Interior designer Meredith Ellis has a lofty wish list. Her dream project: To decorate the White House. She has our vote. Her timeless, classic style would be an ideal fit.
“What decorator wouldn’t want that job?” she said, laughing.
We caught up with Meredith at her 5-year-old Dallas Design District showroom, JAMES. The company — which represents more than 30 artisanal, high-end textile and furnishings lines — also has locations in Houston and Austin.
“We’re really big on brand identification. All of our vendors have their own space,” Meredith says. “One name may bring people in, but once they’re here, they discover all the others.”
In addition to fabrics and wallpapers, James offers a selection of lighting, rugs, indoor and outdoor furniture, and pottery. An A-list lineup features Kathryn Ireland, Walter G, Rebecca Atwood, Lisa Fine, Bunny Williams, and Peter Dunham.
She calls the concept “tactile.” Fabrics are on grommets; wallpapers, on record-sized boards. “Everything’s designed so clients can actually pick up samples and walk around the showroom. We want designers to come in, with or without their clients, and be able to sit down, spread out, and scheme.”
It plays to Meredith’s strength. She’s an expert at layering patterns, color, and texture.
By necessity, the mom of two is also a seasoned multi-tasker. Running a successful showroom—not to mention a thriving interior design business—is a 24-hour endeavor. Her husband, Hunter, heads up company operations. The evening is often spent planning, plotting, and problem-solving.
“There’s no typical day. But I think that’s what I like most about the business.”
After relocating to Dallas in 2020, Meredith managed to squeeze one more high-profile project into her already-packed schedule. She designed a bedroom — “The Admiral’s Chamber” — for the 2021 Kips Bay Decorator Show House.
The show was an excellent way to use local resources and dive deeper into the city’s incredible design community, Meredith told Veranda.
“A few years ago, I took my children to Mount Vernon and the very colorful blue room and the blue-green dining room really stuck with me. The majority of people love blue, and I wanted to do something that would make people feel comfortable while bringing in touches that were classical, historical, and coastal.”
Next on Meredith’s to-do list: Sprucing up the showroom for Texas Design Week. “We’re always adding, changing, moving,” she says. “It’s what keeps things interesting.”
Fun Facts About Meredith
Favorite travel destination: I love Europe. But Japan was pretty incredible too. Anywhere I can expand, I’m going to go.
Bucket list: To design a boutique hotel.
What people might not know about you: I love roller coasters. I’m a thrill seeker at heart.
How you relax: I cook every night, especially on the weekend. Right now, Thai food is my thing.
Six things you can’t live without:
- The Texas Hill Country
- My Breville Espresso Machine
- Kit Kemp-Designed Firmdale Hotels
- Fiesta Kitchen’s frozen chocolate chip cookie dough
- Dallas Arboretum and White Rock Lake
- Classical Architecture
