How to Decorate

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 investment and share practical tips on construction and fabrics so you never regret a purchase again!

Quick Decorating Takeaways:

Know Your Space and Lifestyle: Before looking at styles, assess how you actually live. Are you eating snacks on the couch, hosting dinner parties, or accommodating pets? Knowing these details dictates what kind of fabric and cushion style you will need.

Test Drive Your Fabric: Fabric is often the most crucial element in determining a sofa's longevity. Order a full yard of your fabric swatch, wrap it around your favorite chair or dog bed, spill coffee on it, and see how well it cleans up before you commit.

Understand Construction Basics: Look for kiln-dried wood frames to prevent the frame from cracking. While eight-way hand-tied springs used to be the gold standard, modern suspension technology offers fantastic durability and comfort as well.

Avoid the "Showroom" Look: Do not buy a perfectly matched furniture set if you want a collected feel. Give your space personality by mixing leg styles (e.g., skirts versus exposed legs), arm shapes, and wood tones.

Create a Room Plan First: Do not shop in a vacuum! Map out your room on graph paper or use painter's tape on the floor to understand how pieces will actually fit, flow, and scale with your ceiling height.

Keep Swatches Handy: Stash your essential fabric and paint swatches, along with room measurements, in your car's glove box. You never know when you will spot the perfect piece while out shopping.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

00:34 Intro to our summer "best of" series and why this is our most popular episode.

01:44 Trials and triumphs: new babies, basement offices, hardware decisions, and carbon monoxide scares.

25:41 Why buying a sofa starts with knowing yourself and testing out seats in a store.

35:18 The nitty-gritty of sofa construction, from kiln-dried wood to spring types.

46:39 The importance of choosing the right fabric and how to effectively "test drive" it.

52:40 Observing where your guests naturally gravitate to optimize your room's seating layout.

56:57 Dealing with long furniture lead times and why you shouldn't settle.

01:01:54 Dining room strategies: picking wipeable fabrics and indestructible quartz or porcelain tables.

01:07:21 How to effectively partner with a store's sales associate to find your perfect match.

01:11:32 Designing a collected room without getting stuck in a "matchy-matchy" trap.

01:16:04 Tips for budgeting your furniture layout piece-by-piece and pacing your purchases.

01:22:10 How to scale pieces correctly using tape, cardboard, and line drawings.

01:28:56 The furniture purchases the hosts regret most—and their all-time favorite statement pieces.

Also Mentioned:

Shop Ballard Designs

Please send in your decorating dilemmas to podcast@ballarddesigns.net so we can help you with your space! Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and please leave us a review.

Happy decorating!
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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 a beautiful, comfortable nest. From thread counts and fabric types to the secrets of mixing textures and arranging pillows, this episode is a masterclass in achieving the perfect bed.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:

Know Your Bedding Materials: Percale acts like a crisp white button-up shirt and sleeps cooler, whereas sateen has a slight sheen and a tighter weave that sleeps warmer. Linen is highly breathable, becomes softer the more you wash it, and is incredibly durable—often lasting up to five years.

Avoid the "Blob" Effect: Don't just throw a single, solid duvet across the entire mattress. Break the bed up visually into thirds by folding the duvet down to expose a contrasting coverlet or quilt in the middle, leaving the fluffy duvet at the bottom.

Show Off the "Bell" of the Bed: When draping a quilt at the foot of the bed, pull the corners out into a triangle fold. This styling trick shows off how the fabric drapes and highlights decorative corner details, like a Greek key trim.

Double-Stuff for Fluff: The ultimate catalog styling secret for an ultra-plush bed is to double-stuff your duvet cover by putting two inserts inside it.

Size Up Your Sham Inserts: To make the flanges of a euro sham stand up perfectly and to reduce fabric wrinkles, purchase an insert that is two inches larger than the sham (e.g., a 28-inch insert for a 26-inch sham).

The Fluffing Trick: When placing your insert into a sham, shake it so all the fill settles to the bottom, then turn it upside down so that the fullest part sits at the top to support the flange.

Polyfill vs. Down: While down is luxurious, it can shift around inside the duvet cover. Polyfill is often better for maintaining its shape and structure without requiring constant fluffing.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

00:34 Intro to our summer series and welcoming bedding expert Amy Jordan

02:59 Breaking down materials: The differences between percale, sateen, and linen

09:15 Understanding the difference between coverlets, quilts, and duvet inserts

11:50 How to properly layer a bed to avoid the distracting "blob" look

14:06 Styling the "bell" of the bed for a beautiful, draped effect

18:40 Navigating pillow arrangements and the benefits of a long lumbar pillow

25:00 The challenge of deep mattresses and getting coverlets to tuck properly

28:00 Box springs, the hassle of bed skirts, and why fully upholstered beds are easier

33:26 Bedding strategies for kids' rooms, including the European duvet method

35:05 Choosing between down and polyfill inserts for your duvet

41:40 Caroline's exact bed-making routine, hospital corners, and sham insert sizing tricks

47:18 The catalog secret to achieving maximum fluff: Double-stuffing the duvet

55:09 The great debate: Who actually makes their bed every morning?

Also Mentioned:

Shop Ballard Designs Bedding

Please send in your decorating dilemmas to podcast@ballarddesigns.net so we can help you with your space! 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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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 unwavering love for traditional design and why she believes "traditional with a twist" is an evergreen concept. She breaks down her philosophy on mixing patterns, why you should always opt for white bedding, and the importance of allowing for "imperfection" in your home to make it feel collected and lived-in rather than stiff and orchestrated.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:


Define "Traditional with a Twist": The "twist" isn't just about using new items; it's about juxtaposition. Pair formal elements with casual ones—for example, adding a casual seagrass or sisal rug to a very formal dining room with mural wallpaper helps dress down the formality.


The Case for Pattern-on-Pattern: Katie believes that pattern is a design staple. If you love pattern, don't be afraid to use it liberally. If you want to keep the room feeling fresh, she suggests swapping the traditional ratio: instead of doing the main pattern on the drapes, try using a bold floral on your upholstered sofa or chair.


Keep Big Pieces Neutral: To avoid dating your room too quickly, keep your foundational pieces (sofas, large armchairs) neutral in color. Save your bold gestures for items that can be easily swapped out, like textiles, lamps, and smaller decorative accents.


Embrace "Imperfection": When a room is too orchestrated or "just so," it feels uncomfortable and stiff. Katie argues that a little bit of imperfection—a slightly crooked piece of art or a mix of disparate items—is what creates a warm, comfortable, and charming home.


The Power of White Bedding: Even if your room is off-white, keep your bedding crisp white. It serves as a fresh, clean foundation that allows you to play with patterned sheets or throw pillows without the room feeling cluttered.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:34 Intro: Why we’re re-airing this beloved archive episode


02:00 Traditional design: Defining "Traditional with a Twist"


05:00 Updating formal spaces with contemporary lighting and casual rugs


06:00 Why Katie loves florals and pattern-on-pattern layering


09:30 The "Granny Chic" debate and why timeless style doesn't need a label


12:00 The importance of tuning out social media trends to stay original


14:00 Katie’s design background and the influence of her Southern roots


22:00 A deep dive into Chintz: Cotton fabrics, saturated colors, and how to use them


26:00 Ruffles, trim, and needlepoint: Historic details having a moment


38:00 Maintaining a sense of imperfection to keep a home cozy


44:00 Creating "moments" versus "Epcot" (making disparate rooms coexist)


46:00 Decorating Dilemma: Solving "Zoom Gloom" in a dark blue/beige guest room


56:54 Where to find Katie and her web series

Also Mentioned:


Katie Rosenfeld & Company | Website


Follow Katie on Instagram: @KatieRosenfeld


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.

Happy decorating!
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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. She shares her brilliant real-world hacks for testing furniture volume before you buy, why she loves wall-to-wall "sofa drenching" in tight spaces, and how to layout a dual-purpose office and guest room to conquer the dreaded "zoom gloom."

Quick Decorating Takeaways:


Scale is All About Visual Volume: Scale isn't just about simple dimensions; it's the balance of shapes, pattern, and mass in a room. When mixing antique and modern pieces, keep an eye on mass—newer furniture skews much larger ("California scale"), which can easily swallow up older heirloom items.


Get Physical in Your Space: Don't rely solely on 2D digital layouts. To build confidence before hitting buy, physically map out a room using blue painter's tape on the floor, arrange empty cardboard boxes to test physical height, or tape a 1-to-1 paper cutout of a light fixture straight to the wall.


Try "Sofa Drenching" in Small Rooms: Don't automatically buy a tiny love seat just because a room is tight. Small spaces can actually handle a giant sofa wrapped wall-to-wall. By making the entire room about the seating, you create an incredibly cozy, enveloping, and high-drama jewel box.


Don't Get Stranded on "Rug Island": A common design trap is placing a floating area rug in the dead center of a room with all your furniture pushed completely off it. To bridge your hard floors with your texturing, ensure your seating "straddles" both worlds by keeping their front feet on the rug and their back feet off.


Banish the Zoom Gloom: Dark colors like navy blue can throw an unflattering, shadowed cast on your face during computer calls. When designing a home office space, look for bright, invigorating colors that act like a flattering backdrop—think pistachios, corals, or soft apricots.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:34 Welcome to Sarah Vaile & an introduction to her style


02:22 Sarah's career pivot at 27, training at Parsons, and launching a firm during a recession


04:36 Business bank accounting tricks and going pro with a Virginia plantation project


06:00 Meeting an idol: How a hair salon appointment led to training under Celerie Kemble


08:53 Why scale is the single hardest part of design and accounting for project "breakage"


12:08 Moving past CAD: Using blue tape and physical mock-ups to save a layout


18:03 The vintage buying hack: Asking a person to stand in photos for sizing comparison


21:40 Dealing with post-holiday emptiness and shopping Ballard Designs' garland sales


27:13 Transitioning scales: Moving light fixtures from 10-foot ceilings down to 8 feet


30:21 Table lamps as the "mid-level jewels" that balance a room's high-low heights


31:04 Curtain guidelines: Maximizing drama with ceiling-mount hardware and massive art


37:18 How fabric patterns scale on furniture and what to avoid on tufted pieces


44:38 The magic of small rooms and why they are perfect for packing in big sofas


46:29 Rug guidelines: Double-rug zoning and custom on-site binding around a hearth


51:34 Decorating Dilemma: Solving a small, dark guest room/Zoom room from Virginia


56:40 Color trends and color seasons: The shift toward burnt oranges and terracotta

Also Mentioned:


Sarah Vaile Design | Website


Follow Sarah on Instagram: @SarahVaileDesign


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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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 layouts—and get her top recommendations for cabinetry, countertop materials, and space planning.


Embrace the English Inset: To design a kitchen that looks gorgeous decades later, stick to timeless styles like simple English flush inset cabinetry. Limit your options rather than getting overwhelmed by hundreds of trendy door styles.


Prioritize Drawers Over Doors: Base cabinets with deep drawers are far superior to standard doors for storage because they eliminate the need to move items in the front to get to the back, making heavy pots and pans completely accessible.


The Case for Clear Islands: If space permits, aim for a clean kitchen island devoid of sinks, cooktops, or appliances. An uninterrupted surface creates an ideal multi-use environment for meal prep, serving, homework, and entertaining.


Design for Reality, Not a Dream: Avoid tailoring an expensive kitchen remodel around an idealized version of your lifestyle. If you only host formal dinners twice a year, don't sacrifice daily functionality for features meant only for entertaining.


The Magic of Real Stone: Don't let builders scare you away from natural marble. It's far more resilient than people think, ages with a beautiful European patina, and chips can easily be blended because it is solid rock.


00:34 – Introduction to kitchen expert Cyndy Cantley.


01:17 – Cyndy’s serendipitous start: Designing a show house kitchen that led to a project for award-winning chef Frank Stitt and a Bon Appétit cover.


03:24 – The history of kitchen design trends, from pink Corian and pickled wood to painted finishes.


06:04 – Falling in love with English inset cabinetry and keeping a portfolio timeless.


09:17 – The anatomy of a cabinet door: Rails, styles, and maintaining perfect proportions.


11:16 – Understanding the standard 4-inch toe kick and aligning it with major American appliances.


12:24 – The functionality of wide drawers vs. standard doors and pull-outs.


14:48 – Smart corner solutions: Why swing-out organizers beat old-school lazy Susans.


16:35 – High-value internal inserts worth your budget: Alphabetical spice drawers, dual cutlery organization, and tray dividers.


25:00 – Designing for pets: Incorporating custom dog bowl cubbies built with slab scraps.


28:39 – Smart alternative storage: Utilizing ceiling-height cabinets and 12-to-15-inch deep floor-to-ceiling dish cabinets.


30:36 – Appliance garages, coffee stations, and pocket door mechanics.


36:38 – The truth about microwave placement, microwave drawers, and hidden panel-ready fridges.


47:36 – Countertop deep-dive: Falling in love with marble, managing budgets, and color matching slabs.


55:34 – Choosing kitchen flooring: The warmth of wood vs. traditional cold tiles.


56:45 – Kitchen hardware layout tips: Mixing knobs, drop pulls, and custom backplates.


01:00:06 – Functional spatial rules: Why right-handed cooks should always place dishwashers on the left and trash pull-outs on the right.

Mentioned in This Episode


Cantley & Company: Cyndy's custom design studio specializing in bespoke cabinetry and space design.


Frank Stitt's Kitchen: The career-launching project featured on the cover of Bon Appétit.


Calacatta & Carrara Marble: The pros, cons, and budgeting realities of high-movement stones.

Instagram: @cantleytoulman

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