Ep. 222: stylist & author Melissa Penfold
b'We are joined today by our first Australian guest ever! Melissa Penfold is Australia\\u2019s foremost authority on style and design, a bestselling author, columnist, editor, and journalist. She calls her book Living Well by Design the ultimate decorating book. Melissa talks about keeping design simple, functional, and uniquely you. We also discuss a lot of pointers from her book to help you create a style that makes you happy.\\nWhat You\\u2019ll Hear on This Episode:\\n\\n\\nWhat was Melissa\\u2019s process and selection for creating her book?\\n\\nWhy Melissa doesn\\u2019t think design is \\u201chard\\u201d.\\n\\nHow to play up your home\\u2019s strengths.\\n\\nHow to differentiate your house especially in a subdivision.\\n\\nWhat are Melissa\\u2019s g0-to design elements?\\n\\nHow to shop for quality no matter your budget.\\n\\nWhy having a variety of textures is so important.\\n\\nIt\\u2019s important to use every room in your house; and make them all your happy place!\\n\\nHow does design in Australia differ from design in the US?\\n\\n\\nDecorating Dilemma\\nHi Emily,\\nWhat would make the biggest difference of all is to open up the entire back as one large door ceiling to floor. I\\u2019m not sure if that\\u2019s in your budget, but it would make it fabulous! However, if you want to stick with what you\\u2019ve got you can correct the window and sliding door by getting rid of the vertical blinds and hanging new curtains from the ceiling. Hang them on the left on a metal rod and use fabric the same color as the walls; it doesn\\u2019t have to be expensive but use it in abundance. Go wider than the window and do a proper Roman shade instead of faux. I like the floors and the tulip table, but I would lose the tablecloth and put the chairs around the table in a pair. I would also keep the banquet and the Ikea cabinet. If you want to change the paint just carry it through the whole space. It\\u2019s a lovely color, but you could go slightly warmer with less grey and more beige. I would also change the handle on the sliding glass door to something more modern. A very large, rectangular rug in that space would also anchor the whole area.\\nOne thing I would do outside is get two large potted trees just outside that door; maybe orange or olive trees. You could even grow something along that fenceline--jasmine smells lovely and grows like wild!\\nGood luck, Emily! You\\u2019re 90% there. Please send us photos when you\\u2019re done!\\n\\nMentioned in This Episode:\\nMelissa Penfold\\nMelissa Penfold on Instagram\\nLiving Well by Design'