\u201cI\u2019m 100 percent Natchez. Because of Natchez, I was learning about furniture all my life at the houses of my mother\u2019s friends. I remember at the Shields Town House the oak and mahogany tester bed from the 18th century with Prince of Wales plume-carved decoration Mrs. (Marie) Perkins had in her guest bedroom. It was extraordinary,\u201d she said. \u201cNatchez is a jewel. When you move away, you really realize how special it is. I would love to come into Natchez and save all the houses, if only I could. Natchez teaches you, if you pay attention, to study history and be inspired by it, and that\u2019s what Natchez does.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unlike what some people might expect, Shearouse is not constantly redecorating her own house.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of my mama\u2019s best friends, Sherry Jones, said you buy a piece of furniture a year, and that way you freshen up your home. You suffer through buying the good stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first piece of furniture Shearouse purchased in her 20s came from Annette Holder at Mrs. Holder\u2019s Antiques.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt used to be in the family room, moved to the dining room and is now in our basement, and that\u2019s been over 30 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
While in college, Shearouse interned for Natchez interior designer and antiques dealer the late Hal Garner. She credits him with teaching her much of what she knows about design and style.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was amazing. He is where I get my \u2018turn around, remove yourself and walk back into your space. What does it feel like and what does it look like?\u2019 He taught me that. I teach that today to other designers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shearouse has also adopted some of Garner\u2019s sayings as her own, including \u201cyou should look good naked in your bedroom.\u201d She is also famous for designing places to \u201chide your crazies,\u201d both sayings very familiar to those who follow her on social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cHide your crazies\u201d refers to creating cabinets, cupboards and other storage spaces to stash the things people need but don\u2019t necessarily want to look at \u2014 the things that create visual clutter.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy husband asked me recently why I changed the chair I usually sit in in the family room. I told him I can\u2019t see all the mess the children have made like I could from the other seat. They just shove their stuff in and I can\u2019t deal with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
You can follow Shearouse on Instagram<\/a> and on Facebook<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n