We recently connected with Lexi Brandfon and have shared our conversation below.
Lexi, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I’m so grateful for my success in a creative field that I love so much! Following the 2015 renovation of my own home, I was repeatedly asked by friends to create a cohesive and beautiful design for their homes. At first, these projects were very casual. By late 2019, I officially started a LLC, and was taking clients in a formal capacity, propelled by word of mouth. I really hit the ground running! My desire to listen to clients and learn from trusted contractors and mentors help propelled me towards success in the business.
My relationships with vendors, contractors, architects, freelancers I pulled in, and most importantly, a great bookkeeper were instrumental to my growth. These relationships blossomed over time and trusting these support systems got me through challenges or new scenarios I hadn’t been in before. In many ways, I was lucky because the home industry really flourished during the pandemic. After a few key projects with clients who trusted me, I was able to showcase my style and hone my systems and processes. I really am so thankful for the initial great clients and proud of the work we ultimately accomplished!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m Lexi Brandfon, the founder and prinicpal of Lex & Hudson Interiors, a residential design firm based in Brooklyn. At Lex & Hudson I love creating spaces that elevate people’s experiences in their homes. I grew up in an historic home and was surrounded by them. Creaky stairs, slate roofs, originaI floors? I love incorporating these elements into designs, albeit modernizing them, of course! It’s the craftmanship and details within historic homes that inspire me and they are my favorite to work in!
Since our projects so closely mirror our clients, each one is different and we relish in that. We’re not interested in creating the same home over and over again. We aim to create original designs and really expose clients to designs they wouldn’t ever come up with on their own. I am a curator first—truly distilling our clients needs and wants and composing pieces old and new to bring depth, texture, and warmth to every space. A well-designed home should make you feel; it should bring about emotions.
Today, our roster of clients spans New York and Connecticut, representing countless spaces where we have applied our soulful yet unfussy style. Personally, I live in Brooklyn with my husband and three children and am inspired by the city everyday!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Home is where the most important relationships in our lives develop and grow. Memories are made there that last a lifetime. Home is a place where we should be at ease and comfortable. In my opinion, the best way to foster well-being is create an environment at home that reflects its inhabitants interests, habits, and values.
I think a key part of what I do as a designer is listen. There are clues about what clients need and what they are looking for everywhere in what they say. I think listening in this way is important to deliver them a space that maximizes their pleasure and happiness inside of it. Listening is something I’m getting better at as I get older and have children growing up around me in my own home.
Do my clients read alot? Do they love pattern or are they seeking more of a santuary anchored by neutrals because they are so busy and travel alot for their job? I’d say my mission is to deliver a home that brings out the best part of every client – this is a huge motivating factor for me as a designer.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
As I was growing my business during the pandemic and learning a lot on the job everyday, there were a lot of complications. During a particular renovation, a team of trades all got Covid and were unable to work efficiently or in a timely manner. I had to run interference, all while being honest with my client that they could not meet timelines that were originally set. While all supers of New York City buildings are different, the super in this building was particulary difficult to appease. These facts coupled with incredibly long lead times for plumbing and tiles was frustrating and I felt powerless. But it was my client I was worried about…
I kept pushing and wrangled people and resources. It was important for me to get the job done and complete it well. After some reshuffling and patience, the project was completed and the final product turned out beautifully. Because the circumstances were difficult, I learned a ton about factors I valued to get jobs done well and my resiliency paid off!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lexandhudson.com
- Instagram: @lexandhudson
- Facebook: Lex & Hudson
Image Credits
Tory Williams
Pauline Shapiro
Sean Litchfield