For Tobi Fairley fans, I bring good news. She’s expanding her Little Rock design empire to include a Dallas office. Some of you may have been following Fairley’s blog since its 2008 inception. Or maybe you’ve spotted her and her work on popular design shows and shelter mags such as HGTV, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Better Home and Gardens, and Southern Living. The designer is also relaunching her brand to include lifestyle consulting services. She will provide custom education, mentoring, and common-sense tools for companies who want to improve their business.
You can visit Tobi and her team locally at the historic Maple Terrace (3001 Maple Avenue, Suite 502, 972-996-6655) in Uptown. She has staffed the office with two full-time associates and she’ll be making monthly trips to Dallas to work with clients. We asked her to take a break from setting up shop and finalizing the details of her workspace to answer a few questions.
Why is Dallas a good fit for expanding your business?
We have had clients all over the country for quite a few years, and we have been looking for spaces that make sense for us in certain cities. Dallas is an amazing city with a true appreciation for design. We have terrific partners in Dallas, and it’s close enough to Little Rock that my team and I can easily travel back and forth.
More Tobi after the jump.
What are some of your favorite spots in Dallas?
When I stay in Dallas, I am a huge fan of The Melrose, The Crescent, and The Mansion on Turtle Creek. I love the culture and creative side of Dallas, obviously, so I always try to make time for the Dallas Museum of Art, The Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Meadows Museum on SMU’s campus.
I never miss a chance to shop, and I love to drop in on my friend’s stores, like Michelle Nussbaumer’s Ceylon et Cie, The Shop by John Phifer Marrs, and Jan Showers’ shop. I also love Forty Five Ten, Blue Print, Highland Park Village, and John Gregory Studio. Some restaurants that I love are Fearing’s, Neighborhood Services, and I look forward to trying LARK on the Park.
What item – or items – do you always gravitate towards and include when you’re designing a home?
It’s more about color than a particular object. My designs are infused with color and bold combinations of fabric patterns. My furniture mainstay includes styles that are very classic and tailored. I’ve often been categorized as a “new traditional” designer, yet a few of my more recent projects have been inflected with a bit more glamour.
What is your designer/client collaboration style?
I am most inspired by clients who are on the path of a reflective, enlightened life and who really want a home that will support them on that journey. I want the collaboration process to be inspirational, revealing, and empowering for the client. I love to design homes that foster personal growth and connection and homes that function not only as a sanctuary for the residents, but a place that will inspire their own innovative and entrepreneurial ideas.
Who is your dream client?
Hands down it’s Oprah! I’ll be in Dallas later this week to hear her speak, so maybe I can pitch her a design idea while I’m there. (Laughing).
