Small World

While I was out this afternoon scouting Josy Cooner’s amazing new house in Forrest Hills (just a splash away from White Rock Lake), Peggy was back at the office, furiously working the phones with George Nash, trying to schedule a shoot this month of his east Texas farm. Turns out Nash was lunching at that very moment with Gonzalo Bueno in somewhere in Mexico. And, probably at that very moment, Josy Cooner was showing me the beautiful brushed stainless steel doors and other muy bueno details that Gonzalo had built for her house, which we are shooting later this summer. I just love that about Dallas.

Williams-Sonoma Home Party Tonight

In the words of a co-worker, “do you enjoy free food, wine, and sales?” If so, join us for all three tonight at Williams-Sonoma Home at The Shops at Legacy. We are celebrating our new Best of Everything issue, so come grab a hot-off-the-presses copy and eat treats from George catering. Oh, and did I remind you about the 10 percent off any and everything? 6-8 p.m. 7300 North Dallas Pkwy.

Unusual Item Of The Day

This is an Hungarian goosedown, horseshoe shaped pillow designed by a Highland Park chiropractor for people who sleep on their sides. Sold at Peacock Alley and the Linen Boutique. Looks comfy, but someone needs to design a pillowcase that will fit it.

(more…)

Newest Book Obsession

This exquisite little book just came out in April. I love its apple green cover and the watercolor sketches inside are so pretty.

Here’s an excerpt from the description: “Trained as both architects and historians, Andrew Zega and Bernd H. Dams are skilled artists known for their expert restitutions of historic buildings, rendered in a realistic watercolor technique that has become their trademark. Originally published as a limited-edition collector’s item that sold for $1,100, this affordable reprinted edition presents fifty charming images, the results of more than a decade of study of historic European and American architecture and garden ornament.”

Their work reminds me of this guy.

Our New Issue Is Out

Our annual 2008 Best of Everything issue is now out. Read it online, but to see all the great photos, and full stories, buy the magazine. Don’t you just love this image? Peggy Levinson and Cliff Ellman found all of these sculptural outdoor pieces. [Photo by Jan and Ka Yeung]

My Newest Obsession: Raffia

Raffia upholstery makes even the fanciest furniture feel right at home. I saw this Hannah chair by Oly in a magazine and looked it up. I could probably cover everything in raffia and be happy, but something tells me that would be a mistake.

In Dallas, Oly is sold at Mecox Gardens and at Lisa Luby Ryan’s Vintage Living.

Kelly Wearstler Used My Chair!

I was flipping through the new issue of Domino, and saw this photo of Kelly Wearstler’s chic redesign of The Tides Hotel in Miami, with a dramatic phalanx of man-made tortoise shells on the wall (see page 32 in the May issue). Upon closer examination, I saw that she’s used the same stylish 1980s era “rope” chairs that Julio Quinones found for me several years ago! Same color, but without arms. Take a look.

Hello? Is This Thing On….check…check…check…

Since Rebecca said I would blog this morning, here I am. Yes, I am nervous. You know what they say about public speaking, imagine your audience is…naked. That’s what I am doing right now. All of you…in the buff. I feel much better.

Confession? I’m technology-phobic. Check back later today, after I figure out how this new fangled blog machine works. I have to buy some sod, but I’ll be right back. In the meantime, I humbly offer this.

A New Voice On The Block

Amanda Tackett joins D Home in the morning as our newest blogger. You already know her from Amanda’s Dream House. She’s nervous, so help her out. I don’t get why — Amanda is locally famous with a cult following of Dream House groupies and one of the funniest writers in town. She’s got plenty to talk about — she’s doing all the renovations on a fabulous but crumbling 60s era house herself. I can’t wait to see what she blogs about first…

Charles Faudree Book Party

Charles Faudree, the “king of toile,” as Peggy crowned him, is stopping by At My Table on May 28, from 10 a.m. to noon, to sign his newest book, Charles Faudree Country French Florals & Interiors with Toni Garner. Faudree, despite his international clients, is still a Oklahoma man, and like me, a Francophile. At least it seems that way (previous titles: French Country Signature and French Country Living). This book features some variation–Toni Garner, a Tulsa florist who has been named Oklahoma Magazine’s “Best Florist” for 10 years and counting–with the addition of floral.

Gone In 40 Days

My friend Jon Verhaeghe who owns Voyager Trading Co., sent me this just now:

Hey Rebecca,

I was hoping you could give me one more plug. We are closing in roughly 40 days and just got our last shipment of furniture. It happens to be from a company called Southcone, which has unfortunately gone out of business. We purchased this container load at a steal b/c of their distressed situation. The factory needed to move their stock stuff in a hurry and it timed out well with our closing. In any event - it is awesome stuff (sold at Robb & Stucky, Mecox, the old Urban Home etc.) and we are selling at near wholesale.

Many of the photos of what we have are on the website - www.voyagertrading.com

Thanks for the last plug - Just so you know, I plug your blog all the time - People listen to me.

Cheers Jon

Rugs As Jewelry

When I first saw this, I thought it was a piece of jewelry. But it’s a rug. Odegard, which has a beautiful showroom in Dallas, just introduced this amazing carpet at Milan’s furniture fair this month. It’s part of Stephanie Odegard’s Mughal Jewelry Collection, based on ancient Indian jewelry created during the lavish Mughal Empire.

Room Service’s New Catalogue Is Out

My new Room Service Home catalogue came in the mail yesterday. Don’t you love this Canton blue and white tray table? Ann Fox is also showing a collection of blue and white porcelains on the cover and inside.

Fresh Air

Ronda Carman turned me onto Houston decorator Katie Stassi, whose rooms I love.

Ju-Nel Home Tour

As my friend Adam can attest, I have become obsessed with the weather. I attribute this to getting old. Anyway, the weather this weekend going to be lovely, my friends. Let’s hope it keeps so that NEXT WEEKEND (I jumped the gun earlier) is the perfect weekend for the White Rock Home Tour and Art Festival. I love home tours—it saves me the trouble of knocking on the doors of strangers in East Dallas and begging for a looksee. (Rarely successful.) Anyway, this is a good event, benefitting a great cause (Hexter Elementary). After the jump are the words of my lovely and amazing friend Christine Rogers, who knows all about the tour’s bells and whistles.

(more…)

Munger Place Home Tour: May 3 & 4

Well, folks, it’s open season on home tours. Here’s another perennial favorite: East Dallas’ Munger Place Home Tour. It may seem like every little neighborhood has a tour these days, but Munger Place has cred: About 250 historic residences and a spot on National Register of Historic Places for 30 years. How about those bragging rights? It’s also one of the largest collections of Prairie-style houses in the country. Shown here is a new construction number on Tremont Street. Get tickets, $10, in advance at the Lower Greenville and Preston Forest Whole Foods and Quaint Home Gallery (214-370-9994), or $12 at the tour.

Interview with Philippe Starck

Philippe Starck seems to be sending mixed messages these days. D Magazine Frontburner reviewed this interview where the French designer proclaimed “design is dead”. Last week at West Week in LA, Starck and David Sutherland unveiled a new collection “RobinWood”, which is the first collaboration between the two furniture giants. Read below for the interview - I think Starck had a great time designing this extraordinary collection, and talks about it in his usual mischievous, irreverant way. But, maybe he just had a great time working with David Sutherland. Wait one month for the May DHome to see more. (more…)

Capital Distributing Kitchen Re-dos

I just received the latest newsletter from Capital Distributing - always at the forefront of all things kitchen. Check out this kitchen re-do by Kathy Adcock-Smith, of course, I highly recommend her because she helped me with my kitchen remodel. Which is fabulous, by the way. I’ve been cooking up a storm.

Rock ‘n Roll Rooms

Hip jeans designer Diesel just got into the home decor act. Newly launched during the recent Milan furniture show, Diesel’s Successful Living textiles include bed linens, towels, and throw pillows.

Home Tour in San Miguel Allende

The homes here are painted stucco and I’m told the painters mix the pigment on the spot, no chips from the Home Depot. Miraculously, they come back in a year and can match the paint perfectly — it’s an art. My visit here has made me re-consider building to the lot line. In SMA, homes are built to the lot line. You enter the door and walk into a glorious courtyard and garden in the middle of the home. This floorplan was devised centuries ago during the gold and silver rush for security so wagons loaded with commodities could pull in and be locked up for the night behind the front door and gates. I’d LOVE to have my backyard in the middle of my house!

At Home with Eva Zeisel

I just saw this fascinating interview on the New York Social Diary about legendary ceramicist Eva Zeisel at home — with lots of great photographs of her house. I didn’t know Zeisel had been arrested by Stalin and jailed for many years….

We wrote about her several months ago, prompting her grandson to email us

The New French Decor

Just when you thought no more books could be written about French decor, here’s another one. “The New French Decor” by Giles Trellard, published by Abrams is pictures of vignettes. Not whole rooms, just a viewpoint - maybe a tabletop, or a corner window. It’s really charming, and very styled. My friend Stephen Dunn showed it to me, and suggested that everyone style a vignette - chefs, floral designers, socialites. Just pretty pictures from a personal point of view. I don’t know, we might have to edit the ones by plumbers.

Best Builders Bash

D Home’s annual Best Builders celebration is one of my favorite events because the builders are such affable people. I met up with our 2008 winners at III Forks last night, and among them were a handful of female builders including Kathryn Forney Sargent and Susan Tatum Brown. It’s a tough enough business without the added challenge of being a woman in a man’s domain. They’ve got guts and smarts. My grandmother Marguerite Doak was one of the first women in construction, and I told Kathryn Sargent this. When I mentioned she had been a plumbing contractor, Kathryn whooped and hollered with excitement. “Now that took guts,” she said. I like to think my grandmother helped pave the way for some of the women in that room last night, if even in a small way.

Tommy Bahama Fabrics

Now you can create your own Margaritaville with outdoor fabrics from Tommy Bahama - all you’ll need is the tequila and a little Jimmy Buffett music to create the whole atmosphere. They really are quite tropically festive, especially on the gray days we’ve been having lately. Find them locally at William & Wesley.

Dallas Grace: Luscious Interiors are Just Icing

I spent a remarkable Valentine’s Day with two women who have recently lost their husbands (mine was with clients in Columbus…). It served to remind me that even in the most beautifully decorated homes, the crown jewel is always the family.
As an ex-pat Yank, I am frequently surprised by the genuine grace and generosity found in Dallas homes. (Not that we northerners are so uncouth, we were just raised to be ultra private and reserved about family matters…).
Albeit often upstaged by truly spectacular interior surroundings and all the glittery trappings money can buy, when the the chips are down at the homestead, its the spirit in Dallas that is the real show stopper.
My day went something like this: early am phone call to receive marching orders for receiving gifts, greeting guests and general house duty (at the home of my friend who lost her husband Tuesday evening). From replanting her front flower beds to cleaning out her refrigerator…there was not a detail left undone. The reception, obituary, meals, service, airport transportation and accommodations were arranged before lunch. My friend is able to be with her daughters and truly grieve. She put her head on my shoulder late afternoon, looked around the room at all of her spectacular art, antiques and precious belongings and said, “I could live the rest of my life without all of this. But not without all of these incredible people.” Amen.
I left there and joined another friend whose husband passed away in November. Our daughters made and served us burnt chicken, under cooked potatoes and really bad beans. I have never been so grateful.

Gloria Godat’s Surprise Wedding!

Joe Minton and Kevin Peavy attended a cocktail buffet on February 2 at Rana and Saad Chehabi’s amazing Euclid Ave. house, in honor of lovely Gloria Godat’s engagement to dashing Latin Amercian diplomat Juan Ernesto Snead. The Chehabis own Dallas-based Ancient Venetian Floor Company, so of course the tiled floors were dazzling, Minton reported, along with the beautifully crafted, French-inspired details of the house, unusual for a newly-built mega mansion. “It looks like a French embassy,” said Minton, who had been finishing dinner on the back terrace with Peavy when there was a commotion in the entrance hall: An opera singer was belting out an aria. Everyone gathered. The surprise singing was followed by surprise announcements from Snead, who, from the center of the sweeping staircase, grandly invited everyone in the room to attend their wedding (this received much applause, since it was assumed the couple would marry in Paraguay where he lives). But the wedding is right now! Snead shouted, and suddenly down the staircase came a white robed chorus of gospel singers swaying and clapping and singing, followed by a white robed minister and then Godat, who had sneaked upstairs and changed into a pair of wedding-white silk pants and a white beaded top. “This was the most memorable wedding I’ve ever been to,” gushed Peavy, who days later, was still basking in the golden glow of the night’s events. Godat and Snead will live in Paraguay, and Minton says he can’t wait to see their new apartment there.

Horchow Finale Opens Today in Inwood Village

I just got an email from Neiman Marcus saying that a Horchow Finale store is opening today in Inwood Village. I have no clue where in the center it is exactly. The map for the Village is terribly hard to read, but click here if you want to give it a try yourself. The number to the new Horchow Finale is 214.350.2744 if it’s easier to just call. By the way, the nice door pictured at left is for sale at Horchow.com. I like the fact that they have a whole category listed under the Furniture section for “Doors,” don’t you?

The French Side of Texas

I’m fascinated by all the many blogspots. This one, Cote de Texas, is written by a Houston decorator, who focuses on all things French in Texas. Rooms she’s decorated. Lunch with friends in a charming cafe. Photos of Caroline Kennedy. It’s a bit erratic, but life is like that. That’s what makes style blogs these days so much fun — they’re glimpses into peoples lives, the beds unmade. But who cares when the sheets are Porthault?

Marimekko Goes True Blue

Yesterday, Peggy blogged that Pantone named Blue Iris the color of the year. Looks Marimekko of Finland agrees. Its new Moroccan tile inspired bed linens for Crate & Barrel are crisp and refreshing with just enough pep to keep things interesting. Plus, with a king sheet set going for only $149 and matching comforter $139, this stuff is a steal.

Demo Man (Or Woman) Needed

I need my kitchen floor demolished to make room for a fancy new dishwasher. That and I’m having new floors installed soon. (Check it out! It’s the new Buenos Aires Mood line from Crossville. We’re doing a mix of Tango polished and unpolished in the listello pattern. You can find it locally at The Great Indoors.) Anyway, I need someone good at demo so I present my request to the D Home nation. If you know someone, please comment. If not, I’m picking up a hammer soon and, friend, that’s never good news.