Hello and welcome to Satori Design for Living. I’m so glad you stopped by!

I’m Shauna, design and decorating enthusiast, avid DIYer, vintage collector, gardener, and lover of fresh, healthy food. Most importantly, I’m a very proud mom to a 20-something year old “kid” and wife to my biggest supporter and best friend for over 25 years. 

During my childhood growing up on a farm on the prairies of Alberta, the seed for my love of decorating and design was planted. Most of my free time (after sports and a lot of chores) was spent whipping up something in the kitchen, rearranging my bedroom, sewing pillow covers, drawing floor plans for my someday dream home, and honing my ability to paint, repurpose, and style anything I could get my hands on.

My early studies and career began in clothing design and construction, and eventually led to a career in teaching. Weekends and holiday breaks (when we weren’t running around with our son), freed up a little time to tackle DIY projects like wallpapering our bathroom, landscaping the back yard, and painting countless pieces of hand-me-down furniture. Gradually, with a lot of perseverance and a little money, we were able to transform each of our lack-lustre houses into something we were proud to call home. Friends and relatives began to take notice and I quickly became the go-to girl for paint colour selections, furniture layouts and sewing projects.

Eventually, we left small town life for something closer to city with a view of the mountains. It ended up being the perfect fit for this country girl at heart. A whole new world of possibilities opened up and, although I kept my foot in the teaching door, I knew it was time to consider “what I really wanted to do when I grew up.” Some soul searching was in order to find out what those little tugs and whispers were…

Can you relate?

Fast-forward to 2008, when I finally gathered up just enough courage and took a huge leap of faith to leave the classroom behind. I integrated everything I had learned about design, business, and life (and a lot of DIY), and founded Satori Design for Living.

It’s where I get to be creative, collaborate and share with amazing people like you! Most importantly, I’m a wife and mom who’s present (and happier with herself at the end of the day!). I guess you could say it’s where I feel connected and most at home…

What’s Satori Design for Living all about?

I started the Satori blog in 2011 as a way to chronicle client projects and answer some of the design, decorating & organizing questions people asked me most often. After only a few months, I was hooked, and began sharing even more of the things I love to do.

Fortunately, my readership has grown and I have been able to make blogging my focus for the past few years thanks to many of the brands I’ve partnered with, including Benjamin Moore, Balsam Hill, Home Depot and more. As with any career, there are challenges, but sometimes I have to pinch myself that this is what I get to do for a living.

I’m also blessed to have had my work featured by several magazines and top websites. It’s very flattering, but the connection I make with people like you is what really keeps me going!

On the blog, you can expect to find posts about decorating, organizing, gardening, DIY, thrifting, recipes, life lessons and more. My hope is that by sharing my creative adventures with you, you’ll in turn be inspired to create the type of life YOU want to live.

Some of my Most Popular Posts

Paint- Benjamin Moore White Dove – A Paint Colour Favourite

Decorating- Decorating with Thrift Store Finds

Recipes- Spring Flower Pot Cakes

Home Improvement- Our Fireplace Makeover

DIY- Whitewashed Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

Organizing- Better Organized Kitchen

Outdoor & Gardening- Backyard Deck Makeover with Gray Stain

Thrift Shop & Vintage- Collecting Milk Glass – Beginner Tips {Reader Q & A}

Crafts- Concrete Painted Pots

Holiday & Seasonal- Gardener’s Rose Petal Bath Soak

Since starting the blog, we’ve lived in two different homes. If you’re looking for home improvement ideas, be sure to check out these frequently asked questions about our two-story and modern farmhouse bungalow.

Have any questions about our home, a recipe, blogging, brand collaborations or anything else? Contact me here.

Want to stay in the loop? I’d love for you to join our growing community of home and garden enthusiasts!