Textiles are the darling of the design world – the patterns, prints, and textures add the types of touches that make a space cohesive and finish an aesthetic. So, it’s no surprise that the Southeast is practically buzzing about House of Harris, the newly launched high-end fabric and wallpaper company co-founded by two of Charlotte’s most beloved design experts: sisters Charlotte Lucas and Liz Carroll (maiden names Harris).
The textiles are bright, stylish, clean and modern, a perfect snapshot of luxe Southern style. Now, they have also compiled an array of finished goods (pillows, wrapping paper, pocket squares, coasters, lampshades and table linens) using the signature prints. The sisters sat down to talk about their combined decades of experience building successful businesses, why they love wallpaper so much, and what’s next.
House of Harris just launched. Can you talk a little bit about what led you to create this company?
Charlotte: My sister, Liz Carroll, and I both have interior design firms independent from one another. When we would join each other on buying and furniture market trips, probe each other for business advice, or share design ideas, it was always reassuring to know that you had 100% trust in each other for whatever the situation may be. We both have different strengths that contributed to the success of our firms and one day thought to blend those together in a natural extension of our industry… and so House of Harris was born.
You and your sister, Liz Harris Carroll, run the business together. When did the two of you start designing together?
Liz: House of Harris, which began a little over a year ago, is a true collaboration of our differing aesthetics. Our specific tastes and preferences in design push our ideas and help us create new combinations we may not have chosen individually for House of Harris. Our differences have become our biggest advantage.
What is one of the first things you ever designed?
Liz: We moved often growing up, and in each new house we got to voice our opinion on how we wanted our rooms decorated. Being daughters of an interior designer, our creative opinion was always encouraged. Our mother was very hands-on and she allowed us to help paint, wallpaper and or refinish furniture.
Charlotte: I think my first design was my bed when I was young. We couldn’t find what I imagined, so my mother told me to sketch it and she had it made! This was the first moment I realized that if you can’t find something, you can make it.
House of Harris focuses specifically only on wallpapers and fabrics. Why did you choose those mediums to work with?
Charlotte: Liz and I both have an affinity for wallpaper. New, old, hand painted, grasscloth… wallpaper will never go out of style in our opinion. Since we work with fabrics and wallpapers everyday, it was an obvious choice and a natural extension of our individual design businesses. We have other products in the works which will unfold as the business grows – most recently, we launched a collection of holiday gift wrap on our website. We expect to launch our second collection in spring 2018.
Many of your patterns convey bright colors and a nod to nature. Is there a connection to North Carolina too?
Charlotte: Each design in the Avenue Collection is named after a street we have lived on growing up. We wanted the collection to be an ode to our North Carolina roots which inspired our color palette and nod to nature. North Carolina is our home and when I think of that, in my mind it is filled with color, life, flora and fauna, and a lot of happy memories- our line is reminiscent of that. But I love designers from the 50’s and 60’s – I have a specific appreciation for the beautiful things that have withheld the test of time.
