For those of you who maybe didn't read our New Year's Day post on Instagram, let me share with you, as it pertains to how 2021 is going to go.

​Welcome to 2021.
Here are the official rules. Please follow accordingly or you may be forced to go back to the bad place. DON’T LOOK BACK AT IT, ARE YOU CRAZY?
No skipping, no jumping, no sashaying, no beatboxing, no yodeling, no scatting, no singing of any kind, and there’s to be absolutely no moonwalking. Use your manners, speak quietly, hum to yourself if you must, but for God’s sake, nothing from Nickelback. Keep your head down, don’t make direct eye contact, and don’t touch anything. If you dare speak about how this is your year, YOU WILL BE PUNCHED IN THE FACE and could face deportation back to the bad place. Keep your confidence low and your expectations lower. If you do these things you may just be OK. But I wouldn’t hold my breath, it’s early.
May the force be with you on your journey.
​Happy New Year!

OK, I know, don't look back. BUT indulge us for a moment because despite all the s**t 2020 threw at us, we did have some pretty great moments here at SGD. Shauna celebrated her 50th birthday with a trip to Morocco and Portugal (that she still has yet to write about here), we got some editorial love from local and national magazines, we met some amazing artists and fellow creatives, and you, our fans and followers have blown us away with your likes and comments on social media. 
And with that, we'd like to share our Top 3 Posts of 2020 and thank all of you for the follows, shares, comments, messages and for supporting SGD in bringing color and love and tacos and the opposite of seriousness to the world. We couldn't do this without you. 

The #3 most popular photo was of Shauna's kitchen in her new home. Specifically the Big Chill orange fridge. Go big or go home, right? 

#2 most popular photo was of the guest room in Shauna's old house. We loved this room as it served as Shauna's "playroom" to test out new ideas. And it was always ready in a pinch for a photo shoot.

And the #1 most popular photo for 2020 was this bathroom reno we did in January. Thank God we finished in time for our client to have this beautiful space to escape to as her kids trudge through week 87 of quarantine.

That's it. No more looking back. On to bigger and better and more amazing things for 2021. Now go eat some cake, you deserve it!

A few months ago, we took a field trip to Cerulean Gallery in Dallas at the invitation of the gallery manager. Now, we all know it's a slippery slope when Shauna and art meet; chances are she is not walking away empty handed. And our predictions rang true when we stepped in to the gallery and spotted the work of Austin artist Jeff  Skele. His collaboration with Nic Noblique, Storytime, features hand painted sculptures that combine Nic's abstract shapes with Skele's characters.  Needless to say, it was love at first sight, and it only made sense for us to share his story and his amazing work with you on our Artist Spotlight. 

SGD: Can you briefly walk us through your story? How did you get started and how did you get to where you are today?
JS: I hail from Virginia Beach. I always wanted to be a soccer player but I blew out both of my knees. There was about 5 years of not knowing who I was. In 2007, my father got me a job as a security guard at a military base where I worked midnights. Everynight before work, I would pick up a tattoo magazine and use it as a drawing reference. I started making full page color drawings not long after. I met local artists and showed them my work and they were really impressed and I liked that feeling. At that moment, I realized I should keep going. Drawings turned into paintings, which turned into art shows.
In 2013, I packed up and moved to Dallas, which forced me to survive on my art. I reached out to Kettle Art Gallery, owned by Dallas-local artist Frank Campagna, asking to be featured in his gallery. In a month’s time, I was showing him my work and in a couple more weeks, I was in my first gallery show. I became a permanent fixture in Kettle, while also entering numerous festivals, live-painting events, and also honing my skills as a studio artist.
For a short time, I lived with Nic Noblique, a sculptor, who built up my confidence as a self-taught, full-time artist.
I moved to Austin in 2017 with close friend and fellow artist, Todd Bot. We both really dove into the art scene here by painting at events, painting at the famous Hope Outdoor Gallery, and spent late nights in the studio. In that time, I met a large group of artists -- now my close friends -- who inspired me, brought new opportunities to showcase my art, expand into mural work, and shared valuable insights about creating.

SGD: Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
JS: Absolutely not. The biggest struggles have been believing in myself and carving out your own space in the art world as a self-taught artist.

SGD: What are you most proud of and what sets you apart from other artists?
JS: A moment of validation for me, I won 1st place at an art festival in my hometown. I gave the ribbon to my parents and it's still hanging on their mantle to this day.
 
My work ethic. All I know is how to work. My father instilled in me a strong sense of work ethic and would always say, “no one is ever going to knock on your door and give you anything.” When I get stuck, I don’t just stop working. I switch mediums or canvases, or start finger painting.

SGD: What advice would you give to someone at the start of his or her career?
JS: ​There are no mistakes. Every stroke is a lesson. Each piece is important, even if you look back 10 years from now. This isn’t easy, it isn’t for the faint of heart. You gotta want it, you gotta believe in it, you gotta work hard. 

SGD: What artists do YOU admire and why?
JS: I admire all artists trying to live this dream. I see people working and the growth in their work and that just pushes me. 

SGD: If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?
JS: Honestly, probably a construction worker. Ties back into my work ethic and my desire to work hard, with my hands.

Contact Info:

• Website: iamskele.com (currently under construction!)
• Email: jeffskeleart@gmail.com
• Instagram:  @jeffskeleart
• Facebook:  S K E L E

Know an artist that would be great for our Artist Spotlight Series? Email us with your suggestions! 

Earlier in the week we posted on Instagram about Cyber Monday and all the deals out there, and then promptly realized that Cyber Monday is a cruel joke because we have been shopping online incessantly since March. Nevertheless, gift giving time is quickly approaching, and if you are struggling to find the perfect gift for that special someone, we're here for you. 
We've put together some great picks for gifts for her, gifts for him and gifts for kids; the kind of stuff you can't WAIT to give  because it is so dang cool and you know that they are just going to LOVE it. And really, it IS all about the giving and not the receiving.

GIFTS FOR HER

Check out our Gift Guide for more great finds! 

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

I don't know about you, but I am breathing a sigh of relief after all the election drama. Regardless of the side you are on, it's just nice that all of that is over and we can move on. Move on to Thanksgiving and dressing and setting pretty tables and Christmas shopping and decorating! I always love getting holiday catalogs and planning our decorations and checking out all the new holiday decor and entertaining products that are out there. Not that I don't have enough already from past years, but it's always nice to add to the collection. A few more trees for the forest at least. 
So, whether you are just building your collection or adding to, these are some of our favorite picks from Anthropologie, West Elm, World Market and Target. 

1. Piper Stocking from Anthropologie
​2. Scandi Forest Dinnerware from West Elm
3. Flake Velvet Tree Skirt from CB2
4. Shiny-Brite Tree Topper from Anthropologie
​5. Merry Making Pom Wreath from Anthropologie
​6. Party Pop Champagne Flutes from World Market
7. Holiday Embroidered Zebra Throw Pillow from Target
8. Dewy Glass Tree from Anthropologie
​9. Ombre Rainbow Bottle Brush Tree from World Market
10. Brass Merry Reindeer from Pottery Barn
11. Holiday Lights Garland from Crate and Barrel
​12. Holiday Christmas Trees Throw Pillow from Target
Check out more holiday decor and entertaining goodies in our Holiday Shop. 

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

Shauna may or may not be guilty of setting a table just for the fun of it. And while we know that the big Turkey Day feast might be a little more low key this year, there is no reason to not go all out on setting an amazing table. We've got three fall tables for your inspiration, two that you would expect and a third that, well, just makes us happy and is too amazing to not re-create on your table. 

Table 1: Traditional Turkey Day
Sourced primarily from Pottery Barn, this table features traditional fall colors, pumpkins, leaves, turkeys, the whole nine yards. Raid your yard for colorful leaves and use fresh pumpkins and hurricane candles as your centerpiece. 

Resources: All from Pottery Barn
Monique Lhuillier Glass Charger
​Charlotte Dinner Plate
Salad plate--sold out, similar here
Bamboo Flatware
Kenaf Table Runner
​Paisley Table Runner
Linen Hemstitch Napkins
Schott Zweisel Taste Wine Glass
Monique Lhuillier Gabrielle Coupe Glass
Chester Brushed Candleholders
Turkey place card holders--similar here

Table 2: Boho Chic Bounty
This client has a great assortment of vintage glasses and her grandma's flatware so we were excited to pull that out and mix it up with some new pieces from World Market and Pottery Barn. Assorted pumpkins in velvet, glass and ceramic surround the cornucopia centerpiece.

Resources:
Rustic Fatima Dinner Plates--World Market
White Salad Plate--vintage, similar here
Teal Salad Plate--similar here
Pumpkin Bowls--similar here
Coral Table Runner--similar here
Ikat Table Runner--similar here
Linen Hemstitch Napkins--Pottery Barn
Amethyst Goblets--vintage, similar here
Etched Wine Tumbler--vintage, similar here

Table 3: Fun and Festive
If you don't know by now, we are known for breaking the rules now and again. So, why should your fall table setting be dominated by fall colors? When we found these amazing textiles and accessories from Kim Seybert, we couldn't wait to use them on a table. 

A sharp eye will notice that the ikat table runner and amethyst glasses are the same as in the previous table setting. Same client, new year. You caught us. We used brightly colored cans from enchilada sauce and tomato sauce as our flower containers and a pom pom tree garland draped down the table. I'd have a turkey dinner here any day! 
Resources:
Blue Bamboo Placemats--Kim Seybert
Rattan Chargers--Pottery Barn
Dinner Plates--Pottery Barn
Jaipur Pom Pom Napkins--Kim Seybert
Napkin Rings--Kim Seybert
Amethyst Goblets--vintage, similar here
Recycled Glass Tumblers--vintage, similar here
Shop more of our tabletop favorites here.
This post contains affiliate links and we may be compensated for purchases made via these links.

Raise your hand if you are COMPLETELY OVER your regular recipe rotation! 
Six months ago, I will admit, it was fun to have the time to try new recipes and go out on a limb making Pad Thai or home-made croissants. Now that it's OCTOBER, it is possible that the enthusiasm you once felt about stepping foot in the kitchen has waned just a bit.
In the spring, I signed up for a CSA that supports local farmers intending to be more focused on buying only seasonal produce. You pay a seasonal subscription fee and show up to the produce pick up site once a week and make your selections. Typically the selection is pretty standard; tomatoes, onions, potatoes, berries, squash. But often there are selections that are a bit more adventurous; bok choy, eggplant, long beans, beets. I take these ingredients as a personal challenge to hunt down and make recipes that might be outside of my normal rotation. 
So, when my neighbor sent me this recipe and I was staring at a pile of squash and eggplant (courgettes and aubergines if you are fancy) recently picked up at the CSA, it was as if the stars aligned right there in the kitchen. Plus, I'll take any excuse to use goat's cheese in a recipe. The original recipe is from the BBC Good Food website, so is in those weird metric measurements, but I've converted it so you don't have to. You're welcome. Also, so you don't have to look it up, passata is basically a tomato puree and you can easily substitute canned crushed tomatoes but I was surprised to see passata in my local grocery store. Lastly, I recommend starting the dish in a pan that can go from cooktop to oven so you don't have to transfer. One fewer dish to wash is always a good thing. 

Baked Ratatouille with Goat's Cheese

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 2 red onions , chopped
• 2 garlic cloves , finely chopped
• 2 aubergines, diced
• 2 red peppers , seeded and diced
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 16 oz passata
• 7 oz young goat’s cheese
• 4 courgettes (a mixture of green and yellow looks nice), thinly sliced

For the cheese sauce:

• 1 2/3 c milk
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 tbsp plain flour
• 1/3 c parmesan or vegetarian alternative, finely grated

Procedure

• STEP 1  Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a heavy oven safe frying pan and gently cook the red onion and garlic for 5 mins until just starting to brown. Scatter over the aubergine and red pepper and sizzle for another 4 mins, adding more oil if you need to. Season well and stir through the paprika, then splash in the vinegar and soy sauce. Pour over the passata, then simmer for 5 mins until glossy and thick. Turn off the heat. Can be made up to two days ahead and kept in the fridge.
• STEP 2  To make the cheese sauce, heat the milk in the microwave until warm. In a saucepan, melt the butter until bubbling and add the flour. Whisk together to make a paste and continue to cook until lightly browned. Slowly whisk in the hot milk and simmer gently for 2-3 mins, stirring continually until thickened slightly. Remove from heat and stir in the parmesan and season.
• STEP 3  Cover the ratatouille with the cheese sauce. Crumble half of the goat’s cheese over sauce and arrange the courgette slices on top in concentric circles, alternating between green and yellow if you have them. Top with remaining goat's cheese. Can be assembled several hours before cooking.
• STEP 4  Heat oven to 400. Brush or drizzle the remaining oil over the courgette slices and season with sea salt. Bake in the oven for 25-30 mins until the courgettes are cooked through and starting to brown. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 mins before serving.

As eager as you are going to be to dig in to this, it IS important to let it rest once it comes out of the oven so it is not a runny, sloppy mess. Serve with a crusty bread and green salad and it is divine. In fact, I may or may not have had it for brunch the next morning with a fried egg on top. 
To find out more about CSAs in your area, go here. 

​It’s no secret that we obsess over amazing rugs. Bonus obsessing over vintage rugs. Owning a vintage one-of-a-kind rug is like owning a piece of art and we love the aesthetic of mixing new and old in our designs. Up until recently, we’ve struggled to find amazing vintage rugs to put in client’s homes so when we found out about the great selection at Revival Rugs it was a moment of celebration. 

​Their mission is simple, to bring rugs of excellent quality to the market at affordable prices. Sure, you can buy a vintage Persian rug anywhere for thousands of dollars but you shouldn’t have to. Their collection of vintage rugs are one-of-a-kind and made between 30 and 100 years ago. We don’t have to tell you that rugs of this quality are made to last another 30-100 years or more, so they are an investment. 
​It’s hard to imagine in today’s IKEA world of “disposable” furniture, but home furnishings like furniture and rugs were at one time crafted by hand with as much care and skill as one would take to build a home or create a piece of art. Even the new rugs sold by Revival Rugs are hand-crafted at every stage of production from wool selection to hand-finishing. So, you know you are getting a high-quality product. 

When it comes to rugs, we feel like runners don’t get the love they deserve. Maybe because they are relegated to secondary places in the home like hallways and stairs, but that is precisely why we love a good runner. Now, putting a runner on stairs is a tricky situation. You’ll have to tack down with little nails if you have floating stairs, or use a rug adhesive and staple gun with traditional stairs. Might be best to consult a professional for that little project.

​In any case, we’ve picked out two amazing runners and are gifting one to a lucky follower! Head over to our Instagram page for all the info on how to enter to win. And be sure to follow @Revival_rugs to get the first peek of their latest arrivals of vintage rugs. 
Also, for a limited time you can shop their selection of ALL rugs and save 10% with Promo Code SHAUNAGLENN10.

We are taking a pause in our monthly Artist Spotlight series to highlight some other creative women that we have recently become fans of. Last year, when we were featured in the Summer 2019 issue of Origin Magazine, we were completely embraced by all of the love shown by fellow artists, designers, creatives and bloggers featured in that issue. We know how hard it is to make it in any business, let alone as a creative woman balancing work, passion, home and family. So as so many people in the design community have promoted and shined a light on SGD, it is our turn to shine that light back on some amazing women creating beauty and love and inspiring content! 

Roma OSOWO

Roma is an artist based in Dallas who shares our love of color, abstract art, and creating joy-filled spaces. Her Instagram account not only features her artwork, but recipes and videos of her creative process. 
Instagram: @roma.artist
Website: romaosowo.com

​Paola Roder

Paola Roder is an Atlanta based designer recently featured in Apartment Therapy. She not only creates her own bold, graphic, punchy designs, she is co-host on the Instagram page @mymonthincolour which solicits followers to submit photos based on a daily theme to be featured on their feed. 
Instagram: @paolaroderdesigns

Carla Bethany

Carla's covers everything from design to food and crafts on her Instagram page and blog. Also based in Atlanta, she shares our love of a good flea market. 
Instagram: @itscarlabethany
Website: carlabethany.com

The Rath Project

While we fully support the use of bold wallpaper in a powder room, We knew when we saw her balloon dog art that Diane Rath was someone who shared our crazy, eclectic style. Her aesthetic includes color, pattern, pop art and unique objects to create a personal, liveable space. 
Instagram: @therathproject
Website: therathproject.com

At Charlottes House

Charlotte calls herself, among other things, "lover of color", and "wrangler of chaos". She is also a crafting wizard and her Instagram feed features not only eye-popping, colorful designs, but adult and kid craft projects that are sure to get you out of your COVID Coma. 
Instagram: @atcharlotteshouse
Website: atcharlotteshouse.com

Kate Pearce Vintage

I mean, this bathroom with it's serpentine wallpaper and tiger rug really says everything you need to know about Kate Pearce. Edgy, eclectic, vintage enthusiast; we'd follow her around a flea market any time. 
Instagram: @katepearcevintage
Website: katepearcevintage.com

The Indigo Leopard Home

You'll find layers upon layers of color, pattern, texture and greenery at the Indigo Leopard Home. Oh, and she painted a leather sofa green with leather shoe paint. Definitely something we have to try. 
Instagram: @the_indigo_leopard_home

So, give them a follow, show them some love, share their amazing talent. We are all in this together, my friends. Love Wins.

So, here's the way our most favorite projects go: 
Client: Hi Shauna! I want you to come do my living room.
SGD: Great! Yes, we'd love to, when can we meet?
Client: Here's my dilemma, I love your work, do your magic.
SGD: Here's what we want to do, OK with you?
Client: Perfect, when can you start?
SGD: Ready to install, you are going to love it
Client: I can't wait, when can I see?
**BIG REVEAL**
SGD: What do you think? Do you love it?
Client: OMG! This is amazing, I love it so much! Thank you!
3 MONTHS LATER
Client: OK, I've saved up some more money, can you come do our bedroom? 
We LOVE when this happens. And such was the case when a close friend of Shauna's bought an AMAZING MCM home in the Ridglea Hills neighborhood of Fort Worth. One of those homes you drive by and say, "this is what MCM is all about". Definitely the coolest house on the block. And what really got the team excited was A. The original terrazzo floors and B. The atrium in the middle of the house. 

Our first project was the living/dining room. A wide open space that gave us plenty of flexibility for furniture layout, we anchored the leather sectional with a great rug to create the main sitting area. The niche area between the bookshelves was a perfect place to add a console table and accent chairs that can be pulled in for additional seating. Vintage lamps were updated with new shades to keep with the mid-century aesthetic. 

Resources: 
Leather sectional: Client's own, similar here
Rug: RugsUSA
Coffee Table: Home Goods, similar here
Bench: Custom, similar here 
Accent Chairs: Anthropologie
Console Table: Client's own, similar here
Garden Stools: Wayfair
Lamps: Vintage, similar here

To define a dining space, we hung two pendants under the dining table situated against the wall. Then added chairs from West Elm to the existing table and bench. Artwork from Captain Casual hangs behind the bench, and a bar cart in the corner houses vintage glassware.
Resources: 
Dining table: Client's, similar here
Dining chairs: West Elm
Pendants: Wayfair
Art: Captain Casual

In the powder bath, Shauna was inspired by some graffiti art wallpaper that she fell in love with and hand drew on the walls with a paint pen. The walls were given a painted wainscoting in a bold blue to provide contrast. Yes it took forever (7 hours!), and yes, she had hand cramps for days. But, the client loved it and she'd do it again in a heartbeat. 
Resources: 
Wall Paint: Blue Mosque by Sherwin Williams
Art: Society 6
Mirror: Client's, similar here. 
Hand Towel: Client's, similar here. 

Our most recent project in the home was the master bedroom. The West Elm Platform bed was new so we worked with that and added new bedding, a wallpapered feature wall, this amazing vintage Moroccan rug and new bedside tables. The client also had some vintage chests that we incorporated in to the room for more storage. Lastly, the shoji style sliding doors were painted on the inside with a hot cherry red. You can see a glimpse of the atrium across the hall from the bedroom, what an amazing view to wake up to! 
Resources: 
Bed: West Elm
Bedside tables: Blu Dot at All Modern
Lamp: West Elm
Bench: Blu Dot
Rug: Chairish, similar here and here
Bedding: Annie Selke
Wallpaper: Scion from Style Library
​Chandelier: Original to home
Paint color: Cherries Jubilee from Sherwin Williams

Apparently, the patio is next, so stay tuned! 
This post contains affiliate links and we may be compensated for purchases made via these links. 

It may surprise you to know that SGD tends to not pay a ton of attention to color and home decor trends. It's more of a "that's interesting to know but I'm still going to use turquoise" kind of design philosophy. But, as with the Pantone Color of the Year and previous trend posts, we like to let y'all know that we ARE on top of things and that we are there for you as a resource.

Last fall, Ochre was the color on the rise and friends, might as well embrace it because it's not going anywhere. This is not your mama's Harvest Gold from 1974. This is rich and earthy and spicy and you'll be surprised as to how it pairs with other colors. Ochre has also lead the way for a resurgence in the earth tones that were so popular in the 1970s. Olive and Terracotta are combined with ivory and charcoal gray for an updated, sophisticated palette. Throw in some Teal for a little coolness and you've got the recipe for warm and cozy surroundings that will last you all winter. Grab your pumpkin spice and settle in. 

OCHRE

OLIVE

TERRACOTTA

TEAL

Check out our Shop section for more of our fabulous finds! 
This post contains affiliate links and we may be compensated for purchases made via these links.