Designer Profile: Tom Parker, Fettle

What is your background? Did you always see yourself in design? 

I studied Interior Architecture at Oxford Brookes University (much longer ago than I care to admit), so it was a relatively straightforward path into the industry. I’ve always been fascinated by design in general, and prior to that I completed a short course in product design. But I love the breadth that interior design and architecture provides. The mix of scales of very detailed custom furniture and lighting all the way up to large scale space planning is really challenging and varied.

Tell me about Fettle. What inspired you to launch your company? What was that process like? 

Fettle was born out of a very long-term friendship with my business partner Andy Goodwin. We met during our first “proper” jobs in London at a company called United Designers. We then both worked for Martin Brudnizki for a long time, he in London and I in London and then New York. We had always discussed doing something together, and the idea of what that would be grew organically over time until we got to a point where we were both ready to take the leap. We started with a Georgian townhouse in Kensington, London, and a series of mid end restaurants and it gradually grew to what it is today. It felt very natural at the time, but when I look back I do often wonder what on earth we were doing!

You’re based in both LA & London. What’s that like? How do both cities inspire you? 

I run our U.S. studio from LA in which there are four of us. Andy runs the European projects from London where we have six designers. The two cities complement each other nicely, aesthetics wise. Our projects in London and across Europe tend to be moodier, richer and more based in tradition and history given the nature of the buildings we work within. In the U.S., particularly the West Coast, we tend to be working within more modern buildings and the palettes are often lighter and fresher. Despite the distance between the two cities we see a good amount of cross pollination of clients and projects and have worked with several clients across both regions—Hoxton hotels being one example having completed projects with them in Portland, Oregon and Rome, Italy. There are also projects we are currently working on in Miami and New York, which stylistically tend to fall somewhere in the middle.

How would you describe your personal style? 

As my long-suffering wife can attest, it varies from day to day. We have an ongoing “debate” about items which I bring back from project sites (left over mosaics, bed prototypes) and she would tell you that there is little rhyme or reason to the items that make their way back to our “eclectic” house. I think the one thing that really fascinates me aesthetically is the sense of nostalgia and time and place that certain objects and spaces can create. The aforementioned headboard and mosaic are admittedly different but both stylistically 1930s and have a sense of history to them which gives them some kind of odd importance (to me at least).

What are some ways you kick back and relax outside of work? 

Both Andy and I are huge football fans (proper European football, I refuse to use the S word, not this throwing thing you guys do). We used to have bets every year about which team would finish higher between his team Sheffield Wednesday and my team Reading as we are on opposite sides of the UK’s infamous north south divide. “Sadly,” Sheffield Wednesday were relegated last season. That said, he won four times in a row and each time we bet dinner on it so I currently owe Andy rather a lot of food. We also both have children, so when not shouting in vain at 22 men in shorts we tend to spend quite a lot of time trying to keep kids alive.

What’s your favorite place to travel in the world? 

I love South America and have travelled large chunks of it in various different stints. I think the richness of the culture and the openness of the people is fascinating. We are kind of working our way northbound and aiming to tackle Central America next.  I also go to Mexico a lot for work and particularly Guadalajara, which is a city that I adore and has an incredible creative scene. Ceramica Suro owned by the wonderful Jose Noe produces some of the best ceramics and tiles we have come across.

What are some artists, designers, architects, or filmmakers you would suggest people check out?

My all-time favorite designer is Pierre Chareau. The way he aesthetically expressed function in both his buildings, such as Maison de Verre, as well as his custom lighting and furniture is so elegant. Artists wise, there is a great young and upcoming art scene in Los Angeles. I have a number of pieces from a friend of mine called Jack Lewis who is very talented and worth looking up.