Meet Adam & Emily Gauntt | Southern Oaks Design & Decor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adam & Emily Gauntt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adam & Emily, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

We really didn’t intend to start a business. My husband has spent the past 20 years working in management for some amazing companies but the long hours, commute time and frustrations of working towards someone else’s goals gave us a desire to lean into our own.

I love to decorate, I always have. As a stay at home mom of 4, I wanted my home to be a sanctuary and a representation of all the things we love. I found myself constantly redesigning spaces in our house and began staging and selling some of my finds.

Without knowing it, every person who left our home with a piece of furniture and complimented our design gave us the confidence and nudge towards a dream we didn’t know we had.

Our side-hustle selling furniture continued to grow to the point we could no longer manage it on on top of a full time career & family. We knew we were burning the candle at both ends but the thought of giving it up when we were just getting going was disheartening.

With all the energy behind our start up, we made the decision to go for it. There is something terrifying and exhilarating about the unknown but the decision to step out on your own brings benefits and freedoms you can’t find any other way.

The past year has opened up so many amazing opportunities for us, from staging multi million dollar homes in Georgia to designing & delivering custom furniture to a luxury private island in South Carolina.

We now furnish homes full time, up & down the coast and offer a wide variety of timeless, high-end furniture & decor.

I’m a strong believer that your passion is closely tied to your purpose. Great design is really not about replicating a look, it’s about finding your feeling…and then bringing it home.

Life is short, do what you love…and figure out a way to get paid for it!

The Southern Oaks Team

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It took me a long time to understand my style. For years I would replicate a trendy look only to find myself not loving it in my own space.

I would find myself inspired when we traveled along the coast and can easily pinpoint the places and spaces that I love.

I started to pay attention to the way I felt in certain places and figure out what it was that I liked about it.

I love when I walk into a hotel room and everything is tidy & simple, the clean feel of bleached white sheets and the easiness of one long lumbar pillow.
I’m drawn to the upholstered headboards & coordinating fabrics that you can’t buy off the shelves. The ones that feel a bit more special and a little harder to find.

I realize that everyone’s home has a different story to tell and feeling they want to envoke. I love that we get to help bring this feeling home with a beautiful fabrics, quality furniture & unique design.

The greatest compliment we receive is not that the customer has a beautiful home, but a beautiful home that represents them well!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Greater Atlanta has so many fun things to offer. We love the outdoors and the endless Georgia trail hikes. High Falls state park is one of our favorites. If you are looking for a fun spot for eat afterwards, Yahola Creek Restaurant is a hidden treasure.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We are so thankful to all the people who have taken a leap of their own and inspired us in doing so. Shout out to Pete & Stephanie Williams with American Craftsman Homes for not only building our dream house but giving us the chance to showcase some of their premier custom builds.

Website: Www.southernoaksdesignanddecor.com

Instagram: @southernoaksdesignanddecor

Facebook: SouthernOaksDesignanddecor

Image Credits
All images are my own