Stop Junk Mail and Save Millions of Trees

If you knew that 100 million trees were cut down each year to create approximately 4.5 million tons of junk mail in the United States, would you be inspired to help halt this ridiculous practice? Well, that’s the whole point of GreenDimes, a company set up to cancel unwanted catalogs and junk mail. They’ll even plant 10 trees when you sign up for the service. Check your mail today. If you’re like me, you received at least 5 catalogs you won’t use. And that’s just one day….

Latest and Greatest

Peacock Alley recently unveiled its latest couture bedding, an event that only comes around twice each year. According to Southlake store employees, the intricately detailed Stella set—partnered with Egyptian cotton and silk textured matelasse Lucia shams—is wildly popular, even among shoppers who don’t normally splurge for such bedding. The details on the duvet cover are exceptional—Christmas present, please?

The Chef’s Room at the Mansion

Debuting tomorrow at the Mansion is seating in the Chef’s Room. This not only includes Chef John Tesar’s sumptuous dinner presentations (think prix-fixe and tasting menus), but also a lovely setting. Once the library for a cotton mogul, the Chef’s Room seats an intimate 20 and touts the following design elements: gray settees, a lively accent wall of brushed velvet, artwork by David Bates, an elaborate plaster ceiling, stained glass windows, and a wooden mantel carved by Swiss woodcarver Peter Mansbendel. Sounds delicious, yes? Still, if $89 is too steep for tomorrow night’s grub, read Tesar’s tips for your home kitchen in our January issue. No guarantee on the final product, though.

RE: Flip Flop Living at the Gables

Laura, I am going to be okay with the Gable’s campaign if these are the flip-flops.

RE: The Grinch

What’s the deal? First Loyd’s yard art, and now I hear that Ann Sacks was burgled last week. Word is that all the computers were taken. People stink.

More Inflatables

I think the idea is that for five cents, you can poke a big old hole in Santa! (Get out your bows and arrows.)

Inflatables

Told you it’s the size of Mt. Sinai!

RE: At My Table

I knew Leslie couldn’t stay retired for long, and this way, she’ll be down the street from Harold at Mr. Tuxedo…and, of course, Lucy, their Golden Doodle.

Punk Living

Punk House: Interiors in Anarchy is a new interiors book out by Abrams Image, and it’s certainly a foil to my usual interiors books (e.g., Michael S. Smith’s Elements of Style). The full-color images show the interiors and accessories (ragged furniture, pots and pans, walls covered with hand-scrawled messages) of the punk lifestyle. So if all the gilt, conservative, blue-and-white design has you feeling uninspired, take a look at the pages exemplifying inexpensive, communal, and anarchical punk-rock living. It certainly has a different beat. One that goes like this. “London calling…” [Photo: Abby Banks]

The Grinch Is Back

But this time he’s stealing reindeer.  Two from my front yard (this is what I get for succumbing to outdoor decorating pressure) and three from my neighbor’s.  I would offer a reward, but think I’ll look for a big snow globe instead. In the meantime, if anyone drives by a bevy of wire reindeer - let me know. 

The Gables Campaign Confuses Me

I was driving by the Gables‘ new apartment project on Cedar Springs yesterday, and it had signage that boasted its “flip-flop elegance.” Weird, right? Even weirder: there’s a picture of a dude sitting down—the view is from the waist down and features his legs and his feet in flip flops. Now granted, I am anti-men’s feet. But is there a soul out there who will see this flip-flop clad foot and demand to sign a rental agreement stat? I will drive by tomorrow and snap a pic, and we can discuss.

Free Shipping at West Elm

For the last minute shopper with no time to hit the malls, West Elm has good news: free shipping on many of the mod retailer’s reasonable gifts, some of which are on sale. Go online and check out great gifts like these pine branch salad plates. A set of four is only $26. And once again: No shipping charges. Nice.

Honey of a Gift Idea from Napa Home

Yes, it’s a bad pun. But the gift is pretty smashing. D.L. & Company call themselves not candlemakers but modern alchemists. Pretentious, perhaps. But they got the goods to back up the haughty title. I especially love their honey absolute candle. Made from perfume distilled from honeycomb, the candle is rich in scent without being too sweet. The amber glass holder etched in a honeycomb pattern is handsome too. Pick it up and other D.L. candles at Napa Home in Oak Lawn.

A Dallas Carpet Cleaner The Design Pros Use

I spilled a whole French press carafe of coffee on my white bedroom carpet this weekend. It left a huge ugly stain. Ever hired a carpet cleaning company and wished you hadn’t? I have. But this carpet cleaning company appears to be a dream come true.

If you’ve used them, click on comments below and let me know.

At My Table’s New Hire

At My Table in Snider Plaza has beautiful china, charming antiques, and great gifts. Now they have a secret weapon in the battle for shopping dollars - Leslie Bell. That’s right, all you designers that have been missing Leslie’s great smile after seeing it every day at the Baker showroom forever, (she retired last spring after 30 years), can have your Leslie-fix every Monday and Wednesday afternoon at At My Table. Feel the love and get the good stuff - all at one time. That’s efficient.