Articles for January 21st, 2008
The Scene at Sears
Conde Nast Portfolio has an interesting article in its current issue about the decline of Sears and Kmart, run by hedge fund manager Eddie Lampert. I’ll leave you to read the magazine’s interesting and detailed analysis of Lampert’s merger possibly-gone-wrong, but I found it interesting that, among his many “experiments” for Sears, he has re-arranged home furnishings in Cincinnati by room—I’m picturing an IKEA-esque atmosphere. It’s marketed as “dwell,” apparently. Though I’ve never been a big Sears shopper, I’ve been lost in IKEA before—I think it’s a bad idea to copy that concept. But anyway, as you’ll read, he has dozens of other concepts he’s trying out. The question that Portfolio poses is whether he’ll end up acting on a successful re-do, if that’s the key to the department store’s success … before it’s too late.
Skanadario is Fun to Say
But even more than that, Skanadario is the place to be on January 31. Gas up the car, and head to Frisco for Goodman Supply’s fabulous kitchen showroom division’s grand opening. Not only do you get to meet cool people from the Frisco Chamber of Commerce–they’re going to conduct a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony–you can also delight in great high-end appliances and fixtures. Everyone wins.
Scary Ghost Chairs
When Kartell and Philippe Starck joined forces to reinvent the Louis XVI chair, mod lovers cheered. Yes, pairing the chair down “to an essential form and boldly reinterpreting it in plastic” was innovative, but who suggested the “themes”? Absolutely frightening. I saw the “child” chair at a favorite local decor store, and I feared for my camera. There was a creepy child staring at me from the back of the chair; I couldn’t post it–it was too awful. And what’s worse, there are three other theme options: Chinese checker (shown), bear, or mask. Who wants to sit with that? Especially at $425 a pop.
Beautiful Handmade Papers at Nest
While you are at Nest–getting 10 percent off with your canned goods on all the wonderful floor samples (thanks for the reminder, Todd)–I have another shopping suggestion. Nest carries this beautiful paper, which Bell’Invito uses for their envelope liners. Customers like it so much that they’ve requested it by the roll to line their drawers with. No more junky drawers. ($20/2 feet by 4 feet rolls)
Musical Chairs
In August, Candy told us that Dallas Auction Gallery had moved out of the Design District from its longtime home at 1518 Slocum Street, into a warehouse at 2235 Monitor. Now I’ve learned that Heritage Galleries, the country’s third largest auction house (just behind Sotheby’s and Christie’s) has left its longtime high rise off of Maple Ave. and moved into Dallas Auction Gallery’s old spot on Slocum.
Mack Hicks Gets Engaged…
And all sorts of other scoop on DallasDirt…Mack Hicks, Justin Leonard, Tom Rhodes, God the dirt flieth.
Re: Valentine’s Day at the Fairmont
It’s nearly impossible not to be obsessed about the upcoming holiday—everyone else is. Though a pricey ritzy getaway is fun, there are other less extravagant things to do. Before the big day, take yours to Fusion Home Fashion in the Shops at Legacy. The shop is hosting “In LOVE with Art,” from 8 to 11 p.m. Feb. 9. They’ll be showing off their new collection of original art from more than a dozen local artists. And there’s food and drink, of course. (That always works).
Valentine’s Day at the Fairmont
My obsession with Valentine’s Day continues. Are you interested in more than the average Valentine’s Day celebration? Lucky you, because the Fairmont has planned the “Ultimate Saint Valentine’s Day.” Here’s what goes down: a limo picks you and your special someone up and takes you to the hotel, where you will stay in one of the new and fancy “Fairmont Gold” suites. After you get settled in, you’ll stuff your face and drink like a fish at the Pyramid Grill. After dinner, marvel at one another’s gifts from William Noble while you sip Dom Perignon. I can’t type anymore through my tears, so call 214-720-3540 for additional details.
Buona Notte - Good Night in Italian
How great is this light? It’s designed as a book rest and table lamp. The light comes on when the book is lifted, and turns off when you slip off to sleep. It’s available through Studio Italia Design from Scott + Cooner. My husband can’t wait for me to get one!
Hard Rock Demolished
Is everyone upset about this? The Hard Rock Cafe, that great Tara on McKinney that gave everyone a point of reference (i.e.- it’s down a block from the Hard Rock), is going down. For what? The rumor is that it is a drug store. Great, another pre-fab ugly building to add to all the others. I know we need drug stores, due to the geezering of America, but why couldn’t they just do one in that great old building? Oh yeah, ADA compliance. Sort of a problem.
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