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.”

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Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
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ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline: http://www.carolinegidiere.com
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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
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Paloma Contreras

• Website: http://www.palomacontreras.com
• Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
• TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign
• ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline Gidiere

• Website: http://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.

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YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast
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Paloma: http://www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign
ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline: http://www.carolinegidiere.com
Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign
TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts
ShopMy: @carolinegidiere

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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.

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Paloma: http://www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign
ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline: http://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.

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YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast
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Paloma: http://www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign
ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline: http://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.

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Paloma: http://www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign
ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline: http://www.carolinegidiere.com
Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign
TikTok: @carolinegidieredesignbts
ShopMy: @carolinegidiere

Music Attribution

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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.

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YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast
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Paloma: http://www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign
ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline: http://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

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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.

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The Install
YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast
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Paloma
Website: http://www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign
ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline
Website: http://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.

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The Install
YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast
Instagram: @theinstallpodcast
TikTok: @theinstallpocast

Paloma
Website: http://www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign
ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline
Website: http://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
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Paloma: http://www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign
ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline: http://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: http://www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
TikTok: @palomacontrerasdesign
ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline: http://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: http://www.palomacontreras.com
Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign
Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign
ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline: http://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: http://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.

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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: http://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.

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Follow Caroline

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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

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Paloma: www.paolomacontreras.com

Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign

Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign

Caroline:http://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.

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YouTube: @theinstalldesignpodcast

Instagram: @theinstallpodcast

Tik Tok: @theinstallpocast

Paloma: http://www.paolomacontreras.com

Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign

Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign

ShopMy: @palomacontreras

Caroline:http://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: http://www.paolomacontreras.com

Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign

Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign

Caroline:http://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: http://www.paolomacontreras.com

Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign

Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign

Caroline:http://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:

http://www.paolomacontreras.com

Instagram: @palomacontrerasdesign

Tik Tok: @palomacontrerasdesign

Caroline:

http://www.carolinegidiere.com

Instagram: @carolinegidieredesign

Tik Tok: @carolinegidieredesignbts

Shop My: @carolinegidiere