When the space next door to Elizabeth Mast’s Lakewood shop Talulah Belle became available, she considered it a sign. Mast wanted to carry more home decor at Talulah Belle but didn’t have the room. And in her day job as a real estate agent specializing in historic houses in East Dallas, clients often asked if they could buy the items she used to stage their homes. So when the owner of the neighboring boutique moved out late last year, it took only six weeks for Mast to turn the vacant space into home furnishings store Hess.
The 1,000-square-foot store features custom furniture and upholstery, lamps, rugs, paintings by local artist Carol Benson-Cobb, and accessories including throws, candles, and pillows. “We specialize in fashion-forward pieces at a reasonable price,” Mast says. The upholstered pieces can be purchased off the floor or customized in a variety of fabrics and paint colors. And if a customer is looking for a color or pattern Mast doesn’t stock in the store, she will go out and find it.
Hess’ accessories are fun and versatile. An acrylic book holder, for instance, can be used as a recipe and cookbook stand in the kitchen, or it could easily be a display piece for coffee table books in the living room. “I look for quality, value, and good core pieces that can transition from room to room,” Mast says.
She also offers design advice. Mast’s Design Source Center in the back of the store provides three levels of interior design services ranging from $100 to $500. “We design with common sense,” she says. “A simple change can go a long way.”
