FRANK & EILEEN: You’re a product and textile designer and the founder of Carly Home, your interiors atelier in Ojai. What inspired you to work in design?
CARLY: I am obsessed with interiors and surrounding myself with beauty. I got into design because an environment can transform a person's life. It can inspire and create happiness, which has always been compelling to me.
Carly is photographed wearing Mackenzie Lived-in Linen in White and our Billion Dollar Pant in British Royal Navy.
CARLY: I am obsessed with interiors and surrounding myself with beauty. I got into design because an environment can transform a person's life. It can inspire and create happiness, which has always been compelling to me.
Carly is photographed wearing Mackenzie Lived-in Linen in White and our Billion Dollar Pant in British Royal Navy.
FRANK & EILEEN: You’re a product and textile designer and the founder of Carly Home, your interiors atelier in Ojai. What inspired you to work in design?
CARLY: I am obsessed with interiors and surrounding myself with beauty. I got into design because an environment can transform a person's life. It can inspire and create happiness, which has always been compelling to me.
Carly is photographed wearing Mackenzie Lived-in Linen in White and our Billion Dollar Pant in British Royal Navy.
CARLY: I am obsessed with interiors and surrounding myself with beauty. I got into design because an environment can transform a person's life. It can inspire and create happiness, which has always been compelling to me.
Carly is photographed wearing Mackenzie Lived-in Linen in White and our Billion Dollar Pant in British Royal Navy.
F&E: Your whimsical-meets-elegant interiors style is uniquely you. Would you say the same about your personal style?
CARLY: My personal style is eclectic yet anchored in classic design. I cut the sweetness with a twist and am learning to do this more and more. There is nothing quite like the timelessness of a white button-up, like the Mackenzie, which I recently used on a whim as a pool cover-up. I also love a good jumpsuit—hello, Northern Ireland! Take the stress out of dressing with one piece, put it on, and you're done.
Carly is photographed wearing Northern Ireland in White.
CARLY: My personal style is eclectic yet anchored in classic design. I cut the sweetness with a twist and am learning to do this more and more. There is nothing quite like the timelessness of a white button-up, like the Mackenzie, which I recently used on a whim as a pool cover-up. I also love a good jumpsuit—hello, Northern Ireland! Take the stress out of dressing with one piece, put it on, and you're done.
Carly is photographed wearing Northern Ireland in White.
F&E: Your whimsical-meets-elegant interiors style is uniquely you. Would you say the same about your personal style?
CARLY: My personal style is eclectic yet anchored in classic design. I cut the sweetness with a twist and am learning to do this more and more. There is nothing quite like the timelessness of a white button-up, like the Mackenzie, which I recently used on a whim as a pool cover-up. I also love a good jumpsuit—hello, Northern Ireland! Take the stress out of dressing with one piece, put it on, and you're done.
Carly is photographed wearing Northern Ireland in White.
CARLY: My personal style is eclectic yet anchored in classic design. I cut the sweetness with a twist and am learning to do this more and more. There is nothing quite like the timelessness of a white button-up, like the Mackenzie, which I recently used on a whim as a pool cover-up. I also love a good jumpsuit—hello, Northern Ireland! Take the stress out of dressing with one piece, put it on, and you're done.
Carly is photographed wearing Northern Ireland in White.
F&E: As a founder, do you have any words of wisdom for women looking to start their own businesses?
CARLY: DON'T DO IT! Haha, I'm kidding. Go for it! Be patient and do not give up. Recognize that it is a HUGE undertaking. It comes with a ton of ups and downs and certainties and uncertainties. Ride it all like a wave and try not to be hard on yourself. Don't yield on the vision, but be flexible on the details of how to get there.
Carly is photographed wearing Mackenzie Lived-in Linen in White and our Billion Dollar Pant in British Royal Navy.
CARLY: DON'T DO IT! Haha, I'm kidding. Go for it! Be patient and do not give up. Recognize that it is a HUGE undertaking. It comes with a ton of ups and downs and certainties and uncertainties. Ride it all like a wave and try not to be hard on yourself. Don't yield on the vision, but be flexible on the details of how to get there.
Carly is photographed wearing Mackenzie Lived-in Linen in White and our Billion Dollar Pant in British Royal Navy.
F&E: As a founder, do you have any words of wisdom for women looking to start their own businesses?
CARLY: DON'T DO IT! Haha, I'm kidding. Go for it! Be patient and do not give up. Recognize that it is a HUGE undertaking. It comes with a ton of ups and downs and certainties and uncertainties. Ride it all like a wave and try not to be hard on yourself. Don't yield on the vision, but be flexible on the details of how to get there.
Carly is photographed wearing Mackenzie Lived-in Linen in White and our Billion Dollar Pant in British Royal Navy.
CARLY: DON'T DO IT! Haha, I'm kidding. Go for it! Be patient and do not give up. Recognize that it is a HUGE undertaking. It comes with a ton of ups and downs and certainties and uncertainties. Ride it all like a wave and try not to be hard on yourself. Don't yield on the vision, but be flexible on the details of how to get there.
Carly is photographed wearing Mackenzie Lived-in Linen in White and our Billion Dollar Pant in British Royal Navy.
SHOP CARLY'S STYLES
Thanks for cozying up for 'a cuppa with' Carly!
To learn more about Carly Home and shop her original designs:
MORE 'A CUPPA WITH'
VALERIE RICE
Cookbook Author, Master Gardener, Entertaining Expert
"As my daughters have gotten older, I’ve been able to explore new career challenges. You must be willing to try different things until you find the one that works best."
MARJORIE TAYLOR & KENDALL SMITH FRANCHINI
Co-Founders of The Cook's Atelier
"We jumped feet-first into founding The Cook’s Atelier in 2008 with the intention of creating a special place that supports the connection between the farmer and the cook..."
AUDREY MCLOGHLIN
Founder and CEO of Frank & Eileen
"When I started Frank & Eileen, I put my head down and focused on building the kind of company and brand that I wanted to see in the world. It was a long, slow, organic build with no investors."