be a gym and to be a bedroom for bad weather. We could use the bedroom because it's just two small windows under an awning, but it'd still be good for any kind of tornado ish thing. And having just another bedroom because there is a bathroom down there as well. So I would like to finish it, but I need to feel like it's one of those where we're going to finish it this year because we had it drywalled the main areas a while back.
- [04:18]
C
Right.
- [04:19]
B
A while back, this was how, what instigated the start of the flooring. But again, it's like no one has trimmed it. So all that is all one big kind of goal in the sense of the basement is extra space. But the gym part would be great because I'm working out in like a little nook upstairs that it goes back to how we envisioned the house being used versus how it could be used. If we move things around. So I would like the gym to be finished so I can work out down there. And again, if you give a mouse a cookie, that means I need all the flooring done. I need all the trims in. I need the decluttered of the back room because there's so much in there that's not utilized by us that could be utilized by others. So it is truly like, I need a big old noble. So that's what I mean by, like. I feel like the basement is a huge goal for me this year because it would just be nice to, like, use it and feel safe having others use it where right now, if the kids go in the basement, I am scared for everyone's life because the doors could just fall.
- [05:25]
A
So is your plan to do it yourself?
- [05:29]
B
I think it was having it priced for someone to come put the doors in. I say all that. But then he was putting doors in the other day, so maybe he did already price it and didn't like that price. I think it is for us to finish because it. It doesn't have big plans, you know, so. And we can take our time. When I say this year, it'll be nice by December to be like, here's where I'm at. Like, we did finish this space. We didn't finish this.
- [05:52]
A
At least you made progress, right?
- [05:53]
B
Or if I just even take out some stuff out of big room that's just full of stuff. So that's my big. That's my big one. I think this year I have another one which is a little bit different. So, you know, I have the guest room downstairs, which is my primary. We have a queen bed in there. We have a console, and then we have an armoire that we keep the toys in.
- [06:14]
A
Yes.
- [06:14]
B
Boys are eight and four. We're moving slowly. We're still in toys, but we're getting out of all the big. We're getting to smaller things like Marble Tracks and Hot Wheels, where I feel like I could do more in this space. David. We have a room upstairs. It was a guest room. And we had. In this. This past March, I had a baby who lived for two months and then passed in April. So we had prepped the room back to be a nursery from a guest room. And so my goal for 26 is I have given my heart the space and the time. I've left the crib in there and all the stuff. But I need to convert it because I need it for him. And I'm gonna do it. I wanna do a fun wallpaper, the one that I Wanted to do for him, get the queen bed out of the primary downstairs. Get that up in that room. Cause it is smaller. There's a chest in there I can leave. You know, I'll make sure to make it not weird for guests, but like, you know, a little kind of memorial for him too. But I. I want to get the queen bed up there. And so we wanted to buy a king for this primary downstairs. And I have this post because it's lofted ceilings. I really want to get a poster bed for downstairs, but that costs a lot of money. So I was on Facebook, Marketplace, over the break, and I found somebody selling a king bed for a hundred dollars. It's dark, dark brown. It's a poster bed, but it's nothing to write home about. And not something I'm really excited about. But I was like, david, I think this is the key. I can refinish it. We can get the king bed into this downstairs room, move the queen bed up to this room. Once I get the queen bed in there, it will be the queen bedroom. I can finish that room, get it to a place of peace and not be this room of torment for me, in a way. And then I can get the king bed downstairs. We can get a king mattress put in, and people will be able to stay. So I'll be back to having an offering. Two spaces for people to stay, which will be great. The one room right now needs space, and I need to move on. Anyway, I bought this bed, this king bed.
- [08:33]
A
Oh, my God.
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B
David. Picked it up, got it in pieces on top of the Santa Fe, like, strapped it down, got it home, and so I've been stripping.
- [08:41]
A
It really amazed me. Refinished your dining room table. You're refinishing this bed like, well, I don't know where you find the time.
- [08:48]
B
It was amazing. Well, I'm wasting. Taking it from somewhere that I probably should be using it. Probably working on the basement and decluttering instead of just adding things in. But I felt like a hundred dollars and, you know, it was free pickup. And so if I put in some time. And I do have a paint sprayer, because you will need that for the. You know, it's not gonna be brushed on. So I'm gonna pick out a color for it.
- [09:12]
A
Oh, it's gonna be a color. Okay, so you're gonna strip color, and then you're gonna paint it.
- [09:15]
B
I think I'm gonna do a color. I was thinking, do I wanna stain it? And that'll be fun.
- [09:20]
A
You're the color girl.
- [09:21]
B
I know So I think we'll do a. I've seen some pictures of colored beds, and I've loved a few. I've followed a few companies where I love theirs, and it has just enough turnings on it to be interesting but not be gunky.
- [09:33]
A
So we'll see.
- [09:33]
B
It's just a big bed, but it's. I just like the fact that it's cheap enough that if it's not attractive, I can still get the bed I want eventually, say when the room's right, when I can finally do that room. But I'm not doing that room. I'm just kind of taking out a few more toys. Putting a bigger bed.
- [09:48]
C
Yeah.
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B
So it's still like, white walls.
- [09:50]
A
Are you going to do sconces?
- [09:52]
B
If I get the king bed in the room where I want it, I could actually get the sconces done because there's only, like, two spots that the bed would fit in that room. So, yes, I could get the sconces so I finally can flick a switch when I go in there. But that's my other big goal. And I think it's because it's a little emotional, too. I know I can do it, and I think it will be good once it's done. So that's why it's on my 20, 26. You got this. You can help. And it means I get to do a whole room, so.
- [10:18]
C
And thanks for sharing that. I didn't love that with our listeners. You're amazing.
- [10:21]
A
O. I know.
- [10:22]
C
You're amazing.
- [10:23]
B
I've gone to therapy as a whole, if you can imagine. So I've kept the room open and I've sat in it, like the therapist says, and I've done all that to honor his sweet little life. But I am like, all right, I gotta. Like, I gotta. Yeah, yeah, just move. I. Or I want to continue to honor him, but I'm not gonna honor him with a creepy crib. You know, the bed, it's just like a time capsule.
- [10:48]
C
Yeah.
- [10:49]
B
There's no point or. Sorry. I. For me. And I know I need to make it back into some fun room, and I think that'll be. So I think that excites me. This is the kind of stuff we all enjoy, obviously.
- [11:02]
A
Bed that is in the downstairs room.
- [11:08]
B
That I'm so adamant about. Oh, that's where you'll laugh. It's a wooden screen I've used behind a bed. I could buy a queen bed for that room as well. The mattress is still good. The bedding for all of that is still really good. For this goal for the year will be to have fun to decorate that room because it's a guest room, so there's no limit. I just get to play decorator.
- [11:27]
A
Yeah.
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B
So I know that would be a good project. That's my, like, 20. That's, like a fun or. It's a. It's a good one because it'll get my space. So every time I walk past it, because it's between the two boys bedrooms, I have to pass that room all day. So it's kind of like, it'll be good to have it done. And I'm sure my friend here, my dog, will love another place to nap, but, yeah, those are my kind of. So basements big this year. And then guest rooms. Getting those in a better place. And if the holidays taught me anything, I can do better by my guest. Right. I feel like every time you host, you're like, I could have done better. Or, like, lessons learned.
- [12:08]
A
Yeah.
- [12:09]
C
Yeah.
- [12:10]
B
So all right. What about you guys?
- [12:12]
A
Okay, I can go. I also made a list. I have a lot of things on here. I'm not expecting to do all of them. I'll probably pick a couple. Right. And I think sometimes you kind of have to see how the year takes you. Right. Each of these would take some dollars, and I don't have them to do all of them.
- [12:31]
B
There's, like, time and there's dollars. I do agree with you.
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A
Limits in on both.
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B
Yes.
- [12:37]
A
Yes. Yeah. So we'll see which ones I actually accomplished, but I. I'll just sort of go through. Probably the one I most would like to happen is. And we talked briefly about this last year because I think I had found this great wallpaper that I had sent to both of you. I can't remember if we talked about it in trials and triumphs, but we talked about it all.
- [12:59]
C
I think we did. I think we did. I spent a lot of time looking at wallpapers after that. Yeah. Yes.
- [13:04]
A
I remember that I found this great wallpaper that I really fell in love with because it has all of the colors in both my living room and my TV room and even my kitchen, all in this one wa. I thought it would be perfect for my entryway because that is a room that connects all three rooms. And so I thought this would be a great. You know, like, so many designers we've interviewed on the show, they have sort of a house palette, and I felt like this would be sort of the key that connects all of the different palettes and make things make sense. Well, I haven't pulled the trigger on it partially because of budget, but also because I had always. We have a. A double closet, right? When you walk in with louvered sliding doors, it's a really good space because it's a good sized closet. But it's always a disaster because we're trying to accomplish a lot of things with this closet, right? We've got outdoor cushions in there, backpacks and coats, reusable shopping bags, and just all the things you would put in like a mudroom. But I always have wanted to do something with that closet and to kind of make it feel dressier than just louver doors, you know? So Will and I, even from when we first moved in, had always talked about maybe we could build in cabinetry. But I never wanted to do the wallpaper because I felt like if I'm going to tear this out and put in a true cabinet here, I don't want to do a wallpaper.
- [14:27]
C
Right.
- [14:28]
A
But do I really have the bandwidth to do this closet to the point where I would be happy with it? So that has sort of been on the back burner for me. Well, you know, I did my sort of IKEA hack with my closet with my cabinet downstairs where I record the podcast. And I'm kind of thinking, like, maybe I could do sort of a IKEA Pax sort of hack where I'm sort of taking some IKEA PAX cabinetry and then just jazzing it up with some paint and some trim and stuff. So I'm sort of okay playing with that idea.
- [15:04]
B
It's like you're. This could be fun to where I.
- [15:07]
A
Could add some more organization tools to that little space, but then leave. So that's good enough to where I could wallpaper it. So that is kind of what I'm playing with, but it would require a lot of elbow grease. And, you know, I'm like, do.
- [15:28]
B
Yeah.
- [15:29]
A
I think sometimes if I am really motivated, I can do it. And I, you know, I'm not afraid of that. But it. It, like, really, you have to be hyped up to do it right, and, like, really have the motivation to do it. Otherwise it gets halfway and then it's. You're never happy with it. So I really. I'm kind of playing with that idea. But so that's kind of probably my number one.
- [15:51]
B
It's a big one, though, because it's entry. I think that's like a yes.
- [15:56]
A
Will also likes this because you can see this closet from the sofa. And so he feels like, okay, at night I'm watching television, like the Day is over, the girls are in bed, and all I see is this messy freaking cabinet from. And it just. It's like a. You know, it's a stressor. A stress point. So I think he is actually really interested in that concept. So anyway, that's number one. Then I have a. Like a sort of a list of several things that I would like to reupholster.
- [16:26]
B
Okay.
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A
If I find the right fabric, I've got this Parsons chair that I've had for, like, 15 years down in the basement that during COVID will use as a desk chair. And he just, like, wore a hole in the linen sitting in it every day. It was not a linen. That was a weight meant to be used every single day. So y' all have all probably seen it in the background of my photo and of my, like, camera, you know, zoom background. So I really need to reupholster that, like, a Berger chair that I've had that's all worn, that needs a new guy. I've got. I had a. An ottoman. It's like in our TV room that was velvet, but it shows every little thing. So I have some things I need to reupholster. And then I also bought from our outlet a little Louis Footstool. You know, they're about 20 for our listeners. They're about 20 inches wide, maybe 14 inches deep. A little rectangle. Because I could needlepoint a viewer.
- [17:24]
B
So all of a sudden I was like, yes.
- [17:28]
A
So I sort of have that on my thing. It would be. It would be like a more time consuming needlepoint project. But I do have a. A little bit of a vision for that. I have a lot of needlepoint projects on my to do list. So where it is on the list might fluctuate depending on. Yeah, things evolve. Yeah, I would love to do that this year if I can make the time fun. I have a couple of resolutions. I really need to be more organized. On the outside, our house looks fairly organized, but there's so many drawers and closets and spaces that just, you know, with kids, I feel like I organize a drawer and three days later, everything has been dumped out and put back in. And they. So, yeah, a part of me feels like, what's the point in even trying? But then the other part of me feels like this is not sustainable.
- [18:18]
C
Right. We need a better.
- [18:20]
A
Any suggestion from people with kids on how they maintain organization.
- [18:25]
B
What does that. What's the one that drives you the most nuts?
- [18:28]
A
Because the drawers, I mean, toys is always about. But there is a cabinet we have in our Living room. It's got doors on the bottom where we keep all the kids toys. But then it has six drawers sort of in the middle, where we keep coloring books and sticker books. And it's sort of my pens and notepads, staplers, like junk. Those drunk draw. You know, it holds extra headphones and that kind of stuff. And because they know that some of it is their stuff, pencils and scissors, they're always in and out of there, sort of rooting around. It is a heavily trafficked area. I feel like I clean it out every three months and every.
- [19:07]
B
No, that's me with our games. Our games and puzzles cabinet is. Is that. It's that. Yeah.
- [19:13]
C
But I feel like those kind of spaces, even my pantry, I have to go through at least once a quarter. If not, like, if I let it slide beyond that, which right now it's.
- [19:24]
B
Oh, boy, we're. We're hard split.
- [19:27]
C
Yeah, it is. We're so downhill, but, you know, where you just have to take the time and take everything out of that space.
- [19:35]
A
So what y' all are telling me is that everyone has these, and everybody has these.
- [19:38]
B
See it in beautiful pictures because it's behind the camera. Okay.
- [19:42]
C
Yeah.
- [19:42]
A
All right. I still feel like there's probably some more things I could do to make it a little better. And now that our oldest is reading, I feel like maybe it's time for a label. It's time for a label maker where I can have a label that says pens.
- [19:56]
C
Oh, my gosh. Have her make the labels.
- [19:59]
A
Yeah, Maybe that's it. Yeah. So anyway, that's on there.
- [20:03]
B
Stay more organized inside the individual. The drawer organizers within.
- [20:07]
A
Yeah. But it requires people to actually put the thing back in the cubby where it goes. And that is the.
- [20:15]
C
The trouble. That is the trouble spot.
- [20:17]
B
There's your trouble.
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C
That is the trouble spot.
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A
Because even if I know there's a system, because I actually do have a system, it's just that not everyone respects the system.
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C
Right.
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A
So then it just goes back into chaos. Okay. The other thing is, I have kept my fiddle leaf, fig alive for a year and a half now.
- [20:38]
C
Yes.
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A
This is truly the first houseplant I've been able to grow. And it's quite a bit. It's doing well. Maybe it's time for another house plan.
- [20:45]
B
Wait, is that your only house plant?
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A
Yeah.
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B
Like, you don't have a. I mean.
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A
I buy flowers and I'll keep. I had some myrtle topia, so I'll do things, but they're not long standing.
- [20:56]
C
Okay.
- [20:56]
A
You know, What?
- [20:57]
B
I mean, I bring cuttings in so many houseplants. I cannot wait.
- [21:04]
A
Okay, well, maybe we can share notes and you can tell me what I'm capable of handling.
- [21:07]
B
You can do a fiddle leaf. You can do it all.
- [21:09]
C
Yeah.
- [21:09]
B
You can do it.
- [21:10]
C
All right.
- [21:11]
A
Okay.
- [21:12]
B
It's all about watering schedule, which, once you understand, it's really about light and water. Mostly.
- [21:16]
A
Yes. But I have to keep to the watering schedule, and I think that is where things have not gone well to me.
- [21:22]
C
Pick a day like I do mine on Sunday.
- [21:24]
A
Yeah.
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C
And every day.
- [21:26]
A
What if it's a plant that needs more than just Sunday? See, I'm on a good system with a thing.
- [21:30]
C
You know what? I've kept a lot of plants alive just on Sundays.
- [21:33]
A
Okay.
- [21:33]
C
And then it just depends on how much water it needs on that Sunday. So some might give a little bit more, some I give a little bit less. And some of them, you'll be surprised. Like, I let go two weeks, and I was like, oops. And some plants are like, I'm dying over here. And others are thriving. Like, my violets are really popping off and having a moment right now. So.
- [21:56]
A
Okay.
- [21:58]
C
Because I didn't water them too much. And I actually have an orchid that rebloomed. Look at you. All. Because I forgot about it.
- [22:07]
A
Yes. Oh. That's what my mom says. Neglect. They thrive on neglect.
- [22:11]
C
Some. So, you know, finding those. Those ones that are.
- [22:15]
A
I think I need to find the right spot and the right plant.
- [22:18]
C
Right.
- [22:18]
A
And I haven't landed on that yet.
- [22:20]
B
So I'm gonna offer you this book called Plant Topia.
- [22:24]
A
Okay.
- [22:24]
B
David just got it for Christmas because of his greenhouse. So I was reading through it because it's all about houseplants. It literally lists them, and then it tells you which ones are easy, medium, and hard, and they tell you how much. So ones, like a lot of ferns, need more watering. So they are ones you have to, like, lift up and see how heavy they are. So maybe stay away from them for a while.
- [22:48]
A
But I like the ferns because that is probably the problem. I've tried ferns, and they're much more finicky. And then I kill them, and then.
- [22:54]
C
They need a lot of water, and then you've got to spray them down.
- [22:57]
B
I know they're pretty. I have brought mine back to life many a time. My maiden hair fern. I've had to cut her way back. She. And then. And I planted her on the ground outside, and then she came back to life.
- [23:07]
A
Okay.
- [23:08]
C
Yeah.
- [23:08]
B
Yeah. I can help. Yeah. Yes.
- [23:09]
A
Thank you.
- [23:09]
C
Okay.
- [23:10]
A
That'd be great.
- [23:10]
B
Okay. Sorry.
- [23:11]
A
No, no, that's good. No, that's good right now, girl.
- [23:13]
B
I love houseplants. We can talk houseplants.
- [23:16]
A
Yeah, you are. You are like a. You have a sneaky green thumb.
- [23:19]
B
I. We have too many. Is the actual. That's why I'm like. I'm literally like, what do you want?
- [23:24]
C
Let's.
- [23:24]
B
Let's go through my house, especially at winter. Yeah, Everything comes too, so it feels extra. Like, I feel very jungly in my own home currently. So. Yeah, anyway. Yes, let's do it. Let's add more plants. I love this for us. With your gut and it be all.
- [23:43]
A
Yes. That's kind of like the big ones. I want to plant some more peonies in my yard and.
- [23:48]
B
Yeah, that can be done. Check. That's an easy one.
- [23:51]
A
I think I told y' all years ago that I planted some peony bulbs, right? This was in 2021. They are still only about a foot tall. The bulbs require, like, a decade to actually become established. I have completely neglected them, and they're still growing. So that leads me to believe maybe I should plant three full size peony bushes every year. And then I can build up an entire almost like, hedge because they seem to like this area. So that is sort of what I'm thinking, like, just kind of planting a couple every year.
- [24:25]
C
I am all for that. So I love peonies the most. They're so great.
- [24:28]
A
When you cut one and bring it inside, like, oh, my God. I was so proud. I only had one, but I was like, this is amazing. So great. So that is something that I would love to do in the springtime.
- [24:40]
C
Oh, that's awesome.
- [24:41]
A
Yep.
- [24:42]
B
You need Christmas cactus. Sorry, I'm adding nothing.
- [24:45]
A
Oh, okay.
- [24:46]
C
Oh, yeah, sorry.
- [24:47]
B
I went back. I went back.
- [24:48]
A
Back to houseplants.
- [24:49]
B
Back to house plants, as you said. You brought it in. Okay, sorry. We can talk more houseplants.
- [24:53]
A
Maybe we should do a whole episode about it. I think we did a house. Did we do a house plant episode already?
- [24:58]
C
We did a house plant episode because it inspired me to repot all of my plants. That's right. Yeah, we did that last year. But I think we need to revisit it and maybe go a little more in depth on varieties. Yes, that would be really great.
- [25:13]
B
Professional. Let's do it.
- [25:14]
A
Let's call who. Who wrote Plantopia. Let's get them on the show.
- [25:17]
C
Let's do it.
- [25:18]
A
Okay, well, it's you.
- [25:19]
C
Okay, well, I'm stealing your resolution for organizing. I mean, I think, like, the big. The big thing about organizing. Right. Is like, you're supposed to figure out what your patterns are and kind of work with that. Right, Right. If there's one place where you always drop the mail, put a bin there for the mail to go in. Right. My house, it turns into chaos all the time. But I. There are some trouble spots that I have taken some time over the. Over the break to kind of identify and want to do better on. So. So that's. So that's good. But it mainly is like the paper traps or, you know, or the laundry traps, you know, like those places where those things kind of bundle up. So definitely that. And then I think I want to make a calendar for my house that has reminders. Right. That has reminders on, like, okay, change that air filter. Redo the pantry, because it does get chaotic if I don't do it once a quarter. Yeah. Just kind of refresh everything. So I'm thinking about. So maybe I'll. That's what I'll. That's my takeaway. I'll make a family calendar. And this. These are the things that need to happen. And just, you know, on your iPhone, set it up and put alerts on it.
- [26:38]
A
There's so many things that you forget about as a honem owner. Like the AC filter and the water filter and the bridge and the.
- [26:44]
C
Right.
- [26:45]
A
You know, empty the dryer vent and.
- [26:49]
C
Yeah. And like vacuum out the dryer vent.
- [26:51]
B
I know. This is another thing I know that I've talked about where it's the maintenance of home. Yeah, I know. Right?
- [26:57]
C
We feel you.
- [26:58]
A
Yeah, yeah.
- [26:59]
B
Maintenance of home. That is so hard. And to remind yourself when you're supposed to do it. Like you said, it's a bunch of reminders.
- [27:05]
C
Right.
- [27:06]
B
Those. There's something that's really trending. Those skylight calendars.
- [27:10]
A
Yes.
- [27:11]
B
They're kind of. It's like a digital calendar. You up and you could. That way your whole family can see it. Everyone can put their stuff in.
- [27:17]
A
Do you have one?
- [27:18]
B
I don't. A friend just got it and she's loving it so far. But it does feel like this could be something, especially based on who you are, that you might like. Because it is digital, but it is a calendar.
- [27:28]
C
Okay.
- [27:29]
B
And I know you love a handheld calendar, so this would probably be great for you too, like keeping just.
- [27:34]
A
I do a dry erase analog one on my fridge that's just, you know, low tech. But it's probably not as. It's not. I mean, I wouldn't put. Change the AC filter on it, but.
- [27:47]
C
At least keeping track of what's going on.
- [27:48]
B
This, like, done twice a year and, you know, you need to do it twice a year. It is nice that you could literally put it for a day tomorrow and. Yeah. And every six months, we're going to repeat this. And it's on your calendar.
- [28:00]
A
Yeah, that's smart.
- [28:01]
C
So I think that's. I think that'll be my big takeaway and something that I'll set up after we finish this conversation. But, you know, I also use this time between Christmas and New Year's to do the big dreams about my house. And, like, what are the big projects? A lot of the projects are things that I've talked about on here that I haven't had the budget to do or haven't had the bandwidth to do. Maybe taking those in some different chunks. We had a tree removed in our backyard that was very large and offering a lot of shade. Taking that out to change the ecosystem of this corner of my yard.
- [28:35]
B
Yeah.
- [28:36]
C
So it's a lot of sunlight now. And it ended up killing some things that I had growing for years that were partial shade lovers. So we'll see how. We'll see what happens this spring with that. But I'm also thinking maybe I want to do a raised bed garden this year.
- [28:55]
B
If you have more light.
- [28:56]
C
Yeah, yeah. It's southern facing.
- [28:59]
A
Flowers, vegetables.
- [29:01]
C
I think I want to do vegetables again. Like, so. Yeah. So I had. I used to have a vegetable garden in Los Angeles, and it was really kind of thriving and amazing. I haven't done. Done that here because everything's been shade or under a pecan tree. For those of you who don't know, a pecan tree puts out a chemical from its roots that kills other plants. So you have to.
- [29:24]
A
I didn't know that.
- [29:25]
B
I didn't know that either.
- [29:26]
C
Right.
- [29:26]
A
So, I mean, you obviously have the.
- [29:28]
C
Black oaks do this and pecan trees do this. I found this out by going to plant sales around here in Atlanta. I found plants that can grow under black oaks because they can also grow under pecan trees. But I'm trying to figure out what the diameter is, like, how far I have to go out on that. So if I do vegetables, that would be a raised garden bed.
- [29:49]
A
Yeah, yeah.
- [29:50]
C
And just kind of see what happens there. And, you know, just staying in contact with my neighbor so he doesn't plant another tree that is gonna cause other weird shade. We've had that conversation.
- [30:00]
B
That's good.
- [30:01]
C
We have a friendly relationship. So there's that. There's, you know, you know I potentially needing to do a new back porch or, you know, there was, you know, getting.
- [30:13]
A
Is that a yay Or. Or I was gonna say.
- [30:16]
B
Yeah. What? Yeah, your.
- [30:17]
C
Oh, yeah.
- [30:18]
A
Your face implied that.
- [30:19]
C
Oh, yeah.
- [30:19]
A
It may not be voluntary. That you might.
- [30:21]
C
It may not be. I don't think that it was put in with quality and care.
- [30:27]
A
Okay.
- [30:27]
C
So some of the steps are rotting out. So it's. If we don't take care of it this year, it's definitely, like, we've got to take care of it.
- [30:40]
A
Yeah.
- [30:40]
C
Within the next 18 months, I'd say.
- [30:43]
A
Yeah.
- [30:43]
C
Like the next year and a half.
- [30:44]
B
What's a goal you want to do this year for your house? Oh, like, you've listed a bunch of, like, kind of man. We're gonna have to deal with it probably this year. But, like, what's something you want to.
- [30:54]
A
Do like, they're excited about?
- [30:56]
B
Even if, again, it's lofty, it's okay. We'll come back to it and be like, listen, financially didn't work out this.
- [31:01]
C
Year, or there is a big change needs to happen in our house because we have a small house later this year, I'm gonna be an empty nester. So. Yeah. Taking Finn's room and changing that into a guest room slash office for me. So I'll move out of the. The dining room for my office.
- [31:26]
A
Wait, so. So, okay, explain this. Like, obviously, I mean, he's an. Obviously, he's going to college, so you'll have some extra space, but we just.
- [31:36]
C
Don'T have enough space to, like, leave that room as. As it is his room. Yes. Yeah. Yeah.
- [31:42]
A
So you would just sort of edit down and make it usable as a guest room.
- [31:48]
C
Make it usable as a guest room. Make it usable as an office and kind of doing that double duty.
- [31:55]
B
Should we just emotionally do these things together? Maybe?
- [31:57]
C
I totally think we should, because I.
- [32:00]
B
Feel like yours is gonna be emotional in a way, too.
- [32:03]
A
And for him as well. Is he.
- [32:04]
C
Oh, my gosh.
- [32:04]
A
Does he aware of this?
- [32:06]
C
Oh, he's totally aware. I've totally.
- [32:07]
B
You've been like, listen, as soon as you are.
- [32:09]
C
Well, we've had this conversation because I definitely want to make sure he knows this is always his home. Right.
- [32:16]
B
And this is his room, but.
- [32:18]
C
And it's his room. And so when he does come home, I want him to feel comfortable because I remember that feeling of, like, I left home and my parents repainted my room and turned it into an office, and I was like, I don't. It's no space for me anymore. So I want him to be a part of it. And we've already had the initial conversation and then we both started crying and we left.
- [32:42]
A
Fair enough. Doesn't he have some sort of like ginormous desk setup thing?
- [32:46]
C
Oh my God. Good golly, he's got. So again, every room in our house is about 13 by 13ft. And his room is the same. He changes his room around every six months. We came home from Christmas break where we drove from Michigan back down to Atlanta. And after this long trip I started hearing like things moving and the vacuum cleaner and I'm like, oh my gosh, is he really? And I opened the door and he was moving furniture around in his room and revamped his entire room again. I don't know how he does that because he's got a twin bed, a couple different bookcase situations, and again this big L shaped, this really large L shaped desk that we had to take apart and assemble in the room.
- [33:32]
A
So how many possible layouts, I mean, how many layouts could fit this ginormous thing?
- [33:37]
C
You would be surprised. I am surprised. Every six months he's like, I just did something that I haven't done before. And I was like, this is fantastic. So currently he's got the twin bed in one corner and then he took some bookcases and made a little half wall with some Billy bookcases that are half tall. And so he moves all of these things around. So now it's like this little bedroom suite and an office on the other side. I was like, well, this is great. I don't know exactly what I'm gonna do with it, but I'm going to have to move the big desk out because I don't think that it functions for me. Maybe it does, I don't know. But yeah. So I'm gonna integrate, I'm going to integrate his ideas and his needs in there, you know, and again, like do some clean out of things that, you know, like his closet has some things that, you know, were his when he was really little, like an enormous stuffed animal octopus chair. And also some weird things that we haven't gotten rid of. Like my motorcycle helmet. It like I'm not getting back on a motorcycle or scooter anytime soon. So, you know, so we have to do some clean out, we have to do some, some updates. But yeah, so that's, that's going to be a big thing for this year. Ahead is revamping that space to make it useful for when he comes home from school, for when I'm so. But Your name is a workspace for me during the day space to close it off. That repurposing of that space is gonna be really important for us. That's exciting. Emotional things.
- [35:19]
A
So many. That's so there's so much possibility. There.
- [35:22]
C
There is. You know there is.
- [35:25]
A
Do you get excited the idea, like, I. I think working remotely makes me very focused on my background, which is sort of dumb.
- [35:34]
C
Right.
- [35:35]
A
But it's also. You're looking at it all the time.
- [35:37]
C
Yes.
- [35:38]
A
So it. The idea of totally revamping it and you get to, like, do a new background and have a new workspace. That's exciting.
- [35:45]
C
It's exciting. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So there's some good things that are.
- [35:50]
B
Happening for your work. Will be doors.
- [35:52]
C
Yes. With doors that I can walk out. Will you record the podcast in there? Yeah, because it's in the back of the house, away from any street noise.
- [36:02]
B
Nice.
- [36:02]
A
Well, then our listeners will get to see.
- [36:05]
C
Yeah, I guess so. I hadn't even thought about that. Yeah. So we'll. We'll see what it all. Big life changes this year.
- [36:12]
A
Yeah.
- [36:13]
C
So proud of him. He's already gotten into his top schools, so.
- [36:16]
A
Yay.
- [36:17]
B
That's very exciting.
- [36:18]
A
Yeah.
- [36:19]
C
So.
- [36:20]
A
Yeah.
- [36:20]
B
Okay, so we have some good things to work on this year. I think we're excited about. Had to pull Liz's out, but we got it. We found it.
- [36:28]
A
Yeah.
- [36:28]
B
I can't wait to visit this and see what we actually accomplish.
- [36:31]
A
I know. Well, you know, I think that with all. With all years, I come to the end of the year and I'm like, wow, did not know that was in store for me this year. And so I imagine there will be a little bit of that, you know.
- [36:46]
B
And based on how we roll, I can't. I mean, you know, I'm gonna be like. So I painted my office and you're gonna be like, what?
- [36:52]
A
And I don't know, I'm gonna be like, this is not. Was not on the agenda, but here.
- [36:55]
C
We are on the bingo card.
- [36:57]
A
Yes.
- [36:58]
C
This is what we.
- [36:59]
B
We will.
- [37:00]
A
We will. Oh, amazing.
- [37:01]
C
Okay, well, let's get it done.
- [37:03]
A
Yes. And that's our all of the show notes on our blog howtodecorate.com podcast to.
- [37:09]
B
Send in a decorating dilemma. Email your questions to podcastallarddesigns.net so we can help you with your space.
- [37:15]
A
And of course, be sure to follow us on social media.
- [37:17]
C
Ballardesigns don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode. And please leave us a review. We'd love to hear your feedback.
- [37:25]
A
Until next time, happy decorating.