SALE ALERT: SWELL DWELL

Want some linens that make a bold statement? I love the simplicity and vibrancy of this hexagon-patterned duvet and sheet set in black and butter. Would look nice and crisp on a summer bed. Both sets are on sale at Dwellshop.com.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS IS A TREE HOUSE?

This amazing tree house, called FlutterBy, was built by HDR, INC., architects for the Dallas Arboretum’s Extreme Treehouses show, which runs through December. There are 12 other elaborate designs, all worth visiting this Fourth of July.
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HGTV “REVEAL” IS HO-HUM?

Rebecca and Todd, as you know, I learned most of what I know about styling from you and David Feld. AND I AM A GREAT STUDENT! So see if you buy this: first, the painfully overdone green apples. Unless this is a nostalgia touch, we are talking even worse than ho-hum. We are talking wrong. Keep in mind, too, that this is a Park Slope couple in a fabulous brownstone. They are professionals. She is pregnant. Unless that white furry rug is for the baby to creep around on, it is worse than ho-hum. It is inappropriate. (Better suited to 14-year-old devotee of PB Teen catalogue.) And the stuff on the mantle? The, what, sticks in a vase, ornamental cabbage, and, what, beakers? I am a Libra, and I like symmetry unless the symmetry is broken for a reason, and by that I mean an intelligent reason. Okay, maybe ho-hum was a little harsh. How about, a tad derivative? (Smile.)

COFFEE TALK

Sale time again. This one features three of my favorite things (I feel a Julie Andrews song coming on): 1) great design, 2) coffee, and 3) Bodum. Alas, our Bodum store recently closed. But you can still find their boffo brew equipment online such as this Granos automatic espresso machine. The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design awarded the chic coffeemaker its 2003 “Good Design” award. I think its space-age cool. And it’s on sale for $452.50 at Tabletools.com. Go check it out. Oh, and by the way, Roger, I know a bull from a cow. Trust me.

BULLS ARE GOOD AT VOLLEYBALL, TOO

I can’t tell you the zodiac signs of all of my teammates, but last night, a contingent of D staffers (and a few spouses) won their volleyball league after a killer four-hour playoff. As an injured, but contributing player, I’m proudly wearing my champion’s t-shirt this afternoon. I must say, it looks great on me. I think I might want a whole closet full of them.

Brains and brawn. It’s hard being a bull.

A REAL TAURUS

Um, Todd? That’s not a bull, that’s Daisy THE COW! Bulls don’t say “moo.”

As a fellow Taurus, I can’t believe you paint us as weenie bovines who push dairy products on unsuspecting consumers. Practical? Yes. Stubborn? Oh, good Lord, yes. But be proud, too. Be like this guy on my left.

GUESS MY SIGN! (MOO)

I agree with Christine — the new HGTV show seems pretty cheesy. I also agree with Rebecca — I thought the room was pretty sweet. As for me, I’m a Taurus. Practical and stubborn, supposedly. Practical? Hardly. (I’m on my third dining room table in four years. Someday, I’ll get it right. Sigh.) Stubborn? I’ll let my D Home playmates have fun with that one. Be nice.

HOROSCOPE DESIGN

Rebecca, Christine is a Libra like me. We like everything pretty, or maybe not, or yes, maybe, or maybe we can’t make up our minds. Being on the cusp, you can probably decide quicker.

HOROSCOPE DESIGN

Rebecca and Christine, please recall that Nancy Reagan used to consult her astrology gurus who were influencing national policy…and things weren’t all that bad when Ronnie was at the helm! I think this is a super idea for a TV show and why even… even a magazine column. I am a Leo, and as such, every designer has always had to beat me down to get me to tone down the color. (Reminds me of hairdressers who tell me to straighten my hair.) Michelle Nussbaumer came into my blah living room and said, “Candy, you are an artist; this room is too sterile…” and she has some wonderful recipes for jazzing it up. Main ingredients: Aqua paint, blue and white porcelain, fun. Like a Leo. Do stay tuned.

HO-HUM?

Christine, lavender walls with lime green upholstery is ho-hum? Looks pretty fun to me. You’re a Scorpio like me, aren’t you? I wonder what they’d say our colors were, and if we’d agree?

W’ONE MORE THING

My husband this morning reminded me that the elevator lines to get up to Ghost Bar and the Infinity Pool at the W last night were horrific. Which they were. It took like forever to move toward the elevator to get UP (a mere 45 second ride) but coming DOWN – well, it was almost instantaneous. No lines.

I reminded HIM that was an analogy to life in general.

W’OVERHEARD

At last night’s opening bash, the W folks were projecting huge images of mountainous cliffs on wall-sized background screens. Like we were somewhere in the Rockies. One guest said: “Um, I don’t think that’s Dallas. Maybe this is the image for the next W opening in Denver.”