What Defines a Luxury Furniture Store in Houston, TX?
The definition of a luxury furniture store in Houston, TX, or anywhere else, can vary depending on individual preferences, trends, and market dynamics. However, several factors typically define luxury furniture. Meredith O’Donnell Fine Furniture embodies all elements of what it means to be a luxury furniture store in Houston, TX. Located in the Houston Design District, Meredith O’Donnell Fine Furniture offers their clientele the best in category furniture at the best prices. Luxury furniture offerings include Hickory Chair, Baker, Lexington Home Brands, Trosby Furniture, Theodore Alexander, and more.
With so many outlets claiming to be luxury furniture stores in Houston, TX, it can be overwhelming at times. When making a selection, here are some considerations to distinguish what is and what is not a true luxury furniture store:
- Quality Materials: Luxury furniture is often crafted from high-quality materials such as solid wood, top-grain leather, fine fabrics, and premium metals. These materials are known for their durability and aesthetic appeal.
- Exceptional Craftsmanship: Luxury furniture is typically handmade or crafted by skilled artisans. Attention to detail, precision, and a high level of craftsmanship are essential aspects of luxury furniture.
- Unique Design: Luxury furniture often features unique and distinctive designs that set it apart from mass-produced items. Customization options, bespoke designs, and limited editions are common in luxury furniture collections.
- Exclusivity: Luxury furniture pieces are often limited in quantity, making them more exclusive. Buyers may be willing to pay a premium for furniture that is not widely available.
- Comfort and Functionality: While aesthetics are important, luxury furniture also prioritizes comfort and functionality. Upholstered pieces, such as sofas and chairs, are designed for both visual appeal and comfort.
- Brand Reputation: Established luxury furniture brands are known for their commitment to quality, innovation, and design excellence. The reputation of the brand can be a significant factor in defining luxury in furniture.
- Attention to Detail: Luxury furniture often features intricate detailing, including hand-carved designs, decorative hardware, and fine finishes. These details contribute to the overall elegance of the piece.
- Price Point: Luxury furniture is typically associated with a higher price point due to the use of premium materials, craftsmanship, and design. Buyers are willing to invest in quality and aesthetics.
- Customization: Many luxury furniture brands offer customization options, allowing customers to tailor pieces to their specific preferences in terms of size, material, color, and design.
- Timelessness: Luxury furniture often has a timeless quality, making it durable both in terms of physical longevity and aesthetic appeal. It should withstand changing design trends.
- Exclusive Retail Environments: Luxury furniture is often showcased in exclusive showrooms or retail environments that provide a premium shopping experience. (See Meredith O’Donnell’s Showroom)
In Houston, TX, you can find luxury furniture in high-end furniture stores, design showrooms, and through bespoke furniture designers and craftsmen. Keep in mind that the definition of luxury can vary among individuals, so what one person considers luxury furniture may differ from another’s perspective. Ultimately, luxury furniture is about offering an elevated and exceptional experience in terms of design, materials, and craftsmanship.
Meredith O’Donnell Fine Furniture meets all the criteria to be considered a true luxury furniture store serving the Houston, TX market. Delivering high-quality furniture, accessories, and rugs since 1995, Meredith O’Donnell Fine Furniture is a full-service design firm dedicated to offering only the finest furniture and service to Houston residents at the best price.
Call or stop by our Design District showroom at 7150 Old Katy Road to see some of the highest quality luxury furniture Houston has to offer. Our friendly staff and design team are happy to answer all your questions and find the perfect furniture for your home or office.
Market Time – Fall 2020
Market Square building High Point, NC
High Point International Furniture market occurred last week. Every six months buyers from all countries ascend upon this little North Carolina country town to preview and buy furniture, accessories and rugs from around the world.
The town’s locals often go on vacation to escape, renting out their houses to visiting buyers and reps; hotels at all levels are totally booked during normal times; restaurants and caterers work over time to wine and dine the hungry throngs.
Although this fall’s market was not as heavily attended as those in the past most manufacturers were still represented and putting on a good show for those who came and for follow up video presentations.
We captured photos of new product, our favorite designers, and inspiration to share with you.
What are the trends? All over the map but retro, 60’s, 70’s , 80’s lines are still influencing design for better or worse. Does it all look alike? No, but a lot of it does. Is everything still gray? Happily, no! Neutrals are warming up and we see a variety of colors at last.
We’ll start with one of our favorite intros, The Everett Collection for HICKORY CHAIR by Skip Rumley. Your comments will be welcome. Enjoy.
HICKORY CHAIR showroom entry Fall Market 2020. Sleek profiles on top of a casual and textured grass rug.
Everett Collection by Skip Rumley introduced by HICKORY CHAIR Fall Market 2020
Tufted upholstery, crystal top occasional stands combined with wood and bronze supports
Dining in comfort in a refined and casually inviting space. The Everett Collection by HICKORY CHAIR
Everything Old is New Again (Again)
The Grandmillenial Style
BY JON FORTUNA, DESIGNER AT MEREDITH O’DONNELL
The style forecasters said it, the influencers said it, now mainstream media is embracing the return of pretty traditional rooms full of color, graceful lines, and a reverence for classic style. They have dubbed the style “Grandmillennial,” and it is the antithesis of everything that we have been seeing in the past several years. Gray, taupe and natural textures are suddenly passe, and are being replaced with cheerful colors and (GASP) chintz in all its floral glory. Luxury fabrics are also enjoying a moment, with a resurgence of velvets, silks, and brocades. Brown furniture, those stalwart mahogany and walnut pieces so reviled for the past twenty years, suddenly looks fresh after all the bleached, cerused, and distressed pieces that play into the aesthetic of the “relaxed” look we’ve been told is the only way to decorate, unless of course one wants hard edged modern style.
The library pictured is a project in progress for a home here in Houston. My clients wanted a space that was luxurious, comfortable, warm, and stylish, all hallmarks of the Grandmillenial look. What I love about this space is the fact that it says everything about the style trends of 2020, but could also have been designed at any point of the last century, because it is in every respect, timeless.
If you are ready to add some Grandmillenial flair to your space contact me, or any of the other design staff at Meredith O’Donnell Fine Furniture, and we will be happy to bring classic comfort and elegance to your home…
Serenity Now
Thoughts on creating a serene environment
BY JON FORTUNA
The 21st century world can be overwhelming, chaotic, and full of stress. From the daily commute, to nonstop social media, texts, and emails, to the inundation of 24 hour news cycles, it seems as if people have less and less serenity in their daily lives. As an Interior Designer, I feel one of the most important things that I can assist a client with is creating a serene environment in their homes. I feel that the creation of a place where the eye and mind can decompress is actually one of the most important things that can be accomplished in any space. There are several tried and true ways to creating that serenity, whether you choose to work with a designer or not. (But please do, it’s a fun experience, I promise!)
Take a moment, relax, decompress, and read a bit of how you can bring a bit of serenity into your home. The photos attached are various design projects of my own which I feel illustrate the points you are about to read… I hope you enjoy them, and as always comments and thoughts would be most welcome!
Use the two color, one neutral rule…
One of the fastest ways to establish serenity in a space is to employ a scheme of two related colors plus one neutral, for example blue and green plus white, or blush pink and peach plus cream.. If you look through the photos attached to this blog entry, each one uses this particular rule. Sometimes one of the colors is the dominant player in the design scheme, sometimes the neutral is dominant with the actual colors in the room being delicate accents.
Keep it simple…
Very often I will do window treatments that match the background color of the room. This causes the eye to read the whole wall plane as a single, unified element, and draws attention to the view outside. Serenity is often achieved by what is left out rather than what is included. One of the constant discussions in my house is leaving enough space on the wall for the eye to rest. If the eye rests, so does the mind. Every wall doesn’t need to have something amazing hanging on it, every bed doesn’t need 92 pillows to appear finished, each tabletop doesn’t require its own collection. Sometimes, just the sculptural lines of a piece are enough, and sometimes one piece of art or a standout sculpture or mirror is all that is needed for a room to feel complete.
Don’t rely on sight alone…
A serene environment also depends on sound, scent, and texture in addition to sight. Think of a room in a Five Star hotel, the linens are crisp and cool to the touch, the down pillows envelop you in a puffy cloud of luxury, the wood feels slick and clean, the robes are plush and accommodating, and the rooms never smell of cleaning product. Most often, the rooms have a soft, sweet smell that often is a subtle variation on a “signature” scent found elsewhere in the hotel. We expect this when we travel, why don’t we do it on a daily basis. One thing that I do almost every night is add a few drops of lavender essential oils to a diffuser, so that before I retire for the evening the bedroom has a soft gentle scent that remind me of home… I am very cognizant of the density of pillows and admit that I do sleep with 3 pillows on each side of the bed, a dense pillow for sitting up and reading, a soft pillow for general sleep, and an extra soft pillow to rest under my neck… that to me allows me a level of luxury which is relaxing and puts me in a calm space which allows me to sleep more comfortably. do you pay attention to these details regularly or do you only notice them when travelling?
Take a few minutes and reflect on what you can do to promote a sense of serenity in your home. Please remember I’m always here to help!
“Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. Every breath we take, every step we take, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
50 Shades
BY MEREDITH O’DONNELL
If you ask 50 different designers how to decorate a room you’ll receive 50 different responses and hopefully a few solutions. Modern to traditional, spare to layered, empty or cluttered. Maybe collected, maybe full of art, maybe rich, maybe just get started basic. Eclectic, themed, old, new, neutral or color. It isn’t to say that any of these descriptions is the ONE way to go.
Once you start making decisions it usually influences others – kind of like dominoes but not automatic plus the process may stop and start. Take it slow, take it fast. That is up to you. Try to enjoy the process and relax. It is only furniture. Be open to ideas if you are working with a designer or aesthetically inclined friend.
You do need to start somewhere – with something you love, an object, a color, a look, the need for function versus form, with a budget or without …
No budget? Lucky you, but a “carte blanche” approach doesn’t guarantee success. Is there a desire for comfort over style ( you know, you can always have both!) or just a wisp of an idea ? If you have any questions about the process or need a professional opinion, we’re here to help. You can contact us by phone, email or stop by our showroom.
