We are big fans of Drew Barrymore here at SGD. Her Flower Home collection is a perfect blend of boho chic, vintage-inspired florals and some mid-century furniture thrown in for good measure.  And if you didn't know it was from Walmart, you'd swear it was part of Justina Blakeney's Jungalow line. Yes, you read that right, it's from Walmart. 

So, when we heard about her new line of kitchenware, Beautiful, we knew it would have just the vibe that we would love to infuse into the sea of stainless steel of our kitchens. From small appliances to cookware and kitchen accessories, Beautiful brings colors to the kitchen without them being so loud that they can't play nicely with your other decor. Besides, when was the last time you were giddy about pulling out your toaster to make avocado toast? 

So, clear out some counterspace and upgrade that toaster you've had since your first marriage to some chic pieces that'll make you happy you know your way around a kitchen. We know your blender is on it's last leg from all those margaritas you drank in quarantine anyway. 

If you know any brides-to-be this might just be a reason to add Walmart to their registry. Like the collaborations Target has done with Missoni, Lily Pulitzer and other high-end designers, this brings a modern, youthful energy to a retailer known better for their "interesting" clientele than stylish fashion and decor. We can't wait to see what else Drew Barrymore has in store for her Walmart lines. 

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I don't know about you, but my feeling is that Spring 2020 deserves a serious do-over. Yes, for kids it was the Spring Break that never ended, but we grown ups have some different feelings about that. So, in standard do-over fashion, there's no settling for "good enough". You deserve a proper do-over. A grown up do-over. A serious investment of a do-over. And that should start with your home. I know, you've spent a LOT of time there. But that's precisely why it deserves a little TLC. 
This patio, for instance was the last space in our client's house that we had to tackle; but boy was it worth the wait. This is a space the family of 5 (triplets!) is going to be spending countless hours in, and with both fans and heaters installed, it's now a space that can be used almost year round. Except for, you know, those once-in-a-decade winter storms. 

Check out our Outdoor shopping page for more great patio finds! 

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When we were planning our next installment of Artist Spotlight we realized that one of our favorite artists had not yet been featured! The tragedy! Beth Gandy is an artist based in Dallas who does amazing large, colorful (shocker) abstract pieces. Her work is featured in galleries all over the US including DFW, Santa Fe, North Carolina and California. One of the places she sells her work, Park & Eighth here in Fort Worth, was where we discovered her and since then she has become one of our favorite artists to recommend to clients. 

SGD: Can you briefly walk us through your story? How did you get started and how did you get to where you are today?
BG: I started painting in high school, but I didn't paint much after that until I had kids. I painted wall murals for several years, then children's portraits. I started painting abstracts about 11 years ago using figures as my base or starting point.
​
SGD: Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
BG: As we all know, it has been a long process of learning and growing. I think the quote from Derek Fordjour says it best, "Artists are people who work hard to get lucky."

SGD: What are you most proud of and what sets you apart from other artists?
BG: I am proud that people actually enjoy my work and that so many support my art. I would say my use of color sets me apart.

SGD: What advice would you give to someone at the start of his or her career?
BG: I say to paint as often as you can, keep learning from as many others as possible and give back when you can.

SGD: What artists do you admire and why?
BG: Joaquin Sorolla for his use of color, Willem de Koonig for his style, everything about Joan Mitchell and the figures from Richard Diebenkorn.

​SGD: If you weren't an artist, what would you be?
BG: LOST! 
How to find Beth Gandy:
Website: bgandyart.com
Instagram: @bgandyart
Facebook: Bgandyart
Email: bgandy@bgandyart.com
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Catch up on all the other featured artists here. 
All photos courtesy of Beth Gandy

We have had the amazing fortune of catching the eye of the editors of HGTV Magazine in the last couple years. You may remember the feature they did on Shauna's house back in May 2019. Since then the relationship has blossomed, yet we are always humbled and excited when they take the bait on a project we submit for consideration.
The Caraway project was one of Shauna's first and really the one that sparked the concept of "shop your house". Since then, one of the first questions we ask new clients is, "where is the closet/drawer/box/chest where you've stashed stuff you bought or inherited but don't know what to do with?" And most of the time, the found treasures end up being the launch point of the whole design concept. 

 Check out the digital edition of the magazine here. 
Resources
Breakfast nook:
Table: Vintage, similar here
Chairs: Vintage, similar here
Counter stools: Wayfair (reupholstered)
Cowhide: Wayfair

Dining Room:
Arm chair: Vintage, similar style here
Pendant: West Elm (discontinued, similar here)
Table Runner: CB2
Rug: All Modern

Kitchen:
Light fixture: CB2
Island: El Paso Import Co. (vintage, similar here)
Rug: Wayfair

Family Room:
Sectional: Haverty's (discontinued, similar here)
Ottoman: Simple Things, similar here
Chair: World Market
​Rug: Vintage Oushak, similar here

Main Bedroom:
Bed: Ralph Lauren Home (similar here)
Bedding: Serena & Lily
Lamps: Shades of Light
Rug: Oriental Rug Galaxy

Guest Room:
Headboard: Pier 1 Imports (discontinued, similar here)
Bench: Wayfair
Rug: RugsUSA
Lamps: Joss & Main
Art: Gray Malin

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So, it's been a minute since we've shared Part 1 and Part 2 of Shauna's MCM house renovation. So many minutes in fact that rooms we shared with you in Part 1 and Part 2 have already changed, so you might want to go back and review for all the details. Today though, we are bringing you the main bedroom and en suite bathroom. 
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Main Bedroom Before

We like to call this a perfect blank slate. Great floors, white walls, simple recessed lighting, the ideal canvas to create magic. AND bonus, a fireplace in the bedroom! Construction wise, that was the only thing that was updated in this room, the tile on the fireplace. Now it's a cool 3-D black tile with black marble hearth. The other finishing touch was a pale aqua paint on one wall and it's move in ready!

Main Bedroom After

Resources:
Bed: West Elm
Bedding: Orange Coverlet from Annie Selke, Duvet Cover from Missoni Home
Bedside tables: West Elm (sold out, similar here)
Lamps: Wayfair
Mirrors: CB2
Art over bed: Amy Young
Large art: Beth Gandy
Fireplace tile: Tile Shop (discontinued, similar here)
Armchair: CB2
Inlay end table: Home Goods (similar here)
​Curtains: Custom made with Schumacher fabric

Bathroom Before

​There are two vanity areas, so definite "His" and "Hers" spaces made it easy for Shauna to be a little more playful on her side. Which is everything you see here. We try not to force Jeff to endure our styling his side of the bathroom. If you listen carefully, you can hear the birds in the trees. 

Resources: 
​Flooring: Tile Shop
Wall tile: Tile Shop
Wallpaper: Wallpapers To Go
Mirror: CB2
Vanity light: Wayfair
Light over tub: Dutton Brown
Towels: Missoni Home
​Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the reno adventure and stay tuned for the exciting reveal of the new living space. 

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One of our favorite go to vendors for bedding and textiles is Annie Selke. From basics like matelassé coverlets and linen duvet covers to quirky puppy covered pjs, we can always rely on them for excellent quality and a chic boho style that is 100% our jam. 
In addition, their Dash & Albert rugs bring an amazing assortment of basic jutes and colorful area rugs that are not only available in all common sizes, but in custom sizes as well. Check out some of our previous projects using these great brands.

Annie Selke Bedding

Marine Boyfriend Matelassé Coverlet and Stonewashed Linen Duvet Cover

And, as if great bedding and rugs weren't enough, Annie Selke is a full spectrum home retailer selling bath accessories, wall art, furniture, tabletop, pillows and even wallpaper! Seriously, you need to check them out. AND you can save 20% during their President's Day Sale with code PRESDAY21. 

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The Urban Outfitters you probably know sells retro albums, incense burners and graphic tees to the 25 and under crowd. But did you know that they also have a Home collection? And it's not only for teenage bedrooms and college apartments. The younger sibling to Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters carries on the boho, vintage inspired aesthetic at a more reasonable price point and we are constantly impressed by the merchandise they sell. Here are some of our favorites:

Also, don't miss their Sale section for super great end-of-season deals! 
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If you've been here longer than a hot minute, you'll know that while we follow and comment on color trends, at the end of the day, we're gonna do our own thing. And we encourage our clients and friends to do their own thing too. We don't do "matchy matchy", we believe firmly in the philosophy of "if you love it, it goes", and we get super excited when we can push the limits of color and pattern in a space and it turns out even better than we envisioned. Last year when Pantone announced the Color of the Year for 2020, Classic Blue, we appreciated the choice in that it was made in the attempt to assure us that everything was going to be OK. It was safe, dependable, dare I say, patriotic. Looking back, it appears that the Universe thought that choice was laughable and gave us plenty of reasons to protest such a confident color. Covid Red might have been the better option. 
For 2021, Pantone decided there would be not one but two Colors of the Year; Ultimate Gray and Illuminating. Maybe they learned their lesson in not putting all the chips on one bet? 

According to the Pantone website, these colors are "A marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting."
We see you, Ultimate Gray, as the pillar of concrete strength and practicality. We firmly set our design aesthetic on a room with a neutral base that often includes pale gray walls that are both practical and versatile. Gray has quickly surpassed tan and brown as the neutral of choice when buying a sofa or other large furniture item. It instantly gives an element of sophistication to a room.
Illuminating immediately has me singing "Sunshine Day" in my head, and maybe that was the intent. We could definitely use some sunshine in our lives right now and seriously when has a yellow pillow or yellow tulips not made you smile? Plus with the popularity of Ochre last fall, a brighter, sunnier yellow is a great transition to spring. 

Now, is SGD going to ever design a room in gray and yellow? No. BUT, we are fully on board with incorporating elements of this color duo in to a room and have curated an assortment of products to get you up to speed on this trend. Check out our Color of the Year Shop here and some of our top picks below. 

So tell us, what are your thoughts on these color choices? What would your pick be? If you have some great yellow and gray rooms you'd like to share, we would love to see them! 
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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!