Brook Perdigon, of her namesake textile and wallpaper studio Brook Perdigon Textiles, is based in LA. Photo: Mari Jamadi
A few weeks back, I had a quarterly check in with my friend Brook Perdigon, of LA based textile and wallpaper studio Brook Perdigon Textiles. Because it's 2020 and minds easily wander we somehow ended up talking more about life, what we are reading (AKA how we are hiding from life), and all sorts of fun stuff before we finally got focused and wrapped our heads around the actual biz convo. I love the designers we represent at Temple, not only for the beautiful products they create to liven up our homes, but also because they are just the most incredibly interesting and down to earth group of people. I am lucky to count Brook as a friend and I figured why not share a little bit more of her awesomeness with all of you. So I went back and asked her a few tidbits that I found the most interesting from our last conversation. Hope you enjoy!
xo
Kate
Brook's fabrics feature patterns with deep or natural earth tones. Here she works on her Montage pattern design (left). On the right is the fabric Seto Tonal: Abyss. The Seto line, which is named for the inland sea that connects the islands of Japan, explores intersections between east and west, ancient and modern. Photo: Mari Jamadi
You have a stunning collection of fabrics and wallpapers, but before you launched your own collection you worked in rug design. I think so many of your patterns would translate beautifully into rugs (particularly Seto and Akan). Do you have plans to go back to your rug roots anytime soon?
xo
Kate
Oh gosh – I loved designing carpets so much. In rug design, the construction of the carpet (whether it is woven or tufted) truly informs the success of the designed pattern. Playing with cut, loop, pile height, shearing, etc can really make the simplest design so complex and exquisite. It has always been my dream to get back to this design work. When I was designing carpet, I missed printed fabrics so much and now the tables have turned. My goal is to create a collection of rugs either from current or new BPT designs. Maybe in 2022?
The Akan: Onyx fabric is inspired by Bauhaus architecture, with each shape hand drawn. The design is based on a painting Brook made years ago on a three-by-five index card. Photo: Mari Jamadi
What does a typical day look like in the Brook Perdigon Textiles studio? I know there is nothing typical about 2020 so I'd also love to hear about how you have adjusted your work/life schedule to make sense for you and your family.
I have been extremely lucky in that I have been able to keep the studio open throughout all of this. We keep stock on all of our fabrics and have all samples in house. So I have been able to ship orders, and fulfill requests as normal. When we were on lockdown, I would bring Mallory and Tanner into the studio and have them play while I ran around and sent out samples requests and shipped orders. Those days were barely productive.
In August, they started daycare, so things are feeling a bit more normal. I come to the studio from 9-4 everyday and am truly enjoying getting out of the house and working. Right now, I am wearing all of the small business owner hats. My days are filled with anything from design development, sampling, processing and shipping orders, accounting, etc. In a way, 2020 has really helped me connect with my business in a new way by planning more thoughtful steps for growth.
A day in the studio for Brook can include designing and concepting a fabric or wallpaper pattern or inspecting produced designs. Photo: Mari Jamadi
Top: Sketches for the fabric Toile De Terrain. Bottom: Sketches of the grid lines and colors for Framework and Staccato Stripe fabrics. Photo: Mari Jamadi
Ok, so here is my make believe question, because why not have a little fun! Let's pretend you have a new house and an unlimited budget for the remodel and design process. Who would be your top pick for a dream designer to work with on the project and can you share 3 dream products you'd want to put in this new home?
This is a tough one as there are so many wonderful designers out there. I am currently crushing hard on the work of Lynn Leonidas of Landed Interiors out of Berkeley, CA. She does a really wonderful job of honoring the past while simultaneously making spaces look modern and homey.
As for 3 dream things...
I have a mild lamp obsession and right now the lighting by Natan Moss and Heather Levine has my attention.
My love for Hancock Shaker Village runs deep and I would love an authentic Shaker Bench for our entryway. As they are fairly tricky to find, O&G Studio has some stunning modern versions that are also divine.
Like most people right now, I feel quite homesick for both entertaining and traveling. I keep finding myself searching endlessly for different European and Morrocan pottery lines. I always seem to go back to Caravane in Paris! They have such a fun offering.
Brook loves the work from Landed Interiors, a studio by Lynn Leonidas based out of Berkeley, CA. Photography by Aubrie Pick.
Have you spoiled yourself with anything this year that you think has been well worth the indulgence?
Yes! I finally had a headboard made for our bedroom. I used my new Framework fabric in Ochre and I love it! (so does my husband which is a win!). Now everything else in the room needs to be re-done...
I also bought a sweet little diamond shaped necklace from Santirom Jewelry. It reminds me so much of my new Montage print, I had to have it.
