As Houston continues to see its star rise in the world of design, the onetime cliched notion that creatives simply must flock to Austin to obtain any street cred is beginning to shift. While some still consider the capital of Texas to be the epitome of cool, the pendulum swing to the east represents a well-deserved acknowledgment of the award-winning work being done in the Bayou City. And what better proof of this than two Austin design staples, Canvas Showroom and J&L Hardware, opening locations in River Oaks.
The newly-refurbished shared space is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it trade-only building nestled amongst a nest of warehouse spaces and a scuba shop, and yet, it is truly a design oasis. Houston favorite Thompson + Hanson created the landscaping, which includes a variety of pollinator-attracting plants on the exterior and an impressively-sized olive tree in the enclosed, European-style courtyard dividing the Canvas and J&L Hardware showrooms. Dramatic, yet understated, the courtyard sets the tone for the artisanal magic found inside.
Interior designer and Houston native Christina Cole first opened her trade-only Austin stalwart, Canvas Showroom, in 2019. Since that time, the showroom has become a must-stop-and-shop for her meticulously-curated artisanal textiles, furnishings, and more. The new River Oaks showroom is shared with Austin neighbor and fellow trade-only showroom J&L Hardware, and both promise personalized service, expert consultations, and access to exclusive products that embody artistry and functionality.
Husband-and-wife team Josh and Naleah Rygs founded Austin-based J&L Hardware in 2015 and have since introduced an abundance of exclusive European plumbing and hardware lines to Texas. The J&L space is a remarkable reflection of Naleah Rygs: elegant, sophisticated, timeless, and warmly approachable. Garishly-branded placards are absent here, replaced by a gallery of nondescript fixtures in every finish imaginable. Guests of Miraval Resort & Spa, The Hotel Albert, The Commodore Perry Estate, and more will be familiar with their work.
Representing a curated selection of the world’s finest artisanal brands, J&L Hardware offers trade professionals access to collections from Volevatch, Nanz, Studio Ore, The Water Monopoly, Fantini, Armac Martin, Sun Valley Bronze, Samuel Heath, THG, Cocoon, Cea, Pruskin Hardware, Studio Bookmark, Toni Copenhagen, Watermark, Merit Metals, and more. That’s not to say that J&L overlook the mainstream, everyday brands as well.
“We look at ourselves as a big box in a little box,” Naleah tells CultureMap. “Our heart is to allow for those [mainstream brands] to be foundational, then be able to layer in or customize big pieces here and there — I never want to tell someone ‘no.’”
Prior to moving to Texas, Naleah had only lived in Los Angeles and NYC, and her taste reflects that: “I’m feeling highly influenced by the [Houston design] community,” she says. “I love their viewpoint on things. I love the things that they are focused on that are different. Houston might be a little more traditional, or have moments of it, and then it has moments of gorgeous modern. We are such a melting pot in this landscape, and I love international influences.”
J&L Hardware is appointment only, allowing for design professionals to come in for personalized service and work without distractions. “This is just beautiful because we want for you to enjoy your time. We want you to feel comfortable and inspired — it’s just a different way to work. You want to feel like you really have a team supporting you, because our clients are the trade: your builder, your designer, or your architect. We are an extension of a team versus a shop to shop in; the trade is the synergy of our work,” she says.
Just across the courtyard is where you’ll find Canvas. Fans of organic, sustainable living will be found flocking to this showroom, as it’s the core identity of Canvas. This jewel box showroom features a thoughtfully-curated mix of globally-sourced materials and objects, from innovative artisanal textiles by Anne Kirk, Inata Alpaca, Chapas, Designs of the Time, JG Switzer, and Karin Sajo; to textural rugs from Awanay, La Manufacture Cogolin, Miksi, and Van Ghent; as well as distinctive lighting, furniture, and decorative objects from Kaia Editions, Alinea Design Objects, Danny Kaplan, Fern, and more.
“Houston felt like a natural choice for Canvas Showroom’s second location, not only because I grew up here, but because of the energy, creativity, and cultural depth that define the city,” Cole tells CultureMap. “Canvas was founded on the belief that luxury should feel inviting. We offer refined, exclusive furnishings with an approachable spirit, and that philosophy resonates with the most compelling aspects of Houston’s design culture. It’s a place where warmth and elegance go hand in hand.”
Canvas distinguishes itself by offering small-batch, artisanal, handcrafted lines, making it especially appealing to a health-conscious clientele who prefer organic materials like cotton, wool, cactus, and nettle fiber materials.
“If you have the appetite for it, we have the product for it,” says Canvas sales director Nick Lanni. “A lot of what we carry is sustainable, it’s natural, it’s organic. We don’t want off-gassing and terrible chemicals in your house.”
Noting that the organic movement began with food and has slowly crept into the home industry, Lanni makes a compelling argument for sourcing from Canvas: “For centuries people have been using these very products to make things — it’s not brand new — but it’s brand new to modern times, where plastic is king.”
Very big on “vibes,” Canvas curates lines that bring soul and a human touch to the market. Family sheep farms that hand craft felted wools, husband and wife ceramicists who make lighting fixtures, woodworkers’ hand hewn furnishings — these items carry on centuries of traditional crafts.
“Someone’s soul is in it. They are putting their blood, sweat, and tears into it,” says Lanni. “All the product from here, someone has touched it to make it, and that’s really important when you’re putting together your home. You want the good energy, and when things are created with love, it’s just better.”
