Photo by Molly Rose — *Photo by* *Molly Rose*

ABOUT MEG

Meg Young, founder of Cailini Coastal, is a lifelong design enthusiast who loves scouring local seaside boutiques and flea markets for the kind of unique home accents that make a house feel like a home. She’s curated a distinct, all-American coastal aesthetic, a blend of the timeless elegance of her East Coast roots and the laid-back look of her new home on the California coast. AO is a big fan!

Investing in expensive furniture was impractical for Meg as a longtime renter, and she found little time for her flea market hobby as a mom of two toddlers. She took to the internet, but only found ubiquitous big-box-store products or teeny overly curated specialty shops offering a handful of options. She knew she could offer something special - an online shop with a large assortment of special, high-quality decorative accents you haven’t already seen a hundred times on your Instagram feed. Meg, who resides in Palos Verdes, California with her husband and two daughters, is such an inspirational entrepreneur with style to boot – we sat down with the tastemaker to chat all things design. Check it out below!

Describe your style in three words or less:

Classic, calming, coastal.

What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:

The places I’ve lived! I grew up in the suburbs of New York City (#1) and lived in the city for the first few years of my professional career. New York is such a stylish place. People take pride in dressing nicely for the theater, dinner and work and I’ve always loved that about New York. I’m a dressier kind of gal in both my fashion and home style and that comes from growing up in New York.

I spent my summers out east in Long Island and down the shore in New Jersey (#2). There I was introduced to a more casual and relaxed coastal style that I absolutely loved. The Hamptons in particular is a more polished coastal style that is much of the inspiration for Cailini Coastal’s style.

When I moved to Southern California (#3) a decade ago, I welcomed the airy and breezy California style. While it’s definitely more casual than New York, I love the elegant simplicity of California style.

My style reflects all of those places. It’s truly a blend of the east coast and the California coast.

How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:

After 13 years working in beauty PR, I decided to shift gears. I was running my own PR business and had a 1 year old 2 year old (12 months apart) and was working around the clock. I had lost the passion for the work I was doing and decided if I was going to spend that much time away from my girls, I wanted to do something that excited me.

I had two key goals when I set out to figure my next career: I wanted to do something that I was passionate about that inspired me everyday and I wanted to use the business to do good and help others in a direct way. I have always loved interior design and that personal interest is what led me to explore opportunities in the home space. After over a year of research and countless conversations, I came up with the idea of Cailini Coastal. I paused my PR business at the end of 2019 and spent 4 months building Cailini Coastal before it launched in April 2020.

I think what I enjoy most about this new career is being able to exercise my creative side. Photoshoot days are always a blast - getting to style products and create unique content. I also really enjoy the buying process in terms of curating our product assortment. There’s so much I’ve learned and taught myself from the backend of a website to operations and it’s really exciting to dabble in so many different facets of business.

Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:

I actually have a couple! My husband has been an incredible mentor (although it’s funny to call him that since well, he’s my husband!). He is an entrepreneur himself and just a really smart businessman. My strengths lie more in the creative and marketing side of the business, and he has been hugely helpful sharing his knowledge in the areas I am less familiar with. He’s also been a great sounding board for me during those moments of feeling dejected or exhausted.

Two former bosses from my PR days are founders of big, popular beauty brands. They’ve become good friends over the years and have been incredibly supportive through this new endeavour of mine. It’s so helpful to have fellow female founders who I can call to talk to about everything from operational challenges to juggling building a business while having young kids. They’ve been through everything I am experiencing and always have great advice.

I always follow my intuition first but having the input of people I respect is hugely helpful. Sometimes it takes someone else, who knows me well, to give me clarity when I’m stuck or motivate me to keep going when I’m losing steam.

What does your home say about you:

It’s warm, it’s happy, it’s inviting and it’s a fun place to be! It’s manicured, but also welcoming. I like to think our family is all of those things.

Where do you find inspiration:

Design inspiration comes from my environment and nature - the colors, the sounds and the smells. We live in this magical coastal town in Southern California called Palos Verdes. It’s lush - full of palms and citrus trees, colorful bougainvillea, and there are beautiful vistas of the ocean everywhere you look. The air smells like a blend of the salt water and roses. There are wild peacocks just roaming the neighborhood streets while showing their magnificent tails. There’s so much natural beauty and it’s such a colorful place. I find looking at water and listening to the sound of the waves one of the most peaceful and calming things. If I could bottle our environment (everything I see, smell and hear) and bring it indoors that’s what I’d love to create.

Who are your style icons:

Kate Middleton, Aerin Lauder, Gemma Chan. I love a modern day woman with timeless style.

What are your key ingredients for entertaining:

I love entertaining outdoors and am grateful to live in a place where that can comfortably happen year round.

Music and candlelight are key. I sprinkle candles throughout the house and always down the center of the table. We sell these beautiful woven cane hurricanes that I can’t wait to use this summer (fingers crossed!). When it comes to music, I love classic rock - Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Van Morrison are always great for an evening with friends.

The people are really what make the party. I like to surround myself with kind, fun and lighthearted people. Especially these days, I think laughter is key to a fun night!

Do you collect anything:

Ginger & temple jars. I have well over 30…and I’m running out of room for them!

Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:

@The_Fox_Group, @Stephaniekrausdesign, @ChristianDawDesign, and @Clarybosbyshell.

What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:

Follow - Measure twice before you buy. I used to eyeball things and after a few too many final sale items that didn’t work, I started to really appreciate measuring.

Break - you can not overdue blue & white!

What are you working on right now:

We’re working on so many things, but I’m most excited about the exclusive products coming to Cailini Coastal. We have a few in the works that we can’t wait to show you!

Wardrobe staples:

This is pre-Covid, because for the last year I’ve essentially lived yoga pants and a sweatshirt, but:

A great pair of pumps (Gianvitto Rossi are my personal favorites), a flirty sundresses (I love Poupette St Barths). I don’t wear much jewelry, but the pieces I do wear are a dainty gold necklace with my daughter’s initial and a pendant with my husband's astrology sign.

Favorite fabric/wallpaper:

Our Riley Scallop Wallpaper by Kristen Leigh Studio - exclusively available at CailiniCoastal.com.

Best interior advice you ever received:

Measure everything and make a floor plan - even if you’re not a designer. As a design loving consumer, who is not a designer, I have fallen into the trap of cutting corners and picking pieces without factoring in the scale.

Best career advice you ever received:

Don’t lose sight of your goals. I made a list of my key business goals before I started: follow my passion, give back to the community and have a business that allows me to spend more time with my family. I always go back to those goals when I think of growing the business. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of fast growth but you need to remind yourself of those goals. Some opportunities put those goals in jeopardy, and when that’s happened I make a decision that protects them.

Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:

I was a renter for 13 years of my adult life (until recently). When I was renting I was 100% focused on investing in the accent pieces I confidentially knew would be able to move with me to a new space (table lamps, smaller rugs, decorative pillows, etc.). I would find more economically priced furniture pieces and dress them up when styling with really special and beautifully made accessories.

Even as a current homeowner, I still believe the accents (like art and rugs) can make a huge impact on any space with not too much of an investment. For more permanent spaces, investing in custom window treatments and beautiful overhead lighting fixtures really transforms a home.

Your greatest extravagance:

Pre-covid, my monthly facials with Vanessa Hernandez - gosh, does my skin miss her!

Favorite places to shop for home:

I love shopping local boutiques in coastal towns. There are so many incredible ones on the California coast from Santa Barbara to San Diego and the shops out east in Long Island to Nantucket. A lot of these boutiques make their own furniture or refurbish antiques. I love finding pieces that are unique and/or one-of-a-kind. I also can’t wait to go back to flea markets!

Most prized possession and why:

The people in my life are what I value most. My husband and two little girls are far and away my most treasured.

Your interiors motto:

Your home should be a place you love to be, so fill it with pieces that reflect your personality and bring you joy.

Your life motto:

Live with kindness and compassion, take chances, work hard, give back, and spend as much time as possible with the people I love.

Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:

If you’re unsure, neutrals and classics are always the great option - our style evolves as we do. You can incorporate trends, colors and patterns with small accessories that you change every year or two for a fresh look.

Take Ten: My Favorite…

Food: A slice of Sicilian in New York

Drink: Toss up between a glass of California cabernet or a skinny spicy margarita.

Film: Father of the Bride

Hotel: St. Regis Bora Bora

City: New York

Bedding: Our new Lanai Collection

Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): Almond Milk Latte

Playlist: Some mix of Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty

Weekend Activity: Friday movie night with my family. The couch snuggles are the best!

Design Book: There are so many I love, but probably Bunny Williams’ A House by the Sea