Ep. 385: Design Rules with Elaine Griffin

How to Decorate

Ballard Designs

Arts, Business, Design

4.2 • 785 Ratings

🗓️ 29 October 2024

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We're joined this week by acclaimed designer & author Elaine Griffin, where we dive deep into the fundamentals of decorating through her 2009 best-selling book, 'Design Rules: The Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator.' The ladies discuss proportion principles, the impact of personal style, and the importance of timeless design, all while Elaine opens up about her Southern cultural influences, navigating different regional styles, evolving personal aesthetics, and strategic planning for young decorators. The episode also emphasizes how to incorporate cherished items, where and when to invest in quality furniture pieces, and how to adapt your design choices to life experiences in a meaningful way. Watch this week's conversation as recorded on Ballard Designs YouTube. What You’ll Hear On This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to How to Decorate, the Podcast 00:36 Meet Elaine Griffin 01:16 ‘Design Rules’: The Timeless Guidebook for Home Decoraters 02:18 Practical Tips for Home Decor 15:47 The Emotional Connection to Home 16:34 Influences on Elaine’s Personal Design Style 31:20 Design Stages and Investment Pieces 36:22 How to Blend Treasured Possessions and Sentimental Items into Cohesive Design 38:47 The Evolution of Your Own Personal Style 39:28 Liz’s Card Catalog: A Journey Through Time 41:15 Reflections on Design and Sentimentality 58:35 Decorating Dilemma: Design Advice for a Lake Home 01:14:02 Final Thoughts and Farewell Decorating Dilemma: Follow along with images of this week's decorating dilemma on the How to Decorate Blog: CLICK HERE. Hi Amanda, First off, Elaine commends Amanda on her initial color choice of alabaster, describing it as a beautiful off-white that ranked among the top Sherwin Williams colors. She suggests that you need to focus on allowing the natural landscape to guide her color palette since the lake house likely offers a view worth highlighting. Elaine also emphasizes the importance of choosing colors that complement the scenery to ensure the view remains the focal point. For the screen porch, she recommends considering a daring, dark green to provide a dynamic contrast and allow the room to blend with the natural surroundings. Elaine also shares key color rules, advising that Amanda match her home's interior and exterior styles to maintain cohesion, and suggests incorporating beige tones as an alternative to gray, which can look dated. Elaine points out the importance of considering natural light and how it interacts with chosen colors, encouraging Amanda to seek a palette that lasts and complements both the home's interior and its natural setting. Give us an update when you finish this project, we really want to see what decision(s) you make! - How to Decorate Also Mentioned: 'Design Rules: The Book' | Order Your Copy Today! Elaine Griffin at Home | Website @elaine_griffin | Instagram Ballard Designs Watch the Full Episode w/ Images: Ballard Designs YouTube

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to How to Decorate from Ballard Designs, a weekly podcast all about the trials and triumphs of decorating and redecorating your home.
0:09.1	I'm Caroline. I'm on the marketing team. And I'm Taryn and I'm a product designer. I'm Liz. I head of the creative team.
0:14.8	We're your hosts. Join the expert team at Ballard Designs for tips, tricks, and tales from interior designers, stylists,
0:20.9	and other talents in the design world. Plus, we'll answer your decorating dilemmas at the end of each
0:24.8	episode. We love answering your questions, so don't forget to email us at podcast at balauredesigns.net.
0:30.6	Now on with the show.
0:34.7	Today's guest is interior designer and author Elaine Griffin.
0:38.4	Originally from the coastal town of Brunswick, Georgia, she splits her time between
0:42.3	Brunswick and New York, where her business, Elaine Griffin at home, has been bringing stylish
0:46.2	spaces to clients for 25 years.
0:48.8	She started her design career working with architect Peter Marino.
0:52.4	After working in New York and Paris as a publicist for nearly 10 years, she's been a contributing
0:57.0	editor for Better Homes and Gardens and El Ducor and has her own book, design rules, The Insider's Guide,
1:01.9	to becoming your own decorator.
1:03.9	Elaine, thank you for joining us.
1:05.3	It's so wonderful to be here.
1:07.2	You're the perfect guest for how to decorate.
1:09.9	I mean, in the sense of, you wrote the book.
1:12.7	You wrote the book on it.
1:13.9	I wanted design rules to be like the joy of cooking.
1:17.5	I wanted it to be timeless.
1:19.9	I wanted it to be that, like the Encyclopedia Britannica.
	...

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