Affordable Interior Design Presents Big Design, Small Budget

Betsy Helmuth and guest Erin O'Keefe discuss achieving a "wow" factor quickly, the importance of shapes, the rule of odd numbers, and using trays in design. They also cover mixing patterns, the need for a splash of color, and promote online classes and premium memberships. 0:00 Online class bundle promotion 1:07 Affordable Interior Design classes pricing 2:25 Introduction of guest Erin O'Keefe 5:02 Quickest way to achieve a "wow" factor 6:21 Importance of shapes in design 10:13 The rule of odd numbers in styling 12:00 Betsy's shortcut of using trays 17:03 Mixing patterns in design 23:27 Opinion on the necessity of a splash of color 25:13 Premium membership promotion - Adding a statement piece with bold texture or volume can instantly elevate a room's design. - Incorporating varied shapes, especially unexpected ones like circles, can make a space visually captivating. - When in doubt, adding nature elements like flowers or greenery can bring a space to life and make it feel more inviting. Additional show no

Betsy Helmuth shares Fourth of July decor tips, strategies for making small spaces appear larger, and ideas for personalizing nurseries. She also discusses creating a zen bedroom and designing around unwanted furniture. Tune in for closing remarks, submission info, and social media updates. 0:00 Betsy Helmuth: Premium membership and bonus content 1:18 Speaker 2: Introduction and welcome 1:33 Betsy Helmuth: Fourth of July greetings and design thoughts 2:07 Betsy Helmuth: How to make a small space appear larger 5:21 Betsy Helmuth: Nursery themes and personal touches 9:00 Betsy Helmuth: Creating a zen and restful bedroom 13:18 Betsy Helmuth: Designing around an unwanted recliner 17:18 Betsy Helmuth: Closing remarks and ways to submit questions 17:44 Betsy Helmuth: Announcement of YouTube channel and social media - Utilize larger pieces of furniture in small spaces to avoid the cluttered look caused by multiple small items. - Incorporate light blue elements like wall paint, drapes, or bedding to create an expan

Betsy Helmuth discusses premium membership benefits and answers audience questions on topics like hiding a TV, creating focal points, and drawing floor plans. She also covers tools for floor plans and mood boards, hand rendering space plans, and renovating to sell a condo. 0:00 Premium membership benefits 1:17 Introduction 1:32 Audience questions 2:13 Hiding a TV 5:28 Creating other focal points in a room 6:30 Drawing floor plans 8:05 Floor plan and mood board tools 10:25 Hand rendering space plans 13:06 Renovating to sell a condo 17:50 Thank you and closing remarks - Consider wall-mounted cabinets or sliding panels to conceal your TV, and create other focal points in the room like interesting art or styled bookcases to draw attention away from it.  - Use easy-to-navigate online tools like the Ashley Home Furniture Room Planner, Roomstyler, or Canva for creating floor plans and mood boards, or go old-school with a scale ruler for hand-rendered plans.  - Before undertaking any renovations to sell your proper

Betsy Helmuth discusses finding and sizing art on Etsy, answers Sherry's question about organizing a room, and highlights the importance of interior design. She also announces a new YouTube channel and offers details on premium membership and an online class bundle. 0:00 Introduction and premium membership offer 1:25 Betsy Helmuth greets the audience 1:47 How to send in questions 2:18 Finding art on Etsy 4:26 Sizing art above furniture 5:23 Art size for a steamer trunk bar 6:15 Questions from Sherry, a college student 7:01 Organizing the design of a room 8:28 Importance of interior design 12:27 Online class bundle offer 21:18 Announcing the new YouTube channel - Etsy can be a great source for art if you use specific search terms and save your favorite stores to receive tailored recommendations. - To determine the size of art above furniture, use the 50-75% width rule based on the furniture's typical state, whether open or closed. - Creating a functional room starts with identifying all the room's necessary

Betsy Helmuth discusses popular design colors, choosing nightstands for cherry wood beds, and using black tile in small bathrooms. She answers listener questions on the best places for design inspiration and using two chandeliers in one room. Plus, an exciting YouTube channel announcement. 0:00 Betsy Helmuth: Are you a fan 0:31 Benefits of becoming a premium member 1:32 Introduction and welcome 2:07 Popular colors used in design 4:06 Choosing nightstands for a cherry wood bed 6:40 Black tile in small bathrooms 9:58 Krista's question: Best country or city for design 12:25 How Betsy's style has evolved over time 15:14 Jennifer's question: Two chandeliers in the same room 16:33 Announcement of the new YouTube channel 18:01 Thank you and closing remarks - Blues, grays, and beiges are popular because they are accessible and unobtrusive, making them a safe starting point for clients afraid of bold colors. - Contrasting nightstands with a cherry wood bed help avoid a monotonous look and create a visually interesti

Betsy Helmuth announces a new premium membership, reflects on the podcast’s journey, and thanks listeners. She answers questions on curtain panel calculations, reupholstering sofas, accessorizing coffee tables, painting wood trim and kitchen cabinets, and combining design styles. 0:00 Announcement of premium membership and benefits 1:26 Introduction to episode 103 2:06 Reflection on the podcast journey and milestones 3:42 Appreciation for listeners and introduction to Q&A segment 4:07 Curtain panel calculation and recommendation 6:22 Advice on whether to reupholster a sofa 8:05 Tips for accessorizing a coffee table 12:35 Continuation of Q&A segment 13:18 Considerations for painting wood trim 16:41 Advice on painting kitchen cabinets 18:01 Combining multiple interior design styles - You don't need to buy expensive double-wide curtain panels; instead, purchase standard-sized panels and have them hemmed together at a local dry cleaner for a more affordable solution. - It's generally not worth the cost to reuph

Betsy Helmuth introduces premium membership and guest Tina Williams from Tripp Bound. They discuss affordable family vacations, balancing repeat trips with new experiences, and the best times to book travel deals. Tips for weekend getaways and packing essentials are also shared. 0:00 Introduction to premium membership 1:18 Betsy Helmuth introduction and summer travel 1:39 Introduction to guest Tina Williams from Tripp Bound 2:24 Tina Williams discusses her company 4:02 Tips for planning affordable family vacations 9:06 Balancing repeat vacations with new experiences 10:20 Best times to book for travel deals 14:47 Planning weekend getaways for couples 19:03 Packing tips and overlooked essentials 27:04 Closing remarks and thank yous - Embrace the idea of planning a family vacation within a budget and don't hesitate to take shorter, more manageable trips if a bigger vacation isn't feasible. - Consider destinations that offer a mix of relaxation and activities, such as urban escapes or places like Sedona and La

Betsy Helmuth and guest artist Monica Schulman discuss the benefits of premium membership, tips for selecting art and framing photography, and the difference between art prints and original paintings. They also share details on an Affordable Interior Design class bundle and where to find Monica's work.   0:00 Premium membership benefits 1:17 Introduction to Betsy Helmuth 1:55 Introducing guest artist Monica Schulman 3:15 Monica Schulman's background in art 7:38 Tips for choosing art for your home 11:28 Discussion on art prints vs. original paintings 18:26 Affordable Interior Design class bundle promotion 24:45 Tips for framing photography 31:21 Where to find Monica Schulman's work 32:12 Show conclusion and thank yous   - Choosing art for your home should be a personal and emotional decision, focusing on pieces that resonate with you and bring you joy.  - Printed paintings can be a beautiful and affordable way to enjoy art, as long as they are produced with quality materials and attention to detail.  - When fr

Betsy Helmuth addresses Roseanne's design dilemmas, covering great room furniture arrangement, coffee table selection, window treatments, and modernizing an inherited dining set. Lighting tips for dining and kitchen areas are also shared. The episode includes announcements about premium membership and online classes. 0:00 Premium membership announcement 1:17 Introduction by Betsy Helmuth 1:41 Listener spotlight: Roseanne's design dilemmas 6:26 Great room furniture arrangement 15:43 Coffee table selection 25:45 Window treatment solutions 31:22 Dining room and kitchen lighting 36:40 Modernizing inherited dining set 42:02 YouTube channel and social media announcement 43:39 Thank you and closing remarks - A sectional sofa can significantly enhance a living room's functionality, but its placement should prioritize both comfort and room flow rather than just optimizing audio equipment. - Choosing the right coffee table for a large sectional should balance both aesthetics and practicality, with considerations like

Betsy Helmuth discusses premium membership benefits, then dives into listener Vanessa's bicoastal living challenges. They explore budget-friendly decor for large bathroom walls, maintaining cleanliness, and choosing art. Vanessa's living room style and lighting issues are tackled with mirror and lighting solutions. 0:00 Introduction and premium membership benefits 1:17 Introduction to special episode with listener Vanessa 2:31 Vanessa's bicoastal living situation and challenges 4:53 Decorating large bathroom walls on a budget 7:16 Cleanliness and aesthetics in bathroom decor 9:00 Series of art for bathroom walls 10:37 Vanessa's living room style and lighting challenges 11:36 Recommendations for large mirrors 14:10 Additional lighting solutions for dark spaces - Use symmetrical, simple, and clean art pieces in the bathroom to maintain a fresh and organized look. - Opt for a large mirror in the living room to reflect light and create the illusion of more space, while staying within a budget. - Incorporate lo

Betsy Helmuth introduces the premium membership and special guests, including children, who share their thoughts on furniture. Betsy covers using mirrors, adding visual interest to windows, and mixing wood tones. She also answers a kid-friendly design question and gives rug recommendations for homes with kids.   0:00 Introduction to premium membership 1:17 Show intro by Speaker 2 1:31 Introduction of special guests 2:01 Discussion with children about furniture 2:55 Using mirrors in home decor 3:52 Adding visual interest to windows 5:02 Favorite piece of furniture in the house 6:09 Tips on mixing wood tones 7:05 Sign-off with children before commercial break 9:14 Kid-friendly design question from Valerie 13:36 Rug recommendations for homes with kids 16:12 Announcement of new YouTube channel and social media links   - You don't need a high-end designer or a lot of money to achieve a luxurious look in your home. - Outdoor pillows and Sunbrella fabric are excellent choices for kid-friendly upholstery that can wi

Betsy Helmuth discusses the latest trends in interior design, including the black and white trend and the versatility of lucite. She provides budget-friendly tips to revive a space, recommends design products, and shares advice on starting a design firm. Plus, announcements on premium membership and a new YouTube channel.   0:00 Premium membership announcement 1:25 Listener questions and appreciation 2:11 Trends in interior design 3:17 The black and white trend 5:12 The versatility of lucite 6:46 Budget-friendly ways to revive a space 10:51 Recommended design products 13:03 The importance of a good sectional 17:00 Advice on starting a design firm 22:38 The impact of press on getting clients 25:09 Announcement of new YouTube channel   - Adding black and white elements, such as zigzags or stripes, can easily fit into modern, contemporary, or mid-century spaces for a trendy look. - Velvet is a timeless classic that works best in smaller doses like chairs or pillows, as it can show wear and stains more easily on

Betsy Helmuth and Kelsey Sarock discuss working with various clients, managing a muddied personal style, and overcoming an addiction to buying decor. They also cover flexible schedules, online class bundles, and virtual transformation plans, ending with a key design tip. 0:00 Introduction 1:33 Spotlight on designers 3:07 Working with different clients 6:32 Muddied personal style 9:13 Addiction to buying decor 12:03 Flexible schedule 17:39 Online class bundle 18:52 Virtual transformation plan 26:22 Client relationships 32:16 Final design tip - You don't need a high-end designer or a lot of money to achieve a luxe look; being your own interior designer with a small budget is entirely possible.  - Working with diverse clients and styles keeps the design process interesting and ensures that each space is unique and personal. - The virtual transformation plan offers a two-hour online experience where clients leave with a complete floor plan and a shopping list of six to eight items, making it a quick and efficie

Betsy Helmuth introduces a premium membership and a new designer discount shopping service. She answers listener questions about home buying tips, shoe rack recommendations, and baby room colors. The episode also features an online class bundle promotion and announces a review contest winner. 0:00 Introduction to premium membership   1:25 Betsy Helmuth welcomes listeners   1:54 Betsy discusses getting personal with listener questions   2:18 Announcement of new designer discount shopping service   7:45 Listener question from Elizabeth about home buying tips   16:47 Introduction of online class bundle promotion   17:17 Announcement of review contest winner   19:28 Listener question from Katie about shoe rack recommendation   27:38 Listener question from Amy about baby room colors   30:15 Closing remarks and credits - Designer discount shopping service provides access to high-end discounts for a flat fee, potentially saving clients up to 30% on purchases over $3000. - Betsy Helmuth offers the opportunity for l

Betsy Helmuth discusses the launch of visual content on new platforms, including a YouTube channel and social media pages. She highlights her favorite podcasts and a collaboration with Gimlet Media's Open For Business and eBay. Betsy also shares her journey with Affordable Interior Design and talks about reinventing the business. 0:00 Introduction to visual content on new platforms 0:32 Announcement of YouTube channel and social media pages 1:46 Betsy Helmuth's favorite podcasts 2:43 Collaboration with Gimlet Media's Open For Business and eBay 3:13 Last day of iTunes review contest 5:05 Introduction to Open For Business Season 2 9:38 How to reinvent your business 10:57 Betsy Helmuth's journey with Affordable Interior Design 20:33 Reinventing Affordable Interior Design 35:19 Thanks and credits 36:22 Sponsor messages: BigCommerce, eBay, and ShipStation.com - Affordable Interior Design now has a YouTube channel, Instagram, and Facebook to help listeners visualize design concepts discussed on the podcast. - Bet

Betsy Helmuth discusses strategies for sharing and organizing spaces, from entryway tips to adding plants and artwork. She also addresses cohabitating challenges, synthetic fiber rugs, and personalizing with pillows. Plus, a listener's question on setting up a TV and computer in a small living room. 0:00 Online class bundle promotion   1:39 Sharing a space and cohabitating challenges   2:51 Romy roommate finding app collaboration   3:56 Entryway organization strategies   5:56 Investing in artwork for shared spaces   7:22 Adding plants to shared spaces   8:14 Choosing synthetic fibers for rugs   10:08 Personalizing shared spaces with pillows   18:06 Question from Ann Marie about TV and computer setup in small living room   21:16 Premium membership promotion - Understand the habits and preferences of your roommates to create an organized and functional entryway that works for everyone. - Invest in artwork and synthetic fiber rugs to maintain a stylish and low-maintenance shared living space. - Incorporate pla

Betsy Helmuth discusses a Buzzfeed article on extreme home decor, including a disembodied hand lamp, creepy dolls under a cloche, fake books, and partial horse decor. She also promotes her online class bundle and announces the Affordable Interior Design YouTube channel. 0:00 Online class bundle promotion 1:25 Introduction by Betsy Helmuth 1:42 Buzzfeed article on extreme home decor 2:14 Disembodied hand lamp discussion 5:52 Creepy dolls under a cloche 8:01 Fake books from Restoration Hardware 11:04 Suffering partial horse decor 20:26 Affordable Interior Design YouTube channel announcement 40:38 Closing remarks and podcast promotion - Throw pillows and plants can sometimes be overdone, leading to a cluttered and uninspired look. - Fake decorative items, such as books and animals, often come with high price tags and can lack authenticity and charm. - Unconventional decor like disembodied hand lamps, faceless rabbit lamps, and antler chandeliers can add a whimsical or eerie touch but may not always be practica

Betsy Helmuth introduces premium membership benefits, discusses Valentine's Day, and how to find the perfect designer match. She covers key questions to ask a designer, the importance of practicality and transparency, realistic design timelines, and answers listener questions. 0:00 Premium membership introduction 1:25 Valentine's Day and love 2:14 Finding the perfect designer match 3:02 Critical questions to ask a designer 6:29 Practicality in design 9:15 Transparency in design services 12:25 Design solutions for real life 13:31 Realistic design timelines 15:26 Understanding the designer's catch 17:40 Listener questions and answers - Finding the right interior designer involves asking about their approach to understanding your style, ensuring their designs are practical for real life, and clarifying what you will receive for your budget.  - It's essential to know the timeline for your design project, with a minimum expectation of two months for completion if everything goes smoothly. - Always inquire about

Betsy Helmuth introduces her online class bundle, discusses pricing, and gives a shout-out to HGTV addicts. She delves into standard furniture sizes, offering guidance on sofas, coffee tables, end tables, TV stands, mattresses, rugs, and walkway spacing. Listener questions cover texture combinations and open concept layouts. The episode closes with sponsor mentions and VIP membership details. 0:00 Introduction to online class bundle 1:07 Pricing and purchasing details 1:39 Shout out to HGTV addicts master class attendees 2:46 Introduction to standard sizes topic 3:37 Standard sofa sizes and seating advice 4:45 Coffee table dimensions and recommendations 6:05 Appropriate end table heights 7:15 TV stand height and width guidelines 8:09 Standard mattress sizes and nightstand heights 9:47 Rug sizes for under beds and dining tables 10:16 Walkway and furniture spacing recommendations 13:16 Tips for bar counter stool spacing 15:00 Reminder about iTunes review competition 15:48 Listener questions: Combining differen

Betsy Helmuth discusses the benefits of becoming a premium member and previews an upcoming master class in NYC. She emphasizes the importance of in-person learning, shares a paint chip psychology exercise, and offers tips on mixing materials. Plus, managing cords, floor plan games, and a retail rundown. 0:00 Becoming a premium member   1:25 Upcoming master class in NYC   2:24 Importance of in-person learning   4:09 Class content preview   6:33 Paint chip psychology exercise   10:42 Mixing and matching materials   12:57 Online class bundle promotion   14:31 Managing cords in design   20:31 Floor plan game overview   24:21 Retail rundown: Our house and Pier 1 - Learn how to create a balanced and visually appealing room by incorporating a mix of different materials including wood, metal, glass, and fabric. - Discover the importance of using double wide drapes for windows over 65 inches to ensure a sophisticated and functional look. - Get tips on hiding unsightly cords by selecting TV stands with doors and back