We stopped by Neiman Marcus in Cherry Creek last Saturday for a brunch with the Creative Director of MacKenzie-Childs, Rebecca Proctor. We received an overwhelming amount of inspiration from MacKenzie-Childs new Bittersweer Funiture Collection, which was expected from the luxury brand, but we did not expect just how moved we would be by the face behind the brand.  Rebecca’s energy and enthusiasm was magnetic, and her philosophy was parallel to that of Fashion Denver.  We cannot put into words what a pleasure it was to meet Rebecca Proctor.  Her message spoke powerfully to us that, no matter what, we must “always see the happy point of view” of any situation.

 

We had the opportunity to chat with this life-loving designer and learn a little more about her and the MacKenzie-Childs brand:

How did the MacKenzie-Childs brand originate?

MacKenzie-Childs started out as a small artisanal pottery in 1983. The story began in Aurora, New York and we are still headquartered there today. The original focus was on producing handmade, hand-painted majolica dinnerware and serving pieces, and the collection quickly expanded. Today we are designing and manufacturing a complete home furnishings collection including furniture, lighting, rugs, designs for your garden, personal accessories, and a range of beautiful holiday pieces. The rolling farmlands of the Finger Lakes district are woven into the fabric of our creative life, so a lot of what we do stems from our sense of place. We love Aurora!

What is your mission?

To bring a fresh and happy point of view to the world of home furnishings, through quirky designs based on traditional ideas. We appreciate attention to small details and a high level of craftsmanship. We love the evidence of the hand in all our work whether it is a hand painted piece of furniture, a slightly wonky piece of glassware, or a hand beaded decorative trim. It really boils down to designing things for the home that make people smile.

Can you recall how or why you became a designer?

My mother had a fondness for, and a great appreciation for fine things. She appreciated good design and we talked about it constantly as I was growing up. She had a great eye for antiques and ran her own shop. We constantly visited museums when I was young and I ended up studying art history in college. As an adult I was fortunate enough to land a job in a company with a highly creative atmosphere and it enabled me to develop my own point of view. I don’t have any technical training as a designer, but instead rely on my exceptional team to bring things to realization. Each member of our team specializes in different fields of design and our process is very collaborative.

Where does your inspiration come from when conceiving a piece of work?

Inspiration is wherever you find it. Don’t you agree? Our beautiful Studio in Aurora, New York is certainly a great source. We work on a former dairy farm and every view out our windows is of lakes and fields and is quite beautiful. I also travel a great deal and find inspiration in the similarities in which people everywhere appreciate the idea of “home”.

What comes first – the materials or the design idea?

I guess you could say it’s a little bit of both, but I love the idea of taking a material out of context and doing something fresh with it. For instance, we had an antique dressmakers form in the design studio and it was screaming at me to be used in some way. The form is made of canvas; we are painters, and one thing lead to another. The result is a magnificent floor lamp that combines all the best of what we do wrapped into one design.

How do you choose your materials?

The materials we use come from just about everywhere. We have an elaborate wood shop and a lot of our components are made there. We have always used ceramic components, elaborate beaded trims, stamped brass-work, old English floral decals, and of course our elaborate hand painted surface details. Once I hand carried 300 antique soda bottle caps back to our studio from Indonesia to use as baubles on lampshades. You could say we find interesting ways to use the unexpected as our base materials and components.

We’ve heard a lot of incredible things about your headquarters in Aurora, New York.  What would you like people to know about this amazing place?

Well, it’s just about the most beautiful place in the world and I think everyone should come and visit. Our studio is located in the heart of the Finger Lakes on a pastoral 65 acre former dairy farm in Aurora, New York.  If you’re unfamiliar with upstate New York, the Finger Lakes region is gorgeous and has become one of New York’s prime tour destinations. So our farm here has really become the centerpiece of MacKenzie-Childs. People who have made the trip to visit have told me they find it unforgettable.

Our rural setting, our very non-urban environment, our gorgeous landscapes, amazing views of beautiful Cayuga Lake, orchards, fields and flowers; because of all this, I feel it really allows our imaginations to run free. There is a Victorian farmhouse which also serves as our show-home, filled with pieces from our collection, and that is open to the public for daily tours.  We have an incredible team of gardeners who have created the most splendid flower gardens imaginable. When they are in bloom, it’s worth coming for a visit just to see them! We have chickens, geese, sheep, and Highland cattle that are residents on the property. You may run into one of our beekeepers, or Simon the goose (our mascot), and it’s not unusual to see one of our artisans bird watching during their lunch break. There is also The Shop which is open every day. Whatever the season, I promise the trip will be memorable. Our surroundings are spectacular all year round – it’s sort of like living inside a Wyeth painting.

What do you regard as your greatest success in your career to date?

Creating a team ethic in my Design Department that is able to meet any challenge, and being a part of an organization whose mission is true…to design and make products that actually make people happy. Oops…that’s two successes.

From all your pieces, which is your favorite and why?

This is the toughest question! Ask anyone I work with and they will tell you that my “favorite” changes by the minute. I even wrote a blog piece about it long ago because “favorite” seems to be a word I use quite frequently. I guess you can say I like to gush about MacKenzie-Childs. So let’s see…right now my favorite is our Dressmaker’s Floor Lamp as described above. She is elegant, daring and quite the conversation piece.

Who is the MacKenzie-Childs customer?

Our customer is a very fun and interesting person…It goes without saying that MacKenzie-Childs has a meaning to our customers beyond just being about products. To have a piece of our work is to tell the world something about your own style, your individuality, your flamboyance, and your own artistry. I believe that inside each of us is a flamenco dancer, a dash of tabasco sauce, a girl with a homemade slingshot, a Cheshire cat, that crazy poem we never sent. Our customers love to entertain, they adore theater and the unexpected, and perhaps they are a little daring.

Where are you at 2pm on a Tuesday?

That’s a tough question! I could be racing around the Design Studio in Aurora, hunting textiles in a market in Delhi, or on a plane headed to the next event. One thing I can say for sure is that I am always moving and there is never ever a dull moment.

What is your “go to” outfit?

My “go to” is more of a garment than an outfit. My striped French sailor shirt is a staple in my wardrobe. I have several. They seem to go with just about everything from jeans to evening outfits. They’re my foundation for just about everything, sort of like our Courtly Check pattern.

If you could tell the world one thing about your work, what would it be?

I can seriously say that I have the most incredible job in the world – I love my work, the friends I have made through my work, and the fantastic opportunity to put a happy spin in some small way on the world of home.

 

My favorite quote from Rebecca Proctor came when she introduced the names of tables in the collection, and I believe it speaks perfectly to the essence of her personality.  The tables were named after the saying: Eeny, Meany, Miny, Mo, “but no meany.”

Rebecca is a shining example of why you should always strive to do what you love and love what you to.  If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. The MacKenzie-Childs brand will always serve as the conversation piece in a room by bringing a splash of uniqueness that we so desperately crave.  This day convinced me that I must always make sure to have a little MacKenzie-Childs in my life, figuratively and mentally.