When Texas fashion designer Pat Dahnk was first starting out, she sewed on an old machine that started to skip a stitch. That’s when her creativity and determination kicked in. She began to cut out little leather leaves to stitch over the seams of the collars, and this design element became her signature.

Faced with an obstacle, her determination and creativity helped her overcome it. That’s really the story of her life—from small glitches on a sewing machine to the devastating loss of her son. When cancer claimed her 2-year-old, Kent, in 1985, Dahnke pushed through grief by focusing on what meant the most to her—her daughter, Tara, just 8 years old at the time, a love of horses and an ability to help women feel beautiful.

Laurie and Mark Haushill carefully chose the rich stones that built their San Antonio-area home for their earthy orange, brown and gray hues.

The couple’s interior designer, Stacy Blair of Blair Designs, recalls helping the couple select the Palomino stones that adorn the walls, fireplace and patio. “We drove up to New Braunfels, and the three of us made a day of it,” she says. “We walked the rock yard in our tennis shoes.”

Throughout the adventure of building their 4,500-square-foot home that sits on a bluff along U.S. Highway 281, the Haushills realized the importance of collaborating with the professionals involved. Once their architecture firm, A-Designs by Gustavo Arredondo Inc., neared the completion of the home’s drawings, the couple worked closely with Blair to choose the materials, décor and furnishings that would create a rustic oasis. “I remember telling Stacy from the beginning that we’re not formal people and that we wanted to create a casual elegance,” Laurie Haushill says. “We like to entertain, so we wanted a very open and welcoming home for our family and friends.”
 

Most homes shine during the winter holidays. But imagine the splendor if every room displayed a Christmas tree.

For their annual Yuletide shindig for more than 100 family and friends, Laurie and Mark Haushill celebrate with no fewer than eight decorated Christmas trees. Stacy Blair of Blair Designs begins assisting the Haushills with holiday décor in late October so that the home is decked in holiday style by Thanksgiving. Each room features an evergreen with a theme that brims with meaning to the family.