How to Decorate

• Ep. 411: Dorm Room Decorating with Frances Lacefield Hovis of Room 422

  We welcome Frances Lacefield Hovis to the podcast, founder of the dorm-focused furniture company Room 422. Caroline, Liz, and Frances excitedly unveil the new Ballard Designs Dorm Collection in partnership with Room 422.  Throughout the episode, Frances shares her inspiring journey in starting Room 422 and discusses the creation of custom dorm bedding and decor. Frances also offers a wealth of advice on creating cozy and stylish dorm environments using Room 422 products, focusing on essential items such as headboards, bed skirts, and decorative pillows.  Watch the video version of this week's episode now on Ballard Designs' YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/nTAXTvqZC-I What You’ll Hear On This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to the How to Decorate Podcast 00:34 Exciting News: Launching a Dorm Collection 00:43 Meet Frances Lacefield-Hovis 01:45 The Birth of Room 422 03:34 Growing the Business Through Trunk Shows 04:29 Adapting During the Pandemic 05:57 Designing Dorm Room Essentials 10:33 Collaborating with Ballard Designs 16:05 Mother-Daughter Bonding Over Dorm Decor 19:20 Choosing the Right Bedding for Dorms 22:37 Freshman Dorm Room Essentials 23:50 From Interior Design to Event Planning 25:27 Starting a Business in College 26:01 Parental Support and Entrepreneurial Spirit 26:36 Tips for Designing a Dorm Room 29:27 Checklist for Dorm Room Essentials 38:14 Transitioning Dorm Decor to New Living Spaces 40:24 Budgeting and Splurging on Dorm Decor 42:56 Where to Find the Dorm Room Collection 43:16 Conclusion + Where to Follow Francis and Room 422 Also Mentioned: Ballard Dorm Collection | Shop Now ⁠⁠@flhovis⁠ | Designer IG ⁠room422.com | Room 422 Website @room.422 | Room 422 IG Please send in your decorating dilemmas + pictures so we can answer them on an upcoming episode (⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠) . And, of course, please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already in Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss a new episode. Happy Decorating!

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• Ep. 410: Crafting Stunning Arrangements with Canaan Marshall - Outdoor Mini-Series Pt. 4

  We conclude our four-part outdoor mini-series with special guest Canaan Marshall, a floral designer renowned for his breathtaking arrangements featured throughout Season 1 of HBO Max's Full Bloom.  Canaan shares his journey into floral design, offering invaluable tips on shopping for plants, creating stunning arrangements from grocery store flowers, and effectively maintaining your garden. The discussion also touches on container gardening and decorating for social gatherings, offering practical advice for beautifying both indoor and outdoor spaces for your house guests.  What You’ll Hear On This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to the How to Decorate Podcast 01:05 Meet Canaan Marshall: Floral Designer Extraordinaire 02:42 The Art of Flower Arranging 04:48 Wedding Floral Trends and Tips 13:30 Grocery Store Flower Arrangements 17:04 Container Tips and Tricks 27:58 Tips for Cutting and Arranging Flowers 28:34 Using Different Flower Sizes and Containers 29:52 Reflexing and Enhancing Flower Appearance 32:32 Learning from the Show and Creative Process 33:29 Flower Arrangement Recipes and Mechanics 36:47 Handling Flower Arrangements for Events 47:39 Outdoor Entertaining and Container Gardens 52:54 Final Thoughts and Contact Information Also Mentioned: Ballard Designs | Shop Now canaanmarshall.com | Designer Website @canaanmarshall | Designer Instagram Please send in your decorating dilemmas + pictures ([email protected]) so we can answer them on an upcoming episode. And, of course, please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already in Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss a new episode. Happy Decorating!

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• Ep. 409: How to Shop for Plants Like a Pro Gardener with Mark Thompson - Outdoor Mini-Series Pt. 3

  We continue our outdoor mini-series by welcoming Mark Thompson to the show, co-owner of two iconic Birmingham businesses specializing in gardening and home decor. Mark shares his journey into the gardening world and provides valuable tips on how to shop for plants, care for them effectively, and tackle common gardening challenges. Listeners will gain insights into the importance of setting realistic expectations when shopping for plants, the benefits of starting with smaller specimens, and best practices for soil preparation. The episode also covers how to maximize outdoor spaces, handle invasive plants, and achieve a thriving garden, making it a must-listen for gardening enthusiasts of all levels. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to Ballard Designs Podcast 00:34 Meet Mark Thompson: Garden Shop Owner 01:44 Mark's Journey into Gardening 07:22 Opening the General Store 13:44 Tips for Shopping for Plants 18:59 Ensuring Plant Health and Maintenance 34:14 Garden Shop Plant Care Tips 36:40 Extending the Life of Houseplants 37:03 Houseplant Repotting and Maintenance 50:33 Dealing with Invasive Plants 53:46 Gardening for Non-Gardeners 01:02:33 Common Plant Problems and Solutions Also Mentioned: Ballard Designs | Shop Now @markg.thompson | Designer Instagram Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone. Happy Decorating!

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• Ep. 408: Mastering Outdoor Spaces with Landscape Designer Carmen Johnston - Outdoor Mini-Series Pt. 2

  In Part 2 of our Outdoor Mini Series, we welcome back landscape designer Carmen Johnston to talk about the art of decorating your outdoor spaces. Caroline and Liz discuss Ballard Designs' new Spring releases with Carmen and the importance of planning, choosing the right plants for your garden's sunlight exposure, and the use of frost-free dates for planting. Carmen also provides practical advice on container gardening, from soil preparation to plant selection using her 'three T's' method (tall, thick, and trailing plants). She emphasizes the importance of texture, variation, and the use of irrigation systems to keep plants thriving. Additionally, Carmen offers solutions for dealing with common issues like deer in the garden and highlights the benefits of professional garden planning. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to the How to Decorate Podcast 00:34 Welcoming Landscape Designer Carmen Johnston 01:16 Discussing the New Ballard Spring Release 03:06 Gardening Tips and Frost-Free Dates 09:40 Planning Your Garden Layout 13:19 Bespoke Garden Plans and Professional Help 15:40 Container Gardening Tips 34:00 Sun-Loving and Shade-Loving Palladium Varieties 34:43 Choosing and Planting Palladiums 35:08 The Importance of Texture and Variation in Containers 35:52 When to Buy Palladiums and Seasonal Availability 37:39 Understanding Plant Variation 38:22 Tips for Container Gardening 40:37 Choosing the Right Number and Size of Plants 43:35 The Versatile Kimberly Queen Fern 47:46 Irrigation Solutions for Your Garden 55:53 Dealing with Deer in Your Garden 01:01:59 Final Thoughts and Where to Find More Information Also Mentioned: Ballard Designs | Shop Now @carmenjohnstongardens | Designer Instagram Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone. Happy Decorating!

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• Ep. 407: Spring Gardening Tips from Landscape Architect Brantley Snipes - Outdoor Mini-Series Pt. 1

  This week, Caroline and Liz kick off a special four-part spring outdoor mini-series, welcoming back Mississippi-based landscape architect Brantley Snipes to the show. Together, they explore essential topics for spring gardening, including landscaping best practices, creating functional outdoor spaces, planting strategies, and tackling common challenges. Brantley shares expert insights on effective planning for landscape projects, optimizing budget considerations, and timing for installation. The conversation covers practical tips for designing driveways and entrances, choosing hardscape materials, and ensuring proper drainage. Additionally, listeners will receive valuable advice on common lawn issues, managing pests like deer, and maximizing backyard space. Watch this week's episode with images on the Ballard Designs YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3DQucuB What You’ll Hear On This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to Ballard Designs Podcast 00:34 Spring Gardening Mini-Series Announcement 00:53 Guest Introduction: Brantley Snipes 01:14 Spring Gardening Tips and Tricks 03:16 Planning Your Landscaping Projects 06:50 Driveways and Entrances: Design Insights 17:41 Hardscaping: Materials and Costs 27:43 Planting: Tips and Budgeting 36:10 The Science of Landscape Planning 36:43 Designing the Perfect Patio 37:32 Tree Protection Zones and Patio Placement 41:29 Maximizing Backyard Space 43:28 AstroTurf: Pros and Cons 51:01 Dealing with Common Lawn Issues 57:53 Managing Deer and Other Pests 01:05:52 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes Also Mentioned: Ballard Designs | Shop Now brantleysnipes.com | Designer Website @brantleysnipeslandscapedesign | Designer Instagram Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone. Happy Decorating!

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