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How to Decorate

Ep. 436: Color Pattern Texture with Vern Yip

How to Decorate

Caroline McDonald

Arts, Business, Design

4.4838 Ratings

🗓️ 21 October 2025

⏱️ 73 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The ladies welcome back interior designer, author, and TV personality Vern Yip to discuss his new book Color Pattern Texture: The Foundations to Make Your Home Your Own as well as his recently released HBO series Home Reimagined. Vern breaks down a few designer secrets for how to use color, pattern, and texture together, why meaningful pieces and physical samples matter, and how to layer scale and tonal variation for rooms that feel personal and enduring. He also shares kid-friendly design tips, smart ways to compromise on shared spaces, and how to bring human scale and warmth to large, unconventional structure. Quick Decorating Takeaways: Start with meaningful, restrictive items (art, rugs, heirlooms) and then choose paint. Use physical samples and an inspiration box—screens can’t convey scale, texture, or real color. Layer many patterns by varying scale (extra-small to extra-large) for richness. Use tonal variation (not exact matches) to create depth and longevity. If you avoid pattern, amplify texture and contrast finishes (rough vs. smooth, matte vs. shiny). For small rooms: fewer, larger pieces (e.g., a sectional + swivel) often feel more spacious than many small items. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: 00:00 Welcome & Introductions 01:00 Vern Yip: New book Color Pattern Texture 03:00 Why color, pattern, texture matter together 07:00 Where to start — meaningful items vs. paint chips 10:30 The Inspiration Box: collect tactile samples 14:00 Pattern layering by scale & practical benefits 18:30 Texture’s role when pattern is limited 22:00 Tonal variation vs. exact color matching 26:00 Color, pattern, texture dictionaries & cheat sheets 30:00 Kids’ rooms: give them voice + longevity tips 36:00 Balancing opposite partner styles — finding compromise 42:00 Designing for large volumes — bringing human scale 49:00 Vern’s show Home Reimagined — pilot & episodes 54:00 Listener dilemma: small mountain cabin layout advice 01:08 Closing notes & where to find Vern Decorating Dilemma: Hi Melissa, Great job—your cabin already feels warm and personal. Vern applauds your pattern-forward choices (that rug and Francis Floral pillows are perfect) and suggests orienting seating to make the fireplace/TV the clear focal point. His practical solution: swap the sectional so it faces the mantle/TV, add a swivel chair for flexible conversation/viewing, and favor fewer, larger pieces (a well-scaled sectional + one or two chairs) to make the small room feel more expansive and comfortable. Vern also notes lowering the mantle and using floor-to-ceiling drapery, appropriately scaled lighting, and a substantial rug will bring human scale and coziness to the lofty elements. You’re on the right track — these tweaks will maximize seating and make the space more functional without losing your Ralph Lauren–inspired vibe. — How to Decorate Also Mentioned: Color, Pattern, Texture: The Foundations to Make Your Home Your Own (Order Now; pub. Oct 14) Home Reimagined (pilot streaming now on Magnolia / HBO Max / Discovery+; new episodes before year end) Vern Yip on Instagram & Facebook: @vernypdesigns Vern’s book signing: Ballard Designs Atlanta (Oct 23) - RSVP HERE: https://bit.ly/3KYMlJO ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

0:09.1

I'm Caroline. I'm on the marketing team. And I'm Taryn and I'm a product designer.

0:12.8

I'm Liz. I head of the creative team. We're your host. 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.

0:30.5

Now on with the show. Today, and we are delighted to welcome Vern Yip, acclaimed interior

0:37.4

designer, TV personality, and three-time author.

0:39.9

Based in Atlanta, Vern is known for transforming spaces of all budgets, from frugal makeovers to high-end projects and for his warm, sophisticated approach to design.

0:48.1

Today, we're talking about his latest book, color, pattern, texture, the foundation to make your home your own, as well as your new show, Home Reimagined.

0:55.9

Yes, thank you for having me. I mean, so nice to be here. And, like, I totally forgot that we're now,

1:02.1

like, also waist down. So I was like, oh, we're shorts. It'll be okay. So, forgive me. They're

1:09.9

nice shorts, though. They're tailored nice shorts. You're all good. They're nice shorts, though.

1:10.8

They're tailored nice shorts.

1:11.9

You're all good.

1:12.7

And I think last time we were at a table.

1:16.3

I know, way the table costs.

1:17.8

So this is truly unfair to you.

1:19.4

You didn't know.

1:20.3

No, this was a setup by you guys to make me look bad.

1:23.8

So congratulations.

1:25.2

You did it.

1:26.2

Look at this casual guy over here oh my gosh i mean we of course

...

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