Holly Hunt has made her Dallas debut in a big way—15,000 square feet in the Decorative Center, to be exact. Founded by the Texas native in Chicago 30 years ago, the brand has since spread internationally and is, at last, staking its claim locally with its ninth showroom. “Dallas has been on the radar for us to open a new showroom for several years,” Hunt says. “We work with talented Dallas designers and have many friends there already.”
Opened in July, the two-story, to-the-trade showroom carries bespoke furniture, case goods, accessories, and more, all tailored to suit the Dallas interior-design market. Highlights include Dallasite Alison Berger’s minimalist hand-blown glass light fixtures, Christian Astuguevieille’s hemp rope designs, and fashion designer Ralph Rucci’s furniture line, which is available solely at Holly Hunt. Most of Hunt’s own lines of furniture and lighting are customizable, and all of the products she carries are proudly made in America—and many here in Dallas. There is also an in-house boutique dedicated to Hunt’s luxe leather line, where shoppers can find everything from stingray to suede in an array of natural, metallic, and bold hues.
At some showrooms, you’ll get a sideways glance for sipping a beverage while you browse. Not at Pirch, the kitchen, bath, and outdoor plumbing and appliance Mecca that opened in August in NorthPark Center. Upon entering the massive 32,000-square-foot showroom, located in the old Barneys space, you are greeted by baristas ready to whip up a latte for you. As you make your way around the display vignettes (all of which are fully functioning), you’ll come upon the Savor kitchen, where chefs demonstrate top-of-the-line appliances—from brands like Miele, Bertazzoni, and Jenn-Air—and pass out samples.
In the bath section, mix and match hundreds of faucets from Gessi, Graff, Rohl, and more with beautiful bowl sinks to see which combination strikes your fancy. Or make an appointment in the private Sanctuary suite, where you can don your bathing suit and try out dozens of showerheads before grabbing a glass of beer or wine in the outdoor area. And should you fall for any of the gorgeous countertops, tile, and cabinetry on display, Pirch can connect you with their more than 50 brand partners, and it can be yours.
With such an emphasis on experience, it’s no wonder the average customer spends more than two hours in the store. “We enable our customers to dream, explore, and discover products in a unique and genuinely fun way,” says CEO Jeffery R. Sears, who founded Pirch in San Diego in 2009. He chose Dallas for their sixth, and largest, showroom in part because of the city’s rich design heritage, and NorthPark for its accessibility. “Ultimately, our mission is to teach and inspire our guests,” Sears says, “and that goal is far simpler to achieve if we’re easy to find.”
California-based furniture company Marge Carson has opened a showroom in the Dallas Design District, only the second in the nation. Their large-scale collection is a natural fit for the local design scene considering the hefty square footage of the homes in Texas. (No, this is not the place to shop for your beach condo or city apartment.) Showroom manager Dennis Teague says, “The proportion really works for Texas. With a big house, you don’t want dollhouse-looking furniture.” The to-the-trade, 7,200-square-foot showroom boasts high ceilings and large, open spaces to showcase the furniture the way it was meant to be displayed. As you walk in, you are greeted by the smaller-scale contemporary and transitional pieces that were recently added to keep up with current design trends such as metallic finishes, unexpected shell and horn accents, and mirrored elements. The back of the showroom and upstairs feature the collections that Marge Carson is known for—Italian-, Spanish-, and French-influenced Old World designs finished with dark woods, luxury textiles, and jewelry-like hardware and accents. “The handles and hardware on our case goods are like a fabulous David Yurman bracelet,” Dennis explains. Every piece can be customized with the selection of more than 550 fabrics and 50 decorative finishes. For customers who just can’t wait for the 12- to 15-week turnaround time, Marge Carson now offers a quick-ship program for 25 of their most popular pieces (and more to come, including upholstery). The showroom is also stocked with accessories and art from around the world.
Moving On Up.
With all the changes underway at Highland Park Village, your heart may have skipped a beat the last time you ventured to the intersection of Mockingbird and Preston in search of an H bracelet and found the Hermès doors ominously boarded up. Fortunately, you don’t have to travel far to find the French label’s luxury wares: They’ve temporarily relocated across the Village to the old Williams-Sonoma space while they build a 2,600-square-foot,
second-floor addition onto their original digs. Scheduled to open in November 2015, the new expanded space will carry more of the brand’s furniture and home accessories. Until then, their temporary space carries an edited collection of interior furnishings, including their Iskender crystal line, hand-beaded throws, porcelain tableware, and the classic Hermès tout simple cutlery line.
