“Whether it be fashion, fine arts or interior design, I am naturally drawn to a clean, modernist aesthetic which evokes a sense of calm and in turn, inspires my way of life. I strive to curate an ever-evolving story that I can concurrently share”
We are honored to share our first intimate Design Happiness interview with the talented Lisa Pollock
Lisa Pollock is a distinguished interior designer, artist, stylist, visual storyteller, and creative director. Whether layering paint on canvas, styling a composition, or designing an interior, Lisa is driven by a passion for a clean, modernist, sophisticated design that effortlessly creates balance and reflects significance.
Through years of working in design and fashion in New York and Singapore, Lisa brings facets from multiple mediums and continents to express her unique design point-of-view. Always striving to build environments that are refined and thoughtful while preserving classic and timeless details, creating balance is an essential component in Lisa’s personal aesthetic.
Lisa’s work has been featured in the Singapore Tatler, BLVD Magazine, Somewhere Between, and Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tennenbaums.
She currently lives with her husband and three children in South Florida.
Discover Lisa's work @lisaspollock & www.lpstudio.net
For those who don’t know you, tell us a bit about your background and your unique experience starting as a costume designer in the entertainment industry
I am a born and bred New Yorker and have always believed that the city itself was a large part of my learning and artistic expression. I went to LaGuardia and NYU for fine arts, but that was not my singular medium as I have always been captivated by fashion. To that point, I am less enamored by office jobs so working in costume design as a stylist was very fulfilling. Being part of the Royal Tenenbaums and watching Wes Anderson’s process was amazing and invaluable.
What originally inspired you to start your line of handbags? Was fashion a natural transition for you?
Starting my own handbag line was more a case of fashion meets function from what I felt like was a hole in the market. I had worked at Fendi during the baguette craze and there was not a huge selection of more attainable pieces that I was attracted to. Pregnant with my first child, I started designing diaper bags during a time before the baby industry was as stylish and developed as it is today.
We would love to hear more about your experience advising clients in New York and living in Asia. How have these places and clients' style influenced you and your style?
It is always important to press beyond one’s comfort zone and moving to Singapore for three years certainly did just that. I spent much time traveling through Asia with my family and being exposed to a whole new world of flavors, colors, and texture which I found invigorating. I fell in love with collecting antiques and vintage pieces with immense history. Working as a fashion stylist for expats exposed me to everything from textiles from Chiang Mai to jewelry from India.
When we moved back to the States, those experiences became part of my perspective while working with clients in New York. I found that mixing vintage pieces with sensible essentials created balance and interest with depth, and reflected special meaning and significance. I continued to explore my love of playing with high and low to achieve unique distinguishable looks.
Any particularly happy moments from your travels or items you have saved that bring you immense joy?
My husband and I discovered an abandoned slab of trembesi wood in Indonesia. It was incredibly thick with the most beautiful grain and probably weighed 900 pounds. A wonderful metal artisan made forged steel legs for it and our dream dining table was created. It traveled back with us to New York and has shared countless meals and celebrations with our family. It even survived floating down the streets of Brooklyn during Hurricane Sandy. That said, it’s a fixture in our home and we will have it forever.
You describe yourself as, first and foremost an artist. What does this mean to you and how has this informed your designs?
I have been wanderlust across my career and have tried a variety of creative verticals while first and foremost an artist. Whether it be fashion, fine arts or interior design, I believe that all art should be consumed. An interior space should be thoughtful and edited, but also lived in; A beautiful meal should be both a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds; A fabulous coat can be terribly chic, but should also keep you warm. I am forever inspired by art, but also grounded in sensibilities and I love to bring facets from all mediums along for the journey.
You launched lp studio in 2015. From costume design, to fashion, to interiors, how did you find your ‘voice’ in design?
Where does the sidewalk end? I am not sure I want the answer or finality. I hope to never stop learning and being inspired. My voice will grow and evolve along that way.
Tell us more about your visual moodboard and how your interiors ‘inspire’ your life?
I am naturally drawn to a clean, modernist aesthetic which evokes a sense of calm and in turn, inspires my way of life. Instagram has been a really interesting medium to grow inspiration and create virtual mood boards. What was traditionally pulled from collections of samples or magazine articles, can now be found from digital images to curate an ever-evolving story that I can concurrently share. It is in the sharing that I get to be further inspired and work with all kinds of talent, be it sculptors in Austin, antique collectors in Jacksonville or leading furniture companies in LA.
What does the word ‘home’ mean to you? And how have you found comfort post (or in the midst of) the pandemic?
‘Home’ is a magic word in my book. It encompasses all of my favorites into one: my family, my peaceful place, my favorite things, and many of my favorite moments.
The pandemic’s transcending effects will be felt for a long time and in so many ways. The desire to improve one’s space to accommodate work and play has likely changed both mindsets and values of ‘home’ for a long time to come. Personally, I have incorporated a more holistic blend of inside/outside living.
How has your style changed over the years? What has become most important to you and your clients?
A neutral color palate has always run consistently through my work and I have never been one for jarring pops of color. Through my growing collection of vintage objects combined with a deep appreciation of the history and warmth they bring to a home, I also strive to honor the original architecture to create a varied mix of unique pieces collected over decades and across continents.
In your opinion, how can our readers ‘design happiness’ in their life and in their home?
I believe that “Design Happiness” has to start internally. Whether it be within a space or on a canvas, there is something of a true happiness when an idea or vision becomes a reality and takes on its own life. That said, a room cannot just be a pretty picture -- it needs to be functional. I believe that finding that balance of form and function, and clearing the way for new experiences will open the home and the soul for what it needs to grow and be happy.