Models by George Cameron Nash

George Nash has agreed to design two model homes at the Azure. One will be bachelor living, and the other - maybe “empty nesters” or the “not-married-yet debutante.” One thing we know, they will both be over the top fabulous. He works quickly, or can I say madly? These will be ready mid November - I think Ann Barbier-Mueller was brilliant to come up with this idea. I wonder what’s next for the wonder boy?

Allan Knight Sample Sale

As the sign says, too good to pass up. The last time Allan Knight had a sample sale, three years ago, designers bought everything they could and stored it, to use later. Donn Bindler practically furnished this incredible lake house entirely from the last sample sale. Get your running shoes on, because I intend to be ahead of all of you. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the International on Turtle Creek. Why am I telling you?

For Sale, and Free, As Long As You DIE!

Now here’s a twist on marketing property…..

Ebby Does Halloween

This at 4938 Swiss Ave, published in our September issue.  How cool is this — Dr. Delphinium came over to decorate for the holidays and you can get all the decorating details on Dr. D’s website.  Or check out Ebby’s website for a banner leading to Dr. D’s — feeling too full of candy to do much clicking? Check out www.dmagazine.com and head to Real Estate.  

Zillow Behaves

Zillow, the web site Realtors love to hate, has announced targeted ads aimed at consumers in that most fruitful buying mode(s), the new home buyer or the buyer about to tear up the house and renovate. Using data from its 70 million homebuyers in the U.S., namely those hunting for homes, Zillow’s home-direct ads promise to zero in on the juiciest. Recently, Zillow moved closer to making nice with at least one Realtor group: ERA Franchise Systems LLC has agreed to feed about 80,000 property listings to Zillow.com daily, giving ERA’s listings free exposure to Zillow, and giving Zillow the ability to boast a relationship with at least one broker. Industry experts tell me more will follow. What does this mean for Realtors and consumers: like it or not, that internet is the future in Real Estate.

Hanky Swanky Lighting

Seems to be a problem finding their website so let’s try again… here’s another pair from that Mafia cache to whet your pre-Halloween appetites…

MURANO Mavens: Glass With Class

If you love Murano glass, you will love Ed Sexton and his parter at Swank Lighting in Austin, who also have a showroom space at the venerable Debris Antiques down on Slocum. These geniuses discovered a cache of “hidden venetian treasure” in a musty New Jersey warehouse. (Good Lord, probably Mafia: all circa 1950’s, best decade ever. Truly an archeological find!) As you can see, they have been making lamps faster than Aladdin and will gladly bring any of these treasures to Debris for you to take a look-see. Or just swoon. Honestly, I may be E-Baying a few lamps just to pick up a few of these honeys. For more treasures, check out their website.

Luxus Showroom Leaving

Hilda Yong, owner of Luxus Showroom, told me last week that her mother’s illness is forcing her to shutter the contemporary showroom she opened several years ago in the Dallas Design District. She’ll be moving home to Puerto Rico in January, where her family has owned furniture showrooms for decades. She wants me to pass on that she’s liquidating everything, so there will be plenty of great deals. I always thought her showroom offered lots of bang for the buck anyway.

Metropolitain Home Says Julio Quinones One of Best in World

(PHOTO BY DANNY PIASSICK)

Dallas’ own Julio Quinones has been honored by Metropolitan Home as one of “The World’s Best Young Talents.” The magazine’s editors chose 28 total worldwide, and Julio was also one of 4 to be given a full page profile. We’re impressed, and we also think he’s so deserving of the honor. Keep your eye on Julio and his work — we are.

Total Inventory of U.S. Housing….

Up by 8 percent, so says the Census Bureau.

Dallas Friend With California Home

Dramatic photo of a Dallas friend’s California neighborhood…the fires got to with four miles of her home. I cannot fathom.

Kingsbridge Home Tour This Weekend

Last week it was Park Cities, this week it’s Lake Ray Hubbard.

RE: Ebby & Dave Party

Oh forgot: Dave promised to keep on selling like he and his team have been sellin’ — $100 million during his first 100 days with Ebby — if Ebby promises to give him the name of the vitamins she takes to keep going at 96!

Ebby & Dave’s Party of the Year

700 people were invited to The Mansion last night to celebrate Dave Perry-Miller’s new union with Ebby Halliday Realtors. Foie gras, skewered lobster, and photos with Dave and Ebby who was on hand, partying ’till the wee hours. (Dave probably asked for the lobster to remind him of Nantucket!) Let’s just say the Mansion overflowed… but the valet was flawless. There: all of the Perry-Miller team, tons of Realtors and industry buds like Phil Dettle from Northern Trust, Darryl Tyson from Fidelity National Title, clients galore like Shelly and Richard Stanzel, owners of Archiped Classics, plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Katz and his gorgeous wife Jil, top appraisers Brad Edgar and D.W. Skelton and spouses, you name a Who’s Who in Real Estate and they were there, drooling over the Bentleys. Update later on who won the chauffeured Bentley for the weekend, the $2000 Michael Faircloth gown and the Mansion get-away.

Re: Galante Glamour

Andrea Tomek, our art director, had the best description of this chair: “It looks like a can-can dancer exploded on it.”

Galante Glamour

Italian showmanship is at its best right here in Dallas at
Scott + Cooner this week. Wednesday, Maurizio Galante for Baleri Italia launched the most amazing collection I’ve seen, complete with models in matching dresses. This chair is a basic campaign style - on acid. Interlacing ribbons of fabric cascade off the seat, and bouquets of fabric calla lilies cascade off the back. Its crazy, beautiful, and comfortable.

Great Home In Fairview

So I hear from a super reputable source. Who also tells me you will need to “claw” off the wallpaper, which ought to be a cathartic experience. (But she says the views are to-die-for.) That reminds me — keep your hatchet under lock and key. Not that Halloween is around the corner, but I went a little nutso once in one of our homes after the master shower leaked for the third time. (To this day I look up to ceilings and expect to see a drip.) It was 11 pm at night, but I got out the hatchet and just whacked away at the ceiling determined to find the source of that water. Ended up taking out half the ceiling, and woke up my husband, who was a little afraid, I think, to meet me in the kitchen with a hatchet.

Ca. Wildfires

I’m blogging because we should be counting our blessings. We are so fortunate to have lovely homes intact — here is an email from a California friend near the widfires. I just cannot imagine leaving my home and all the memories intact. Why the Maytag man is coming (for the third time, I have to add) Monday. (Question: how long should a washer — a $1200 washer — last?)

From  our dear friends, the Huyens, in southern Ca: 

Jennifer Miller, Adleta Fine Props, Open Houses

Never too early to start planning your weekend house hunting:

1-3pm 3404 Colgate

2-4pm 3717 W. Beverly

2-4pm 5023 Stanford

Pre Owned Real Estate Sales Down Nationally, Ebby Fetes Perry-Miller

Which I think everyone’s heard. But as I have told you over and over, the close-in, higher end sales are doing better than ever. Here’s more proof: Ebby Halliday is hosting a party in Dave Perry-Miller’s honor tonight at the Mansion and here’s what you may become eligible for by attending: a Bentley for the weekend, a Mansion Memories package bed and breakfast for two, $2000 towards the design of a custom Michael Faircloth gown. Don’t bother crashing: the guest list, all of the Perry-Miller teams’ uber clients, is so exclusive security will be White-House tight!

Partial Taxpayer Victory

So the Texas Association of Counties cannot use taxpayer funds to lobby for more taxes… well fine and good but why did Judge Ken Anderson not order them to refund taxpayer dollars retroactively with interest? Might have made them think twice….

Designer Chat at J. Robert Scott

I had a wonderful chat with Sally Sirkin Lewis last night at the opening of her J. Robert Scott showroom. We shared some old showroom gossip, and yes, she looks exactly like she looked in 1987. Hmmmm. She’s excited about the new “chapters” in her “Deep Tones” fabric collection, look for the next one in January And, she loved this shot that Danny Piassick took so much she wants to use it in national advertising. I also learned that Jeffrey Swiggart has design jobs all over the world, Australia is where he’s spending time, but looking for something great in Dallas. Will Kolb with Sherle Wagner told me that his sales are up over 100%, and that the Dallas showroom is number one in the country. Great job! And sweet John Gormley shared a story of meeting Princess Grace at the Neiman’s Fortnight in 1972. Also enjoying the Doug Boster catering were Cheryl Van Duyne, Joannie Wyll, Allen Kirsch, Jane Manning and Bob Wagnon.

National Home Sales Down 8%

Locally, experts tell me we are soft, not down as much as the rest of the country. Hec, even the Centrum is selling. Heard that 70% of the building has sold since May and young Travis Mathews is storming through the doors with contracts. I do know personally of a City Attorney who bought there and is quite happy. Interesting.

Lake Cliff Tower: Happy Birthday Mr. President

Tomorrow the folks at Keller Williams Realty Turtle Creek have a surprise coming to their MLS meeting: a special appearance by Marilyn Monroe. The blonde bombshell will be popping in to invite everyone to a Red Carpet party at the new Lake Cliff Tower in Oak Cliff, which is 50% sold and….offspring of one of the city’s most famous Real Estate families has purchased a penthouse at Lake Cliff. Big time party coming up November 8 so mark your calendars….and ask Marilyn who does her Botox.

Museum Tower News: Life’s A Playground

I’ve just received word — not confirmed — that Museum Tower will be bringing in a company called Playground International to help market the 125 uber luxurious high rise units scheduled for completion in 2009 or 2010. This will be a co-marketing venture with Briggs Freeman. Sources tell me that because of the nature of the beast, it is vital to market these high rises dramatically in the very beginning to get what are called “assignable contracts”. (Kind of hard to get financing on a home in the sky that doesn’t even exist yet.) That is why magic marketers like Al Coker are in such high demand. Plus Playground has a juicy, juicy data base of folks who own multiple homes since they specialize in the resort/multiple home jet set crowd, folks who just may want to own a snazzy Zanadu in the sky right next to the Nasher.