Not far off the overwhelmed path, in Houston’s Spring Valley neighborhood, exists an unassuming industrial constructing with a door marked solely by the enormous, seemingly anachronistic, olive oil jar that homes an olive tree. Behind this door lies Dwelling Century Residence, a retailer that sells imported ornamental items from Greece, Turkey, Indonesia, and India — all 100-years-old or extra.
Based in 2023, this fledgling firm has already gained “cult standing” amongst designers and designers from everywhere in the Southeast. Much more spectacular is that their advertising and marketing technique is merely old school word-of-mouth. This appointment-only showroom sees two guests a day on common, which is smart when every appointment lasts between two and three hours. These time blocks could seem excessive, however as soon as immersed in Dwelling Century’s santal-scented sea of olive jars, small pots, and picket items, it turns into clear how simply an individual might lose all sense of time whereas trying to find that excellent piece.
Umit Aktura based Dwelling Century Residence for pragmatic causes — he and spouse Melis discovered it irritating to supply genuine vintage olive jars for their very own dwelling. That earlier lack of genuine stock stateside is how Aktura explains their speedy success, even opening a secondary location close to the Dallas Design District final 12 months.
“I’m not somebody who can sit behind a pc monitor all day,” Aktura tells CultureMap. The previous software program engineer and College of Houston alumnus determined to take the leap into dwelling decor importing as soon as the household had efficiently sourced gadgets for themselves.
“We attempt to supply the most effective merchandise, we’ve got Spherical Top of the range and higher,” says Aktura. “We typically take two months abroad sourcing the easiest.”
Dwelling Century House is conscious that many backyard facilities and massive field shops provide mass-produced replicas of the varieties of gadgets of their stock, however that’s not a difficulty for them. “That’s not our consumer,” he explains.
Whereas many replicas exist of the massive, white, olive jars from Greece, the extremely textural and patinated jars from different international locations are inconceivable to copy. The three hottest types come from Turkey and are identified for his or her distinctive regional traits. These Turkish jars are Avanos, Aydin, and Odemis.
To help purchasers with finishing the Dwelling Century look, the corporate additionally sells regionally applicable “Shady Girl,” aka “Black Olive” bushes in 6-9’ heights — very full service certainly.
Each merchandise in stock is topic to an authentication course of and is tagged with shade codes and numbered seals — they’ve provenance. “Every little thing we’ve got I’ve put my very own fingers on and personally chosen,” Aktura tells CultureMap.
Olive jars of all sizes, small jugs, bread boards, accent tables and stools carved from a single piece of wooden, the record of things is spectacular. Superbly carved cupboards from India sit alongside a small number of eating tables. The shop additionally shares uncommon, lime-washed paper mache “bowls” (simply don’t add water!).
“One of the best items are solely right here as a result of we love them,” says Aktura. “That’s why we take a lot time sourcing.”
Most gadgets from Dwelling Century Residence are bought for personal collections, although just lately their antiques could be seen at Houston Greek restaurant Niko Niko’s, the brand new Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott retailer in the Heights, and what will likely be a really public-facing artwork set up in a soon-to-be-announced restaurant.
Don’t be misled by their appointment-only strategy to doing enterprise. With pricing between $45-$2,000, their antiques are very accessible, however hagglers beware: “This isn’t a Spherical Prime pageant model ‘purchase two, get 50-percent off’ type of place,” says Aktura with amusing. “Every little thing right here is particular.” Duly famous.
