The Art Lovers

Calico, which makes wallpaper, is based in Brooklyn, New York. Rachel and Nick founded the company in 2013— the same year they married. Calico’s threeyear revenue growth is 3_20 percent.

RACHEL

I was on a friend’s MySpace page and Nick was one of his top four friends. His photos were explorations in feminism and yoga and art. He seemed like a really interesting person. Someone I’d like to meet.

NICK

We started sharing images of funny, curious objects. We started sending each other these artful mail packages.

RACHEL

Seven years ago, I was working at NYU Langone Medical Center. I had an art room there and I worked with patients, teaching them to make art. Nick had his own company doing contract and interior design work.

Then Hurricane Sandy happened. We were together, and had a lot of time on our hands. We used it to explore a collaboration we knew we always wanted to do. He came up with the idea of Calico.

NICK

We get to spend all our time together, and we’re able to fill in the gaps. I was previously an entrepreneur and had started companies—but the creative element was missing. With Calico, the art is so critical. I don’t have those abilities. But Rachel does.