_{Interior Design by Paloma Contreras | Styling by Benjamin Reynaert | Photography by Brittany Ambridge}

There are certain homes that make you feel welcome the moment you walk through the door. They aren’t necessarily the largest, the most beautifully decorated, or the most impressive. In fact, some of the most memorable homes we’ve visited have been relatively modest in scale. What they have in common is a sense of generosity—a feeling that someone has thought about what it means to make another person feel comfortable, included, and entirely at ease.

As designers, we spend a great deal of time thinking about how a room looks, but just as much time considering how it feels. A beautiful room should invite you in rather than keep you at arm’s length. It should encourage conversation, inspire curiosity, and make you want to stay a little longer. To Caroline and I, that is the difference between a room that is simply well decorated and one that is truly wonderful to inhabit.

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1. Exterior

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Like so many of you, I have reached a stage of my life that I am tired of trends, I am tired of bulk in my closet, and I am tired of tons of options. I want fewer options, nicer, finer clothing, and good tailoring. Pretty sure that’s an age thing. I have probably always said this but only recently began acting like I meant it. And, now, I really mean it.

Toward that end, I have been more thoughtful on what pieces to add to my wardrobe this year.

Below are seven items that I have actually purchased and that you will see me in on the reg. Now that my book tour has ended, I don’t have to focus so much on dresses, and so there is not going to be a dress purchase in my receipts this Fall.

A Shearling Coat

I can see this becoming my Winter staple, with everything from a simple white T and vintage Levi’s to charcoal wool trousers and a crewneck sweater. Easy to through on, not too heavy, goes with everything. I do like styling it with the buttons open at the bottom and attached from chest to collar, but pulled out an old Celine leather tie belt to see what it looked like, and I loved the look. The only problem is what to do with the belt once you are inside and you must remove the jacket. That gives me low key anxiety, but I am a trooper. I’ll find a way. I also have this chocolate croc embossed belt from Toteme that I think will look incredible.

Pleated Wool Trousers

Wool slacks have become quite a uniform for me throughout the Fall and Winter. I wear them with everything from loafers and a button-down or sneakers and vintage printed Ts for daytime to a matching jacket, a silk cami, a clutch, and heels for dinner. Because this piece is such a staple in my wardrobe, I have been on the hunt for the perfect cut for my height - 5’6”. I do not have long legs so a higher waist always helps balance my proportions. This pair hits right for me and I find the pleating to be flattering - hides the pooch, if you know what I mean.

An Elevated Jacket

White is having a moment this Fall, in addition to being one of four colors that I find acceptable for clothing. Kidding. Also, not kidding. You do you. When I do me, I rarely wear anything but black, white, tan, or navy. Occasional exceptions for brown or wine. Also, dresses are in a completly different category. I think you can see how clear and definitive this policy is.

That is all to say, a white satin cropped jacket is perfectly within my wheelhouse. It works well with my proportions. And, I love anything that goes with denim when I need a little extra sauce for a casual evening - and could be used for a Christmas cocktail party with a slim, cropped tuxedo pant and heels and a fabulous earring.

I am obsessed with Morgan Stewart’s Renggli, but only recently waded in.

A Pointed-toe Wedge

I love this shoe because it gives the sophistication of a leather pump while offering the comfort of a wedge. From ankle length vintage Levi’s to wool trousers to pencil skirts, these wedges will be the perfect compliment and are in danger of becoming worn out very quickly from over-reliance!

A Polished Clutch

I am frequently lured into bags and pocketbooks that are shoulder bags or top handle, something larger for day. I find, however, that when I am heading out in the evening (albeit more infrequent these days), I want an elevated little something to throw under my arm. Whenever I find that I have a perfect little bag for the night, I am so grateful to my past self for thinking ahead and buying something that has no shot a being a workhorse, but somehow still ends up being a key piece year over year. Wine is so huge for Fall, always, but specifically, this Fall - we’ll see a lot of wine and deep burgundy. And, I love a little texture. The size and detailing of this Khaite ponyhair clutch is perfection.

An Elevated Long-Sleeve White T

Normally, my investment in white cotton jersey tops out at about $100 max. Obviously, I am making an exception for this beauty, but she is rather exceptional - not an everyday T, to be sure. I see this as a perfect way to balance out something super fancy OR to elevate something basic. To wit, adding it over wool trousers or pencil skirts would automatically signal this is a casual - but still elevated - outfit. By the same token, throwing it on with denim or cords and heels would totally eat - as the kids say. And, of course, it will be late November before we are really going to be in need of a sweater here in Alabama. I see endless opportunities wear this top . . . but I will keep you posted. This may very well be both the first and last time I ever make this type of move.

XO,

Caroline

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There are few questions I’m asked more often than, “What paint color is that?” And I understand why. Paint and wallpaper are two of the most transformative tools we have in decorating—and, relatively speaking, two of the easiest ways to completely change the feeling of a room.

But choosing them can be surprisingly difficult.

A color that looks perfect on a tiny swatch can feel entirely different once it is on four walls. A wallpaper you love in isolation has to live alongside the architecture, furnishings, art, and light in a room. And even after years of decorating houses professionally, I still believe there is no substitute for sampling, studying, and seeing how something behaves in a particular space.

In my own home, the palette is a mix of colors I have returned to again and again and wallpapers I simply fell in love with. Some rooms are quiet and restrained; others have more pattern or personality. As with everything I do, I wanted the house to feel collected rather than overly coordinated—to have a sense of continuity without every room telling the same story.

So, for this edition of The Install, I’m opening up my sourcebook and sharing the exact paint colors and wallpapers we used throughout my home: room by room, along with a little context for why I chose each one and how it works in the space.

Consider this the cheat sheet I’m so often asked for—and one I hope you’ll bookmark the next time you find yourself standing in front of a wall covered in paint swatches.

And because Caroline and I approach decorating from our own distinct points of view, we’ll be following this with the same tour through her house. Same idea, two very different homes—and, I suspect, plenty of colors and patterns worth saving.

1. Exterior

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17

Why I Chose It: One of the questions I am asked most frequently about my own home is the paint color of the exterior of our home. I tested dozens of white paints and ultimately, chose my favorite of all white paints, Benjamin Moore White Dove. I love this color because it has just the right amount of warmth and depth. In my years of designing, I have found this color to be nearly foolproof. I can only think of one instance in which it did not work. I wanted the exterior of my house to feel crisp, elegant, and timeless so we kept the brick and trim all the same color.

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I recently spent a few nights at the Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest, Illinois while I was in town to photograph our project on the North Shore. Almost immediately, I found myself thinking about another hotel I love: the Hotel Drisco in San Francisco.

On the surface, the two are quite different. The Deer Path Inn feels like a little slice of England tucked into Lake Forest, with its Tudor architecture, intimate rooms, fireplaces, afternoon tea, and distinctly English sensibility. The Hotel Drisco sits high atop Pacific Heights, surrounded by some of San Francisco’s most beautiful houses, and feels more like an elegant private residence than a traditional hotel.

And yet, they have something very important in common. They are both incredibly cozy. I realize “cozy” may not be the first word that comes to mind when we talk about luxury. We tend to associate luxury with grandeur: soaring ceilings, enormous rooms, acres of marble, impeccable finishes. But the older I get—and the more beautiful places I have the privilege of experiencing—the more convinced I become that the greatest luxury is something much harder to manufacture. We have had the great pleasure and privilege of staying at some wonderful, luxury hotels over the years and I wouldn’t necessarily put the Drisco and the Deer Path in that category. These properties set themselves apart with the feeling of being completely at ease. Luxury here is equated with comfort, personal service, thoughtful touches, and the anticipation of one’s needs.

These two properties understand this instinctively. Neither feels anonymous. Neither feels corporate. Neither seems particularly interested in impressing you with its own importance. Instead, everything seems designed around making you comfortable. They feel, in the best possible way, like houses rather than hotels.

There are intimate sitting areas and comfortable chairs, books and fireplaces, lamps casting pools of warm light. There are places that invite you to sit down for a while rather than simply pass through. The scale feels human. Nothing is overly precious. This is similar to what Caroline and I seek to create in the homes we design.

I have always believed that the most beautiful rooms are the ones that make you want to stay. A room can be impeccably decorated and still leave you cold. Conversely, a room may be slightly imperfect, a little layered, perhaps even a bit eccentric—and yet you find yourself settling into a chair and not wanting to leave.

That distinction fascinates me and there are many lessons that can be applied at home.

The Power of Ritual

_{Interior Design by Caroline Gidiere | Photography by Isabel Parra}

Both hotels also understand something else that I think is incredibly important: the power of ritual. At the Deer Path Inn, there is afternoon tea and milk and cookies in the evening. At the Hotel Drisco, there is breakfast each morning and wine in the evening. These might sound like small amenities, but I think they are much more than that. They create rhythm. They give the day little moments to anticipate. And perhaps most importantly, they give the hotel a personality.

Homes work the same way. When I think about the houses I love most, it isn’t simply the decoration I remember. I remember how people live in them. The coffee made in the same pot every morning. Cocktails in the living room before dinner. Flowers cut from the garden. Candles lit at dusk. Sunday supper. Beautiful linen napkins pulled out on an ordinary Tuesday simply because someone believes Tuesday deserves them, too. These rituals become part of the architecture of our lives and they are what ultimately create the feeling of home.

Hospitality Is Anticipation

_{Interior Design by Paloma Contreras | Styling by Benjamin Reynaert | Photography by Brittany Ambridge}

The other thing that distinguishes both hotels is their service. It is warm and personal without ever feeling overly formal or intrusive. There is a genuine sense that the people looking after you have thought about what might make your stay better before you’ve had to ask. And isn’t that the essence of great hospitality? The clerk at the front desk knew my breakfast order by day two. He also made sure to call for my car to be brought around before I even asked for it.

The best hosts don’t spend the evening repeatedly asking, “Do you need anything?” They have already thought about it. There are drinks within reach. There are plenty of towels. The guest room has somewhere to put a suitcase. There is water beside the bed. Breakfast appears without becoming an elaborate production. True hospitality is anticipation. And as I’ve previously written, anything that feels effortless requires a great deal of effort.

A Sense of Place

_{Interior Design by Paloma Contreras | Styling by Cate Ragan | Photography by Aimee Mazzenga}

Perhaps what I love most about the Deer Path Inn and Hotel Drisco is that neither could be anywhere else. The Deer Path Inn embraces its English identity wholeheartedly. Hotel Drisco feels inseparable from Pacific Heights and the elegant residential neighborhood surrounding it. They aren’t trying to appeal to everyone. They have a point of view.

I think about this constantly in my work as a designer. We live in a time when we have access to the same images, the same inspiration, the same products, and increasingly, the same aesthetic references. It has never been easier to create a beautiful room.It may also have never been easier to create a room that could belong to anyone.

The spaces we remember have personality. They tell us something about where we are and, in the case of a home, something about the person who lives there. Personality will always be more interesting than perfection.

Cozy Is Not the Opposite of Sophisticated

_{Interior Design by Caroline Gidiere}

Perhaps that is ultimately what these two hotels reminded me. Cozy does not have to mean rustic. It doesn’t have to mean cluttered or overly casual. And it certainly doesn’t mean unsophisticated. Somewhere along the way, luxury became associated with enormous spaces, soaring ceilings, pristine surfaces, and rooms stripped of anything that might look imperfect. But I wonder if we have confused impressive with luxurious.

A shaded lamp casting warm light. A deep chair beside a fire. A beautifully made bed. A cup of tea brought to you in the afternoon. Someone remembering your name. None of these things is particularly grand. And yet, they can feel extraordinarily luxurious. Feeling cared for is especially luxurious if you’re a busy working mom who is accustomed to looking after everyone else’s needs.

Perhaps instead of asking whether a room looks finished, we should ask a different question:

Does this room make someone want to stay?

That question changes everything. It makes us think about comfort instead of composition. Lamp light instead of overhead lighting. Somewhere to put down a drink. Books and photographs. Upholstery you can actually sink into. The rituals that happen in the room. The way another person feels when they walk through the door.

After years of perfectly styled, highly polished interiors designed to be consumed in a single image, I find myself increasingly drawn to rooms that ask something different of us. Rooms that invite us to settle in. Rooms that reveal themselves slowly. Rooms that aren’t merely beautiful to look at, but wonderful to live in. Maybe that is the new luxury—or perhaps it was the real luxury all along.

The Weekly Edit

1. See and Be Seen

Antiques at the Gardens, Birmingham’s marquee antiques show/design spectacular just wrapped up over the weekend! Caroline was able to go to the gala and to several star-studded panel discussions. It sounds like this year which happens to be the 20th anniversary of the event, was the best one yet. Gracie Studio showed up and showed out with the spectacular backdrop they set. If you haven’t seen all of the images, head straight to Instagram!

2. A Hot Listing

Middlefield, the former iconic Hudson Valley home of celebrated architect, Gil Schafer has made an appearance on most interior designer’s inspiration boards. It just so happens that it is back on the market after he sold it not too long ago. Some lucky buyer is going to score the house of many people’s dreams. Call us when you do! In the meantime, you can check out the listing here.

3. Paris Fashion Week Favorites

Caroline: These are my favorite looks from PFW so far. The Schiaparelli dress/separates look is by far my favorite look out of Paris - I think it is perfection is being entirely wearable and totally unforgettable. Separates extend the wardrobe so that is genius but I can’t imagine a more elavated look for evening that is not for a formal event. Pairing it with a low-heel mule further underscores this union of wearability and elevation.

The remainder of the looks from Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Balenciaga are ones that I would wear - maybe not a floor length cape, but a cape and white denim and a tan sandal, a fabulous sweater and sweater skirt, an elevated white T plus bootleg mid-rinse denim and a black loafer. All of these are squarely in my wheelhouse and looks I will be trying to emulate in my day-today.

4. The Cozy Edit

_{Clockwise from Top Left: Tierney Chandelier | Miramar English Roll Arm Sofa | Scalamandre Tigre Velvet Pillow | Cire Trudon Josephine Candle | Plumeria Woven Tray | Soane Burdur Leaf Pillow}

Reader Question

Is there a hotel that makes you feel at home through its cozy aesthetic and personalized service?

XO,

Paloma

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One of the best parts of working in design is that there is always something new to discover. Not necessarily new in the literal sense, of course. Sometimes it’s a newly launched collection; other times, it’s an antique we can’t stop thinking about, a maker we’ve only recently discovered, or something that’s been around forever that we’re suddenly seeing with fresh eyes.

Caroline and I are constantly sending things back and forth to one another—screenshots, auction listings, fabrics, furniture, objects we don’t necessarily need but very much want. So, in the spirit of sharing what is currently occupying our design brains, here are five recent finds we can’t stop thinking about.

1. Arjumand’s World Fabric

_{Arjumand’s World Ramage Ocra Wallpaper}

Why we love it:
I fell in love with the eclectic collection of fabrics by Italian brand, Arjumand’s World last year. The designs have a worldly quality to them and I find the colors to be extremely sophisticated.

Where we’d use it:
I tend to use patterns on small, but impactful pieces like pillows, however these gorgeous fabrics would also be fabulous as drapery or upholstery. How beautiful would it be to upholster a headboard in the chic fabric above?

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_{Interior Design by Caroline Gidiere | Photography by Isabel Parra}

There is something about October that makes us want a little more. After months of lightness—linen dresses, sandals, simple al fresco meals, rooms stripped back to their essentials—the change of season seems to awaken an appetite for richness. We want to get dressed again. We want to light the candles before dinner, pull out the good tablecloth, bring the cashmere back into rotation. At home, the things that might have felt like too much in July suddenly feel exactly right: velvet, cashmere, dark wood, patterned textiles, warm brass, a beautiful fixture casting a warm pool of light.

Perhaps it is the changing light. Perhaps it is simply the return to spending more time indoors. Whatever the reason, October always seems to remind us of the pleasure of layers.Lately, that feels particularly appealing.

We talk so much about editing—our homes, our wardrobes, our schedules. There is real value in knowing when to take something away. Restraint is one of the most important tools in decorating, and probably in life. But restraint and richness are not opposites.

_{Interior Design by Caroline Gidiere | Photography by Isabel Parra}

Some of the most beautiful rooms we know are incredibly disciplined, yet they are anything but spare. They have pattern and patina, books and art, old things alongside new ones. There may be a beautiful textile on the sofa, a collection gathered over years, flowers on the table, a stack of books beside the bed. Nothing feels superfluous, but there is plenty to discover. That, to us, is richness.

It isn’t about filling every surface or buying more things. In fact, it may be the opposite. It is about surrounding yourself with things that have enough character to hold your attention—the chair you have owned for twenty years, the antique you carried home from a trip, the fabric you still love every time you walk into the room. A home can be layered without being cluttered, polished without feeling precious, and restrained without ever feeling austere.

Maybe that is what October does so well. It gives us permission to enjoy our things again. We don’t need to reinvent our homes for a new season. We may simply need to notice them differently.

This month, we’re embracing a little more texture, a little more atmosphere, and perhaps even a little more indulgence. After all, there is a time for lightness— but there is also a time to add a little more richness.

1. Something We’re Saving

Paloma: This image of ribbon cuttings from the 19th century French textile firm, E.Lemancel in Paris stopped my Pinterest scroll dead in its tracks the other day. I love the mix of colors. They’ve paired shades that I never would have thought to put together here and it works to great effect. The fact that this dates back to 1892 makes it even more fabulous. Good taste certainly endures.

2. The Fall Wardrobe Addition

Caroline: You’ve probably heard me talk about lace-trimmed shorts and other pieces on the podcast recently. I have loved working this look into my wardrobe, pairing something lacy with something sleek and simple. As we transition into fall, this pair of lace-trimmed pants caught my eye. They’d look great with a plain-tee, cashmere sweater, or with an easy jacket.

3. The Room We Saved

Paloma: This room by Veere Grenney has long been a person favorite and is a masterclass in editing. It is perfect in terms of the ratio between masculine and feminine, new and old, rich vs simple. It feels like an ideal spot to spend a cozy morning or evening, enveloped by the sumptuous, upholstered moss green velvet walls. I would probably be afraid to pair two different floral chintzes so near each other or to use heather gray upholstery in a room with such a rich color palette, but the master makes it work beautifully.

4. On Our Radar: Antiques at the Gardens in Birmingham

_{Image via StyleBlueprint}

Caroline: This week, Paloma will be with me in Birmingham ahead of Antiques at the Gardens, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. High on my list is Friday morning’s conversation between Veere Grenney and Architectural Digest editor-in-chief Amy Astley. Veere has long been one of the designers we admire most for his ability to create rooms that are layered and beautiful without ever feeling overdone. There is always a tension in his work that we find particularly compelling—the grand mixed with the humble, classicism tempered by something unexpected, and an extraordinary sense of restraint even in rooms filled with beautiful things. Paloma and I had the pleasure of hearing Veere speak in Palm Beach a couple of years ago and we both came away from the talk feeling quite inspired. The weekend's lineup is actually remarkable and includes friends and friends of the pod, David Netto, Bunny Williams, Charlotte Moss, Annie Meyers-Shyer, and Nathan Turner among others.

5. The Little Luxury

Paloma: I am currently loving YSE Beauty’s “Like A Gloss” Lip Balm. It has “the restorative benefits of a mask, the nourishment of a balm, and the shiny finish of a gloss.” All I know is that it feels great and I haven’t had dry lips since I started using it. My skin tends to get dry as the weather gets cooler, so I know this will be part of my daily routine for a good while. I currently apply it before bed and occasionally throughout the day if I remember.

6. Currently Coveting

_{Clockwise from Left: DL1961 Bilie Barrel High Rise Pants | Alex Mill Cardigan | Le Specs Sub Zero Sunglasses | Mansur Gavriel Small Everyday Cabas Suede Tote | Mansur Gavriel Dance Ballerina Flats}

The Shopbop Fall Event is happening now and almost everything on the site is on sale for up to 25% off. It can be overwhelming to shop a massive site like this, so I find it helpful to have a list of things I am looking for that season. Right now, I am obsessed with the pants linked above and have been wearing them a ton. They go with everything and are super comfortable and flattering. I’m also shopping for lightweight sweaters to carry me between seasons, a versatile suede tote that is neither too big nor too small, fun flats to dress up otherwise minimal outfits, and I’m currently into oversized aviator sunglasses.

Reader Question

What do you find yourself craving when October arrives— more color, more pattern, more entertaining, better clothes, or simply more time at home?

Until Next Time,

Paloma and Caroline

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Chapters

00:16 — Texas Reveal
02:16 — Hill Country
06:00 — Calamity Club
08:01 — Reading Rules
10:38 — Southern Storytelling
17:41 — Opening Night
20:28 — Hotel Hangups
24:04 — Thoughtful Design
27:13 — Lived Experience
29:59 — Shower Politics
31:24 — Alexandria Homecoming
33:14 — Sofa Saga
43:11 — Holding the Bag
47:22 — Fall Forecast
48:40 — Fluffy Business
51:27 — Evening Affairs
53:47 — Gothic Florals
55:01 — Playful Proportions
55:52 — Bomber Debate
57:46 — Burgundy Season
58:09 — Suede Versus Leather
1:00:36 — Questionable Shoes
1:03:35 — Purple Reign
1:05:33 — Finishing Touches
1:07:05 — Satin Showdown
1:09:17 — Designer Gifts
1:13:10 — Until Next Time

We live in a culture that places an enormous premium on discovery. The new restaurant. The new hotel. The new designer. The new beauty product everyone suddenly swears by. There is always something else to try, somewhere else to go, something new promising to be better than whatever came before it.

Caroline and I love discovering something wonderful as much as anyone. But lately, I’ve been thinking about the opposite: the things we return to. The restaurant where everybody knows your name and your favorite table. The hotel we choose over new destinations year after year. The lipstick we replace before it runs out. The sweater we reach for every year as soon as the air turns crisp. The book we pull off the shelf again. The fabric I’ve specified in more rooms than I can count and somehow still find beautiful.

There is something wonderfully clarifying about repetition. The first time we encounter something, we can be seduced by novelty. The second, third, or tenth time? That is when we know. I feel this is particularly true when it comes to taste. Developing a point of view isn’t only about knowing what you like; it is also about recognizing what you continue to like after the novelty has worn off.

_{Interior Design by Caroline Gidiere | Photography by Isabel Parra}

In our work, there are certain things we have returned to for years: antique furniture, beautiful natural materials, classic textiles, polished nickel, rooms that mix periods rather than adhering to one particular moment. None of these things feels especially “new” to us—and that is precisely the point. They have survived countless trends and iterations of my own taste, and I still find them beautiful.

Our homes are better for this kind of repetition, too. A house filled entirely with the latest discoveries can begin to feel like a catalogue of a particular moment. The rooms I find most compelling tend to contain things their owners have loved for a very long time: the chair that has been reupholstered three times, the painting that has hung in four different houses, the china pattern inherited from a grandmother, the books that somehow make every move.

Perhaps knowing what to return to is its own form of discernment. It means we don’t have to constantly search for the next best thing. We can stop scrolling, stop comparing, and occasionally say: No, actually. I already know what I like.

There will always be new places to visit, new things to discover, and new ideas worth considering. I hope I never lose my curiosity for any of it. But the older I get, the more I appreciate the confidence of returning to something simply because it has earned its place.

So this week, rather than sharing only what’s new, Caroline and I are sharing some of the things we return to again and again—the places, pieces, rituals, and favorites that have passed perhaps the most meaningful test of all: we still love them.

1. The Design Constant — “We’d Use It Again”

Caroline: Slipcovers in cotton chintz. Incredibly practical and always beautiful.

Paloma: Beautiful wallpaper can elevate in many ways. It can provide an element of surprise, a wow moment, texture, movement, color, you name it.

2. The Wardrobe Repeat — “Always in Rotation”

Caroline: Loafers and vintage 501 Levis. From October through March, you will find me in some version of these two on any given day. I probably have a dozen pairs of loafers and twice as many pairs of (now) vintage Levis in a variety of washes and colors. Mixed with varying blazers, sweaters, and bags, I never tire of this cooler weather uniform of sorts. My most favorite recent addition? The Soft Leather Loafer from The Row. If those are out of budget, Tuckernuck has a great version for a fraction of the cost. A good loafer a little bit of ankle peaking below a faded pair of Levis? To me, this is perfection.

Sezane Michele Blazer

Paloma: In my day to day, I’m either in a pretty dress or in jeans with a button down top and if the weather permits, a great jacket to finish off the look.

3. The Beauty Rebuy — “Empty Bottle Status”

Caroline: I actually have a subscription for the One Skin OS-01 Body Moisturizer and I get a little testy if I have to go a couple of days without. This makes a huge, HUGE difference in the texture of my aging skin.

Paloma: SkinPharm’s Youth Serum is a constant in my skincare routine. It is packed with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, Niacinamide, and multiple peptides that instantly improve the look and feel of my skin. It also has a great, lightweight texture that goes on beautifully below make-up. I’ve rebought this countless times over the last few years.

4. The Place Worth Going Back For

Caroline: The Pink Door in Greensboro, North Carolina, just a stone’s throw from the popular Highpoint Market hotel option, The Proximity. From fine antiques and framed botancials to Chinoiserie boxes and bar, desk, and vanity accoutrements, and everything in between, Glenn Lavinder’s The Pink Door is a must stop for me on every trip to market. I usually end up buying more at The Pink Door than I do at Highpoint.

_{A Snap Taken at the Marche aux Puces on a Recent Trip}

Paloma: In terms of design, there is no better place to shop than the Marche aux Puces. I have found countless treasures for myself, my clients, and my store over the years. From fine antique commodes to fabulous mid-century rattan chairs; chic lamps, original art, and interesting pottery, the Puces never disappoints. The famous Paris flea market can be overwhelming if you’re visiting for the first time. While you can take the metro, I prefer to take a car and have it drop me off at Paul Bert Serpette for safety reasons. This is the nicest (and priciest) part of the Puces. From there, you can wander the various markets within the Puces which vary from legitimate dealers selling period antiques to brocantes selling tabletop items, linens, and ephemera of all types.

5. The Ritual — “Again and Again”

Caroline: Every morning, I start my day with a ritual that grounds me for the challenges ahead. I need a slow roll into my morning that starts with warm lemon water and a pinch of Celtic Sea Salt, outside at sunrise. This time alone in the quiet, as nature is waking up, sets an intentional tone of peacefulness for my day. The hydration is intentional as well and allows me to enjoy my coffee later in the morning without guilt.

Paloma: Family time is the way I recharge. It is the ultimate reminder of what the hustle and grind is for during the week. Whether we are having a pizza party movie night at home on a Friday, dining out at on of our favorite local restaurants, or on a family vacation, downtime connecting with my husband, Fabian, and our sweet five-year-old daughter, Margot is incredibly important for me.

6. The Weekly Edit: Caroline’s Picks

The colors in this lightweight tote have been perfect for just about everything I own all summer, and I can’t wait to pair it with browns and taupes and faded denim through the Fall. I would buy this again and again.

Carolina Irving and Daughter’s Concha Plates in Seafoam. I have these in three sizes and use them on the reg for serving light bites in my sitting room. They instantly make everything look more elevated.

Repetto Camille Ballet Flats - on repeat all Fall with all my tailored trousers and dark wash denim à la Kaia Gerber (would that I had her legs). Extremely comfortable, they offer both leather and rubber soles. Don’t sleep on the Mythical Insoles, worth every penny. Find a similar option here.

Everyday Elegance Party Plates - Designed by dear friend, Alex Papachristidis, to be both beautiful and practical for large parties, a set of four runs about $150. I have been collecting for a couple of years now and have more than enough for the buffet at our extended family Thanksgiving or for a large dinner party.

Caroline: Lunya Silk Sleep Dress (I always call it a gown!). I have been wearing these for over a decade; I have four that I rotate nightly. Every year so so, one will wear out and I will replace it with what ever color is currently available. Once I find something as beautiful as it is practical, I have a hard time straying.

Reader Question:

What is something you’ve bought, visited, worn, cooked, or used so many times that you’d recommend it without hesitation?

Until Next Time,

Paloma & Caroline

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_{Interior Design by Paloma Contreras | Photography by Aimee Mazzenga}

There are rooms that are perfectly nice on paper. The furniture is good, the palette is pleasing, everything is where it should be—and yet somehow, the room still falls a little flat. Then there are rooms that have it. They feel layered and inviting. They have personality. You want to sit down, look around, and stay awhile.

After nearly two decades of designing homes, I’ve learned that the difference rarely comes down to spending more money or filling a room with more things. In fact, it is usually the opposite. The most successful rooms aren’t necessarily the ones with the most expensive furniture or the latest pieces. They’re the ones where a handful of thoughtful choices create character, tension, warmth, and a sense that the room has evolved rather than simply been installed.

There are certain elements I find myself returning to time again and time again because I know what they can do for a room. An antique that keeps everything from feeling too new by adding character and a sense of patina. A beautiful lampshade that completely changes an otherwise ordinary lamp, making it feel unique. Art that feels personal and considered rather than simply decorative. Something natural or imperfect to temper all of the polish and ground the space. And almost always, something a little unexpected.

None of these things is particularly complicated. That’s precisely the point. Good decorating isn’t about following a formula, but experience does teach you which details consistently make a difference. These are five I rely on constantly—both in my own home and in the homes I design. Consider them less a set of rules and more a few tried-and-true ways to make a room feel more beautiful, more collected, and ultimately, more like home.

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Chapters

• 00:17 — September Scramble

• 02:24 — Fitness High

• 03:41 — Tennis Trouble

• 07:50 — Television Tolerance

• 12:48 — Austen Adaptations

• 14:22 — Meet Annie

• 17:33 — Fashion Foundations

• 21:04 — Defining Taste

• 24:15 — Designer Collaboration

• 28:55 — Finding Home

• 31:05 — Colcord Character

• 32:34 — Preservation Pressure

• 33:53 — Hard Decisions

• 36:59 — Let It Breathe

• 38:50 — Sharing Sources

• 41:49 — Balance Fallacy

• 44:56 — Storytelling Homes

• 48:07 — Rapid Fire

• 52:20 — Phase Two

• 54:24 — Birmingham Bound

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Caroline and I agree on a lot. We believe in beautiful things, good manners, rooms with personality, buying the best you can afford, and never underestimating the importance of a great hotel. Our tastes overlap often enough that we can usually predict what the other will love. But not always.

For everything we have in common, we are also two women with very strong opinions—and those opinions don’t always align. One of us will champion something the other wouldn’t dream of installing. One will call something timeless while the other is ready to move on. This dynamic is part of what makes hosting a podcast and writing this Substack together so fun. It would be boring if we agreed on everything and had identical taste!

Which, naturally, gave us an idea. Welcome to Paloma vs. Caroline: the same questions, two different answers, and absolutely no conferring beforehand. We’re starting with a little bit of everything—decorating, travel, fashion, entertaining, and the various things we feel quite strongly about.

Keep score as you go. By the end, you may discover whether you’re a “Paloma” or a “Caroline”.

1. The Lightning Round

_{Interior Design by Paloma Contreras | Photography by Aimee Mazzenga}

Chintz or stripe?

Paloma: Stripe

Caroline: Both

Paris or London?

Paloma: Paris forever and always

Caroline: Paris

Brass or nickel?

Paloma: Generally speaking, brass, specifically unlacquered brass, but I will always love polished nickel in a bathroom.

Caroline: It depends; unlacquered brass everywhere except bathrooms and possibly kitchens

Antiques or contemporary?

Paloma: Antiques

Caroline: Antiques

Heels or flats?

Paloma: Flats fit my day-to-day much more seamlessly. Plus, I’m tall, so I don’t need the height.

Caroline: Both: flats for day; heels for night

Hotel or house rental?

Paloma: Hotel— I love room service and amenities!

Caroline: Hotels everywhere except Paris, where I have to pretend to live.

Dinner party or cocktail party?

Paloma: Dinner Party— I like a more intimate setting and I hate small talk.

Caroline: How well do I know the hosts? If not well, cocktail. If well, dinner.

Color or neutrals?

Paloma: Color— Life is too short not to embrace it fully.

Caroline: Colors with neutrals woven through.

2. The Hill I’ll Die On

_{Interior Design by Caroline Gidiere | Photography by Isabel Parra}

A Decorating Trend You Never Want to See Again

Paloma: I would like to send the farmhouse trend on its merry way— far, far away for a very long time. It is still very prevalent in Texas. I can get behind the charm of an authentic farmhouse in the Northeast for instance, but the suburban variety we have here leaves a lot to be desired.

Caroline: If I never see a sliding barn door again, it will be too soon.

Something Everyone Loves that You Don’t Understand

Paloma: Completely neutral rooms— at best, they might feel serene, but I love color too much to leave it out of a space completely. It takes a very deft hand and a big-time budget to make an all-neutral room feel interesting.

Caroline: Rooms decorated in dark, Victorian florals. Unless this is a bar or a study, I don’t understand.

One Thing Worth Spending More Money On

Paloma: Art and accessories to make a space feel layered and personal— It doesn’t matter if you have a mix of the finest antiques and custom furnishings, your home won’t feel finished without art and antiques.

Caroline: The finest antiques you can afford. You can tell a difference. One really fine antique can send a room into the stratosphere.

3. The Ultimate Choice

_{Interior Design by Caroline Gidiere | Photography by Nick Sargent}

A fabulous antique or a fabulous piece of jewelry?

Paloma: This is like Sophie’s choice! A fabulous, one-of-a-kind antique is pretty hard to pass up. I’ve certainly purchased more antiques in my lifetime than I have jewelry, but I wouldn’t say no to a beautiful bauble.

Caroline: Jewels, please! My house is just about finished.

Reader Question

Whose answers did you agree with more? Team Paloma or Team Caroline?

Until Next Time,

Paloma and Caroline

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Shop more of our favorite finds here: https://shopmy.us/shop/theinstallpodcast

Reader Question

What is currently on your beauty wish list?

Until Next Time,

Paloma and Caroline

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_{Interior Design by Paloma Contteras | Styling by Cate Ragan | Photography by Aimee Mazzenga}

Last week, Caroline shared the five fabrics she would happily use forever. Naturally, it got me thinking about my own list. Choosing only five was harder than I expected.

I have been designing interiors for nearly two decades, and in that time, I have looked at more fabrics than I could ever begin to count. I still get excited when a new collection arrives at the studio or when I discover a textile I haven’t seen before. That sense of discovery is one of the things I love most about design. But the longer I do this, the more I appreciate the things that endure.

I’ve always been drawn to the tension between old and new. My favorite rooms are rarely entirely one or the other. I love beautiful antiques alongside clean-lined upholstery, an old-fashioned floral in an unexpected colorway, or a very traditional fabric used in a way that makes you see it differently. To me, that is what makes something a classic. It isn’t frozen in a particular era. It has enough character to carry its history with it, but enough versatility to keep evolving.

The same is true of the fabrics I love most. Some of the patterns on my list have been used by generations of decorators. You may recognize them. You may have seen them in rooms you’ve saved or in houses designed long before Instagram existed. That familiarity doesn’t make me want them less. If anything, I think it proves their staying power.

There can be so much pressure in design to find the newest thing—the fabric no one has seen, the maker no one knows, the antique no one else has found yet. I love the thrill of discovery as much as anyone, but I don’t believe originality depends on novelty. A great decorator can take something familiar and make it feel entirely their own.

Give the same floral to five different designers and you could end up with five completely different rooms. One might use it on a single chair. Another might make curtains from it. Someone else might cover the walls, windows, and bed in it and create an enveloping little jewel box. The fabric hasn’t changed. The point of view has.

I also think the things we return to reveal something about our taste. Trends tell us what we are interested in right now. The things we continue to love after ten or twenty years tell us something much more meaningful.

When I look at my five choices together, I can see so much of what I have always loved about decorating: pattern, history, beautiful color, a sense of tradition, and just enough tension to keep a room from feeling too perfect or predictable.

While I have some tried and true solid velvets and linens that I use time and time again, that didn’t feel as compelling as sharing my favorite patterns. These aren’t necessarily the five fabrics I use most often. Nor am I declaring them the five greatest fabrics ever created. They are simply the ones that have earned permanent residence in my decorating vocabulary. I’ve seen them before. I’ve definitely used them before. And I would use every single one of them again.

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The Install
YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast
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Paloma
Website: www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
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ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline
Website: www.carolinegidiere.com
Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign
TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts
ShopMy: @carolinegidiere

Chapters

00:16 — Part Two
01:23 — Budget Reality
03:07 — Sponsor Strategy
09:37 — Vendor Drama
12:04 — Loans & Sales
15:05 — Tight Timelines
17:34 — Plan Z
18:25 — Disaster Stories
26:40 — Drama City
27:47 — Stay Organized
30:23 — The Payoff
34:01 — Hidden Returns
36:52 — PR Strategy
38:58 — Bankroll It
40:09 — Saying No
43:20 — Rapid Fire
48:46 — Dream Showhouses

Our camera rolls are essentially visual diaries- filled with rooms we want to remember, details we want to borrow, recipes we want to try, places we hope to visit, and beautiful things we aren't quite ready to stop thinking about. Rather than letting them disappear into the abyss of my saved folders (which are a giant mess, by the way!), I’m sharing a few of the things that caught our eye this week—and, more importantly, why. Stay tuned for Caroline’s list soon!

1. Palladian Perfection

If you asked me what my favorite style of architecture is, most days, I’d day it’s Georgian. However, since our Chinoiserie Trip through the English countryside back in May, I have a new and ever-growing appreciation for Palladian and Queen Anne architecture as well. I recently saved this photo of the Palladian House at Middleton Lodge, a beautiful Georgian estate in Yorkshire via @jhiwood_property on Instagram.

2. The Power of One Great Accessory

I tend to keep my accessories on the simpler side. As we head into fall, I love the idea of a long necklace. This fabulous locket, paired with a chic ensemble stopped me in my tracks on Pinterest the other day. Sometimes, a single, beautiful accessory is all you need. Monica Rich Kosann makes beautiful lockets that I’ve had on my wish list for a while now. Etsy is a great source for vintage lockets if the MRK version is not in your budget.

3. When Less is More

This gorgeous vignette by Augustin Deleuze, co-founder of the chic gallery, Pierre Augustin Rose on the Rue Bonaparte in Paris stopped my scroll immediately. This is a masterclass in editing and true curation. We toss around the word “curate” so loosely in the design world, but this is a true example— fine antiques from various periods and of varying provenances brought together in a way that is beautiful and harmonious. While each piece is stunning and special in its own right, the combination works perfectly— none of the pieces overshadow the others. I bow down.

4. The Case for Red— And a Little Something Unexpected

I have been obsessed with the color red for a while now. Something about it feels so fresh to me, yet it also signals deep sophistication. This ad from the Winter 2026 Celine campaign lured me in right away with the bold red print and timeless camel, black, and gold palette. While I neutral nails are universally considered elegant, I am a red nail girl. Short, red nails are my go-to no matter the time of year, so this image really spoke to me. Did you notice the little surprise? The nail on the model’s index finger is painted purple. While you won’t see me reaching for purple polish anytime soon, I love the color combination and the cheekiness of the unexpected.

5. In Good Taste

Percaline, the Brussels-based shop of the talented Julien Devergnies currently has the most charming window display. Everyhing about this is chic— the way the drapery is draped; the rush matting on the floor, the beautiful faux bois chairs with their perfectly charming yellow cushions; the stunning penwork table and Grand Tour vase. Each piece is beautiful, but when paired together the vignette is truly sublime and a signal of Devergnies’ exquisite taste.

The Lesson I’m Taking with Me

Between numbers 3 and 5, I’m inspired to pare back some of the styling around my house. I don’t typically consider myself a maximalist, but I definitely gravitate towards more “stuff”. As I’ve mentioned in a recent Substack article, I firmly believe that taste is something we are constantly refining. By absorbing images and details, we can train our eye to notice beauty, elegance, and in this case, the deft hand of two skilled editors who design with exquisite restraint.

What Have You Saved?

Send us the room, object, destination, or idea you can't stop thinking about. We may include a few reader saves in an upcoming edition.

XO,

Paloma

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_{Interior Design by Caroline Gidiere | Photography by Brian Woodcock}

Few things are more exciting to a design lover than discovering something new. A fabric you’ve never seen before. An antique you can’t stop thinking about. A color combination that suddenly makes you look at a room differently. These flashes of inspiration say something of our tastes and preferences, to be sure. But after years of looking at beautiful things, it seems clear that what one returns to again and again is a truer reflection of one’s taste.

On any given day, I see a lot of fabrics. New collections arrive relentlessly. Samples pile up. Something I was completely obsessed with five years ago may barely register now.

And then there are those patterns that somehow rise above all of the noise.

For me, centuries old florals—the ones that have stood the test of time—are the foundation of my design aesthetic. The ones I see used in rooms designed three hundred years ago that I still use today. The ones you realize your grandmother used in her guest bedroom or your aunt used in her sitting room. I love that sense of continuity. Bringing those fabrics forward today, giving them a fresh life, always feels right to me. In this sense, I never stop to ask myself if I should be using this pattern because I (or others) have used it so many times before. Rather, I ask myself if this pattern is right for this room, this space, and this client.

There is a temptation in design—especially now, when we are exposed to so many images—to believe that good design means finding something no one else has used yet. For me, however, good design means using classics in a way that feels fresh and entirely unique to the client. The magic is never in the fabric alone. It’s in the mix.

When Paloma and I started talking about the fabrics we return to again and again, we decided to make ourselves choose just five. This is not a definitive list of the ten greatest fabrics ever made. These are simply five patterns each that have serve us well.

This week, I’ve set out the fabrics that always seem to find their way into the houses I design. The group includes three florals, a stripe and an animal print. Sometimes quiet, sometimes bold, I never go long without reaching into my fabric library for one of these.

Next week, Paloma will share hers.

But tell us, if you could choose just five fabrics, which would you choose?

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Paloma and Caroline continue to endure the on-going Southern summer heat and humidity, a Botox clock that suddenly seems to be running fast, and the Sisyphean task of growing out one’s hair—fortified by probiotic ice cream and a root touch-up pen stashed in the car console. They celebrate Substack’s slower, meatier charms and make a spirited case for shelter magazines to come back thicker, more beautiful, and worth paying for. Then the gloves come off on designer showhouses: career-making exposure, multiple-six-figure rooms, the glamour of being assigned a basement hallway, and the hard-won truth that one great photograph can matter more than square footage. Part one ends with the volume turned up—and the really juicy disasters still waiting in the wings.

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The Install
YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast
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Paloma
Website: www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign
ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline
Website: www.carolinegidiere.com
Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign
TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts
ShopMy: @carolinegidiere

Chapters

00:17 — Heat Wave
02:16 — Beauty Maintenance
04:20 — Full-Fat Treats
07:44 — Hair Rescue
11:28 — Substack Revival
14:25 — Industry News
15:34 — Print Matters
19:42 — Showhouse Secrets
22:17 — Showhouse History
23:38 — Career Momentum
26:53 — Basement Reality
30:49 — Invitation Only
32:50 — Room Strategy
35:13 — Budget Shock
36:40 — Small Spaces
39:07 — Creative Freedom
43:44 — Announcement of Part Two

_{Interior Design by Paloma Contreras | Styling by Cate Ragan | Photography by Aimee Mazzenga}

There is something about September that makes me want to get things in order.

Maybe it’s a holdover from all those years of going back to school—the fresh notebooks, new shoes, sharpened pencils (is there a better smell?!), and the sense that you were being given a clean slate. Even now, September arrives and I feel an almost instinctive desire to regroup.

By the end of summer, I’m usually ready for it. I love the looseness of the season—the travel, long days, dinners that stretch late into the evening, and the general permission to abandon the usual routine— at least as much as one can while working full-time. But eventually, all that freedom starts to feel a little chaotic. The calendar fills up. The house needs attention. The closet seems to contain everything except what I actually want to wear.

I start craving structure again. Not a dramatic reinvention. I have never been particularly interested in the idea that we need to become entirely new versions of ourselves every few months. What I want is something much simpler: a reset.

_{Interior Design by Paloma Contreras | Styling by Cate Ragan | Photography by Aimee Mazzenga}

For me, that usually begins with editing. Clearing off my desk. Cleaning out a drawer. Putting away the things I haven’t used in months. Taking stock of my closet and remembering what I already own. Getting fresh flowers for the house. Making a dinner reservation with friends we haven’t seen enough of. Returning to the routines that somehow fell away during summer.

There is a parallel to decorating here that I find myself thinking about often. When a room isn’t quite working, our first instinct is usually to ask what it needs. Another chair? A new lamp? Something for that empty wall? But sometimes the better question is: What could come out? I often say one of the most important qualities of a successful designer is that they be a fierce editor.

A little breathing room can completely change the way we see what was there all along. The same is true of our closets, our calendars, and perhaps our lives in general. We are constantly encouraged to add—to buy something, start something, go somewhere, become something. September reminds me that renewal can come from subtraction, too.

_{Interior Design by Paloma Contreras | Styling by Cate Ragan | Photography by Aimee Mazzenga}

Once you’ve cleared a little space, you begin to notice what you actually want to bring back in. The blazer you forgot how much you loved. Cooking dinner on a Sunday night. Reading before bed instead of scrolling. Setting the table on a Tuesday. Having company over for dinner. The small rituals that make ordinary life feel a little more considered.

That may be what I like most about a September reset. It isn’t really about starting over. It’s about returning to yourself after the lovely disruption of summer—and deciding, with a little more intention, what deserves a place in the season ahead.

So this week, we are taking stock: what we’re keeping, what we’re editing, what we’re returning to, and, yes, a few things we’re very happy to bring in.

What We’re Watching

We started watching Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen just in time for Season 2 to drop on Netflix and were instantly hooked. I love the beautiful scenes filmed at Badminton Estate. The protagonist, played by Theo James is pretty easy on the eyes, too. My husband, Fabian loves the action-packed storylines that keep us guessing. When you pair that with witty dialogue and the premise of posh Brits behaving badly, it’s a must-watch. Check out the trailer here.

What We’re Listening To

Caroline and I are both fans of Smartless, the wildly successful podcast hosted by Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes. The rapport between these three funny friends is hilarious and they get the highest-caliber guests. Just this past week, I listened to episodes with Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock. Over the weekend, I listened to the episode with Hugh Grant. Apparently, it originally aired back in 2024, but it’s worth a listen just for Hugh’s witty, self-depracating humor alone.

A Favorite Recent Purchase

In our recent post about “The Beauty Products that Have Earned Permanent Residence”, I mentioned that I am not apt to change up my routine very often. That’s not to say that I don’t purchase and try new products a few times a year. They just don’t all become part of my permanent routine. I’ve been using Yise Beauty’s Peptide Stacking Duo for a bit now and it is truly a gamechanger. I am obsessed! You start with the Xtreme Glow Dewy Peptide Plumping Serum and then layer on the Xtremely Quenched Peptide Instant Glow Moisturizer. These products truly deliver on what their names say they do. My skin immediately looks hydrated, more even, with a beautiful glow that I haven’t achieved with any other serums or moisturizers.

An Exciting Launch

Anytime a new shelter publication hits the scene, it’s cause for excitement. In recent years, we’ve gotten Frederic, Cabana, and Milieu. Now, Homes & Gardens is launching Anthology, a biannual journal for U.S. readers. At the helm, sits friend of the The Install, Benjamin Reynaert who has taken on a post as U.S. editor for Homes & Gardens. We love all things with an English sensibility and have discussed the need for more beautifully, produced, truly inspiring and aspirational publications stateside on the pod, so we are very excited to see what Anthology is all about.

XO,

Paloma

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