Meet the Maker - Lillian Farag

Brunette woman in a purple dress posing in front of her whimsical artwork

We were lucky enough to meet Lillian Farag a few years ago when we were in business school and Pepper was still an idea. After discovering her hand-painted leather accessories through my cousin, we instantly fell in love with her organic and unique aesthetic.

We spent endless hours collaborating with Lily to create patterns like Ginger, Warby, Hockney and many more. To share more about the talent behind some of our most memorable prints, we recently sat down with Lily (who just welcomed an adorable baby girl) to chat about her background, inspiration and decorating tips!

Navy floral watercolor artwork and paint brushes next to a photo of floral navy and pink geometric table linens

 

What led you to leaving your corporate job and starting your own business?

Starting my own business was never an intentional thought or goal. I knew I wanted freedom in what I was designing and who I was working with. After several years of working in the fashion industry, I left my corporate job to start freelancing so that I could experience new opportunities. I reached out to friends and discussed ideas for collaboration and slowly started to develop my style and techniques.

 

What are some of the major sources of inspiration for your work?

I have a love for all things playful and expressive. I pull inspiration from life and nature, and like to add my twist and perspective to each aspect of my work! I try and not take myself too seriously and incorporate a little bit of color and texture to most of my design work to feel overall light and happy.

Brunette woman sitting at a desk with her watercolor artwork on the table and paint brush cans and whimsical artwork hanging on the wall

 

What do you love most about your studio?

My workspace is super sunny, which is pretty much all I ask for when it comes to studio spaces. I feel the most creative in a room full of warm light. While the space I work in is cozy over expansive, there is plenty of storage and that allows me to keep all my materials organized and easy to access. I love to collect different types of fabric and paper. On a good studio working day, I find myself able to spread out all my materials and just create for art’s sake. I think it's really important to have a space where you know you won’t be interrupted and will be able to escape the real world for a few hours.

 

What color do you like to decorate with most?

There really is no single color answer here. I tend to obsess over certain color combinations and right when I think I've nailed my favorite, it changes.  If I really had to choose a pattern of color that I seem to always incorporate in my home, I would say very soft tints of pale pinks and yellow. A close friend of mine also recently pointed out that I own A LOT of this color in my wardrobe. 

Three images of colorful watercolor artwork on paper and pouches

 

Any tips on decorating and ways to make a max impact with minimal(ish) effort? 

Always have a collectors eye and buy those rare statement pieces when you naturally come across them. I always say a good mix of vintage and new pieces bring together a space that feel genuine, well thought out and unique without feeling overly decorated or too serious. 

 

As a Brooklyn dweller, how do you make a smaller space feel as large as possible? 

Avoid Clutter! Being super organized and clean can really help your small apartment feel less constricting and more open.

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