September 30, 2025 • 51 mins
Fall has arrived—and with it comes a shift in how we live and feel in our spaces. In this episode of Boulevard Beat, Meghan and Krissa dive into the cozy, layered world of autumn interiors. From mohair throws and tactile textures to rich, earthy hues and the soft glow of firelight, we explore how to infuse your home with the essence of the season.
We’re talking fireplaces and their finishing touches, lighting that sets the mood as the days get shorter, and the subtle styling choices that make a home feel warm, welcoming, and timeless through the cooler months.
Whether you're swapping out accents or planning a full seasonal refresh, this episode is your inspiration for creating that irresistible fall feeling.
Save 15% site wide at www.houseofblum.com with promo code beat15!
Or you can use this link- https://houseofblum.com/discount/beat15!
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Connect with Meghan Blum Interiors https://www.instagram.com/meghanbluminteriors/
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Connect with Krissa Rossbund. https://www.instagram.com/krissa_rossbund/
Connect with Liz Lidgett https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgett/
Episode Website https://www.blvdbeat.com/about
We’re talking fireplaces and their finishing touches, lighting that sets the mood as the days get shorter, and the subtle styling choices that make a home feel warm, welcoming, and timeless through the cooler months.
Whether you're swapping out accents or planning a full seasonal refresh, this episode is your inspiration for creating that irresistible fall feeling.
Save 15% site wide at www.houseofblum.com with promo code beat15!
Or you can use this link- https://houseofblum.com/discount/beat15!
Connect with the Hosts https://www.instagram.com/boulevardbeatpodcast/
Connect with Meghan Blum Interiors https://www.instagram.com/meghanbluminteriors/
Connect with House of Blum https://www.instagram.com/shophouseofblum/
Connect with Krissa Rossbund. https://www.instagram.com/krissa_rossbund/
Connect with Liz Lidgett https://www.instagram.com/lizlidgett/
Episode Website https://www.blvdbeat.com/about
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to boulevard Beat, a podcast. We're life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom along with my co hosts, editor CHRISA.
Rossbunt and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses on
the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with taste makers,
and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable style. You
can stroll one street at a time, boulevard Beat proves
(00:29):
the one you should take.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hello, Meghan, and happy Fall. We're sort of one week
in and tis the season.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
We were just talking about how it is still a
little toasty where we are, but hopefully those cooler, not cold,
but cooler temperatures will kick in shortly and we can
enjoy all of the things that come along with this
celebrated season.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Yeah, it's always such a wonderful, cozy season, but you're right,
I mean, with some of these warmer temperatures, it's hard
to kind kind of dive into all of the fall
trends and your wardrobe and all the fall decor just
when you still feel hot half of the day.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
I do remember, I think this was the junior high
years of you know, getting the new wardrobe for a
fall for the school year.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
And I don't care how warm it was.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
I was wearing my new sweaters and I just remember
my dad saying.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
It's going to be eighty degrees today. What are you doing.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
It's like, Dad, you will suffer for fashion if you
really want well.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
And I feel that way even with my kids. They
end up with like fleeces on every day. And it's
because the buildings are so chilly, because the air conditioning
is still cranked up, so it just kind of let
you still kind of embrace some of those fall things.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I guess that's why they invented layers. Yes, Megan, the
first thing.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
That comes to mind when I think of the autumn
season is the palette. And we go from these bright
bull sort of popsicle colors of summer to colors that
are a little more sub dude and muddier values, muddier
versions of them. And you know, that's when we get
(02:05):
into all of the fiery tones that the fall foliage delivers.
So you have, you know, the rust and the deep
reds and that butternut squash color that works so well
in design, and the plums and the fig So do
you have a favorite of those sorts of colors that
you like to design with or wear even well.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I mean, I think it's just fun to lean into
that warmth, like you said, because you kind of go
from maybe a more colorful interior or wardrobe to something warmer.
Just those the rusts and the burgundy is having such
a moment. I've been ordering a few clothes and I
just see it everywhere in the fashion world, and I
think it just has that nice cozy feeling too. And
(02:49):
I am a sucker for camel. I think that's such
a nice even tone. It looks good on so many people.
It looks great in your home, and it's one that
you can just layer really well with it.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
And looks really great on a Chesterfield sofa.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Yeah, it does.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
In leather, and I personally I love olive green. That's
just sort of a staple for me.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
But what is intriguing about the fall is I do
tap into the plumb eggplant fig color and purple in general,
purple in all of its tones, it's the forgotten color.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
It's under celebrated. It's sort of the redheaded stepchild.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Nobody really designs in those I shouldn't say nobody, but
it's not a common color I don't feel like in
design or even wardrobes for that matter. So I do
love tapping into that particular tone and hue in the fall.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
I feel like I have license to do that.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
You certainly do. I think it's a great time to
kind of tap into that and use the warmth of it,
and just the depth of the color I think is
such a beautiful one. And I think that with that
and so many colors, I think what's nice is there's
such a grounding sense to the space of just how
they can ground a room when you have those nice, warm,
deep tones.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Personally, for me in design, it's sort of an interesting
dichotomy because on one hand, I want the light around me,
but the light isn't cozy so much, And as we're
ushered into fall now, having all of those warm tones
around you while the fireplace is going and you're watching
(04:26):
a movie and you're all bundled up in a blanket.
I do love those rich, deep tones. And I sort
of came of age in the nineties when the trifecta
of design was navy blue, hunter green, and burgundy.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
All married together in rooms.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
I feel like every home in America had some version
of that. There's something to be said about those rich
tones and how you feel and the comfort of them.
And I know that we all look we want to
be flooded by natural life. And you know, I sort
of feel for the last fifteen years of design everything
was sort of focused on bright white and I need
(05:09):
that versus like that.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
What I like are the deep dark tones.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
You know, I think a beautiful library that's paneled in
wood and that.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Sort of thing. So what is your thought on just
the palette and design.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Well, I think it's it's a beautiful palette. I think
it's a very calming and I think it's probably why
you know, just in nature, while why humans feel so
at ease of being in nature, you know, being among
the trees and the earth. And I think that's why
it works so well in the home is because you
just you feel natural. It's a natural evolution to feel
(05:47):
that way in your home. And you know, you mentioned
the library or study that's just richly paneled in wood
or a deep color, and I think you can you
can use that in those spaces when you want that,
because you want that cozy space, and that's usually why
people gravitate towards that in the library versus other spaces
in the home.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
So I'm curious when you have clients who's general palette
for their home, as you're working on schemes and in
that developmental stage of the design process, when the palette
tends to be more light, do they still crave that
one space, be it a library or a bedroom that has.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
The deeper, darker tones.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Certainly, I would say more often than not, they still
always kind of want one or two spaces that have
a more moodi or feel. And I think it just
it makes it so each room kind of has its
own definition of what it looks and feels like. And
you know how you use the room as well. You know,
maybe it's that morning coffee and just kind of more
(06:50):
of a time to sit and read or have it
nice and moody and dark and watch your favorite Netflix
show on it there too. So and even just sometimes
you can you can do that even in a pocket
office or a powder bathroom two that can really change
the tone of the space nice and moody and more
deep tones.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
I think it's a challenge in well, I would say
it's a challenge probably in the majority of the country.
I mean, unless you live in Florida, where you've got
this bright sunlight.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Every day of the year, San Diego, something like that.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
You know, for most of the country we do have
some version of seasons, and I love the changes that
we get. There's the W word that I may not
have as fond of a relationship with that comes right
after fall. But I think for so many people having
the change of seasons, it really it makes design challenging
(07:45):
a little bit because you are designing a home to
be sort of a chameleon.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
To all times of the year.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Yeah, it does have to kind of just shift throughout
the different times of year if you kind of add
some seasonal touches to your space, because whether you like
it or not, you see all those different things throughout
your windows, whether it's the bright green trees or the
fall colors or the white of winters. So you do
kind of have to lean into that to some degree
(08:14):
because it changes the way the interiors feel too.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
So, Megan, you brought.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Up nature a moment ago, and I think nature is
the driver for this entire conversation really, because from nature
is where we get these wonderful, deep tones. It's where
we get that fall foliage that people go to New
England to see in droves, and I can say that
is a spectacle for anybody who hasn't done that, it's
(08:37):
certainly a trip worth taking if you can hit it
at the right time.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
But I think all of.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Those moments of nature is what drives our affinity for
this season, definitely, including the temperature itself which starts to
die down and decrease a little bit. Tell me about
and you also have three small children, So what is
the nature relationship look like for you in the fall
(09:04):
as far as activities and what have you got going
on that changes in the fall?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
I just, you know, I remember the days of my
dad breaking leaves and the you know, and that's jumping
into this big pile of leaves and how much fun
that is. But when those temperatures.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Start to drop and you spend time outside and maybe
aren't taking advantage of a swimming pool, then what does.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
That look like?
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Well, I think as soon as that season turns a
little bit, I feel like immediately my kids are asking
you to go to a pumpkin patch. We haven't made
it yet, but it's always a top priority to make
it out and to go and just do all those
fun activities, and so that's definitely what we lean into
in this season of fall. But I have to say personally,
(09:49):
and I think my kids get a little sick of
this too, is the Golden Hour in September is the
most beautiful time of the year. The sunsets this time
of year don't get any better any time of the year.
It just I'm constantly being like you guys, look out
the window, like the sunsets are just incredible, and the
colors and saturation and the depth of color is just incredible.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
That's so true.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
The light in September is especially beautiful, and I think
that's probably why I feel like, wherever you're going in
the world to travel, September is a good month to
do it because it's not superrainy anymore, the temperature is
sort of just right, and you get this incredible light
that isn't necessarily present throughout the other months.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
So that's really lovely.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
So let's you said pumpkins, Let's talk about pumpkins, because
pumpkins have evolved.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
For sure. I feel so cheated that I grew up
with orange.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Pumpkins only, and now the palette of them is really spectacular.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
And not only how they come out of nature.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
You have that great celadon color, you have that sort
of corally color, and sometimes it's a combination of the two.
And then all of the white pumpkins that are out there.
That's certainly changed. But oh my gosh, the application of
these pumpkins on doorsteps and stoops is really remarkable.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
It is remarkable, and it's so fun to do. We're
hosting a school fundraiser at our house and so I'm
really upping my outdoor game this year on the planters
and doing the whole spread of pumpkins down the stoop,
and it's it's just really fun. We got an enormous gourd.
I mean just even just the scale of some of
these things is incredible. But like you mentioned, the game
(11:33):
of pumpkins has changed. All these beautiful heirloom ones and
the nubby textures of them, and I love like the
soft saturation that's not quite your as bright and intense
as your typical orange pumpkin. It just adds a really warm,
beautiful layer to the pumpkin game.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
And then the way people are decorating pumpkins, you know,
using them as a canvas as well.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
I've seen all of these pumpkins that are done in
blue and white.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
To mimic Shin WAZERI or all sorts of patterns that
I think are really fun. They're sort of using pumpkins
like we do easter eggs in the spring, and an
opportunity to decorate them beyond typical carving.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
But the car is spectacular too, it is, and stay
tuned if we do this. I saw this on Pinterest
and showed it to my kids over the weekend, and
they've been dying to go to Michael's and pick up
some supplies. But having your pumpkin be decorated as a
little fairy garden and like carve it out and have
this whole little fairy escape in there with little figurines
(12:35):
and fake trees and things like that too. So we'll
see if we get around to do it. But like
you said that it's like a gingerbread for pumpkins.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
It absolutely is, and it's super fun. And I also saw,
I mean, all of these companies all across the country
that are doing pumpkin scaping for people. You know, people
are paying for that service, which I you know, I'm
all for. I'm all for people having their side hustles
and another service, you know, to make somebody's home beautiful. Well.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
And Chris, so, one of the other things just talking
about nature is you can kind of lean into the
branches and what you're kind of seeing outside and bringing
those big branches into your home and having you know,
just a lovely vase on your kitchen island with an
overscaled branch, and it just brings those fall feelings into
your home and is an easy way to do that.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Absolutely. I think that what people are learning is to
tap into their own yards or their own communities and
go cut some branches. Your trees probably need to be
maybe trimmed back a little bit anyway, and.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
So this is the perfect opportunity to do that. And
just foraging around in your own yard can be both
economical and beautiful.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
And you can do great things with branches.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
You can spray paint them gold if you want a
little shimmer, or you can do a lot with them.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
So I think that yes, branches.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Okay, So the nerd in me, the crafty nerd, the
person who buys the supplies that never crafts.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
I've said that on this podcast before.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I go around every fall, after the leaves start to drop,
and I scoop them up and I bring them home
and then I fill the thickest books I have with
these leaves. I press them down so they retain the color.
And I have this for years. I've had this idea
in my head of making something with them.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
It has yet to happen.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
So I get you know, every year I get more
and more leaves that I add to my collection of leaves.
But maybe someday I will get artistic and do something
with them. Maybe I will paint them in gold leaf
and call it gold leaf and have them framed or something.
I have no idea, but I do love collecting the leaves.
They're just so beautiful. And for me, everybody has their
(14:47):
favorite time of the year. For me, it is the
second week of October in the northern hemisphere of this country.
I don't care where you are seeing all of those
trees change. Even better if you're in New England and
are witnessing them maple trees do their thing.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Yeah, excited to have that come in here sooner than later.
To embrace those colors, for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
So let's get into we're both in the design industry.
Let's talk about the design elements of fall and some
of the decorations that gain prominence during this time. Fireplaces,
this is the time of year when we can click
that knob if it's you know, if it's not a
wood burning fireplace, or start to gather the wood to
(15:29):
light a fire.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Fireplaces, the crackle.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
That comes from them, the warrant, the ambiance such an
important design element, and I'm guessing I'll let you talk
about this, but I'm guessing that it is a must
have for all of your new builds.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Yes, it certainly is. You know, the fireplace has always
been kind of the heart and the center of the home.
It has a great focal point. It has a lot
of strength in the room just by the scale of
it and the nature of how it works. You know,
most floor plants are centered around the fireplace and the
furniture and everything around it. I absolutely love that first
(16:09):
moment when we light our fire. We have a real
wood burning fire, and my husband's pretty good at just
even on a weekday night, will kind of start it.
So it's definitely a staple in our home. The crackle
of it, the warmth of it, and how that all feels.
But not to mention, you know, on the fireplace too,
is the mantles. They are focal points. You can do
(16:29):
so many beautiful things with them, you know, assuming that
you don't have a TV above there, But even just
those chunky candlesticks and beautiful artwork or layering artwork and
mirrors over that fireplace, you can just really make a
statement on your fireplace.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Well. Thank goodness that we now have the framed televisions
that can disguise the TV portion of the TV. Yes
that I mean oftentimes they end up above the fireplace unfortunately,
but a lot of times that's just the best, most convenient,
most practical option for them.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Chris two. I also think even just with the fireplaces,
it's interesting too because you can have a statement even
with some of the functional aspects of it. You know,
your different sculptural pokers that you need to use and
what they look like or an antique one, and the
firewood baskets and how those layer into the space as well.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Oh and the beautiful and irons. I love me a
pair of and irons that are yeah, wonderful. Okay, so
let's let's break the fireplace.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Down a little bit, because they're big opinions about what
makes the best fireplace. I love an oversized fireplace. I
love those fireplaces that are so tall. It obviously takes
the right house for this, but especially in historic home,
those fireplaces that are so tall that you could actually
like walk right in or I can, in my short
(17:56):
statcher just walk right into them.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
I love a big, scaled fireplace. Well.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
I was in a.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Home a couple years ago that we photographed for the
magazine and it's already been published there. But the fireplace
surround it was so tall. I mean it was as
tall as me, or maybe even taller. It was from Belgium,
from the seventeenth century.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
It was so spectacular.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
I mean, the finish on it was so crusty and
weathered and you know, been through centuries of life, and
it was just a really memorable piece for sure.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Do you like a stacked stone fireplace?
Speaker 4 (18:40):
I think a stackstone is right in the right type
of application. I think if it has more of that
warm woodsy vibe or your Colorado casual, I think a
stack stone is beautiful. I am probably a little more
of a sucker of just a really beautifully paneled fireplace.
(19:01):
I think it just has really beautiful depth. When you
have interesting architecture and the millwork just really says it all.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
And then also it has to be a deep mantle. Yeah,
I don't want.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Any whimpy, skimpy mantle going on because then you can't
accessorize it.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
Yes, and I want to be able to layer those
accessories up there too, that it's not just like this
single candlestick. You want to be able to have a
room to maybe have that art or mirror layered behind
it too.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
So absolutely well, I am excited that we are nearing
the season of cooler temperatures where the fireplace is appropriate
because and as much as I love the fire itself
and watching the light dance, I respond even.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
More to the sound of it. I love the crackle pop.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Yeah, it has really beautiful ambiance in the space, that's
for sure.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
It sure does.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
So. Fireplaces, especially when there's a fire in them, offer
some light too, although that's not their primary purpose usually,
but lighting becomes more important at this time of the
year because the daylight hours diminish and we spend more
time in the dark, especially if we're at work during
the day or school during the day.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
You come home from work and you don't really get
a whole lot.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Of daylight anymore, and so lighting is super important. Look
at this point, I think that a lot of people
understand the power of a dimmer, but I want you
to talk about this as our resident designer and the
importance of those dimmers.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Dimmers are a favorite tool of mine. I think they
are so important to be able to control the light
in every room. You don't always just want to have
your lights on full blast all the way they can.
In fact, I rarely have them on in my house.
I feel like I'm always dimming the lights down. It
just has a better feeling in the space. It just
(20:53):
brings the mood down a little bit. You know, it's
not a place that we're doing surgery, So it's important
to have your lighting set the tone of the room
and being able to control that. And I think this
goes for even you know, your sconces, your lamps, your pendants.
We want to have that cozier feeling and being able
(21:14):
to control the mood in the spaces. And obviously, if
you're reading or doing something that needs a little bit
more attention and the light needs to be stronger than you,
you turn it up a little.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
I think the only room where I probably ever have
the lights onto their full intensity. Is the kitchen because
there I'm you know, it's more functional. I need to
be able to see what I'm doing. But I think
all of the other rooms in the house, I just
I'm not interested in them at full intensity. Maybe the
(21:45):
bathroom too, if you're putting on makeup sort of thing.
But I love the dimmer. I love that they are
so pervasive now throughout our whole design experience. They you know,
they used to be used to be sort of like
an odd ball thing or an outlier or something that
was extra. But now I think people understand the power
(22:05):
of the dimmer, the capability of the dimmer, and just
again being able to control that Ambionce you.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
Know, and Chris I might mention too. You know, if
you live in an existing home or it was built
a long time ago, you can add a dimmer switch
to any switch. It's not something that is only done
in new constructions or when you're changing lighting. Now. It
is a really easy switch to have a dimmer put
on your switch, So keep that in mind. If that's
not something that you knew already.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
That's an excellent tip.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Yes, and they are pretty easy to switch out for sure,
And okay, on that note, the switches itself, while we
are on the topic of lighting, the switches themselves have
become so much better than the I think, for you know,
since the beginning of probably since Thomas Edison invented the
(22:53):
light bulb, we've all had these awful switches that are
these days, you know, merely plastic little objects that you
push down on and some people wallpaper them so they're
the same seamless blend into the walls, and then sometimes
that's not even worth it.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
But now the plates.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
And the switches themselves are so beautiful unlacquered brass.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
And they have really upped their gain. Yeah, even just
a beautiful like acrylic one that just kind of blends
in with the wall or the wallpaper behind it, and
all the different metals, with even just some edge profiles
that have a nice little extra layer of detail in them.
And they can be done in a modern way too.
They don't just have to be traditional plates. They can
(23:36):
be modern too. When I live in a one hundred
year old house nineteen fourteen, and when we renovated our house,
I kind of wanted to keep the integrity of the
light switch, so I still put in the push button
ones that go back and forth, that toggle just so
it's felt authentic to the age of our home, which
was kind of a nice detail.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
That is fun and I love that that those have
actually come back in vogue, the ones that are push
down and then the ones that are just the little toggles.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Those are fun. I always the toggles.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
I feel like if I had those, I would somehow
pale a part of my body or it it's a
snag a sweater or something on them.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
But they're great. And what I love about something like
the switch plates, like a light switch upping their game
is especially in a new build.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
Home where sometimes you don't have that wonderful architecture that
you do of a historic home, that's another opportunity to
add a design layer that's just a it's pretty, it's
something else because some rooms, even maybe it's not even
an entire home, but some rooms just don't have any
sort of architectural pizaz and so they need those other
(24:51):
elements to carry the weight to make the design creative
and interesting it is.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
It makes it a little more creative, like you mentioned,
and it's one of those things. Sometimes it's a touch
that people are like oh, I've never seen something like
that before, and it's an extra little detail that makes
your house special.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
So we have light by electricity, and we have fireplaces
which come by gas or buy wood. Let's talk about candles, though,
and that's something that's obviously a small element, something that's
very giftable. Let's talk about candles because until I went
(25:29):
to my first trade show, I didn't realize that there
are something like a million candle companies out there. And
maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but there are a lot
of candle companies out there, so the market for these
pretty little pyro moments is vast and not going away
(25:50):
with candles, I have to say now, I don't have
any little ones in my house, so I don't have
to worry about tipping over and.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Fire hazards and that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
But there are the candles that are led now and
that don't have any flicker, no real fire going on.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
So those are nice, but I don't the flicker's not
the same.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
Yeah, I agree. I'm still a flucker for a real
flicker as well, and the real candle flickers not the same.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Do you have any favorite candles? I'm sorry I'm putting
you on the spot for this.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
I really love the Loospa candles I think. I think
all of their sense for the most part, are really
wonderful and just add a nice ambiance to the space.
I love that they have some like very oversized ones.
It's something that I kind of lean into in the
fall and winter months too, specifically on my kitchen island.
(26:45):
It's like twelve inches or maybe even a little taller
candle that's just huge as has five wicks in it,
and it can just burn and just have a really
wonderful feeling in the space.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
They do make wonderful candles. I especially love their series.
Their collection that has the lids and the glass.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Is sort of faceted.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Yes, beautiful, and they come in so many colors and
so many scents, which is really nice.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
I love this.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
I can't really pick a favorite candle. I don't there's
just so many companies. I do love a good fig
scent though, I think that's nice, and I love any
sort of smoky scent.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I'm not so into florals. They can be a little
too pungent for me. I love those masculine, sort of smoky,
deep scents.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Yeah, I agree with you. I'm less florally in my
candles as well too. I like that woodsy spice sort
of a scent when you walk into the space.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
I think one good tip is just because candles are
so giftable and it's easy to buy one for a
host disk gift or a thank you gift, something of
that nature. If you're gifting a candle, gifts some beautiful
matches too, because now there are all these great matches.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
They're decorative, they come in a snazzy little little container,
what be it glass or a box that's decorative and
has the strip on it. So I.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Think that makes sure that you just to maybe elevate
the gift giving experience a little bit, is to make
sure that you include great matches.
Speaker 4 (28:21):
Well, and they look so beautiful. Like you said, the
box is done in as well, so even sometimes they
look just as nice kind of sitting to the side
of the candle rather than having to tuck them in
the drawer with everything else too. And even just the
beautiful little candle snuffer two I think is always a
nice touch that's kind of by the candle.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Yeah, so those are great little accessories that I think
that's something that people don't buy for themselves.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
It's so if.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
You're looking for a gift for the person who has
everything or the person who doesn't have everything, I think
that that's something that they would never buy for themselves.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
The little snuffer.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Also beautiful, and these you can get. There are new
versions and beautiful antique ones as well. Is a good
match strike like those are great because they're you know,
the matches are just all contained in a beautiful glass vessel.
I have a few of those, and I just love
them because they're so sculptural. The only thing with that
(29:15):
is if you do have little ones, maybe maybe not
the best option.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
To have them out.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
Definitely something you have to teach them to stay away from.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Yeah, that curiosity thing will get people. Okay, so let's
talk about too. When we're talking under the umbrella of lighting,
all of these little table top lamps that are usually
LED battery operated. They last for a long time.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
You charge them back up with a USB when you
know when they die down. But they are so much
fun because instead of the silhowe of a candlestick, they
give you the look of a lamp on your table
with these wonderful little pleated shades. I think they're so
(29:59):
much fun in the category is just growing and growing.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
Yeah, it's a wonderful category, and I love it because
you can just layer them in all those kind of
odd spaces too. I mean, they look great in a
book case. They look really wonderful in a kitchen, underneath
your cabinets that kind of canentuck underneath there for a
little extra light to make it cozy in the evenings,
even like a bathroom or just like some of those
secondary areas that you wouldn't necessarily always put a lamp,
(30:26):
but just a small tabletop lamp. I think just is
a wonderful layer in those spaces.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
I mean, I'm always excited when there's a new product
category in the market. But this one solves so many problems.
Because if you live in an old home and maybe
don't have you know, something's not hardwired. Even in a
home that is newer that whoever built the house just
didn't think of that. It's expensive if you want to
(30:55):
come back in and run electricity for the great sconces
or for the book case built ins that you want
a little.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
A little soft glow there.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
So they're so good for all of those apple cations
and you certainly don't have electricity on a dining table.
So the fact now that you can have that wonderful
ambiance is really remarkable.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
It's a game changer in our industry.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
It really is. Yeah. It just has certainly taken all
of those elements and been able to incorporate them into spaces.
There's some that even just have like a little glass
ball that you can just set down, and it was
really remarkable. It's been a game changer for sure.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
So let's talk about We've talked about light. Let's talk
about the textiles.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
And the surfaces and the materials that accompany this season.
And when you talk about fall, and again I'm avoiding
the W word that follows fall just because I don't
like it so much, but these textiles and power certainly
apply there too. You know, we go from summertime it's
(32:04):
all about seersucker and these breezy fabrics, cotton voall and
those light almost barely their textiles to ones at this
time of the year that are a lot heartier, and
the purpose is not only to look different, but to
add so much warmth.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
So leather, leather is a staple.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
I mean, you don't put the leather away during the
summer months at all. But I love the idea of
leather somewhere on the sofa, whether it's a trim, whether
it's a leather pillow, a woven leather pillow, or a
leather sofa itself. Tell me about do you have any
design project that you're working on right now where you
are fashioning some wonderful leather furniture or accessory.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
Well, you know, you mentioned the leather camel Chesterfield sofa
and we just got a new one on the studio
and we just warmed our whole studio up into those feelings.
And I think leather in suede as well. I think
they just add a sophistication and a texture that is unparalleled.
And then you talk about the durability of them and
(33:15):
how they function so well for just staying strong, for
young families, and just different things if you're how you're
using it, and just the beauty of leather. I love
it when it has a little bit of weear to
it or wrinkle in it, and then you throw in
a plaid or just a different tartan and it just
has that warmth of timeless fall patterns.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
So I heard a tip years ago from a designer,
and they said that they always tell their clients, and
their target audience was sort of more not necessarily high end.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
More sort of mid range.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
They said that they always tell their clients that if
they're working on other rooms first and maybe maybe a
kitchen redo, if they have plans at any time to
redo a living room, a family room, any place where
a sofa might be, buy the leather sofa now, because
(34:13):
it will take a few years or many years before
it really looks good, before it has that weather you know,
that wonderful patina, the markings, the scratches.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
That's when leather looks its best.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
You know, any of us who've ever owned a pair
of leather boots or a leather bag or a leather jacket,
it takes a while.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
It takes years. You have to wear it a.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Long time before it has that wonderful look that people
really cove it. And it's different if you want like
a sleek, unblemished sort of leather for fashion or for home,
but usually with leather, when you're talking about that sofa
that belongs in a library or a living room situation,
you want it to be lived in, and.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
That takes time.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
Yeah, it takes time.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
You need to.
Speaker 4 (34:59):
It has to have that a little bit of grit
in it. For sure.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
It does not come off the factory shelves looking that way,
So it doesn't. Yeah, I always thought.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
That was a good tip though, So yeah, it is
so that way. Then it looks perfect when you're ready
for it in the few years when you redo.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
The room, when you need it too.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
And I love the return of Swede right now, so
when definitely having its moment and fashion, and you know,
the furnishings world is never far behind. So you know,
Swede is an interesting material because it can require a
little more care. It's durable, but the swede itself, the
finish itself, can require a little more care. But it's
(35:39):
a different look. It gives you this wonderful matte look.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
I love a little Swede on just the welt of
a sofa or chair. I think it just adds a
little bit of like the texture that it gives to
the piece I think is just a really beautiful look.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
Absolutely a different texture entirety. Absolutely a different texture in
its entirety. And you know, it's funny that we talk
about Swayede having a comeback or making a moment, I
don't feel like it's ever out of style.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
But I guess when the marketing world decides that.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
It's going to be in vogue again, they deliver all
of these new pieces to us that are available. I
guess that's that's what comes out of these these elements
that have been around for decades, for centuries coming back
in vogue. It's just a new version of it and
more material for us to buy, which.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
Is good well, and typically I feel like the new
material also is with a new palette, the colors maybe
are more up to date of what's in style at
the moment and in vogue and leans into those trends.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Sure, I think another pattern, well, we've gone from leather
and swayed. A pattern that really is special and sort
of connotes fall for sure is plaid. And I go
back to, you know, a wood paneled library where you
may have a plaid wing chair. And maybe that sounds
a little law firm ish, but I think with plaid,
(37:14):
plaid has been updated so much and super fashionable colors
and just palettes that are so much more modernized.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
I guess they really are, and they're you know, modernized
with like oversized checks and I think there's I'm a
sucker for a good plaid. I don't think you can
ever go wrong there, and it doesn't. It doesn't have
to feel fall even when you use it other times
of the year. And I think a lot of that
is the color palette of different plaids. I think you
(37:44):
can have some with those beautiful burgundies and the mustard
tones as well as just your nice typical deep greens,
olive greens, and camel colored tones too. So I think
it just layers in really beautiful. And I love a
good plaid throw or velvet pillow. I think it can
(38:05):
just be used in so many different ways, or even
it's beautiful when it's like even a platter check on
a rug in a space I think has a beautiful
element to the room too.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
So I love a plaid carpet in really light tones again,
where you have that moment of sort of palette levity.
It's not so dark, it's not so serious, it's not
so boardroom. The lighter tones, I think again just give
(38:37):
it sort of a modern, more playful complexion than the
serious tones that you that we want in the fall.
But there are so many options, and I think sometimes
plaid can feel a little scary to people because they
think they literally think of a boardroom or a law firm,
And there are just so many options and fun to
put it. Use it as a carpet or a rug,
(39:00):
fun to use it on a ceiling. I mean, I
know you're kind of the queen of decorative ceiling. So
are there times where you've used a wonderful plaid wallpaper
on a ceiling?
Speaker 4 (39:10):
We certainly have. It's a great accent in a library
or study. Even in just a powder bathroom, a good
plaid in there looks great too. It just kind of
warms it up and just has a beautiful accent. A mudroom,
a foyer. I mean, there's so many great places to
use a plaid.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
And the good news is if plaid isn't your thing,
it comes in all forms.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
You can just get a pillow.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
You can just get a throw So there are ways
to introduce it that aren't sort of hardwired to the
home or permanent elements of the home that I think
make it a little more palatable if it's not your favorite,
but you feel like you need a little bit of it.
We just showed a house. This was the first time
I had ever seen this done. They created plaid on
(40:00):
the walls out of mill work. It was the coolest
application I've seen in a long time. It was so
fresh and new, and I'm thinking, I'm sure maybe somebody
else has done that too, but I had not seen
that before, and it was just super fun to see
this pattern that we know that this plaid, and it
(40:22):
was a primary suite, super interesting and it was the
same color as the wall. So you've got this wonderful
texture and this wonderful pattern, but not the seriousness of plaid.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
It was very modernized.
Speaker 3 (40:37):
It was a traditional setting, but it definitely gave you
a new way to look at something so classic.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
Well, it sounds like it's just a subtle way to have,
like you said, the pattern and texture that's not just
in your face.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
Absolutely, let's move to velvet, because you mentioned that a
moment ago.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Velvet is another textile that you know, it's heavy. It's heavy,
so you tend to.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
Think of it more for the cooler months of the year.
I think something special has happened with velvet two over
the years, because it used to be when people thought
of velvet again, they felt they thought of spaces that
were sort of historic and stuffy. And you know, velvet
was very formal and it had a sheene if you
(41:25):
moved in one direction, and then you know, if you
moved at the other direction, it didn't.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
I mean, velvet is a child's friend, I think.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
Because you can you can play with it and pettit
and all of those sorts of things. But velvet now
has taken a turn and it's much more usable casual.
There are the linen velvets and the cotton velots that
aren't so serious.
Speaker 4 (41:49):
Well, it really has, and it's become so much more
durable as well, because it used to, like you mentioned too,
it could easily be kind of napped down or even
just like you said, petting it. So many of the
the velvets now, with some of the technology that they have,
it doesn't have to have that those wear layers. It
can just be very very durable and still be used
(42:11):
in you know, your high use areas of your home.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
And what I love about velvet also is the way
that it wears. Because it is.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
One fabric, it's like leather and durability, but when it
wears down over time, it gives you this great patina
almost and it's still durable. Just because the nap of
it is a little bit worn doesn't mean that it's
not durable. Where other fabrics, you know, when they start
(42:44):
to wear or maybe get a little threadbear.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
A little threadbar and sorry, I'm gonna start.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
That over versus other fabrics that maybe have a hole
or a little threadbear, at some point they're going to
give a little and maybe not perform. Or Velvet that
nap doesn't necessarily mean that the substrate behind it isn't
functional anymore. And that can look great on an old
(43:12):
chair when it just starts to wear down and it
has some age to it.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
Well, and I think too, even velvets that are quilted
or embossed and have different patterns, I mean those make
beautiful pillows or just on an ottoman and give dimension
to the fabric even in a more incredible beauty.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Yes, velvet is good. So let's talk about the granddaddy
of them all, mow hair.
Speaker 3 (43:37):
So you know, in my dream house where there's not
a camel leather Chesterfield, there is a mohair Chesterfield sofa.
Speaker 2 (43:47):
Mohair is just so it is so beautiful, it's so luxurious.
Speaker 3 (43:51):
It also wears well and I love how it takes
color too, because I feel like I ever see a
mohair that's in a bright, obnoxious color. They're always more
sort of sophisticated palettes.
Speaker 2 (44:08):
I mean, mohair is so special.
Speaker 4 (44:11):
It really is. It's a very luxurious fiber, and you know,
I think it's priced for its chin, its softness, and
even just its durability is something that you don't always
think about too. It's cozy yet elevated, and it's a
quality that's just brings so much warmth to the fall season.
Speaker 3 (44:29):
What about wood tones, And we've alluded to this a
little bit because we talked about a wood paneled library,
but something that I think is really great about the
return of wood tones because they especially in the furniture
world and built ins. We just saw everything painted for
so long, and now the design industry is really embracing
(44:52):
wood tones. But what's different about them are the stains themselves,
the colors of the stains. And I love all of
these sort of mokey black, charcoally kind of stains that
are actually brown.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
That aren't red.
Speaker 3 (45:07):
I think we all some of us have trauma from
if we were alive during the red tone wood days.
But Yeah, I love all of the wood species that
are being celebrated, walnut specifically, but even oak has made
such a comeback, but in all of these different stains
that make it certainly more modern.
Speaker 4 (45:28):
Yeah, I am embracing and love the warmth of the
wood tones that are that are coming back in and
just that rifts on oak in a kitchen is absolutely beautiful.
And just even all the burled woods and different wood
tones that you can use on end tables and case pieces,
and it just it really adds a beautiful warmth to
the space.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
Yes, So, Megan, we've talked a lot about.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
Fall and how it contributes to the world of design,
but fall comes with all sorts of fun too.
Speaker 2 (45:59):
So there are two.
Speaker 3 (46:00):
Things before we wrap up this episode, two ideas that
I would like to discuss.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
First, Halloween.
Speaker 3 (46:06):
I am blown away by this holiday that I care
a little bit about because it's on the calendar and
it's you know, fun to go to a party and
dress up and all of that. But oh my gosh,
who knew it was going to turn into this multi
billion dollar industry with Halloween only stores at the you know,
(46:28):
they're anchoring what's left of shopping malls in America to
sell Halloween merchandise, So I just wanted to.
Speaker 2 (46:35):
Ask, how into Halloween are you do?
Speaker 3 (46:38):
You guys keep it simple with some trick or treating
and a costume.
Speaker 4 (46:43):
Or a pretty cheap It's pretty simple, just because I
don't want my house to look like it's exploded Halloween
for all the time. But my kids obviously love the
looks of it, so I usually, like a week or
two before Halloween, will get more of the more actual
decorations that are more kitchy Halloween out so they can
(47:03):
embrace them, and then they get put back away, so
it's not taking over my house for weeks or months
on end. But you are so right. The Halloween game
has just exploded and how people decorate their yards and
the spiderwebs everywhere, and you know, I think it's fun
of people lean into it, but it's really taken on
(47:26):
a celebration of its own.
Speaker 2 (47:28):
Well.
Speaker 4 (47:28):
I have probably more of a chic harvest look that's
just a little more sophisticated.
Speaker 3 (47:33):
I agree. I'm all about the fall harvest look way
more than I am the Halloween.
Speaker 2 (47:38):
But I mean, we have entire magazines devoted to Yeah,
Hullween cover to cover so and people are super creative.
Speaker 3 (47:45):
That's what's so much fun about it is I love
just to see what people do. Even though I probably
am not going to implement that in my own home,
it's still fun to see what people do. So, you know,
and hey, I'm all about the I'm all about the
candy whizzlers specifically for anybody who cares so along. Finally,
when we talk about fall in this time of year,
(48:08):
it really is about being home.
Speaker 2 (48:09):
We're not our vacations are over.
Speaker 3 (48:12):
If we went away for the summer to a lake
house or a summer home, we're back from those places.
And fall is a wonderful time filled with you know,
it's our time to sort of plan because we're planning
for the holidays that are attached to this time of year.
Speaker 2 (48:31):
But also so much activity, so many.
Speaker 3 (48:34):
Great foods I see on Instagram. I'm not a coffee drinker,
but I understand that there is this obsession with something
called a pumpkin spice latte.
Speaker 2 (48:44):
And you know, I hope everybody.
Speaker 3 (48:48):
I don't know if they're available yet because I personally
don't care, but I hope everybody gets their pumpkins spice
latte soon.
Speaker 4 (48:56):
I know, right, I haven't had one yet either, but
I mean it has taken over a certain marketplace for sure,
even just I mean they have candles that are made
to smell like that latte too, and all those things.
But I think you're right. I think you can't talk
about fall without kind of talking about being home more
those cozy afternoons, the Sunday soups, the orchards, and just
(49:17):
even that feeling of having football on the TV again
is kind of a staple in our house for the
boys just watching a game, and it's it has that
nice fall feeling well, and it's about.
Speaker 2 (49:30):
Being casual too, because you mentioned football, so I'm not
a boy but a huge football lover.
Speaker 3 (49:37):
And it's just it's all of that fun kind of
gathering where things aren't so serious like maybe you're you know,
the holidays are upon us, and that's when we get
a little more formal with a beautiful Thanksgivings tablescape that's
going on, or for Christmas dinner as well, and fall
is about gathering people for again soups Sundays and foot
(50:00):
games and uh, you know, hayrack rides and all of
those sorts of things that you know, we we love
so much making caramel apples and caramel popcorn and popcorn
balls and so many soups. I love soup, So I am.
I've already been in soup making mode. I did it
(50:21):
this past weekend. I have a ridiculous number of tomatoes
to tackle and deal with, and so I did a
lot of soup, a lot of the A juice.
Speaker 4 (50:32):
But do you have a favorite soup you like to make?
Speaker 2 (50:35):
Yes, well, yes, I love a good butternut squash soup.
Speaker 3 (50:43):
But I love a roasted tomatoes to soup. I love
beat soup, and that maybe sounds a little strange to people,
but a roasted beet soup is so delicious to me.
Speaker 2 (50:52):
I don't make that as much.
Speaker 3 (50:53):
Because it's a little more, it's a little more intensive
and involved. But I love potato leak soup. I just
like soup. I don't like ham and bean soup. I
know that's a favorite among a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (51:06):
That's not my thing.
Speaker 4 (51:07):
Yeah, so yeah, And I think I love soups because
they warm up so well, and sometimes I feel like
the flavors better the second day than it was the
day you cooked it.
Speaker 3 (51:17):
It is and I make my soup in mass a
huge abundance, and I put it in freezer bags and
I freeze it that way so it freezes really well too.
So I wish everybody a wonderful fall with delicious soups,
and I hope your football team wins. I hope everybody
(51:38):
who wants one gets their pumpkin spice latte whatever that is.
I suspect that I will try that never. And yeah,
that's my thoughts on fall. Megan, do you want to close?
Speaker 4 (51:50):
Well, yeah, I mean I think we've talked about it.
I think fall is all about layering and the colors
and textures and lighting and the traditions that bring the
warm indoor homes in our lives. And I hope we
all embrace that and enjoy the season.
Speaker 2 (52:05):
Yes, and I know that soon we're going to talk
about our fall favorite so listeners should look forward to
hearing from us about our fall favoritesin.
Speaker 4 (52:14):
Yes, definitely. Well, until next time, stay cozy. Thank you
for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat. If
you enjoyed this episode, please follow along and leave a
review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen so
you never miss an episode, and of course, follow your
hosts on Instagram at Megan bloom Interiors, at CHRISA. Rossbund,
(52:35):
and at Liz Legit. We'll be back next week as
we take a stroll down another boulevard
Welcome to boulevard Beat, a podcast. We're life and style intersect.
I'm designer Megan Bloom along with my co hosts, editor CHRISA.
Rossbunt and gallery owner Liz Legit. This podcast focuses on
the daily highlights instead of the hustle, interviews with taste makers,
and personal conversations on how to highlight achievable style. You
can stroll one street at a time, boulevard Beat proves
(00:29):
the one you should take.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hello, Meghan, and happy Fall. We're sort of one week
in and tis the season.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
We were just talking about how it is still a
little toasty where we are, but hopefully those cooler, not cold,
but cooler temperatures will kick in shortly and we can
enjoy all of the things that come along with this
celebrated season.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Yeah, it's always such a wonderful, cozy season, but you're right,
I mean, with some of these warmer temperatures, it's hard
to kind kind of dive into all of the fall
trends and your wardrobe and all the fall decor just
when you still feel hot half of the day.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
I do remember, I think this was the junior high
years of you know, getting the new wardrobe for a
fall for the school year.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
And I don't care how warm it was.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
I was wearing my new sweaters and I just remember
my dad saying.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
It's going to be eighty degrees today. What are you doing.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
It's like, Dad, you will suffer for fashion if you
really want well.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
And I feel that way even with my kids. They
end up with like fleeces on every day. And it's
because the buildings are so chilly, because the air conditioning
is still cranked up, so it just kind of let
you still kind of embrace some of those fall things.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
I guess that's why they invented layers. Yes, Megan, the
first thing.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
That comes to mind when I think of the autumn
season is the palette. And we go from these bright
bull sort of popsicle colors of summer to colors that
are a little more sub dude and muddier values, muddier
versions of them. And you know, that's when we get
(02:05):
into all of the fiery tones that the fall foliage delivers.
So you have, you know, the rust and the deep
reds and that butternut squash color that works so well
in design, and the plums and the fig So do
you have a favorite of those sorts of colors that
you like to design with or wear even well.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I mean, I think it's just fun to lean into
that warmth, like you said, because you kind of go
from maybe a more colorful interior or wardrobe to something warmer.
Just those the rusts and the burgundy is having such
a moment. I've been ordering a few clothes and I
just see it everywhere in the fashion world, and I
think it just has that nice cozy feeling too. And
(02:49):
I am a sucker for camel. I think that's such
a nice even tone. It looks good on so many people.
It looks great in your home, and it's one that
you can just layer really well with it.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
And looks really great on a Chesterfield sofa.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Yeah, it does.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
In leather, and I personally I love olive green. That's
just sort of a staple for me.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
But what is intriguing about the fall is I do
tap into the plumb eggplant fig color and purple in general,
purple in all of its tones, it's the forgotten color.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
It's under celebrated. It's sort of the redheaded stepchild.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Nobody really designs in those I shouldn't say nobody, but
it's not a common color I don't feel like in
design or even wardrobes for that matter. So I do
love tapping into that particular tone and hue in the fall.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
I feel like I have license to do that.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
You certainly do. I think it's a great time to
kind of tap into that and use the warmth of it,
and just the depth of the color I think is
such a beautiful one. And I think that with that
and so many colors, I think what's nice is there's
such a grounding sense to the space of just how
they can ground a room when you have those nice, warm,
deep tones.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Personally, for me in design, it's sort of an interesting
dichotomy because on one hand, I want the light around me,
but the light isn't cozy so much, And as we're
ushered into fall now, having all of those warm tones
around you while the fireplace is going and you're watching
(04:26):
a movie and you're all bundled up in a blanket.
I do love those rich, deep tones. And I sort
of came of age in the nineties when the trifecta
of design was navy blue, hunter green, and burgundy.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
All married together in rooms.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
I feel like every home in America had some version
of that. There's something to be said about those rich
tones and how you feel and the comfort of them.
And I know that we all look we want to
be flooded by natural life. And you know, I sort
of feel for the last fifteen years of design everything
was sort of focused on bright white and I need
(05:09):
that versus like that.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
What I like are the deep dark tones.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
You know, I think a beautiful library that's paneled in
wood and that.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Sort of thing. So what is your thought on just
the palette and design.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Well, I think it's it's a beautiful palette. I think
it's a very calming and I think it's probably why
you know, just in nature, while why humans feel so
at ease of being in nature, you know, being among
the trees and the earth. And I think that's why
it works so well in the home is because you
just you feel natural. It's a natural evolution to feel
(05:47):
that way in your home. And you know, you mentioned
the library or study that's just richly paneled in wood
or a deep color, and I think you can you
can use that in those spaces when you want that,
because you want that cozy space, and that's usually why
people gravitate towards that in the library versus other spaces
in the home.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
So I'm curious when you have clients who's general palette
for their home, as you're working on schemes and in
that developmental stage of the design process, when the palette
tends to be more light, do they still crave that
one space, be it a library or a bedroom that has.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
The deeper, darker tones.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Certainly, I would say more often than not, they still
always kind of want one or two spaces that have
a more moodi or feel. And I think it just
it makes it so each room kind of has its
own definition of what it looks and feels like. And
you know how you use the room as well. You know,
maybe it's that morning coffee and just kind of more
(06:50):
of a time to sit and read or have it
nice and moody and dark and watch your favorite Netflix
show on it there too. So and even just sometimes
you can you can do that even in a pocket
office or a powder bathroom two that can really change
the tone of the space nice and moody and more
deep tones.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
I think it's a challenge in well, I would say
it's a challenge probably in the majority of the country.
I mean, unless you live in Florida, where you've got
this bright sunlight.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Every day of the year, San Diego, something like that.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
You know, for most of the country we do have
some version of seasons, and I love the changes that
we get. There's the W word that I may not
have as fond of a relationship with that comes right
after fall. But I think for so many people having
the change of seasons, it really it makes design challenging
(07:45):
a little bit because you are designing a home to
be sort of a chameleon.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
To all times of the year.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Yeah, it does have to kind of just shift throughout
the different times of year if you kind of add
some seasonal touches to your space, because whether you like
it or not, you see all those different things throughout
your windows, whether it's the bright green trees or the
fall colors or the white of winters. So you do
kind of have to lean into that to some degree
(08:14):
because it changes the way the interiors feel too.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
So, Megan, you brought.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Up nature a moment ago, and I think nature is
the driver for this entire conversation really, because from nature
is where we get these wonderful, deep tones. It's where
we get that fall foliage that people go to New
England to see in droves, and I can say that
is a spectacle for anybody who hasn't done that, it's
(08:37):
certainly a trip worth taking if you can hit it
at the right time.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
But I think all of.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Those moments of nature is what drives our affinity for
this season, definitely, including the temperature itself which starts to
die down and decrease a little bit. Tell me about
and you also have three small children, So what is
the nature relationship look like for you in the fall
(09:04):
as far as activities and what have you got going
on that changes in the fall?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
I just, you know, I remember the days of my
dad breaking leaves and the you know, and that's jumping
into this big pile of leaves and how much fun
that is. But when those temperatures.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Start to drop and you spend time outside and maybe
aren't taking advantage of a swimming pool, then what does.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
That look like?
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Well, I think as soon as that season turns a
little bit, I feel like immediately my kids are asking
you to go to a pumpkin patch. We haven't made
it yet, but it's always a top priority to make
it out and to go and just do all those
fun activities, and so that's definitely what we lean into
in this season of fall. But I have to say personally,
(09:49):
and I think my kids get a little sick of
this too, is the Golden Hour in September is the
most beautiful time of the year. The sunsets this time
of year don't get any better any time of the year.
It just I'm constantly being like you guys, look out
the window, like the sunsets are just incredible, and the
colors and saturation and the depth of color is just incredible.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
That's so true.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
The light in September is especially beautiful, and I think
that's probably why I feel like, wherever you're going in
the world to travel, September is a good month to
do it because it's not superrainy anymore, the temperature is
sort of just right, and you get this incredible light
that isn't necessarily present throughout the other months.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
So that's really lovely.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
So let's you said pumpkins, Let's talk about pumpkins, because
pumpkins have evolved.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
For sure. I feel so cheated that I grew up
with orange.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Pumpkins only, and now the palette of them is really spectacular.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
And not only how they come out of nature.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
You have that great celadon color, you have that sort
of corally color, and sometimes it's a combination of the two.
And then all of the white pumpkins that are out there.
That's certainly changed. But oh my gosh, the application of
these pumpkins on doorsteps and stoops is really remarkable.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
It is remarkable, and it's so fun to do. We're
hosting a school fundraiser at our house and so I'm
really upping my outdoor game this year on the planters
and doing the whole spread of pumpkins down the stoop,
and it's it's just really fun. We got an enormous gourd.
I mean just even just the scale of some of
these things is incredible. But like you mentioned, the game
(11:33):
of pumpkins has changed. All these beautiful heirloom ones and
the nubby textures of them, and I love like the
soft saturation that's not quite your as bright and intense
as your typical orange pumpkin. It just adds a really warm,
beautiful layer to the pumpkin game.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
And then the way people are decorating pumpkins, you know,
using them as a canvas as well.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
I've seen all of these pumpkins that are done in
blue and white.
Speaker 3 (11:59):
To mimic Shin WAZERI or all sorts of patterns that
I think are really fun. They're sort of using pumpkins
like we do easter eggs in the spring, and an
opportunity to decorate them beyond typical carving.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
But the car is spectacular too, it is, and stay
tuned if we do this. I saw this on Pinterest
and showed it to my kids over the weekend, and
they've been dying to go to Michael's and pick up
some supplies. But having your pumpkin be decorated as a
little fairy garden and like carve it out and have
this whole little fairy escape in there with little figurines
(12:35):
and fake trees and things like that too. So we'll
see if we get around to do it. But like
you said that it's like a gingerbread for pumpkins.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
It absolutely is, and it's super fun. And I also saw,
I mean, all of these companies all across the country
that are doing pumpkin scaping for people. You know, people
are paying for that service, which I you know, I'm
all for. I'm all for people having their side hustles
and another service, you know, to make somebody's home beautiful. Well.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
And Chris, so, one of the other things just talking
about nature is you can kind of lean into the
branches and what you're kind of seeing outside and bringing
those big branches into your home and having you know,
just a lovely vase on your kitchen island with an
overscaled branch, and it just brings those fall feelings into
your home and is an easy way to do that.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Absolutely. I think that what people are learning is to
tap into their own yards or their own communities and
go cut some branches. Your trees probably need to be
maybe trimmed back a little bit anyway, and.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
So this is the perfect opportunity to do that. And
just foraging around in your own yard can be both
economical and beautiful.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
And you can do great things with branches.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
You can spray paint them gold if you want a
little shimmer, or you can do a lot with them.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
So I think that yes, branches.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Okay, So the nerd in me, the crafty nerd, the
person who buys the supplies that never crafts.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
I've said that on this podcast before.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I go around every fall, after the leaves start to drop,
and I scoop them up and I bring them home
and then I fill the thickest books I have with
these leaves. I press them down so they retain the color.
And I have this for years. I've had this idea
in my head of making something with them.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
It has yet to happen.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
So I get you know, every year I get more
and more leaves that I add to my collection of leaves.
But maybe someday I will get artistic and do something
with them. Maybe I will paint them in gold leaf
and call it gold leaf and have them framed or something.
I have no idea, but I do love collecting the leaves.
They're just so beautiful. And for me, everybody has their
(14:47):
favorite time of the year. For me, it is the
second week of October in the northern hemisphere of this country.
I don't care where you are seeing all of those
trees change. Even better if you're in New England and
are witnessing them maple trees do their thing.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Yeah, excited to have that come in here sooner than later.
To embrace those colors, for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
So let's get into we're both in the design industry.
Let's talk about the design elements of fall and some
of the decorations that gain prominence during this time. Fireplaces,
this is the time of year when we can click
that knob if it's you know, if it's not a
wood burning fireplace, or start to gather the wood to
(15:29):
light a fire.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Fireplaces, the crackle.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
That comes from them, the warrant, the ambiance such an
important design element, and I'm guessing I'll let you talk
about this, but I'm guessing that it is a must
have for all of your new builds.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Yes, it certainly is. You know, the fireplace has always
been kind of the heart and the center of the home.
It has a great focal point. It has a lot
of strength in the room just by the scale of
it and the nature of how it works. You know,
most floor plants are centered around the fireplace and the
furniture and everything around it. I absolutely love that first
(16:09):
moment when we light our fire. We have a real
wood burning fire, and my husband's pretty good at just
even on a weekday night, will kind of start it.
So it's definitely a staple in our home. The crackle
of it, the warmth of it, and how that all feels.
But not to mention, you know, on the fireplace too,
is the mantles. They are focal points. You can do
(16:29):
so many beautiful things with them, you know, assuming that
you don't have a TV above there, But even just
those chunky candlesticks and beautiful artwork or layering artwork and
mirrors over that fireplace, you can just really make a
statement on your fireplace.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Well. Thank goodness that we now have the framed televisions
that can disguise the TV portion of the TV. Yes
that I mean oftentimes they end up above the fireplace unfortunately,
but a lot of times that's just the best, most convenient,
most practical option for them.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Chris two. I also think even just with the fireplaces,
it's interesting too because you can have a statement even
with some of the functional aspects of it. You know,
your different sculptural pokers that you need to use and
what they look like or an antique one, and the
firewood baskets and how those layer into the space as well.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Oh and the beautiful and irons. I love me a
pair of and irons that are yeah, wonderful. Okay, so
let's let's break the fireplace.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Down a little bit, because they're big opinions about what
makes the best fireplace. I love an oversized fireplace. I
love those fireplaces that are so tall. It obviously takes
the right house for this, but especially in historic home,
those fireplaces that are so tall that you could actually
like walk right in or I can, in my short
(17:56):
statcher just walk right into them.
Speaker 4 (17:58):
I love a big, scaled fireplace. Well.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
I was in a.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Home a couple years ago that we photographed for the
magazine and it's already been published there. But the fireplace
surround it was so tall. I mean it was as
tall as me, or maybe even taller. It was from Belgium,
from the seventeenth century.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
It was so spectacular.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
I mean, the finish on it was so crusty and
weathered and you know, been through centuries of life, and
it was just a really memorable piece for sure.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Do you like a stacked stone fireplace?
Speaker 4 (18:40):
I think a stackstone is right in the right type
of application. I think if it has more of that
warm woodsy vibe or your Colorado casual, I think a
stack stone is beautiful. I am probably a little more
of a sucker of just a really beautifully paneled fireplace.
(19:01):
I think it just has really beautiful depth. When you
have interesting architecture and the millwork just really says it all.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
And then also it has to be a deep mantle. Yeah,
I don't want.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Any whimpy, skimpy mantle going on because then you can't
accessorize it.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
Yes, and I want to be able to layer those
accessories up there too, that it's not just like this
single candlestick. You want to be able to have a
room to maybe have that art or mirror layered behind
it too.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
So absolutely well, I am excited that we are nearing
the season of cooler temperatures where the fireplace is appropriate
because and as much as I love the fire itself
and watching the light dance, I respond even.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
More to the sound of it. I love the crackle pop.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Yeah, it has really beautiful ambiance in the space, that's
for sure.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
It sure does.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
So. Fireplaces, especially when there's a fire in them, offer
some light too, although that's not their primary purpose usually,
but lighting becomes more important at this time of the
year because the daylight hours diminish and we spend more
time in the dark, especially if we're at work during
the day or school during the day.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
You come home from work and you don't really get
a whole lot.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Of daylight anymore, and so lighting is super important. Look
at this point, I think that a lot of people
understand the power of a dimmer, but I want you
to talk about this as our resident designer and the
importance of those dimmers.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Dimmers are a favorite tool of mine. I think they
are so important to be able to control the light
in every room. You don't always just want to have
your lights on full blast all the way they can.
In fact, I rarely have them on in my house.
I feel like I'm always dimming the lights down. It
just has a better feeling in the space. It just
(20:53):
brings the mood down a little bit. You know, it's
not a place that we're doing surgery, So it's important
to have your lighting set the tone of the room
and being able to control that. And I think this
goes for even you know, your sconces, your lamps, your pendants.
We want to have that cozier feeling and being able
(21:14):
to control the mood in the spaces. And obviously, if
you're reading or doing something that needs a little bit
more attention and the light needs to be stronger than you,
you turn it up a little.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
I think the only room where I probably ever have
the lights onto their full intensity. Is the kitchen because
there I'm you know, it's more functional. I need to
be able to see what I'm doing. But I think
all of the other rooms in the house, I just
I'm not interested in them at full intensity. Maybe the
(21:45):
bathroom too, if you're putting on makeup sort of thing.
But I love the dimmer. I love that they are
so pervasive now throughout our whole design experience. They you know,
they used to be used to be sort of like
an odd ball thing or an outlier or something that
was extra. But now I think people understand the power
(22:05):
of the dimmer, the capability of the dimmer, and just
again being able to control that Ambionce you.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
Know, and Chris I might mention too. You know, if
you live in an existing home or it was built
a long time ago, you can add a dimmer switch
to any switch. It's not something that is only done
in new constructions or when you're changing lighting. Now. It
is a really easy switch to have a dimmer put
on your switch, So keep that in mind. If that's
not something that you knew already.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
That's an excellent tip.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
Yes, and they are pretty easy to switch out for sure,
And okay, on that note, the switches itself, while we
are on the topic of lighting, the switches themselves have
become so much better than the I think, for you know,
since the beginning of probably since Thomas Edison invented the
(22:53):
light bulb, we've all had these awful switches that are
these days, you know, merely plastic little objects that you
push down on and some people wallpaper them so they're
the same seamless blend into the walls, and then sometimes
that's not even worth it.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
But now the plates.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
And the switches themselves are so beautiful unlacquered brass.
Speaker 4 (23:16):
And they have really upped their gain. Yeah, even just
a beautiful like acrylic one that just kind of blends
in with the wall or the wallpaper behind it, and
all the different metals, with even just some edge profiles
that have a nice little extra layer of detail in them.
And they can be done in a modern way too.
They don't just have to be traditional plates. They can
(23:36):
be modern too. When I live in a one hundred
year old house nineteen fourteen, and when we renovated our house,
I kind of wanted to keep the integrity of the
light switch, so I still put in the push button
ones that go back and forth, that toggle just so
it's felt authentic to the age of our home, which
was kind of a nice detail.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
That is fun and I love that that those have
actually come back in vogue, the ones that are push
down and then the ones that are just the little toggles.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Those are fun. I always the toggles.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
I feel like if I had those, I would somehow
pale a part of my body or it it's a
snag a sweater or something on them.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
But they're great. And what I love about something like
the switch plates, like a light switch upping their game
is especially in a new build.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
Home where sometimes you don't have that wonderful architecture that
you do of a historic home, that's another opportunity to
add a design layer that's just a it's pretty, it's
something else because some rooms, even maybe it's not even
an entire home, but some rooms just don't have any
sort of architectural pizaz and so they need those other
(24:51):
elements to carry the weight to make the design creative
and interesting it is.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
It makes it a little more creative, like you mentioned,
and it's one of those things. Sometimes it's a touch
that people are like oh, I've never seen something like
that before, and it's an extra little detail that makes
your house special.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
So we have light by electricity, and we have fireplaces
which come by gas or buy wood. Let's talk about candles, though,
and that's something that's obviously a small element, something that's
very giftable. Let's talk about candles because until I went
(25:29):
to my first trade show, I didn't realize that there
are something like a million candle companies out there. And
maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but there are a lot
of candle companies out there, so the market for these
pretty little pyro moments is vast and not going away
(25:50):
with candles, I have to say now, I don't have
any little ones in my house, so I don't have
to worry about tipping over and.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Fire hazards and that sort of thing.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
But there are the candles that are led now and
that don't have any flicker, no real fire going on.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
So those are nice, but I don't the flicker's not
the same.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
Yeah, I agree. I'm still a flucker for a real
flicker as well, and the real candle flickers not the same.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Do you have any favorite candles? I'm sorry I'm putting
you on the spot for this.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
I really love the Loospa candles I think. I think
all of their sense for the most part, are really
wonderful and just add a nice ambiance to the space.
I love that they have some like very oversized ones.
It's something that I kind of lean into in the
fall and winter months too, specifically on my kitchen island.
(26:45):
It's like twelve inches or maybe even a little taller
candle that's just huge as has five wicks in it,
and it can just burn and just have a really
wonderful feeling in the space.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
They do make wonderful candles. I especially love their series.
Their collection that has the lids and the glass.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Is sort of faceted.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Yes, beautiful, and they come in so many colors and
so many scents, which is really nice.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
I love this.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
I can't really pick a favorite candle. I don't there's
just so many companies. I do love a good fig
scent though, I think that's nice, and I love any
sort of smoky scent.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I'm not so into florals. They can be a little
too pungent for me. I love those masculine, sort of smoky,
deep scents.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Yeah, I agree with you. I'm less florally in my
candles as well too. I like that woodsy spice sort
of a scent when you walk into the space.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
I think one good tip is just because candles are
so giftable and it's easy to buy one for a
host disk gift or a thank you gift, something of
that nature. If you're gifting a candle, gifts some beautiful
matches too, because now there are all these great matches.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
They're decorative, they come in a snazzy little little container,
what be it glass or a box that's decorative and
has the strip on it. So I.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Think that makes sure that you just to maybe elevate
the gift giving experience a little bit, is to make
sure that you include great matches.
Speaker 4 (28:21):
Well, and they look so beautiful. Like you said, the
box is done in as well, so even sometimes they
look just as nice kind of sitting to the side
of the candle rather than having to tuck them in
the drawer with everything else too. And even just the
beautiful little candle snuffer two I think is always a
nice touch that's kind of by the candle.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Yeah, so those are great little accessories that I think
that's something that people don't buy for themselves.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
It's so if.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
You're looking for a gift for the person who has
everything or the person who doesn't have everything, I think
that that's something that they would never buy for themselves.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
The little snuffer.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Also beautiful, and these you can get. There are new
versions and beautiful antique ones as well. Is a good
match strike like those are great because they're you know,
the matches are just all contained in a beautiful glass vessel.
I have a few of those, and I just love
them because they're so sculptural. The only thing with that
(29:15):
is if you do have little ones, maybe maybe not
the best option.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
To have them out.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
Definitely something you have to teach them to stay away from.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Yeah, that curiosity thing will get people. Okay, so let's
talk about too. When we're talking under the umbrella of lighting,
all of these little table top lamps that are usually
LED battery operated. They last for a long time.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
You charge them back up with a USB when you
know when they die down. But they are so much
fun because instead of the silhowe of a candlestick, they
give you the look of a lamp on your table
with these wonderful little pleated shades. I think they're so
(29:59):
much fun in the category is just growing and growing.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
Yeah, it's a wonderful category, and I love it because
you can just layer them in all those kind of
odd spaces too. I mean, they look great in a
book case. They look really wonderful in a kitchen, underneath
your cabinets that kind of canentuck underneath there for a
little extra light to make it cozy in the evenings,
even like a bathroom or just like some of those
secondary areas that you wouldn't necessarily always put a lamp,
(30:26):
but just a small tabletop lamp. I think just is
a wonderful layer in those spaces.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
I mean, I'm always excited when there's a new product
category in the market. But this one solves so many problems.
Because if you live in an old home and maybe
don't have you know, something's not hardwired. Even in a
home that is newer that whoever built the house just
didn't think of that. It's expensive if you want to
(30:55):
come back in and run electricity for the great sconces
or for the book case built ins that you want
a little.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
A little soft glow there.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
So they're so good for all of those apple cations
and you certainly don't have electricity on a dining table.
So the fact now that you can have that wonderful
ambiance is really remarkable.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
It's a game changer in our industry.
Speaker 4 (31:24):
It really is. Yeah. It just has certainly taken all
of those elements and been able to incorporate them into spaces.
There's some that even just have like a little glass
ball that you can just set down, and it was
really remarkable. It's been a game changer for sure.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
So let's talk about We've talked about light. Let's talk
about the textiles.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
And the surfaces and the materials that accompany this season.
And when you talk about fall, and again I'm avoiding
the W word that follows fall just because I don't
like it so much, but these textiles and power certainly
apply there too. You know, we go from summertime it's
(32:04):
all about seersucker and these breezy fabrics, cotton voall and
those light almost barely their textiles to ones at this
time of the year that are a lot heartier, and
the purpose is not only to look different, but to
add so much warmth.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
So leather, leather is a staple.
Speaker 3 (32:29):
I mean, you don't put the leather away during the
summer months at all. But I love the idea of
leather somewhere on the sofa, whether it's a trim, whether
it's a leather pillow, a woven leather pillow, or a
leather sofa itself. Tell me about do you have any
design project that you're working on right now where you
are fashioning some wonderful leather furniture or accessory.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
Well, you know, you mentioned the leather camel Chesterfield sofa
and we just got a new one on the studio
and we just warmed our whole studio up into those feelings.
And I think leather in suede as well. I think
they just add a sophistication and a texture that is unparalleled.
And then you talk about the durability of them and
(33:15):
how they function so well for just staying strong, for
young families, and just different things if you're how you're
using it, and just the beauty of leather. I love
it when it has a little bit of weear to
it or wrinkle in it, and then you throw in
a plaid or just a different tartan and it just
has that warmth of timeless fall patterns.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
So I heard a tip years ago from a designer,
and they said that they always tell their clients, and
their target audience was sort of more not necessarily high end.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
More sort of mid range.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
They said that they always tell their clients that if
they're working on other rooms first and maybe maybe a
kitchen redo, if they have plans at any time to
redo a living room, a family room, any place where
a sofa might be, buy the leather sofa now, because
(34:13):
it will take a few years or many years before
it really looks good, before it has that weather you know,
that wonderful patina, the markings, the scratches.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
That's when leather looks its best.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
You know, any of us who've ever owned a pair
of leather boots or a leather bag or a leather jacket,
it takes a while.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
It takes years. You have to wear it a.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Long time before it has that wonderful look that people
really cove it. And it's different if you want like
a sleek, unblemished sort of leather for fashion or for home,
but usually with leather, when you're talking about that sofa
that belongs in a library or a living room situation,
you want it to be lived in, and.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
That takes time.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
Yeah, it takes time.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
You need to.
Speaker 4 (34:59):
It has to have that a little bit of grit
in it. For sure.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
It does not come off the factory shelves looking that way,
So it doesn't. Yeah, I always thought.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
That was a good tip though, So yeah, it is
so that way. Then it looks perfect when you're ready
for it in the few years when you redo.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
The room, when you need it too.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
And I love the return of Swede right now, so
when definitely having its moment and fashion, and you know,
the furnishings world is never far behind. So you know,
Swede is an interesting material because it can require a
little more care. It's durable, but the swede itself, the
finish itself, can require a little more care. But it's
(35:39):
a different look. It gives you this wonderful matte look.
Speaker 4 (35:45):
I love a little Swede on just the welt of
a sofa or chair. I think it just adds a
little bit of like the texture that it gives to
the piece I think is just a really beautiful look.
Speaker 3 (35:57):
Absolutely a different texture entirety. Absolutely a different texture in
its entirety. And you know, it's funny that we talk
about Swayede having a comeback or making a moment, I
don't feel like it's ever out of style.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
But I guess when the marketing world decides that.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
It's going to be in vogue again, they deliver all
of these new pieces to us that are available. I
guess that's that's what comes out of these these elements
that have been around for decades, for centuries coming back
in vogue. It's just a new version of it and
more material for us to buy, which.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
Is good well, and typically I feel like the new
material also is with a new palette, the colors maybe
are more up to date of what's in style at
the moment and in vogue and leans into those trends.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Sure, I think another pattern, well, we've gone from leather
and swayed. A pattern that really is special and sort
of connotes fall for sure is plaid. And I go
back to, you know, a wood paneled library where you
may have a plaid wing chair. And maybe that sounds
a little law firm ish, but I think with plaid,
(37:14):
plaid has been updated so much and super fashionable colors
and just palettes that are so much more modernized.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
I guess they really are, and they're you know, modernized
with like oversized checks and I think there's I'm a
sucker for a good plaid. I don't think you can
ever go wrong there, and it doesn't. It doesn't have
to feel fall even when you use it other times
of the year. And I think a lot of that
is the color palette of different plaids. I think you
(37:44):
can have some with those beautiful burgundies and the mustard
tones as well as just your nice typical deep greens,
olive greens, and camel colored tones too. So I think
it just layers in really beautiful. And I love a
good plaid throw or velvet pillow. I think it can
(38:05):
just be used in so many different ways, or even
it's beautiful when it's like even a platter check on
a rug in a space I think has a beautiful
element to the room too.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
So I love a plaid carpet in really light tones again,
where you have that moment of sort of palette levity.
It's not so dark, it's not so serious, it's not
so boardroom. The lighter tones, I think again just give
(38:37):
it sort of a modern, more playful complexion than the
serious tones that you that we want in the fall.
But there are so many options, and I think sometimes
plaid can feel a little scary to people because they
think they literally think of a boardroom or a law firm,
And there are just so many options and fun to
put it. Use it as a carpet or a rug,
(39:00):
fun to use it on a ceiling. I mean, I
know you're kind of the queen of decorative ceiling. So
are there times where you've used a wonderful plaid wallpaper
on a ceiling?
Speaker 4 (39:10):
We certainly have. It's a great accent in a library
or study. Even in just a powder bathroom, a good
plaid in there looks great too. It just kind of
warms it up and just has a beautiful accent. A mudroom,
a foyer. I mean, there's so many great places to
use a plaid.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
And the good news is if plaid isn't your thing,
it comes in all forms.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
You can just get a pillow.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
You can just get a throw So there are ways
to introduce it that aren't sort of hardwired to the
home or permanent elements of the home that I think
make it a little more palatable if it's not your favorite,
but you feel like you need a little bit of it.
We just showed a house. This was the first time
I had ever seen this done. They created plaid on
(40:00):
the walls out of mill work. It was the coolest
application I've seen in a long time. It was so
fresh and new, and I'm thinking, I'm sure maybe somebody
else has done that too, but I had not seen
that before, and it was just super fun to see
this pattern that we know that this plaid, and it
(40:22):
was a primary suite, super interesting and it was the
same color as the wall. So you've got this wonderful
texture and this wonderful pattern, but not the seriousness of plaid.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
It was very modernized.
Speaker 3 (40:37):
It was a traditional setting, but it definitely gave you
a new way to look at something so classic.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
Well, it sounds like it's just a subtle way to have,
like you said, the pattern and texture that's not just
in your face.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
Absolutely, let's move to velvet, because you mentioned that a
moment ago.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Velvet is another textile that you know, it's heavy. It's heavy,
so you tend to.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
Think of it more for the cooler months of the year.
I think something special has happened with velvet two over
the years, because it used to be when people thought
of velvet again, they felt they thought of spaces that
were sort of historic and stuffy. And you know, velvet
was very formal and it had a sheene if you
(41:25):
moved in one direction, and then you know, if you
moved at the other direction, it didn't.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
I mean, velvet is a child's friend, I think.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
Because you can you can play with it and pettit
and all of those sorts of things. But velvet now
has taken a turn and it's much more usable casual.
There are the linen velvets and the cotton velots that
aren't so serious.
Speaker 4 (41:49):
Well, it really has, and it's become so much more
durable as well, because it used to, like you mentioned too,
it could easily be kind of napped down or even
just like you said, petting it. So many of the
the velvets now, with some of the technology that they have,
it doesn't have to have that those wear layers. It
can just be very very durable and still be used
(42:11):
in you know, your high use areas of your home.
Speaker 2 (42:15):
And what I love about velvet also is the way
that it wears. Because it is.
Speaker 3 (42:22):
One fabric, it's like leather and durability, but when it
wears down over time, it gives you this great patina
almost and it's still durable. Just because the nap of
it is a little bit worn doesn't mean that it's
not durable. Where other fabrics, you know, when they start
(42:44):
to wear or maybe get a little threadbear.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
A little threadbar and sorry, I'm gonna start.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
That over versus other fabrics that maybe have a hole
or a little threadbear, at some point they're going to
give a little and maybe not perform. Or Velvet that
nap doesn't necessarily mean that the substrate behind it isn't
functional anymore. And that can look great on an old
(43:12):
chair when it just starts to wear down and it
has some age to it.
Speaker 4 (43:16):
Well, and I think too, even velvets that are quilted
or embossed and have different patterns, I mean those make
beautiful pillows or just on an ottoman and give dimension
to the fabric even in a more incredible beauty.
Speaker 2 (43:32):
Yes, velvet is good. So let's talk about the granddaddy
of them all, mow hair.
Speaker 3 (43:37):
So you know, in my dream house where there's not
a camel leather Chesterfield, there is a mohair Chesterfield sofa.
Speaker 2 (43:47):
Mohair is just so it is so beautiful, it's so luxurious.
Speaker 3 (43:51):
It also wears well and I love how it takes
color too, because I feel like I ever see a
mohair that's in a bright, obnoxious color. They're always more
sort of sophisticated palettes.
Speaker 2 (44:08):
I mean, mohair is so special.
Speaker 4 (44:11):
It really is. It's a very luxurious fiber, and you know,
I think it's priced for its chin, its softness, and
even just its durability is something that you don't always
think about too. It's cozy yet elevated, and it's a
quality that's just brings so much warmth to the fall season.
Speaker 3 (44:29):
What about wood tones, And we've alluded to this a
little bit because we talked about a wood paneled library,
but something that I think is really great about the
return of wood tones because they especially in the furniture
world and built ins. We just saw everything painted for
so long, and now the design industry is really embracing
(44:52):
wood tones. But what's different about them are the stains themselves,
the colors of the stains. And I love all of
these sort of mokey black, charcoally kind of stains that
are actually brown.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
That aren't red.
Speaker 3 (45:07):
I think we all some of us have trauma from
if we were alive during the red tone wood days.
But Yeah, I love all of the wood species that
are being celebrated, walnut specifically, but even oak has made
such a comeback, but in all of these different stains
that make it certainly more modern.
Speaker 4 (45:28):
Yeah, I am embracing and love the warmth of the
wood tones that are that are coming back in and
just that rifts on oak in a kitchen is absolutely beautiful.
And just even all the burled woods and different wood
tones that you can use on end tables and case pieces,
and it just it really adds a beautiful warmth to
the space.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
Yes, So, Megan, we've talked a lot about.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
Fall and how it contributes to the world of design,
but fall comes with all sorts of fun too.
Speaker 2 (45:59):
So there are two.
Speaker 3 (46:00):
Things before we wrap up this episode, two ideas that
I would like to discuss.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
First, Halloween.
Speaker 3 (46:06):
I am blown away by this holiday that I care
a little bit about because it's on the calendar and
it's you know, fun to go to a party and
dress up and all of that. But oh my gosh,
who knew it was going to turn into this multi
billion dollar industry with Halloween only stores at the you know,
(46:28):
they're anchoring what's left of shopping malls in America to
sell Halloween merchandise, So I just wanted to.
Speaker 2 (46:35):
Ask, how into Halloween are you do?
Speaker 3 (46:38):
You guys keep it simple with some trick or treating
and a costume.
Speaker 4 (46:43):
Or a pretty cheap It's pretty simple, just because I
don't want my house to look like it's exploded Halloween
for all the time. But my kids obviously love the
looks of it, so I usually, like a week or
two before Halloween, will get more of the more actual
decorations that are more kitchy Halloween out so they can
(47:03):
embrace them, and then they get put back away, so
it's not taking over my house for weeks or months
on end. But you are so right. The Halloween game
has just exploded and how people decorate their yards and
the spiderwebs everywhere, and you know, I think it's fun
of people lean into it, but it's really taken on
(47:26):
a celebration of its own.
Speaker 2 (47:28):
Well.
Speaker 4 (47:28):
I have probably more of a chic harvest look that's
just a little more sophisticated.
Speaker 3 (47:33):
I agree. I'm all about the fall harvest look way
more than I am the Halloween.
Speaker 2 (47:38):
But I mean, we have entire magazines devoted to Yeah,
Hullween cover to cover so and people are super creative.
Speaker 3 (47:45):
That's what's so much fun about it is I love
just to see what people do. Even though I probably
am not going to implement that in my own home,
it's still fun to see what people do. So, you know,
and hey, I'm all about the I'm all about the
candy whizzlers specifically for anybody who cares so along. Finally,
when we talk about fall in this time of year,
(48:08):
it really is about being home.
Speaker 2 (48:09):
We're not our vacations are over.
Speaker 3 (48:12):
If we went away for the summer to a lake
house or a summer home, we're back from those places.
And fall is a wonderful time filled with you know,
it's our time to sort of plan because we're planning
for the holidays that are attached to this time of year.
Speaker 2 (48:31):
But also so much activity, so many.
Speaker 3 (48:34):
Great foods I see on Instagram. I'm not a coffee drinker,
but I understand that there is this obsession with something
called a pumpkin spice latte.
Speaker 2 (48:44):
And you know, I hope everybody.
Speaker 3 (48:48):
I don't know if they're available yet because I personally
don't care, but I hope everybody gets their pumpkins spice
latte soon.
Speaker 4 (48:56):
I know, right, I haven't had one yet either, but
I mean it has taken over a certain marketplace for sure,
even just I mean they have candles that are made
to smell like that latte too, and all those things.
But I think you're right. I think you can't talk
about fall without kind of talking about being home more
those cozy afternoons, the Sunday soups, the orchards, and just
(49:17):
even that feeling of having football on the TV again
is kind of a staple in our house for the
boys just watching a game, and it's it has that
nice fall feeling well, and it's about.
Speaker 2 (49:30):
Being casual too, because you mentioned football, so I'm not
a boy but a huge football lover.
Speaker 3 (49:37):
And it's just it's all of that fun kind of
gathering where things aren't so serious like maybe you're you know,
the holidays are upon us, and that's when we get
a little more formal with a beautiful Thanksgivings tablescape that's
going on, or for Christmas dinner as well, and fall
is about gathering people for again soups Sundays and foot
(50:00):
games and uh, you know, hayrack rides and all of
those sorts of things that you know, we we love
so much making caramel apples and caramel popcorn and popcorn
balls and so many soups. I love soup, So I am.
I've already been in soup making mode. I did it
(50:21):
this past weekend. I have a ridiculous number of tomatoes
to tackle and deal with, and so I did a
lot of soup, a lot of the A juice.
Speaker 4 (50:32):
But do you have a favorite soup you like to make?
Speaker 2 (50:35):
Yes, well, yes, I love a good butternut squash soup.
Speaker 3 (50:43):
But I love a roasted tomatoes to soup. I love
beat soup, and that maybe sounds a little strange to people,
but a roasted beet soup is so delicious to me.
Speaker 2 (50:52):
I don't make that as much.
Speaker 3 (50:53):
Because it's a little more, it's a little more intensive
and involved. But I love potato leak soup. I just
like soup. I don't like ham and bean soup. I
know that's a favorite among a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (51:06):
That's not my thing.
Speaker 4 (51:07):
Yeah, so yeah, And I think I love soups because
they warm up so well, and sometimes I feel like
the flavors better the second day than it was the
day you cooked it.
Speaker 3 (51:17):
It is and I make my soup in mass a
huge abundance, and I put it in freezer bags and
I freeze it that way so it freezes really well too.
So I wish everybody a wonderful fall with delicious soups,
and I hope your football team wins. I hope everybody
(51:38):
who wants one gets their pumpkin spice latte whatever that is.
I suspect that I will try that never. And yeah,
that's my thoughts on fall. Megan, do you want to close?
Speaker 4 (51:50):
Well, yeah, I mean I think we've talked about it.
I think fall is all about layering and the colors
and textures and lighting and the traditions that bring the
warm indoor homes in our lives. And I hope we
all embrace that and enjoy the season.
Speaker 2 (52:05):
Yes, and I know that soon we're going to talk
about our fall favorite so listeners should look forward to
hearing from us about our fall favoritesin.
Speaker 4 (52:14):
Yes, definitely. Well, until next time, stay cozy. Thank you
for listening to this week's episode of Boulevard Beat. If
you enjoyed this episode, please follow along and leave a
review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen so
you never miss an episode, and of course, follow your
hosts on Instagram at Megan bloom Interiors, at CHRISA. Rossbund,
(52:35):
and at Liz Legit. We'll be back next week as
we take a stroll down another boulevard
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