Get To Know Larry

Landscaping and design continued to influence teenage Larry but so did the almighty dollar. Not as something to worship but something to manage. He was encouraged to go into banking, and he spent his first jobs there. It wasn’t until his second year of college that he realized he could actually get paid to design. He was a bookkeeper for local design legend Tom Chandler. Larry pestered Tom enough to finally give him a moment in the spotlight and allow him to redo a library at an Arkansas treasure, the Red Apple Inn. Larry said he was “tossed in with the lions,” and he conquered his quest. All in 45 minutes. Tom fired him from the bookkeeping position and put him to work in his design store immediately and gave Larry his own clients. It might have been a late start for a prodigy; he was 30, but Larry never received the guidance to blossom until he worked for Tom.

His first paying gig actually was at a bank. He designed its Christmas decor but at the same time was redecorating apartments in Dallas. Thus the Dallas to Little Rock connection was established along with a route to Memphis. He still spends a majority of his time in those cities sprinkled in with some Austin, New York City and all points in between. Larry always prefers shopping in Little Rock though. He says, “I don’t spend much time at Dallas market because we have a greater selection of shopping in Little Rock. We have so many boutiques in this town.” Larry is very loyal to local vendors and feels they are the lifeblood of any community.