Walking into Lisa Barker’s Collective is quite an experience for the senses. She advertises elevated home furnishings which are there in abundance, but the showroom offers all kinds of highly unique, one of a kind, rather exotic items. I noticed an albino peacock, many large fossils, and a mannequin covered in wine corks and feathers. Eight feet tall ceramic wine vessels from 1700’s Spain flank the front entrance of the showroom. As Lisa admits, The Collective isn’t for everyone. There’s so much to absorb. Even our regular repeat customers spend a lot of time browsing, hunting and gathering ideas. It’s a great place to visit when you’re having a tough day and need to reboot.
While leaning back in her chair and smiling, Lisa says “I think the thing that brings me the most joy is that a good many of our visitors and customers say that it is probably the most beautiful and exotic retail store that they’ve ever visited.”
Lisa spends a good portion of her time traveling to procure items from all over the world. Recent adventures as she calls them, include Morocco and Spain. “I came back with antiques that I feel are worthy of being here in The Collective Showroom.” When buying Lisa speaks directly to the person that she’s buying from. Sometimes she is in an old warehouse or even out in a field and strives to obtain extensive provenance. “I hope that the back story makes the piece more interesting and I’m always glad when something that I’ve found in my travels, finds a good home and that the story behind it lives on.”
One of Lisa’s bigger passions in procuring is area rugs. “It’s an untamed addiction” she states. “Our large selection comes from around the globe. I hand select each and every piece with a discerning eye and with great delight.”
The 15,000 Sq ft Showroom contains a large area of fabric samples so that clients can create custom upholstery pieces from a large variety of mid to very high-end manufacturers. Interior design services are offered to buyers who want a different and professionally trained eye on what they are creating in their homes.
The Collective seems to have home furnishings for every taste and style, from floor to ceiling, encompassing southwestern to contemporary and everything in between. The Showroom holds these interwoven styles in a fascinating and intriguing harmony.
“Many of us crave immediate gratification so we meet that need as well” Lisa states. It is a low key and embracing environment with exceptional service. White glove delivery is available to Albuquerque and up to the Northern Taos areas.
Part of The Collective intrigue is the old Butler building. Located in the historic Santa Fe Railyards, the building served as the Santa Fe Railroad’s almacen. Lisa explains that almacen means gathering place. With narrow gage railroad tracks on both sides of the building, everything from pinto beans to whiskey, were on and off loaded from the building. Gross & Kelly erected the Butler building in 1934 and Lisa and her husband David Barker are honored to be its stewards.
When asked what Lisa enjoys most, she gets a glint in her eye and talks with great pride about her associates. “I created The Collective to be a family. We strive for good communication that begins at home and spreads across the globe.
The Collective offers free parking for their clientele, and their phone number is 505-230-7000.
The provenance is a very important part of the piece.
New things come into the showroom, sometimes daily, but always at least on a weekly basis.