Before becoming a full-time cast member on Bravo’s reality series "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" in 2023, Shamea Morton invested $1.5 million to prepare her Atlanta home for television. Morton and her husband, Gerald Mwangi, an HVAC entrepreneur, enlisted Chicago-based designer Jennifer Kole to renovate their residence in the Kingswood neighborhood. The couple purchased the 20,000-square-foot property, known as Sterling Hall and originally built in 2010, for $9 million in 2022. At that time, Morton appeared on the show only occasionally, not as a main cast member.

Morton, a 43-year-old Georgia native and former professional cheerleader, aimed for a design that was bold and extravagant, diverging from the modern minimalist trend popular at the time. “I wanted it to be over-the-top—I need gold and marble—jaw drop!” she said. Mwangi, 52, who remains mostly behind the scenes, expressed satisfaction with the final outcome.

The renovation prioritized spaces featured on the show, including the parlor—used for Morton’s interviews—and the primary bedroom suite along with the bedrooms of their daughters, aged 3 and 7. The redesign took approximately two years to complete. Kole described working with Morton’s opulent vision as an opportunity to expand her creative boundaries, noting that her previous projects in the Midwest tended to favor more conservative tastes. “My biggest challenge was reminding myself that I could just go for it and that I didn’t have to pull back,” Kole said.

While the home includes notable designer elements such as custom Versace wallpaper in the foyer, Kole emphasized that the overall elevated aesthetic was achieved through layering quality materials rather than relying solely on recognizable luxury brands. The parlor’s original fireplace is complemented by custom 14-foot sofas designed to accommodate extended family gatherings and provide an ideal setting for filming.

Morton highlighted that the house serves as a full-time family residence and a frequent venue for entertaining, underscoring the importance of maintaining comfort alongside elegance. “I never want to make my children or my family feel like they can’t touch or do or be comfortable at home,” she said.

Another area featured prominently on the show is a pink-and-white lounge intended as a backdrop for cast members’ gowns and jewelry during gatherings. Within the primary suite, the walk-in closet was expanded by converting an adjacent tea room into a dressing area to accommodate Morton’s wardrobe and the on-set “glam squad” responsible for hair, makeup, and styling. A glass elevator—described by Morton as reminiscent of a bank’s pneumatic tubes—connects the closet spaces.

Morton recounted the cast’s reaction upon visiting the renovated home: “When the ladies came over to film for the first time, they were all in awe of the home. They were like, ‘Who the hell has Versace on the walls?’” The response captured the effect Morton and Kole sought to achieve.