As soon as we stepped into Phoebe Sung and Peter Buer’s home, our senses were awakened by a vibrant interplay of colors, shapes, and textures—balanced by a quiet minimalism tying each element together.

Phoebe and Peter are the co-founders of Cold Picnic, a home goods brand known for its thoughtfully designed soft goods, offering everything from rugs and bathmats to blankets and wallpaper. After years of working from their home in Ridgewood, Brooklyn, the couple—along with their two young daughters and two dogs—had just relocated full-time to a two-story house, nestled in the rolling hills of upstate New York.

An Organic Evolution

Phoebe and Peter founded Cold Picnic in 2010 as a side project, but their creative partnership began years earlier during their art school days in Boston, where they first met. Before launching the brand, they each worked in corporate fashion—Phoebe as an apparel designer and Peter as a print designer. Missing creative projects, they started Cold Picnic as an experimental space to explore what genuinely inspired them. Over time, their brand organically evolved into the Cold Picnic we know today, with their creative joy remaining at its core.

They describe their work as exploring “imagined and misremembered landscapes, and the effects of time and the elements upon their surfaces”—a philosophy reflected in the way their pieces adorn their space, enlivening each corner in its own unique way.

The Power of Staying Small

Running Cold Picnic as a two-person team has been a journey of constant learning and adaptation—but keeping it small has also allowed them to maintain a high level of craftsmanship and accountability. Most of their products are made in India by artisans they’ve worked with for years, using organic materials that align with their ethos of thoughtful design.

As a brand that shares these values, we were excited to see which of our pieces would catch their eye. Phoebe chose the Editor Tote—a structured yet soft leather bag with gathered folds and side buckles. “It's a return to nice things after becoming a mom and always carrying around fanny packs or grocery totes,” Phoebe shares. She pairs it with a chic yet playful style, while taking advantage of its spacious design to carry her daily essentials: hand cream, mints, her daughter’s hair accessories, and on-the-go snacks.

Peter chose the Roadster Small Crossbody Bag—a compact design offering plenty of versatility. “A lot of the time it feels like you have to choose between a backpack or a fanny pack—but they’re usually too big or too small,” he comments. “This one’s the perfect size.” Crafted from our naturally finished Vintage Wax Leather, it carries a rustic appeal that develops luster and depth over time. Inside, Peter’s everyday essentials include keys, sunglasses, a flashlight (a new necessity since moving upstate), and a couple of their daughters’ Calico Critters that have snuck their way in.

Immersed in Wonder

Just as we’re about to wrap up, Phoebe and Peter invite us upstairs, where we find ourselves immersed in entire rooms wrapped in their new wallpaper and upholstery designs. A sense of playful wonder washes over us as we move from space to space, each engaging our senses in a unique way. It’s clear that their work extends beyond individual products, transforming entire environments to evoke a feeling or tell a story.