How to Decorate

Ep. 414: 100 Ways to Feel at Home with Emma Kemper

59 min • 20 maj 2025

Caroline and Liz sit down to chat with New York-based interior designer and author Emma Barrell Kemper, who shares insights from her new book, House Rules: 100 Ways to Feel at Home. Tune in to discover practical tips on creating mood boards, selecting paint colors, and future-proofing your home, along with advice on mixing metals for a timeless aesthetic. 

Emma also discusses key aspects of home design, like budgeting, assembling a shopping list, and choosing the right rugs and furniture. As always, the episode concludes with a listener's decorating dilemma, providing expert recommendations tailored to individual design challenges.


What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

  • 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
  • 00:34 Meet Emma Barrell Kember
  • 01:05 Emma's Book: House Rules
  • 03:51 Gathering Inspiration for Your Project
  • 08:47 Mood Boards vs. Scheming
  • 13:43 The Importance of Paint Schedules
  • 17:43 Common Paint Color Mistakes
  • 20:03 Using Paint to Accentuate or Camouflage
  • 24:17 The Power of the Color Wheel
  • 27:57 Preparing for a Decorating Project
  • 30:26 Handling Unexpected Costs
  • 31:18 Shopping Strategies: Rule of Thirds
  • 33:15 Finding the Right Items While Shopping
  • 34:15 Testing Fabrics and Swatches
  • 38:26 Avoiding Built-In Tech
  • 41:13 Future Proofing Your Home
  • 45:45 Finishing Touches for Your Space
  • 47:30 Decorating Dilemma: Kristen's Living Room
  • 54:46 Conclusion and Farewell


Also mentioned:


Please send in your decorating dilemmas + pictures so we can answer them on an upcoming episode (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@ballarddesigns.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) . And, of course, please subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already in Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss a new episode.

Happy Decorating!

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