How to Decorate, Ep. 452: "Layered Minimalism with Elizabeth Bolognino"
Date: February 10, 2026
Host: Ballard Designs
Guest: Elizabeth Bolognino, Principal Designer, Elizabeth Bolognino Interiors
Episode Overview
In this episode, the Ballard Designs team welcomes acclaimed interior designer Elizabeth Bolognino for an illuminating discussion on "layered minimalism." They explore how Elizabeth seamlessly blends contemporary sleekness with traditional sensibilities to create inviting, sophisticated spaces that remain timeless. The conversation covers the origins of her style, her creative process, practical tips for homeowners, and the importance of personal storytelling in design. Elizabeth also shares candid stories from her career and reveals how intuition and research guide her, even across diverse projects in places like Connecticut, New York, and Costa Rica.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Elizabeth’s Path to Layered Minimalism
- Elizabeth Bolognino shares her Georgia roots and journey from graphic design to interior design, moving to New York, and studying at Pratt (01:58-04:02).
- Her early hospitality design experience at Yabu Pushelberg influenced her embrace of contemporary aesthetics while honoring her Southern traditions.
- A pivotal influence: working at Ralph Lauren, where she integrated modern approaches with American and European design heritage (04:02-07:55).
- Quote: "My design style is a mixture of... that modern contemporary look and the traditional honoring tradition that I have learned from my roots and also working at Ralph Lauren." – Elizabeth (07:37)
2. The Magic of Blending Traditional and Contemporary
- Elizabeth intentionally balances sleek, minimalist furnishings with traditional architectural shells (08:49-09:04).
- The goal: create spaces that are warm and familiar, yet updated and personal.
- Timelessness is achieved by “hedging” design decisions against fleeting trends and always grounding choices in design/art history (08:58-09:46).
- Quote: "You have to hedge in this business... against something dating itself. You're going to spend a lot of money with me... How do I protect that investment?" – Elizabeth (08:58)
- Hiring designers with strong design/art history knowledge helps ensure decisions have depth and staying power.
3. Process: From Intuition to Execution
- The design process begins by asking clients how they want their space to feel, not just how it should look (13:19-13:48).
- Elizabeth synthesizes inputs from all household members, creating a conceptual mood board with evocative imagery—sometimes inspired by everyday items, nature, or personal mementos (14:14-16:13).
- The initial phase (concept & discovery) lasts about 3–4 weeks, focusing on "the vibe" before technical planning (16:42-17:19).
- Ongoing projects with repeat clients streamline the process, allowing deeper intuition and relationship-building (19:19).
- Quote: “So the first thing we always ask our clients is, how do you want your space to feel?... Most of the time, they can't answer [what it should look like], but they can surely answer how they want it to feel.” – Elizabeth (13:27)
4. Adapting Layered Minimalism Across Locations
- For international and diverse location projects, Elizabeth researches local materials, crafts, and traditions to root each design in its context (22:17-23:18).
- She seeks to avoid imported elements that don’t belong—aiming for authenticity and honor for local resources.
- Fun moment: Discussing practical design challenges like “big cats” when designing open homes in Costa Rica (21:45).
- Quote: “There is a tenet of layered minimalism that is always rooted in nature, so that’s going to change depending on where the project is.” – Elizabeth (23:18)
5. Making Layered Minimalism Approachable for Homeowners
- Elizabeth encourages listeners to start with meaningful personal items—build stories around objects you cherish, rather than replicate neighbors or trends (26:11-27:08).
- Adapt existing pieces by recontextualizing them in new environments, focusing more on styling and layering rather than discarding functional furniture (29:44-32:11).
- Editing is crucial: she advises against visual overload and focuses on creating hierarchy and storytelling through select, high-quality or meaningful elements (32:43-34:16).
- Quote: "It's not necessarily about, like, stuff on stuff on stuff. It's about the quality of the stuff or the story that the stuff is telling." – Elizabeth (32:43)
6. Rooting Minimalism in Nature & Creating Warmth
- Moving away from “cold” minimalism, Elizabeth blends cool and warm tones, often with nature-inspired colors, materials, and lighting (34:41-36:21).
- Lighting is critical: prefers warm temperatures (2300K-2700K) to evoke comfort and ambiance (37:00-37:32).
- Quote: "Our kelvin is between 23 and 27... My kids have a very visceral reaction at this point because they've grown up with warm lighting." – Elizabeth (36:27)
7. Injecting Playfulness and Personality
- Youthfulness and irreverence are key: “As a designer, y'all, we should not take ourselves that seriously… you can make something beautiful without it having to be so serious.” (38:46-39:08)
- Subtle humor or surprise—like a whimsical art piece or personal artifact—adds life and authenticity to sophisticated spaces.
- Memorable Story: The tale of a Bob Marley lyric, “No Woman, No Cry,” handwritten and hung privately in a bathroom at Chris Blackwell’s house—an example of intimacy and personality in home design (41:08-41:47).
8. Behind the Scenes: Real Homes vs. Styled Photos
- Elizabeth assures that clients do “layer” their own belongings onto spaces after installation—real life is messier than photo shoots, and that’s embraced in her approach (43:06).
- Storage and function are always planned for; beautiful styling for a shoot is only one (temporary) layer (43:41-44:34).
- Quote: "There’s a difference between a photo shoot and real life... We like to design things for real life where there's a place to put stuff." – Elizabeth (43:41)
- Styling is tailored to the client’s story; it’s about what matters and is unique to each person (46:05).
9. Favorite and Noteworthy Projects
- Elizabeth shares three recent favorites (46:52-48:38):
- A renovated farmhouse kitchen in Upstate NY—distinct from her usual work.
- A modern Bridgehampton house for an art collector.
- A traditional legacy home in the Catskills built for generational longevity.
- All projects reflect her layered minimalism but vary dramatically in style and context.
10. Signature Touch: The Fox
- The fox appears throughout Elizabeth's branding and social media as her spirit animal, representing her red hair, tenacity, and thoughtful, behind-the-scenes approach (50:03-51:10).
11. Challenges in the Design Industry
- Elizabeth candidly shares about being scammed by a furniture vendor, and the support she received from the design community (52:24-54:36).
- Highlights the importance of trusted relationships and due diligence in sourcing.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On Process: “Trace paper is cheap.” – A design mentor’s mantra, encouraging creative iteration (04:45)
- On Layers: “Every single decision, whether it becomes super minimalist or very ornate, starts with the same white wall.” (13:27)
- On Everyday Living: “We plan for it… If we haven't done that, then we did not do a very good job.” – On designing for real life (44:34)
- On Warmth: “It does not have to be expensive. That’s the most important thing.” – On adding playful touches (41:58)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Elizabeth’s Journey & Style Genesis: 01:58–07:55
- Traditional Meets Contemporary: 07:58–10:44
- Design Process & ‘Layered Minimalism’: 13:19–16:42
- Adapting to Global Projects: 20:12–23:18
- Personal Storytelling in Design: 26:11–28:08
- Editing & The Minimalism Balance: 32:11–34:16
- Nature, Lighting, & Warmth in Minimalism: 34:41–37:32
- Whimsy and Sophistication: 38:22–41:58
- Behind Spaces: Real Life vs. Photos: 43:06–46:26
- Favorite Projects & The Fox: 46:47–51:10
- Industry Realities: 52:24–54:36
Conclusion & Further Resources
Elizabeth Bolognino demonstrates that “layered minimalism” is about more than visual restraint—it’s a thoughtful process that balances history, intuition, narrative, and practicality. The episode offers approachable advice for both design professionals and homeowners on how to create lasting, meaningful spaces that reflect individual stories and evolve gracefully.
Find Elizabeth:
- Instagram & Pinterest: @ebolonino
- Website: Elizabeth Bolognino Interiors
Follow Ballard Designs:
- Instagram: @ballarddesigns
- Podcast: "How to Decorate"
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