Connie LeFevre turned a passion for Interior Design into three hugely successful businesses. She shares insight into what makes her stand out from the crowd.
Article by River Oaks Lifestyle Staff
Photography by Photography courtesy of Design House
Originally published in River Oaks Lifestyle
Connie LeFevre, an established interior designer with over 40 years of experience, is the only Houston interior designer to own her own studio, furniture and décor showroom, and fabric and wallpaper supply, all in one convenient location.
The Design House showroom offers curated furniture, lighting, art, and accessories, while Fabric House boasts a 9000-square-foot showroom with a vast selection of fabrics and custom options. We sat down with Connie to find out more about her businesses and her dedication to helping customers transform their spaces.
Tell us about your business. It actually seems like there are three.
As a designer, I opened Design House as a design studio. After searching for more unique products for my clients at various markets, and even when just traveling, I ended up with a warehouse full of treasures. A few designers learned about this private stash and asked me to see what I might have for them to use for their projects. That was when I decided to open a showroom, and the Design House showroom became an additional business. Fast forward about ten years and Fabric House was born, so there are three businesses now.
How are the offerings at Design House and Fabric House different?
The Design House showroom offers curated furniture, lighting, art, and accessories available from the floor or by custom order. Design House Studio is an award-winning design group with 40 years of experience and projects from coast to coast. It works on residential and commercial projects, remodeling, and new construction.
Fabric House’s 9000-square-foot showroom offers a wide selection of fabrics, trims, wallpaper, custom bedding, pillows, upholstery, window coverings, drapery hardware, and motorization. Both showrooms and the design studio are in The Houston Design Center.
What makes your design approach or showrooms unique compared to others in the industry?
Our service, attention to detail, and passion for the business are apparent to visitors. We have actually had shoppers tell us they come in periodically for inspiration. Since we have been doing this for so many years, we are highly qualified and experienced in design, sourcing, procurement, logistics, and installation for both retail and the trade. Plus, we offer in-house fabrication and custom capabilities. Our showrooms are fun and exciting experiences for shoppers with edited, carefully selected, and displayed products from a long history of acquiring sources. This provides our clients and customers with solutions for projects that often they have not even imagined. Our showrooms and design studio offer an unparalleled experience that is worth the time and investment.
How does someone visit or learn more about these showrooms or design services?
We welcome both the trade and public to visit Design House Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 5:00, and Saturday, 10:00 – 5:00. Fabric House is open Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 5:00. Customers are invited to come in and learn more about the differences in the quality of furnishings and art, advancements in technology in lighting, fabrics and wallcoverings (even LED wallcovering), artisanal and sustainable selections, and imagine paper made from pineapple and banana waste! Also, please call our studio if we can help with space planning, lighting planning, FF&E selections, and elevations or if you want someone to review your plans before construction. We look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve the most exciting and functional personal space.
“Our showrooms are fun and exciting experiences for shoppers with edited, carefully selected, and displayed products from a long history of acquiring sources.” – Connie LeFevre
