Deep Track Designs

Elizabeth Becken

The official Smoothyblues Online Interiors hang out for grabbing a healthy blend of design tips, music talk, and laughter. Sink into your favorite chair and get ready to sip on some thoughtfully composed, warmly delivered, and unexpectedly relatable design concoctions. Every episode is crafted to reach the inner tracks of your heart and soul. Like listening to a worn-out record, you may just develop an uncontrollable urge to keep coming back and listen to Elizabeth over and over and over again!

Episodes

  1. 10/03/2023

    The Moody Blues: A Personal Connection

    Nowadays you may be finding it impossible to ignore what seems to be the mass exodus of so many bands, musicians, and songwriters of yesterday – too many in just the past couple of years. In true blue, rock 'n' roll fashion, Elizabeth scrambles to preserve the memories of music she followed her entire life, dating as far back as the '60s. In doing so, she welcomes Gary Kudrna, sound engineer for The Moody Blues for 12 extraordinary years. How Elizabeth and her latest guest's worlds happen to collide is a rock 'n' roll story well worth telling. For now, we'll just say it all began with the two of them once meeting the same beautiful girl named Paula. The two agree that their coming together was an event that was simply "meant to be" after her passing late last year.  You'll want to listen to the behind-the-scenes stories about how The Moody Blues were "instrumental" in keeping Gary and Paula's relationship alive. Not only that, hear about Gary's unique mixing process and the other famous bands he's worked with. Over 400, including the Beach Boys, Robert Palmer, and Led Zeppelin, just to name a few! Rare, special guests, "Three Dog Night," decide to play the roles of background vocalists for a short stretch in this track. These are Gary's three beloved rescue dogs, Jango, Beni, and Sal, also known as "the boys." This guy also has some very cool and collected rock 'n' roll decor: framed platinum albums, guitars, signed artwork, and more. Elizabeth goes crazy over this and points out her undeniable passion for rock music-inspired rooms, an everyday additive on her website and Instagram feed. Rumor has it that Elizabeth and Gary are thinking about coming back to record Part II because they figure they barely scratched the surface. Be sure to stay tuned in to Deep Track Designs for more!  A tribute to our dear, sweet Paula on her birthday.  Paula Louise Craig 10/02/60 - 11/14/22 A mutual love lost... Her memory is one we vow to keep alive together.

  2. 02/16/2023

    Leopard and the Little Rebel

    Elizabeth Becken is turning up the volume with a spectacular line-up of guests for Season II of Deep Track Designs! She says the criteria for guests is simple: they must love music, must have something mind-blowing to add to their interior design conversation, AND, they absolutely must have a sense of humor. With her typical injection of Vermont flavor, Elizabeth explains how she met her first very cool guest. What grabbed her attention was this: the unsuspecting, soon-to-be guest had “two major (and I mean MAJOR) obsessions – leopard print and David Bowie.” As Elizabeth got to know her more, she thought, dang girl, you’re coming with me! You’ll be asking yourself, who else other than Elizabeth dares to zigzag back and forth between conversations about the most famous interior designer of all time and Bowie… and with such remarkable grace? Literally with Grace, Elizabeth’s first guest, who is asked when she first recognized herself as a little rebel and matter-of-factly responds, “inside the womb!” One after another, Grace drops entertaining bombs with her surprising answers to Elizabeth’s questions. Although Grace considers herself a rebel of sorts, don’t be fooled. She is not only a talented artist, she's also an extremely well-spoken lady who grew up in a home where music and art became staples in the pantry of her everyday life. She clearly loves and respects her grandparents who raised her.  Of course, Elizabeth manages to weave in a few historical tidbits about leopard print, as well as how to incorporate the pattern into your design. Both she and Grace agree that they tend to gravitate most toward a leopard print design which also features neon pink. The over-the-top discussion about their mutual love for leopard clothing and decor is well worth taking in. Finally, you’ll love hearing Grace provide some obscure factoids about David Bowie’s life and music. Be prepared to learn something new! Rest assured, the two won’t be saying goodbye before touching on Bowie’s hit, “Rebel Rebel.” Be sure to listen all the way through this track to truly get the deep connection this lady has with Bowie. You can check out Grace’s art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feannag/ Learn more about Elizabeth by visiting her website: https://www.smoothybluesonlineinteriors.com/

  3. 07/26/2022

    Farmhouse Blitz

    Smoothyblues owner, Elizabeth, and her co-host start this track off by painting a vivid picture of what it’s like to take in all of Vermont’s natural summer beauty, a distinct celebration for the senses. In the foreground of Elizabeth’s mind, however, are all of the farmhouses that can be seen around almost every turn she takes. She says, as an interior designer, she often finds herself gravitating towards a few particular farmhouse styles, and you can imagine why. But before getting into the thick of the design discussion, you can leave it to Elizabeth to catch you off guard with an unusual conversation about her thirsty cucumbers and how she gives herself a "10" when it comes to gardening. There’s a lot of chuckling after she dares Bo Derek to challenge her on this.  In the continued effort to uphold her modus operandi, Elizabeth makes the announcement of her unconventional choice for a theme song, "We’re an American Band" by Grand Funk Railroad.  After all, how could this song possibly relate to farmhouse design?  It’s SIMPLE, she says, "I love to listen to music featuring cowbells!" She asks her co-host, "Have you ever noticed how everyone runs to the dance floor like a herd of cattle when they hear cowbells? I know I DO!"  While chatting it up about this Michigan-based band, Elizabeth mentions famous groupie, Connie Hamzy. She points out there’s a line in this song dedicated to Sweet, Sweet Connie. The two joke again... Perhaps Elizabeth could be a groupie for her co-host’s band, and people would refer to her as Sweet, Sweet Lizzy. It’s so easy for these two to propagate more and more spin-off music talk, because they clearly love it! Keep the faith, though, because Elizabeth does manage to turn this track around to inform listeners about her three favorite farmhouse design styles, something else she really loves.  She begins her talk with describing the Early American Farmhouse style. She not only provides a little history, she describes the typical furniture from this era as well their signature characteristics. There’s even a few short lessons on pie safe and Windsor chair construction.  Next up is what Elizabeth refers to as Farmhouse Glitz. You’ll surely want to hear about her romantic bedroom design. She shows you how complete opposites, rustic and glam, can work very well together.  Finally, this lady gets around to a style so many of us are just crazy about – Industrial Farmhouse. She provides a comprehensive list of elements, once again, but get a hold of this! You’re also going to be hearing about her dream, loft apartment in NYC. Let’s say this for now... Twiggy is a special guest. So, you’re gonna want to listen to the end, cause there’s some really funny stuff there! When this track is done, be sure to check out the Smoothyblues website too. Write in to Elizabeth there for a chance to receive a gift of Vermont maple syrup! https://www.smoothybluesonlineinteriors.com/

  4. 05/20/2022

    Small Spaces: What’s Up My Sleeve

    If you’re interested in learning more about the real Elizabeth and what her life is like living on the side of Vermont’s Mt. Ascutney, this is definitely the episode for you!   She admits she was a tomboy growing up alongside her three older brothers. To this day, she still doesn’t mind getting dirty one bit. This girl, when called to the task, even drives a tractor. You can be sure, there’s more to this story. Don’t you worry, though, there’s plenty of chit-chat around solutions for your small space. It doesn’t take long for Elizabeth Becken, owner of Smoothyblues Online Interiors, to get right to the heart of matter. For starters, she assigns the song, Magic Man, by Heart to this episode. Do you remember the sounds from Magic Man's chest-thumping drums and that dark, sensual guitar? So, come on in, Elizabeth says "with a smile." Whether you are someone who lives a minimalist lifestyle, in a tiny city apartment, or has one small, quirky space in the house that simply drives you insane, Elizabeth pulls some useful tricks from her sleeve one-by-one.  She begins with a tip that costs very little, and sometimes zero dollars, to implement – natural light. In this track, there’s plenty of talk about the magical, reflective qualities of mirrors and glass. "He looked right through me, yeah..." Elizabeth offers some helpful window treatment ideas, but she adds that she likes her windows to be “naked," since she lives in the woods. Trust us, this particular segment is funny and, perhaps, borderline indecent.  Then she keep things moving with talk about storage solutions for bathrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, and bedrooms.  Elizabeth describes unique storage build ideas along with a few easier remedies like floating shelves & nightstands, swing-arm sconces, and furniture that “works for you." She means, literally, it works at storing your stash, while being on call for double, triple or, even, quadruple duty.   She highlights a few key points:  paying close attention to not breaking up walls and flooring to allow your eye to move around the room freely and without distraction.  Not only that, you’ll be surprised by what you really, really need to do to give a dark, narrow hallway the grand illusion of being much larger than it really is. We hope you stop in to listen to more tips and tricks.  Don't miss the show.  Get your free ticket right here on Track 6 of Deep Track Designs!

  5. 01/18/2022

    Leather and Lace: Design Compromise for Couples

    When you hear these two words, leather and lace, your mind probably drifts off to the Stevie Nicks and Don Henley romantic duet, which was masterfully written by the Fleetwood Mac sweetheart in 1981. But sit tight, because... Elizabeth Becken not only takes this song to a different level, she makes this song a hit once again with her unusual choice to dissect the lyrics in a manner in which they relate a commonplace struggle couples have – deciding how to put their homes together amicably. Although both the melody and the words may make your heart melt, her main goal is to help couples avoid having a meltdown with her newly remastered version of Leather and Lace.  Whether you're talking "my city, your mountain" or leather and lace, there will be a time when couples simply need to learn how to compromise, communicate, and demonstrate their true compassion for each other. When couples are preparing for the blending of two households, there's just no escaping all that yin and yang. Fortunately, Elizabeth has gathered some really helpful advice specific to this topic. Over her career, she explains how she's been able to narrow a list down to five types of couples ranging from those who have exactly the same design tastes to those who plain do not agree on anything, period. Plus, she takes the time to describe everything in between. Elizabeth also reinforces the importance of editing belongings before signing on the dotted line for, likely, the biggest merger of one's lifetime. Have no fear! Elizabeth spells out some tried and true tips that are super easy to follow. Then, if all else fails, she embraces her Behavioral Science degree and lays down some hard and fast rules that, ultimately, result in a good healthy mix of each other's style.  "Give to me your leather... Take from me my lace." - Stevie Nicks

  6. 12/08/2021

    The Birth of Smoothyblues: Then and Now

    In the first installment of Deep Track Designs, Elizabeth discusses her love for music and interior design.  She goes on to describe how her passion for both developed and the unusual way she intertwined the two to create a successful interior design business.  She also shares what it was like to launch a new business at the start of a pandemic.  While other more traditional interior designers were struggling to be relevant in an online world,  she explains that Smoothyblues Online Interiors started out that way.  Not to mention, Elizabeth's signature brand, Not Too Serious Offices, couldn't have been launched at a more appropriate time.  It was like "the stars were aligned." Get ready! Track one takes some surprising twists and turns, which will keep you wondering what's coming next.  Like, is it normal to have a secret desire for car karaoke with Steven Tyler?  She'll be leaving it up to you to decide. In the meantime, the hope is that you’ll find her enthusiasm entertaining and contagious-enough to keep coming back for more! She also doesn't just talk the talk, she walks the walk.  When Elizabeth encourages people to venture outside of their comfort zone, her ultimate goal is to empower them to unleash their personal level of bold and feel really good about it, whether it's through her design services, GENRE blog, or new podcast. Elizabeth's creative approach to interior design is far from the only aspect that sets her company apart from the crowd.  Her interior design style is not only bold, it's also philosophy-driven by nature, a sense of humor, and trying new things.  She's a very unique and exuberant Vermont interior designer who's truly worth checking out! Listen to the full track or visit the Smoothyblues website to learn more. https://www.smoothybluesonlineinteriors.com/

About

The official Smoothyblues Online Interiors hang out for grabbing a healthy blend of design tips, music talk, and laughter. Sink into your favorite chair and get ready to sip on some thoughtfully composed, warmly delivered, and unexpectedly relatable design concoctions. Every episode is crafted to reach the inner tracks of your heart and soul. Like listening to a worn-out record, you may just develop an uncontrollable urge to keep coming back and listen to Elizabeth over and over and over again!