Looking to bring a bit of old-world European charm to your next design project? Fancy a limestone mantel for your fireplace, a set of signed bronze door handles to welcome your guests or a pair of gold-plated gothic candlesticks to illuminate your dining room? No need to locate your passport, jump on a plane and travel across the ocean. Stop by Pittet Architecturals to discover a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind antique furnishings and architectural elements.
Meandering through Pittet Architecturals feels like time traveling to the Roman Forum or the Château de Versailles, a place dotted with commanding columns, ornate fountains and rich history. Lucky for us, this peerless place is right here in the heart of the Dallas Design District. One of the top importers of European architectural elements in the country, the family-owned business has been helping designers and homeowners outfit their spaces with reclaimed European treasures for over two decades. “We’re paintbrushes to their canvases,” says Robinson Pittet.
Pittet joined the business five years ago but has been enamored with travel, architecture and design since childhood. Pittet’s father, Raymond, a renowned expert in antique carpets, tapestries and tribal weavings, parlayed his passion for antiquities and architecture into antique furnishings and antique architectural elements. The Pittets scour Europe, cementing connections in the antiques and artisans trades and cherry-picking masterworks of history and craftsmanship for your home and garden.
Their 40,000-square-foot showroom is an ever-changing landscape of inspiration for discerning design aficionados with a love of limestone, marble and reclaimed artifacts. The Pittets travel to Europe quarterly so you’ll always find something new in the showroom that showcases pieces from the early 17th to the late 20th century. One of Robinson Pittet’s favorite pieces is an original 15th-century carving of Pope Alexander VI; however, he also lights up when talking about the extensive and unique flooring options gracing the showroom.
Some of the gems you’ll unearth in the showroom include limestone and marble mantels and fireplace surrounds, reclaimed doors, statues, indoor and outdoor fountains, farmhouse sinks and a variety of decorative elements. You’ll also discover stunning flooring options, from a wide selection of oak flooring to tile and reclaimed European stone sourced from the region’s revered master stone carvers and artisans.
The Pittet Architecturals team collaborates with top designers from around the country and outfits grand homes in Dallas with ancient architectural elements that reclaim their history in modern spaces. Pittet cherishes the journey of seeing pieces travel from Europe to the Dallas showroom and into new spaces. Last year, he especially enjoyed assisting several of the 26 designers from around the country who outfitted spaces in a gorgeous Georgian estate in the Old Preston Hollow District for the Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas 2021. He was delighted to support the project, which raised funds for the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in New York and Dallas-based nonprofits Dwell with Dignity and the Crystal Charity Ball.
At press time, Pittet was looking forward to his upcoming trip to Europe to visit with family and bring back architectural gems. His vision for the future includes updating processes so the company can run on a larger scale.
“I look forward to elevating the way we do things to grow the business,” says Pittet. He invites you to visit the Cole Street showroom Monday through Friday from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment.
Stacey Marcus is a Boston-based freelance lifestyle, luxury and travel writer. Her works have appeared in Art New England, Boston, Boston Common Magazine, Coastal Design Magazine, Charleston Style & Design, Modern Luxury Chicago, Ocean Home Magazine, Playboy.com, RD.com and many others. A lover of big words and little white dogs, Stacey’s biggest joys are found in life’s simple moments.
