DESIGN CONNECTION

Located in the heart of Las Vegas’ hospitality district is a designer’s dream, brought to life in the form of a seemingly endless array of luxurious wallpaper, fabrics, furniture, carpet and lighting: The Gerrity Group. This trade-only showroom, with its impressive selection and sterling reputation, has become a haven of creative inspiration for both designers and their clientele.

The discerning eye of owner Jan Gerrity has served her well throughout her long career in the design industry. In 1975 she founded Rainforest Associates Inc., an “interiorscaping” firm that included two full-service floral shops. After selling the business a decade later, she opened RF Wholesale in 1985, a commercial plant and floral supplier to designers, developers, “plantscapers,” hotels, florists, convention/special events planners and the film industry. Beginning in 1990, she represented Kneedler-Fauchere’s showroom in Los Angeles for the Las Vegas territory—a collection of high-end furniture and textile lines whose projects included the Bellagio Hotel. And now, as the owner of The Gerrity Group, she lends her years of experience and expertise to her diverse and upscale showroom.

“The original concept of the company in the late ’90s was to bring the most cutting-edge textiles and furniture to local Las Vegas designers,” says Jan. At the time, it was the only local wholesale showroom. But in the last 10 years, she says, “the designers’ demand for great product has grown as fast as the city.” In response, The Gerrity Group has grown at the same fast and furious pace as Las Vegas itself. To this day, it’s the only showroom that services both hospitality and residential design in-house and at their offices.

Imagination is the only limit, as designers can find literally anything they’re searching for at The Gerrity Group. “If someone is looking for something, we’ve got it, or we can get it,” says showroom manager Ana Villela. From the sleek, spare lines of uniquely modern collections such as Serralunga, to the old-world charm of Spanish Colonial-influenced Colibri—and everything in between—the variety is nothing short of fantastic.

The showroom features several exclusive lines that can’t be found anywhere else; Polar Carpets currently works on custom designs and rugs exclusively through The Gerrity Group. Ruth Taylor, owner of Polar Carpets, has even moved her company into The Gerrity Group building. But if all that’s not enough, the unparalleled custom program will ensure that the specific pieces a designer has in mind can be brought into reality. “Most of our vendors will custom-size their own furniture, and some are even custom-only,” says Ana. Their newest vendor, RJones & Associates, is just one of the lines that offer customization.

While it may be the selection that initially draws designers, the inspiring ambiance and the friendly, knowledgeable staff keeps them coming back. “The diversity of our product lines couples with our staff’s product knowledge, expertise and customer service,” says Jan. Creative flexibility is fostered within The Gerrity Group’s laid-back atmosphere. Designers love the “memo room,” a well-equipped work area where they have access to textiles that are color-coded, alphabetized, and separated by vendor for quick and easy access. In one location, designers can view the latest trends, create a design board, and pull their projects together; the sky’s the limit. And The Gerrity Group’s “Space to Dream, Space to Work, Space to Fulfill Your Vision” philosophy means that there’s no one hovering unnervingly around—unless assistance is required, of course. “We leave everything open to designers,” says Ana. “We give them the freedom to work alone, but we’ll always be within ear range.”

Always striving to be at the forefront of the “next big thing,” The Gerrity Group is working with a consistently increasing number of vendors who provide “green” and sustainable products. One of their furniture vendors, STEW Design Workshop, uses alternative materials—such as wood from pressed sunflower seed husks—and donates their sawdust to local dairy farms to be used as bedding for cows. Another, Tucker Robbins, uses recycled tropical woods—even the enormous unearthed roots of dead trees—for his distinctive, naturally beautiful designs (and is also the founder of the Sustainable Furniture Council, which promotes sustainable practices throughout the industry). Even the textile vendors are in on the act, such as Pollack, whose fabrics are made with recycled and biodegradable materials utilizing a low-waste manufacturing process. Jan plans to keep expanding the showroom with even more “green” product lines.

In a further effort to keep its clients avant-garde, The Gerrity Group holds “What’s New Wednesdays” on the second Wednesday of every month—a lighthearted and educational summit where vendors speak to designers and highlight up-and-coming products. And speaking of up-and-coming, the showroom often hosts school tours to inspire a whole new generation of would-be designers.

As for Jan, keeping things fresh in the showroom is a top priority. “We increase our search to find more cutting-edge and fierce products for designers to play with,” she says. “That’s what we do.”

The Gerrity Group is located at 5193 West Oquendo Road in Las Vegas. They can be reached by calling (702) 255-8267.

Stephen Leon is President of Soleil Design Intl. Inc. and has been designing and manufacturing custom furniture and cabinetry for over 25 years. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) serving as Communications Director for the Central California-Nevada Chapter. Stephen can be reached at soleildesign@cox.net or 702-873-5358.