Living Luxe: Your clientele includes homeowners who come in to select luxury pieces from the store, but you also cater to designers and architects. What makes John Paul & Co. so different and unique, and why has it become such a destination for professionals in the design industry?
Valerie Simone-Georgiadis & Emily Peluso Lopes: John Paul & Co. is an amazing blend of exclusive luxury brands, but we also have a vast resource of made-in-Italy suppliers that can help complement any project’s budget — we call it “beauty in blending.” We also have incredible styling pieces from Missoni, Assouline and Alexandra Von Furstenberg, for example, that add a spectacular pop to any space. We are a unique destination because we carry mostly luxury brands, but we are also an experienced furniture retailer.
Living Luxe: The store is at the intersection of fashion and furniture — of course, fashion has always influenced home decor and design. How does fashion influence the items you hand-select for your showroom?
VSG & EPL: Fashion trends are formed by what is happening in pop culture and world events, so we really pay close attention to all aspects of design influence. We understand what customers are gravitating to for their homes, but we also take notice of what customers are wearing, sharing or caring about. We have a pulse on our brands’ fashion house collections, which informs their home collections. Our team is made up of experts from furniture and fashion backgrounds, so there is a great synergy, wealth of knowledge and understanding of how to dress interiors.
Living Luxe: We know you carry curated products from very luxe, high-end brands. How do you choose the brands you work with and what makes them a good fit for John Paul & Co.?
VSG & EPL: Our focus is made-in-Italy furniture collections from brands such as Versace, Malerba, and Missoni Home, and we curate accent pieces like Assouline and Cobra Art to complement those brands. Our brands have made sure to keep sustainability top of mind, and we have new and exciting Italian furniture brands that we are adding to our showroom roster.
Living Luxe: What’s currently in your showroom that you’re excited about?
VSG & EPL: Our buyers attended Milan Fair in the spring, and all the new 2023 collections have arrived. We are really excited for the birth of color, patterns, and textures that are coming in on all our collections.
Living Luxe: What trends are you looking forward to in the coming months — fall 2023 and winter 2024?
VSG & EPL: We’re expecting to see pops of color inspired by nature, including shades of green and blue, as well as jewel tones. We will also be seeing curves and organic lines — Italians certainly know curves and the importance of the correct lines in design, whether they’re designing furniture, cars, or shoes. Italian design is known for their careful attention to how important lines are when it comes to creating the perfect piece.
