Embarking on leisurely excursions through antique boutiques and vintage markets, particularly during our travels, remains a cherished pastime of mine. These ventures not only provide a wellspring of design inspiration drawn from the annals of history but also afford the opportunity to procure timeless treasures that add depth to any living space. At Dane Austin Design, we firmly espouse the philosophy that amalgamating antiques with contemporary design sensibilities can imbue a room with unparalleled sophistication. Our clientele often presents us with cherished heirlooms passed down t ..read more

  Dane Austin Design is thrilled to announce the upcoming art exhibit, "Splendid India: A Journey Through Design," inspired by a transformative trip to northern India led by award-winning designer Vani Sayeed. The exhibit will showcase a captivating collection of art and photography created by participants of the Splendid India trip, as well as esteemed interior designers, architects, and design industry professionals from across the United States. The art exhibit will be on the third floor event space at the BDC during Boston Design Week, April 23-May 5, 2024. Pink House in Dausa by Dan ..read more

  Good lighting is a crucial element in residential design because it can significantly impact the functionality, aesthetics, and overall atmosphere of a living space. Properly planned and executed lighting can enhance the comfort, safety, and mood of a home. Cove lighting in the millwork around the ceiling, hanging pendants and a lamp create layered lighting in a Weston primary bedroom. We prefer cove lighting to typical 6 inch recessed lights. Here are some key reasons for the importance of good lighting in residential design: Functionality and Safety: Good lighting ensures that resi ..read more

  Guest blog post by Caitlin McLaughlin and Holly Vogel, members of the Dane Austin Design team who each designed a room for a family through the Room to Dream Foundation. Installation took place in September. Participating companies, including Dane Austin Design, will be honored by the Room to Dream Foundation at Wellesley Country Club on October 16, 2023. Stefan Nathanson, from The Room to Dream Foundation, along with Dan Ryan of Shawmut Construction, invited Dane Austin Design to be a part of The Room To Dream team for 2023.  Thrilled to be a part, Dane Austin's firm accepted. De ..read more

  From Business of Home By Caroline Bourque From the moment he launched his Boston firm in 2009, Dane Austin strove to give clients the perfect experience. But when the pandemic came along, he found that perfection was no longer in the realm of possibility—and in fact, it never really had been. Austin tried something new, offering clients a realistic perspective on the good, bad and the ugly of design rather than a promise to shield them from any inconvenience. That honest approach trickled into the business in other ways, too, and has enabled the designer to foster an environment that c ..read more

  Guest post by Heather Havrilesky from AskPolly. Shared with us by James Stillwell.   Blue Poles by Jackson Pollock   I was driving a visiting friend to the airport when she announced, “I’m going to miss my flight.” I told her she was wrong, she had almost two hours. She said no, she had changed her departure time inside her head and told me the wrong time by accident. She had only a few minutes to get to the airport, get through security, and make it to her gate. “Ugh, I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m such an idiot,” she said. “I do things like this all the time,” I said. Then I shut ..read more

  Thank you to our dear friend, Allison Iantosca, for giving us permission to post one of her “Postcards from the Journey” from her book Leading with HEART. Dane and Allison at the Leading with HEART book launch party. February 28 2019 - I've been a parent for thirteen years. After a series of other character-building endeavors including age-appropriate collegiate shenanigans, two years of waitress-funded independence in the Pacific Northwest, a shabby-chic Boston North End condo purchase, and half an MBA, I found the man of my dreams, signed the pledge, and launched my progenitor career ..read more

  At a recent industry event, we met a couple of designers and asked:  “How do you find most of your clients?”  The reply:  “Terrible.”  We laughed as it was not the answer we were expecting. Then they followed up with,  “Sprinkled with a few good ones in between.” It was not the answer that we would offer, either, but this conversation led to an ah-ha moment for our team. We believe that you attract what you put into the universe - love brings love. When we live our core values of compassion, generosity, and trust, those traits come back to us exponentially - fro ..read more

  We are happy to share this post from the newest member of our team and a dear friend, James Stillwell. Dane Austin (left), designer Niki Serras (center), and the author (right) celebrate Holi in Udaipur, India. “What’s next?” On a 10-day spiritual journey of Northern India with 17 other North America-based designers and architects, my life-long best friend Dane Austin and I playfully said this as we gazed up at some of humanity’s most breathtaking creations… knowing that we were already exactly where we needed to be. As I type this from my home in Annapolis, Maryland, the sun is shinin ..read more

  We like to think of ourselves as stewards of our fragile planet and that we are mindful of sustainable practices in our interior design projects.  But are comfort and sustainability compatible? We believe that sustainability and comfort can co-exist in luxury settings. One way we practice sustainability is through preservation and thoughtful design choices such as sourcing vintage and antique pieces. Whenever we can save existing millwork and refresh it, we are being cognizant of the environment. When selecting new furnishings, we recommend custom pieces that will become heirlooms ..read more