How to Decorate

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than relying exclusively on the internet, Susan builds a personal library of physical books, estate sale finds, and historical reference materials to inform her custom textile patterns and landscape aesthetics.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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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 back with a classic "Trials & Triumphs" episode! After a hiatus from sharing their own home updates since August, Caroline, Taryn, and Liz sit down to catch up on what has really been happening behind their own front doors. The ladies discuss the highs and lows of homeownership, from Liz’s dining room paint regret (and redemption) to Caroline’s nightmare scenario involving a toilet overflow the day after Christmas. Taryn shares a genius lighting hack for guest rooms that lack hardwiring, and Caroline reveals how she finally tackled the basement clutter that had been weighing on her for five years. Quick Decorating Takeaways: Test Paint in Different Seasons: Liz shares a cautionary tale about painting her dining room "Ancient Marble" in the winter, only to realize that when spring foliage arrived, the green light bouncing in washed the color out completely. She eventually repainted it "Retreat" by Sherwin Williams for a much richer look. The "Smart Plug" Guest Room Hack: If you have a room with no overhead lighting or hardwired sconces, Taryn recommends putting floor and table lamps on smart plugs or timers. This ensures guests never have to walk into a pitch-black room and fumble for a switch. Don't Let the "Big" Projects Scare You: Caroline put off organizing her basement storage for five years because it felt like a massive undertaking. Once she finally started, she and her husband finished the entire project in just two afternoons. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: 00:00 Welcome back to Trials & Triumphs 01:00 Liz’s Paint Trial: Why "Ancient Marble" didn't work in spring 02:00 Liz’s Triumph: The new dining room color ("Retreat") 06:00 Discussing "Malted Milk" (pink) paint for Liz’s kitchen 12:00 Caroline’s Triumph: Cleaning out the basement after 5 years 15:30 Caroline’s Trial: A lightning strike and an expensive tree removal 17:00 Update on Caroline’s needlepoint stockings 19:00 The custom bed that wasn't ready for Christmas (and why that was lucky) 20:45 Caroline’s Trial: The sewer line backup disaster 23:00 Liz’s amusing update on her neighbor's strict Airbnb rules 26:00 Taryn’s Triumph: Finishing the living room drapes and chairs 29:45 Tip: How to handle drapes over air vents 31:30 Taryn’s Triumph: Solving the dark guest room problem with automation 34:00 Taryn’s Trial: The pool heater fail on a warm Christmas Also Mentioned: Paint Color: Sherwin Williams "Ancient Marble" (Liz's Trial) Paint Color: Sherwin Williams "Retreat" (Liz's Triumph) Paint Color: Sherwin Williams "Malted Milk" (Liz's Potential Kitchen) Husky Industrial Shelves (for basement storage) Fabric: "Keir Capri" (Caroline's daughter's bed) 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

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