Ep. 335: Holiday Decorating and Hosting Q&A (Part 2)

11/14/23 • 64 min

Ribbons and garland and mistletoe, oh my! This week, we talk all about fall decor and transitioning from Thanksgiving to Christmas in Part 2 of our 2023 Holiday Hosting Q&A. We share our favorite traditions and how they have evolved over the years, when we start to put the turkey themed items away and put up the tree, and our favorite things from smaller ornaments to large decorations. We also get into some gift wrapping techniques (that even your dog will love), where to score some beautiful garland and mistletoe, and advice for creating a cohesive look in your holiday festivities.

Watch along with this week's episode here on the Ballard Designs official YouTube channel.

What You’ll Hear On This Episode:

How our holiday decor has evolved over the years.
Kid-friendly holiday craft ideas that involve the whole family.
Must-do’s for a beautiful ribbon that won’t be a hassle to work with.
What we’re adding in our Christmas collection this year, including gorgeous wreaths and Garnet Hill Mistletoe.
How to match your wrapping paper with your holiday decor - it’s possible!
Mixing modern vs traditional Christmas decor.
Okay, really how long should we keep the pumpkin for?
Great tips and tricks for holiday entertaining.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Ballard Designs

Watch along with this week's episode here on the Ballard Designs official YouTube channel.

What You’ll Hear On This Episode:

How our holiday decor has evolved over the years.
Kid-friendly holiday craft ideas that involve the whole family.
Must-do’s for a beautiful ribbon that won’t be a hassle to work with.
What we’re adding in our Christmas collection this year, including gorgeous wreaths and Garnet Hill Mistletoe.
How to match your wrapping paper with your holiday decor - it’s possible!
Mixing modern vs traditional Christmas decor.
Okay, really how long should we keep the pumpkin for?
Great tips and tricks for holiday entertaining.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Ballard Designs

Previous Episode

Ep. 334: Holiday Decorating and Hosting Q&A (Part 1)

It’s a fun episode this week as we get ready for all things holiday. From large holiday parties to intimate festivities, we answer your questions about food, decor and hosting. We discuss how to set a beautiful table for the holidays, great food and drink that will wow your guests without costing a fortune, and setting up your home to welcome guests. We also share our checklist for when expecting guests to stay over and why it’s always more fun at the kids table.

Watch along with this week's episode here on the Ballard Designs official YouTube channel.

What You’ll Hear On This Episode:

Kids tables - yay or nay? And if yay, how to make them cute, decorative and easily cleanable after the inevitable mess has been made.
Setting a beautiful table on a budget.
Favorite dishes to bring to a holiday dinner.
Flow of the party: pacing the meals out correctly and making sure everything is served in the right order and in time.
Some suggestions for great table wine that won’t break the bank.
Getting creative with seating that will make your guests feel social and comfortable.
A check list of items to prepare for if you are expecting house guests.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Next Episode

Ep. 336: The Life of Mario Buatta with Author Emily Eerdmans

We're thrilled to be joined by design historian and author Emily Eerdmans, who opens up about her insights on the legendary decorator Mario Buatta (a.k.a. the Prince of Chintz). Emily first talks about the process of writing Mario Buatta: Anatomy of a Decorator, and how it’s different from Mario Buatta: Fifty Years of American Interior Decoration. And, yes, Mario fans should have both books in their collection.

Emily then takes us through the fascinating journey of Mario, a trailblazer who incorporated personal branding into his design work, seamlessly adapted the English country house style to suit the American market, and crafted stunning designs using color and antiques. We dive deep into the heart of Mario’s design mantra with Emily, understanding the role of the four C's: chintz, curtains, color, and collections.

What You'll Hear This Episode:

How Mario’s humble roots played into his design.
Why it’s so important for the next generation of designers to remember this icon.
The four C’s: chintz, curtains, color and collections.
The power of design history and how it shapes our choices when creating timeless spaces.
More about Mario’s ingenious use of color and antiques to create mesmerizing designs.
Some of the challenges in writing an intimate biography and working with strong personalities.
The importance of curtains in modern apartments.
Mario's love for the English country house style.

Also Mentioned:

Please send in your questions and decorating dilemmas to [email protected] so we can answer them on our next episode!