The Peacock Room that left Detroit 100 years ago lives on today in Rachel Lutz’s boutique.

When looking for a name for her business,  Lutz referenced Detroit art collector Charles Lang Freer, who first brought the Peacock Room to Detroit as a part of his art collection.

Now the shop has evolved, making a name for itself with careful curation, styling expertise and intimate knowledge of the stories behind the pieces sold. The New York Times recently included The Peacock Room in a list of 25 favorite stores across the country.

Rachel Lutz joins the show to talk about Detroit history, what’s behind the success of her store and what lays ahead. 

The origins of The Peacock Room

In 1876 and 1877, Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room was completed by artist James McNeill Whistler. 

It was originally a dining room in the London home of Frederick Richards Leyland, a wealthy shipowner from Liverpool, England. The room was to house Leyland’s priceless Chinese blue-and-white porcelain.

But while Leyland was away, the room became a fresh canvas. Whistler covered the ceiling with imitation gold leaf and peacock feathers, gilded the shelving, and painted peacocks across the shutters. 

Leyland became infuriated and the two men feuded over the work and the bill for the rest of their lives. It remained intact in Leyland’s home until his death in 1892.

Enter Charles Lang Freer, a Detroit railroad-car manufacturer and later a student of art. He was an avid collector of Asian and Middle Eastern art works and bought The Peacock Room in its entirety. Freer had it shipped to his home on East Ferry Avenue in 1904. It remained in Detroit until 1919. 

The room currently is on display in its entirety in the Freer Gallery at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art.

Detroit’s new Peacock Room

Rachel Lutz’ retail store The Peacock Room pays homage to Charles Lang Freer’s vision of collecting and the room Detroit lost. Located in The Park Shelton and Fisher buildings, since 2011, Lutz has curated her spaces like galleries. 

This fall, The Peacock Room Antiques Studio opens in the Park Shelton, which will be an event-driven destination for collecting, education and community.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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More stories from The Metro

The Becharas Brothers Coffee Co. is celebrating 112 years of business this year. It was founded in 1914 by to Greek immigrant brothers in Chicago. They invited their nephew move the states as well to come work with them in the 1920s. It was him, Dean D. Becharas, who opened a branch in Detroit and then later Highland Park.

Today the Highland Park roasting plant is the last remaining location of the company, and the last institutional roaster in the metro Detroit area.

Nick S. Becharas is the CEO and president of the company. He is the third-generation owner along with his brother, Dean, and is two sisters, Demi and Stephanie. The family business spans across four generations, as Nick’s son, who is also named Nick, and his nephew Paul are also on site daily.   

“It’s a real sense of pride for us to have this kind of longevity and sometimes we take a little bit for granted, until people bring it to our attention,” Nick said.

Photos by Isaiah Lopez/WDET.

The families most prized long-standing tradition in the business is the cupping table. It’s a large, wooden table that spins—kind of like a lazy susan. It’s where they taste and test every bean that is shipped into the factory before it hits the roasting floor. 

Hanging over the table is a picture of Nick’s great uncles cupping coffee. 

“Yeah, that’s my same table. My two great uncles doing the same thing that we’re still doing almost 100 years later,” Nick said.

This story was originally made for the ear. We encourage you to listen to the full piece using the media player above.