Preston Royal Village’s Bird’s Bookstore is curating reading spaces

Tucked into Preston Royal Village, the Bird’s Bookstore pairs curated wood textures with a cozy living room nook feel, reflecting a growing shift toward more intentional, in-person reading experiences. Designed by MMaison Interiors, the space brings a neighborhood community to life with a curation of little goodies, magazines, ceramics and a vast selection of books.

Husband and wife Drew and Emily Dawson wanted to bring Dallas not only an indie bookstore but a place where customers can find things that might not be in other stores around the city.

“From traveling, Drew has always been someone who loves to discover and go get little goodies and trinkets,” Emily says. “We love to curate and collect things that feel unique to our store in order to show them to a broader audience in Dallas.”

Now, when it comes to the selection of the books, he says the booksellers and managers are the experts.

“They just have their finger on the pulse of what is being read right now, what people are looking for,” he says.

For Emily, she says it’s important to her to dig up smaller brands, whether she comes across them on social media, through curators or even designers that she follows to bring a distinct collection of pieces to Bird’s Bookstore.

“I also work with really amazing distributors who have done this for 30 years,” she says. “You know, kind of similar to our booksellers. They know all the new books coming out, they have helped me hone in our vision, point of view of the books and will send me things that our audience might like.”

One thing Bird’s Bookstore hopes to incorporate more of in the future is a more distinct footprint of Dallas components into the store. They hope to be able to “spotlight some local folks who are really talented, who maybe have not gotten their due,” Emily says.

Like their ceramist, Marcello Andres Ortega, with his authentic pieces that draw in local customers.

“He now lives in The Cedars in Dallas, but went to school right over here. He is amazing and really talented. I discovered him at my last job at D Magazine before COVID. He was still really big at the time, but still gaining momentum,” Emily says.

Another draw for the customer’s eye is the exquisite interior that transforms you into a timeless mid-century refuge of literature and quiet charm.

Emily says one thing she treasures most about the space is the skylight, something she knew she wanted for the space, which brings a level of sunshine to welcome customers into the atmosphere.

Another key part of the bookstore is the rotunda.

“It is the focal point of the shop,” Emily says.

From there, you pass through a hallway where the baristas greet you at their espresso bar with local treats that await you.

“The whole concept of the store is really to feel like a home away from home. It’s very residential, which was intentional,” Drew says.

Filled with intentional textures such as the natural cork low ceilings, the intriguing Dutch doors, brings together a fusion of mid-century modern design and Scandinavian minimalism.

Emily explained that they tried to bring in little odes to places they have traveled, such as the “lou” sign hanging above the bathroom after seeing it at a restaurant in London and many other pieces you can spot, like the exit sign, which was inspired by a New Orleans Hotel.

“Since the buildup took so long, we had a long time to gather inspiration, really, just like an eclectic mix of a lot of people’s brains,” Drew says.

Some say bookstores are getting a revival of popularity.

“I think after COVID, everyone was fatigued of their phones as everyone calls it rotting and scrolling on our phones,” Emily says.

Drew adds that they’ll catch themselves doing the same thing and instead grab a book.

“Yeah, it’s really I’m like, ‘I need to repent,’” she says. “But I think people are boomering back to wanting a space with people they can convene with.”

They want that space to be Bird’s Bookstore for everyone. Emily says its super important to her that when you walk in “every person should feel comfortable and welcome, and again, feels like they can come in and spend as much time as they want.”

“A lot of people come in and are immediately impressed by the look of the store,” Drew says. “And we hope that when they leave, that they’re more impressed with the staff and the people and how they feel from the booksellers who converse with them.”