Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/470413
People don't expect John Robert Clark, who relocated his showroom from the Quadrangle area to Slocum Street, to be dressed down in jeans when they meet him for the first time. But his casual daily uniform (Gucci loafers, a white shirt and navy jacket) is classic and unfussy, a look that extends to the French Empire furnishings his showroom specializes in — the early 19th-century design style prized for its simple lines and refined ormolu detailing. "Empire is clean and elegant and reflects who Napoleon was," he says of the emperor who created the movement that includes architecture, furniture and decorative arts. "What I love is that it works so well with contemporary rooms and art." He's all about the right mix, and you'll find large- scale contemporary art, along with 3rd century AD marble Roman busts (including a handsome young Hercules), 17th-century Egyptian and Swedish porphyry stone vases (examples can be seen in the Vatican) and rare signed pieces by 18th-century furniture master Georges Jacob, who outfitted many royal chateaux with ornately gilt furniture. Clark, who cut his design chops working with the late designer Marguerite Green 20 years ago, has a flair for the theatrical, arranging dramatically spare vignettes in front of moveable walls, which he can repaint and shift to accommodate new arrivals. He credits the late, flamboyant antiquarian Paxton Gremillion of Loyd-Paxton with honing his eye for fine antiques and teaching him how to showcase pieces in a setting. (Clark worked as director of sales for Loyd-Paxton). "Working for Paxton changed my whole perspective and approach to antiques," Clark says. "He taught me the art of display. Because of that, my showroom is more of a gallery effect. It's the place you come and see all the items individually; you don't dig." When asked why he relocated to Slocum, his response is enthusiastic: "There are three fabulous reasons. It's the street to be on if you sell antiques — everyone has his niche. My neighbors [Jan Showers, Joseph Minton Antiques, Gerald Tomlin Antiques] are amazing. And I found a stand-alone building. It's rare that anything comes available on this street." 1316 Slocum St., 214.871.3388, jrcantiques.com. Rebecca Sherman DECORATION Rendered in thick acrylic and African ebony, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams' new Avalon desk could single- handedly revive the lost art of letter writing. And while the details are lovely — polished stainless-steel ring hardware, slow-close doors and drawers, and beveled edges — it's also a get-down- to-business piece of furniture. A floating storage console with compartments that hold adjustable shelves and a letter- size file cabinet keep papers under control. Three sleek but ample drawers round up small items such as pens, paperclips, Post-It Notes or books of stamps — remember those? $4,120, at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, mgbwhome.com. Rebecca Sherman TAKE a NOTE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK D allas-based home furnishings fave Arteriors has opened major new digs in the heart of the Dallas Design District on Dragon Street — and this time, it's open to the public. The sprawling 5,000-square- foot freestanding building has 14-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and a rooftop deck for entertaining. There's plenty of room for an edited selection of lighting, furniture and accessories for immediate purchase. Arteriors' new spring collection includes Noel, a Mondrian-inspired lighting pendant made of stacked iron cubes, finished in antique brass ($1,050); the Dallas chandelier, an 18-light, mid-century look that's now available in vintage brass ($4,200); and the Nicholas bar cart in glass and iron, finished in antique brass with laser-cut paneling ($1,650). A collection created by Los Angeles designer Windsor Smith (a favorite with design magazine editors and bloggers) debuts in April at High Point. We got an insider's advance on some of the details: a definite Greek influence and mix of plaster, woven leathers, brass, glass and metal. Stay tuned for more. 1413 Dragon St., 214.747.2495, arteriorshome.com. Rebecca Sherman YEAR of the DRAGON Kate and Andrew Jones, owners of Fair & Square Imports, will host a Fair Trade Rug Event Wednesday through Sunday, March 18 through 22, at their shop in downtown McKinney. Their rugs are entirely produced by adult artisans working through the venerated Bunyaad artisan group in Pakistan. Purchase of these handmade rugs supports education, adult literacy and housing for more than 850 families in dozens of villages. Fair trade pays artisans a living wage and allows them the time they need to produce luxury-quality rugs, says Andrew. For instance, a typical wool and silk rug has 500 knots per square inch and takes four or five artisans 14 months to complete. Hear the Joneses speak on the topic March 19. Fair & Square, 219 E. Louisiana St., McKinney, 469.343.4421, fairandsquareimports.com. Rebecca Sherman J an Showers' new rug collection for Moattar, Ltd., borrows from some of her favorite inspirations: gold and platinum chain bracelets, delicate fretwork, graphic symmetry and classic link and Greek key patterns. "I have always loved jewelry, and especially gold chain bracelets," she says. The collection includes five styles and colors that play off precious metals — platinum, gold, silver and bronze — along with delicate shades of sky and chamois. The collaboration was a natural — Showers has used antique silk and wool Oushaks from Moattar for years in her design projects. "The Moattar family and I wanted the hand-woven, low contrast and silky texture of the old rugs to be produced with modern designs," she says. "It's a stunning combination of tradition and modernity." Price upon request, at Jan Showers & Associates, 1308 Slocum St., 214.757.5252, janshowers.com. Rebecca Sherman WHERE MODERN MEETS MOATTAR Fret Platinum Panel Silverlight TONY VALADEZ WITH FLASHBOX PHOTOGRAPHY FAIR and SQUARE John Robert Clark L eave it to Alexander Wang to reinvent, in a fit of irony, the beanbag chair. In sumptuous black leather or shearling with a geometric bronze base (and priced at $8,800), the slouchy basement furniture of our youth has been elevated to art … or couture, as the case may be. Wang, the creative director for Balenciaga, is known for his sleek urban style and predilection for black. Two years in the making, his first capsule home collection with luxury Italian furniture maker Poltrona Frau debuted last month during New York Fashion Week and is available to order. The limited-edition three-piece issue includes, aside from the two beanbag renditions, a portable bar cabinet in matte black shagreen with interior chunky brass shelves and recessed wheels ($18,500) to zip from beanbag to beanbag. At Scott + Cooner, 1617 High Line, 214.748.9838, scottcooner.com. Rebecca Sherman HIP HANGOUT STEVEN KLEIN Alexander Wang Alexander Wang leather and bronze beanbag chair, $8,800, and shagreen rolling bar, $18,500. Alexander Wang shagreen rolling bar with brass shelving.