Q&A with Christopher Rankin of Stock & Trade

Tell us a little about the space you designed for the 2019 Inspiration Home and from where you drew inspiration.
CR: Elegant Serenity – Inspired by the beautiful tranquil lakeside view, we focused on creating a space where form meets function, rustic meets sophisticated, and comfort meets style…an elegant space, casual enough to relax and enjoy time spent with family and friends. We began with a neutral color pallet using textures in linen and leather to compliment the natural architectural elements of the wood ceilings and stone fireplace. Accents of art and textiles, in soft blues and greens, add further visual interest, and help create a seamless visual transition from the view outside into the home. Metal finishes on occasional tables and decorative accents in bronze and gold tones add additional texture and warmth to the space.

Do you have a favorite finish or design detail that you like to incorporate in your work that we can expect to see here?
CR: We love warm metals in tones of bronze and a soft golds. We use them a lot in occasional tables, lighting, and accessories. We love antiqued mirror finishes as well. Both add another element and texture to the room that’s clean and elegant, without being cold.

IG accounts you follow?
CR: Our design team’s personal IG lists are pretty extensive. We follow several of the vendors that we source product from, as well as, our favorite local designers, architects, artisans, and design publications. We have an incredible amount of talent in Birmingham and all of the cities we’ve expanded into. These lists grow larger with each new location we open. On a regional and national level, we are drawn to those whose work is a mix of casual elegance, clean lines, sophisticated style, and a serene comfortable aesthetic. We love the work of Bobby McAlpine, Ray Booth, Darryl Carter, Suzanne Kassler, and Susan Ferrier, just to name a few.

What kinds of things can we expect to find in your shop?
CR: Our showrooms are filled with pretty much everything one would need to furnish their entire home. We stock a wide selection of upholstery, case goods, linens, rugs, lighting, art, accessories, etc. If we don’t have it in stock, we have an almost limitless list of items available to order.

Aside from your own store, where do you shop locally for your own retail therapy?
CR: We love to shop our local fellow home interior stores. Birmingham has some beautifully curated showrooms to explore and find inspiration. We also love shopping for art, antiques and unique finds in shops like Roman Brantley, Lolo French Antiques, and Architectural Heritage. On a larger scale, a trip to Scott’s in Atlanta is definitely a great reason to take a weekend road trip. We love a Saturday morning adventure to Pepper Place. It’s a great way to spend several hours. And, perusing the shops and galleries in the loft district downtown usually provides some great retail therapy as well.

Learn more about Stock and Trade by visiting their showroom in Homewood or visiting their website here.

Click here to learn more about the 2019 BHG Inspiration Home.