meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
How to Decorate

Ep. 326: Flexibility and Finding Your Hero Fabric with Hayley English

How to Decorate

Caroline McDonald

Arts, Business, Design

4.4838 Ratings

🗓️ 12 September 2023

⏱️ 56 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Discover the world of interior design through the lens of Hayley English, a Pasadena-based designer known for her embrace of warm finishes and hand-block printing methods. With a keen eye for patterns, colors, and textures, Hayley crafts inviting spaces that beautifully blend English and French design influences. In this episode, she shares insights on comfortable yet beautiful living environments that maintain their allure while allowing for flexibility, making her approach both sophisticated and practical. She talks about how to find your hero fabric and why she calls paisley her “happy fabric”. Hayley also talks about the surprising aspects of designing in Pasadena, CA, and how to bring that historical element into a modern-day home. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: Hayley is a third-generation designer and talks about the influence of having a mom and grandmother with a beautiful design eye. The surprising element of designing in California, especially in Pasadena. If you get stuck, remember that adding antiques and vintage first and then adding those newer pieces is the way to go. Starting with a piece that has a story, such as an antique desk or a vintage side table, is the easiest way to start and then build from there. Not overwhelming a space with too many strong pieces is also very important. Hayley talks about her love of textiles, and what patterns she is digging right now. Are the pattern considerations different when you're thinking about a Roman blind? Tips for choosing the right window treatments. Your needs and wants will change quite frequently, so it’s important to design for flexibility. Mentioned in This Episode: Ballard Designs Hayley English Interiors @hayleyenglishinteriors Decorating Dilemma Hi Jordan! First off, we love your creative ideas already, and we applaud your dedication to embarking on home projects - we know they are no small feat. Regarding your question about incorporating accordion doors, it's a fantastic concept. Replacing the one large wall with accordion doors, even if they feature predominantly glass panels, could flood the area with natural light, transforming the atmosphere. Your inclination towards preserving the open feel of the space while maximizing sunlight is commendable. Your thoughtfulness in creating a multifunctional space, rather than just a "man cave," is excellent. Flexible furniture pieces, like a sleeper sofa or nesting tables, offer versatility for various occasions, be it family gatherings or cozy movie nights. The suggestion of built-ins is spot on. Incorporating built-in storage along the TV wall not only maximizes utility but also adds a touch of sophistication. Additionally, echoing design elements and finishes from the main house into this space creates a cohesive and harmonious transition. The idea of leaving the walls crisper for a light-filled ambiance is well-founded. As far as the stairs, a slight lightening of their hue could enhance the overall space. Hayley agrees that investing in quality rugs and textiles is wise. Your instinct for natural materials like wood finishes and pops of burnt orange is fantastic and will indeed contribute warmth and character. Lastly, the Crayola mess-free markers suggestion is a brilliant tip – maintaining a stylish space while accommodating little ones' creativity is a win-win. We can’t wait to see what you come up with, and remember to send us updates! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Welcome to How to Decorate from Ballard Designs, a podcast all about the trials and triumphs of decorating and redecorating your home.

0:09.3

Each week will help you unleash your inner decorator.

0:12.0

I'm Caroline, and I'm on the marketing team.

0:14.4

And I'm Taryn, and I'm a product designer.

0:16.4

And I'm Liz.

0:17.2

I head up the Ballard creative team.

0:18.9

We're your host.

0:20.3

Join the expert team at Ballard

0:21.8

Designs for tips, tricks, and tales from interior designers, stylists, and other talents in the

0:25.8

design world. Plus, we'll answer a listener question at the end of each show. So don't forget to send

0:30.2

them to podcast at Ballarddesigns.net. Yes, we love answering them. Now on with the show.

0:36.9

Our guest today is interior designer, Haley English,

0:40.5

principal designer of her eponymous firm, Haley English Interiors. Haley specializes in single-family

0:45.8

homes and appreciates traditional yet approachable interiors for everyday living. Today, we're

0:51.2

going to chat about creating classic designs for modern day living through bespoke

0:56.0

drapery, upholstery, and one-of-a-kind pieces.

0:59.0

And I also want to talk about mixing patterns, Haley, because you clearly love textiles.

1:05.0

We're going to get into it a little bit more.

1:08.0

So I can't wait to hear kind of how, you know, what is a great textile for you,

1:15.8

how you mix them together, you know, how you create your fabric schemes. But first, I was hoping

1:22.5

that we could kind of start with how you got into interior design. I understand you were in sort of the financial

1:31.3

services business and then bought your first home and that sort of started your journey into

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Caroline McDonald, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Caroline McDonald and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.