Showroom Crush: Jeff Holt and Peter West of HEWN
Author:Michelle Konstantinovsky1. How did the idea for HEWN come about?
In 2012, we decided to close our successful retail store, JAK Home and were plotting our next move. We knew of a wonderful lighting line that was looking for showroom representation and next thing you know we’d signed a lease on a 5,000 square foot showroom in the Design Center and we jumped into the showroom business.
2. What’s your secret for successfully working with your spouse?
Separate showrooms. Kidding! We truly enjoy each other’s company and after 23 years we’ve been through just about everything together.
3. What differentiates HEWN and HEWNX from other showrooms?
Since day one, we have focused on making our showrooms friendly and welcoming; a place where designers want to come and hang out, have some snacks (from our legendary snack table) and do some shopping. We work hard to take the worry and anxiety our of ordering high-end, bespoke home furnishings by treating each order as if it were for our own home. We enjoy what we do and we have fun.
4. Tell us about HEWN Textiles.
Quite frankly, besides Loro Piana (which is at a true luxury price point), we didn’t offer upholstery-weight fabrics, so we simply sourced our own! We worked with our mill to develop a strong color palette and range of non-neutrals we felt were sometimes hard to find within the industry. We introduced a range of mohair, corduroy (yes, corduroy!) and velvets in crush-resistant linen, cotton and silk. We’ll be expanding the collection in the coming months.
5. How do you completely unwind?
We are fortunate to live on Ocean Beach. So at the end of the day, pouring a glass of wine and sitting on our terrace with our dog (Brandi) overlooking the beach as the last surfers come in and the sun sets really does it for us.
6. What’s the worst pre-showroom job you’ve ever had and why?
Jeff: Disco dance instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studio (Corpus Christi, TX).
Peter: 15 years old and working at Burger King…I can still smell the grease and onions, not to mention the polyester uniforms. I was a baller!
7. What’s your favorite recipe?
These slow cooker carnitas are easy and you’ll eat them until you can’t move!:
SERVES 6 TO 8
Remove the lime and orange zest with a vegetable peeler. Pork butt roast is often labeled Boston butt. Do not overtrim the pork; this extra fat is essential to keeping the pork moist and helping it brown when sautéed in step 3. We like to serve carnitas with warmed corn tortillas and a variety of toppings, like finely chopped onion, fresh cilantro leaves, thinly sliced radishes, sour cream, and lime wedges.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 (3- to 3 1/2-pound) boneless pork butt roast, lightly trimmed and cut into 2-inch chunks
- 1 small onion, peeled and halved
- 3 (2-inch) strips orange zest plus 1/2 cup juice
- 3 (2-inch) strips lime zest plus 2 tablespoons juice
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine pork, onion, orange zest and juice, lime zest and juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, and bay leaves in slow cooker. Cover and cook until fork slips easily in and out of pork, 5 to 7 hours on high or 8 to 10 hours on low.
2. Using slotted spoon, transfer pork from slow cooker to large bowl. Using potato masher, smash pork until coarsely shredded. Strain cooking liquid from slow cooker through fine-mesh strainer set over separate bowl and discard solids.
3. Heat oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add pork to skillet. Whisk cooking liquid to recombine, then add 1 cup to skillet with pork. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and pork is evenly browned and crispy in spots, 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer pork to serving platter and moisten with 1/4 cup remaining cooking liquid, or more as needed. Serve.
8. Create your perfect playlist for us.
Lightning round!
8. Would you rather shop new or vintage?
YES!
9. First celebrity crush?
Jeff: Robert Redford.
Peter: Lee Majors.
10. What’s your hidden talent?
Jeff: I can juggle.
Peter: I used to make some pretty awesome baby clothes…called “Wee People.” I like to sew.
11. Best restaurant in your area? Where is it?
We love Frances in the Castro.
12. SF or LA?
No contest, SF!
Visit HEWN + HEWNX at 101 HENRY ADAMS STREET, SUITES 480 + 424, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103. 415-962-7833. http://hewnxsf.com/
