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BEYOND THE MASON-DIXON ART + DECORATION P erennials Social is a handsome collection of u p h o l s t e r e d furniture and case goods from Dallas- based performance-textiles powerhouse Perennials and North Carolina-based luxury furniture maker EJ Victor that draws on the Southern- bred design talents of architect Bobby McAlpine. The 30-piece group is rooted in McAlpine's preference for clean lines and classic styling. Seating is upholstered in Perennials high- tech fabrics that have the look and feel of sumptuous velvet, cotton, and linen. Artisans working in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains at EJ Victor are legendary for their c r a f t s m a n s h i p , producing furniture for noteworthy sticklers of perfection including Ralph Lauren and Kelly Wearstler. Longoria Collection, 1101-02 Uptown Park Blvd., longoria c o l l e c t i o n . c o m . Rebecca Sherman MASON-DIXON A BRIGHT LITTLE SPOT ON FERNDALE A s much matchmaker as merchant, Upper Kirby Consignment is the newest addition to Ferndale's charming historic street of shops. Tucked down a driveway behind Phyllis Tucker's silver shop, the new consignment nook is the vision of Colleen Smith and Peggy Strode. "Between the two of us, we've lived in 21 homes in our adult life," says Strode, who has had residences in Moscow and England. An authority on English country homes and a lecturer on the subject, Strode tilts towards 18th- and 19th- century antiques; the equally well-traveled Smith has a penchant for the exotic, as well as contemporary art. The catalyst for opening Upper Kirby Consignment was Strode's recent move to the neighborhood. The shop quickly attracted a following among designers and those of who simply decorate well — we've seen decorator Randy Powers and developer Carol Barden poking about. Smith and Strode create new salons weekly to showcase the consigned goods, and less than a month in, they have turned over the inventory of their artfully arranged 326-square-foot bolt-hole. Our visit revealed a British Aesthetic Movement étagère, circa 1880s, with hand-painted leather panels; an intricate inlaid Spanish table from turn-of-the-century Granada carved by a workshop near the Alhambra; a folkloric Russian tablecloth in an eye- popping palette; Chinese export porcelain; handsome 19th-century books; a 19th- century Viennese porcelain plates depicting female rulers, from Catherine the Great onward; a marble T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings modernist lamp; and a contemporary still life by Belgium artist Mathieu Weemaels, originally acquired from Saatchi Art. A garden aerie is set up with a bar beneath a tented awning — a bit of Brighton Pavilion for impromptu client luncheons and cocktail gatherings. Thursday through Saturdays, and by appointment. Upper Kirby Consignment, 2919 Ferndale, 713.885.6964. Catherine D. Anspon Chit Chat chair Epaulette ottoman Colleen Smith and Peggy Strode with Lilly at Upper Kirby Consignment John Marie sofa JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON A vignette at Upper Kirby Consignment