Sarah Overall is living the dream, all the while making life dreamy for her devoted clients. As a sought-after event planner and decorator, she has a knack for meeting her customers where they are and expanding on that.

Such is the case with homeowners Vicky and Jimmy Gould, whose beautiful Benton, La., home, combined with Sarah’s magic touch, is ready for all their upcoming holiday festivities. Life-sized nutcrackers at the front door are the first to greet visitors to this gorgeous home, where bedecked doors and windows are highlighted with lush green wreaths shimmering with brown, gold and green bows, giving visitors a preview of things to come.

Homeowner Vicky Gould and designer Sarah opverall.

“Sarah and I worked together,” says Vicky Gould. “I had the color scheme in mind, and she added to that. I am not a decorator. I tell Sarah, ‘You have to come and do the hard stuff.’” The hard stuff comes naturally to Sarah, who spent a lifetime watching her mother entertain and create her own magic. “I had a mother who loved all things entertaining,” Sarah says. “My sister and I started a holiday decorating company many years ago. We stepped away to focus on our careers in health care and start families. I dabbled back into it a couple of years ago, and things have really skyrocketed from there.”

The main living space of this luxurious home is laden with gold bells and elaborate clusters of brown, gold and crystal berries elegantly draped over the fireplace. In contrast, crystal trees glimmer with natural light, setting the perfect backdrop for the serene Nativity lovingly nestled in greenery along the sofa table. It is easy to see why Sarah’s business is booming.

“Sarah has done a couple of events for us, bridal and baby showers,” Vicky says. “This is our second year to use her decorating for Christmas. My favorite thing this year is the tree; it is just beautiful!” The jaw-dropping tree in the living room continues the color scheme of gold, green, brown and copper tucked into every available space. Globes of various sizes, along with rich, velvety brown magnolias, berries and pinecones, vie for attention, yet all mingle beautifully in the tree. Lucious ribbon winds its way around the scene while a white snowy owl or two peek from the branches.

“I wanted the Christmas decor in this home to evoke the warmth and beauty it already has,” says Sarah. “By leaning into earth tones, soft greens, warm terra cottas, rich browns and natural textures, the goal was to enhance the home’s inherent charm rather than overpower it.”

In the dining room, the clean lines of the table are the perfect backdrop for the arrangement that takes center stage. Three gold towers framing white pillar candles encased in glass ground the space, while a mix of greenery, gold pinecones and velvet brown spheres spread out among crystal stemware and moody glasses. Lacy gold chargers and cream dinnerware echo the scene, inviting guests to dine. “Tabletops are my favorite thing to decorate,” says Sarah.

“The Goulds have a large family, and they love to entertain,” Sarah says of her Benton clients. “I wanted their Christmas decor to reflect their personalities, be functional with small grandchildren running around and still have the magical Christmas feel.” And let’s not forget the stockings, all 10 of them! “Our stockings continue to multiply,” Vicky laughs. “We have a growing family; I’m gonna have to start overlapping.”

Christmas is tucked into so many nooks and crannies of this lovely home. Throw pillows soften sofas and chairs, a lighted house and a gold reindeer each have a spot on a bookshelf, ceramic Santas are scattered about, while pinecones and greenery overflow from a breathtaking bowl; everywhere you turn is a delight for the senses.

Sarah grew up in Homer in Claiborne Parish. She worked in Shreveport and Bossier hospitals when she wasn’t on the road for many years as a traveling nurse. “I lived all over the country, the last handful of years in South Louisiana. I wanted to raise my family near my family, so we moved to Minden in the fall of 2022. I now work full-time as the economic development director for the city of Minden. Now is the time to grow here,” Sarah says about running her own business and encouraging others. “Plant your roots, and you will definitely blossom.

“What inspires me in both my work and home life is the pursuit of warmth, comfort and meaning,” Sarah says of her passion. “I love creating spaces that make people feel cared for, and that same intention guides the way I show up in my own home. I have always helped people as a nurse. I still get to bring joy into their lives; it’s just in a different manner now.”

In the outdoor living space, twin trees flank the fireplace with simple white lights, and a complementary garland lines the mantel. Festive adornments of graceful, gilded reindeer, red and gold baubles, and trees sparkle in the tranquil scene.

“The feeling I aimed to create was calm, inviting and timeless, a holiday atmosphere that feels woven into the home’s architecture rather than placed on top of it. Think the coziness of a Texas Hill Country lodge, the organic warmth of natural materials and a subtle, elegant nod to the season.”

Sarah’s incredible eye for detail extends to her charcuterie craft, which is one of her many business offerings. She even has her own elegant cart specifically for that purpose. “It is a mobile cart that can be rented for private events, and guests can build their own charcuterie board.”

While Sarah is the driving force behind her booming business, she has a handful of seasonal, part-time employees and a list of local talent she sources food items from, along with preferred vendors for event planning services.

“My decorating style comes from watching my mom turn ordinary moments into something meaningful. She taught me that beauty is found in the details and that a space should tell a story. Her steady work ethic and calm presence are values I try to reflect in every home I touch.”

Sarah’s style has certainly not gone unnoticed. In addition to a slew of holidays, birthdays, graduations/retirements and in-home dinner parties, Sarah has also caught the attention of publications such as Southern Lady Magazine, which has already hit the stands, and Lola Magazine, which comes out in December.

“Being featured in a local magazine, much less a nationwide one, is not anything I ever expected to be in my cards. It is such an honor and exciting. I feel like God is opening doors left and right. It is kinda fun to just step back and watch Him work through me.”

Have a big or small special event on the horizon? You can reach Sarah Overall via email at sarahoverallevents@gmail.com. You can also find her on social media and on her website, sarahovereallevents.com, where you can view a gallery of her amazing designs for all occasions.