Marie Cloud, the force behind Indigo Pruitt Design Studio, brings an underdog mentality and colorful vitality to her work. Her vibrant sense of style shines through in her first textile collection, produced in collaboration with Durham-based digital printing company Spoonflower. She used one of her creations—Autumn Orchard—to make a statement in the "her" closet she designed for the Southeastern Showhouse in Atlanta.
In a recent conversation with Queen City Lifestyle, Cloud explains the process behind creating her first custom-designed wallpaper and fabric, why it’s a great way to go bold, and how she developed a passion for designing in the “nooks and crannies” of a home.
Have you always wanted to create wallpaper?
I’d always wanted to get into product development. The goal was always to branch out into creating tangible products, and wallpaper made sense because we use it pretty often in projects.
What was the inspiration for it?
I wanted to create a line representative of our clientele. We sent out a questionnaire asking our clients to describe their style. For the Boho, earthy vibe folks who wanted to bring the outdoors in, there's the Wild Essence collection. For those who weren't afraid of color and pattern and playing with various textures; there's Vivid Rhythm. Inner Calm is for the minimalists who value tranquility, and Heritage Charm is for those who love tradition with a twist.
Which is your favorite?
Vivid Rhythm is probably my favorite because it’s the most representative of my personality. It’s colorful and bold. There are some beautiful, feminine tones to it. I love the vibrancy that I hope I bring into spaces and my relationships. It may feel a little spontaneous, but it is expressive. You're going to feel it.
How do you create a line of textiles?
We partnered with the amazing team at Baxter Mill Archive in Rock Hill and did a lot of research with their library of textiles. You can ask, “What is this texture about?” Or “Why has it stood the test of time?” “Is it relevant for today? How can we change this pattern to make it more modern?” Or “How can we start from scratch and put our ideas on paper?”
What’s an example of how you came up with an idea?
The Heritage Charm collection is the way I want to honor traditional design. We tried to take elements of traditional design and add a modern flair. You’ll see a plaid, but it’s a watercolor plaid. The lines aren’t perfectly aligned. It has a little movement. You may see a beautiful floral pattern, but the colorway we added lends a sense of relevance and modern charm to it.
What draws you to wallpaper?
It allows you to be your wildest, most fearless self, without feeling as though it's permanent. I've seen someone recently use the Kinetic Energy pattern from the Vivid Rhythm collection in their closet. They used the chartreuse colorway. It's vibrant. It's playful… It gave them the courage to play with it a little bit, knowing, “If I don't like it, in a couple of years, I can pull it down.” That's the power and beauty of wallpaper. It allows you to create a temporary, artistic moment in your space without feeling as though you're bonded for life with it.
What is your personal style?
My design is something that feels sophisticated and intentionally curated, but you can live it. It has a way of feeling authentic, genuine and approachable. Interior design has had a bad rap of feeling as though it has to look magazine-pristine. But there's a beautiful balance of creating good, solid design and still allowing it to do something for your soul, capturing the essence of who you are, making it feel approachable.
How do you make closets look so inviting?
I do some of my best designing in the nooks and crannies of the space. People want to abandon the closets. I say, “Let's rip these doors off and have some fun! You love reading? Why don't you have your own cozy reading nook that speaks the language of your soul? Why doesn't your space align with who you are? It's just pretty to be pretty. Let's pull back the layers and figure out what your space needs to do for you. That doesn't fall flat to white and black. That is full of pattern, texture and expression.”
Did you ask to do his and hers closets at the Southeastern Showhouse?
I specifically asked for closets because I was also doing a showhouse in West Palm Beach, the Kips Bay Showhouse. I do like to be the underdog. I like to be in a position where no one wants the ugly duckling, but I can take something and make it beautiful.
Was there a time you didn’t get to pick?
My first showhouse was a closet, and I was disappointed. I was still young in the industry. [But I said] “We're going to make lemons into lemonade.” I was told it was one of the best spaces in the house. We went all out. We took the doors off. We made it into a nook. We upholstered a panel on the back wall. We had fun with it. I've taken that premise in my business today.
"Wallpaper allows you to be your wildest, most fearless self."
"There's a beautiful balance of creating good, solid design and still allowing it to do something for your soul, capturing the essence of who you are, making it feel approachable." - Marie Cloud