Slow Style Home: Decorating Personal, Meaningful Interiors

Zandra Zuraw
  • 5.0 (5)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

You want a home that’s uniquely you. One that reflects your passions, values and lifestyle. And you want to create one on your own, without having to hire a designer, breaking the bank, or hurting the planet. The challenge is that there are too many voices telling you what trend to jump on, what rules you must follow, and what “beautiful” looks like. Plus, you don’t want to scrap everything you own and start all over. It’s hard to know how to wrap your arms around this big, important concept called “home!” On this podcast, you’ll learn from the experts exactly why some rooms work (and others don’t), how to master a mix of styles and preferences when you have a bunch of them jumbled together, and inspiration for being brave and taking the creation of your dream home into your own hands.   Want me to stop in your hometown on the book tour? Leave me a message with your thoughts on where I should hold an event (a bookshop, gallery, antiques store, garden, historic home, etc ), and your contact info.  https://www.speakpipe.com/SlowStyleHome

  1. 1D AGO

    Nature Knows Where Your Sofa Goes (Stop Overthinking It) with Abi Dare

    Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode! Sitting down with Abi Dare to talk about her new book, Bring the Outside In, felt like having someone quietly turn on a light in rooms I thought I already understood. We started with the idea of nature in our homes, but very quickly moved far beyond the usual advice about adding more plants or maximizing daylight. Abi shows us how the landscapes we love can become a roadmap for every decision we make — from color palettes pulled from forest canopies and sunsets, to the mix of textures that make a space feel layered and alive. We explored curving shapes, reclaimed materials, and why a sleek piece of glass or metal can still feel deeply connected to the natural world. And then we went even deeper. We talked about prospect and refuge — that powerful instinct to feel protected while still being able to look out — and how it explains everything from our love of restaurant booths to the magic of a window seat. We discussed mystery and enticement, the importance of what you glimpse from one room to the next, and why transitions like hallways deserve far more attention than they usually get. My biggest takeaway? When you let nature lead, the pressure to “get it right” disappears. The choices start to feel intuitive. Personal. Grounded. Let nature do the heavy lifting. Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style Buy the book, "Slow Style Home" Learn more at our website Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

    35 min

  2. FEB 9

    Inside Sean Leffers’ Poetic Mix of Cultures, Eras, and Story

    Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode! In this episode, I have the absolute pleasure of stepping inside the Los Angeles home of designer Sean Leffers—someone whose work I admire for its depth, sensitivity, and extraordinary sense of narrative. From the moment we walk through the door, it’s clear that Sean doesn’t decorate; he curates a life. His rooms are layered with art, antiques, travel finds, spiritual references, and handmade pieces that carry memory and lineage. As we tour, Sean shares the stories behind Japanese metalwork born from peacetime, Brazilian and Sri Lankan furniture, colonial Peruvian carving, block-printed textiles from India, and contemporary works by artists he loves and champions. We talk about how culture travels, how objects evolve across borders, and why the blurred line between art and craft makes a home feel human. Most of all, this episode is about connection. Each vignette becomes an invitation—to ask questions, to linger, to see more.  If you want a home that feels personal, soulful, and deeply lived in, this conversation is full of inspiration. Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style Buy the book, "Slow Style Home" Learn more at our website Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

    35 min

  3. FEB 2

    The American Homeowner's Creativity Crisis (And How The Brits Avoid It)

    Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode! In this episode, I’m reflecting on the idea that it’s never too late to begin again—especially when it comes to our homes. After returning from a deeply inspiring trip to London, where I was immersed in British craftsmanship and design culture, I found myself thinking about how differently we approach decorating in the UK versus the US. The British emphasis on creativity, comfort, patina, and lived-in beauty feels closely aligned with my slow style philosophy, especially when contrasted with America’s fixation on trends, perfection, and convenience. I explore how our fear of imperfection and maintenance has quietly shaped our choices, often pulling us away from natural materials, meaningful objects, and the joy of caring for what we own. To bring these ideas into practice, I invite you to step away from algorithms and quick fixes and instead create a tangible, real-life vision board for your home—one rooted in personal experience, inspiration, and the kind of life you want to live there. Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style Buy the book, "Slow Style Home" Learn more at our website Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

    27 min

  4. 12/22/2025

    Best Design Projects: Podcast Highlights 2025

    Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode! This episode is part two of my Best of 2025 series, and it’s all about show and tell—those moments when designers walk us through a room and explain why it works. I pulled clips from conversations where we slowed down and really looked at composition, color, pattern, texture, and the quiet decisions that hold a space together. These are rooms best seen as much as heard, which is why this episode pairs especially well with YouTube. From bold, expressive spaces to calm, disciplined palettes, each designer reveals how intention, repetition, and play shape the way a room feels. It’s a reminder that beautiful interiors aren’t accidental—they’re built thoughtfully, one choice at a time. Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style Buy the book, "Slow Style Home" Learn more at our website Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

    40 min

  5. 12/15/2025

    Designers At Home: Holiday Tour with Heather French

    Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode! I’m bringing you along with me to Santa Fe for a quiet, layered look inside the home of designer Heather French—a place that feels deeply rooted in its landscape and gently expressive of the family who lives there. Walking through her territorial-style house, especially dressed for the holidays, felt like a reminder that good design isn’t about spectacle, but about intention: rooms shaped by how they’re truly used, materials that show age and wear with grace, and traditions that build warmth over time. From fruit-laden tables and needlepoint banquettes to a kitchen designed for lingering and a living room meant for both conversation and rest, Heather’s home is a beautiful example of how style can be personal, soulful, and quietly enduring Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style Buy the book, "Slow Style Home" Learn more at our website Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

    31 min

  6. 12/08/2025

    Best Of Design Philosophy: Podcast Highlights From 2025

    Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode! As we wrapped up the year, I found myself gathering the moments from the show that moved me the most—the conversations that nudged me to think differently about home, beauty, and the way we shape our days. Revisiting these clips felt a bit like walking back through rooms I love: Olga reminding us that tiny shifts in our spaces can spark self-worth; Danielle celebrating the joyful friction of mixing styles; Bailey inviting us into that fearless creative “zone.” Then there were the makers—Francesca stirring pigments into velvety limewash, Brea and Guy rescuing centuries-old stone, and Michal weaving stories through embroidery—each one revealing the human hands and histories behind the things we live with. Sharing these voices again felt like opening a window to everything I believe about Slow Style: that beauty is both mirror and guide, and that home is an ever-evolving conversation between who we are and who we’re becoming. Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style Buy the book, "Slow Style Home" Learn more at our website Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

    49 min

  7. 12/01/2025

    It’s Not a Makeover, It’s a Tune-up: A Coaching Call Where Small Changes Make a Big Impact

    Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode! This week’s episode is a sweet, simple reminder of how small changes can make a home feel more like you. Laurie and I began in her kitchen, at the long window seat that greets you the moment you enter from the back door. Even with its beautiful view, it felt unfinished to her—like it wasn’t yet saying, We live here. As we talked, I encouraged her to trust the instincts she already had: using her own textiles, adding a little color, choosing organic patterns, and even hanging plants to bring some life into the space. We moved through the nearby rooms too, touching on lighting challenges and the beginnings of a gallery wall. In the end, every question circled back to the same truth: her home just needed more of her, and she already knew exactly how to make that happen. Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style Buy the book, "Slow Style Home" Learn more at our website Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

    30 min

  8. 11/28/2025

    Intro to "Unlock Your Signature Style" audio course

    Text me your thoughts or questions on this episode! Download the free guide to Define Your Signature Style Buy the book, "Slow Style Home" Learn more at our website Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

    11 min
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About

You want a home that’s uniquely you. One that reflects your passions, values and lifestyle. And you want to create one on your own, without having to hire a designer, breaking the bank, or hurting the planet. The challenge is that there are too many voices telling you what trend to jump on, what rules you must follow, and what “beautiful” looks like. Plus, you don’t want to scrap everything you own and start all over. It’s hard to know how to wrap your arms around this big, important concept called “home!” On this podcast, you’ll learn from the experts exactly why some rooms work (and others don’t), how to master a mix of styles and preferences when you have a bunch of them jumbled together, and inspiration for being brave and taking the creation of your dream home into your own hands.   Want me to stop in your hometown on the book tour? Leave me a message with your thoughts on where I should hold an event (a bookshop, gallery, antiques store, garden, historic home, etc ), and your contact info.  https://www.speakpipe.com/SlowStyleHome

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