Meet Sallie Duncan | Designer, Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sallie Duncan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sallie, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Navigating work-life balance as a mother of four has been a journey that has evolved and changed through time. In the early years, my focus was on nurturing my children, especially my special needs daughter, whose care required unwavering attention. Now, with my older children more independent as they pursue college, the dynamics have shifted, but my sweet daughter, Katherine, is always present and eager to lend a helping hand. My husband is also super sweet and pitches in whenever he can even though he runs a business of his own. Having a supportive family has definitely been paramount to being able to balance it all.
Balancing the demands of my small business with family commitments has required careful orchestration for sure , but I feel super blessed that it has all worked out like it has.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have always loved art and have been exposed to not from an early age-my grandmother Sallie (and namesake) was an artist and my sister as well. I was a double major Studio/Art History at Hollins College in Virginia. I spent a year abroad studying art in Paris,France. Upon graduating I went into advertising but quit once I married and started a family. I painted at home during my years as a stay at home Mom, but really translated my artistic side into home decor and dabbling into fabric design. I grew up in Key West, Florida and have always had a passion for the tropics spending much time on our sailboat in the Caribbean This has translated into the subject matter I often use for my fabrics, which has been a perfect fit for my outdoor pillow line.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So, I have the perfect place to visit! How about sunny Key West, Florida! Let’s start out the trip having coffee on the front porch of the Curry Mansion Inn right in the heart of downtown Key West. The Curry Mansion is a beautiful Victorian charmer and was built by a wealthy ship salvager in 1898 and home to Sallie Duncan in the 1970s! After breakfast we will walk a block and find ourselves on Duvall street and hit the Mel Fisher Museum where all of the vast treasures of shipwrecks can be viewed. Afterwards we may hit a daiquiri bar and have lunch at the famous Sloppy Joe’s before headed to sir the 11-toed cats at the Hemingway House. Next onto the Truman Annex where President Truman spend many a day at his home away from home-otherwise known as The Little White House . After a long day of site seeing we will end up watching the sunset at Mallory Square where we can be entertained by a plethora of talent-knife eaters, fire breathers, break dancers and of course -The Human Pretzel. For dinner we can stop by El Siboney Cuban Restaurant for a steaming plate of Rope Vieja, Black Beans and Rice with of course , a side of delicious sweet plantains. Yum!!!
The next day we will wake up a take a tour of Old Town Key west on a famous Conch Train which is an open air Trolly that highlights all of the history and Key West’s quirky past. After our excursion we will hit the Kino Sandal Factory, an historic business that still does it all by hand, where we can pick up a leather pair of flip flops (all under $20) which they are famous for.
And of course, a shopping excursion in Key West would not be complete without hitting one of the many Cuban Cigar vendors where we can watch the age old art of hand rolling .
With the sightseeing part of the trip out of the way , it is now time to enjoy what really makes Key West spectacular- the beautiful Blue. Onto a powerboat- out to Sand Key where we will spend the day floating and snorkeling and just taking in the beautiful serenity of sand and sea.
The next day- on to a prop jet airplane to the famous Dry Tortuga which is home to Fort Jefferson- a mote encompassed Civil War era prison where traitors were sent to their death. One notable prisoner was the famous Dr Mudd guilty of rendering medical care to John Wilkes Boothe after he assassinated President Lincoln.
The rest of the week will definitely have to include bike rides and a visit to The Turtle Crawls, but eating and drinking is really what vacation is all about after all. Our dining endevours will include a meal or two at Louise’s Back Yard to dine on conch fritters and lobster tails. . We will hit The Conch Republic for dockside dining and and of course we will have a Cuban Sandwich or two along the way. Of course, washing it all down with the Margaritas that Jimmy Buffet made famous, who was an honorary conch . In addition to Jimmy Buffet many other famous names called Key West home: Peter Fonda, Truman Capote , Shel Silverstein, Thomas McGwain , to name just a few.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband has been the largest factor in how I was able to start my business. Sunbrella and Glen Raven Mills has also been a factor. My husband is fourth generation, textile business. His gg-grandfather started the business in Littlefield, Texas producing cotton that he sold to Henry Ford to put into the seats of his cars. This business has evolved over the years, at one point they finished their fabrics at the Glen Raven Mill whom owns Sunbrella, thereby establishing a relationship with the Gants. By the time my children were in high school I got the itch to start a business of my own. I have always loved sewing decorative objects for my own home and have a background in the fine arts field in painting-putting these loves together and our connection to the fabric industry I dabbled in fabric design -then reached out to Sunbrella -they were so sweet and really took an interest in my pursuit -hosting me at Sunbrella and assigning my own designer. We were able to come with a collaboration of some really unique designs that were perfect for my outdoor pillow and fabric line. At the time, Wayfair was launching a new luxury site called, Perigold. They were looking for unique high-end suppliers for their outdoor platform.

Website: https://sallieduncandesigns.com

Instagram: sallieduncandesigns

Facebook: sallieduncandesigns

Other: Perigold, Wayfair, Wayfair Canada, Birch Lane, All Modern Joss and Main