Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1525828
Passion For A PAPERCITY PROMOTION H ouston and Dallas may be very diverse cities, but they're united by a passion for design. Some of the nation's most iconic showrooms and designers bounce back and forth between the two, navigating the expansive world of textiles, furniture, lighting, rugs, and more. With 50 years in Houston and 52 in Dallas, Culp Associates knows the Houston and Dallas markets inside and out. Interior designer Walter Lee Culp founded CULP ASSOCIATES CELEBRATES 50 YEARS IN HOUSTON Photography Jack Thompson the company in Dallas in 1972. He expanded to Houston two years later, launching a second showroom in a shopping center owned by Trammell Crow Companies that's now a sleek high-rise known as Decorative Center Houston. Culp's showroom and Baker Furniture were the anchor tenants, and Walter worked with Trammell Crow Companies in the early 1980s to bring additional design tenants to the area. In 1985, when the Decorative Center Houston building was built, Walter was again integral in recruiting design tenants. Houston was considered a secondary market to Dallas for many years, but Culp Associates Houston's presence has continued to grow at a considerable clip, even during the 2008 recession. The Houston showroom was originally 10,000 square feet, with a primary focus on fabric. In 2014, the company added 4,000 square feet and expanded its offerings to include furniture, accessories, and lighting, much like the Dallas showroom; the enhanced Houston location became a destination for designers and their clients. In 2023, they expanded an additional 4,000 square feet and remodeled for a total of 18,000 square feet. 88