How to Decorate

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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In this episode, Caroline and Liz talk with artist and product designer Susan Hable. Susan is the co-founder of the Athens, Georgia-based design studio Hable Construction, which she runs with her sister, Katherine. Celebrating 27 years in business, Susan’s work spans lighting, furniture, fine art, textiles, and jewelry, all rooted in her bold, hand-painted patterns and joyful sense of color.

Susan joins the show to discuss her 20-plus-year partnership with lifestyle brand Garnet Hill, her artistic origins, her approach to building an intentional art collection, and the story behind her historic 1905 home.

Key Takeaways from the Episode


The Power of Small Patterns: While large expressions are artistic, small, tightly repeated patterns—like Hable Construction's iconic, best-selling "Beads" print—have a unique, calming effect that anchors a space. Small patterns add excellent grounding texture on everything from seat cushions to linens.


Trust the Emotional Value of Art: When collecting art, buy pieces that speak directly to your heart and make you feel a specific emotion, rather than shopping for what is trendy. If original art is out of your budget, high-quality prints, art books, and local school or community art auctions are excellent alternatives.


Design with Out-of-Print Inspiration: Rather than relying exclusively on the internet, Susan builds a personal library of physical books, estate sale finds, and historical reference materials to inform her custom textile patterns and landscape aesthetics.


Building a Historical Garden: For her 1905 home, Susan designed a garden mirroring traditional Victorian landscapes, prioritizing an organic mix of loose, "floppy" movements (like anemones and Gaura) bordered by clean, tight lines.

Episode Timeline


00:34 – Introduction to Susan Hable and Hable Construction.


01:54 – Susan's artistic childhood, early mentors, and grandmother's influence on her style.


06:17 – The accidental textile breakthrough after a trip to India that led to their first major retail order with Barneys.


09:35 – How a dream inspired the sisters to pivot to screen printing and scale production.


12:12 – The history of the signature "Beads" print and how it functions as design's "white shirt and jeans".


18:12 – Sourcing creative inspiration from physical books, libraries, and out-of-print collections.


34:56 – Moving from New York to Athens, Georgia, and renovating a historic 1905 home through the 2008 market shift.


42:13 – Susan's philosophy on collecting art, avoiding trends, and shopping without friend interference.


52:13 – Artists Susan loves, including Rose Wiley, David Shrigley, Leanne Shapton, and Martha Rich.


59:36 – Tips for collecting local art through local auctions and charity events.


01:02:24 – Designing the latest Garnet Hill collection: Portuguese linens, deconstructed tossed florals, and custom rickrack details.

Mentioned in This Episode


The "Beads" Print: Susan's number-one-selling organic linear-circular pattern utilized across multiple product categories.


Garnet Hill Latest Collection: Features an apparel debut, high-drape Portuguese linen duvets, shams, and pajama sets trimmed with custom pale yellow rickrack.


Susan's Art Show: Currently on display at the Spalding Nix Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia.


Susan's House Tour: Available to watch on the Ballard Designs YouTube channel.


Artists Mentioned: Rose Wiley, David Shrigley, Leanne Shapton, Martha Rich, Louise Belcourt, Christie Bush, and Otis Jones.

Where to Find Susan Hable


Instagram: @HableLand


Website: Hable Construction

Hable for Garnet Hill

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We are thrilled to welcome British interior designer Abigail Ahern to the podcast! Known for breaking all the traditional design rules, Abigail is famous for her signature moody palettes, her bold take on botanicals, and her wildly popular faux floral collection. In addition to her booming interior design business, she has an e-commerce site, five books, and a popular YouTube channel.

Abigail sits down with Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to discuss how she got her start working on the picture desk for Sir Terence Conran before her husband's job relocated them to Detroit, unexpectedly launching her hands-on interior design career. She shares her secrets for styling faux florals so they look incredibly authentic, why she will always champion a dark and moody room, and why lighting is the single most important element of any dinner party.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:


Don't Be Afraid of the Dark: Abigail dispels the common misconception that dark paint makes a room feel smaller. She embraces dark, moody palettes because the deep colors actually blur the edges of a room, creating a cozy, enveloping, and sophisticated space.


The Secret to Faux Florals: When styling her famous faux stems, Abigail approaches arrangements with an interior design mindset. She recommends mixing contrasting textures (like pairing a delicate rose with a hearty hydrangea), varying the heights of the stems in your vase, and bending them so they don't just stand straight up. You don't have to be super delicate with them—the goal is to make the arrangement feel wild, organic, and intriguing.


Lighting is Everything: For Abigail, the lighting at a dinner party is even more important than the menu. She recommends layering lights at different heights around the room and using tea light holders all over the house to create an inviting, multi-dimensional glow that makes everyone feel relaxed.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:


00:00 Welcome & Introduction to Abigail Ahern


01:30 How Abigail started her career in publishing for Sir Terence Conran


02:00 Moving to Detroit and diving into interior design without formal training


06:00 The inspiration behind her incredibly lifelike faux floral collection


12:00 Tips for bending, mixing, and styling faux stems to look wild and natural


20:00 Why Abigail loves dark, moody wall colors and how to pull them off confidently


30:00 The importance of layered lighting and varying light heights in a room


45:00 Entertaining tips and why hospitality-style lighting matters more than the food


59:00 Closing thoughts & where to find Abigail

Also Mentioned:


Abigail Ahern | Website


Follow Abigail on Instagram: @abigailahern


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