Ep. 477: Alex Kaehler's new book, A Welcoming Home

Welcome back to How to Decorate! Today, we are joined by returning guest and Chicago-based interior designer Alexandra Kaehler. She recently published her highly anticipated debut book, A Welcome Home: Inviting Interiors, which features eight stunning homes designed for young families. Alexandra shares the behind-the-scenes process of writing her book, designing for her bold sister, and why every room doesn't need to serve every function.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:

• Embrace Patterned Upholstery: A patterned sofa or sectional acts as natural camouflage for spills, making it perfect for families with kids or dogs. Patterned upholstery can also serve as the central statement piece in a small room that might otherwise feel flat.

  
  

• You Don't Always Need Drapery: Sometimes skipping window treatments altogether allows strong architecture and beautiful windows to shine. This edit can prevent a room from feeling overly stuffy or sweet.

  
  

• Ground Sweet Patterns with Bold Colors: If you use a delicate or sweet wallpaper, pair it with a bold, unexpected color—like an eggplant leather banquette—to keep the space from feeling too juvenile or formal.

  
  

• Balance Heirloom Dining Sets: A full matching antique dining set (table, chairs, buffet, and corner cabinet) can quickly feel stuffy. Counterbalance the formality by wrapping the room in a vibrant, tropical mural wallpaper to inject lightheartedness.

  
  

• Design for Your Reality: If you don't actually cook or entertain large crowds, don't design a massive open-concept chef's kitchen. Build the house for how your family actually lives, even if that means a closed-off galley kitchen with polished marble and an antique oil painting hung over the sink.

  
  

• Protect the "Destination" Room: Dedicate at least one cozy room, like a formal living room with a fireplace, to be completely TV-free. This creates a designated destination for gathering, reading, and conversation.

  
  

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

• 01:02 Alexandra discusses the two-year waiting process of publishing her first book and the joy of returning to design storytelling.

• 10:10 Designing her sister's house: Navigating a "more is more" aesthetic and fully committing to a pattern-drenched primary bedroom.

• 21:47 The 1920s Arts and Crafts bungalow project featuring whimsical saturated colors, a purple banquette, and a bold yellow butler's pantry.

• 35:49 Designing a closed-off, aesthetic-driven galley kitchen for a family that unapologetically does not cook.

• 46:30 Alexandra's own home renovations, the importance of floor-to-ceiling windows, and why she loves a formal living room.

• 54:24 The clever, double-sided hidden TV Alexandra's husband requested for their kitchen and screened porch.

• 01:02:05 Why Alexandra specifically chose to design her book without a fussy dust jacket.

Also Mentioned:

• Book: A Welcome Home: Inviting Interiors by Alexandra Kaehler

• Instagram: @alexkaehlerdesign

  
  

Please send in your decorating dilemmas to [email protected] so we can help you with your space! Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and please leave us a review.

Happy decorating!

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