Ep. 434: How to Work with an Interior Designer with Gordon Dunning

How to Decorate

Caroline McDonald

Arts, Business, Design

4.4 • 838 Ratings

🗓️ 7 October 2025

⏱️ 87 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, Caroline and Liz welcome back duo designers Lathem Gordon and Cate Dunning to the show of the design duo Gordon Dunning in our NEW Atlanta podcast studio! Lathem and Cate demystify the client-designer relationship, walk through their step-by-step process (including their famous Love‑Hate meeting), and share practical guidance on budgets, timelines, communication, construction walkthroughs, sourcing art, and finishing touches. Whether you’re hiring a designer for a single room, a phased project, or a whole-home build, they explain what to expect, what questions to ask, and how to get the most from the partnership. What You'll Hear in This Episode: 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 01:00 Meet Lathem Gordon & Cate Dunning (Gordon Dunning) 03:00 How to prepare before hiring a designer 06:00 Why relationship and communication style matter 09:00 Interviewing designers — what to ask 14:00 Budget conversations: ranges, transparency, and expectations 18:00 Working alongside architects and builders 22:00 The Love‑Hate meeting — ideation and identifying priorities 28:00 Magic wand + Anne piles — how choices get refined 32:00 Meeting length, decision fatigue, and pacing 36:00 Construction deliverables and walkthroughs (framing, electrical, millwork) 40:00 Designer as advocate — handling on-site surprises 43:00 Install day: how Gordon Dunning handles reveals 48:00 Post-install follow-up, fixes, and photo shoots 52:00 Using existing furniture and moving between homes 58:00 Sourcing and commissioning art — client-led vs. designer-led 01:05:00 Accessories, final styling, and invoicing 01:12:00 Communication preferences (email vs. text) and process etiquette 01:19:00 Common misconceptions and final advice 01:24:00 Where to find Gordon Dunning Also Mentioned: @gordondunning | Designer Instagram gordondunning.com | Gordon Dunning Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Ballard Designs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Website Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone. Happy Decorating! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.
0:09.2	I'm Caroline. I'm on the marketing team. And I'm Taryn and I'm a product designer. I'm Liz. I head up 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 balderdesigns.net.
0:30.5	Now on with the show. Every supermarket has a premium range, but there's only one number one from Waitrose,
0:39.1	with products like the number one Wagyu Topside seasoned roasting joint, naturally marbled
0:44.3	and meltingly tender, or the number one sticky cinnamon bun pudding, buttery, rich and perfectly spiced.
0:51.4	And the number one smoked silver fox cheddar.
0:56.7	18-month matured, oaky and creamy.
0:59.6	Food worth getting the fancy plates out for.
1:00.3	Waitrose.
1:02.1	The home of food lovers.
1:03.6	Selected stores subject to availability.
1:06.2	Yay, we have two of our favorites bag.
1:10.3	Kate Dunning and Latham Gordon of Gordon Dunning.
1:11.0	This is true. And you all have been on the show several times.
1:13.7	TV show Design School with QVC.
1:16.2	You are interior designers here in Atlanta.
1:18.5	You've been in House Beautiful.
1:20.9	Atlanta Hones in Lifestyle, Atlanta Magazine.
1:23.9	You were the next wave designers for House Beautiful.
	...

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