So, if you haven't already heard, Shauna's home was featured in the May 2019 issue of HGTV Magazine. It's also the cover shot, which is amazingly cool. However, the release of the magazine is somewhat bittersweet considering what was happening behind the scenes with Shauna and her family during the week of the photo shoot. Read below for Shauna's story.

When I first heard from HGTV Magazine about possibly featuring my house in their magazine I was blown away, but also knew the reality too. I’ve had interest from magazines in the past, but it seems like it always fell through. After some back and forth with an editor (sending different shots of different rooms using different angles) I received the best email ever. HGTV Magazine wanted to show my home in their house tour section! It. Was. So. Cool.
After a few more weeks of hammering out the details the editor emailed me again and said they were also considering putting our house on the cover. SHUT. UP. It was almost too much. Suddenly it felt like everything I’d been trying to do to be taken seriously as a designer (yes, I need to be validated sometimes!) was getting me somewhere.
It was a couple of weeks later that I was told yes, we’d also be the cover shot. It was an incredible feeling, I won’t lie. Because the cover is a huge deal, our shoot was pushed back weeks and would go from a two-day shoot to a five-day shoot. I was also informed they would be shipping approximately 80 boxes (!!) of items to be used in the shoot. Soon after, they were right, box after box after box began showing up at our house.
On July 30, 2018, a crew of strangers showed up on my front porch (HGTV people, a stylist, a photographer, etc) and thus began one of the most fun weeks of my life.
Or so I thought.
Right before all of this, my daughter, Presley, gave birth to her third child (Emerson Faye) on July 25th. We were so happy and excited to meet her and have her join our growing family. After a few days something was happening to little Emmy, and no one was sure what it was exactly. She was hospitalized while doctors tried to figure out what was wrong. The photo shoot was happening and I found myself splitting time between being at the hospital and being available for the magazine crew. I wasn’t terribly concerned about Emerson at the time because the doctors couldn’t really find anything wrong with her. I assumed she would get well and be home soon. At the end of the week (Friday) we said goodbye to everyone from the magazine and Emmy was released from the hospital. I could finally exhale after a stressful and exhausting week. Jeff and I were looking forward to a restful weekend.
Sunday, August 5, my daughter called to say Emerson stopped breathing and paramedics were on the way. I raced to her house and followed the ambulance to the hospital. After a few hours we were told to gather up our family and friends because Emmy Faye wouldn’t be going home. Her organs were failing and she wasn’t going to survive.
It was the worst news I’d ever gotten and it was so unbelievable. The next 24-hours were surreal. We were living out a nightmare. Our family was thrust into a swirling tornado of tragedy. Writing this now takes me back to that moment in time and it still stops my heart, punches me in the gut, and takes my breath away.
The magazine is out now. We are in the May issue and as promised, are on the cover and featured in the house tour section. It’s so very exciting, a real pinch me moment. But it’s also bittersweet. Seeing the photos and remembering being there and seeing it unfold while also driving back and forth from the hospital to make sure Emerson was okay, it makes me really sad. I’ve tried to stay upbeat and hold on to the fun memories of that week back in July of last year, but it’s a struggle. I’d gladly give up any career success or checks off my life list (being featured in a national publication is high on that list) to have our sweet Emmy Faye alive and learning to crawl and laugh and know who I am.
But I don’t get to choose that. It’s not an option. Instead I’ll try to stay positive and forge ahead. I’ll keep striving to be the best version of me and lead by example. Work hard. Be kind. Bring color into people’s lives.
That’s really all I can do.
I want to thank everyone at HGTV Magazine for the opportunity and the outpouring of love and support they showed me and my family during that terrible time.
And thank you to all of you who have championed me and congratulated me and bought the magazine and sent such kind notes. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.
Now, here's some behind the scenes photos that we've been hanging on to for 9 months so we could share them with you now! 
XO,
​Shauna

So, the 80 boxes of product that were delivered were unpacked and staged in the garage. 80 boxes of vases, platters, lamps, figurines, trays, pretty much anything that could be used to style. A lot of this stuff was rented from two different companies in New York that well, rent out stuff for photo shoots, so it was important for the Assistant Stylist (Kalen) to keep up with what went where, etc. Serious tasks here.
Shauna's laundry room became flower shop central with buckets and buckets of flowers to be used for the shoots. Wanna know how to make peonies open? Stick 'em in warm water and in the sun. But not for too long, because then they burn. It's an art.

Other fancy jobs of the Assistant Stylist include ironing bedding and towels and trimming the "hair" off of the palm leaves. Bonus styling tip, to make the flanges of the pillow shams stand up so pretty in the photo we used masking tape on the back.  

So, the cover. Because the cover had to be approved by the Editor back in NYC, there was a lot of back and forth. Take a photo, send it to NY, get comments back, move the vase to the other side, take a photo, send it to NY, we need something tall and green on the left, take a photo....you get the idea. TWO DAYS LATER, the image was approved. Jamie, the HGTV Magazine Home Editor and Matthew, the Stylist were pros, and a lot of fun, and made the process way less painful than it could have been. Also, they were considering changing the color of the chest to aqua in the final cover, so we had to style both ways just in case. 

Thanks again to everyone from HGTV Magazine for being so amazing. Can't wait to work with y'all again! 

This week the team attended the Sherwin-Williams Colormix Color Forecast 2019 presentation at Dallas Market Center to get a sneak peek at what they see as the biggest color trends for 2019. As you might imagine, the color trends for home change a lot more slowly than the color trends for fashion. Remember back in the 70s when those avocado green appliances were around for FOREVER?! (The 70s are back, BTW but hopefully we learned a few lessons on colored appliances the first time around.) 
Six color stories ranging from cosmic minimalism to bold maximallism and inspired by tech, the Southwest, British libraries, Africa, natural elements and eclectic excess provide a variety of moods and colors for any project. 
​
Shapeshifter
 Inspired by the cosmos and that unique space between tech and spirituality. Clean lines, iridescent finishes and a palette of ethereal blues accented with golden yellow.

​Wanderer
Modern western palette featuring the dusty colors of the American Southwest. Worn leather, natural woods and tribal patterns. 

​Aficionado
Inspired by British libraries and menswear patterns such as plaid and paisley, this palette is a rich, elegant update of the saturated colors of the 50s-70s.

​Enthusiast
Fully embracing the "more is more" philosophy, this color palette is bold, expressive and excessive. Layered patterns as seen in designs by Gucci and Prada, animal motifs and brocades provide inspiration.

​Naturalist
The wonder of nature as both botanic and through an Art Nouveau eye provide the inspiration for this ethereal, sophisticated palette. 

​Raconteur
Inspired by African heritage and crafts, this palette tells the story of a culture through color, texture and pattern.

Do you have a favorite? Which one are you? Send us your feedback, we'd love to hear from you!

Want a quick and easy update to your home that doesn't cost a fortune? Consider painting your front door a vibrant, eye-popping color. We love the rich color palettes of fall and have taken inspiration from our favorite paint resource, Sherwin Williams to create four fall front door looks that will make your house the best looking one on the street. Whether your style is modern, boho, or somewhere in between, we've paired our favorite colors with doormats, planters, house numbers and outdoor seating to create a front porch that will make your neighbors green with envy.
Pro tip: Switch out the doormat for a 2x3 outdoor rug.
Now shut that fancy front door and get outside!

Paint: Oceanside by Sherwin Williams
Outdoor Rug: Pier 1
​Metal Chair: World Market
Planter: World Market
House Numbers: Houzz

Paint: Wild Currant from Sherwin Williams
Outdoor Rug: Pier 1
Rocker: World Market
Planter: World Market
House Numbers: Houzz

Paint: Carnival by Sherwin Williams
Doormat: Pier 1
Outdoor Lounger: World Market
Planter: Pier 1
House Numbers: Houzz

Paint: Passionate Purple by Sherwin Williams
Outdoor Rug: Pier 1
Adirondack Chair: West Elm
Planter: World Market
House Numbers: Houzz

​This post contains affiliate links.

A few weeks ago we shared with you a little bit of the Lakehouse project we were working on. Well, we were back in Athens yesterday to finish up and OMG, y'all. It. Is. Gorgeous! The clients were such a joy to work with and super thrilled with everything we did. Kinda scary going in to a project where you have free reign to do whatever you want. I mean, we have some wacky ideas sometimes. But, it all came together beautifully. We hope they enjoy many happy family weekends in this amazing home! 
​
Living Room

Resources
Sofas: Article
Swivel chairs: All Modern
Console table: Wisteria
Coffee table: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Sideboard: All Modern
​Rug: Houzz

Master Bedroom

Resources: 
Bed: West Elm
Nightstands: Wayfair
Bedding: Rebecca Atwood
Lamps: Pottery Barn
Print Rug: Anthropologie
Jute Rug: Houzz
Bench: Wisteria

Family Room

Resources:
Sectional: Wayfair
Coffee Table: Wayfair
Rug: Houzz

Guest Room

Resources:
Bed: Pottery Barn
Bedding: Pottery Barn
Nightstands: Wayfair
Table Lamps: Ballard Designs
Artwork: Pottery Barn
Rugs: Houzz
Chair: Birch Lane

This post contains affiliate links.

A color we seem to be crushing on lately is coral. I think the rug in this Spanish-inspired bedroom may have kicked it off, but now it seems we can't get enough of it. It brings such a warm accent to any room without screaming, "Hey! Look at me!" 

These lamps we used in the Lakehouse project are from Candelabra and just work so perfectly in this space. ​

So, naturally when we crush, we crush hard, and our design team was challenged to find their top coral picks to share. Accessories like pillows and lamps are super easy to add as color pops to your room. Pillows are in washed linen from Annie Selke or faux fur from World Market. Ceramic lamp from Wisteria and indoor/outdoor rug from Anthropologie. 

If you are ready for a bigger commitment, we love these wallpapers for an accent wall or powder room. Jungle leaves from Katie Kime, and Tivoli Floral and New Leaf prints from Anthropologie. 

As we were digging for coral, we came across this amazing chair and ottoman from Kathy Kuo Home. Can't wait to add these to an upcoming project! 

Do you have a love of coral? How have you incorporated it in to your home? Email us  and your photos might be used in an upcoming blog! 

So, we may have gone a bit overboard on our swatches last week when we visited the Dallas Design District. The whole team scoured showrooms for fabric and wallpaper swatches and then three shopping bags later, we hauled our goodies back to the office. It was a bit like Christmas morning. You all know how much we love color and well, we definitely found some amazing textiles that we can't wait to incorporate in to our clients' homes. 

Andrew Martin's new Hacienda Collection is inspired by Mexican art and wildlife and just make us so happy. The vibrant patterns and colors of the traditional dress of Oaxacan women provide additional inspiration. 

Another line we fell in love with is from John Robshaw and features traditional block printed textiles from India with whimsical motifs of elephants and birds. The indigo dyed collections are gorgeous and we are big fans of the mixing and matching of prints.  One of these days we need to take a field trip to India to check out this block printing in person. Who's in?

With the addition of our latest treasures, the hoard has grown so much, our basket storage system is about at capacity. Guess it's time to reorganize. 

Our latest big project has been a lakehouse out in Athens, TX. While it's not 100% complete yet, we are so excited with how it turned out, we had to share. The homeowners gave us free reign to unleash our creativity and style, which of course makes us happier than a pig in mud. The original storyboard for the dining room had only a minor change when we found the amazing zebra artwork. Considering the location of the property has for real ZEBRAS roaming around, it just seemed appropriate. Then we happened upon these adorable zebra plates and well, that sealed the deal. 

Since it is a vacation home, we didn't really need to have a ton of kitchen storage, so we chose to install the floating shelves on the long wall. The rustic wood shelves give a nice contrast to the concrete tile backsplash and sleek quartz counter tops. Kitchen cabinets are painted Bunglehouse Blue from Sherwin Williams, which when you look at the color online proves once again that you can't judge a color on the screen. We echoed the color in the rug under the dining room table to provide a bit of continuity.

The homeowner had two embroidered placemats that she bought on a recent vacation to Mexico and we framed those to go over the sink and on the floating shelves. It's such a fun, cheerful room. How can you not be happy here?

Resources: 
Dining room table: Joss & Main
Dining bench: Wisteria
End chairs: Serena & Lily
Side chairs: Wayfair
Rug: Rugs USA

As you by now surely now, we are a huge fan of color. Lots of color, mix and match color. Textured color. Unexpected color. One of the reasons for that is the energy that color conveys. While we appreciate calm and serene neutrals, there is just something about the vibrancy and "happy pops" that a colorful room conveys. In the latest issue of 817 Home Magazine, Shauna talks about her design influences and how color plays such a huge part of her aesthetic. Shauna also believes that your house should be a reflection of your life, so she encourages clients to bring out treasures they have acquired from family or travel and incorporate them in to the decor of a room. When you surround yourself with favorite pieces, it just brings even more joy to a space. "I think everyone needs color. There's just something about a neutral backdrop and happy pops, especially if it's carried throughout a room." Read more here.