A DRAGON NOT ON DRAGON

Oh la la Oriental! Check out Patrick Lewis’s show at Debris, 1205 Slocum Street. This Plano artist takes deep inspiration from oriental images, such as “Dragon’s Maw”, above. The show, along with Jennifer Pilon’s ceramic sculptures - Raku fired porcelain - will be up though January 20th. Sushi for dinner???

RETURN OF THE HOUSEPLANT?

The January issue of House & Garden announces the return of the houseplant. If sad and sickly are what’s in, I think I’ll pass. Such neglected looking specimens are what gave the houseplant a bad rap in the first place.

HOUSE GUESTS & FISH

It’s that time of the year when company graces us with their presence (and presents, hint hint). Here’s a tip: Leave a copy of local etiquette expert Joy Weaver’s book, “How to be Socially Savvy in all Situations” on the nightstand next to the guest bed for night-time reading. Her website is www.justaskjoy.com. Here’s what Joy tells people about being the perfect house guest:
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HOUSE GUESTS & FISH

It’s that time of the year when company graces us with their presence (and presents, hint hint). Here’s a tip: Leave a copy of local etiquette expert Joy Weaver’s book, “How to be Socially Savvy in all Situations” on the nightstand next to the guest bed for night-time reading. Her website is www.justaskjoy.com. Here’s what Joy tells people about being the perfect house guest:
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GETTING CROWDED IN HERE

Feel like you are elbowing your way through town these days? Me too. It’s a fact: more people are moving to Big D, finding home prices in the northeast, west coast and Las Vegas (yes, Vegas baby) too darn high. We’re a bargain, darling. Check it out.

DESIGN JUNKIES AND JUNKETTES

Surf’s up! Go to http://designsponge.blogspot.com/tonight. This is link city — the “Design Sponge,” a self-proclaimed Southern transplant who now finds herself in Brooklyn, does her homework so we don’t have to. She’lll link you to cool stores and tiny design studios all over the country.

BE NICE …..

Just one more bad mannered holiday story and then I’ll shut up. Remember the party that must have the furnishings or the world will come to an end? Well, a client of Walter Culp’s borrowed a $6000 table from the floor for that party, because their table was not in yet. They have had it a month, and now says they don’t want the one they ordered and are holding the table hostage if they don’t get their money back. Send out the vigilantes!

BEANBAG REVISITED

This new generation beanbag is literally walking (or sliding) out the doors at Dwellings Five. Called “Fatboy” (can I say that or is it not PC?), it is made in Germany and comes in bright colors as well as camouflage. The 3 sizes ranging from the 48″ round island to the 30″ dog bed can be shaped in any configuration and is totally waterproof. So, you can have the island out by the pool, the standard chairs in the media room, and Fido has his own matching bed.

GARAGE SALE!

A D Homey and frequent contributor to our magazine passes along this jewel:

Orr-Reed Wrecking Company owner John Hargrove tells me the architectural salvage yard is having its first garage sale in 60 years. On Saturday, Dec. 17, Hargrove promises deals on everything from clawfoot tubs and mantels, to antique doors, hardwood flooring of all varieties, beautiful furniture, columns, tons of architectural elements, even a few cars and trucks they’ve acquired along the way, as well as your garden variety “good old junk.” The impetus? Hargrove says, “This is a chance to say, thank you Dallas, come get a bargain…Every 60 years, you gotta clean up and get organized.” Hargrove is consolidating his spread-out operation (which over the years has sprawled into three buildings) back into the large original store with one big warehouse. “It’s easier to have a sale than move it all.” He promises loyal customers will love the end result: a better-organized Orr-Reed with wonderful inventory you can’t find anywhere else.” Hargrove will auctioneer on Saturday. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. The auction gets underway at 10 a.m. sharp and will continue as long as people have an interest. “It’s going to be fun! I hope people will make a day of it–my kids will be there with hot dogs and lemonade.” And if you can’t wait until Saturday, this is preview week. Get in there and make him an offer. Orr-Reed Wrecking is at 1903 Rock Island Street, just south of Southside on Lamar. 214.428.7429.

I can confirm that Orr-Reed is way cool. If you’re into digging for architectural gems, you won’t want to miss out on this special sale.

IT’S “BE NICE TO DESIGNERS AND SHOWROOM STAFF WEEK”

I ran into a designer yesterday; he told me about his morning. “My client was preparing for holiday house guests. She was so hysterical that she screamed ‘if you don’t get that chair slipcovered by Monday morning, I quit.’ Obviously, she was confused about who was working for whom. I clarified the matter for her. ‘No darling,’ I said, ‘you’ve got it mixed up. I quit.’ And then I walked out the door.”

Be nice clients. After all, it’s Christmas time.

IT’S “BE NICE TO DESIGNERS AND SHOWROOM STAFF WEEK”

I ran into a designer yesterday; he told me about his morning. “My client was preparing for holiday house guests. She was so hysterical that she screamed ‘if you don’t get that chair slipcovered by Monday morning, I quit.’ Obviously, she was confused about who was working for whom. I clarified the matter for her. ‘No darling,’ I said, ‘you’ve got it mixed up. I quit.’ And then I walked out the door.”

Be nice clients. After all, it’s Christmas time.

REAL ESTATE

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NYC Field Trip: Here we are in the lobby of the Kimpton Hotel before we pumped it up at the Exhale Mind and Body Spa…..ah memories….

REAL ESTATE

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My NYC Field Trip: on our private jet en route to the Big Apple! That’s cute Carole McBride of Adleta Fine Properties, Ebby’s Joe Kobell and the owner of our Gulfstream.

SANTA’s HELPER

Gotta go: The Jeff Neal Group at Abio Realty is collecting toys for the WFAA Santa’s Helper Toy Drive tomorrow….I’m taking Bree so she can get a picture with Santa. This is her very first Christmas!
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WEEKEND RECIPE

A fan of D Home Blog, knowing so many of us are foodies, sent this in. I know what I’m cooking tonight.

http://www.candyboots.com/wwcards/scaryorangesalad.html

PAUL LIVES!

The somewhat elusive and extraordinarily talented Paul Garzotto came out last night — to D Home’s party with Odegard, I mean. Paul’s work keeps him traveling a lot, so that explains why we hardly ever see him any more. Not only did he show up to our party but he went to dinner with us afterward at Al Biernat’s.

Paul regaled me with some great decorating tales. One of them was about his late business partner Marguerite Green, who died 8 years ago. She lived in a bungalow in West Highland Park at the time of her death, and the fellow who bought the house has recently been redecorating and renovating. He mentioned this to Paul.

He also mentioned that Maggie Green had been haunting him at night, floating over his bed, wearing a black and white Valentino dress. “I don’t think she likes what I’m doing to the house,” he told Paul.

For anyone who knew the irrepressible Maggie Green, it makes perfect sense that she would attempt to control the decoration of her house from the grave.

Paul has his own story about Maggie visiting from the afterlife.

“One day shortly after she died, I said something really not nice about Maggie. The electricity in the office went off immediately with a boom,” he says. “I knew it was Maggie,” says Paul, because she flashed before his eyes, wearing that black and white Valentino dress. “I immediately apologized,” he says.

RE: DALLAS, I’M PROUD OF YA!

One D Homey comments:

Knox Street and NorthPark are great places to Christmas shop. In fact, I dropped some money there last weekend.

But apparently, no one is dropping money at the Viking Culinary Arts Center at Knox and McKinney this holiday. After woofing down a Frito pie at Wild About Harry’s for lunch today (yum), I discovered everyone’s favorite kitchen appliance store is undergoing a facelift. It’s dropping its epicurean goodies and refocusing on its appliances and cooking school. When will it reopen? We’ll find out.

DALLAS, I’M PROUD OF YA!

The “Ice Storm of the Century!!!!” — at least that’s how I felt after watching last night’s local newscasts — has arrived, rendering the roads too treacherous for many to make it to work. But apparently, all roads leading to Knox Street are lined with sunshine and lollipops. The home furnishings Mecca is seeing robust foot and car traffic today. I can hear the ka-ching of the registers all the way over here at D Home’s world headquarters in Oak Lawn. Makes me wonder how NorthPark is doing? Hmmm…perhaps I should investigate. (Cue noise of Todd searching for his car keys.)

THE TALES OF HOFFMAN

Despite the “terrible ice storm” Wick and I went to the opera. If they still have tickets for Saturday night, do not miss this. It’s about a romantic poet-fool in Paris, stalked by Evil. Imagine the Devil going after Jay Mclnerney — a much more intriguing pursuit than chasing a pure and virtuous character.

But the main character for me was the costuming and staging, which was dazzlingly intelligent and stylish, more poetic than the poet himself. For visual people, this is one of the best nights of the year. Go.

REALLY REALLY BUGS ME

If you did not read Candy’s bed bug blog in full, do so. I am taking orders for flashlights if anyone is interested.

REALLY BUGS ME

I finally have the scoop on bedbugs in Dallas: we have had our share of creepy critter reports here, too, but not as many as the large metropolises on either coast. Why? Globalization.
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SHOWROOM STRESS

Now is the time that I am really grateful to be out of the showroom business. Every showroom person is slammed with messages about holiday delivery - where is it, why isn’t it here, you promised, and of course, the biggy - “But, my client is having a party!” And the world is going to come to an abrupt end if the powder room wallpaper is not up for that party. I don’t know about you, but I think the lack of champagne or eggnog is much more serious. So-o-o, be nice to your local showroom personel!!!

RE: OUR PHOTO

Maybe the squeezing graphic elements are meant to make us look slimmer in anticipation of the holiday onslaught of fattening egg nog, sweets, and figgypudding. Speaking of which, has anyone ever had figgy pudding? As for Paul Hunter’s work, I attended the gallery showing and was drawn to the haunting and melancholy Barn # E. Alas, I scurried away from the $34,000 price tag. “No surprise,” Tom replied at my audible gulp. “You’ve always been one expensive b@##h.” But he said it with love.

OUR PHOTO

It’s not just you, Todd, your head does look small. I think we all look like we are just about to be crushed by the decorative elements that surround our banner photo. Todd, you’re a graphic artist. Can’t you help ease our suffering?

SOLID GOLD

Last week I wrote about artist Lari Gibbons’ exquisite mezzotints, which are on display at the Pan American Art Gallery this month. Also showing with Gibbons is an artist named Paul Hunter, whose 23 karat works of art (shown above) remind me of the exquisite gold leaf wall papers made by the venerable house of Gracie.

Like Gibbons’ work, which uses ancient methods, Hunter uses a centuries-old technique to create his luminous, imaginary landscapes. He does this with 23-karat gold leaf, bronze, copper, aluminum, and white gold. Each leaf is adhered individually to the gessoed canvas, and allowed to cure for one week before painting. His work appears above. Click on the links below to view Gibbons’ works.

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