Ep. 158: designer Katie Ridder

We kick off this week with some tree talk, then welcome our guest, Interior Designer Katie Ridder. We couldn’t be more excited to talk with Katie about her new book, More Rooms, which is yummy beyond words and featuring color and exquisite details out of this world. We talk with Katie about her bold choices, her love affair with custom banquettes, her advice on bedding, and how she counters colorful choices with colors and tones that blend together seamlessly.

What You’ll Hear On This Episode:

• Trials and triumphs about a big plant overhaul, a much needed cushion deep cleaning, rotting plants, and spooky chic Halloween decor.
• More behind the amazing details and bold statements of color featured in Katie’s work, how she dreams up all the details without it feeling too busy or overdone.
• How she chooses color scheme and builds on it with all the colors, and why you need to just trust her when she mentions bringing in a brown couch.
• Why she chooses quiet carpets when you have colorful carpet schemes.
• More about her love affair with custom banquettes, and fun ways to add seating options for everyday living and entertaining in a home.
• How to make a cozy study, especially now since so many of us are working from home.
• Her advice on beds, low profile mattresses, and her choice of bedding.
• What working with large publications such as House Beautiful and House and Garden opened her eye to different styles and learning about scale in person.
• Katie’s advice for outdoor rooms, and how she has really gotten more into gardening during this time of quarantine.
• Ways that we can make sure our furniture and design choices are in scale.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Katie Ridder

@katieridderinc

Penn & Fletcher

Swedish Grace

Charles Beckley

1800 Matress

Trees Atlanta

Suzanne Kasler

Decorating Dilemma:

Thank you for writing! Here are our suggestions: we don’t think the rug is too large. You can cut it down a little bit if you want, and it would not hurt the value too much. Katie agrees that your instinct to get rid of the cabinet under the TV is right, along with putting the TV on the wall. Check out some of our Ballard console tables to anchor the side of the room. Also, we would lacquer the chairs and use a performance fabric for the cushions.

Find all of the Show Notes at Ballarddesigns.com/podcast