A TreeHouse grows in Texas

It’s too early to call it the next big thing in home improvement retailing, but the ambitious Austin, Texas start-up TreeHouse announced plans to open its second location — this time in Dallas.



The retailer opened its doors in 2011, with a 25,000-sq.-ft. store and an eco-friendly slogan of “smart building, better living.” Its focus on curated products and services that promote healthy and sustainable spaces is matched by its reputation for working with innovative brands — Tesla’s Powerwall home battery and Nest smart-home products, among them.



More than just a pretty store (see the slide show at HBSDealer.com), TreeHouse uses a consultative model to work with homeowners on everything from flooring and kitchen design to rainwater harvesting and solar systems.



“Many people have said to us, ‘Sure TreeHouse works in Austin, but what about other places?’” said CEO and co-founder Jason Ballard. “We look forward to showing that quality, beauty, health, a good earth and good homes are universal values.”



Time will tell. This summer, the company closed its largest round of funding to date, which will help it open additional locations, according to the retailer.