MUSINGS ON THE LOVE OF OLD

Tonight inveterate collector, author, and senior vice president for Ralph Lauren Mary Randolph Carter (or Carter, as she introduces herself) will be at Vintage Living. If you miss the celebrated author of the “Junk” series (American Junk, Big City Junk, Kitchen Junk, etc.) tonight, her new book, “For The Love of Old,” will be at the Snider Plaza store. You can even get a signed copy of this beautiful book (she took all 200 colored photographs herself). I met her at the store today, and she shared some musings…
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ANTIQUE STOP OWNERS HANG WITH THE ROYAL FAMILY

Rose and Mark Lafferty, owners of Plano’s Antique Stop mall, hung with some of the British Royals earlier this month, as a part of a fund-raising event sponsored by the Duke of Edinburgh. They played a little golf, ate a little caviar at the castle….

TAKING ISSUE WITH CNN MONEY

Yeah, so, I started clicking around CNN Money’s real estate page and I found a few things to take issue with.

One: Banker Glenn Gantt also pointed out that this is the same site that said Fort Collins was the best place in the US to live, which made his Ft. Collins friend very excited– “until he saw that the list had Richardson, TX at #15, at which point he called BS.”

And two: this description of Bakersfield. Hey, I know we’ve got hot summers here! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

DALLAS MAKES TOP 10 IN HOUSING MARKET

But not in a good way.

Hey man, at least we’re not number one.

(thanks to Glenn Gantt at Signature Bank for the uplifting link)

INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET

Is South Dallas going to be the next hot design district area? As rents go up in the DD, maybe people will be moving to cheaper digs. Someone is sure moving there:

“South Dallas was the clear third quarter frontrunner” in industrial real estate absorbtion “contributing 1.3 million square feet of black ink” to the overall Dallas market “which stands at 5.5 million year-to-date.” - Grubbs & Ellis Research, Industrial Market Trends, 3rd Q 2006

MORE CLIFF WELCH

If you’re loving the house for sale by Doug Newby, don’t forget you can build your own Cliff Welch masterpiece with developer Marc Kleinmann at ConstruKt Group.

RE: GREEN LIVING

Oh Loyd, I know what you mean. It’s scary what’s happening! Want to know where the world’s supply of trees is going?

Here you go.

RE: GOING GREEN

Peggy, yes, thankfully there is some “eco-friendly movement” among manufacturers. However, don’t get too excited, it’s going to take a lot more than natural bookshelves and cork flooring to fix this problem.

CITY CODE CRAZY

More from Bob Curry, down at City Hall’s code compliance department.

In October 2004, there were 85,000 overdue requests. The current total is 200.

Put that on your sign and post it (not illegally, okay?)

COONER’S COLLECTIONS

Just one of the small treasures you’ll see at Joel Cooner’s gallery on Dragon Street. This is the first known image of a diety, discovered in India, and probably from 2000 B.C.–it’s only $200,000. When Joel moves next door, to a very gallery-exque space, his extraordinary collection will be exhibited more like the museum quality it is. Stay tuned…

RE-KOHLER

Loyd, I’m still looking for the central vac system that attaches to the shower head and actually performs liposuction. I know it’s just around the corner.

ECO ROCHE BOBOIS

Yes, it really is meant to look like this and was not built by Pa Kettle. The Legend bookcase by Delcourt from Roche Bobois is part of an eco-friendly collection created from sustainable woods, cut within the grain, and without the use of any hardware, glue, or stains. Everyone’s going green, and the shades are just getting better.

RE: ANTHROPOLOGIE SALE

Christine, Is the sale online or in the stores?

Editor’s Update: The sale is only in the stores, ladies.

KOHLER GETS PERSONAL IN THE BATHROOM

In a category that is brimming with new products, Kohler has taken the stance that not everyone wants the same kind of “bath experience.” So, to help their customers decide whether they are the healing spa type–or a morning rejuvenation junky, the company has created an online personality test designed to align the right products with the desired experience. Check it out. (I missed the mystical age-reducing waters option.)

ANTHROPOLOGIE SALE

Hot lunchtime tip No. 2: Our trusty assistant managing editor just informed me that Anthropologie is taking an additional 40 percent off sale items–clothing and home–today only. Nice.

LUNCHTIME

This will make you appreciate whatever you are having for lunch. Hit this link for Weight Watchers recipe cards from 1974. Here are some of my favorites: “snacks on sticks” (frozen coffee), “Caucasian Shashlik” (a meat of some sort), “chilled celery log” (shown), and slender quenchers (one is skim milk and orange pulp, the other is made with water, sherry extract, and two beef bouillon cubes). Just some fun recipes to try.

REAL ESTATE

Dallas and Fort Worth top the list of foreclosures….but so does Atlanta, which is listed as one of the best places to buy for appreciation. I hope Austin pays attention to this: Rising property taxes have contributed to the foreclosure problem. Darn politicians!

CLIFF WELCH HOME AT WHITE ROCK LAKE

More of the coolest house in Dallas on Doug Newby’s site– since he is the listing agent and all.