DiscoverSlow Style Home: Decorating Personal, Meaningful Interiors
Slow Style Home: Decorating Personal, Meaningful Interiors
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Slow Style Home: Decorating Personal, Meaningful Interiors

Author: Zandra Zuraw

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You want a home that’s uniquely you. One that reflects your passions, values and lifestyle. And you want to create one on your own, without having to hire a designer, breaking the bank, or hurting the planet. The challenge is that there are too many voices telling you what trend to jump on, what rules you must follow, and what “beautiful” looks like. Plus, you don’t want to scrap everything you own and start all over. It’s hard to know how to wrap your arms around this big, important concept called “home!” On this podcast, you’ll learn from the experts exactly why some rooms work (and others don’t), how to master a mix of styles and preferences when you have a bunch of them jumbled together, and inspiration for being brave and taking the creation of your dream home into your own hands.  


Want me to stop in your hometown on the book tour? Leave me a message with your thoughts on where I should hold an event (a bookshop, gallery, antiques store, garden, historic home, etc ), and your contact info. 

https://www.speakpipe.com/SlowStyleHome

415 Episodes
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In this episode, I talk with Natalie Papier about her new book, “Start With the Art”. Natalie explains why the art you choose—whether it’s from a flea market, your kids, or a gallery—can and should be the starting point for designing a room. We discuss how art can shape color palettes, patterns, and materials, and why it tells the real story of a home. Natalie also shares examples from her own spaces, offers advice on experimenting with paint and scale, and emphasizes the importance of adding...
Looking back, my kitchen has gone through many lives. It started with painted cabinets and bamboo floors on a tight budget, then evolved through a moody green phase during COVID before finally landing on a navy-and-white look inspired by the sea. Along the way, we tiled to the ceiling, swapped in a gorgeous Bertazzoni stove, shiplapped the ceiling, and added furniture pieces to make it feel warm and lived-in rather than purely functional. Each change taught me something about color, materials...
In this episode, I talked with Maria Resto, a longtime listener whose Chicago home reflects her love of travel, vintage finds, and evolving style. She shared how over 25 years she’s layered antiques, global pieces, bold textiles, and personal items—like a burgundy sofa and a juju hat—learning through trial and error to create rooms full of character. Maria also plans to highlight more of her Puerto Rican heritage, blending family history with her eclectic style. What excites her most is that ...
This episode with Francesca Wezel is for all you design enthusiasts. Francesca is a colorist who creates stunning, one-of-a-kind colors. She shares the inspiration behind her colorful palettes, including her Himalayas palette, which was inspired by a trip to India. We also talk about her Houghton Hall and Poison into Medicine collections, which both have incredible backstories. We discuss the health benefits of using lime wash, which is the oldest form of paint known to man. Francesca explain...
This week, I’m answering a listener question from Meg about how to balance style with function, especially when it comes to storage. She wants a home that looks good but also works for real life. I walk through different strategies depending on where you are in the process: whether you're starting from scratch, filling in gaps, or trying to upgrade over time. I also share my thoughts on when it makes sense to go with something quick and affordable like IKEA, and when to hold out for something...
In this episode of the Slow Style Home podcast, I talk with Elizabeth Rees, founder of Chasing Paper. We cover what makes her peel-and-stick wallpaper different, why it’s not just for renters, and how it holds up over time. Elizabeth shares how she built a high-quality, sustainable product that’s easy to use and doesn’t feel temporary or trendy. We also get into how to choose the right pattern, scale, and colorway—plus how to make wallpaper work with artwork, furniture, and older homes that a...
In this episode, I talk with Joseph Marini, author of Mastering the Art of Entertaining. We cover what it really means to host, beyond the perfect table setting. Joseph shares why entertaining is about connection, not performance, and how a little planning goes a long way. We talk about what makes a good guest, how to keep people out of the kitchen, and why it’s okay to serve store-bought food, as long as you put it in a real bowl. This is a practical, honest conversation about making people ...
In this edition of the Fix My Room series, I spoke with Kayla, who lives on beautiful Vancouver Island in a post-and-beam home full of character and full of wide open spaces. Her main question was what to do with the big, undefined area between her staircase and the main living space. It’s not a hallway, not quite a room, and right now it’s mostly being used by her young kids as a runway! Together, we walked through the space and explored ideas for how to make it more functional and intention...
In this episode, I welcome back designer Jewel Marlowe, whose work is bold, layered, and always intentional. We dig into how she builds palettes using color, pattern, and materials—and why contrast matters just as much as cohesion. Jewel breaks down how she mixes unexpected elements (like leopard print and florals) and why visual weight and scale play such a big role in how a room feels. She shares examples from her own evolving home and current client projects, all while staying rooted in me...
This week, I’m joined by Professor Annetta Grant, whose research examines why so many of us feel uneasy in our own homes — even after we’ve renovated them. We dive into her concept of dysplacement (yes, spelled with a “y”), and how the rise of HGTV, social media, and resale-minded design has shifted the home from a space of personal expression to a performance of market standards. Annetta and I talk about why we second-guess our own style, the emotional pressure to “get it right,” and how eve...
In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to market a design book—especially when you’re doing most of it yourself. This episode is all about doing things with intention, working within limits, and inviting you to help shape this journey with me. Leave Me A Message! I need your feedback on the ideas from this episode. Go here and hit “record!” https://www.speakpipe.com/SlowStyleHome Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover yo...
In this episode, I sit down with interior designer Jade Joyner, co-founder of the firm Metal + Petal, to talk about how she approaches design with intention, balance, and a strong point of view. Jade is the opposite of a formulaic designer—she’s not interested in trends, matching sets, or playing it safe. Instead, she leans into mixing materials, layering stories, and building spaces that reflect the people who live in them. We go deep into two of her residential projects, walking through how...
In this episode, I talk with Whitney English—author, designer, and (as I like to call her) my organizational better half. Her new book, Organize First, Decorate Second, isn't your typical organizing manual. It’s thoughtful, deeply personal, and grounded in real life—something I immediately connected with. We explore the idea that our homes are not just reflections of who we are, but tools that help shape us. Whitney shares why she prefers the word edit over declutter, how tension (not balance...
When I first discovered Ros Byam Shaw’s writing, I felt like I’d found someone who truly saw homes the way I did — not as stage sets or style statements, but as deeply personal spaces layered with time, memory, and quiet beauty. In this episode, I get to speak with Ros Byam Shaw about her work as a writer and her newest book, “ Perfect English, Small and Beautiful”, her longtime collaboration with photographer Jan Baldwin, and what she’s learned from years of stepping inside some of the most ...
In this episode, I explore how real-world experiences — especially travel — can deeply enrich our homes and design choices. I introduce the fourth skill of my Slow Style framework, "Enrich," and talk with Bill Richards and Marla Mullen, co-chairs of Nantucket by Design 2025. We discuss how honoring a sense of place, like the spirit of Nantucket, can shape meaningful interiors, and why in-person events like this are so powerful for design enthusiasts. Bill and Marla give us a behind-the-scenes...
In this episode, I talk with Olga Naiman, author of Spatial Alchemy, about how design can help us move through change, break old patterns, and support who we’re becoming. Olga shares how her own journey—starting with something as simple as reupholstering a chair—led her to a deeper understanding of the connection between our homes and our inner lives. We get into the core idea of spatial alchemy: using design not just to make things look nice, but to reflect and support real emotional shifts....
In this episode, I talk with Bailey Li, a self-taught artist and interior designer known for her powerful murals and bold, emotionally driven spaces. We walk through a few of her standout projects, always shaped by what a client wants to experience, emotionally, in a room. Bailey believes design should reflect not just who you are, but who you're becoming. Then we move on to a listener Q&A regarding how to choose a color palette for your whole home and what to do with empty rooms wh...
In this edition of the Fix My Room series, I share a one-on-one coaching call with Charlotte, we discuss how to blend her style with the house's current rustic design. We explored furniture arrangement in her large, open living area and kitchen, and tackled her concerns about a big blank wall, appropriate rug size, and making better use of a wood stove. We examine multiple layout options for her brown leather and pink velvet sofas, consider different seating arrangements, and discuss lighting...
My guest today for our “Think Like A Designer” series is Gabriela Eisenhart, founder of Silo Studio Design. We cover a lot of bases in this conversation: finding inspiration for a “wow” moment in a kitchen; how to use color in a mostly neutral living room; mixing heavy and light layers to create a serene bedroom; what to do with that empty area you may have on the 2nd floor landing space; and the biggest bang for your buck when you’re trying to outfit a home or room that has no obvious archit...
In this episode of the Slow Style Home podcast, I sit down with designer Barrett Oswald to examine the thought process behind her stunning, layered interiors. We explore the power of color, the role of texture, and how composition can transform a space—whether it’s a grand entryway or a cozy nook. Barrett shares insights from her work on both historic and modern homes, explaining how she uses color drenching to create immersive atmospheres, entryways to set the tone, and a mix of materials to...
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Comments (2)

Charles Stone

Since we are not professionals with my brother, we messed up the tiles and we had to look for a service that can re-lay the tiles and I found a company https://moderntiling.ie/, it is local in the South Dublin. These professionals provide services for bathrooms, kitchens, and they installed new tile and I really liked it. Our parents were happy, the updated bathroom tile looks amazing.

Jul 4th
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Anthony Hall

Indeed, very interesting, I think it’s worth thinking about it, I think it will be useful for every person, thanks for such a post

Jul 3rd
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