Decorate Like a Design Boss

Kimberly Grigg welcomes inventor Korri Wright to the show to talk about the products she invented to make life easier. Korri explains the genesis of both Blade Butler and Unlimiscent, how she brought her ideas from conception to market, and why she’s a fan of tasks made easy.   Kimberly digs into how Korri Wright came up with the idea for the Blade Butler - a unique invention that cleans ceiling fan blades without requiring a ladder or spreading dust onto the objects below - and Unlimiscent - a universal fragrance emitter. Korri admits she was simply frustrated with cleaning the fans in her own Atlanta home and searched for a product to make the job easier. When she didn’t find one, she created her own. With Unlimiscent, she took aim at solving the issue of too many different brand fragrance emitters and not being able to remember which one was at home when buying new scent inserts.    Kimberly and Korri share how both their families - Kimberly has six kids and Korri has four - inspire and encourage their creative and professional growth. Korri says her kids have been involved with the whole process of her inventions, in one way or another, and says she hopes they are inspired to follow their own paths in turn. Korri also details how asking questions is the key component in getting a product to market, while the biggest obstacle is cost. Learn how Blade Butler and Unlimiscent came to be and how they can make your own home more beautiful with ease. About Korri Wright:   Korri Wright is a CEO, inventor and busy mom of four. She needed a better, faster way to clean her dirty ceiling fans and hated the hassle of trying to remember what brand of fragrances she could buy to match the fragrance emitters she previously purchased. Together with her business partner, Karen Spencer, Korri realized there was a substantial market for both ideas. They worked together to develop an efficient ceiling fan cleaning product that’s easy to use and eco-friendly: the Blade Butler. Then they worked together to develop the efficient, hassle-free product universal fragrance emitter: Unlimiscent. Resources discussed in this episode: Korri Wright on LinkedIn Blade Butler Unlimiscent   --    Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.   Transcription   Kimberly Grigg  00:00 Watching a mom work teaches values in a way that you can't just spit out at them.   Kimberly Grigg  00:07 Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg, and I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers like yourselves how to decorate. And when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, well, buckle up honey, because it's time to design.   Kimberly Grigg  00:41 Well, hello design lovers and design enthusiasts. I have news! I am so excited to tell you that this is Episode 52. Which means this podcast is officially one year old. Hard for me to believe. And I have you, my dear listeners, to thank. This podcast, I'm told, is performing really well. And, well, I'm sort of proud of it. This was kind of just a labor of love, and no epidural. And to be fair, podcasts are not the easiest things to do. But for some reason, I really kind of love this medium. And I'm deep down in it now. So thank you for tuning in each week and I appreciate all the great reviews. And it always makes me feel good when you share this with someone who you think will benefit. So now I ask please leave me a comment, a review, or even an email and let me know what you might like to hear about in the upcoming year. Any topic that you would like to explore about design, or design products, or even other designers you'd like to hear from? I'd love to know so I can be bringing you what you might like to hear. And now let's dive in to Episode 52. And I have something really special. Today I'm talking to Korri Wright. And, well, I'm excited to learn about this gal, and about a couple of inventions that she has created that are perfect for the home. And, well, without further ado, let's just introduce Korri right now. Welcome, Korri.   Korri Wright  02:36 Thank you. Thank you so much. And congratulations on your one year success. Very exciting.   Kimberly Grigg  02:42 Hard to believe, hard to believe. So tell me, since we're talking about years, how long have these products been on the market before we even get into the products?   Korri Wright  02:51 We actually just launched them. So we got the Blade Butler, which is the ceiling fan blade cleaner. We started preselling that in November, and we actually received product in December. And then Unlimiscent, the fragrance holder, we actually didn't get that until end of January, February. So we're just starting to launch these products and getting them out and...   Kimberly Grigg  03:16 Wow, well congratulations. And I hope that my listeners will take advantage. I can't wait. Because, first of all, I guess let's just back up and share with the audience. What are these products?   Korri Wright  03:32 So the Blade Butler is a ceiling fan blade cleaner. It's on a pole that's 69 inches long, and it has a removable washable bag. So when the mouth, per se, of the Blade Butler opens, it closes down on the blade, and then as you pull that bag towards you, it seals and grabs all of the dust and debris into the bag. So it doesn't fall on your, you know, bed, floor, face, all of those things. Keeps the allergens contained. And then you just machine wash it when you're done. It's super quick, super easy. So that's the Blade Butler.   Kimberly Grigg  04:12 That is so incredible. Wow. Like, what a great idea for a, like, a need. So to me, I love it when function and form come together. But let's face it, we all live in our homes. And even though we don't want dust to be flying, it does. And, you know, you look up at  that ceiling fan and you're like, oh my god, and then you don't want to clean it because then the dust flies all over the sofa and everywhere else and it's, like, whoa, crazy. And I just gotta tell you, I hope you're marketing this to restaurants too, because there is nothing more of a bigger turn off than when I look around in restaurants and I see dust everywhere. And I know they're all focused on the kitchen and what the food tastes like, and all that stuff, and they forget these little areas like blinds or a ceiling fan. And like, ew, gross.   Korri Wright  05:15 Well, my biggest thing is, you know, living in Arizona, we have fans all over our houses. I, in my old house, I had them in my kitchen. And I would clean the entire kitchen and then I would look up and I would have forgotten to clean the fans. And it literally was a whole nother process of cleaning them again, or, you know, you change the sheets on your bed and you look up and go UGH, you know? So it just really eases the process and you just don't have a mess when you're done. So.   Kimberly Grigg  05:43 And this sounds like it's really easy to use.   Korri Wright  05:47 Super easy. Yeah, super easy. It just has, just a sliding mechanism that opens the mouth, you clamp it on, close it down, and pull it off. It's super fast, super easy. My dad loves it, keeps people off ladders. So, you know, it really just eases the process.   Kimberly Grigg  06:04 Wow. So Korri, how did you think of this?   Korri Wright  06:09 Well, you know what, I actually, like I said, a few years back had a house that had the ceiling fans in the kitchen and I had cleaned my entire kitchen and I just thought there's got to be a better way. You know, I would put sheets down, I would get all the cleaning supplies out, the ladder... and so I went on this mad hunt to find what I was envisioning. And it just didn't exist. So I went to Walmart and I got trash bag picker uppers and vacuum bags, and I zip tied them together. And I was like, this is what we need to have on the markets, it just traps it, makes it fast and easy. And it just didn't exist. So from that point forward, it kind of sat on the shelf table for a few years and then as my life, you know, progressed in another direction I was able to focus on it and work on it and get it to market along with my business partner, Karen Spencer. So we're super excited.   Kimberly Grigg  07:06 Yeah, so like, did you, like, as a kid think that you'd ever invent a product?   Korri Wright  07:12 No, no, I didn't. I didn't. But through the years, you know, I thought of things and then later, seeing them in magazines or, you know, things like that, and I thought oh that did exist. But now, you know, with the internet being so spiffy and being able to just look things up so quickly, if I have something that comes to mind, I'm able to, you know, move forward on it, which is what kind of brings us to Unlimiscent.   Kimberly Grigg  07:39 Yeah, tell me about Unlimiscent.   Korri Wright  07:41 So I was getting ready to sell my house and my boss had told me, go to the store and get this particular scent of a fragrance plugin. And I literally have bags, Ziploc bags, full of these, you know, the pocket holders, fragrance holders...   Kimberly Grigg  07:57 Me too! Me too.   Korri Wright  08:00 Every one. Multiple, for all over the house.   Kimberly Grigg  08:03 What, Glade and Air Wick? There's the one, what's the one - the fabric, where you spray the fabric?   Korri Wright  08:10 Febreze.   Kimberly Grigg  08:10 They all have one.   Korri Wright  08:13 Yeah, Air Wick, Bath and Body, and none of them are universal. So I went and I bought a bazillion of these, the fragrances, knowing that I had the holders and I came back and I had like one. And so, it was so frustra

Kimberly Grigg talks about bathroom renovation and shares some key steps that will help you get started on your bathroom design. There are a lot of things to consider and Kimberly walks listeners through why it’s important to get an overall understanding of budget and how you want your space to feel in order to help with materials selections.   Kimberly is currently renovating her own master bathroom and she explains how she created her own dream wish list, or unicorn list, for the renos, including the right tub and damask wallpaper.. She explains why it’s important to dream big and then structure the finished unicorn list according to priority. This creates a framework for both design and budget decisions. Kimberly gives insight on what to splurge on according to what is most important to you.   Through her own renovation and years of experience renovating client bathrooms, Kimberly encourages listeners to really imagine the feel and mood of the finished space. She advises on key materials to consider, safety tips, how to bring “the pretty”, and what options can be more budget-friendly. And she answers common questions about bathroom renovations from grout, tile finish, and terminologies. This episode is the first stop for anyone considering a bathroom renovation.   Resources discussed in this episode: Damask  Glass Slipper paint color   --    Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.   Transcription Kimberly Grigg  00:00 Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg, and I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers like yourselves how to decorate. And when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, well buckle up, honey, because it's time to design.   Kimberly Grigg  00:34 Well, hello there design lovers. It is always nice to be here. And I am loving today's topic for a couple of reasons. First of all, because I am going through my own master bath renovation right now, and because I want to help you take the guesswork out of how to plan a bathroom reno without experiencing overwhelm. So needless to say, today's topic is bathroom renovations. Here we go. So I want to talk about five steps to a successful bathroom renovation. Before we dive deep, though, let me share with you just a couple of things that you might want to be aware of. First of all, did you know that I send out a newsletter each week. It is chock full of design tips and inspirations and you can access this by simply going to my website, which is KimberlyGriggDesigns.com, and sign up to join our mailing list. I promise not to overdo it or harass you, but instead to provide you with knowledge and information about my favorite subject: interior design. Also, do you know that you can enjoy a live show each and every week on Facebook and Instagram. It's called It's Time to Design and this happens every Thursday at four. And, of course, there's always the replay. We cover a lot of ground on this show and often reveal jobs that we're installing, which are called Live on Location. And, of course, you can also take a deep dive into the world of design by signing up for one of my courses. It's like a PhD in interior decorating for the design enthusiast. Alright, enough plugs. Now, let's get on with today's show.   Kimberly Grigg  02:39 This year, I've been involved with a lot of bathroom renovations. And I must say, this is going to be the topic for a whole new class. Bathroom renos can be challenging, but they also can be one of the top places that you can update and up-value and up-level your home that gets good results in resale value. Not to mention the pure enjoyment of a beautiful bath. There are things about bathroom renos that you need to know and I'm not going to be able to give you a full PhD in this short program. But I am going to share with you five things that will make a bathroom reno go a little bit smoother.   Kimberly Grigg  03:28 So, step one in the process is to first of all, assess what can stay and what needs to go. This is the deciding part of the project. And some of these decisions are going to be based on function, some aesthetics, and, of course, some will be budget oriented. I typically start with if you're dreaming, make a unicorn list - a list of all the things that you desire in this bathroom. Don't hold back, really dream. Let yourself go. Be brave. Take risk. We can always climb back down the mountain, but it's harder to climb up the mountain if you don't know what you truly desire. This is the time when you scour Pinterest, you scour magazines, you scour anything, any information that you can get your hands on about products that are available for a bathroom. For example, in my own master bath reno that is going on right now - another reason to tune into my live show because we are doing updates often - my unicorn list looks like this: comfortable tub. Listen, I'm a bath girl. I take a bath every single day and I want my tub to be comfortable. So many times I've gone to five star luxury hotels, only to climb in their bathtub, and I've practically drowned because the bathtub's so big, my feet don't touch to anchor me inside of the space. I would never buy a bathtub that I could not sit in. It's just important to me because I spend a ton of time in my tub. Another thing that I'd like to have are heated towel bars. I am a freezing girl. I'm cold all the time. And I love love heated towel bars. I have considered heated floors. But I don't think I'm going to that extent, I think I'm okay with rugs on my floor. And slippers. I wear slippers all the time. So chances are I wouldn't be feeling the heated floors anyway. Another thing that we're doing - this was my husband's big wish, big request, and in fact it was the first thing that we purchased because he wanted to make sure that I allowed for it - we're installing an infrared sauna. Yep, he's really all about this. He's done a lot of research and he's giving up room in his very own closet to be able to house this contraption. I don't personally know a whole lot about them. I guess I'll be learning, because in the end, I'll be the one responsible for the installation of this. But I hear that the health benefits related to an infrared sauna are incredible. So another thing that I wanted in this master reno, was clean looking tile that feels timeless. My home has a bit of a historical feel to it. And I want to respect that. I'm not trying to turn it into a modern contemporary, but I do love a little juxtaposition. I like to blend the historical with a little bit of the modern and, for me, it comes out looking dreamy. The bathroom is a relaxing place for me and I need calm and quiet. So I'm using some very beautiful natural stones mixed with some white glass which is sparkly, and then a tile that is the same white sparkly glass but it, instead of white, it's a bluish-gray, and it just punctuates the white glass. It all looks like a gorgeous waterfall to me. So I think it's pretty, I think it's restful, I'm not a great person and this particular tile leans more bluish than gray, but there is a little bit of a gray undertone, but it's that kind of gray that doesn't look dreary to me, but instead it has a little spark of - there used to be a color called Cinderella's glass slipper - and that's what it looks like to me. So to me, that's beautiful. I also want a timeless wallpaper in damask. Damasks are making a huge comeback. And I've always loved them. And, in fact, in my current master bath, there's a gorgeous shade of green damask, and I have never tired of it. In fact, if it were in good shape, I'd be leaving it, but instead I'm going to go with some sort of damask that is a little bit more neutral. And I'm going to be able to get my color - which is going to be soft lilacs and lavenders - in very small touches throughout the room in accessories. I also am redoing our closets, so our closet interiors are important to me and they will be getting new cabinets. This bathroom, just so you know, is 35 years old. So if it sounds like I'm being exorbitant, well, in a way I am. But I want this bathroom to last another 30-40 years. I am painting the existing cabinets, which were custom built, in the bathroom part. The closet interiors are getting new cabinets, they had the melamine stuff and it just looks dated, and it is dated, and some of it's falling down. So it's time, so that's getting a whole new, more custom fitted closet interior for both of our master closets. And then better lighting is important to me. And then I want a TV near the tub so that I can watch a show while soaking in the bathtub. So, now I'm going to rank the list in order of importance, and based on your budget, and based on my budget, I'm gonna have to make probably some different selections, but this is my unicorn wish list. And I may have to eliminate some of the items on the list. For example, in my own bath, I'm looking at this as if it's a 20 to 30 year decision. So if I'm splurging on the materials, even if it means that I might not get the inset cabinetry that I want inside my closet, I might have to go for standard doors, there's trade-offs in any budget. I can also live without the heated towel bars. But I rank these items by order of importance. So now you have a framework to begin to select your materials.   Kimberly Grigg  10:16 Now you're going to determine a budget number that you can live with. And, of course, this is not easy, because most people don't know what things in the design world cost. So this, my friends, is a reality. Let's just say that number one on

Kimberly Grigg welcomes Heather Bernstein of HKB Interior Design out of San Francisco to the show. Kimberly and Heather discuss sustainability in design elements, shifting away from stark white in color palettes, and Heather’s love of using stone in design. Heather shares ideas for how versatile stone can be throughout the home.   Heather Bernstein grew up with design as second nature, surrounded by her designer mother’s work and influence. After graduation she taught English in Thailand for 14 months and came home to work in real estate before spending time in the corporate world. Design proved to be her calling, however, and after working with a business partner on a co-owned design firm, she branched out on her own with HKB Interior Design just over two years ago. Heather describes her aesthetic as very different from her mother’s but with the use of antiques and sustainability always at the core.   Kimberly’s use of color is well known but Heather prefers a more neutral palette and they discuss how when working with neutrals, texture becomes your color. Heather has been working away from stark white recently, embracing warmer tones, and she has a vast knowledge of and love for stone in her designs. Kimberly learns the best sealant Heather recommends for stonework to avoid patina. And Heather shares some inspired design ideas from her own new home, stone elements beyond countertops, and insight from her years of experience with thinking outside the box to create a beautiful vibe. Resources discussed in this episode: HKB Interior Design HKB Interior Design Instagram Quartz and Quartzite Caesarstone MORE AntiEtch   About Heather Bernstein:   Heather Bernstein, owner of HKB Interior Design, is a master interior designer with over a decade of experience in the industry. Heather’s bubbly yet professional personality leaves its mark on every home she touches with her personalized, warm approach to interiors. Heather’s love for beautiful spaces originated from her time spent absorbing her mother’s skill in interior design and running her independent firm. After graduating college, Heather moved to Thailand to teach English which expanded her senses and empathy for other cultures that commonly shows in her designs. Soon after, Heather accepted a corporate position for a Fortune 500 leading specialty retailer of high-quality products. This experience not only enhances her passion for design but can also be attributed to her well-rounded creativity and organizational skills that now come as second nature. When Heather isn’t working with clients, you will find her chasing around her two boys and golden retriever. Heather continues to embrace travel as a necessary pleasure, is constantly seeking out the best sushi on the market, and is frequently socializing in her community, enjoying laughs over a good glass of wine. --    Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.   Transcription Heather Bernstein  00:00 Yeah, and you just said, the, I think, the biggest thing - you said, clients get afraid. So this, I think, is the biggest thing you can do in design. If you really want to elevate your space, be afraid, have a touch of fear that it's too bold or too much. And go for it.   Kimberly Grigg  00:23 Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg. And I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers like yourselves how to decorate. And when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, well, buckle up honey, because it's time to design. So hello there design lovers and enthusiasts, thank you as always for being here. And I'm so excited to be bringing you this episode. In fact, I've been talking to my guest ahead of time, and I just learned something that I didn't know about marble. And I'm going to be sharing that with you, as is Heather, and I can't wait. So today's guest is Heather Bernstein of HKB Designs. They're out of San Francisco. And we're going to talk a lot about sustainable design, interior design, and specifically about how to incorporate natural stone into your home and designs and, more importantly, how to take care of it. So welcome Heather Bernstein, glad to have you here.   Heather Bernstein  01:48 Thank you. I'm glad to be here.   Kimberly Grigg  01:50 Thank you. So I know you've been home battling COVID. Sorry to hear that. And I hope it wasn't horrible. But we forgive you in advance if your throat gets scratchy or whatever. Because, like, that is no joke. I haven't had COVID yet, but seems like everyone I know has, including my children and all that stuff, and I know it's no picnic.   Heather Bernstein  02:14 Rough nights, for sure.   Kimberly Grigg  02:16 I'm sure. So you're in the Bay Area, as is my number five child. I have six children and number five moved to San Francisco. And I've been out quite a few times, and oh my gosh, what a beautiful area architecturally. Like, wow. I can't even imagine what it's like to actually get to design there. Because the architecture is on fire.   Heather Bernstein  02:41 It's amazing. I think the best part about it is that no two projects are the same there. You have sprawling ranchers, you have Victorians that are straight up and down, you have every different kind of home, which is amazing. And especially in Marin, where we are, we're in the mountains. And so all the homes are so different based on where they are in the land. If they're on a hill, it's, you know, they're on stilts, and if there happened to be in the flats, then you know, they build for that.   Kimberly Grigg  03:19 Yeah, I actually was in Marin, and beautiful area and intriguing. So do you do different aesthetic styles? Or do you kind of focus on one?   Heather Bernstein  03:32 I would say we stay true to who we are. Meaning, we don't like to do anything that doesn't speak to our brand and what we're about and what we love. But we definitely can span from traditional to contemporary and everything in between, depending on what the client wants in the style of the home. I will say, though, our favorite thing is to take a very traditional home. We just did one of the classic Victorians on Steiner Street in San Francisco where 'Full House' was filmed. And we did a very contemporary interior, which was really, really fun to juxtapose against the classic kind of all the wood paneling. And it was just unexpected. And everybody that walks in there is surprised and it's fun and exciting.   Kimberly Grigg  04:29 How cool. So how'd you make your way into the design space? Because I think you have a corporate background, right?   Heather Bernstein  04:36 Yes. So I grew up actually here in the East Bay, so in the Bay Area but just through the Caldecott Tunnel, in a little town called Alamo, and my mom was a designer all growing up. So for 35 years, it's all I knew. We - and she, when she started out, she did all of her own sewing, all of her own upholstery, she made every window treatment, every roman shade out of our dining room. And I remember being in middle school or even elementary and most kids have to take their shoes off when they go in the house, we had to leave ours on because there was always pins and needles on the floor. And so I just, I grew up with it, and then, I guess it was about junior or senior year, my mom would start - by the time I think I was in college, like I'd gotten into school, so it must have been senior year - she would pull me out of school and say, 'Hey, let's go to the Design Center. You can come help me for the day'. And I just thought it was magical, and getting to shop and put things together for people to make their spaces something that they loved, was really just magical. So then I went to school, I went to Boulder. I graduated, I moved to Thailand for about 14 months, I taught English to high schoolers there, I just wanted to get out and experience something different. And travel, which I did, I spent a month in India, and really just - and that was after my junior year abroad in Italy - so I really tried to, like, just see different places in the world. And then I came back and I got my real estate license. And I was selling apartments downtown south of Market in San Francisco, where it was completely undeveloped, and it was like a ghost town. And now it's the sprawling amazing gentrified neighborhood, which is incredible. But real estate was not for me, I called one of my dear friends who worked at William Sonoma corporate and I said 'I need a job'. And she said, 'Great, come be an assistant, my assistant buyer'. And so I did. And I was there for five or six years, climbed up the ladder to a senior buyer, which was really, really fun and exciting. I for sure drink the Kool Aid for the first three years. And then I started to become a little disillusioned and the world was faltering as, you know, we neared 2008. And then I was laid off and I remember crying the night before they were gonna announce layoffs thinking, this is my chance, if I don't get laid off I don't know if I'll be brave enough to start my design business. And so I wanted to be laid off, which was very counterintuitive, because the world was ending. But I was laid off, with 700 others, and that was in January. And by March, I had started our S corp and I had a business partner, we joined forces and said, 'Let's do this together'. We were both going to start our own businesses, and we just said that's silly. And so I started Nest about 15 years ago. And we worked alongside each other for 12 great years. And then when COVID hit, it just kind of felt like things were changi

Kimberly Grigg introduces listeners to the grand millennial style in this episode. What is it? Is it right for you? She explains why the style is both trendy and much more than just a trend. Grand millennial style is popular with many age groups and Kimberly gives insight on how to work it into your own home.    Grand millennial style is a more eclectic and maximalist style that works beautifully for anyone who wants to be able to mix and match a myriad of pieces. It works very well with collections, collectors, or anyone who has inherited pieces they don’t want to let go of. Kimberly details exactly how to use inherited pieces with modern flourishes so the overall style is both unique and updated.   Kimberly has three key guidelines for exactly how to work grand millennial style into your own decor. She also discusses details like large scale prints, chinoiserie, matching wallpaper and draperies, wall and trim paint, and so much more. If you are looking to incorporate grand millennial style in your home - whether you have some collected pieces you want to add, you crave color and layers of texture, or you want to know how to frame artwork to suit the style - this episode is for you. Kimberly will guide you away from all white and into grand, gilt, on trend expression.    Resources discussed in this episode: Episode 48 - Lost Orchid Episode 45 - Storytelling with Lauren (LouLou Interiors) Episode 43 - A Pop of Color with Edith Anne Duncan Billy Baldwin Sister Parish Albert Hadley Gracie de Gournay   --    Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.   Transcription Kimberly Grigg  00:00 Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg, and I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers like yourselves how to decorate. And when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, well buckle up, honey, because it's time to design.   Kimberly Grigg  00:34 Well hello there, design lovers and friends, and welcome to another episode of Decorate Like A Design Boss. And today, we're discussing the grand millennial style. What is it? And is it right for you. So, as you all know, on this show we talk a lot about style, your unique style, and fully developing whatever style suits your own personal design DNA. Now, design DNA is a huge topic with me and if you haven't heard about it, well, this is the foundation of good design. Design DNA, let me kind of explain it. It's not your style. But it's your very own fingerprint of the way you like to live, how you like to live that creates an inner peace. And, yes, these things might sound woo but it's very important. It's how I've created successful rooms that look like the people who live in them. My goal is not to create a room that looks like I just left. Instead, my goal is to create rooms that resonate: resonate with the people who are living there, resonate with the people who are embodying the space, and resonate in a way that makes them feel like the room is all about them. It's completely unique to you. It's just like your DNA, your real DNA is completely unique to you. And it is based on an entire set of design decisions that make up the complexity of how you might live best. For example, do you prefer curves or straight lines? Do you like color on your walls, color elsewhere, no color? Do you live better with patterns or solids or combination? And on and on this exploration goes. If you're interested in learning more about your design DNA, and I encourage you to do this, you can access this information in episodes one, two, and three of this very podcast. So let's move on. We all realize that we do need a design style. But let's talk about and explore, is this style, the grand millennial style, for you? What is it? Maybe it is right for you? Maybe not. So let's talk about it.   Kimberly Grigg  03:23 So what is it? Well, some would say it's a trend. And you know how I feel about trends. I'm not necessarily a believer in following a trend for the sake of it being a trend. But I am a big believer in problem-solving in the design space. And sometimes some of our problems are that we've inherited a lot of pieces of furniture, we've inherited a lot of things and items that are special to us in some way. And I also rarely run across someone who's going to just give everything away or get rid of everything that they themselves purchased over the years. So it becomes very important to be able to mix and match a myriad of pieces. And I find that the grand millennial style actually allows us to do so. So this trend/style began as a style that was perfect for the person who is maybe mid 20s to late 30s. People who have a great affinity for design trends, but ones that revert back to the past. But working with it, I also discovered that this is very much for someone who is older, who's collected or inherited, and who is also trying to create a little modern edge or vibe in their very own homes. This style runs the gamut. And I find age has very little to do with it. More importantly, this style is for someone who has a slightly unique take on the past, someone who wants a soulful interior. I like to think of it as the new traditionalist. It's old school design with a big twist, a spin of some sort. I've recently been talking about this a lot on former podcasts. In fact, last week, Lost Orchid, which I believe was episode 48. Recently, I did a podcast with Loulou Interiors. And I think that's episode 46. And then even Edith Duncan. And we all kind of went down this road together and we talked extensively about blending the old with the new, and finding vintage pieces to start with, for a myriad of reasons, including that the supply chain is all clogged up. Also including that, again, people have been gifted or inherited or just really love some of these old pieces, but they want to breathe new life into them. So go back and listen to those episodes so you, too, can kind of tap into what other professionals and other designers have to say about this subject.   Kimberly Grigg  06:42 Another thing that you can do when you're studying this style, is reference some great designers of the past. People like my favorite Billy Baldwin, Sister Parrish, Mario Bellato, Albert Hadley. A lot of these greats included grand, fabulous, beautiful design in their original looks. But now you can take inspiration from that, you can learn from their tools and tricks, but you can add a fresh spin - which we're going to get to - of some sort, so that this style ends up looking updated and unique. And usually, this has a lot to do with scale and with color. The fresher looks are very large in scale, large scale prints, what's a large scale print? Well, it's the repeat of a print that's around 30+ inches. I've even worked with some that are in the 50s in terms of inches. And the colors are more trendy. I recently saw something beautifully done with a grand millennial style, but the wall color was a millennial pink and very on trend, but also very much a nod to the past. Again, this can appeal to many, especially an inclusive of young and older, because it allows you to incorporate any piece that you love. And a piece of quality that you don't want to part with or that you might have inherited some way, but you can add modern touches such as abstract artwork, quirky light fixtures, and layered window treatments. This style is perfect for you if you like to express your personality in your decor.   Kimberly Grigg  08:52 So, what if you want to embrace this? How can you incorporate grand millennial style into your own decor? Number one, I want you to think happy, comfortable, and think of nesting. This style embodies these things. Secondly, chinoiserie is your best friend. Add Gracie or de Gournay or some sort of mural. If you can't do it on all the walls well then add framed panels. Add any mix of chinoiserie into your decor and it almost instantly elevates you to a grand millennial look. Number three, layer it on. Grand millennial style is synonymous with maximalist. So a collected layered look is appropriate to pull this off cohesively. I want you to think of an eclectic mix that is still carefully edited and arranged so that it doesn't feel like clutter. There is a fine line. And, in fact, all the designers that I've interviewed about this, we talk about that fine line. Sometimes you can put on too much, and it just looks like a bunch of stuff. You really have to hone your skills of accessorizing, placement, most importantly editing, to achieve a result in your tablescapes, your artwork, your gallery walls, your furniture placement, pillows, etc., that is just right. Not too much, not too little. I want you to also consider adding prints, especially floral prints and patterns. Mix them up. Large scale prints really work well. But you can mix those with a small scale print or a geometric and voila, the combination sings gorgeous. Then you can pop in some needlepoint pieces, a pillow, pillow or two, and it's perfect. Add layers and things. Accessories are king when working in this style. But remember, they must be carefully arranged. And you know if you've followed for any amount of time, I have been collecting blue and white porcelain since I was 10 years old. And I have quite the collection. I move it around often. And I edit it often. In fact, sometimes I pack some of it up, and I'll bring it out for another day. I think the key is careful, careful placement. This is the artistry that stands behind the grand millennial style.   Kimberly Grigg  11:57 Another thing that you can do is

Kimberly Grigg welcomes Andrea Cummins-Disbro of Lost Orchid Interiors to the podcast to talk about her love of color, repurposed furniture, and how she keeps her maximalist style from looking cluttered. Andrea shares the inspirational story behind Lost Orchid Interiors and gives a glimpse into how her passion for design leads her.    Kimberly found Andrea on Instagram by way of a photo of a brightly colored striped consigned couch that featured in Andrea’s posts. Andrea uses the couch to highlight Lost Orchid Interiors’ brand: vibrant, whimsy, irreverent colors, sustainable design approaches, and good quality bones. Andrea, like Kimberly, is a fan of both color and maximalist style, and explains that the key to maximalism is layering, pushing textures and patterns, and being a bit eclectic. There is a skill to keeping maximalism from becoming cluttered, and part of it is personal by way of curating pieces that you love into the look.   Andrea shares the story of how Lost Orchid came to fruition after years of her working in corporate America and how the name came from a childhood dream. She details how she fuses her own aesthetic and signature of repurposed and vintage pieces into designing a space that clients will love. Kimberly and Andrea discuss how to get started on finding your own style, how to start getting comfortable with seeking consignment pieces, and agree that design and beautiful living are all about joy.   About Andrea Cummins-Disbro:   Andrea Cummins-Disbro, founder of Lost Orchid Interiors, started her business in 2020 after leaving behind a 20 year career in corporate America. Andrea is a fan of the layered maximalist design style and vibrant colors. She has a passion for antiques and uses repurposed and antique furniture in all her designs. She named Lost Orchid after a childhood dream of owning a restaurant by the same name which proves that you should never let go of your dreams. Resources discussed in this episode: Lost Orchid Interiors Carleton Varney Chinoiserie   --    Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.   Transcription Andrea Cummins-Disbro  00:00 I will definitely kind of look at a space and then pull everything out and then kind of redesign it again. Because over time you do sit something here, you collect it, it can start looking cluttered. And then the story that you're trying to tell or the interesting pieces that you're trying to kind of profile, they are hidden. So that's my approach.   Kimberly Grigg  00:21 Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg, and I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers like yourselves how to decorate. And when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, well buckle up, honey, because it's time to design. Well, hello there, Andrea, and welcome to the podcast! We're so happy to have you.   Andrea Cummins-Disbro  01:02 Thank you for having me. I'm happy to be here today.   Kimberly Grigg  01:04 Wonderful. So I want to set this up a little bit. Because one day I was scrolling on Instagram and - as I often do too often. And I came across this amazing striped sofa that I think has become somewhat famous, and it was on your feed. And I didn't reach out, I liked it. And then the next time I saw it, I'm like, I gotta know about this whole thing here. So tell me about that sofa. It's kind of like I'm having a love affair with it.   Andrea Cummins-Disbro  01:40 Sure. So actually, the sofa, like most of my design, is something that I have sourced or found at local consignment stores or antique stores. So that sofa has a very interesting story, as most of my pieces do: it, aside from being really cool and amazing with the stripes, etc, I was the fourth owner. So the consignment store that had it, I saw it and I immediately loved it, I reached out to them, they said it was sold. And I think for the fourth owner, people had purchased it ,brought it home and it was too bright and vibrant for them. And so I like to say I'm lucky number four. And it also kind of underpins a little bit of what I kind of encourage my followers to do, which is persistence, right? If there's something you see, make people aware that you're interested in it, and then be persistent about it. So I am the happy recipient of this amazing piece, it is a covered piece. So underneath is an antique kind of furniture piece. And that is a covered fabric. But again, what's so cool about it, is it's an antique piece, it's sustainable approach, and the bones are good. And when you put amazing fabric on those old pieces, they have a second life. So everything about the sofa is kind of a homage to my brand - vibrant, whimsy, irreverent colors, on sustainable design approaches with amazing good quality, antique bones. So that's kind of Lost Orchid in a nutshell.   Kimberly Grigg  03:11 Wow. And I love that philosophy. And it's ever so important today, because the supply chain is all clogged, and we can't get things. So I think it's making all of us nod a lot more to going a little backwards, finding these pieces, and then trying to figure out how to repurpose them. I know I'm doing a ton of this. This is actually how I started my design career. And then in the middle, I got all caught up with furniture lines and ordering this and ordering that and when you have to keep minimums going for furniture lines then your order a lot of those products. But now I can't get them. So I'm kind of taking a side step or actually maybe a backwards step, which feels very forward all at the same time. And so I, you know, when I was kind of reading through all of your information, I believe you were in corporate America for a while. So how did you get into all of this? And what was corporate America? And how did that transfer to this cool design aesthetic that you have?   Andrea Cummins-Disbro  04:14 Yes, so I have probably a very unorthodox background. I was in corporate America for 20 years. I was in change, transformation, and strategy. And I spent a big extent of my time, too, in human resources. So that is about as opposite as you could get, in my opinion, from interior design. However - I would say on the surface - however, everything that I learned in change management and transformation, I'm just doing it now on a micro scale. I'm doing it one to one change. Because most people when they finally get to the point where they're interested in reaching out to an interior designer, it's where they're asking you for help. There's probably a significant change in their lives. They either purchased a home, or they perhaps in all of the stuff that was happening with the pandemic, we're moving back into the homes, new family members were joining them, parents. Or they have parents that passed away and now they're trying to kind of reconcile their estates. So all of that is change. But it's just in a very different size change. So I'm able to kind of use those skills that I have in corporate America, in the interior design. And then, of course, you have to have a passion and love and general, like, curiosity for all things design. So it does require that love and that passion of design. And then I take that and add it to kind of my background project management, I did all of those things on a very large corporate scale for a large pharma, consumer and medical device company. So my last book of business was 9.2 billion. Now I'm dealing with much smaller kind of budgets, but, at the same time, change for people is so personal. It doesn't matter what the size of the budget, the amount of change is still very significant to my clients. And so what I love about this is I've always loved working with people, I've always loved story. So the story of someone's lives being pulled through. And I get to kind of apply that. There's nothing more vulnerable than someone inviting you into their lives to help them kind of build something and visualize something that they're going to ultimately live into. So, to me, I find great pride, and I'm very humbled by it. And when people do reach out to, you know, work with me, it's a very collaborative process. All of that is very corporate, right? I worked in a major environment for years. Now I work very collaboratively with my clients. So, yes, so it was actually... Lost Orchid was a dream that I had when I was little. And what I do tell people is never lose those dreams, because you don't know when they're going to pop back up again in your life. And so when I was eight years old, I remember my parents and I went on a trip. And it was like the first time I really remember seeing orchids. And I thought they were gorgeous. And I had always loved designing and I came back and kind of proclaimed to my parents, I want to design a restaurant, but I don't care about the food, I need to just design. I said I just want to decorate. And that - and I want to call it Lost Orchid. So fast forward, I didn't go to art school or design school - my background is in business school - and had been kind of living this career. And in 2020, a lot of personal changes happened for me as well. My role was impacted. We had just moved to the Northeast from the Midwest, probably 18 months, two years prior. We had been hit by a tornado, there was a lot of things happening personally and professionally. And I kind of got pulled back to that, like, what do I want to do? And what brings me joy? And then you had the backdrop of the pandemic and things that were happening, race riots were happening in Philadelphia and across the US. And I was like, 'where can I not only find joy,

Kimberly Grigg breaks down how to create the perfect guest room for your visitors in this episode. She details every way in which your guest space should be tailored to meet your guest’s needs, take their comfort into consideration, and make them feel pampered and cared for.    Kimberly starts by stating that your guest bedroom should not be full of your own stored items or leftover old furniture that didn’t fit anywhere else. She urges listeners to treat guest rooms with the care they give to a master bedroom. Consider your guest’s comfort and find ways to make the space a warm and inviting retreat. Stay in it yourself to assess how well it works.   Kimberly explains how to start with a quality mattress and moves on to the differences in sheet weaves and fabrics. She details how to layer bed linens for maximum luxury and comfort, how to achieve a pleasing aesthetic without burdening your guests with unnecessary throw cushions, and why different pillow options matter. She lays out all the details - from a comfortable chair to a nightstand for bottles of water and a handwritten note - that will truly turn your guest room into a luxury experience guests will rave about. Resources discussed in this episode: Sleep Number mattresses Fandeliers Pottery Barn towels   --    Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.   Transcription Kimberly Grigg  00:00 Hello there interior design lovers and enthusiasts. Today we're talking about guest bedrooms. It's really starting to get warm here in sunny Myrtle Beach and the guests are starting to arrive. It has me thinking, or rethinking, my own guest accommodations. And it has me thinking about all of the guest rooms and suites that I've created over the years. I have a lot of tips and ideas that I'm going to share with you on how to create a space that makes your guest feel pampered and loved. I know for sure that this is a very important space in your home, but one that is often overlooked. When is the last time that you've thought - and I mean really thought - about your guest room? Does it feel warm and inviting? Or is it full of all the leftover pieces that didn't make the cut in other spaces of your home? Is it a catch all? Do you put all of your leftover clothing items or seasonal items in the closet in the guest suite? Often I see a futon or other college dorm type things in a room, which is supposed to be the guest room, with no consideration of how your guest might actually feel. And after today's episode, I hope that you will consider sprucing up your guest space and make it a relaxing, beautiful retreat. And if you already have a great guest room, well listen in anyway, because I'm going to share some very thoughtful ideas of how you can go the extra mile and toss in a little luxury that will create a five star experience.   Kimberly Grigg  01:52 Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg, and I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers like yourselves how to decorate, and when I say decorate I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, well buckle up honey, because it's time to design.   Kimberly Grigg  02:26 Okay, let's get started, and first things first. To create a good guest room, you must practice the golden rule. It's important for you to put yourself into your guest's place and start thinking about how you would like to be treated if you were a guest. In fact, I encourage you to spend the night in your guest room and see how it really feels. First and foremost, you'll want a good quality mattress. Mattresses are very individual, but a poor quality mattress will leave your guest grumpy and tired. You can talk to your mattress supplier about the variety that's available and there are many options online. When I create a space for a guest, I often like to use a Sleep Number pillow top mattress. This option grants guests the ability to choose firmer or softer, depending on their individual preferences. Now, you will need a sturdy and beautiful bed. Make sure that the bed is properly installed. Do not use something leftover just because you have it. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for repurposing furniture that you already own, but it must have potential and fit in with the rest of your home and style. It also needs to be beautiful, and have a sense of style. Don't settle for less in this space. If anything, I want you to think about your guest bedroom as being one of the most important rooms in your home. It should be beautiful and it should also function well.   Kimberly Grigg  04:15 Now it's time to talk about making or dressing the bed. This might sound obvious, but trust me, most people don't give this enough attention when creating their guest spaces. Well heck, even their master spaces. So first, you're going to begin with a high quality mattress pad. This will protect the mattress and I like to use one that is padded for an extra cushy, relaxing sleep. Now it's time to think about top quality sheets. Sheets are not just about thread count. You probably believe that thread count is the leading factor in creating a good night's sleep. But this is just simply not the case. In fact, I say don't choose your sheets based on what the thread count is at all. Instead, choose your sheets based on the hand, or the feel of the fabric they're made of. Sheets have different kinds of weaves. The more common weaves are cotton sateen and cotton percale. If you'd like a smooth, luxe, silkier feeling sheet, then consider a cotton sateen weave. If you'd like a more crisp feeling sheet, then opt for a cotton percale. I prefer 100% cotton and personally think that they last longer and feel better, versus having some polyester inserted in to the fiber. Bamboo sheets are also a very popular item and a totally different kind of weave. But they're very popular these days, and are wonderful for helping to regulate body temperature. And they hold up well and they create a feeling of luxury. And then there are those who swear by linen sheets. These, to me, feel a little scratchy, but I have coworkers here who absolutely love them. But since you're thinking about your guest, I'd say it's best to lean in the direction of what might appeal to most. And then I would opt for either bamboo sheets or cotton sateen. Or if you happen to have a home at the beach - and I decorate many, many second homes here - then I always recommend cotton percale. There's just something about the beach and the crispness of a cotton percale. But again, all of these are just individual choices, there's no right or wrong, they're just choices. The wrong part would be to choose something that's just inexpensive and doesn't feel good against the skin. So to complete the dressing of the bed, I like to include a lightweight blanket. I also like to put an additional lightweight blanket folded in the closet for those who are cold sensitive or those who are cold natured. Next, I layer on a coverlet or a blanket cover for a nice polished look. And then I like to finish off the covers of the bed with a duvet whose insert is fluffy, but is also hypoallergenic. You just don't know what allergies your guests might have so this is a place to not risk upsetting someone's respiratory system. As for pillows, I also prefer to have a set of hypoallergenic pillows in medium and another set in firm. I also include a set of down pillows on the shelf in the closet for those who prefer and only like to sleep on a down pillow. And as for decorative pillows, this is one case I go rather light. Guests don't know where to place the pillows and it always becomes a problem - and remember, the idea is to create a problem-free luxurious feel, not to create anxiety about things like decorative pillows and where they are to be placed when not in use. I like to triple sheet the bed just like the fancy hotels do. This just screams luxury and it's quite easy to do. So you start with a fitted sheet over the mattress pad, then add a flat sheet. Next add your lightweight blanket and then another flat sheet goes on top of that lightweight blanket. You now have three sheets on the bed. The next layer is your blanket cover, our coverlet, and then a duvet is folded at the bottom of the bed. Two different types of sleep pillows and a decorative toss pillow or two are all you need to create this luxurious sleeping experience. This can be very beautiful as well, especially if the individual pieces are aesthetically pleasing and chosen in the style of your space. I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to bedding. I like my sheets and towels to be all white. In fact, I love an all white bed but since I work in a lot of color, I often use a white coverlet on top of my white sheets and blanket, and then a duvet cover in a color or a pattern with a toss pillar or two that coordinates well with this duvet cover. And then making sure that both coordinate well with the overall design and feel of the room.   Kimberly Grigg  10:04 So now we're moving on to a chair or someplace to sit, is a must in a guest bedroom. You score bonus points for it being a comfy chair. And if you add a light source and a place to set your drink beside the chair, well ding ding ding, you are winning the race for being considerate. Some people prefer to sleep under a fan. I don't love the fan aesthetic so I often use something called a fandelier. This is across, you guessed it, between a chandelier and a fan. There's some beautiful styles out there and I find that, well, when I use a fandelier it really becomes a bit of a conversation starter. Having somewhere to place

Kimberly Grigg welcomes Judy Pickett and Hilaire Pickett Martin, the mother-daughter duo behind Design Lines, to the show. Judy and Hilaire share how they came to work together and the very individual approach they take with clients: listening and trying to interpret exactly who the client is through design.   Judy Pickett founded Design Lines in 1979 and while she says she likes to have a historic nod in her work, she stresses that her design aesthetic is primarily informed by who the client is and the lifestyle they prefer to live. Hilaire, who joined Design Lines in 2008, describes their process as being ‘lifestyle advocates’ and wants functionality to play as large a role as beauty in their designs. They both share how COVID has impacted their business and influenced their design work through sourcing challenges, both for better and worse.   Kimberly explores color with Judy and Hilaire, breaking down how they bring color into projects, and they each detail not only things they look for in a good design, but how to accessorize, the versatility of good paint, and what inspires their own personal homes. There is much to learn about communication, style, and business from this mother-daughter team, who celebrate how important a beautiful life is with Kimberly.   About Judy Pickett and Hilaire Pickett Martin:   Judy Pickett started her career right after graduating from Florida State University almost 47 years ago. After getting her feet wet for 6 years learning from other professionals, she started Design Lines in 1979, knowing that interior design was her life-long passion. Her involvement with ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) began on the local level in 1989 and culminated in positions on the national level on the Education and Training Advisory Council, Knowledge Resource Council, and a trustee on the ASID National Board. Her latest involvement is Chair of the ASID Foundation. Judy’s commitment to the profession took her to several positions in CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation) from University site visitor to a member on the CIDA accreditation commission. One of the achievements she is most proud of is her induction into the ASID College of Fellows in 2005. Election to the ASID College of Fellows, the Society's highest honor, is bestowed on less than 1% of the ASID Membership. Judy pulls a lot of inspiration from nature and loves to share her knowledge with future generations.   Hilaire Pickett Martin is a graduate of Elon University. Since joining her mother at Design Lines in 2008, she has handled Design Lines’ communications and applies her enthusiasm and passion to promoting the firm. In 2013 Hilaire stepped into additionally overseeing all the accounting and day-to-day operations of Design Lines. Described as hard-working and very organized, Hilaire enjoys the team atmosphere at Design Lines, the pulling together everyone does to make a project a success. She is proud to work alongside and learn from her mother.   Resources discussed in this episode: Design Lines website Design Lines Signature on Instagram Design Lines Signature on Facebook NCIDQ  Benjamin Moore ‘Vanilla Milkshake’ paint Sherwin-Williams ‘Drift of Mist’ paint Clare: online paint store   --    Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.   Transcription Hilaire Pickett Martin  00:00 Since COVID, there's a big emphasis on the home, making it more personal, because we've had this time to really sit in our homes. I mean, and also the functionality. And so I think there's a bigger importance that maybe we didn't place on that before COVID.   Kimberly Grigg  00:17 Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg, and I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers like yourselves how to decorate, and when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, well buckle up honey, because it's time to design. Hello, my design lovers and design enthusiasts, and I have a treat for you today. I am talking with Judy Pickett and Hilaire Pickett Martin who are a mother daughter duo. And they have a business in Raleigh, North Carolina called Design Lines. And I met them, I don't really know and probably, Judy, we shouldn't reveal how many years ago it was. But I met them at a conference. And if I'm not mistaken, Hilaire, I think you had just graduated from college?   Hilaire Pickett Martin  01:26 Yes. So that would probably be 08.   Kimberly Grigg  01:29 It's been a while. You know, because we're in North Carolina, South Carolina, I've kept up with you for years through social media and various things. And I've always admired your design aesthetic. And I've also always admired that you're a mother daughter duo. I think this is so cool. And I want to hear about it because I have this secret dream that, out of three girls and three boys, that one would want to work with me. And yet I have zero. So tell me about this mother-daughter team and how that worked.   Judy Pickett  02:07 I gotta go first, Kimberly, because she at a very early age, maybe four, came in, put her hands on her hips, and said 'I don't want to be a designer because I don't want to work late and I don't want to have to deal with people'. Just like that. And she was just adamant. But she grew up and she had lots of talents to offer and...   Hilaire Pickett Martin  02:33 Well I remember coming in after school and seeing sales reps who now, you know, I'm in the business so I see them now, so they've known me since I was a little squirt. So that part's really, really cool. I didn't think I was going to be working with my mom, I think right out of college, my degree is in communications from Elon, and so I thought I was going to do the big city PR thing, go to New York, go to Chicago, work in an agency. But I said, I don't know about that. I had a girlfriend of mine who I studied abroad with and she came down and she said 'Hilaire, look what you have, like, this is super cool. Why don't you work for your mom?' And I was like, well, I could try. I'm not going to be a designer. I didn't get my degree in interior design. So I said, 'Well, Mom, what do you think about, like, communications, doing your website? Maybe getting a blog up and going?' She was like, 'Well, okay, fine. We'll see what, you know'   Judy Pickett  03:34 We had none of that at the time.   Hilaire Pickett Martin  03:35 Yeah.   Kimberly Grigg  03:37 Yes, when we met that was all just starting, Judy. And, like, I remember Hilaire, that was kind of one of her goals with your company was to kind of get all that started. And I was envious of that too.   Hilaire Pickett Martin  03:51 Basically, we just had, you know, we were willing to, you know, try it and fail if it didn't work out, you know. But I started out doing communications, and then over the years I've taken on more responsibility. I learned about project management, I learned about operations. And then, now I pretty much oversee all the business side, all the communication side, working with vendors, working with clients to set up and sell, so I can't do my job without the designers and the designers can't do their job without me. So it's an ebb and flow.   Kimberly Grigg  04:24 And I imagine, too, especially when you are working with someone as a mother-daughter team, having those defined roles probably aids in how it all flows. So do you disagree ever?   Hilaire Pickett Martin  04:38 We do, we have our moments, but I think it's respectful.   Judy Pickett  04:42 We try to take it outside.   Kimberly Grigg  04:46 Good idea.   Hilaire Pickett Martin  04:47 No, but honestly, I would say 95% of the time we're great. You know, we might have a mom-daughter moment where she's telling me brush my hair before an important meeting or podcast or...   Judy Pickett  05:00 Just like sass, you know how they do?   Kimberly Grigg  05:02 Yes, I do. Three daughters and definitely, like, whoa, and, you know, you can't live with them and you can't live without them kind of thing sometimes.   Hilaire Pickett Martin  05:12 Yeah, so there's a time or two where there's some sass between us. But -   Judy Pickett  05:18 I think for a person her age, her work ethic is, like, phenomenal. I mean, I wouldn't, expect that necessarily. Actually, my whole team is in their 30s. One is approaching 30. But they all have extraordinary work ethics.   Kimberly Grigg  05:37 Like, that's the key in today's time, I think, and it is hard to find. And, you know, like, Judy, you're one of the probably the most decorated designers I know. I mean, you're president of this, and president of that, and this award and that award, and all this, like all this great education and all of these accolades. So when you do hire for your firm, as a designer, are all of your designers equally as educated? I mean, is that an important requirement? Or is it more work ethic? Or is it both? How does that work for you?   Judy Pickett  06:14 No, they have to have the education. North Carolina just got licensure for interior designers. So they're in the process of taking NCIDQ. Yeah. So we're anxious to see how that's going to unfold.   Kimberly Grigg  06:29 Yeah and I'm sure South Carolina will be right behind that because typically South and North follow each other in those kinds of things. So that'll be very interesting. And so Hilaire, I know you handle more operations and the business side of things. And so how are things right now with supply chain? How are you, like, how are you responding to all of this, I hope you have some tips for me, because it is tough.   Hilaire Pickett Martin

Lauren Riddei of LouLou Interiors joins Kimberly Grigg on the podcast to talk about the art of storytelling through design, her love of treasure hunting for vintage and secondhand finds, and Thrill of the Hunt, her collaboration with Susan Seagroves for Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in Myrtle Beach, California. Kimberly dives into Lauren’s background and how she came into design in 2017, after a job loss, when planning her wedding ignited her love of the design process. Lauren leaned into her creative thought and love of people and founded LouLou Interiors - named for her childhood nickname - and describes her aesthetic as “modern, yet soulful - and collected”. She uses bold colored furniture in balance with calmer backgrounds, finding harmony in loud unique pieces and quieter paint tones. Lauren has a love of bringing old pieces into new life, finding vintage or secondhand furniture with good bones that can translate into a modern space.   Thrill of the Hunt, Lauren Riddei’s monthly digest for Habitat for Humanity in Myrtle Beach with friend Susan Seagrove, dovetails with her newest endeavor, Shop LouLou Interiors, as both explore the vintage, antique, and unique pieces she finds. She and Kimberly discuss the ethos of living beautifully, what a Unicorn List is and how to use it when consignment shopping, and how a consultation with a professional designer can propel your own decor forward. About Lauren Riddei: Born and raised on the Virginia coast, calling Myrtle Beach home in 2013 was easy. Lauren later founded LouLou Interiors - specializing in the architectural selections process that comes with custom new builds and historic renovations. Intuitively, Lauren was attracted to the world of design because of the restorative and positive impact it had on her. She discovered when her personal space was meaningfully crafted with form, beauty, and function, she felt an inner joy. After this realization, she knew others needed the therapeutic and inspiring art form of interior design. When Lauren isn’t creating, she’s likely pulling friends and strangers together, perusing for antiques, surfing or boating with her husband somewhere off the Atlantic. Resources discussed in this episode: LouLou Interiors Lauren Riddei on Instagram LouLou Interiors on Instagram Shop LouLou Interiors Thrill of the Hunt (on Habitat for Humanity) Sasee.com article on Lauren Riddei and Susan Seagroves’ Thrill of the Hunt   --    Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. --   Transcription   Lauren Riddei  00:00 No, let me see your warehouse. Let me see your storage unit because you will be surprised what we pull out and use because it has a story. Because it has meaning.   Kimberly Grigg  00:10 Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg, and I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers, like yourselves, how to decorate. And when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, Well, buckle up, honey, because it's time to design.   Kimberly Grigg  00:44 So welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss Lauren of LouLou Interiors, and I know you have a last name but I'm scared to say it because I'm afraid I'm gonna pronounce it incorrectly. So share with me how you say your last name. And I think there's a cute story that goes with it.   Lauren Riddei  01:03 So it's pronounced Riddei.   Kimberly Grigg  01:06 Riddei: that sounds so French.   Lauren Riddei  01:09 It's Italian, actually.   Kimberly Grigg  01:09 Oh is it?   Lauren Riddei  01:10 My husband's family is Italian.   Kimberly Grigg  01:14 I'm coming to your house for dinner.   Lauren Riddei  01:16 You know, I don't eat much Italian.   Kimberly Grigg  01:17 Really? Oh, gosh, I would love to eat more but I don't think my hips would like that too much.   Lauren Riddei  01:24 So the story is actually when I married Ryan in 2017, he's a local, he's from Myrtle Beach, he's from the area, and it was pronounced "riddee" when I met him. And I just was like, you know what I get a lot of pushback when I tried to say it. And I come to find out that Ryan's great uncle moved from Italy to California to become a country singer. And thought he would sell more albums if he changed his Italian last name to sound a little bit more country. So he changed it from Riddei to Riddee.   Kimberly Grigg  01:58 Oh, wow.   Lauren Riddei  01:59 So when I married Ryan, I said I think we got to go back.   Kimberly Grigg  02:02 Yes, we're not country singers. Wow. So that... she is a true designer.  She designed her own last name.   02:08 Riddee, Riddall, any and all are welcome. It's totally fine, I really don't care.   Kimberly Grigg  02:17 But the name of your firm is LouLou Interiors. So that's a whole nother name. So where did the LouLou part come in?   Lauren Riddei  02:22 Yeah, so that was my nickname growing up. My middle name was Louise. Yeah. And so when I got married, I changed it to my maiden name Bass. But I was called LouLou.   Kimberly Grigg  02:31 Okay. Well, I gotta tell you, you gotta check LouLou Interiors out. This girl - you can't see her because this is a podcast - but she's beautiful. She has this effervescent personality and her design aesthetic is spot on. So I want to talk about that aesthetic a little bit. So what happened, did you come out of the womb designing? Did you train your eye? Like, where'd you get this? And tell me what it's all about? Like, what is your design aesthetic?   Lauren Riddei  03:04 I would say my personal aesthetic is modern, yet soulful. And collected.   Kimberly Grigg  03:12 Mm hmm. I can see that in your work. Definitely can see that.   Lauren Riddei  03:16 Yeah, I mean, I definitely think it's really important in my new build projects to sprinkle in the old with furnishings, old art, vintage furniture. And then with my renovations, it's really important to bring in the modern and the new and the clean and the squeaky.   Kimberly Grigg  03:32 Great formula. Great process. You do a lot of architectural work. But you're so young, and I kind of touched on this, you and I had an episode on my live show - which is called It's Time To Design which airs every Thursday at four o'clock on Facebook and Instagram - and we touched on this a little bit. But I want my podcast audience to know a little bit about this soulful, and what I find in you, is your old soul. Because I literally, I wasn't able to take on new build projects until well into my career. I didn't understand the terminology. I didn't understand what it was all about. But you do and you're so young. How did that happen?   Lauren Riddei  04:23 Okay, so cool story that maybe your podcast audience doesn't know. But you were one of my professors.   Kimberly Grigg  04:31 Yes.   Lauren Riddei  04:32 When I took a few design classes. In 2017 I had a pretty devastating job loss, and it just put me in kind of a tailwind of what do I do with my life, right? I was expecting a certain career and then when that didn't happen, I had to start over. And so I had always kind of been into the creative field. I had just planned my wedding. I enjoy that process so much - inviting people into a space that's thoughtful, that's meaningful, that's collaborative. And my sisters were like, 'why don't you go to design school' and I was, like, never even considered that. And so that fall, I saw you, you taught a few classes, which was neat. And I just put myself fully into it. And I just learned as much as I could. I got an internship, I found a mentor of now a really good friend of mine, and I just put my heart and soul into it. And I was, I mean, for the most part, self taught outside of the amazing classes that I received around space planning. That was important. And Revit and AutoCAD but... I have been technically in school, air quote, for many, many years, because I'm just trying to learn this huge thing called design.   Kimberly Grigg  05:51 Sure. And as you know, the design industry has so many facets, like I tell people, it's comparable to brain surgery. And in fact, I had a business coach one time say to me, well then do you charge like it's brain surgery, and I'm like, oh, busted. But there are so many moving parts. But I say to my listener often, you can learn this, you have to have a passion. You have to have the get up and go about it. And you have to develop a practice, wouldn't you say?   Lauren Riddei  06:25 Yeah, absolutely. I would agree. I bought all the design books.   Kimberly Grigg  06:28 I still do. I still do.   Lauren Riddei  06:31 I don't think the learning never stops, frankly.   Kimberly Grigg  06:32 For me, I think if it stopped, I would stop designing. And I don't, I can't really imagine my life not designing something. I spent a lot of time painting these days, which is also like design in so many ways. But for me, if I lost that passion to know more, because you cannot master this subject.   Lauren Riddei  06:54 No way.   Kimberly Grigg  06:55 So and I say again to my listener, don't get discouraged. I mean, it happens to all of us. I also say, you know, almost all of my projects go through the ugly duckling phase, and only to come out a beautiful swan. But to me, when it gets to that, that's when the work really starts. And that's when the grit and the, like, I got to get down and figure this out. And then something beautiful happens. And I can't explain it because it is a process, but sometimes people that listen to this podcast and follow our other shows and channels, will say, you know, I got discouraged so I just stopped because it didn't turn out, it didn't look professio

Kimberly Grigg brings listeners a solo episode inspired by Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s “Ten Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Their Lives” book title. Kimberly is sharing her knowledge and educating everyone on the 10 Simple Things People Do To Mess Up Their Homes. And she has expert advice on how everyday designers, like you listeners, can avoid these simple missteps in order to decorate like a pro. The 10 simple things to avoid to “make your home magical”, to quote Kimberly, are these:1) too much color, 2) not enough color, 3) too many picture frames, 4) too matchy-matchy, 5) no drapes, 6) drapes hung incorrectly, 7) souvenirs for accessories, 8) inappropriate scale, 9) incorrect artwork, and 10) not finishing. Don’t worry if these design points sound difficult to fix! Kimberly goes through each one and details why it messes with your decor and, most importantly, how to amend it. She has easy explanations and vital advice on how to create fixes and avoid these faux pas. Jump into this episode knowing that at the end of it you will not only understand the 10 simple things to avoid, but you’ll know why window treatments are important, what size of artwork works best with that new chair, and how to include color without it overwhelming the room. Your photos and accessories are all going to be taken care of in ways that assist you in living beautifully, which is what Kimberly dearly wants for everyone to experience. Resources discussed in this episode: “Ten Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Their Lives” by Dr. Laura Schlessinger Edith-Anne Duncan Decorate Like A Design Boss Episode 43: A Pop of Color with Edith-Anne Duncan --  Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. Transcription   Kimberly Grigg  00:00 Welcome to Episode 44 of Decorate Like A Design Boss. This one is a good one, we'll be diving into the things that people do that mess up their homes. I want you to live beautifully. So please indulge me and listen up as I go through 10 simple things that you can avoid to make your home magical. Get ready. Here we go. Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg, and I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers like yourselves how to decorate. And when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves and your neighbors can't stop raving about, well, buckle up honey, because it's time to design.   Kimberly Grigg  01:07 Hello there design friends. So I've been interviewing a lot of great design guests lately. And I thought, well, maybe it's time to dive in to a solo episode on a topic that I tend to love. Quite a few years ago, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, a popular psychologist, a talk show host and an author, better known as simply Dr. Laura, wrote an interesting book called "10 Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Their Lives". Now I was a fan, especially of that book, and as Dr. Laura was publishing this book, I was this woman. We won't get into her 10 stupid things, but the title has always stuck with me because on a totally different level, I do spot 10 simple things that people do - and I don't mean stupid - but 10 simple things that people, not necessarily women, do to mess up their homes. So hence, Dr. Laura's book, while not quite old, even though I still recommend it as it was a juicy lifesaver for me at the time, the title just always grabbed me and prompted this episode. So let's get started. 10 things that people do to mess up their homes.   Kimberly Grigg  02:41 Number one: too much color. You know, I'm a color girl. And if you've listened for a while and/or if you follow my weekly show, It's Time To Design which airs every Thursday at four on Kimberly Grigg Designs Facebook page, then you know that I've been preaching that you should decorate with color. But to be successful, you'll want to limit your color palette. Sometimes the love of color can go wacky. Here's a better way to think about it: choose three colors that work well together. Choose one to be the main, another to be the supporting actor, and the final is just an accent. You can carry this theme throughout the main parts of your home and you will end up with a harmonious space that works very well together. I recently interviewed Edith-Anne Duncan and I discussed this in detail in Episode 43. Go back, take a listen if you haven't already, but the gist of the conversation is that you need to carry this palette, these three colors, throughout your spaces, but you vary the hero, the supporting actress, and the shining star in various degrees to keep each room from becoming the same. I also tend to throw in that fourth shazam. But again, I do have a daily practice and I am a professional. So if you feel very competent, you can throw a few shazams, but they can come in the form of, as mine typically do, as another color represented in artwork, as another color represented in some small way. And it just continues to layer the palette. But if you use the simple rule of three, I assure you, you will get results that tend to work, work together, and create a very harmonious space   Kimberly Grigg  05:00 The second faux pas that I'm going to mention is actually the opposite of too much color, and it's not enough color. This all white theme that is trending right now is beautiful, especially in the Pinterest pictures and on Instagram, but trust me, most of those spaces are well lit, or the photos are put through a photo app that can alter the actual state of the space. Having decorated my fair share of white spaces in the last few years, I am a fair activist for this scheme. But I have to say, most people forget about inserting subtle color and most people forget about how important the use of texture is in an all white space. And in fact, this use of texture actually ends up coming off as a color in and of itself. Yes, white works if you love it, not if you're just following the trend, forget about it. But it's super important to insert texture, and unexpected items such as art that carry a punch, a little more color, even if it's subtle, or perhaps it's a cognac sofa or a mustard pillow. Just remember, the same applies with a white palette as in any palette. It's still three colors, even if they are just shades of white.   Kimberly Grigg  06:34 Alright, number three is not only a faux pas, but it's also a pet peeve of mine. And it's something that I immediately change when I'm called to work in someone's home. It is simply too many picture frames: photo frames placed everywhere doesn't make a home a home, even if being surrounded by things that you value. It does seem to matter to you, if you do employ this technique, that your house feels like a home. But instead invest in beautiful accessories and artwork that is gorgeous and it speaks to you. Purchase no more than three frames per room and make them no less than size 8 by 10. Now if you're doing a photo gallery wall, this doesn't apply. But I'm talking about all those little bitty frames that you put on bookshelves and you put everywhere and they're on every surface, and they've got these little bitty pictures inside of them. I am telling you: stop. Get gorgeous frames and don't settle for cheapies at Home Goods - sorry Home Goods, no offense - I do buy frames there, but I buy big ones, and I buy gorgeous ones, or I don't buy them at all. Instead, opt for the creme de la creme and have photos in them that are sizable, no less than eight by 10. And that have an image that you can clearly see. Hint, no snap shots, please.   Kimberly Grigg  08:20 This moves us on to faux pas number four: too matchy-matchy. You don't need suits of furniture any longer. You instead need furniture that blends and creates a story, than the suits in your home, by mixing them up, paint some of them, or purchase new items. Blend it. A blended home is a more casual home and actually comes off as a more interesting space.   Kimberly Grigg  08:55 Number five: no drapes. Nothing pulls together a home better and faster than drapery. Yes, even if you have blinds and shades and a view, you're treating a window in a decorative way. In fact, you're not really necessarily treating the window, even though they're called window treatments, you're treating the walls beside the window. Blinds and shades behave in a functional way. Drapery and window treatments behave in a decorative way. They soften a space and they add a more polished look overall and in general. If you want your home to look finished, then you need drapery.   Kimberly Grigg  09:50 Number six: drapes hung incorrectly, as in directly above the window frame. I can't say enough about this. If you're not going to do drapes correctly, then don't bother. If you're going to have drapery, then invest in the proper length. Go all the way up about one to two inches under the crown. Yes, that high. If you don't have crown, then one to two inches right where the ceiling begins. If you place them right above the window frame, you're destroying the whole look. So raise them up, all the way up, and consider custom drapes in this case or a high quality lined drapery that is the proper length. Do not use unlined drapes unless you're using a sheer drapery. And do not, please, use a rod pocket. This all cheapens the whole aspect of why drapery does for you what it does. So I recently was at my oldest son's house, and my kids have been surrounded by some really pretty things growing up with a design mom, and I walked into the nursery and I knew, I knew that his wife was going to cringe because she could tell what I was thinking. So on a whim, they kind of waited to the last minute to decorate their nursery

Kimberly Grigg is joined by Edith-Anne Duncan, a designer who describes her work as “sophisticated-casual” and who celebrates the dual importance of elevating the function of a room and indulging in color. Kimberly and Edith-Anne share a lot of common ground when it comes to color and pattern, and in this episode they dive into how to make these elements work together. Edith-Anne Duncan explains how she comes from a line of family with an eye for design and though she is formally educated in it, she also sees in herself the self-taught approach and agrees with Kimberly that an eye can “be trained”. Together they explore some of Edith-Anne’s key tips for how to work color through a house, and break down how to pair texture with accents from rugs or art. Edith-Anne shares names of some of the great masters of design that inspire her. One of the thoughtful things said by Edith-Anne and echoed by Kimberly is that living beautifully is important and vital. Edith-Anne says it informs enjoyment of every moment of living in your home. She and Kimberly describe living beautifully as a kind of self love and self care that we deserve in our lives. It is an insightful conversation full of elegant advice that is sure to inspire your own design journey. About Edith-Anne Duncan: Creating a sophisticated but casual approach to today’s lifestyles is the focus of Edith-Anne Duncan’s interiors and what she does best. Meticulous attention to detail is the trademark that elevates her creations to a higher level. The expertise and talent that Edith-Anne draws upon comes from a multi-layered approach to each project. Education, experience and life have created a strong design palette and portfolio, utilizing history, travel, fashion, art, color and technology to incorporate each client’s wishes. With clients from Maryland to Florida, Edith-Anne ensures that each project reflects the unique space needs, personality, and lifestyle of the individual client. Resources discussed in this episode: Edith-Anne Duncan Edith-Anne Duncan on Instagram Schumacher Brunschwig & Fils Thibaut Billy Baldwin Mark Hampton Dorothy Draper Aerin Lauder Mark Sikes --  Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. Transcription   Kimberly Grigg  00:00 Every now and again, you meet this person whose design aesthetic and design philosophy just rocks your world. And that's what happened during this interview with my new design friend, Edith-Anne Duncan. Welcome to Decorate Like a Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg, and I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers like yourselves how to decorate. And when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, well, buckle up, honey, because it's time to design. Alright. Well, hello, my new friend, Edith-Anne Duncan. Welcome.   Edith-Anne Duncan  01:00 Hi, Kimberly.   Kimberly Grigg  01:01 So I’ve got to kind of set this up, I want to tell you how I actually first discovered you and I want our listeners to hear this because it was kind of important. So when I scroll Instagram and any social media, I'm often looking for different things, I suppose. Of course I'm looking for a beautiful photo or a beautiful reel, or whatever. But when I first discovered you, you were showing something on your feed about your design studio and how you had all of your fabrics organized and I was enchanted because as a fellow designer, I know how hard it is to keep up with all those things. And you DM'd me back right away and we began kind of this little thing. And I started really noticing your work and someone, you don't know this part, but someone came to me that works for me a little bit later and said, Hey, have you Have you followed Edith-Anne Duncan on Instagram? And I said, Actually, I do recently. And they said, Well, she uses color a lot like you do. I think you would love her stuff. And I said, You're right, I do. So there began my love affair with you and your work. And I just wanted my listener to experience you and know about you. Because I really do have an admiration for what you do. And I guess I'll just pop off with the first question. And it will be something like this, Edith-Anne, like, you're a very decorated and celebrated yourself as a designer. And to me, you're known for certain things, but I really do want to hear from you. How would you describe your work?   Edith-Anne Duncan  02:55 I would say that I'm sophisticated-casual. Function, and then color. So I'm a lot about the function of the space and not just the form and aesthetics. So I go through a very in depth interview process of how the home or space is used, and the lifestyle of the client, and then really hone in on that and their lifestyle. And then I go from there. But I would say sophisticated-casual with traditional elements and lots of color.   Kimberly Grigg  03:23 Yes. And you know, something that I also notice, and just because I work in color in a very similar way, and even a similar approach for me function is everything. And I don't know that in the very beginning of my career function was important. But now it's question number one. What is this room for? How will it be used even if it's multifunctional, like how is this used? But I know where people often get in trouble and I've gotten in trouble myself, is a lot of color can sometimes end up feeling flighty and a little too whimsical and a little too colorful. So how do you keep that from happening?   Edith-Anne Duncan  04:10 So what I like to do is literally stick to only three colors. So let's say in the entry or foyer I start with blue and green and then the accent is that green. So in the next room, then I would use the accent color as the green. So what is the accent in one room then translates to primary in the next room. And then also, say if you want to stick to just blues or just greens, then I stay typically on the same paint fan deck and I'm up and down that fan deck if someone is a little too apprehensive about using more than, you know, two or three colors. So just my primary and secondary and/or accent, that's how I moved from space to space. So you're not in one room that's blue and white and the next room is pink and green and then the next one is purple and yellow, those don't flow together. So again, I like the transition from one space to the next into the next.   Kimberly Grigg  05:07 So are we twins?   Edith-Anne Duncan  05:09 I think we are, yeah. And I love your recent project, too, that you had of the his and her home office. And using a space, because that's another thing whenever I'm interviewed by clients, lots of the rooms they don't even use. So I say what do you need? What are you lacking? And it's amazing how when you dedicate those things to different rooms of the home, they use it and they enjoy it so much more than just being in the foyer and seeing a pretty room and don't even enjoy it.   Kimberly Grigg  05:36 Yes, and it lives. Like it has become my pet peeve, these unused rooms, especially the dining room, oh my god, a once a year use of a room is ridiculous. And I've even tried lately, and I I'm sure you have as well, I've tried to make the kitchen breakfast nook a little more unusable so that people will use their dining room or convert it completely and get rid of the dining room, do something else, figure out a way to approach the space, so yes, for sure. So Edith-Anne are you formally trained, self taught? Tell me a little bit about your background.   Edith-Anne Duncan  06:22 Okay, so I actually think it's a mix of both. So my grandparents, both of my grandmothers and my father both had a flair for this to begin with. I think it's something you're born with as far as aesthetics, what you grew up around, the scale of things, and then I was formally trained undergraduate at High Point University. I have actually three majors, it's business administration, interior design, and home furnishings marketing, because of course, it's the furniture capital of the world. Then from there, I received my Masters in interior design from Virginia Tech. So... but again, I think a lot of people, you don't need the education part. I used to be very, a big stickler about it, because I worked so hard at it? Now I've kind of gotten a little bit more lax on that, because I think it's, you're also born with it. That's a lot of it. So the education part just fine-tuned it even more.   Kimberly Grigg  07:14 Yeah. And I, I wonder how you feel about - someone told me when I was very young that you could train your eye. And I thought that was a very curious thing to say. And I thought at that time, I mean I was in my probably early teens, I drew floor plans as a kid like I didn't draw things, I drew floor plans.   Edith-Anne Duncan  07:37 Me too.   Kimberly Grigg  07:38 And I couldn't draw things necessarily, but I could really draw geometrics. And so I thought that maybe I wasn't creative, or I wasn't talented, or that I couldn't be an interior designer, because I couldn't draw or at that time, I think I even wanted to be a fashion designer. And as it turned out that person who said that to me, I really should give a big hug to because I did train my eye, I honed, and I try to tell people that listen to this show, and people that are trying to do their own thing, that, you know, you can develop a practice. I'm not saying that you can anoint yourself, I'm saying you have to work at it. Do you feel like, you know, you could develop an ability?   Edith-Anne Duncan  08:22 Yes, I do. I do. And it's funny, as a child I would always play with doll houses and Lincoln Logs. And

Kimberly Grigg welcomes Kate Dryer, founder of Kate Decorates, to the show to explore beautiful family-centric decor on a “normal person budget”. Kate shares how she puts her belief that form and function can coexist in design into action.  Kimberly and Kate debunk the theory that beautiful living must wait until children are grown. To that end, Kate breaks down the benefits of performance fabrics, how to test them for durability, and recommends carpet tiles as easy-to-replace solutions. They explain how to find a color palette based on a signature piece and where to find less expensive options for furniture and accessories. Kate is an enthusiastic DIYer and Kimberly prompts her to divulge secrets on decorating with peel and stick wallpaper, ways to visually upgrade plain countertops without breaking your budget, and how to bring color and pattern into your spaces like a pro. Kate’s ability to create attainable beauty for any family home will surely inspire you in decorating yours. About Kate Dryer: Kate Dryer is a thirty something wife and mom to two kids and one incredibly energetic labradoodle. She started her blog, Kate Decorates, as a creative outlet in 2015 and has been DIY’ing and decorating ever since. Their family’s 1980s builder-grade home in the Washington, DC suburbs (where she was born and raised), was a beige box when they bought it which wasn’t really her jam, so she immediately got to work adding color and pattern. Kate’s mission is to help busy families create beautiful, functional homes they love… and have fun in the process. Resources discussed in this episode: Kate Decorates Kate Decorates on Instagram Easy Home Renewals  --  Contact Me: Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. Transcription Kimberly Grigg  00:00 Welcome to another episode of Decorate Like A Design Boss. And today I am so happy to share with you my new friend Kate Dryer. Kate is the founder of Kate Decorates where she's dedicated to sharing tips and tricks for creating a fun, functional and family friendly home. All on a normal person budget. Kate founded her business in 2016, shortly after giving birth to her second child. Despite searching Pinterest and her favorite magazines for attainable decorating advice that could help young families like her own, she quickly found that there were next to no resources out there for parents who wanted homes that were stylish enough for adults, but functional for life with kids and pets. You're gonna love Kate dryer. So let's welcome her as we discover all sorts of tips and tricks for family centered homes, but, not just that, for some very, very gorgeous decorating. Welcome to Decorate Like A Design Boss, a podcast for design lovers who want to create beautiful spaces in their very own homes. My name is Kimberly Grigg, and I'm a professional interior designer who teaches design lovers like yourselves how to decorate. And when I say decorate, I mean decorate like a design boss. If you're ready to create a space that your family loves, and your neighbors can't stop raving about, well, buckle up honey, because it's time to design. Well. Hi, Kate Dryer. I'm so happy to have you here.   Kate Dryer  01:58 Thank you so much, Kimberly, it is great to be here with you today.   Kimberly Grigg  02:02 Ah, well, I wish everyone could see how pretty you are and how pretty you look in your surroundings like, wow, this is perfect. I'm gonna have a good time watching.   Kate Dryer  02:13 Thank you. A box full of jewel tones, I guess.   Kimberly Grigg  02:16 There you go. And your sweater and everything is so color coordinated. So I want to kind of dive in, Kate. I mean, there's so many interesting things about you, including your cybersecurity background, and like all this cool stuff and your, your whole process, your brand. Kind of describe to me what it is that you do.   Kate Dryer  02:41 Sure. So about six years ago, after I had my second child, I needed a creative outlet. You know, it was... I heard someone say once - which now being a mom of more than than one I get it - they said 'one is one and two is twenty'. And I felt that so deeply at the time that my son was born. And so I started Kate Decorates, I started my blog, again, just kind of as a hobby for me to you know, have something to sort of, you know, maintain my own identity and give me some me time, which was great. But one thing that I noticed, as I was talking to a lot of my other friends who were at a similar stage in life, you know, they were just getting married, just starting families, everyone would come over to our house, and they would look around and say, Oh my gosh, you know, your home is just so calming and really put together and polished and like, Okay, how did you do that with two young kids and toddlers who make messes and hit their heads on the corner of tables and things like that. And it kind of dawned on me that there really was not a lot of information or great resources out there for parents who were a lot like myself, you know, just kind of starting out, but you know, needing their space to be functional, but also wanting to feel really good about their surroundings, especially during what's really a hectic time, I think, in a lot of people's lives. So fast forward to today. I actually left my full time marketing job a few months ago to focus full time on my design and doing consulting there. So it's been quite a ride, but it's been really fun, I think, to share really simple, easy family friendly decorating tips that people can, you know, put to use in a few minutes. You know, they're not difficult, it's not expensive, and it's just attainable and fun and makes you feel good about the home that you're in.   Kimberly Grigg  04:53 Love this. So I'm going to let you in on a secret. Well, it's not really a secret but something that is kind of interesting along these lines is I raised six kids in my home, and I can so relate. My youngest is now 21 and off at college, but I can so relate to how valuable this information is. I know for us, my husband would say things like, Why are you bothering? They're just gonna put peanut butter and jelly hands on everything. But I insisted that we live beautifully and that I have to somehow make the home function. So now that mine are grown, you're in the thick, you're in the thick of it. And so tell the listener, the audience, like, let's just dive in: what are some starting points for how people can live beautifully with children and peanut butter and jelly hands?   Kate Dryer  05:57 Right, and goldfish cracker crumbs and all those fun things? Yes. You know, one thing that I noticed, especially as a young parent, is that if your space feels chaotic, your life is going to feel chaotic. You know, home should be kind of your safe haven, a place that brings you joy and peace. And it is more important than people usually think to create something that you feel good about. And so I would say, you know, number one, think about how you want to live and how you want the space to feel. Do you want to decorate with neutrals and have it feel really calm and airy? Does, for example, like me, does color energize you, and does that bring a smile to your face? So think about what's going to make you happy, and then start to plan out, probably starting with... I always like to say start with the room that you spend the most time in and kind of create a plan for yourself and start there. It can be really overwhelming when you try to tackle too much at once. So focusing on one space in the beginning and getting that right, where you feel good about it, is really important. And then I think it gives you the confidence too to move on to other spaces in your home and sort of apply the same patterns, I guess.   Kimberly Grigg  07:23 Yes, and that's such good advice. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I tell people, Don't polka dot your house, like start somewhere and finish something so that while you're working on other spaces, you've got somewhere for the eye to rest. And I find that that's so important, because sometimes people will take their budget, we're going to talk about your cool thoughts about budget in a second, but they'll take that budget and they will start spending it in various areas of the home. And the next thing you know, you have nothing to show for your results. You got a lot of stuff. And you've done a lot of things but nothing is really complete. So I love the way that you said that. And one of the things that you also say that I'm very fond of, and this is right up my listeners' alley, is you like to decorate with normal people budget. So tell me a little bit about that. And how do you accomplish that?   Kate Dryer  08:26 Yes, I am so glad you asked. This is one of my favorite things to talk about because I think there's such a misconception in the design world that great design has to be expensive, which is absolutely not true at all. And so when I think of normal person budget, I think of, you know, I typically I'll put money into kind of the larger pieces that I know I'm going to have for a really long time. For example, you know, I have a great Crate and Barrel sofa in our living room that has been with us for years. It's withstood all kinds of incidents, and still looks great. So when you know there are those pieces that you're... they're kind of the heart of your room, I tend to invest a little more there. But when it comes to a lot of other pieces, you have to be realistic. So even thinking about, particularly with young kids, area rugs, okay? I would never at this stage in my life, invest in a really pricey rug. But the great news is there are so many different options today to find affordable decor, whether it's going to places like, you know, Target or Home Goods or looking onlin

On today’s episode I go behind the scenes with Courtney Krug of At300Nelson. We talk all things from home goods to fabrics made from hand. This is a must listen to hear some of the workings of what happens in the design world. Follow At300Nelson: Instagram: @at300Nelson Their site: www.at300Nelson.com Thank you for listening to episode 41 of Decorate Like A Design Boss. It means so much to me for you all listening along. Please rate, follow and review to help this podcast grow.    Contact Me:  Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram , Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel  You can also find the show on Stitcher and Spotify.  

Mary Catherine is a powerhouse of creativity. I am so excited to share with you her amazing lifestyle brand, Cotton & Quill. It full of traditional, edgy and classic all wrapped up into one.  Today she shares with us all about the process and behind the scenes of the brand.  If you want to follow along with her, here is how: Instagram: Cotton & Quill Website: www.cottonquill.com   I want to say a special thank you to Mary Catherine for coming on episode 40 and chatting with me.    Contact Me:  Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram , Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel  You can also find the show on Stitcher and Spotify.

How do you find creativity? Are you born with it, is it something you just pick up along the way or is it something you have to work on each and every day? I dig deep into creativity with Kate Shepherd Creative. She is a jewelry designer, podcast host and artist. I am excited for you all to hear what we talk about on this episode of Decorate Like A Design Boss.  If you want to follow along with Kate, below is how you can find her. Kate’s Instagram & Kate’s Podcast I want to say a special thank you for Kate coming on episode 39 and chatting with me.    Contact Me:  Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram , Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel  You can also find the show on Stitcher and Spotify.

Contact Me:  Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram , Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel  You can also find the show on Stitcher and Spotify.

Are you on the fence on what paint color to pick? Listen in as I talk through all the best Neutral colors that might be perfect for you. Grab a pencil and paper because I will be calling out paint color numbers as we go along.  If you still are unsure about what paint color is right for you. I am not offering 30 minute zoom consultations to help you get your space just right. Click HERE to see if I could help you with your next project.     Contact Me:  Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram , Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel  You can also find the show on Stitcher and Spotify.

Would you like a Simple but Doable formula for achieving decorating success in your own home? Well be sure to listen as I break down my top 6 tips to doing just that.  I want to thank you for all your continued support and would love if you haven’t already to rate, review and subscribe.    Contact Me:  Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram , Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel  You can also find the show on Stitcher and Spotify.

I’m so glad that you’re here! I am officially back from my break and I feel excited and motivated. In today’s episode, we are going to talk about the most how to pull out elegance in your home.   Contact Me:  Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel  You can also find the show on Stitcher and Spotify.

I’m so glad that you’re here! In today’s episode, we are going to talk about the importance of finding JOY in your home. Starting off the New Year with what makes you feel good.   Contact Me:  Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel  You can also find the show on Stitcher and Spotify.

I’m so glad that you’re here! In today’s episode, we are going to talk about the most common mistakes people make with their lighting when decorating their homes and how to avoid these with grace. Don't forget to check out my blog! [00:01 - 1:04] Opening Segment Welcome to today’s episode I introduce the topic [1:05 - 10:55] How to avoid the lighting when decorating your house It’s tricky to catch The biggest part of the time, the problems are easy to solve You can access Kimberly course to become a decorator The first mistake: relying on overhead lighting alone Every room need light Add lamps The second mistake: settling for builder-grade lighting Invest in beautiful lighting Keep in mind the dimensions of your house Light needs to be part of the space The third mistake: Add dimmers to every light The wrong light bulbs Consider task lighting and how it affects the overall plan of your space The type of light could bring you a different type of space [ 10:56 - 11:50] Closing Segment Signature questions What did we learn during this episode? Connect with me through the links below  Final words Tweetable Quotes: “ The lighting needs to be a part of the space and should be visible easily.” - Kimberly “The lighting in your home needs as much thought as furniture selection and placement (as well as color) or any other element in the design.” - Kimberly   Contact Me:  Email me at kimberly@kimberlygriggdesigns.com Visit my website: www.kimberlygriggdesigns.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest Check out my Youtube channel  You can also find the show on Stitcher and Spotify.