We’re thrilled to welcome Mallory Robbins and Elizabeth Bennett of Kansas City’s design duo KOBEL + CO, who are celebrated for their distinctive style that seamlessly blends timeless treasures with modern aesthetics to create uniquely intimate spaces.
Mallory and Elizabeth share their secrets for crafting moods that capture both heart and style, kicking things off by diving into their client-centered approach, where understanding the desired feel and experience shapes the design journey. You’ll love their tips on using scale, texture, and layered lighting to transform any room into a moody masterpiece.
The design duo also explore the return of traditional entertaining spaces post-pandemic and share great advice on making bold choices in the kitchen. Don’t miss their take on designing imaginative kids’ rooms, where creativity knows no bounds!
***Watch this week’s episode as recorded in video form on the Ballard Designs YouTube Channel***
What You’ll Hear On This Episode:
- 00:00 Introduction to the How to Decorate Podcast
- 00:32 Meet the Guests: Mallory Robbins and Elizabeth Bennett
- 01:10 Design Philosophy: Capturing the Right Vibe
- 01:50 Client-Centered Design Approach
- 06:33 Post-Pandemic Design Trends
- 14:08 The Importance of Scale in Design
- 17:21 Balancing Function and Aesthetics
- 27:58 Styling Tips and Tricks
- 30:34 Accessorizing: Adding Personality to Your Space
- 31:54 The Art of Rearranging and Styling
- 33:26 The Beauty of White Kitchens
- 36:36 Making a Statement with Bold Marbles
- 41:59 Designing Kids’ Rooms with Personality
- 46:14 Rug Selection and Room Coordination
- 55:02 Final Tips and Farewell
Decorating Dilemma:
My husband and I bought our first house last year and I have had so much fun decorating it and incorporating ideas from the podcast!
When you first walk into our house, our office/library is on the left and formal dining on the right. We decorated the office and painted it the slate tile color I’m obsessed with. I have finishing touches like wall art to do in the office, and I think I want to re-orient the desks but the thing that is really stumping me in rugs in both the office and the nearby dining room. I bought these cheap white ones just to cover the floor temporarily about a year ago but I am now on the hunt for replacements.
I’m just not sure color wise what might look good. I was looking at the Ballard “Catherine” rug and am curious your opinion on that. Also – and the biggest question I have is – in a space like this, should all the rugs be the same, or just coordinate? So, depending on the rug, would I need to replace that front door runner?
(Please excuse my Halloween decor prep!) Thanks for your help!!
– Lauren
Hi, Lauren!
Mallory and Elizabeth recommend anchoring both spaces with complementary sisal rugs for texture and using a unique-patterned runner to tie the spaces together. Additionally, they suggest rearranging the office furniture to create inviting zones while leveraging the beautiful bookshelves as focal points.
Best of luck, Lauren, and we can’t wait to see how your inviting spaces come together!
– How to Decorate
Also Mentioned in This Episode
- KOBEL + CO | Website
- @kobelandco | Instagram
- Ballard Designs
- Watch the Full Episode w/ Images: Ballard Designs YouTube
Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.
Happy Decorating!
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