Ep. 483: Annie Meyers-Shyer & This Oak House

Former Harper's Bazaar editor and Chanel executive Annie Meyers-Shyer joins the podcast! Annie became an "accidental influencer" after launching her Instagram account, @thisoakhouse, to document the renovation of her family home. Now, she's sharing her thorough research, design tips, and beautiful editorial photography in her debut book, This Oak House.

Annie chats with Caroline and Liz about how her fashion background translates to interiors, her most agonizing design decisions, and why you should absolutely video your walls before the drywall goes up.

• Prep with Purpose: Before meeting with her architect or designer, Annie would send a short bulleted list of functional needs (e.g., "plug in a drawer for a hair dryer") alongside a highly curated Pinterest board to establish a clear visual and written narrative.

  
  

• The Magic (and Torture) of Paint: Paint was one of the hardest decisions for Annie. To get an accurate read on a paint sample, paint it onto the actual material of the wall (like beadboard vs. plaster), remove any blue painter's tape that might cast a colored shadow, and pull up pink floor coverings like Ram board.

  
  

• Cohesive Finishes: To keep her home feeling connected, Annie selected a short list of materials—like wood floors and marble—and simply rinsed and repeated them throughout the house.

  
  

• Working with a Designer: Be completely honest about what kind of client you are going to be. If you want to be deep in the weeds and highly collaborative, tell them upfront so you can ensure your working styles are a match. Also, never underestimate the value of hiring kind people.

  
  

• Record Your Walls: Before the drywall goes up, walk through your home and take a video on your phone. Knowing exactly where the electrical and plumbing are hiding behind the walls will save you massive headaches if you ever need to make changes later.

  
  

• The Case for the Formal Living Room: Annie purposely designed her living room to be a TV-free, adult-focused space. While her kids are allowed in the room, it brings her joy to have one space in the house that stays exactly how she left it.

  
  

• The Nancy Meyers Connection: Annie's mother is legendary filmmaker Nancy Meyers, known for her coveted movie sets. Annie notes that the magic of those movie homes is deeply tied to the complex characters, the wardrobe, and the story being told, which is a great reminder that your own home should tell the story of the people living inside it.

  
  

• Follow Annie on Instagram: @thisoakhouse

• Pick up her new book, This Oak House, available on September 15th.

• Try the hot fudge recipe included in her book

Please send in your decorating dilemmas to podcast@ballarddesigns.net so we can help you with your space! Don't forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

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