BACK TO SCHOOL IS SO COOL

When I was in college back in ye olde days of yore, my dorm room interior design was limited to plastic milk crates and bookshelves made of cinder blocks. These days, however, kids get all the cool stuff, from ’60s-inspired decor at Urban Outfitters to fun and functional storage like these Day-Glo nested woven nylon bins from The Container Store. The colors are so yummy you’ll want to run your tongue over them. But, please, buy them first.

A BRIGHT IDEA

You don’t have to be Einstein to have a comprehensive picture of American history. Just take an hour or two to walk through the Amon Carter’s “100 Great American Photographs” exhibit. From one of the earliest images made in America (a 1840 daguerreotype) to digital photos, this show contains 100 of the most interesting in the AC’s 30,000-image collection. We mentioned it in the current issue’s calendar, so you may have–good D Home readers that you are–already seen it. But if you (like me until this past weekend) have delayed, I implore you, go!

A few highlights: Einstein (by Clara Sipprell, shown), JFK and Jackie campaigning in Boston, Geronimo, Abraham Lincoln, Civil Rights and Great Depression shots, and a favorite of mine, Keith Carter’s “Fireflies,” an enchanting dream-like evocation of summer. And, don’t forget to read the captions, or you’ll miss fascinating stories about the photographers and their subjects. This one made me laugh: Photographer Arthur Fellig who became known as “Weegee” for his ability to predict the site of every disaster and who prided himself on his ability to arrive before police officers at a scene, in fact had a police scanner in his trunk. Good stuff.

ATTEMPTS TO BECOME MORE CHEFLY

So you’ve acquired the proper attire, the toque blanche, and perhaps you’ve splurged and purchased the official chef tools–maybe one of Pete Yavner’s rolling pins (see post “Wood Work for Food”). Well now it’s time to get in the kitchen. No, not your own. Wouldn’t you rather learn in a state-of-the-art private dining room kitchen? (That way you won’t have to clean up afterward.) And why not learn from a master? Stephan Pyles is teaching six cooking classes at Stephan Pyles, the restaurant, starting this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Devotees of the founding father of Southwestern cuisine will learn recipes and techniques, and the best part: The demo includes a 4-course meal with matching wines or beverages. Contact Melinda Lawson at 214-999-1229 ext. 103 for reservations.

OUT OF THE CLOSET!

This may be the week where reality set in for our real estate market. Yes, agents are still busy. But when word came that the Maple Terrace was not going condo, many were not only relieved but dared to spit out what so many of us have been saying behind closed doors for eons: the Dallas condo market may be overbuilt. (Do ya think?) Now a warning from the learned real estate minds at Texas A&M University that we are not immune from soft spots, and builders are having to woo buyers with perks for new homes. (Be sure to check out the story on the Dallas condo market.) Still I am told that investors like us ever so much more than California and Florida. These days.

BEASTS OF PREY, PROTECT YOUR PETS!

Yes, I am working feverishly on that restaurant piece but still find time to read the blogs. Frontburner recently blogged a message from a reader about furry beasts discovered by one of our staff members. Well, guess what? There are furry beasts right here in my Preston Hollow hood–which makes me wonder, just where do these restaurants get that free-range meat?
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GET FAT AND HAPPY

I blog about this only because in our upcoming special super-duper September extravaganza chocked full of home and garden goodness (whew!) you’ll find a pithy charticle (that’s a chart that acts as an article) from Candy Evans about new Dallas restaurants and their sumptuous digs. And you can check out some of those restaurants during KRLD’s upcoming Restaurant Week in August. Locals know about this tasty charity event: For $35, you can enjoy a three-course meal. $7 of that goes to the Lena Pope Home or the North Texas Food Bank. “Yes, yes, we know all of this, Todd,” you grumble. “So what’s the new news?” Glad you asked. Sponsor Central Market offers a delicious option: Make a purchase at CM between July 17-August 13 and receive a certificate good for an additional course at any participating Restaurant Week fourth course restaurant. Find more information about the event here. But hurry. Reservations are going fast, if they’re not already gone.

WOOD WORK FOR FOOD

Looking for the perfect gift for a kitchen connoisseur–or the aesthetically starved epicurean in you? Pete Yavner, a retiree from the computer field with a penchant for woodworking, makes beautiful rolling pins, peppermills and saltshakers, cutting boards, honey dippers, and coffee grinders–even spurtles (you know, those tapered sticks the Scots use to stir their porridge).

These unique pieces incorporate a variety of exotic woods, often South American and African exotics. Renowned chef Dean Fearing, James Wagner, executive pastry chef at the Mansion on Turtle Creek, Jill Butler, a Plano-based pastry chef, and Kent Rathbun of Abacus and Jasper’s fame have one of his rolling pins. (See the maple and zebrawood one Rathbun chose just this week.) Of course, Yavner won’t guarantee that your food will turn out as good as that of the previously listed, but it doesn’t hurt to look the part. Get yours at Flavors From Afar and Culinary Connection.

CERULEAN GALLERY

Caroline Crockett Pickton’s Wallpaper Series: Cherry Blossoms 4 is a very pretty piece of art, but I can’t dismiss it as simply decorative. There’s something compelling about it that makes me like to look at it — the color? The Japanese-like way space is used? Because I’m really into wallpaper these days, I like it even more. SMU grad Pickton, who recently opened the Cerulean Gallery in Snider Plaza, will soon open a show with three other artists that’s all about nature, depicted in vivid colors. I’ve seen a preview of some of the other art for the show, and I think you should go. It’ll cheer you up.

KITCHEN COUNTER CLUTTER

Is my nemesis. Yes, I know you have to dump papers and keys someplace, but why is it that everyone always dumps in the kitchen right splat in the middle of everything? And then why does one counter always seem to accumulate things–greeting cards, samples, mail, that empty Advil bottle to remind you to buy more. It drives me crazy. Herewith, some advice from the folks at Kohler.

NEW MISSONI-COVERED MADEMOISELLE CHAIR

Take a seat, Mademoiselle. This smashing new chair by Kartell was designed by Philippe Starck and upholstered in Missoni fabric. We shot it recently for the cover of Design Book, D Home’s annual resource guide for the trade. I love its delicate Lucite legs (they’re really polycarbonate, but that’s not a sexy word). The Mademoiselle also comes upholstered in two other different Missoni fabrics, but don’t you agree that the black and white rocks? See them, buy them, at Scott+Cooner.
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ROWENTA’S IRONING SURVEY

Rowenta has published a hilarious survey on ironing, with results from 15 major cities including Dallas.

In Big D, we admit to making grilled cheese sandwiches with our irons. We iron in the nude. 16 percent of us iron our socks. A shocking 22.6 percent of us iron our clothes while wearing them, which reminds me of a boyfriend who showed up on our first date with a scorch mark on his neck after attempting to press his collar, in situ.
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REDEFINING MODEL…

High-end home builders usually don’t have model homes available to the public. Not when they build 7,000-square-foot-plus homes at upwards of $350 a square foot. But drive by 5506 Walnut Hill Ln. and the home you see under construction–the mansion on the corner–is a model home for Sharif-Munir Builders. Scheduled completion: December 2007.
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BILL BARRETT

Former husband of Angie, the socialite turned actress who had a great garage sale (complete with fine art) last summer, and who let it all out to Skip Hollandsworth in Texas Monthly, has died, according to our brotherly pub’s blog, Frontburner.

Our condolences to the family.

RICHARD DAVIS…

Has just been tapped to design the Residences at the Grand Lodge at Craig Ranch, down the street from Dr. Ken Cooper’s way cool total fitness community, Cooper Life. We just keep hearing more and more exciting things about this McKinney community… jump for the release:
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CONSTRUKT GROUP OPENS

Construkt Group, a fledgling company that specializes in modernist design and architecture, is unveiling its new digs at a party tomorrow night, from 6-8:30. The new offices are clean and modernist, naturally, and located at 331 Cole St., in the Dallas Design District. The sketch shown above, is a rendering of two modernist, single family attached residences on Springbrook. One of them is still for sale, at $975,000. Designed by Clifford Welch, AIA, they have a great look, don’t you agree? Sort of Frank Lloyd Wright meets Richard Neutra.

COOLING MARKET?

A few more indications that our sizzling real estate market is cooling… Sales have declined, interest rates have crept up, and record foreclosures that have me house hunting for bargains…

MAYBE THEY’LL HAVE MID-CENTURY MODERN…

A friend just e-mailed this news about a great contemporary estate sale….

STARBUCK’S NEWEST CAFE

This entry is for the benefit of Todd, who loves Starbucks as much as I do. Full disclosure: I own Starbucks stock. Not enough to allow me to retire on Nevis, or even on a sand bar on the Trinity River, but a bit. So when I walked into the Starbucks in downtown/Riverwalk San Antonio this weekend for java I was surprised to see everyone in headphones LISTENING. What is this, I asked, some kind of CIA outpost?
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A COMPUTER OF HER OWN

This summer I do not get a long vaca but rather a series of short weekend trips–and I was up to my neck in Sheetrock this weekend for Phase II of our San Antonio home: second bath. Third bedroom and laundry. (Details as soon as photos are in.) But I have a dilemma: I need a laptop. If I had a laptop I could be productive en route, while away from home, I could basically join the millions of others in this century who have become mobile employees, taking work on the road, traveling for business, enjoying productivity, telecommuting, saving forests and landfills. Yes sirree, all I need is a simple laptop.
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SHELL GAME

Add this under “decorative trend overkill”: sea shells. Last year it was coral. This year it’s all about barnacles, starfish, and all things conch. Personally, I don’t hate it. But I don’t love it either. And soon, I’m sure I’ll be sick of it. Shouldn’t you discover your own sea shells on some magical weekend trip to the shore? Do you really want to order them over the Internet? Dallas’ Wisteria has a whole section devoted to sea shells. But that’s okay–I still love Wisteria. However, when the spindle tibia hits Target–and you know it will–that’s the official start of shell hell. (And I love Target, too.)

SUMMER SALES AT SNIDER PLAZA!

Okay, folks, they’re making it easy on you. Four great home and gift stores on the 6700 block of Snider Plaza are taking it off. Percents off the pricetags, that is–I know it’s hot, but please. Everything in Suzanne Roberts, except MacKenzie-Childs products, is 20 percent off through the end of the month. Everything at Peek in the Attic is 25 percent off, except some of the Texas Santa’s and new Vera Bradley products. At Home with Lisa Luby Ryan is marking 20 percent off all of furniture, mirrors, lamps, bedding, and linens. For the real deals, go to the large island cabinet in the middle of the store for 50 percent off fancy fireplace matches, journals, pillows, and sheets and duvets. At Vintage Living, select items, including books, upholstered sofas, and bedding, are 20 percent off. A table in the back of the store and other items, such as leather chairs, are 50 percent off. Get out there; you have to spend to save.

NO MORE WIRE HANGERS

No doubt about it, wire hangers tangle and make our closets look disheveled. But what to do about those pesky wire coat hangers that come back with the dry-cleaning? Painstakingly remove them one by one and replace them with your own wooden or fabric ones? Then what do you do with the gnarled pile that ensues?

We have a solution. More and more drycleaners will put your clothes on your own hangers for you, believe it or not. Bibbentuckers at Lemmon and McKinney Avenues (214.219.5400), provides this service for free, they told us. Avon cleaners on Lovers Lane (214.521.4803) provides the service for .25-.50 cents per hanger. Call your favorite drycleaner and ask.

Joan Crawford would have approved.

IT’S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL

I used to bemoan the size of my 1,600-square-foot Oak Cliff cottage. “The rooms are too small, the closets minute, and where the @#!#is my grand hall?” I’d grouse. But in this age of “more is more” (think super size meals and McMansions), I’ve learned to enjoy the manageable charm of my very humble abode. And I think author Cristina Del Valle’s Compact Houses proves quite well that small is not only smart but beautiful. It’s a lovely book full of thoughtful architecture and environmentally responsible design. Pick up a copy here and rethink that mansion on the hilltop.

BREAD WINNER

Being a part of the Mrs. Baird’s generation, I’ve never understood the need for a bread box. You twist the bag, tie it off, and you’re done. Right? Ah, but that doesn’t work if you enjoy crusty loaves from such artisans as Empire Baking Co. and Whole Foods. A yeasty work of art like that deserves something equally stunning. That’s why I love the simple good looks and clean lines of this Wesco bread box. This German design from the 1940s is given an updated look in classic white and juicy tangerine. Mmm…tasty.

PLANNING VACATIONS

Christine, I planned a vacation–to the cool mountains of Colorado. I’ll be birding and snapping photos with the high temps only reaching the mid 70s.

Yes, you’ll have to do without me for a little bit. But take heart–maybe I’ll post while enjoying the cool mountain breeze.