Chris Reebals and Joanna Goodman in front of the showroom’s Eighteenth Street entrance. Photos by Jean Allsopp
Christopher Collection offers luxury home goods such as upholstery, furniture, lighting, bedding, antiques, art, accessories, and rugs. Lines include Janus et Cie, Verellen, Matouk, Pom Pom linens, and Montes Dogget. Customers will find art and photography from Paige Bradley, David Yarrow, and Simon Bull, as well as lighting by Visual Comfort, Currey & Co, Jamie Young, and LowCountry Originals. “These brands are not exclusive to Birmingham, but all together, they create an elegant presentation,” says Joanna Goodman of Christopher Architecture & Interiors. Serving both the retail and design community, Christopher Collection sells directly off the floor for immediate delivery. Custom orders are also available. “We continue to keep the collection fresh, interesting, and ever evolving,” says Joanna.
Homewood’s design district is expanding thanks to Christopher Architecture & Interiors (CAI). Sited on Linden Avenue, Christopher Collection is housed in a newly-designed building that represents Birmingham’s distinctive blend of industrial and classic architecture. See more of Christopher Architecture here.
“By combining traditional and modern designs, we were able to break the building up into separate yet continued spaces
that allow us to stay within the scale of Homewood,” says Chris Reebals, president and principal architect of CAI. One street off of Eighteenth Street, the building was carefully cited so it would naturally extend into the fold of Homewood’s
main thoroughfare. Two entrances, one on each side of the building, offer visitors completely unique experiences. The Eighteenth Street side opens as an art gallery before segueing into an airy showroom that feels like a sophisticated, downtown loft. The opposite side opens to the downstairs area filled with more welcoming vignettes of home.
“It’s an excellent resource for us (CAI designers) and our projects, as well as a creative outlet for the whole team,” says Joanna Goodman, vice president and director of interiors. “Birmingham has a large design presence with a vast amount of talent. We wanted to share a collection of products that inspire us and perhaps offer another layer of décor options for other designers, our clients, and friends.”
We encourage our designers and architects to design products to add to the collection. I created a line of mirrors and coffee tables that will be available soon.
Joanna Goodman
ISABELLE BUETTNER
Designer
FAVORITE THINGS:
I love the antique butcher block table in the Annex. If I were building a home, I would use this as a kitchen island and then design the room around it. Other favorite pieces are the photographs by David Yarrow on the wall behind me. They are edgy, cool, risky, and fierce.
PERSONAL STYLE:
I believe that your home and the items that fill it should tell a story through the tiny imperfections that make their marks over time. My heart strings get pulled towards anything that has the boldness to stand alone with no formality holding it up. And while I don’t gravitate towards formal, traditional pieces, I can appreciate them.
LEAH MANN
Lead Visual Designer
FAVORITE THINGS:
In this corner, each item is elegant enough to stand
alone, yet everything works together. The Verellen sofa easily transistions to classic or contemporary. The iron cocktail table offers distinctive details. “The Girl on The Train” by David Yarrow is a collaboration of the human and animal world in a creative, authentic gesture.
PERSONAL STYLE:
I find inspiration in fashion, interiors, and architecture. I love the sustainable power of classic design and the simplicity of minimalism.
INSPIRED BY:
Powerful women such as American architect Julia Morgan and Danish architect Dorte Mandrup.
SHERRI JOHNSTONE
Creative Director
FAVORITE THINGS:
I love everything about the Verellen dining banquette— from the shape, size, and hide upholstery to the upholstered legs. It’s a great brand to work with. Everything they offer is truly customizable, down to the height of the seat back.
PERSONAL STYLE:
I’m drawn to mid-century modern architecture and furniture. My true passion is photography. I spent a lot of time in the darkroom when I was an art major at UAB.
“I hope people come in and feel inspired. We want to be a place for them to explore new ideas and encounter pieces they have never seen before.”
AUDREY SCOTT
Samford Interior Architecture Student and Retail Associate
FAVORITE THINGS:
I love how the modern chaise and the 17th-century mirrors create such a beautiful juxtaposition in this corner. The soft neutral bouclé upholstery is so sharply contrasted by the loud Simon Bull painting.
PERSONAL STYLE:
My aesthetic centers around boldness and balance. I prefer a more eclectic approach.
I love designing around statement elements and using light to create spaces that invigorate and intrigue.
INSPIRED BY:
Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill’s La Fábrica project near Barcelona. It is the embodiment of contrast, scale, and inventive renovation.
Contact: christophercollection.com – 205.719.3206 – 2913 Linden Avenue Homewood, AL 35209
