Ep. 400: Celebrating 400 Episodes with Karen!

Summary

Podcast Summary: How to Decorate – Ep. 400: Celebrating 400 Episodes with Karen!

Introduction and Milestone Celebration

In the landmark 400th episode of How to Decorate, hosts Caroline, Taryn, and Liz come together to celebrate the podcast's remarkable journey since its inception in October 2016. The episode opens with heartfelt reflections on reaching this significant milestone.

Caroline [00:33]: "It's episode 400."

Taryn [00:36]: "So proud of us."

The hosts express disbelief and pride over the podcast's longevity, acknowledging the hard work and evolution over eight years. Karen joins the conversation, reminiscing about how much the team has changed, including personal life shifts such as becoming empty nesters.

Karen [00:56]: "We were all so different then. Y'all didn't have any kids. My kids were in high school... everything has changed in our lives."

Reminiscing the Early Days

The discussion transitions to the podcast's humble beginnings, highlighting the initial struggles with equipment and technical challenges. Caroline recalls their first attempts at recording, which were less than perfect.

Caroline [01:32]: "We had some mics that I had no idea how to operate. Actually, I think we did record an episode before the episode that was number one that just didn't work."

Karen emphasizes the determination that kept the podcast going, leading to its current success.

Karen [01:56]: "We were all guinea pigs. We drank some wine. Cause we didn't know what we were doing. I have to admit, I haven't listened to that episode. I bet it's not great."

Despite early setbacks, the team's perseverance paid off, fostering a community that has enriched each host's personal spaces and design knowledge.

Evolution of Recording and Photo Shoots

A significant portion of the episode delves into the evolution of the podcast’s production and the behind-the-scenes aspects of Ballard Designs' photo shoots. Initially, photo shoots took place in various Atlanta homes, requiring extensive logistics and coordination.

Liz [12:56]: "We now shoot on sets in a photo studio that houses just about everything that we carry. And we build out these beautiful sets that feel like homes."

The hosts recount the transition to in-studio sets, a shift accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This move allowed for greater flexibility and control over the styling and photography process.

Liz [14:35]: "They don't have windows or ceilings. No, but they don't have glass windows. But the way that you style them... they always feel like real homes."

Karen humorously shares an anecdote about an unexpected encounter with Offset, highlighting the unpredictability of shooting on real homes.

Karen [16:39]: "We shot right next to Cardi B... She was like, 'We don't know who you are. Go away.'"

The shift to studio sets has enabled the team to create consistent and aesthetically pleasing environments for their products, enhancing the visual appeal of the catalogs and online content.

Listener Messages and Design Tips

The episode features heartfelt messages from early guests and loyal listeners. Ginny Brand, the podcast’s first guest, shares valuable shelf-styling tips, emphasizing color palette, categorization, and the balance between filled and empty spaces.

Ginny Brand [06:09]: "I like to think about the color palette first... It can be tricky if you're including a lot of your paperback or hardback books on this shelf... I try to kind of break it down into a few categories so it's thoughtful and curated, but not chaotic."

Rachel Cannon, another recurring guest, reflects on the podcast's impact and offers her own styling advice, likening vignette creation to arranging a family portrait.

Rachel Cannon [18:21]: "When you're styling a vignette, think like a photographer capturing a family portrait... try to layer in personality with texture metallics."

The hosts discuss these tips, sharing personal experiences and additional insights on shelf styling, such as alternating book orientations and utilizing image textures for a cohesive look.

Liz [09:59]: "The empty space in your bookshelf is almost as important as the filled space."

Answering Listener Questions

The episode is interactive, addressing several listener-submitted questions. Key topics include favorite Ballard Designs products, design books, and favorite rooms to decorate.

1. Favorite Ballard Designs Products: The hosts grapple with this question, highlighting beloved items such as the curved banquette, dining tables, sofas, beds, and rugs. Each host shares personal favorites, explaining why these pieces hold special significance.

   Liz [42:05]: "The thing that comes top of mind is David Jimenez's work. He has so interesting designs..."

   Taryn [43:25]: "I really like my dining table from Ballard... it's so impactful."

2. Favorite Design Books: A passionate discussion ensues about influential design books, including works by Ashley Whitaker, Markham Roberts, Peter Prenoyer, and others. The hosts recommend these books for inspiration and practical design insights.

   Taryn [50:10]: "Summer Thornton's... Haskell Harris's striped book... 'The English Houses' by Ben Pendrey."

   Caroline [50:35]: "Ashley Whitaker and Markham Roberts are my go-tos for catalog inspiration."

3. Favorite Rooms to Decorate: Bedrooms emerge as a favorite among the hosts, appreciated for their enclosed nature that allows for creative freedom without worrying about overarching themes.

   Taryn [56:12]: "The most from scratch planned have been bedrooms... there's so many layers to a bed."

   Karen [57:22]: "I like living spaces because there are so many different elements you can work with."

4. High Impact Decorations on a Budget: The hosts share affordable yet impactful decorating ideas, such as patterned drapery, strategic lighting, and rug choices that transform spaces without breaking the bank.

   Karen [65:04]: "High impact patterned drapery on every window... it just set the stage for the whole place."

   Taryn [65:10]: "Lighting, lamps, figuring out getting your lighting right will change a space dramatically."

Personal Takeaways from Hosts

Each host reflects on personal lessons learned through the podcast:

• Caroline: Emphasizes the importance of planning in decorating, moving beyond merely selecting items based on taste to creating cohesive designs with intentional layouts.

  Caroline [30:01]: "I need a plan... what is going to be the best thing with the other things in the room."

• Taryn: Highlights the significance of color and how the podcast has enhanced her ability to make informed color choices and incorporate natural elements like plants into her designs.

  Taryn [34:45]: "Color's a big one... I love to have something brown in the space for warmth and depth."

• Liz: Focuses on understanding color within spaces and using inspiration from guests to implement creative design elements such as wallpaper and drapes.

  Liz [09:43]: "Making those spaces coming up with a color palette... making it feel pleasing and meaningful."

Conclusion

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts express gratitude toward their listeners and the design community that has supported the podcast. They acknowledge the collaborative effort that has enabled them to reach 400 episodes and look forward to continuing their journey.

Caroline [68:07]: "Thank you to all of our amazing listeners for being here and listening so that we can keep doing this and bringing a great conversation."

Karen [68:41]: "Absolutely. Cheers."

The hosts encourage listeners to continue engaging by sending in decorating dilemmas and following the podcast on social media for ongoing inspiration and support.

Liz [68:46]: "And please leave us a review. We'd love to hear your feedback."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Caroline [00:33]: "It's episode 400."
• Karen [00:56]: "We were all so different then. Y'all didn't have any kids. My kids were in high school... everything has changed in our lives."
• Ginny Brand [06:09]: "I like to think about the color palette first... It can be tricky if you're including a lot of your paperback or hardback books on this shelf..."
• Rachel Cannon [18:21]: "When you're styling a vignette, think like a photographer capturing a family portrait..."
• Caroline [30:01]: "I need a plan... what is going to be the best thing with the other things in the room."
• Taryn [34:45]: "Color's a big one... I love to have something brown in the space for warmth and depth."
• Karen [65:04]: "High impact patterned drapery on every window... it just set the stage for the whole place."
• Caroline [68:07]: "Thank you to all of our amazing listeners for being here and listening so that we can keep doing this and bringing a great conversation."

Final Thoughts

Episode 400 of How to Decorate serves as both a celebration and a reflection on eight years of design discussions, listener interactions, and personal growth. The hosts honor their journey, share invaluable design insights, and look forward to continuing to inspire and educate their audience in the years to come.

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]

It's episode 400.

[Taryn]

So proud of us.

[Caroline]

I did not believe it.

[Karen]

That's a lot of work.

[Caroline]

It's pretty crazy.

[Karen]

How many years is that? Eight.

[Caroline]

Well, we started October 2016.

[Karen]

I don't know. I can't count.

[Caroline]

Was the. So, yes. Eight.

[Karen]

Okay.

[Liz]

Okay.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

That's a lot of years.

[Caroline]

That's like more than four. What, probably like 500 for four to 500 hours.

[Taryn]

Real.

[Karen]

I was thinking back when I was thinking about how long it had been. We were all so different then. Y'all didn't have any kids. My kids were in high school. High school. I'm an empty nester now. Y'all have two kids. Like, everything has changed in our lives.

[Liz]

It's so true.

[Karen]

Oh, it's weird.

[Taryn]

It's been through Covid.

[Karen]

Oh, yeah, we had that. You can't pretend you're 30 anymore when you're an empty nester. And I don't like it one bit.

[Caroline]

By the way, we're here in Karen's. We're here in, like, our original, where.

[Karen]

It all started with so much, like, equipment and technology. We didn't have any of this.

[Caroline]

No. We had some mics that I had no idea how to operate. Actually, I think we did record an episode before the episode that was number one that just didn't work.

[Karen]

I remember that. We did a whole thing. I was like, oh, y'all, sorry. There's nothing.

[Caroline]

That is how much I knew about making a podcast.

[Taryn]

But you were so determined. And look where we are now. Your determination got you here.

[Caroline]

It has, like, been a really fun six. Wait, no, wait. What did I say? Eight year adventure.

[Taryn]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

And that's because of y'all. So thanks for going on it with me.

[Taryn]

I just think of how beautiful even my own home is because of this, like, the. The impact of having all of these wonderful people with this amazing advice. Like, has Enriched me so much that I hope everyone listening feels the same.

[Caroline]

Are you about to cry?

[Karen]

Maybe cry again? No. I mean, we. We have kids, but we also, like, our rooms have changed, our homes have changed. Like, so much else has changed and evolved, as it should. Right. Even this room, I'm like, hopefully I've changed something in here in eight years. Oh, I have new chairs.

[Caroline]

You have a new table. Yeah.

[Karen]

Okay. Things have evolved. Oh, I think it's great.

[Taryn]

It was new.

[Caroline]

Also, a lot is the same, and I do think that is a testament to your style, because there's a lot that you still have. Right. And it still looks like. It doesn't look like it was decorated 10 years ago, you know?

[Karen]

Well, that's a good point, because you can. You don't have to worry so much about trend, I don't think. I think people get worried, like, is this gonna be out of style? Like, if you love it, you love it, it's fine. Although I am trying to put more pattern into my house. I was telling you I'm putting some new pattern drapery up in my living room.

[Caroline]

I bought Exciting.

[Karen]

And I've. You know, everything in my house is so gray and neutral or tan or whatever. And now I'm. I don't know, I'm getting crazy.

[Caroline]

But when you describe it like that, it sounds cold and sad and it isn't. So it is neutral, textured. Yeah.

[Taryn]

But it goes to show, I think, too, where we're at, because, like, the fact that you have seen the impact of what this pattern on pattern and this layering look, and you're like, I can do it. Like, and you're gonna try it, and it's gonna be great. Yeah.

[Caroline]

There are also some subtle ways to do it, I think, too. Like, you know, often we see, like, floral on floral on floral. But then you can do it in a way that's like a little bit. It is a lot of pattern, but it's more subtle, which I assume kind of more what we. The direction you're going.

[Karen]

I mean, I don't know.

[Taryn]

I don't know.

[Karen]

I'll do a before and after. I'm thinking I'll do a before and after put on my Instagram. I never put anything on Instagram, but that seems like a fun thing.

[Caroline]

Okay, well, we did have a lot of ideas going into this episode about what should we talk about, and we kind of landed on just a little bit of reminiscing and then taking some questions. And then, of course, we have Karen back, because you had to come back for 400.

[Karen]

I thought it was all just about me.

[Liz]

Oh, okay.

[Karen]

A little disappointed.

[Taryn]

This is actually just an update on you, so. Yeah.

[Karen]

And new curtains.

[Taryn]

That's it.

[Karen]

Oh, my God. Eight years later.

[Caroline]

I have to say I was very surprised by the number of questions we got. We have a lot to answer. So we.

[Taryn]

Yeah, Had.

[Caroline]

I will say I did reach out to one of our first guests to. Or our very first guest to come on the show today, but she was busy. She couldn't. But she did send me a message, so I'm gonna play it for y'all.

[Karen]

Oh.

[Caroline]

Do y'all remember who our first guest was?

[Karen]

I think I do, yes.

[Caroline]

Ginny Brand.

[Taryn]

Yes.

[Caroline]

Who?

[Karen]

Because we had to get our friends.

[Caroline]

I know.

[Karen]

We know. You come over here and talk to.

[Caroline]

I know. And we were. We were all guinea pigs. We drank some wine. Cause we didn't know what we were doing. I think there was a lot of giggling. I have to admit, I haven't listened to that episode. I bet it's not great. Not because Jenny isn't lovely, but just because, you know, you have to start.

[Taryn]

I actually. I did hear from a friend who said we need to do this, and I think maybe this is an idea for us is to go and, like, listen to it live and record us, like, laughing at how the quality.

[Karen]

Make fun of yourself.

[Caroline]

Yes. Yeah. Yes. Okay. That's a good idea. I like that. We should try that. Okay, well, I'm gonna play Ms. Ginny Branch's message for y'all. Hey, y'all.

[Ginny Brand]

Congratulations on your 400th episode. That is awesome. And it was such an honor to be your kind of beta tester for your first episode. I just love getting to follow y'all along and hear your amazing advice and the great guests you've had on there. It's just a wonderful thing that y'all have created. I can't be there today to join y'all, but I was going to just offer a couple little tips for styling shelves. It's a. A question I get asked a lot by my friends on ways to kind of.

[Caroline]

I was going to just add that we did ask for questions from our listeners and so that one of the questions was about styling shelves. So I asked Jenny to answer this question for us. So that's what she usually do.

[Ginny Brand]

I just offer a couple little tips for styling shelves. It's a question I get asked a lot by my friends on ways to kind of make their shelves a little bit more thoughtful and designed. And there are a couple of things that I Think about when I'm putting a shelf together for a photo shoot or in my own home one, I like to think about the color palette first. Either look at the color of the room or. Or kind of a color palette that you want to showcase in the shelves. It can be tricky if you're including a lot of your paperback or hardback books on this shelf, but it's your home, and it's not a showroom, so no big deal. I also like to look at what I already have and what it is that I want to highlight. Is it books? Is it family photos, art collections from your travels, nature collections? Whatever it is. I try and kind of break it down into a few categories so it's thoughtful and curated, but not chaotic. Another thing that I think is great to do is just look at your shelves empty and kind of make shapes throughout, if that makes sense. Like, cluster big groups and, you know, disperse smaller items in there so it just feels balanced. Like, think of it in blocks almost. It's good to alternate books from. You can either have them in stacks on their side. You can have them stacked standing up sometimes. If it's a really beautiful, like, coffee book, coffee table, book cover, I like to face it forward, almost kind of like a piece of art, and just showcase it like that. Another tip I think that's really helpful is if you take all of your photos either. I think printing them all in black and white is really beautiful. And that way, either you can pick frames that are kind of all the same patina or finish, or you have. If they're all kind of black and white, you have a little bit more freedom in varying the textures of the frames. Another pro tip, I would say would be to think of things in levels. Just varying the heights of things, the scale of things. I'm trying to think what else would be another good thing to. I mean, think of things you own that might be like a family heirloom. Like, maybe it's a really beautiful silver trophy or a silver serving, you know, pedestal bowl, and you can fill it with treasures. Fill it with treasures, and display things that way. Yeah, I just think there's so many different ways that you can tackle your shelves. But I think just going in, starting fresh with empty shelves, coming up with a plan, coming up with a color palette, and deciding what items you want to highlight, the textures, I think that will kind of help create a cohesive story to your shelves that will feel pleasing and meaningful. Anyway, hope y'all have a great day, and I look forward to more episodes.

[Karen]

Thanks Y'all. Bye.

[Caroline]

Jenny's just the best.

[Karen]

Love, Jenny.

[Liz]

So great.

[Caroline]

And I learned so much just watching her and our other stylists.

[Liz]

Oh, my gosh. I learned so much from Jenny, and I feel like, yeah, the biggest takeaway there is, like, making those spaces coming up with a color palette. Like, those are. Those are key things that I think I learned from Ginny, like, on sets.

[Caroline]

That's a good point, Liz. Like, the empty space in your bookshelf is almost as important as the filled space.

[Liz]

It is.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

And, you know, when you watch them work, they don't just throw it up there, and then they're done, and they're like, perfect. They take it down, put it together. They experiment. So have patience with yourself as you're doing this. Try things, look at them, stand back, take some things down, put some things up, move it around. But you're not going to get it right on the first try.

[Caroline]

Yeah. And, like, they're also. They put it up, they take a picture, and then they look at the picture. So there's something about looking at it on a screen. Not. Not necessarily that this is something that you would do in your own home, but it does sort of help you demystify what they're doing, because it's very like, okay, move that a centimeter to the left, and it looks weird if it's not a centimeter to the left. There's something about it. So it is, like, a very precise art. Whereas I think in our house, it's like, we don't think about it that way, but sometimes, like, it's harder even for them, I think.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Liz]

You know, the other thing I learned on set is, like, always just think about everything else that you have in your house to pull from and, like, just run to the other room and grab something that may have been in the same spot for a year or two, but grab it, throw it in someplace new, and you've totally refreshed.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

Well, I feel like we had a question in here. I'm skipping, though. But it was like. It was about behind the scenes at the photo shoot.

[Caroline]

Yes, we did. That's a good point.

[Karen]

Where is it? Let's tell.

[Caroline]

It's from Lisa. Okay. So that was someone who asked.

[Liz]

Oh, she actually.

[Caroline]

These are the same questions. Yes. So Lisa asked about styling vignettes, and she also said, behind the scenes of our photo shoots, where do they take place? If a wall is being shown in the catalog, is wallpapered. Is it also. Is it really wallpapered? To what extent do you modify the home you're shooting in to make it suit the needs of the catalog. Liz, do you want to take. Do y'all wanna talk about this one?

[Karen]

Cause, well, I'll talk about how we used to shoot, and then you can talk about how.

[Liz]

Yeah. Cause it's exciting.

[Karen]

Yeah. So for years and years. 20 years, 25 years, 30 years. I don't know.

[Liz]

A long time.

[Karen]

Many years.

[Liz]

A long time.

[Karen]

Cause with companies over 40 years old, we would shoot in houses in Atlanta and go into these big giant. And they had to be empty houses, so you had to wait till something came on the market. You know, it was like you just didn't ever really know where you were gonna be. And we would cart truckloads and truckloads and truckloads of furniture and, like, every lamp we carry and every accessory and all the rugs. And so then you're staging that somewhere, usually in the basement, painting rooms or wallpapering rooms. We didn't wallpaper a lot back then. And then you probably had three crews shooting at the same time. So each crew is a photographer and a photo assistant and a stylist, and then people helping them schlep things around. So just a whole lot of people, and it became sort of its own city, its own. Its own business. And it was just something. It was just so much to manage and handle. So we decided to pivot and do something else. What did we do? Liz?

[Liz]

Do you. Yeah, probably about. It's been. Probably about five, almost six years now. We now shoot on sets in a photo studio that houses just about everything that we carry. And we. So we build out these beautiful sets that feel like homes, and they really do. I mean, when you get the chance.

[Caroline]

They don't have windows or ceilings. No, but they don't have glass windows.

[Liz]

They don't. But the way that. The way that you style them, you know, like, you know, I've seen. I've been on set there where, like, somebody else has walked through, and they were like, oh, yes. You guys shoot Ballard like this, because they always. They. They feel like real homes.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And that's something that's really, really important to us. And, you know, it was a really great timing that we. We made that change because Covid hit almost immediately after, and there's no way we could have gotten into houses here in Atlanta at that time.

[Karen]

That's when Zara was sending fashion to models in their homes, and they were taking their own photos with their phones, and that's how they were getting their clothes up online. You Know, you couldn't get together and take pictures so that.

[Liz]

I mean, the timing of that, you know, worked out for us. But they're really. The sets are really gorgeous, and we do everything we can to make it feel like real homes.

[Caroline]

Yeah. We build them out more elaborately than any of the other brands. Do that shoot in the location where we shoot.

[Liz]

You're absolutely right.

[Caroline]

So, yes, if there is wallpaper in the photo, then there is wallpaper on the wall.

[Liz]

Now to that point, they are putting a little bit more water in their paste so that it's easier to take up and down. So, yes, we are really wallpapering, but we're kind of modify. Modifying it a little bit.

[Karen]

Now, our outdoor. We shoot outdoor?

[Liz]

Yes.

[Caroline]

Yes, we do.

[Karen]

In North Carolina. Yeah.

[Taryn]

Okay. See, I don't know any of this world.

[Karen]

Yeah, I know.

[Caroline]

It's. You know, I feel like before in this case, there was. There were pros and cons to both. Right. Like. Cause we could go any of our teams to the house because it was usually like 10, 30 minutes away.

[Liz]

Right.

[Caroline]

And see what was happening, make changes, talk to people. And that was such a wonderful team. Like, they were their own family and fantastic, you know, great friendships with all of those people. But then there's also this other team of like 30 plus people that we still work with, and they do a great job, too. It's just. It's just different.

[Liz]

Well, and the other thing too is that when you're shooting in a real house, there's limitations to what angles you can get and how you can show the details of, you know, how to style out a certain product or use a certain product where, you know, we were trying to fit five people and all the product and all the lights and all the equipment.

[Karen]

You can't get back far enough. You can't just put the camera in. You can't.

[Liz]

I mean, they had to be huge rooms and they had to be huge houses, you know, so there were challenges with that.

[Karen]

And if you wanted, say, three windows in the room, you couldn't dictate anything like that. You just sort of had to wait until you got to the house and figure it out and hope that there.

[Liz]

Was a room that was.

[Caroline]

Yeah, yeah.

[Karen]

And now we can say, oh, we want a place to put a settee in a nook and then we can build it, or we need a fireplace in the room or. So it gives us a lot more, I think, flexibility.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Or like an entryway that connects to the, you know, some.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Like, we can be really specific. A Staircase.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Okay. But there was that one time that we. We shot right next to Cardi B. That was funny. That was funny.

[Karen]

And they came next door.

[Liz]

Yeah, yeah. No, yeah. Offset came over and was like, you know, you guys keep looking at our house, and we're like, no, we're really just trying to shoot. Yeah. And, like, we don't know who you are. We don't.

[Caroline]

Oh, Susan. Oh, my gosh.

[Liz]

Susan.

[Caroline]

Susan Dixon, our art director, was not aware people were.

[Liz]

She was not having it.

[Karen]

She's like, we don't know who you are. Go away.

[Liz]

Oh, it was.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Liz]

No, that was comedy. That was comedy. I was there for that day. That was good.

[Karen]

Cardi B. We love you.

[Caroline]

Oh, my gosh. Well, Lisa, hope you. Hopefully that answered your question. We don't want to steal the magic, but we don't shoot in real houses anymore.

[Liz]

No, not anymore.

[Karen]

But we do those house tours.

[Caroline]

That's true.

[Karen]

On YouTube, you have been doing some amazing house tours.

[Liz]

Those are fantastic.

[Caroline]

And all the outdoor ones are actually really gorgeous. Real homes that we do rent on location. So any of our outdoor photography is real.

[Liz]

I'm like, one of the houses that we shot at, too, this time around for Ma, for March Spring was a Stan Dixon house. And it was so, so pretty. Like, you couldn't. You couldn't take a bad photo there. Everything so gorgeous.

[Caroline]

Is the one covered in ivy. Yeah, that was really pretty.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Goes to show good architecture.

[Karen]

Yeah, great architecture matters.

[Liz]

Oh, my gosh.

[Caroline]

Okay, well, do we want to listen to some more voice memos from friends?

[Taryn]

Oh, yes.

[Caroline]

I had a few that I pulled. All right, y'all, tell me who this is. Oh, that might.

[Karen]

We have to guess.

[Liz]

Oh, do we know?

[Caroline]

Yeah, you'll know. You're gonna know who she is.

[Liz]

Hey, there.

[Rachel Cannon]

How to decorate Podcast family. Can you believe it? The 400 up.

[Caroline]

It's Rachel Cannon.

[Karen]

I knew that.

[Taryn]

I knew that.

[Karen]

Our introvert, Rachel.

[Rachel Cannon]

I mean, what a great. What a great and exciting day for you. It's your favorite cantaloupe role enforcer, Rachel Cannon. And I've had the privilege of being a guest three times on this amazing journey before, during, and after the pandemic. We started in Karen's dining room at her table, and then we moved to makeshift studios during lockdown. And finally, and most recently, I had the privilege of recording in the Ballard Designs studio in Atlanta. And each experience has been really just completely delightful. Ladies, there's something magical about how you make every guest feel like they're just chatting with their friends over coffee. And I felt like I had known all of you all of my life from the very first session. So this is not only a celebration of the podcast, but of the friendships that we've made along the way. And I. I just adore all of you. Since we're celebrating in the honor of, you know, 400 episodes, I thought I would leave with a quick styling tip about vignettes. When you're styling a vignette, think like a photographer capturing a family portrait. So, you know, in a portrait, you'd send the tallest people to the back. So tall. Tall guys in the back, middle height people in the middle. So, like, granddad's in the back, mom and dad are in the middle, and then the little kids are in the front. So the small accessories go towards the front. And you just try to layer in personality with texture metallics. Those are like your pets photobombing the family photo. And I think that's how you create a good vignette. So anyway, ladies and friends and fellow design enthusiasts, here's to 400 more episodes of making great design accessible, relatable, and, most importantly, fun. Thank you so much for letting me be part of this incredible journey. And remember, keep those accessories larger than a cantaloupe.

[Karen]

Cheers.

[Caroline]

Oh, my God.

[Taryn]

She took her number one takeaway from our first episode with her.

[Caroline]

Wasn't that like a camera? Like, that was a total aha moment.

[Taryn]

We all watched our light bulbs be like, you're right.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Liz]

No, I was just a listener at that time, and I was like, oh, oh.

[Karen]

As you go around your house taking all your lemons.

[Liz]

I did it.

[Karen]

You're just a lemon. You don't deserve to be an accessory. Or I have to pair you with two other things to make you.

[Liz]

We'll make your collection, give it weight. And I'm looking around your. Your dining room. Karen, you. You're doing a great job.

[Karen]

Am I?

[Taryn]

You are.

[Liz]

You are.

[Caroline]

I saw you eyeing your bookshelves during one of those. Yeah.

[Karen]

Jenny was talking about the bookshelves. I was like, wait a minute.

[Caroline]

Am I following the rules?

[Karen]

What am I doing? I don't know. I did group by color.

[Caroline]

You nailed it. You've got horizontal, you've got vertical, you've got space, texture, shapes. Yeah. You nailed it.

[Karen]

Thanks.

[Caroline]

You've learned something.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

Between Rachel and Ginny, I feel like, you know, they're both golden.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

We've gotten some good styling tips.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

All right. Do you want me to play one?

[Caroline]

Yeah. You go, Terry. Oh, these were a surprise. We don't Know who got who?

[Taryn]

You guys don't know who?

[Karen]

Do we have to guess this one, too?

[Taryn]

No, I think this.

[Caroline]

She introduces herself. Okay.

[Taryn]

Do you remember Mark Williams and Nikki?

[Liz]

Yes.

[Taryn]

I had such. Yes. We had such a great time with them that Nikki and I kind of started just following each other on Instagram and, like, she's so funny. And again, I think I'm friends with her now. Hi, Esther. She's mine, so here is hers.

[Nikki]

Congratulations, Ballard babes, on your 400th episode. What an accomplishment. That's just incredible. I had such a wonderful time on your podcast a couple of years ago. I would love to do it again. Just putting that out there to the universe. But I still enjoy listening to all of them. I think I'm missing a few, so I need to catch up. But I'm just so grateful for the work that you guys have done with this. It's such an accomplishment. That's just incredible. I had such a wonderful time on your podcast a couple of years ago. I would love to do it again. Just putting that out there to the universe. But I still enjoy listening to all of them. I think I'm missing a few, so I need to catch up. But I'm just so grateful for the work that you guys have done with this. It's such a joy, and I look forward to them being released every Tuesday. I think my one design tip is just make your space, make you happy. Honestly, there's really no wrong way to do that. So as long as you feel safe and comfortable and relaxed in your home, what it looks like doesn't really matter. Just enjoy it. So congratulations, ladies. You've done a wonderful thing, and that is a huge accomplishment. I hope you're proud of yourselves, because we all appreciate the work you do.

[Karen]

So sweet.

[Liz]

That is so sweet.

[Karen]

And what a sexy voice.

[Caroline]

I was gonna say.

[Karen]

Hello, Ballard babes.

[Taryn]

I feel like their work, like, her and Mark Williams work, too, is so. Because they're like the luxury homes they do are, so I feel like they go with that vibe. Yeah.

[Liz]

Yeah, they're so fantastic. And Nikki is so great. I. Yeah, she slid into my DMs a couple times, too, like, giving comments on. Did that person really say that? Because I just spit out some, so I know she's listening and.

[Caroline]

Yeah, yeah, you're awesome. I thought it was such.

[Taryn]

I appreciate it. I asked for what, like, if you have a. Your favorite design tip. And so I think, too, it goes back to how we all want to feel in our home. So I just loved that because it's so true. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter the trend. It really is about what makes your home feel good.

[Caroline]

So.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Oh, we have had some really wonderful.

[Taryn]

Guests and so many.

[Caroline]

There were a couple. I'm like, we need to have you. We need to have that person back. They're great.

[Liz]

The biggest surprise since I've been on the podcast has been just how nice our guests are. And, like, the bigger the talent, the nicer the person. And that I'm continually surprised and impressed and kind of take that away every time.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

We just have such beautiful guests.

[Karen]

Very gracious and open.

[Caroline]

Yeah. And, like, generous with their. With their. With their knowledge. Insight. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, I have one last one.

[Karen]

Okay.

[Caroline]

Because one of them I'm having trouble figuring out how to play, so here we go.

[Karen]

Okay.

[Caroline]

Oh, you're gonna have to guess who this is. I don't think she introduces herself.

[Karen]

Okay.

[Caroline]

Or should I introduce her?

[Karen]

I don't know.

[Caroline]

Okay. Well, this was, like, our fourth guest.

[Taryn]

Oh.

[Karen]

And I already have a hypothesis.

[Taryn]

Now she remembers her name.

[Caroline]

Okay, who is it?

[Karen]

Erica Ward.

[Taryn]

Yes. Good memory.

[Karen]

Oh, my Lord. Well, here's what I remember about Erica Ward. When she came on afterwards, she was like, can I see your house? And I was like, oh, no.

[Caroline]

Why?

[Karen]

Well, because there were just things that weren't done. You know, you get designers in here looking around.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Taryn]

That's pressure.

[Karen]

That's intimidation.

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Karen]

And I was in the middle of doing my guest room, and I had, like, pulled lamps out of the basement, and it was not good. And I was like, oh, these are lamps. Basement. I'm trying to, like, make excuses, but I just remember, like, oh, I had to walk her around the house, and.

[Caroline]

I was very intimidated, but she's the sweetest person ever.

[Karen]

She's so nice. She was not judgy.

[Caroline]

It wasn't her.

[Karen]

It was all me. Yes.

[Taryn]

It's time any. Anyone comes in your home, though, and they, like, want to see more than your. The spaces you planned and you're like, about that.

[Caroline]

I feel like it's with, like, with photos. Whenever you see a photo of yourself, you're hypercritical of yourself, but not others. And I feel like that's how your house is. When you look at your house, you're seeing, like, oh, that kitchen counter is untidy, or, I need to fix that little blemish on the ceiling or something, and no one else notices that I do you notice that in other people's houses?

[Karen]

I'm judgy.

[Taryn]

Oh, I don't judge you.

[Karen]

McJudge a lot.

[Caroline]

There's a lot going on. I'm too distracted.

[Karen]

I mean. Okay, yeah, I was going to say. No, I'm not b. I am.

[Caroline]

At least you're honest about it. No one's inviting you over anymore. Sure, Karen, we can have dinner, but we're going out to eat. Yeah.

[Karen]

Yes.

[Taryn]

You can't come over to my works at Karen's place. Well, yeah, they always put the pressure back on you.

[Karen]

I'm a Taurus. I want you to come here. I don't really. There you go.

[Caroline]

A different place.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Okay, let me play Erica's message.

[Karen]

Now I feel bad. I'm so sorry.

[Erica Ward]

It's been quite a while since I was first on the how to Decorate podcast and it was so much fun. I rem gathering together at Karen's house, which was a huge deal, period. Karen's house was so cozy, so warm, so beautiful. And we sat around the table chatting like old friends and of course, talking about our favorite topics, design. Since then, I've been doing more of what I love and really delving into the podcast and so excited to see so many of my colleagues, people who are new to me and folks who. Who I've known for years, be a part of what Ballard Design has put together, and then further with the YouTube channel, with the home tours. Love what I see happening there. I really enjoy the fact that this is a platform not just for a seasoned designer, but also design enthusiast and people in general who just genuinely love to call home at their favorite place. And also, it's a place where they can make really intimate memories with your families and just have super fun times, even with your friends.

[Caroline]

Isn't she lovely?

[Karen]

She's so sweet.

[Caroline]

She's a great host.

[Taryn]

See? And then you said your house. She just validated you right there.

[Karen]

Well, it's all in your head, right?

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Right.

[Caroline]

We're all.

[Karen]

Like you said, we give us. Gives our. Give ourselves a little grace.

[Caroline]

Yeah, exactly.

[Taryn]

All right.

[Karen]

All right. Maybe it's not as judgies.

[Caroline]

All right, Taryn, you have. I think you have one more.

[Taryn]

I think so. But that was. I feel like. Can you send just one and listen to it once and then it disappears?

[Caroline]

Oh, that might have happened. Okay.

[Taryn]

Yeah, it might happen. That was.

[Caroline]

We do have lots of questions to get to.

[Taryn]

Well, yes, it was. It was from Lauren. Elaine. Just saying it was just a congratulations, so.

[Caroline]

That's so sweet.

[Karen]

Everyone's so kind.

[Caroline]

I know. Well, again, we have great guests.

[Karen]

Well, I mean, the thing would Be like, this would not be a thing without these people. Generosity, you know, and that's very true. And if they were all like, no, I'm not sharing my secrets, we wouldn't have 400 episodes. We'd probably have 14 and be like, all right, this is a bust.

[Caroline]

Yeah. I mean, you know, none of us knew, I think, going into it, what it could be. And obviously there are lots of podcasts out there. But I just don't know that I realized how much I would learn. I knew I would enjoy talking about it, but, gosh, I've just learned so much. And so it's been, like, amazing.

[Karen]

Well, that's one of the questions.

[Caroline]

Yes, that's true.

[Karen]

What have you learned? Or your biggest learning?

[Caroline]

Yes. Rachel asked, what are your biggest lessons? Do you want me to go?

[Karen]

Do you want me to go? Yes.

[Caroline]

Well, okay, here's something that I. I was thinking. I was reflecting on it on the way here. I think that one of the things I thought before maybe even joining Ballard, but definitely before the podcast, is that, okay, if I have good taste, then I'm gonna pick out cute things, and it's all gonna go in my home, and it's gonna look good. And in reality, I don't really think that's how it works. I mean, and maybe that can sometimes work out, but really, I need a plan. And every designer comes in here, and they always have a plan, and that is what sets apart their rooms from just a, you know, a room with cute stuff in it. It has a plan. And they have not just decided, like, okay, there's going to be a coffee table, but, like, how big does the coffee table going to be? What is the right shape? What is the right finish? What is the right, you know, everything for all the. Not just something that's attractive, because there are dozens and dozens, hundreds of thousands of attractive options, but what is going to be the best thing with the other things in the room? So it's not. I just think that, like, having the plan is the differentiator.

[Karen]

Yeah. You can't all be independent items that suddenly are magically going to be awesome.

[Caroline]

Exactly.

[Karen]

Or like, you fall in love with something at a sale and then try to cram that into your design.

[Caroline]

I mean, sometimes that can work, but.

[Karen]

If it's part of your plan.

[Caroline]

Exactly right.

[Taryn]

Exactly. Right. Because you still have to have those dimensions, because to your. You know, I'm currently shopping for a side table. And again, the plan was I have to know how big I can go, because I can. I know what textures I'm mixing in. I have wooden headboards. I have white bedding. I'm gonna do a blue accent. So I have a groundwork. But what is that piece that fits between? And it can be anything, quote unquote. But if it doesn't fit, it's never gonna happen. So it is very much to your point. Having the plan so that you can take your time has been such a valuable one.

[Liz]

Or be ready to jump when you do find it.

[Karen]

Yes.

[Taryn]

Right.

[Liz]

Yes.

[Taryn]

Like now I'm read pass an estate sale today and I can do a bit, you know, I'm ready. I know my dimensions.

[Karen]

Do you keep a measuring tape in your purse?

[Taryn]

Yes.

[Karen]

Do you?

[Liz]

Oh, no, I don't. I should.

[Karen]

Do you.

[Caroline]

I have before. I currently do not have one, but I did used to keep one in my glove compartment.

[Karen]

We do have the measure app on our phones, ladies.

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Karen]

So don't forget that. And it works pretty well. Yeah, it does work pretty well.

[Caroline]

And most, I would say most furniture stores though do have a measuring tape.

[Karen]

But like an estate sale.

[Caroline]

Yeah, that's true. Yeah. Yeah. What about y'all? What is your biggest takeaway or your lesson learned?

[Taryn]

Some easy ones for me is I learned right away that White Dove was my friend. Anytime anyone asks me about a Benjamin Moore, I say, you know, there's a few whites. Of course I give from the podcast because I feel like whites are what a lot of people struggle with. And we talk about it from the catalog that a lot of people love paint. And I do feel like I, I appreciate the fact that I now have like five whites that I'm always like, I'm always ready to be like, ok, depending. There's a lot of factors and so you need to swatch it, you know, being able to talk to paint very like, you need a big foam board, you need to paint it, you need to do different times of day. I just feel very. I just had a friend who painted. Their painters came yesterday and I. And she did do White Dove throughout because we were talking about the warmth she wanted in the space and her lighting. And we, she, I, I made her swat test it. I was like, if it's not, we can go more Chantilly lace and maybe a little more cooler anyway. And so she was very pleased that it was not, it was, it was a good. And she was like, it's a little warm, but it's like good. And I was like, I know things I didn't know before the podcast. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Liz]

I think mine is going to go right after Yours because it's about color. And even though I know color and, like, understand color, understanding color within your space and then figuring out how to tie things around that to unify your space, it's something that I've totally learned through this podcast and really just going through all of the books and the. The source images from all of our guests and really being inspired by our guests, you know, and really kind of seeing images and like, being like, oh, I love the feel of that room. Like, Gail Davis did this show, house bedroom. And it totally inspired me to wallpaper my bedroom and get drapes that are in this beautiful plum that. That match into it, that match into what she was doing in her room. And it's been so exciting to kind of figure that out. Cause I'm good two dimensionally, three dimensions. I don't know.

[Caroline]

It's very different.

[Karen]

And color is a science.

[Liz]

It really is.

[Karen]

And it's not just blue. Nothing's ever just blue.

[Liz]

It's never. Yeah, yeah.

[Taryn]

So, yeah, color's a big one.

[Karen]

Mine's so silly. It's little. So it just really stuck with me. And it was something that Suzanne Castler told us when she was on here and we were talking about, you know, I'm obsessed with cords. If y'all haven't heard me talk about it.

[Caroline]

You really, really are.

[Karen]

I have a cord obsession. I don't want to see a cord. Why do we have to look at them? Let's just hide them everywhere we possibly can.

[Caroline]

But it's really hard. And you're really good at it.

[Karen]

Thank you.

[Liz]

You're really good at it.

[Taryn]

You are very good.

[Karen]

But she said that they cut holes in rugs. And I'm like, even expensive rugs. Because Suzanne is not an inexpensive designer. She has fancy pants, and she's like, oh, yeah, you can Even a very expensive rug, you turn it over onto the back. You can cut just a little hole in the sort of the weave of the back of the rug, and you put your cord right through there, and you run it all the way under, all the way across the room to the outlet. And I was like, like, magic. Yeah, magic. You know?

[Taryn]

Yeah, I've used that trick. I mean, I just couldn't believe it either. I was like, wait, that's how you.

[Caroline]

You know, she probably buys like, 50, $100,000 rugs.

[Karen]

Yes.

[Caroline]

So, yeah.

[Karen]

And her. I'm. I'm sure her customers would never think, oh, you cut a hole in it. But, yeah, it doesn't dam. I mean, you can easily, like. And you would Never ever see it. You would never see that rug. I mean, don't go in there with a quality hand.

[Caroline]

It's really like a slit, right?

[Karen]

Like, it's a little slit in the back, just enough to get through there. And you can do it in with natural f. Like, I would think most rugs you could do it with. So, Yeah, I. I thought that was a great tip, and I loved it.

[Caroline]

And you do it.

[Karen]

And I love cords.

[Liz]

That is.

[Caroline]

That is a good one. Quality tip. I kind of forgot about that one. But that's a good one. See?

[Taryn]

And others that I live by now that are, like, totally true. Is something living in a room. Like, again, if you can get a plant in there.

[Caroline]

Oh, yeah. You're a plant lady now.

[Taryn]

Well, I'm. I'm a little too hard. But it is winter, so there's. There's. There's a lot of extras.

[Caroline]

You've got a greenhouse.

[Taryn]

I am a plant lady. So I guess I took that one way too hard. And the second one is. But I tell people again, if they need hiding in a corner, I'm like. Like, you. You should think about a plant stand with a beautiful plant and. Or. Or a tree. Like, can you get something. And obviously, I love a real. But I understand we don't all love dealing with real and. Or we don't live there full time.

[Caroline]

So.

[Taryn]

Yes, I do think something living and something brown.

[Caroline]

Like, brown in every space.

[Taryn]

We always talk about brown wood.

[Karen]

Okay.

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Taryn]

That was one that I take away now. When I'm investigating and looking at a space, there's that warmth and depth that would bring something brown in the space. And so it's something I. And they're like, how do you know? I'm like, what do I need?

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

And so that one. I usually am like, we need something with some patina or wood or something to show that kind of natural. Yeah.

[Caroline]

So those are. Ashley Whitaker kind of said the same thing, but different. She said something. What did she say? It was like, something crusty.

[Taryn]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Kind of.

[Karen]

You know, it can't all be new.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

You know, it's just. So one note. If. If it's a room is just. I just bought all this, and here it is.

[Caroline]

Well, I. I think Ashley was the one who. Remember when you got those chairs from the antique market in France and you were gonna paint the frame and she was like, no, don't do it.

[Karen]

And they're brown and they look great. I love them. Yeah. No, I can attest to that because I've. I just. You Know, not too long ago, we got a house in St. Pete and Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida. I think I told y'all I was lonely, I needed friends, and y'all reached out. It was very sweet. Thank you. But, you know, I had to decorate it fast. And I think, you know, designers often have to decorate things fast, and so they're doing whole homes. And it just made me realize, gosh, I cannot get everything from Ballard. It's going to look like a Ballard catalog. And I don't want everything to be new because it's gonna look like I just went into the store, filled up a truck and brought it over. And so I was very intentional about, you know, every room having something old or something I got at, you know, a flea market or an antique store. You know, it doesn't have to be something big. It could be a little accessory or a little plant stand, you know, 20 or $40 here and there, a lamp or something. But, you know, it just adds a little touch of character and makes it feel a bit of personality. Yeah.

[Caroline]

Okay, well, because you already mentioned it, someone on Instagram said an English summer asked, are indoors are faux plants or flowers ever? Okay, so what's your take on that, Taryn, since you brought up flowers, obviously.

[Taryn]

Yes. I mean, absolutely.

[Karen]

Yes, sir. Okay.

[Caroline]

Yeah. I think especially in a room that, like your guest room or something.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Like, you're not gonna go in there and water your orchid every day or every two weeks, whatever it is, you know? Yeah.

[Taryn]

It really does matter in your lighting because if it's not going to live, you're just going to. You're going to be frustrated.

[Caroline]

So why, like, beating your head up against the wall again?

[Taryn]

You're trying to make your home joyful and comfortable. If it's something that adds value, you know, there's good lighting. You know, a plant's gonna like it. But like, if it's not, that is where faux is great. And there's so many great faux. I mean, we've all seen bad faux and you've seen great foe, so.

[Karen]

And you can do things like stems. It doesn't have to be. Oh, yeah. A fake fern.

[Liz]

Right.

[Caroline]

And I also love the Carmen Johnston trick where she does the faux and the real.

[Karen]

Yes. Mixing it. Because you can keep your faux all the time and then just pull out some cut things.

[Taryn]

That's a great.

[Karen]

Yeah, yeah.

[Liz]

So.

[Karen]

Yes. Like this.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

Oh, gosh. But they do have those pots that self water, which is nice if you travel a lot, and they have some good looking ones. And so if you Are worried you're gonna kill your tree? Get one of those pots that does the self watering for you so you're not as susceptible to death.

[Caroline]

Okay. I will say, when I went to James Farmer's house, all of his exterior pots are self watering.

[Karen]

Like a drip line. Yeah.

[Caroline]

He has drip lines.

[Karen]

Yeah, you gotta have a drip line. And that's easy to get someone. If you don't know how to do yourself. It's easy to get someone to come and do that. Especially if you have. If you have any kind of outdoor water system, like an irrigation system, they can just tap into that or they can just use a drip line and then take little. You can do it yourself if you're handy. Like. Yeah, you can watch YouTube and do it. I'm not handy and neither's my husband. So we tried it and then we brought in a professional.

[Taryn]

Yeah. And dried is also an option. Just don't forget dried stuff too. Because if you are. If you're against faux, dried are also. They make so many beautiful dried things.

[Karen]

Like boxwood and cypress.

[Caroline]

I love preserved boxwood. Yeah.

[Karen]

And like that thing, what is that, a cypress, something?

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Yeah, that's a little cypress.

[Karen]

I've had that like five years. It looks so good.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

I think I'm supposed to be misting it with water, but I never have.

[Caroline]

It doesn't look dusty.

[Taryn]

The dusty.

[Caroline]

But real.

[Taryn]

But real plants are dusty too.

[Caroline]

That is true.

[Taryn]

I have to take the fiddle leaves out every year. And I mean. Yeah, you gotta. You gotta wash them off. I gotta do every leaf. Yeah.

[Caroline]

So yeah.

[Taryn]

Yes. But don't let your plants get dusty, faux or real.

[Caroline]

Okay. We did get a question.

[Karen]

2.

[Caroline]

Two people asked this actually, and it's sort of an unhinged question because it's going to be extremely hard for all of you.

[Karen]

Unhinged.

[Caroline]

What is your favorite Ballard Designs product? Oh, how could we possibly answer that question?

[Taryn]

Yeah, Karen's been there too long to.

[Caroline]

Go like, this is hard. I don't know.

[Liz]

I mean, the thing that we use every day is our curved banquette. And I remember when I first joined the podcast, I was like, I got this thing and it's big old whale and I don't know if it's gonna work. And I can't live without it.

[Karen]

It.

[Liz]

I can't live without it. It's so great.

[Karen]

These are for dining?

[Liz]

Yeah. So it's around. It's up against a 60 inch dining table and it's just. I mean, it's fantastic. It's fantastic. Everybody wants to sit There. It makes our dining room feel like a cafe. And it's a cozy place to do the crossword puzzle or hang out or read or whatever as well. Which I wouldn't hang out and read in my dining room. Other ways.

[Karen]

No, I'm not trying.

[Liz]

Yeah, it's great.

[Karen]

I mean, couldn't it. Wouldn't it be cute right there?

[Liz]

It would be totally cute right there.

[Caroline]

You saw, Karen, it doesn't take much.

[Liz]

And you can get a pattern that ties in from your new drapery and pulls that into the pattern.

[Caroline]

What?

[Liz]

I know.

[Caroline]

Actually, I think I probably should do a pattern. I regret not doing a pattern on my banquet. I will say you did kind of. It just. It has. It needs to be professionally cleaned, but.

[Karen]

Yeah. Well, especially with children.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Yeah. They're not allowed to eat on it.

[Karen]

But still living it.

[Caroline]

Yeah, I was. I mean, it's a hard one, but.

[Liz]

It's hard. Yeah, it's hard. I mean, we all have so much Ballard in our homes.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

I've really like. I don't know. I really like my dining table from Bellard.

[Caroline]

Oh, the Miles record.

[Taryn]

Yeah, that one.

[Karen]

We're bringing it back.

[Taryn]

I know. You all can still have it.

[Caroline]

Yeah, it's.

[Karen]

It's like glossy black.

[Taryn]

It's just so impactful. But then I was seeing the same. I was like, I love my sofa. I love my bed.

[Caroline]

I love my bed.

[Liz]

My coffee table.

[Caroline]

Okay. Rugs. Oh, God, I love my rug. I'm not a rug.

[Taryn]

I do love my.

[Caroline]

The one that I bought.

[Taryn]

Because you bought it.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

Wait, the Tamiza.

[Caroline]

What?

[Karen]

I have that one upstairs.

[Caroline]

Do you really? Oh, I love that one.

[Liz]

No, I didn't get it in time.

[Taryn]

I will say there are people who then walked into our home. Like, I feel like there are multiple people at work who are like, you got it. I didn't get it in time.

[Liz]

Get it in time.

[Caroline]

You gotta pounce so good. And I will say, I think I was always skept. I was skeptical before buying a hand knotted rug because they are very expensive.

[Liz]

Right.

[Caroline]

But every single designer we had here on the podcast would talk about that's the way to go, period.

[Taryn]

Like hand.

[Caroline]

Hand out a rug. And it. They are. Right, Right. I have been able to get everything out. It cleans so easily. It's so soft. Like, it just.

[Karen]

They're gonna last you forever.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Right.

[Karen]

Yeah. And it's just pennywise and pound foolish, I think, to buy cheap rugs.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Because I'm a believer in that now.

[Karen]

Yeah. You spill things. I mean, I'm not talking about a performance rug or something like that. That's, you know, it's an inexpensive rug. That's not a luxurious rug. Right. But these are something you're gonna put in your living room and sit on and touch it and walk barefoot on it, and your children are gonna crawl on it, and you're gon 80 years. You know, it's. What is that, like cost per wear when you think about clothing? So it's like that. It's like you're really getting your. Your dollars worth.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

On this.

[Taryn]

Well, plus, it's not, it's not going into a landfill. It's probably. It's being passed like some, you know, like they become a generational item.

[Karen]

They move it room to room. And I do that all the time. I think that's makes a whole new, like, oh, this is a neutral rug. I'm moving to that room that's got color. I move that colorful rug into this neutral room and then suddenly it's like.

[Taryn]

You'Re ready to play. Yeah.

[Liz]

I have our antelope rug. And I've moved it, I think, to every single room.

[Karen]

I have that rug. I love that rug the best. I have it in a chocolate brown, which we don't carry anymore. Oh, and I have the. The tany colored runner upstairs. And I love it. It's so good.

[Taryn]

It's because animal prints, a neutral that like.

[Caroline]

And the pattern. The pattern is forgiving.

[Karen]

It is forgiving.

[Caroline]

Yeah. And the wool, actually probably the wool is the best thing about it. Just it being 100% wool.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Karen]

A wool rug. Rug is a good investment.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

Forever do it. Yeah.

[Caroline]

And I feel like, especially with kids, people feel like it doesn't make sense to buy something expensive because it will get ruined. But I actually feel like the fact that I bought the expensive rug means that it won't get ruined because. Do you feel this way about that rug? I feel like everything comes out.

[Karen]

Oh, okay.

[Caroline]

It just, it has really stood up. I mean, my dog throwing up on it. Kids stuff. Yeah. So just like all the terrible things that, you know, that happen and it all comes out and like, and I will say, probably pre podcast, I would have never bought a patterned rug. That would have felt really scary. And now I understand the versatility of a patterned rug. Like right now maybe you're pulling out the blue, but in 10 years, maybe you want to pull out the yellow. And if you get something with pattern and color, you can.

[Liz]

Yeah, it can go any which way. Yeah, exactly.

[Caroline]

Exactly.

[Taryn]

I wish that about upholstery I wish I thought that earlier because I went safe and neutral. And I wish I had figured some sort of pattern because it would have hidden more. Like. It's nice to have a meatball test.

[Karen]

I know.

[Caroline]

Yeah, the meatball test.

[Taryn]

Meatball test came up after.

[Caroline]

Yeah, I know.

[Liz]

That's true.

[Karen]

Yeah. I have all solid sofas, I think.

[Caroline]

But your kids are grown now, so I feel like it's a little bit easier.

[Taryn]

But, like, I'm looking right now when.

[Karen]

They were little, too.

[Caroline]

Oh, you did.

[Taryn]

But you have a patterned chair in the other room.

[Karen]

Yes. Zebra.

[Taryn]

Yes. And when is that chair we sell?

[Karen]

That's a Larkin glider, which I love.

[Taryn]

I can see your Larkin. I have a Larkin. Love her. But. Yeah, you have a zebra print. And it's just enough again, to, like, semi, you know.

[Karen]

But if you held up that fabric, people would be like, what? Zebra? It's crazy because it's a big scale, but it put it on that chair, and it's really the only pattern in the room. And it's like, nothing in there. It's literally hardly anything. It's hardly even eye catching.

[Liz]

And that was a Performance V2, too.

[Taryn]

Aren't leaving it.

[Karen]

Well, my point is, like, you know, when you. When you're looking at a fabric, don't be like, once you get it on an item, it's. It's totally different. And sitting in the room in its place.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

It's not gonna, like, slap you in the face when you walk in. It's just gonna sit there.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Right.

[Karen]

Just sit there and be a good girl.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

The Larkin is great.

[Caroline]

Here's another good one.

[Taryn]

The Larkin's a great one, too. I did just think of that.

[Karen]

It's so comfortable.

[Taryn]

I used it as a nursery chair, and now I just grew up in that chair. And.

[Karen]

Cool to watch TV and then talk to the family or eat dinner.

[Caroline]

It's.

[Taryn]

She got classic lines, too. Yeah.

[Caroline]

I do love our bed. The bed that we both have.

[Karen]

What bed do you have, Caroline?

[Taryn]

We don't have the same house.

[Karen]

You have the channel bag brie.

[Caroline]

The channel bag brie bed, but partially. I think it's just having a fully upholstered bed, not just a headboard.

[Karen]

Luxurious.

[Caroline]

Oh, my God. Amazing.

[Taryn]

I will say that felt adult. It felt adult to get a fully upholstered bed. And I have. I do. You've.

[Karen]

It feels like when you go to the nicest hotel and you see.

[Taryn]

But you live there.

[Karen]

Yes, but you live there. Don't you deserve to have a house? It feels at least like a Hotel.

[Taryn]

The things I have saved up for and, like, thought about. And yes, those investment pieces have. I have never. I have not regretted them. They have always been like, I now get to live the way I want it. Like, burn yip said with his vacation.

[Karen]

That's what I was just thinking. Literally, great lessons.

[Caroline]

He was also lovely. We didn't have him back. We didn't have all these people back.

[Taryn]

And it's been so great.

[Caroline]

You have all 400. We'll just have all 400 back. And then that'll be the next 400 episodes.

[Karen]

Start at the beginning.

[Taryn]

Good. Good plan.

[Liz]

Let's go.

[Caroline]

Man.

[Karen]

Eight years from now.

[Caroline]

I know.

[Karen]

How old will you be?

[Taryn]

Whoa.

[Caroline]

I'm not sharing that.

[Karen]

I'll be my walker.

[Taryn]

I wish we had looked up what was, like, trending then to now. It'd be funny to see what we had had.

[Caroline]

Oh, you knew what the trends were.

[Taryn]

Yeah.

[Karen]

When we started.

[Taryn]

We can do that next week.

[Caroline]

Yeah, well, we'll have to. We'll have to. We'll do that for another time. Yeah. Okay. Well, the next one that I thought was kind of loved was. What is your favorite design book? That's from Jamie. Any, like, things jump out at y'all? I always revisit Ashley Whitaker's book and Markham Roberts. Those two are, like, my idols. And I just. Anytime we're looking for inspiration for the catalog, I'm like, those are my go tos. I'm gonna go look in there. And they always have something that I like.

[Liz]

This is really tough because hard to.

[Karen]

I'm looking around.

[Taryn]

I. I took a photos of my books this morning just to make sure I was I correct. So you go ahead.

[Liz]

Okay. So the one that comes top of mind is David Jimenez.

[Caroline]

Oh, yeah.

[Taryn]

Oh, my gosh.

[Liz]

Is so beautiful. And just the way that he lives with art and drapery, and it's just these really gorgeous tonal rooms that are just so filled with life and art, and those are fantastic. And then the one book that I always share whenever I have friends that come over, so we do, like, a brunch in books with artists. And, like, we all, like, bring our favorite art books. And the one that I always bust out is Rowdy Meadow, which is Peter Prenoyer's.

[Taryn]

Oh, God.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Oh, my God, that book.

[Karen]

I love the name.

[Taryn]

It was all about one mansion thing.

[Caroline]

Basically everything is one property.

[Karen]

Wow.

[Caroline]

It's wild.

[Liz]

Yeah. And it's on these, like, principles of like. Like Czech cubism. I mean, it's just outrageous. It is such a beautiful place. So that's one that I'm always just shoving under people's noses saying, you need to look at this. And, like, telling people, like, no, look at this ceiling. Like, this is just a ceiling. And the. Just the way that the light plays off of it is just. Oh, my gosh. Everybody.

[Caroline]

Yeah, go get it, everybody. Good. Remind. I forgot about that one. Oh, about you, Taryn.

[Taryn]

Some favorites. And again, there's. They were all good, like, so much, but.

[Caroline]

Oh, my God.

[Taryn]

Yeah. Summer Thornton's. I like, loved because you remember all the color. Yes. Katie Ritter's. Yes. There was also the editor of Southern Living with the two H names. Yeah. Haskell Harris, remember, with her striped book. That was so good.

[Caroline]

Romantics, I think, called.

[Taryn]

And then listen, we're keeping these seriously.

[Liz]

On our coffee tables and everywhere. Like, I have Wonderland, like, at. At.

[Caroline]

So good. Yeah.

[Taryn]

English. The English Houses by Ben. Oh, gosh.

[Caroline]

Yes. Ben Pendrey.

[Taryn]

That's another one. Oh, Haskell Harris is hers. Was the house or wait. Yeah, the house. Romantic.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Yes.

[Taryn]

Okay. I wanted to give the name to it because it was. And then David Netto's book was like.

[Caroline]

The one with El in la, right?

[Taryn]

A lot of it was in la.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

But he had. The spaces were so good. Again, nothing in my style, but I.

[Liz]

Think that's so stylish.

[Taryn]

Yeah.

[Liz]

Just everything about him.

[Caroline]

Well, his look like you just had great taste and went shopping and you know, that he didn't like. He does have great taste and go shopping, but he also has a plan, and he's, like, way more talented than anyone, but it doesn't look decorated.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

I love these faces. I was going to say Katie Reader because. Because it's just so unlike me. A lot of the color and embellishment and fancy little details. It's fun to see something that you wouldn't normally do and challenge you a little bit to get outside your comfort zone.

[Caroline]

She has the most amazing imagination. We're not just gonna upholster that headboard. We're gonna have someone hand embroider a floral pattern on it. You know what I mean? Like her Craftsman details or so. So, like, creative. I don't know.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

Well, that's something this has really created, too, is just realizing the creative elements that people have put in to make these spaces so special. And what you can take away from that has been, for me, again, putting up trim, like grosgrain trim around my dining room. And people are still amazed. And I'm like, no, they're all doing it. I just. They did it So I did it. And you can do it for $10.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

Anyway, sorry, what did you say, your favorites?

[Caroline]

I said Ashley Whitaker and Markham Roberts.

[Taryn]

Okay.

[Caroline]

Yeah, those are my. I mean, but every single one that y'all mentioned, I also love Katie Ritters has also the one that she and Peter Pennoyer of their house. House in the Country, I think it's called. And that one's also great. I mean, I don't have that one yet. I could just name them for a whole episode with just great books. But so.

[Taryn]

Oh, yeah. Vern Yip's Vacation at Home. Again, like, if you're looking for, like, straight tips and tricks. Yeah.

[Karen]

Very practical advice.

[Liz]

Also, like, we.

[Taryn]

We've done so many good practical books, too, if you're really starting out.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Tom Shearer also is like, I love his.

[Taryn]

The architects.

[Caroline]

And he's like, so, yes, Gil.

[Taryn]

I built my house around Gil Shaver's books.

[Liz]

I love talking about these books again, because, like, as you're mentioning them, I'm like, okay, yeah, that one's on the coffee table. That one's on the side table. That one's in the living room. That one's in the living room next to the tv. Like, I've got them all pepper everywhere. And yeah, these are all my favorites, too.

[Taryn]

Unlike my algorithm, it keeps. Like, I can enjoy it without seeing something that I'm like, get out of here.

[Liz]

Right.

[Caroline]

All right, here's another one that I thought was fun. I mean, there we were not going to be able to get to all these questions, so I'm sorry to anyone who's not getting theirs answered, but we'll.

[Karen]

Come to your house and answer for you there.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

I'll make you a PowerPoint.

[Caroline]

What is your favorite room to decorate? This was from.

[Liz]

MC Flavor of the month.

[Caroline]

Isn't that a hard one? I'm like, that's a. Yeah.

[Taryn]

For me, I feel like the most that I've done from scratch planned have been bedrooms. And I think because of that, I've enjoyed them a lot. Because the bedding plus the art, plus the actual furniture. I like the bedding element.

[Karen]

Yeah, I never do the bedding element.

[Caroline]

You know what I mean?

[Karen]

I never do pattern or anything on a bed, so I never even think about that as, like, a place to have fun.

[Caroline]

You never do pattern in the bed.

[Taryn]

Oh, my gosh. There's so many layers to a bed between the sheets and the duvets and the blankets and the pillows. Yeah, Yeah.

[Caroline]

I. I like the bedrooms, too, because there's a. Because they're just by definition enclosed. I feel like you can. I can be a little bit more like fun in there. Yeah.

[Taryn]

You feel safe. Cuz they're just one space.

[Caroline]

Right.

[Taryn]

It doesn't connect at all.

[Caroline]

Which, which is really fun. You can like be really off the wall. Not that I've done anything that crazy, but you know, like it doesn't have.

[Taryn]

To be cohesive with the whole house. It can be a theme.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

You can do puppy dog wallpaper and spongebob.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

No, I like a living space.

[Taryn]

Okay.

[Karen]

And I think I like it. I was thinking about it as you were saying that. I think I like it because there are a lot of different kinds of elements you can put in there and a lot of different heights you can work with and you can have a lot, lot of, you know, bigger things and little things and different nooks and crannies of it. Yeah, I like that. Yeah.

[Caroline]

Well, it is the most practical. I feel like it's the one. You know, you're going to get the payoff to decorate it. So that is fun too. True.

[Karen]

Because people see it. Yeah.

[Taryn]

And it's probably the one you spend.

[Karen]

Most of the time.

[Caroline]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Liz]

I'm moving all around the house. It all just depends on. It just depends on like, you know, what's, what's bugging me right now or like where, where my attention is or like what room I want to sit in more often. Right.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Liz]

So again like I'm at my dining table a lot. So I really want to paint that room now. Or you know, like. Or I'll sit in, in the dining room and like. Or in the living room and be like, you know what? I like the structure of this room, but maybe I need to change it up or like those kind of things. So I'm, I'm. I'm all over the place.

[Karen]

Do you guys repaint a lot?

[Caroline]

I kind of have repainted a little bit, but.

[Liz]

So when we moved into our house, we painted the entire house. Sherwin Williams Greek.

[Karen]

Key.

[Liz]

Greek. No, Greek villa. Yeah. And it's a really lovely warm white. We did the ceilings, we did the walls, everything. Because when we moved in, when we brought the house like it was. Every room was a different weird pastel.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Liz]

And no, I needed to figure out what the house was. And so now we're layering in colors. So we're going room by room.

[Caroline]

Yeah. I just went. I painted that TV room in the basement.

[Karen]

But so I started out like a mauvey color and went black. Or did you Start out black and went to.

[Caroline]

Yeah, started black and went to mauve. Mauve, yeah. And then the basement, I started green. I painted green and then I painted it also mauve.

[Karen]

Well, that's interesting because. Yeah. So you didn't get it right the first time and you, you were like redo.

[Caroline]

Yeah, yeah.

[Karen]

Uh huh.

[Liz]

I was really impressed that you went from green to the mop in the basement. And it's lovely. It's so beautiful. And it doesn't feel like a basement color, which is great. But I'm really super impressed that you repainted the bookcases.

[Caroline]

It's nice of you to say impressed. I say crazy. Cause that was a ridiculous thing to do. I had just painted it green.

[Liz]

I wasn't gonna go there, but you know.

[Caroline]

But I am happy with it. I'm much happier than pink, than the green.

[Karen]

So you got it finished and you were just like, this isn't right. Doesn't feel good.

[Caroline]

I lived with it for probably a year and a half and then just being down there every day. I initially painted it. Not planning to work down there, but then moving my desk and everything down there. It was just too sad. And we had Colleen Simmons on the podcast and she was talking about setting plaster was her favorite room to paint, like basements and dark rooms. And I was like, oh, paint, I'm in one of the pants. So I tested it and then one weekend was like, I'm gonna paint the whole thing. And.

[Liz]

And you did it all weekend. Which that was like super bonkers.

[Caroline]

This is my. I've decided that this is both my superpower and my fatal flaw is thinking that I can do it myself. Because then everyone in my family is like, you are annoying right now, having to drop everything in your life to paint this basement. But anyway. But it looks good.

[Karen]

Did you just lock your kids out and say like, there's cheese upstairs?

[Caroline]

I'm like, you're gonna have to take the kids this weekend because I'm painting. Or I would like put the kids to bed and then paint until like two in the morning and then be miserable.

[Karen]

And what's the name of this paint?

[Caroline]

It's called setting plaster. Like pinky color.

[Taryn]

It's got like a. Yeah, it's a light pink.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Pretty good.

[Liz]

It's very pretty.

[Caroline]

Okay. Oh, this is a good one. This is from Ann and she says dream guest that you haven't yet interviewed. I feel like we all have the same one. Right? I know who I. Mine is. Who is it?

[Karen]

Martha. Oh, I know, I know. Duh.

[Taryn]

I mean, Martha would be great, but they broke up.

[Caroline]

I know. We have to. We could maybe we could.

[Karen]

Maybe we can get them both come and spill the tea on each other. Not at the same time, separately.

[Caroline]

I would be happy with either.

[Karen]

Yeah, I know.

[Liz]

That would be good.

[Taryn]

I've.

[Caroline]

I've emailed Ina's. Someone tangential to Ina like five times. I've emailed her book publisher, I've emailed her website, everything.

[Taryn]

This is such a hard question because I feel like we've been so lucky to get. Yeah, we've gotten the best of the best, like top talents. That is true. I mean, remember the. Who came on and was like designing.

[Karen]

Yachts and I was like, oh, yes, I remember that.

[Taryn]

I can't remember his name.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Oh, gosh, he's going to come to me later.

[Karen]

Multimillion doll yacht designer.

[Taryn]

And I was like, hi.

[Karen]

You know, you're like practical tips do you have for us?

[Taryn]

Oh, gosh, yeah.

[Liz]

Because at that point the small spaces aren't even small spaces.

[Caroline]

So, yeah, we've had some really heavy hitters. I mean, and I remember interviewing Miles the first time. I was totally starstruck. I don't even know. I feel like I was just blabbering the whole time, like.

[Taryn]

And Bunny, oh my gosh. And Suzanne, like the first time I met all of them, I was like, oh, my God.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Taryn]

Just to touch something you did. You're so amazing.

[Caroline]

Yeah, yeah. We've had really good people. Ina would definitely be a dream, though.

[Taryn]

Ina, we joked about that from the beginning. We want Ina and we're gonna talk hosting and food. It's gonna be not as related. It's gonna probably food related, but yeah. Yes.

[Caroline]

I was really hoping that because she was doing her memoir, maybe she, maybe she would book church interviews.

[Karen]

Right. Is she aware it's our 400th episode? Maybe if you, if you call her.

[Caroline]

I know. Yeah.

[Karen]

Have you DMed her? Have you slid up in her DMs?

[Caroline]

I mean, I'm definitely not in getting in there, but I've tried. If anyone has any sort of six degrees of separation to Ina, let's say.

[Karen]

We should put it on our vision board. Melanie Turner taught us how to make those. Maybe we make a vision board.

[Taryn]

That's a great.

[Caroline]

I was Star Trek by Melanie Turner because I had definitely been penning her her stuff to my also bulletin board for a long time. Maybe I have vision board.

[Liz]

Let's get that vision board because yeah, I remember that episode because again, I was just a listener on that one. And I was like, I need to make a vision board again.

[Karen]

She was so, you know, we need.

[Caroline]

A vision board with just dozens of pictures of Aina.

[Karen]

Yes. Only Aina. Yes. And her food, like, her roasted chicken.

[Liz]

I mean, she can bring Jeffrey.

[Karen]

She, of course, can bring Jeffrey.

[Caroline]

She travels without Jeffrey.

[Liz]

I don't know.

[Taryn]

Blasphemy.

[Caroline]

Any top guest. I mean, come. We've had so many. I feel like we just named some of them.

[Taryn]

I went through every one of our pages on how. The how to Decorate podcast, and I literally was like, I. I'm not making this list of favorite guests.

[Caroline]

It would just be a list of 400 people.

[Taryn]

Yeah, it was. I started making it and I was literally like, ooh. Because I had some crushes that have, like, where all of a sudden, I didn't know about them, like, too much about them. And then I saw their work and I literally was like, I found it everywhere. Lil McKenna, I thought she was. I just realized I loved her work without knowing it was her work. It was one of those that, like, as soon as I, like, saw, I was like, oh, my God. No, I. We are.

[Karen]

I love you.

[Taryn]

Yes. You know when you're like, we are like, I want to be you, your.

[Karen]

Stylist, be my best friend.

[Taryn]

She doesn't work out, but we aren't best friends. But, like, you know, there's still time. She can come back.

[Caroline]

Yeah.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

Okay. How about high impact decorations? Budget, low cost and high impact, low budget, high cost.

[Karen]

I mean, high impact patterned drapery on every window in the room and even in the adjacent room. Like, I just did that in my St. Pete house. And I did that very bold green E cut on six windows. And it just set the stage for the whole place. So not me. And I love it. And it was easy. It's just so easy.

[Caroline]

That is true. True, Karen, because you really went colorful in your St. Pete house. Was that, like, just so freeing and fun?

[Karen]

Yes. It was very odd. It was unfamiliar, I guess it was very unfamiliar. But it was so fun because now when I shop, I'll be like, oh, that's white. That'll go in Atlanta. Oh, that's hot pink. That'll go forth.

[Taryn]

You can deflect both muscles.

[Caroline]

That's awesome.

[Liz]

Oh, that's so great.

[Taryn]

I was gonna say lights, Lamps, lamps, lamps. Figure out getting your lighting right is so wildly will change a space and how you feel so quickly that if someone turns on an overhead light, I, like, lose my mind now. So if you are realizing something isn't right in your room, Try your lighting.

[Karen]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. 2700 kelvin. Get your light bulbs, right.

[Caroline]

Dimmers.

[Karen]

And dim them.

[Caroline]

Yes, yes.

[Karen]

Get like those 4 watt LEDs or whatever they are.

[Taryn]

Just get you light. More lighting. Yeah.

[Karen]

And. And with lower watt.

[Liz]

Mine is an entryway, so I don't have an entry to my house. You walk in right into the living room. And we had Marie Flanagan on, and she was like, you know what? You need to make your porch your entryway then.

[Karen]

Oh.

[Liz]

And it was a game changer. So I now decorate my porch and it's super welcoming. I have, you know, and I use the same principles that I use in my house on my porch, and just make sure people can, you know, walk through. But it's. But that's a game changer. Just for how I walk into my home and how I feel walking.

[Karen]

It welcomes you.

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Karen]

And lovely. That's sweet.

[Taryn]

That's a good one.

[Caroline]

Can I plug my rug pad?

[Karen]

Yes.

[Taryn]

Wait, you have to keep plugging that rug.

[Caroline]

Oh, my gosh.

[Liz]

You just got a rug the other day. About your rug pad.

[Karen]

Again, not the memory foam one.

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Karen]

Oh, okay. Okay. That. I thought you had a new one for outdoors.

[Caroline]

No, I just. I just love my rug pad. That's my. That's my answer. I wouldn't know necessarily. I don't know. I feel like the low cost thing is a tricky thing for me because I am more the type to, like, I want to have a plan and buy the thing that I want one time. And so a lot of the things I feel like are. Have made the most impact are things that I saved for. So I feel like it's a tricky one.

[Taryn]

You know, the other one, I'll say.

[Caroline]

Light bulbs and dimmers. Yeah.

[Taryn]

That's we always say is paint. Like paint.

[Caroline]

That is.

[Taryn]

Paint changes a space.

[Liz]

Go for it.

[Taryn]

Go for it. You can. It's a look. Low cost, high reward.

[Caroline]

That's true.

[Taryn]

Okay.

[Caroline]

Repainting my basement from green to pink.

[Taryn]

You already said it.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

$150. But, like, completely changed the way it looked.

[Liz]

So.

[Karen]

Yeah.

[Caroline]

There you go. Thank you. Thanks for the. For the assist. All right, well, I think that is all we have time for, but thank you all.

[Karen]

So much fun.

[Liz]

Nice to have you, Danny.

[Caroline]

Thank you to all of our amazing listeners for being here and listening so that we can keep doing this and bringing a great conversation.

[Liz]

Yeah.

[Karen]

And asking questions.

[Caroline]

And thanks to the three of y'all. This has been so fun, and I've loved getting to have friendships with y'all, too. I feel like we've we're all so.

[Taryn]

Our houses can all meld to be the same.

[Karen]

They're so different but they're each other.

[Caroline]

Isn't that a funny thing? Yeah, I know.

[Karen]

That's the fun thing. No thank you, Caroline.

[Caroline]

Yeah. I'm happy. I feel so grateful to have the podcast so it's been such a fun venture.

[Karen]

Absolutely.

[Taryn]

Well, cheers.

[Liz]

Cheers.

[Caroline]

Cheers.

[Taryn]

Happy decorating.

[Caroline]

Yay.

[Liz]

Decorating.

[Caroline]

I know we never say that anymore and that's our show. You can find all of the show notes on our blog howtodecorate.com podcast to.

[Taryn]

Send in a decorating dilemma, email your questions to podcastallarddesigns.net so we can help.

[Caroline]

You with your space. And of course, be sure to follow us on social media. Ballardesigns don't forget to subscribe wherever you.

[Liz]

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.