Design House Debut

Austin design mavens launch new showroom that will please your wallet

Austin Design House delivers a new way to shop for your home.

When interior designers and entrepreneurs Aimee Laughlin, Jess Pearce, and Taylor Wilson got the idea for a new online decor shop, affordability and customization were top priorities. Their new endeavor, Austin Design House, is a digital one-stop shop for custom pillows, fabric by the yard, interior design services, and more.

“We came together with a common love of design and the way textiles transform and add dimension to living spaces,” Laughlin said. “As we continued to put our business plan together it kept evolving as we saw more opportunities to fill design needs in Austin. We are so excited to be able to give our customers fun and unique products and services.”

Mother-daughter pair Laughlin and Wilson, along with family friend Pearce, bring more than 25 years of interior design experience and offer multi-faceted services that can help any Austinite decorate their dream space.

“We’re a new breed of design retailer that not only offers home accessories, fabrics, and wallpapers, but we also offer a unique list of client services, ranging from e-design [$75 an hour] to onsite services [$125 an hour],” Laughlin said. “We want to be the go-to for people who love design and want to get things done but may not have the resources for a full-scale interior design assignment.”

Among its products, the brand’s penchant for pillows truly stands out. The online boutique even offers a "pillow house call" service that allows local customers to get a feel for the pillows ($95-$325) in the comfort of their homes.

“Pillows were our inspiration,” Pearce said. “After working with clients and friends we found that they had an easier time making decisions if they could see and touch the pillows in their own home. It’s not always easy to visualize what something will look like, so it just made sense for us to offer house calls. House calls are fun for us and they offer a great way to get to know our clients and better understand their goals and style.”

ADH's fresh take on interior design seamlessly blends professional experience with the convenience of online shopping and affordable prices. “We understand that not everyone wants to or is able to spend a fortune on home goods. We want to offer products that are beautiful and high quality, while not breaking the bank,” Wilson said.

“In all honesty, we want to deliver a beautiful yet functional space that our customers love,” Laughlin echoed. “Design doesn't have to be stuffy and just for show; enjoying and living in every element of your home is possible.”

Visit the Austin Design House website for more details on services and products.

inspiration hgtv

greener grass in tx

Texas blooms as No. 1 best state for homesteading and gardening

Photo by Zoe Schaeffer on Unsplash

Location, location, location...That's what it's all about when it comes to homesteading in Texas.

If social media is any indicator, homesteading has been one of the hottest trends of 2024. And Texas is leading the charge as the No. 1 best state for homesteading and gardening, according to a new report by First Saturday Lime.

Analysts at First Saturday Lime, an insect repellant company featured on Shark Tank, evaluated the "suitability for sustainable living" across all 50 states based on six factors: Climate, community interest (a.k.a online search trends), gardening resources, farmland costs, and others.

The Lone Star State led the nation with the most farms and ranches on the market and the highest total acreage for sale. As of the study's publication, there were 7,520 total properties for sale, spanning more than 2.19 million acres of land.

Texas also ranked favorably for its farmland affordability. The state came in at No. 9 nationally with its average farmland price coming out to $2,800 per acre, the report said.

For comparison, New Mexico (which ranked No. 11 overall) had the most affordable average price per acre of farmland at just $700 per acre. Massachusetts (No. 48) and Connecticut (No. 42), however, tied for the most expensive price per acre, at $14,300.

Among the three remaining categories in the study, Texas performed the worst for its "gardens on Yelp per capita" rank. The study calculated Texas has 0.30 gardening and community garden establishments on Yelp per capita, placing Texas at No. 49.

Meanwhile, Texas' historically hot weather meant it ranked No. 43 out of all 50 states in the "favorable climate" rank, and the state earned a middle-of-the-road No. 35 rank in the "search interest per capita" category.

"Homesteading and gardening are growing in popularity, but some states provide better opportunities than others," the report's author wrote. "Whether you're after fresh produce or the freedom of self-sufficiency, choosing the right state can make all the difference."

Following behind Texas to complete the top three best states for homesteading and gardening are Oregon (No. 2) and Washington (No. 3), two notoriously rainy West Coast states.

Meanwhile, three East Coast states ranked at the bottom of the list as the worst states for homesteading and gardening: Rhode Island (No. 50), New Jersey (No. 49), and Massachusetts (No. 48).

The top 10 best states for homesteading and gardening are:

No. 1 – Texas
No. 2 – Oregon
No. 3 – Washington
No. 4 – Vermont
No. 5 – Delaware
No. 6 – Arizona
No. 7 – Wyoming
No. 8 – Montana
No. 9 – Hawaii
No. 10 – Colorado

The study sourced its data from Yelp, Google Trends, and the UDSA to determine each state's ranking.

farmers gardening homesteading trend nature sustainability rankings