MEET THE TEAM BEHIND THE SCREENS
But first: What does Flat Vernacular mean?!
Flat (meaning two-dimensional);
Vernacular (meaning a language specific to a place, culture, or group–in our case,
we think of it as our unique visual language).
ABOUT FV
Everything we create begins as a sketch, painting, or 3D creation.
Specializing in original fabrics and “wallpaper with a life of its own” (The New York Times), Flat Vernacular is a design studio that infuses color and character into spaces large and small. From living rooms to restaurants, to gallery spaces to a women’s clubhouse in the sky, co-founders Payton Cosell Turner and Brian Kaspr create patterned products from a variety of elements as playful and captivating as they are distinct. Established in 2010, Flat Vernacular is inspired in part by childhood memories of standout textiles, and each original design blends a contemporary sensibility with traces of history. FV’s made-to-order creations are engineered to impress at first—and second, and third—glance, because when it comes to matters of decoration, “pattern makes perfect” is the motto.
"In the end, all collaborations are love stories."
— TWYLA THARP, THE COLLABORATIVE HABIT: LIFE LESSONS FOR WORKING TOGETHER
— TWYLA THARP, THE COLLABORATIVE HABIT: LIFE LESSONS FOR WORKING TOGETHER
OUR METHOD
Every single product begins its life as an exploration of paint, paper, photography, sculpture, and materials in our studio.
Combined with rich historical references and nods to the natural world, these explorations form the basis of our singular patterns. We are artists, designers, and creative problem-solvers. Our studio is forever interested in the ways in which art, color, form, and texture can be used to create new ways of seeing and existing in the world.
OUR PRODUCTS
Our designs are created in house and produced by manufacturers in the United States.
Flat Vernacular’s commitment to using quality materials, responsible manufacturing, and lasting design extends from the printing teams we work with on a daily basis to our internal methods of careful design and material considerations. FV creates positive impact wherever, whenever, and however we can. Our FSC Certified paper is made by a mill in New Jersey and printed with low VOC inks in New England by independently-owned fabricators. Our fabric grounds are woven by a carbon neutral manufacturer out of flax. Flax is an excellent material: it requires no irrigation during the growing process, is organically produced, and all parts of the plant are used. Our fabrics are compliant with the Oeko-Tex 100 standard. The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 quality label certifies that independently tested textiles are found to be free of harmful substances. All fabrics are printed with pigment inks by our manufacturer in Pennsylvania. From the first sketch to the finished product, each level of the creative and production process are important. We work closely with our vendors to ensure that we each product we create is long-lasting, beautiful, and durable, and we care about the individuals who help make it possible for our products to exist.
