Since opening their doors in the Dallas Design District sixteen years ago, AOI Home has become a true treasure chest for clients looking to source handmade gems for their space. Whether it be home furnishings, architectural elements, decorative accessories, or lighting, the AOI showroom is the perfect place for both the trade and public alike to find versatile pieces, big or small, that can’t be found anywhere else. Read on to familiarize yourself with the background of AOI Home, and what sets it apart from other DDD shops + showrooms.
Tell us about the background of AOI Home and how the Dallas Design District showroom came to be.
AOI Home was founded by Pankaj Dalal in 1974. He started by selling smaller accessories at trade shows. In 1979, he opened a permanent showroom under the name Art of Old India in the Dallas World Trade Center. We moved to the Design District in 2004 because we believed that this area would become a leader in the design world.
What do you enjoy most about having a showroom in the Dallas Design District neighborhood?
We love being surrounded by great galleries and showrooms. It makes it easy for our clients because they are able to source everything they need for a project without leaving the District. We also enjoy collaborating with other showrooms. We've been here since the beginning and it's amazing to see the area change every day. The restaurants have attracted more retail traffic and have helped our visibility.
What can visitors expect when they visit the AOI Home showroom?
You can expect to find a little of everything for your home. We carry home furnishings like coffee tables and ottomans, architectural elements like doors and columns, decorative accessories like mirrors and vases, and lighting. We are happy to work with both the public and trade and want everyone to feel welcome shopping in our showroom regardless of if you are purchasing a large door or a small accessory. We are constantly rotating our inventory so there is always something new to see.
In your opinion, what sets AOI Home apart from other local + national home furnishings and architecture showrooms?
Everything we sell is handmade. We believe handmade furnishings offer the best in quality and ensure that each item we sell is unique. You can feel the pride that the artisan took in crafting each piece. It's a great feeling to know that you are supporting artisans and helping them to pass on their skills. We also design a lot of our pieces ourselves so you definitely won't see those designs anywhere else.
If you had to describe AOI Home’s style in one word, what would it be and why?
Versatile. We are always amazed at how clients are able to incorporate our pieces into any type of decor.
Tell us about some of your favorite trends, collections and/or pieces for Fall + Winter 2020.
We are so excited about our next shipment. We are expecting some amazing hand-carved doors ranging from natural wood tones to painted blues to mother of pearl inlay. We are also happy to introduce our inlaid barstools. As more people forgo a traditional breakfast area for a large island, barstools have become more important. We haven't seen inlaid barstools anywhere else and know these will go quickly.
Complete this sentence: “No home is complete without _______________.”
No home is complete without furnishings that you can take pride in.
Next time you’re in the market for quality, one-of-a-kind pieces, it’s a safe bet that AOI Home will not only meet your needs but exceed your expectations. In the meantime, give them a follow on Instagram to keep up with their constantly rotating assortment of contemporary + antique inventory, and make your way to their website to start shopping select items.
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