Hi Friends! I hope you all are having a wonderful week. This week we are spotlighting three women doing what they love as well as announcing our final Segreto Palette cover! I am so blessed to love what I do, so I am always excited to spotlight others who turned their passions into their own entrepreneurial stories! These three ladies had their part in one amazing house. I first met Sheri Bailey, when she brought in plans for her own house and through this project I was introduced to her design partner Maggie Vermillion who together form Bailey Vermillion Interiors. Energetic, fun and highly creative, it has been my pleasure to watch their business grow and be a part of their beautiful projects.

This is a breathtaking peek of their collaborative work using flooring from Jennifer Jones who owns Farmhouse Stone. Welcome to their stories!

Like how so many of us meet, Sheri and Maggie were introduced though their daughters who became best friends after the Vermillion’s moved back to Houston from New York! They would chat together on carpool drop offs and then began spending hours talking design while the kids were running around- completely happy they were now getting an impromptu play date! Friends kept asking them both for help with design so Maggie thought it would be great to turn something they love so much into a business and Bailey Vermillion Interiors was born.

Drawing inspiration from her extensive travels and youth spent in Singapore, Malta and England, Sheri brings a unique vision. Maggie loving the architectural framework of a home, attended the New York School of Interior Design and draws inspiration from her clients. Typical feedback about forming partnerships are that they are tricky and can be complicated but Sheri and Maggie were confident that they would be better together.

Like myself, both these gals have three kids so I was curious they mixed busy Mom with successful entrepreneur- something that is always a balancing act. Through their partnership, they have stepped up for each other and made sure that they could tag team in order to be at their kids events and support each other’s families. Both with super encouraging husbands, Sheri’s is entrepreneurial by nature- winning Entrepreneur of the year while they were in college. A lawyer as his day job, he has also started Kryptek a now worldwide provider of hunting Camo apparel, military and Special Ops uniforms, with ex-military great guys as his partners. This really inspired and motivated Sheri to pursue her love of design.

Sherri and Maggie have such a timeless and collected look. In asking what they would say to others trying to make decisions in their own home, they recommend spending time and thought on the bones of the home which may be more expensive or difficult to change like finishes, flooring, paint colors, slabs, tile and fixtures. Furniture can be moved around and accessories changed when the homes backdrop can withstand design trends. Above all, be true to yourself and edit, edit, edit! I was fortunate to work on finishes and color pallet with them for Sheri’s new house. Plastering throughout in the same tone, we added special pops to certain rooms, insuring the homes flow, but providing visual interest. They’re masters of each little detail. 

Desperate to find the perfect flooring which had a grey tone but not too cold, weathered or blue Sherri found Farmhouse Stone, and met Jennifer who was just starting out. Jennifer says to this day the Sheri Bailey Project is her all-time favorite. “She believed in me from the beginning and it brought me a feeling of pride when someone of that caliber has so much faith in someone first starting out. It was a project I will never forget! “

I now constantly hear Jennifer’s name buzzing around the design community. Look at the beautiful stone flooring Sheri used in her kitchen. The reclaimed beams, plaster, steel framed windows and sleet marble all come together to provide a comfortable, warm, collected and chic modern European feel. Farmhouse Stone specializes in providing natural stone flooring and decorative tile products throughout Texas. Her background didn’t originate in stone or design. She put herself through college first landing a job selling wine and spirits and then working for FedEx Kinkos for 8 years where she really learned the customer service and logistics side of business.

Jennifer put things on hold when her two year old son was diagnosed with autism. When mainstreaming at school was best for him she was ready to go back to work and took a position with stone company where her passion for the industry began. With an entrepreneurial spirit and her families support, she left and went to France to fully immerse herself in the products and culture at French quarry’s. This not only ignited a love for travel, but also was the beginning of Farmhouse Stone.

Jennifer loves stone the way I love finishes. From the way it is made, installed, applied and the way it transforms a space. Farmhouse Stone is a boutique stone store and is a concierge concept. She works with clients to figure out color, style and texture that meets their needs, timeline and budget. She loves getting into homes early with designers and architects to see how the stone will best fit and transform the space.

Maybe the reason I get along so well with these three gals is family is so important to us all. Jennifer also has a supportive husband and three amazing children. With large busy families, durability of products is something all four of us can relate to and are asked often by our clients. It really comes down to knowing what the best product is for where it is being used. For exterior stone flooring, texture is important to protect against slipping. Just like with our plaster, stone in wet areas require special consideration.

For Jennifer choosing a favorite product is like choosing a favorite child- she can’t! Pressured for an answer she does love their Avalon Gray Stone, Moroccan handcrafted tiles (shown above) and some new stones that are coming in soon! She is always searching for the next great product- that’s half the fun and she feels keeps Farmhouse Stone on the cutting edge.

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know these three amazing women as much as I have!! I love the industry I am in but most of all I adore forming relationships with those who inspire me both creatively and to be a better person, friend, wife and mother. These three gals have such a wonderful spirit and are true talents in the design community. Thanks to the three of you for sharing a bit of yourselves and work with all of us! Sheri’s beautiful kitchen with a bit of holiday décor is the perfect was to wish you a great start to our upcoming Holiday Season!

Thank you all for playing “Pick That Cover”! We have tallied all votes and are excited to announce that the cover above is our winner!  It was in one vote of the similar one with marble under the name and strips of finishes to the right. Matching the our colors on the cover has been a challenge. If the tones don’t translate it will be #2.  We have randomly selected five winners that will be receiving a Segreto gift. Congratulations to Mary Anne Doms, Patricia Miller, Allyson Zoellner, Lisa Dremann and Becky Stephens! We will be reaching out to you gals via email to get a mailing address. The palettes will be ready beginning of 2021 and we couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the new year!

I wish everyone a save and wonderful Thanksgiving!  Thank you again for all your votes and input, we appreciate you all so much!! Till next time! XO Leslie

The Segreto Design Book Series is the perfect Holiday gift! Design Inspiration at a reduced price for all your holiday gift giving this season!