Gracious or Graceless?

Paloma Contreras (0:00)

And you married them anyway.

Hi, and welcome to The Install. We're Paloma Contreras and Caroline Gidiere, and this is where we talk about design, business, and the real life behind creative work. What's inspiring us, what's challenging us, and everything in between.

Caroline Gidiere (0:18)

It was awkward trying to get this podcast started.

Paloma Contreras (0:23)

No, it's so fun to be in Birmingham in your beautiful studio today recording in real life.

Caroline Gidiere (0:29)

I know. I love having you here. We had a fun dinner last night.

Paloma Contreras (0:32)

We did.

Caroline Gidiere (0:34)

Nothing but fun and games here in Birmingham all the time.

Paloma Contreras (0:37)

It's a busy week. You guys have your antique show this week, Antiques at the Gardens, which is a big event. I've had the pleasure of attending a few times over the years, and it seems like this year is going to be bigger than ever. I mean, there are tons of people.

Caroline Gidiere (0:52)

Here in Birmingham, people are texting, last minute, can you get me tickets?

Paloma Contreras (0:56)

Yeah.

Caroline Gidiere (0:56)

I mean, like crazy.

Paloma Contreras (0:57)

Well, last night, one of the girls was saying at dinner that she's heard people are scalping tickets, like they're selling them for a profit on the black market, which is crazy.

Caroline Gidiere (1:07)

Well, it is well-deserved, and it has been a slow burn growing into this crescendo. They've been working diligently on Antiques in the Gardens for 20 years.

Penny Heartline has been down there and shepherding it. She's retiring this year, but there had just been a series of incredible chairs, and they split it and they did it too. Then it was like four, now it's like six. It's such a big job in the vendor relationship. The vendors that they get to come in, it keeps every year you think, well, gosh, I'd hate to be here next year because you really can't top that. And then they do, like every year, it's amazing.

Paloma Contreras (1:54)

Jennifer Gracie hosted us for dinner last night from Gracie's studio and showed us some pictures of the beautiful, I mean, what do you call them? Like not sets, but like the environments that they're creating for the show and for the gala. And it looks unbelievable, so gorgeous, it's a big undertaking.

Caroline Gidiere (2:14)

Yeah, it's amazing. I can't wait to see it. I haven't been down there yet.

Paloma Contreras (2:19)

You have some big speakers this year, too, right? Huge.

Caroline Gidiere (2:22)

It doesn't get any bigger.

Paloma Contreras (2:23)

I was coming. Veer, Granny, Bunny, Bunny Williams.

Caroline Gidiere (2:27)

Veer, Bunny, Matthew Carter. I just kept scrolling and thinking, gosh, okay, well, there's not any one of these that I don't want to get to.

Paloma Contreras (2:36)

No, it's a good list for sure.

Caroline Gidiere (2:38)

Yeah. I can't wait. It's going to be great and we have the gala tomorrow night.

But tonight, Paloma and I are just going to be making the rounds. Three parties to go to. I'm going to be so exhausted on Sunday.

Paloma Contreras (2:52)

This is not, I mean, you guys especially, I feel like everybody in Birmingham, because there's multiple events every night.

And I was saying to one of the girls at dinner, I feel like when you're attending from out of town and going somewhere specifically for an event like this, it's so much easier than living in the host town because you still have your business and your family to attend to. And then there's still all this stuff going on and people from out of town that want to see you when you're getting invited to things. So it's a lot. I mean, I'm not staying for all of that. Unfortunately, this time I've got to get back home. But I mean, just two nights worth of being out is enough for me because I'm usually in bed by nine o'clock.

Caroline Gidiere (3:33)

I mean, Paloma, I am, I'm like, if I don't have my pajamas on and my face wash by 8.30, I don't know what to do with myself. And I've got, I had last night, I have every single night through Saturday night that I've got to be out on, honey, could I have this full beat of makeup everywhere and the hair done? It's a lot of work.

Paloma Contreras (3:53)

For sure.

Caroline Gidiere (3:54)

I'm going to be exhausted next week, but I'm excited for it. I mean, really excited. It should be a lot of fun. A lot of fun people coming in town. I'm speaking next week.