Interior Design with Kandrac and Kole – Details, episodes & analysis

We are thrilled to welcome Carson Kressley—style expert, television personality, and design enthusiast—to the show. Today we're talking about his background, his love of equestrian living, and his new collection with Ballard Designs.

This episode is a reminder that great design doesn't have to be intimidating—it should feel joyful, expressive, and uniquely yours. As Carson proves, when you mix timeless style with a little personality, the result is always chic.

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/InsideDesignYouTube

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/26vjfy24

Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3I46Lve 
Or wherever you get your podcasts. #InteriorDesignPodcast, #InsideDesign, #CarsonKressley, #BallardDesigns, #EquestrianStyle

CARSON KRESSLEY BIO: 
Emmy Award-winning TV personality and design expert
You may know him as the breakout star on Bravo's Queer Eye for the Straight Guy back in 2003, or in his long-standing role as a judge on RuPaul's Drag Race, among many other shows. He has been a competitor on Dancing with the Stars and a trusted fashion critic on every red carpet. He is an author, a lifelong equestrian and overall, one of the funniest people we have been around. We are super excited to share with you his collaboration with Ballard Designs, but most importantly to help you get to know Carson a little bit better.
You can explore Carson's "Thrill of the Hunt" collection at Ballard Designs at www.ballarddesigns.com or hopefully you already get their catalog in the mail. For those of you living in Atlanta, don't miss the incredible flagship store on Huff Road in West Midtown.

Explore Carson's collection with Ballard Designs and bring a touch of equestrian-inspired elegance into your home. 

KANDRAC & KOLE BIO
Voted one of "Atlanta's Top 20 Residential Interior Designers" by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs is an acclaimed design firm with two decades of experience serving residential and commercial clients. Their work has been featured in leading publications across the US. Since 2005, Joann and Kelly have built a respected partnership.
They are renowned for their dynamic personalities, distinctive use of color, and unique custom designs. Frequently invited to share their insights at industry events and on design panels, they are recognized as diligent business operators who remain approachable and genuine, radiating constant positive energy. 
In 2018, they used their infectious energy to launch their podcast, "Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole." This lively, weekly conversation, where Joann and Kelly share design and industry insights, became so popular that they introduced a series of bonus episodes, "The Inside Scoop with Joann and Kelly," in 2024.
Their dedication to the power of interior design also extends to their charity work throughout the U.S. and Guatemala. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
1. Style your home the way you style yourself—personal always wins. If it doesn't feel like you, it won't feel right—no matter how beautiful it is.
2. Equestrian style = leather, brass, and polish… not horse overload. It's about subtle nods to tradition through materials and tailoring, not literal motifs.
3. The best rooms feel collected, not decorated. Layering pieces over time creates depth, character, and that effortless designer look.
4. Splurge on the anchors, save on the accents. Invest in the pieces you live with every day, and have fun switching out the rest.

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE: "Your home should tell your story—layered, personal, and never too perfect."

FUNNY QUOTE: "Good design is like a great outfit—if you're uncomfortable, it's not working."

Thank you to our producer Russ Riba with the Podcast Studio Network – reach out to him for engineering, producing or voice overs!

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 
https://www.facebook.com/kandracandkole/ 
https://www.instagram.com/kandrackole/
https://twitter.com/KandracKole/
https://www.pinterest.com/kandrackole/
www.kandrac-kole.com

In this episode, we talk about Kandrac & Kole 2.0 or in other words, our plans for 2025, which include some big changes, and our reasons behind what we are doing. 

Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/InsideDesignYouTube
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/26vjfy24
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3I46Lve 
Or wherever you get your podcasts.

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Vacation Rental Designers, the ultimate resource for interior designers in the short-term rental market. VRD provides education, insight and community for practitioners, along with game-changing product discounts from VRD Sponsors. 

Vacation Rental Designers is a membership community founded by our good friend and colleague Jessica Duce. She has a unique perspective on vacation rental design. It's different than normal residential design and even hospitality design.  Vacation Rental Design is its own animal and its ripe for new talent and smart business practices that will be sure to add profit to your design business. To learn more, go to vacationrentaldesigners.com.

KANDRAC & KOLE BIO
Voted one of "Atlanta's Top 20 Residential Interior Designers" by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs is an acclaimed design firm with two decades of experience serving residential and commercial clients. Their work has been featured in leading publications across the US. 

Since 2005, Joann and Kelly have built a respected partnership. They are renowned for their dynamic personalities, distinctive use of color, and unique custom designs. Frequently invited to share their insights at industry events and on design panels, they are recognized as diligent business operators who remain approachable and genuine, radiating constant positive energy. 

In 2018, they used their infectious energy to launch their podcast, "Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole." This lively, weekly conversation, where Joann and Kelly share design and industry insights, became so popular that they introduced a series of bonus episodes, "The Inside Scoop with Joann and Kelly," in 2024.

Their dedication to the power of interior design also extends to their charity work throughout the U.S. and Guatemala. 

Thank you Russ Riba with Podcast Studio Network (https://www.audiomenu.com/podcaststudionetwork) and Gayle Mahoney with Gayle Mahoney Branding & Design (www.gaylemahoney.net) for helping us to produce and market this show!

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES

https://www.facebook.com/kandracandkole/

https://www.instagram.com/kandrackole/

https://twitter.com/KandracKole/

https://www.pinterest.com/kandrackole/

www.kandrac-kole.com

In this episode, we decided to dive into this topic that often leaves many people confused about how the quality of furniture impacts price. We will break down the factors that influence pricing and shed some light on what you really get for your money! 

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Currey & Company. Currey is an Atlanta-based, second–generation family-owned producer of beautiful residential and contract lighting, in- stock case goods and upholstery, and a broad range of statement-making accessories that we have relied on for the past 19 years!

Currey has a brand-new website with several new features! Just a few that we will be using are the true freight calculator, a configurator for the multi-drop pendants, several ways to search and the ability to make project boards. Live inventory and shipping within 48 hours on in-stock products makes last-minute pieces easy to get. All of this and outstanding customer service!!

So, check out our dear friends at curreyandcompany.com or visit at market!

Key Takeaways:

1.  The quality of an upholstered furniture's frame, suspension system, and cushion impacts the comfort and price.

2.  Vintage and antique furniture can be a valuable choice because of its unique charm and excellent craftsmanship.

3.  Investing in high-quality and well-crafted furniture supports durability and environmental standards and is worth prioritizing in your budget.

Announcements: Giveaway, High Point Insider's Tour

• The tour is FREE but participants are responsible for their travel and hotel arrangements.

• All participants for the Full Day Tour must be able to attend on Saturday, October 26 from 8:30AM -6:00PM to qualify for the Insider's Tour.

Partial-day participation for Full Day tours is not available so please make your travel plans accordingly or you'll forfeit your spot on the Tour if unable to participate from 8:30AM - 6:00PM. If you would like to have breakfast, then please be at the designated showroom by 8:00AM.

• All participants on the Tour must submit an application and be approved to join the Tour.

• No more than two people from the same company can participate on a single Tour.

• If 2 are attending from the same company, each person must submit an application form.

• Application deadline is October 16, 2024 5PM but note that all Tours fill up quickly so we encourage you to apply early to secure a spot with your requested Tour Guide.  

Avoid being waitlisted for your requested Tour -- Apply Now!

KANDRAC & KOLE BIO
Voted one of "Atlanta's Top 20 Residential Interior Designers" by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs is an acclaimed design firm with two decades of experience serving residential and commercial clients. Their work has been featured in leading publications across the US. 

Since 2005, Joann and Kelly have built a respected partnership. They are renowned for their dynamic personalities, distinctive use of color, and unique custom designs. Frequently invited to share their insights at industry events and on design panels, they are recognized as diligent business operators who remain approachable and genuine, radiating constant positive energy. 

In 2018, they used their infectious energy to launch their podcast, "Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole." This lively, weekly conversation, where Joann and Kelly share design and industry insights, became so popular that they introduced a series of bonus episodes, "The Inside Scoop with Joann and Kelly," in 2024. 

Their dedication to the power of interior design also extends to their charity work throughout the U.S. and Guatemala. 

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES

https://www.facebook.com/kandracandkole/

https://www.instagram.com/kandrackole/

https://twitter.com/KandracKole

https://www.pinterest.com/kandrackole/

A special thank you to our team – Russ Riba with Podcast Studio Network who handles our production and engineering services and makes sure that our sound is polished and professional and to Gayle Mahoney of Gayle Mahoney Branding & Design for production and marketing of the podcast and making sure all information goes out to social media!

As the Director of Color Marketing at Sherwin-Williams, Sue reflects on her early beginnings choosing bridge colors, to now creating some of her favorite colors included in the 2022 color palette, titled MODE. We also discuss the 2022 Color of the Year!

MODE is a collection of 40 trend colors, with each color hand-selected to welcome a truly wondrous transition. 

Described as the 'queen' of Sherwin-Williams, Sue Wadden delves into the difficulties during COVID and how color schemes are cyclic throughout the decades.

In This Episode:

• [00:55] Introduction Sue Wadden.
• [03:21] What does Sue Wadden do at Sherwin-Williams?
• [05:30] How did COVID-19 affect the 2022 palette?
• [09:30] Moving towards nature inspired colors.
• [13:10] Why you should view the MODE color palette on the Sherwin-Williams website.
• [14:00] Opus color palette urban vibe re-emerging.
• [16:00] The new season of 2022 and the digital space.
• [20:00] Why you shouldn't freak out if you have last season's colors.
• [22:15] Nostalgic design and familiarity.
• [23:40] Annual Atlanta paint color event.
• [27:00] Sue Wadden's favorite colors

Key Takeaways: 

• Covid19 has affected the direction of new color trends.
• Urban and nostalgia design are and will be trending.
• Colors and color schemes evolve over time. We're also moving towards warmer, nature inspired colors.

Meet Sue Wadden

Sue Wadden has been the interior designer and resident expert for color at Sherwin-Williams for the last 17 years. She lends insight and expertise to choosing new colors and invites you to share in her inspiration.

Some of her favorite colors approaching 2022 include Evergreen Fog (the 2022 color of the year), dark charcoals, and Anonymous (SW 7046) an earthy, warm gray.

One of her big goals is to "help designers and specifiers by developing the right color resources to help make their businesses grow."

She graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1998 before starting at Sherwin-Williams as a designer in the Design Studio.

Once she moved to the Diversified Brands Division she was able to focus her attention on consumer color programs and is the inspirational voice of color for Sherwin-Williams.

Resources: 

https://www.sherwin-williams.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-wadden-b110687

Quotes: 

I just want to know why my clothes only get stuck on the door handle when I'm in a bad mood.

It's not what you broadcast to everyone else that determines the trajectory of your life; it's what you whisper to yourself behind closed doors that has the greatest power and influence.

- Watson Kennedy

Sponsor: 

We are thrilled to tell you that this episode of Inside Design is sponsored by Jaipur Living.  If you haven't listened to Episode 107 with Yash Ranga from Jaipur, it is a must. Jaipur Is one of our favorite rug partners. Interior Designers agree since 95% of customers rate Jaipur Living as better than other rug companies. Jaipur has won the last 2 Dallas ARTS Awards and 3 design awards last year at Domotox in Germany. When we talked to Yash on Episode 107, we learned all about the unparalleled depth and breadth of support that Jaipur has for their artisan rug-makers and their communities with a unique doorstep entrepreneurship model. The more we learn about Jaipur, the more we love them, so we encourage you to visit jaipurliving.com.

In today's episode of Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole, we are answering your design questions! Listeners have sent in their design dilemmas and we are going to help them with how to handle their tricky spaces, paint questions, and much more. Tune in to learn more on this episode of Inside Design!

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• [02:07] Suggestions on window treatments to cut down glare and temperature in a living space
• [04:33] How to update a space without purchasing new furniture, rugs, or decor
• [06:00] The best ways to cut costs when you're renovating a kitchen
• [11:03] Style ideas for large living places
• [14:45] Art or Mirrors...what's the best choice for a lot of wall space?
• [20:16] New neutral paint color choices
• [25:20] Most popular smart home features 

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• There are countless options for updating spaces- that don't always require a big expense - consider improvements like lighting updates, new paint, or different throw pillows and rugs.
• You don't always have to keep up with design trends fully- you can make small changes as you update your space over time. 

https://www.kandrac-kole.com/our-podcast

In today's episode, we're talking to Rochelle Porter, the Founder and Creative Director of Rochelle Porter Design. Rochelle is an amazing inspiration for everyone thinking about quitting their corporate jobs and following their true passions. Sometimes, you need to keep doing what you like, and things will come to you. Rochelle also shared her experience with building a responsible and sustainable business in fashion and just how important it is to support black-owned businesses.

This episode is sponsored by Wexel Art.

Find our full show notes here.

Navigating the High Point Market for the first time can be very overwhelming. In today's episode, we chat with returning guest Linda Holt about The Insiders Tour organized by Esteem Media in partnership with the High Point Market Authority. Linda, Kelly and Joann will all be tour guides for the upcoming Fall 2021 Market. We'll discuss how we make the most of our time at High Point, which events we're looking forward to, and the importance of networking. Linda is the founder of Linda Holt Creative and a great friend. We've got a lot to learn from her!

This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.

Find our full show notes here. Previous episode with Linda Holt here. High Point Market.

It all starts with an invisible idea. In today's episode, we're discussing the importance of showing up, having dreams and letting the universe do the rest. Our guest is Caroline Hipple, President of Norwalk Furniture. Caroline shares an amazing history that started with opening one furniture store and led to managing hundreds of employees today. You will also hear how she expertly gives her teams hope during times of crisis and why giving back to the community is important.

This episode is sponsored by Emily Morrow Home.

Links

• A Pathway to Profit: https://www.amazon.com/Pathway-Profit-Anita-Pugh/dp/1460210816
• Norwalk Furniture: https://norwalkfurniture.com/
• Show notes: https://www.kandrac-kole.com/our-podcast

Shay Geyer, designer and owner of IBB Design joins us in this week's episode. IBB Design is a full-service fine furnishings boutique & design firm with a 90,000 sq. ft. showroom. Shay works on extensive residential and commercial projects around the country and is a Style Spotter Advisor at High Point Market.

Style Spotters are home fashion leaders who showcase the top new styles of each High Point Market. They scour the Market to find their favorite products and top trends, these finds contribute to the two Style Reports that the HPMA produces. We discuss how the Style Spotters program has changed since 2013, what the role of a Style Spotter is today, and how to apply. Tune in for Spring Market trends and products Shay is most excited about!

Links

• IBB Design: https://ibbdesign.com
  
• High Point Market: www.highpointmarket.org
• Show notes: https://www.kandrac-kole.com/our-podcast

Sponsored by The High Point Market Authority

The High Point Market Authority is the official organizer of the High Point Market in High Point, N.C. Featuring an extensive selection of exhibitors spanning every category, style, and price point, and attracting tens of thousands of visitors from more than 100 countries twice each year. High Point Market is the driving force of the home furnishings industry. Follow the High Point Market at: www.highpointmarket.org or on social media using the hashtag #HPMKT.

Jill Seale, an artist, designer, and author, joins us in this week's episode. We met Jill at a design event a couple of years ago, where she was one of the guest speakers. She shared the journey of her "marbling" work and set up a mini marbling workshop for attendee participation. Jill is a talented and driven designer, winning numerous awards and accolades in the gift and home industry.  A-list clientele, including the White House and Paul McCartney, have sought out her designs. Her most recent work emphasizes marbling which has led her to incorporate textiles and a broader range of design to her work, such as botanicals, watercolors, and graphics. Stay tuned for this fascinating conversation with Jill!

Links

• Jill's Website: https://jillseale.com/ 
• Giveaway – Jill is graciously giving away a hand-marbled 55" square poly-silk hand scarf/beach wrap! For a chance to win this, follow @jillseale and @kandrackole on Instagram and comment on the photo on the Instagram page that shows Jill holding the scarf she is giving away! 
• Show notes: https://www.kandrac-kole.com/our-podcast

Sponsored by Sherwin-Williams

Looking for an exceptional finish? Emerald Designer Edition™ paint combines the luxury of a smooth, uniform finish with our best hide yet. Emerald® Designer EditionTM comes in 200 brand-new colors, including brighter, cleaner whites, exclusive to this paint line. Their finest Interior paint and primer in one is the perfect choice for giving walls a virtually flawless appearance. New colors and white bases are only available in the Emerald® Designer EditionTM paint. For a clean bright white, our favorite is Gypsum SW9543 and for a warmer white – Sanctuary SW9583. For more information visit sherwin-williams.com or stop by your neighborhood Sherwin-Williams Store.