Holly Mathis in Country Living Magazine
The April 2017 issue of Country Living Magazine features the beautiful home of my friend Holly Mathis and it is soooo pretty! I was thrilled to have the opportunity to style the home for the magazine and so excited for Holly to get the opportunity to share her inspiration and offer a crash course filled with advice for designing a beautiful home on a budget.
Photo: Buff Strickland
This lovely little 1890's cottage was a soft place for Holly and her two boys to land as she was starting a new chapter in her life as a single mother. I'm so proud of the home she created for her little family. It's filled with cozy but practical design ideas for moms and boys, like the beautiful linen slipcovers from Bemz.
Holly and Austin photographer Buff Strickland
I thought it would be fun to share some of my behind the scenes iphone shots from this shoot and tell you how Holly and I met.
I love a good dog on set. Hunter is quite the charmer and takes good care of Holly and her boys.
I have to say, this was an emotional shoot for me. Holly and I met by chance 5 years ago at a blogger luncheon during the Round Top Antiques Week shows at Royer's Round Top Cafe. Texas designer Carol Hicks Bolton was the speaker that day. As you may already know, Carol's talent and stores in Frederickburg are legendary, so the workshop was sure to be a good one. Carol is the real deal, OG industrial, european antiques, taxidermy, all things cool, collectible and romantic, designer I want to be when I grow up. She's magic. Seriously. (ps. OG = Original Gangsta. Carol's a design gangsta from back in the day....in a good way!)
Detail of Holly's bedside table with beautiful cottage roses from Moosefeathers Florist in Brenham, Tx. Coastal painting by me :)
Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I spied Holly Mathis sitting behind me in her signature blue jean jacket. It was like seeing a movie star in the grocery store! I had read her design blog and admired her work, just like you guys, and I couldn't believe she was sitting RIGHT THERE! So, during the meet and greet I worked up the nerve to introduce myself and we hit it off right away. Just a couple of designing ladies sharing our admiration for Carol and enjoying lunch on a beautiful day in Round Top.
Styling detail of Holly's antique secretary from Leftovers Antiques in Brenham, Tx.
Fast forward 5 years and we're standing together in her living room as it's being photographed for Country Living. I love how life, and God, works like that.
Blue and white styling options for Holly's shoot from Kuhl-Linscomb in Houston, Tx.
I've had the pleasure of working with Holly quite a bit over the last 5 years. She's been a divine source of inspiration and has generously invited me to ride shotgun on a few of her projects, like the Old Glory house design project in Burton, Texas, which was also featured in Country Living.
Detail of dining table styling with classic blue and white pitchers.
There are so many great resources in the story! Holly knows her way around fabrics and lighting and antiques like no other and she's spilling it all. Everyone deserves to have a beautiful home at any price point. It can be done!
Love this vignette at the end of Holly's hallway. So pretty!
The story is on news stands now and is the perfect nudge if you're looking for inspiration for spring.
Congratulations Holly! I'm so proud of you ! xo