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- [00:02]
Caroline
Welcome to how to Decorate from Ballard Designs, a weekly podcast all about the trials and triumphs of decorating and redecorating your home.
- [00:09]
Taryn
I'm Caroline.
- [00:10]
Caroline
I'm on the marketing team.
- [00:11]
Taryn
And I'm Taryn and I'm a product designer.
- [00:13]
Liz
I'm Liz. I head up the creative team.
- [00:15]
Taryn
We're your hosts.
- [00:16]
Caroline
Join the expert team at Ballard Designs for tips, tricks and tales from interior designers, stylists and other talents in the design world.
- [00:23]
Taryn
Plus, we'll answer your decorating dilemmas at.
- [00:24]
Caroline
The end of each episode.
- [00:25]
Liz
We love answering your questions, so don't forget to email us@podcastallardesigns.net now on with the show.
- [00:35]
Caroline
All right. We are excited to welcome back to the show today antiques expert Debbie Matthews. Debbie has been selling antiques for 30 years. She's got an antique showroom and a flourishing design business in Nashville, Tennessee. She weaves classic antique pieces into her clients collections in a way that feels livable, comfortable and timeless. Debbie, welcome to the show.
- [00:55]
Taryn
Thank you. I've been so looking forward to chatting with you both again.
- [00:59]
Caroline
Yes, I should say welcome back to the show because I believe it was probably three or four years ago we had you on when we opened a store in Nashville. So we did several different designers in the Nashville area and we got to hear all about your antiques business. But we're about, we're excited to hear, you know, hear from you again, have you back and this time in person.
- [01:20]
Taryn
Well, thank you again for thinking of me.
- [01:22]
Caroline
Yeah. So, okay. I wanted to mostly gear the conversation or at least open the conversation with a question that we recently got around pieces to get early. Maybe when you are first starting out, you want to buy some pieces that you're going to have for a long time, but you don't necessarily, you're not in a forever house. You're not in a house you're going to be in for a while. And I, I felt like this was a great conversation for you just because buying antiques is really all about finding things that you're going to keep for a long time. But how do you, how do you know what's something that will be versatile enough to have now, but also down the road.
- [02:07]
Taryn
That is a great question and one that I actually get asked regularly, especially by young people who just don't know where to start. They might be in an apartment, a condo, but yet they've got the itch. And I always come back with the same answer. I feel like there are two key pieces that maybe a young person should get started with and that's because they're multifunctional. And to me, that's really what it's all about. What can grow with you and move with you. So the first piece I usually recommend is just a beautiful chest, because a chest can live in many different areas of someone's home. You know, maybe your first apartment just has a living space in a bedroom. Well, a chest can make itself at home in either of those two locations. You know, it could be beautif with a lamp and a mirror in the living room or even in the bedroom. But the beauty of a chest is that it can move with you. Maybe you purchase a home that has an entrance hall, and the chest can live happily in the entrance hall. It can also make itself at home in a living room, a family room, a bedroom. And when it really comes to thinking about, okay, well, what type of chest should I get? I usually recommend a style that has very simple and clean lines because, you know, what is in vogue or trending maybe 15 years from now might be different than what is hot right now. So I tend to gravitate toward French pieces, and in particular, the Louis Philippe style. There really isn't a lot of carving or a lot of curvy legs with embellishment. They're very clean lined. Really, the focus is on the beautiful walnut veneer that most of them are made from. Sometimes they'll also have a marble top, which I always think is a real value add, because, you know, sometimes you have to worry if it's a wood top if you, you know, put a vase of flowers or a glass down. So I think a piece, again, that has those clean lines really can pair well with either traditional or transitional and contemporary aesthetics. I feel like, you know, a simple English chest is also timeless and can really move with you over the years. So those are really the styles that I tend to advise people to purchase when they're first starting out. The second piece that I think is also extremely multifunctional. I've even written a blog about it, is the writing desk. Because a writing desk can live in so many different rooms in the home. You know, people often think of a writing desk, you know, maybe in a library office situation. But, you know, I often place writing desks in family rooms where, you know, somebody might want to do some homework. Homework or open mail. But I also recommend writing desks to go next to a bed. I don't like to always have matching bedside chests, so I'll often recommend a writing desk on one side. And I really like to do this in A guest bedroom. Because when guests come, they usually bring a laptop and it gives them a place to sort of set up shop. Or if the bathroom is small, you can sit there and do your makeup. So I feel like both chests and writing desks can take you a long ways and be used in many different rooms over the years that I.
- [06:19]
Caroline
You know what, that's brilliant. And both. Okay, let's go. No, I love that. Are there particular sizes you feel like or are they kind of, you know, all the. You're thinking like a 48 by 24 inch chest. Something in that family.
- [06:36]
Taryn
Yes, exactly. Yeah. Most chests, you know, probably range anywhere from 36 to 48 inches. And so something in that ballpark I think works really well. You know, of course, if a person were to have a much larger home, they need the scale of their furnishings to be larger. And you can certainly find chests that are larger than that. As far as a writing desk, it's fun because when I'm on the hunt, I find writing desks in all different sizes. You might find one that's just 32 inches wide, which can be great next to a bedside. Or you can have the writing desks with the slide out extenders that give you more writing space. So, you know, I think it really kind of depends on how you plan to use that desk. Is it really just as a bedside table or is this where you're gonna sit and work from home? So I think you have to really determine how you're wanting to use it.
- [07:43]
Caroline
That's also such a practical piece for someone starting out, like, especially in an apartment because you may have roommates and maybe you need a workspace. So easy to just tuck that as your. Use that as your nightstand. Then you've got a little workspace for, yeah, your laptop or whatever. And you can close the door from your roommates. You know, it's always tricky, I think, when you're sharing. So I think that's a. So smart.
- [08:05]
Liz
And both of those offer such great storage solutions too, for wherever you end up putting it in your home down the line too.
- [08:14]
Taryn
No, I mean, agree. I have a chest that I've personally owned probably 30 plus years. When I purchased it, it went into a guest bedroom. Then my next house, it went into the front entrance hall. It is currently in my dining room with beautiful tray with, you know, different decanters on it. So I feel like there are so many options for a piece like that.
- [08:46]
Caroline
One of my first apartments, I got a little drop leaf table. So that was one something that I have Used like in my first apartment, it was just the only dining spot that we could fit. Cause our apartment was so small then it became, you know, the leaves fall down. So in one space it was a little side table. Now it's a bigger side table. I've also used it as a nightstand. But so what about some other little pieces maybe that if you've checked off your chest, you've gotten your writing. Like what are some other things that maybe could be. And it could be non furniture too.
- [09:19]
Taryn
Yes. Well, I'm always on the hunt for small side tables or drink tables, because again, those can be used in so many different situations. You know, some people like a drink table next to their bathtub. You know, you can use a drink table or small table next to any really upholstered seating. So we sell a lot of those. And I think it's just because there's so many functions, they're useful for that side table. It's funny that you mentioned a drop leaf table, because that is another piece that I think can really live with you for many years. There's also what's called a wake table, where both sides drop. It can be used. Used as a dining table. So it's longer than probably your typical drop leaf table, but then can also serve as a sofa back table, a console in a hallway, a long console in a window. So those are also great pieces. I have a client right now in her great room. She's got one of these really large, what I call a wake table. It can serve as a secondary dining space. Or she said at the holidays, that's where her Christmas tree goes. And she just slides it right out of the way, puts the sides down and it folds up and it tucks easily on another wall.
- [10:54]
Caroline
Wait, as in W A I T.
- [10:56]
Taryn
No, wake W A K E. So.
- [11:00]
Liz
Okay, yeah, give us some history on this.
- [11:02]
Taryn
All right. It's a really interesting history. So this type of table, I believe was designed in England or maybe Ireland years ago. So hold on your seats, because it might be a little gory here, but after somebody died, they would lay out the body with. On this table with the sides folded down. And you know, people could come in. Usually wakes were held in somebody's home and they could come in, pay their respects after, you know, people had come to visit the body. They would take the body off the table, open the sides up, and then use it for serving food.
- [11:48]
Caroline
Lovely.
- [11:49]
Taryn
Yeah, I know.
- [11:51]
Caroline
So practical.
- [11:52]
Taryn
So talk about multifunctional.
- [11:55]
Liz
That's not really a multifunction. That's. I'M looking for in my home, but.
- [12:00]
Caroline
You know, I know.
- [12:02]
Liz
Sounds very practical.
- [12:05]
Caroline
Hilarious in a different time.
- [12:08]
Taryn
Well, I'm glad you asked the question, because. But it's a really great design. And, you know, I. I think you'd recognize what I'm talking about.
- [12:20]
Caroline
I think my mom has one of these.
- [12:22]
Taryn
Okay. Okay.
- [12:24]
Caroline
And we use it as a breakfast table.
- [12:26]
Taryn
Okay, good. Yeah.
- [12:27]
Liz
Get out the sage.
- [12:28]
Taryn
Well, and I have one in my moun house, and it's used as the dining table. So.
- [12:36]
Caroline
Yeah, maybe they added a tablecloth.
- [12:41]
Taryn
Let's hope.
- [12:41]
Caroline
Let's hope.
- [12:43]
Liz
Let's hope.
- [12:44]
Caroline
Oh, my gosh. That is so funny. I did not expect that.
- [12:50]
Taryn
Yeah, I've taught a lot of people about wake tables because we'll be out and about, you know, maybe at a restaurant, and, you know, whoever I'm with, I'll say, oh, well, there's a wake table. And they'll just look at me. No, wait, what did you say? And, yeah, so I give my. My, my answer.
- [13:12]
Caroline
Let's talk about where to shop for antiques, because I do think this is something. I mean, you've got a showroom, and we know that you just went to Scott's Antique here in Atlanta. What are some of your favorite places again, to someone maybe that's just starting out, maybe a little bit intimidated by the process? Where would you recommend they start? Can they start on, like, a Facebook marketplace or something?
- [13:38]
Taryn
Yes, because, you know, that's online. But I actually think you will learn more, maybe if you go to an antique mall or someplace where you can really get a large sampling of different pieces. I think, you know, one of the ways to really educate yourself about antiques is to not only go into an antique mall, but you need to pick up the tags and study the tags, because usually the tag will have an item description, hopefully give you some history of the piece, maybe how old it is. And then you can also study the price. And that's what I do. It doesn't matter where my husband and I are traveling in the United States or the world, because as soon as I get to my destination, I'm looking to see where there are local antique stores. And I feel like that's just part of my education. I want to know the types of pieces that are maybe regional. I want to study the pricing in a certain area. So you can learn so much just by going in malls and studying the tags. I also learned a lot when I was in my 20s, I went to a lot of antique auctions, and often the auctioneer will give you a long Winded description of the piece. They'll put the piece, you know, up for display. They might talk about the type of drawers or knobs and pulls. They might even demonstrate how the doors operate. And so there's a lot of education to be had with this live demonstration. So that's another avenue. But I was fortunate because my grandmother, who was just an avid antique collector, started taking me to estate sales, auctions, antique malls, antique shows. I was. I mean, I was probably three or four years old, and I had just a huge educational experience from her because she would point things out. I could listen to her talk to people in the various locations, always asking for the history of a piece. Tell me everything you know about this piece. I would also listen to her perhaps negotiate, because, you know, if you're at a flea market, you know, maybe some antique stores, you can negotiate, especially if you're buying multiple items. And there's an art to that. And I was able to learn because I listened to her as well as my best friend's mom, I also did a lot of antique shopping with. And so I had two really great role models. I think the only way to really learn about antiques is by doing. And that means going out there, touching, feeling, looking at the drawers, and really trying the piece out based on its function. So if you're looking for a set of chairs, my gosh, you've got to sit in the chairs. That's not something you can always do on a Facebook marketplace. I think it's important to examine, again, back to our chest, all sides of the chest. It's very common over maybe 200 years for a chest to have been placed next to a window. So you might notice one side of the chest to be more bleached out than the other side. You might notice a crack in one side. So you have to kind of be a sleuth and really study a piece. You can look at the back if you're not sure of the age, to see if the back has been hand planed. You can open the drawers to see if there's hand dovetailing joints, as opposed to machine dovetail joints, which are absolutely perfect. And of course, hand dovetailed, they're not. And so I just don't think there's any substitute for really touching a piece. The other thing, again, still talking about our chest, is if you look at where the knobs and pulls are, sometimes you'll say, ooh, you know, I see markings around here. And that's probably a clue that those are not the original knobs. And Pulls. You might see holes drilled for pulls, but yet somebody over the years has put a knob in its place. So I think it's really important to look at the finish, really examine it. Not everybody is after the perfect antique. And really, no antique is perfect. But I think it's up to each person to make that personal decision. You know, what. What scratches, blemishes, am I willing to live with? And what will drive me crazy?
- [19:00]
Caroline
That was gonna be my next question. Oh, what do you do? What if you have found a piece that you feel like, okay, this is a good, good price. I'm comfortable with the price. I like the lines. I like, you know, the function of it. The size is right for the space I need, but it has an imperfection. Do you just decide if you wanna live with it? Is there someone that can fix it? What is, like.
- [19:21]
Liz
Does that become a negotiating tool?
- [19:24]
Taryn
Oh, yes. Yes, it definitely does. And that's something you sort of have to educate yourself on at this point. Having been an antique sleuth for many years, I kind of know what I think can be finished to my liking and what can't. What, you know, what is an affordable fix versus what is not an affordable fix. So my personal philosophy is, in general, I like to buy clean. I don't want to buy a piece where, you know, the glides for the drawers are missing, and so the drawer is wonky, the chair is wobbly, and would need to be tightened. Those can be expensive fixes. I really don't like to buy a piece if it's missing some of the hardware because it's really hard to find hardware that matches existing hardware perfectly. Right, right. But things that really don't bother me is if a peach. A piece has been faded by the sun, that usually can be touched up. You know, I personally have a number of people that I work with who can help me restore the finish. But I also recommend a couple of just great products, and I usually try that first before I even call a refinisher. There's something called Restore a finisher. It comes in a metal can, and it's magic. I tell people who shop with me, you need to go buy this if there's a scratch. You just put a little bit on there, rub it in, and usually it just disappears, particularly if the scratch is showing up lighter than the. The darker wood.
- [21:16]
Liz
And is it a. Is it a liquid? Is it a water?
- [21:18]
Taryn
It's a liquid.
- [21:19]
Liz
Okay.
- [21:19]
Caroline
It's a liquid. I had a personal experience with this product, and it was amazing. I was at my in laws house they have almost all their stuff is antique. And we were at their dining room table and my 3 year old had her fork. And at our house, our dining room table is marble, so she's hard on it. So she had her fork like prongs down and it was. And scratched like a very significant scratch in the dining room table.
- [21:48]
Liz
And I like your stomach just like.
- [21:50]
Caroline
Oh my God, yes. Yeah. And of course my father in law is like, was very cool about it and he just goes and gets that little jar of restore finish out of the cabinet, puts it on a, on a paper towel and like, I mean there is still a, a mark, right? Like an indentation.
- [22:08]
Taryn
Yes.
- [22:08]
Caroline
But the color, it's.
- [22:11]
Liz
At first glance you can't see.
- [22:12]
Caroline
I was just like, oh my God, thank the Lord for this product because I was about to have a heart attack. I don't know, it was, but it was amazing anyway.
- [22:21]
Taryn
And it works. Yes, it can work like on a watermark. So you know, that's just something that I've always got in my back pocket and I give it a try first. And it works great on hardwood floors. So if you drag a piece of furniture across the floor and you screw, accidentally scratch the floor, just a little touch up really can work wonders. So you know, kind of back to your question. If they're minor issues like fading some scratches as opposed to like a chunk of wood missing, you know, those are gonna be easy finishes and they shouldn't cost much, but they do give you a little bit of negotiating power when something is not perfect. But the flip side to that is a lot of people like buying antiques because of their imperfection. You know, there are certain pieces in my showroom that are intentionally not perfect. You know, there might be a crusty old finish on a gilt wood mirror. You can see the paint peeking through. And a lot of times I don't wanna fix it. That's the beauty. That is the, you know, showing its warts and its age and its character. So I think it really kind of comes down to, you know, as an individual, what each person is comfortable with, what look they're going for. You know, there are a lot of people who say, you know, I just wanna own a Louis Philippe chest. It doesn't have to be perfect. I'm okay if there's a crack on the side.
- [24:06]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [24:08]
Taryn
And, and so that's great.
- [24:11]
Caroline
Can we go? Okay. You mentioned earlier going to an antique mall, which I think is a great suggestion. And reading the tags now, I've done this before and Read the tags, but I have no frame of reference for what that means. So what? Like, is there anything? And obviously, I'm not just gonna, like. It takes a long time to build up to your level of knowledge where you can read the tag and know exactly, like, okay, this is a reasonable price. This is valuable. This is not something like that. So, like, anything you can give us to look at the tag and be like, what about what? How do I make sense of this?
- [24:50]
Taryn
Well, a book that I highly recommend is Tara Shah's book. It's called Designing with Antiques. And I fell in love with this book because she collects many of the same styles that I collect. And those are styles, as I mentioned earlier, that have cleaner lines. So that would be like Louis Philippe, Louis xvi, Empire Regency. They're just. They're not overdone in my mind. There might be some inlay and veneer design, but they're. They're pretty simple. And so for people who might be interested in those periods and types of pieces, I would recommend buying. Recommend buying her book.
- [25:38]
Caroline
Okay.
- [25:38]
Taryn
It's. It's literally mandatory reading when I hire a new employee.
- [25:44]
Caroline
Wow.
- [25:45]
Taryn
Wow.
- [25:45]
Liz
Okay.
- [25:46]
Taryn
And she's got a chapter about those different styles of antiques, what their characteristics are. There isn't any sort of price guide in her book, but it will help you to recognize. Oh, well, that's the Empire piece because it has the columns and the bronze fittings. So it kind of teaches you what to look for. But as far as pricing, I also recommend going online, and you can study items that are listed for sale on Cherish and on First Dibs. I've been a dealer on both platforms over the years, and you can learn a lot. So again, back to our Louis Philippe chest. You can go on Cherish's website, type in Louis Philippe chests, and become educated. There'll be very specific descriptions on Cherish. I know because I'm a dealer, and you have to put in, how old do you think it is, the type of wood, the dimensions, and then you can study how people have priced these pieces. You know, you might be able to find better pricing elsewhere. Some of those platforms can be a little more expensive, but there are also deals to be had.
- [27:11]
Liz
Yeah.
- [27:12]
Caroline
So you're thinking, like, okay, I found a chest at an antique mall. I Google it, the date, and I can see like, okay, is there anything. Is this, like, the. The pricing online? Maybe I can find something that's cheaper, but then I've got to ship it, and then you can kind of like, gauge whether. Yeah, okay. Okay.
- [27:33]
Taryn
I mean, Literally, as an antique dealer, when I price my own pieces, I sometimes do that. You know, if I find something that's really unique and a little different than anything else I've ever had, I type in all different descriptions to see how close I can get to finding what it is I just purchased. And so I'll spend some time doing some research because I want to price my inventory fairly. I want to be competitive. And so it's just a really great way.
- [28:07]
Liz
Yeah, Google image search is really good. So a couple months ago, a bunch of girlfriends and I went out to a series of different antique malls, and we totally made a game of it because some of the folks wanted to learn, like, what to look for and like. So we made a whole game of it, and we took pictures of things that we liked and things that we thought would be more than the value of what the tag said. And so then we went out to lunch afterwards and figured out who got the biggest value. And it was so fun.
- [28:42]
Caroline
Oh, that's cool. It was so fun. Yeah, that's smart.
- [28:44]
Taryn
That is a great game. I'll have to remember.
- [28:46]
Liz
It was a good game. It was a good game.
- [28:49]
Caroline
Okay. You also mentioned going and being able to talk to people and asking questions, like, at the auctions. And this is something that I. I think, sometimes struggle with because I worry that, like, going to a car mechanic, the questions that I ask are going to reveal my ignorance. So I'm like, if I ask a question and it's obviously they realize I have no idea what I'm talking about, then are they gonna, like, give me a higher price or a lower price? Like, what? So what. What is your take on it as someone who sells antiques? Like, do you like people to ask questions or.
- [29:27]
Taryn
I love it.
- [29:28]
Caroline
Okay.
- [29:29]
Taryn
I absolutely love it because I still ask questions. And I guess we have no control over whether the person whose answering is telling us the truth or not. But I want to believe that the majority of them are. And I guess the fact also remains because the European countries, which is where I buy most of my pieces, you know, I said I purchase a lot of French, Italian, German, English, some Swedish. The countries are all so close together. So do we ever really know for sure that this piece was from France? Could be from Belgium. And then there are some pieces I always pride myself, oh, I can tell you if it's Italian, if it's French, I'm not always right. There is a lot of overlap between certain regions. And so I think we ask because maybe the person you're buying it from Was told from the person they bought it from. You know, I think things do get lost in translation because if a piece is 2 or 300 years old, you know, it's. What was that game? Telephone.
- [30:46]
Caroline
Yeah, right.
- [30:47]
Taryn
I was just saying that.
- [30:48]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [30:48]
Taryn
Yeah. I mean, maybe you're not getting the whole truth, but even if you're getting part of it, I find that interesting.
- [30:55]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [30:56]
Taryn
And even if the person can only tell me, you know, I purchased this chest in an estate in New York City. It's been in my house for 30 years. My shoppers love knowing that. Oh, well, I'm purchasing this cool place, you know, or this cool piece. It was in a cool place on Fifth Avenue. Or, you know, I purchased items out of estates in Palm Beach. They think that's just fun to know.
- [31:27]
Caroline
Yeah. Yeah.
- [31:27]
Taryn
Even though that's not the origin of the piece, it is giving you a little bit of the history.
- [31:33]
Caroline
Yeah. It's a little color and.
- [31:34]
Liz
Yeah.
- [31:35]
Caroline
Yeah. It's interesting, I guess, in really, like, does it matter? Like, if you like the lines, if it's the right size, it's a price you can afford, and it's from Belgium or France. Like, does. Do you care? Like, does what? What's the difference? I guess. I mean, in terms of the function, it's serving in your house. Right.
- [31:53]
Taryn
I don't think it really matters. If you love it, then you're the one who will embrace it and enjoy it on a daily basis. And I've really come to that place myself. I don't care if it's from France. I don't care if it's from Belgium or Italy. I know a good quality piece when I see it, and it checks all the boxes for me. It fits in my space. My favorite wood species is walnut, so the majority of what I buy is walnut just because I think it may be patinas more beautifully than other woods over time. And so if it really checks my boxes, I'm good with it, you know? Now, what I don't want is somebody to sell me a piece that was made in 1980 and tell me that it's an antique.
- [32:48]
Liz
Right, right.
- [32:50]
Taryn
That is not okay.
- [32:53]
Caroline
Sorry. What counts as an antique now? Like, technically.
- [32:57]
Taryn
Technically, it needs to be 100 years or more old. Vintage is technically 50 years to 100 years.
- [33:08]
Caroline
80S is vintage.
- [33:09]
Taryn
I know, I know.
- [33:14]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [33:17]
Taryn
So, you know, I don't. If I don't know the age of a piece and I'm creating a tag in my office, I know it's at least vintage. I don't know if it's a hundred years old than I put vintage. I really try to be ultra conservative. Most of what I buy is from the mid-1800s. Now, I do have pieces that are older, but the majority, because I buy Louis Philippe, Louis XVI empire, that's all 1830, 1860. I'm pretty sure how old they are. But, you know, every now and then I'll purchase something and it's truly 18th century, you know, which is just really amazing to me because I think about where has this piece been, where has.
- [34:13]
Liz
It lived and what has made this survive for that long. Because you think about all of the things that, you know, just fall by the wayside or get damaged or, you know, like.
- [34:26]
Taryn
Well, to me, that falls in the category because people, a lot of people, I think, have this misconception about antiques. Oh, I can't buy an antique. They're fragile, they're delicate. I believe the opposite to be true. If this piece has survived 300 years.
- [34:44]
Caroline
Right.
- [34:45]
Taryn
Well, there's something going for this. And when these pieces were built, there was no central heat and air. You know, this piece might have lived in a barn for 75 years and then it came over on a boat.
- [34:59]
Caroline
Yeah, right.
- [35:00]
Taryn
I mean, if it could survive that, those elements.
- [35:03]
Liz
Yeah, it can survive your living room.
- [35:05]
Taryn
It can survive. My child, you know, and my children grew up with antiques. Now, you know, I will say there are some that are petite and fragile and more delicate, but there are many antiques that are just really solid and likely better built than many furniture that's constructed today. So, you know, that is, you know, I guess, just a misconception that I feel like it's my duty to battle.
- [35:35]
Caroline
Yeah, Anything that you would maybe steer someone away from something if they did have young kit. And is there anything that you feel like that's more fragile and like, is it a shape thing? I'm thinking in particular of a pair of cane back antique beds that my husband, one of three boys, had in his room that I believe there's a hole in now through the caney.
- [36:03]
Liz
Through the caney?
- [36:03]
Caroline
Yes, from a remote control that got thrown at someone. So maybe there's certain things that you feel like, all right, well, maybe stay away from that.
- [36:12]
Taryn
Well, cane for sure. I mean, cane is expensive to get repaired. So that's one of those pieces I steer clear of if there's any signs of damage in a cane piece. But, you know, it's so pretty. It's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. And if you must have it, you need to have a cushion built for the seat because I think I had a cane corner chair. I think one of my boys stepped on and their foot went through it. So if you must have it, you need to have a little cushion on there, at least temporarily. It also comes down to, you know, glass is sometimes not the best material when you have young kids, just because there's fingerprints that get all over it. I actually had a coffee table when my kids were growing up. I think it had a 1 inch thick piece of glass and it was resting on an iron jardiniere from France and it was, you know, a large iron planter. And I took the copper liner out of it and put the glass on it for a coffee table. I still have it to this day. But in retrospect, you know, maybe that wasn't the best choice. They couldn't really do anything. It was iron and very thick glass. But it wasn't easy to keep up with as far as cleanliness. But yeah, there are definitely going to be breakables and fragile pieces that, you know, I think we just have to keep out of little hands. As they get older, it's maybe not as much of an issue. I think chairs are something you really have to examine. If you're wanting vintage or antique chairs and you know, your husband likes to lean back in a chair, maybe not the best idea, you know.
- [38:17]
Caroline
What about antique dining chairs?
- [38:20]
Liz
Like, how long do you want your guests to stay?
- [38:24]
Caroline
Yeah, Well, I don't know. And like. Or there's certain. Maybe they're called frames. Yeah. That are like certain styles that are sturdier. I don't know, like the. I feel like my mom had like the queen aunt or like a. She had like a Chippendale, right? Yes, it was very sturdy and like wide. But then maybe some old Louis is. Well, I don't know.
- [38:46]
Taryn
I think it really comes down to the state that you find the chairs in. You know, since I have design clients and I'm often helping them purchase, whether it be breakfast room or dining room chairs, it kind of comes down to do they want the seat and the back to be upholstered or are they fine if it's just the seat, only upholstered? So you have to kind of learn about what each person's preferences are. But again, you know, if it's a set of 10 chairs you sit in, each one of them, you look for wobbling because those can be very expensive fixes. The other thing to look for, and I try to examine whether it's a chair, a table, a chest, you know, you'll see the little wormholes that add a lot of character to a piece, which I love. But you need to also make sure that there is no active insect infestation. So if you notice next, next to a piece, little piles of what look like sawdust, there's active infestation, or like little flying moth type creatures, then that is a giveaway. I think in my career, I've purchased maybe three items that had active infestation that I did not catch on the front end. And so it's really important that you get that treated immediately because they will infest any other wood furnishings that are nearby.
- [40:27]
Caroline
Yikes.
- [40:29]
Taryn
But what ends up happening is if the piece does have a lot of wormholes, it makes, say, the chair leg more like honeycomb. So it's not going to be as sturdy as a leg that's never had.
- [40:43]
Caroline
Got it.
- [40:43]
Liz
Yeah.
- [40:44]
Caroline
Makes sense.
- [40:44]
Taryn
Yeah.
- [40:45]
Liz
So how do you treat something that has active pests?
- [40:49]
Taryn
Well, it's not easy.
- [40:52]
Liz
Yeah.
- [40:52]
Taryn
So I have called a number of pest control companies. Some of them want nothing to do with it.
- [41:02]
Liz
Yeah.
- [41:03]
Taryn
I mean, they really don't. They don't want to be near it. Some antique dealers that I've purchased from, they'll say, oh, you can go buy, you know, this spray and, you know, like, bag a chair, Get a large bag, garbage bag. Put the chair in there, put this brand, tie it up. And I've done that before and treated it myself, and it worked. And I have had some pest control companies who will. But it's something that needs immediate attention. And if you find that you have a piece that has active infestation, you need to get it out of your house. So I put a piece in my garage until it was taken care of. But again, it's just going to make that piece not nearly as strong.
- [41:55]
Caroline
Right. Is there an issue with upholstered stuff? Like, would you. Is there anything that would live in a cushion that you would have to worry about or no?
- [42:04]
Taryn
Well, there might be. I've actually never encountered that. And it's funny that you mention it because I will buy pieces that have beautiful upholstery on them. You know, the upholstery might be older, but if it's in great condition, I don't always recover. And I've never had an issue or noticed any, you know, flying insects.
- [42:29]
Caroline
So hopefully it's.
- [42:32]
Taryn
Hopefully it's not a big problem.
- [42:34]
Caroline
Yeah. Okay. We've been talking mostly about furniture.
- [42:37]
Taryn
Yes.
- [42:37]
Caroline
What about, like, other things. Is there, you know, certain mirrors, art lamps, decorative items that you are always drawn to and feel like are great sort of things to keep on your list while you're out shopping, that maybe it's not a chair or chest, but you can have success. Other places.
- [42:55]
Taryn
Absolutely. One of my favorite items to purchase is antique lighting. And I feel like I'm a little bit of a lighting snob, because even though when I'm working on a client's home, I'll do a mix of antique lighting and then newer lighting. But I don't like to walk into a house where I recognize every light fixture, you know, from some manufacturer's website. I really like to mix it up. And I always tell people I look at lighting as the jewelry for the home. And so I love finding vintage Murano glass chandeliers. Again, they pair well with both traditional and transitional interiors. Again, the clean lines. I have found some amazing ones. One that was kind of a blush color, one that was golden. So they're not all necessarily clear glass. I also love. And these are antique Italian basket chandeliers. Those are crystal with sort of that basket shape at the bottom. And to me, those are just really special. Sometimes they'll, you know, have some crystals that swag. Sometimes they're more simple. But I always have a selection of those in my shop. And I love simple iron, vintage iron chandeliers. So I think when you can find something that nobody in your neighborhood or group of friends has, that makes it really special.
- [44:35]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [44:36]
Taryn
What about lamps? Oh, the same thing. I love to find alabaster marble lamps. I think those are just absolutely timeless, Especially when you get them cleaned up and, you know, with a beautiful shade. I think there's just nothing better. I also look for vintage Chapman lamps. A lot of those are going to be brass.
- [45:02]
Caroline
What's a Chapman lamp? I've never heard of that.
- [45:04]
Taryn
So he was a designer.
- [45:07]
Caroline
Oh, okay. I was thinking it was a lighting shape or something.
- [45:11]
Taryn
No. And I think he might still be a designer or there might be a collection on visual comfort. If you look up E. Chapman.
- [45:20]
Caroline
Okay.
- [45:21]
Taryn
Yeah.
- [45:22]
Caroline
Okay, Got it. I've seen those on. Yeah, yeah.
- [45:25]
Taryn
So very collectible. So, yes. Sconces, lamps, floor lamps. I mean, I am always on the hunt because I think just, you know, maybe toll lamps. I'm working on a mountain house right now, and so it's been really fun to find that type of a look. I think it just really separates a home, makes it more unique. But you also mentioned mirrors, and I am known for my huge selection of mirrors, lighting, and chest. So those are sort of what I'm known for. And I love vintage and antique mirrors. There Are so many styles. I feel like you could use a vintage or antique mirror in any room in your house. You can find those kind of Victorian bamboo looking mirrors. Those look great in a boy's room, a powder room, you know, really just about anywhere. Or you can get a little bit more sophisticated, maybe with, like, a Federal mirror. And those are typically the round with the convex mirror and then the eagle on top. Those are gonna be, you know, a little bit more elevated, sophisticated. And then you can get your Italian mirrors, which are usually gilt wood or hand painted. Can be pretty ornate. Or you had mentioned, I think, your mom's house, she had Chippendale, and those tend to be more of your stained wood mirrors. So I feel like there's a style for just about anybody. And then, of course, back to our friend Louis Philippe. Those very simple, clean lines that are mostly just arched straight on the bottom, Those work really well. And everywhere, Everywhere, everywhere on everything. Giltwood, silvered. I sometimes find them in a champagne color, which is just beautiful. So I feel like those are timeless pieces that can also move with you. I know. You know, we did talk a lot about the furniture pieces, But a significant mirror I think can work for you.
- [47:49]
Caroline
Bedroom dresser and dream all, like, put it in your powder room to be really special. I mean.
- [47:57]
Liz
Yeah.
- [47:57]
Caroline
Over a mantle.
- [47:58]
Taryn
Yeah, I agree. And I feel the same way about a light fixture. I recently moved, and there were some light fixtures that I knew I didn't want to sell with my house, so I removed them, replaced them. And so again, I think investing in a beautiful chandelier is a great investment because you can take it with you.
- [48:23]
Liz
Yeah.
- [48:23]
Caroline
I have a question about the lighting, because, I mean, I feel like rewiring a lamp feels pretty easy. But what about fixtures? Because that feels a little trickier. And do you ever run into issues where you've gotten an antique sconce or chandelier and it is not as easy maybe to install? Like, are there ever installation problems?
- [48:47]
Taryn
The answer is yes. So most of the light fixtures that I purchase are from Europe, So of course they have to be rewired to meet the American standards. But even so, I've got a guy who's been rewiring for me for years. A lot of electricians will look at me sideways when I tell them, okay, these will hang here, and they'll look at me and they'll say, well, these don't meet codes or whatever. So then I gotta get my guy who rewires to talk to the electrician, and they go back and forth Sometimes the solution is we can't install those sconces till after the inspector has been here. You know, we'll switch them out. But that's actually pretty rare. Usually once they've been rewired, which there can be, you know, some challenges and difficulty. As a matter of fact, I'm having it's a very large bronze chandelier rewired right now. And my lighting guys said, debbie, before I can even touch it, I need to have like an iron welder type person do a few things so that I can run the wires. So there can be challenges for sure. But in the end, I think it's worth it.
- [50:10]
Liz
Yeah.
- [50:10]
Caroline
Where would you find somebody? Like, would you ask an amt, like who would be able to. If you had a piece and you need to have be rewired, like, how do you find your guy? That's your, your guy, you know what I mean? But in their own town.
- [50:25]
Taryn
That is a great question. I've known my guy for over 30 years, so I don't know what I'm going to do when he retires. But yeah, I think you just Google it, you know, okay. Person to rewire chandeliers. I mean, you can find a lot of people, like you said, who can rewire a lamp, but when it comes to a three tiered chandelier, not everybody wants to tackle that. And then once it's been rewired, it has to be transported hanging. So you need to have somebody who's got the truck with the hanger.
- [51:02]
Caroline
What if they've bought it from your shop? I assume you've already done all that hard work.
- [51:07]
Taryn
Yes. So by the time it's hanging in my showroom, it's been cleaned, it's been rewired. We have, you know, three to six feet of chain, we've got the canopy. We actually created what's called an antique lighting guide. And it's a page that we give anybody who purchases antique lighting from us and it tells them how high you should hang the chandelier from the floor, how to calculate how much chain you're going to need. Don't forget the canopy.
- [51:42]
Caroline
Just.
- [51:42]
Liz
Oh my gosh, that's awesome.
- [51:43]
Taryn
Yes.
- [51:44]
Liz
Yeah, thanks for doing all that work.
- [51:46]
Taryn
That's awesome. But what will happen is somebody will buy this lovely crystal chandelier and they'll say, okay, well, I can't really put that in my car. And so I have a couple of people I can call on. So the guy who rewires, he's got the van set up and so I'll pay him to move the chandelier for this person. Or some movers will also do that. Some movers are used to moving chandeliers, but it is tricky. And especially, like the Murano chandeliers that have those very fragile glass arms.
- [52:28]
Caroline
Oh, God, Terry.
- [52:29]
Liz
Gosh, I can't even imagine.
- [52:31]
Taryn
I mean, I'll build, like, a nest with blankets in my car, and sometimes, you know, I'll transport it myself. But it is a little bit unnerving because they're so incredibly glass fragile.
- [52:45]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [52:45]
Liz
Yeah.
- [52:46]
Caroline
Gosh. Okay. I actually have a antique lighting conundrum, and I would love your. You'd love your. Your feedback.
- [52:52]
Liz
Let's go.
- [52:52]
Caroline
So I had a. Or in my house growing up, my mom had these, a pair of, like, sheaf of wheat sconces. And I always loved them.
- [53:01]
Liz
Yeah, they're so pretty.
- [53:02]
Caroline
And when she moved, she didn't bring them with her. It's a long story. Basically, the person who bought the house was, like, a young guy. He got rid of them. His mom took them and called my mom and was like, hey, do you want these? He's getting rid of them. My mom was like, yes, please. So she gave them to me. I trying to have. I had them hung in my house, but they don't have a back plate. So she had, like, had them hardwired into the wall. Probably not to code. Certainly not to code. But that would have been, like, in the, you know, 90s, so it didn't matter. But they don't have a back plate. And so my electrician is not thrilled about it. Like, what do you do if there's. No. Certainly this is something you run into all the time. So what is this? What is the fix for that?
- [53:52]
Taryn
So you literally can go purchase a round back plate, say, from Lowe's, Home Depot, and just paint it the wall color or paper it. If it's a powder room and there's wallpaper and it pretty much disappears. There is a way. It's called, like, a T that goes kind of into the wall that can hold the sconce without that. But you're right. Electricians don't like that.
- [54:18]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [54:18]
Taryn
Situation. If you're mounting sconces through a mirror, which I often do in a bathroom, you can have a mirrored back plate made, too. Okay, so that's another option. I just installed four vintage sconces in my own personal bathroom. And I was fortunate because the electrician and the mirror person worked together to figure out a way that the hole that's in my mirror is tiny and there Is no real back plate showing.
- [54:51]
Caroline
Okay.
- [54:52]
Taryn
So it's amazing. Yes. So there are lots of little tricks of the trade that you can do to still be able to use these really interesting vintage pieces.
- [55:02]
Caroline
Okay. It sounds like I need to just get it back, but could I, like, unpaint it? The wall color?
- [55:06]
Taryn
Yes.
- [55:07]
Caroline
Okay.
- [55:07]
Taryn
Yes.
- [55:08]
Caroline
Okay.
- [55:10]
Liz
You'll notice it that first week, and then it'll. You'll never see it again.
- [55:14]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [55:14]
Liz
When you're looking right at it, you'll never see it.
- [55:16]
Caroline
Well, I also just worry, like, okay, it probably won't bother me, but will I be, like, worried that Debbie's gonna come over and be like, look at the bag plate. That looks terrible.
- [55:24]
Taryn
No, that looks terrible, because I have that probably in my house.
- [55:26]
Caroline
Okay.
- [55:27]
Taryn
And I'm very familiar with those wheat sheaf sconces, and they kind of fan out, so I really think it will be disguised.
- [55:34]
Caroline
Okay. All right.
- [55:35]
Taryn
Because it probably has the little band that goes over.
- [55:38]
Caroline
Yep.
- [55:39]
Taryn
I don't think most people will even notice.
- [55:41]
Caroline
Okay.
- [55:42]
Liz
I was really curious about trends in antiques. Like, you don't normally think about trends in antiques, but once you start going out and looking for antiques, you start to notice patterns and start to see, like, the same thing again and again. I wonder if there's anything that out there right now that you're seeing again and again.
- [56:01]
Taryn
Absolutely. And it's so funny, because I had thought about what you're asking in an answer to one of your other questions when you said, like, what deals can you get right now? You can get deals on certain styles of antiques because they're just really not in vogue right now.
- [56:21]
Liz
Right. And they're flooded.
- [56:22]
Taryn
Yes. So, you know, your Victorian antiques that are, you know, kind of heavily carved and rosewood. Yeah. Maybe some satin wood. You can get a great deal on that, because people are just not really interested in that look.
- [56:39]
Caroline
Okay. What do you do with Victorian? Like, sofa? Would you put that in someone's house?
- [56:44]
Taryn
I would not.
- [56:46]
Caroline
Okay. I know my mom has one in the attic.
- [56:49]
Taryn
Yeah.
- [56:49]
Caroline
But no one will take it.
- [56:51]
Liz
Nobody will take it.
- [56:52]
Taryn
I would not. Now, I do know somebody, another designer who painted a dark Victorian piece and then covered it in a really current fabric, and it looked great.
- [57:06]
Caroline
Okay. Okay.
- [57:07]
Taryn
But a lot of people, you know, say, oh, that's a sin. You're painting that beautiful wood. But again.
- [57:14]
Caroline
Yeah. What do you.
- [57:15]
Taryn
Yeah.
- [57:15]
Caroline
Otherwise, it's in a base center.
- [57:17]
Taryn
Yeah. It's just sitting there, and nobody's enjoying it. But, yeah, there are definitely styles that are more in vogue right now, and I would say that some of those that I have described that have the cleaner lines, you know, even like Biedermeyer, which is very clean, sometimes has some black detailing, pairs really well with contemporary art.
- [57:43]
Liz
I can totally see that.
- [57:45]
Taryn
Yes.
- [57:46]
Caroline
What about some more like sort of rustic y. Like a pine. A pine dresser or like something that maybe has a little bit of. Or like shaker stuff, has a little.
- [57:56]
Liz
Bit more Americana feel to it.
- [57:58]
Caroline
Yeah. Where about. Where's that? Sort of in the zeitgeist of antique.
- [58:01]
Taryn
I feel like it's still popular. I think there are many people who really want that more casual aesthetic. And, you know, for years what farmhouse style was very hot. But I think, you know, a lot of people, especially in this area, you know, they have lake houses, they have mountain houses. So you're seeing a lot more of the American antiques. The pine pieces, the old farm tables. I mean, I love a French farm table. I think they're just. Those are so warm fighting.
- [58:43]
Liz
Yeah.
- [58:44]
Taryn
Timeless classic. You don't care if your child scrapes the top with a fork. You know, that's Bettina. Yeah. It's just adding great character.
- [58:58]
Caroline
Grandmother Birdie, who did that.
- [59:02]
Taryn
Yeah. So I feel like there are definitely pieces that will always maybe be in style. And I do feel like many of these sturdy, old rustic pieces will always be in style. It's funny, I was looking back through some old magazines from, like the 1960s and 1970s, and you were still seeing a lot of the Louis 15th, 16th Directoire style. You know, the color schemes were different, the. The fabrics were different.
- [59:38]
Caroline
Right.
- [59:38]
Taryn
But in some of the finer homes, the furniture looked very similar to what we're seeing today.
- [59:45]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [59:45]
Taryn
Yeah.
- [59:49]
Caroline
Hello, ladies. And Debbie. I love the podcast. Look forward to a new episode each week. Thank you so much, Jess. That's so nice. I'm in need of some help with my kitchen seating area. Our banquet is just a bit too large and the seating is not very deep. I've also struggled with seating options and the lighting placement. We've made a few updates about a year ago, adding a cushion, bench and some wood detail, but I don't love it. We had planned to tear it out, but part of the wall is load bearing after some soul searching. I really love a good booth design, but I'm not sure if that's possible. I've thought about tearing it out with some upholstery pieces instead, but unsure on the table right now. An oval might fit better and give us some more space. We've also made our island bigger, so a smaller footprint would be ideal. I also don't love swagging the light. So open to changing that. What should I do? I'm in desperate need of some help. Thank you, Jessica. So it looks like, yeah, she had a little. There's like a little nook with a built in banquet situation. She's got four. It doesn't look like. Okay, wait, it doesn't look like the table is pulled up to the banquette because she's got a chair in between the table and the banquette.
- [60:56]
Liz
The banquette seating seems a little short.
- [60:59]
Caroline
Yeah. Like it's not enough.
- [61:00]
Liz
Well, may not be comfortable.
- [61:02]
Taryn
I think she mentioned maybe was it 17 inches deep. And the standard is 18 to 24 inches. So it's really, really short. And in my experience, most people want to build a banquette so they can cozy up to the table, snuggle in, whether it be for eating coffee and conversation, playing a game. And so I kind of think that Jess is onto something. I think she needs to go with her gut because I feel like it's probably never going to be comfortable unless you rebuild it and make a deeper seat. But it is a small space.
- [61:47]
Caroline
Yikes. This is a situation where inches matter. Right.
- [61:49]
Taryn
It definitely.
- [61:51]
Caroline
Because it's not comfortable. So she's never gonna wanna sit there.
- [61:54]
Taryn
Exactly. I mean, to me that's the crux of the situation. If it's not comfortable, nobody wants to sit there. Which is why I am imagining they literally have two chairs sitting in front of it is because it's not comfortable. So I know she mentions, you know, it might be difficult to tear it out because it might be a load bearing wall. I think there's probably a way and I think it would increase the footprint in that space. Which again she, she mentions because they enlarged the island.
- [62:33]
Caroline
Well, she's got a cabinet right there on the back side. So she. Yeah, she can't tear. She can't tear out the wall. She could tear out the bank, the existing banquet and put in a bigger banquet.
- [62:44]
Taryn
Yeah. So in my mind they're really only two solutions. You either build a banquette that people want to sit at, which is deep enough. And I'm thinking, you know, probably 20 inches deep. Yeah, I mean, I usually do 21, 22 inches.
- [63:02]
Caroline
Okay.
- [63:03]
Taryn
So especially because she's got throw pillows thrown on there as well. And so that's pushing you forward even more. So you either build a banquette the size that is comfortable or you just get rid of it and use that cozy nook just for a table and chairs. It looks to me, but I Can't tell for sure. Looks like that table is probably a pedestal table, which is what I always recommend for banquette seating because it's easier to slide around. And then she also mentioned an oval. And I think every banquette that I have designed, I've used an oval table. It's easier to maneuver around an oval and it's nice that it's not as wide at the ends. So if somebody is trying to get out, it just tends to be a little bit easier.
- [64:04]
Caroline
So would you do the. Okay, if you were rebuilding it again, would you do the L shaped design? Would you do just like a single bench on that window wall? What, what configuration, I guess, would you do in that situation?
- [64:20]
Taryn
You know, it's hard to say. I don't have a measurement, so I don't really know how big it is. But as you mentioned, you could even not have a built in banquette on the window wall. It could just be some sort of bench seating and not have the banquette on the right, which I think would make the space feel larger. But again, not really knowing what the dimensions are. I can kind of guess, but it doesn't look like a very big space.
- [64:55]
Caroline
Right. So it sounds like Jess needs to put her measuring tape to work.
- [64:59]
Taryn
Yes.
- [64:59]
Caroline
Measure, possibly tear it out, patch the wall, and then either build something that's the proper dimensions or get. I mean, we have a. We have a bunch of banquet options that are fully upholstered and you could either do an L shape, if that fits. You could also just do a single bench. And that way you don't have to necessarily rebuild it. You would have to like patch the, patch it up. But what do you think about the lighting situation? Because it sounds like it's not current. Well, it's hard to tell. It is not swagging right now. But if she relocated the table at all, it would not be.
- [65:40]
Liz
She would need to swag it to get it centered on the table.
- [65:43]
Taryn
Or. And I've done this before, you buy a ceiling medallion and a ceiling medallion can maybe give you up to, you know, depending upon the size of the ceiling medallion, maybe 6 inches of wiggle room. So if you're only shifting the light 3 to 6 inches, you could probably essentially patch that hole with a ceiling medallion that you would paint the ceiling color.
- [66:09]
Liz
Yeah.
- [66:10]
Caroline
Okay. I have had to do not the ceiling medallion. That is a genius trick that I wish I'd known about. But I did have to move the light fixture, have it patched. And it is not fun. But ultimately, like, it was the right thing to do because I just felt like I'm always gonna be frustrated if I'm. If it's not centered properly and the particular fixture I wanted to use couldn't swag. So I'm like, it's not a fun thing to do. But unfortunately, sometimes it's the only right answer.
- [66:45]
Taryn
Yes.
- [66:46]
Liz
I have another thought too. Like, thinking about how maybe she uses that space. It's so cozy and tucked into that corner. What about sconces instead of an overhead. If she doesn't need the overhead feet because she's got other lighting in other rooms.
- [67:03]
Caroline
So pretty to have a chandelier on.
- [67:04]
Liz
So pretty.
- [67:05]
Caroline
It is.
- [67:06]
Liz
But if. But if it's a. If. If it's more of a breakfast nook, that might work for that or.
- [67:12]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [67:12]
Taryn
I think the other thing to consider, though, with sconces, if you flank the, like either wall that flanks the window with sconces, you have to be careful if it is being kept seating or even just chair seating, because when you're trying to get around that.
- [67:28]
Liz
Yeah. You don't want to bonk your head.
- [67:30]
Taryn
You don't want to hit. You'd have to get a sconce that really is almost probably 4 inches or less extension so that you wouldn't hit it.
- [67:40]
Liz
Okay, scrap my idea.
- [67:42]
Taryn
Sorry, Liz. It's okay.
- [67:44]
Caroline
I mean, I think any situation where you can add sconces, you should probably add sconces because they're so pretty.
- [67:48]
Liz
They're so pretty.
- [67:49]
Caroline
But.
- [67:49]
Liz
Yeah.
- [67:49]
Caroline
You're still going to have to get the electrician out there anyway.
- [67:51]
Liz
Right.
- [67:52]
Caroline
So true. Maybe you just have the electron move and.
- [67:55]
Taryn
Yeah.
- [67:56]
Liz
And get the chandelier you want in the place that you want.
- [67:59]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [67:59]
Liz
Yeah.
- [68:00]
Caroline
But I mean, she could do a sconce on that wall that's that you're not sitting under. You know what I mean?
- [68:08]
Taryn
Yeah.
- [68:08]
Caroline
And that'd be pretty.
- [68:10]
Taryn
It's a beautiful kitchen. It really is.
- [68:12]
Caroline
She has a great kitchen.
- [68:14]
Taryn
Yes.
- [68:15]
Caroline
Big island. You know, Beautiful.
- [68:18]
Liz
It's amazing.
- [68:20]
Caroline
Pendants over the island. Yeah. I feel like we did not give Jess the answer that she necessarily wanted, but.
- [68:30]
Liz
Yeah. But it's a little bit more of the reality of the space.
- [68:33]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [68:34]
Liz
Because.
- [68:34]
Taryn
And I think she already knows that. She knows the answer. I mean, it's more. Just follow your gut. Even after the improvements they made over the last year, she's still not happy with it. And I think it really comes down to that seat depth.
- [68:50]
Liz
Yeah. Which stinks. To have to redo it, but it's going to be so much better in the end. Yeah. Well, I'm excited to see what she.
- [69:00]
Caroline
Does in hopes that she knows, because she's got. Look at that great view out of her window. She's got. She's looking out over woods or something with, you know, not like a backyard or a neighbor or anything, so that's lovely. I bet it's pretty in the. You know, on a beautiful day, so. Yeah, she probably wants to use that space. Yeah. And actually sit there and drink her coffee there.
- [69:23]
Liz
I mean, I do.
- [69:24]
Caroline
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. All right, well, Jess, good luck. Let us know what you decide to do. Send us some. Send us some after pictures when you get there. Yeah. Debbie, thank you so much. This was lovely.
- [69:36]
Taryn
I loved it. Went by so fast.
- [69:39]
Caroline
I know. Next time you're in Atlanta, call. We'll. We'll just do it again.
- [69:42]
Taryn
I love it.
- [69:43]
Caroline
Sounds like you're here a lot to. To do some shopping, so that's good.
- [69:47]
Taryn
Yeah.
- [69:47]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [69:47]
Taryn
Not every month, but probably nine months. Nine months.
- [69:52]
Caroline
Wow.
- [69:52]
Liz
Oh, that's great.
- [69:53]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [69:54]
Taryn
And like I said, I have a son here, so it's always. It's fun.
- [69:58]
Caroline
Well, we'd love to have you back anytime, because I know we didn't even get to have the questions on our list, so.
- [70:03]
Taryn
Oh, my gosh.
- [70:03]
Caroline
Yeah.
- [70:04]
Taryn
All right, well, we'll just go for round two.
- [70:07]
Caroline
Yeah. 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. Allard Designs.
- [70:23]
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.
- [70:30]
Caroline
Until next time, happy decorating.