After her four boys left the nest, Sarah Aynesworth decided it was time to refresh her classic 1930s home, located in Waco, Texas. She called upon Mark D. Sikes, an old college friend, to work his magic. He was tasked with reincorporating a house full of family heirlooms and antiques while brightening the palette and adding beautiful prints and textiles. “She is a true traditional Southerner when it comes to style,” Mark told Southern Living magazine. The boys’ bedrooms were transformed into welcoming guest retreats, and each room incorporates beautiful quilts made by Sarah’s late mother. “I told Mark when we started that everything is meaningful to our family,” Sarah said. “And to me, that’s what makes a house a home.” Mark expertly blended the old and the new to create a home that is personal and completely original. It is a delightful example of how surrounding yourself with what you love creates lasting joy and beauty. Let’s take a look inside with images from the January/February issue of Southern Living, Mark’s portfolio, and Instagram…
To see more of Mark’s work as featured by The Glam Pad, please click the links below. We also highly recommend his two books, Beautiful: All-American Decorating and Timeless Style and More Beautiful: All-American Decoration.
- A COLORFUL ABODE BY MARK D. SIKES
- BEAUTIFUL IN MONTECITO BY MARK D. SIKES
- AT HOME WITH MARK D. SIKES

This is my favorite house EVER. It’s a home…lived in with old friends. I love that it doesn’t look decorated! Ahhhhhh, deep,sigh.
Very pretty. The dining room is especially nice.
Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing!
I get Southern Living and clipped this out right away to keep. I agree with other readers it’s comfortable doesn’t look decorated
MARK SIKES………ALWAYS A WINNER!!!
LOVE THE CHAIR IN THE MASTER BATH……………..
HE HAS TALENT GALORE!