BEST NEW EBBY HALLIDAY LISTING

If you like the exterior of this sleek Katy Trail area condo, you’ll absolutely gush at the interior, designed by modernist Gary Jackson. We got the early-bird notice on it because it’s owned by Craig and Chris Phelps; Chris is D Home’s associate publisher, and she has feted our staff here on many occasion. D Home blog fans get a first peek. Go for it.

GREENS

Hot topic at our editorial meeting: How hot “green” is — not the color, the attitude. More and more people are realizing that we are ruining our beautful planet, choking her off with our insatiable fuel consumption and disposable society. How many of us get take-out daily (I am raising my hand up high!) and toss yet more foam plates, cups, and plastic forks into the landfills where they take 1,000 years to decompose?

Coincidentally, I had lunch at a new Preston Forest restaurant called Snappy Salads and learned it is one of Mayor Laura Miller — and her daughters’ — faves!
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MEDIA SALE?

So we know Starpower is moving, but they are also having a big sale of current inventory. Details to come!

SHANGHAI SURPRISE

Okay, so you go into Peacock Alley to look for sheets, pillows, towels, etc. Not me, I got side-tracked and found this fresh take on the traditional Oriental sideboard in a surprising turquoise lacquer. What style at under $2500!

ORNAMENT OF GRAMMAR

Abbott Miller for Knoll Textiles has created the Grammar Collection of wallpaper using typography as background. “I was seeking a contemporary interpretation of ornament, one not reliant on classic historic motifs. Why not surround ourselves with language?” Miller says. “This is an appropriate theme for any room where there is conversation.” And if the conversation is really boring, you can enjoy this wonderfully graphic wallpaper!

MORE KNOX/HENDERSON CLOSINGS

Something’s in the air, and it ain’t the need for a new sofa apparently. I’ve sighted several closings in the Knox/Henderson area–Dallas’ home furnishings Mecca. Of course, you already knew about Urban Home closing. We reported that two weeks ago. Naturally, nearby sibling Domestic Bliss has gone bye-bye as well. Now, Apothecurious — formerly Avocado Tree — is saying goodbye to its Henderson Avenue outpost and is selling off its scent-tilating collection of handmade soaps, lotions, and balms at deep discounts. The good news? Starpower is moving from its Oak Lawn spot to the old Highland Park Cafeteria location on Cole Avenue. That’s right, men. Satisfy your audio-visual cravings while the wife hunts for that new duvet at nearby Rose Tree. Don’t you love equal opportunity shopping?

UNIVERSAL DESIGN/EASY LIVING

Last week I checked out the very first home in Texas to be certified as an Easy Living house.

What is an Easy Living house? Easy Living is a committment by a builder, in this case, Tapestry Custom Homes, Inc., to create a home that is livable for anyone confined to a wheelchair or with disabilities. OK, don’t tune out on me here. I am not talking about shaving shag carpet for the geriatric set or plastic covers to catch the drools. No hospital hooks for the oxygen tanks. This is Universal Design taken to a thoughtful level with the realization that it’s not only the disabled who need more user friendly homes, it’s all of us!
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REBECCA AND BOOKS

Um Rebecca, does Christine know about your book “thing”?

YES/NO DESIGN BY DIANE LOVE

(Photo by Brad Calcaterra) Our copy editor Christine Wilson checked out a book from the library by Diane Love, called Yes/No Design: Discover Your Decorating Style with Taste-Revealing Exercises and Examples (Rizzoli. 2000). I borrowed it from her, but it’s worth buying (There are many $10 hardback copies on Google. I love this book jacket photo of her, it’s so glamorous and retro.
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STREET SALE

The Trinity Antiques District is having its annual street wide sale on Saturday, April 29, with over 300 vendors from 10 blocks of antique shops. For a complete list of participants, call City View Antique Mall on Industrial Blvd, 214-824-4136. And speaking of Industrial, don’t we need to come up with a new street name for this blossoming antique/design area? Any thoughts?

OPEN SKY OPEN STUDIO

The studios at the Continental Gin Building at 3309 Elm St. are having an open house this weekend–Friday evening and Saturday, featuring works by more than 25 artists. If they are all as talented as Sally Pryor, I would say this is a must-see. Show opens at 5 on Friday, go early, because half of her works have already been sold. By the way, she is the glorious old age of 22–I think we’re going to see great things from her.

HOME SALES HINT NO. 23

Spring…the weather is great, your windows are clean, the azaleas are in bloom. Even if you are NOT planning on selling your home, go out and snap some high quality photos (if digital, at least 4 meter) of your home’s exterior. That way, should you ever decide to sell in another season when the landscaping is not so pretty, you will be armed and ready with glorious, nuclear green photos sparkling with color!
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EVERYBODY LOVES (LEE) RAYMOND

Everyone is up in arms that former Exxon Mobil Corp. chief Lee Raymond gets a $327 million retirement package. And his home on Meadowbrook is valued by Dallas County at $3,708,400. (On today’s market, Realtors say it would be listed at about $5,000,000.) At first blush, we might think gosh, Lee is sure greedy. His salary was $41 million a year at Exxon, enough to pay that Meadowbrook mortgage and more. But then I did a little math:
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HOME SALES YING AND YANG

Well, maybe. Part of me agrees. How much higher can prices go? Interest rates are up, but they are still at or below 7 percent, which is what they were when I was in high school (many, many moons ago). We’ve got the baby boomers set to inherit trillions of dollars, and people will be moving from states that tax retirees heavily — listen up, Austin — to get a better deal in retirement. Finally, all you younguns are buying homes, working, and having familes, which is glorious for the economy. I think we will see prices dip in some areas of the U.S., and in some products, while other sectors will maintain or increase in value. But then…
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RE: HOME SALES SOAR II

Alva’s thoughts that the DMN is using only single-family homes makes sense–it certainly seemed like a very low number, which is why I was asking. It’s still odd that prices fell that much, though, isn’t it? But with only 30 properties, I suppose it’s easy to skew the numbers. Thanks to Alva, for getting to the bottom of it for us.

Oaklawn was the secondary issue, though. I still contend that we’ll see a slow down in sales and appreciation in the United States in general, if not in Dallas specifically.

HOME SALES SOAR II

Roger, to answer your question, I refer to an e-mail just received from one of my most trusted, brilliant Realtor sources, Fernando M. Alva of Keller Williams (469.449.9879):

“In this Area (Area 17) - according to MLS there were 294 sales between January 1st and March 31st…and not 30 sales like the Dallas Morning News suggests…unless they were only counting single-family homes, in which case there were 29 sales. But why would they only look at single-family homes, which only accounted for 10 percent of the sales…especially when this area is mainly condos?”

Then I asked Fernando if 294 sales in first quarter 2006 was better than same period last year: He says yes! From January 1 to March 31, 2005, there were 254 sales of homes and condos in this area.

I rest my case.

RE: NEW HOME SALES SOAR

Candy: I read that same report. And while I agree with most pundits that keep telling us that the Dallas market will not feel the brunt of any potential bubble, the report was not nearly as rosy as you make it out to be. Sure, new home sales are up, but prices dropped drastically. Economist Bob Brusca was quoted in the article as saying the rise in sales is due to builders dropping prices to move inventory–he even equated it to a zombie’s body’s final twitching.

Now the question I have for you, Candy, is: What are your thoughts about the Oaklawn area’s 35-percent drop in selling prices for the first quarter of 2006 (find the numbers here)? Why is it happening? Will it keep happening? Enquiring minds want to know.

VILLEROY & BOCH AT POLLY DUPONT

Peggy and I spent a fun morning yesterday at Polly DuPont, a wonderful tabletop store on Beltline and Coit that’s been around since 1946. If you don’t know about it, you need to go immediately, because they have everything from Royal Crown Derby, Baccarat, Mottahedeh, Kate Spade, and Villeroy & Boch. (I’ve pictured Villeroy & Boch’s new lefthanded mug). Everything in the store, pretty much, is 40-50 percent off until May 15, so you can add to and replace broken plates, crystal, and lost silverware. I was astonished to learn that these kinds of deals are commonplace at Polly DuPont, where everything on a regular basis is marked so much lower than than anywhere else you can buy it in town. Don’t believe me? Take a look for yourself and then write me back.

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NEW HOME SALES SOAR

Reports that new home sales have soared to their highest point in 13 years confirm what local builders and Realtors keep telling me: our Real Estate market is just dandy.

HOLLYWOOD/SANTA MONICA HOME TOUR

Tour the 1920s Tudor Revival houses (with ornamental half-timbering with brick, stone, stucco, steeply pitched roofs) that dot the streets near White Rock Lake this weekend at the Hollywood/Santa Monica Home Tour. The Candlelight tour tonight, 7:30 - 10:30 p.m., includes a silent art auction at the Dallas Arboretum’s Rosine Hall with works by local artists Brad Oldham, Christopher Martin, Marty Ruiz, and Jim Frederick, among others. (Tickets, $40, include tour, art auction, dinner, wine, and beer and are available at Blow Salon.)  The tour continues Saturday and Sunday Home, noon-6 p.m., and tickets are available at Whole Foods on Greenville Avenue or the homes for $10.

NEIMANS IV

Candy, nice top ten list. Does Letterman know about you?

STRONGWATER GLUE

Todd, can you loan me your bedazzler glue? I got a Jay Strongwater frame as a gift and all the little baubles have fallen off. Hmm….maybe I can glue them on my cell phone!

NEIMANS III

Christine, having been educated on the East Coast for five years, where we return each summer, I can tell you why you were disappointed with the wares at Neimans in Boston. There is something liberating herewith: Candy’s Take on East Coast Taste:
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SOLD ON I SOLD IT!

I Sold It!
As soon as my e-mails cranked up, I received three messages from the I Sold It store at 4443 Lovers Ln. They have sold my Siemens telephones, two leather jackets (never pleather), and even a wool floral rug. These items had formerly been gathering dust in a closet. My check (less I Sold It’s well-deserved commission) is en route, and I am so psyched! This eBay-ing for the lazy is just the best! I am now totally ready to clean out my closets!

ELLE DECOR AND H. L. MENCKEN: IT ALL FITS TOGETHER

An erudite D Home fan comments on my blog regarding Elle Decor editor Margaret Russell’s recent Dallas experience, wherein she encountered a McMansion that might benevolently be described as “opulent,” at a level it is safe to argue she had never seen before.

“Did H. L. Mencken write, ‘no one has ever lost money on underestimating American taste?’ I for one loved growing up in this area in which trips to the Gift Galleries of N. M. exposed me to some the finest 20th century design. Dansk Fjord flatware, Allan Adler Silver, and Friberg Scandinavian Ceramics, to name a few. Even museum gift shops are disappointing these days. The current retreat into the mass merchandising of opulence (not to be confused with luxury) continues to cause confusion.”
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