How to Decorate

69:46

Ep. 485: Ben Pentreath's New Book

How to Decorate ·

2026/09/29

British architect and interior designer Ben Pentreath returns to the podcast to discuss his new book,A Year at the Parsonage, co-authored with his husband, Charlie McCormick. The book functions as a deeply personal visual diary of the 15 years the couple spent living in an 1820 Regency house in Dorset, England. Rather than staging polished lifestyle scenes, Ben and Charlie photographed the book themselves, capturing authentic daily moments, the evolving interiors, and the passage of seasons in

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64:45

Ep. 484: Scott Sottile | Ferguson & Shamamian

How to Decorate ·

2026/09/22

Scott J. Sottile, a partner at the prestigious residential architecture firm Ferguson & Shamamian, joins the podcast to discuss his firm’s new book,Transformations. Published by Rizzoli and written by Guy Trebay, the book highlights 15 distinct projects spanning from subtle restorations to radical rebuilds across the United States. Scott shares his deep passion for traditional architecture, which was cemented during his time studying Thomas Jefferson’s historic designs at the University of Virginia

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55:40

Ep. 483: Annie Meyers-Shyer & This Oak House

How to Decorate ·

2026/09/15

Former Harper's Bazaar editor and Chanel executive Annie Meyers-Shyer joins the podcast!Annie became an "accidental influencer" after launching her Instagram account, @thisoakhouse, to document the renovation of the home she and her husband purchased from her mother-in-law. Now, she's sharing her thorough research, design tips, and beautiful editorial photography in her debut book,This Oak House.Annie chats with Caroline and Liz about how her fashion background translates to interiors, her most

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51:28

Ep. 482: Entertaining with a Side of Chaos with India...

How to Decorate ·

2026/09/08

We are thrilled to welcome back writer, designer, entrepreneur, and former model India Hicks to the podcast! As the daughter of legendary British interior designer David Hicks, India grew up surrounded by formal theatrical design, but her 30 years living in the Bahamas have distinctly softened her approach. She joins us to discuss her fourth book,Entertaining with a Side of Chaos, which serves as part memoir and part tablescaping guide.Embrace the Unexpected:Rather than stressing over a

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54:35

Ep. 481: Meg Braff, Gracious Interiors

How to Decorate ·

2026/09/01

Welcome back interior designer Meg Braff to the podcast!Meg first joined the show in 2017 to discuss her first book,The Decorated Home, and now she returns to celebrate her second book,Gracious Interiors, published by Rizzoli.Growing up in Mississippi, Meg watched her mother and grandmother host beautiful, thoughtful parties, and she has carried that effortless Southern hospitality into her design firm. She sits down with Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to discuss how she optimizes floor plans for

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45:27

Ep. 480: Trials and Triumphs

How to Decorate ·

2026/08/25

Welcome toHow to Decorate! It has been quite a while since our last Trials and Triumphs episode, but Caroline, Taryn, and Liz are back with plenty of personal decorating updates. Between full basement renovations, bold reupholstery projects, and a very exciting upcoming video series, the hosts have been incredibly busy getting their homes in tip-top shape. Plus, learn why you should always provide your upholsterer with a detailed spec sheet—and why you might want to leave sewing box pleats to the

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75:31

Ep. 479: Designing Homes that Evolve with Anne...

How to Decorate ·

2026/08/18

We are thrilled to welcome Richmond, Virginia-based interior designerAnne Hulcher Tollettto the podcast! As the founder and principal designer of Hanover Avenue, Anne’s work has been featured inHouse Beautiful,Veranda,The Wall Street Journal, andArchitectural Digest. She is known for designing spaces that feel deeply personal, honoring both the historic architecture of a home and the unique lifestyles of the families who live in them.Anne sits down with Caroline and Liz to talk about how she

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57:55

Ep. 478: Decorating as Composition with Lauren Wodicka

How to Decorate ·

2026/08/11

Welcome toHow to Decorate!Today, Taryn, and Liz are joined by Lauren Wodicka, the founder and principal designer of LBW Studio based in Loudoun County, Virginia.Lauren shares her fascinating career evolution from a classically trained fine artist and gallery owner to a sought-after interior designer.We explore how she applies the principles of oil painting to interior design, the importance of knowing "when to stop," and how to intentionally collect antiques that give a room a lived-in

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66:58

Ep. 477: Alex Kaehler's new book, A Welcoming Home

How to Decorate ·

2026/08/04

Welcome back to How to Decorate! Today, we are joined by returning guest and Chicago-based interior designer Alexandra Kaehler. She recently published her highly anticipated debut book,A Welcome Home: Inviting Interiors, which features eight stunning homes designed for young families. Alexandra shares the behind-the-scenes process of writing her book, designing for her bold sister, and why every room doesn't need to serve every function.Quick Decorating Takeaways: Embrace Patterned

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52:50

Ep. 476: Best of Archives: Parisian Design

How to Decorate ·

2026/07/28

Welcome toHow to Decoratefrom Ballard Designs!While the team takes a short summer break, they are re-sharing a handful of their all-time favorite podcast episodes.Today, Caroline, Taryn, and Liz sit down with American interior designer David Jimenez to discuss his path to living in Paris and his Rizzoli book,Parisian by Design: Interiors by David Jimenez.David shares the secrets behind effortless Parisian style, the art of layering, and how to create deeply personal spaces filled with joy and

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103:52

Ep. 475: Best of Archives: Furniture Buying Tips

How to Decorate ·

2026/07/21

Welcome back to How to Decorate from Ballard Designs!While the team takes a short summer break, we are sharing some of our best and most beloved conversations from the archives.Today, we are re-airing our all-time most listened-to episode, and it is all about furniture shopping.Buying furniture is a big decision that can easily feel overwhelming, with countless options, price points, and potential mistakes.Caroline, Taryn, and Liz sit down to discuss how to approach furniture as a long-term

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60:12

Ep. 474: Best of Archives: Our Ultimate Bedding Guide

How to Decorate ·

2026/07/14

We are thrilled to bring you this special installment of our summer "best of" series! While the team takes a short summer break, we are reliving some of our absolute favorite episodes. Today, we are joined by Ballard Designs' own in-house bedding and bath expert,Amy Jordan. With nine years at the company, Amy is the creative force behind the perfectly layered, catalog-worthy beds we all swoon over. Amy sits down with Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to break down everything you need to know about creating

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59:30

Ep. 473: Best of Archives: Traditional Design with a...

How to Decorate ·

2026/07/07

Welcome to our summer "best of" series! While the team takes a short break, we are reliving some of our absolute favorite conversations from the archives. In this beloved episode, we sit down with Massachusetts-based designer Katie Rosenfeld. Katie is known for her happy, family-friendly, and approachable style, but it is her ability to blur the lines between classic and modern—with bits of "quirky" added for good measure—that makes her work truly stand out. Katie joins the show to discuss her

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71:31

Ep: 472 Mastering Scale & Visual Balance with Sarah...

How to Decorate ·

2026/06/30

We are thrilled to welcome Chicago-based interior designer Sarah Vaile to the podcast! Known for her bold use of color, fresh traditional style, and making classic spaces feel lively, Sarah has built an incredible coast-to-coast design firm. After pivoting from a corporate advertising career in her late 20s, she trained under industry icon Celerie Kemble before striking out on her own. Sarah sits down with Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to tackle one of interior design's absolute trickiest topics: scale

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69:10

Ep. 471: Timeless Kitchen Design with Cyndy Cantley

How to Decorate ·

2026/06/23

In this episode, Caroline, Taryn, and Liz talk with kitchen expert Cyndy Cantley, principal designer of Cantley & Company. Cyndy joins the show to share her wealth of knowledge on building bespoke, beautifully functional kitchens that stand the test of time, drawing from a legendary career that includes a Bon Appétit magazine cover feature early in her business. The hosts pick Cyndy's brain about shifting kitchen trends—from the cringe-worthy pink laminates of the past to modern hyper-functional

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75:14

Ep. 470: Art, Textiles, and Timeless Partnerships...

How to Decorate ·

2026/06/16

In this episode, Caroline and Liz talk with artist and product designer Susan Hable. Susan is the co-founder of the Athens, Georgia-based design studio Hable Construction, which she runs with her sister, Katherine. Celebrating 27 years in business, Susan’s work spans lighting, furniture, fine art, textiles, and jewelry, all rooted in her bold, hand-painted patterns and joyful sense of color.Susan joins the show to discuss her 20-plus-year partnership with lifestyle brand Garnet Hill, her

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62:57

Ep 469: Faux Botanicals & Dark Paint with Abigail Ahern

How to Decorate ·

2026/06/09

We are thrilled to welcome British interior designer Abigail Ahern to the podcast! Known for breaking all the traditional design rules, Abigail is famous for her signature moody palettes, her bold take on botanicals, and her wildly popular faux floral collection. In addition to her booming interior design business, she has an e-commerce site, five books, and a popular YouTube channel. Abigail sits down with Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to discuss how she got her start working on the picture desk for

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66:35

Ep. 468: Expert Gardening Tips with Katie Tamony of...

How to Decorate ·

2026/06/02

Today, Caroline and Tayrn are thrilled to welcome Katie Tamony to the podcast! Katie spent a decade (2001 to 2011) as the Editor-in-Chief of Sunset Magazine, celebrating the seamless indoor-outdoor living of the West Coast. Today, she heads up marketing and trend forecasting for Monrovia, one of the country's premier plant nurseries.Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Monrovia grows over 4,000 varieties of plants—from trees and shrubs to perennials and exquisite edibles—across thousands

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49:09

Ep. 467: Dorm Room Design 101 with Lauren DeLoach

How to Decorate ·

2026/05/26

We have a wonderful returning guest this week! Atlanta-based interior designer Lauren DeLoach is back on the podcast to share everything she learned while designing and installing her daughter's freshman dorm room at Ole Miss.As we launch the new Ballard Designs dorm line, Lauren sits down with Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to give the ultimate masterclass in dorm decorating. She explains how she tackled awkward cinderblock walls, the secret to finding the true dimensions of a dorm room, and why "Alien

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54:01

Ep. 465: Trials and Triumphs

How to Decorate ·

2026/05/20

We are back for a long-overdue "Trials & Triumphs" episode! It has been a hot minute since Caroline, Taryn, and Liz sat down to share their personal home updates, but they have plenty of stories to catch up on.Caroline gives a highly anticipated update on her daughter Birdie's room and shares a hilarious PSA about why you should always check your pockets before doing laundry. Plus, the ladies discuss the convenience of plug-in lighting and how to update a space without needing to hire an

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