Saturday: Architectural Tours

After last week’s AIA Tour, you’ve probably developed an insatiable curiosity about learning more about Dallas architects. Tomorrow is your lucky day - start with Preservation Dallas‘ book signing event of “Great American Suburbs” with Willis Cecil Winters at The Turtle Room, 3525 Turtle Creek Blvd; followed by a tour of Howard Meier’s masterpiece 3525.  (Of course, this lovely house on the cover was torn down earlier this year - does that make anyone else crazy?)  Then, at 2:00 head north to 23 Ash Bluff Lane for a (probably never to be repeated) tour of the Clint Murchison mansion built in the 1930s by Anton Korn, and recently renovated by Wilson Fuqua. This benefits the Dallas Architecture Forum.  So, you started last week with the present and future, this week go to the past and find out about the historical side of our city.

Can This House Be Saved?

3808 Turtle Creek sits on 2/3 acre right on the creek, and it is only 7000 square feet.  Only?  I’m afraid that may be the death sentence, because someone’s going to want that lot to build at least double that space.  But, this was built by Anton Korn in 1925 (you can see another home by this esteemed architect this weekend when the  estate will be open), and we don’t want to see another old masterpiece bite the dust.  It has had some unfortunate remodeling - walnut trim painted white, and shiny black granite in the entry.  But, with just a little effort, that could be undone.  Offers, anyone?

Re: AIA Home Tour

Comments?  What was everyone’s favorite?  Bluffview - beautiful construction and views.  I also liked that the interiors, while sleek and modern let in a little transitional style.  Kessler Woods - of course, I loved all the finishes in Bentley’s house., it let us see some details that are planned for ours.  Urban Reserve - did you notice how most of the houses have names?  Abbott Pl - although the floor plans were all the same and the galley kitchens all by Bulthop, the art was pretty serious in one (David Gates and James Surls), and I loved mixing a traditional table with modern chairs, and throwing some Oriental rugs around.

AIA Home Tour

The perfect weekend to look at perfect houses.  Probably not perfect, but definitely cool.  The Dallas AIA is sponsoring their annual home tour, call 214-742-3242 for tickets.  You’ll want the $25 ticket to see all nine of them, otherwise it’s $10 a house.  I have to promote my architect Bentley Tibbs, who is hard at work making Peggy’s Folly work.  I hope.  Anyway, if you can’t find anything to inspire you, you’re probably dead.

Legacy Books

There is nothing I like better than a book store.  And, nothing better in a book store than a new, privately owned one, aptly called Legacy Books. (No, I’m not a corporate basher - but it is nice to have a little individuality.)  And, even better, this book store has design cred - the interiors were done by Morrison-Seifert-Murphy - just one of the best in Dallas, and the outside by Mike Twitchell.  I can’t wait to go spend a day there - when I have a day.  But, maybe, since we’re camping at my dad’s house, and it is about 80 degrees there, I can go read and stay cool.

Designers’ Choice - Your Choice

This Saturday, October 18 promises to be a perfect day for a home tour, the Designers’ Choice Home Tour, to be exact. Don’t miss the chance to see some of Dallas’ great design talent’s best work: Cole Smith, Bernbaum-Magadini, Robyn Menter and Richard Drummond Davis (this is their collaboration), Gary Riggs, and Tracy Rasor. Just check in at the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church at 10 am and be prepared to be inspired.

What Would Mr. Marcus Say?

I think it’s pretty obvious that he would not approve of the tear down of his historic house in Lakewood. Especially since the owners had applied for historic status when they bought it; and I think we all are aware of Mr. Marcus‘ level of taste and quality. The owner’s reason?  Make it more energy efficient.  I’m sorry, that just doesn’t work for me - tear something precious down to build again?  Not exactly green thinking.  I’m reminded of the tear down of the stone and slate masterpiece at the corner of Rheims and Armstrong that had been  last year.  When Susan Palma went up to the demo contractor and asked what in the heck they were doing, he said, “The inside was bad.”  She brought herself up to her full 5′3″ height and said, “Excuse me. The inside was not bad, I did it.”

Domestic Art

I love beautiful houses, I especially love beautiful Dallas houses - and, there are a multitude that you’ll see in the September issue of DHome.  So, when my dear friend (and competitor) Rob Brinkley writes a book about beautiful houses in Dallas, I have to crow about it.  It is being published by the distinguished Assouline press, and is due out in October.  Look for local editors at Paper City to host lots of fetes in honor of this one, the grand opening is scheduled at Neiman Marcus on October 21.  Rob, does this get me an automatic invitation?  Remember, I knew you when….

Think Pink: Mary Kay’s Pink Palace On TV

All the rose quartz  Sherle Wagner and a completely pink marble commode on this great piece narrated by Ebby Halliday herself!

Always A Bridesmaid, Never A Bride

I have this fun new ditty on the DallasDirt blog you are just going to love…

Most Beautiful House in Dallas

For the September issue of DHome, we are taking on the monumental task of picking the 10, or maybe 20 most beautiful houses in Dallas.  Please help us! We want old, new, classic, modern, whatever just hits you when you drive by on the street. And if you have a great one - tell us why.

Your New Kitchen?

This beautiful eco-luxurious kitchen could be yours - in the most convenient location in Highland Park.  You can have it all - walk to restaurants and grocery stores and put the kids in HP schools.  Do I sound like a realtor?  No, just really sad that I’m selling my house and leaving the most beautiful kitchen ever.  I never planned to be unfaithful - I was perfectly content with my current housing relationship.  Then, I went in an open house while visiting my Dad in () North Dallas.  I fell in love with a very contemporary split level 1970s house on a small residential lake.  Wouldn’t have been a problem, except I called my husband, and he fell in love, too.  It was fated…now we have two houses, one too many.  So, back to my original premise - this kitchen could be yours.

‘Bama Style: Bungalows

As promised, I went to Bungalows yesterday.  To translate Alabama to Texas…Bungalows is: 1 part McCallister Collection (McKinney), 1 part Junkadoodle (Dallas), and 1 part Hoodiewear (Richardson).  The result is all Southern Hospitality…  This picture does not/cannot capture the magic of this little boutique.  It’s fun in for summer, anytime, really…

Partners Terry Woodard and Rick Kuzmyak recently expanded Bungalows to another new sunny location in the Wharf (Canal Street @ Beach Express).  They LOVE Dallas, but that is only part of the story…jump for the deets.

(more…)

Pure Genius. Duh.

Greetings, once again from the sugar sand beaches of the Florida/Alabama coast. 

Every once in a while, I find a treasure.  Duh is just such a place.

The brainchild of Quinn Stinson (Baylor University ‘88) and Jim Rigsby (who has no known ties to DFW, but is just as cute as a button), Duh is haven for the usually design starved greater Pensacola metropolitan area.  Duh has had its finger on the pulse of every design trend to roll out…  I’ve been a Duh fanatic for at least 9 years.

(more…)

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…)

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

Parade of Homes!

Parade of Homes

May 17 - June 8, 2008
10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Wednesday - Sunday (Closed Monday and Tuesday, with the exception of Memorial Day)

The 2008 Spring Parade of Homes™ presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas will take place May 17 through June 8 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. The annual event benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas® and HomeAid/Home Builders Care.

Tickets are $12 at the door. Discount tickets are available online at www.paradeofhomesdallas.com and area Tom Thumb locations.

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.

Live It Up

These days we are preoccupied with creating a comfortable house. Two Japanese architects created one that is uncomfortable, even miserable, on purpose. Why? It’s a life or death situation.

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.

Park Cities Home Tour

Don’t miss the Park Cities Historical and Preservation Society home tour this weekend. It may be crummy weather, but when else can you: wander through a new home at 3507 Crescent that truly complements the area; enjoy a 1915 bungalow at 3511 Lindenwood; visit a 1926 Tudor being restored according to the original blueprints at 4209 Arcady; walk through an original Hal Thomson at 4329 Livingston; or, my personal favorite, enjoy the salon like living room at 4340 Versailles, where I intend to spend many deep thinking evenings (possibly involving Malbec wine) with my friend Christine Allison.

Models at One Arts Plaza

Yesterday was busy. After the presentation at Walter Lee Culp, I went to One Arts Plaza to see the models that my friends at Scott+Cooner did. Of course, they are flawless. But, what can you expect with architecture by Lionel Morrison, furniture from Scott+Cooner, art from Marty Walker and Holly Johnson, and rugs from Odegard? Both models had grand terraces big enough for dining tables and seating areas - just one problem. The noise from 75 made it hard to carry on a conversation. Oh well, I guess you could always pretend it was the sound of the ocean, or, as Laura suggested, have cocktails at 4 am.

Eric Prokesh Writes from Phnom Penh

Eric Prokesh and David Astudillo snapped this picture of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Phnom Penh, housed inside a wonderful old French colonial building.

(more…)

Eric Prokesh in Hong Kong

[The port at Hong Kong]

Sorry, Eric, I was supposed to be keeping up with these and posted Cambodia before Hong Kong. I was never very good at geography. Anyway, it’s a gorgeous port, isn’t it?

(more…)

Eric Prokesh in Angkor, Cambodia

Angkor Wat, a Hindu monastery in Angkor, Cambodia.
Photo by Eric Prokesh and David Astudillo. (more…)