Episode Summary: How to Decorate Ep. 414 – 100 Ways to Feel at Home with Emma Kemper

In Episode 414 of How to Decorate, hosted by Caroline, Taryn, and Liz from Ballard Designs, the team welcomes New York-based interior designer and author Emma Beryl Kemper. Emma shares insights from her book, House Rules: 100 Ways to Feel at Home, offering a comprehensive guide to decorating that caters to both beginners and seasoned enthusiasts.

Introducing Emma Kemper and Her Book

The episode kicks off with introductions of the hosts and Emma Kemper, who has been featured in prestigious publications like Architectural Digest and House Beautiful. Caroline highlights Emma’s latest book, emphasizing its practicality for those feeling overwhelmed by home decorating projects.

[01:02] Emma Kemper: "I was writing it for my younger self when I was first starting to think about becoming an interior designer... it's very easy, digestible, actionable tips and tricks."

Liz echoes the sentiment, noting how the book feels like a comprehensive degree in interior design, project management, and styling.

Gathering Inspiration: From Mood Boards to Scheming

Emma delves into the initial stages of a decorating project, focusing on gathering inspiration. She emphasizes the importance of not just collecting images but also identifying patterns and personal preferences to create a cohesive vision.

[04:55] Liz: "Being able to, like, put together mood boards of, like, color or thoughts about what you want is one thing, but I really think, like, there's a step in there that's like, take notes and find the patterns in what you've already found and what you're drawn to."

Emma advises taking detailed notes alongside mood boards to avoid copying designs and instead, drawing inspiration to create something unique.

[05:38] Emma Kemper: "Take really good notes on your mood boards and try to reference your notes more than the pictures... you're moving away from what somebody else did, but you're still informed by it."

Mastering Paint Selection and Schedules

A significant portion of the discussion centers on paint selection, where Emma introduces the concept of a paint schedule. This tool helps keep projects organized by detailing room specifics, paint brands, colors, finishes, and notes.

[14:05] Emma Kemper: "A paint schedule is like a key throughout your project... lists out what the room is that you're working on, what is the surface in that room, the brand of the paint, the paint color, the paint finish."

Caroline underscores the importance of a paint schedule, especially in large projects like building a house, to prevent costly mistakes and ensure consistency.

[15:32] Caroline: "You do not want your contractor calling you in the middle of the day with like, what's the trim on here? You don’t want to have to go back and redo it."

Emma also highlights common pitfalls in paint selection, such as relying solely on website photos and not testing paint colors in the actual space.

[17:51] Emma Kemper: "Extremely important... you can't not paint in the room and you can't look at the paint until it's dry because it looks completely different."

Utilizing the Color Wheel for Effective Palettes

Emma explains how the color wheel can demystify color coordination, making it easier to create harmonious palettes. She discusses different color schemes, their psychological impacts, and how they can be applied in interior design.

[24:17] Emma Kemper: "The color wheel... it can feel so intimidating to figure out, like, what colors go with what colors... it gives you like a little guide of this is what the actual rule is."

Caroline and Liz engage in a light-hearted discussion about complementary and analogous colors, providing practical examples of how to use them to achieve desired moods in a space.

[26:12] Liz: "Think like, right, blue and orange."

[27:00] Emma Kemper: "Create a hierarchy within that. So if you're going with blue and white, maybe blue is your hero color... green can be your 10% little accents here and there."

Smart Shopping: Organize and Budget Effectively

Emma shares her strategy for developing a detailed shopping list using tools like Google Sheets. She emphasizes breaking down tasks and assigning realistic budgets to each item to avoid overspending and ensure all project aspects are covered.

[28:33] Emma Kemper: "Make a list in Google Sheets of what are all of the things that I'm going to need to do to get this room from where it is to where it needs to be."

She introduces the "rule of thirds" for shopping, balancing major purchases with custom or vintage pieces to create a personalized and budget-friendly space.

[31:27] Emma Kemper: "One third big box stuff... one third custom or bespoke... one third vintage pieces or maybe pieces that are your own."

Future-Proofing Your Home: Timeless Choices

Emma advises against integrating built-in technology that may quickly become outdated. Instead, she recommends focusing on timeless design elements and mixing metals to ensure longevity and ease of updates.

[38:24] Emma Kemper: "Tech dates itself way more quickly than like mostly anything else that you put in your house."

She also stresses the importance of avoiding fleeting trends and choosing materials that stand the test of time, helping homes remain stylish and functional for years to come.

[41:18] Emma Kemper: "Avoiding any kind of trends as best you can... choose things that you love and have always loved."

Finishing Touches: Dressing Up Your Space

In the final segment, Emma discusses common oversights in decorating, such as underdressing rooms with insufficient furniture or accessories. She highlights the impact of elements like pillows, rugs, and additional furniture in making a space feel complete and inviting.

[46:19] Emma Kemper: "People generally underdress their rooms... things like pillows... console tables... set pairs and styling bookcases."

Listener’s Decorating Dilemma: Practical Solutions

Kristen from Philadelphia poses a decorating dilemma involving replacing a fragile glass nesting coffee table, choosing the right rug size, and selecting paint colors for a warm, coastal-style home. Emma offers tailored advice, recommending durable wood coffee tables, appropriate rug sizes, and incorporating color psychology to balance functionality with aesthetics.

[49:26] Emma Kemper: "For the coffee table... I would probably do a wood coffee table that has some type of texture already to it."

[52:33] Liz: "Or even like an indigo color... it might be a nice contrast."

Conclusion: Connecting with Emma and Final Thoughts

The episode concludes with Emma providing her contact information and book availability, encouraging listeners to explore her insights further. The hosts reiterate the value of her practical advice and the significance of her book as a valuable resource for anyone embarking on a home decorating journey.

[54:59] Emma Kemper: "My website is emmabarr.com. My Instagram is @emmabarr, and my book House Rules is on Amazon, Target, Barnes and Noble..."

Overall, Episode 414 provides a wealth of actionable tips and thoughtful advice for creating a home that is both stylish and comfortable. Emma Kemper’s expertise serves as a valuable guide for listeners looking to enhance their living spaces with confidence and creativity.

Notable Quotes:

• Emma Kemper [01:02]: "I'm writing it for my younger self... easy, digestible, actionable tips and tricks."
• Emma Kemper [14:05]: "A paint schedule is like a key throughout your project..."
• Emma Kemper [17:51]: "You can't not paint in the room and you can't look at the paint until it's dry..."
• Emma Kemper [24:17]: "The color wheel... it can feel so intimidating..."
• Emma Kemper [38:24]: "Tech dates itself way more quickly than like mostly anything else..."

Resources Mentioned:

• House Rules: 100 Ways to Feel at Home by Emma Beryl Kemper
• Instagram: @emmabarr
• Website: emmabarr.com

For those looking to dive deeper into home decorating strategies, Emma Kemper’s book and her expert insights on this episode offer a comprehensive starting point.