Reading back through the journal

What I’m learning about color, materials, and getting a home right — collected here by month and by subject.

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Heather and Ceci Bates

September 30, 2026

What Comes After the House is Finished

At Ceci Bates Custom Homes, client relationships often extend long after project completion, illustrating a community-focused approach that values long-term support and involvement.

Lake Texoma Interior Designer Portfolio

September 29, 2026

What Makes an Outdoor Living Area a Real Room

At Ceci Bates Custom Homes, a screened outdoor living area is treated as a genuine room, with the same attention to materials and design as interior spaces, to create a year-round usable area that integrates seamlessly with the home.

Heather and Ceci Bates

September 28, 2026

Why Strong Relationships with the Trades Matter

Heather Shields collaborates closely with all trades involved in a home build, drawing on years of experience in finishing work to provide precise guidance. This trustworthy relationship ensures early detection and resolution of issues, contributing to the high quality of the finished home.

Color & Materials

September 25, 2026

Why Evening Light Matters as Much as Daylight

Lighting in Ceci Bates homes is carefully selected to influence how materials appear under artificial light, ensuring evening ambiance complements daylight finishes.

North Texas Grandiose Lakehouse

September 24, 2026

Making a Large Lake Home Feel Cozy

At the Grandiose Lakehouse on Lake Texoma, the use of warm palettes, layered textures, and strategic lighting transforms a large space into a cozy and inviting home without sacrificing its grandeur.

Color & Materials

September 23, 2026

Why Lighting Choices Are Essential to Finish Selection

Lighting decisions are integral to finish selection because they transform how materials look and feel in a space, influencing the home's ambiance after sundown.

Who’s Journal This Is

I'm Heather. I choose the colors, materials, and finishes for the custom homes Ceci Bates builds around Lake Texoma — inside and out. This is where those decisions get explained.

More about me About Heather

Start here

Color & Materials The work I’m known for

The Process What building with me is like

Projects Homes I’ve finished

Service Area Where I work

Browse by topic

Color & Materials Stone, tile, stain, paint

The Process Selections, budgets, timelines

Lake & Region Designing for this place

Behind the Scenes Job sites and slab yards

Projects Finished homes, up close

The Archive

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Working through selections, or just stuck on one decision? Send me a note — I read these myself.

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Rather just ask me directly?

If you’re in the middle of a decision and none of this quite covers it, write to me. I’d rather answer your actual question than have you piece it together from six posts. No pressure, just a conversation.

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