Ep. 458: The English Country Aesthetic with Steven Rodel

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome a truly iconic British designer to the show! Our guest today is Steven Rodel, Creative Director at one of the UK's most esteemed design practices, Guy Goodfellow. Guy Goodfellow is renowned for a deep knowledge of historic interiors, an impeccable eye for art and antiques, and a talent for creating homes that feel beautifully evolved. Steven brings a distinctly British perspective as he joins Caroline, Taryn, and Liz to talk about his recent London flat renovation and the secrets to achieving an authentic "English Country" look. He explains why rooms shouldn't feel "showy" or "themed," how to confidently display your personal style, and why every home needs a touch of eccentricity. Quick Decorating Takeaways: Embrace the Imperfect and Eccentric: An authentic, lived-in space requires a bit of eccentricity. Don't shy away from battered or worn antique pieces—like a well-loved games table that shows the history of how many games have been played on it. Avoid the "Themed" Look: A true English Country home balances heritage and comfort. The goal is to make a room feel like it has naturally evolved over the years, rather than looking like a stage set or a perfectly matched theme. Make the Hallway a Destination: If you have a long, dark, narrow hallway, don't just treat it as a pass-through space. Hang a gallery wall of personal photos to make people linger, use fun wallpaper, add sconces, and place a mirror at the very end to bounce natural light from adjacent rooms or skylights. What You’ll Hear on This Episode: 00:00 Welcome & Introduction to Steven Rodel 01:30 Steven’s design history and working with Guy Goodfellow 04:30 The Guy Goodfellow aesthetic: Rooted in history and tradition, but fresh and timeless 16:30 Creating rooms that are quiet, comfortable, and accessible rather than "showy" 26:00 Steven’s own London flat renovation and the editing process 32:00 Defining "English Country Home" style and avoiding the "themed" look 37:30 Why we should all allow space for eccentricity in our homes 41:30 Embracing imperfect antiques (and the charm of a battered games table) 43:30 Decorating Dilemma: Updating a dark, narrow hallway in an 1895 Martha's Vineyard cottage 48:30 Lighting tricks for corridors: Adding sconces and mirrors to bounce skylight illumination 52:00 Using gallery walls to turn a hallway into a destination space 54:50 Should bedroom colors perfectly match the hallway wallpaper? 55:20 Closing thoughts & where to find Steven Also Mentioned: Guy Goodfellow | Website 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. 458: The English Country Aesthetic with Steven Rodel is an episode from How to Decorate.

This episode is 58:46 long.

This episode was published on Mar 24, 2026.

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