Meet Our Team
"Individuality will always be one of the conditions of real elegance"
- Christian Dior
Phyllis Whitehead, Owner & Principal Designer, founded PJ Whitehead Design Group in 1989 and Fifi & Coco’s Gallerie in 2010. This was her original design studio and original gallerie for vintage, new and consigned pre-owned furnishings. In 2018 the two were combined and relocated to the Michigan Design Center under the name Fifi & Coco Interiors. The new studio offers full-service interior design as well as a showroom filled with unique furnishings, art and accessories.
Phyllis studied art and fashion design as her first career choice. After a successful career in fashion, she returned to college to study Fine Art, Textiles and Interior Architecture as interiors proved to be her passion. She has been practicing in the Detroit metro area as well as Illinois, Ohio, Colorado and Florida bringing expertise and distinguishing touches to all of her projects. In life, fashion and interiors have always had an ever-evolving relationship. The most significant similarity between interior and fashion design is that they are both an expression of individuality defined by personality and lifestyle.
Phyllis's designs are inspired by the French style of mixing art, antiques and repurposed pieces with the latest fashion to create sustainable and iconic interiors. As a collector of fine furnishings, Phyllis believes finding unusual pieces to insert into the design scheme sets her apart and allows her to create unique spaces that are a functional and elegant sanctuary for every client.
Phyllis Whitehead
Principal Designer
Brooke Johnson is a graduate from Wayne State University with a degree in Fine, Performing and Communication Arts with a focus in Interior Design. Brooke has always had a passion for the arts and while studying at Wayne State University she also worked on a minor in Art History. Her personal designs are often inspired by green practices and modern innovations that are mixed with iconic elements inspired by the arts. Being able to mix modern deign practices with her love for the arts and sustainability allows Brooke to work well alongside Phyllis in creating unique and functional designs.
Since May of 2018, Brooke has been working side by side with Phyllis on all of their design projects along with managing their showroom within the Michigan Design Center. She is a creative individual who is inspired to design responsibly and resourcefully, adding a fresh perspective to Phyllis's years of expertise. As well as being trained in traditional interior design practices, she is also skilled in digital design. Her up-to-date knowledge of 2-D CAD design, 3-D rendering and modeling, and graphic design allows her to create custom and valuable visual services for every client. Brooke is a diligent, organized and motivated individual who strives for seamless, transparent and stress-free operations within the company. Finding a balance between expressing herself creatively and being a reliable, responsible designer is something Brooke prides herself in and strives to achieve with all of her design projects.