If our Instagram messages are any indication, the renovation of Shauna's new MCM house has caught the attention of a good number of our followers. It's crazy that everything she did was accomplished in less than two weeks, but then, we know how it can be when you have a goal to achieve. There's so much really to share we're going to cover it all in several posts. Also, it'll give you all a reason to keep coming back to get all the details. We know a little bit about how this blogging thing works. :-)
So, Part 1 will be the living room and entry way. Enjoy.

Entry Before

We kept the original marble floor in the entry and hardwood floors throughout which made the renovation not quite as long as it could have been.
Paint throughout: Snowbound by Sherwin Williams
Front door: Scarlet Sun by HGTV Home + Valspar

Entry After

One of our primary design philosophies is to start with a neutral backdrop and add color with art and accessories. The primary reason being that in the larger rooms of your home, it can be expensive to change out wallpaper, paint and large furniture when your style or design trends change. By keeping the "bones" neutral, it is easier to update accessories without a large investment. ​In this house, Shauna also wanted to keep the feel of the mid-century architecture as much as possible. In the entryway, she used a wallpaper with a modern design, but neutral coloring. The glossy white sideboard allows colorful accessories and mirror to stand out, and the vintage Moroccan shag rug ties everything together.
Wallpaper: Lohko by Scion
Sideboard: Wayfair
​Side chairs: All Modern
Bench: Anthropologie
​Mirror: Wayfair
Lamp: West Elm (discontinued, similar here)
​Artwork: Allison Castillo Designs
Rug: Purchased in Morocco, similar here

Living Room Before

The first step in renovating the living room was to reface the fireplace. Shauna wanted a statement installation to balance all of the white walls and when she stumbled on this wood tile from Brazil, it added just the right amount of warmth to the room. Sadly, it has been discontinued but we have linked to similar tiles below. 

All of the furniture already lived in Shauna's old house, she just had to edit down a little because of the smaller space. The newest addition to the Shauna Glenn living space is of course the very controversial rug. Many of you think it is too busy. But we love it and at the end of the day, YOU have to love your home and no one else so don't listen to those people. YOU DO YOU! It is a vintage shag from Morocco purchased from Chairish. And while you can't buy the EXACT rug, we found some amazing vintage rugs on Rugs.com.  ​The art at the top of the stairs is from Beth Gandy and the vintage Lone Ranger and Tonto prints are from Etsy. Stay tuned for a deeper dive in to Shauna's art collection in an upcoming post. 
Sofas: Restoration Hardware (similar here) and Jonathan Adler (similar here)
​Barcelona style chairs: Wayfair
​Rug: Chairish (similar here)
Coffee Table: Wayfair
Light fixture: Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort
Floor lamp: Wayfair
Faux fur stool: Pottery Barn (similar here)
Velvet Pillows: Anthropologie
​Print Pillows: Custom made
Fireplace Tile: Arco Acustico (discontinued, similar here)

More to come! Thank you for following and sharing, we love our community.

This post contains affiliate links and we may be compensated for purchases made via these links.

These are crazy times, my friends. I know all of us that are small business owners are feeling the pain of social distancing maybe more than others but we can still support one another! Our reading audience is from all over the world  but the biggest concentration is here in the DFW metroplex. There are some amazing local businesses you can still support online, and local restaurants that are offering curbside and carry out options. Then we have other friends and followers that are out of town and doing the daily grind, living their dream and trying to make it through this nightmare. To all of you we say, "Hang in there, chin up, this is a detour, not a roadblock". 
This is just a small sample of our friends and followers who we are supporting with some encouragement and promotion. If you have a small business and would like us to help promote you, please comment on this post. Or, if there is a restaurant in your area that you want to help, do the same. It takes a village, my friends. Stay healthy.

DFW Restaurants
Clay Pigeon--Curbside carryout, 3 course menu for $45. Call 817-882-8065 to order
Righteous Foods--Online ordering and curbside delivery
Piatello--Take and bake lasagna delivered curbside
Local Foods Kitchen--Curbside carryout, 4 course family dinners
Meyer & Sage--Weekly chef menu for carryout
The Tavern--Family style menus to go
The Lounge Here--Food, wine and beer to go
Ellerbe's--Family style meals delivered curbside
Hurley House--Online ordering and drive through delivery
Feastivities--Free delivery withing 5 miles or curbside pickup

Shopping
Nature Print Paper--Great project for kids at home!
Cuss A Little--Sassy gifts with quotes that speak to us
Holly K. Whitney--Pins, journals, magnets, everything an office supply junkie needs
Jana's Creative Place--Hand-painted cards and art, remember Mother's Day is coming!
​Suck It Jerky & Pickles--Already intrigued by the pickled cauliflower
Move Athleisure--Because what else will we be wearing for the next 2 weeks?
A Friendly Arrangement--Faux florals you'd swear are real.
Paparazzi Accessories--Y'all everything is $5!
Lakeshore Creations--Handmade vintage inspired jewelry
Safomasi--Textiles and furnishings with global inspiration

Personal Care
Neora Skin Care
​LadyBox
​We will continue to update this post as we get more from all of you on your favorite local and small businesses. Thanks to everyone who sent us your info.
AND, if you are sitting around your home thinking it could use a little refresh, we are still doing E-design consultations. Contact us for our current specials and more information!
XO
Shauna

Anthropologie has a long history of collaborating with both up and coming designers and those who have succeeded in establishing their brand in the mainstream. Their latest partnership brings a California meets vacations in France vibe to products from clothing to accessories and home decor. Clare Vivier, a top designer of luxury leather goods, started her brand in 2006 after a failed search for the perfect leather tote. Today, the Simple Tote is available in countless colors and materials, and features the signature contrast stripe that reminds us of the French flag. 

We will get more in to our obsession with Clare V. bags in a minute, but exploring this collaboration and the venture in to home goods is just the kind of unfussy, whimsical joy that our homes and our lives need right now. Leave it to the French to remind us not to take life and decor too seriously. 

And because we all love a great bag, check out our favorites from Clare V. 

Hands down, the number one question we get when posting a reveal photo is "where is that rug from?" Hands. Down. Now, because of Shauna's love of rugs you might think that we tend to splurge on rugs we buy for clients. And in some cases, we do. These clients are looking for one-of-a-kind pieces and willing to invest in the purchase and care of high end rugs. BUT, 90% of the time, clients want rugs that look good, are easy to care for, can hide a spill of red wine, and can be upgraded or switch out after a few years without the guilt of replacing something that cost a fortune. 
Obviously, the cost of a rug is going to vary by size, but we've found that there are a heck of a lot of great rugs out there for very reasonable prices. If you are looking for a quick and easy refresh of a room, spending $500 on new rugs and pillows can seriously work wonders. Check out our favorites and get that room refreshed for spring! 

Edesso Tribal Medallion Rug in Orange from RugsUSA.   8x10  $298

Multi Coral Vibrant Rug from RugsUSA.  8x10  $148

Celestial Pink Rug from RugsUSA.  5x7  $238

Multi Striped Chevron Rug from RugsUSA.  8x10  $290

Monaco Distressed Boho Rug from Overstock.   8x10  $198

Orchid Pole Medallion Rug from Houzz.  8x11  $164

Delhi Hand Tufted Rug from Houzz.  5x8  $295
Shop more of our favorite rugs here as well as pillows, lighting, bedding, furniture and more. Be sure to bookmark that page to get all the latest updates on new products. 

This post contains affiliate links and we may be compensated for purchases made via these links.

You may remember the Lakehouse Project we did back in 2018. It was a brand new build out in Athens, TX for a sweet Mansfield family to use on weekends and holidays, and they hired us to finish out the construction and COMPLETELY furnish the place. Down to the TP in the bathrooms, y'all. Well, the house turned out amazing, and was featured in 360 West Magazine and they were super happy with it. So happy in fact, that they sold it a year later! Sold it! Furnishings and all! We were kinda bummed because, well, we were hoping to negotiate a weekend stay, but when they came back to us and said, "We've sold the lake house, now we can hire you to make our Mansfield home just as amazing as the lake house was", we got over our disappointment over a potential lake weekend real quick. Maybe the lake house was just a test for us and once they saw how it turned out, they were ready to sign on the dotted line to renovate. We're not completely sure, but we don't really care either. This new project has been an amazing transformation and we are so excited to give this sweet family the home of their dreams. 
First off, the kitchen. It was small and dark and had this odd little baby island smack dab in the middle. We opened up the doorway between the dining room and kitchen to let more of the natural light in to the space and got rid of baby island. The basic footprint stayed the same, but by switching out the bar height counter for a solid counter, there is more space to work and it is more open to the rest of the room. 
Before:

So crisp and clean and open! Buh buy baby island, hello gorgeous white! 
Counter stools: Serena & Lily
​
Just beyond the kitchen is the family room where the family hangs out, watches TV, plays games, etc. It has access to the backyard so in the summer it's full of in and out traffic to the pool. They wanted an entertaining space but still comfortable enough for the whole family. 
Before:

I mean, come on?! Right? It's clearly the pup's favorite place to hang out and now, the family will surely never leave this room. The sofas are from Article and yes, they are white, but have removable, washable cushion covers. Still a good idea to keep the Cheetos out of this room though. Club chairs are from Four Hands, and can be found here. Our favorite thing in the room though is the photograph by Leonard Nones, "Man Under Water". It was featured on the cover of GQ Magazine in 1961 and we were so excited to find a home for it here in this room. 
Rug: Rugs USA
​Coffee Table: Mitchell Gold Bob Williams
Chandelier: Visual Comfort
Accent Table: Crate & Barrel

Now, you may be thinking that's a heck of a transformation, how could we possibly have more to show you? My friends, we have saved the best for last. Please check out the before of this master bathroom. 

Why yes, that IS sculpted carpet in front of the vanity! The one thing we did love about this bathroom was the glass blocks in the bathtub alcove. They allow light in but also privacy and are almost impossible to install new these days so definitely worth keeping. NOW, the big reveal!
After:

Aaahhh! Can you feel it? THIS is what a master bathroom should look and feel like. We ripped out pretty much everything and started from scratch, although the layout was good so none of that changed. Definite highlight is the tub with the chandelier from Stray Dog Designs that we had custom colored to match one of our favorite wallpaper patterns from Hygge & West. 
​Mirrors: Serena & Lily
Jute Rug: Serena & Lily
Basket: West Elm
Vanity Light: Wayfair
Bathtub and hardware: Wayfair
Now, on to the next project. Are you next? Contact us to get started on the home of YOUR dreams! 

Today is cold and drizzly in Fort Worth. A good day to snuggle up on the couch and watch "Parasite" since it managed to catapult itself into the Oscar record books on Sunday. A throw is an integral part of this couch snuggling, along with popcorn, hot tea, and pjs. But a throw is not only functional, it adds warmth and layers to a room. It says, "here, sit down and get comfy, have a cuppa tea". We love the texture and color balance it adds to a room too. Lots of color? A chunky sweater knit throw in ivory provides a breather. A more neutral palette? Add a pop of mustard or pink for the perfect punch. Here are 8 ways you can use a throw in your decorating. 

Boho Retreat
Neutral ivory bedding gets a boho update with this colorful embroidered striped throw. 

Chic and Cozy
Create a cozy reading spot in the bedroom with a leather settee instead of a bench at the end of the bed. This blue buffalo plaid throw ties in perfectly with the blue bedside tables.

Pop of Pink
The hot pink velvet pillows on the sofas are balanced with a throw in the same color in this serene blue and white living room. 

Pass the Mustard
You might not think of a throw in the dining room, but for that person that is always cold, this mustard throw on a navy velvet armchair is not only stylish but practical.

Luxe Layers
Layers of colors, textures and patterns live in harmony when anchored in the same color. This turquoise Turkish cotton throw is lightweight and washable.

Room with a View
Can't find the right window treatment for a room? This shibori print indigo throw transitions to an easy valance in this lake house bunk room.

Set the Table
Bring a new flavor to the dining table with the addition of a striped cotton throw as a tablecloth. And don't worry if it doesn't cover the whole table, your guests will assume it's meant to be that way!

Texture Talk
Layered elements of textured neutrals give this home office a sophisticated feel. The sheepskin throw in the desk chair adds a soft layer to the rattan. 

Find these and more of our favorite throws on the Shop page. This post contains affiliate links and we are compensated for purchases made via these links.

One of our recent "virtual" projects was the renovation of a bathroom in a  downtown Washington DC apartment. Our client wanted an updated, chic bathroom, but also wanted to keep the historic integrity of the building (built in 1926). The biggest challenge was getting the old cast iron tub out and the new free-standing tub in. From the 4th floor. God love DC area contractors because they have got these things figured out. We chose a traditional hex tile to the ceiling in the shower and then as a wainscoting around the rest of the bathroom. Then to add a pop, chose Sherwin-Williams Mariner for the walls. Cement floor tile from Zia tile in a black and white Moroccan pattern give this bathroom just enough of the bohemian vibe our client was looking for. Talk about blah to beyond! 

Resources: 
Hex tile: Wayfair
Floor tile: Zia Tile
Tub: Wayfair
Vanity: Wayfair
Mirror: Serena & Lily
Wall Shelf: Urban Outfitters
Shower Curtain: Anthropologie
​Bath Mat: Target
Hand Towels: Target
Wall Art: Homeowners, similar here

Wanna be our next virtual client? Contact us to find out more!

This post contains affiliate links and we may be compensated for purchases made via these links.​

It may seem crazy,  but February is almost upon us. I swear I just put up Christmas decorations a week ago. You may recall from our post last year, that Valentine's Day is a bit of a controversial topic in our office. But, being in the business of home and lifestyle and blogging and creative gift giving, it would be irresponsible of us to completely ignore the fact that there are people who very much love this day and everything it entails. (Overpriced flowers, overpriced dinners, overhigh expectations, etc).
Sorry, there's that cynic in us coming out again. We know you love him/her and you want to buy him/her something special to show that SO, we went back to one of our favorite gift companies, Uncommon Goods to check out what, if we WERE so inclined, we might buy our significant other. I love this site not only for their unique products, but that they are created by artists all over the world. Anytime we can support independent creators and artists, we are totally on board. So, forget that $80 bouquet of flowers that will die in a week and check out these creative, innovative gifts. Oh, and all are under $50. So you can still afford that bottle of bubbly. 

For more gift ideas, check out our Gift Guide. And even if you aren't a V-Day gift giver, let that person know how much you mean to them. Life is short. 

This post contains affiliate links and we are compensated for purchases made via these links. 

Well, it's our first Friday Finds for 2020 and no surprise that one of the first retailers we go to to check out what's new is Anthropologie. Seems so odd that Winter formally just started less than a month ago, yet as soon as we are in to the new year, we have Spring on the mind. Fresh start, New Year, and all that I suspect. You'll notice that the earthy, desert tones we talked about in our Fall 2019 trend blog are still front and center for spring, although a bit dustier and more muted than their saturated Fall sisters. Yes, it's a nod to the 70s which I guess makes all of us Gen Xers happy as we are the ones with the biggest spending power. Ahh, the Avocado Green of our childhood, we thought we'd never see you again. Anyway, if you are looking for something to spruce up your room now that all the holiday decor has been taken down and it looks a bit naked, here are some of our favorite picks. Oh, and everything but the art is under $100. Click the images to shop. 

1. Angelle Shower Curtain $58
2. Handpainted Bird Mugs $14 each
3. Venezia Vases $28 each
​4. Kai Melamine Bento Box $14
​5. Olive Wood Cheese Board $88
6. Tufted Janina Bath Mat $54
7. Senna Flutes, Set of 4 $40
8.Fruit Dish Towels, Set of 3 $28
​9. Frida Wall Art  $178
10. Hand-Embroidered Rae Pillow  $88
​11. Woven Waffle Throw  $78

Looking for some bargains? Save an additional 40% on all Sale at Anthro. Good stuff, y'all. Limited time only. 

This post contains affiliate links and we are compensated for purchases made via these links.

Nothing like a brand new year to get organized, purge, clean, sell, donate, etc. Maybe it's the effort of putting away all the holiday decorations that motivate us to make that additional step to organize other things in our homes. I have to say, Container Store must do a bang-up business in January. But before you go all crazy buying up every size bin and box, we have some tips for surviving and actually completing your New Year Purge so you come out on the other side refreshed and organized. Not pulling your hair out and frustrated. 

1. Have an Exit Strategy. Before you even start purging, decide what you are going to do with everything you want to get rid of. The three common options are sell, donate, and trash. Being somewhat conscious of overflowing landfills, trash should be your last resort. Selling can be profitable, but time consuming so keep in mind that you might have to wait a while for your final "exit". If you are considering donating large items, the Salvation Army will come pick it up, but scheduling is usually a couple weeks out so do that first. Plus it'll motivate you to get everything done by that date. Otherwise, Goodwill takes donations during regular business hours.

2. Start Anywhere. Go big or start small. Either way, once you accomplish one project, say, your pantry, it'll give you the energy to go big, like the garage. Plus there are no emotional connections with anything in the pantry. If you won't eat it, or it's expired, or you don't honestly know what it is, time to go. For a great pantry purge resource, click here. ​

3. Going big. Getting rid of big stuff like furniture, lawn mowers, sports equipment, strollers, etc makes a huge impact in the space you are cleaning. If you haven't used it in at least a year, it's time to let go. Be careful about "just in case" items. Yes, you still may use that treadmill, but really. Walking around the block is free and gives you way less anxiety than looking at that damn thing you spent way too much money on every day. 

4. Put a Pause on Shopping. Wow! I cleaned out my closet and got rid of 6 pairs of shoes so time to go shopping right? Hold on, partner. As much as I love shoes, part of the beauty of purging is to pare your belongings down to just those things you need and love. Therefore, shopping should follow the same rules. Do you need it? Or do you love it? If the answer to either is yes, then bang on, go for it. But buying just to fill a space or because it's on sale may put you right back in the same spot next year.

5. Love your stuff. At the end of the day, your home should be full of the things you need AND the things you love. For some of us, that's a lot of stuff. For other minimalistic types, it's very little. There is no right or wrong, just what is right for you and your family. If you walk in to a room and it makes you happy, then that is what matters.