Ep. 447: Trends vs. Timelessness with Lisa Staton

We're excited to welcome Seattle-based interior designer Lisa Staton to the show. With more than 20 years of experience, her firm is known for seamlessly blending current trends with timeless appeal to create spaces that feel both fresh and rooted in history. Lisa joins Taryn and Caroline to discuss her East Coast upbringing, how she navigates the "algorithm era" of design, and why she believes every room needs a mix of old and new. She shares her philosophy on "Soup and Symphony" design, how to choose the right white paint for your region, and why the house itself is always the first client. Quick Decorating Takeaways: Use the House as Your Guide: Let the home's original architecture be your "guiding life force" when renovating. Matching details like millwork to the original style creates a cohesive foundation, allowing for trendy updates without losing character. Practice "Soup and Symphony": Focus on how all design elements work together rather than critiquing individual pieces. Like a soup or symphony, the magic lies in the harmonious blend of textures, colors, and furniture, not just the single ingredients. Respect Your Region's Light: Choose paint colors based on your specific location's light, not just what looks good in photos. For example, the blue-toned light of the Pacific Northwest calls for warmer whites to avoid sterility, unlike a sun-drenched desert home. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: 00:00 Welcome & Introductions 01:45 Lisa’s background: From Boston history to Sotheby’s art auctions 04:00 The "Algorithm Effect": How social media homogenizes design 06:00 Balancing high-end design with accessible updates 09:00 How to respect architecture without creating a "period piece" 11:00 Designing for location: Why a Cape Cod style doesn't always work in Arizona 13:00 The collaborative process and avoiding "reverse Google search" design 15:00 The "Soup and Symphony" analogy for cohesive interiors 19:00 Mixing traditional cabinetry with sleek, modern furniture 25:00 Designing for the Pacific Northwest: Coziness and light management 28:00 Lisa’s go-to white paints for different lights 31:00 Tips for choosing exterior paint colors 36:00 Decorating Dilemma: Updating a beige-on-beige rental apartment 44:00 Why you should embrace "weird" art and vintage finds 52:00 Closing notes & where to find Lisa Also Mentioned: Lisa Staton Design | Website Follow Lisa on Instagram: @lisastatondesign Paint Colors Mentioned: Sherwin Williams Alabaster, Benjamin Moore Simply White, Lancaster White, Swiss Coffee Shop Ballard Designs Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course,

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Ep. 447: Trends vs. Timelessness with Lisa Staton is an episode from How to Decorate.

This episode is 58:36 long.

This episode was published on Jan 6, 2026.

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