An Architectural Transformation by Michael Hsu Redefines the Luxury Retail Experience at Korman Jewel House in Austin
Step inside the Jewel House during the grand opening, Oct. 24 & 25, to see the timeless space where modern style meets personal connection
A local name since 1973, Korman has recently undergone quite the transformation with a new identity that blends retail with hospitality. For owners Kat and Larry Stokes, jewelry is a family business. Larry’s mother was a Rolex jeweler in Tyler, while Kat joined the family trade. When the couple purchased the business from Rusty Korman in 2018, they saw an opportunity to create a welcoming, one-of-a-kind shopping experience.
Already fans of the work of architect Michael Hsu (the Stokes live in an Michael Hsu Office of Architecture-designed home), they enlisted his team along with Kelle Contine Interior Design to bring their vision for the new phase of Korman to life. Together, they transformed the split-level building at 29th and North Lamar, once home to University Cyclery, into a warm, sculptural jewel box.
“We thought about how we could carry on the Korman legacy,” says Kat Stokes, who imagined customers feeling cared for as they explored hand-selected collections from designers in Paris, Los Angeles, New York and beyond. “It’s a jewel house,” she adds.
Architect Jay Colombo dubbed the project “The Villa on the Hill,” drawing from old-world Italian and Spanish homes rooted in nature with cobblestone, travertine and marble. When the Stokes acquired the site, it was little more than a shell, with missing walls and a partially exposed slab. Yet its rare stand-alone location, with heritage oak trees and Shoal Creek views, led the way. On the facade, a plaster skin offers a glimpse into the tactility inside, while planters blur the line between architecture and landscape.
From the entry, sequencing feels intentional. Guests transition from the busy Austin streets into a calm, elegant space where they are greeted at a sculptural walnut and stone desk and often offered a refreshing beverage. Suspended strands of lighting hover overhead, while metallic drapery glimmers against a brass screen and a large-scale Tyler Guinn painting frames the welcome point.
“The Stokes told us from the beginning that they wanted to change the culture of how patrons experienced the store,” Colombo says. “It’s a brilliant architectural procession.”
Distinct areas unfold throughout the 11,000-square-foot showroom. On the main floor, jewelry sits in furniture-like displays under a central skylight “that makes the diamonds and gemstones shine,” notes the architect. There’s nothing cool or sanitized about it. Instead, richly grained walnut, travertine and marble are paired with ethereal silhouettes, vintage lighting and custom rugs and furnishings in velvet and chenille.
The bridal lounge, for instance, embraces intimacy and lightness with a custom necklace-like chandelier and plush seating for “just the right amount of approachable opulence,” says Contine. The hospitality lounge spotlights a hand-painted de Gournay mural, while each space was designed for a different jewelry or accessory type — some focused on diamonds and bridal, others for watches.
As an Official Rolex Jeweler and Service Center with three watchmakers on site, Austinites are in for a true taste of luxury with Korman “making watch dreams come true,” says Stokes. The Rolex lounges were designed by the brand’s in-house Italian team with B&B Italia furnishings and a full-height green marble wall.Rolex, along with Tudor, Omega and Grand Seiko, entrusted the Stokes to integrate these brands into the store’s design language while maintaining the warm, sculptural character of Korman.
“My husband and I curate every piece that’s in the store, and it’s such an honor to represent these designers,” Stokes adds.
The result is a sculptural, deeply personal retail experience that redefines luxury through care, design and connection.
Korman’s Grand Opening Celebration
The Jewel House is celebrating their grand opening with a two-day public festivity on October 24 and 25. Stop in and explore Austin’s extraordinary new jewelry retail destination as you mix and mingle. Learn more.
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