Ep. 392: Blending Tradition & Trend with KOBEL + CO.

Summary

Podcast Summary: How to Decorate – Ep. 392: Blending Tradition & Trend with KOBEL + CO.

Release Date: December 17, 2024

In this engaging episode of How to Decorate by Ballard Designs, hosts Caroline, Taryn, and Liz welcome Mallory Robbins and Elizabeth from Kansas City-based KOBEL + CO., a dynamic design duo known for their ability to blend timeless treasures with modern pieces. The conversation delves deep into creating diverse vibes within a home, balancing tradition with contemporary trends, and navigating post-pandemic design shifts. Below is a detailed summary of the key discussions, insights, and takeaways from the episode.

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1. Creating the Right Vibe in Each Room

Timestamp: [01:02] – [04:12]

Key Discussion: Mallory and Elizabeth emphasize the importance of starting the design process by understanding how clients want their home to feel rather than focusing solely on specific colors or furniture pieces. They use extensive listening exercises to extract adjectives that define the desired mood and experience for each space.

Notable Quote: Elizabeth explains, “It starts with, how do you want your home to feel? What do you want people who come into your home to say about it? What do you want them to feel?” [01:49]

Insights:

• The foundation of successful design lies in grasping the emotional and experiential goals of the inhabitants.
• Understanding clients' lifestyles, values, and the functional aspects of their lives (e.g., presence of pets or children) informs all subsequent design decisions.
• Even when creating moody or intimate spaces, maintaining a sense of simplicity ensures the space remains livable and not overwhelming.

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2. Post-Pandemic Design Trends

Timestamp: [06:33] – [09:18]

Key Discussion: The podcast explores how the pandemic has influenced home design, particularly the shift from expansive open floor plans to more defined, wall-defined spaces that offer intimacy and distinct moods.

Notable Quote: Mallory notes, “Pre-pandemic, the push was for bigger, more open spaces. We found out that doors were a good thing.” [06:45]

Insights:

• There's a renewed appreciation for segmented rooms that allow for varied experiences within a home.
• Traditional entertaining spaces like built-to-be-beautiful freestanding bars and hostess halls are gaining popularity, reflecting a return to more classic forms of hospitality.
• Design strategies now include creating specific zones for entertaining, dining, and casual gatherings, each with its unique ambiance.

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3. Balancing Tradition and Trend in Entertaining Spaces

Timestamp: [09:18] – [12:03]

Key Discussion: KOBEL + CO. discusses integrating traditional elements with modern design in spaces intended for entertaining. This includes the incorporation of library bars, hostess halls, and maintaining architectural integrity while adding functional and aesthetic layers.

Notable Quote: Elizabeth shares, “We know it’s clicked in when we’ve gotten that mix right... a little bit of whimsy, a little bit of humor, and some unexpected elements.” [10:15]

Insights:

• Entertaining spaces should honor the home's architectural style while incorporating unique, personalized elements.
• Hostess halls serve as both storage and display areas, enhancing the functionality and aesthetic appeal of entertaining zones.
• Attention to detail, such as coordinating upholstery colors with art pieces, ensures cohesiveness without sacrificing individual room identities.

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4. Transitioning Between Different Room Vibes

Timestamp: [12:03] – [15:35]

Key Discussion: The conversation examines strategies for transitioning between rooms with distinct vibes without creating a disjointed feel. Emphasis is placed on architectural guidelines, consistent lighting, and cohesive color palettes to maintain harmony.

Notable Quote: Elizabeth advises, “Using the architecture dictated by the home itself is a good place to start... lighting is a great unifier.” [13:22]

Insights:

• Aligning room designs with the home's architectural style prevents clashes between differing aesthetics.
• Lighting plays a crucial role in unifying spaces, allowing for mood shifts without breaking visual continuity.
• Incorporating a color throughline, such as pulling hues from wallpaper into upholstery, creates a subtle connection between rooms.

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5. Key Elements for Capturing a Room's Feeling

Timestamp: [14:08] – [20:16]

Key Discussion: Mallory highlights the significance of scale in design, emphasizing that furniture and room dimensions must complement each other to achieve the desired feel. The duo also discusses the balance between function and form, ensuring spaces are both beautiful and practical.

Notable Quote: Mallory states, “Scale is often the culprit” when rooms don’t feel right, emphasizing its importance in design success. [14:08]

Insights:

• Proper scaling of furniture relative to room size is vital for both aesthetics and functionality.
• Design should accommodate clients' existing furniture when possible, adjusting placement or choosing complementary pieces to maintain harmony.
• Flexibility in design allows for gradual styling adjustments, fostering a more personalized and lived-in feel over time.

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6. Managing Scale and Function in Design

Timestamp: [15:35] – [20:16]

Key Discussion: The hosts discuss the challenges of maintaining scale, especially when clients move to larger homes and struggle with oversized furniture. Solutions include repurposing furniture in different rooms or investing in multifunctional pieces that serve dual purposes without compromising style.

Notable Quote: Elizabeth advises, “Sometimes just being okay to say no” to mismatched furniture pieces ensures the space remains cohesive and functional. [15:35]

Insights:

• Clients should assess the functionality of each piece within the new space, considering alternative placements if necessary.
• Incorporating vintage or uniquely sourced pieces can add character without overwhelming the room's scale.
• Patience in the design process allows for thoughtful acquisition and placement of furniture, leading to a more harmonious environment.

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7. Art and Accessorizing in Spaces

Timestamp: [20:16] – [32:24]

Key Discussion: Art is deemed essential in every room, adding personality and subtle tension to prevent spaces from feeling overly perfect or sterile. The importance of accessorizing with vintage and locally sourced pieces is highlighted as a way to infuse soul and character into interiors.

Notable Quote: Mallory emphasizes, “Every room should have art.” [42:02]

Insights:

• Art serves as a conversation starter and a means to express individuality within a space.
• Incorporating unexpected or thought-provoking pieces prevents rooms from feeling too uniform or impersonal.
• Accessorizing at the end of the design process with unique finds from flea markets or antique stores adds authenticity and uniqueness.

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8. Designing Kitchens with Statement Pieces

Timestamp: [32:24] – [40:58]

Key Discussion: The duo discusses their approach to kitchen design, advocating for selecting statement elements like natural stone countertops early in the process. This foundation guides the overall kitchen aesthetic, ensuring longevity and adaptability beyond fleeting trends.

Notable Quote: Elizabeth shares, “White is transformative. Make sure you have the right white for what you are trying to achieve.” [35:19]

Insights:

• Choosing definitive pieces such as countertops first anchors the kitchen design, facilitating cohesive style decisions.
• Selecting high-quality, timeless materials ensures that the kitchen remains stylish and functional for years.
• Balancing innovative stone selections with traditional design elements creates a kitchen that is both current and enduring.

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9. Listener Q&A: Rug Selection

Timestamp: [46:11] – [55:23]

Key Discussion: A listener, Lauren, seeks advice on selecting rugs for her slate blue office and taupey dining room. KOBEL + CO. recommend the Dory Sisal rug for its subtle pattern and texture, suggesting it as a unifying element between the two spaces.

Notable Quote: Elizabeth recommends, “The Dory Sisal rug is our all-time gold standard rug in any space.” [47:53]

Insights:

• Opt for rugs that offer texture and visual interest without overwhelming the room’s color scheme.
• Consider the size and placement of rugs to ensure they complement furniture and enhance the room’s functionality.
• Using a prominent rug as a unifying element can bridge different areas, creating a seamless flow between rooms.

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10. Conclusion and Takeaways

Timestamp: [55:23] – End

Key Discussion: The episode concludes with Mallory and Elizabeth sharing their contact information and encouraging listeners to follow their work on social media. Hosts and guests exchange warm farewells, leaving listeners with practical tips for enhancing their home decor.

Notable Quote: Elizabeth remarks, “A little bit of dirt [in accessories] that tell a story when tucked under a console or put in the front hallway.” [30:33]

Takeaways:

• Begin home design by defining the emotional and experiential goals for each space.
• Embrace a balance of tradition and modernity to create timeless, yet fresh interiors.
• Prioritize scale and functionality to ensure spaces are both beautiful and livable.
• Incorporate art and unique accessories to add personality and prevent spaces from feeling sterile.
• Consider foundational elements like countertops in the kitchen early on to guide cohesive design choices.

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Final Thoughts: This episode of How to Decorate offers invaluable insights into creating harmonious and personalized living spaces. Mallory and Elizabeth’s emphasis on understanding client needs, balancing different design elements, and prioritizing both form and function provides listeners with a comprehensive guide to elevating their home decor. Whether you're renovating a single room or redesigning your entire home, the strategies discussed offer practical and creative solutions to achieve a space that is both stylish and meaningful.

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For more decorating tips and inspiration, visit How2Decorate.com and follow Ballard Designs on social media.

Transcript

[Caroline]

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.

[Taryn]

And I'm Taryn, and I'm a product designer.

[Liz]

I'm Liz. I head of the creative team. We're your hosts.

[Caroline]

Join the expert team at Ballard Designs for tips, tricks, and tales from interior designers, stylists, and other talents in the design world.

[Taryn]

Plus, we'll answer your decorating dilemmas at the end of each episode.

[Liz]

We love answering your questions, so don't forget to email [e-mail] now, on with the show.

[Caroline]

Okay, so our guests this week are Mallory Robbins and Bennett, the design duo behind Kansas City based Cobol and Company. Mallory and Elizabeth craft intimate spaces that are a unique blend of timeless treasures and modern pieces. Mallory and Elizabeth, welcome to the show.

[Mallory]

Thanks for having us.

[Caroline]

So happy to have you here. I loved getting to go through your portfolio. And also, you know what? We have very few Midwestern designers on the show. We need to fix this. So I'm thrilled you're here.

[Taryn]

That's so true.

[Mallory]

We agree. Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

We are certainly excited to represent the Midwest.

[Caroline]

So. Okay. Looking through your portfolio, I felt like it was so moody in, like, a great way. But then there was also lots of different moons. You know, there were sort of, like, moody, dark, kind of lush spaces, and there was these bright, open, beautiful, beautifully lit spaces. And so I was thinking maybe we could talk about, like, vibes, just how you're capturing, you know, figuring out what vibe each room needs and really how you execute that and bring that to life in the space. What do you think about that?

[Taryn]

Sure.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. I think one thing that we really harp on in our studio is kind of the way that we start any design process. It really. It doesn't ever start with our clients about, like, you know, I want a white kitchen or I want a blue sofa. You know, it starts with, how do you want your home to feel? What do you want? People who come into your home, your loved ones, like, when they come in and it's finished, what do you want them to say about it? What do you want them to feel? How do they experience it? Who lives in this house? What are they like, you know, how do you have dogs? Do you have kids? What's important to you? What are your values? And I think that really sets the foundation for the project and all the fun things that come after it. But we really hold pretty firm to those adjectives that we kind of pull out at the very beginning through a lot of listening exercises. If someone wants something that they can entertain in, we want to know, how do you entertain? And then that kind of informs more decisions down the road that can lead to, you know, different vibes and moodiness and color palette.

[Caroline]

Yeah, I just. There's just something very, like. I don't know, Like, I just kept thinking, like, yeah, vibes. I don't know. It was very. There was, like, a lot of drama in some places, but then there were these beautifully lit, sort of light and airy rooms as well. And then a lot of the furniture and upholstery, there was something about the scale, something. I don't know. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm struggling to articulate myself right now, but.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, no, you're doing great.

[Mallory]

I think everything Elizabeth said, I think focusing so much on the beginning, on. On how we want the spaces to feel, I think that really does dictate what you're seeing as the final result. So in some cases, it is swanky or moody or intimate, and in other cases, it's light, bright, and airy, and a lot of that's impacted by how people want to experience the space and even what phase of life they're in. So maybe they're in a phase of life where they want simplicity or, like, clean, not fussy. I would say a lack of fussiness is something that you'll see carried through most part design. So even if they're bold and colorful or richly layered, nothing that we put out is really intended to feel fussy or overdone or unlivable.

[Elizabeth]

I think another thing we really try to incorporate is, like, a sense of, like, whimsy a little bit. Something that doesn't quite take itself so seriously. We're fortunate here in Kansas City to have an absolute plethora of architectural styles and some beautiful, you know, 100-year-old homes, plus, and I think sometimes homes of that stature and quality can kind of maybe take themselves a little seriously for maybe a young family. So it's finding that mix of adequately dressing the home in a way that suits it, but also having a little bit of fun and interjecting some humor and some texture and something a little bit unexpected in each space is something that Mallory and I really. We know it's clicked in when we've gotten that mix right. And a lot of that is through art.

[Caroline]

Mm. Do you find your clients have a hard time articulating what vibe and feeling they want to create? Is that a challenge? Or do. Do you. Do they usually come kind of knowing the answers to those questions?

[Mallory]

Um, I would say. I would say it's a mix. Some. Some people certainly come to us with a. With a strong sense of what they're looking for. Some need a little more prompting. So I think the Elizabeth kind of alluded to this, that even sometimes putting them in the position of, okay, you finished this project. Your sister walks in and she says, caroline, this room is so, you know, fill in the blank. Like, what are you looking for to say, like, elegant or relaxing, whatever it is. So sometimes trying to get them to think about what. How someone else might describe it is a helpful prompt. But a lot of times we'll just use visual imagery to help get them there too. If they don't immediately know.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, does this feel right? Does this feel too far? And then also pushing them a little bit? I mean, I think a lot of times clients, when we come back, they'll say, you know, you. I did not think I could do a lacquered room. Or I did not think that I was ever going to like art that was this provocative and kind of thought provoking. But it's my favorite thing in the whole house. I'm so glad you guys pushed us. So I think sometimes listening to who they are, understanding what they're trying to achieve, and then kind of helping them see a version of themselves that maybe they don't see it.

[Liz]

I'm wondering, have you seen any or experienced any difference in this post pandemic world that we're living in and how people are wanting to live in their homes?

[Mallory]

That's interesting. I think one thing we are seeing more of, and this is probably common across the board, but pre pandemic, I think the push architecturally was, was for bigger, more open spaces, more visibility. I think we all found out in the pandemic that doors were a good thing. That being said, I think Elizabeth and I in our studio are. We, like to joke, we're pro wall and always have been. So I'd say a little bit more of an alignment back with that. We like rooms, which is not always aligned with kind of the architectural style that's in vogue at the moment. But I think even if it's, you know, a lot of our projects are renovations, but we. We do have a good number of new builds as well. So even if we're. We receive an architectural plan for a new build that has generally an open floor plan, sometimes even just giving it a good casing, bringing those openings in a little bit, just A little more definition can allow you to create those unique moods between spaces. If it's too, too far open, suddenly you're faced with kind of this blending of, you know, three to four rooms at once and you lose all of that, that visual intimacy, the ability to create a mood in any specific space. So bringing walls in is something I.

[Elizabeth]

Think another thing we're. We're finding and almost. Gosh, Mal, I think it's in almost all of our big projects right now are people are really focusing on entertaining in a very traditional way. I mean we are putting in bars like old fashioned freestanding, like built to be beautiful. But almost in a lot of these old homes, it almost feels like we're hearkening back to what would have been or how people would have entertained when the home was built, you know, a hundred years ago or 75 years ago, with spaces that are really designed around their intended use. And a lot of that is really harkening on entertaining and welcoming people in a variety of different ways. And I think we're seeing that an investment in dining rooms. Again, sort Mary was saying making sure that each room has a place to die into so that you have the ability to have different feelings in different spaces. And then bars, we've been putting in so many like library bars and really beautiful old world sort of pieces.

[Liz]

Yeah, I was going to ask where these bars are going. So they're going in libraries, Are they going in dining rooms?

[Mallory]

Great question. Libraries, living rooms, a good mix of them. And I think we're seeing a blend of wanting people, wanting guests to come into their home and potentially actually feel comfortable self serving, but also the ability to put someone behind the bar and serve in a way that feels a little bit more formal, whether that's them to their guests or they're thinking about a holiday party where maybe they're bringing someone in to do that. But yeah, a broad mix of that and I think tangential to that, we're also seeing a swell in what we're calling hostess halls. So areas to store said entertaining pieces, whether that be, yeah, china or glassware, barware, things like that. So really a harkening back to kind of a historical feeling, an old way of entertaining.

[Elizabeth]

We just really hope that invite us over for said, for said beverage.

[Caroline]

So is it like a butler's but like for dishes or kind of.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, no, we've. The, the ones we're doing now are. They're beautiful. I mean it's not even. They're meant to be sort of part of the entertain process. So there's one we're designing right now that it's visible from the dining room, so it'll be lacquered and, you know, be a bold color with beautiful cabinets, but it's. It's a long hallway that our hostess will be using to store china, display things with a specific use of serving from. And then one that we just finished in Texas was very similar. It was directly off of the dining room with a beautiful wallpaper. And this space was equally sort of. I love that term, that space, Hostess hall. So, again, that formal hostess hall. I know we didn't know what to call it the first time we did it, and we were on the call with the client, and I was like, it's a.

[Mallory]

It's a hostess hall.

[Taryn]

I know you coined that, guys.

[Caroline]

Yeah, exactly.

[Mallory]

Yeah, yeah, that little T right there.

[Caroline]

Okay, what about. So it sounds like that is, you know, a transition space. And then you were mentioning how making some of the casements come in more, you know, making the. To create that definition. And I'm curious, you know, when you've got maybe a more sort of light, bright kitchen, but then you've got a dark. This is just an example, but a dark, moody dining room. How. How do you think about transitioning from one room to the other when the vibes are really different? Or is that something you wouldn't do? Put two very different vibes next to each other? Maybe you need to keep them further apart. I don't know.

[Elizabeth]

I don't think we would ever advise, like, putting two. Like, if someone wanted a beachy kitchen and a, you know, European antique living room next to each other, I think that would be something where we. We try to harken back to the architecture of the home and use that as sort of a guideline tool for clients. Sometimes, you know, you bought a Georgian colonial, which probably means we're not going to go, you know, Spanish on the inside. So I. I think using the architecture dictated by the home itself is a good place to kind of start finding answers to some of the problems that we solve throughout the design process. But I think Mallory and I love to do, you know, a bright white kitchen, and then maybe the dining room is incredibly moody and inviting. I think it just has to have that common vernacular architecturally first, whether that's in millwork and, you know, all the trim and the pieces that are attached to the house. And I think lighting is a great unifier. I think lighting can really, you know, there's a large swath of styles, but I think if they don't speak to each other, and they don't feel like siblings. You can have a home that feels slightly distant, jointed. And I don't know if the client knows why. They just know it's not working.

[Mallory]

I think also a through line in terms of color palettes. They're not matching by any means, but if there's a. If there's a wallpaper happening in the dining room, pulling a color out of that wallpaper, using it in an upholstery piece in the living room. So when you're viewing those rooms, you know, let's say you're in the center, a center hall, and you're kind of turning left, turning right. They're not sisters, but they're related.

[Caroline]

What are like your go to. You know, if you. You're. You've got this feeling you want to capture in a room, what are sort of your checklist for hitting that? Like, are there certain things that you're going back? Maybe it is lighting. Maybe it's the color. Something that, like, our listeners could sort of a place for them to start when they're trying to capture that feeling.

[Mallory]

Yeah, I think, Caroline, you hit on this earlier, but I think scale is something that we are neurotic about and will measure and triple measure and quadruple measure and render it 12 different ways. But I think hitting the scale in a room is one of the most important ways to ensure success. And I think that's. That is often when we visit someone's home and we hear that, I don't know, I tried. It's just not working. Scale is often the culprit. And we often see that when we. When we see families who have maybe moved from the home they purchased as a young couple that was maybe more modest in size. You know, we have a neighborhood that's very popular in that kind of age group where the homes are a little bit smaller in scale. And then, you know, maybe they're having a family and they're moving to a home that's a little bit larger in scale with much taller ceilings, and all of a sudden, the furniture that they brought with them, it looks like a dollhouse in that new house. So nailing the scale in terms of the. Not just the width of the room, but the height of the room, I think is. Is one of the most important things to focus on.

[Caroline]

Is there a way around that? Like, you know, I feel like that's probably a challenge a lot of people have in terms of, like, buying stuff for their house and moving and wanting to reuse it. What are there things you can do to try to get it to work better or is it just sort of. I guess it depends, but I think it.

[Mallory]

I think. I think being willing to let it.

[Elizabeth]

Go, you know, I think. Yeah, I was not gonna say. I was gonna say. I think you have to be realistic with what it is you're trying to place. You know, if you're trying to put an apartment size sofa in your new house that, you know, however many square feet and it. It's just not working. You know, can it fit in a guest bedroom? You know, it. Where. What are we trying. What are we asking the furniture to achieve? And is it just outside of its ability? You know, sometimes just being okay to say no. But I think also not placing, not feeling stressed to have it perfect right away, you know, buy the best that you can at that time, no matter what, that is something that you love and it is a, you know, you feel really solid about. And if it takes you several years over time of finding things and adding things to get it, quote, unquote, finished for you, I think it's a far more successful end product than feeling like you have to finish the entire room with a set budget and then you don't really love anything. And I think Mallory and I find a lot, you know, for clients who are younger or trying to kind of find out what their style is, there's such an amazing plethora of ways now to get vintage pieces that are just, you know, they're built beautifully and you can reupholster them. There's just. There's so many options out there to give like a patino and get some character into these homes. But you gotta say goodbye to the apartment. Zoho.

[Caroline]

Yeah, well, I mean, you know, if you're going from 8ft to 12ft, like, probably not, but. Yeah, but I love the idea of, you know, put it into a guest room, add it into an office or something. Just find maybe a different home for it.

[Mallory]

And.

[Caroline]

Yeah, what about the function and the vibe together? I mean, because obviously we want it to be beautiful, but we've. We want it to function as well. So do. Do those two things ever come, like, are they ever at odds in your projects and how do you resolve that?

[Mallory]

Yeah, I think that those, those two components are top of mind on every decision from the architectural layout down to the, you know, furniture and finishes. I think that's probably where Elizabeth and I shine best as a duo. One of us leans more form over function, the other more function over form. And So I think having those two.

[Elizabeth]

Halves, two halves.

[Mallory]

Pushing against each other, I think will often help us meet the best common ground there. But, yeah, I think having both of those at all times is definitely important.

[Elizabeth]

I don't think we're ever satisfied if something looks beautiful but doesn't function, or if something is functional but hasn't, you know, it doesn't say something.

[Liz]

Well, it's interesting thinking about the function because a lot of your rooms that I noticed have a lot of furniture in them, but they're very beautifully and edited and. And add more function to the space, whether it's creating a little nook in the corner for reading or adding extra stools around for. For multi seating within a space.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Liz]

So how can we. How can we maximize. Or what pieces should we be getting in our homes to help maximize function of our spaces?

[Elizabeth]

I think a little poof. I mean, a small ottoman. A poof. We tell clients all the time, like, if you think, if you've got that holiday. So one of the questions we'll ask is like, you know, how do you want to use this space? Let's say it's a family room or a living room, and maybe they have a family with two kids. But where they keep directing the conversation is that one time a year or two times a year when they have 12 people in their house or 14, and it's hard. We don't ever want you to have to design for something that happens two times a year, per se, but we certainly don't want to omit that wonderful experience. So I think small seating, little things you can tuck under consoles, you know, things that have multiple purposes, I think are great ways to add function when needed, and then also great ways to add color and texture when maybe they're not being used or, you know, don't have a tush in them, so to speak, but are adding color and vibrancy and telling a story when tucked under a console or put in the front hallway or things like that. I think those are great ways to kind of add, you know, function to a space while still, you know, having an aesthetic point of view.

[Caroline]

Taryn, I am going to give you a chance to jump in because we haven't even heard a peep. No.

[Taryn]

Oh, no. I mean, you guys are covering everything. And I. Looking at your projects, you just used so many finishes. And I think that was one of my questions was what are you guys loving recently? Like, what do you guys continue to gravitate towards and what's something that one of you always picks and the other one rolls the eyes because I feel like we all know.

[Elizabeth]

I can think of, like, three. I don't know what her go first on this. We have. We definitely have a couple artists that we. That we genuinely just love their work. And I think we, you know, do interject those. Mallory is a vegan, and she loves this particular Schumacher fabric of hunting dogs. And I cannot. I find it so humorous. It's like, is this the project for the dogs? Is this it?

[Mallory]

For the records, we've never. We've never actually used the dogs.

[Elizabeth]

We haven't.

[Taryn]

We haven't found it out every time.

[Elizabeth]

But if it gets pulled out, is this it? Is today the day?

[Caroline]

It's like, that needs to be in your house every time, Valerie?

[Mallory]

Probably. Probably.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Mallory]

I've tried. Tried and failed there, too. So it might just be out. But I would say, say we're pretty. We're pretty aligned when it comes to, like, the artwork in particular, I'd say we both very much gravitate towards photography. Always looking for new artists that are exciting, but we generally gravitate towards art that makes you think a little bit. We do always say if the room doesn't have something a little ugly, we've probably done it wrong. We don't want a space to feel too precious, so we like something that's, like, a little weird. Like what in there?

[Caroline]

Wait, let's pause on that. What would. What would an example be like?

[Elizabeth]

Go back to ugly. I think it's tension. I think. I think tension. I think if you look at a project we just finished called let's Get Weird, if we look at, like, the living room, maybe there's a lot of really beautiful things in that space, when in isolation, could go a thousand different ways in the hands of other amazing designers. But I think in that space, we knew we had to get a couple things in there that had age and patina. So a lot of the accessories are, you know, antiques, and some of the art is. And it had to have something that was really tactile. So there's some really long hair on high chairs in there. There's a lot of different, like, wood finishes, because that particular client, you know, didn't really want this. They really valued, like, a collection of things, you know, collected items in there. I think in that space, we just. You don't want it to feel too precious, and you don't want it to feel like you've walked on set. You know, that's something we say all the time in the studio. Like, is it too. Is it too perfect? Is it too sort of safe? So I think interjecting, you know, vintage art. Interjecting. There's a nude kind of over the banquette in there. The colors in that room, there's a couple of colors, if in isolation. You looked at it on its own. It kind of had a, like a pea green kind of. Not necessarily a super, you know, vibrant color, but it grounds the space, and it adds just a little bit of tension with some of the laurels and things like that. So I think just always being mindful of, like, you know, do we have something that's clear, that adds, like, a wetness to the room? An acrylic or glass? Do we have something that, you know, do we have a couple of different finishes that coordinate but don't compete? Do we have enough layers in the textiles? It's a delicate. It's a delicate dance, I will say that, of making sure that it is. Has some tension and some energy in it without feeling like it's clashing or.

[Caroline]

I loved the living room so much, and the thing that was so interesting about it was. And this is kind of what you're saying, but, like, if you were to remove those four floral pillows from the sofa, it would look so, I guess, masculine. I mean, a lot of the elements in it are very masculine. And so seeing those pillows on there, they just, like, kind of made the space, which is kind of silly to say about four pillows. But.

[Mallory]

No, you're. You're not wrong on that. That particular fabric we call. We called it our wubby. We both, during the. During the pandemic, apart from each other, and we both had a large sample of it that we kept holding onto, waiting for the right project. And when this one came up, it just. It just felt right. The client, you know, latched onto it, and it does have some of those ugly green colors in it that give it just enough attention, but it. It was definitely the anchor point for us in that room.

[Elizabeth]

And then as you guys were talking about earlier, about, like, you know, having a through line kind of through the spaces? Across the entryway in that house is the dining room, where there's, like, bold colored rug and some really bold art, but then the curtain in that space is that same floral fabric. So, you know, these are two entertaining spaces. It's very important to this family that they have, you know, formal entertaining, and it tied the spaces together. But they feel very different. They feel like their own, that they are connected through.

[Caroline]

I love that. I did not clock that the. The drapes were the Same. But that is so such a good idea.

[Elizabeth]

It worked in this case. It was just so.

[Caroline]

In that dining room, which is very abstract, like the one with the typography, I guess, or the handwriting. I don't know what you would call that.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

What an unexpected combination. But I love that this is such a pretty project.

[Mallory]

I really. I really thank you.

[Caroline]

But this is another one where just seeing the imagery, it's just, like, so vibey. I don't know. I can't come up with another. I need to come up with another word, but I can't find one.

[Mallory]

I like vibey. Vibey word.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah, there's just.

[Caroline]

There's that, you know, sort of. There's like, lots of dark and light, I suppose, in there, which I think helps it feel like. I can imagine at nighttime, when the lights are really dim, it probably feels, like, really warm and cozy and like, cocoon, like. But then on a bright day, it feels light and bright. So that's kind of a. Probably a tricky, like, balance to hit. So that both in daylight it feels great, but also in nighttime, it feels really good, too.

[Mallory]

Well, I think Elizabeth alluded to this earlier, but lighting and layered lighting, I think, is just a core component of any room we do. So you'll often note a mixture of a ceiling fixture, wall sconces, picture lights. We are frequent users of picture lights, lamps, floor lamps, table lamps. I think having lighting coming from different points in the room does allow you to shift that mood as the day continues and not really having any time where you're necessarily dependent on recessed lighting per se.

[Elizabeth]

Probably one of the quickest things anyone can do at home to make their home feel, especially going into the holidays, cozy and special, is just to go get some lamps, you know, turn. Turn the overhead fixtures off and really, like, embrace layered lighting.

[Mallory]

Dimmers, dimmers, dimmers. Warm, warm balls.

[Elizabeth]

I love it when the contractor's like, are we.

[Caroline]

Are we everything on a dimmer?

[Elizabeth]

Dimming. Everything, everything.

[Taryn]

If they question it, that contractor's fired, like, immediately, if you don't know.

[Elizabeth]

Right.

[Caroline]

I know.

[Elizabeth]

I'm not even listening to that question.

[Caroline]

Okay. I also loved the way that you style your spaces. So tell me. And then I saw on one of your. I think it was. Was it one of your, I guess, sort of, like, bios on your website talked about the zhuzh. So tell us about the zhuzh at the end. What are you doing? And is there. Are there any sort of takeaways, tips that our listeners could try on their own to kind of up their game A little bit, for sure.

[Elizabeth]

I think, if you haven't guessed already, which one of us is function and which one of us is form, it's. One of my toxic traits is that I'm a little bit of a procrastinator when it comes to some of the big decisions. I just. I want to. I want so badly for it to be the right choice that sometimes I drag my feet and, you know, sending it down into our kind of production team. But I. It is something I love most about our process that Mallory and I, at the very end of a project, and we're getting ready to do this for a beautiful house, we're finishing in about a month. We kind of wait to do the accessorizing until the very end, and it allows us to really. We've walked to this house, we've been working out for two years. We know it inside and out. We know the furniture is coming, we know what it looks like, but the house starts to get its own kind of soul, and it's coming alive. And if we wait until that point, it forces us also to kind of shop locally. So we really rely on that final level, that final layer to be a lot of vintage pieces, a lot of vintage accessories. You know, a lot of pieces that come with their own patina, kind of bring it to the party. And that sometimes is small side tables that we see, you know, small stools, baskets. You know, there's a. There's a lot of marble ashtrays you can find, which are great, like, just catch alls, whether on a coffee table with matchbooks in them or on an entryway for keys. But it's that final layer at the very end that even after we've styled the whole house, those pieces are the ones that just like, put the cherry on top. And you can go to any flea market, any antique store. You know, it does not have to be expensive stuff. Some of our favorite pieces are, you know, things we bought or maybe $5, and they just. They're perfect and they add that soul at the end, that little bit of dirt.

[Caroline]

I feel like that's not people's go to, like, place to find accessories is a flea market or an antique store. So I love that idea.

[Mallory]

Yeah, it does. It does. There's great stuff, I think, in a. In that final layer, you're not really, you know, often when we're. When we're building. We're building a room, when we're doing the furniture and we're doing the rug sizing and we're doing the drapery, We're. We're designing it, but we're also solving a problem. We need a way to see a certain number of people or be able to see a television or see a view or have a conversation. I think in accessorizing, you're not really solving a problem so much as acquiring pieces that are of interest to you, whether they make sense in that room or not. So they've got a color or texture or shape to them that stands out to you and caught your eye for whatever reason. And in purchasing them, sometimes when we do that final layer and we're going around to antique stores, sometimes we pick something up and think, oh, this would be perfect for such and such. And sometimes it's just we. We have a big haul of things and we bring them on site and we just kind of play with it. So it doesn't always necessarily have to be the perfect piece for a perfect spot. And I do find that sometimes we see clients do this. I am often guilty of it. In my own home. We kind of like laser focus on a certain spot. You know, I've got this console, figured out which lamps I want. I bought the right mirror, but what goes in this one spot? And they're kind of laser focusing to find the right thing, rather than just looking for things that excite them and then playing with where that might make the most sense in their house and then feeling the freedom to actually move it around. I mean, if you want your home to feel fresh over time, I think even just rearranging some of the things you already own is an easy way to do so.

[Elizabeth]

I also think a pair of gardening shears in your car at all times, because every photo shoot. My team knows every photo shoot, it's like, who's coming with trespasses today? You know, well, you can't do it on too much of a median tour. Mallory won't do it. She's way too much of a rule follower. But I'm like, it's the median. It belongs to the city. I love it.

[Taryn]

I was gonna.

[Caroline]

They need to be pruned, Mallory. They need to be pruned.

[Elizabeth]

We should. We should be getting a ton of credit for exactly.

[Mallory]

For a labor pruning.

[Elizabeth]

There is nothing better when you're styling your house than just a beautiful branch of something in a vintage vase.

[Mallory]

It's.

[Elizabeth]

You know, you can. It can look like a million bucks.

[Taryn]

I feel like the branches on the side of the road are always a key element that makes a room. We have discussed that many. Because when you look at imagery there's always something living in a space. And sometimes it's just tree branches. It is there it. And sometimes it's gorgeous florals. But, you know, that isn't, you know, easy enough for everyone. So I do. I love the idea of just shears with you at all times.

[Mallory]

She does.

[Elizabeth]

They're always in my car. I've been a great weapon, too.

[Caroline]

If you are ever in trouble.

[Elizabeth]

Yes. You know, you should come out for.

[Mallory]

Bugs outside before you.

[Elizabeth]

Good.

[Taryn]

Good advice, though.

[Caroline]

Yeah, that's good.

[Taryn]

Key advice. Yes. I wanted to touch on your kitchens just because you have so many beautiful kitchens, and most are actually, I would say, generally white. And I know that we have, you know, there's of course, been a resurgence of colored kitchens, but you have really made these white kitchens stand out and feel profound and different. What can somebody do that, you know, who wants a white kitchen? Because a lot do, but to make it special like you guys do, that's.

[Elizabeth]

So kind of you to say. First and foremost, our team works really hard on kitchens. I think kitchens are, like, my favorite thing to do. Um, I think we're also pro white kitchen. I don't think there's anything wrong. You know, I think people. We have heard a lot of, like, buzzwords about. There's. White is so transformative. There are so many whites, you know, and it can change, and it changes at night, and it changes with lighting, and it changes if you pair it with wood, or it changes if you, you know, just paint it all out white. Um, we actually, we've just finished two. One teal kitchen and one green kitchen that we haven't shared yet. But I think. I think white is transformative. I think a white paint at night can look glowy. I think make sure you have the right white for what you are trying to achieve. And that goes back to kind of your. Your project DNA and, you know, how you want to live and how you want your space to feel. If it's more modern, you know, maybe pick a clean white, like a, you know, there's pure white is a white we use a lot in a cleaner space. But if you want. If you're trying to add some warmth and age to your home. I think one of our new favorite whites we've been using a lot is by Farrow and Ball, and it's called Wimborne White. And it's just the most beautiful milky white. And at night, it glows.

[Mallory]

It's just.

[Elizabeth]

I think the right white is the key to it not feeling boring or like anybody else's I think something else.

[Mallory]

We think about in kitchens in particular, well, any room, really. It's just, what is. What's the star in the room? If we always say if, you know, if everything's the star, nothing's the star. So we've gone with a stone that really has a point of view. Cabinets probably don't also need to shine in the same way. So sometimes having just kind of a good clean white or warm white, that just does its job. It's not yelling, look at me, look at me is a good thing. You know, whether. Whether it's the stone that's the star or the range or some lighting kind of where your eyes supposed to go. And then on top of that, I would just say, you know, I think trying to be timeless, interesting, but timeless in our designs is always forefront of our minds, but particularly in spaces where you are building in cabinetry. So kitchens, primary baths, area, that areas that are a big investment in your construction process, I would say we tend to skew more towards something that will have longevity. We don't want people ripping out kitchens in five, even 10 years. They should certainly go past sort of the trend of the moment and feel like something that represents the family, hearkens to the architectural style of the house, and can really grow with their family.

[Liz]

Okay, so I've been seeing a lot of really textural bold marbles, and I know that you've used some in some of your projects. What is the right place for those? Is it the kitchen? Is it an island? Only, like, where do we want to make that statement with marble?

[Elizabeth]

I'm so first. I'm so glad, too, that I think people are becoming a little more daring in letting stone speak to them and kind of not just going for the same thing that, you know, everyone's picking. Everyone's kitchen kind of looks the same. I think we're really fortunate that right now, whether it's clients in Florida, we have Texas. Here in the Midwest, the stone availability is so broad. There are so many amazing options in natural stone. And Mallory and I, the whole studio, we're very much a pro. Natural stone, you know, studio. But I don't. I think. I think statement marble can really go anywhere. I think it's great if you don't want to commit to the kitchen, it's a huge investment. If you're conscientious of, whether it's a budget, everyone's got a budget. If it's a price point thing or it's something you want to make sure you love it forever, I think A coffee table, side tables, you can have some amazing. Get that marble moment in. Something that's a bit smaller in scale but still comes to the party and brings its own energy. But I also think there are ways, there are beautiful ways to make a very bold stone feel more traditional. You know, we always tell clients like, these stones are not new. They've been around in Europe forever. You know, these, they're just. We're looking at them with fresh eyes now. So it's, it's just beautiful stone. So long as you love it and it speaks to you, I think, you know, we're, we're thrilled to design around it.

[Mallory]

Stone is maybe more so than even any other selection in the, in the build process. An area where we are looking for the client to have a bit of a love match. They're, you know, they're seeing something and really falling in love with it. And because it is, it's a surface they not only see every day, but they interact with too, so wanting to make sure that they truly love it. We are often dropping anchor on stone before we're doing any other development in stone heavy areas like kitchens, because that will kind of dictate the rest of the design. Sort of around that area.

[Caroline]

Do you go to the, like, stone yard?

[Mallory]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

But do you go with something in mind or do you like, with the client to just let them fall in love, or are they kind of going in thinking like, oh, I want white marble, and then finding a white marble they like?

[Elizabeth]

I think it's, it's kind of 50. 50. I think sometimes at this point, if we're going to the stone yard, we've had several meetings. Like, Mallory and I have our guesses, you know, of like, where I think the house is going. But we really do tell the client before we go out into the stone yard, like, you are going to see things today that you absolutely hate. And that's great. And we need to know that. And we, you know, you don't have to know why you don't like it, but let's talk through what you don't like. And then you might find stone. And almost always happens that you find something that. And it often surprises them, and it, it often surprises them, but I can't even really think of a time that we haven't had that kind of love match connection that when you see it, you know, and we just hope it's not on hold for someone else, that's. The dance that we are typically doing is sort of this.

[Caroline]

That is so interesting. I don't think anyone has ever told us that before, that they design. They pick the countertop first, or at least, like, very early, and then really design around that. But that is a great, great tip. You can't necessarily guarantee what you're able to get, so you may as well pick that first instead of trying to shoehorn in something. Yeah, that maybe doesn't go with everything else you've picked.

[Elizabeth]

True. Also, it protects the client, too, because I think if we walk in and someone falls in love with a Calcutta Gold or a Crema or whatever it is, and for some reason, you know, because what we always, you know, will say is that natural stone is like a loaf of bread.

[Caroline]

Right.

[Elizabeth]

So it's different slices of one loaf, but there are lots of different loaves with different, you know, striping and coloration and patterning. But if they fall in love with a specific lot of stone and it's not available to them, picking that first allows our team time in the build process to find other bundles that do work for them, because it's one of the biggest, you know, budget items in terms of investment. So we want to make sure that if you fell in love with that stone, if you can have it, fantastic. If you can't, we've got time to find something just as wonderful for you and bring it in.

[Taryn]

I didn't do it that way. Kind of jealous.

[Elizabeth]

I didn't do it that way for my. Either. 10 years ago, right now. Okay. That's right.

[Taryn]

So some lucky listeners, like, you know what? I hadn't thought of that. They're gonna win.

[Elizabeth]

Don't. Don't do as I do. Do as I said.

[Caroline]

Are there any. Are there any things that you think every room needs art?

[Mallory]

I think every. Every room should have art.

[Elizabeth]

Art for sure. I think that's one of the things we love doing most are kids rooms, kids spaces. And we get a lot of questions about the kids rooms. And I think the biggest differentiator is thinking of children's rooms as places that really inform who they are and shape who they are. I don't think all kids rooms have to be kind of dumbed down to a kid's space. I mean, we put real art in, gosh, almost all the rooms that we do. And I think it elevates the space and gives it a playfulness. But also, I think we really love to think of these spaces for children as really shaping who they are at a young age. It's a privilege for us to get to do kids rooms. And it's. It's one of the spaces, I think we have the most fun. I think we really shine at it because most people are, you know, do things for their kids that they wouldn't necessarily do for themselves in terms of color. So that's one of the best things you can do, is really go for it in kids rooms with art.

[Taryn]

You have had so much fun with your color combos in kids rooms. This like, I mean, the chartreuse and like soft, like blue. And then you had the mauve in one of the bedrooms with the, like, rug that was a tia beta teal mint. Anyway, it was so good.

[Elizabeth]

Two of those kids rooms are siblings too. So it's funny to see, like, they really wanted their kids. A lot of the. A lot of the rooms are siblings, but they. It's funny how our clients will come to us with very clear understanding of who their children are and, you know, what they want it to be. You know, we had one client where the baby was clearly mid century. They told us they were just like, he's mid century.

[Mallory]

Where did they come from?

[Taryn]

But I think when you had.

[Elizabeth]

They had three kids and they're the most amazing clients. They wanted to do their kids rooms before they did anything else on the rest of the house. And they had one daughter who was very creative. So we really leaned into, like, color and gave her a custom, you know, art desk and really cool llama art. And then their oldest boy was a bit more of maybe a thinker, kind of the bringer together. So his room has a sofa that kind of all the kids can come in. And his room leans a little bit more traditional. And then the baby's mid century, so the baby tells you that.

[Taryn]

Is that the room with the dinosaurs and the mid century?

[Mallory]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

Yeah. That is so fun. All your. All your kids spaces are truly, really creative and beautiful and colorful. So I definitely recommend that the bathroom you have in your kids section with the. You guys have to see this. It is this dark, gorgeous green tile, white grout. You have chartreuse towel. Like the gold, like, the colors are just so chef's kiss against that wallpaper that's outside of it.

[Elizabeth]

Okay.

[Liz]

But let's talk about how it's styled out though, because I love the way that you style your kids rooms.

[Elizabeth]

Are you going to talk about the toilet?

[Liz]

Because it's realistic. The toilet paper is like rolling onto the floor. There's toothpaste, like, squeezed on the countertop.

[Mallory]

So I don't think we've ever had really online. Over, over, over. Oh, my God, I love that unrolled toilet paper. People have strong.

[Elizabeth]

People have strong.

[Mallory]

That's hilarious.

[Elizabeth]

That was a. That was a little boy's room and I have a little boy. And when we were styling it, our photographer is one of our great partners in our business. And I was like, I think we should just go for it.

[Taryn]

I don't see on the floor with beautiful tutorials.

[Elizabeth]

I mean, it took me like a couple tries.

[Liz]

Oh, no, it's perfectly done.

[Taryn]

I still have two I can give add one more element that you guys were very classy about. So I appreciate the toothpaste and the toilet paper.

[Elizabeth]

Well, girl, that's why the walls are child rage, right? I mean, there have been a lot of times that we're talking about function like, well, wipable. It's a beautiful space.

[Caroline]

We have a question from Lauren. She says, my husband and I bought our first house last year and I have had so much fun decorating it and incorporating ideas from the podcast. Thanks, Lauren. That's so nice. When you first walk into our house, our office library is on the left and formal dining on the right. We decorated the office and painted it the slate tile color I'm obsessed with. I have finishing touches like wall art to do in the office and I think I want to reorient the desks. But the thing that is really stumping me in is rugs in both the office and the nearby dining room. I bought these cheap white ones just to cover the floor temporarily about a year ago. But I'm now on the hunt for replacements. I'm not sure color wise what might look good. I was looking at the Ballard Catherine rug and I'm curious on your opinion on that also. And the biggest question I have is in a space like this, should all the rugs be the same or just coordinate? So depending on the rug, would I need to replace that front door runner? Please excuse my Halloween decor prep. Thank you. All right, so she has sent us some pictures. Of course. We've got the dark sort of slate blue office of hers. And then there's.

[Mallory]

Yes, great color, Lolly.

[Elizabeth]

Pretty.

[Caroline]

It is a pretty color.

[Elizabeth]

Great job. Yeah, good job.

[Caroline]

Photograph like a gray blue. So I'm impressed that it photographs so nicely, for sure. And then in her dining room, which is across the entryway from this slate blue office, is sort of a taupey wall with a wood table, white Parsons chairs, and she's got these sort of white rugs underneath. So, Mallory and Elizabeth, what do you think?

[Elizabeth]

First shout out to our, like one of our all time favorite rugs from Ballard which is the dory sisal rug.

[Caroline]

It's a good one.

[Elizabeth]

Yep. That rug is subtle. I have it in my dining room. It has a subtle patterning, but I think it has a lot of visual interest. It has this kind of rave or something. I don't know. Conch? Yeah.

[Liz]

Kind of like a mermaid tail.

[Elizabeth]

Mermaid tail is a great way to describe it. Mermaid tail that gives a lot of texture while still remaining neutral. That is like our go to.

[Mallory]

And it's relatively soft sisal, in my opinion. It's not. It's not quite as.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. It's not like glassy. Yeah. Not like walking on broken glass that sometimes sisal can do. Um, so that, number one, is like our all time gold standard rug in any space. And I think when Mallory and I were kind of looking through your question, Lauren, I think something to think about in spaces that speak to each other visually, where you have the same line of sight through, is maybe considering anchoring your office in your dining room with something like the dory sisal rug, but in the right size. So make sure you get that scale right. You want to make sure that all the furniture is kind of touching the island or is on the island. It'll make your space feel so much bigger. But then if you wanted to have a statement runner or something that kind of unifies the colors between the two spaces, if you wanted to kind of blend those, I think something like the patterning and color in the Catherine is beautiful, but maybe letting that entryway piece sort of have the color of its own, I think that's a really nice welcoming spot, too. And then using two more, I don't want to say basic, but really grounding rugs in the dining room, textural versus heavily office. Well, yeah, textural versus patterned will, I think, make the spaces feel larger and also make them feel, like, really well counterpointed. And then you can let your textiles and your window treatments, your artwork, you know, your pillows, all of those other things that can seasonally change, kind of bring the personality to the two rooms, but let that runner in the middle sort of be the unifier of the palettes. But give yourself a really great base layer that no matter the season, it's going to look, you know, tipped and tied is sort of what we always say, very tailored.

[Caroline]

Yeah. It also comes in a lot of sizes, so that's nice because I think it goes up all the way to, like, 12 by 18, so you can get it to really fit your space, which is nice.

[Elizabeth]

And it's beautiful in person. It really does have the most interesting pattern on it.

[Caroline]

Is there anything else you would do in either of her spaces?

[Mallory]

Well, I'm mostly intrigued by these windows. As best I can tell, she's got big, beautiful windows in both spaces. And I think it looks like. It looks like she's already created that through line by using maybe the same drapery in both spaces. And I think that that's a great add on. I think her inclination to consider reorienting the desks, we would support that. I think these bookshelves, and I don't know if these were added to the house or in the house when she moved in, but I think those are amazing statement when you walk in the front door. So making sure that that is seen as kind of the star of the room, the focal point of the room. And it looks like she's got an incredible collection of books and accessories to work with. So something we often like to do on bookshelves like that is rather than just having our books vertically, considering really beautiful tailored stacks of them horizontally as well. And there's a project on our site Eurostar that has a library in it where it's purely stacked horizontally. And I think something like that could be really incredibly done on these shelves here. But the fact that she already owns the like amazing size scaled pieces I think is. Is fantastic. We often see again with bookshelves, we see people underscaling the things on them. And it looks like the things she has are already of a good scale, which is awes.

[Elizabeth]

And when she's thinking about moving your desks around, I'm curious in that office that's off of your entry, you know, thinking about creating zones when you kind of are looking into the space. I don't know if the two desks could fit kind of close to the window on opposite walls. And then the seating area could kind of come and be part of the bookcase. So you kind of, when you walk into the house, the desks, because we've all got like, you know, bills and things on our desks are kind of tucked towards the front. You have to enter the space to kind of see it. But when you walk in across from your dining room, you have maybe what appears to be like a beautiful lounge. You have a cocktail in there, you could read a book, you could get a nice, you know, coffee table kind of or ottoman to kick your feet up on. You've created another entertaining space while not losing, you know, the functionality that we all need. Like a mock.

[Caroline]

I think that is such a good idea. Yes. It almost Is like, hiding the desk a little bit. Just. It's not, like, right in your. You know, it's not like the first thing you're gonna see if you put those leather chairs in front of the bookcase or at least on that side of the room, and then you'd have to, like, turn around to see the desk. Yeah. That is so smart.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah. Especially during the holidays, you know.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth]

People are coming in.

[Taryn]

That is the bummer for me of, like, a clean. You have to have a clean office because.

[Mallory]

Yeah, right.

[Taryn]

People are going to see this. I say this as I hoard in the back corner of my house like a little pack rat, but I thank you.

[Elizabeth]

You're not enough.

[Taryn]

The only thing I definitely wanted to, you know, tell this listener is that she needs some office lighting. And I was going to also recommend we have some great bookshelf lights, too, that we sell that.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Mallory]

So.

[Elizabeth]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

Anyway, the lighting, I think it. And it might be she just had the overhead light on for the photo. But if you only have overhead light, girl, treat yourself to, like, you know, tons of lighting in there.

[Elizabeth]

Totally.

[Mallory]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Or some of those little. Taryn, you just bought some of these.

[Elizabeth]

And I have some, too.

[Caroline]

Those little LED ones that are, like, under 18 inches that they're trying to have those on all the time, but at least if someone's coming over, you could just, like, pop them on and then.

[Mallory]

Totally.

[Elizabeth]

Well, you guys. You guys also have that amazing ivy.

[Mallory]

Yes. Yeah.

[Caroline]

Yeah, that's what.

[Taryn]

Yeah, that was the one I brought up.

[Elizabeth]

It's so.

[Liz]

That's the bookshelf lamp, which is so.

[Elizabeth]

Amazing, because with those bookcases, if you put those leather chairs over there and get yourself an ottoman and a stone side table, you're getting a little acrylic something for a little something wet and kind of shiny. And then put some of those with a patterned lamp shape. Good night. That would be so cute. And those are. Those are genius. That product is genius because you can get a sconce without feeling like you have the hardware for it. Those are amazing.

[Liz]

Right? And they double as a bookend.

[Elizabeth]

They're just great. Genius. I should actually. I need those from my son's room.

[Caroline]

I've been wanting to put one right here. I just haven't pulled it yet.

[Elizabeth]

Do it.

[Caroline]

It's coming. Oh, my gosh. Thank you all so much. This was. What a delightful afternoon. I am. This was so fun.

[Mallory]

Thank you, guys. You guys.

[Taryn]

You guys are both beautiful, and your work's beautiful, and we just appreciate your banter.

[Elizabeth]

And that's so kind of you guys. What a way to end a Friday, right?

[Caroline]

Exactly. Will you tell everyone where they can find you and follow you?

[Mallory]

Yes, you can find us@kobe co.com and then you can follow us on Instagram cobleandco k o b e l a n d co Amazing.

[Caroline]

What is our handle?

[Mallory]

You can find us.

[Taryn]

Yeah. You don't have to give personal addresses.

[Mallory]

No, no home.

[Caroline]

Actually, I think someone did once give their phone number and it was hilarious.

[Mallory]

You don't have to give us your.

[Caroline]

Personal cell number and that's our show. You can find all of the show notes on our blog.

[Taryn]

How2decorate.com podcast to send in a decorating dilemma. Email your questions to podcast ballard designs.net so we can help you with your space.

[Caroline]

And of course, be sure to follow us on social media at Ballard Designs.

[Liz]

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.

[Caroline]

Until next time, happy decorating.