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David Perry

This butler is minding his manners for Highland House

The answer to this week’s marketing mystery: The butler did it.

And the question: Who has teamed up with Highland House to launch a 60-piece English country collection?

The butler – OK, he is a former butler – has impressive credentials. Paul Burrell, who handled butler duties for Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales, in his 21 years with the British royal family, is now bringing his sense of British style to American shores. “Royal Manner: The English Country House” is the name of the new collection, which debuts at the High Point Market next week.

That name, by the way, is a bow to Burrell’s 1999 book, “In the Royal Manner,” which discusses the rules of etiquette and entertaining he learned in handling social activities for Lady Di, as our Jeff Linville noted in a Page 1 story last fall when the collection was announced. (Click here to read Jeff's story.)

Ah, the stories he could tell. But we will assume that this butler is discrete about such things as the Queen’s favorite sinful indulgences – I’m betting buttered popcorn and Cheerwine, by the way.

Burrell will be talking, though, about the homes and lifestyles of English gentlemen, who favor country homes on the formal side. That will help Highland House expand the range of its style offerings from the more casual look of its Cotswold Cottage collection, which has been in its stable for several years.

Tom Staats, president of Highland House, told Linville that Americans are intrigued with Great Britain and that classic British style is much in vogue these days.

Burrell’s partnership with Highland House should produce some striking designs. Back in the days when I covered the upholstery industry, I always enjoyed my trips to the Highland House showroom. The company has a reputation for creating stylish, classic silhouettes, in both case goods and upholstery.

So this market, I recommend a visit to the Highland House showroom in Market Square. Stop in for a cup of Earl Grey tea. And tell them the butler sent you.