Talk Shop: Elizabeth White // Domino Media Group
Photo by Kelli Boyd Photography
ABOUT ELIZABETH
Elizabeth White is one of the sweetest PR pros in the game. With a background in publishing from early roles at Seventeen and People StyleWatch, to lifestyle PR where she worked on the accounts for major brands ranging from Eileen Fisher to Nike to AVON, Elizabeth has had years of experience representing major brands. Over the years, she’s honed in on the interiors world and now represents some of our favorites from her own PR agency, Domino Media Group (hello, Weezie Towels, Dear Keaton, Freshly Set, Cortland & Co. and Dixie Design!) She’s also an antiquing pro, with major personal style to boot. We sat down with Elizabeth to chat all things design – read more below for her tips, tricks and best advice.
Describe your style in three words or less:
Friendly, layered, and evolving
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
My grandmother, my mom, and a stack of old Domino Magazines from the nineties that I have carried with me to every home since my first NYC apartment!
How did you start your firm, and what is your favorite thing about what you do:
I launched Domino Media Group in the Spring of 2016. I had moved from New York City to Atlanta and was meeting amazing creatives across the city who had incredible products and stories but were struggling to determine how to raise awareness of their brand. My years in New York were spent working in PR and meeting these creatives in ATL made me realize that there was an untapped market in the south.
When I moved to Atlanta, I also had started an accessory business. With my PR background, I was able to garner press on my own business, and then started doing so in a freelance capacity for the creatives and business owners that I was meeting in the area. Both businesses helped one another in ways I couldn’t foresee, and also financed the other at times. I was getting so many requests for public relations, and next thing I knew, I signed NARS cosmetics and later Ponce City Market in Atlanta as clients. From there, Domino was born. Soon after, Sarah Slaughter, Domino’s COO and my personal lifesaver, came aboard and we have been full steam ahead since. Today, Domino specializes in home decor e-commerce businesses around the country and represents brands from Weezie Towels to Dear Keaton as well as local landmarks in Atlanta such as The St. Regis Hotel.
My favorite thing that I do through Domino is energizing and modernizing brands. I get to work with them to brainstorm and help implement out-of-the-box tactics that keep their business in the forefront of consumers and media.
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
I would consider my dad, an entrepreneur, to be my mentor. He encouraged myself and my younger sisters to follow our dreams and figure out how to monetize them. Growing up, every Sunday he had myself and my sisters write out our goals for the week and then we would review ours from the week before. I used to hate this, but now I really appreciate the foundation it set today. I have always dreamt big and he has never discouraged me or said things weren’t possible, but instead would suggest putting my thoughts into writing so that I could be intentional with achieving whatever I set out to do.
I also think back to when I was young and am now able to realize that he would have me “pitch” him various activities, such as attend summer camp, that I wanted to do throughout my childhood by telling him why I should get to do it. This enabled me to flex my PR muscles early on, and since, I have just continued to get stronger on this front. Today, I still consult him with business questions on items such as billing and sensitive client emails. He is always a good sounding board!
What does your home say about you:
Hoarder! No, I am joking. My hope is that anyone who enters feels that my home has a soul, is inviting, and that I have a decent eye.
You are an accomplished antiques shopper – what are your three best tips for someone just getting started at thrifting for home decor and furniture:
Elizabeth’s dining room. Photo by Kelli Boyd Photography
1. Download the EstateSales.net app to your phone. Input the best zip code in your city to be aware of what sales are happening when and where. After a few months of using the EstateSales.net app, you will start to recognize who is organizing the nicer estate sales in your area. This is not always the case but is generally pretty true. In Atlanta, the organizers whose physical sales I gravitate towards the most are VT estate sales and Shirley Wender / Litch Carpenter. Shirley is pushing 90 and looks like Lynn Wyatt. More tips can be found in a past article for Katie Armour seen, here.
2. Download the LiveAuctioneers app and head straight to the site on your browser to create an account. For reference, Live Auctioneers is the leading curator of estate sales and auctions around the world. There are other similar online sources such as Invaluable and BidSquare but I personally prefer LiveAuctioneers. Use the “find auctions” drop down to find sales near you. It is helpful to know about those around you for two reasons: you will have the ability to “preview” the sites up for sale if you choose and you can escape any cross-country moving expenses. Use specific search terms on the website’s browser. Play around with your queries by searching not only by designer, but by decade, material, color, or print to find the most interesting things to you. More tips can be found in a past article for Katie Armour seen, here.
3. Educate yourself on designers, fabrics, and styles of furniture. I would recommend reading design magazines, coffee table books, interviews online. Follow your favorite tastemakers on social and go to trade shows, showrooms, and conferences to meet creatives or see the brands in-person. If you are reading Veranda and are drawn to a particular product, search for it in your site browser on Live Auctioneers to see who has sold it in the past and for how much. The more you play on the site, the more you will learn.
For me, there are certain designers that I see ALL the time at auction and now follow. I have lately been hooked on researching various silhouettes from George Smith. As such, I am much more aware of his style, collections, and specialities. Outside of the above, I also play around on KRB a fair amount to educate myself on various styles, design wording, and product. I’m always learning from the likes of creatives like Rita Konig and Kate Brodsky.
Where do you find inspiration:
All around me. I think when I am really present and aware, everything from the beautiful historic homes in my new neighborhood to the antique linens I scroll through on Etsy late at night can be inspiring.
Who are your style icons:
My style icons are really anyone who has authentic personal style, are kind, and beat to their own drum.
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
A guest list that includes all ages, backgrounds, and interests. It’s far more fun! I also try to plan ahead with linens, china, florals, and have a personal rule of making sure that no one’s drink ever gets low. That’s big! In Charleston, SC there is an incredible store, Crogan’s Jewel Box, that is run by a really precious family who cheerlead the concept of using your best stuff to elevate the everyday. I love this and try to use our best items more often than not.
I also relish when there is a surprise involved when entertaining and so appreciate when people do this. For example, a fancy dinner party with a Publix sheet cake for dessert or an incredibly fun tablescape that amps up casual Chinese take-out.
Do you collect anything:
I collect beautiful storied objects from the past with history and personality!
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
A few of my favorites include, but are not limited to: @sophiedow, @oprah, @citrusandceaders, @pencilandpaperco, @jennybrowndesigns, @danielledrollins, @katiearmour, @lilsemckenna, @thefrancesflair, @freshlyset.
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
A design “rule” that I’d recommend following is to measure before buying! I tend to be more impulsive so this is something I personally struggle with but I know it is important to stop and make sure furniture could even fit first. Outside of this, I say, all rules be dammed. Buy what you love!
What are you working on right now:
I have around 20 full-time public relations clients across the country through Domino that keep me busy. My husband and I also just purchased a new home and relocated to my hometown of Columbus, Georgia. Life is wild but wonderful!
Wardrobe staples:
A Sue Sartor Paloma Dress, Sarah Bray Bermuda headband, and Hazen jewelry!
Best interior advice you ever received:
Make your bed. Nothing says I don’t care about my home more than fresh pressed linens on the ground.
Best career advice you ever received:
Your mindset is half of the battle of life. You are capable of so much more than you know. Believe in yourself. Believe in others. Wake up early and be intentional with your time. Also, don’t be afraid to fail. It just means you’re making progress in some way. I tell my sisters this all the time. Starting trumps perfection and failing is objective. You got this! :)
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
I would recommend investing in a home with good bones and in original art by emerging female artists. You are likely not going to find original art on sale anywhere, and with each purchase, you are supporting someone else’s dream. A few of my favorites artists include, but are not limited to: Caroline Boykin, Laura Deems, Mary Margaret Monsees, Kate Waddell, Lulie Wallace, Eleanor Scott Davis, Evelyn Henson, Kate Mullin, Renee Bouchon, Mary Maguire, and Sally King Benedict. You can also find great online art options via Liza Pruitt Art Collective and Well & Wonder. I would recommend saving on just about everything else.
Your greatest extravagance:
An hour of peace and quiet while ideally surfing Live Auctioneers with a glass of wine in hand!
Favorite places to shop for home:
Elizabeth with daughter Louisa. Photo by Kelli Boyd Photography
Online Auctions via LiveAuctioneers, Physical estate sales, and sample sales. You know your level of thrifting reaches new highs when you offer to throw these sample / fire sales for folks. So far, I have done this three times! I truthfully love getting people excited, organizing events, and the deep deals associated so organizing these makes me personally giddy.
I also love shopping for the home at trade shows. Insider tip: Ask vendors if they’d be open to you placing a personal a.k.a “accommodation” order. Most will say yes during a trade show! In addition, at Atlanta’s Americasmart (the largest gift show in the country), you can shop the showroom’s post show for half of the wholesale price. To find these dates, view the show calendar: HERE.
A few other favorites are thrift stores and Etsy. After discovering Live Auctioneers, I really think everything else is expensive but Etsy is an incredible resource for quality craftsmanship and vintage finds. I use Etsy and occasionally Ebay to purchase any needed designer fabrics.
Housing Works (online and in-person). Housing Works’ online auction offers finds from Baccarat to John Derian to cool obscure artists such as Daniela Poletti. Housing Works is also another great source to find discounted Ferragamo and Hermes ties. Skip TheRealReal and head to Housing Works for your hubby! He will thank you twice.
Craigslist. Craigslist is a total crab-shoot. There are some amazing finds but a lot of not so great ones. I tend to search for basic household items and those I know I will re-paint or reupholster. Recently, I have been spotting a lot of good old-school wicker on Craigslist.
The Church Mouse in Palm Beach. It closes during the off-season and reopens for the year on September 30th. All items, no matter what is left, are discounted 90% off their price on the last day opened of the season. This is usually around the third week of June.
Habitat for Humanity ReStores. The restore is a great source to find useful and pricey home items from plantation shutters to quality wood doors to hardware.
Goodwill. Goodwill is a total treasure trove and my personal go-to to find unique vases of all sizes.You can buy discounted Goodwill gift cards on Raise.com to save an extra 5%. If you donate to Goodwill, most locations will extend you an instant 20% off coupon. Are you a student? A teacher? A veteran? You could get discounts on certain mornings in places like Goodwill or Salvation Army.
Most prized possession and why:
My wedding ring.
Your interiors motto:
"The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them." - David Hicks
Your life motto:
Just say yes and figure it out afterwards!
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
I would recommend reading design magazines, coffee table books, and researching further online. Whatever you gravitate towards, make notes of the interior designers and home decor styles that catch your eye.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: Homemade pizza
Drink: A spicy margarita
Film: Heavyweights
Hotel: The Cloister at Sea Island; Sea Island, Georgia
City: Cashiers, North Carolina
Bedding: Lenora by Dina Yang, Courtland & Co, and Matouk
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): Iced coffee with a splash of vanilla
Playlist: I love old-school hits from the likes of Diana Ross, Paula Cole, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor.
Weekend Activity: Enjoying time with my husband, Travis, and now toddler, Louisa.
Design Book: James Farmer’s Arriving Home (coming soon!) and Danielle Rollins’ Soiree: Entertaining with Style.
