Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey, owner and lead designer of Alexandria, Virginia based SCW Interiors, has been designing beautiful spaces from coast to coast for more than 20 years. SCW has grown from a boutique design studio to one of the most sought after firms in the DC and mid-Atlantic region. SCW boasts an online retail site containing A-Z decor and ideas for the home, manufactures its own line of custom kitchens and baths and has a growing niche in second home markets across the country.   A native of the southwest (born in Roswell, New Mexico and raised in Midland, Texas) Shazalynn moved to the East Coast to follow her college sweetheart after graduating from the University of Texas. Soon thereafter she attended the Culinary Institute of America, having earned the necessary funds with a short stint in interior design. After graduating the CIA at the top of her class Shazalynn married and settled in the Washington, DC area. Amid building a successful catering company she took a summer sojourn to attend Parsons School of Design. Shazalynn quickly realized that her creative potential would be more fully realized by pursuing this lifelong passion. She decided to trade in her toque to build her second self-owned company, SCW Interiors.   Shazalynn traces her love of design to her family, which she describes as an incredible group of intuit creatives. Her mother is a master gardener and horticulturist, two brothers are musical savants and another is a successful writer. But for Shazalynn, her grandmothers represent the epitome of talent in every regard, inspiring her love of shaping the interiors of homes and cooking. “I cannot think of a time when I was not surrounded by creative minds who were always making things. I loved the perpetual motion of my grandmothers’ homes where there was always something happening. I can still smell the fried apricot pies and homemade toffee, and hear a sewing machine frantically pushing and pulling. Mostly, I recall the feeling of such an accomplished day and the visual displays that made me feel so at home.”   Inspired by her past experiences, Shazalynn creates homes which draw on the past yet amplify the human experience within the current landscape. Her work is the careful curation and exploration of the perfect components that make each home a sensorial experience. Never losing sight of the client is a core value at SCW.   Shazalynn has been recognized by numerous national design publications, is frequently quoted in the Washington Post and has been featured on HGTV. Shazalynn resides in Alexandria, Virginia and points to her two children, Grace and Cavin Reed as her most important accomplishments. Explore Shazalynn's Website here Add Shazalynn's book recommendation, Martha Stewart's Entertaining, to your library by clicking here.