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    The CultureMap Interview

    Iconic furniture design duo looks back on 25 years of changing America's living rooms

    Barbara Kuntz
    Barbara Kuntz
    Oct 26, 2014 | 10:02 am

    Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams faced a monumental decision almost 30 years ago: Would their joint venture be a Christmas tree farm? Perhaps a vineyard? Maybe even a furniture design house?

     

    "Those really were the options we discussed," Gold, then a Bloomingdale furniture buyer/marketeer, says of that conversation long ago with Williams, a talented graphic designer/promotions director. "We knew then we wanted to go into business together.

     

    "So we opted to pursue what we knew about most," he adds with a smile.

     

    Gold and Williams were in town on the eve of the dynamic duo's 25th anniversary party, held recently at their Highland Village store, as part of their celebratory year traveling from fete to fete at each of their 20-plus signature stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Inspired by the quarter-century milestone, Gold and Williams are also showcasing a fall collection filled with romantic glam, from couches and chairs in lush velvets and fluffy Tibetan wool and to a shiny bar cart with mirrored surfaces to every decor accessory imaginable in, what else, but silver tones.

     

    We chose one of the ultra-comfy display areas at the Westheimer Road store to sit down and talk more about beginnings, highlights and goals for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.

     

     CultureMap: You have so many wonderful collections now. Do you remember your first pieces and what they were like?

     

     Gold: We actually started just with dining tables and chairs. Our first chair was "Lucy," a fully upholstered piece with a scroll back . . ."

     

    (He looks to Williams, who helps jog Gold's memory.)

     

     Gold: And then there was "Rhoada," another fully upholstered piece but with a curved back. "Joan" is very similar to our "Sorrel" we now offer. We have one chair, the "Gloria," that we still sell today. And while we focused mainly on dining chairs, what we did, too, was offer 36 different fabrics, rather than 11 shades of beige that other manufacturers were offering.

     
     

    "And that's when I learned my lesson about Bob: If he tells me he's hungry, we eat. And we never miss a meal. Ever." 

     
     

    We had solids, florals and stripes. Now we have about 350 fabrics, plus 50 leather options.

     

     CM: When did you realize that you were on your way to becoming successful?

     

     Gold: We first knew that we were doing something right as we sent out invitations to our showroom in High Point to editors of various magazines. For a while, the only people who were attending were the junior editors. Then one year, the editors from House Beautiful, Southern Living, Metropolitan Home and others came to our showroom.

     

    They all wanted to see what it was we were doing. This was about five years into our business, and we were 40 to 50 percent ahead in sales of where we were the previous year.

     

     CM: Tell us more about your fall 2014 line showcasing your 25th anniversary collection.

     

     Williams: We've adopted silver as our theme, adding more pieces in this tone. Our bar cart is one, and it's all about celebrating with its Art Deco styling. We have bars, but we wanted to created an environment for our bar cart, using Lucite and reflective materials to give it that glam factor. It's all about romance.

     

    Also, we wanted to develop a deep purple in velvet that would stand as a neutral. After 12 months of lab dips, we finally achieved that color. The purple couch we had in our showroom at High Point this spring caught a lot of attention.

     

     CM: Even though styles change, has there been a "constant," a look that you have kept throughout your business?

     

     Gold: We're doing the same thing with velvets, just with more sophistication. We've always carried velvets.

     

     CM: Another constant has been your relationship as business partners. Any special or humorous memories you'd like to share?

     

     Gold: I'll never forget the time we were driving in California, looking at stores, and Bob becomes a bit fussy, saying he's hungry. Evidently, he really, really wanted and needed to eat. And that's when I learned my lesson about Bob: If he tells me he's hungry, we eat. And we never miss a meal. Ever.

     

     CM: What do you consider your greatest accomplishments or achievements?

     

     Gold: We have two, actually. For one, we have a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. We got on the "green" kick when few in the furniture business were calling it green. We found an alternative kind of cushion foam, which prompted us to think about other things, from the wood we used in our furniture to our packaging materials. For us now, it's common sense.

     

     

      "We're doing the same thing with velvets, just with more sophistication. We've always carried velvets." 

     
     

    Our headquarters in North Carolina is a regular stop on the school bus route. Our Lulu's Child Enrichment Center is the first on-site, education-based nonprofit day care center of its kind in our business. More than 275 children have graduated from this program, and we personally hand a diploma to each child, who joins us onstage wearing a miniature white cap and gown. We also offer a college scholarship program for our employees' children. And we love our employees.

     

     CM: I loved Lulu, your precious English bulldog who was your company mascot for years. Are you commemorating her in any way this silver anniversary?

     

     Gold: Yes, we once had a photographer take hundreds and hundreds of photos of her. We picked our favorite from that photo shoot, and now that image is a decoupage on a round tray available in three colors. She's our one and only mascot.

    Bob Williams, left, and Mitchell Gold.

    Bob Williams, left, and Mitchell Gold in 25th anniversary toast October 2014
      
    Photo courtesy of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
    Bob Williams, left, and Mitchell Gold.
    unspecified
    news/home-design

    the Picassos are real

    Star NYC designer dishes on Texas ranch-inspired Memorial restaurant

    Emily Cotton
    Jul 11, 2025 | 1:00 pm
    Latuli restaurant interior
    Photo by Frank Frances
    A caribou over the fireplace and 11-foot palm trees mix ranch and coastal styles.

    When Houston rancher and restaurateur Allison Knight first plucked interior designer Alfredo Paredes from an Elle Decor list of top designers, she was looking to overhaul a few “cabinlike structures” on her family’s Colorado ranch — which he executed to perfection. Now, Parades, a 33-year veteran of Ralph Lauren, including roles as senior vice president and chief creative officer, has put his stamp on Houston. Latuli, the cozy new Gulf Coast and Texas-game-heavy restaurant by Knight and chef Bryan Caswell shares its sophisticated-casual aesthetic with other Paredes-designed projects like the Polo Club in NYC and Ralph’s in Paris.

    Taking their cue from the lack of elevated-but-approachable dining options in the Memorial area, friends and business partners Knight and Caswell chose Hedwig Village as the ideal location to debut a restaurant that offers a little something for everyone — from art enthusiasts to kids.

    “It’s very comfortable. This is supposed to feel like an extension of somebody’s home,” Knight tells CultureMap. “It’s in the neighborhood. I wanted to create this unique space and gathering place. We want people to come multiple times a week.”

    An extension of someone’s home it certainly is — Knight’s, to be exact. Most of the eclectic art collections and sprinklings of taxidermy throughout the restaurant found their way into Latuli’s many spaces via Knight’s Memorial area home, some even pulled from the attic. Original watercolors by John P. Cowan, the founding father of sporting art and Texas wildlife conservation, intermingle with works by Kate Boxer, Fritz Scholder, Paul Meyer, and even Pablo Picasso.

    “People come in and ask immediately about the Picassos, even though they are just signed lithographs,” Knight says with a chuckle. Picasso aside, the larger-than-life, textural portrait of a Native American man by Austin-based artist Paul Meyer is most likely to win MVP when it comes to Instagram moments.

    The interior color palette of blue, ivory, and cognac lends itself to a myriad of styles, all which can lean either coastal or ranch, depending on the space. The soaring wood beamed ceilings and enormous caribou head over the functional fireplace in the main dining room play juxtaposition to the tropical grasscloth wallpaper by Fine & Dandy and pair of 11’ palm trees, yet their coexistence is harmonious—a quality that carries itself throughout the design.

    Latuli is comprised of five separate, but cohesive dining spaces — a covered outdoor patio, a main dining room, an intimate, secondary dining room, and bar/lounge occupy the ground floor, while a private lounge and event space is situated on the second. Knight and Paredes took advantage of Houston’s proximity to Round Top to source antique vases, pots, and the large antique bar and artworks found upstairs. Inspired by her ranches in Colorado and Texas, but wanting to incorporate coastal features as well, Knight finds it interesting to see how the design reads to guests.

    “It feels familiar to them, and they can relate to it in some way. Some people say it reminds them of a Texas ranch, some people say Santa Barbara, some people said Palm Springs, somebody said South America. It’s just really interesting to hear what everybody sort of focuses on and connects to,” says Knight.

    While the design inspiration may be pleasantly ambiguous, the execution was decidedly not. Designs by Paredes were all carried out by local makers and artisans. The extensive millwork and joinery found throughout the restaurant, including the paneling, flooring, ceiling beams, and inset white oak wait stations are all creations by Doro’s Unique Flooring. The glimmering and impossibly smooth plaster work is by QTS, and the very Ralph Lauren-esque cognac-colored banquettes were fabricated and upholstered by Martin Irazoqui of Picchios in Cypress.

    Paredes designed the dining chairs, but they were crafted in Houston, along with the tables, by Agile Interiors. The intricate textile-clad backs of the dining chairs have been a fan favorite.

    “The fabric features a series of horizontal stripes incorporating geometric and tribal motifs in a rich palette of blues and grays. The intricate pattern evokes handwoven and artisanal aesthetics,” Parades explains.

    Taking a step away from the blue, ivory, and cognac color palette of the restaurant, the glossy, emerald green tiled bathrooms are something to behold. Light from the bamboo Ralph Lauren sconces dances along the high gloss tile work, illuminating the softer features of the marble countertops and classic, unlaquered brass Waterworks fixtures. The tiles were sourced from local hidden gem Pyramid Imports.

    The intention for Latuli being that it’s a place that serves the local community, Knight and Caswell wanted to make sure there is a comfortable space for everyone. There is a somewhat sceney vibe to the main dining room, an always 21+ only bar that offers both bar and table seating for those who want to catch up with friends or take in a game, and an intimate dining room for those looking for a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. The latter of which has proven quite popular: “We have those tables booked every single night, which was a surprise to me,” says Knight.

    The popularity of the private dining space also lends itself to its moodier aesthetic. A lowered ceiling and dark blue walls provide the perfect atmosphere for groups who like to settle in and stay awhile. The walls in the room have a depth to them that is difficult to pinpoint. That’s because its textured finish isn’t a paint application — it’s actually a waxed canvas fabric from Lord Fabrik.

    “This material was originally developed for sailors and fishermen in the UK and later used in American field gear for workers,” says Paredes. “The materiality of the walls in this room pull both from coastal workers and American design.” Given that the pendants throughout this space are fishing baskets, the choice of wall covering is nothing short of genius.

    The thoughtfully covered patio plays multiple roles. Share a meal, have wine by the outdoor fireplace, or allow the kids to romp during pre-and-post-dinner lulls in the enclosed green space. While not exactly a “play area,” Knight knew she wanted a space for kids to be kids.

    “I did want to give the kids some breathing room, I knew we wanted a green space,” says Knight. “Families are coming in and they are using it exactly how I thought they would. They come in, they eat, the kids go out there, and mom and dad get a chance to actually visit and enjoy themselves.”

    While the interior spaces look primarily to Texas, the patio is more international. Guests dining al fresco are seated beneath a sea of pendant lights in a plethora of shapes and sizes, all in cohesive shades of ivory.

    “The pendants are made in Mexico but it draws inspiration from Mediterranean designs — more specifically the lattice part is Moroccan inspired,” says Paredes. “The intent was to evoke a mediterranean mood that complements the architecture of the building.”

    Knight looks forward to the cooler months ahead so that guests can appreciate the indoor and outdoor fireplaces. And you know what? So do we.

    Latuli restaurant interior
      

    Photo by Frank Frances

    A caribou over the fireplace and 11-foot palm trees mix ranch and coastal styles.

    alfredo paredeslatulirestaurant design
    news/home-design
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