ask jack about arranging a living room

valorie here...

jack mayberry is an interior designer at perch.
he went to undergraduate school in western pennsylvania, and graduate school at lsu. he studied and taught art.
the room vignettes at perch are spectacular. the merchandise caroline selects is a fantastic mix of antique, vintage, and contemporary. in the the two years the shop has been open, they have created a new new orleans style.

today we're going to show you a look book of how jack pulls together a room setting. even though it's done for a shop setting, there are things you can do at home that will make your rooms have a little bit of the perch look.

Jack here...

Let me show you how to redecorate with what you have on hand, or with simple purchases you'll need to create a room of your dreams.


Choosing art is always a personal preference. Keep in mind art is always an investment and does not have to come at a high price. Some of my favorite pieces have come from friends, art openings at local schools, and street fairs! Research what you have in your city.

Painting by Jack Mayberry

Sconces are a great lighting option. While your not going to curl up and read a book by one, they offer ambient light. Don't limit yourself to just using off the shelf sconces. Finding architectural pieces and wiring them yourself is easy and quite interesting.


Evaluate what you need in a sofa-comfort. Invest in spring down seating. Stay away from pattern because you will tire of it, and you will create a too dominant focal point for the room. Try finding solids with interesting textures or sheen. My favorite is poly velvet that looks like linen velvet, and when my dog Girl is done with her bone it's easy to spot clean. If a sofa has clean lines it will remain timeless. The sofa I am using is from the Todd Hass collection covered in a green grey silk mohair.


I like to use sea grass rugs. They're are very versatile and lend themselves to anyone's budget. The reason to include a rug is simple: it warms the room and makes it more intimate.



Personally I like coffee tables with interesting shapes that I don't have to windex daily, or that show my cats paw prints. This one is teak beauty, a table sold only at perch.


Bring in side chairs for comfort and accessibility. Stay away from small French chairs if your man is 6' tall or over. I chose two Barcly Butara slipper chairs covered in a cool light green suede.


Use accent tables. The sky's the limit as long as it's not gold leafed or lights up.


Search for unique accessories. By creating different levels in the room you provide fun places for the eye to go, and the room becomes more personal and exciting.

A special roll of antique trim
in an Italian cachepot
is unexpected and fun

Mix the old with the new. I love these contemporary solid glass art nouveau print nesting tables paired with some old books I've never read, and a handsome brass candelabra.


When choosing lamps I like to use this hand made clay line at perch. It's great shape and clean lines make it the perfect transitional lamp. This one glazed in a elephant gray.


Bring in the pillows! This is where you can add in color. Have your pillows made with zipper covers so you can change them out on a regular basis.


What to put on a coffee table? Stay away from the proverbial Tattler on the table. Worst than that is a bowl with your cell phone and keys. At least try something different! Here I'm using ceramic elk horns on both the table top, and nestled on the shelf below.


The living room is nearly finished!


Well I've pulled it all together using things we have on hand. I've mixed in the contemporary with the antique. The color palette is soft without being bland. The accents are interesting to look at. Your eye moves around the room. It's a setting with energy, and at the same time you feel that you can relax.
If a shop vignette can look this cozy, we know you can try some of these things at home to get a good result.



valorie here:
we hope you enjoyed the creative process it takes to pull a room setting together. if you have any questions about issues you have with your home, please e-mail perch and "ask jack" -

ps we'd love for you to stop by the store, but if you can't, many of the things jack used are on our web site.