How to Decorate

The ladies are ready to kick off 2026 with some ambitious decorating goals! In this special bonus episode, Caroline, Taryn, and Liz sit down to map out their home and personal resolutions for the year. They are putting their goals on the record now so they can hold themselves accountable in 2027.

From tackling "treacherous" basements and organizing chaos closets to navigating the emotional transition of empty nesting, the hosts share the big projects they hope to tackle (and the budget realities holding them back).

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Introduction to the How to Decorate Podcast


01:30 Taryn’s Goal #1: Tackling the "treacherous" basement and finishing the gym 


06:00 Taryn’s Goal #2: The emotional transition of a nursery into a guest room 


08:00 The $100 Facebook Marketplace King Bed find 


12:00 Caroline’s Goal #1: The Entryway Dilemma (Wallpaper vs. The Messy Closet) 


16:00 Caroline’s Reupholstery List: Needlepoint footstools and worn-out linen 


18:00 The universal struggle of organizing "junk drawers" with kids 


20:00 Plant Goals: Keeping Fiddle Leaf Figs alive and planting Peonies 


25:00 Liz’s Goal #1: Creating a "Home Maintenance" calendar 


28:00 Liz’s Goal #2: Raised bed gardening and navigating shade trees 


31:00 Liz’s Goal #3: Empty nesting and converting a teen bedroom into a home office 

Also Mentioned:


Plantopia (Book mentioned by Taryn) 


Skylight Calendar 


IKEA PAX Systems (for closet hacks) 


Shop Ballard Designs

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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The team is thrilled to welcome Meredith Page and Liz Livingston, the creative duo behind the Atlanta-based design firm Page House Studio. With a combined 15 years of experience in interiors and fashion, they joined forces in 2023 to create a studio that focuses on bespoke design and a curated collection of accessories—specifically, their signature pedestals.

Meredith and Liz join Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to discuss how they transitioned from coworkers to business partners, the power of elevating everyday objects, and why "the edit" is the most crucial step in any design project. They share their secrets for creating dynamic vignettes, the importance of "triangulation" in styling, and why a pedestal is the missing ingredient your bookshelf needs.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:


Elevate with Pedestals: Give your small treasures and collectibles the importance they deserve by placing them on a pedestal. This adds instant height and architecture to a vignette, preventing small items from getting lost on a shelf or table. 


Master "Triangulation": When styling a surface, visualize a triangle to guide your arrangement. Group items to create high and low points (the peaks and corners of the triangle) to establish a natural flow and rhythm for the eye. 


Photograph to Edit: If a room feels cluttered or "off," take a photo of it with your phone. Viewing the space through a lens often highlights imbalances or clutter that your eye misses in person, helping you know exactly what to remove.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome & Introductions


01:00 Meredith & Liz’s origin story: From fashion styling to interior design


05:00 Why they launched a product line focused on pedestals


09:00 How to use pedestals to layer depth and height in shelves


13:00 The "Rule of Threes" vs. "Triangulation" in styling


18:00 Mixing materials: Acrylic, wood, and stone


24:00 The Art of the Edit: How to remove items to let a room breathe


30:00 Why you should treat your accessories like a "wardrobe" for your home


35:00 Decorating Dilemma: Styling a large, awkward coffee table


42:00 Tips for finding unique vintage pieces


58:00 Closing notes & where to find Page House Studio

Also Mentioned:

Page House Studio | Website 

Follow them on Instagram: @pagehousestudio 

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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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We're excited to welcome Seattle-based interior designer Lisa Staton to the show. With more than 20 years of experience, her firm is known for seamlessly blending current trends with timeless appeal to create spaces that feel both fresh and rooted in history.

Lisa joins Taryn and Caroline to discuss her East Coast upbringing, how she navigates the "algorithm era" of design, and why she believes every room needs a mix of old and new. She shares her philosophy on "Soup and Symphony" design, how to choose the right white paint for your region, and why the house itself is always the first client.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:




Use the House as Your Guide: Let the home's original architecture be your "guiding life force" when renovating. Matching details like millwork to the original style creates a cohesive foundation, allowing for trendy updates without losing character. 


Practice "Soup and Symphony": Focus on how all design elements work together rather than critiquing individual pieces. Like a soup or symphony, the magic lies in the harmonious blend of textures, colors, and furniture, not just the single ingredients. 


Respect Your Region's Light: Choose paint colors based on your specific location's light, not just what looks good in photos. For example, the blue-toned light of the Pacific Northwest calls for warmer whites to avoid sterility, unlike a sun-drenched desert home. 

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome & Introductions


01:45 Lisa’s background: From Boston history to Sotheby’s art auctions


04:00 The "Algorithm Effect": How social media homogenizes design


06:00 Balancing high-end design with accessible updates


09:00 How to respect architecture without creating a "period piece"


11:00 Designing for location: Why a Cape Cod style doesn't always work in Arizona


13:00 The collaborative process and avoiding "reverse Google search" design


15:00 The "Soup and Symphony" analogy for cohesive interiors


19:00 Mixing traditional cabinetry with sleek, modern furniture


25:00 Designing for the Pacific Northwest: Coziness and light management


28:00 Lisa’s go-to white paints for different lights


31:00 Tips for choosing exterior paint colors


36:00 Decorating Dilemma: Updating a beige-on-beige rental apartment


44:00 Why you should embrace "weird" art and vintage finds


52:00 Closing notes & where to find Lisa

Also Mentioned:


Lisa Staton Design | Website


Follow Lisa on Instagram: @lisastatondesign


Paint Colors Mentioned: Sherwin Williams Alabaster, Benjamin Moore Simply White, Lancaster White, Swiss Coffee


Shop Ballard Designs

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!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're excited to welcome husband-and-wife design duo Heather and Matt French to the show. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, their firm, French & French Interiors, is known for creating luxurious yet livable spaces that are rich in color, pattern, and storytelling.

Heather and Matt join Caroline and Liz to discuss their unique journey from careers in natural medicine and building to becoming interior designers. They share how they blend their Southern roots with the distinct architecture of the American Southwest, why they believe in "softening" a harsh landscape with cozy florals, and how they turned their own home into a "designer lab."

Quick Decorating Takeaways:


Find Your "Keystone" Fabric: Heather anchors her elaborate color palettes with a single multi-colored "keystone" fabric that serves as a roadmap for the entire design scheme.


Create a Respite from the Environment: Rather than mimicking harsh outdoor landscapes, Heather and Matt recommend using soft florals and wallpapers to create a cozy indoor respite.


Study the Masters: Matt emphasizes that studying design history and legends like Sister Parish can be just as valuable as a formal degree for developing a great eye.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome & Introductions


02:00 From Alabama to Santa Fe: Heather & Matt’s pivot into design


06:00 The "Shelter Magazine Budget": Prioritizing beauty in their first renovation


09:00 The historic Applegate Estate project and respecting Santa Fe style


15:00 Blending Southern traditionalism with Southwest architecture


18:00 Why florals are essential for softening "harsh" environments


26:00 How to build a color palette using a "Keystone Fabric"


30:00 The importance of design books and knowing the industry's history


40:00 Designing their own home as a creative laboratory


46:00 Collaborating with their teenage daughter on a "sunset-themed" room


52:00 Closing notes & where to find French & French

Also Mentioned:

French & French Interiors | Website

Follow them on Instagram: @frenchandfrenchinteriors

Designers/Books Mentioned: Sister Parish, Mario Buatta, Kathryn Ireland, Bunny Williams, Furlow Gatewood

Shop Ballard Designs

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!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are wrapping up our special three-part holiday series! For the finale, Liz takes the mic to share her absolute favorite holiday episode from the How to Decorate archive.

Liz chose Episode 386 with the delightful Carson Kressley (Queer Eye, RuPaul’s Drag Race). Liz loves this episode because Carson embodies the spirit of "lavish yet achievable" holiday cheer. In this hilarious and tip-filled conversation, Carson breaks down how he turns the day after Thanksgiving into a tree-trimming party, his secret for serving fast food on silver platters, and why he color-codes his guest towels.

Quick Decorating & Hosting Takeaways:


Match the Decor to the Room: Don't force a red and green color scheme if your room is blue. Carson suggests tailoring your holiday decor to the existing room palette (e.g., aqua ribbons and silver ornaments in a blue room) so you don't have to overhaul your daily decor.


The "High-Low" Party Menu: You don't need to cook for days to be a great host. Carson’s signature move is serving Kentucky Fried Chicken tenders stacked beautifully on an antique silver platter with a homemade dipping sauce.


Color-Code Your Guest Rooms: To keep laundry organized when hosting a crowd, assign a specific towel color to each guest room (e.g., the blue room gets blue towels, the lavender room gets lavender towels) so you always know where clean linens belong.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Liz introduces the final Holiday Throwback episode


01:45 Carson Kressley joins the show


04:00 Carson’s Thanksgiving Routine: Hosting the parade and the "Day After" tree trimming party


09:30 Guest Room Essentials: Flawless bedding and the color-coded towel system


16:00 Real vs. Artificial Trees: Why Carson uses both


20:00 Storage Hacks: Organizing ornaments by tree


28:00 Decorating Philosophy: Using non-traditional colors (Aqua and Silver)


36:00 The Bar Setup: Hiring a bartender and using rolling racks for coat check


45:00 The Menu: KFC on silver platters and country ham biscuits


48:00 Why personalized plastic cups are a hosting lifesaver


53:00 Listener Dilemma: How to style deep window sills with radiators (From Sweden!)

Also Mentioned:


Carson Kressley | Instagram


RuPaul's Drag Race


Ballard Designs Essential Stocking Holder


American Stationery (Monogrammed Cups)


Shop Ballard Designs

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!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices