How to Decorate

Our guest today is award-winning Atlanta architect Timothy Adams. His firm, T.S. Adams Studio Architects, has become synonymous with classical lines and highly detailed craftsmanship. Tim sits down with Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to talk about his beautiful new book, Tradition Made New: Houses with a Sense of Soul and History, which celebrates homes that feel grounded, authentic, and built to last generations.

Tim shares his architectural process, explaining why a home's design must always start with the physical lot it sits on. He discusses the difference between "timeless" and "soulful" architecture, how to balance a client's modern taste with a traditional neighborhood, and why he always takes time to drive around a community to study the local materials before drafting a single plan.

Quick Decorating & Architectural Takeaways:


Design for the Site First: Before finalizing a design or layout, you must consider the lot. Tim explains that a house should be deeply responsive to its topography and surroundings. He uses the site visit to figure out how to capture the best natural light and views, while strategically positioning the house to block out negative elements like a neighbor's garage or a cell tower.


Blend In on the Outside, Be Yourself on the Inside: If your preferred style clashes with a historic neighborhood, find a compromise. Tim shares a story of a client who wanted a highly contemporary home on one of Atlanta's most traditional streets. To respect the neighborhood, Tim designed a classic stone English manor exterior, but kept the interior architecture incredibly clean and modern.


Aim for "Soulful" over "Timeless": Tim prefers the term "soulful architecture" over the overused buzzword "timeless". By rooting a house in the right historical proportions, strong details, and authentic regional materials, you create a home that feels lived-in and relevant for decades, rather than just designing for a fleeting trend.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome & Introduction of Timothy Adams


00:55 Discussing Tim's new book, Tradition Made New


01:35 How Tim designs projects to respond to their specific location and topography


04:00 Honoring good views and hiding the bad ones during the initial design phase


06:15 Why Tim studies the older homes and materials in a community before building


07:20 Compromising on a modern house on a traditional street in Atlanta (West Paces Ferry)


08:45 Designing for longevity and resale value vs. designing just for yourself


09:30 The concept of "soulful" architecture and finding inspiration in history


11:00 How to position a house on a narrow lot or a standard subdivision


01:01:00 Closing thoughts & where to get the book

Also Mentioned:


Book: Tradition Made New: Houses with a Sense of Soul and History by Timothy Adams


T.S. Adams Studio Architects | Website


Follow them on Instagram: @tsadamsstudio


Shop Ballard Designs

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your 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 brand new "Trials & Triumphs" episode! It has been a minute since Caroline, Taryn, and Liz sat down to share their personal home updates, but they are back to spill all the details on what has been happening behind their own front doors (and as they jokingly point out, it's mostly "trials" this time around!).

Liz kicks things off by officially starting the planning phase for her long-awaited kitchen renovation, which has quickly snowballed into a bathroom renovation, too. Taryn celebrates finally tackling some overdue exterior home maintenance and reveals her plans for a "big bed swap" to refresh her guest room. Finally, Caroline shares a homeowner's nightmare: a major plumbing backup that led to a shocking discovery about her house.

Quick Decorating & Homeowner Takeaways:


Visualize with Tape: If you are planning a renovation, use brightly colored tape (like Liz's hot pink tape) to outline cabinet, sink, and appliance placements on the floor. It helps you visualize exact clearances and traffic flow before anything is actually built.


Beware of Scope Creep: Liz shares how easily a kitchen renovation can expand. Once you start opening walls and moving plumbing in a 100-year-old home, it often makes sense to tackle adjoining rooms (like her main and guest bathrooms) at the same time to save on future headaches.


The Power of Power Washing: Taryn reminds us of the importance of exterior maintenance. After living in her home for five years, her white gutters were turning green from organic growth. A simple pressure washing completely revitalized the look of her home's exterior.


Know Your Plumbing: Caroline shares a cautionary tale about assuming you are on city sewer. After a major backup and weeks of "camp baths," she discovered her home actually runs on a buried septic system—meaning all those French press coffee grounds she'd been putting down the disposal were a huge mistake!

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome back to Trials & Triumphs!


01:30 Liz’s Trial/Triumph: Officially starting the kitchen renovation


03:00 Visualizing the new layout with hot pink tape and the sink placement debate


05:00 The reality of renovating a nearly 100-year-old home (and discovering asbestos)


07:00 Scope Creep: Adding two bathroom renovations to the kitchen project


34:00 Taryn’s Triumph: Finally tackling exterior home maintenance and power washing the gutters


38:00 Taryn’s Trial/Triumph: The "Big Bed Swap" and moving the king bed to the downstairs primary


41:00 Designing the guest room with an antique French poster bed and marine blue wallpaper


44:00 Caroline’s Trial: The major plumbing backup and the Roto-Rooter visit


47:30 Digging up the yard to install a cleanout trap and discovering the septic tank


52:00 Why you should never put coffee grounds down a garbage disposal


54:00 Three weeks of "camp baths" and surviving without a working shower

Also Mentioned:


Shop Ballard Designs

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your 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 absolutely thrilled to welcome a truly iconic British designer to the show! Our guest today is Steven Rodel, Creative Director at one of the UK's most esteemed design practices, Guy Goodfellow. Guy Goodfellow is renowned for a deep knowledge of historic interiors, an impeccable eye for art and antiques, and a talent for creating homes that feel beautifully evolved.

Steven brings a distinctly British perspective as he joins Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to talk about his recent London flat renovation and the secrets to achieving an authentic "English Country" look. He explains why rooms shouldn't feel "showy" or "themed," how to confidently display your personal style, and why every home needs a touch of eccentricity.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:


Embrace the Imperfect and Eccentric: An authentic, lived-in space requires a bit of eccentricity. Don't shy away from battered or worn antique pieces—like a well-loved games table that shows the history of how many games have been played on it.


Avoid the "Themed" Look: A true English Country home balances heritage and comfort. The goal is to make a room feel like it has naturally evolved over the years, rather than looking like a stage set or a perfectly matched theme.


Make the Hallway a Destination: If you have a long, dark, narrow hallway, don't just treat it as a pass-through space. Hang a gallery wall of personal photos to make people linger, use fun wallpaper, add sconces, and place a mirror at the very end to bounce natural light from adjacent rooms or skylights.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome & Introduction to Steven Rodel 


01:30 Steven’s design history and working with Guy Goodfellow 


04:30 The Guy Goodfellow aesthetic: Rooted in history and tradition, but fresh and timeless 


16:30 Creating rooms that are quiet, comfortable, and accessible rather than "showy" 


26:00 Steven’s own London flat renovation and the editing process 


32:00 Defining "English Country Home" style and avoiding the "themed" look 


37:30 Why we should all allow space for eccentricity in our homes 


41:30 Embracing imperfect antiques (and the charm of a battered games table) 


43:30 Decorating Dilemma: Updating a dark, narrow hallway in an 1895 Martha's Vineyard cottage 


48:30 Lighting tricks for corridors: Adding sconces and mirrors to bounce skylight illumination 


52:00 Using gallery walls to turn a hallway into a destination space 


54:50 Should bedroom colors perfectly match the hallway wallpaper? 


55:20 Closing thoughts & where to find Steven 

Also Mentioned:


Guy Goodfellow | Website 


Shop Ballard Designs

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your 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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This week, we are thrilled to welcome Stephanie Abernathy and Ashley Malone, the creative forces behind Studio Wellington. With backgrounds in history, art history, political science, and interior design, this dynamic duo brings a uniquely informed approach to their projects.

Currently in the thick of a massive personal home renovation, Stephanie shares the unvarnished reality of what it actually feels like to live through construction. The ladies break down exactly how long you should spend planning before swinging a hammer, why you should pick your appliances before your cabinets, and the biggest "green flags" to look for when hiring a general contractor.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:


Pick Appliances and Stone First: Before you finalize your cabinet layout, you need to select your appliances. The sizes and types of appliances you choose will dictate the function and flow of the entire kitchen. After that, pick your stone (like countertops or a slab backsplash), as this will drive the aesthetic direction of the room.


Look for Contractor "Green Flags": When interviewing a contractor, a major "green flag" is if they walk through the job site with you and actively take notes. If they claim they will remember everything without writing it down, that's a warning sign. Another red flag? If they refuse to provide any sort of timeline or refuse to be transparent about their costs.


Don't Assume the Tile Layout: Never assume the installer knows where you want the tile to start. You should always provide a tile diagram or physically be on-site to tell them exactly where the first piece should go, otherwise, you might end up with awkward, sliver-sized cuts in the most visible areas.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome & Introduction to Stephanie and Ashley of Studio Wellington


05:00 Why planning a major renovation can (and should) take up to a year and a half


09:00 Building your team: Do you want to get bad news from this person?


25:00 The importance of detail down to the outlet covers


37:00 Why appliances and stone must be selected first


40:00 Why you need to hand a "lighting binder" to the framing crew


56:00 The variables of construction and dealing with unexpected changes


01:13:00 Green flags and red flags when hiring a contractor


01:20:00 The golden rule of tile installation: Tell them where to start!


01:26:00 Treating the ceiling as the "fifth wall"


01:31:00 Closing thoughts & where to find Studio Wellington

Also Mentioned:


Studio Wellington | Website


Follow them on Instagram: @studio.wellington


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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We are wrapping up the Carson Kressley mini-series with a bang! For his grand finale, Carson invites his dear friend and the "grand dame" of Charleston, Patricia Altschul—star of Bravo’s hit show Southern Charm.

Carson and Miss Pat discuss her fascinating background as an elite art advisor in the 1980s and 90s, her long-standing collaboration with the legendary decorator Mario Buatta (the "Prince of Chintz"), and the history of her stunning 1853 Greek Revival home in Charleston. She also shares her expert tips for navigating online auctions, the secret to a perfect martini, and why classic English country design never goes out of style.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:


Do Your Homework Before Buying Art: Pat recommends visiting museums, galleries, and auction houses just to look before you start buying. Once you find your style, always check the condition of a piece—she suggests investing in a portable blacklight to spot any repairs, cracks, or in-painting on antique art.


Shop the Apps for Hidden Gems: You don't have to spend a fortune to get great pieces. Pat swears by local auctions and the LiveAuctioneers app to find everything from French porcelain to vintage jewelry. She also highly recommends Stair Galleries for scoring incredible upholstered pieces from the estates of famous decorators.


The Timelessness of Mario Buatta: Pat worked with Mario Buatta on four homes over 30 years. She notes that his rooms stand the test of time because he adopted the English country style—focusing on classic floor plans, the right scale, and high-quality, comfortable upholstered pieces that look even better when they are a little faded and lived-in.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome to the final episode of the Carson Kressley Takeover!


01:30 Meet Patricia Altschul: Art advisor, author, and star of Southern Charm


04:30 Growing up in Richmond, Virginia with an eclectic mix of French antiques and Chinese rugs


07:00 Pat’s career as an art advisor in the 80s and 90s (and flying the Concorde)


10:30 How to start collecting art and why you need a portable blacklight


13:00 The best auction sites: Stair Galleries and the LiveAuctioneers app


16:30 The history of Pat’s Charleston home: The 1853 Isaac Jenkins Mikell House


19:00 Working with legendary decorator Mario Buatta over 30 years


23:00 Why Mario's classic "English country" rooms still look fresh today


32:30 Pat's former home on Oyster Bay in Long Island


38:00 How Pat ended up on Southern Charm


40:00 Charleston must-dos and the city's incredible food scene


44:00 The secret to the perfect Southern martini


47:30 Entertaining in New York City in the 1990s


51:30 Pat's collection of Ballard Designs crystal lanterns

Also Mentioned:


Pat's Book (referred to by Carson as Eat, Drink, and Remarry)


LiveAuctioneers App


Stair Galleries


Shop the Carson Kressley Collection at 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