Ep. 457: Timelines, Tiles, & The "Fifth Wall" with Studio Wellington

Ep. 457: Timelines, Tiles, & The "Fifth Wall" with Studio Wellington

From How to Decorate by Ballard Designs

March 17, 2026 · 1h 35m

About this episode

The episode features a discussion with Stephanie Abernathy and Ashley Malone about home renovation and the importance of planning and hiring contractors.

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…

People in this episode

Guests: Stephanie Abernathy, Ashley Malone

Topics covered

  • home renovation
  • interior design
  • contractor hiring

Keywords

  • construction
  • appliances
  • tile layout
  • green flags

Mentioned in this episode

Products: appliances, stone, tile

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