This week, Caroline and Liz welcome back duo designers Lathem Gordon and Cate Dunning to the show of the design duo Gordon Dunning in our NEW Atlanta podcast studio!
Lathem and Cate demystify the client-designer relationship, walk through their step-by-step process (including their famous Love‑Hate meeting), and share practical guidance on budgets, timelines, communication, construction walkthroughs, sourcing art, and finishing touches. Whether you’re hiring a designer for a single room, a phased project, or a whole-home build, they explain what to expect, what questions to ask, and how to get the most from the partnership.
What You'll Hear in This Episode:
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
01:00 Meet Lathem Gordon & Cate Dunning (Gordon Dunning)
03:00 How to prepare before hiring a designer
06:00 Why relationship and communication style matter
09:00 Interviewing designers — what to ask
14:00 Budget conversations: ranges, transparency, and expectations
18:00 Working alongside architects and builders
22:00 The Love‑Hate meeting — ideation and identifying priorities
28:00 Magic wand + Anne piles — how choices get refined
32:00 Meeting length, decision fatigue, and pacing
36:00 Construction deliverables and walkthroughs (framing, electrical, millwork)
40:00 Designer as advocate — handling on-site surprises
43:00 Install day: how Gordon Dunning handles reveals
48:00 Post-install follow-up, fixes, and photo shoots
52:00 Using existing furniture and moving between homes
58:00 Sourcing and commissioning art — client-led vs. designer-led
01:05:00 Accessories, final styling, and invoicing
01:12:00 Communication preferences (email vs. text) and process etiquette
01:19:00 Common misconceptions and final advice
01:24:00 Where to find Gordon Dunning
Also Mentioned:
@gordondunning | Designer Instagram
gordondunning.com | Gordon Dunning Website
Shop Ballard Designs | Website
Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.
Happy Decorating!
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