How to Decorate

We are thrilled to welcome Ray Booth back to the podcast! Ray is an acclaimed interior designer, a partner at the award-winning firm McALPINE, and the author of the beautiful new book, The Expressive Home.

Ray sits down with Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to discuss how his background in architecture shapes every interior decision he makes. He shares why he views drapery as "punctuation," the optical illusion of black window mullions, and why he believes "editing is the key to happiness."

Quick Decorating Takeaways:


Drapery is Punctuation: Ray uses drapery not just for windows, but as "commas" in a room—creating pauses, dividing large spaces, and softening the acoustics to create intimacy in an otherwise "hard" architectural box.


The "Eyeliner" Effect: When painting window mullions (the strips between glass panes), Ray prefers dark colors (black or bronze) over white. Dark mullions act like eyeliner—they frame the view and disappear to let the eye focus on the landscape, whereas white mullions stop the eye right at the glass.


Hang Lighting for Humans, Not Ceilings: In rooms with double-height ceilings, resist the urge to hang chandeliers too high. Ray suggests hanging them lower—within the "human scale"—so they feel touchable and help ground people in a cavernous space.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome & Introduction


01:30 Ray’s architectural background and his "biased" approach to interiors


04:00 How to choose materials based on your personal story


10:00 Why Ray uses drapery as "punctuation" and acoustic softening


16:00 Building a neutral palette: Using contrast to create harmony


21:00 Window Mullions: Why dark paint makes the view clearer


25:00 The Art of Editing: "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should"


28:00 Ray’s take on AI in design (featuring a nod to Steve & Brooke Giannetti)


34:00 Human Scale: How to make grand rooms feel intimate


40:00 Lighting tips for high ceilings


44:00 The "Deconstructed Sectional": How to improve flow around large furniture


48:00 Closing notes & where to find Ray

Also Mentioned:


The Expressive Home by Ray Booth (New Book)


Evocative Interiors by Ray Booth (Previous Book)


McALPINE | Website


Ray Booth Design | Instagram


Steve & Brooke Giannetti


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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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It is our favorite time of year: the 2026 Trend Report is here! Caroline, Taryn, and Liz are joined by the Ballard Designs Product Design Team—Hillary Park, and Will Turner—to break down exactly what is coming next in the world of interiors.

The team reveals the surprising colors predicted to dominate (including "Green Glow" aka Slime and "Fresh Purple"), why "Builder Khaki" is making a nostalgic comeback, and the specific design aesthetic that bridges the gap between Gen Z and Boomers. They also discuss the move away from gray, the evolution of bouclé, and why your next gallery wall should feature "weird" personal art.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:


Brown is the New Black: Move over, cool grays. The team confirms that brown—from "Cocoa Powder" to "Builder Khaki"—is the dominant neutral for 2026. It pairs perfectly with the trending warm metals (like nickel) and "dirty" pastels.


Embrace "Grandma Crafts": High-tech is out; analog is in. The trend of "Grandma Crafts" is huge, with needlepoint, embroidery, and paint-by-numbers becoming the ultimate way to unwind and decorate.


Look for the "North Star": Celestial motifs are having a moment. Look for stars, moons, and zodiac themes in hardware, bedding, and fabrics as people seek direction and meaning in their homes.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome to the 2026 Trend Report


01:30 How the team predicts trends (Fashion Snoops, WGSN, Veranda)


04:45 The 5 Big Color Predictions: Transformative Teal, Wax Paper, Fresh Purple, Cocoa Powder, and Green Glow


06:30 The "Slime" Green debate and the board game Hues and Cues


11:00 The resurgence of Khaki and Ralph Lauren nostalgia


14:00 Cornflower Blue: The "Happy" color that isn't going anywhere


16:30 Metals: Why Nickel is overtaking Chrome


20:30 Paint Colors of the Year (Cloud Dancer, Warm Eucalyptus, hidden Gem)


23:00 Material Trends: Leather, colored stains, and the decline of shiny glam


26:00 Is Bouclé over? (Spoiler: It's evolving into skirts)


28:00 The "Nancy Meyers" Aesthetic vs. Maximalism


34:00 Pattern Trends: Lattice, Ribbons, and "Weird" Checks


41:30 Fun Micro-Trends: Cabbage Ware and "Vampire Core" (Oxblood)


43:00 Celestial motifs and the "North Star" theme


54:00 "Weird Art": Why you should frame cigarette packs and personal relics


58:00 The rise of "Grandma Crafts"

Also Mentioned:


Board Game: Hues and Cues


Trend: Nancy Meyers Aesthetic


Paint Color: Pantone "Cloud Dancer"


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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 are back with a classic "Trials & Triumphs" episode! After a long hiatus from sharing their own home updates (since August!), Caroline, Taryn, and Liz sit down to catch up on what has been happening behind their own front doors.

The ladies discuss the highs and lows of homeownership, from Liz’s garage flood nightmare to Caroline’s victory over a builder-grade "boob light." Taryn gives a major update on her Facebook Marketplace bed project (spoiler: it’s finished!), and Caroline explains why she finally ditched her trendy jute rug for a vintage estate sale find.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:


Don't Fear the "Floater" Rug: Caroline shares her win with a vintage 8x11 rug. While 9x12 is the standard for living rooms, she explains that you can break the "all legs on" rule with a slightly smaller vintage piece as long as the front legs of your furniture anchor it comfortably.


Spray It, Don't Brush It: Taryn confirms that for intricate furniture (like a spindle bed), a paint sprayer is non-negotiable. It saves hours of frustration compared to brushing and delivers a smooth, factory-like finish that makes DIY pieces look high-end.


Upgrade the "Boob Light": It is the most common builder-grade eyesore, but swapping a flush mount is one of the easiest updates you can do. Caroline replaced hers in 20 minutes with a faux-alabaster fixture, instantly elevating her hallway for under $100.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome & Happy New Year!


01:30 Caroline’s Triumph: Scoring a vintage Turkish rug on EBTH.com


06:00 The "Jute vs. Wool" debate: Why wool is actually cleaner


09:00 Taryn’s Triumph: The $100 Facebook Marketplace bed is finished!


12:00 Painting Tips: Why you need a sprayer for spindles & the color reveal ("Stardew")


18:00 Liz’s Trial: A pipe burst and ceiling damage in the garage


22:00 Liz’s Triumph: Painting the front door "Tate Olive"


26:00 Caroline’s Triumph: Replacing the hallway "boob light" with an Amazon find


32:00 Taryn’s Trial: The struggle of finding bedding to match a blue bed


38:00 Closing thoughts & looking ahead to spring projects

Also Mentioned:


Everything But The House (Online Estate Sales) | ebth.com


Paint Color: Sherwin Williams "Stardew" (Taryn's Bed)


Paint Color: Benjamin Moore "Tate Olive" (Liz's Door)


Paint Sprayer (Wagner)


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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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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 

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