Calling Persiano Gallery “just a furniture store” is almost like calling Picasso “just a painter.” This high-end design center’s offerings range from a selection of furniture and handmade rugs to lighting fixtures, art, wall-to-wall carpeting, floor selections, window treatments, mirrors, interior design consultation and cleaning and repair of rugs and chandeliers. Customers can wander the two floors of the Rockville store where the furniture they sell ranges from contemporary, transitional to traditional. Brands such as Century, Vanguard, Leathercraft and more are represented in the store.
The gallery’s owners and founders, John and Laura Hashempour, come to the homes of clients upon request and assess the family’s needs and wishes. They then make suggestions on furniture and accessories tailored to the individual living spaces and lifestyle needs of the owner; they especially enjoy updating.
John Hashempour’s background and experience in many different areas have all played a role in his expertise as a design consultant. He started as a child in Iran watching and helping his father, who was a master tailor and clothing manufacturer. He learned how to cut fabric and even designed dresses. There he also learned about textures and colors. After the revolution in Iran, he followed his older brother Reza to the US in 1983. He and his younger brother, Ricky, opened a jewelry store in Gaithersburg – J&R Jewelers which is still operating today – where John worked for thirteen years designing and repairing jewelry. While there he was involved in all aspects of the business, meeting repeat customers and becoming part of the community.
After retiring from the jewelry business, John traveled to Mexico with his now wife, Laura Hashempour. He spent days visiting local shops of furniture makers and art owners. The quality of the art and furniture inspired him to open his own store in Maryland. Previous trips to Turkey and Italy helped refine his eye for quality furniture and color, textiles and materials. These travels, as well as working all those years designing and appraising jewelry, helped him see the detail necessary for interior design in the DMV market.
With this as his background, Hashempour started with Persiano Rugs, selling rugs in the Kentlands – sourcing oriental rugs from a friend who owned a Persian rug factory in Iran. Later launching Persiano Gallery to offer DMV area clientele handmade rugs plus furniture, chandeliers, and art.
Persiano Gallery can now be found in three locations: Gaithersburg, Premium Outlets in Hagerstown and their new flagship store in Rockville with its bi-level, 40,000 square foot showroom. This new store took over the space of the previous occupant, Sheffield Furniture Outlet, on Rockville Pike.
John Hashempour is particularly proud that so many of his customers have been coming to him for over 20 years, since he first opened his business. Hashempour works 24-7 at the gallery which includes everything from overseeing furniture shipments to the everyday needs of the store. He has even expanded upon his design skills to development, having bought and renovated a historic hotel in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania that he then helped turn into an assisted care living facility. The Hashempour's passion for design shines when helping people transform their outdated homes or assisting new homeowners fully furnish a fresh abode.
Persiano Gallery is your one-stop shop for all your design needs! They offer free design consultation for your home or office building; custom, made to order furniture; fine art; custom rugs; furniture delivery; lightning sales; interior design; space planning and more.
“We bought two rugs from [Persiano’s] that have changed the whole look of our living and dining rooms. John’s sense of design is great and his ideas were super helpful as we considered different options. Highly recommend.” - Pam R.