Center Stage With Linda Dano

Linda Dano has come full circle. As a young design student, she was swept into a Hollywood career, yet never truly let go of that first love, even as she achieved notoriety as Felicia Gallant, a flamboyant romance novelist based on romance novelist Jacqueline Susann, author of Valley of the Dolls. This character was never up-to-no-good. She was smart, beautiful, ambitious and the definition of loyalty on daytime's Another World. Her resume also includes talk show host, bestselling author and fashion designer. But for the last few years, home design has been center stage as Linda turned her private passion for collecting antiques to a home furnishings business with QVC, the shopping channel. She's proof than 70 is the new 50 as she continues to expand her collection, which ranges from zebra rugs to lush throws, floral branch lights, pillows, mirrored centerpieces, wall art and more. The pieces are based on her private collection, which melds modern design and English country, and are inspired by her love of antiques as well as gardening. Linda, a self-professed de-clutter fanatic, has the best of both worlds to showcase her unique style, a to-die-for NYC apartment and a historic 17^th century home that she shares with her two dogs, Mabel and Maude. She talked to us as she finalized her next QVC collection.

TotalHousehold: Were you always interested in design as a career?

Linda Dano: I studied design at the university level in California and my early career path was design. But to cover expenses, I started modeling, and that led to a contract with Twentieth Century Fox Studios. Since moving to New York in the late 70s, I've maintained multiple careers. While working full-time as an actor on NBC’s Another World and co-hosting the Lifetime TV talk show, Attitudes, I also created Strictly Personal, a fashion consulting business. Actors, civilians and costume designers at the soaps were all my clients. In 1993, I launched my fashion accessory collection on QVC and, in 2007, I expanded into the home with the Linda Dano Home Collection.

What led to designing home furnishings for QVC?

I was working as an actor nine years ago when my husband Frank passed away, and I didn’t feel like continuing with anything I had been doing. Later, when QVC called and asked, “Why don’t you do a home collection?,” I thought, well, I love designing rooms and I had been doing that for a while and it was something different, so why not? My collection has been continuously growing since then with new products and old popular ones that I keep bringing back.

What are some of the items on your next QVC show?

I have trunks that are great for storage, a book box that I am bringing back, throws in dark brown and a gorgeous red, and a zebra rug, which is a switch

from my previous rug with a zebra border and leopard center. I make many versatile pieces that you can use for multiple purposes, such as my mirror centerpiece that can also be used on a dinner table, with a table set, as a decoration or even to display your perfume bottles and cosmetics on your vanity.

Editor's note: Linda's next appearance on QVC is Thursday Sept. 12 - 6AM EST and streaming live on QVC.com. You can shop between shows at http://qvc.co/LindaDanoShop.

What is your personal design philosophy and style?

My designs have drama mixed in with other elements that are both traditional yet modern. Animal prints really know how to make a room pop, but too much is silly—limit it to a rug or a pillow. My philosophy when doing a home is to stay in the same family of colors. I believe in using three main colors, like tan and white, and maybe the third is red or French blue or I'll accent with brown—then stay true to those colors. For instance, with tan walls and white trim, I might paint one wall in French blue, have the couch in tan, pillows in all three—then it starts to become a room that feels complete, like it all belongs. If I were to throw a red chair in there, it would destroy the look. It’s almost like dressing—you don’t need a ton, but accessories make perfect dramatic statements if you stay true to the colors and are disciplined in matching. Such as her NYC apartment bedset (Shown right featuring pillow with Linda's Family Crest.)

What was the inspiration behind the design of your guesthouse?

The “map room” is an odd room, but displays historical significance. I was lucky enough to find

a WWI cot to put it in and the tree branch is truly unique as well. This goes to show that one piece in any room can make the room, but you must stay true to it. I added boats, globes, antique compasses, items that looked like they belonged. (Shown above the "Map Room" featuring historical maps, tree branch,and various antiques.)

What is your favorite room?

That is a hard question—every room! Each room has a kind of importance. I’m an antique collector and have pieces all throughout my country home, so when you step into each room you get that thrill.

What is your favorite single piece?

A 1650 antique woman’s jewelry box that I received from Frank on our 25^th anniversary.

What's your best decorating (or redecorating) advice?

Shop and decorate for your home to make it a reflection of you, a place of solace and comfort for you and your family. Every homeowner goes through the daily struggles of stress, errands, appointments and making money, so when you come home after your long day, you want your home to be that sanctuary and escape. Do that by collecting books or other things you like or by turning something meaningful into a focal point, like framing your children's works of art—they become a conversation piece.

When you decorate, you want to find pieces that give the impression that they've always been there (such as mirror centerpiece shown above.) If you stay true to your style, it just works. Sometimes when people decorate on their own, they go all over the place. Don't ever buy anything if you don't know where it's going to go. Be very disciplined.

Tell us about your country garden.

I love my garden (shown left) and spend way too much time tending to it. Yesterday, I took some pears off my pear tree and cooked them in sugar with some orange slices and cinnamon and it was delicious. I love my organic eggplants as well. A little tip—every year deer would come and eat everything in my garden, despite all the precautions I took. Then I found Sweeney's Deer Repellent, this organic dried blood, and it works! I recommend all homeowners to use it.

And if you don’t have a garden, start with a potted herb plant, a little basil or parsley. There’s something about growing things that is truly great.

All Photos Courtesy of Linda.

Shown below: QVC Set featuring Linda's table, throw, lighted branches, candles and paisley carpet.

Linda's Dogs, Mabel & Maude.