Q&A | Hallock Design Company

What inspired you to start the Hallock Design Company?

I always wanted to be in the field of design from a young age. I took that passion and studied design as well as some architecture classes to help me fulfil all of my design desires.  I opened my firm in 2000 to help my clients create interiors that were unique to their voices, personality, and vision.

Describe your design development process?

I need to understand and immerse myself in my clients vision and needs for a project. Having a full understanding of this I begin to get images and flashes of the design. I then look at the space and let the architecture reveal itself in a way that compliments the design vision for my client.

Where do you find your inspiration and how do you source the insights behind your design direction?

Like all artists our design comes from travel and constant research of materials. When Mokum released the La Palma pattern I pinned a swatch of the material to my favourites board knowing the perfect project would come to showcase this fun design. My board is filled with images and materials that inspire me and I will use in the right project when it presents itself.

What was your design vision for the Ice Box Cafe? Is there an aspect of the project you particularly proud of?

Icebox is a South Beach café icon. I wanted to capture the iconic deco tropical vibe of the city as well as well as stay in step with the concept of the owner and the origins of an ice box which perfectly existed in the 20s and 30s. This was a perfect blend and allowed me to take on the patterns and colours of the time, all of which La Palma perfectly reflected. 

I love the atmosphere that was created. It’s warm, fun and inviting. The owner has noticed people are staying longer and that the staff are happy in the space. What more could a designer ask for but for the environment they created to have a positive impact on people.

What drew you to the fabrics and wallcoverings you specified for the Ice Box Cafe?

When selecting fabrics and materials for any project they must all reinforce the design and its story. Some are chosen for texture, some for impact, and some for beauty alone. It’s creating the perfect concert and harmony of all these aspects that create a successful interior.

Mokum is my go-to for fun and unique fabrics. The large overscale design and palette of La Palma drew me right into another world of the tropical 20s with the sound of bongos playing, flamingos in the sun, the smell of suntan lotion, and warm humid tropical breezes. I knew this fabric would be featured in one of my projects and it got to play the part of superstar in the Ice Box design.