Ep. 470: Art, Textiles, and Timeless Partnerships with Susan Hable

In this episode, Caroline and Liz talk with artist and product designer Susan Hable. Susan is the co-founder of the Athens, Georgia-based design studio Hable Construction, which she runs with her sister, Katherine. Celebrating 27 years in business, Susan’s work spans lighting, furniture, fine art, textiles, and jewelry, all rooted in her bold, hand-painted patterns and joyful sense of color. Susan joins the show to discuss her 20-plus-year partnership with lifestyle brand Garnet Hill, her artistic origins, her approach to building an intentional art collection, and the story behind her historic 1905 home. Key Takeaways from the Episode The Power of Small Patterns: While large expressions are artistic, small, tightly repeated patterns—like Hable Construction's iconic, best-selling "Beads" print—have a unique, calming effect that anchors a space. Small patterns add excellent grounding texture on everything from seat cushions to linens. Trust the Emotional Value of Art: When collecting art, buy pieces that speak directly to your heart and make you feel a specific emotion, rather than shopping for what is trendy. If original art is out of your budget, high-quality prints, art books, and local school or community art auctions are excellent alternatives. Design with Out-of-Print Inspiration: Rather than relying exclusively on the internet, Susan builds a personal library of physical books, estate sale finds, and historical reference materials to inform her custom textile patterns and landscape aesthetics. Building a Historical Garden: For her 1905 home, Susan designed a garden mirroring traditional Victorian landscapes, prioritizing an organic mix of loose, "floppy" movements (like anemones and Gaura) bordered by clean, tight lines. Episode Timeline 00:34 – Introduction to Susan Hable and Hable Construction. 01:54 – Susan's artistic childhood, early mentors, and grandmother's influence on her style. 06:17 – The accidental textile breakthrough after a trip to India that led to their first major retail order with Barneys. 09:35 – How a dream inspired the sisters to pivot to screen printing and scale production. 12:12 – The history of the signature "Beads" print and how it functions as design's "white shirt and jeans". 18:12 – Sourcing creative inspiration from physical books, libraries, and out-of-print collections. 34:56 – Moving from New York to Athens, Georgia, and renovating a historic 1905 home through the 2008 market shift. 42:13 – Susan's philosophy on collecting art, avoiding trends, and shopping without friend interference. 52:13 – Artists Susan loves, including Rose Wiley, David Shrigley, Leanne Shapton, and Martha Rich. 59:36 – Tips for collecting local art through local auctions and charity events. 01:02:24 – Designing the latest Garnet Hill collection: Portuguese linens, deconstructed tossed florals, and custom rickrack details. Mentioned in This Episode The "Beads" Print: Susan's number-one-selling organic linear-circular pattern utilized across multiple product categories. Garnet Hill Latest Collection: Features an apparel debut, high-drape Portuguese linen duvets, shams, and pajama sets trimmed with custom pale yellow rickrack. Susan's Art Show: Currently on display at the Spalding Nix Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia. Susan's House Tour: Available to watch on the Ballard Designs YouTube channel. Artists Mentioned: Rose Wiley, David Shrigley, Leanne Shapton, Martha Rich, Louise Belcourt, Christie Bush, and Otis Jones. Where to Find Susan Hable Instagram: @HableLand Website: Hable Construction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices