HOME RUN

HOME RUN

RH Dallas, the long-awaited three-story furnishings source on Knox Street, replete with a rooftop restaurant, hits it out of the park.

BY PEGGY LEVINSON

Above: RH Dallas exterior; Below: RH Dallas Great Room; Right: RH Dallas wine bar detail. All photographs courtesy of RH.

After a day visiting trendy shops or simply standing in line at the Apple Store, how about a handcrafted espresso in a dramatic garden-like setting overlooking the bustling activity of Knox Street? Or maybe you’re more in the mood for a glass of champagne in an intimate lounge area, soothed by the sounds of fountains. Look around—are you in Dallas? Or New York, Los Angeles, or even a classical European garden?

This is the new shopping and dining experience brought to you by a mature Restoration Hardware, rebranded simply as RH.

No longer just a furniture store, the new RH Dallas is an immersive experience that allows you to thoroughly appreciate the full range of RH offerings in a dramatic contemporary structure filled with fresh air and natural light, taking advantage of the (mostly) temperate Dallas climate. Arrive by automobile and valet parkers will whisk your car to the fanciest of car parks while you admire the dramatic 42-foot wall of water fronting it, inspired by the wellknown fountain in Paley Park in New York City. From pedestrianfriendly Knox Street, a Venetian plaster exterior with multiple glass doors opens to lush garden courtyards.

The first floor is dedicated to the original, more-traditional RH models arranged in classic room settings that immerse clients in the total design experience—how does this sofa work with the table and lamp, and with the rug? Following the classic Vitruvian architecture designed by RH chairman Gary Friedman, you pass through symmetrical galleries surrounding the central atrium, with one side devoted to mostly light finishes and the opposite side showcasing dark finishes. Adding to the ambiance are antiques and artifacts from Friedman’s world travels.

To access the other galleries, climb the dramatic staircase. Both natural light and an installation of hand-blown crystal RH Modern Serenella chandeliers illuminate a double floating staircase. A composition of antique mirrors, each with a hand-applied metal leaf finish, interspersed with Cannele candlestick sconces along the walls of the staircase, creates an extravagant hall of mirrors effect.

The second floor is devoted to RH Modern and the RH Interior Design Atelier—a 5,000-square-foot design firm providing an unprecedented level of services through design experts. And, of course, interior designers and their clients are welcome to use the comprehensive design library that contains a vast assortment of fabrics and finishes. The RH rugs showroom has individual samples that can be purchased for integrating into room designs, and specialized galleries showcase window treatments, bed and bath linens, and hardware. The RH immersive experience allows a stroll through living to dining, from bedroom to bath, and all areas outdoors.

An added attraction, and a significant part of any home design, is what hangs on the walls. Offered here are works from artists around the globe through General Public, founded by actress and art collector Portia de Rossi in order to offer good art to more people, using proprietary 3-D technology to reproduce the nuance of an artist’s hand. RH, too, effectively offers good design to a bigger audience. Their collaboration with high-end design talents, like local favorites Ann and David Sutherland and the Dallas-born Hermés- and Comme des Garçon-commissioned artist and lighting designer Alison Berger, completely blurs the line between to-thetrade and retail offerings.

The third-floor glass-encased restaurant, wine bar, and a fully landscaped park furnished in RH Outdoor is the crowning glory of a retail masterpiece and integrated hospitality experience. Enjoy the delicious choices on the fresh menu in a glass atrium with sparkling chandeliers and olive trees, or go outside and enjoy the shade of London plane trees as you sit comfortably in an intimate setting and sip from one of the 40 specially selected California wines by the glass. The immersion is complete. P

RH Dallas rooftop terrace overlooks Knox Street. Courtesy of RH.

HOME RUN