Sur La Table Holiday Cooking Classes

The classy culinary retailer has announded its holiday-themed cooking classes for November and December. Check out the Dallas round-up here.

The Book Club: French Country Kitchens

Yes, I know. Modern kitchens are all the rage. Everyone’s getting all Bulthaup-ed and Arclinea-ed these days. Begone copper hoods and farmhouse sinks. Farewell bistro chairs and rustic urns. Don’t get me started on roosters. Still, there’s many a Dallas homeowner that loves the French country look. And that’s okay. I also love it (when it’s done well). For those with a passion for the Provencal, you should get a copy of French Country Kitchens: Authentic French Kitchen Design from Simple to Spectacular by Linda Dannenberg. This isn’t that faux French stuff. It’s the real deal: true French kitchens in all their sunny, farmhouse glory captured in beautiful photography. This book has lots of ideas as well as recipes and a directory of sources. Get your copy at Legacy Books in Plano.

Tuesday Trend: American Graffiti

Graffiti has long since been frowned upon…perhaps, until now. Graphic graffiti designs in various shapes and colors can transform any room into one that is ultra-funky, urban, and fresh. CB2’s Graffiti Punch pillow ($39.95) is just the product that will give your room the extra punch it needs. IKEA, normally crazy-cheap, has this not-so-cheap Hedda wool rug ($249). The design is simple, yet striking, and black and white go with everything. Re-Surface’s More-Light Shade ($350) tastefully brings street graffiti indoors, if such a thing is possible. Street-style coming indoors??? What do you think?

Disclaimer: This is not an endorsement to spraypaint underpasses, buildings, etc. with gangster signs. IJS.

Great Photography by Richard Bettinger

Talk about successful moonlighting - Richard Bettinger, a long time sales associate at David Sutherland, has turned a hobby into a great success around the country. His photography is now shown at showrooms around the country, and you better look quickly because they are selling fast. Photography is the new art “it girl”, I think, and this guy has great talent. And you thought he was just another pretty face.

Haroo & Haroo - Bye Bye

Haroo & Haroo in the Dallas Design Center has locked the doors. Or maybe the center has locked the doors, I’m not sure, I know she was trying to get someone to buy her company. I hate to see it go - Mik Yung is so cute and has so much style, and the showroom in it’s early days was always full of surprises. I remember a party she had for Philippe Starck a few years ago that was the true reincarnation of the original Starck Club.