Natalie Erwin at Beretta

Who said hunting and drinks don’t mix? Beretta Gallery is hosting a cocktail reception Thursday, May 15, for Dallas artist Natalie Erwin’s latest works, including custom hunting dog portraits, and I predict it will be a successful outing. Her unique look, created on wood-burned birch panels with wax and stained colors, have caught the eye of many, including mine, at the Nest Gallery. Meet the artist and order one of these puppies for Father’s Day. 41 Highland Park Village. 6-8 p.m.

Georgeous

D. Porthault’s going in a completely unexpected direction with these black and white embroidered linens, inspired by the night sky.

Who Says Dreams Don’t Come True?

The Trophy Husband was suspiciously AWOL from our marital bed yesterday morning.  I suspected he was dashing to Target to select a gnome at the behest of The Spawn. 

I was right.

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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.

Anteks 20th Anniversary Tonight

Go over to Anteks on Lovers Lane this evening and help Jason Lenox and family celebrate 20 years of business in that location. And, as an added bonus, the party benefits Dallas Habitat for Humanity - some of the vendors will be donating 100% of sales on certain items, and a portion of all sales from May 7 to May 14 will go the Habitat. Go, enjoy, and release your inner cowboy - you and your ranch will love it, and so will Habitat for Humanity.

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.

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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.

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.

Mother’s Day’s Ideas (x4)

1. Time with Mom: Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother’s Day Home & Garden Tour, May 10 and 11. Promote historic preservation and citizen involvement while securing the title of best child. $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
2. Sweets with Mom: Cakes from La Duni Latin Café are now available online with a 5 percent discount. Order favorites such as the famed Quatro Leches Cake, and save yourself half the calories by splitting it con tu mama.
3. Flowers for Mom: See No. 2. La Duni now offers signature arrangements (at left) of Amazon roses, tulips, lilies, and orchids online. With 72 hours notice and a few clicks, La Duni’s signature arrangements will be made to order at $20 and up.
4. Best choice: All the above.

Sofa Sale at Haven

While you’re out this weekend, enjoying the weather and trying to figure out how to spend your tax rebate money, go down to Victory and check out the sofa sale at Haven. Victory is rocking on the weekend, interesting shops with a different take on retail shopping, and some fun restaurants. I particularly love this Gonzalez sofa - available this weekend for $1500. It’s a deal, and very chic. And if you haven’t met Homer, it’s high time you did.

May/June DHome at William Sonoma

If you haven’t made that drive up to the shops at Legacy to visit the new William Sonoma Home store, you should. Even at 6:00 pm - which is when DHome is hosting the preview party for our May/June issue, next Thursday, May 8. The drive is worth it because a) William Sonoma Home is one of the coolest, design oriented home store there is anywhere - I know you get the catalog, but you really have to see the furnishings. And b) this DHome issue features outdoor living like you have never seen - there’s not a striped umbrella, barbecue tools, or a pitcher of Margaritas in sight. PS - there’s a 10% discount on all purchases that evening.

Peacock Alley at Vintage Living

One of our very favorite linen collections is now at Vintage Living in Snider Plaza. Peacock Alley used to be downstairs in our building - very convenient for a little product pick up, then they moved to Postal Way. That’s right, over by the main post office - not so convenient. Love the linens, hate the drive. So, we’re excited to have them in the ‘hood at one of our favorite stores. Check out the trunk show on Friday, May 2, along with new linens from Matteo.

Fete du Muguet at Yves Delorme

That’s Mother’s Day to you, or sort of - the French celebration of spring, the scent of lily-of-the-valley, and the love of children for their mothers. Hello? Are any of my children reading this? Yves Delorme celebrates this special day with gifts of robes, sleepwear, candles, and fragrant soaps. All with a savings of 30%. Which is great, because I don’t know about yours, but my children never have any money.

Pineider Comes to the Nest

The darling Nest is now carrying Italian luxury leather and paper goods maker Pineider, which opened in Florence in 1774. According to Pineider, it “has remained a point of reference for people who love style, beauty and the refined culture of writing.” If you are one of these people, a set that includes clients the Pope and Madonna, then head to the Nest for exquisite writing papers (home stationery at left) and desk sets. Owner Heather Wiese-Alexander’s Snider Plaza store is the only one in the South carrying the goods.

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

The $175,000 Bed

This can be yours for a mere $175,000 and is on display right now at William & Wesley, where designer and author Betty Lou Phillips is signing away her newest book. Meantime, go lay on 250 yards of precious Christopher Hyland fabric and look up at the candelier which is not included in the price. (Would it drive you crazy to pay $175K for a bed and then have some naughty couple, ahem, mess it up?)

Cocktails at Alessi Thursday Night

Alessi is having cocktails at its new store Thursday night. If you haven’t been, it’s a cool place. Go to the jump for details. (more…)

Joe Cariati Handblown Vessels

Haven always finds the good stuff. The newest acquisition: Los Angeles-based glass artist Joe Cariati’s handmade mod designs. Cariati is the real deal, no blow molds for this guy. Each result is one of a kind and signed. $650 each.

Salone del Mobili - Milan

Once again, I’m receiving all kinds of cool invitations to events at the grandissimo annual furniture exposition in Milan - again, my airline ticket must have gotten lost in the mail. Once I get there, (positive thinking), I’ll just have to bunk with my friend Loyd Scott since there are no rooms available for under $1200. It is the coolest, most innovative show - as those crazy Italians just outdo each other in the pursuit of designs that will capture our imaginations and our dollars. I’ll report back when Loyd Scott returns and tells me all about it.

Stairway to Heaven

While out scouting last week, Clif Ellman and I were knocked out by this staircase at Hermitage Antiques. It’s practically a house in itself with a closet, and built in clock and a Harry Potter cubby hole. Of course, we had to hear the whole story. It was from the Chateau Hermitage originally built by the Duke Emmanuel of Croy in 1748, and completed by his son in 1789 as it stands today - over 110 rooms on four floors and “as many windows as there are days in a year.” It was sold to a private individual in 1924, pieces were auctioned in 2001. It’s not officially for sale, unless you happen to find the owner on a good day - couldn’t you picture this in a grand Dallas home? Go exploring on Slocum Street some day, there are a lot of treasures to find.

New at Newport Collection

I was out last week pulling products for our fabulous outdoor living spread coming in the May/June issue. (Note to self: next time feature tassels and pillows instead of stone statues - much easier to move.) Of course, I went into the Newport Collection and fell in love with this Chinese lacquer cabinet from Shanxi c. 1780. It needs to be in my house. I also wanted to check on my friend Blair Newport, who is at home recuperating from a brutal series of chemo treatments. He’s doing well, and loves to hear from friends and have visitors, check with Dennis Kelly at 214-747-9600.

Urban Asia Opens: Imports, Statuary, and Folklore

On the less polished part of Henderson is a nondescript exterior notable for carved stone statuary, including a pair of Buddhist divinities. I dropped by Urban Asia last week, eager to find a treasure trove of Asian imports, and I did. Proprietor Christopher Crawford, a Dallas native who lived in Hong Kong and Shanghai for seven years with his wife, shared a story about a Chinese breakfast “donut” and then laughed about the Chinese having stories to explain everything. Crawford, too, has that storytelling gift. Because he and his wife have selected the furniture, accessories, and framed posters of Chinese film starts, everything in the store has a yarn. Drop in for story time and shopping. 1901 N. Henderson Ave. 214-828-1751.

Lemony Inspiration

West Elm clearly ignored—or didn’t catch word—that the trend this spring is all things green. I spotted their new lemonade-inspired theme right as I walked into the Mockingbird Station store yesterday—yellow is everywhere. But I like it, because they’ve backsplashed it with gray, a catchy combination. Christine, maybe your earlier post was trendsetting? Anyway, their “Unmellow Yellow” campaign is on—in vases, pillows, rugs, and the like. Might be dreary outside, but it’s summer in my cube.

Jan Barboglio in the House

Actually, she’s at the downtown Neiman’s store until 4 p.m. today. And she’s signing stuff—one presumes her own products—but you can ask her to sign something a shade spicier if you dare.

Target Is Tops (Except for Candles)

I’m perfectly aware that a few of you may turn up your noses at this news, but if Target is good enough for Isaac Mizrahi, Milla Jovovich, and Zac Posen, then I’m quite sure Target is good enough for you, my friend. Or your guest room, at the very least. Anyway, Sami Hayek (brother of Salma, if you must know) has a new home collection designed exclusively for Target. Bedding will become available in May, a collection of office furniture (available June 21st), and home décor (available June 22nd), and more. After checking out his web site, I for one am eager to check out the new collection.

Update: Sorry, I have been trying (in vain) to write a feature, so I missed the candle news. Maybe stay away from Target’s flammables. Hopefully, that excludes the sheets.

Rutherford’s Unveils New Look

Tomorrow from 4-7, Rutherford’s is hosting the Dallas debut of West Coast designer/film producer/set designer Stockton Briggle. I love Rutherford’s bazaar look of fabrics, trims and tassels everywhere, but it will be nice to see a more urban cleaned up style. Robert Rutherford is our own local “prince of chintz”, and few people know fabrics better than him. I learned the fabric business from him about a hundred years ago at John Edward Hughes, before he opened the shop on Lovers Lane - rather controversial at the time because he made designer fabrics available to the public.

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.

More Artful Blooms at Fashion in the Park

Sure, the focus was fashion, but there was some fabulous floral rivaling the couture. At the left is Rachael Wise of Cymbidium’s sunny frock made of yellow roses at Club Monaco. While visiting with Club Monaco’s Stacey Casper, she suggested a trend that has been popping up in both fashion and home accessories. I’m going to follow it and share my finds with you soon. At right is a sample of the purple orchids filling the mall; the planters from Neiman Marcus to Dillard’s are simply spilling over with these beauties.

Hastens Helps You Sleep Tight

Guess what? I’m getting $36 back from the government. (This is in addition to the $600 free-money bonanza that is set for June.) I realize that people in different tax brackets—roughly 90 percent of the Dallas population—are a little less joyful about April 15. Maybe you’re even losing sleep about taxes this year. Hastens wants to help: they are offering to pay the sales tax on all beds sold through April 15th. As my lovely (and much wealthier) friend puts it: “That’s a huge savings when you are buying a $30k bed!” Indeed.