What's inspiring you now, Stephen Elrod?

We are HUGE fans of Lee Jofa, the American fabric house founded in 1823. We also adore its VP and creative director, Stephen Elrod, who seems to embody the brand's refined-but-never-stuffy-aesthetic.

We asked Elrod to share a picture with us of something that recently inspired him. Here's what he had to say.

"I took these pictures of the Joseph window display at their shop in Knightsbridge, London. I really loved the unusual assortment of saturated bright and jewel toned colored dresses combined in such a fresh and sophisticated manner."

"I'm always finding something in London that gets my creative juices flowing. I suppose it is the unique mix of tradition juxtaposed with modernity that one finds in London that makes it so special for me. Whether I'm just walking down the street, as in this instance early this summer, or seeing the latest exhibition at the Tate Modern, there is an abundance of beautiful and exciting experiences that infuse my work."

Elrod pulled together this assortment of Lee Jofa fabrics for us.

A new multi-colored velvet stripe and coordinating textures in a range of colors you can see nicely captures the mood of the Joseph window in a palette perfect for our Fall interiors. Thank you, Stephen!

Stop by and see more of the finished product of his inspiration at the DCH (Suite 150), DDB (Suite 234), PDC (Suite B639), DCOTA (Suite C150).

Michael Smith to consult for Brunschwig

This just in: Brunschwig & Fils has tapped renowned interior designer Michael S. Smith as creative consultant. California-native Smith will help guide the brand’s future direction and product development through an exclusive consulting agreement. This collaboration will catapult Brunschwig & Fils to the top of the high-end, luxury home décor market, a space the company has occupied since the 1960s, and reinforce its position as the most prestigious brand in the industry. Smith will work closely with both Stephen Elrod, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Director for Brunschwig & Fils and Lee Jofa, and with the entire Brunschwig team, on designs released as soon as next year.



For more than a century, Brunschwig has been synonymous with quality and fine French-influenced design. The company was founded in 1900 as a tapestry-weaving mill in Aubusson and Bohain, France. Several of Brunschwig’s most beloved designs have remained top sellers for decades.
“Michael Smith’s experience and advice will be invaluable to the product and merchandising teams,” expressed Cary Kravet, President and CEO of Kravet Inc., which acquired Brunschwig & Fils in 2011. “I look forward to his fresh approach to this brand, which I am confident will help to present new collections that match the brand image and equity with the discerning palette of our customers. Michael will be an integral part of the Brunschwig & Fils team.”



Smith, known for his multi-layered take on traditional interiors, has redefined American design for a new generation. His influence appears throughout the country, from his classic design for the Oval Office in the White House to the cover of Architectural Digest and many fine residences in between. His first memories as a young designer are of the iconic rooms created by Billy Baldwin, Geoffrey Beene, Parish Hadley and others that featured floor to ceiling Brunschwig fabrics.


“It is a great testament to the longevity and beauty of Brunschwig fabrics that when I look through the archives, so many designs from decades past are still relevant. Brunschwig fabrics remain a symbol of absolute elegance and the iconic prints used throughout the years are always present, always Brunschwig, and still resonate today. Many of the classic Brunschwig patterns are go-tos in my own work,” said Smith. “My goal for Brunschwig is to marry its incredible archives with the talent of the brand’s artists, and create a new era of design inspiration based on the beauty of the past.”

Meet the Designer: Lilly Pulitzer's Fashion Director Janie Schoenborn (Part 2)

We got to indulge in the newest design for the front room of the DDB's Lee Jofa showroom with Janie W. Schoenborn, Lilly Pulitzer Fashion Director. Janie shares the story behind the room's design, which is oozing with Lilly Pulitzer's interior fabrics collection for Lee Jofa.

GDG: What are some of your favorite parts of the room?

JWS: I have so many! But I especially love the monogram chairs; they are absolutely a favorite of mine. Everything we created with Lee Jofa is special, and it deserves a monogram! And the embroidery fabric used on the walls with the tassels... it's just spectacular!

GDG: There are a lot of remnants of a character living in the room. Was there a character in mind that the room was based around?

JWS: Of course there was! It’s based on everyone that has that Lilly spirit. It’s an inclusive, sometimes naughty, very light and happy, colorful, well-traveled, strong and delightful woman! She's the person that you want to sit next to at a dinner party so you can laugh all night together.

GDG: Do you have a special memory that you've taken away from the design and installation of the room?

JWS: One thing that truly stands out from the process that I will say is, I love Lee Jofa Creative Director Stephen Elrod so much! He is such a complete pleasure to work with and a true talent to watch at work. He really allowed Lilly to shine. This amount of color and happy and 'ahhhhh' all in one, can be hard for everyone to understand. He has a way about him that is very Lilly, he's kind and funny and smart. He is a gem and he MADE this collaboration a success. I can see his touches all over the room, he just makes everything so CHIC!

Visit the  showroom at the DDB to see the Lilly Pulitzer room and be sure to let us know what your favorite parts of it are. We love the bright colors and fauna everywhere!

Meet the Designer: Lilly Pulitzer Fashion Director Janie Schoenborn (Part 1 of 2)

When we saw the downright delicious front room design of the DDB's Lee Jofa showroom, we knew we had to know more about it. Decked out in Lilly Pulitzer's interior fabrics collection for Lee Jofa, this room beckons you to sit down and bask in the patterns, colors and vibe of summer. We talked to Lilly Pulitzer Fashion Director, Janie W. Schoenborn, to find out more about the radiant room.

GDG: What was the inspiration for the Lilly Pulitzer room at Lee Jofa?

JWS: The entire design team was just completely delighted and inspirited by the colorful life our customer leads. She is fun loving, adores a party and is not afraid of color. The collection of Lilly Pulitzer interior fabrics is an extension of that mentality and for this room, we wanted to show that color works, whimsy works and it can all be done in a very chic way!

GDG: Were there any LP fabrics in particular that served as the base for the room?

JWS: Our faaaavorite favorite print for the collection was a request of Lee Jofa's Creative Director Stephen Elrod. He saw a vintage floral and immediately gravitated towards it. We all started talking about that signature print that embodied the Palm Beach chic, old school interior feel. Our print team started painting and created Heritage Floral just for this launch. There are a number of colorways that the Heritage Floral print comes in, but the turquoise and orange is a love of both Stephen and mine. So we started there!

GDG: Can you share a fun fact that you especially loved about the room's design?

JWS: Well, when we all first sat down to brainstorm, we immediately gravitated to the idea that this special room was where all of the fun in the home mainly happened. A place for cocktails in the afternoon and a game of backgammon or a party after dinner where someone could end up dancing on the coffee table! There was definitely a united desire to give the room that ‘anything could happen and anything goes’ attitude. Hence the hanging chair!

Check back with GoDesignGo next week to hear more from Janie about Lee Jofa's front room in the DDB and the luscious Lilly Pulitzer fabrics used.