Style Matters

Get ready to think on a totally different plane because in this episode I talk with Susan Domelsmith Cabral of Clear Space, a modern feng shui practice for residential and commercial settings.  What you'll take away from this is the understanding that there's a lot going on inside our homes that we can't see.  And as a feng shui practitioner, it's Susan's job to use ancient tools that reveal the energy, balance, and focal points that may or may not be working in our homes.  We really just scratch the surface of what feng shui is all about, but she does leave us with some simple things we can implement right away.  If you're interested in learning more, go to our shownotes page for this episode at littleyellowcouch.com and click on the podcast section of our website.  In addition to getting more info about Susan and seeing photos of her work, she is also sharing a free downloadable energy map with you!  Ok, let's get started.  The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home!

This episode is a quiet one.  It's personal.  And I'm really happy to share this designer with you.  Her name is Christine Vroom and she works out of California and primarily does luxury design.  We talk about 2 of my favorite projects of hers, and you'll have to check the show note page for this episode at littleyellowcouch.com to see some of the stunning photos.  But Christine, generously, also opens up about depression, an eating disorder and mental health overall and how it affects both her personally, and how it has shaped her work with clients. The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

My guest today is Darcy Guttwein, author of "Hotels To Home: Living The Luxury Hotel Experience At Home."  But I don't think that title actually does the book justice.  Yes, we can steal some luxurious design ideas from fancy hotels, but Darcy goes so much further, excavating our deepest desires when it comes to what we really want our homes to do for us.  She's a traveler.  And so her backdrop for teaching herself, her kids and us, really valuable life lessons comes from her love of hotels.  She takes the experience of staying in a hotel to a level you've probably never thought of.  There are so many delightful gems in this episode, I think you're really gonna love it. The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

My guest today is professional stylist, Pippa Jameson, who just came out with a book called, "The Sensory Home: An Inspiring Guide to Mindful Decorating."  In it, she breaks down how to make sure your home is engaging each of your 5 senses.  We so often focus only on how a room looks when it comes to interiors... but how it feels to our touch, what scents we breathe in, what we hear, even the idea of slowing down for a meal so we can really focus on the deliciousness of each bite.... all of it is applicable to all of us.  And Pippa is a terrific guide on getting us in the mindset of thinking beyond the visuals and more about how our entire bodies are experiencing a space.  The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

My guest today is author Hilary Robertson talking with us about her newest book, "Nomad At Home: Designing The Home More Traveled."  Hilary is not only a much sought after stylist for numerous brands, she is an addict when it comes to travel. She soaks up the materials, emotions, colors and patterns of each new place she visits or moves to... and moving in for extended stays is the only way to really get the design juices flowing in her mind.   What you'll see throughout this book are photos of homes where the line between the culture of a city or neighborhood and the interiors of private spaces is blurred to the point where you feel like the rooms of these design obsessed owners have always been there, existing as a repository of memories over many, many years.  The book is gorgeous and Hilary is lovely.  Here she is.  The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

In our first episode of the last season of 2022, I share the main projects I've been working on behind the scenes during our podcast break in October.  They are a book proposal... it'll be all about my Slow Style framework for design.  I'm very excited about the possibility of getting this thing published!  Second, I talk about an upcoming, free masterclass I'll be teaching in November.  If you've ever been stuck in your design efforts, you'll want to sign up for that!The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

If your heart starts beating really fast at the site of a yard sale sign, estate sale notice or the prospect of a 3 day antiques fair, you're gonna love this episode.  My guest is pro thrifter Virginia Chamlee and author of the new book, "Big Thrift Energy: The Art and Thrill of Finding Vintage Treasures."  If you've ever been intimidated by picking through shelf after shelf of junk with the hope of finding a diamond in the rough, Virginia is the guide you've been longing for.  Her book is packed with insight on how to shop, how to discern if something is right for you, how to know how much to spend, and when to walk away.  We talk about all of that, plus talk about ways in which to mix all of your new found treasures together in your home in a cohesive way.  And if you're a veteran thrifter yourself, you're going to love connecting with someone who is as passionate as you are about the world of vintage!  Here's Virginia.  The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Hom

Andrew Suvalsky's work is right up my aesthetic alley.  He leans towards maximalism, but he knows when to pull back.  And he's what I call a master of the mix, by which I mean he can take random, seemingly disconnected things and pull them together in a way that's completely unexpected, but also beautifully in communication with each other.  I'm talking colors, patterns, eras, styles, materials.... and it doesn't look like a big mess or a high end thrift store gone crazy.  If you want to learn how do this in your own home, I want you to study Andrew's work.  Really look at each room and think about why his compositions work.  And you can start on with this episode's show notes page on our website at littleyellowcouch.com. The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

I just read a really important book.  It's called "Make Space For Happiness: How To Stop Attracting Clutter and Start Magnetizing the Life You Want."  Today I'm talking with the author and expert behind the very successful company, dClutteryfly, Tracy McCubbin.  How often do we get real with ourselves about why we're buying all this stuff in the first place? Why is shopping so powerful and what are the real holes in our lives that we're trying to fill?   Before you try another organization hack or tool or system, listen to this conversation and let Tracy's words of wisdom really sink in.  The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

You can hear the pride in the voices of Scott Mast and Juan Goiricelaya, owners of the vintage furniture store, Circa Who.  Beyond selling furniture, they are curators, restorers and stewards of the fanciful Palm Beach aesthetic that's having quite a moment lately.  We talk about what goes into running a store full of vintage treasures, and their connection to a particular designer, Mario Lopez Torres.  Mr. Torres was the creator of the iconic furniture pieces that feature rattan animals and plants... I'm talking about rattan palm trees that hold light fixtures instead of coconuts, monkeys holding up tables like a waiter holds a tray above his head, and all kinds of birds doing all kinds of things.  I'm not sure rattan ever went out of style, but it's certainly having a revival, with no signs of it slowing down.  Scott and Juan have taken the legacy of Mario Lopez Torres and continued his work for the rest of us to enjoy. The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the

A few weeks ago I sent out a survey to listeners, mainly to ask 2 questions: what's your biggest challenge in terms of design, and what topics are you most interested in having me cover?  The answers came pouring in and I'm so grateful because it really helps me create the most relevant content for you.  In this episode I share the results of this survey and dive into some of the questions you left in the comment boxes.  Think of this as a Q&A session!  And if you want to ask more questions, you can always email me!  The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

I talk with Cynthia Zamaria, author of "House & Flower" about the many homes she's renovated and gardens she's revived along with her husband, and how those experiences have informed and responded to her own, personal growth.   She uses the word "ethos" when describing her design approach.  How does your own home manifest your beliefs and aspirations?The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

  Today, you're going to hear from a sculptor who talks so eloquently about his craft and why we need to surround ourselves with beauty and I felt honored to talk with someone who thinks so deeply about his work.The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

 I'm talking with Rachel Robarge of the rental services company, June Homes. The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

I was talking with designer Anne Hulcher Tollett on the Style Matters podcast about the importance of having objects in a room "in dialogue" with one another. The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

What makes this conversation a little different is that Jessica specializes in helping first-time owners through the particular challenges they face.  I also just want to mention here, because it doesn't come up in our conversation, that Jessica has a free guide that kickstarts your living room. The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

Inspiration for a new design in our homes can come from anywhere.  One of the most playful examples I've heard of is taking your cues from a favorite cocktail.  On the Style Matters podcast, Rydhima Brar walks us through one of her moodboards for a Lavender Old Fashioned. The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

In this interview, I  talk with Mona Ying Reeves. Not so much about her design firm or any of that other stuff at all.  Instead, we talk about her latest side project called Kickstart House.  It's an online community for people who are taking on the renovation journey themselves.  And she's passionate about helping people through it. The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

My guest this week is sooooo good.  Sean Leffers is a designer working out of Los Angeles and his breadth of knowledge and the insight he has on why style matters and how to make your home sing is truly inspiring.  And he's warm and entertaining and all of those other good things you want from this show.  In our conversation, we talk about art, antiques, storytelling, creativity, disposable decor... we cover so much.  But I'm pretty sure Sean has more to share so I'm guessing we're going to have him on more than once.  Oh, and I haven't even mentioned how gorgeous is work is!  You've got to visit the show notes page for this episode at littleyellowcouch.com to see the photos!The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.

Michelle Rohrer-Lauer owns the design firm Michelle's Interiors in Chicago where she creates luxurious homes that meet her standards for sustainability, health, and wellbeing.The Style Matters podcast is now Slow Style Home! Click here for the latest episode.