Talk Shop: Gen Sohr // Pencil & Paper Co.
ABOUT GEN
Style-maven Gen Sohr believes in taking color and pattern to the hilt – and that one can never have too many vintage bangles. The multi-hyphenate entrepreneur embraces her signature blend of classic and modern, high and low, sophisticated and fun, while serving up inspiration for fashion, interiors, travel, and entertaining with her multifaceted media and design company Pencil + Paper Co.
A veteran of both retail and interior design, Gen has cultivated a one-of-a-kind online shopping experience by curating daily fashion and décor finds for color-loving, pattern-obsessed women like herself. Their newsletter is one of our absolute favorite product round ups, and we can’t say we’re surprised – few have style like Gen does. During her twenty-year retail tenure, Gen spearheaded numerous launches for brand behemoths such as Old Navy, The Body Shop, and Victoria’s Secret. In 2012, she and husband Benjamin relocated to his hometown of Nashville, where the duo co-founded Pencil & Paper Co.
Once in Nashville, Gen proceeded to make waves in the interior design world with bright, welcoming homes that effortlessly mixed big-box finds and patinated gems. Her residential projects have been featured in top shelter magazines: House Beautiful, Southern Living, Domino, HGTV and Better Homes and Gardens. On top of this, she also happens to be one of the loveliest people we know – and has always been a kind and enthusiastic supporter of Ariel’s as she launched her own business!
Under the Pencil & Paper Co. umbrella, Gen has developed her own product lines—Color Studies, Alphabet Art, Signature Totes, and the pattern-packed P+P Dress Collection. There is just as much on the horizon for this Southern Living Tastemaker, including an expansion of her Creative Camp social events (which we personally are counting down for!) and forthcoming collaboration with Anthropologie.
No matter the project, you’ll find Gen sporting a strong red lip, donning a vibrant frock, and unabashedly embodying her motto: “Color Makes Us Happy.” Us too, Gen!
Describe your style in three words or less:
Collected, fresh, happy.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
Hmm, that's hard. So much of my aesthetic has been formed through just discovering what I love and what visually brings me joy—much of that discovery has happened through flea marketing and thrifting!
My affinity for "the thrill of the hunt" can certainly be attributed to my talented Mom and her passion for decorating. Also, I believe that there's nothing more impactful on your aesthetic point of view than travel and experience new things- architecture, color, linens, how people live and dress in other countries opens your eyes to so many new and beautiful discoveries. And now so much inspiration comes from Instagram and experiencing things that you might not ever see in person, through someone else's lens.
How did you start your company, and what is your favorite thing about what you do:
Kind of by accident. My husband and I designed and built a home nearly 10 years ago, and people would literally knock on our door to ask questions and tell us how much they loved the home. Ultimately that gave us the courage to leave our corporate jobs and take the leap from working for others to launching P+P. While we initially focused on residential, retail, and commercial development, the brand and our passions have continued to evolve along the way. Pencil and Paper now has two unique divisions ("development" led by my husband + "lifestyle " led by me) working under one umbrella.
My favorite thing about what I do is that I get to be creative every single day and that all the hard work we are investing in a "company" is now our own!
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
There have been SO many smart, passionate women who I've worked with closely throughout my retail years with Old Navy and Victoria's Secret that have had a major impact on my career path. And certainly growing up with a mother who believed in me and gave me freedom didn't hurt! Really there is nothing more powerful than women supporting and learning from other women.
What does your home say about you:
My home says that I'm not scared of color or pattern and that I'm addicted to collecting art!
Where do you find inspiration:
Travel, Instagram, old design books, thrifting, vintage textiles, art...inspiration is EVERYWHERE!
Who are your style icons:
Diana Vreeland, Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy, Jenna Lyons.
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
Great food, fun cocktail, interesting playlist, pretty table, and of course wonderful company.
Do you collect anything:
Too many things to count! Art, vintage linens and fabric, cocktail glasses, patterned dresses, bangle bracelets, cocktail rings, rattan bags, and the list goes on!
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
@jordanferney, @markdsikes, @thefrancesflair, @genemeyer3.
What design “rule” do you alway follow, and which is made to be broken:
Buy what you love is my number one design rule. And in terms of breaking rules....I believe those that are the most creative usually break a few design rules along the way or we would never have any new ideas! I personally love a very unexpected print and pattern mix (the more the better).
What are you working on right now:
Our biggest initiative yet: P+P Creative Club launches in September (an online platform connecting creative women), our colorful + pattern filled collection with Anthropologie hits stores in early 2021, and few "top secret" product launches!
Wardrobe staples:
Patterned dresses, bangle bracelets, statement earrings, strappy Italian sandals and straw bags!
Best interior advice you ever received:
Keep layering, rooms get better and better over time!
Best career advice you ever received:
You are in control of your own destiny!
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
Invest in beautiful lighting, wallpaper you adore, bedding, antique rugs, great pots and pans. Save on sisal area rugs, and nothing better or more budget friendly than vintage art, objects, and accessories.
Your greatest extravagance:
Travel, and freshly ironed sheets!
Favorite places to shop for home:
Flea market or antique shops.
Most prized possession and why:
Pair of large abstract paintings my husband and I purchased at the Lincoln Road Flea Market- because they remind me of my hometown and all of the wonderful time spent going to that particular flea market.
Your interiors motto:
Color makes me happy! Buy what you love, it always finds a home.
Your life motto:
Do the things that bring you joy!
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
How you dress says a lot about what you are drawn to (color or neutrals, print or solids, feminine or more modern) and is a great jumping off point to defining your interior style! Your home is a reflection of you and should reflect your personal style, and be filled with things that make you happy and remind you of a life well lived. We especially love to bring a piece of art home from our travels!
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: french baguette, with rich butter, sliced radishes, and a sprinkle of salt!
Drink: coke is my addiction, but love an ice cold Kalik or Prosecco.
Film: always love a documentary! So enjoyed Diana Vreeland: The Eye has to travel and Herb and Dorothy is not to be missed!
Hotel: loved staying at Hotel Parco dei Principi di Sorrento (designed by Gio Ponte in 1960) and desperate to try Mezzatorre Hotel!
City: Currently crushing on Savannah, but loyal to Nashville (and my hometown, Miami)
Bedding: Matouk mixed with a few vintage treasures.
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): cappuccino
Weekend Activity: thrifting!
Design Book: Can't wait for my dear friend Mark D. Sikes new book (More Beautiful) to release! Also love Veere Grenney's: A point of view, Amanda Lindroth's: Island Hopping, Tom Scheerer: More Decorating and of course the classics: Billy Baldwin Decorates, and David Hicks A Life of Design.
