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A French-Inspired Garden and Home by Judith Stringham

Magnolia Part 1 - Black Friday Shopping In Waco at Jo's and Chip's New Store

Friday, November 27, 2015

black friday 
shopping 

Reading blogs, saving photos to Pinterest, and watching home decorating television shows are this generation's (and recently, many of my generation's) way for discovering what they like, for keeping a record of their favorites, and for finding ideas and sources for styling their homes.

HGTV's Fixer Upper, hosted by Joanna and Chip Gaines, is a popular series for showing older homes that have been remodeled and turned into a couple's dream home in Waco, Texas.  Late last season, the Gaines revealed plans to remodel their biggest project ever, the Silos in Waco, and to turn part of the unused industrial site into the new home of their own store, Magnolia, that sells home decor in Joanna's trademark style.


Magnolia trees are part of the landscaping.  Is it a surprise? 



Weekends are very busy at Magnolia, with lines just to enter the store.  Black Friday must be a mad house!  We visited on a Tuesday and walked right in without waiting.  There were other shoppers, but not too crowded. One of the sales people had time to visit with me and to share how she came to live in Waco.  Her husband works at Baylor University. 



Just outside on the porch is a chalkboard where customers can record how far they traveled to visit Magnolia.  No, we did not travel 4040 miles; Waco is just an hour and a half south of the Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas metroplex.  An easy day trip with lots of time for shopping. 



The store is decked out for Christmas with lots of inspiration for the season. 



While shopping was fun, equally appealing for me was seeing the architecture of the old warehouse and seeing the displays. 



The massive chandelier-like ceiling fixture hangs above a large round table at the entrance to the store.  



Hardwood floors, paneled counters, turned-wooden base tables, industrial-style ceiling lights, and exposed electrical channels and ductwork retain the original style of the old warehouse. 



A long wooden counter fitted with storage drawers fits in with the existing structure's style. 



Most of the display furniture appears to be vintage pieces, not reproductions. 



Vintage books 
are one of the main decorating themes throughout the store. 


Hung on walls... 



Stored in vintage wood crates... 




Stacked on chairs... 



Seasonal messages written on individual pages... Are you looking at the beautiful black Merry Christmas sign and thinking, like me, "I can make that."?  Wait.  How would I ever scallop the edge? 



Glitter pens on old pages from a book written in Danish... Yes, I can make this.  No problem tearing the edges of a book page. 



A page with all four edges torn to fit on top of the salad plate in a place setting...  Inspiration. How to adapt this idea?  Pages written in French with the word joyeux in gold?  



Too far to travel (4040 miles or more) to Waco for in-person inspiration at Magnolia?  Visit the online store at The Magnolia Market.  As convenient as online shopping is, there is something lost by not visiting a store in person to soak in the atmosphere and to feel the inspiration. If you are within driving distance, the drive is worth the trip. 

See Magnolia Part 2 - Shopping and Inspiration for more Fixer Upper ideas and how to use them in your own home. 

Can you believe it is time to begin decorating for Christmas? 

Mark your calendars for Christmas inspiration from all over Texas 
when 26 Texas bloggers share a window into Christmas in Texas

Stacey at Poofing the Pillows
is hosting
December 7-11, 2015

I was thrilled when Stacey invited me to be part of this 
first-ever Christmas blog hop of 26 Texas bloggers, and 
am honored to be on the first day line-up on 
Monday, December 7, 2015. 

Several of the bloggers have shared their plans with all of us, 
and this is going to be a great Christmas blog hop! 
You don't want to miss any of the posts 
that include decorations, crafts, recipes, and even a fashionista. 

Watch for more details in the days to come. 
~~~~❦~~~~
Please join me at these inspiring sites...