Slow Style Home: Decorating Personal, Meaningful Interiors – Details, episodes & analysis

Today is the second episode in my series about the Slow Style Framework, a method I use to teach people how to create meaningful, beautiful homes one room at a time. The first episode covered step one, Envision, and today's episode focuses on step two, Experiment. This episode emphasizes the valuable lessons learned from experimenting with items you already own before making new purchases. By rearranging and repurposing existing furniture and decor, you can save money and gain confidence in your design decisions. Through examples from bedrooms and living rooms, I illustrate how paying attention to your needs and experimenting helps you identify functional and aesthetic elements that align with your vision. I also provide tips on conducting a home audit and recognizing what truly enhances your space. The goal is to develop a personal, meaningful style without rushing into purchases, ensuring each design choice is thoughtful and intentional.

Listen to the first episode in the Slow Style Home Framework series HERE

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In this episode, I interviewed Liz Bell Young, the author of 'Let There Be Havens.' Liz is a multi-talented individual whose work spans across essays, poetry, and creative thinking, all aimed at fostering deeply felt human connections. We discussed the concept of 'havens,' not just as physical spaces but also as any place or interaction that provides comfort and support.
 
Liz shared her diverse professional journey, including her memoir 'In The Wide Country Of Love,' her creation of Haven Magazine for Anthropologie, and her writings in various prestigious journals. She has also worked with prominent clients like Procter and Gamble and Stan Smith Events. We talked about her personal experiences, including her ambitious side, her aspiration to be a mother, and her various living situations that shaped her understanding of creating comfortable home environments. 

She emphasized the importance of authenticity and accessibility in creating havens. The conversation also covered Liz's unique mapping exercises and creative events like a dinner for 500 women and an indoor tent installation. Throughout, Liz highlights the importance of collaboration, genuine self-expression, and making havens accessible to everyone, regardless of resources.

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In this episode of the Slow Style Home podcast, I discuss listener Josie's challenge of decorating large, double-story walls in her home’s entryway to reflect her family's love for nature, travel, and craftsmanship. We explore ways to create a meaningful and personal space including creating a gallery wall with found objects, using diverse materials, considering wallpaper, and incorporating moulding. Josie shared her vision of integrating family photos, travel mementos, and handmade items to achieve a welcoming entryway. I guided Josey on how to start small, such as beginning with a core group of art pieces at eye level, and the importance of taking a slow, collected approach to decorating. 
www.slowstylehome.com/episodes/josey-qanda

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My guest today is the perfect example of someone who has taught herself how to train her eye and create a signature style.  Ariene Bethea is the owner of the antique shop, Dressing Rooms Interiors, in Charlotte, NC, which has been getting a lot of attention from interior designers and magazines.   But her home is just as compelling as the shopping experience she's created.  In fact, the way she so thoughtfully brings disparate objects together in beautiful ways is one of the reasons why she started offering in-person design services, in addition to curating her shop.  In this conversation, we talk about her use of color, her collections, and how, in the case of one client, she applied her maximalist style to a minimalist's home.  Let's go!

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When I first saw Philip Mitchell's book, "Collected Interiors: Rooms That Tell a Story," I knew I had found a master of the mix. He's created my very favorite kinds of homes... those where every detail is fully considered and every composition and pairing of objects tells an arresting or unexpected story. 

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Melissa Penfold is a well-known Australian journalist in the field of interiors and she's just come out with her first book, "Living Well By Design."  We talk about developing your confidence, creating a sense of place, the missing wow factor ingredient in many homes... hint... it's about scale... and of course, why style matters.

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

"On The Little Yellow Couch" where it's just you and me.  In other episodes like this, you've heard me go over the principles of Slow Style and the path or phases you'd go through to apply this approach to decoration and design.  Today, I'll give you some concrete ideas about what exactly a Slow Style home looks like.  There are 5 main elements that I've come up with that I think pretty much covers all homes created with Slow Style.  

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  We're going to hear about the beauty of Cheryl's natural environment, feng shui, her artwork and the importance of art overall when it comes to creating a home that gives something back to us.  Here's Cheryl.  

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 I've wanted to interview many Australian designers but haven't been able to make the difference in time zones work.  Until now!  You're about to hear my conversation with Jen Kingwell, fabric and pattern designer, quilter, and now author.  She's just written a book called Quilt Recipes, and I fell in love with the gorgeous photos showing how her quilts are used in interiors.  Not only can you follow her patterns and design ideas to make your own quilts from this book, she also includes recipes from her mom who was a terrific baker.  When you think about it, it's the perfect combination for a cozy winter day... curling up with a soft handmade quilt and a sweet treat.  You'll have to check out the photos on the show notes page of this episode to really get a sense of the feeling this book has inspired in me!  Ok, here's Jen.

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I'm very happy to have Marian Parsons open up this new season of Style Matters for us.  You may also know her as Miss Mustard Seed, which is what she called herself when she started a blog over 10 years ago.  From the blog came other business pursuits such as creating a line of milk paint, creating fabric and product designs, and selling her original artwork.  She's just come out with a new book, "Feels Like Home: Transforming your home from uninspiring to uniquely yours," and her approach to design completely aligns with what we believe here at Style Matters.  And that is that your story is your style.  Let's hear from Marian.  

Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!