The Install: Life & Design with Paloma and Caroline

TheInstallPodcast
  • 4.6 (67)
  • Design

The Install: Life & Design with Paloma and Caroline is a weekly conversation about creativity, business, and building a life shaped by good design. Hosted by interior designers and longtime friends, Paloma Contreras and Caroline Gidiere, the podcast offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the realities of creative work. From running a design business and navigating growth, to travel, culture, and personal style, each episode blends industry insight with real-life reflection. Through thoughtful conversations—both between the hosts and with occasional guests—The Install is an inviting space for designers, creatives, and anyone drawn to intentional living and beautiful ideas.

  1. 46m ago

    How Long Does It Take? + A Little Spice

    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

  2. 6d ago

    Serve, Swerve and Design with Verve

    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 list00:35 — 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

  3. Jul 7

    The Rosé Recovery Plan

    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 Chapters00:00 Highs & Lows09:52 Summer Diet Confessions15:50 Geranium Update20:15 Magazine Hot Takes25:30 Waymo: Yes or No?28:50 What We're Watching32:35 America's 250th Birthday37:00 Americana Style43:05 Listener Questions49:30 Wimbledon & Royal Watch

  4. Jun 30

    Hot Takes, Lost Lotions & The Great Scallop Reckoning

    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

  5. Jun 23

    Bad Hotels, Good Hair & Better Boundaries

    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 Timestamps00:00 – 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

  6. Jun 16

    How Travel Shapes the Way We Design and How We Live

    This week, with Caroline recording from Rome, The Install Podcast takes up the subject of travel and how it inspires not just our design but encourages our creativity. This week, we explore: favorite social media accounts,have you had your colors done?are you a hotel snob?Is there a house, city, home, restuarant that stopped you in your tracks?favorite hotels abroad;favorite hotels in the US;the chicest hotel;what makes for a memorable hotel stay;are you an adventurer or a creature of habit when you travel?how design influences the way we see things or approach design;what designers see that most travelers miss;quick fire travel & design favorites:most inspiring citysave or splurge on a hotelhotel chain vs boutique hotelbest gardenfavorite design shop abroadfavorite indulgence while travelingbest hotel bathroomfavorite antique shoppingfavorite local craftfavorite travel souvenirone thing you always photograph Upcoming Design Events: d. Porthatul sale begins June 8 Christopher Spitzmiller Seconds Sale Starts June 12 Newport Design Week and Nantucket By Design events coming up next month, ticket are on sale now! 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

  7. Jun 9

    Bunny Mellon Behind the Scenes with Bryan Huffman

    This week, Paloma and Caroline welcome one of their best friends, Bryan Huffman, an esteemed and celebrated decorator from North Carolina. For the last decade of her life, Bryan chatted every night with style icon Mrs. Paul Mellon, or "Bunny" as her friends called her, became one her closest confidants. In this episode, Bryan shares endearing details of her iconic style and stories of how they became friends, how she and Jacqueline Kennedy developed a close relationship, how Bunny came to purchase her Rothko collection, her generosity, her humor and wit, and many, many more. But before the trio delve into discussions of Mrs. Mellon, they play a new game, "Would you Rather?" - a game of personal preferences and social etiquette. Takeaways Dressing AppropriatelyPersonal PreferencesSocial Etiquette Etiquette for party arrivalThank you notes and giftsTravel and lifestyle preferencesReal estate and property preferencesFriendship with Bunny Mellon Bunny Mellon's unique approach to interior designInfluence of Swedish interiors on Bunny Mellon's aesthetic Chapters 00:00 Dressing Appropriately16:15 Personal Preferences22:22 Etiquette for Party Arrival28:11 Real Estate and Property Preferences33:40 Friendship with Bunny Mellon46:49 Bunny Mellon's Aesthetic01:00:24 Bunny Mellon's Creative Process01:09:20 Bunny Mellon's Humor and Wit

  8. Jun 2

    Talking Shop with Heidi Callier

    This week Paloma and Caroline sit down with celebrated designer Heidi Callier. Heidi talks candidly about what it takes to run a top interior design firm, the importance of making time to be cretaive, balancing work life and family, finding the right team, how to manage a remote team, how she packages and presents her work, and even the timeline from start to finish. The ladies start with the weekly "High/Low" and move on to a game of "Love It or Hate It." The episode ends with a rapid fire list of questions for Heidi. Takeaways Remote design studiosChallenges of managing multiple projectsImpact of overhead on design businessHighs and lows of the design industry Mixing patterns and textilesChallenges with delayed projects and pricingRemote client presentations and decision-making Influence of Design TrendsBalancing Work and Personal Life Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Studio Setup08:36 Highs and Lows of the Design Industry24:51 Mixing Patterns and Textiles45:16 Challenges with Delayed Projects and Pricing50:44 Influence of Design Trends

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4.6
out of 5
67 Ratings

About

The Install: Life & Design with Paloma and Caroline is a weekly conversation about creativity, business, and building a life shaped by good design. Hosted by interior designers and longtime friends, Paloma Contreras and Caroline Gidiere, the podcast offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the realities of creative work. From running a design business and navigating growth, to travel, culture, and personal style, each episode blends industry insight with real-life reflection. Through thoughtful conversations—both between the hosts and with occasional guests—The Install is an inviting space for designers, creatives, and anyone drawn to intentional living and beautiful ideas.

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