The Install: Life & Design with Paloma and Caroline

After High Point, Paloma and Caroline catch up on friendship, design, and a sofa saga with a surprisingly happy ending. Then Kate Rheinstein Brodsky explains how working with Jeffrey Bilhuber—and growing up around her mother, Suzanne Rheinstein—led her to a more playful path in retail. The conversation moves from the “committee on taste” and paint swatches to the realities of family life, AI-generated design images, and the art of keeping geraniums alive. Along the way, Kate offers a perfect example of her mother’s polite way of saying she hated something: “That is so fun.” Subscribe and follow! Subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack: https://theinstallpodcast.substack.com/ YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Paloma: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere Music attribution Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: SUDAKA5LHSDHNL85 Chapters 00:17 High Point 03:02 TV Talk 10:24 Highs & Lows 15:08 Sofa Update 19:06 Kate Joins 21:19 Shop Freedom 24:17 Retail Roots 26:21 Suzanne’s Lessons 29:33 KRB’s Curation 32:47 Retail Realities 35:35 Committee Taste 39:53 Painted Floors 42:06 Know Thyself 45:46 Design Pet Peeves 49:09 Proper Curtains 51:14 Geraniums 58:06 Suzanne’s Wit 58:48 Rapid Fire

From the tyranny of text messages to the perils of patterned sofas, Caroline and Paloma have a few things to get off their chests. They discuss the pleasures of period dramas, the decidedly unpleasurable business of bad manners on social media, and why sharing the less-than-perfect side of design matters. Then it's time for a spirited round of Would You Rather? , where they're forced to choose between design dilemmas no sensible decorator should ever have to face. Wall-to-wall carpet in the kitchen, anyone? For more on design, entertaining, style, and the art of living well, subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack! https://theinstallpodcast.substack.com/ The Install YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Paloma Contreras Website: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline Gidiere Website: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere 00:20 Texting Overload 06:00 Television Favorites 10:00 Austin Adaptations 13:00 Marie Antoinette 16:30 Online Manners 19:00 Design Community 27:30 Design Dilemmas 31:30 Client Confessions 38:00 Rapid Fire 46:30 Design Regrets 48:00 Personal Touches

Good taste may open doors, but what gets a room into a magazine? Dara Caponigro joins the ladies to discuss Domino’s legacy, Frederic’s distinctly grown-up point of view, and why memorable interiors need more than pretty things. Along the way, she shares what aspiring contributors should actually send an editor, the pleasure of pressed sheets, and the decorating detail she could happily retire. First, Caroline and Paloma prepare for High Point, where a leisurely lunch can cost you a very good antique. Subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack: https://theinstallpodcast.substack.com/ YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Paloma: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: SUDAKA5LHSDHNL85 Chapters 00:17 High Point Bound 04:10 Antique Urgency 06:45 Highs and Lows 14:14 Hair Apparent 17:21 Meet Dara 18:38 Cultivating Taste 21:24 Domino Grown Up 22:20 Betting on Print 24:56 Building Frederic 27:31 Editorial Point of View 29:26 Memorable Rooms 30:44 Standout Stories 33:26 Emerging Talent 36:47 Joining Schumacher 38:38 Inside the Archives 41:29 Creative Cross-Pollination 43:31 Beyond the Magazine 45:17 What Comes Next 45:58 Print Meets Digital 48:43 Getting Noticed 49:53 Submitting Your Work 50:40 Choosing Covers 52:17 Rapid Fire

Paloma has two new hires and a welcome reminder that a full calendar can also be a sign of abundance; Caroline has family travel on the horizon and very little tolerance left for television gore. On the design front, the ladies question why hiring a professional should come with a hundred fabric samples’ worth of homework—and make the case for floors that will outlast a trend. A seemingly innocent game of what they’d give up quickly becomes a negotiation over chintz, designer clothes, and whether vacations and beauty treatments are constitutionally protected. They close with advice on tricky vendors: extend grace, follow up, and know when being nice needs to become being firm. Subscribe and follow Subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack: https://theinstallpodcast.substack.com/ YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Paloma: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere Music attribution Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: SUDAKA5LHSDHNL85 Chapters 00:00 Impossible Choices 00:39 Birmingham Afterglow 03:18 High Point Plans 05:20 Growing the Team 08:24 Recognizing Abundance 13:18 Sleepless Nights 15:30 Family Travel 17:31 Television Troubles 22:17 Designer Homework 29:04 Timeless Floors 34:09 Giving Things Up 35:21 Chintz Negotiations 36:42 Books or Television 40:52 Vacations or Vanity 41:34 Fabrics or Fashion 42:46 Instagram or TikTok 44:36 Bread or Cheese 45:33 Wallpaper or Furniture 47:03 Tricky Vendor Relationships 53:55 Until Next Week

Together in Birmingham, Paloma and Caroline find Antiques at the Gardens tickets approaching black-market status and their social calendars threatening a perfectly respectable bedtime. Between Caroline's Harry Styles high and an accidental three-pair sunglasses purchase, they launch “Gracious or Graceless,” passing judgment on early arrivals, shoes-off parties, reclining airline seats, and the delicate business of telling someone there’s spinach in her teeth. The etiquette extends to design: borrowed ideas, unsolicited requests for sources, and knowing when inspiration has become imitation. The ladies finish with advice for a renter facing honey oak—and a welcome reminder that an unfinished house is no reason to put your life on hold. Subscribe and follow Subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack: https://theinstallpodcast.substack.com/ YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Paloma: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere Music attribution Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: SUDAKA5LHSDHNL85 Chapters Birmingham Together Antiques After Hours Weekly Highs Harry’s House Party Sunglasses in Triplicate Sunscreen Discussion* Gracious or Graceless Arrival Etiquette Shoes Off? Spinach Diplomacy Table Manners Free Design Advice Client Knockoffs Reclining Rights Inspiration Versus Imitation Resource Requests Party Posts Regifting Rules Sending It Back Honey Oak Help Permission to Wait On the Road

Paloma reports from the Southern Living Idea House in Texas, where the rooms are ready for their close-up—and her hotel room could use a second opinion. Caroline returns from a dreamy Alexandria project visit to a sofa saga involving disappearing yardage, multiplying delays, and enough chintz to test anyone’s composure. Between a spirited debate over whether audiobooks count as reading and a fall-fashion review featuring questionable shoes, purple sweatpants, and opposing views on satin shorts, the ladies have notes. They finish with thoughtful gifts for the designer in your life—with one important distinction between a grand gesture and a measuring tape. Subscribe and Follow Subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack: https://theinstallpodcast.substack.com/ YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Paloma: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere Music Attribution Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: SUDAKA5LHSDHNL85 Chapters 00:16 — Texas Reveal 02:16 — Hill Country 06:00 — Calamity Club 08:01 — Reading Rules 10:38 — Southern Storytelling 17:41 — Opening Night 20:28 — Hotel Hangups 24:04 — Thoughtful Design 27:13 — Lived Experience 29:59 — Shower Politics 31:24 — Alexandria Homecoming 33:14 — Sofa Saga 43:11 — Holding the Bag 47:22 — Fall Forecast 48:40 — Fluffy Business 51:27 — Evening Affairs 53:47 — Gothic Florals 55:01 — Playful Proportions 55:52 — Bomber Debate 57:46 — Burgundy Season 58:09 — Suede Versus Leather 1:00:36 — Questionable Shoes 1:03:35 — Purple Reign 1:05:33 — Finishing Touches 1:07:05 — Satin Showdown 1:09:17 — Designer Gifts 1:13:10 — Until Next Time

Paloma and Caroline begin with September overload, tennis trauma, and the apparently unreasonable notion that opponents should hit the ball somewhere you can actually reach it. Then they welcome Annie Meyers-Shyer, whose path from Harper’s Bazaar and Chanel to the beloved This Oak House proves that a sharp eye is only the beginning—the details, collaboration, and occasional plywood mock-up make the room. Annie shares how she preserved the soul of her Gerard Colcord house, built an audience by pulling back the curtain on renovation, and learned to follow “the next right thing.” Plus: why balance is a fallacy, living rooms are underrated, and fake cutting boards should be shown the door. Subscribe and Follow Subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack: https://theinstallpodcast.substack.com/ YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Paloma: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere Chapters 00:17 — September Scramble 02:24 — Fitness High 03:41 — Tennis Trouble 07:50 — Television Tolerance 12:48 — Austen Adaptations 14:22 — Meet Annie 17:33 — Fashion Foundations 21:04 — Defining Taste 24:15 — Designer Collaboration 28:55 — Finding Home 31:05 — Colcord Character 32:34 — Preservation Pressure 33:53 — Hard Decisions 36:59 — Let It Breathe 38:50 — Sharing Sources 41:49 — Balance Fallacy 44:56 — Storytelling Homes 48:07 — Rapid Fire 52:20 — Phase Two 54:24 — Birmingham Bound Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: SUDAKA5LHSDHNL85

Part Two strips the lacquer off designer showhouses: behind those glossy rooms are six-figure budgets, vendor favors, impossible timelines, and enough last-minute crises to qualify as cardio. Caroline and Paloma trade war stories involving rejection from the stone sponsor, rugs stuck in customs, draperies four feet too short , and 145 yards of fabric mysteriously disappearing into a valance. But there is a reason designers keep coming back: one memorable room can lead to clients, press, product collaborations, stronger teams—and some highly effective “trauma bonding.” They close with a rapid-fire guide to what to install, what to avoid, and why doing two traditional showhouses in one year might be just a little bit unhinged. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: 1O1ULMY5AYH4LV7G Follow The Install Subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack for more design talk, behind-the-scenes stories, product finds, and installments of Ask the Install . The Install YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Paloma Website: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline Website: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere Chapters 00:16 — Part Two 01:23 — Budget Reality 03:07 — Sponsor Strategy 09:37 — Vendor Drama 12:04 — Loans & Sales 15:05 — Tight Timelines 17:34 — Plan Z 18:25 — Disaster Stories 26:40 — Drama City 27:47 — Stay Organized 30:23 — The Payoff 34:01 — Hidden Returns 36:52 — PR Strategy 38:58 — Bankroll It 40:09 — Saying No 43:20 — Rapid Fire 48:46 — Dream Showhouses

Episode Summary Paloma and Caroline continue to endure the on-going Southern summer heat and humidity, a Botox clock that suddenly seems to be running fast, and the Sisyphean task of growing out one’s hair—fortified by probiotic ice cream and a root touch-up pen stashed in the car console. They celebrate Substack’s slower, meatier charms and make a spirited case for shelter magazines to come back thicker, more beautiful, and worth paying for. Then the gloves come off on designer showhouses: career-making exposure, multiple-six-figure rooms, the glamour of being assigned a basement hallway, and the hard-won truth that one great photograph can matter more than square footage. Part one ends with the volume turned up—and the really juicy disasters still waiting in the wings. Follow The Install Subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack for weekly essays, product links, behind-the-scenes extras, and the next installment of Ask the Install . The Install YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Paloma Website: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline Website: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere Chapters 00:17 — Heat Wave 02:16 — Beauty Maintenance 04:20 — Full-Fat Treats 07:44 — Hair Rescue 11:28 — Substack Revival 14:25 — Industry News 15:34 — Print Matters 19:42 — Showhouse Secrets 22:17 — Showhouse History 23:38 — Career Momentum 26:53 — Basement Reality 30:49 — Invitation Only 32:50 — Room Strategy 35:13 — Budget Shock 36:40 — Small Spaces 39:07 — Creative Freedom 43:44 — Announcement of Part Two

Paloma and Caroline sweat through the last gasps of summer while tackling a still-suspicious rug, the indignity of hauling two Apple devices in one tote, a bittersweet staff change, a possible Sussex homecoming, and Vanity Fair’s best-dressed list—including the eternal question of whether Lenny Kravitz is technically dressed at all. Then they tumble headfirst into the RushTok rabbit hole, where reported $20,000 dorm rooms, chinoiserie lamps, Broadway-worthy recruitment numbers, and corporate sponsorships prompt the only sensible conclusion: girl, get to class. Keep the conversation going between episodes: Subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack for more from Caroline and Paloma. YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Paloma: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere 00:18 — Summer Heat 01:25 — Rug Rescue 06:40 — PowerBook Problems 09:34 — Bag Baggage 13:53 — Embracing Change 18:54 — Royal Return 25:37 — Best Dressed 33:11 — Dorm Décor 39:42 — Too Much? 47:22 — RushTok Rabbit Hole 55:41 — Brand Invasion 58:24 — Rush Anxiety

Caroline’s ideal weekend—pool time, Mahjong, and a teenager who voluntarily wants to hang out—meets its natural nemesis: a Starbucks that forgot to open, while Paloma celebrates Margot’s first day of kindergarten and reflects on a painfully heavy run of news. The mood lifts with a revealing identity game in which Caroline emerges as an orange, Easter-loving Sunday-morning smoothie, while Paloma is an olive-green, Valentine-loving Friday night with unmistakable croissant energy. Then they put “chic” on linguistic probation, make a surprisingly persuasive case for a little gatekeeping, and sentence balloon trousers, board shorts, and several other late-summer trends to fashion jail. Keep the conversation going between episodes: Subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack for more from Caroline and Paloma. YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Paloma: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere Chapters 00:17 — Mahjong Magic 04:14 — Starbucks Chaos 06:52 — Kindergarten 10:25 — Heavy News 16:51 — Personality Game 27:18 — Chic Overload 32:46 — Gatekeeping 40:03 — Scarf Season 41:40 — Retro Summer 44:03 — Peplum Problems 46:35 — Fashion Feeling 48:06 — Utility Mode 49:10 — Sporty Spice 51:06 — Sign-Off

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

Caroline and Paloma tackle underarm “chicken nuggets,” summer-camp chaos, and a once-pristine abaca rug under canine attack. They trade television recommendations, debate Nantucket’s “No Influencers” dustup, and consider the many ways money can whisper—or flex. They close with candid advice for aspiring designers: keep overhead low, hire carefully, and recognize when someone is in over their head. The Install Podcast is now on Substack. Subscribe today! 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 — Chicken Nuggets 06:48 — Weekly Recap 10:57 — Kitchen Comeback 13:44 — Rug Rescue 22:31 — Screen Time 30:14 — Cheer Pressure 34:22 — Influencer Wars 41:35 — Design Careers 44:44 — Smart Growth 47:32 — Costly Lessons 51:31 — Sign-Off

Caroline and Paloma battle triple-digit heat, post-surgery recovery, and a case of TikTok-certified “tech neck” before celebrating the multigenerational client relationships that make interior design feel like a family affair. Then they reveal the things truly worth the splurge—from French butter and signature fragrance to the perfect white T-shirt, an indestructible suitcase, and the workout subscription the internet loves to hate. They close with two artful new collaborations and a master class in scale, proving that when in doubt, go bigger, hide the lamp harp, and never underestimate the diagnostic powers of a cardboard box. Help us row the Podcast! We would be so grateful if you take a minute to subscribe, like, rate, review and download! Subscribe to The Install Edit on Substack! 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 00:13 — Heat Wave 02:44 — Highs & Lows 04:45 — Tech Neck 10:49 — Family Ties 15:45 — Install Updates 20:39 — Paloma’s Picks 27:19 — Caroline’s Picks 42:25 — Chic Collabs 44:08 — Artful Fashion 48:56 — Scale School 57:36 — Sign-Off

Fan favorite Bryan Huffman returns—gloriously uncensored—to review the seven deadly sins of polite conversation before whisking us back inside Bunny Mellon’s world at Oak Spring. He spills on no-tape gift wrapping, microscopic vegetables, Lay’s potato chips, ice in wine, Porthault linens, and Givenchy “armor,” while revealing the humor, discipline, generosity, and tenderness behind an American icon. Consider this your invitation to luncheon—just don’t discuss your sleep score, diet, or route there. Follow The Install Podcast YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast TikTok: @theinstallpocast Follow Paloma Paloma: www.palomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Follow Caroline Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts ShopMy: @carolinegidiere Chapters 00:15 — Bryan Is Back 01:18 — Social Studies 10:10 — Southern Manners 12:35 — Picky Eaters 16:54 — Inside Oak Spring 21:14 — Art Without Fuss 23:04 — Wrapping, Bunny-Style 26:36 — The Bunny Bar 30:52 — Luncheon Is Served 37:30 — The Famous Cabbage 39:13 — Bunny and the Swans 41:54 — Giving It Back 45:57 — Porthault and Old Money 50:11 — Givenchy as Armor 55:37 — Champagne for Eliza 1:02:23 — Bryan Signs Off

Paloma and Caroline take a conversational tour starting with Caroline’s one-and-done push-up and the psychological tyranny of a kitchen-island pile to the comforts of office routine, their new Substack, The Install Edit , and a heartfelt remembrance of Urban Electric founder Dave Dawson. Along the way, they celebrate couture craftsmanship, referee World Cup loyalties, review royal and Wimbledon fashion, debate marriage, motherhood, and women’s financial independence, compare an overly affectionate ChatGPT with a judgmental Claude, and issue a unanimous restraining order against men’s flip-flops. They close with a spirited defense of interior design timelines and fees—part business reality check, part closing argument. Substack: The Install Edit Instagram: @theinstallpodcast Tik Tok: @theinstallpocast YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Paloma: www.paolomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign Tik Tok: @carolinegidieredesignbts Shop My: @carolinegidiere 00:13 — One Push-Up and Weekly Highs 02:39 — Routines, Travel, and Resetting 05:10 — Cluttered Home, Cluttered Mind 08:39 — The Install Edit Returns to Writing 12:52 — Remembering Dave Dawson 15:53 — Couture as Creative Energy 20:17 — The Beautiful Game 25:09 — Royals, Reunions, and Wimbledon Fashion 30:18 — Marriage, Motherhood, and Independence 34:52 — ChatGPT Bestie, Claude Scold 37:46 — Hot Takes and Men’s Feet 39:41 — How Long Design Takes 42:05 — You Can’t Rush Creativity 45:04 — The Real Value of Design 50:06 — Twenty-Five Hours Is Nothing 51:18 — Spicy Caroline Signs Off

Paloma and Caroline open with a moment of horticultural hubris: Caroline’s geraniums are giving English-country-house abundance, while Paloma’s are still auditioning for the role of “weed.” From there, they celebrate an anniversary and revisit a very-of-its-moment 2005 wedding dress, mourn Chanel’s decision to discontinue beloved beauty staples, confess to needing a vacation from their addiction to planning vacations, and convene a ruthless Serve or Swerve tribunal. Balloon pants are convicted on sight, oversized button-downs receive strict styling probation, tomato red and signature red nails are vigorously defended, and the dreaded “dumb-length” midi skirt is issued a restraining order. There is a plea for men to embrace gray hair and a fantasy trip to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They close with smart advice for design lovers who want to collaborate with a professional without turning the project into a decorative custody battle and advice on how best to use The Expert and it's time allotment. Want detes and the links? Check out our Substack . Or check out our ShopMy . YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Instagram: @theinstallpodcast Tik Tok: @theinstallpocast Paloma: www.paolomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign ShopMy: @palomacontreras Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign Tik Tok: @carolinegidieredesignbts Shop My: @carolinegidiere Chapter list 00:35 — The Geranium Games: Green thumbs, green envy, and a lesson from Peppa Pig 06:37 — Highs and Lows: Anniversary flowers and a 2005 wedding dress 08:28 — Chanel Has Some Explaining to Do: Discontinued favorites and makeup-TikTok alternatives 14:45 — The Anxiety of an Empty Calendar: Fourth of July plans, baseball nostalgia, and travel withdrawal 19:31 — Life in Permanent Overdrive: Cortisol, dopamine, spreadsheets, and the spa-retreat solution 22:21 — Serve or Swerve Begins: Balloon pants and silky pajama dressing 26:32 — The Proportions Department: Oversized button-downs, neutral nails, and red-nail loyalty 32:24 — Summer Accessories on Trial: Basket bags, tomato red, and the unworn red shoe 37:11 — Beware the “Dumb Length”: Midi skirts, office flip-flops, and polka-dot theory 43:44 — Men, Embrace the Gray: Mick Jagger, Stevie Nicks, and aging stylishly 49:42 — Listener Question: Loving art and antiques without becoming your own decorator 55:27 — Making the Most of The Expert: How to prepare for a productive design consultation 58:18 — Wrap-up

This week, Caroline and Paloma confess to vacation weight gain, debate whether rosé is sabotaging their summer, and compare notes on concerts, puppies, and peach ice cream. They also dive into the decline of American shelter magazines (with a passionate plea to bring back House & Garden ), discuss whether they'd trust a driverless Waymo, share their favorite places to source antiques, and celebrate America's 250th birthday with a nostalgic look back at the Bicentennial and the Colonial Revival craze. Plus: gardening tips, Wimbledon predictions, and a TV recommendation you'll definitely want to binge. Instagram: @theinstallpodcast Tik Tok: @theinstallpocast YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Paloma: www.paolomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign Tik Tok: @carolinegidieredesignbts Shop My: @carolinegidiere Chapters 00:00 Highs & Lows 09:52 Summer Diet Confessions 15:50 Geranium Update 20:15 Magazine Hot Takes 25:30 Waymo: Yes or No? 28:50 What We're Watching 32:35 America's 250th Birthday 37:00 Americana Style 43:05 Listener Questions 49:30 Wimbledon & Royal Watch

Paloma and Caroline catch up on a chaotic week of puppy parenting, jet lag, birthday prep, travel recovery, and one truly tragic Charles de Gaulle skincare confiscation before diving into the latest design news, including Mark Sikes’s J.McLaughlin collaboration and The Hedges’ David Netto refresh. They also compare wellness routines—from lymphatic drainage to Caroline’s heroic everything-but-the-kitchen-sink smoothie—before getting into listener-submitted design hot takes on gallery walls, trend fatigue, faux chateau cosplay, scallops, baby blue, zellige tile, trim on sheetrock, recessed lighting, off-season travel, linen sheets, and chunky platform heels. Chapters -- Time Stamps 00:15 — Travel Recovery 01:09 — Puppy Drama 03:48 — Dog Wisdom 06:31 — High/Low 07:05 — Lou’s Return 08:20 — Lotion Loss 17:13 — Mark’s Collab 18:14 — The Hedges 21:26 — Wellness Overload 23:09 — Smoothie Era 27:41 — Creatine Gummies 29:13 — Hot Takes 29:48 — Gallery Walls 31:40 — Trend Fatigue 31:55 — Chateau Cosplay 35:16 — Scallop Backlash 35:31 — Baby Blue 36:13 — Wallpaper Fatigue 39:25 — Zellige Overload 41:27 — Sheetrock Trim 43:28 — Recessed Lighting 46:13 — Off-Season Travel 48:21 — Linen Sheets 52:18 — Platform Heels 54:35 — Outro Hot Takes Smoothie Recipe: Powders: IM8 Essentials Pro + Longevity Stack in Flavor Lemon/Orange Kion Creatine Gramms Clear Whey Protein Lemonade Veggies: Handful of frozen chopped kale 1/4 c shredded carrots 3 cubes frozen ginger from Trader Joes Frozen fruits: Handful each of blue berries, pitted cherries, raspberries and 1/2 frozen peach in season Liquids (totaling 1 cup): Juice of 1/2 lemon Aloe Juice from Trader Joes Coconut Water Sprinkle of Sea Salt Instagram: @theinstallpodcast Tik Tok: @theinstallpocast YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Paloma: www.paolomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign Tik Tok: @carolinegidieredesignbts Shop My: @carolinegidiere

Paloma and Caroline check in from Cabo and Paris for a vacation-edition catch-up that delivers equal parts glamour, chaos, and practical wisdom. They talk about changing travel plans, the joys of slower vacations, and what it’s like to travel with kids at different ages—from early wake-ups to future shopping buddies and museum eye-rolls. Along the way, they cover Malmaison, Josephine, and Paris museum adventures , Paloma’s very relatable decision to ditch a hotel that wasn’t passing the vibe check , and Caroline’s vacation highs and lows, including a spider bite, a bruised shin, and a deep devotion to French snack food . There’s also a standout product recommendation for taming frizz, followed by a smart and candid design discussion on why decorators should not be hiring the contractor —plus the client red flags that tell you a project may not be the right fit. Chapter Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Paris vs. Cabo 01:14 – Why Paloma changed her original Paris plans 02:48 – Caroline on her first kid-free trip in 20+ years 06:25 – Shopping, Charvet shirts, and museum parenting 07:53 – Malmaison, Lafayette, and Josephine as ultimate style icon 11:08 – Pool days, beach reads, and vacation mode in Cabo 13:23 – Paloma’s hotel horror story and the great Cabo switch 16:52 – High/Low: trusting your instincts on vacation 18:31 – Caroline’s lows: spider bite and shin injury from hell 20:17 – Caroline’s high: beloved French chips and snack obsession 22:01 – Margot cameo! 23:34 – Glass-door mishaps and kid vacation stories 25:17 – Paris celebrates PSG into the wee hours 25:52 – Product Rec: Chris McMillan Styling Balm 30:39 – Design Question: Should a designer hire the contractor? 37:25 – When a client request becomes a red flag 41:51 – Contract redlines, process pushback, and knowing when to walk away 47:42 – Wrap-up: Notre Dame bells, cold weather, cocktails, and a meteor shower Instagram: @theinstallpodcast Tik Tok: @theinstallpocast YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast Paloma: www.paolomacontreras.com Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign Caroline: www.carolinegidiere.com Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign Tik Tok: @carolinegidieredesignbts Shop My: @carolinegidiere