Jill MedingerCARSON KRESSLEY DEBUTS A BALLARD DESIGNS EQUESTRIAN-INSPIRED COLLECTION THAT’S EQUAL PARTS POLISHED, PERSONAL, AND WELCOMING.
Long before the tastemaker and lifelong horseman put pen to paper on an exclusive capsule collection for the brand, Carson was already a devoted customer, bookmarking pages and sourcing pieces for his own homes. Ballard’s mix of classic lines, custom options, and accessible polish aligned naturally with the way he decorates: layered, tailored, and personal, with a healthy dose of equestrian heritage woven throughout.
“I have always been a fan of Ballard Designs,” he says. “Ballard was always one of my go-tos for custom fabric or custom upholstery, designer pieces, or pieces that have the designer look, without having to go to a designer showroom.”
After collaborating on several projects together, the conversation evolved into something more permanent. Carson expressed interest in creating a deeper partnership. Ballard suggested a capsule home collection. The idea clicked immediately.
The brand’s leadership team visited his home to better understand his aesthetic. What they found wasn’t staged or overly styled; it was a collection of authentic rooms filled with antiques, equestrian art, leather, brass, and pieces gathered over decades.
“There was a lot of pointing. ‘Yes, we love that, yes, we love this, and yes, we love that.’ My house is basically an equestrian theme park,” he laughs, only half joking.
The direction became clear. Design what you know. For Carson, that meant tapping into the world he lives every day—barns, saddles, trophies, vintage finds, and traditional craftsmanship—then refining it into something chic and livable rather than literal.
“I’ve been collecting these pieces my entire life, so I thought this was just meant to be,” he emphasizes.
Though he’s no stranger to fashion collaborations, the home space holds a different kind of appeal. Decorating has long been a personal passion, one he’s quietly practiced for years in his own spaces.
“Honestly, interiors and home collections are what I love most. I love antiquing, finding vintage fabric, and decorating my own homes. I love layering, so this is exciting for me. It’s a dream, and it has been the most fun,” he says.
Fun, yes—but also meticulous. Home design doesn’t move at fashion speed. From the first meeting to finished samples, the collection took nearly two years to develop. Carson arrived at early presentations armed with storyboards, fabric swatches, and a suitcase of merchandise and products to communicate exactly what he envisioned. Carson admits, “I did a complete show-and-tell at Ballard’s corporate offices in Atlanta. I think they thought, wow, this guy is not fooling around. I’ve been getting ready for this my entire life, so I was very prepared.”
From there, the process unfolded methodically. Antiques were studied and reinterpreted. Factories tested molds and castings. Custom fabrics were developed from scratch. A hunt-scene toile, one of the collection’s signatures, required original artwork, sourcing the right mill and months of sampling before it could be translated into drapery and pillows. Some ideas worked immediately; others went back to the drawing board.
1. Carson Kressley Blake 4-Light Pendant, 2. Geometric Snaffle Bit Pillow, 3. Snaffle Bit Mirror, 4. Ginger Jar, 5. Lancaster Buffet Lamp, 6.Brighton Bar Cart 7. Fox Head Bookends, 8. Winchester Side Table, 9. Saddler Toile Printed Rug, 10. Cisco Drink Table.
Throughout, Carson remained closely involved, taking a hands-on approach shaped by an early-career lesson he still follows. “It’s all about the details, and that’s what sets something apart,” he says. “Whether you’re showing a horse, designing a room, or putting an outfit together, it’s the details that make it special, that make it your signature. So I was very involved in those details.”
That attention shows in the pieces themselves. There’s a lot of brass and silver, reminiscent of stable hardware and trophies. There’s leather in a warm, pumpkin-orangey-toned brown that Carson describes as “Hermès-colored saddle leather.” The silhouettes feel classic and enduring.
Several designs stem directly from objects he has loved for years. A horse-head hall rack, modeled after one that hung in his grandparents’ Pennsylvania home, serves as a sculptural yet practical accent in an entryway or mudroom.
“It was always the neatest, fanciest, coolest thing in their house,” he says. “They’re hard to find. I think the first one was from the ‘60s. Our team loved it and said, ‘Let’s recreate that for a new generation.’”
Elsewhere, a stirrup-shaped side table delivers a wink of glamour—graphic and unexpected. He likens it to something “Gucci might have made in the ‘70s.” A bar cart based on a vintage piece that’s not necessarily equestrian is still very much in Carson’s traditional taste.
Even familiar motifs get a refresh. Hunting-horn lamps, once popular but often petite, return with stronger proportions and presence. “I wanted to do something bolder,” he says. “Bold is something I enjoy.” The result is equestrian without feeling themed—more heritage than novelty.
That versatility became especially clear during the catalog shoot, when Ballard’s stylists layered Carson’s designs alongside the brand’s core collection. “You could pepper in some of these equestrian-inspired pieces, and they worked beautifully in traditional and transitional atmospheres,” he says. “They absolutely fit in.”
Seeing everything styled together for the first time marked a turning point. After months of prototypes and approvals, the rooms finally felt real: wallpaper installed, pillows fluffed, and lamps glowing. “That was like Christmas morning for me,” he says. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this looks great. It’s going to work. It’s beautiful.’”
To complement the interiors, the team shot imagery at a friend’s farm in North Carolina, capturing Carson riding and spending time in the barn. The setting underscores what gives the collection its credibility. These references aren’t borrowed aesthetics; they’re part of his everyday life.
The timing also aligns with a broader return to classic, heritage-driven design. Equestrian elements—leather, brass, tailoring, and traditional forms—are resonating again, thanks in part to fashion houses and interiors brands revisiting timeless American and European influences.
“People are loving the classic equestrian style right now,” Carson says.
His own philosophy embraces that confidence. Minimalism has never been his instinct. He prefers rooms that feel layered and expressive. “I like bold,” he admits, “So, to me, more is more. There’s a great Iris Apfel quote that says, ‘More is more and less is a bore,’ but I think it’s up to everybody’s personal taste.”
Still, he’s quick to emphasize that style should feel personal, not prescriptive. A single lamp or a leather accent can hint at the look without committing to a full hunt-country interior. The goal is authenticity.
“If you love it, it’s going to work in your space,” he says. “Your home is your sanctuary, and should bring you joy. Decorate for yourself and make it a space that tells your story.”
He compares decorating to getting dressed: invest in the classics first—a great sofa, dining table, or bed—then layer in personality with rugs, pillows, and textiles that can evolve over time.
It’s practical advice, delivered with the ease of someone who has lived it for years. In many ways, Ballard Designs’ collection formalizes what Carson has always done instinctively: blending polish with warmth, tradition with character, and equestrian heritage with everyday life.
The result is timeless, welcoming, and unmistakably his.