WE NEED A LOVING HOME

View image As the proud mother of a Golden Doodle, I have to post these holiday angels in case anyone would like to own not one but two of the most precious dogs in the world, Golden Doodles! (Cross between a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle.) These Doods are spayed, housebroken, and perfect dogs… all they need is a loving home.

FIRST GRANDDAUGHTERS

Rebecca, that is a beautiful entry on Heather Vance, who I also adored. I can’t help but compare her maturity, class, and stature to some other (really) first granddaughters who shall remain nameless…

CARRIAGE & CAROLING: 3 CHEERS FOR 3 JAYS!

Correction here on those Carriage Rides at Highland Park Village–or rather, clarification: When I first checked for rides, they were all booked up the week before Christmas. However, they must get lots of cancellations as many openings cropped up in the next few days. I had a ride booked for tonight, but alas, with all the rainy weather, we had to cancel. However, my son is taking his girlfriend out on New Year’s Eve, and it will be so romantic. So while it may be a good idea to book your carriage rides in October if you have family coming in for the holidays, you may not have to necessarily! So no Bah Humbug but rather, Three Cheers for Three Jays Carriage Rides!

‘ROOMS I HEART’ FLICKR GROUP

Blogger decor8 has set up a Flickr Group (basically, an online picture album for those not web savvy) where anyone, anywhere can post photos of their favorite rooms.

There are 415 pics up now with some really clever ideas included, like a chalkboard fridge, a hot pink bedroom mixed with graphic black and white elements, and a room showcasing Nama Rococo wallpaper. While they’re not all gems (some look like they’re from store catalogs.–hey Roger! We need to get some pics posted from D Home, show them how to really do it!), why not use this lull in activity to recharge your brain with new design ideas…not stuff your face with more cookies.

FRIENDS OF ARCHITECTURE DALLAS TOUR

Friends of Architecture, a non-profit supporting UT Austin’s School of Architecture, is a self-described “fun loving, spirited group of individuals” with “a shared commitment to increase knowledge and awareness of superior architecture and design.”

Long story short: it’s a bunch of terrificly interesting people with terrific taste who travel across the globe touring beautiful structures. Terrific! Now Diana Keller, chair of this year’s FOA, says they are very excited about the homes selected for their upcoming Dallas tour. I can’t wait to see who they include, so many Dallas homes to choose from. Check it out here.

CHRISTIE’S DALLAS

I ran into Capera Ryan yesterday afternoon walking her long haired dachshund. She had a cell phone pressed to her ear, which seems to have been the state of affairs all week. Even though Christie’s’ Dallas office is closed until after the New Year, Ryan’s phone is ringing non-stop with clients who want to sell stuff. Ryan says: “They even called me on Christmas Day, so I think everyone is going, hmm, I wonder if I can sell this?” meaning a lot of people got expensive gifts they didn’t like. When you get a sweater from Neiman’s that doesn’t fit, you return it. When you get a David Hockney print that doesn’t look good over the sofa, you call Christie’s.

PRESIDENT GERALD FORD’S GRANDDAUGHTER

Not many people knew it, but President Gerald Ford’s granddaughter, Heather Vance, was an assistant editor for D Home and its various sister publications including D Weddings.
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REMINDER: KIM FAMILY AUCTION JAN. 3

Since we’re taking a quick winter slumber over here at D Home, take this opportunity to head over to The Kim Family Auction site. Find gorgeous home items such as this quilt from Gerrie Congdon, one of the auction organizers. Bidding starts Jan. 3

MERRY MID-CENTURY

I’m still in a food coma from Christmas dinner, so I’m just going to show you pretty pictures from a gorgeous home on the market by David Nichols of Briggs Freeman in Oak Cliff. Look at that awesome kitchen! Just please: no.more.food.

BAH HUMBUG

Stopped by HPV last night to make a carriage reservation for my son for next week. Get this: They are all booked up. Turns out, they got booked up in October! What a racket. I think Three Jays ought to get more carriages out. And I guess we have to make reservations after the firecrackers sizzle on the Fourth, but who the heck knows what they are going to be doing that far in advance? Note to selves: Yet one more thing to do for holidays, book carriage reservations.

10,000 DECISIONS

That’s how many you make when building a new home, according to Marilyn Rolnick Tonkon and Richard Gordon. So if you think your head is spinning now… 48 hours before the holidays… think of how crazy you’d be if you were also building a house and doing all this.

POPULAR GIFT

I went a bit gaga this year over the Snowman Batter Bowl Gift Set from Sur La Table. (Anyone who knows me, stop reading now.) They are sold out of them on the Internet completely. But I went over to the Knox-Henderson store, found the bowl and reindeer (not snowmen, alas) spatulas. Put together my own gifts. Was the cutest thing I saw in the catalogs this holiday, and apparently, the rest of the world liked it, too!

BUSH LIBRARY=MANY, MANY PARTIES

Oh, we all knew it was coming. And all the Realtors keep hunting for the house George and Laura are allegedly building in Highland Park. This has been on our brother blog, and I could have scooped them earlier since my daughter goes to SMU Law–was out and about–but heck, here is the message from Gerald Turner:
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BATHROOM ACCE$$ORIE$

Talking about a sale at Yves Delorme reminded me that I was sprucing up my powder room last week before all the holiday parties.
Seeking aqua, I ran way up to Legacy where I love The Iron Bed and found a beautiful aqua French-made tissue box there. I also found a beautiful crystal soap dispenser but gagged at the price-tag: $395. For a bathroom soap dispenser.
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RE: PEACOCK

I’m going to have to disagree with you on this one Peggy. Florence Broadhurst (1899-1977) was no minimalist.

“She combined fuscia pinks, lemon yellows, lime greens, vivid oranges, turquoise, blacks, metallic silvers, and gold–all perfectly matching her own flamboyant personality. Florence Broadhurst printed onto transparent mylars, foils, and metallic papers. She called her revolutionary handprinted creations, ‘vigorous designs for modern living.’”

Her peacock feathers fabric is indeed black and white, but up against her other collections, the lack of color becomes quite daring. But if it’s colored peacocks you are looking for, it is color peacocks you shall receive.

FRANCE MEETS JAPAN IN BED

I stopped by Parisian linen boutique Yves Delorme earlier this week and just loved one of their bedding displays. The staff at the Oak Lawn Avenue location has coupled this vibrant, red Sospiro with hand-embroidered Japanese Kenzo sheets and mixed in festive complementary pillows. The result: stunning. Stop by to see it and try one of the holiday refreshments they offer every Saturday in December.

RE: PEACOCK

Paige, you’re right - peacocks have been a motif in Indian design for centuries - both in the iridescent colors and the feather shapes. Then those tired old English Victorians took over the look and in every proper Victorian parlor you would see dusty peacock feathers in some dark and gloomy corner. Leave it to us 21st c. design minimalists to leave the shape and take the color away. I don’t know, it’s kind of like fire without red, or the sun without yellow.

SMITH & HAWKEN SALE

Speaking of sales, Smith & Hawken is in the middle of its winter sale and clearance. We’re talking deep discounts on all your favorite garden goodies. My favorite is the Giverny black powder-coated bench for only $499 (regularly $725). I love its clean lines and handsome looks. Stock up before spring has sprung and prices jump back up.

WEST ELM GIFTS

You may remember these vibrant poinsettia-colored flower dishes from D Home’s October issue. Well, they just went on sale, $12.99, for a–get this–set of 4! Can’t beat Asian flair and microwave safe. I’m equally in love with these branch-embossed dessert plates ($19), which are a wonderful winter white. Visit West Elm for more great gifts, many under $25.

MODERN BABIES

Modernseed has some very cool baby mobiles (love the bunnies!), as well as some neat-o Alexander Girard for kids items.

I mean, that is, if you’re into babies. (Chris Phelps, mom-to-be & D Home associate publisher, I’m looking in your direction.)

PUT THAT ANYWHERE, PT. 6: THE NATIVITY

Terrific article from The Guardian about nativity scenes, which includes awesome sentences like “On the internet, you can buy cribs at which Mary welcomes Father Christmas and a penguin to the manger.” And anyone out there remember the Christmas of 2004, “when Madame Tussauds staged a celebrity Nativity with the Beckhams as Mary and Joseph?”

Great. Now I can’t get that out of my head.
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FLORENCE BROADHURST PEACOCK FABRIC

Peggy, I adore peacock motifs. I’ve had my eye on this black & white Florence Broadhurst peacock feather fabric, which you can get here through Jim Barret Associates, for about a year.

One day it will be mine. Oh yes. One day.

MARIMEKKO WINTER LINE

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

LOTUS SHOP ORNAMENTS

It’s no secret about my fascination with the Crow Collection and The Lotus Shop. These incredible Tiffany glass ornaments with peacock motifs are available for $30, or 3 for $80. Sure beats the popsicle stick ornaments I have from my kids when they were little. You’ll be seeing a lot more peacock in the March issue of D Home.

SNOWDEN FLOOD

It’s a bit tangential (she was born in Texas), but we’ll lay claim to her anyway!