This year has been big.
Professionally, I led, sourced, and created in ways that make me proud. Personally, I traveled, learned, and came home with even more clarity about what good design should do for real people, not just how it should look in a photo.
If you’re new here, I’m Gloria Staats, founder of Peace of Mind Design. I design homes and vacation rentals that feel calm, collected, and personal, and that actually work for the way you live or the way your guests will use the space.
As we get ready to close out the year, I want to share a few highlights and give you a peek at what’s coming next, including how we can work together no matter where you live.
A Few Favorite Moments From Earlier This Year
June, San Antonio, TX
Family first, always. We celebrated my niece’s high-school graduation, then ate our way through the city and soaked up the colorful art scene. San Antonio’s cuisine and culture are as vibrant as everyone says.
July, England + Ireland
We visited our son, explored more of England, and saw Ireland for the first time, Dublin and Cork. I fell in love with the warmth of the people and the quietly rich palettes, think soft stones, deep greens, and inky blues.
August, Washington State
Our fifth annual girlfriends’ trip, five friends who have known each other for 30+ years. The Pacific Northwest showed off, sweeping views and natural beauty that reset the soul. Trips like this refill my creative tank.
September, New Orleans
Conference time in NOLA, beignets and breakout sessions. I came home with fresh ideas for durable finishes, better lighting layers, and guest-centric layouts that photograph beautifully and live even better.
An Award-Winning Space With Heart Behind It
Right before I left for Europe this fall, I was honored at the Interior Design Society Gala with the Designer of the Year award for a custom home theater in the “Recreation Spaces, $50,000 & Above” category.
This was not “throw in some recliners and a projector.” My client had an underused bonus room that had become storage. We turned it into a cinematic, three-level theater with tiered seating, warm indirect lighting, rich enveloping color, and custom acoustic art panels that look like gallery pieces yet quietly manage sound.
We obsessed over comfort, sightlines, scale, durability, and the emotional experience of walking in, exhaling, and feeling cocooned.
That is the throughline in all my work: yes, it should be beautiful, and it must support how you connect, rest, and recharge. Hearing my name called felt like a “yes,” this is why I do what I do.
Europe: Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Porto, and What I Brought Home
After the gala, I took a design-steeped family trip through Spain and Portugal, part joy, part research, all refueling.
Barcelona
Sagrada Família’s curves were a reminder that softness matters. Rounded edges and arched forms feel inviting, even in modern spaces.
Madrid
Matte black hardware with warm neutrals felt grounded and confident, not industrial. Our tapas crawl doubled as a design lesson, contrast plus comfort wins.
Seville
Pattern can whisper. The tile work at the Alcázar and Plaza de España was layered and soulful. At home, think a powder room wall, an entry niche, or a coffee-bar backsplash, small area, big personality.
Porto
Azulejo blues are calm and complex, never flat. Imagine a serene bathroom or guest suite: soft stone neutrals, deep ink blues, honest texture.
Across the trip I kept seeing the same theme: warmth, story, patina. Nothing felt like “fast furniture,” everything felt chosen. That is what I want for every project, whether it is your primary bedroom or a vacation rental you want booked every weekend.
High Point Market: Sourcing for You, Spring and Fall
Twice a year the home furnishings world meets in High Point, North Carolina. I do not go as a tourist; I go to test upholstery, study construction, talk to vendors, and build relationships so my clients get pieces that perform and feel special.
In April, I co-led the Antiques Tour with my friend Debbe Daley on the friday before the start of Market, then on Satuday I mentored new designers through those “if you know, you know” showrooms. In late October, I returned for Fall Market and co-led the Collected & Curated: Hidden Gems and Storied Finds tour with my colleague Debbe Daley. Picture a trolley full of designers, hopping off the main drag and straight into soul-filled showrooms, vintage finds, one-of-a-kind art, and makers with real craftsmanship.
Why it matters to you: this is how I source the things that make a space unforgettable, a console that looks inherited, art with presence, texture you can feel. Great rooms can be layered with story; they do not have to feel copied, and they do not feel staged, even in a rental.
Vacation Rentals With Personality, and Profit Intention
Short-term rentals and boutique vacation properties remain a core part of my work.
Guests are getting smarter, and so are booking platforms. Generic coastal art and a beige sofa will not earn 5-star reviews or higher nightly rates anymore. This year I helped clients refresh existing rentals without demolition, plan full-furnishing packages that photograph beautifully, and rework layouts for function, where luggage lands, where that first-morning coffee actually happens, where to take a quick call without sitting at a dining chair.
Designing vacation rentals well is about respect, for the guest experience and for the owner’s ROI. My goal, you earn more, get better reviews, and stop worrying about constant replacement.
Homeowners, You Were Busy Too
Most common requests on the residential side:
“Make it feel calm.”
“Make it last.”
“Make it worth it.”
Calm means less visual noise and better lighting. Last means performance fabrics and durable finishes. Worth it means every dollar either improves your quality of life now or increases appeal and value later, ideally both.
What’s Next: Work With Me From Anywhere
Not all of my clients live in Northeast Florida, and not everyone has time to walk a showroom with me. Here is how we can work together:
1) Discovery Call, complimentary
A short, focused call about your property and goals.
2) Design Consultation, local or virtual
A working session on layout, furnishings, flow, lighting, color, surfaces, and mood. You leave with clarity and a plan.
3) Done-for-You Sourcing + Implementation Plan
For out-of-town or fully remote clients, I create your visual direction, curated source list, selections, install notes, styling guidance, and photography priorities. You or your local team can execute with confidence.
This model has worked beautifully for second homes and STRs; you get cohesive, custom results without needing me on site.
4) Vacation Rental Full Service (Local: Design + Installation)
For Northeast Florida owners who want turnkey results. We create the concept, source every piece, manage purchasing and logistics, coordinate trusted trades, install and style on site, then hand you a camera-ready listing that’s durable, guest-friendly, and on brand.
What’s included:
Strategy session tied to nightly-rate and occupancy goals; space planning for real guest flow
Curated furnishings, finishes, lighting, art, and accessories; performance-first selections
Procurement, receiving, inspection, and delivery coordination
On-site installation and full styling; starter inventory guidance
Photography scheduling if needed, maintenance, and replacement plan
Perfect for you if:
You want higher reviews and better ROI, you do not want to handle boxes or vendor schedules, you need a distinctive look that photographs beautifully and stands up to real life.
Service area:
Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine, Amelia Island, Atlantic and Neptune Beaches; outside this area, inquire about travel.
Investment:
Flat design fee plus purchasing management, furnishings budget billed separately; proposal provided after your Discovery Call.
