We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sara McDaniel . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sara below.
Sara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
Upon getting divorced in 2011, I thought my life was over. I was certain I would never be happy again. But ultimately I decided to pick myself up and rebuild my life. I realized I was one of the lucky ones who got a do-over…. a second chance at a whole new life. Through a crazy set of circumstances, I ended up renovating a 1926 cottage in north Louisiana and documented the progress on my blog simplysoutherncottage.com and socials @simplysoutherncottage. Before I knew it, my accounts blew up in my face and I found myself on the pages of top shelf publications like Better Homes and Gardens, Cottages and Bungalows, Southern Lady, plus many others. Eventually I landed online in Forbes, HGTV online, Domino Magazine and even on KTBS 3 News, CityLine, HGTV, and The Today Show. Most recently, I have unveiled my Simply Southern Cottage collection of rugs with Orian Rugs.
While paralleling the story of the restoration of home alongside the restoration of my life, my heart’s desire began to evolve into breathing new life into other abandoned properties and today I am a full time real estate investor with long term rentals, short term rentals and a brand new 8 villa, short term rental property opening in January 2023.
I hope to leave a legacy of inspiration for others to also reclaim and restore their lives and their homes. My desire is for others to find beauty in the broken of both people and abandoned properties, while transforming both into works of art.
Sara, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I fell in love with old houses on a field trip in the 4th grade. It was a desire I held in my heart all those years and never dreamed it would become my full time job and passion.
I spent 10 years in public education as a teacher and administrator and then 11 years as an educational sales representative. My divorce in 2011 catapulted me into the life of my dreams. After realizing how fortunate I was to have a do over, I found the F.I.R.E. movement and began living on a fraction of my income, in hopes of eventually leaving my W2 job to become a full time entrepreneur. I worked hard to liquidate debt I had accumulated in my marriage and did so, which allowed me to go part-time in 2017, and fully abandon W2 employment in 2018.
I then began my entrepreneurial journey times 3 as a freelance educational consultant, content creator and real estate investor.
I am most proud of my story of overcoming and how I was able to parallel it with the restoration of my cottage. I am now an adventurer and entrepreneur who reclaimed and restored my life and my home. And now, I get to inspire others to do the same.
My designs define warm and cozy. People often see my home and comment how they want to curl up with a blanket and hot chocolate while curled up by the fire.
I embody texture by layering painted and stained woods combined with bright, colorful fabrics and wallpapers that draw in the eye of viewer with intrigue and interest.
I reclaim and repurpose as many of the original architectural details as possible when renovating a property. From restoring original light fixtures and tile, to repurposing cabinets and doors, to keeping original archways, my renovations speak to the character and era of the home’s original construction.
Utilizing fun, floral fabrics and wallpapers, I bring a timeless, bygone, nostalgic feel to my renovations. My cozy, cottage style evokes the emotions of a grandmotherly home while appealing to millennials, Gen X’rs, and seniors.
By including thrifted decor elements, my designs are full of character and depth which are often lost when items are purchased from big box stores. Rust and chippy paint paired with modern elements and conveniences can be found in many of my designs.
My renovation projects ooze southern charm and reflect the slow, simpler pace of life many long for. People can *hear* my whimsical, southern accent when viewing my renovations. My signature cozy, cottage elements radiate joy appealing to the hundreds of thousands who follow me on a daily basis. My story and renovations manifest hope in all who seem them.
Women in particular are drawn to my style and story. I am a dealer of encouragement and hope and daily inspire my community to take action to achieve the life of their dreams.
To take this a step further, my friend Wendy Conklin (@chairwhimsy) and I have created a women’s business retreat for creative business owners who desire a life of freedom and flexible while growing a lucrative and thriving business. It’s called P.I.N.K. Creatives (Play Inspire Niche Know-how). We meet 2-3 times a year with a small group of women, peeling back the layers on our respective businesses, while teaching them how to build the life of their dreams.
My whole journey is about LIFE CHANGE and making our businesses and communities a better place while inspiring others to act in a way that a ripple effect continues.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
In both my current life, and in my previous jobs as an account executive and public school educator, I greatly contribute my success on my ability to build relationships. People and their stories matter and often times they just want to be heard. The one book I can greatly attribute my success to is “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. I learned SO many principles of how to work with people when I read this book in my late 20s. I had no idea how it would continue to shape my life today as a content creator and real estate investor. So the most effective strategy for me in growing my business across all aspects is being a master relationship developer.
How did you build your audience on social media?
When I started my social accounts, it was not my intention to become a full time content creator. But before I knew it, I was thrust into the world of “influencing.” Tying to the note above, I began to build relationships with other creators, brands and media, and that has served me VERY well in building my audience. In addition, I am consistent with my posting and am truly authentic with my audience. I am who I am and don’t try to pretend to be something I’m not. Every day in stories I bring my community along for the nitty gritty of my life. Whether it be a renovation project, shopping at Goodwill or Dirt Cheap, working in my yard or simply sharing southern sayings and colloquialisms , I pride myself on being REAL and showing everyone I am just a normal girl over here living and extraordinary life under the wings of grace, mercy and redemption.
Contact Info:
- Website: simplysoutherncottage.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/simplysoutherncottage
- Facebook: Facebook.com/simplysoutherncottage
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramcdaniel/
- Twitter: twitter.com/sscottageblog
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@simplysoutherncottage
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@simplysoutherncottage amazon.com/shop/simplysoutherncottage
Image Credits
Hector Manuel Sanchez, Meshali, Sarah Baker