The Paul Michael Company has a history as deep and rich as the Mississippi Delta soil from which it sprang. Founded in 1993, the company’s flagship store in Lake Village, Arkansas, was established across from the picturesque Lake Chicot and, quite literally, in a cotton field. While that original location remains a cherished part of the company’s history, Paul Michael Company has evolved far beyond its humble beginnings, expanding its influence across the South, and most recently setting up shop at Market Hill in Round Top, Texas.
For those familiar with Round Top, you have most likely shopped at Market Hill and dined at Duo Modern. The creative force behind these Round Top staples? Paul and Debbie Michael – a dynamic couple whose shared passion for entrepreneurship, discovery and design has propelled their business for over 50 years. Now, they’ve added help from their son Jake, daughter-in-law Leigh, and daughter Elizabeth, making the business a true family endeavor.
The centerpiece of Market Hill is Paul Michael’s showroom with its exclusive collection featuring 100% American-made pieces constructed from architectural salvage, reclaimed wood, and natural elements.
Paul Michael is a third-generation native of Lake Village, Arkansas. His family's entrepreneurial spirit can be traced back to his grandfather, who was one of the town's earliest merchants. In the early 20th century, Paul’s grandfather traveled to levee camps along the Mississippi River with a mule, selling essential goods to levee workers. With a family of six daughters and a wife to support, he opened one of Lake Village’s first department stores, Mansour’s on Main Street, which served the community for over 80 years.
Paul grew up working in his grandfather’s store, where his innate talent for buying, selling, and trading became evident. In the 1970s, Paul’s knack for the business led him to purchase antiques and sell them to T.G.I. Friday’s, laying the groundwork for his future ventures.
Paul’s journey took a pivotal turn when he met his future wife, Debbie, in Nashville.
Debbie’s upbringing involved traveling around the country in the tradition of five-and-dime merchants. She settled in Nashville, where she opened Betty Boop’s on Elliston Place, a landmark antique clothing store that became a favorite among celebrities seeking vintage fashion.
It was during a quest for a stuffed peacock that Paul encountered Debbie’s store, and what began as a search for antiques soon blossomed into a deep personal and professional connection. Their dates, filled with treasure hunting and creative design, led to the formation of both a relationship and a burgeoning business partnership.
Today, the Paul Michael Company operates a bustling workshop in Dermott, Arkansas, where skilled artisans design and produce exceptional pieces for homes across the country.
Paul and Debbie’s love for antiques and design was not confined to Nashville. Paul’s initial foray into the market at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas, was instrumental in establishing crucial contacts and gaining experience. The “grounds” served as an incu-bator for Paul’s business, allowing him to sell jewelry and gold while building relationships that would shape his future endeavors. In the early 1980s, the couple created a jewelry line called Opinions and Paul Michael Jewelry, which featured designs made from antique brooch molds Paul found in Rhode Island. If you were a jewelry shopper in the 1980s, you may remember some of his more famous designs, like the gold leaves, coin jewelry, birthstone charms, and puffed hearts all made from sterling silver and brass.
Their jewelry creations were found in major department stores across the country and marked the beginning of their joint success. The business expanded into the home decorative accessories market, and they began designing and manufacturing unique items like gold-leafed Christmas ornaments, marking the genesis of the modern-day Paul Michael Company. The Paul Michael Company grew to have large format stores, ranging from 36,000 to 90,000 square feet, in Lake Village, Arkansas; Monroe, Louisiana; Lafayette, Louisiana; Canton, Texas; and an online store. Shoppers traveled from hours away because it was the destination for high-quality home goods at a low price. Plus, it transformed into a Christmas wonderland from August to December every year.
Recognizing a shift in the quality of goods retailers could obtain overseas, Paul and Debbie embarked on a new chapter by manufacturing their own line of accessories and furniture and layering in unique antique pieces. The first manufactured product was a cutting board inspired by a vintage Gerber design that Paul found picking antiques. Today, the Paul Michael Company operates a bustling workshop in Dermott, Arkansas, where skilled artisans design and produce exceptional pieces for homes across the country.
While Paul had been visiting Round Top since the early days, it was in 2009 when he made his first big buy for his retail stores. And, it was then his love of Round Top grew into something he needed to make permanent. In 2016, Paul designed and built Market Hill in Round Top on a 22-acre tract of land. It has now expanded with two buildings, RV parking for its world-class antiques vendors, the chef-driven restaurant Duo Modern, a couple of bars, and, new to the Fall Show, the Paul Michael Company Holiday House, a return of the Christmas wonderland that made Paul Michael Company famous for decades.
The centerpiece of Market Hill is Paul Michael’s showroom with its exclusive collection featuring 100% American-made pieces constructed from architectural salvage, reclaimed wood, and natural elements like boulders from the Ozark Mountains, quartz crystal and petrified wood.
Always evolving, Paul’s creativity was supercharged after a trip to New York with Debbie, where they explored art museums and galleries. Inspired by this experience, Paul began painting, transforming his already eclectic office into a creative haven filled with canvases and drop-cloths. His work reflects a deep engagement with art, influenced by his experiences and the creative environment at the Paul Michael Company. Today, Paul welcomes his invited “artists in residence” to take up shop alongside him at his office where they paint and create for weeks at a time. He has worked alongside artists represented in his showroom such as Kader Boly, Kellee Mayfield and Guy Bell.
The integration of art into the Paul MichaelCompany’s offerings is evident in the exclusive designs. The company’s furniture pieces are more than functional items – they are works of art.
Examples include a table made from centuries-old cypress recovered from Bayou Bartholomew, set atop Lucite legs, and a 19th-century French window cornice repurposed into a bookcase. You will even find lamp shades hand painted by Kader Boly crowning solid quartz lamps. These creations exemplify Paul’s ability to see potential where others might not, and to craft unique pieces that stand out in the market.
As Paul and Debbie celebrate 41 years of business, they continue to push the boundaries of creativity and originality. Their commitment to offering unique American-made products and fostering an environment of artistic exploration remains at the core of their company’s success. Paul’s drive to blend art with furniture design reflects a broader vision of creating products that are not just unique but truly original.
Paul’s drive to blend art with furniture design reflects a broader vision of creating products that are not just unique but truly original.
The Paul Michael Company invites you to experience the magic of their design philosophy. Visit their locations in Canton, Round Top, or Dallas, Texas, and discover the treasures that have captivated customers and designers alike. Whether you’re a treasure hunter, entertainer, hostess, or decorator, Paul Michael Company offers a blend of creativity and quality that reflects the legacy and vision of its founders.