Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Hip in Minnesota

Gotta salute SplatGirl on the Modern loft in the cold, cold north. She's got some great IKEA hacks and a nice eye for mixing minimal modern with personalized color.
Makes me wonder how many geographical modern sites there are now....gotta search one day, or post one you know of in my comments!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Dallas Design(*Sponge) Guide


Featured yesterday on Design*Sponge, the design guide is a pretty comprehensive categorized directory of hot spots for fashionable living in the Big D. A few of my favorite haunts made the list, a few not. Look here for some of the places I've featured over the past year.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Photo display designs




Looking for more than just magnets on the fridge or paper slips around the computer monitor? What about another way to display Christmas cards?


Magnetic Photo Rope ($12) holds eight photos or notes.


Umbra FotoFalls ($20)



Trapeze 6 photo array ($58)


Posey desktop frame ($10.50)

Friday, November 09, 2007

Hand-made local holidays

If you like finding original, well-wrought crafts, you might have already enjoyed one of the Make Urban Bazaars at the Dallas Farmers' Market (the next one is coming up Dec 1st). Now there's another group ijn the niche: Etsy Dallas. And while you might be accustomed to ordering crafts online through Etsy, you'll have a chance to check things out in person at their TRUNK SHOW!

ETSY DALLAS TRUNK SHOW: The event takes place in the old Sears building (now Southside on Lamar) with the chance to shop for hip crafts and handmade goodies. Make it a handmade holiday!
When: Saturday, December 8th
Time: 11am-3pm
Where: Southside on Lamar's main lobby - Here's a map.
Who: Tefi Designs, Atom-In, One Up Designs, PamelaMichelle, B-Licious, Lady of Luxury, Une Promesse, ebraunnagel, Mary's Madness

URBAN BAZAAR/SPREE SHOWCASE/DECK THE HALLS: The event takes place at The Apartment, the Dallas Market Hall, and the Sons of Hermann Hall and will feature the wares of your favorite independent designers while serving complimentary drinks, spa treatments, and showering giveaways.

When: Thursday November 29-Sunday December 2
Time: 11am-3pm
Where: around Dallas, $9 for all three events
More Info: The Indie Experience

Oak Cliff Artisans


The Oak Cliff Artisans' fall arts fair is next weekend, November 17th & 18th at Kidd Springs park. Exhibiting artists selling works will include:

Larry Pile - Stained Glass
Carl Spoto - Pottery
Abby Wood - Mixed Media
Carla-Marie Weir - Jewelry
Tefi Designs - Jewelry
George Cole - Clay & Metal
Maja McFaul - Jewelry
Ben James - Sculpture
Reid Barnhart - Wearable Art
Patricia Dillingham - Photography
Rachel Hoehn - Pottery
Stewpot Homeless Shelter

Modern Homes on Tour

This weekend is the first annual AIA modern home tour. Eight single and multi-family residences throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area designed by Texas architects are featured. Two homes in Urban Reserve along with several infill homes in established Dallas neighborhoods make the list, and all of them have their own modern take on inhabiting an urban environment. Architecture firms represented include Mitchell Garman, Morrison Seifert Murphy, Oglesby Greene, Zero3, dsgn, Clifford Welch, Buchanan Architecture, and Cunningham Architects.


Tickets are $25. The tour runs from 10am to 5pm Saturday November 10th and Sunday November 11th. 200 lucky-ducks will attend the premier party scheduled for tonight ($75, by invitation only). Contact jlorenz@aiaddallas.org or call 214-742-3242.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Nest

Congratulations to Heather Wiese-Alexander on getting a little NY Times attention. The proprietor of Nest, the home accent store in Snider Plaza, was interviewed on the hottest bets and worst bombs in recent modern design:
“People here do not have the trend-set mentality they might have in New York or Miami,” said Ms. Wiese-Alexander, a former art director for Neiman Marcus. “They latch onto trends after they’ve already been shown in all the magazines.” But she chose a neighborhood populated by what she calls the “height of Dallas society,” and filled her shop with clean-lined furniture and accessories that fit in both modern and traditional interiors.

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Candlelight on Henderson

To cap off the election day ruckus, there's a chance to mingle and enjoy the civility of the cultural arts with a stroll through several art establishments off Henderson Ave, featuring beverages, snacks and some special deals. The 16th annual "Candlelight Walk on Henderson" is Tuesday, November 6, 2007, from 5 to 9 p.m. It's an enchanting evening in which to delight in food, drink and holiday fare

Participating stops include:
Again & Again Consignment Furniture ~ 5207 Bonita Ave. at Henderson ~ 214-826-6666
Another Place & Time ~ 2815 N. Henderson Ave. ~ 214-824-1875
ART is ART ~ 2811 N. Henderson Ave. ~ 214-823-8222
Emeralds to Coconuts ~ 2730 N. Henderson Ave. ~ 214-823-3620
Gypsy Wagon ~ 5211 Bonita Ave. at Henderson ~ 214-293-2361
La Mariposa ~ 2813 N. Henderson Ave. ~ 214-826-0069
Milton Kent
Antiques ~ 2819 N. Henderson Ave. ~ 214-826-7553
Pandemonium Ltd. ~2726 N. Henderson Ave. ~ 214-370-5677

Monday, October 29, 2007

Design District Discounts

My favorite subject: superior mark-downs! Thanks to ShoppingBuzz for the tip!

Sample Sale Items1.JPG
Saturday, Nov. 3, renowned designer showrooms Allan Knight, Adele Kerr, Bausman, Carlin & Co., Heaven-n-Earth, Nova Collection, RMA and Tufenkian will be open from 10:00am-4:00pm with drastically reduced merchandise including furniture, unique accessories, fixtures, rugs, and Holiday items such as stockings, tree skirts and ornaments.

Head on over to 150 Turtle Creek Boulevard, west of Stemmons at Irving Boulevard. Additionally, Margaux’s Restaurant will be open for lunch11:30am-2:30pm.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Lighting to Love

This LED Bench (2002) by Ingo Maurer is installed in the first room of the Cooper Hewitt's exhibition, "Provoking Magic", featuring the esteemed lighting designer and artist. According to one site's (punctuationally-challenged) description, "this limited production table is a grand masterpiece by maurer. each bench is personally signed by ingo maurer. an extravagant table made of glass, 288 white internal leds that emit light on both sides. power conversion is provided by an external transformer. life span of the leds is an average of 100,000 hours (according to the manufacturer's specification)." All I can say is that the cool internal glow emanating from the glass is something fabulous, and it was a difficult piece to walk away from. The price for the privilege of unlimited seating time: approximately $24k. The rest of the exhibit (the whole second floor of the old Carnegie mansion on the Upper East Side) features installations like LED-equipped wedding costumes, maquettes for well-known designs, and some familiar works, like Lucellino lamps and MaMo Nouchies.

Monday, October 08, 2007

Oak Cliff Artists

There's a whole lot of art going in independent art: the fledgling La Reunion artists' collective, the reopening of the Texas Theater, and the renkindled Arts Conspiracy. Cliff Dweller magazine features artists working in Oak Cliff in this week's edition. There's always someone or something new to discover with the Dallas Arts Revue calendar. I can't say how many times I've been pleasantly surprised with a new find.

A good place to start exploring is the Artisan's Collective, which has recently moved around the block from Davis to Bishop Arts. The first Thursday of each month, galleries and stores stay open until 10pm, so it's a nice time to sip and stroll.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Architecturally Nosy

Sure, admit it. You like snooping around homes to see those little design details, whether it's at someone's party, an organized tour, an online real estate query, or an open house. You're nosy because you care about execution of design. Preservation Dallas's fall home tour is just a few weekends away, and this weekend it's mid-century modern and beyond on the Oak Cliff home tour. If the weather, football, the Fair, or work keeps you away from the Oak Cliff event this weekend, consider some couch-touring instead. This site pleasantly curates some of the signature gem homes in Dallas, from Tudor to post-modern. While we all know some of the homes on this list, it also includes some off the beaten track.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Upcoming: Slocum Street

The SLOCUM STREET ANTIQUES AND DESIGN ASSOCIATION and D Home kick-off the 9th annual October Slocum Street Night Walk on Thursday October 4th, beginning at 6pm.

Free to the public, more than 30 showrooms open their doors to share beautiful treasures and indulge guests with food, spirits and live music. Silent auctions at various showrooms and a vacation giveaway all benefit the Dallas County Medical Society Alliance Foundation philanthropies.

Valet parking is available at the entrance to Slocum Street at Hi Line Drive. Guests stroll up and down Slocum Street, which will be closed to vehicle traffic for the evening. Trolley service is also available.

Last year's event was a fabulous time. More details at D Home.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Green gets easier

At the UN's world conference on climate change today, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon proclaimed, "“Inaction now will prove the costliest action of all in the long term.” (More details)

In honor of the international gathering to raise awareness of the global responsibility for our changing world, here's a review of some energy-conscious home innovations:

Integrate solar panel roofing tiles (Sharp Electronics)Evaluate your personal consumption impact from living. working and traveling with this tool that surveys your energy uses and patterns of carbon offsetting and use of renewable energy sources. If you're inspired, make some changes around the home (like compact fluorescent bulbs, Energy Star compliant appliances, or low flow showerheads and toilets.

Acquaint yourself with innovations that seek to improve the global standard of living. New designs from housing, to education, agriculture and health were exhibited recently in New York, and they are featured in this curated site.

Explore decreasing personal consumption. Start examining all those shopping impulses and the marketing machine that bombards us all daily a little more closely. If you can't avoiding getting something new, consider reuse avenues like Craigslist, eBay, or Freecycle, or recycle a favorite but aged possession into a new form (some examples: jeans purse, plastic bag yarn, fused plastic bags, pet blankets, reuse coffee grounds, CD flower pot, pastry bag, kiddie desks, storage boxes).

Educate yourself on the climate crisis and become more informed about how we all impact.

Friday, September 07, 2007

Urban Arts Festival

This weekend (tonight and tomorrow) South Side on Lamar hosts the second annual Urban Arts Festival, featuring artists, musicians, and fun for all. It's a great opportunity to explore this developing sector of town and grassroots creative artists in Dallas.

Tonight is Art Love Magic, a Live Art Experience from 8:00 pm – Midnight in the Janette Kennedy Gallery/Artist Quarter. For $7 admission, you can enjoy simultaneous events as paintings, jewelry and ceramics come to life. Live music and poetry will be featured all night long.

Tomorrow from 10am to 8pm you can partake in a melange of arts and musical performances along with Make It Yourself stations sponsored by the Dallas Museum of Art. The evening is capped off with performances at Opening Bell and Poor David's.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Modern at the Mosaic

Modern Evening at the Mosaic, Thursday, Sept 13 6-8pm

Join the Preservation Dallas Modern Committee for Modern Evening at the Mosaic.

Mix and mingle on the private, eighth floor pool deck of this incredible 1952 tower for an ultra urban posh party featuring cocktails and global inspired hors d' ouevres by Chef Blaine Staniford of the Mosaic Building's restaurant Scene.

The former Fidelity Union Tower will have residential units open with interiors designed by Ike Isenhour Inc, Ray + Thornton and Merriman Associates Architects, Inc. Not to mention a very special Modern Lifestyle Silent Auction.

Thursday, September 13th
6 to 8 p.m.

The Mosaic Building
300 North Akard
Complimentary valet parking

Reservations are required!
214-821-3290
sroebuck@preservationdallas.org
$20 members - Preservation Dallas and A.I.A. Dallas
$30 for non-members

Monday, August 27, 2007

Beat the Storage Tub

This TakeOut MDF chest has plastic valise-like drawers, each of which slides out for easy transport. I can see filling each portable briefcase with toys or tools and materials for sewing projects, crafting, or handyman trips around the home. Or else, keep the pre-packed valises seasonally-themed, and grab the appropriate one before jumping on a plane for that last minute getaway.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Kettle Art, Saturday



Kettle Art is featuring the art of Richard Ross (a local self-taught artist with very vibrant two-dimensional works) tomorrow in a special one-night extravaganza.

Kettle Art
Saturday August 25th, 7-10pm
2714 Elm Street
Deep Ellum

Monday, August 06, 2007

Sharp-art


What is it about knives that lend themselves to such beautiful displays? We've blogged about the Saladini knife set before, admired some modern knife blocks (1, 2, 3,4)...



and laughed at the voo-doo knife man and his migraine-tortured kin.

I'm not the only one to be artistically captivated by sharp bladed tools. Anyone see Dead Again?

Monday, July 23, 2007

Urban Reserve Sneak Peeks

Urban Reserve, Diane Cheatham's development of fifty sustainable design, modern single-family residences is located on a 13-acre plot off Forest Lane and Central Expressway (map). The project has been in the works for over two years, and the first residence, at 51 Vanguard Way designed by Lionel Morrison, was recently completed. Other designs are in varying stages of the process; all are dramatic and definitively modern.
Nods to ecological sensitivity include narrower streets (less asphalt allowing water run-off), and design criteria including goal home energy efficiency 20% above market average, native and drought-tolerant adaptive plantings, and rainwater irrigation schemes.
Homes are priced between $400K and over $2M. Completion of the entire development is anticipated in 2009. A full news story appeared earlier this month in the Dallas Morning News.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Mod Offerings

Century Modern in Deep Ellum is featuring a 15% off sale. Lula B's has a few good mod pieces in stock, and several other posters are offering tasty modern treats:

Recent reproduction Eames lounger and ottoman, $750
1970s vintage velvet sofa, $700
Vintage vinyl swivel chair, $60

Monday, July 16, 2007

Interactive Occasional Furniture

Part art installation, part children's science museum exhibit (remember the Van de Graaff static electricity inducing spheres?), the interactive Ripple LED table senses movements over its surface and the light patterns change accordingly. The table cames in a selection of sizes and lighting colors. The sleek curves of the table make it a nice piece even when it's not illuminated.

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Top Modern Skylines

Dallas comes in at #18 on this list, which is led off with Hong Kong, Chicago, Shanghai, New York, and Tokyo. Given credit for having seven buildings towering over 200 meters, along with the 186-meter Reunion Tower and its distinctive green-tinged night appearance, Dallas is picked as a shining beacon of the western prairies. I've always been partial to a good skyline, and the other city views are real lookers too.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Another Discount Style Opportunity

This Thursday (if you're Trade) and Friday and Saturday (if you're not), the Design Center merchants are featuring a sale of fabulous proportions. Personal favorites Scott + Cooner and Ligne Roset will be represented, and the promise of some prices below cost is too much to resist. Just don't beat me to it!

Another thanks to D Home's Blog for the tip. Just hoping those Traders don't get all the goodies.

Smink Floor Samples

The fabulous modern furnishings store in Inwood Village is featuring the lowest prices of the year in order to move out stale sofas and make room for all the new Market finds. While prices still run close to a month's salary (for those who have to work), the quality and durability make up for it. While the sale began June 8th, some pieces are still out for the selling. Manufacturers include Minotti, Knoll and Living Divani.
Thanks to D Home's Blog for the tip.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

"Can't Resist" Power Gizmos


Good modern design isn't just about furnishings and art. Sometimes you come across some small gadget that's so perfect that it makes you smile. The Socket Pocket ($15 at Get Organized) fits the bill. Combining a holster for your favorite portable electronic device with an outlet faceplate to help control clutter, this is one sleek plastic solution to tangled charger wires. Belkin has a low profile surge protector strip ($45)


For on-the-go power for all those components, it's time to go solar. Several models of portable solar charging panels are now available. (Some examples are here, here, and here).