From Vision to Reality: Our Western + Aztec Interior Design Project
We’ll be honest - we were just as surprised as anyone when we were voted Best Interior Design in the Odessa American 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards - Best of the Permian Basin. After all, at Structured Clarity we’re known for organizing homes, not designing them. But this Western + Aztec project? It gave us the chance to stretch our creativity beyond organization and into full-blown design - and the results (and client reactions) were worth every second.
The Vision
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The Vision -
Our clients wanted a home that felt uniquely them. They loved bold Western elements, Aztec-inspired patterns, and natural textures - but they also needed functionality for their everyday life and growing family. The goal was to bring it all together in a way that was beautiful, cohesive, and practical.
Note: The “growing” family was a sweet surprise to us during the consultation when they added that we needed to create a nursery!
Here are some sneaks we let our clients and followers preview!
Thank you, VerdeBox Rentals!
We used VerdeBox Rentals reusable totes to store and move all of our clients things in. The boxes were sturdy, kept everything dry during an unexpected small rainstorm the night before while loading the trailer, and made moving everything in so easy! They even dropped off and picked up the boxes and dollies.
The Process
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The Process -
Designing this home meant more than placing decor - it was about curating a story room by room:
Entryway: We made this tight area welcoming, purposeful, and custom made. The door sign was created by Grace and Glitter. They took our idea and made it so much better. The bow was the perfect size with beautiful ribbons, the tacks added a nice gold accent, and floral pieces in it gave it the finishing touch. Once in the entryway you immediately see a gorgeous hide rug with various colors in it with Aztec sharp lines. Lining the hallway there is a small coat rack that we ensured would be able to support weight. Our favorite though? The custom built wooden cross decor. As simple as it is - it is just as beautiful and natural. Incorporated is old pieces of wood connected together with a cross cut out. Behind the cross we added a beautiful Aztec mat that centers and brings in amazing colors.
Living Room: We layered wood tones, striking patterns, and cozy textures to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Upon entering you immediately see dark furniture with light colored throw pillows, a rug, and a blanket. We chose a grayish Aztec style rug that complimented their brick color on the fireplace. Our client mentioned she loved touches of turquoise so we made sure to make that happen with throw pillows, Aztec mats, and large pots. The fireplace had several pieces found in various antique shops local to West Texas including Cloverdale Mercantile and Found Furnishings. We made sure to really make this feel like home with the Pecos, Texas Rodeo wall decor. We found that piece at Texana in Midland - which ties in beautifully with the large hide we found there too and also hung in the living room. The warm browns and blacks in the hide and the gold brass tacks complimented everything so well. Under the hide we added extra seating. The family we designed for loves football and having company over so we knew it wouldn’t hurt to have a side bench for either throw pillows or friends! Hanging high up to avoid hitting anyone was a beautiful turquoise bull. The Western lamp gave the space warmth. Once the coffee table is completed that room is ready for football season! The materials laid on the chair will be going on the table.
Kitchen: Functional and style worked hand-in-hand. Smart storage, intentional layout, and statement details tied the look into the rest of the home. We used bamboo pieces in drawers and cabinets to keep all of their items organized. Their double pantries gave them plenty of space to have cans and other foods separated neatly. We were given permission to take down a large white wire shelf and used wooden floating shelves that gave the space warmth and aesthetic appeal. Lining the wooden shelves were more unique pieces from antique shops that we couldn’t pass up. We used brass, various shades of wood, gold, clay, wicker, and even feathers to tie the kitchen into the rest of the home. Keeping our clients in mind we made sure to add specific touches they would love even more like a Cowboy Cocktail Cookbook and a rose he gave her that we placed in a pitcher. An antler and some succulents gave the shelves the perfect finishing touches. Other incredible finds were Aztec styled kitchen towels and a 3D cork wall decor with chilis and Aztec jars on it that was handmade. A couple of light gray rugs that were nonslip gave the dark floors a nice touch and added to the Western design.
Dining Room: From wall art to textiles, every piece played a part in uniting the overall theme. The colors and materials used in this room were extravagant. The three large rodeo pieces were one of our first purchases. We knew the dark thick frames would match well with the dining table. The Aztec placemats and mat in the center of the table brought so much color to the space. We found an old bowl at one of the antique shops that we knew would bring in the Western feel. In it we chose to use fragrant floral pieces that would give it a cozy vibe and bring in so many textures. Another unique find we included in this room was a 3D metal Texas wall piece that brought in many Aztec, Western, and West Texas symbols we knew would be perfect.
Master Bedroom: We knew this space had to be cozy, warm, and bring in specific touches that our clients would feel immediately at home in. They recently went to Vegas and enjoyed gambling so we used that to combine with a Western feel. We found perfect Ace cards with cactus, a cowboy, and horns on it. The decor took a minimal but profound statement in the room. We added beige sheets and a soft comforter, with some black throw pillows. We also have an Aztec blanket to replace a white one that adds a colorful vibe to the room but it didn’t arrive on time. We had an extra black throw that laid beautifully on the bed and an additional long hide rug that lightened up the dark wood floors. The client has a large window sitting area that we added a Western handkerchief to, a turquoise handmade “catch all” plate for wallets and keys, and a candle to give warmth and light. We placed two lamps in the room that match the one in the living room. Some antlers, a vintage metal horse, and an adorable frame with a pair of boots with a floral touch added to it were charming pieces.
Master Bathroom: This area already had a loud statement of patterned tile with not much counter area. We added matching simple Aztec wall decor pieces that brought in some wood textures. Bamboo storage containers were used in the drawers and cabinets - and on the counter for a couple of daily items used. Some small clear jars with wood toppers were added to the cabinets to hold floss, q-tips, and cotton balls. Then we mixed in black towels and rags along with memory foam rugs and the bathroom was complete! We made sure to remove items in the bathroom that typically don’t belong there and found other homes for them. Another added touch was a black wicker trash basket. Even though we didn’t have much to work with here without it becoming too busy - we ensured that the colors and Aztec feel carried through to the bathroom.
Hallway and Guest/Kids Bathroom: We used most of the same items in the master bathroom here too. We had more wall space in this area so added some beautiful Aztec woven pieces. A black and white picture of a horse with a wooden frame around it carried on the Western feel of the home. We chose a simple black and white shower curtain. A skull with an incredible design on it was hung above the towels. Inside the deep cabinets we organized towels and rags with pull out drawers. We mixed in some of their turquoise rags to keep the color scheme throughout the entire home.
Teenage Boys Bedroom: This bedroom wasn’t a priority on our hit list but we absolutely didn’t want to leave him out! We found a small locker that we used for his bedside table - we loved that it even came with keys! Sometimes teenagers need privacy too, well sometimes at least! Ha! We used a simple lamp and a metal football player to decorate with. His bedding we kept simple too - black and gray with some fun football throw pillows. On the walls we hung up some wooden and metal ball storage holders, football canvas, an old black and white flag, and a football neon light. Additionally, we encouraged our client to order some mounts for his gaming area that can be installed on the wall. These mounts don’t leave clutter everywhere and keep the expensive items stored carefully and easily accessible.
Note: Keep in mind this home is a rental. So being able to change things like paint or carpet wasn’t an option. We worked with what we had though and made this room feel more like his.
Nursery: This room was our most challenging yet favorite to do. We found affordable but very well taken care of furniture pieces throughout West Texas. They all were a dark cherry wood color that paired perfectly together. We added some light colored wicker baskets for storage on the changing table, and made a side table storage too for future blankets or toys. An Aztec rug caught our eye at Texana and we chose it to go above the crib. We knew it needed some soft lighting so we brought in a battery operated candle in a turquoise beaded holder and a large lamp that could be dimmed or brightened. Simple solid colors were used on the bedding and changing table in order to not take away from the statements on the walls. Some other favorite pieces of wall decor that we hung included a picture of a deer that the mom chose, an old colorful rocking horse, and some Western ABC’s. Our last purchase of the entire project was a picture of a wolf and her baby that was displayed on a piece of fabric and then framed with wood. We knew that our client loved wolves so we were happy to add this to the collection and hang it beside the nursery glider. We know they will have sweet moments with their baby one day in that little area. Some other items included in this bedroom were books, toy horses, an antique globe, a bear given by a grandma, and a dream catcher to hang above the crib. It wasn’t easy not knowing what the gender was but we think we added pieces that will fit either boy or girl and still give the room a Western and Aztec feel.
The Reveal
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The Reveal -
When our clients walked in, their reaction said it all - shock, excitement, and pure joy. The transformation wasn’t just decor - it was the feeling of home, designed with their story in mind. The gentleman was amazed at all of the pieces we were able to find locally and online, and the sweet soon-to-be-mom never stopped smiling.
More Than Just Design
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More Than Just Design -
This project was special because it reminded us that while organizing will always be our foundation, sometimes design is the final layer that truly completes the home. And judging by the Readers’ Choice Award and our clients love for their house home, our community thought so too.
If your home is ready for a transformation - whether through organization, design, or a little of both - we’d love to help.