Designer Christopher Peacock shares his worldly outlook on the present and future of the design profession.
How has your background influenced the way you’ve approached the design business?
Christopher Peacock: I grew up living in the English countryside, not far from London, and was surrounded by traditional English homes. I think that those early influences of style and proportion affected how I think about design, but having moved to the United States in my late 20s and also living in New England has greatly influenced my design aesthetic. It’s a combination of those two things that inform me when I design. I grew up in a family of builders and was exposed to construction at a very young age, so I think that this has also helped me greatly in understanding the process of making my own cabinetry and providing a full service, from design through manufacturing to final completion of the work.
What has been your biggest challenge in the design business – and how did you overcome it?
Christopher Peacock: The design business is full of challenges, some large and some small, and to be honest I don’t have a particular challenge that comes to mind. I think success is based on your ability to overcome challenges every day and to learn from them, and in the business of cabinetry design, which for me spans design, fabrication, and the client facing experience, you have to become skilled at interacting with people from all walks of life. Learning from those experiences, listening to others, and building upon relationships, is how you overcome challenges. It’s very much a collaboration and a team effort in my opinion.
What is the most important career lesson you’ve learned?
Christopher Peacock: Over my 34 years in business, I have experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows. I have built companies and sold companies, and today I’m proud to be part of a growing organization that I started from scratch. The only lesson is to keep going and never doubt your ability to succeed. Most importantly take care of every detail along the way and remember you cannot do this alone. You need great people alongside of you, and if you believe and focus on your vision you should get there in the end.
What advice would you give someone looking to enter the design business?
Christopher Peacock: There are so many aspects to the design business, so I think the first thing to do is to identify what part of it excites you the most. I would advise somebody to take any job they can get because every experience is important. Working for a low-end company teaches you just as much as a high-end company, and you must always try to put yourself in the mind of your client to understand what the goal is. Whilst sometimes it may seem difficult, and the decisions don’t make sense there is typically a reason for what we do and how it’s done. It is not a quick ride; it is a long journey, and you never stop learning. The design business can be the most rewarding of industries, but you need to live it 24 hours a day, so if you are looking for a 9 to 5 job, forget it – it does not exist in this world.
In your own home, what is your favorite kitchen or bath feature – and why?
Christopher Peacock: I don’t have one particular feature that gives me the most pleasure, I tend to look at it as a whole and I do really enjoy it experiencing and owning cabinetry that I have made and designed. There’s no better testbed than living and using your own cabinetry and I’ve learned so much from that experience. I’m very lucky and very fortunate to experience what I have created in my own home, and it gives me pleasure every day.
