For generations of Atlanta families, Mathews Furniture + Designs has been the place to go for high-end furnishings, art, lighting and home accessories.
The founders & owners: Barbara "Bobbie" Mathews initially sold furniture to friends out of her house, named "La Maison Blanche" in Buckhead. When Biggs Furniture on West Paces Ferry decided to close, Barbara and Stewart Mathews took over the space, and in 1980, opened Mathews Furniture. Today, their son, Stephen Mathews, who grew up in the business, is the owner and president of Mathews Furniture + Design.
What makes our shop different: We have been in the same place for 36 years so a lot of our customers are repeat business and include generations of families. We also are one of the only showrooms in the country that have a "Baker At" stores, which is essentially a curated showroom within our store.
The main goods: Top lines include Baker, Hickory Chair, Century, Sherrill, Theodore Alexander, Hancock & Moore, Stickley, Visual Comfort and Shifman mattresses.
Services we offer: Full design services, from a whole house to a sofa. When you purchase an item, you get an in-house designer than can assist as much or as little as you need. We also offer White Glove local delivery on all purchases for just $125.
As seen in: Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Symphony Showhouse; Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles 2016 Southeastern Decorator's Showhouse; and the recent Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles 2016 Home for the Holidays Showhouse.
Claim to fame: Several members of our design staff have received American Society of Interior Designer (ASID) design excellence awards for their projects and featured in numerous publications such as Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, The Atlantan, Interiors Atlanta, and Atlanta magazine.
Known for: Our accessories, including art, lighting and rugs. They are the jewelry pieces that make a space and are in demand on a regular basis.
Popular gift items: Hard-cover coffee table books from Rizzoli, Assouline and Abrams (from $35). Also, L'Objet candles ($95); Ralph Lauren silver or gold picture frames ($125); and Baker cashmere throws ($597).
People would be surprised to learn: A good portion of our business is with local designers, who like that we sell off the floor when they need something quick. Also, that I love to travel and will go to Hong Kong or Dubai for just a few days.
Always on the hunt for: Unique and original items. Current favorites are paintings by William McLure in Birmingham and handmade pillows by Designs by Sudi in Atlanta.
Favorites
- Blogs & websites: The Ace of Space; The Style Files; and Travel Dose.
- Magazines: Architectural Digest; Town and Country; World of interiors; and Departures.
- Instagram @: clothandkind; cntraveler; tristan_butterfield; smallluxuryhotels; and helen_ballard.
- Atlanta area home/design stores (other than my own): Mrs. Howard/Max & Company and Bungalow Classic.
Design pet peeves: Matching furniture in any room. Rooms from a single collection feel like they lack character. Also, poorly positioned art. It should be at eye level.
Current design obsession: Black and white
New or re-emerging designs I like: Traditional colors, like deep green, coming back but in an updated way. Also traditional pieces with more modern art and accessories.
Most unusual requests: Asked to wash a client's car. Also, told a famous client I'd meet the FedEx plane to get the product here that day.
Biggest design mistake I have made: Waiting so long to update and renovate the kitchen and keeping room in my house.
… and biggest design mistake homeowners make: Doing it themselves and not listening to the advice of a professional designer. Also not buying quality. My dad used to say, "Quality is long remembered when price is long forgotten."
What's new or next: The new Mark D. Sikes collection for Henredon. His furniture and accessories are timeless, beautiful and all-American. Also, Darryl Carter, the latest Baker/Milling Road designer, has introduced an extensive assortment of lighting, furniture and accessories. Many of the pieces feature antique silhouettes and traditional ideas made modern.
Find Mathews Furniture + Design at:
• Website: www.mathewsfurniture.com
• Facebook: Mathews Furniture
• Instagram: @mathewsfurnitureanddesign
