Showroom Profile

BY KIMBERLY MACARTHUR GRAHAM

>>> Objets, Ltd., Denver Colorado

Contemporary pieces in neutral hues make up one vignette.

A visit to a chic showroom redolent with the perfume of lilies is the perfect antidote to unpleasant (i.e., soggy) Denver weather. Objets, Ltd., in the Denver Design District, is glam enough to offer a pick-me-up to anyone's eyes and spirit, and if you're lucky enough to score a chat with ebullient president Judith Harris, the mood lightens even more.

"I feel fortunate that I can see through the eyes of the consumer and of the designer," says Harris, who had an interior design business before deciding in 1990 that she was happiest on "this" side of the design equation. Objets started out as purely an accessories source, but Harris quickly realized that successful showrooms need more. "They really need the whole package," she says. "Full vignettes make it easier for the designers to sell pieces to clients because it's easier for clients to picture the results or get ideas."

Classic furnishings, including antique reproductions, are also available.

A woman whose smart personal style mirrors her beautiful inventory, Harris is definitely a people person. Her strong relationships with vendors—who bring her stunning one-of-a-kind pieces such as a genuine Ming Dynasty scroll painting of a family tree—translate to great finds for her clientele. Additionally, the majority of her vendors will readily customize pieces to satisfy even her pickiest clients.

Swimming against today's throwaway culture, Harris avows, "What I try to offer are furnishings that will be investments." Objets reveals to those clients who want the best an array of what Harris aptly calls "sophisticated, comfort-level furniture; not ultra-contemporary, but not log cabin-y, either."

Rustic woods and European-style accessories are some of the offerings at Objets, Ltd.

Objets focuses on quality, presenting a range of good looks from antique to contemporary. Lines seen on the floor include Ferguson Copeland, Bausman, Vanguard, Equator and Eric Brand Furniture. There is something for everyone whose taste is classically oriented, tinged with a bit of drama. One could swoon over the "white gold" Ferguson Copeland coffee table, its top awash in a pattern of silvered squares. Or perhaps the clean lines of an Eric Brand "Gracie" settee, dressed in modish pistachio upholstery with walnut legs, get the blood pumping. If neither of those, then how about a lovingly hand-refinished antique or a painted chest or bench made from reclaimed wood, both by Brazilian company Equator? If those last are the heart's desire, a word of warning from Harris: "I try to sell them off the floor because it takes so long to get more."

Though one might assume a dark effect from this plethora of fudge-colored leather, woods darkened by oil and the patina of age, and deeply colored plush fabrics and faux furs, Objets sparkles, thanks to lighting lines such as Luna Bronze, Kahm Design and Hart Associates, plus a private-label line that transforms found objects into unique lamp bases. One particularly fetching pair of the latter are lit-up Dreamsicles, with yummy orange-and-cream swirled glass. Another find is Hart's "Dropping Crystal" chandelier, a striking combination of a skeletal frame and elongated crystal drops that would be a show-stopper in any room.

Rounded lines and dark woods come together in a bungalow-style vignette.

And don't forget the unique accessories that, just perhaps, are Harris' greatest joy. Jade teapots, foo dogs carved in soapstone, 19th-century wicker "pillow chests," elegant dried and silk plant arrangements, faux fur throws and original paintings (including pet portraits) are just a handful of the offerings that make Objets a destination.

With a second showroom in Austin, Texas run by Harris' daughter (who also has an interior design background), Objets has grown well, but it will never be far removed from Harris' unique touch. "I take a personal interest in every thing in here," says Harris.

Objets, Ltd., 595 S. Broadway, Suite 112W, Denver, CO; (303) 777-6830 or www.objetsltd.com.