What We're Sold and What We Actually Want: How Trends Are Eroding Our Concept of Home with Annetta Grant
This week, I’m joined by Professor Annetta Grant, whose research examines why so many of us feel uneasy in our own homes — even after we’ve renovated them. We dive into her concept of dysplacement (yes, spelled with a “y”), and how the rise of HGTV, social media, and resale-minded design has shifted the home from a space of personal expression to a performance of market standards.Annetta and I talk about why we second-guess our own style, the emotional pressure to “get it right,” and how even dipping our toes into “bold” choices can feel risky. If you’ve ever wondered why your beautifully updated space still doesn’t feel quite like you, this conversation will give you language — and permission — to rethink everything. Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!
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31:24
What You Don’t Know About Design Books (And Why I’m Crowdsourcing My Book Tour)
In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to market a design book—especially when you’re doing most of it yourself. This episode is all about doing things with intention, working within limits, and inviting you to help shape this journey with me.Leave Me A Message! I need your feedback on the ideas from this episode. Go here and hit “record!” https://www.speakpipe.com/SlowStyleHome Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!
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19:27
When To Mix and When To Match: Tailored And Soulful Design with Jade Joyner
In this episode, I sit down with interior designer Jade Joyner, co-founder of the firm Metal + Petal, to talk about how she approaches design with intention, balance, and a strong point of view. Jade is the opposite of a formulaic designer—she’s not interested in trends, matching sets, or playing it safe. Instead, she leans into mixing materials, layering stories, and building spaces that reflect the people who live in them.We go deep into two of her residential projects, walking through how she makes decisions around shape, material, and layout—and how she balances aesthetics with real-life function (like designing for a family with five kids). We also get into what she calls "connective tissue"—the subtle moves that make rooms flow together without feeling matchy or over-designed.This conversation is a behind-the-scenes look at the kind of thought, care, and creative problem-solving that goes into designing spaces that feel both grounded and alive. If you've ever wondered how to pull off a mix—or how to avoid the dreaded “blanket look”—Jade has some smart, candid advice you won’t want to miss. Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!
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37:50
Organizing For Joy, Not Perfection: Why Editing Beats Decluttering with Whitney English
In this episode, I talk with Whitney English—author, designer, and (as I like to call her) my organizational better half. Her new book, Organize First, Decorate Second, isn't your typical organizing manual. It’s thoughtful, deeply personal, and grounded in real life—something I immediately connected with.We explore the idea that our homes are not just reflections of who we are, but tools that help shape us. Whitney shares why she prefers the word edit over declutter, how tension (not balance) is her guiding principle, and why you should think twice before buying drawer dividers. We also get into how new urbanism and walkable cities inspired her approach to home design, why she gave up on making her bed, and how organization can actually free up space for beauty and joy—not get in the way of it.If you’ve ever struggled with keeping things tidy, if you love your stuff but want it to serve you better, or if you just want permission to let go of what’s not working, this conversation will feel like a deep breath. Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!
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40:18
How The Brits Create Character-ful Homes with Ros Byam Shaw
When I first discovered Ros Byam Shaw’s writing, I felt like I’d found someone who truly saw homes the way I did — not as stage sets or style statements, but as deeply personal spaces layered with time, memory, and quiet beauty. In this episode, I get to speak with Ros Byam Shaw about her work as a writer and her newest book, “ Perfect English, Small and Beautiful”, her longtime collaboration with photographer Jan Baldwin, and what she’s learned from years of stepping inside some of the most thoughtful homes in Britain.We talk about the charm of unshowy interiors, why rooms don’t need to shout to be compelling, and how trends often miss the point. Ros shares stories from her time at World of Interiors, what makes a home feel lived-in and loved, and why it’s perfectly fine — even wonderful — not to have a “celebrity home.”This conversation felt like a deep exhale. I hope it reminds you, as it reminded me, that personal style isn’t about impressing anyone — it’s about making a space that feels like you. Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!
About Slow Style Home: Decorating Personal, Meaningful Interiors
You want a home that’s uniquely you. One that reflects your passions, values and lifestyle. And you want to create one on your own, without having to hire a designer, breaking the bank, or hurting the planet. The challenge is that there are too many voices telling you what trend to jump on, what rules you must follow, and what “beautiful” looks like. Plus, you don’t want to scrap everything you own and start all over. It’s hard to know how to wrap your arms around this big, important concept called “home!” On this podcast, you’ll learn from the experts exactly why some rooms work (and others don’t), how to master a mix of styles and preferences when you have a bunch of them jumbled together, and inspiration for being brave and taking the creation of your dream home into your own hands. Want me to stop in your hometown on the book tour? Leave me a message with your thoughts on where I should hold an event (a bookshop, gallery, antiques store, garden, historic home, etc ), and your contact info. https://www.speakpipe.com/SlowStyleHome
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