Heard the one about the Essex girl setting the world of interiors alight? Meet two of them. Brennan & Burch, aka Lisa & Majida, combine colourful, fantastical illustrations and hand-drawn characters to create quirky, bold designs, heavily influenced by street style, punk and acid house. Sounds like our type of girl.

#1. So, Maj, what’s your favourite word?

Proper.

#2. What gets you up in the morning?

My kids.

#3. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?

Love it. But I waste far too much time on it.

#4. Is that even possible? Asking for a friend. Kindles or books?

Books. 100%.

#5.  100% agree. What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry right now?

Underfunding, a lack of opportunities and a lack of signposting, especially in Essex. We want people to be able to discover what’s going on locally from a creative point of view and get involved.

#6.  Totes. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A fashion designer which Lisa and I did actually when we made streetwear.

#7. What led you to your current career?

We sidelined really from using our artwork in streetwear to using it on flat surfaces including wall coverings.

#8. Can you use your favourite word in a sentence?

Proper naughty.

#9. Now can you make it rhyme?

I love so and so  but he’s a proper name-dropper.

#10. Bosh. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Stop pissing about and get on it with.

#11. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

I have to say Lisa for putting up with me as her business partner for 17 years and not killing me in the process.

#12. Tell us, what’s been your ‘career-defining’ moment?

In our previous lives in streetwear, we were stocked in Japan, Europe, independent, trendy shops in the UK, and at that time, we probably felt we’d made it. Then the recession came along. Nowadays, I’d say it was the time Emma St Roas, the tattooed rockabilly blogger from Frock It, branded herself for life with our branding, the butterfly skull tattoo. What happened next was that she went to one of our favourite rock’n’roll haunts, Hotel Pelirocco,  and saw our wallpaper in the bar area. What are the chances eh.

Hotel Pelirocco

#13. Indeed. If you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?

Our friends and family for always being there, patiently waiting for overnight success.

#14. Next year, Maj, next year. Can you give us a timesaver of the day?

While you’re waiting for your espresso to brew, check your social media.

#15. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?

More public art on a larger scale.We’re seeing art being used in different ways;  holographs/projections and it feels art is becoming part of the actual space. It may be on a temporary basis but that’s also ok; it then becomes ephemeral. And while it is in situ, it can also change.  For special projects, we can even supply our wall coverings with magnets – it means in a retail space, an environment can change really rapidly. No chance for anything to get boring nowadays.

#16. Where were you 24 months ago?

Lisa and I were at my mum’s place in Spain with Lisa’s other half and four kids (her two boys and my two girls), looking up at blue skies from the local village’s mountaintop pool.

#17. What’s an interesting fact about your company?

Our work ‘New Forest’ is part of the Colour in Romford project where we had the chance to design a street art mural for the town. This led to a collaboration with The Leather Satchel Company, which we’d been dreaming of for a long time.

New Forest Tote Bag

#18. If you could have a 24-minute Skype chat with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

James Dean. I’d stare into his eyes. He wouldn’t have to speak.

#19. We’re hearing you. What’s one word you’d want people to describe you with?

Dynamic.

#20. Would you mind taking a selfie for us?

Sure.

#21. What’s your favourite Twitter handle or social media campaign?

@100happydays.

#22. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

This time next year.

#23. Creme de menthe, creme de menthe. What’s been the best part of your day?

Cakes and drinks at the Retailery, putting a face to the name. Plus it’s always great to meet another creative Essex bird.

#24. Likewise. Finally, anything to plug?

Come down to the Retailery, run by arts charity Made Public, to see our wallpaper in the new bar area. Have a cocktail, buy one of our limited edition prints. In that order.

Who should we interview next?

We love meeting interesting companies and the people behind them. If you have a suggestion, we'd love to hear it. Thank you.