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I was so pleased to sit down and have a great conversation with Karen Young, Owner and Designer of Hammocks and High Tea, who is about to launch her first pillow line. And let me tell you, they’re not your run-of-the-mill pillows, the designs are sophisticated, luxurious and well thought out. Karen has also become a dear friend through Twitter- the girl is not only talented but witty and incredibly kind, not to mention a very exciting up and coming designer. Plus, we got a bit of a scoop, Interior Designers, you’re going to love this…

Karen Young is the founder and designer of Hammocks & High Tea, an organic home decor brand that fuses traditional Caribbean style with a modern aesthetic.

The eco-friendly line is comprised of drawer liners, tea towels, pillows and other tabletop items. The products are made from 100% certified organic cotton or organic cotton/hemp blends, and printed with water-based inks. The overall result is a line of contemporary goods infused with vibrant colors that appeal to many homes and aesthetics.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Fordham University. Prior to founding Hammocks & High Tea, she worked as a sales account executive in the fashion industry with brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Cavalli, and Ferre.

TSL  Hi Karen! After being such a fan of your textiles for so long,  I’m excited to announce your modern new line of pillows launches August 16, 2010.  They’re incredibly chic—what inspired these new designs and where will they be available?

Karen  The designs are usually inspired by my memories paired with things I am fascinated with now. I am that girl that stares at an iron gate and breaks down a pattern (linden print), or traces the root of a shape and remakes it in a modern version (maya print). The new collection will be available at my shop and can be found at my retailers as well.

 TSL  It really is a wonderful collection and I’m happy to know that staring at iron gates has finally paid off!  But there is even more exciting news; you’re also introducing a to-the-trade line this Fall, which we’re sure designers will be thrilled about.  What will that consist of?

Karen  Yes, I am so excited to offer my fabric by the yard to the trade. It will be a small collection of some of my most popular prints in spectacular color ways, some which are almost like fine art. I wanted to really explore and push my boundaries, as well as show that just because it’s eco doesn’t mean it’s the color of dust.

 TSL  I’ve seen a little preview of these prints and I think people are going to be blown away- the colors are so unexpected and vibrant- anything but dust inspired! And the fact that designers can now tap into these fantastic patterns and be creative with them in their own way is incredible. Drapery, duvets, custom pillows-the possibilities are endless.   So, I’m curious, I’d really like to know more about your background in design and how you came up with the idea of Hammocks and High Tea? And tell me, what inspired the name?

Karen  I actually have a degree in Psychology. About a year before I graduated, I decided to give myself the chance to explore the fashion industry, which I was so fascinated by. I got an internship with a major Italian design house, which led to a recommendation and a job offer from another house, and the day after I graduated I found myself accepting a job as account executive for D&G Dolce & Gabbana. Excuse the name dropping J That showroom carried a lot of amazing brands and I was soon buried in clothing with impeccable tailoring and details. I had aspirations of being a fashion designer but soon found that I would prefer to dress the home. Hammocks & High Tea was born 7 years after that first job as my way of telling the story of multi cultural design, the same design that I had grown up with in Guyana, South America. It was a mesh of many different influences, including the predominant British paired with a mix of Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, etc. It was something I couldn’t find it at the time in product design. The name symbolizes this (in a lighthearted way), Hammocks (Relaxed/Caribbean) & High Tea (British/Victorian).

TSL  I had no idea about your fashion background, very interesting, I can see the influence. And I love hearing the inspiration behind the company.  How have you managed to take your ideas and translate them into a successful business?

Karen  The most honest statement I can make is that I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to fit my work in. I looked at a lot of trends and tried to see how I could fit it into my style, because I thought that’s what people wanted to see. When you see it twenty times a day you figure everyone must like it. Hello? Mushrooms? Mustaches? I soon realized that the things that I liked best from my own work had a certain thread, and felt most authentic to me. Once I took a breath, stopped, and did what I loved, everything flowed from there and the response was, and has been, incredible. It is one thing I will never let go of again.

 TSL  I’m so glad you followed those instincts, the beauty of the designs speak volumes. I think it’s a lesson every good designer needs to learn in  order to do great work;  it’s got to come from the heart.  Now, I know a lot of your design is influenced by your Caribbean upbringing.  What are some of your most vivid memories of growing up in the tropics and how did it shape your design aesthetic?

Karen  My most vivid memories were the architecture, the colors, nature, and of course the food. I don’t know why as a child I would have been interested in the filigree that decorated the roof overhang of the houses, but I was. I remember vividly my aunt’s Japanese rock garden that was surrounded by palm trees, the Holi festivals where we would douse each other in the streets with colorful powder, and some of the ceremonies where I was honestly most excited to see what food and fruits would be a part of the celebrations. I’d sleep during the Hindu ceremonies and be bright eyed for the food. I am still a major foodie like that. I’m a big believer that in order to experience a culture, you must experience their food. These are the things I look to when I’m ready to design and my mission is to show that like the rock garden & palm trees living together, good design has no boundaries.

TSL  Your grandmother was a great force in your life, especially during those early years. What made her so special to you and what do you carry on from her?

Karen  Granny rocked! She let me know that I could do anything I wanted, and to never let myself get in the way of my dreams. Maybe it was from her own experience (she had 9 children, was widowed fairly early, and was a caretaker all of her life), but she seemed determined that I should do whatever made me happy. She was also the first person to sit still while I painstakingly drew her for an hour or so, and smiled at the stiff, double jointed results, bless her heart. My homage to her is doing exactly what I love, and I know she’s somewhere showing off her granddaughter’s work.

 TSL  What a great lady and a great influence. What would you find to be the latest influences on your design?

 Karen  Currently I am obsessed with shapes found in architectural details and in vintage textiles (kilims, blankets, etc) throughout the world. I try to modernize them by paring them down very simply and adding bold or unexpected elements of color.

TSL  And, who are your design inspirations?

Karen  Sheila Bridges is my favorite interior designer. My sister, who is an architect, and can solve a Rubix cube in minutes.

 TSL  Shelia’s great and your sister is obviously a genius, especially if she can still find a Rubix cube these days!  So, let’s have a little fun and talk about some not-so-serious design topics…

 What’s the one thing you have in your home even though you know it’s just not cool?

 Karen  Sometimes comfort trumps design, or the two haven’t caught up yet. I don’t have a cool office chair; mine allows me to sit for more than an hour. Also, I have one old school fan and a tower fan. Good design gets me hot & bothered, but when the weather does the same, an old school fan wins.

TSL  Name 3 living people you’d like to have dinner with?

Karen  Michelle Obama, Cornel West, and the Dalai Lama.

 TSL  What is “SO 5 years ago?”

Karen  It may be more like “SO 15 years ago” but I would appreciate it if people took those wavy mirrors off their walls. They look like fun house mirrors. And it’s so Caribbean to have plastic on the furniture. I’m talking velvet covered, gilded sofas, which are then covered in plastic…in 100 degree weather! I cannot tell you how many years I spend shifting from side to side in a hot house, unsticking one leg at a time from plastic covered chairs. Baaaad memories.

 TSL  What IS the “new” black?

 Karen  Being at ease with yourself and your life.

TSL  Do you have any great Caribbean recipes you can share?

Karen  Here is a very easy, delicious one for Baked Plantains:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Total time: 15 minutes

 Ingredients:
2-3 whole ripe plantains
Butter or 1 tbsp olive oil
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Cayenne Pepper
1/4 cup brown sugar
-peel plantains and slice in half lengthwise
-place in 9 x 13 baking dish with flat side up
-coat lightly with a pat of butter or olive oil
-sprinkle the tops generously with nutmeg, cinnamon
-sprinkle cayenne pepper to your taste
-top with brown sugar

Bake for 10 minutes covered, remove cover and bake another 5 minutes until golden brown.

TSL  That sounds so good! Not only can you cook but you have a great sense of humor and have so many people smiling on Twitter-  where does that  come from?

 Karen  I grew up with my three uncles who naturally had lots of foolish banter between themselves. Maybe it was the environment too, but there was a lot of silliness and jokes going around. It’s now my way of putting people at ease, or just cracking myself up. I’m quick to “LOL” at my own corny jokes. The most surprising thing people find about me is that I’m quick to laugh (loudly), and at myself, because I appear very serious most of the time.

 TSL   Where is Karen in 5 years?

Karen  Karen has a small studio that churns out a range of eco friendly home goods from bedding to tablecloths, made with the same attention to detail and consistency as they are now. One aspect of the studio focuses on working with her interior design clients, and she is expanding into hospitality and furniture design. She’s riding high off the success of being featured on Oprah, but she’s not one to show off you know.

TSL  You always make me smile and I’m so glad you joined me for this interview-Thank you! I wish you all the best with this new line and I cannot wait to see the trade only line, I know it’s going to be simply beautiful.

With Karen’s interview we are introducing a new segment-  5 Twestions!
It’s my homage to Craig Kilborn and the old Daily Show (though I hear he’s back on the air with a new show)  “5 Twestions” are intended to be fun, fast and furious and yes, tongue in cheek!  They’re ONLY for the Twitter crowd–they will NOT appear on the blog–and are a part of every interview.  They will be tweeted at 10am and 6pm Eastern ONLY on the day the interview is first posted.  We tailor them to each person for the most interesting results and each “Twestion” and answer must fit within the 140 characters. Follow us on Twitter and see what happens!

All photos courtesy of Hammocks & High Tea