Episode Summary: Ep. 380: Trials and Triumphs Release Date: September 24, 2024

Hosts: Caroline, Taryn, and Liz from the Ballard Designs team

Introduction

In Episode 380 of How to Decorate, hosts Caroline, Taryn, and Liz delve into the trials and triumphs encountered in the realm of home decorating and maintenance. This episode is a blend of personal anecdotes, expert advice, and practical tips aimed at helping listeners navigate their own decorating journeys.

1. Home Renovation Triumphs: Liz's Sister's Laundry Room Makeover

Liz kicks off the episode by sharing a recent success story about her sister's home renovation. The project involved transforming a mudroom into a functional laundry room and relocating the actual laundry facilities closer to the bedrooms.

• Color Selection: Liz describes the meticulous process of selecting the perfect shade of blue for the walls. Despite Liz's initial assertion that "these are all gray" (01:27), the team ultimately settled on a periwinkle blue complemented by navy trim.

  • "So we found the perfect kind of periwinkle blue that is like hydrangea perfect for her laundry room." (02:42) – Liz

• Tile Choice: The team emphasizes the importance of selecting the right tile, highlighting a beautiful chambray hexagonal tile with hand-painted white flowers that perfectly matched Liz's sister’s personality.

  • "It's like this beautiful, like, little chambray hexagonal tile with hand-painted little white flowers on it." (04:24) – Liz

• Project Timeline: Impressively, the renovation was completed within two to three weeks, showcasing efficient planning and execution.

  • "They were lickety spickity. They were like, done in two or three weeks." (04:32) – Liz

2. Navigating House Safety: Fire Alarm Mishaps

The conversation shifts to a harrowing experience Liz and her partner faced with malfunctioning fire alarms in their home.

• Alarm Troubleshooting: Despite having hardwired fire alarms with battery backups, a sudden alarm at 5 AM caused panic, leading them to disconnect the system temporarily.

  • "At five in the morning the other day, they all went off and so full panic." (06:24) – Liz

• Fire Department Intervention: Concerned about a potential fire, they contacted the fire department, who conducted a thorough inspection but found no issues.

  • "They didn't find a Dangon thing. They, like, peeked up in the attic, they went down to the basement, like, all around." (08:05) – Liz

• Ongoing Issues: The alarms continued to malfunction the next morning, prompting Liz to seek a second opinion from another electrician.

  • "The next morning at 4. (09:11) – Liz

• Safety Lessons: This ordeal underscored the importance of having reliable fire safety systems and regularly maintaining them to prevent false alarms and ensure real emergencies are promptly addressed.

3. Preventing Home Disasters: Taryn’s PSA on Toilet Valve

Taryn shares a critical piece of home maintenance advice stemming from a friend's unfortunate experience with a faulty toilet valve.

• Broken Plastic Valve Incident: A friend’s toilet valve broke, causing severe flooding and extensive damage to their home.

  • "A plastic valve, which it sounds like we can go into this like a PSA for anyone who doesn't know this and should invest in this." (18:20) – Taryn

• Preventive Measures: Taryn advises listeners to replace plastic valves with metal ones to prevent such disasters and emphasizes the importance of turning off the water supply when away for extended periods.

  • "All you have to do is tell your plumber to put in a metal one because the plastic one eventually snaps." (19:55) – Taryn

• Insurance and Recovery: The story highlights the challenges of dealing with insurance and the emotional toll of unexpected home repairs.

  • "She was like, they threw everything in boxes and it's unlabeled." (21:07) – Taryn

4. Plant Care Updates: Caroline’s Fiddle Leaf Fig

Caroline updates listeners on her plant care journey, focusing on her thriving fiddle leaf fig named Taylor.

• Watering Routine: By implementing a strict watering schedule, Caroline has managed to revive her plant from signs of inconsistent watering.

  • "I've put my plant on a watering plan. I'm only allowed to water it four cups." (29:01) – Caroline

• Growth Challenges: The rapid growth of Taylor, now reaching 18 inches in six weeks, poses space challenges, prompting considerations for trimming or propagating.

  • "She's now touching my ceiling. She has literally grown like 18 inches in six weeks." (29:36) – Caroline

• Propagation Plans: The hosts discuss potential solutions, including propagating the plant or relocating it to allow for continued growth without compromising home aesthetics.

  • "Can I cut and propagate her? Can I put her in your greenhouse for a little while and let her grow in there?" (30:03) – Caroline

5. New Collection Spotlight: Metallic Glass Orbs

The hosts introduce the latest addition to their fall collection: metallic glass orbs, also referred to as mercury glass.

• Product Design: Caroline describes the orbs as resembling little disco balls, praising their blend of texture, detail, and sleekness.

  • "I think they're like so simple... But this one I had to make an exception for." (34:20) – Caroline

• Styling Tips: The orbs are highlighted as versatile pieces that enhance modern décor, perfect for display on book stacks or as holiday centerpieces.

  • "They're a perfect blend of texture and detail and sleekness." (33:24) – Caroline

• Availability: Due to their popularity, Liz emphasizes the importance of purchasing promptly to avoid missing out.

  • "I went and bought them last weekend at the store, and they are even more fabulous in person than I expected." (32:59) – Caroline

6. Travel and Ceramics: Tips on Packing and Shipping

The conversation transitions to the challenges of transporting delicate ceramics acquired during travels.

• Packing Techniques: Taryn shares her methods for safely carrying ceramics, including using bubble wrap and specialized packing materials to prevent damage.

  • "You just need to carry on for sure." (25:37) – Caroline

• Shipping vs. Carrying: Discussions revolve around the cost-effectiveness of checking additional luggage versus shipping items internationally.

  • "It's almost wildly cheaper to buy a suitcase and send it... If you think about shipping something right internationally." (25:37) – Taryn

• Personal Anecdotes: The hosts recount personal experiences of purchasing ceramics abroad and the subsequent efforts to transport them without breakage.

  • "I bought some bamboo handled little knives set... They look so much more special." (22:19) – Taryn

7. Listener Engagement and Final Tips

As the episode wraps up, the hosts encourage listeners to engage with the podcast and share their own decorating dilemmas.

• Show Notes and Contact Information: Listeners are directed to the blog at howtodecorate.com for show notes and to submit questions via email at podcast@ballarddesigns.net.

  • "You can find all of the show notes on our blog howtodecorate.com podcast." (38:34) – Caroline

• Social Media and Subscriptions: The hosts remind listeners to follow them on social media and subscribe to the podcast to stay updated on future episodes.

  • "Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode." (38:39) – Liz

• Final Thoughts: The episode concludes with a positive note, celebrating the triumphs shared and encouraging listeners to continue their decorating endeavors with confidence.

  • "Until next time, happy decorating." (38:55) – Caroline

Notable Quotes

• "So we found the perfect kind of periwinkle blue that is like hydrangea perfect for her laundry room." (02:42) – Liz
• "At five in the morning the other day, they all went off and so full panic." (06:24) – Liz
• "All you have to do is tell your plumber to put in a metal one because the plastic one eventually snaps." (19:55) – Taryn
• "She's now touching my ceiling. She has literally grown like 18 inches in six weeks." (29:36) – Caroline
• "I went and bought them last weekend at the store, and they are even more fabulous in person than I expected." (32:59) – Caroline

Conclusion

Episode 380 of How to Decorate offers a candid look into the real-life challenges and successes faced by homeowners and decorators. Through personal stories and expert advice, Caroline, Taryn, and Liz provide valuable insights that empower listeners to tackle their own decorating projects with creativity and resilience.

Stay Connected:

• Blog: howtodecorate.com
• Email: podcast@ballarddesigns.net
• Social Media: Follow Ballard Designs on your preferred platforms
• Subscription: Available on all major podcast platforms

Happy decorating!