How Green Will You Go?

I love the new technology in showerheads from Waterdecor. It lets you customize the waterflow instead of being set to a fixed GPM (gallons per minute). Low flow is anything under 2.5 GPM. These showerheads can be set in a range from .5 to 2.2 GPM. Considering that a typical household of four people consumes approximately 9,000 gallons of water per month or 108,000 gallons per year –enough to fill a bathtub more than 2,500 times – every gallon saved counts.

Laura Fiffick in the News

Dallas’ very own Director of Environmental Quality was quoted in The New York Times today. The article discusses why it is so hard for some communities to go green. Read Laura’s comments on the bottom of page two.

Betty Lou Phillips’ Latest Book

Prolific author Betty Lou Phillips has just published her eighth book on French style “Inspirations from France and Italy.” In this book she presents fresh and inspiring ideas from not only France and Italy, but England, Portugal, and Spain. And, of course, with beautiful photography from our favorite Danny Piassick. The book is full of fabulous fabrics from Christopher Hyland, on the front is featured Constantino. William & Wesley will have a book signing in April with Phillips and the master of archival fabrics Christopher Hyland. More on this later.

When Versailles was Furnished in Silver

Kelly Hardage, president of Walter Lee Culp, just got back from the Paris show. Well, the real reason he went was to attend a private event at the Chateau Versailles, “When Versailles was Furnished in Silver”. For this grand event, solid silver furniture that was crafted in the Sun King’s court, and later sold to other countries to support French wars, has been sent on loan to be displayed in the Hall of Mirrors and the King’s Quarters. Kelly and Ginger, as guests of Patrick Frey, wandered the quarters sipping on rare wines, and admiring extraordinary pieces of art all made of silver. No wonder he didn’t spend much time at the Maison et Objet.

RE: The Economy

It did not seem down at all at yesterday’s 2008 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society luncheon and fashion show by Stanley Korshak — my oh my how the fabrics flowed, the bustles bustled, the hemlines dipped high and low in florals, basics, corals, aqua and tons of metallic. You know couture fashion trends precede home interiors. Heart of Gold recipient was precious Lynda Adleta, Adleta Fine Properties. More on her later at Dallasdirt.

Re: The Blues

Todd’s right - Pantone’s color of the year Blue Iris is showing up everywhere. Check out the new models from Santa Barbara Umbrella - still the best outdoor umbrellas. They’re not represented here, so go to the website. I’m just not so sure about the lacy one - looks a little like a wedding cake

The Economy, According to Del and Loyd

Del Saxon had just made an $8,000 sale when I reached him on the phone yesterday. “Things are going really well. I’ve got a warehouse full of things and people are interested in buying,” he told me. After closing his antiques storefront on Slocum Street for good in January (”I’m really glad to finally get out from under that $5,000 rent every month,” he said), he’s been sleeping in an extra 30 minutes in the mornings and then padding into the home office he set up in his condo on Travis St. He doesn’t sound like a man who’s worried about the econonmy.

“People still have money and they’re doing things,” Loyd Taylor said last night as he perused the quiche lorraine, stuffed mushrooms, and roasted asparagus behind the counter at Whole Foods, where I bumped into him. “It’s been a really busy January for us, we’ve had lots of work,” he said of the decorating business he and partner Paxton Gremillion have shared since the 1970s. “The economy? The media reports are the problem. They try to scare everyone. The people who have money in Dallas always have money to spend, no matter what. Look at what’s going on in Westover Hills in Fort Worth right now– all those houses being torn up and redone. All that natural gas money is coming in. It’s just like the 80s,when Texas had oil money and the rest of the country was in trouble.” He looked pensive. “In the 80s, people put their big jewels away and even though they had the money, they stopped redoing their houses because it just didn’t look right when so many people were losing their jobs.” Then he was off, headed towards the fresh cheeses and wines.

New Spin On Valentines Day Treats, Warning X-Rated

Not to trump our editors, all of whom have been bringing you wonderful ways to spend Valentines Day  at a sprinkling of hotels across our fair city, but I’ll have to be the dirty lady in the group: ever heard of Jimmyjane? This sophisticated, online adult toys store sells exclusively through W Hotels and is offering a special game of Spin Me on Valentines Day at W Hotels. Sexy fun right there at Victory Park. So while you are out enjoying spa treatments, chocolates and champagne, I’ll be  playing Spin The Bottle at the W.

Let’s just hope there’s a bit more in those bottles than messages.