Today we’d like to introduce you to Juliane.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Thinking back to childhood, I spent a lot of time sitting with my mother poring over design magazines. My mother was a significant influence in my creative life, and I distinctly remember her and my dad designing a custom house. She involved me in the selection process for my room, and we talked about all the choices she was making for each room. I remember her excitement about going to market, but specifically, I recall her search for the perfect antiques. She did a fabulous job of mixing clean, modern pieces with beautiful antiques on a small budget.
I studied business in college and later pursued a degree in interior design in California. While living there, my mother would often visit me, and we would frequently attend antique auctions. I loved the idea of acquiring interesting pieces and curating them in my home.
A few years later, I met and married my husband, Chris, who managed the antique restoration side of Carl Moore Antiques. He eventually started his own restoration business in 2014, which has since grown into a highly successful business restoring European antiques and building custom furniture for many of the interior designers in the Houston area.
Years ago, we began attending antique auctions and acquiring a collection of furniture. With Chris’s talents and his excellent team of restorers, we were able to give new life to many of the pieces we had acquired. As our collection grew, we decided to start selling antiques as a natural outgrowth of our restoration business. We began selling at Marburger Farms at Round Top last year and loved it – the venue, the excitement leading up to the show, the customers, and fellow antique dealers. We then decided we wanted to try selling our items year-round, and fortunately, we found a space at AG Antiques in the Heights. We have really loved our short time there. If you haven’t been there yet, it is a truly special place with over forty vendors who sell amazing antiques and interesting, fun items.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting our antique business has been fun but challenging. There is a lot to learn as with any new business, but we have met many amazing dealers who are happy to share information and we feel a lot of support from this community. I think the most challenging struggle is finding small, interesting items. In the business we call them smalls. I think a trip to Europe would help a lot! Hopefully, we will have that chance next summer.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Chris Kokinakis Antiques?
We are a husband/wife team who sells antique and vintage furniture, decorative items, and art as well as offering antique restoration services and custom built furniture . We are always on the hunt for interesting and unique antique furniture which is expertly restored with minimal footprint, as well as home decor and art. We are proud of the appearance and quality of our items. Antique furniture is an original, unique piece that speaks volumes – it’s history, beauty, and craftsmanship. We pay close attention to the details of each piece – the finish is brought back as close to the original condition, all drawers slide easily, all the hardware in attached and the keys are all accounted for.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Patience! A new business takes a lot of energy, time and patience to grow successfully. Also, get to know the people within your business community. We have found that their support and the wealth of information shared is priceless. Our communication with each other is really important – bouncing ideas off each other, making decisions together and building each other up is an absolute necessity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chriskokinakis.com
- Instagram: @chriskokinakisantiques
