One of the greatest joys for me is watching a customer’s first experience with Company C. 
When they open the door to one of our retail stores—whether Concord, Portland or Hingham—or at one of our wholesale showrooms, they stop for a minute, look around, take a breath and say “wow!” As Co-founder and Design & Creative Director, this is my favorite thing to witness, over and over again. It means we’ve been successful at creating an exciting shopping experience—causing a desire to explore more!
They’ll start meandering through the store or showroom, taking in the various vignettes, whether a living room for a coastal getaway or a bedroom that would be great for a city loft. Colorful combinations of textures and patterns.
Sometimes, after a customer has walked through the store, they’ll ask, “so much color, how can I get this in my home?” and “Where do I begin, my house is all beige?” and “I have mostly brown, red and gold, how do I incorporate color?” I love hearing this—we’ve ignited a fire in their imaginations.
For the rug—the foundation the room–my recommendation is to start with the colors you love, not with what’s in trend, if you begin with your favorite color(s), they’ll never be out of trend. Then pick out the rugs that fit this palette. Take them home and see how they 
look on your floor and in your own light—day and night. Pick out the one that you’re ready to build your room around. You cannot go wrong if you love the colors. Freshen up with colorful trend accents such as pillows, throws and decorative accessories that are easier to freshen up after a few seasons.
And then, the icing on the cake…hearing a customer walk out the door saying…“bye, bye beige.”
What is your most daring color story?
Chris Chapin
Design & Creative Director
