HOLLY HUNT

Great Plains Textiles & Leather 2012. Courtesy of Holly Hunt
Great Plains Textiles & Leather 2012. Courtesy of Holly Hunt
Great Outdoor Textiles Spring 2013. Courtesy of Holly Hunt
Courtesy of Holly Hunt
well regarded interior design professionals throughout the
country.
The Texas-born design maven’s initial foray into luxury
furnishings came with her purchase of a showroom in Chicago’s
Merchandise Mart in 1983. The major designer in that first
showroom was Karl Springer, a designer and manufacturer of
luxury furnishings who was partial to Art Deco and classical
Chinese styles. She changed the name of that storefront from
R. J. Randolph to Holly Hunt and was off to the races.
Starting out, Hunt represented designer’s collections. Over time,
she built her own collections. Today Holly Hunt is a showroom
network of collections that are synonymous with luxury home
furnishings. While each location might have its own vernacular
with a variety of designers, each location also features Holly
Hunt’s wide ranging designs and finds. The Holly Hunt brand
includes Great Plains textiles, Hunt Leather, Holly Hunt Lighting,
and Studio H and Great Outdoors furniture collections.
Holly Hunt’s collections are complemented by works of
designers known for their own stellar creations who venture
into home furnishings. Alison Berger Glassworks, for instance,
was introduced within Holly Hunt Lighting in 1999. Also from
Texas, Alison Berger is an artist and glass blower trained as an
architect who studied with Dale Chihuly. Her blown glass light
fixtures are beautiful. One year ago Berger transitioned into
furniture with a unique line of tables that reflect her respect for
HOLLY HUNT
Positive Energy on the Luxury Home Front
Homeowners seeking success in creating fabulous interiors
often request the services of architects and interior
designers. In addition to delivering to-die-for residences,
the enlightened are trained to meet deadlines and work within
budgets. These professionals, in turn, rely on design resources
such as Holly Hunt.
Known as an arbiter of refined taste, Holly Hunt is all about
upscale interiors. With a signature that leans more in the
direction of contemporary and transitional than traditional, her
showrooms and collections are design central.
Holly Hunt showrooms are found in six cities – Chicago, Los
Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and Washington
D.C. — across the United States, as well as in London and
Sao Paulo, Brazil. In addition, Holly Hunt collections of
furniture, textiles, lighting and accessories are an important
component of many upper-tier design showrooms of other
Alison Berger Carpenter’s Bench. Courtesy of Holly Hunt
Alison Berger Jeweler’s Table. Courtesy of Holly Hunt
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Holly Hunt
Holly Hunt’s Miami Showroom. Courtesy of Holly Hunt
metalsmithing, carpentry and jewelry making trades. In her latest
collection, Tables of the Trade, she pays homage to art and craft
with attractive pieces designed for upscale interiors.
To provide even greater breadth, designers outside of Holly Hunt
signature collections have long-standing relationships within its
showrooms. Early on, for example, Hunt met Rose Tarlow, a
woman with an antiques shop in Melrose Place in Los Angeles.
Rose Tarlow’s more traditional collection is a mainstay in many
of the showrooms.
While Holly Hunt collections can be viewed online and the highstyle
showrooms are a big hit among homeowners drawn to top
tier home furnishings, the company’s selling arrangements are
Ralph Rucci Bronze Tea Table. Courtesy of Holly Hunt
to-the-trade. In other words, while everyone is welcome to shop,
interior designers and architects make the purchases.
Design is ever-evolving and so is Holly Hunt. In 2011 alone, the
Studio H Collection introduced an additional 80 modern furniture
pieces. In April, renowned American fashion designer Ralph Rucci
brought his first line of furniture exclusively into the fold.
“Holly has been known to partner with prominent architects
or artists that might not be known for furniture but that she
is certainly influenced or inspired by,” said Kimberly Perazzo,
Miami showroom manager. “With Rucci, it’s a capsule collection
for us, sort of a limited edition offering. He’s very much inspired
by his experiences with fashion. It’s a beautiful collection.”
Ralph Rucci Bronze Tea Table. Courtesy of Holly Hunt
Ralph Rucci Rib Chair. Courtesy of Holly Hunt
Since 2000 when Holly Hunt opened its award-winning,
freestanding, two-story showroom in the Miami Design District,
homeowners from southwest Florida have been fans. The design
savvy from Tampa to Naples enjoy visiting the 22,000 square
foot showplace.
Centrally located north of downtown Miami and 10 minutes
from South Beach, the Miami Design District is a masterplanned
environment designed to incorporate the best
shopping, culinary and cultural experiences in a vibrant urban,
tropical and creative setting. The district combines luxury retail
experiences in a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. After Holly
Hunt established her showroom, art galleries and exhibition
spaces followed. Renowned architects and photographers
opened studios. Restaurants opened, and before long luxe
retailers such as Louis Vuitton, Prada and Cartier followed suit
with high-style storefronts.
“Holly Hunt was one of the pioneers in Miami’s Design District,”
said Perazzo. “She saw that it would be a chic destination, and she
was one of the first to arrive.”
Holly Hunt is a legend in her own time. Excelling in the business
of showrooms filled with high-quality creations of exceptional
designers, she is at the forefront of the luxury home furnishings
field.
For more information visit,
www.hollyhunt.com
www.mathewsandparker.com
www.alisonvglassworks.com
Written by Mary Lou Smart
Holly Hunt’s Miami Showroom. Courtesy of Holly Hunt
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