SONG SONG

The Avengers, hands down. Emma Peel had such clever STYLE!

MORE THEME SONG NOMINEES

Since I let the day get away from me, I’m extending the contest for one more day. I have some nominees to post for David and Rebecca’s theme song. Here are two entries from two stylish D Home fanatics:

Nominee One: How about a little Mormon action? Donny and Marie’s classic “I’m a little bit country — he’s a little bit rock and roll.”

Nominee Two: Since both are such sophisticates, how about the theme to The Avengers? Nothing says style like John Steed and Emma Peel.

So true. And I’m sure David would look smashing in a bowler. So far, we have seven entries but no clear winner. Keep sendin ‘em in!

BELATED CONGRATULATIONS

I’m slow, I know, but this is a little ridiculous. Sometimes I’m just a little batty–it’s what makes me so lovable.

A few weeks ago, Feizy Rugs was presented the 17th ARTS Award in the Area Rugs category by the Accessories Resource Team (ART). The awards program recognizes excellence in retailing, manufacturing, product design, and sales representation of decorative home accessories. This is Feizy’s third ARTS Award–congratulations.

THEME SONG

As far as David and Rebecca go, the theme from “Mork and Mindy” is the obvious choice. However, it is not enough of a trigger. Thus my vote will have to be the theme from the “Odd Couple.” Do do do do do do . . . do do do do do do do . . .

STAY WARM

God love you, Todd…I have stock in Starbucks, so please enjoy another! And another!!

WARM UP YOUR WEEKEND

Just in time for our cold snap (all three days of it), Starbucks has a new drink: the marble mocha macchiato. It’s a sweet, soothing blend of dark chocolate, white chocolate, and espresso, topped off with a foamy head and more chocolate drizzle. “Sounds good,” you say. “But what does this have to do with D Home or home/garden related shenanigans?” Glad you asked. Everyone here at D Home’s world headquarters knows that it takes gallons of blood, sweat, and Starbucks to give birth to each issue of our lovely magazine. In fact, I’m enjoying an M-3 (that’s what I’m calling the new drink) right now. Mmmmmm. That’s better. Now back to work.

RE: THEME SONG

David, come on. That’s easy. Your entry is the theme to “The Patty Duke Show.” A classic to be sure, but I was hoping for something even a little more purr-fect, like this entry from a D Home fanatic:

Since David and Rebecca like to be catty, how about the theme to “The Pink Panther”?

I love it! Can’t you see Sherman & Feld stalking each other down the hallway to Mancini’s slinky tune? But remember, shoppers: You still have 5 days left. And I have a book to give away. Get those entries in!

COLOR MY WORLD

Mondrian’s Gray Trees

David, need I remind you that you were the one who painted your walls storm gray three times, each time believing that they wouldn’t send you into bouts of longterm depression? Might I also point out that they were not Kaufman, but a knock-off.

I’m wondering what a little Ralph Lauren umber glaze would look like over Ralphie’s gray number 10, I belive it’s called Suicidal Gray…hmmm…

FLEMISH DECONSTRUCTED

Check out new works by David Crismon at the artist’s reception tonight at Craighead Green Gallery at 1011 Dragon St. Crismon takes apart the realism of a 17th century Flemish painting, and puts it back together again in blocks. The paintings have a photo-esque clarity by his using oil on metal. Just another of the talented original artists you’ll find at Craighead Green.

WIN A FREE BOOK!

I love playful exchanges on blogs. It keeps them spry and lively. And I love it when David and Rebecca banter. Reminds me of Jane Curtain and Dan Aykroyd from Weekend Update (circa 1970s SNL). But something seems to be missing: I know! A theme song! Yes, those two crazy kids need a theme song. So here’s the contest: send in your suggestions for David and Rebecca’s theme song. The winner gets Taschen’s Photo Icons: The Story Behind the Pictures. Since it’s Friday afternoon, and you’re all either sluggish from lunch or ready for happy hour, we’ll continue the contest until 5 p.m. Monday. Ready… set… be clever!

CHRYSANTHEMUMS EVERYWHERE

You saw it here first, in the February DHome, the Geisha-inspired Japanese royal chysanthemum shape is everywhere in new fabrics. From the literal interpretation to the most stylized pinwheel shape, every new designer collection has it. I particularly love this blue and white pattern from Seacloth available (to the trade) at George Cameron Nash.

DER RING CYCLE

Enjoy Mozart, Rebecca. I am hosting two Dartmouth professors tonight who will conduct a seminar tomorrow at the Greenhill School on Wilhelm Richard Wagner, creator of the monumental four opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelugen (which I think took him something like 26 years to complete) AND the man responsible for the Wedding March aka Here Comes The Bride… a little trivia there. A most controversial figure to say the least: socialist, anarchist, pro-fascist, German nationalist, anti-Semite — he was a very bad lad!
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DAVE P-M A GO-GO?

So I’ve been under the weather for a few days, and now I feel better. What happens? Dallas home prices escalate faster than I can find a non-diet carbonated beverage in my house! I did manage to drag myself off the death bed to make a presentation at Prudential’s Preston Center office. Here, I learned that super sales star Dave Perry-Miller is thinking about taking it easy…wants to take off 2 full months the summer of ‘07 and to do that, he plans to take on a biz partner…
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I BEG TO DIFFER

David, my dear, I don’t hate the Magic Flute. You completely took a comment I made ages ago about Mozart’s operas out of context. As you know, I’m more of a Katya Kabanova kind of opera-goer, or Billy Budd, or Elektra. Now those are operas that will knock you out of your socks with theater. The Dallas Opera has done each of them, brilliantly. By contrast, Mozart is beautiful. Dallas does Mozart beautifully. But when I go to the opera, I like to leave sockless.

PAINT TIP

While shooting a 1929 historic house by architect Hal Thompson, I told decorator Larry Grusendorf that I loved the dining room’s ethereal green walls. I wanted to know the exact color and the brand of paint, and I had my pad and pencil ready. “What you like is the glaze, not the color,” he said with startling assurance. But before I could argue, he explained. The green could be any green, really, but it was the umber glaze painted on top that gave it an indefinable gorgeousness and kept it from looking like you’d just painted the room. In other words, it had character. He recommends Ralph Lauren’s umber glaze.

I’m going to try the glaze in an oil base on some chairs whose white wood has taken on an undesirable pinkish cast. Grussendorf thinks the glaze will take care of the problem. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

SALUM SALUTE

A little teaser: I’m going to Salum tomorrow night for a birthday celebration. By all accounts, the red-hot Dallas restaurant is red hot for a reason: great food in a warm, sensuous environment. Said sensuous surroundings are courtesy of equally red-hot interior designer (and former D Home pin-up boy) Julio Quinones. I can’t wait to lick up chef/owner Abraham Salum’s culinary prowess (he used to be at Parigi — one of my faves), but I’m even more eager to see Julio’s work (pictured above). I’ll give you a report Monday.

ZANDRA RHODES AT THE OPERA

London designer Zandra Rhodes who designed all those outrageous clothes in the 1970s (in the ’90s she dressed Princess Di), is in Dallas doing the costumes for the Dallas Opera’s production of The Magic Flute by Mozart. I’m going to the opera opening tomorrow night, so Monday I’ll blog about it, and you can see some of her amazing costume designs. Better yet, get a seat and go. It’s one of the most listenable operas because of Mozart, and with Rhodes’ costumes, it’s one of the most watchable. Buy your ticket.

MENTORING DESIGN

Most designers are thought to be competitive and protective of sources and clients, but there is a local group here that is anything but. Led by Linda Fritschy, ASID, this group of 14 ASID members sponsors a forum called Emerging Designers, which has meetings with programs to benefit to new designers. The purpose, Fritschy says, is to make the first year out of design school a little less scary with info about job postings and lessons in showroom etiquette. Wow, is that a great idea or what! Linda, can I nominate some designers who could use some manners? Anyway, what a great unselfish way to ensure professionalism in the design community. To find out more, contact Linda at l.fritschy@worldnet.att.net.

CAPITAL DISCUSSION

Capital Distributing, the appliance wholesaler at 2910 N. Stemmons, which also just happens to be the most beautiful and complete kitchen showroom in Dallas, is hosting Dion Neutra, to discuss the work of his father Richard Neutra.. Neutra is credited with bringing the international style of architecture to the United States and brought European acclaim for his design of the Lovell House in 1929. Also known as the Health House, because Neutra extended the architectural design into the landscape, so that vistas of the ocean, mountains, and lights of LA were part of the design. For more information, or to get an invite, contact Jennifer Tyrrell at jennifer@capitaldistributing.com

FAVORITE SITE OF THE DAY

Image courtesy of Elle Decor

My favorite web site of the day is The Stencil Library, a England-based site for wonderful wall and floor stencils. Its online catalogue is organized by style, such as Regency, Neo Classic, Empire, etc., so it’s easy to imagine yourself painting borders or repeat patterns like wallpaper. There’s tips and books and products for sale. If you have tried any of these, let me know what you think.

CALATRAVA IS MUY CALIENTE

Entertainment Weekly is my Bible: a snarky cornucopia of pop culture trivia that I devour as soon as it drops into my mailbox each week. According to this week’s issue — sporting a fetching Natalie Portman on the cover — Santiago Calatrava is hot. Frank Gehry is not. At least that’s what the magazine’s Shaw Report (a recurring column of hotness vs. notness) says. That’s great for our Calatrava-designed Trinity River bridges, as shown above. Work has finally begun. (You can see the bulldozers from the Continental Boulevard bridge — progress at last, hurrah!) But I still dig Gehry. Overexposed? Yes. But his Dali-esque designs are dreamy and whimsical. I would love to see one of his buildings in Dallas. Just think what he could have done with the uninspired American Airlines Center. David Schwarz fans may now boo and hiss me.

HISTORY CLASS

Yesterday, I had a wonderful information-packed lunch at the Dallas Country Club with Alex Martin and Ruth Taylor, both longtime alum of the Baker showroom, the first tenant of the Decorative Center in 1955. Dallas was the home to the first decorative center in the world because a developer named Trammel Crow, who had no history or previous interest in furniture, had this vision to create a center for the decorative arts along a future freeway to be named Stemmons. Said Crow, “This development must practice what the interior designing professions preach and not make the mistake of assuming that the niceties of living should be ignored in a commercial district.” Much more about this later…

SMALL WORLD

David Holder is the scion of the Holder baking empire in France, widely considered to be the best bakers in the world — they own Laduree, the renowned Paris bakery that Peggy Healey Parker wrote about yesterday in her blog. Not many people realize, however, that Holder was the same French baking company that brought Dallas, and the rest of the world, La Madeleine, back in the early 1980s. David Holder was still a schoolboy when I started working for the Dallas corporate offices in 1983 and fielding calls in French (I had been a French major at SMU, and this was my first job) from his parents. I always thought it was curious — a holding company named Holder. Anyway, the Holders sold La Madeleine sometime in the 1990s, about the same time that La Madeleine quit using butter in their croissants.

THE ST. VALENTINE’S DAY ELF

Before you rush off to your fancy dinners, expensive gifts, and whatever else this chilly (relatively) night brings you, consider these fun-filled facts handed to me by a cute little St. Valentine’s Day elf. If you’ve never seen these little guys, I highly recommend you seek one out–they laugh and hiccup a lot. Quite the sight. On with the facts:

To choose valentines in the Middle Ages, people would draw names of the opposite sex from a bowl. They would then pin those names on their sleeves for a week or so, which is why we now “wear our hearts on our sleeves.”

Want more? I knew you would.

The average person burns 26 calories during a one-minute kiss, and that same average person will spend two weeks of his life locking lips with other people.

Not a bad way to spend half a month, is it? Now get out there and start cutting into those two weeks!

MODERN LOVE

An Austin-bound D Home fanatic is in the process of building his dream house and started a very cool blog: Mies and Carrots.The witty blog documents the trials and travails of trying to build a small modern house in the uber-expensive Hill Country. It’s a fun read and chocked full of cool design and shopping tips for the inner Mid-Century Mod lover in all of us. Check it out.