Inside Inc
/Inside Inc
Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area
Photography by Ira Montgomery
Twenty-five years ago Michael S. Shannon and Gayla Jett Shannon set out to found a full-service architectural interior design firm for commercial and residential clients in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Michael is the Principal Architect and Gayla the Principal Interior Designer. Gayla has been immersed in the field of design for most of her life, beginning with earning a MArch (Master of Architecture) at the University of Texas at Arlington and a BFA in Interior Design from Texas Tech University. With a passion for teaching, Gayla became a professor of interior design at the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Arlington, and the Texas Christian University where she is now honored with the title Professor Emeritus.
When asked what Inside Inc strives to provide to their clients, Gayla answered, “Our projects are always aimed at fulfilling our clients’ needs and desires by thorough communication. We take a problem-solving approach to function without sacrificing beauty. Simple elegance and refinement characterize even our smallest projects.” This Mediterranean style home for a family of five is an exciting example of Inside Inc’s work. In every room the Inside Inc team integrated Italian flavor with a graceful hand. While formal and sumptuous, the end design was also approachable and comfortable, a balance tough to master. They had to work closely with the homeowners to ensure every minute detail was aligned with their vision for their home.
This project wasn’t without its challenges though. “In order to conserve budget expenditures, the design team opted to mix in a few ‘department store quality’ pieces with designer quality selections. Distressed reproductions and a few antique pieces gave the space a sense of age while still mixing tastefully with the new upholstered pieces,” Inside Inc told us. Gayla and her team also needed to incorporate the clients’ extensive collection of crystal and porcelain. This required a custom cabinet with specialty showcase lighting and an elegant charcoal gray velvet backdrop. Introducing the delicate collection into the robust, heavier atmosphere of the new space created an unexpectedly pleasing mix of contrasting elements. This graceful design is just one of Inside Inc’s many beautiful creations.
