Designing Women: A Unicorn Theatre and Nell Hill’s Collaboration

Every once in a while, a project comes along that feels like the perfect fit. When Unicorn Theatre reached out about their production of Designing Women, we knew right away that we had to be involved.

If you’re like many of us on the Nell Hill’s team, just hearing the name brings back memories of one of the smartest, most stylish shows of the late 1980s — witty, funny, and full of Southern charm. When Creative Director, Ernie and Director, Abe, of the show, visited the shop to walk through design possibilities, they kept asking one question: What would Julia Sugarbaker do? From that moment, we knew we were in for something special. The duo collaborated with our design manager and long-time fan of the show, Carlie Goss, to pull together a set befitting of Sugarbaker and Associates for this Kansas City stage production.

 

 

Bringing the Sugarbaker Office to Life

Theatre sets are like rooms in a home - every detail helps tell a story. For this set, we were able to provide rugs, artwork, and furniture that felt both timeless and true to the spirit of the Sugarbaker studio.

Carlie worked closely with the Unicorn team to select just the right pieces. The one that instantly stole their hearts was our Bamboo Cabinet, a piece that has an especially meaningful story; it was inspired by an antique cabinet in Carlie’s own home, a piece she had long loved but could never find elsewhere. After months of sketching and development, we finally brought it into production and it’s exclusively available at Nell Hill’s.

 

 

Not every solution came from the showroom floor. When the set needed a smaller-scale desk for the character Charlene, Carlie knew just where to look: her own home! She loaded a desk from her son’s old bedroom into her car, and just like that, the Sugarbaker office was complete. To me, that perfectly captures what design is all about: creativity, flexibility, and finding beauty in unexpected places.

 

 

A Seamless Collaboration

This collaboration has truly been a joy from start to finish. From our first meeting in the shop, to walking the showroom with Ernie and Abe, to talking with Gary, the set builder, about scale and details — every step has been inspiring. One of the most memorable moments was when Carlie and I were invited to join a cast meeting and script read. It gave us the chance to meet many of the actors, share a glimpse of “a day in the life” of a designer, and see firsthand how our work would help bring the story to life. Their curiosity, talent, and energy were contagious, and the fact that so many are local made it even more special.

 

 

Through it all, one phrase has become a running theme for us: What would Julia do? Julia Sugarbaker is a woman of vision, conviction, and style - qualities that inspire us daily at Nell Hill’s, both in design and in life.

We’ve always believed design is about more than creating beautiful homes. It’s about telling stories, celebrating creativity, and supporting the community around us. Collaborating with Unicorn Theatre on Designing Women has been a meaningful way to put that belief into practice — connecting design with theater, and celebrating the vibrant creativity of Kansas City.

 

See the Show

Designing Women opens this week at Unicorn Theatre, and we can’t wait to see the story unfold on a stage filled with pieces from the shop. If you love witty dialogue, a little nostalgia, and a lot of style, this is a production you won’t want to miss.

To celebrate our collaboration, we’re giving away four tickets to the show! Enter here for a chance to win tickets. The winner will be contacted on September 5. The winner will be connected with the Unicorn team to pick a performance date.  The show runs through the end of September, see all dates here.

 

20% Off Upholstered Furniture Sale

And when you’re ready to bring a touch of Sugarbaker style into your own home, we’d love to welcome you in the shop! And now’s the perfect time, with our 20% off upholstered furniture sale starting today that runs through September 15! Save 20% on all in-stock and custom upholstered furniture, including the pieces featured in the Designing Women set.

 

 

Around the Shop

In other news, we’re excited to invite you to a few upcoming events that connect design, community, and creativity in ways that feel just right.

Marshall Watson: Book Signing & Presentation

On Friday, September 26, from 4–6 pm, Kansas City–born interior designer Marshall Watson will join us for a presentation and book signing celebrating his latest work, Defining Elegance. The talk starts at 4:30 pm, with signing before and after. If you’re in town, we’d love for you to stop by and see him in the shop! Please RSVP here if you plan to attend so we can ensure we enough books on hand!

 

 

Freedom to Dream Social with Sleepyhead Beds and Bleu Grace Designs

On Sunday, September 28, from 1–4 pm, we’re hosting an Ice Cream Social & Bedding Drive right here at Nell Hill’s. Come cool off with complimentary treats from the Betty Rae’s Ice Cream Truck (1–3 pm) while helping us support the mission of Sleepyhead Beds. We’ll be collecting new or gently used bedding, sheets, mattresses, and box springs. Financial contributions are also welcome. Donations (other than mattresses and box springs) can be dropped off at the shop during the week leading up to the event and the week following.

 

 

We hope to see you at one of these fabulous events… and as always, happy decorating!