This Skincare Mogul Crafts a Vintage-Filled Home That’s Constantly Evolving
April Gargiulo, founder of Vintner’s Daughter and avid collector of all things vintage, approaches design much like she does her blossoming skincare brand. "I like pieces that have history," she says. In her elegantly restful William Wurster-designed home in San Francisco, the meticulously curated interiors exist not only to be beautiful-they highlight and honor where each piece comes from. Before launching her now-beloved skincare line, Gargiulo had a background in furniture design. She has been able to translate her expertise in both design and nature-forward skincare into an organic home space that values texture over color; craftsmanship over glamour. With a soothing palette of beiges and browns, her home is a quiet and restful retreat centered around her family. "A riot of color is not my thing," she explains.
While Gargiulo does describe her aesthetic as being "on the more grounded side of modern," her home feels equally lived-in and elevated, weaved with stunning pieces that showcase her love of exuberant Italian design. Coming from a family of collectors, she has developed a skillful approach to sourcing vintage-gathering pieces that are decorative, but also serve a purpose. "All of the collections I have get used so nothing's really for show," she says. Now, Gargiulo is partnering with Chairish, the popular online source for vintage home goods, to curate an entire collection inspired by her SF roots.
In celebration of this thrifty collaboration, we got the chance to speak with Gargiulo on her best advice for curating a vintage-filled home with a modern sensibility.
You can shop the entire collection here.
ELLE Decor: How would you describe your design style, and how does it lend itself to a vintage-heavy aesthetic?
APRIL GARGIULO: I love pieces with a story and a background. Craftsmanship is really important to me as well, and I love the hunt which all adds up to vintage. I wear a lot of vintage clothes and jewelry also.
ED: How does your background in furniture design help inform the ways in which you curate your own interiors?
AG: As a result of working in the design world, I have a deep respect for the intent of the designer-the cultural framework surrounding the work and the technology available at the time of the original design. For me, this understanding brings a greater sense of appreciation.
ED: Your home was built in 1938. It’s filled with vintage finds. How do you make the space feel contemporary considering all of the vintage elements?
AG: Contemporary artwork and new upholstery can change everything.
ED: What are some ways in which you exercise a balance between clean yet layered interiors?
AG: Our house has evolved over time-five years, in fact, and it’s still a work in progress. When we moved in, I was pregnant with my second daughter and my business was just taking off. I didn’t have time to give our home the attention it needed. We ate off an outdoor dining table for the first three years!
ED: Did the architecture of your home and the culture of San Francisco help shape the aesthetic?
AG: William Wurster designed homes that were incredibly finely crafted but not showy. That is the ethos we have kept in the house. It’s not about everything coming from the same era, but about everything connecting to the same philosophy around quality and craftsmanship.
ED: Finally, what should every homemaker keep in mind when decorating with vintage?
AG: Vintage adds instant life and character to your home. Also, if you ever dislike something or change your mind, you can always sell it on Chairish.
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