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Design Of The Gone Stateside MOMENT A fter leaving his role as VP of Far East operations for J. Crew, John Erdos launched his namesake international home design business in Singapore, where his furnishings landed in the homes of Giorgio Armani, Julia Roberts, Helen Hunt and Susan Sarandon. Now, we're getting a taste of the design mogul's far- flung, fashion-infused style with his new Dallas store, Erdos at Home, which packs a collection of furniture, lighting and accessories handpicked from Europe, Asia and the United States. The opportunity to launch his own brand came during a time when Erdos craved a new challenge. Connections were made, and a year ago Erdos relocated stateside at the behest of the board of directors for IO Metro, which hired him as CEO to revitalize the struggling Arkansas–based furniture company's 12 locations, including the one in Dallas. There was work to be done. "When I looked at everything," he says, "the product wasn't up to my design aesthetic or quality, and I wasn't crazy about the name." Erdos recom- mended a fresh start for the company, which included moving its headquarters to Dallas. But he's quick to add that the switch from IO Metro to Erdos at Home is not a rebranding; it's an entirely new concept "from top to bottom, including design, culture and the team." The new name and fresh look debuted in late Janu- ary in Dallas, with 11 additional stores slated to open in former IO Metro locations throughout the South and Midwest this spring and summer. "I've merchandised the store like a fashion retailer," he says. "New collections come in each season, but everything works well together." The four launch collections range from color- ful Palm Springs mid-century, beach-y Hamptons, sophisticated classic and urban- industrial modern. "The biggest thing I'm drawing on from my days at J. Crew," he says, "is to stay focused on your look and what you stand for, but throw in some- thing new each season that takes things in a different direction." Case in point: At Erdos at Home, a traditional Chesterfield sofa might be done in unexpected blue denim leather. "Ultimately," he says, "I don't want anything in the store I wouldn't have at my own home." Erdos at Home, 4531 McKinney Ave., 214.484.5110, erdosathome.com. Rebecca Sherman B right Scandinavian textiles from the mid-20th century inspired the latest rugs from Matt Camron Rugs & Tapestries. The Scandinavian Flatweave collection includes 20 patterns and hues that work well with both Scandinavian antiques and mid- century styles, says Sarah Tringhese, whose father, Matt Camron, founded the company 30 years ago in Houston; namesake showrooms in Dallas, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C., followed. Matt Camron's expert artisans in Afghanistan and Egypt hand-weave the kilims from 100 percent wool. Traditional kilims are often more muted, but these feature light yellows, blues and purples to complement current design and furniture trends. A typical 9' x 12' rug starts at $3,800 and takes 12 weeks to make. "We have so much control over production that we can easily customize and quick-ship anything," Tringhese says. "We can customize colors to paint chips or furniture fabrics, and do a rendering and a sample to show customers before production even begins." Matt Camron Rugs & Tapestries, 1620 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.744.5740, mattcamron.com. Rebecca Sherman WHAT'S FAB UNDERFOOT Malmö by Matt Camron Marta by Matt Camron Sling T he new Oak Lawn Avenue home- furnishings store Living Modern bridges a gap in the city's modern-design market: between high-end trade showrooms in the Dallas Design District and big-box stores such as Crate & Barrel in nearby Knox-Henderson. "We identified a niche for modern, mid-priced furniture that just wasn't available in Dallas," says owner Evan Gerstein, a Miami native who moved with his wife and store co-owner, Norma Gerstein, and their children to University Park three years ago from Monterrey, Mexico. Both Norma and Evan came from families that owned furniture stores, so getting into the business was a natural choice. "Furniture and design are in our DNA," Evan says. Modern Living is massive, with 7,500 square feet of upholstered pieces, tables, lighting and accessories — many lines coming from abroad, including Nicoline from Italy and Mobital from Canada. The boutique is also the exclusive local purveyor of Calvin Klein Home rugs. Sofas range from $1,800 to $3,200 and sectionals from $2,400 to $6,200, with special pricing offered to the trade. "Millennials are changing things," Evan says. "The new generation wants quality but doesn't want to spend $25,000 on a sofa. Trends are important to them, and they want a fresh new look every few years." There's plenty to assist your next room revamp: In addition to a chair gallery, which showcases dining and side chairs that are kept in stock, and a section dedicated to upholstery fabrics and wallpapers, Modern Living offers a full-service design studio gratis for retail customers. Considering Norma's resume — she's an interior designer with a masters in visual arts from the prestigious Domus Academy in Milan, and trained under Armani and Versace — her aesthetic advice is well worth seeking. Living Modern, 3900 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.559.7050, livingmodernhome.com. Rebecca Sherman SINGAPORE John Erdos Living Modern furniture and accessories