2008 Design Ovation Award Winners

Here’s a list of the most recent Design Ovation Award Winners: (more…)

Obsession of the Day

This aluminum side table from Dallas-based Wisteria looks like sculpture to me. At $219 it’s a really stylish bargain, no? Use it in a room with rich woods for maximum impact.

Fabulous Estate Sale Today and Saturday

I got to preview this estate sale for a story I’m working on. Believe me it’s worth all of the trouble it’ll take to get into…

Thanks, Grandma

The Trophy Husband and I moved out to Fairview in 2000, and lived there for about 7 years before acquiring the Dream House. My neighbor, John Offerle (a bearded and bespectacled hippie type) would sometimes wander across the street to watch me do Martha Stewart imitations. I think he got a kick out of seeing me try, at least try, what girls aren’t supposed to do… But, then again, I am fearless in the area of home improvement. Nothing scares me, not even this.

John was always banging around in his garage. I’ll say. As it turns out, my super low-key former neighbor is a renowned antiques restoration guy, I mean the guy. The go-to for the best of the best. Through John, I met Loyd Paxton, and, well, the rest is history. Decorators, designers, and dealers all over Dallas know John as The American Craftsman.

I was so amazed at his skills, I began dragging my furniture piece by piece into his little restoration haven.

John moseyed over to the Dream House just this morning and picked up about 10 different pieces I inherited from my grandmother last year. Veneer lifting? Broken legs? Surface damage? Drawers won’t budge? Not anymore…John Offerle is on the job.

As a devotee of Antiques Roadshow, I’ve learned when you repair, and when you restore, and exactly what that means to the value. I don’t have anything extraordinary, just precious family history. John can be contacted at 972-467-7705.

The Liaigre Legacy

Pam Sommers at Rizzoli sent me the cover of a new book on French designer Christian Liaigre, due out in September, available now for pre-order. My first reaction was, another book on Liaigre? But that got me to thinking, and remembering. For better or worse, Liaigre’s luxuriously spare, Asian-inspired design has been the single most important and enduring design trend of the past two decades and it’s still going strong. So the fact that there are only two books out on his genius is rather shameful.
In Dallas, George Cameron Nash carries Liaigre’s designs for Holly Hunt.

Magic Carpet Ride

Last fall, Laura Kostelny wrote this on her experiences with Oriental carpets.  Her story and life experience made me smile.  It sounded oh, so familiar.

My husband’s family moved to Saudi in 1978.  My mother-in-law, The Faye, dove head-first into shopping in the various street markets from Turkey to Saudi, and all points in between.  Often, on the back of a camel.  Her thing? Prayer rugs .

She gave my husband a gorgeous crimson hued rug, and after several cross country moves (including two years in a dank Sommerville, MA basement), that poor little carpet needed some TLC.  Enter Khalil. (more…)

Take the LED Tour at Lights Fantastic

Speaking of LED lighting, Lights Fantastic has just opened a new design studio upstairs that includes real-life examples of the latest in LED and “green” lighting, all installed in a variety of room settings. See what it looks like, try it out. Imagine it in your own home. I don’t know of any other place in Dallas where you can experience all the new lighting technology in such an interactive, complete way. Ask for a tour — you’ll leave being as excited about it as I did.

Niermann Weeks at Edward Ferrell/Lewis Mittman

Eleanor McKay, CEO of Niermann Weeks, talked to about 60 designers today at a luncheon at the EF/LM showroom about “Life after Incandescent.” Not only did she entertain everyone with her very outspoken views, (thankfully, that pesky pc concept doesn’t seem to bother her,) but she gave some really honest opinions about CFL and LED lights. One is ugly, the other is not quite competent yet. So what do we in the “beautify the world” industry do? We make ourselves heard that lights need to look good too, and as a last resort - hoard those chandelier lights!

Dallas Textile Artist

Dallas artist Elizabeth Anyaa uses natural fibers such as soy, hemp, wool, silk, and cotton to create textiles depicting themes from the Bible. This one, named Garden of Gethsemone, has a verse hidden within the textile.

Wal-Mart Gets a Makeover

Timothy Kolk, the photographer who shot this for us and this, just finished a digital home magazine for Wal-Mart, who is rolling out a fresh new look.

Peggy Party at Niermann Weeks

Our very own Peggy Levinson and Niermann Weeks CEO Eleanor McKay will be conducting an enlightening discussion on lighting. (Official lecture title: Lighting Today, Lighting in the Post-Incandescent World.) Come hear how manufacturers will accommodate the phasing out of the incandescent bulb, stay relevant, draw inspiration, pay attention to detail and client needs, and protect their designs in the ever-changing interior design industry. Reception to follow (that means lunch where I come from). See you there tomorrow: Wednesday, May 28, 11 a.m. at Edward Ferrell + Lewis Mittman (1250 Slocum St., Ste. 755).

The Dream House Thinks Pink

The Dream House is going green.  The Trophy Husband and I have spent the last few days in a pink fog.  After last summer’s electric bills were edging up to amounts closer to a mortgage payment, we declared war.  The first thing we did was switch our electrical provider.  I picked this one…and I was tickled pink by their name. But I didn’t stop there… (more…)

Four Miles of Nickle Plated Chain

The Atlantis chandelier by Terzani just made its debut at New York’s Design Week. Press materials claim it’s made from four miles of nickel plated chain, but no matter — it drapes like silk. The website says the line is only available in Florida, but the press release indicates that it’s available at Hudson Furniture in New York, at least for now. Peggy says she thinks Lights Fantastic has carried Terzani before.

Color Quandary

It’s entirely possible that in the back rooms of paint stores all over Dallas, there are pictures of me hanging up.  Below those pictures are a warning to all those brave souls who mix paint:  Warning, Do Not Approach, Tell Her the Scanner is Broken.  Tell Her We Don’t Color Match on Days Ending in -Y. 

Okay, I will admit, I am a paint store’s worst nightmare, except my posse over at Texas Paint at Preston and LBJ.  I converted to Aura paint about a year ago. 

I swore off big box mass retailers for my paint purchases years ago.  They promise “expert” color matching, but I could never exactly what I wanted.  Oh, and when you hand them something, for example, a dog, and say, “I want this exact shade of brown,” they looked at me like I was nuts.  Also, I had issues keeping my dog still on the scanner.  Believe me, I tried. (more…)

When Bad Décor Happens to Good People.

I have some tres chic friends, who shall remain nameless, for obvious reasons.  Anywho, I was out and about yesterday, and decided to swing by to get the 411, “the haps”, and possibly score a glass of wine.  (This is my M.O., you’ve been warned…)

The offenders, who like I said, shall remain nameless, have a fabulous home.  A home with historic architectural significance…  A home filled with objects d’art  that are TO DIE FOR…  A home which was photgraphed and featured in a decorating magazine, for heaven’s sake.  A home with draperies so lavish, I contemplated Scarlet O’Hara-ing those puppies for a Christmas party last year…

But, as usual, I digress.

Imagine my shock when I found this little gem perched on the ledge of the otherwise tasteful and well-appointed den.  I scrambled to take a picture.  The evidence is clear.  Can someone explain this?

Have You Eaten Lunch Yet?

Head to Lights Fantastic now for great lighting, lunch from Empire Baking Co. (best chicken salad ever, in my opinion), and one-on-one time with D Home editors. Designers, bring your portfolios, if you’d like. Plus, Kartell will be showing off the new Mr. Impossible chair, shown at left in all its lollipop colors. (Did that make you hungrier?) Now until 3 p.m.

Paradise Found.

I was so inspired by the latest issue of D Home , I set out to find the best outdoor living spaces in my neighborhood.  It took all my strength to keep from diving into summer… (more…)

Alan Barnes Opening

Alan Barnes Fine Art is hosting a cocktail party at his Slocum Street gallery, on Thursday, May 22, 6 - 8:30, honoring two of England’s fine collectible artists, Matthew Alexander and David Napp. They are also old friends of Barnes from his native Kent in England, so it promises to be a jolly old evening. And, the prices are affordable for young collectors - $2300 and up. See you there.

Parade of Homes Kicks Off

Looking for some home building inspiration? Or a home-inspired outing in lieu of a traditional sunburned Memorial Day? The annual Parade of Homes™ presented by the HBA of Greater Dallas kicked off this weekend at Tucker Hill in McKinney. The multi-week, open house event will feature homes inspired by historic architecture and pre-war neighborhoods from Southern Land Company Homebuilding, Darling Homes, and Flagstone Custom Homes. As always it benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas® and HomeAid/Home Builders Care. Now through June 8, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. $12 at the door. Discount tickets are available here and area Tom Thumb locations.

Attention Designers, Architects

If you would like for D Home to consider your project for publication, please bring your portfolio or casual snapshots to tomorrow’s Portfolio Day at Lights Fantastic. It’s from 11 am to 3pm.

We would love to see your work!

RSVP to brooke.moskovitz@dmagazine.com

Come Here Often?

A few weeks ago, I noticed my neighbors doing something odd.  They painted patches of color in various areas all over their brick.  Since I have Gladys Kravitz tendencies, I did what any of you would do.  I waited until I saw them leave, and went over for a closer look.  I assumed they were getting ready to paint.  (I like to have input in these kind of decisions…after all, I will be the one looking at it.)

It was then I discovered a pile of discarded food peelings: cantaloupes, bananas, cucumbers in the flower bed right by their front patio.  Hmmm…that’s an odd place for a compost pile.

Yesterday, the mystery was solved.  And, it brought back some childhood memories… (more…)

More from Ben Spaisman

I asked Ben Spaisman, president of the new online site Bond & Bowery, to show me the object he’s been most coveting on his site….readers, what’s yours?

Also, I asked him what trends he’s seeing (Hint: it’s all about the web now), and for more details on the Dallas, Houston and Austin acquisitions this summer.

(more…)

Get Published!

Are you ready for your close up, Norma Desmond? The editors of DHome will be at Lights Fantastic on Wednesday, 11 - 3 to look at design portfolios for possible publishing. We have featured three of the designers we previewed last, so it’s not an empty promise. Also, you get to have lunch (free) in the cool new design studio DS2, and meet Mr. Impossible. Here he is, Kartell’s latest Philippe Starck invention (again?), made of two pieces of molded plastic that wowed the hard to impress Salone di Mobili crowd in Milan. The three-dimensional sculptural chair is sure to become another icon.

I Fear a Dr. Phil Intervention.

This is not a picture of my garage.  My garage is actually much worse. Today while the rest of you sit comfy in offices and cube farms across the Metroplex, I will be in near record heat deciding if I really need to keep a pair of shoes from 1986… (more…)

Bond & Bowery Comes To Texas

I just got this email from Ben Spaisman, President of Bond & Bowery.com

Hi Rebecca,

I read your recent post regarding 1stDibs with great interest. While I agree they are a fine site, I’d also like to suggest that you take a look at Bond and Bowery, a rapidly growing new site that many decorators and designers have already taken note of. Given our planned expansion into Texas during the next few months I would very much be interested in your comments and feedback.

Best

Ben Spaisman