Meet Dana

Dana Small was raised in a remote mid-western town with a longing to live on the beach and paint under the palm trees. She attended Chatham Hall and Rollins College before moving to the Bahamas to dabble in an artistic lifestyle. Her artistic ventures led her to commercial work for Norwegian Cruise Lines, Sandals Resorts and Island Outpost. She soon turned her attention to interior design and moved to Miami to start her business endeavors. There she created a line of whimsical yet functional table tops and had numerous art exhibitions. Her design work was reflective of her island influences.

Through the years she has evolved into a lifestyle designer, always with a passion for color, simplicity and attention to detail. Her clients adore her flair for function, favor her ability to accessorize, and crave her talent to dress up a table or throw a party.

In 2007 she opened MATILDA’S, an exquisite paper & home boutique in the Historic Downtown Stuart, Florida. In 2010 she opened Matilda’s CABANA, a resort chic, everyday clothing boutique, right next to Matilda’s HOME. In 2013, Dana expanded again, adding an art gallery to her growing enterprise featuring her most beloved, local artist, Kelly Tracht.  Just recently, the entire enterprise has undergone a renovation, with new floors, new ceilings and an overall expansion of the clothing products to the Osceola Street entrance.

Today, Matilda’s occupies 2500 square feet of retail space.  Washed oak, wide-plank floors, grasscloth walls, crisp white fixtures and the most exquisite hand-blown glass lighting, and most importantly, an incredibly friendly team of shopgirls, ready to assist your retail therapy needs.  Throughout Matilda’s, you can see Dana’s attention to style and design, where all products flow from one to the next, capturing the essence of beach chic living.

Matilda’s LILLY PAD is where the preppiest girl wants to be….surrounded by a sea of Lilly Pulitzer pinks and greens as well as monogrammed and engraved products. This is where you will find classic pieces with great function and bright colors to add some pop to your outfit.  The preppy girl, young and old, wants to be put together always, and dress for the occasion, any occasion.  With a focus on Lilly Pulitzer, you will find fabulous prints for everyday and a world of accessories to let you live a colorful life.  Come visit and live life on the sunny side.