NATCHEZ &8212; Two historic buildings have become a unique home and business for antiques dealer and designer Jim Pippen.

In 2001, he bought the first, The Orchard, corner of North Rankin and Jefferson streets. Later, he bought an 1810 building three doors north, naming it Paradise.

The two buildings yielded seven luxury suites, one of them used as his own residence, Pippen said.

&8220;After all the expense of redoing them, I decided I didn&8217;t want people moving furniture in and out; so I furnished them,&8221; he said.

That done, he decided Natchez had a need for corporate or extended-stay residences. He named his business Natchez Corporate Apartments.

The lavishly furnished and decorated suites have differing personalities. Decorating them was great fun, Pippen said.

&8220;I was in heaven. I&8217;m at my best when I&8217;m being creative,&8221; he said. &8220;I started with one apartment. Then each one revealed to me what it should be.&8221;

The feedback has been positive, he said. &8220;I tried to make the apartments as comfortable as possible but still elegant.&8221;

He furnishes utilities, phone service, satellite service, weekly housekeeping and laundry facilities.

&8220;Both properties work together,&8221; he said, pointing out the swimming pool that is available to residents of both buildings.

To date, the average length of stay at the apartments has been one month. However, he has had residents to stay longer. And he will consider weekly and even three-day, two-night stays.

&8220;But I am not a bed and breakfast,&8221; he said. &8220;I have no desire to be.&8221;

Small corporate boards have used the apartments and have had dinners catered in the well-appointed dining room located in Paradise.

Some of his out-of-town clients come for short visits to discuss their design ideas with him at his Natchez shop, Pippen&8217;s Antiques and Interiors on Franklin Street.

&8220;It gives me a chance to know them better and know what they want,&8221; he said.

Pippen grew up in rural southwest Alabama but moved to Natchez when he was in his early 20s. &8220;I consider Natchez my home,&8221; he said. &8220;I&8217;ve left a couple of times but always came back.&8221;

Interesting to note is that his first Natchez apartment was in The Grove. &8220;It looked very different then,&8221; he said. &8220;That was 30 years ago.&8221;

The apartment project has been a pleasure, Pippen said. &8220;It has been very rewarding, not only financially. It has been self gratifying.&8221;