Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1255943
T he WM, a new s h o w r o o m c o l l a b o r a t i o n between Houston d e s i g n e r s L e T r i c i a Wilbanks and Selena Mackay, is rich and sensual with dark plaster walls, parquet wood floors, and furnishings and accessories from Portugal, France, and Italy, in warm brass, bronze, colored marble, and exotic wood. Dimmed lights and sultry tunes from Melody Gardot, Carla Bruni, and Elaine Elias set the mood. "We wanted to create an environment and experience for people that is more a destination than a store," Wilbanks says. "People come by, have a glass of wine, and listen to music." Last year, she and Mackay shopped design fairs in Paris and Milan and brought back singular pieces with French Moderne and Art Deco influences. Koket's sculptural cast-brass chairs hail from Paris, while Londonart from Italy offers clever trompe l'oeil mural wallpapers by Marcel Wanders. From Portugal, Dooq cabinets are made from walnut, copper, and marble, and Paulo Antunes has created striking ruched, marigold-yellow velvet chairs. Martyn Lawrence Bullard for Corbett Lighting vintage- inspired brass chandeliers are a Texas exclusive at the store; The WM is also designing private-label brass lighting with a Paris-based company. Custom designs include rugs woven in Istanbul and dining tables crafted in dark marble and brass, inspired by French Moderne versions Wilbanks and Mackay saw in Milan. Wilbanks and Mackay may share a similar design aesthetic, but their backgrounds couldn't be more diverse. Wilbanks grew up on a cattle ranch in East Texas; Mackay was born in Honduras to a couturier mother. They bonded over their mutual love of fashion and design at Texas Design Week Houston a few years ago. When they decided to launch a showroom together, they also became interior design partners. The Wilbanks Mackay design offices are located above their 2,400-square-foot showroom, which is open to the public. The WM, at the Shops at Ladco, 7800 Washington Ave., the-wm.com. Rebecca Sherman Beth Webb's new collection for Arteriors T he world needs a bit of TLC at the moment, and Atlanta designer B e t h W e b b d e l i v e r s w i t h interiors that are sensory-driven and layered — much like her debut collection of furniture and lighting for Arteriors. Serene tones and richly tactile materials dominate, with more than 30 styles of furniture, lighting, and accessories made from rattan, carved wood, iron, matte ceramics, concrete, and even rope. The casual look works anywhere, from mountain hideout and beach retreat to urban loft. The Jackson lamps and sconces have bases shaped like antlers, only in white resin; the Palmetto console's mahogany frame is enveloped in natural rope; and the Lyford rattan chair brings a bit of the islands home. Arteriors & Beth Webb, at Area; arteriorshome.com. Rebecca Sherman THE EUROPEAN EDIT DESIGN TONIC The new WM showroom