grows Eye for design The Gallery

by Hunter Harrell

QUALITY HOME DESIGN requires an investment in the mastery of many fine art principles. It begins with an expert understanding of concepts, such as light and lines, form and function, tones and textures.

Owners of The Gallery Flooring and Design Studio, Greg and Candace Haroun, share more than a last name. They each have a keen eye for trends and decades of experience in quality home design, in addition to juggling the responsibility of raising three girls together. They operate the design studio, based in Durango, where they offer a unique one-stop-shop with a plethora of fixture and flooring options to outfit any space.

“We’re just extremely blessed and grateful to have the opportunity to grow such an amazing business,” Greg said. “It’s not just about creating a business that pays your wage. It’s creating something that people enjoy and want to be a part of and offers a service that is really like no other.”

The family-owned business is best known for its selection of flooring, including carpet and rugs, tile, luxury vinyl and wood, earning a place in The Durango Herald’s Best Of competition in the Carpet/Flooring category each year. Candace is a Durango native. Alongside ownership of the gallery, she operates Candace Cross Photography, specializing in wedding, portrait and editorial photography. Her father, Rodney Cross, purchased The Gallery in 2007. As a professional in flooring installation, Cross established the business reputation as one of the best for flooring in the Four Corners.

Greg moved to Durango in 1997, and graduated from Fort Lewis College. He started his own tile installation business called Horizon Tile, and a real estate investment business called Grace Development Group. When the couple purchased The Gallery from Candace’s father in December 2019, Greg’s experience from nearly 20 years in construction shaped his goal for the future of The Gallery.

“When presented the opportunity to purchase The Gallery,” Greg said. “Our directive for the business was to really bring something to Durango that wasn’t here, which is a true design studio with (more) offerings for your entire home.”

Since that time, the owners have invested energy and time into expanding the showroom inventory, by branching into lighting, window coverings and plumbing fixtures. Greg said The Gallery also offers an approachable process to design for all clientele and customers on different stages of a project. This philosophy helps the team create a cohesive platform for the design.

Greg said the team places different elements on the design table to determine how well the colors and textures work together.

“We have learned that if the design looks right in our showroom, it will also in your home. That is why it was so important to have all the offerings under one roof.”

The Gallery employs seven professionals with backgrounds in not only design, but also engineering and installation. Whether selecting options for a renovation project or working with a blank canvas of a new build, the employees can meet the needs of each client by providing product knowledge and project advice. The skilled team often assists individuals with DIY projects, and builds long-term relationships with architects, contractors and other local professionals in the industry.

“It seems like every day, there are more and more people coming in that have never come in before,” Greg said. “That’s the thing that lets us know that we’re doing something right.”

The shift toward a full-service design studio for the business is not without support from both its employees and the local community. The team also works with trusted local professionals in the industry to implement designs and install the available products.

“You can’t be a master at everything,” Greg said. He added it is best to work with a contractor or subcontractor who you believe has the most experience to supply the best work in the area.

As the business adapts to better serve the community, they are also getting more involved. The Gallery is a member of both the Homebuilders Association of Southwest Colorado and the Durango Chamber of Commerce. The business supports nonprofit organizations, including Adaptive Sports Association and the Rotary Club, to name a couple.

“I think it’s important to be involved in as many organizations as you can get your hands on, especially being in a small town,” Greg said.

More recently, The Gallery participated as a stop in the Parade of Homes event, which highlights the handiwork of local architects, builders and designers. They also helped high schoolers learn more about the benefits of choosing a career in the trades industry through the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative.

As The Gallery invests in the community, and vice versa, the owners are investing in the future of the business. The Harouns are currently working toward a larger retail space with double the showroom space available now. Greg said they recently completed the design process through the city, and have moved on to financing the project. At the new location, Greg said in order to offer an even higher level of service, the new building will also include two rental spaces for businesses that offer complimentary services to The Gallery. In the meantime, the couple said they continue moving forward, and strive to build a business that people can trust.