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M elissa Gerstle's new showroom, Plein Air Atelier, brings her garden- design philosophy to life with artfully composed outdoor furnishings. Gerstle has a master's degree in landscape architecture and has spent two decades designing award-winning gardens and outdoor spaces. "Interior designers take so much time and effort to really curate a space, so I wanted to bring that same energy to the exterior," she says. "Often, showrooms will display everything as a set, almost like a retail store; we mix and match pieces from different lines and vendors for a look that feels a bit more individual." Designer Jean Liu conceived the interior architecture with an emphasis on nature-inspired materials and colors, such as sculptural walls made from oak and marble. The showroom's global reach focuses on furniture intended for outdoor use but A ustralia-based rug company Armadillo has opened its first Texas outpost in the Dallas Design District. The company is a longtime favorite of interior designers, with the new retail atelier geared for trade professionals and offering a small, intimate workspace and large samples. Armadillo rugs are woven by hand from natural fibers such as New Zealand wool or hand-coiled in jute and are known for rich colors and robust textures. Founded in 2009 by Jodie Fried and Sally Pottharst, the female-led company is also the first U.S. and Australian rug maker to achieve B Corp status, a private certification given to businesses that meet high standards of transparency, accountability, and sustainability. By appointment. Armadillo, 1327 Dragon St., armadillo-co.com. Rebecca Sherman Above: Lora Grabowsky, Melissa Gerstle, Joshua Navarro, and Bonnie Nelson. At Plein Air Atelier, Royal Botania sectional, Coco Wolf coffee tables, Ethimo chairs. Painting from Muse on Slocum. stylish enough to use indoors. Look for seating and tables by British company Coco Wolf, ceramics by artists from around the country and Vancouver, Sedallo outdoor fabrics made in Italy and vintage vessels from Turkey and Greece. Several Belgian brands are represented, including Limited Edition handmade rugs, Heatsail lighting, Royal Botania seating, and Moróro fire bowls inspired by Brazilian architecture. "We have examples from every brand we carry, so you can touch and test the quality of our different lines," Gerstle says. She encourages interior designers to use the showroom as a resource, a workspace in between client meetings, and a place to kick back after shopping the District. "We have Wi-Fi, a great conference table, and a fabulous Jura coffee machine," she says. To the trade. Plein Air Atelier, Dallas Design District, 1205 Slocum S t . , S u i t e 1 0 0 , pleinairatelier.com. Rebecca Sherman Home with the Armadillo Sky's the Limit Armadillo rugs showroom in Dallas 66