# The House Tells You What It Wants with Meg Braff

An episode of [The Install: Life & Design with Paloma and Caroline](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1885981800), 18 Aug 2026, 52 min.

Audio: https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/96a6d590d8383ef4c404e1f00d5d3059efef9568ca12696335249317c057badf/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiIwNjcyMDhlZC1iNTlhLTQyZjQtOWE0Ni1mMTY2N2FhNDZjNzQiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI3Y2ZlNDgzNC0zOTgyLTRlZmEtOGUxNi05MDdkZTQ4ODUyMjkiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTY5MDBmYmNiNTY4OTM1YWE2NWJkYTIiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmE4MWFkODlmMzY3NzViOWJjYjRmMDZkL3RoZWluc3RhbGxwb2RjYXN0cy1zdHVkaW8tY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi04LTE2X18xNC0zMS01Lm1wMyJ9.mp3

Paloma plans a trip to Paris Deco Off trip while Caroline uses Lionsgate to manifest the number-one interior-design podcast, one “big, fabulous, juicy nugget” of a project, and a back that survives two dogs sleeping on her feet. Meg Braff joins for a gloriously wide-ranging conversation spanning her new book, Gracious Interiors, her vibrant wallpaper and fabrics line, her time as an ambassador for U.S. Cottton, Scorpio jewelry, Palm Beach light, and more. Along the way, she makes the case for client chemistry over giant budgets, starting every project with a floor plan, and letting the house tell you what it wants. Subscribe to the Substack for more: @theinstallpodcast YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast Tik Tok: @theinstallpocast Paloma: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign Tik Tok: @carolinegidieredesignbts Shop My: @carolinegidiere Chapters 00:16 — School Days 01:31 — Paris Plans 06:25 — Manifesting 11:18 — Growing Pains 13:10 — Meg Braff 15:42 — Miss Cotton 18:04 — Morning Rituals 20:06 — Scorpio Club 22:46 — Shop Talk 27:39 — Pattern Archives 30:47 — Design Process 36:42 — Client Chemistry 39:19 — Floor Plans 42:09 — Rapid Fire 45:06 — Guest Edit 49:26 — Book Tour

## Transcript

Paloma: Hey Caroline. How are I'm
Caroline›: Hey Paloma, how are ya?
Paloma: great, how are you doing?
Caroline›: Doing well, doing well. You've had a big morning, huh?
Paloma: Good. Yeah, it's been a busy morning. So we are by the time this airs, school will have started. And Marg's class assignment went out today. So there was, you know, some chatter with the moms and I was on a group text about it. And then it it's all good. But of course there's like people have opinions. Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: There's always drama when there's class assignment.
Paloma: Yes. And then Sh we reg we have to register her for tennis 'cause she's gonna start tennis this fall, which is exciting. So yeah.
Caroline›: Lou always loved teddy tennis. They did it so much fun. it made such a big difference with Lou.
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: just l that muscle memory of how to hold the just how to hold the racket and how to swing.
Paloma: Right.
Caroline›: You know, and then the enjoyment. People who play racket sports live longer than anybody else.
Paloma: Yeah, I've heard that. Well, I'm I'm excited for her to play because I I'm not a big tennis player, but I love the sport. and I would love for her to take it up. So at this age,
Caroline›: Yeah.
Paloma: I just feel like, you know, if there's something that's of interest to her or me, we'll try it and we'll see if she likes it and if it sticks.
Caroline›: Yeah.
Paloma: And if it doesn't, that's okay. We can try it again later on in life or never again, and that's fine. Yeah.
Caroline›: For sure, for sure. Well what what's your high and low this past week?
Paloma: my high is that I'm gonna go to Deco Off in Paris in January for the first time with my forum.
Caroline›: fun yeah with your forearm.
Paloma: yeah, so they'd been talking about it for a while and initially I was like, I I don't think I can swing it because in my mind I was like, Well, if I'm going, then I need to go the weekend before to shop the Puces, and then it's like, you know, a two-week thing. And I it's just hard to do when you have a five-year-old and you don't really have
Caroline›: Sure.
Paloma: grandparents who are able to support. so I had decided against it. And then I was talking to Heidi Caillier, who's a friend of the pod and has been on before, and she's going. And so she has a big debut happening with Elizabeth Eakins, and they're having a party for her. And Young Ha, who's also in our forum, is having she's launching a new collection with a different maker. So Heidi said she was just gonna go for like I think she's going Monday to Saturday. And I was like, you know what? I could probably swing that. And I looked at my calendar and I could. So I'm really glad to be there and support them as they debut these new collections and just spend time with my forum because I feel like, you know, just like when I'm with you and Brian and Mark and that
Caroline›: Yeah.
Paloma: group, like it's just it it's so nice being around friends who are like-minded
Caroline›: Sure.
Paloma: or and also offer a different perspective, you know, we're sort of in the same we are in the same business, and so. We understand what one another are going through. And it's just it's so energizing and exciting and just nice and fun to be together. So I'm really looking forward to that.
Caroline›: Absolutely. It's such a party. Such a party. It is nonstop.
Paloma: Well, and that's the thing. I don't think we're gonna do like all of the deco off stuff. Like we'll do Heidi's party and Young's party. That's Wednesday, Thursday. I think Heidi and I get in on Tuesday. So we'll have like a free day Tuesday, a free day Friday. I'll probably go to the Puces on Friday because a lot of dealers open on Friday. And I would imagine if
Caroline›: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
Paloma: it's deco off, they're definitely gonna be there.
Caroline›: for sure.
Paloma: and I'm not in a place right now where I'm gonna bring a big container back for the shop like I once did. So I'll just go and look and get inspired and have fun and like find inspiration for future product. and then I fly home Saturday. So I don't know that I'll get to do a lot of the official deco off stuff, but I'm just really happy to be with my my forum.
Caroline›: probably a good way to do it, you know. the last time I went was with Mark and Bryan and Sarah. And
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: we had never been and well that's not true. I had been the year before two years before because we had the one trip that got canceled. Right? Where
Paloma: Right. Yes, yes.
Caroline›: and then you were gonna go with us, but there was Margot was still young, COVID was still a
Paloma: Yeah, it was tough.
Caroline›: thing, and you ended up backing out on that trip very understand well in advance. but in in any event, I had only been, I guess, two years before the year that I went. And I didn't even know what I was going to when I went and was not invited to like any
Paloma: No.
Caroline›: of the parties because you have to let people know that you're going.
Paloma: Yeah.
Caroline›: And then there's a limited entry because There's seven million designers in Paris and these venues can only hold so many people. So
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: it's it's really kind of a first come, first serve kind of party situation. But I felt so left out because everybody else was going to all these parties that I wasn't going to. I was like,
Paloma: yeah.
Caroline›: guys, we've got to get on everybody's list so we can go to these parties. And then, as is always the case, it was like too much. You know what I'm saying? It was like,
Paloma: Yeah, it gets overwhelming. Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: Who wants to go to all these like I cannot go to another party? Like,
Paloma: Yeah.
Caroline›: and see the same people and talk the same talk. So,
Paloma: Right.
Caroline›: but there it's really wonderful, all the new introductions, you know, it's a lot of fun. A lot
Paloma: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Caroline›: of great collections. And hopefully there'll be something. the one great thing that we did is that I think Pierre Frey does try to offer to a lot of designers is They let us go to the archives and
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: had the archivists pull out the little scraps of fabric from over the centuries that they had collected. That was very inspiring. And then they had redone a whole castle, essentially. We want to call it a chateau, I guess, in France,
Paloma: yeah. Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: and had decorated the whole thing. So it was really great to see their new collection in situ, like how
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: they had applied it and and all that like intents. And I'll tell you what was more fabulous than actually the fabric is whoever the florist was, the the floral installations were the most extr and the house itself were bigger stars, I think, even than the fabrics. But anyway, I digress.
Paloma: Wow, that's amazing. Yes, yes.
Caroline›: so what's your lo this week?
Paloma: you know, I was thinking about it. I haven't had a low this week, thankfully. So I'm just gonna
Caroline›: That's great.
Paloma: be happy about that. Yes, be grateful that there hasn't been a low. What about you?
Caroline›: Okay. All right. So my hi is I'm sure you're aware of this. I don't know. Not on TikTok. I don't know what your TikTok feed what your Instagram feed looks like, whether it's design or rando stuff.
Paloma: It's very random these days, I have to be honest. Like there is some design, but it's it's not as as pronounced as it once was. It's like that. It's parenting, it's travel, it's a lot of like English countryside stuff still as a consequence of our trip. And I'm planning a trip for next summer with
Caroline›: Yeah.
Paloma: Fabian and Marg. So that's a big chunk of my feed. What what what does yours look like?
Caroline›: My I'm gonna say my Instagram is more pretty and inspiring
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: and my TikTok is more like imp informative. You know what I'm
Paloma: Okay.
Caroline›: saying? Like where I go to learn and un and hear things and understand and look I I'm not looking for images, you know what I'm saying?
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: And I'm I do a lot more inspiring images on Instagram. Anyway,
Paloma: Sure.
Caroline›: that is where I also get my daily dose of astrology and I don't TikTok.
Paloma: Mm on TikTok or Instagram? Okay.
Caroline›: TikTok, yeah, for sure. In manifestation and all that kind of stuff.
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: Anyway, so I don't know if you know this, but Sunday was like big, huge well actually today, like Saturday was Lionsgate eight eight.
Paloma: It it's Lionsgate Port Portal. It ends today. Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: And today is yeah, twelve eight twelve. It's like the big deal. Okay, so
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: not just that that it was Lionsgate, which was an actual eight this year. If you add it all up, it adds up to eight. But it's even a bigger year for Scorpios like us.
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: So that's like a huge manifestation thing. So I've been thinking a lot about that. And I'm all jazzed up because they're like, Scorpio, this is your year. I don't know if you've heard that, but like particularly
Paloma: I have I've heard
Caroline›: Scorpios, Leos, and I didn't pay attention to what the other ones were. My mom
Paloma: Mm.
Caroline›: was a Leo, so that caught my ear. But anyway. So I've been thinking about what I want to manifest. Okay. And let me just back up and say I am Christian, very
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: v devoutly Episcopalian. This does not my astrology interest is something that h are more prompts for self-reflection than any sort of religion for me. I think some people can get real witchy with it. I'm not one of those people, but I do pay attention to it for prompts.
Paloma: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Caroline›: And it's it's good to like. make me think like what I want to accomplish. And I do believe in manifestation to the extent that if you don't see it and believe that it's going to happen, it it will never happen. Like you have to just know like, yes, this is what's meant meant for me. Like
Paloma: Right.
Caroline›: for sure. And if you don't, you're probably never going to get there. And it maybe
Paloma: That's right.
Caroline›: that's just common sense. Maybe that's the way the brain works. Anyway, so here are my manifest I got two things that I'm manifesting as far as work goes. One, this will be the number one interior design podcast. Okay. We just both know it, right? There's no reason why it shouldn't be.
Paloma: Yep, that will. Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: We can get there. We just have to know that that's where we're headed and believe that it's our destiny to to make the pot. And it's gonna take everybody who's listening, it's gonna take everybody's help. Can't do it on our own, but we, you
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: and I just have to believe it and keep pushing it. Okay.
Paloma: That's right.
Caroline›: So we need people to post, hey, I just listened to this episode. It was so great. And do all that kind of stuff for us. but we haven't had that many lately. We need some good five star reviews in there. We just need all of these things because the better it gets, the more we can support it and the more we can grow it and make it better, which we really
Paloma: That's right.
Caroline›: want to do. I won't spoil it with all the things that we want to do to make it better, but we're working on it. So anyway, that's it. Maybe this time next year we'll have a check-in at Lionsgate and see where we are. See how close. We're not far. I mean Paloma, I
Paloma: Mm-hmm. Yeah, I love that. No, I mean it's growing so much. We haven't even been doing it for six months. And it's doing great. It's growing steadily.
Caroline›: And I I was looking at the stats yesterday. I just ran to picked out some and it was really blown away. Everybody that's ahead of us in interior design has been doing this for a really long time, really long
Paloma: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Caroline›: time. And they have a entrenched following. So I mean,
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: we can, but I mean, what is that? Well, we can overcome that for sure. Okay, then my other thing is I'm ready for a real I've got some great projects that I'm working on. I love them. And it's just inspired me. Like I'm really on a roll. I want to really keep that going. And I need one more like really big, fabulous, juicy nugget of a project. That's that
Paloma: Mm.
Caroline›: is on my manifestation board. I don't know what it is, but like these ones that I'm working on, I'm really jazzed up and I'm ready and I'm open. I keep waiting for the call. I keep looking for the email. I know it's coming soon. So that's my thing.
Paloma: I love it. I love the positivity.
Caroline›: And my bad week is, as I said in our Substack today, Betty Davis once famously said, growing old ain't for sissies. And
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: Lou has been out of town. And because of that, the dogs sleep with us. From the time she was a little, you know, I guess nine years ago, she started sleeping with the dogs.
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: and That works great, but when she's out of town, my husband hates the dogs in the bed and he gets so angry whenever they have to get in. They don't bother me, but his rule is they have to be at the foot of the bed. Okay.
Paloma: Mm.
Caroline›: And then he's always pushing them over on my side of the bed, you know.
Paloma: Yeah.
Caroline›: and the other night, they both slept. on my feet and I sleep flat on my back. I don't know if you are a side sleeper or a front sleeper, but I sleep flat on my back. And so I have my legs out straight and then the dogs on top of my feet. It's been three weeks now, Paloma, and my back, my lower back is still bothering me. It still starts to catch when I like bend over or
Paloma: man.
Caroline›: do something. It's just that little place above like your bottom. You know what
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: I'm talking about? Like the really lower back right in the middle? And it's getting
Paloma: Can you put a pillow like under your knees or anything? Would that help?
Caroline›: But it I mean, it doesn't last very long because I kick it out of the way because it then gets on my nerves. I like
Paloma: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Caroline›: maybe if I had something narrow that would do it, but like a whole pillow is like too
Paloma: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Caroline›: long of an arc for my legs to be like that. So I've had a real tough go of it. And it's like this should not be lasting this long. I should be better by now. Anyway.
Paloma: That stinks. man.
Caroline›: So it's very, very frustrating. I'm working on it, but
Paloma: Goodness. Well, I feel for you. I'm such a light sleeper. I can't have any additional distractions. so our dog will not be sleeping
Caroline›: Okay.
Paloma: with us. How are you?
Caroline›: Hey man!
meg braff: Great to see you.
Caroline›: So great to see you too. How beautiful your room is.
Paloma: I know such a pretty room.
meg braff: Thanks. This is my mother in law's house in Newport. So yeah, I was trying to find
Caroline›: fabulous.
meg braff: some of the rooms are a little dark and so I was trying to find like a room that, you know, was light lighter.
Caroline›: has good light. Honey,
meg braff: Yeah.
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: I hear you. At this age, the lighting is everything.
meg braff: Everything. Everything. my goodness.
Paloma: Ha ha
Caroline›: Everything I got I should walk around like these influencers with a little ring light so everything looks better.
Paloma: Ha ha ha.
meg braff: Absolutely.
Caroline›: okay, well I want to do a really quick introduction for our for our listeners. we are so excited, guys, to have with us today the incomparable, incredible, absolutely gorgeous pageant queen and queen of interior design, Meg Braff. Meg started her career after going to Vanderbilt and then to Parsons. She started in New York City. She founded her firm in 1994. She's designed the most gorgeous houses throughout the United States and the Caribbean. country clubs, homes. She's originally from Tupelo. She has stores in Locust Valley and Palm Beach. You've probably been
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: to them both. They've got the most incredible stuff. It's also available online. And she has a fabulous new book coming out this fall. Go ahead and pre-order it Gracious interiors.
meg braff: Yeah, it comes it comes out September eighth.
Paloma: So exciting.
Caroline›: It what a great day. That's Steven's birthday. There's a lot of power around that day.
meg braff: Great.
Paloma: Ha ha ha
Caroline›: Yay, thanks for joining us, Meg.
meg braff: Thanks for having me. I've so enjoyed your podcast and it just anyway, it's like having
Paloma: Thank you.
meg braff: fun chit chat lunch with girlfriends. So I'm so excited
Paloma: That's exactly right.
meg braff: to be included. Fun here.
Caroline›: Yes. Yes. okay. I have over the years gotten to know
Paloma: Mm.
Caroline›: Meg at High Point and have had the luxury of sitting at dinner with you and Jason, who's your right hand man,
meg braff: Yes. Yes.
Caroline›: and have loved I just love sitting there with you because you're such a great storyteller. And you've done so many fun things. And I love that you're from Tupelo. You know, that's just a hop, skip, and a jump from Florence, where I'm from. very not far at all. And one of my good friends from college was from Tupelo. And I got to visit there several times. I want to get into your pageant. Days.
meg braff: my goodness. Well, I would be remiss if I actually said I was in a pageant, but I was the Maid of Cotton, also known as Miss Cotton.
Caroline›: Yes.
meg braff: And I would say it was less of a pageant. Like for example, there was no bathing suit competition. Thank
Paloma: Yeah.
Caroline›: Well,
meg braff: God. Or I would not have won. but it was a really fun experience. I was the Maid of Cotton for in I think it was like 1990, 1990 or 91. I traveled around Asia for six months promoting US cotton in those countries.
Caroline›: Amazing.
Paloma: Wow.
meg braff: And it was such a learning experience. It helped me. It was just a great experience. I learned, I I sort of honed some speaking skills. I traveled to places I probably might not have ventured to. I had
Caroline›: Absolutely.
meg braff: a chaperone who was only two years older than I was, so there was really no one chaperoning anyone.
Paloma: Yeah.
meg braff: We had a wonderful time. So that was a great experience and one that I'm really proud of.
Caroline›: That is great. Where all in Asia did you go?
meg braff: We were in Hong Kong, we were Japan, the Philippines.
Caroline›: That's great. I mean, as a
Paloma: Wonderful.
meg braff: Thailand, Bangkok. Yeah, we were it was a it was a six month trip. It was a really it was a lot of traveling and a lot of speaking engagements and everywhere we went he would meet the ambassador of that country and he would have a dinner at the
Caroline›: Amazing.
meg braff: ambassador's residence and there would often be there it might be a fashion show or with a you know, an an Asian designer or and I was obviously like thirty pounds like thinner than so it made a lot more sense at the time. But
Caroline›: I mean, but you had to have been so polished and refined for grown-ups to say this young woman is who we need to be our
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: ambassador to represent
meg braff: So now.
Caroline›: cotton around the world and to be gone for six months. I throughout
meg braff: Yes. No, it was really exciting. It was a lot of I rang the c I rang the bell at the stock exchange and the highlight, I think New Year's Day, I was in Dallas and I walked out in the field during the Cotton Bowl with with the cotton ball. It was fun. It really
Caroline›: Stop That's big stop.
Paloma: Yeah.
meg braff: was. I mean I was twenty one years old, so was a lot of fun. Yeah.
Paloma: That's so fun, my goodness.
Caroline›: my gosh, that's amazing. That's amazing. how much fun. Okay. I like to learn more about our guests, like just as real people. So I want you to walk us through your like morning routine, how do you start your day? What do you drink? What are you eating? I need all the details.
meg braff: my goodness. It's so basic and simple, but I drink a lot of water. I do try to drink I I fill a big thing I bought on Amazon with water and ice and lemons and I do try to sip on that all morning and then I drink
Caroline›: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: hot water with lemon and then after I've had some hot water with lemon, I'll give myself some coffee and then I'll I'll have two cups of coffee d at the office. Or maybe when
Caroline›: Yeah. Yeah.
meg braff: I'm driving around in my car. But I'm kind of just sipping on things all morning. And I I I'm not a huge breakfast person, but I if if I have breakfast, it's gonna be maybe like two poached eggs and some fruit.
Caroline›: Nice.
meg braff: Or maybe I'll just wait till lunch if I'm not that hungry. So the morning's busy.
Paloma: Are you an early riser or a night owl?
meg braff: I'm more I would say I'm just kind of medium. I mean, I wake
Paloma: Mm.
meg braff: up at like Six forty-five. So it's not like
Paloma: Okay.
meg braff: my my husband wakes up at five and goes for like a ten mile run
Caroline›: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: walk. So by the time he's coming back from his ten miles, I'm just getting up. So in my house I think I'm considered a late rush.
Caroline›: Yeah, yeah, perfect.
Paloma: But listen, I feel like, yeah, your kids are grown. I feel like if you don't have little ones that are forcing you to get up super early and do like school drop
meg braff: Exactly.
Paloma: off and all of that, y do not get up if you don't need to.
meg braff: No, I I need my eight hours and nine is even better. So and I do
Paloma: That's
meg braff: try to do a little exercise. I mean, if I can, probably three mornings a week, I either do physical therapy or you know, an exercise routine with somebody or by myself.
Caroline›: my gosh, what are you in physical therapy for? I was just telling Paloma I need
meg braff: I had a knee replacement in November, so I'm still kind of working through that, which
Caroline›: nice. Yeah.
meg braff: different topic, but it's yeah, so I'm I'm very focused on that.
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: Absolutely any at this age, like any little thing that starts to hurt on me, I'm like, is this it? Is this the is this is this how it ends? I'm like I get so, so nervous about like
meg braff: I
Caroline›: anything to do with my body these days.
meg braff: One day at a time for sure.
Caroline›: Yeah, so motivated to like move and like physical therapy, but before with things I'm like, I don't have time for that. And now I'm like, the most important part of my day is physical therapy.
meg braff: Yes.
Caroline›: Too funny. what's your star sign? Sun sign? Stop! So are we
meg braff: Scorpio. Are you really? I love that. my goodness. Well,
Paloma: so are we.
meg braff: I love well, I'm I'm not a big horoscope astrology person, but I do love I love the scorpion. I mean, I love the Scorpio. And actually, I have a friend who shall remain nameless, who is also he's a designer, and we have the exact same birthday. And he calls me every year my birthday, and he's like, I can't believe. Really, that you're I think Scorpio. He was like 'cause he's he's a little
Caroline›: Ha ha ha.
Paloma: What day is your birthday?
meg braff: more difficult than I am and a little more like you know. it's October twenty ninth.
Paloma: Okay. We're November Scorpios.
Caroline›: Okay.
Paloma: I'm November fourth and Caroline's the ninth. Yeah.
Caroline›: Ninth. Yeah. and my
meg braff: Okay.
Caroline›: son is the twenty-eighth, so he's right there.
meg braff: Yes.
Caroline›: well, we were just discussing, I'm not sure if you're aware. I mean, I'm not super into astrology, but I am. I mean, like
meg braff: Mm.
Caroline›: it doesn't ru rule my life, but
Paloma: Ha ha ha ha.
Caroline›: I do keep up with it. So it's like Lion's Gate. I don't know if you know that. Lionsgate is like 888 or whatever. It's supposed to be like a some big portal. I don't see, like I pay attention to, but I don't really understand what I'm saying when I say a lot of this stuff. So but
meg braff: Ha ha
Caroline›: it all I know is it's supposed to be like a really big year for Scorpios starting now. Like this is like gonna be your year, Meg. And it's perfect right before your book comes out.
Paloma: Yes.
Caroline›: Perfect timing.
meg braff: Well I love I love hearing that. And I
Paloma: Best seller, yes.
meg braff: do I do love all the Zodiac signs and I really love actually Zodiac jewelry. Like I love
Paloma: Mm.
Caroline›: yeah.
meg braff: brooches and pendants and I do have a lot of Scorpio pendants and things like that that like go on a charm bracelet or, you know, so
Caroline›: It's funny.
Paloma: You have a fabulous charm bracelet, don't you? You have like a one with a ton of charms on. I think I've seen you wear it.
meg braff: I have a bunch of I do I've had a like I made myself a Buddha bracelet with all these like jade Buddhas. That was kind of fun. I
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: have charm bracelets that I've sort of like, you know, collected over the years, like charms and things.
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: And I have one that a good friend gave me. So it's I think charm bracelets are super charming and fun. Love.
Paloma: Absolutely. They're so f well,
Caroline›: yeah.
Paloma: they tell a story. I mean, I I think they're so
meg braff: That's right.
Paloma: interesting and like you said, charming. The
meg braff: Yes.
Paloma: name befits them.
meg braff: My new thing will be a charm necklace, I think. Or maybe turning one of my bracelets into a necklace, 'cause the only thing is I do jiggle around a little bit.
Paloma: Yeah.
Caroline›: love that though. I love the sound of somebody who wears a jiggly bracelet.
Paloma: I
Caroline›: And, you know, I mean, I think jewelry, we express our personalities just like the Buddhas and the
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: and the and the star signs, you know, this is it's something that people will ask you about yourself. It gives you an opportunity.
meg braff: Right.
Caroline›: for sure. Okay.
meg braff: Okay.
Caroline›: So you have, I have not been to your store in the Locust Valley. I would love to.
Paloma: I have, it's beautiful, it's wonderful. The yeah, she's hosted
meg braff: Yes, closed.
Paloma: book signings for me in Locust Valley and in Palm Beach. Palm Beach is the newer of the two locales and it's very it's a big showroom. It's beautiful.
meg braff: Much bigger.
Paloma: Locust Valley is more of a little jewel box, but equally charming and
meg braff: That's right.
Paloma: lovely.
meg braff: Probably more antiques and
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: vintage pieces in Locust Valley. It's chalk full of great you know, it it it really does have great inventory there.
Paloma: Yeah.
Caroline›: Well, I love love the store in Palm Beach and you were gracious enough to loan me some things for my room at Kips Bay a couple of years ago and do book signing there. It's such a beautiful store and you have your wallpaper and fabric line there and everything in it is so gorgeous, absolutely beautiful, and is right up my alley because it's all so colorful and floral and I just I absolutely love them. I and I know All of that is also available on your website, both the inventory and your fabrics and wallpapers.
meg braff: Yeah. Yes, you can order samples online. It's very easy. We do custom colors, which it's not a well known fact. But a lot of our work is custom because I think that's like a little niche market that not that many companies will do custom colored wallpapers and fabrics with
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: rel
Caroline›: Right.
meg braff: relatively low minimums, as we all know. It's hard to sometimes
Paloma: Sure.
meg braff: you're looking for a very specific color, green or lavender or whatever it is. And so that's kind of a nice thing to be able to do.
Caroline›: It's really wonderful. It's very democratic, your website and the access that you give to everybody, which is really wonderful. Yeah.
meg braff: Thank you. No, it's been a joy to have that store. I waited a very long time to do that and it has it has just been wonderful and I like really enjoy being there most days when I'm down in
Paloma: How are you dividing your time between the locations now, Meg? Are you usually down in Palm Beach for the full season or yeah.
meg braff: Yeah. I'm I'll be there. I'll go down end of October and more or less stay there through April or you know beginning of May, and then I'll come back
Paloma: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
meg braff: to the Northeast and do that. So we it's nice we now have a lot of projects down there for a while. All of my projects were still very much at the Northeast, but we've kind
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: of gradually increased our projects in Florida, which makes it really nice to have
Paloma: Yeah.
meg braff: like kind of more local work for when I'm there.
Paloma: Right. That's gr wonderful. So great.
meg braff: What
Caroline›: It do you feel more at home in the Northeast or in Palm Beach or it do you feel equally?
meg braff: a great question. I feel actually very it's it's very equal at this point because we've we bought our house in Palm Beach about six years ago and even prior to that we had an apartment there for probably fifteen years. So we've had a lot of big, you know, life experiences down there. We've spent the last six Christmases there. I feel like
Caroline›: nice.
meg braff: my kids love visiting. So to me when you start making memories in a place and having
Caroline›: Sure.
meg braff: fun and having friends come to visit, it starts to feel like home. And so
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: Definitely feel like Florida. It's like very much like home. And and then but truthfully, like when I'm there, I'm super happy to be there. And then when I get back to the Northeast, I'm very happy to be
Caroline›: Sure.
meg braff: here too.
Caroline›: Sure. That's great. And it's so
Paloma: Best of both worlds.
Caroline›: the the weather is so nice down there in the wet, and you just can't beat
meg braff: It's so good.
Caroline›: it. Just can't beat it. And those sunsets and sunrises, it really is. I mean,
meg braff: True. It's pretty special. It really is. And right is beautiful there. Absolutely.
Caroline›: really, really, really gorgeous. That's one of the things that I miss the most. I'm an early riser, so I would get up and just walk over to the coast in the mornings just to watch the sunrise. It's so pretty.
meg braff: Beautiful.
Caroline›: I mean, I guess it's not unique.
Paloma: Yeah.
meg braff: Ha ha ha
Caroline›: But it seems very special. Yeah.
meg braff: never take it for granted. I think it is so I mean, the light is amazing, the weather is very uplifting. I just find
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: it makes you wanna kinda be active and get a little exercise and get
Caroline›: And
meg braff: outside.
Caroline›: your fabrics and wallpapers are such just so hand in glove with the vibe in Palm Beach to me. Just like the right colors, the right vibrancy,
meg braff: Thank you.
Caroline›: the right patterns, like all of it. Just
meg braff: Well well we did a big expansion on the wallpapers and fabrics.
Caroline›: Ping.
meg braff: I had just opened the store in Palm Beach and it really became a little story of like, okay, what are we missing? What are we always looking for? What do we need? What colors are harder to find
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: other companies. And I think that's how it was a very logical and sort of intuitive process. So I do feel like our papers and wall pa and fabrics do very well in Florida, in South Florida and more tropical locations because the light is stronger. We do tend work with whiter backgrounds versus
Paloma: Mm.
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: like creamy or gray and it feels very fresh and appropriate and kind of very easy on the eye.
Paloma: Definitely r r sorry. Remind I was just
Caroline›: You're the I was
Paloma: gonna say, remind me. I I feel like I remember you telling us at one point that the original core collection was born of a vintage archival collection that you'd purchase. Is that right? Okay.
meg braff: Yes. Absolutely. It was about eighteen years ago. I well, I was there was another company that was for sale and I was a very good customer. And they approached me and said, Are you interested in in buying our company? We'd like to retire. And I went through the due diligence of this, which I knew nothing about having a wallpaper company or anything. I
Caroline›: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
meg braff: knew less than nothing. But it was a great process and I learned a lot and I ended up not buying it. But then Six months later, another gentleman wrote to me and said, I know that you are interested in this other company. He's like, I have something that might be of interest. And so I did the same thing with that. And this one turned out to just be a better, it was just a better fit for me. So we I bought five different lines that had all been done by different artists from the, you know, kind of late 60s, 70s, early 80s. So the artwork was great and kind of done at a time when all these, you know, fabric houses had in house artists at that time. Like it was very
Caroline›: Mm-hmm.
Paloma: Right.
meg braff: different back then. And so anyway, the artwork was great. And we sort of set about recoloring it, changing the grounds, taking the best patterns, trying to really, you know, maximize those. I still have a bunch of there's still a bunch of patterns that we have not quite dealt with yet that we have the archives for. Some of them will never see the light of day. There's a there's a whole series of nudes that I think
Caroline›: I have.
Paloma: Yeah.
meg braff: Male nudes that I don't think
Paloma: mail land.
meg braff: there's a series of poodles too that's kind of intriguing, but I haven't
Caroline›: Okay.
meg braff: quite, you know, gotten my, you know, arms wrapped around that one either. But anyway, so it it's been a really fun way to also just even with my personal projects with what with for my clients, it's sort of fun to say, okay, here's something we haven't done before. Let's take this archive. Let's let's run a few strike offs. Let's try it. Let's print it Grass Crawl Author. Let's print it on
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: Mylar
Caroline›: yeah.
meg braff: and do something fun and special that's great for the client. So they have something unique that's, you know, unique to their house. So it's good for that. And it's also very good for problem solving. I feel like again, when
Paloma: Sure.
meg braff: you're looking for the right color, we'll say, great, let's just print it. It's very easy to print it.
Caroline›: Well, nobody does it better. I mean, it's your book Looking Through the Galleys, it it's just you have such an incredible gift. You are so
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: good
meg braff: Yeah.
Caroline›: with color. And having actually been in your house in Palm Beach and experienced the, you know, the images are pretty, but the feel inside your house is so warm and so welcoming, just like you are. And it's just They are just so happy and gorgeous and like clever and thoughtful. And I noticed in your book that, and there are places in your house as well that are more quiet and you have this incredible vibrancy, but then other moments that are are more subtle and quiet. And I just wonder, like, where do you start? How do you decide which way you're gonna go?
meg braff: Well, I think with any project, whether it's a house for myself or a house for a client, I I f I feel like I I'm very color I am very color driven. Like I do love color. I love neutrals as well. I love weaving neutrals through color. But I think I think just finding the balance is what makes it great. Because I think if you just did color everywhere, it would just be you wouldn't be able to live with it. But I think it's the balance and sort of finding ways to weave it. throughout a project, it could be very subtle. It could be a mostly neutral house, but with, you know, very subtle colors kind of woven through, you know, in one room it might be the walls, in another room it might be the carpet, in another room it might be the furniture. You know, but it's sort of nice giving your eye a rest, I think.
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: So you don't want everything at eye level impactful. You want Sometimes it needs to be about the floor or sometimes it needs to be about the ceiling. So I think that's kind of one way that we definitely look at every project is sort of, you know, how are we going to make this feel very intentional, almost sublineal? Like so you're not even noticing the weaving,
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: but it just sort of happens and it feels like it should be there. So
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: I don't know. I think like a lot of things, I think, you know, every project. is has a sense of place, the client has a unique perspective. And I think you have to listen, you have to listen to the client, think about where you are, and often let the house tell you what it wants to be. Because I feel like
Caroline›: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: a lot of good information comes from just being in a space, looking like you know, studying the floors, studying the ceilings,
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: the level of texture in the house, the age of the house, the light in the house. And then I think all of those things really do tell you a lot about what needs to happen. So
Paloma: Definitely. I always say the house tells you what it what it needs. The house will tell you. The architecture will
meg braff: Yes.
Paloma: tell you exactly where you need to go.
Caroline›: And how long
meg braff: Right.
Caroline›: would you say you are let's just say it's just interiors, the house is already built. How long will it take you from start to finish? How or let me ask you a different question. How long do you need for creative?
meg braff: That's a great question. I think it depends on the type of project that it is. I think
Caroline›: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: if it's a if it's a lifetime house for someone, I'd like a little more time. Like if there's someone
Caroline›: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
meg braff: who's buying their dream house and they're like, We're never moving, we're never selling this house.
Caroline›: Right.
meg braff: I think there's no rush. I think and I think the best projects evolve over time. I think
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: that's I think my houses have evolved over time, even and
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: I think those are the best outcomes.
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: But we can all you know, but we're also happy to just dig in and get it done. And so
Caroline›: Sure.
meg braff: we do that all the time. Like we're doing something right now that we just started a month ago. They're gonna move in end of October. It won't be done, but it'll be it'll be done. So if you have to.
Caroline›: On its way. Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot you can do quickly if you have to. But
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: And and we're happy to do it either way. I think it just depends on the expectation of the client and like what they what they really need to get out of this. And you know,
Paloma: Right.
meg braff: and then you can always add those layers, you know, once they're in.
Caroline›: Sure. I do
Paloma: Sure. Yeah. A vacation home is different than as you said, you know, a forever
Caroline›: think for sure.
meg braff: Hopefully.
Paloma: home. If somebody needs to be in for the season and the clock is ticking, you can get it done. People will be able to sleep there, they can be comfortable, they can
meg braff: That's right.
Paloma: host people for dinner, but you'll still wanna add those layers. But to your point, you know, you have to take a more considered approach for something that is gonna be someone's lifelong.
Caroline›: It takes a minute
meg braff: Yes.
Caroline›: too. I think people do better when they have a house longer before they start decorating it, in that the ideas that they bring into a house after they're there for a minute, they start releasing those and getting better ideas from the house itself, you know.
meg braff: Right. And it is nice to have, like even right now, we have a project that's sort of like in the hopper, that's sort of on a proposal that we're kind of about to pull the trigger on. But it is kind of nice to take even just a week to really consider it. Like to look at
Caroline›: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
meg braff: every piece that's been chosen, look at the slideshow. Are we happy with every little bit here? It like it's
Caroline›: Sure.
meg braff: room for improvement. Cause it's always nice just to have that second look. It's almost like drafting a paper, is what I explained.
Caroline›: Right.
meg braff: You just constantly look you you're looking at it, you're you're taking away something,
Caroline›: Yeah. Tweaking.
meg braff: you're adding something, you're just trying to improve each little thing so that in the end the composition feels as good as it could possibly be. So
Caroline›: Right. I think we've all had projects that when we got to the end of them, they're pretty and it's not anything you would ever mention to anybody else. But in your head you think I was in a little bit of a hurry here to process this concept, you know, like and you keep working on it, but you know inside your head, like I could do bet I could have done better if I had longer time to consider the decisions.
meg braff: The greater better option. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. That's right. Now the cre
Paloma: Mm.
meg braff: the creative time is so important and you just and you just need a minute. You just sort of need a little space to think about it without so much conversation, sort of. So
Caroline›: For sure.
Paloma: Yeah.
Caroline›: Just like you said, when you're writing a paper, it's so much better if you write it, put it down, walk away, and come back like a week later and look at it.
meg braff: Yes. Exactly.
Caroline›: And then you see all of the flaws. You can't really see them when you're in it, you know. So yeah,
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: That's right.
Caroline›: no, I totally get it. Would you rather design a a forever house or a vacation house? Which one is your like jam?
meg braff: Well, gosh, I love both, honestly, because they're they both have such great, you know, a vacation house is more playful, the client is more relaxed, they've probably
Paloma: Mm.
meg braff: done several other houses, so that's
Caroline›: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: great. and they're more willing to try things. But a forever house is also so special because like we just said, you're thinking about things in a very long term fashion and wanting to search for the perfect thing. And, you know, and that is also, as a designer, as we all know, that is one of the great joys of being a decorator. Like just that
Caroline›: Yeah, absolutely.
meg braff: you know, hunting around, finding really special things, being able to show them to your client and getting everyone excited. I just think there's so much to that that that that, you know, brings us all a lot of joy. So I can't answer that question. I like both.
Caroline›: Sure, sure, sure.
Paloma: It's like picking a child. Yeah. It depends on the day, right? The day and the client. Well speaking of, would you rather have an enormous budget with a client that challenges your design aesthetic consistently or have a small budget and a client that loves every selection you made?
meg braff: definitely the smaller budget. I as we
Caroline›: Ha ha.
meg braff: all know, it does
Paloma: Yeah.
meg braff: not matter what the budget is. The budget does does not always make the outcome. I've seen some really expensive projects like turn out not that well because for various reasons. I mean, I don't even mean my projects, but I just mean in
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: general, the
Paloma: Mm.
meg braff: budget does not indicate the outcome. But I think
Paloma: Sure.
meg braff: what does indicate the outcome is a happy client. happy designer, everyone feeling heard,
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: everyone feeling like the process was, you know, professional and joyful. And
Paloma: Yeah.
meg braff: so yeah, I would definitely prefer a client who's just excited and happy and loves how loves our guidance, like looks
Caroline›: Yes.
meg braff: to us for advice and kind of relies upon us for what they've hired us to do. So
Paloma: Yeah,
Caroline›: It it can
Paloma: I agree.
Caroline›: get hard to find your footing or not s always be second guessing yourself
Paloma: Mm.
Caroline›: when you have a client who challenges you on everything. Then you stop trusting your instincts.
meg braff: That's right.
Paloma: Exactly. That's the worst thing that can happen, I think, in the design process. And I
Caroline›: Mm-hmm.
Paloma: think people in general, from the client perspective, should really stop to think, why do I not trust this person? Why am I not getting on board with this designer? Like, did I hire the right person if I can't trust them to do their thing and to take the feedback and the information I've given them and run with it to give me an extraordinary result? And instead of making the process difficult and uncomfortable and unpleasant for everybody, maybe have an honest conversation and take a step back and say, like, maybe we need to go in different directions. I feel like that's a better outcome in certain cases than just sticking with it and not trusting and just second guessing and forcing it. And nobody's happy to y'all's point. You know, the client I mean the designer then feels like. They're second guessing everything. You're not giving the best of yourself creatively because you feel sort of stifled and overly cautious. And then the client, you know, ultimately the result is not the best one that either one could hope for because of that relationship. So, you know, ideally you want a a healthy budget, but it's more important to Meg's point to have a client that is excited and loves what you do and it you know, is happy and pleasant and positive and then in the end everybody has a wonderful experience.
Caroline›: Meg, where do you start your projects? Do you start pulling fabrics? Do you start with a floor plan? Do you start with a a like a faucet like that Moen commercial?
meg braff: that's so funny. I know. You know, for me it's we do start with a floor plan just because I feel like I almost can't even move forward until I know just everything, what size beds going in every room, how many people they want to accommodate for dinner on three different terraces or whatever. You know, all those kinds of things where you're like, How, you know, do you want televisions in certain rooms or do you want you know, there's just so many questions about how people live and I think they're Questions like how do you live? And then, you know, how do you want to live? Like, do you want to live differently than you're living now? Is this, you know, 'cause sometimes people buy a house because they think, Well, I'm gonna buy this house and I'm gonna live differently. But maybe you're not going to live differently. You know. So it's sort of
Paloma: Ha ha.
meg braff: you have to just sort of figure out like what's really going to happen in this house. Like are you gonna have lots of grandchildren or lots of house guests or you know, figure these things out. So but anyway, I always like to start with a floor plan because I feel like it it's a great conversation starter with the client. Because you have you're forced to talk through every room. What size bed? What size bedside table? Like all of how much closet space do you need? All these really important questions. So that gets done. And then once we have that and it's kind of an approved floor plan, it's very easy then to start, you know, shopping, designing. If
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: you can't find something, then you design it. You know, I feel like that's sort of our process. And then, but we do start to layer in ideas about. This room could really benefit from wallpaper, or this room could really benefit from some texture because of those beams, you know. So we start to like look at the rooms like what would make this the best room? And then we kind of shoot for the moon and try to work from there. And then I sort of feel like fabrics and carpets kind of come in around the same time, but they're a little later, maybe. But
Caroline›: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
meg braff: it's all hand in hand, I suppose. And we try to get a lot. We try to work out a lot on paper first for the client. And then we also try to work out a lot in our office before we bring the client in. Because
Paloma: Mm.
meg braff: I always feel like it's important for myself and Jason and and Dial and other people who work, it's important for us to have a unified front. Like we agree that this is what we are recommending to them. Like I
Caroline›: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: wanna I wanna know for myself, like what would I do if it was my house? Like what am I recommending? And I wanna have the time to process that and to think about it. As opposed to just chatting about it when they come in. You know, I feel like it's nice to have a point of view and I'm pretty flexible, so I'm always game to try plan B or plan C. But it I think it is great to have a point of view when the client comes in so that you can say, This is what we think would be pretty fantastic.
Caroline›: Yeah, yeah. And here's why. You know, we've we've thought about it, we've passed it around.
meg braff: And here's one yeah, and here are the five reject bags over here with all the other stuff that we rejected. Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. For sure. Okay, I s was listening to a good hang with Amy Polar the other day, and she has a list of questions which I thought were really revealing in a fun way, easy to answer, that I thought would ask you. so there are four of them. if you were a day of the week, which day would you be?
meg braff: I'm definitely Monday.
Caroline›: Monday.
Paloma: Interesting.
Caroline›: Wow.
meg braff: I kinda I I'm not a procrastinator and so I feel like and actually my office it this is sort of embarrassing. I draft emails all weekend and I've refrained myself from sending them until Monday mornings.
Caroline›: Yeah. Yeah. Send later.
Paloma: Ha ha ha ha.
Caroline›: I love the "Send Later" text too.
meg braff: And then I I feel like a c a crazy person. But anyway, then I do that. But Monday is kind of my day 'cause I feel like I'm full of optimism and I'm like this is gonna be a great week and we are gonna get so much done this week. So
Caroline›: Yeah, get her done.
meg braff: that's why I'm a Monday person. I feel like that's my mood.
Caroline›: That's great.
Paloma: Okay, I love that. If you were a breakfast food, what would you be?
meg braff: that is so difficult. I would say I would you know what I would probably be some kind of green smoothie, a green drink. Just because
Caroline›: Okay, yeah.
meg braff: I'm I'm I'm
Caroline›: Colourful.
meg braff: I'm c it's colorful, it's green,
Paloma: Ha ha ha.
meg braff: which I love, and I'm very on the go. So I feel like I do like things that I can
Caroline›: Yeah, mobile.
Paloma: Portable.
meg braff: take with me in the car. So I would be a green smoothie.
Paloma: Love it.
Caroline›: Love it. Okay. If you were a holiday, which holiday would you be?
meg braff: I would be I would be Thanksgiving because it's w well, it's just one of my favorite holidays. I love the fall. I love we usually spend Thanksgiving in Locust Valley
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: Watermill with some friends, some godparents. And I do a big Thanksgiving Eve dinner for like sixty or seventy people on w
Paloma: Wow.
meg braff: Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, which is sort of my big Thanksgiving 'cause my friend always hosts us for Thanksgiving, so It's kind of perfect. I don't actually have to cook Thanksgiving. It's a perfect crime. But I it's fun, it's like all ages, lots of kids, all my children's friends from grade school. And every year we get a big picture and it's just sort of fun to see all the kids. They grow
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: up so much. So that
Paloma: We love that.
meg braff: is my that is my favorite holiday.
Caroline›: That's great. I love that. Ha how I love the people like you that have the party the night before. That's always s that's a gem. Yeah.
meg braff: It's fun. It's it's low pressure. It's a buffet.
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: It's just so easy. It's the easiest party ever.
Paloma: I love that.
Caroline›: Okay.
Paloma: If you were a color, which one would you be?
meg braff: Well, I use so much blue and green in my interior design, but I I think I would actually be pink if I had to pick
Paloma: Okay.
meg braff: a color for myself
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: because I just I sort of feel like I don't have enough pink in my life with my four boys, and I don't know. I think I would be pink. Maybe a pale pink, like a like a Dior pink.
Caroline›: I can s yeah, yeah, I could see that. You're very rosy. I get it. I get it. okay, well, and then pluma one thing we are gonna start doing with all of our guests is a quick little rapid fire.
Paloma: Yes, a little guest
meg braff: Yeah.
Paloma: edit. So I know you travel a lot, Meg. Is there a hotel you think everyone should experience at some point in their
meg braff: that's such a tough I travel all the time. I'm not a huge hotel person. I really love to stay with friends, to be totally honest with you. So when I'm
Paloma: Mm.
meg braff: traveling and I'm if I have a good friend in Dallas or San Francisco, I will just if it's if I'm by myself, I will just stay with them. But I will say Doug and I are going to Scotland in two weeks on the Royal Scotsman and I'm super excited about that. The train I do love trains. I
Caroline›: Mm. Ooh. Yeah.
Paloma: Mm.
meg braff: we did one, the blue train in Africa a few years ago. That was really fun. So I think I'm much more interested in trying experiences like that than hotels,
Paloma: Okay.
meg braff: maybe. I don't know. But I do I do love a good hotel in, you know, Italy
Paloma: Wonderful.
meg braff: or wherever. But
Paloma: Great answer. A book everyone should read, aside from your new one.
meg braff: well, on the decorating front, I have a couple of favorites that you might have them, but Dorothy Rogers, do you know Dorothy Rogers? she had a couple of books called one was called My Favorite Things. And she was sort of like a nineteen sixties hostess and decorator.
Paloma: Okay.
meg braff: And it's kind of a great book. I think I highly recommend you find it on eBay.
Caroline›: Nice.
meg braff: I have a few copies myself. And then her other book that I thought was so great too was called The House in My Head. And it's such a great
Caroline›: Mm.
meg braff: story. And also they both have great recipes that are kind of super old fashioned and kind of Yeah, a lot of mayonnaise. But they're so good. Anyway,
Caroline›: Yeah, a lot of mayonnaise.
Paloma: Ha ha ha ha.
meg braff: but her house the The House in My Head, I just always loved it because the way I think about that, she sort of said, you know, we all have a dream house and we all Like even before you, you know, even if you don't have your dream house or if you're still thinking about your dream house or you maybe you already have it, even before you have it, you've you're thinking about it for years.
Caroline›: Yeah, for sure.
meg braff: And so much of the pleasure of it comes in just thinking about it and dreaming about it and then planning it and then doing you know, it's just such a
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: a joy, the whole thing.
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: I mean, we're so lucky to do what we do. So I love her book because I
Caroline›: I'm gonna get both of them.
Paloma: I know, I have to look those up.
meg braff: kind of it's very aspirational and fun and yeah.
Paloma: Wonderful. Okay, one thing
meg braff: Two favorites.
Paloma: that's worth every penny in any category.
meg braff: any category, I would say in decorating it would be well, I think textiles and wallpapers are probably my go to. Like I just think get the best that you can get. And then in in terms of myself, I just think, you know, skincare. I I love to go to the spa
Paloma: Mm-hmm. We're big fans of skincare, yes.
Caroline›: Yeah, for sure.
meg braff: at least once a year and just like, you know, completely
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: remove myself from my surroundings. So I highly recommend that. Taking care
Paloma: Wonderful.
meg braff: take care of yourself.
Paloma: A room you'll never forget.
meg braff: Well two come to mind. One was about thirty years ago, a place in Portugal called Villa Verde, and it was a house done by David Hicks that a friend
Paloma: Mm.
meg braff: of ours built. It's I just never
Caroline›: Mm man
meg braff: forget it. And there's actually a book about it. I think it's called Villa Verde. Okay, but then more recently, Doug and I were in the Netherlands in March and we wound up at the Royal Palace for a dinner. And they had these two rooms there that I And I was sort of trying to find them online because I was obviously too embarrassed to take a picture. And it it the there was the I can't even describe it. The the paneling, the chinoiserie, the core mandal panels that they had done for this room, and then and then they had done this Chinese embroidered curtains that were just like I had just never seen anything like it. It was just so beautiful and very untouched and it had obviously had been there for probably sixty years or seventy years. I mean it was just very as it were, you know,
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: Yeah.
meg braff: really good. So I'm still thinking about that. I'm I'm gonna have to dig around and find more pictures.
Paloma: Fabulous. Okay, last question. What are you installing into your life right now?
meg braff: Well, I have a project coming up for my own house in Florida that's like a very sort of separated construction project that's kind of just very isolated. So
Caroline›: Mm.
meg braff: we're hoping to do it next summer. So I'm kind of in my mind gearing myself up for that, even though it's
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
meg braff: you know, ten months away, I kinda have to I have to get myself going on that. Get it get it all, you know moving. So Yeah.
Caroline›: Yeah. Get for sure, for sure. All the pre planning.
meg braff: But I'm excited. It's but I've been thinking about it for five years and I I just haven't been able to pull the trigger until just now. So I just finally have said, Okay, we're gonna do our do our bedroom and bathroom
Caroline›: What that's exciting.
Paloma: Well, very exciting.
meg braff: and dressing, those kinds of things. Like the more personal spaces that
Caroline›: nice.
meg braff: needed to get done.
Caroline›: And you'll start that once you leave. Yeah. Nice.
meg braff: And like in May. I'll probably start at beginning of May next year.
Paloma: Are you doing a big book tour, Meg? That's so fun. Okay.
meg braff: I am. I'm so excited. I start in in Fort Worth at the Garden Club there. It's gonna be fun. god. I can't wait.
Caroline›: Yes, I just did that. They're so great. The ladies out there, Annemarie and Teresa, they're so wonderful.
meg braff: It's gonna be fun. And then I'm doing a little something in Dallas with some friends and and then I'll just Greenwich. You know, it just kinda keeps, you know, keeps going. It'll be
Paloma: Right. It keeps going, yes.
meg braff: a lot of fun.
Caroline›: Fun. It's absolutely gorgeous.
Paloma: Well, Gracious Interiors looks gorgeous. Every house, every room is exuberant. It's joyful. It's beautiful. There's so many details to take in. I'm so excited to get my hands on a hard
Caroline›: Yes.
Paloma: copy once it's out. so everybody will have to pre-order and be sure to check Meg out on her
Caroline›: Yeah. If you thought the first one was your Bible, you just get ready. This one is gonna knock your socks off. Really, absolutely gorgeous.
meg braff: Thank you, Caroline. Thank you, Paloma. That's so sweet. It's it was a lot of fun doing it with Jason. We had a great, great experience.
Caroline›: He's so great. He is just one of my favorite people. You're so lucky to have both of you. Yeah.
Paloma: Yes.
meg braff: So lucky. He helped me write the book. He really
Paloma: He's wonderful.
meg braff: has my voice. And so it was very easy to do that with them because he was there for every project and was, you know, intricately involved. So
Paloma: Mm-hmm.
Caroline›: And you're both so nice and so sweet and fun to be around. Really, really wonderful.
Paloma: He's so nice.
meg braff: Thank you.
Paloma: Mm-hmm. Nice and approachable. And also, you're such a big supporter, Meg, of so
Caroline›: Yeah.
Paloma: many in our industry. I don't wanna leave this podcast
meg braff: that's so nice.
Paloma: without saying that. You've been so supportive of me, so supportive of the industry as a whole, of Kips Bay,
Caroline›: Me too, yes.
Paloma: of countless designers. I mean, you're always the first to say, I'd love to host a book signing for you, or you know,
meg braff: Ha ha
Paloma: have a trunk show in your one of your beautiful showrooms.
meg braff: Thank you.
Paloma: And I feel like that says a lot about who you are as a person.
meg braff: Thank you. Well, I think we're all so lucky to love what we do because that's why we do it. Because it's you know, it brings us all a lot of joy and and we work with great people. So
Caroline›: great. Well, you're one of the best. And thank you so
Paloma: Absolutely.
meg braff: Thank you.
Caroline›: much for honoring us by coming on. Okay,
meg braff: Wonderful to see you both.
Paloma: Loved having you.
Caroline›: I hope to see you sometime

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