Ep. 443: Holiday Throwback Special, Pt. 1 - Janie Molster

We are kicking off a special three-part holiday series! For the next few weeks, Caroline, Taryn, and Liz are each taking a turn replaying their absolute favorite holiday episode from the podcast archives.

To start us off, Caroline revisits Episode 117 with Richmond interior designer Janie Molster. Caroline chose this episode because it completely changed her philosophy on holiday decorating. Janie explains why you don't need to force "red and green" if it doesn't fit your home, sharing her secrets for a holiday look that feels traditional yet surprising. She covers everything from managing a "hodgepodge" family tree to wrapping oddly shaped gifts.

Quick Decorating Takeaways:

• Coordinate, Don't Clash: Your holiday decor should enhance your room, not fight with it. If your room has a pink and blue palette, use pink or blue ribbon and ornaments rather than forcing traditional red and green.

• The "Squint" Test: To ensure your tree has that professional glow, step back and squint your eyes at the lit tree. This blurs the details and highlights any dark "holes" where you need to add more lights.

• Unify with Ribbon: If you have a family tree filled with mismatched sentimental ornaments, use a high-quality, wide-wired ribbon to weave through the branches. It acts as a unifying element that ties the whole look together.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

• 00:00 Caroline introduces the Holiday Throwback series

• 02:00 How to decorate a "Pink House" for Christmas

• 04:00 Janie’s tip for layering different types of greenery (magnolia, holly, pine)

• 06:00 Choosing a ribbon color that matches your permanent decor

• 08:00 Strategies for decorating a tree with kids and family ornaments

• 11:00 The "Butcher Paper" hack for wrapping large or oddly shaped toys

• 14:00 Lighting tips: The "Squint Test" and using dimmers

• 16:00 Decorating Dilemma 1: How to handle a bedroom with awkward dormer windows (Wallpaper is the answer!)

• 23:00 Decorating Dilemma 2: Furniture layout for a 70s build family room

• 32:00 Closing thoughts

Also Mentioned:

• Janie Molster Designs | Website

• Follow Janie on Instagram: @janiemolsterdesigns

• Butcher block paper (Home Depot) for gift wrapping

• Shop Ballard Designs

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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