Design Headaches

Why does everything take so long? And get so screwed up? So, I return home to enough mail to fill my swimming pool and an email that the Kravet fabric I want to order for my living room chairs is not available in the same color lot as the sample I selected. I feel a whine coming on: the new turquoise does not complement my rug and chairs, and of course we have selected fabrics based upon that particular turquoise. I want the old turquoise! Where is the old turquoise I fell in love with, and why the bait and switch? What if plastic surgeons got patients on the table, opened them up, and said, oh, so sorry, they don’t make the breast implants you selected anymore. Whoops.

Designers, I feel your pain.

Elizabeth Albanese Ought To Love This

You may or may not be following the saga of Elizabeth Albanese, who has been sued by the Dallas Press Club and who, among many things, told many journalists, me included, some tall tales and had a unique way of running the Katie Awards. While on vacation I read voraciously and this story in the New Yorker reminded me of our former Press Club prez. (I had totally forgotten about Stephen Glass.) In any case, the other neat thing about this story is that if these devices end up being better than lie detectors, can you imagine what effect that will have on the home building industry?

Wow!

This is the view Joe Minton and Betty Blake had of a Tall Ship off the coast of Newport, R.I. (see previous blog). Look closely–can you see the sailors all lined up high along the poles?

Betty Blake and Joe Minton in Newport

Dallas designer Joe Minton just e-mailed me this wonderful photo of him and Dallas art collector Betty Blake watching the Tall Ships leave Newport, R.I., during the July 4th holiday. Blake, Minton and Dallas arts philanthropist Margaret McDermott gathered there for the Newport Art Museum’s opening of Blake’s astonishing collection of modern art (she lives part of the time in Newport). “The Collection of Elizabeth Brooke Blake” runs through October 7.

Earthbox

So you don’t have a green thumb–no worries! You might try the Earthbox. “The fertilizer remains on top of the soil,” Frank DiPaolo, EarthBox general manager, says, “and the water comes from the bottom. While this may seem unusual, our scientific research proves that the EarthBox system provides the best possible growing environment for plants, and yet it’s so simple to use.” Don’t have one myself–that was from a press release–but it looks cool.

Snake Alert!

Got this email from my HOA (I love how dramatic my HOA is).

We wanted to alert you to a potential danger in our neighborhood–snakes–especially, Copperheads and Moccasins…

I can tell you that we have been finding more snakes than usual, especially Copperheads. With all the rain we have been having, snakes are moving to higher ground which means we have to all be so much more careful…

I guess the good news is that all our lakes are full and our trees have never been greener. But until the fall…watch your step, watch your shrubs, watch your children, watch your pets.

Wind Power in West Texas

Another little tale from my recent travels: I sat next to an elderly man who was flying from Palm Beach to some little town in west Texas (never heard of it) to see the new “windmills” on his family property. This was the first trip this man had taken in five years (he was in a wheelchair), but he just had to see his contribution to providing energy to his tiny home town. He believes that one of his “mills” provides enough energy for 90 homes. (I sure hope he was given the right info!) But, apparently, Texas provides more energy to the grid via wind power than any other state. That’s pretty cool.

Cerulean’s Latest Exhibit ‘Down to Earth’

I just love this realist stunner of downtown Dallas, “Gazing down Gaston” by Michael T. Longhofer, which will be shown at Cerulean Gallery’s latest exhibit, “Down to Earth.” Stop by this Friday, July 20, for an artists’ reception and silent auction at 6 p.m. Owner Caroline Crockett has donated a piece of her own work (a beautiful painting from her Wallpaper Series) to be sold at the auction, which benefits the Autism Treatment Center, a new diagnostic and treatment center for children with autism. If you miss it Friday, you have until September 1 to see the works of Virginia Marum, John Gary Brown, and Robin Hazard-Bishop.

Pop, Art, and Cupcakes at DWR

So, how’s that for a tasty trio? Design Within Reach’s Dallas studio and PanAmerican Gallery host a celebration of the work of William Cannings on Thursday, July 26. Cris Worley, PanAmerican’s director, will lead a discussion on Cannings’ work and DWR will serve up some mini cupcakes from Society Bakery as well as the Dallas debut of DRY soda, a culinary soda line with cuisine-inspired flavors such as kumquat, rhubarb, and lavender. To RSVP, email DWR at dallas@dwr.com by July 24.

Nymphenburg Porcelain

I just discovered my newest love, Nymphenburg porcelain, a German company around since 1747 and currently opening a new showroom in Chicago. They now have an amazing contemporary collection, part of which is sold through our own Urban Flower/Grange Hall on Travis. You must check out the very cool animal bowls. Urban Flower has the bird and the snail through their shop at about $2100 each (you can buy my fave, the hippo, online at Moss, link above). And they also have the amazing Sketches collection (small plate pictured) from Hella Jongerius, which I’m simply in love with, from around $700 up to over $2700, depending on the size. I believe our lovely little Dallas shop also has several pieces from Nymphenburg artist Ted Muehling as well. You can also go to Unica Home to check out the gorgeous wares there, too.

Post-Modern Prep

It was determined that Muffin Lemak is the queen of what our latest issue called “post-modern prep.” If you liked what you saw, you might like Lladro’s new re-deco porcelain collection like this “attentive bunny,” $225. It’s a fresh look at traditional pieces and this bunny could totally go head-to-head with any blue and white Herend piece, find itself in a young, mod couples’ collection or still end up in the most traditional of homes.