Slow Style Home: Decorating Personal, Meaningful Interiors (Zandra Zuraw)

Our guest this week is the wildly entertaining and talented Emily Murray of The Pink House. Her mission is to translate her sparkling life as a no- strings- attached London girl into a home that is now filled with a husband and two children.  But rather than write a blog about the ups and downs of being a mom, she decided to figure out how to create a home that hasn't forgotten who she is.  In doing so, she has embraced imperfection and small sticky hands smearing chocolate on the sofa. And so, after years as a lifestyle journalist for print magazines, she decided to start a blog about gorgeous interiors, all the while acknowledging that life is messy and never perfect.  And that blog, by the way, just won the very-big-deal AMARA Interior Blogs award for best newcomer.   We have been so looking forward to talking with Emily and you're about to find out why!

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We are delighted to have Karonlina Barnesas our guest on the show this week.  She is the editor in chief of the UK based online magazine, High In Style, which has reached 10,000 subscribers in its first year.  First we'll hear her personal story.  Undaunted by major health issues and moving to new countries with small children in tow, her passions have continued to push her forward.  We go on to talk about the ways style can impact our sense of who we are.  We love how Karolina is able to really explain why style matters! 

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Well Zandra and I have finally found our soulmates!  We are so excited to have Ashley Daly and Ashley Palmer on the podcast today!  They are the owners and creative minds behind Retro Den, a shop located in Tulsa, Oklahoma where they buy, sell, and trade vintage home goods and furniture as well some beautifully curated handmade goods and plants.  They are absolute experts at layering vintage and new and have so much inspiration to share. We even wrap up the episode with a  collective butchering of a furniture joke that will no doubt make you the hit a your next shindig.

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Angela Bunt is an interior designer in London, known for her ability to find the perfect colors for anyone's home.  She shares her secrets with us, along with a joyful description of her long career.  

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This week we talk with one of our favorite people on Instagram, Lisa Dawson.  Her dramatic style immediately pulled us in but it's her personality that has us hooked!  You'll know what we mean once you start listening!  In this episode, we chat about getting rid of a perfectly good kitchen, developing an aesthetic that doesn't care about other people's opinions, and how to do everything on a budget.  You can find her on her blog, take one of her workshops, if you're lucky enough to live in Northern England, or dive right in to her Instagram feed.  You will be so glad you did!

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One of our favorite designers and tastemakers is Barb Blair, founder of Knack Studios so we are thrilled to be talking with her today.  Barb not only transforms old furniture into new pieces for modern homes, she gets our mantras of "buy what you love" and "every home tells a story."  In her new book,Furniture Makes the Room, she shows you 15 furniture make-overs AND how to use each piece of furniture in three different settings.  Barb is all about "shopping your home" when looking to refresh a space. Taking something that was in a child's room and moving it to the den, taking a coffee table and putting it at the foot of the bed, or bringing an outdoor piece inside.

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Our guest today is Ellie Tennant, author of the books Design Bloggers At Home and Chic Boutiquers At Home. Based in London, Ellie has been an interiors journalist for several years, writing for Ideal Home Magazine and Home Shopping Spy. What we love about both of her books is her focus on people who are really passionate about personalizing their homes and using them as a visual representation of their lives. 

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I was introduced to this week's guest by my friend Susan Brinson of House of Brinson.  I had Susan and her husband Will on the show several seasons ago and their episode is definitely one to check out if you haven't already.  Anyway, I was talking to Susan about finding a venue for my next style retreat in NY and she said I absolutely had to get in touch with Eliza Clark of Foxfire Mountain House, and I am so grateful for the introduction!  Eliza and her husband, Tim Trojian, have created a truly magical, 11 room inn and restaurant in the Catskill mountains.  If you were to see her photos (which you can do on the show notes page), you'd understand why Eliza and I immediately hit it off and why I think you're going to be swept away, too.  She is a master at mixing old and new, elegance and comfort.  She and Tim have just released their book, "Foxfire Living" full of design inspiration, recipes and stories of how they restored the old inn.  Today I talk with Eliza about the major risks they took in buying the place as well as some of her most interesting strategies she used to decorate it.  She has so many great, creative ideas that I think you're going to want to borrow!  Let's start.  

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This week, pro stylist Becki Griffin talks with me about...well...style!  How she does it, what she uses, what she shops for and lessons she's learned on a photo shoot that can be used by all of us in our regular, every day homes.  She's been working in the interiors business for many years, styling covers and pages for magazines such as Country Living, as well as taking on her own clients for interior design.  Becki is super funny and easy to be with, which is a big plus for anyone who gets to hang out with her.  Which, by the way, could be you!  Becki is teaching the styling workshop during our Little Yellow Couch Style & Antiques Retreat that's happening in September at The Vintage Round Top in Round Top, TX!  As of this airing, early bird prices have just opened up so grab your spot so I can meet you in person!  But first, let's get on with my interview with Becki.  

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If you've been at all following home design blogs over the past decade, you'll be familiar with our guests this week, John and Sherry Petersik of Young House Love.  Their blog was one of the first out there to hit the big time, due to a combination of their warm  personalities and their roll-up-your sleeves attitude toward renovation and decorating.  Young House Love became a primary source of inspiration for DIYers who wanted to create a home that was personal and meaningful.   Along with developing products for major national brands and starting a podcast, they have also written two books.  In this episode, we talk about the second one quite a bit.  It's called Lovable, Livable Home, which brings up the opportunity for Sherry and John to tell us what it's like to do so many home projects and still stay happily married.  Tomorrow, October 4th, their third book hits the shelves, but it's not a typical home decor book.  Sherry and John reveal what their newest project is in the episode, so be sure to listen all the way to the end! 

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This week starts a 5 episode series of re-released interviews from the archives.  First up is our interview with organizational guru, Peter Walsh, which we aired almost exactly three years ago in April, 2016.   I first saw Peter on Oprah's show and I still cut out the articles he writes for O Magazine.   What I loved about him then is that he helped people get organized from the inside-out and in a soulful way.  I mean, that's totally Oprah, right?   Now, I love him even more because he's so kind and approachable in real life.  Or, at least, on the phone.  One of these days, I'll meet him in person and have him autograph a to-do list or a storage bin or something.  Anyway, maybe you know him from the two TV shows where he's been front and center:  Extreme Clutter and Clean Sweep.  Or maybe you've read one of his many books, my favorite being "Does this Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?"  Peter is very entertaining and highly quotable, dropping wisdom bombs all over the place.  If you haven't been in his orbit until now, you're in for some great advice.  And, I figured, with the warm weather just starting to come around,  you might be in the mood for some Spring Cleaning.  And this episode is the best place to get started!  

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In this episode, we talk with Roger Hazard and Chris Stout-Hazard, founders of the boutique furniture company, Roger + Chris. We first found them on Instagram and were immediately taken with Chris's photography. You can tell right away that furniture is going to be an integral part of the entire experience they want you to have in your home.  Their pieces are drop dead gorgeous all on their own, but they really know how to bring together timeless style with personalized taste, and it helps that Roger spent years in the design industry, starring in television's first ever home & real estate show, "Sell This House."  Chris is the technology wizard behind the scenes and together, they have created not only an amazing business, but a colorful and rich life together.

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Today we're airing another episode of "On the LYC."  You've probably figured this out but, LYC stands for Little Yellow Couch, and it symbolizes everything we're about: making time to have meaningful conversations with friends while sitting comfortably in a beautiful space.  Or at least on an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture!  Over the past few seasons, we've  been collecting little bits of wisdom from the stylists and designers we've had on the show and quoting them on Instagram.  When looking at these quotes all together, we've noticed several different themes emerge.  So for 2017, we're going to base each of our "On The LYC" episodes on a different theme related to creating a home you love. January is all about getting ORGANIZED!

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This week's guest is Jennifer Harrison of Flea Market Fab.  We sit with baited breath every day looking at her Instagram feed for new drool worthy photos of her textile layered home.  Jennifer has been honing her flea market fabulous style since she was a kid being dragged to estate sales and antique markets with her mother.  Her home is expertly layered with her amazing finds and begs you to come in and put your feet up with a cup of coffee or glass of wine in hand.  Jennifer will completely inspire you in this interview and have you headed straight for your nearest antique store and thrift shop!  Even better, check out Jennifer's online shop at fleamarketfab.style to purchase her custom designed pillows and poufs made from her personal collection of vintage textiles.

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Popular blogger Nikki Brantmark of My Scandinavian Home is our guest this week.  She has won numerous awards for her work and is recognized for bringing Scandinavian style to the world outside Northern Europe.  We talk with her about her recent book "The Scandinavian Home," which examines three different kinds of living spaces across the Scandi countries of Sweden, Norway and Denmark.  Nikki shares her perceptive eye for design from the vantage of being a transplant from London.  By the end of this interview, we wanted to move to Sweden, right next to her in the town of Malmo, in a house by the sea.  You probably will, too!  Also check out Nikki's newest book "Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life".

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This week we're talking with the design duo behind Jersey Ice Cream Company, Tara Mangini and Percy Bright.   They offer "full service" home design, and they mean that very literally.  Tara and Percy specialize in moving into a home for several months, actually living there to understand its particular quirks and to give themselves time to let the bones and atmosphere of the home sink into their consciousness.  From there, they reveal hidden potential and, in most cases, completely overhaul every single detail.  If you take a look at the show notes page for this episode you'll see why we're tripping over ourselves, trying to find the right words to express our obsession with their work.  

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We are honored and excited to open our 4th season of Style Matters with the eloquent, warm and charming Mary Randolph Carter.  You're about to be delighted by stories of her life working with Ralph Lauren, her prolific work as a writer and, above all, her passion for collecting.  She currently has a regular column in Country Living Magazine and has recently released her 9th book, "Never Stop To Think, Do I Have A Place For This?"  We have fallen hard for Carter, as she likes to be called, and we think you will, too.

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Chrissie Rucker is the founder of London's The White Company, which sells affordable luxury linens, accessories and furniture, all in neutral colors.  She's just written her first book, For The Love Of White, showcasing people's homes where the predominant color palate is a mix of creams, whites and soft greys.  The rooms are not only beautiful and peaceful, they are full of personality.  We talk about how to achieve this by looking at all of the elements that go into the perfect mix of texture.  

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Today we're airing another episode of "On the LYC."  You've probably figured this out but, LYC stands for Little Yellow Couch, and it symbolizes everything we're about: making time to have meaningful conversations with friends while sitting comfortably in a beautiful space.  Or at least on an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture!  Over the past few seasons, we've  been collecting little bits of wisdom from the stylists and designers we've had on the show and quoting them on Instagram.  When looking at these quotes all together, we've noticed several different themes emerge.  So for 2017, we're going to base each of our "On The LYC" episodes on a different theme related to creating a home you love. October is all about ART!

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Style Matters podcast is taking a break for the holiday season. We wish all of you a happy and healthy new year. We will return on January 9th with all new episodes.

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This week I'm sharing our interview with Maxwell Ryan, founder of Apartment Therapy and author of several books on home and design.  We recorded this interview in 2015 when he was on a tour for his most recent book, Apartment Therapy Complete and Happy Home.  Even though this was several years ago, it's still one of our best interviews ever and I think you're going to get a lot out of it.  In this re-release from our archives, Karen Grant is co-hosting with me and she just asked Maxwell to tell us about his overall approach to design and making a home.  

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Kicking off Season 12 of the Style Matters podcast is the full-of-life plant lover, Hilton Carter!  He's totally someone you want to hang out with as soon as you start talking with him.  And talk we do!  He's just come out with his first book called Wild At Home and it's all about how to bring plants into your home and work with your style.  We happened to both be at the Alt Summit conference in Palm Springs last month so we got to meet in person.  That doesn't always happen with my guests, so I was really happy it worked out for us.  Let's get started.  

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Our guest today is Erin Boyle, the blogger behind Reading My Tea Leaves and author of "Simple Matters".  It's a gorgeously photographed and written book  and its focus is on the joys of living with simple pleasures in a small Brooklyn apartment that Erin shares with her husband and young child.  We cover all kinds of aesthetics on the podcast and have celebrated both maximalist and minimalist styles, and everything in between.   Today, we think you'll be delighted to hear about Erin's very pared down, minimalist style that comes from a place of true happiness.  We love that, for her, simple living is not about deprivation but about the beauty she sees in everyday ordinary things.

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Summer is just around the corner and whether your summer plans include actual travel to far flung places across the globe, or you are simply dreaming of these kinds of experiences, you're going to be inspired by our guest this week.  Julieta Tello, the blogger and purveyor of handmade goods behind the brand Design Junkie, talks with us about her incredible life traveling all over the world and collecting pieces made by artisans that she then sells in her online shop.  Travel isn't only a passion for Julieta, it's a way of life.  And she wants to make it accessible to all of us, especially if we can't visit as many different countries as she does!  We also talk with her about why collecting pieces from places you haven't actually visited is good for the soul and how she's on a mission to blur the lines between art and interior design. 

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My guest this week is Melissa Coleman, otherwise known as The Faux Martha. I'm sure you know which Martha that refers to and we'll get to why Melissa chose that name.  But first, I'll tell you a little bit about her, in case you don't know.  Melissa is a cook, a baker and a writer.  I brought her on the show so we could talk about kitchens, one of the most used rooms in our homes, and one that can fill us with dread.  It's often cluttered with too much on the counters and piles of dirty dishes and it's where we constantly go when we want to stare at shelving filled with a bunch of stuff that we don't know what to do with when its time to get dinner on the table.   Melissa also has a great eye for design, which is really helpful when getting our kitchens to work for us.  Oh, and full disclosure here, my kitchen is far from perfect so I'm using her book, The Minimalist Kitchen, to get it on track.   I'll be sharing how it's going over the next few weeks and if you want to join me in a little personal challenge, I'd love to have some company as I clear out my cupboards, stock my pantry and start doing a little meal planning.   Ok, let's get started!  

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Have you heard about the new interiors book called "Diary Of  Your Home"?  By the end of this interview, you're going to want to get your hands on it!  We talk with author Joanna Ahlberg about this resource she's created with her husband, Peter.  It's part record book, part reference and directory, and part journal.  And while it's meant to be used as a way to keep your home organized, it's so much more than that!  The diary aspect of it will have you actively connecting what's meaningful in your life with how you use your home.   It's a written history of a life well lived that you'll want to keep and probably pass down to your kids.  But Joanna describes it better than we can so let's start!

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Today we're airing another episode of "On the LYC."  You've probably figured this out but, LYC stands for Little Yellow Couch, and it symbolizes everything we're about: making time to have meaningful conversations with friends while sitting comfortably in a beautiful space.  Or at least on an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture!  Over the past few seasons, we've  been collecting little bits of wisdom from the stylists and designers we've had on the show and quoting them on Instagram.  When looking at these quotes all together, we've noticed several different themes emerge.  So for 2017, we're going to base each of our "On The LYC" episodes on a different theme related to creating a home you love. May is all about making DESIGN DECISIONS!

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

This week we're talking with Lauren Liess, author of "Habitat: The Field Guide To Decorating".  In this interview, we go deep into one of the most difficult aspects of developing a personal style, what Lauren calls the "intangible elements of design."  We talk about the difference between aesthetic and style and how to apply those things to the architectural aspects of your home, along with taking into consideration it's geographic and cultural locations.  You can hear in our voices how excited we are to talk with Lauren!  And we hope you love this interview, too.

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Heather French is one half of the design team behind French & French Interiors, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  We talk a lot about how that city has influenced her culturally and visually and how to incorporate your surroundings into your home.  We also hear about how she first became interested in interiors, starting as a student of anthropology, and what it's like to feel her best self as an interior designer.  She gives us lots of insight about her process working with clients, how design creates atmosphere, how to make a room feel cohesive, how to choose what goes in your home and what stays out.

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This week's interview is jam packed with information and inspiration.  I'm talking with Steve Schrenk, a sculptor and media director for Polycor, the largest natural stone quarrier in North America.  We cover a lot of ground, starting with Steve's training as a sculptor and then he teaches us about the different kinds of stone you might want to consider using in your own home, how to use stone as a design element, where to find it, what kinds of quarries it comes from and the environmental impact of extraction.  I'm pretty sure that at least half of you are going to want to start a kitchen renovation after this.  We wrap up with two of his favorite sources of inspiration, one of whom is an interior designer and the other is an installation you can  visit when in you're in New York City.  

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Well, it's still January and I don't know about you, but I'm still bathing the glow of a new year, clean slate and my own motivation to make changes and follow through on some resolutions, before I lose steam!  In the spirit of setting goals for the year, I thought it might be helpful to walk you through my free worksheet on creating a Style Manifesto for yourself and your home.  If you don't already have a copy, you can grab it by going to the show notes page for this episode, or just going to the homepage, which is littleyellowcouch.com, and clicking on "Your Style Manifesto" at the top.  The purpose of the Style Manifesto is to figure out how your home can help you with your life goals.  We're going to look at how your home is currently serving you, or not, and then figure out what changes you can make in your home to  encourage you, uplift you, inspire you and all of those good things.  Let's get started.  

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This one is for all you history geeks out there... and for those of you who used to fall asleep during history class, today's episode will actually keep you interested in it for once.  My guest is author Amy Azzarito and her new book, "The Elements of a Home: Curious Histories Behind Every Day Household Objects, From Pillows to Forks," is the most entertaining history book I've ever read.  We talk about how knowing some of the stories behind how people used our everyday objects enhances our appreciation and enjoyment of them, and might even spark some ideas of how you might display antiques in your home.  I think you're going to love it.  Let's get started.  

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Claire Staszak has a unique approach to interior design.  She combines what she's learned from years of practicing and teaching yoga into her process for uncovering what clients need from their homes.  Instead of starting with fabric choices and kitchen cabinetry, Claire looks at your lifestyle goals so that the rooms she designs put your well-being at the center.  In fact, her company is called "Centered By Design," which perfectly sums up her holistic philosophy.  We talk with Claire about how she developed her process, what a "sanctuary" looks like in a home, and a little about her own home that she's working on with her husband in Chicago.

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Hannah Bullivant is our lovely guest today!  She is a stylist for dozens of brands and loves her work.  But a couple of personal upheavals led her to completely change her lifestyle and the aesthetic of her home and surroundings.  On her blog, she chronicles her transformation and the home that has resulted from celebrating every day delights that change with the seasons. And while she may have purged her old eclectic style in favor of embracing a simpler approach, she has not lost that feeling of abundance in how she lives.  And today, she's going to share with us exactly how she does it!

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Zandra and I are so happy to have Nicole Cole of Vestige Home on the podcast this week!  Nicole is a maker and interior designer based in Philadelphia.  Her online shop is filled with her gorgeously crafted one-of-a-kind wooden housewares as well as carefully curated items from other designers and makers.  Her interior design services also focus on this attention to craftsmanship and the idea of living well.  On the podcast we talk about creativity, caring for handmade items and why it is important to invest in them as well as her amazing new guest room / office space which she revealed during the most recent One Room Challenge!

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In this episode of the Style Matters podcast, I interview Donna Garlough, Style Director for Joss & Main and author of the new book,  "Your Home, Your Style: How to Find Your Look and Create Rooms You Love."  What I love about this book is how practical it is!  Donna is really good at breaking down some of the more "mysterious" aspects of creative design.  She does this by having you start with an inventory of sorts.  She refers to it as figuring out your design disposition. It takes into consideration how you approach things--how you tend to make decisions, how you take in and process information, where your comfort zone is--things like that.  After she takes you through the different design dispositions and outlines the 5 things you'll need to consider for every style decision you make, there are all of  these little "ah ha" moments sprinkled throughout the book. It's so helpful!   Ok, let's get started.  

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Today we're airing another conversation from our Little Yellow Couch, called "On The LYC."  These episodes are where Zandra and I get to dig a little deeper into a topic that was brought up in our interviews with stylists and designers from recent shows.  We offer some examples from our own lives where we're changing things up in our homes, and we also share one thing that each of us is currently obsessing over. June is all about our DREAM HOMES!

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Our guest today, Joanna Thornhill, has spent many years in the interiors industry, multitasking like crazy.  She stages photo shoots, sources props for styling and does project management and social media planning for all kinds of brands who need her particular eye for design.  And she also fits in private clients looking for help decorating their homes.  Her book, "Home For Now: Making Your Rented Space or First Home Beautiful," caught our attention because we haven't talked that much on this podcast specifically about finding your style when you're renting or when you're cash strapped after buying your first home.  There is a lot of information out there on how to save money, but what Joanna does is connect the dots between how to decorate on a budget and why going to the trouble of doing so is worth it in a temporary space.  This interview will inspire all of us to stop worrying about making great big decisions that are supposed to last for decades, and allow ourselves to decorate with less constraint. We start by talking about renting in the US vs. the UK.

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We welcome you to snuggle up on the couch this week with your favorite pet and listen in on our chat with unashamed maximalist Kimberly Duran of the blog Swoonworthy.  We fell in love with her "eclectic boho glam" style at first sight.   She has truly discovered the design balance of bold colors and tactile fabrics with luxe finishes while still making you feel that you can sit back and put your feet up.  We chat about everything from living in a well designed home with pets to designing a room that will afford you a good night's sleep.  Come hang out with us for a while!

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My guest today is Danielle Postel-Vinay, author of "Home Sweet Maison: The French Art of Making a Home," which gives you a pretty good clue as to what we'll be talking about.  In Danielle's book, she encourages us to embrace the idea that our homes are our sanctuaries and a visual representation of who we are, which makes them very special places.  I'm so excited to share this conversation with you today!  Here's Danielle.  

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Today we're airing another episode of "On the LYC."  You've probably figured this out but, LYC stands for Little Yellow Couch, and it symbolizes everything we're about: making time to have meaningful conversations with friends while sitting comfortably in a beautiful space.  Or at least on an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture!  Over the past few seasons, we've  been collecting little bits of wisdom from the stylists and designers we've had on the show and quoting them on Instagram.  When looking at these quotes all together, we've noticed several different themes emerge.  So for 2017, we're going to base each of our "On The LYC" episodes on a different theme related to creating a home you love. December is all about the HOLIDAYS!

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Today we're airing another episode of "On the LYC."  You've probably figured this out but, LYC stands for Little Yellow Couch, and it symbolizes everything we're about: making time to have meaningful conversations with friends while sitting comfortably in a beautiful space.  Or at least on an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture!  Over the past few seasons, we've  been collecting little bits of wisdom from the stylists and designers we've had on the show and quoting them on Instagram.  When looking at these quotes all together, we've noticed several different themes emerge.  So for 2017, we're going to base each of our "On The LYC" episodes on a different theme related to creating a home you love. March is all about finding the PURPOSE & MISSION of your home!

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

We are joined this week by the lovely Jeran McConnel of Oleander & Palm, a lifestyle and design blog.  Jeran shares with us about living a simple life in California.  Her website is full of visual and DIY inspiration and her design sense comes from years of living abroad in third world countries.   She lives and exudes that sense of industriousness and gives us some great tips on where to get started. 

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

This interview with Melinda McCoy of House 214 Design was originally aired in Oct of 2016.  What we so appreciated about Melinda was her understanding that just saying "your home should tell your story," isn't clear enough.  What does telling your story mean and how does that show up in your home and design choices.  Since then, Melinda has created a course and membership site that you should definitely check out.  But her core principles remain the same, making this interview just as helpful today as it was 3 years ago.  

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

If you've seen the home of Molly Madfis, the blogger behind Almost Makes Perfect, you'll know why she's one of our favorite sources of inspiration.  If you haven't been following her, you soon will, along with pinning her DIYs like crazy after this interview. Pretty much everything she puts out is beautiful and accessible, not requiring major skills in the craft department.  If you thought making things for your home either meant having a degree in fine art OR succumbing to the level of dry macaroni, some string and Elmer's glue, you are about to be convinced that there's a middle ground.  Molly's style is minimalist with natural materials, neutral shades with only subtle hints of color, and effortlessly elegant.  We're so happy to draw back the curtain on the person behind Almost Makes Perfect!  

View the show notes page: http://littleyellowcouch.com/almost-makes-perfect

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We all know that flipping houses is a popular thing to do.  But have you considered a "slow" flip?  Our guest today is Emily Netz and she and her husband have lived and breathed their Slow Flip Formula that they're now teaching to others.   By actually living in the homes they flip rather than buying a second home as an investment, they have created financial freedom for themselves that would otherwise be out of reach.  The trick is to buy with an eye toward getting a return, but to never skimp on the amount of love you pour into your temporary home.  In this interview, we learn all about the hows and whys behind the Slow Flip.  And who knows?  Maybe you'll be motivated to do it yourself!

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This month, we're doing something a little different.  We've gotten together with a few other fabulous podcasters and we've all agreed to take on the same topic, interpret it however we like, and release all of our episodes this week.  We are excited to introduce you to The Home Hour - Hosts Graham and Kirsten's show is the Home-Ec class you wish you’d taken!  They are two moms trying to create homes that are beautiful, welcoming, and functional ...all while dealing with real life schedules, budgets, and children !  North South Makers  -  Hosts Charlotte & Erin are design bloggers, friends, and moms. They talk about all things DIY and making… and a little bit of momming. They believe if they can do it, then so can you! and Shailey & Katie The Podcast are Two business-owning, work-from-home moms who are laughing their way through parenthood.   We think you're going to be very happy we've introduced you to more podcasts for your binge listening pleasure!

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One of my favorite books on design, and one that's had a lot of influence on how I think about helping clients with figuring out their aesthetic, is by Anne Sage and it's called Sage Living.  In this episode, which originally aired in 2016, we talk with Anne about her realization that her home could be a source of support as she was making a major life transition.  She talks candidly about her personal life and how her professional life has taken many different turns, with the ups and downs all of us can relate to.  I think you're going to get a lot out of this episode when it comes to connecting the dots between how you want to feel and how your home can foster your goals.  

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Many of you may already be familiar with my guest this week.  Melissa Michaels is the blogger behind The Inspired Room and author of many books, my favorites being "Love The Home You Have," and "Make Room For What You Love."  She has just come out with a new book, "But Where Do I Put The Couch?  Answers to 100 Other Home Decorating Questions," which she co-authored with KariAnne Wood.  I had the pleasure of meeting KariAnne at a conference several years ago and then had her on the show.  So I was delighted to see that she was pairing up with Melissa Michaels.  And since I've wanted to have Melissa on the show for years, I was thrilled when we got he on the calendar.  Let's get started.  

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Hello and welcome to the Style Matters podcast, brought to you by Little Yellow Couch.  I'm Zandra, your host, and I'm so glad you're here but you've caught us during a break!  That doesn't mean you should tune out, though, because during this break, I'm re-releasing some of my all time favorite episodes from the archives!  And today, you'll hear from someone who really helps us understand why and how to bring original art into our homes.  Danielle Krysa is an artist herself, she's also written several books about art and creativity, and she's the magician behind the very popular blog, The Jealous Curator, where she introduces us to and champions other artists, many of whom, you might want to bring into your home yourself.  This episode was first released in 2016 and included my co-host, Karen Grant, so you'll hear her voice along with mine and Danielle's.  If you're interested in checking out what she does, you can find links to her sites on the show notes page of these re-released episodes at littleyellowcouch.com.  On a side note, I'd really like to encourage you to think about brining artwork that feels personal and meaningful to you into your home, even during this time of crisis.  There are lots of ways to find artists online and support them while we're all stuck inside and not able to go to galleries or art fairs.  Hopefully the corono-virus will not be taking over our lives for too much longer but we really don't know, do we?  So my other purpose in re-releasing this and all of these older episodes is to give you something fun and inspirational to listen to and think about.  I'll be back with all new interviews starting May 4th.  Ok, let's jump back in time and hear what Danielle Has to say.  

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We are very happy to have Joanna Hawley as our guest today.  Creator of the well loved blog, JoJotastic, Joanna also works with brands such as Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Fossil and Serena & Lily on things such as content creation, styling and product design.  She's also a pro Pinterest user and has curated very popular boards for her over 3 million followers.  We love her aesthetic and eye for design, her tips for small space living, and her love of donuts.

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Today we're airing another conversation from our Little Yellow Couch, called "On The LYC."  These episodes are where Zandra and I get to dig a little deeper into a topic that was brought up in our interviews with stylists and designers from recent shows.  We offer some examples from our own lives where we're changing things up in our homes, and we also share one thing that each of us is currently obsessing over. May is all about ANCESTRY as a design element!

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When we first found out about Sean Scherer, all we knew was that he had a cool antiques shop in upstate New York called Kabinett and Kammer.  But after getting the chance to talk with him, we now know he's so much more than a shop owner.  At home and work, Sean creates entire worlds filled with wonderous objects reminiscent of scientific exploration in the 19th century.  He calls his style "masculine maximalism" and if you love taxidermy and other collected pieces from the natural world, you'll be right at home with him.  He's also an accomplished abstract painter and speaks eloquently about how his idea of what it means to be an artist has evolved.  His medium now includes not only his canvases, but his shop and home as well.   This is one of our most thought provoking episodes and we are truly excited to share it with you!

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My guest this week is Ben Soleimani.  You may have come across his work through years of collaboration he's done with Restoration Hardware.  We talk about why they wanted him to elevate their rug collection to the highest quality it's known for today.  But Ben has recently moved on and has opened his own studio creating rugs and furniture to be sold direct to the public.  Ben's designs continue to be full of layered texture, color and a mix of references to the natural and built environments.  He's got a great analogy for us about how his brain is like a slide show to explain his creative process.  But I start by asking him about his background and his family business, the famed Mansour rug company.  Let's jump in.  

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Little Yellow Couch is taking the month of August off but listen to what we have coming next season starting in September.

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My guest this week is Anthony D’Argenzio. He launched his art direction company Zio & Sons in New York City before moving to Hudson, NY where he’s now the owner of This Old Hudson, a work and living space open for photo shoots and travelers wishing to stay in a beautifully styled setting while visiting the Hudson Valley region. I talk with him about the renovation of the property, the aesthetic he’s created there and how he goes about mixing and layering texture, style and materials in a space. If you haven’t seen photos of This Old Hudson, you can do so on the Little Yellow Couch website. And believe me, you’re going to want to know what we’re referring to as we talk about his incredible kitchens!

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Jennifer Harrison lights up a room.  Or, in this case, she's lighting up our earbuds.  When we first met Jennifer, we were pulled into her undertow of happy energy and ended the interview on such a pure high that I knew I wanted to share it again for those of you who missed it the first time.  In this episode, Jennifer talks so beautifully about the design value of incorporating vintage, antique and flea market finds into your home.  She's the founder of the online shop Flea Market Fab, which you'll be jumping out of your skin to go check out as soon as this is over.  But best of all is probably toward the very end where, completely off the cuff, Jennifer paints a picture of how she pulls a room together, starting with a single piece and imagining all of the different furniture and accessories she'd use.  So good.  Here she is.

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Today we are excited to bring to you our chat with Jana Roach, co-founder of the enchanting Vintage Whites Market, an antiques market with over 150 vendors in 4 different states.  Jana shares with us the humble beginnings of the market in a garage as well as great stories behind the inspiring event the market has become.  She also shares her personal stories as a renter and how she makes each new space her own with a sense of history and connection.  We can't wait for you to take a listen!

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I am having two lovely friends back on the show with me today.  I call them "the Ashleys" for short because they are Ashely Daly and Ashley Palmer, co-owners of Retro Den Tulsa.  Today we talk about finding your true style by leaning in to who you are.  Let's get started.  

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes.

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View The Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View The Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View The Show Notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

View the show notes

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Lori Weitzner is the founder and creative director for the Weitzner brand of fabrics and wallcoverings that are hugely popular with the best interior designers in the world.  And she's also the author of a new book, "Ode To Color," which we have been savoring.  It's unlike most other design books in its structure because it doesn't go room by room or give step by step instruction.  Instead, Lori has created a series of 10, fully developed, rich, lush Color Worlds to use as a tool for discovering who you are and what your home might need from a design perspective, depending on what's going on in your life.  For Lori, color isn't only about shade and pigment.  It also represents history, culture, personality, mood, energy and environment.  And by starting with these ideas rather than looking at products, you can create rooms that truly express who you are.  This book spoke to us about design in a way that we haven't felt in a long while.  And once you hear the following stories in Lori's own voice, we think you're going to be just as moved as we are!  

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I'm delighted to talk with the founders of Hygee & West, Aimee Lagos and Christiana Coop.  If you haven't heard of them, they are a wallpaper company, one of my personal favorites, actually.  Recently, the've expanded into printing some of their wallpaper lines onto fabric AND they've just written their first book called, "Hygee & West Home: Design for a Cozy Life."  In this interview we get to hear about how wallpaper is made, what their own homes look like, and why they think wallpaper is such a powerful design choice.  

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Today we're talking with Natalie Freeman: blogger, farmer and entrepreneur.   She and her husband own a farm in Arkansas that also serves as a community gathering place.  They recently opened up an old-fashioned general store called "Freckeled Hen Farmhouse," which, like the rest of their lives, is a mix of beloved tradition and modern sensibility.  Natalie shares her farmhouse lifestyle through beautiful photgraphs and stories, all of which you can find on her blog, Natalie Creates.

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Breegan Jane and Carrie Locklyn are two awesome people who are also pretty humble, considering what they're doing with their lives these days.  They make up two-thirds of the design team behind HGTV's reboot of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  And I was really taken with how much they talked about feeling gratitude towards the people whose homes they are transforming, as well as a deep sense of purpose and connection they are experiencing with their team and the volunteers who help them in every town they visit.  This is such an uplifting conversation that goes way beyond talk of design, but it's certainly rooted in the premise that all people, regardless of life circumstance, deserve to live inside beauty.  On a side note, their 3rd partner on the show, designer Darren Keefe Reiher was supposed to join us as well, but was having tech difficulties so we, unfortunately missed hearing his voice in the conversation.  But when you watch Extreme Makeover, you definitely see how integral he is to the magic of the show.  

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We are so happy to have Melinda McCoy on the show today!  We have become friends with Melinda through many, many conversations on Instagram, where we first discovered her elegant and welcoming home. Melinda is passionate about cultivating a timeless style that makes the tasks of daily life feel pleasurable.  And that approach is exactly what she has broken down into a step by step process for her clients and students in her online courses.  We talk with her about her business, House 214 Design, her approach to decorating, and how both of these have been shaped by raising three children ranging in age from 3 - 13.

Links:

• Feel Home:  Creating a Timeless Feeling of Home
• Karen's New Toaster 

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Hey y’all. I thought we had wrapped up the Style Matters podcast for 2018 last week. But then I started reflecting on the year and writing down a few thoughts about the biggest transition I’ve faced with Little Yellow Couch. Namely, becoming the sole owner/creator/chief bottle washer. And it got me thinking about trying to pull back the curtain a bit more than usual and share some of what goes on behind the scenes as an entrepreneur. I’ve never done an episode like this one. It’s personal. And it’s just me. No guests and no filter. I hope you can connect to it. And I wish you the very best end to your year and that you start 2019 with fresh eyes and an open heart.

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Great story.  Great designer.  One of  those who can really express how and why he does what he does.  This episode originally aired in January of 2017 and I continue to go to his portfolio over and over for my own inspiration and when I'm looking to learn something specific about design.   I think you're gonna love him as much as I do!  

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I spend a lot of time in my retreats and on this podcast talking about how to be creative.  And I'm a big proponent of an expanded definition of creativity to include creative thinking and problem solving so that we stop thinking of creativity as solely belong to artists and crafty people who emulate Martha Stewart.  My guest on the show today, architect Donald Rattner, takes us way beyond the who and what definitions of creativity and focuses on the where.  As in, where are we most creative and how can we set up our spaces to encourage the flow of creative thinking.  In particular, he argues that our homes are actually the spaces that are most conducive to creativity.  Way more than the kinds of utilitarian spaces where we've traditionally done our professional work.  Donald Rattner has done a ton of research, combing through academic journals, studies and experiments that support this idea of how our built environments affect our moods, our health and ultimately, our ability to be creative.   And he's gotten rid of all of the dry, academic lingo and given us a guide, with actionable steps we can take, to create a home that's primed for many more lightbulb moments.  Here we go.  

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Brooke Milne is the travel blogger behind "Look It's Brooke!"  I met her at a conference in California and in getting to know her, and learn about her business, I realized she would be full of advice for us about traveling and how to incorporate your travels into your style at home.  

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We can't wait to introduce you to Alex Evjen of AVE Styles this week!  We met up with her at Haven Conference this past Spring in Atlanta and are so excited to have her on the podcast.  She is the Pinterest Queen, a fashion stylist and her gorgeous home is now being featured in magazines and all over the web.  Her keen design sense and her authenticity shine through in everything she does and we know you will love her has much as we do.  She also shares some amazing Pinterest tips with us.  If you are not using Pinterest this way yet, you are missing out!  Let's get chatting!

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!