William Haines Style

I have always been intigued by Billy Haines. He was a celebrated director and movie star who, after opening an antique store in 1930, became the original decorator to the stars. By transforming dark, Spanish interiors into light classic he became the father of what is now known as “Hollywood Regency.” The book about him, “Class Act”, is a must for thousands of mid-century modernists. I’m happy to say that Allan Knight is now carrying the “William Haines” fully licensed collection. That means his designs can’t be knocked-off by every little shop in East LA.  It also means I can go sit in my favorite chair, the chair.  So called, because a lady could sit in it with full ball gown and turn to engage her admirers.  PS - it also works wearing jeans.

Re: Luxe Showhouse

Just a little back story to my blog - yes, the final decorative touches to the home were put together on a whirlwind by Debra Owens, with help from Myrl Talkington, Mary Kate Erwin, David Sutherland, Allan Knight, and Craighead-Green. What I didn’t know was that Debra has been working on this house with Mark Molthan and Robbie Fusch for 2 years. Picking finishes and fixtures, designing bathrooms, and creating the whole design concept - all that on top of opening her smash success store Vinya on Buena Vista a year ago. Hey, we all need a little help from our friends.

Luxe Showhome

Congratulations to Deborah Owens and Myrl Talkington for pulling together a really spectacular showhouse at the Creeks of Preston Hollow.  They had a fery short time frame to pull together furnishings for a rather large house, so they called in some favors from some pretty stylish sources:  enter David Sutherland, Allan Knight, Craighead-Green, and others who supplied furniture, fabrics, and accessories on consignment to make the house a success.   The tour benefits the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.

Julio Quinones and Laura Miller = Cover story in Traditional Home

Wow. Beautiful.

Ladder Day Designers

If you happened to be at the Design Center Friday, perhaps you caught Susan Palma and Muffin Lemak in their latest not politically correct Halloween outfits.  Susan’s comment was, “We really scared some guys because they had never seen women without makeup.”  If creativity makes the designer - these women have it in spades.  And if you have any question about taste, just look at what Susan gave me as the “arbiter of good taste.”  I have to have security cameras at my desk to make sure no one steals it.

Thursday Design Events

Thursday is the day for important events in the Design District, this week I’m only aware of one - and it is really special. David Sutherland is hosting a party for Galerie Diurne and Sandra Jordan. Galerie Diurne is a world famous European rug gallery, and they have chosen Sutherland to be their US rep (good choice). The whole upstairs has been converted to a gallery; these are the coolest, most highly designed rugs you have ever seen. And Sandra Jordan with her great alpaca textiles will be uncorking wine from her family vinyard. Jordan Winery - ever heard of it? Have your attention now?

Auction Haus

You better get up really early to catch up with the ladies at Scott + Cooner, they always seem to be just a little ahead of the game.  Now, they have an online store called Auction Haus which is opening tomorrow with everything in their warehouse at 2150 Irving Blvd, available for you to make an offer.  Remember, this is all authentic brand furniture, not, as Loyd Scott would call “curb fodder.”  Go ahead, make an offer on these cool table from Edra listed for $2900 for the three.

Porthault - Not Just for Sheets

D. Porthault in Highland Park Village is one of the most frequented sources for some of the finest, softest cotton linens around.  It’s about to show its wild side, and get a little more macho - Patrick Mavros, the world-renowned African sculptor and silversmith will be showing his incredible work at a trunk show next Oct 21 and 22.  Christine Allison and I saw this display at the Kappa Kappa Gamma tablescapes and went crazy for it; this is just one of the little animals adorning the table. He’s cute, huh, and so is Mavros.

Thursday Parties

Don’t you love Thursdays when there are cool new openings and events to attend? Especially when they are as compelling as these. JANUS et Cie is celebrating their first showroom here in Dallas at 1525 Dragon St. You will see some of the coolest, newest international designs in outdoor living. The collection is stunning - and the bright white showroom is such a contrast to the old Del Saxon space (but, I do miss him.) When you have been wowed by the originality of some of these pieces, walk across the street to the 40th birthday of Vivian Watson Associates , and meet some of their suppliers that have been along for the whole ride. And be sure and have a few drinks, Vivian (as seen on page 78 of October DHo me ) is there with you in spirit.

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.

Moving - Add a New Circle to Dante’s Hell

I’m thinking somewhere around the 5th circle In Dante’s Inferno where Francesca and Paolo are beaten by winds should be a special place of moving.  Moving a 5000 square foot house into multiple storage units - one for the new house, “Peggy’s Folly”, one to save for our children, other things to give to charity, and some beautiful antiques I want to sell. All of this on top of our daughter’s wedding in Maine, and a morning after dawn flight across the North Pole to start another daughter at Seattle University.  I’m ready for some relaxing work - maybe blog a little and see if someone is listening and working on Design Book. I can’t wait to really concentrate on my favorite subject - design - what’s new, what’s coming and what works.  Send me your ideas, remember I’m still pretty exhausted and could use a little help.

Cindy C. and Me

When I was in college, I spent a great deal of time with Cindy, personal trainer Radu, and a chair while performing moves to the workout video “Shape Your Body.” Ten years and 10 pounds later (ahem, make that 15 on both), the videos are long gone, but I still dig Cindy. So, when I heard she was going to be at the Grapevine Mills Rooms to Go, I did a few leg lifts, gassed up the car, and headed that way. I wanted to see how she looked, find out if she’s nice (I’ve heard mixed things), and, more importantly, I wanted to find out if she would donate a couch for our new D Home lounge. For those who care, jump! (more…)

Re: Slocum St Event

Did I mention the wreath auction benefiting DIFFA/Dallas?  Get a jump on your holiday decorations tonight at , 1414 Slocum, and bid on wreaths by a Who’s Who of Dallas designers including David Corley, Ike Isenhour, Ken Knight, Lisa Luby Ryan, even the elusive Neal Stewart. Start the evening off at Heritage Art Gallery, 1518 Slocum St. with wines by CORK and a music by the Booker T. Washington band.  There might even be dancing in the streets - not exactly a stuffy old antiques show.

D Home Shout-Out

Apartment Therapy, one of our fave design blogs, gave Dallas furniture designer, Joel Hester, a shout-out on their blog while also giving D Home some love. That D Home clearly gives the table the pop of color it needs, don’t you think?

Latest and Greatest

Michelle Nussbaumer’s latest and greatest addition to her Custom Furniture Collection is pretty glam and fabulous. This antique reproduction table can be custom ordered in 26 lacquer colors. Another perk-If you order within the next 30 days (order guaranteed to arrive no later than 6 weeks of placing your deposit), Michelle promises an unknown “special incentive”. Hmm-What could it be??? Call the peeps at Ceylon et Cie (214-742-7632) if you want to hear more on incentives, price, color options, etc.

Dining by Design 2008

…is this weekend at the Hilton Anatole. Diffa’s Dining by Design brings together some of the most talented and respected names in fashion, interior design, architecture, and art to create spectacular, over-the-top dining arrangements. You just might happen to recognize some of the following names: George Sellers, Hotel Zaza, Vivienne Tam for HP, Marc Blackwell for Beringer Vineyards, and Doug Wilson for the New York Times. Not to mention, all of the fun goes towards Diffa’s fight against AIDS/HIV. Here are the deatils:

COCKTAILS BY DESIGN
Friday, September 26; 6 PM – 9 PM
Designers and guests mingle, preview the designers creations, sip superb libations including cocktails from Stolichnaya ELIT and wine from Beringer Vineyards.
Tickets are $50 per person.

TABLE HOP & TASTE
Saturday, September 27; 11 AM – 3 PM
Ticket holders view the amazing design installations and sip Beringer wines paired with culinary treats from 13 of Dallas top chefs and restaurants.
Tickets are $35 per person.

GALA DINNER
Saturday, September 27; 6:00 PM – 11 PM
Table-hopping and opening of the design installations to guests for a luxurious seated dinner, followed by dancing and dessert. Tickets begin at $500 per person, reservations required.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.diffa.org or call 972-239-6999. The Hilton Anatole Hotel is located at 2201 Stemmons Freeway.

Re: Scalamandre No Mas

Guess they paid their bills or worked something out because Scalamandre (in the Dallas Design Center) is back in biz. Welcome back!

From One Reader To Another

I got an email from a D Home blog reader that I thought I should share:

“The site is somewhat remiss without the mention of Linde Browning-Did excellent work in a friend’s house (featured on her site, the Lancasters in Preston Hollow). She flies under the radar a bit, almost exclusively working with architects and rarely taking on freelance projects, but when you see her stuff you know its her.

Her site is at lindebrowningdesign.com. Enjoy the blog, good read.”

Thanks for the feedback and the heads-up! Check her out…And keep it coming y’all!

Scalamandre No Mas

Peggy leaves us for a week and all heck breaks loose in the Dallas Design Center. A couple emails from some very relaible sources (and the notice slapped on their front door) confirm the Scalamandre Showroom has failed to pay their rent and has been locked out by the management company. Uh oh.  Comments are on. Gossip if you must.

Corey Pope is Fearless

Local designer Corey Pope is opening a new showroom at the International - just goes to show that we Dallasites aren’t afraid of some little thing called recession. Its exciting to me, because I think this is the first locally owned multi-line showroom opening in about 7 years. (Haroo & Haroo was 2001, am I right?) From experience, I can tell you that to open a showroom in a slow economy takes a lot of guts, creativity, luck and loyalty. Check later for a list of lines, but I love this Jakob Schlaepfer. I knew it was familiar, because they created some of the really cool couture fabrics for Creation Baumann.

John McCain or Barack Obama: Whose White House would you want to decorate?

I have been asking style gurus lately: who would you prefer as a client for the White House: John McCain or Barack Obama? Stacy Sawyer, ASID, of Stacy Sawyer Design would pick McCain. She envisions “classic elegance of course, but with a modern edge to it. They could bring such style back to the White House.” (Candy Evans gives us a glimpse of the McCain look – for at least one of their houses. ) So how about you: Whose White House would you want to decorate?

Doin’ the Ritz with Sherry Hayslip

No one better to tour the Ritz Carlton residences with than Sherry Hayslip who has decorated a good portion of them.  She took me on a tour yesterday just to show the different sides of Hayslip Designs. First, a modern bachelor pad that you will see in the October DHome - slick, masculine, and a huge pool table in the dining room.  Bachelor, remember -  I won’t go into the inflated dinosaur protecting the pool table.  Next up, the latest version of the Palace of Versailles with traditional 23 karat gilding, fabulous millwork in the Hall of Mirrors, and the lady’s “Bathing Chambers.”  Will, how much does Sherle Wagner love Sherry Hayslip?  Then we went to see a modern interior with Oriental influence - perfect for the “ethno-sophisticate” living there.  This was done on a shoestring, not something one usually associates with Sherry Hayslip, but it does show the genius of design - Z Gallery chests with “The Bed” from John Hutton at David Sutherland.  Or $1500 pillows on a close out sofa from Robert Allen.  Brilliant.

Fabric Art on the Grand Scale

You can view magnificent antique textiles at museums - from a distance, please; but starting Sept 7, you can have your own.  Touch all you want.  Next week, Loyd-Paxton is having a special sale of textiles they have collected through the years.  They are either custom framed  in-house with the flawless eye of Loyd and Paxton or have the original antique frame, some dating from the Qing Dynasty period - you remember that, don’t you.  It also gives you a chance to visit their highly dramatic showroom in it’s most pedestrian location surrounded by trucking companies on Irving Blvd.

Joe Minton - the newest Rolling Stone

Okay, he’s not really playing with the band, although I’m sure the multi-talented Mr. Minton could take the stage.  (Joe, were you ever in a band?) But, he and Kevin Peavy were at The Rock and Roll Wedding of the Year at Wood’s Surrey mansion.  Just hanging out with Jerry Hall, Kate Moss, and Kristi Stubbs.  Read all about his English summer in the new DHome.

Re: John Robshaw

I saw him first, Christine. His fabrics are represented at Allan Knight, and I went to a presentation. I just don’t remember him looking like that, because if he did, I would have taken him instead of the two etchings he gave me. Either my face memory is totally shot, or they have glamour shots in India. I’m so excited that his bed linens are finally going to be here in Dallas at The Gypsy Wagon on Bonita.