Explore a Worldly Ranch in the Lone Star State
Paula Minnis’s Dallas home is an apt reflection of the life she’s chosen to live. She’s spent the past four years filling the rambling ranch property—with enough space for Paula, husband Todd, and four children to coexist comfortably alongside two cats and a dog—with the things she loves most. Layers of textiles, art, and objets create a global mix that lends even the sleekest of anchor pieces (for instance, an acrylic console) a sense of bona fide warmth.
The look is varied but seamed together by the idea of craft. Looking around the property’s bevy of rooms, each one bursting with color, you get the sense that many of the elements were made by hand. And most of them were: Paula’s company,
Gaia, is known for cheery artisanal accessories for both person and home—all crafted by refugees resettled in Dallas—and pieces from the line appear throughout the space.
On a recent visit to Paula’s home, we asked the entrepreneur about her style, her life, and her ethical approach to business.
The ivy-covered screened porch is one of the Minnises’ favorite things about their home.
A rattan chair sits before a vintage tree-trunk table that Todd bought before he and Paula married.
Vibrant Gaia pillows accent a pair of neutral club chairs in the living room.
A bamboo hall tree and a bone-inlay mirror frame the doorway behind.
The master bedroom’s gallery wall begins at the top of a lacquered vintage chest and ends at the ceiling. Featured works include a photograph taken by Paula on her honeymoon, gifts from friends, and vintage finds.
Paula Minnis:
“I’ve always had a layered style, and I love to collect pieces when I travel, particularly textiles, and incorporate them into my look at home.
My favorite thing is to be surrounded by objects that evoke memories of the trips I’ve taken and the people I’ve met along the way.
I will say that I’ve trimmed back some of the layers over the years.
I’ve gotten better at living lighter—clearing out the clutter and purging whatever no longer feels close to my heart.”
The master bedroom’s gallery wall begins at the top of a lacquered vintage chest and ends at the ceiling. Featured works include a photograph taken by Paula on her honeymoon, gifts from friends, and vintage finds.
“The biggest indicator that we’re doing something right and that we’re affecting change in a positive way is by the smiles of the refugee artisans we employ. “
— Paula Minnis
Coffee table books, a gold llama, and a chunk of amethyst grace a bone-inlay table.
An artfully curated collection fills a nook above the tiled stairs.
In the dining room, Paula paired two antique chairs that belonged to her mother with a set of midcentury-style seats.
Colorful art and a layer of patterned pillows brighten up the playroom’s neutral foundation.
Markers and crayons are cleverly corralled on the playroom coffee table.
Kids’ drawings mingle with photography in one of the children’s rooms. The crisp white frames and mats create a cohesive look.
Hand-painted tiles and sinks give the bathrooms some south-of-the-border flair.
A potted plant, a Turkish towel, and a vintage artwork turn the master bath into a welcoming oasis.
A juju hat flanked by oversize lamps serves as a dreamy focal point in the master bedroom.
The wooden bench is an ideal spot to toss throw pillows at bedtime.
“Sometimes happiness is just a different way of looking at the world.”
— Paula Minnis
