Holiday Men's Gift Guide

If your fellow is resistant to share his innermost desires, specifically those involving gifts this holiday season, then here is a quick guide of some fabulous items available at Shaun Smith Home.

1. Wool blanket/throw   $75

With the current popularity of "man grooming" your special guy may need some extra warmth this season. Our cozy wool blankets will surely keep his smooth, hairless body toasty this winter.

2. Austin James painting   $750

With a name that oozes masculinity and artwork that oozes sensible style, a big piece of Austin James may be just what he needs this holiday season.

3. Framed insects on stands   $340 (set of 4)

Instead of bugging him for gift ideas this year, why not just give him some bugs? These insects, sealed in clear resin cubes, will surely make him smile.. or faint. Either way you'll feel a sense of joy.

4. Fortuny dog collars   $80 (small)   $100 (large)

Has his furry little friend been a bit neglected this year? And of course I mean his pet pooch! If so, give his buddy something to bark about with a stunning Fortuny dog collar. The neighborhood bitches will be very impressed. (collars available next door at Gerrie Bremermann)

5. Antique glass medicine bottles   $49 (small)   $69 (large)

Bring out his inner chemist with these beautiful antique medicine bottles. Great for adding a sense of history and style, these bottles might just have him re-watching old episodes of Breaking Bad.

6. Alabaster spaniel carving   $790

Perhaps a hand-carved springer spaniel statue made of alabaster will shut him up about getting that new puppy.. at least until New Year's.

7. Patch candles   $38

With masculine scents and style, these candles will definitely help cover up that "weird smell" from his office that you can't quite put your finger on.

New Artist joining Shaun Smith Home!

We are thrilled to share with you all that we are now carrying the artwork by the insanely talented Austin James! Austin's work has an ethereal and organic look to it that we just love.

Austin uses a mix of crushed pigments, oils, acrylic and resins to create these stunning pieces. The resin finish gives each piece a high gloss finish that looks similar to glass. "I employ resin in order to create an altered and present reality.  Resin pushes a successful painting to create a feel of stepping through a looking glass into a secret scene: a captured world." - Austin James

Austin began his art career in 1994 as a poet. His love for playing with words and phrases and his love for color naturally led him to experimenting with paint and motion. He started painting in 1996 and exhibiting as a professional artist in 1997.  Austin believes that art is energy. Each human being has his or her own unique form of energy.  An artist is capable of translating this energy into art. Austin’s pieces focus on organic shapes, color, the natural flow of matter and motion.  His MFA from Naropa University in Poetry has infused a lyrical sensibility into Austin’s work.

                             

“I love color, movement and lyrics in my art.  To be successful, the art must be memorable when one turns away.”  - Austin James

Not only is Austin an amazing artist but a poet as well! He has a book coming out titled Brackish Water coming out this October. 

Here are two available now at the shop...

Austin will be here at the shop this Saturday, October 4th for Art for Arts Sake from 6 - 9 so be sure to come by to see these stunning pieces and meet this insanely talented artist!! 

What a year we've had!

 We sadly just realized it has been over a year since our last blog post! Things have been wonderfully busy here at Shaun Smith Home and we would like to recap this last year through mostly Shaun's Instagram account. He posts like crazy so please follow him @shaunsmithstyle!

So here's a recap of the last 12 months...

Did you know one of Shaun's greatest talents is styling? He's a master at making rooms look complete - from coffee tables to bookshelves - they are always perfectly styled! -and no I'm not just saying that because I work for him ;) he really is the best at it!

Working his magic on a mantle.

Bookshelves styled.

Chic coffee table styling that Shaun was able to even incorporate the clients favorite childhood book,

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

A moody library restyled with all the homeowners existing vintage books. 

Another coffee table styled.

How cool is this unique nightstand styled? It's an 18th Century gilded fragment turned into a table. 

That Shaun is a clever one - check out how he placed various coral inside the brass and glass coffee table. A styling genius I tell ya!

We have also been overseeing quite a few home renovations. Selecting the lighting, hardware, paint, etc. There's nothing more gratifying than seeing these beautiful, old New Orleans homes come to life. 

A dining room we had lacquered a soft grey. Check out the gorgeous chandelier too! 

A fun feathered light going up in a playroom. 

Clients library in progress.

A site visit on a kitchen we're working on - check out that copper hood! AMAZING!

A wet bar almost done with some pretty amazing marble tile.

Master bath in progress.

Another custom kitchen reno in progress - check out that light! Below is another view. We were able to reuse some of the old original bead board as a back splash. 

Gorgeous peacock wallpaper up in a clients master bedroom.

A bathroom that got a mini makeover with grasscloth wallpaper and a stunning mirror.

 A Greek Key inspired runner just installed at a clients home. 

A smokey grey grasscloth wallpaper makes for a moody walk down a long hall. Oh and notice the powder room - lacquered walls and an antique ornate mirror - LOVE IT!

Super fun and classic - Scalamandre zebra wallpaper goes up in a playroom. 

 Quadrille wallpaper and matching fabric for drapes go up in a clients office. 

A place to lounge and read in the office.

A wall in our clients kitchen was covered in a beautiful marble mosaic tile - here's a in progress shot. 

Large scale urns looking gorgeous against this beaded chandelier. 

Shaun in search for the perfect wallpaper.

Behind the scenes on the creative process that goes on when designing these beautiful homes. 

The creative genius, Mr. Smith, working away!

And here are a few finished projects....

Some other happenings this past year include... 

 Being featured in the New Orleans Scout Guide. 

A lovely article written about Shaun's personal house in the Times Picayune. Read the full article HERE. 

Shaun was also selected as one of 6 designers  from the US to fly to Parma, Italy to attend a buying trip for our shop, Shaun Smith Home. He scooped up some amazing pieces and had such a great experience! 

A beautiful shot of Florence, Italy. 

Shaun buying an antique armoire.

Lynn Yaeger, the fashion editor for Vogue was also on the trip! 

We also brought on a wonderful new co-worker, Lori who's helped us tremendously as we grow. We lured Lori down from NYC where she was working at the prestigious design firm, Tom Scheerer. 

Yeah, it's a picture of her at Whole Foods ;) - we were grabbing flowers for the Art In Bloom event at NOMA.

Speaking of NOMA... we did the Art in Bloom event again this year.  So many beautiful and creative floral arrangements throughout the museum.

Some close ups of our table.

We got to experience Betsey pregnant! Yes, pregnancy brain is a real thing and boy did she have it! ;)

But that's OK, because now we get to play with this little guy sometimes at work! John Gibson Hazard III was born February 17th, 2014.  Shaun likes to think he's inherited his "grumpy face" from his momma!

We've had an amazing year and look forward to continued success in 2014!

Thank you for following along!

XO

Shaun Smith Home