Ep. 397: Slow Design with Gabriella Eisenhart

Summary

Podcast Summary: How to Decorate – Ep. 397: Slow Design with Gabriella Eisenhart

Release Date: January 21, 2025

Introduction to Guest: Gabriella Eisenhart

In this episode of How to Decorate, hosts Caroline and Liz from Ballard Designs are joined by Gabriella Eisenhart, the visionary founder of Silo Studios, an award-winning interior design firm based in Atlanta. Gabriella brings over 12 years of experience in residential design, blending traditional elements with modern aesthetics to create spaces that tell her clients' personal stories.

Gabriella's Background and Evolution

Gabriella shares her journey into interior design, noting her Italian heritage and upbringing in her family's restaurant business in Atlanta. She initially pursued fine arts and transitioned into interior design after having her second son. In 2012, she launched her own company, originally focused on residential furnishings, which later evolved into a design and renovation powerhouse.

"I jumped in head first because I wanted to learn along the way. It started easy, but soon we were gutting entire houses, and it was a tremendous learning experience." [02:09]

Philosophy of Slow Design

Central to Gabriella's approach is the philosophy of "slow design," which emphasizes thoughtfully curating a home over time rather than furnishing it all at once. She advocates for quality over quantity, encouraging homeowners to invest in pieces that hold meaning and will last for generations.

"It's all about the collection and the curation of everything. We don't want to fast furnish these homes with pieces that don't matter." [08:20]

Implementing Slow Design with Clients

Gabriella discusses how she integrates slow design into her projects by prioritizing essential furniture first, such as beds and sofas, before introducing custom and artisanal pieces. She emphasizes setting realistic timelines and managing client expectations to ensure a cohesive and enduring design.

"Within three months, we can start placing key pieces, and for custom items, it might take six to nine months. It depends on whether it's a single room or the entire house." [11:12]

The Role of Art in Design

With a background in art, Gabriella highlights the significance of incorporating meaningful artwork into home design. She conducts "art tests" with clients to determine their preferences and often collaborates with local artists to create bespoke pieces that enhance the narrative of the space.

"The hardest part of my job is finding the right match for art. We partner with local artists for commissions, allowing clients to have a special piece uniquely theirs." [17:27]

Gabriella's Portfolio Highlights

Gabriella shares standout projects, including a Buckhead condo featuring a harmonious blend of monochromatic tones with vibrant accents like mustard and velvet chairs, anchored by a bespoke Marilyn Monroe painting by local artist Steve Penley.

"We designed the room around Steve's painting, and he customized the colors to complement the space perfectly. It was a seamless integration of art and design." [21:27]

Another notable project is the renovation of her family's restaurant, Nino's, where Gabriella revamped the bar area with blue and white tiles inspired by the Amalfi Coast, creating a coastal Italian ambiance that honors her father's heritage.

"We tiled the entire bar and back bar in blue and white, echoing the Amalfi Coast vibe. It was a tight budget, but we achieved a stunning, cohesive look." [33:37]

Designing Her Own Home

Gabriella offers a tour of her own home in Atlanta's Candler Park, showcasing a unique blend of traditional Tudor exterior with Mediterranean-inspired interiors. She highlights specific design elements like a custom curved kitchen hood and a monochromatic living room that seamlessly integrate functionality with aesthetic appeal.

"The curved tiled hood in my kitchen was inspired by a pizza oven at our family restaurant. It adds both functionality and a beautiful design element to the space." [28:13]

Designing Children's Rooms

Addressing the challenge of designing spaces for growing children, Gabriella emphasizes creating adaptable and timeless rooms. She invests in quality furniture, like sturdy beds, and incorporates flexible design elements that can evolve with her children's changing tastes and needs.

"When designing kids' rooms, I create a warm canvas with durable pieces they can grow into. This allows the space to adapt as they grow, ensuring longevity and continued functionality." [38:11]

Listener's Decorating Dilemma and Advice

The episode concludes with Gabriella addressing a listener’s decorating dilemma about balancing color schemes in a New York City rental apartment. Julia, the listener, seeks advice on whether to wallpaper specific areas to harmonize her entryway and kitchen without making the space feel too busy.

"I suggest either continuing the warm grass cloth into the designated area or utilizing the proposed floral pattern to bridge the two spaces. However, avoid applying the floral on the beam to maintain visual cohesion." [43:33]

Conclusion and Follow Gabriella

Gabriella concludes by inviting listeners to explore her work further through her Instagram (@silostudiodesign) and website (silostudios.com). She also mentions a home tour available on YouTube, providing a deeper insight into her design process and portfolio.

"To see the curved hood and more of my projects, visit my website or check out the home tour on YouTube by searching Gabriella Eisenhart." [48:24]

Final Thoughts

This episode offers valuable insights into the thoughtful approach of slow design, emphasizing meaningful choices and enduring quality in home decoration. Gabriella Eisenhart's expertise and personal experiences provide listeners with practical advice and inspiration for creating spaces that truly feel like home.

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Notable Quotes:

• "It's all about the collection and the curation of everything." — Gabriella Eisenhart [08:20]

• "We don't want to fast furnish these homes with pieces that don't matter." — Gabriella Eisenhart [08:20]

• "The hardest part of my job is finding the right match for art." — Gabriella Eisenhart [17:27]

• "I love antiquing. It's my meditation." — Gabriella Eisenhart [06:37]

• "Grass cloth warms up a space so much." — Gabriella Eisenhart [43:33]

Where to Follow Gabriella Eisenhart:

• Instagram: @silostudiodesign
• Website: silostudios.com
• YouTube Home Tour: Search for "Gabriella Eisenhart Home Tour" on YouTube

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For more insights and decorating tips, visit howtodecorate.com and subscribe to the How to Decorate podcast on your preferred streaming platform.

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

[Liz]

I'm Liz. I head up 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. 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.

[Caroline]

On with the show.

[Liz]

All right. This week, we're thrilled to welcome Gabriela Eisenhart to the show. Gabriela is a visionary founder of Silo Studios, an award winning interior design firm based here in Atlanta. With a background that spans with both arts and interior design, Gabriela has spent over 12 years partnering with homeowners nationwide to create spaces that reflect not only their personal stories, but who also foster connections and comfort. Her style, often described as timeless with a twist of the unexpected, masterfully marries traditional elements with modern design to bring her spaces to life. Silo Studios is renowned for its sophisticated yet edgy creations, having been featured in Architectural Digest and House Beautiful. Today, Gabriela will share her insights into slow design, a philosophy that emphasizes curating a home, furniture and decor thoughtfully over time rather than all at once. We can't wait to explore her ideas on how to create a home that evolves with your unique journey. Gabriela, welcome.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Thank you for having me. I know, I'm excited to be here.

[Caroline]

It's so fun to have you in studio.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I know. It's nice to be in studio.

[Caroline]

Yes. On this rainy, gross day.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I know it's kind of. But you don't in here, you don't feel it.

[Caroline]

No one can tell.

[Liz]

This p wallpaper does a wonderful things.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

It really does. I know. It's fun.

[Liz]

Well, let's get started. Tell us a little bit about your background in interior design.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Okay, let's see. Let's take a little bit of a journey here.

[Caroline]

You're from Atlanta.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I'm from Atlanta. Lived here my whole life. My. My father's from Italy and he has an old Italian restaurant here in Atlanta. So I grew up in that business. So I grew up in a family owned business, so there's just that innate hustle in me. Went to school for fine arts and didn't fall into interior design until after having my second son. So I've had my company about 12 years ago and it just felt like the right fit. And it has been, you know, here we are. So they started my company in 2012, mainly focused on residential design and mainly focused on furnishings. And that evolved and now we're very, very heavy construction, renovation based design firm. We do a lot, a lot, a lot of renovations, which I've grown to love. And yeah, it's been fun. It's been great.

[Liz]

So how did that evolution happen? Did you just start doing people's homes? Did you do your own home?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, so I did. I did my own home. I know we were talking before. I'm from Atlanta and we had bought a home in Candler Park.

[Caroline]

Right.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Right after. My boys are like Irish twins. They're a year and a half apart. So I was like, nah, I guess I'm not taxed enough. Let's start a business. And I was young, so I had the energy. So I started the business and I did. People were, you know, I had done my home and then people were organically asking and that's sort of where the idea came from. And I'm kind of a dive in head first kind of person. Yeah. So I was like, not know what you're getting into. Learn along the way. And, you know, and we started easy, but then, you know, it was like, yeah, sure, we'll gut this whole house and it's gonna go great. And it did. I have a great team now. I have great builders and contractors that we work with all the time. And I really learned throughout the process and learned by making, you know, my own mistakes.

[Liz]

Yeah, it's just the best way to learn.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, it is great. And so, you know, here we are. I partnered with someone on the west coast for like seven years, and my company was here and in Los Angeles. And that was a great learning journey just to kind of see how the west coast did things. And I learned a lot from that. And I gathered a lot of knowledge and design inspiration from that. And then, you know, I needed to pivot and do something different. So almost three years ago now, I rebranded into Silo Studios, which is named after my boys, Silas and Oscar. And we're mainly focused out of Atlanta, but we work all over.

[Liz]

Oh, that's awesome.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

And so what made you decide to name it after your boys?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Good question. Because we were just talking about this before we started record. They're at a great age now. They're early teens. I just, you know, I was. Because when I started my company, it was Gabriella Eisenhart. Interiors. And I don't know. I just. Because I kind of. I'm like, was that the right decision? But I do. I just. I love my boys, and I. And I thought it was catchy. And it works. It works. And they feel like they have a little bit of a piece of all the madness, too. Oh, that's awesome. Yeah. Even though they make fun of me, but it's okay. I'm sure they're proud of me deep down, you know?

[Liz]

They are.

[Caroline]

Oh, they very much. I'm sure also that just kind of growing up, watching what you do, because they were obviously very young when you started this too.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I mean, it's been their whole lives.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Right.

[Caroline]

So do they appreciate it?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You know, it is interesting because they might think, you know, people who observe how we live in our home, I'm a little nutty. Like, I like things a certain way. Right.

[Caroline]

No.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

With the territory. But it's. For me, it's all about the feeling of home. And if things are a certain way, I know that I'm more productive and I feel better. And that's been passed on to them. I can see them, like, if things are out of place or they. It doesn't feel right. You know, they. They get. They're unhappy. So I'm like, okay, well, that's. You know, it's. It's positive to me. Yeah.

[Caroline]

Yeah, let's clean it up.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

They'll come home and they'll be like, mom, so and so's house was so, you know, messy or cluttered or. It didn't feel great, you know?

[Caroline]

Yeah. So they can feel it out.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

They feel. Yeah, they feel it out. So it's.

[Caroline]

Now, do they, like, antiquing or anything? I'm just wondering with all.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

It's so funny because I love antiquing. Like, that's my meditation.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

It's like, just lock me in an antique store anytime we go out of town, you know, they're always like, mama's gonna want to go on the back roads and find an antique store. They do like it, but they're, like, looking for, like, baseball cards or something different, but they do like it. My husband even likes it, too. So it works.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. Oh, that's good. I could spend hours doing it.

[Caroline]

That's funny. Yeah.

[Liz]

So how has your design evolved from when you first started and doing your own home and into things that you're doing now? You're doing a lot more construction, but, like, what is. What does it mean to decorate a home to you?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Good question. So, I mean, my Style is, I think I have a style that I'm drawn to, but for me, it's all about a feeling, a home, all about how you feel in it, how you operate in it. My style is a little bit more on the minimal side. I love to like, layer textures and materials in a monochromatic way. I think, I think for me that's calming and that's why I'm drawn to it. But, and I infuse that a lot in my work. But also it's so important to me for the homes I work on, for it to tell the story of my clients, you know, and that takes us a little bit into probably slow design. What we're going to get into, talking about and collecting and, and making sure you have pieces that mean something to you. You know, we don't want to fast, fast furnish these homes with pieces that don't matter. You know, I, I, it's all about the collection of everything and the curation of everything.

[Liz]

So how do we get started?

[Caroline]

I was going to say, yeah, let's dive into this, this.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Oh yeah, I kind of jumped into it because I know it's perfect.

[Liz]

Because, you know, you do move into a new space or you build a new space and you're like, I want to already just get to that point.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I want to get to that point.

[Liz]

Where this is home.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

It's a learning process too, because there's a lot of times where, you know, in the business that I'm in, like, you want to deliver and you want your clients to have that feeling of home asap. And I, I try to make that happen, but now I'm trying to be a little bit more careful about, you know, like, hey, okay, we got to sleep in a bed, we got to sit on a couch. Like those things need to happen. So. But let's organize this project, project in a way that we're not rushing through it. Let's get those custom made pieces, you know, let's contract out the local artisan for your cabinet work or, you know, some of your furniture. Because these pieces are going to last you forever. You're going to pass them down. It's going to become like a generational piece. And it's all about the mix, right? We can't like have a custom item for everything. But I'm trying to deliver that message. And it's per wasteful generation. You know, it's all about like, I want it right now, you know, like back to my children. They don't even understand that, like, you can't get things they think everything is Amazon and comes overnight. Right, right, right.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

We need a backtrack. I tell my clients it's about, like, think about the capsule wardrobe. We all understand that we're trying to create like our, our capsule wardrobe, especially as women. Well, let's create like the capsule home and take time on those pieces that mean something to us, you know?

[Liz]

Yeah. Going more quality, quality over quantity, and.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Take your time with it. You know, a lot of times when we're going through the design process with clients, it's, you know, we're, they're, they're hiring us for the expertise of, you know, what custom sofas are we getting and all of that. But when it comes to art or things that are more personal, like that's where things we might not always agree. And that's where I tell my clients, like travel, go pick things up that you can create a memory with and we can install these over time. I love going into my clients homes and them saying, hey, you, you know, they open up a closet, here's all these pieces, and this is what they mean to me. And I have no idea what to do with them. But then it, it makes my job fun because their home's going to truly tell their story with all of those pieces and we'll, we'll find a way to make it work.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

How long do you should one expect, even with this kind of philosophy, how long should it take to finish your home? Quote unquote. And I know finishes, you know.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. I mean, are we gutting it? You know, are we just furnishing it?

[Caroline]

Let's say just furnishing to do just a smaller.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. You know, just to set expectations. Because it is to set expectations. Like if, if someone were to sign on with me right now, I would say with. To go through our design process and everything, like within three months, we can be getting some key pieces in there. But when we're like looking a little bit into some of those more custom items, give it six to nine months, you know. But again, like, it depends. Is it one room, Is it the whole house? But I think that three to nine month mark is fair. And I always, you know, try to get my clients to be open to sourcing some vintage items as well. You know, not everything, but just pieces.

[Liz]

So going back to like, you get, you know, you need a bed, you know, you need a sofa. You have those core items in mind. You get those core items. Do you have the other pieces in mind or is it kind of a more organic process? Of allowing your clients to live in the space with some of the core pieces and then let it evolve. Let it evolve.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Now, that's a really good question. I feel like I wouldn't be doing my job if I did it that way because they're not hiring me as a consultant. So, no, we are presenting like a full picture design. Okay. And usually all of those items are procured at that point. So I'm knowing, okay, hey, we might be going here for this artisan to have this made. We might be buying this, you know, as a prefab situation. So we're going to have a good idea of that picture during the design phase, but some things are just going to take longer to come to fruition.

[Liz]

I would think that that also leaves a lot of room for curveballs from your clients.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. Well. And what if. If I were to do it the first way you explained, right. Oh, for sure. Like, you got to manage the process, but like.

[Liz]

But just the amount of time, like, they could throw a curveball and then be like, you know what? I know we were going to get that, you know, lime green ottoman over there that was custom made, but, you know, maybe we want to.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I saw this other thing, like, yeah, we have to.

[Liz]

You crash that.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. Because then it becomes a circus. So I do present the big picture. So I, as the expert, I'm going. This is what I think is best. Of course, we. I love the collaboration of working with my clients, and that's incredibly important. So, you know, we go through edits, but then they have to have. They're hiring a design firm so they can have the full picture of the space because they can't figure it out them. Right. So we're making sure to present that full picture. Yeah. Up front. It's important.

[Caroline]

How do you suggest that clients kind of temper their feelings against the urge to make it so instant?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I. That's a good question. Yeah. Meditation. I don't. I don't usually get into that with my clients, but. But I think I've had to learn. It's really because they're looking at me as the leader in all of. All of this. It's really how my delivery on the process and I've noticed and I get calls all the time. I mean, I'll get calls two weeks ago, like, I just moved into my house. I want it furnished by Christmas. And I'm like, well, yeah, definitely not going to happen. But it's setting that expectation up front. And I think now that I do that more and I explain, you know, like, let's get these quality pieces that are going to last you. You know, you might spend a little bit more money on them, but you're in the long term going to save money because you're not chasing a trend or chasing, you know, some. Some quickly manufactured item that is not made with, you know, good quality materials. And then, you know, they usually, they usually drink that Kool Aid and they're good with it and then they calm down and they're. They're okay with waiting. I think Covid helped a bit with that too, because lead times got so long, so it reconditioned people to be a little bit more patient, you know, with, with their items.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

So say I already have a room that's kind of half finished, so it's not the full process. Can I still take on the same philosophy of the slow design?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Absolutely, Absolutely. You can. You know, if you're doing it for your own home, or I even do that for my own home. Like techn. Technically, my home is finished. Right. But no, it's never finished.

[Liz]

Right.

[Caroline]

Fair.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

It's never finished. I'm always looking for that next piece that makes my heart sing and makes me happy to just walk into the room or, you know, layering on another layer of wallpaper or, you know, there's so many layers and additions to a home and I feel like it. You know, of course, when I finish a project, that home is technically done. But if you're someone like me or maybe like you, who loves a project in your home, it never has to be done.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You can just keep it. That's the fun in it.

[Liz]

There's always a new project.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

It's your canvas.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

What percentage of clients are more like, I want you to set it and then it's done. Versus, like the growth.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

It's a good 50. 50.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You know, I think, you know, there's such a financial commitment to working with a designer that I feel like a lot of the people, a lot of people just want it done because they don't, you know, want the expense of it.

[Caroline]

But they've paid for your expertise. They're like, you did it. I can't do it better. So we're done. Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

But there's a lot of clients that are also like, you know what, let's hold on this. I need a breather. I need to see it come together. And I appreciate that. It's like, let's let the room come together. Art is hard. We can find art over the next year. Or you can find art when you're traveling, you know, something that means something to you as opposed to something that means something to me.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Now, because your art background, do you have any, like, tips or tricks on helping with clients with art or, like, again, people. Any. Yeah, anyone helping to finish out spaces? Art.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Well, we do an art test because I have to kind of figure out.

[Liz]

You know, okay, tell me more.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I mean. I mean, it's nothing too deep, but I try to gather, you know, art. Do we. Are we more modern? Do we want, for photography what means to you? Or do you want landscape or do you want abstract? And then we're getting into colors. You know, I had a client recently who came to me because they wanted very. That, like, organic, modern, layered textures, calm home. So, you know. Yep, I can do that. No problem. And then when we were going through presentations, they wanted a beach landscape with really bright colors. And I was like, okay, curveball. Okay. I was like, that's curveball. I respect that this means something to you. Let's find a space for it that makes sense. But it's hard. I don't really have even. We do these art tests with our clients, and that's the hardest part of my job is finding the right match. We try to partner with different artists, local artists, from time to time for people who are willing to do a commission, because that's always a really great process for the clients. They can have such a say in it and, you know, have something special created for them.

[Liz]

Yeah, that's always really special because then you've got a piece that no one else has.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

No.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And maybe a colorway that no one else has.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Exactly.

[Liz]

Really special to you.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I had a client last year, though. We didn't. She. She. She was a private. She's very private. So she didn't let us photograph her home, which is sad because she had the most amazing art collection. And it was so refreshing to. We came into her home and we designed around the art, like it inspired us, and so that's always nice. When.

[Caroline]

When was it one of the easiest jobs, in a way, because.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yes, because the art told us what to do. It's like, okay, we. This is a really cool art collection.

[Caroline]

And. Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, we designed around the art. And that's. That's fun, too, when that happens. I love that.

[Caroline]

That's brilliant.

[Liz]

That's a really kind of amazing process too, because then you're already starting with things that you. That they already love.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

That.

[Liz]

That already offers so much, so many different levels of inspiration.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. I get inspired by my Clients, when I walk into their home for the first time, I'm looking around, you know, I'm reading their personalities and. But I'm also just looking around the home to see what I can gather. You know, are they a family that has a thousand pictures of their kids on the beach or do they have. What kind of books are they reading? All of that tells me so much. It's really hard for me when I walk into a space and the client has nothing. Like they've collected nothing. And then I. And I feel like I have to really pull out their personality.

[Caroline]

You have to create a personality for them.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, exactly. So I prefer vice versa where I'm walking in and I have a amazing art collection that's gonna, you know, inspire the project.

[Liz]

Yeah. What are some ways that people can find art, either locally or, you know, work with someone to find art? Like, what are some things that they should be looking for?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I think art's hard because it depends on a client's budget. Right. Because there's some really great art dealers in Atlanta that if that's the right way to go, then you can contract them and they're going to take you on a great journey that. That's not in your budget. That's when I like to get in and kind of explore, like, what style art are we looking for? Maybe we can get a commission. Maybe that's the next level, level of investment. And then if. If that feels like it's not the right fit either, then like, let's go vintage shopping and kind of see what we can find. Because there's so much really cool art.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You know, that you can find really great. Not what. Not mass produced pieces, you know.

[Caroline]

Yeah. You have a project in your portfolio that's like a Buckhead condo or something, and I think it was published as well. And that one, for me, again, just to describe it to people listening is, you know, it's very black and there's black and white elements. Very kind of stark, clean colors. But you have these like mustard or velvet chairs. And then you have this beautiful painting. And the painting really feels like what? Like the cohesive piece in the whole space, even though there's so much going on. Was that the first piece or so?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

That's such a good. Thanks for bringing that up because this kind of will bring it all home and make sense. So the client for that project wanted to work with a local artist, Steve Penley, who's pretty popular, and she had went to one of his art shows and saw how he painted Marilyn Monroe. And in her mind, her mother passed when she was really young. He thought the way she painted Marilyn Monroe reminded her so much of her mother. So she was. She. When we started working on her home, she would say, okay, I want this to feel like New York chic. And she goes, we're commissioning a piece of Marilyn Monroe and it's gonna be huge, and we're gonna smack it on this wall. And I was like, okay, I subscribe. Let's do this. I love it. And you know, that project now is a couple years ago. I can't remember. I feel like we designed the room and then. Yes, we did. We did. We designed the room, and then we presented that to Steve. And then he customized the colors that he used in the painting around the room. And it could be done vice versa, too. But that's why it came together so nicely, because it was something we had in our mind from the beginning.

[Caroline]

I loved that project just because it was so colorful and happy and cohesive as well. Like, the room just really felt like it was meant to be that way, but the art really made it sing.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

So that was perfect. Yeah. That was example of that.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Well, I think it's a really unique perspective that you bring because of your experience as an artist and studying art.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. Thank you.

[Caroline]

Your home is also published, though, correct? In the. Yeah. And your home's the kind of monochromatic living room and. Oh, my gosh, I love it. Well, you were talking about your west coast even when you said that kind of. That little bit. And I feel like it kind of, in my opinion, influenced your space. Could you talk about your home just a little bit?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, I'd love to. It did. I think the. Working on the west coast for seven years did. Just seeing how people lived over there and the architecture over there, there was. There was things I loved about it and that I definitely, like, was looking for over here. And I found an older home that was built in the 80s, about three, four years ago. And it felt like a traditional Tudor from the outside, but inside, when you went in, it had this Mediterranean flair. And I fell in love with it. I was like, this is our home. And it's been such a. It's a really, really unique home.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Now. Now that we're in there three years, I'm like, well, maybe this wasn't the best home to. Wait. Why raise my boys in the sense that we don't have a basement or like, what's very loud? Yeah. These very high, like, two story ceilings and everything's very loud. And my kids are little musicians, so we hear, like, it's just, it's loud.

[Caroline]

I like it.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

However, at the end of the day, I, I. It's just such a unique space. So it's been really fun to. We. I have renovated a lot of it, and then I've kept a lot of really charming, unique, original details alone as well. So it's been fun.

[Caroline]

Yeah. And is your bedroom the kind of pinky, mauvey, like, soft?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Oh, my gosh. Everyone has to check it out. It's such a beautiful color. Because what I really loved is honestly, it seems like there's some kind of attic roof section that comes. Like there's part of the ceiling that's lower. And the way you masked it with the cabinet, like, perfectly, that she put a cabinet right under this piece of roof line that sticks out, and it makes it just like, it makes it just work. And I was like, I love how you worked that in. I was like, that was just brilliant.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Well, it was, you know, thank you. Because. And it's funny, you know, you have a design background when you notice that, because it drives me nuts. I'm sure you and I had a custom cabinet made to make it work because it was either that or like redo the H vac. And that's costly, right?

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

So. Yeah.

[Caroline]

Well, I think I was not trying to call it out as a blemish because I just think everybody has. Not everybody, but most people have something where, like, somewhere in construction, it went wrong or the last owner did something that, like, you disagree with. And you're not always in a place where you can. Can you construct. Constructually fix it? So you're kind of like, how do I band Aid this? Or how, how do you.

[Liz]

How do you embrace it?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Or embrace.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, how do you.

[Caroline]

So I feel like that was a good example of like, where you're like, all right, so. So this is extended. So how are we going to work this space? Yep, it was great.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

And we brought it in. And I. That cabinet, it's huge armoire. And we don't have too much closet space, so it remedied that as well. But we didn't, like, we had to lift it over the balcony. And I think lives could have been lost that day.

[Caroline]

So it was like some miracles in.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

There that will die with the house. It's not going.

[Caroline]

That's staying. That's now fixture.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Well, the way it almost bumps so perfectly to the ceiling. It does. It feels like it's almost like a built in without being A built in, so.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Exactly.

[Caroline]

That's great.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Thank you.

[Liz]

Amazing. Yeah. It's such a beautiful and unique space that you wouldn't. Just seeing the pictures of the interior, you wouldn't think that it's a Tudor on the outside.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

No, you don't. So people. It's very humble on the outside. People, like, are always surprised when you walk in, and that's what took. Like, when I walked into it for the first time, I was like, holy cow. I had. I was taken by surprise with just their, like, cement fireplace and the archways. And it's. It was. It's in the Morningside neighborhood of Atlanta, and it was built in the 80s, and most of the homes are early 1900s there. So it's kind of a funny time for architecture and. But it's cool. There's kind of these nods to the 80s in the House that are, you know, a little. A little fun and edgy that I kept, too. So.

[Caroline]

What?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, we have, like, the. The angled stair. I don't even know how to. How to describe it. It's. It's like the. Let's see. It's almost like the surfboard of banister on the stairway that you saw so much in the 80s. There's just some. I kept that, too. I was like, I. I might redo that eventually, but I kept it.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

It felt nostalgic and interesting.

[Caroline]

Oh, I have to talk about your kitchen.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Oh, yeah.

[Caroline]

Your hood is so cool. Did you do that?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, that was. I did. I've done it twice, and then I retired it. Okay.

[Caroline]

Because I saw it in two. I saw it once, and then I saw it again in your work, and I was like, so maybe those are the two times.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. So I. It was like.

[Caroline]

Yeah, describe it.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I was. It's a curved hood. I was inspired by, like, a pizza oven at a restaurant. I was like, I like, you know, like in Decatur. Do you know it's an Italian restaurant?

[Caroline]

246.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

246. Is that it? Yeah. Was it 246? And I was just sitting there, you know, enjoying my cocktail of the night. I was like, nothing cooler than, like, a tiled pizza oven. And I was like, this would be a really cool hood. I'm sick of seeing all these angles. And that was around the time where we got the house, and I wanted the kitchen. The home has such a Mediterranean flair. I wanted that kitchen to feel timeless, but also a little bit edgy and different. And so we created a rounded, tiled hood. It was great.

[Caroline]

Yeah. It's like this soft, subtle curve, but it's all covered in tile, so it just.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Again, it flows.

[Caroline]

Yeah, it's just a beaut. It's like a beautiful element in the space. And the tile is so gorgeous. And the way you did the tile standing too vertical. Yeah, it was just beautiful.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Thank you. I love it too. And it's functional. It works. Guys. It was really hard to figure out how to do it. One of my trades people wanted to, you know, dump my body into.

[Caroline]

Well, because I'm sure. Because the hood, the actual sucking feature is like, probably like.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, that was the hardest part, is getting that in there. But we made it work. And then we did it. And I did it in another kitchen. Someone asked, they're like, we love this hood. And they said, okay, this was my special hood, but we're gonna do it once more. And they love it.

[Caroline]

I'll allow you to copy me once, but then I am done.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, it's been actually, you know, but who knows? Maybe we'll do it again.

[Caroline]

It was really cool.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Well, you've only. I think those are similar tiles, so maybe if you do it. Another tile.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Another tile, right?

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

And that is. You got to find the right tile too, because it has to go on the radius of the curve.

[Caroline]

That's true. It can't be too big. You're right.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

But now everyone's tiling islands again, you know, you see.

[Caroline]

Oh, are they. Is that the new trend, the face of the islands?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You see it more in, like, commercial projects and, like, coffee shops where you have the tile.

[Liz]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Caroline]

Yep. God. I mean, I think my house growing up still has countertops that are just like, the square, you know, like how.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I'm ripping one out right now. Are you guys working on a kitchenware? And the client was like, well, we have to work electrical on the island. She's. She's old school, and she likes to plug a TV into the island. And I was like, well, we. We can do a pop up, you know, outlet for that now. And she's like, okay, can we just order another tile so that we can replace it for the new owner, you know, if they don't want the plug? And I was like, we're not tiling the island. Like, we were gonna do a job. Yeah, no, no.

[Caroline]

She was like, what?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

No, we just need to buy one. Oh, can you imagine the cleaning those grout lines? No, no.

[Caroline]

It's such a terrible idea. I know. Everybody's trying to get rid of. Well, that's a lie. I feel like in a Lot of situations, especially having boys. I was trying to get rid of grout lines.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yes, yes. But I. And I.

[Caroline]

It is different applications.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. Different app. Like, nowadays, the. I think the way they're making the grout, it's just. You don't get. It doesn't get grimy and, like, it lasts, and it's not the same issue, but, yeah, we don't want a bunch of grout lines ever.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Especially on our countertop.

[Caroline]

Oh, especially.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Countertop is not a place you want.

[Liz]

Not in the kitchen.

[Caroline]

Well, I want to talk tile, because you have a lot of projects with super fun tile. Did you notice that?

[Liz]

I did.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Well, I love tile.

[Caroline]

Do you think that's your Italian upbringing?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You know what? Maybe. Because when I go into the streets of, like, Italy, I'm like, they have, like, limestone on the street.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You know?

[Caroline]

Yeah. You're like, how. How is this? What? The curb. Everyone's walking.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. I haven't explored Spain yet, but I know I might lose it when I go to Spain because they really use it. Oh, yeah.

[Caroline]

You gonna die. It's so good.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I can't wait. I. Yeah. I love natural stone, and I love tile, and I. I really do.

[Caroline]

And what are some good places and applications to put it? Cause it is especially. I mean, you use a lot of graphic tile as well. Cause I know there's. I mean, some. Obviously, like, your hood was such a beautiful white and cream that all blended. But where do you use the graphic tile now? Where are people using it the most?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

That's a good question. And it's funny that I did such a. In my kitchen. I did go a little bit nuts with the floor, and I don't regret it. I'm going to say I don't regret it, but. Because the house calls for it. But I don't unless I have the right client. That's probably not what I'm going to go to in my average kitchen. So I think a safe place to do a fun pattern is going to be, like, your laundry room or maybe a guest bathroom so it doesn't wear on you. And I say that to my clients with wallpaper, too. Like, let's have fun in the powder bath. Because those things do wear on you over time, and it's expensive to redo it.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Okay.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Because you had some beautiful work and then you redid a bar.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. So that was my. My family owns Nino's as a restaurant that's been in Atlanta since 1968. And my sister and her husband have taken the Restaurant over since my dad retired, and it was my sister's dream to open up, like, a coastal Italian bar. Nino's is, like, very old school. It hasn't been touched since 1968. Like, you go in there, it's like a time warp. But she's like, I want to do this, like, sexy bar that reminds us of the Amalfi coast, which is where my father's from, and it will be like a tribute to him. So we did that last year. It was really fun. We collaborated on that, and we had a pretty tight budget, so I couldn't go as crazy with tile as I was hoping for.

[Caroline]

You did a good job. Yeah. Oh, everyone can see your work on your website. It's a cute little.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, it's a cute little spot. And we tiled a lot there.

[Caroline]

Yeah. So you did the bar itself in blue and white. And white tile, correct?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, we did. And blue and white is more. It feels a little bit more like grease, maybe. But some of these Italian tiles are too much for my add. Like, there's yellow and. Yeah, blue. And I was like, too many colors. So we're going to pare this down. So we did do just blue and white, and we tiled the whole bar, and then we tiled the whole back bar. So when you go in, it's a lot substantial. Yeah, yeah.

[Caroline]

And then you did the big yellow band. Cats.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Oh, yeah, yeah. And now that's very, you know, southern Italy to have that yellow.

[Caroline]

That yellow, though. Yeah, that with the blue and white, it just. It did. It felt like the perfect. You did a fantastic job. I felt like the coast Italy.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, it's fun. You guys get to go there. And I experience the food. The food's really good.

[Caroline]

Okay, well.

[Liz]

Okay. But the real test is, what do the regulars think?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Oh, my gosh. It's really fun. Like, sometimes I'll go in and just sit at the bar and listen to people chat, because either these old people come in and they're grumpy and they're like, why would they do this? You know, they want the old school, and it's like, you can still go into the old dining room, or there's people that absolutely love it. So we get both.

[Caroline]

I kind of love, though, that you didn't. You didn't, like, your sister didn't, like, fully redo, which I like kind of. That she was like, no, no, this isn't.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, right. Because you still want it. Like, even when I go there, sometimes I'm like, I want to drink at the bar, and then I Want to go eat in the old dining room? Because it's nostalgic and it's cozy and warm, and so there's, like. There's a place for everyone, you know? Yeah, it's. It's a great space.

[Caroline]

What does your dad think?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

He's just. He's just mad about me up in the budget, you know, around the money. But I think he's happy.

[Caroline]

You were like, it's custom upholstery. Okay. You're going to need to help me out.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

He's a man of a few words, but deep down, I think he's very proud and he's happy. And, I mean, at the end of the day, we. It's. It's. My sister was like, I want. Like, everybody loves dad and comes to Nino's because of dad, and no one really knows his story or where he's from. They're just, like, this short Italian man.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

And so the bar tells the history of, like, where he's from, and so I think that's nice. There's family photos on the wall that, like, span back to, you know, to three generations ago. So that's. It's nice.

[Caroline]

That's awesome.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Really, really special. Yeah. You guys go. Please go. I will.

[Caroline]

I definitely will.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

You've had two boys, and you've kind of. Obviously, your design business has grown with them. And I'm in a situation, too, where I have young kids now, and, you know, they're growing, and I always. I. I ask a lot of designers this, but I think it's so hard to build a room that you feel like will at least last the five year, you know, like, the chunk of time. How did you kind of handle the boys rooms?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

The boys rooms. Okay. I thought. I was like, are we talking about a living room or the kids room?

[Caroline]

Y actual rooms? I mean, other than you can just let it go. I know. And let it be a mattress.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I'll be honest with you, because I know it's. You're not there yet, but you're going to get there. You can call me when you get there. They are going to have an opinion soon.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

So I tried to create a warm canvases for them. We have a nice rug. We have a nice bed. I have forced in some, like, you know, heirloom art in there that they're begging me to rip off the wall.

[Caroline]

But what does it look like? I have to know which.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Like, what, their room?

[Caroline]

No, no. The art that they're, like, begging to come off the wall.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

It's. It was a piece that was my grandfather's that I love, and it's very bright, it has a lot of color. So it ended up in that room because it doesn't fit in the rest of the house. And it's great. It's oversized. It totally works.

[Caroline]

Is it a landscape?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

No, it's, it's, it's abstract. Yeah. But, yeah, they, they can't. I. Okay, let's see. Let me go, go back on this. I try to create the best canvas for them so it doesn't feel crazy. But they are going to have their own ideas and then I have to let them now implement them. I know there are some designers that their kids have the most perfect rooms, but they go through phases and they want their band posters and their guitars on their walls, and that's their space. I want them to be happy in it. I mean, the LED lights, there's that too. It's, it's, yeah. Not great.

[Caroline]

Well, yeah, And I understand that.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And you've gone through it too, the running LED lights.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You got it too. Yeah.

[Caroline]

How long would you say a kid's room lasts? Well, I guess certain pieces do.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Right.

[Caroline]

Like again, if you buy an upholstered bed in a solid or something where again, you know, or good wooden bed, you're probably using it the whole time.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You know, what I do is, you know, there's. With clients we have like the baby toddler years and you know, when we're picking wallpaper, I said, let's, let's design the room so it will grow with them. And then we're buying a bed that's really going to last them through their teens, hopefully. So, you know, if you're, you have a three year old right now, let's say you wanted to redo his room. I'd say, okay, you want a wallpaper, you want to go out, all out. Let's pick things. Maybe I'm going to do a grass cloth because that can change with his personality. You can change the bedspread, you could change.

[Liz]

That's a really solid base.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

And then I'm going to go ahead and get him like a fuller bed because they're going to grow and then that you have the solid great pieces in there and then you can kind of let it grow over time and then your investment isn't lost, you know?

[Liz]

Yeah, yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

When they, when I send my boys to camp this year, I'm ripping their bathroom out. They don't know yet, but you know, you gotta like, you fit it in when, when they're not around yeah.

[Caroline]

Oh, that's funny. Okay, then that's some good advice because I, I'm obviously, we're switching the bed in the 3 year old's room right now. And it is that, like we're at that time where I'm like, all right, like, what bed do we actually put in? Do we make do? Yeah. Like, you know, get a good bed.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You can do whatever he's, whatever he's into. You can get the pillows and the bedspread, whatever, but just get that good quality bed because, yeah, it's gonna last. Yeah.

[Caroline]

She goes back to your philosophy, so.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Exactly. Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I didn't ever allow like the race car driver better and you gotta do what's best for you, but those things, Right. They're only gonna last a year or two and.

[Liz]

Right.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

So.

[Caroline]

Right. Yes. No, I'd much rather just get the right bed and be like, yeah, he's.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Gonna grow into it. And they grow so fast. Get a, you know, for our space, the rooms are smaller. We did fulls and.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You know, fuller queen, whatever. Yeah, yeah.

[Caroline]

And they're still in it.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Caroline]

So you've had the same bed though, since like we.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. So like around that 7, 8 mark, I think is when I took them from like a twin or we were moving and we got them, the fools. And it's great. And my one son's push, he's going to be at least six feet, he's going to be tall. And I'm trying to figure out how to fit a queen in his room because it's smaller, because he's going to need that.

[Caroline]

But yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You know, he also has a drum set in there and, you know, a gaming setup and.

[Liz]

Right.

[Caroline]

And now you're out of room.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I mean, listen, here, here's what I tell everybody. He asked me to buy like an outdoor Snoopy, like for Christmas and he put it in his room. And I mean, that goes against like everything, but I gotta let him live his life and. Yeah, that's nostalgic to him or that makes him happy. I gotta walk by his room every night and see the light of Snoopy. It's, it's not forever. So we're just embracing these.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

It's not forever. But I'll tell you what, like, we have something similar where like the giant spider for like, that was on like a web in, you know, outdoor decorations. Yeah. Is in my teenager's room.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. You just gotta let them, let them flow with it.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

I think he likes it mostly because his friends come over and then it freaks him out.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

And he's like, exactly like at this. Whatever I was talking about to my husband, I was like, I can't wait to turn Oscar's room into a study when he goes to college. I was like, we're gonna build do built ins. And again, maybe I'll turn it into my office. And he's like, gabby, you can't. You gotta let them have their rooms even when they go to college. And I was like, oh, man. Really? I do.

[Caroline]

You're like, oh, really? But can't I just.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I guess I do. I guess I do have to let them keep the rooms, but I'm changing them, you know.

[Caroline]

Oh, yeah, I think. Yeah, you get to change them up. It is a good idea.

[Liz]

Oh, that's awesome.

[Caroline]

Today's decorating dilemma is from Julia, and she writes. Hi there. Longtime listener, first time emailer. First, I want to say how much I love your podcast. I love following Taryn's house journey, hearing about Liz providing PowerPoints for paint colors. She does do that.

[Liz]

I do that.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

That's awesome.

[Caroline]

And Caroline, flocking her own tree. Y'all do such a great job for the hobbyist decorators. And your guests are always so inspiring. But on to my question. I live in New York City in a cozy apartment, and I've been working to update it over time. It is a rental. The biggest thing I've tried to do are separate the spaces by color and removable wallpaper. However, I'm having some decision fatigue on wallpapering or just leaving alone this entry area of the apartment. See attached photos for details. The entry hallway of the apartment has a beige grass cloth, and my kitchen is a happy blue. I found some wallpaper that I think marries the two sections, but I don't want it to feel too busy in the space. I'm thinking I would wallpaper the wall with the mirror on it and the small wall with the door on it. Would you also wallpaper the beam on the left as well? It's a divider between the spaces, so I thought it would be nice to leave it blank. Let me know what you think. Thank you all for what you do. I know it takes so much time and we all so appreciate. Thank you, Julia. That's so sweet. So she provided some great images of her little space she has. Just to describe it real quick.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

It is. I love the grass cloth in the.

[Caroline]

Entry, and I loved that she called it her happy blue kitchen. And that made me happy for her because I'm sure it's so petite in New York City. And she's also provided the wallpaper she's looking at.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, I see it all. All right. Do I.

[Caroline]

Should I let. What do you think she should do?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Let her know. Julia.

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Hi, Julia. Okay, I have two suggestions of what I would do. Suggestion number one, which goes a little bit against your question, would be, I love this entry. Grass cloth. I think grass cloth warms up a space so much. So, as an alternative to the pattern, if you're. If you're wanting to simplify and keep it cohesive, I think it would be really nice to continue that into the. I guess you're not calling it the entry area, but the area that you're talking about papering with the other paper. So you would go over the beam and do the wall with the mirror and then the wall with the doors, and that's going to bring such. Such warmth and texture to that area. So I love that idea. Or I do love this pattern. And I do think you're correct. I think the colors in it would marry the kitchen and the entry very well. So if you decided to do that, I think it would work well. But with the beam, it's a little bit tricky because if you see on the other side of the wall, the wall that is shared with the kitchen, you're going to see the face of that wall where the. The more neutral paint is. It would be ideal, in an ideal situation, to paper the beam in the grass cloth and then start the accent paper from that wall over. But if you can't do that, then I would leave the beam alone.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

That was my lengthy. No, that makes sense.

[Liz]

That totally makes sense.

[Caroline]

You think the big beam should be covered in the grass cloth to kind of continue to continue it and then break it with the floral.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, but I would not put the floral on the beam either way.

[Caroline]

Okay.

[Liz]

That would call a lot of attention to the floral if it was on that.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I think so. And then this is going to create disconnect on the kitchen wall. Yeah, but I love that grass cloth. I think it's really nice.

[Liz]

It's so classic and so warm and amazing.

[Caroline]

Grass cloth, man. It has longevity.

[Liz]

You can't go wrong with it.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I know you can't. I love it. I'll use it all the time.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Yeah. I even like the. The idea of using the grass cloth and continuing that into the living space from the hallway that. That you enter into.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I think that's especially because it's a smaller space and I'm not seeing the whole Space. But if you're worried about it feeling too choppy, that' to be an easy solution is. But you want to warm it up. Just. Just carry the grass cloth into the living space. But I do like this pattern, and I do think it would work, so.

[Liz]

It would.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, I think it would work really nice.

[Liz]

Oh, my gosh. It's going to be so great.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Send us a picture when you're done.

[Liz]

Yeah. She's got so many great pieces.

[Caroline]

I love a New York rental because they're like, I'm doing it. I feel like I never did that in my apartment. I was always just like, I'm here temporary. But I. You know, I feel like everyone makes their space their own. It's.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Well, in New York, people can have their rentals for, like, 40 years. Yeah, that's right.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

It's so different than what we do here.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

In the South.

[Caroline]

Yeah. It's very cute. So it looks spacious for New York. I know that sounds comical because it's two spots, but I'm like, look at that long hallway.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Liz]

It's so great. I love that she's got that entryway.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Kind of jealous of that entryway. It's so good to have that separation.

[Caroline]

But definitely. Julia, send us photos when you're done. That's a great one.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Thanks so much for listening. I'll make you a PowerPoint.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Are you still using PowerPoint or are you on to Canva?

[Liz]

Those are some heated words. I'm still using PowerPoint, and as a graphic designer, I never used PowerPoint and Karen Mooney made me do it.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, but would you use, like, Illustrator, Adobe products? Right.

[Caroline]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was the same before here.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Now it's PowerPoint. Well, everybody can use it. And so you find yourself being like. Right. If everyone can edit it.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

All right.

[Liz]

Pass it on.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Well, thank you so much for coming on and spending the day with us.

[Liz]

Thanks for coming across town.

[Caroline]

Okay, so where can everyone find you and follow you and see all your work?

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

I am on Instagram. It's Silo Studio Design. S I L O Studio Design. And the website is silostudesign.com and if you go there, you could figure out further how to find me. Yeah.

[Liz]

And there's a great home tour on YouTube that home worthy.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Worthy. That was fun.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Yeah, it is a fun.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

So everyone can see your pretty home.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You have to search my name for that. Gabriella Eisenhart, which I'm sure is gonna be on the show. Right. So they.

[Caroline]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

So yeah. It won't be under Silo Studios, but that was a fun if. If you want to see what we've been talking about.

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

You want to see the curved hood.

[Liz]

Yes.

[Caroline]

Yes. And then now we have to go to Nino's so we can see this bar. So I'll be best.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

And they're doing, like, fine. All right. And they're doing. They're doing all these fun holiday cocktails right now. So now's a good time.

[Caroline]

Even better.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah, I know.

[Liz]

Goodbye.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Yeah. Bye. See you later. Well, thanks, guys, for having me. This was a lot of fun. It was nice to do this in person, too.

[Liz]

It really was.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Thanks so much.

[Gabriela Eisenhart]

Thank you.

[Liz]

And that's our show.

[Caroline]

And that's our show. You can find all of the show notes on our blog howtodecorate.com podcast to send in a decorating dilemma. Email your questions to podcastallarddesigns.net so we can help you with your space. And of course, be sure to follow us on social media at ballardesigns.

[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.