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SAN FRANCISCO DREAM HOME

Have you ever seen a more gorgeous exterior in your life? This home tour on the newly relaunched Lonny stopped me in my tracks. I love the Georgian architecture, glossy lacquer door, and OMG those windows. Of course the interior is just as stunning...

Simple art and ginger jars galore. 

Antiqued mirror (great DIY instructions here!) and yellow wingbacks. Hellooo gorgeous.

Marble and navy and perfect all over. The only part of this room I can afford is this. ;)

Say hello to the chicest bunk beds you've ever seen. I want to sleep here!

Framed skateboards in the bathroom because obviously these kids are cooler than I am.

Cozy little bed nook. Yes please.

Too pretty for words. Don't miss the full home tour here

P.S. Does anyone else feel totally motivated looking at crazy real estate? No, just me? ;)



OUTFIT {HARVEY FAIRCLOTH STRIPED SKIRT}


Every now and then I stumble upon a pricier piece of clothing and my instant reaction is, "want it, need it, have to have it." The last time this happened was with my Alice & Olivia bow jacket... I saw it, fell in love, and couldn't bear the thought of passing it up only to regret not having it later on (reverse buyer's remorse, anyone?). The same was true for this skirt: navy and white stripes, tulip shape, WITH pockets?! I couldn't resist. I actually bought it right after Christmas (and followed the purchase with a month of no shopping) so I'm ecstatic that it's finally warm enough to wear it in public! I'm so in love with it that I can safely say it was a sound investment for my wardrobe. What was your last investment purchase? Do you still love it? I'm dying to hear! xx

*photos by Rebecca Dale


SUNDAY INSPIRATION


Just a little eye candy for your Sunday. Make it a good one, friends! xx

*photos 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

WEEKEND READING


11 words that don't translate in other languages. The French major in me found this fascinating!

A great pair of heels that won't break the bank.

Ever wanted to design your own product line? Read this.

Freaking out over this navy top. Want, need, have to have.

Inside the home offices of three stylish start-ups.


I've been searching high and low and finally found the perfect espadrilles for summer.

Secret destinations most travelers don't know about.


Style inspiration for guys. Love this look!

The all-time best-selling item in my boutique. (Every desk needs one!)

Today's your last day to enter to win this monogrammed necklace!


WEEKEND WARDROBE


Happy Derby weekend! One day I hope I'll get to head down to Kentucky and experience the real deal but this weekend I'm putting my party inspiration to use and throwing a little backyard get-together! I'm excited to don a pretty dress (I'll be sure to snap a few pictures!) and try my hand at making mint juleps (who has a favorite recipe?). I hope you have a wonderful weekend! xx

P.S. Want more styling ideas? Check out past weekend wardrobe posts here.

101 IN 1001 UPDATE!

Today I am beyond excited to be attending the TED Conference in Times Square. Seeing a TED Talk live is one of the goals on my 101 in 1001 list so I thought a little update would be timely! Here's what I've crossed off since my list started on January 1:


1. Reconnect with my French host mom.
I lived with a host family in Tours, France, my junior year of college and became super close with my host mom, Marine. I may or may not have had to pull out my French-English dictionary to double check my first email to her but it was so great to hear about what's new with her (two of my host sisters are now married with kids!) and get to tell her what the tiny little study abroad blog I started four years ago has become. 

2. Reconnect with my favorite high school teacher.
Is anyone else terrible at keeping in touch? I really recommend this one to anyone and everyone who's thinking of writing a 101 in 1001 list. Such a happy goal!

5. Go one month without shopping.

26. Switch to Gmail and unsubscribe from unwanted email lists.
Gmail is a game-changer (don't ask what took me so long) and unroll.me is great for getting rid of pesky newsletters.

27. Upgrade to the iPhone 5S and update all my apps.
I promptly shattered the screen, but that's beside the point...

30. Host a blogger brunch in the city.
This was such a special day. See all the pictures here!

31. Start a new blog series.
The career spotlights have become such a highlight of my week and a point of pride for Design Darling. The feedback from you all has been phenomenal (keep the emails and tweets coming!) and I'm excited to keep bringing you new features every other Wednesday. Read the first five interviews here!

32. Buy Photoshop and take Blogshop.
I loved this class! I walked in having never opened the program on my desktop and left two days later with a newly acquired wealth of knowledge I didn't know was possible in such a short period of time. By the way, you can download a free 30-day trial of Photoshop and then pay $19.99 a month! It's a great alternative to one big expense and it ensures you'll always have the most up-to-date version.

53. Move downtown.
Oh how I love my new apartment!

75. Visit my friend Sara in Atlanta.
Such a fun trip. I can't wait to go back!

79. Visit Austin with Will. 

83. Leave a 100% tip for great service.
Will and I eat at Café Cluny at least a couple times a month and one time he ordered a drink that neither of us cared for. The waiter asked if everything was okay and we just said it wasn't our favorite, no big deal. The waiter then erased the drink from our bill — a thoughtful gesture that promptly warranted him getting the cost of the drink and then some as an extra tip. This is now one of my favorite random acts of kindness — waiters and waitresses work so hard and it makes me happy to reward them for a job exceptionally well done. (P.S. More random acts of kindness here!

87. See three Broadway plays.

- - - 

I continue to really enjoy keeping my 101 in 1001 list and encourage all of you to write one too! As always, if you tweet me the link to your list, I'll add a link to your blog at the end of my list. I LOVE this little community of goal-setters and it's so much fun for me to watch you all tackle your lists as I chip away at mine! Oh and I'll be tweeting from the TED conference today so be sure to follow along here! xx





OUTFIT {ANNIE GRIFFIN BLOUSE}


I just love this color combination of French blue, grass green, and turquoise. It feels so summery! Just sub in white jeans (for some reason, I can't find mine anywhere...) and you'd be Nantucket-ready. The proportions of this billowy top are just right with skinny jeans and make it the perfect silhouette for a big brunch (Café Cluny is right down the street from where we took these pictures, ahem!). I can't get enough of Annie Griffin's girly gorgeous designs (last seen here and here) and I can't wait to show you what she has in store for summer — SO GOOD. Exciting news: use code DARLING20 at checkout for 20% off your whole purchase!

P.S. More turquoise jewelry here, here, and here.

*Photos by Rebecca Dale


KENTUCKY DERBY BIRTHDAY PARTY INSPIRATION


This weekend we're throwing a Kentucky Derby party to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. A week ago he didn't have any outdoor furniture so we're whipping it all together on a short time frame and making the best of it! There's nothing that birthday cake, fresh flowers, good friends, mint juleps, and string lights can't fix, right?!


*photos 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8

CAREER SPOTLIGHT: DANA GIBSON

Today's career spotlight is on a designer who's a personal favorite of mine. I first met Dana at a trade show in 2012, right when I was getting my boutique off the ground. I fell head over heels for her colorful designs and have been decorating with her pieces ever since. It's been a joy to follow the evolution of her line and to see the cool collaborations that have come her way, including a recent fabric and wallpaper partnership with Stroheim. If you've ever contemplated designing your own products for the home (like me!), you'll be hanging on every word. Say hello to Dana!


Name: Dana Gibson Longenderfer
Age: 48
Title: Founder and designer, Dana Gibson
Location: Richmond, Virginia

How did you get started as a designer? Did you get a degree in design or textiles?
I wish I had known I wanted to design home products but I went the liberal arts route.  I actually majored in English and Studio Art and then went on to graduate school in English. I didn’t think art was going to carry me very far, but I always loved it.

I love that you're a fellow liberal arts girl. (I studied French!) Have you always known you wanted to design your own products? 
After graduate school, I taught writing and English literature at a school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This choice was based on an adventurous spirit paired with my more practical side. During the summer break, I took art classes including ceramics, which I fell in love with. I was so happy and content in the studio! Making beautiful objects was a much better fit for me than managing a classroom of teenagers — I knew I had found something I loved.



When did you know you were ready to make a go of it? 
I really didn’t know much about how the industry worked. I just knew from seeing what was out there that what I was making was different and filled a niche market so I charged ahead.

That's awesome! You're such a go-getter. Tell me about the process of designing a piece from start to finish.
Usually I am inspired by something in the marketplace, say an Hermès tray. I don’t want to copy that tray — I just want to reinvent it a bit. I consider color, pattern, and scale. I love mixing an ethnic print with something as tailored and traditional as a serving tray. By the end of the process, my tray doesn’t look like a copy but a nod to a classic home product. 



I love how playful your work is. Have you always been drawn to color?
I respond strongly to color. It's exciting! But I like it in small doses when I'm decorating. One of my favorite artists, Vuillard, painted in neutral ochres and umbers but there are slivers of color where light falls in his paintings. That's how I like color to perform in a room. I like to start with a neutral base on the sofa and chairs then add touches of color. I like the surprise that color can offer.

Collaborations, design work, trade shows... You've got a busy schedule. How do you stay organized?
I keep paper by my bed for late night note taking. Writing that thought down allows me to go back to sleep, but often I can’t read my scrawled writing! I have two employees who help me in the studio and a bookkeeper. But I still do a lot of the marketing myself on top of design work and the minutia of every day like lost boxes or damages. I’m busy all day which I like.



Like you, I'm better when I'm busy! Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
I look at all of the applied arts as well as fine art. Sometimes I notice a color combination that is unusual — like a navy blouse and a turquoise scarf — and work it into my collection somehow. My eyes are always roving. I go to flea markets and into my friends' homes.  Trend spotting just occurs because my eyes are wide open and I’m lucky enough to be exposed on a regular basis to the finest design in the world through trade shows and designer markets. I have fashion pictures tacked to a board above my desk beside vintage fabric cuts. I also keep binders  full of rooms I’ve seen in magazines and I use Pinterest and Instagram. All of these inspire me.




How would you describe the person who's decorating with Dana Gibson items?  
She likes color and usually wants to preserve a majority of the items she’s had over the years. She wants a room facelift rather than a complete redo. Old antiques are easily  updated with bold modern fabrics from my new Stroheim line. A wall in a vibrant print adds just the right note, revitalizing the room. The customer who likes my line of products is usually used to fine things in her home but she doesn’t want her house to look like her mother's. She is smart, vivacious, and optimistic about life.



What's the most rewarding part of your job?  
I love when customers say they love my stuff.  I do hear this a lot but I absolutely never tire of it. I want people to be happy with their choice and when I hear that a product I made actually enriched their lives, my job is done.

And the least fun part? 
The least fun part of my job is dealing with customers sometimes. I should have a customer support department but usually I’m the one fielding their grievances. Being tolerant and kind on the phone is a lost art for some. The majority of my customers are not like this but when it happens, it’s definitely a bummer.



Do you have any future goals for the business? 
I’m designing a line of furniture with a company called Miles Talbot and am about to sign with a company that makes rugs and lighting. I hope to continue with fabrics, paper, and my own studio line. My plate is pretty full and I’m very satisfied. It’s what I wanted to do for a long time, create products that are exciting and life-enhancing.

I can't wait to see all those projects come to fruition! What's the best advice you've received along the way? 
Do what you love and follow your bliss. This saying was popular a dozen years ago and holds true!


Keep up with Dana Gibson:

APARTMENT UPDATE: NEW BEDDING!


I'm really excited about my new bedding thanks to Crane & Canopy. I love the crisp blue border and the quality is amazing. Seriously, is there anything better than climbing into clean sheets? I think not.


I've been devouring this book since we got back from Austin. So many trips, so little time! 


Two things: does anyone else let their dog sleep in the bed? I insist on it. Also, if you're equally obsessed with your pet, you must get Whistle. They sent us one to try out on Rory and I'm never taking it off! It tracks his activity and sleep to make sure he's getting enough exercise. I love seeing the spike on days when we take him to the dog park!  


But back to the bedding. I chose the Linden navy duvet cover and matching shams. White bedding might be impractical with Rory but I can't resist — it's just so classic! Buy a couple extra scalloped sheet sets (so cute!) so you always have a fresh set when one's in the laundry. I topped it off with a throw pillow that's usually on my sofa because, let's be serious, I love blue on blue a little too much.


Oops, how did this get in here? Heart exploding. ;)


NEW DESIGNER CRUSH: BUCKLEY K


I was so excited when I received an email from sisters Anne and Sarah introducing me to their clothing line Buckley K. First of all, there is so much navy and white that there was no way I wouldn't fall in love with it. Second, everything is made in the U.S.A. and available online only, meaning there's no middleman or retail mark-up. Third, every silhouette is classic, chic, and perfect for travel. Fourth, did I mention all the navy and white? Check them out right here and do let me know of any new-to-you lines you're loving lately!



#TUCKERNUCKING


On Carly:

On Mackenzie:

Carly and I took these pictures a few weeks ago on the first true spring day in New York and just looking at the photos brings back happy memories. It's always such a treat to work with the Tuckernuck team! They sent over our favorite pieces from their spring collection and scouted out the cutest streets around Washington Square Park to shoot for their blog. After taking pictures, we stopped by Rosemary's for a bite to eat, a glass of rosé, and plenty of girl talk... truly the perfect spring afternoon. Do check out Tuckernuck's new arrivals for spring — there's a lot to love. A few of my favorites in the slideshow below!



NEW GIFTS IN THE BOUTIQUE!


I'm kind of obsessed with the newest items in my boutique and the great news is they can all ship in time for Mother's Day next Sunday! Finding unique products is one of the trickiest parts of owning an online store because I want you to be able to shop everything you love — desk accessories, home decor, jewelry, leather goods, tabletop items — in one place but still share new pieces and vendors you haven't seen anywhere else. Keeping the product assortment tightly edited but also fresh and exciting is definitely a challenge that keeps me going week after week! As always, if you have suggestions for new designers or product categories you'd like to see me add to the boutique, shoot me an email! I'm really trying to update the assortment every couple weeks and I'm really excited about the lineup we have rolling out over the next couple months. Shop what's new here and let me know what you think!