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| Around The House The Great Outdoors Out & About |
Best of Everything 2005
Okay we admit it, this best-of-everything feature is the best gig in town. Our job? To continually look for the best furniture and accessories, scouring trade shows, showrooms, flea markets, and antiques malls. At the start of each year, we meet at our offices and pore over our findings. Wine and coffee are consumed. Arguments ensue. Finally, we end up with a list of the most remarkable people, places, and things in Dallas. Hey, somebody had to do it. Just think of us as your own personal shoppers.
AROUND THE HOUSE
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BEST NEW LOCAL JUNIOR LEAGUE COOKBOOK >>
Plano Junior League
5805 Coit Rd., Ste 301. 972-769-0557.
A group of women committed to serving and improving its community has created a cookbook that embodies the heart and soul of Plano. Lone Star to Five Star, is a cookbook that everyone, from novice to home chef, will enjoy. The design is refreshing with plenty of white space and room for recipes – unlike grandma’s, which can be hard on the eyes – and the images by local photographer Colleen Duffley are superlative. Thoughtfully organized and well-planned, categories include the usual – appetizers, sides, entrees, etc. – an easy-to-use index, and an entertaining section complete with menus, photographs, and presentation ideas. Throughout the book you’ll find quick fixes, party ideas, and a little bit of history. Come and get it.
BEST FAMILY COOKING LESSON
Catered 2 You
5617 Swiss Ave. 214-828-0032. www.catered2youinc.com.
If cooking lessons at retail spaces don’t inspire you, maybe doing so in the Swiss Avenue home of Michelle Baus will. “The original idea was to get kids in the kitchen so they would sit down with their families and could make themselves something instead of grabbing the processed food,” she says. Baus has expanded to offer classes for couples, groups of friends, or strangers with a common interest in sushi, fish, or vegetable stock. Your culinary wish is her teaching desire. Classes are $35 per child ($30 a day for summer camps) and $40-$65 per adult.
BEST GAME TABLES
Outdoor Crafters
4804 Mesquite St. Flower Mound. 972-724-1791. www.outdoorcrafters.com.
If you’ve been searching for the ultimate poker table or a mother-of-pearl handled cue stick, look no further. With more than 15 years of experience and 15,000 customers worldwide, Outdoor Crafters offers top-of-the-line gaming tables, cue sticks, balls, and instructional materials for all levels. Better yet, this Flower Mound-based business is run completely on the Internet. Their unique customer service includes responses to more than 300 e-mails a day, as well as detailed telephone consultations when needed. When getting in the game is made this easy, what are you waiting for?
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BEST BUTTON & BOWS >>
Benno’s Buttons & Trimmings
5611 W. Lovers Ln. 214-352-0534.
Mr. Benno opened his button business in a downtown location 60 years ago when Dallas’ garment industry was clustered in the West End. Today the current owner, Jerry Dawson, carries all kinds of couture buttons – bone, wood, leather, ceramic, coconut, rhinestone, mother-of-pearl, and sterling silver. Buttons for pillows or sheet covers? They’ve got ’em. Novelty buttons with incised elephants or Disney figures? They’re here. You’ll find an expansive collection of buttons that add dimension to draperies. Also available: a selection of trims, from rick-rack to beaded fringe, and an assortment of French ribbons. They dye to match and replace missing buttons, and if you want to smarten up your dress or jacket, they’ll sew new buttons on it for you.
BEST TOOL KIT FOR WOMEN
Barbara K! Tool Kit
Frustration at not having the right tools drove former construction worker Barbara K to invent her own. These stylish, ergonomically correct and beautifully designed tools are made for women. The kit contains 30 pieces including hammer, screwdriver, pliers, level, putty knife, wrench, measuring tape, and guide to home repair – all the “essentials for basic home-enhancement projects.” Barbara K. also offers lightweight power tools for those whose own elbow grease just doesn’t to cut it. Her aim: “inspire women to become more self-reliant and confident in their own.” Available at Bed, Bath & Beyond, Dillard’s, and Target.
BEST HEALTHFUL PAINT
Harmony Paint from Sherwin Williams
3412 Oak Lawn. 214-526-3858.
It has always been tough, if not impossible, to find a paint that looks good but isn’t bad for your health or the environment. Sherwin Williams has come out with Harmony – a complete range of interior coatings that are eco-friendly. These paints have no discernible odor, no VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and may be mixed to match any color.
BEST HOME HYPNOTIST
Shawn Mash
Professional Dynamics
5949 Sherry Lane. 214-692-8772.
According to Shawn Mash, the basic root of most problems is a lack of control. For instance, the inability to control clutter in one’s house, being powerless to face one’s fear of the dark, or angst at being home alone. What about anxiety around spiders or nasty looking bugs? It’s all in your mind. Shawn Nash, nationally acclaimed hypnotist, will quickly and permanently neutralize these limiting, household habits and fears. With a few office sessions and home practice tapes, Shawn Mash will help you conquer daunting lifestyle changes, and scare away all the boogey men under your bed.
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BEST ARCHITECTURAL STONE CARVING >>
Harold F. Clayton Carvings
1640 S. Fitzhugh. 214-824-7625.
This artisan’s most visible work is a herd of carved cows picturesquely grazing in Las Colinas. Less visible but equally beautiful are the many custom fireplaces Harold F. Clayton has carved for homeowners throughout North Dallas. Anyone with aspirations of owning a unique and arresting stone mantel and fireplace facade has Clayton’s name in their resource book. Starting as a sculptor 30 years ago, he currently focuses most of his artistic skill on creating beautiful, limestone surroundings for indoor and outdoor fireplaces. From animal motifs to distinctive patterns, each design is created to suit the individuality of the homeowner.
BEST MOVE-IN SERVICE
Silver Linings, Inc.
1080 Dragon St. 214-752-7044. www.silverliningsinc.com
Give these guys two or three days and they will functionally set up and accessorize a new home, from top to bottom. The moment your movers deliver the boxes Silver Lining begins to organize the kitchen pantry and drawers, hang art, set up electronic equipment, position rugs and furniture, set clocks, and arrange your closets. These professionals will even make a trip to Home Depot or The Container Store to find exactly what you need. With Silver Linings, you don’t have to be royalty to hire a service befitting kings and queens.
BEST ROOF REPAIR
Latham Roofing
3140 Lovers Ln. 214-340-3500.
For 31 years, Ron Latham and his team have literally run to meet the needs of desperate homeowners with leaky roofs. They never miss a phone call and are the first ones at the job when timing is critical. Prompt, personal service and competitive pricing keep this business afloat during the rainy season.
BEST RESCUE FOR POOLS AND TILE WORK
Waterline Tile & Brick, Inc.
7715 Indian Springs Rd. 972-407-9976.
It’s 100 degrees and your pool/patio builder accidentally severed the power lines buried in your backyard. Not a problem if you are working with Jon Harrison, owner of Waterline Tile. He’s at every job, every day, and personally handles any and all glitches. For 23 years this company has built and remodeled high-end custom pools, water features, and fountains, not to mention accompanying outdoor fireplaces, cooking islands, and grills.
BEST FIRST CLASS GLASS ACT
Mike’s Magic Mirror Co.
15625 Overmead Cr. 972-250-1234.
For more than 20 years Mike Reisman has worked with glass as a solo craftsman and designer, glazing everything from glass table tops to walls of custom-fit mirror, windows, shelves and the best shower doors in town. “No metal edges” is his mantra – only half-inch thick glass will do on his solid shower enclosures. A master of beveling, he has gained the endorsement (and steady business) of the city’s top high-end builders.
BEST WASTE NOT WANT NOT
Pooper Scoopers of Greater Dallas
214-827-4900
Veronica and Peter Fuentes of Dallas own this 15-year-old poop-scooping franchise, cleaning up after pets in more than 70 homes across the Dallas area. Pooper Scoopers picks up where Rover left off. The Fuentes try to recycle the scat as fertilizer – it’s rich in nitrogen. Various options available: $24, $48, or $64 per month, service Tuesday through Friday. Talk about clever entre-manures.
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BEST ECO-FRIENDLY FURNISHINGS >>
Anna Sova
126 Glass St. 214-742-7682. www.annasova.com
Promising pure, organic, toxin-free products for the home, Anna Sova is a haven for healthy environmentalists who value luxurious bedding, draperies, towels, hardware, and wall finishes. Each resource is rigorously reviewed for fair trade policy. Rest assured, although the company may be dedicated to eco-friendly policy, they haven’t scrimped on 350-count cotton sheets, fine Irish linens, and silk, satin Jacquard fabrics. If the look and feel of synthetic fibers or poly-cotton turns you on, this is not the store for you. For the rest of us, Anna Sova is a little bit of eco-friendly heaven.
BEST ROOM SERVICE TO GO
Room Service Home
www.roomservicehome.com.
Who doesn’t love Room Service? Last spring, Ann Fox of the charming Lovers Lane store launched a national catalog, bringing ruffled linens, floral porcelain, cute lamps, and white-washed furniture to the whole world. Oprah’s home decorator used Room Service’s home office selections for a segment earlier this year.
BEST CRITTER RIDDER
Critter Catchers
6758 Wills Pl. Fort Worth. 817-261-4400.
Owner Lon Menefee’s has trapped snakes, squirrels, bobcats, skunks, armadillos, and beavers, and he’s delivered them all back into the wild. Squirrels are overpopulated, mean, and destructive. They chew through wires and Menefee’s seen the result: homes burned to the ground. The company is licensed, bonded, insured, and recognized in the National Registry of Who’s Who for Wildlife Management Service.
BEST DEEP FRIEZE FOR A PARTY
Robert Bifulco’s Vanishing Sculpture
4008 Commerce St., Ste. 321. 214-824-5020
Fabuloso chef and ice sculptor Robert Bifulco has been at it for 20 years. Picture a breakfast ice luge where fruit juices are dispensed from ice sculptures. Imagine a wedding reception where bartenders channel flavored vodkas through an ice carving to make customized martinis.
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CHEF’S BEST BETS
Kitchen Tools Local Chefs Can’t Live Without
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1 Jonathan Calabrese of Savory didn’t hesitate when we asked his knife of choice. His reply? Standard chef’s knives from Global, of course. Available at Williams-Sonoma (price varies by size), 51 Highland Park Village. 214- 219-1753; 327 NorthPark Center. 214-378-6216. >>
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<< 2 Chef extraordinaire Kelly Hightower of Hattie’s American Bistro would be lost without his old-faithful hand blender, which he uses for soups, sauces, and more. One to try: Bamix Immersion Blender. Available at Sur La Table ($124.95), 4527 Travis St., Ste. A. 214-219-4404.
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3 Although Local’s busy chef Tracy Miller doesn’t have time to practice her master culinary skills at home, she can’t live without her Krups coffee pot and daily cup of Le Creme Coffee. Krups Coffee Pot, FME2 Series available at Linens n’ Things ($79.99), 13710 Dallas Pkwy. 972-385-3518. Le Creme Coffee available at Nodding Dog Coffee Company ($10.95/lb.), 500 North Bishop Ave. 214-941-1166. >>
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<< 4 Creating a quality cuisine doesn’t always have to be a fancy affair. Iris’s chef Russell Hodges loves to fill his inexpensive, grocery store salt grinder with juniper berries, peppercorns, and pickling spices when cooking up his favorite dishes. Available at Super Target ($9.99), 6419 Skillman St. 214-348-0240.
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| Around The House The Great Outdoors Out & About |
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
BEST EXCLAMATION POINT FOR YOUR YARD
Fannin Tree Farms
15700 Hwy. 121. Frisco. 972-747-9233.
A specimen tree doesn’t necessarily mean it’s expensive or exotic or flowering. Rather, it’s a fine-quality tree that serves as the focal point to your garden. “Typically, it has a good trunk, good growth, good structure, and a solid canopy,” according to Garrett Prechtl of Fannin’s Tree Farms. The company, founded in 1975, has the largest tree inventory in the area – from 3-inchers all the way up to the gargantuan trees seen in the wild. They grow everything themselves on thousands of acres of tree farms from Stephenville to Two Creeks, and whatever they plant is guaranteed for a year. Live oaks remain popular, but October Glory, a maple whose leaves change from dark green to crimson red, is catching on. “When the sun hits it right, it looks like it’s on fire,” Garrett says. All Fannin trees are B&B (balled and burlapped), and prices include delivery and installation.
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BEST OLIVE TREES >>
Redenta’s Garden
Stores in East Dallas, Colleyville, Arlington, and Cedar Hill. http://www.redentas.com/
Surprise: Olive trees grow in Dallas. Ruth Kinler, owner of Redenta’s Garden, has proof sitting in her herb garden. The trees come from California and are sold in five-gallon pots. Kinler has kept her 3-year-old olive tree in a pot for fear of the cold but plans to send it out on its own into local dirt when it outgrows this one. A few olives have bloomed on her tree, but the birds were faster than Kinler was. Olive trees are available year round and cost about $18.
MATCH POINT
Master Systems
972-620-9540.
Former Northwood Club tennis pro Bob Mooty – he coached Bill Scanlon and Jeff Turpin – is a master at engineering courts that are so level and smooth your backhand will score. Mooty resurfaces the tennis courts for many local high and builds courts for well-heeled corporate and private clients. He’s also installed a collapsible baseball batting cage, basketball courts ($25,000), and the latest backyard must-have, an in-line skate-friendly hockey court ($125,000). New tennis courts run about $45,000; resurfacing about $3,000, depending on condition.
BELLA BOCCE BALL COURT DESIGN
Lambert Landscape Company
6333 Denton Dr. 214-350-8350.
Unlike tennis, bocce ball does not require one to be in shape. This Italian game, cousin of Boule and similar to lawn bowling, has a regulation size court of 70 feet long by 15 feet wide, so it is a perfect outdoor pursuit if you don’t have the room for a tennis court. Lambert’s has installed the best bocce ball courts in town, and they’re perfectly flat and made of either clay or sand. Bocce is a simple game, but the courts are pricey. Prices run from $15,000 to $50,000.
BEST LANDSCAPE PUT TO MUSIC
Gardens of Rod Russell-Ides
214-454-8615. www.gardensrod.com.
Rod Russell-Ides left his career as a musician when he lost his hearing, turning instead to the music of gardening. There is no disconnect there. He envisions your garden as a piece of music and can play it on the piano for you when he’s done with the design. These days, his hearing restored, Russell-Ides is designing the corner lot for Ruibal’s Plants of Texas at the Farmers’ Market, landscaping a home across from the Dallas Arboretum, and recording an album in collaboration with Edie Brickell.
BEST BACKYARD PLAYHOUSES
Princess Playhouses
235 Holder Tr. McKinney. 1-972-547-4434.
Playhouses make a great birthday or holiday surprise. Princess Playhouse of McKinney, owned by Chase Finch, a draftsman with Allen-based Corwin Engineering, produces one to three playhouses per month in its home-based shop. The most popular playhouse? A 6-by-7 foot traditional design, running $875 plus tax and delivery. For tree lovers, the playhouse can easily be converted to a tree fort…for the right price.
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BEST ENGLISH GARDEN EXPERIENCE >>
The CuriousTraveler, Inc.
214-559-0448.
Andrea Rucker takes small groups of garden enthusiasts to England, Scotland, and Wales to enjoy gardens in her native land. Rucker, who grew up in England, is a Master Gardener with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. She shares her knowledge and love of gardens in local lectures at the Dallas Arboretum and Nicholson-Hardie, waxing eloquent on twentieth-century British horticulturalists such as Gertrude Jekyll, Vita Sackville-West, and Penelope Hobhouse. “My first garden was prepared as I wrote my name with a packet of nicotiana seeds and waited for them to flower,” says Rucker. Gardening was an event for the entire family.”Mother wielded her clippers and advised us to prune with a hard heart and sharp sheers. That works in Dallas too.”
BEST PLACE TO FLY A KITE
Flagpole Hill
8100 Duran Cr. (Northwest Highway and Buckner). 214-670-8740. www.dallascityhall.org.
It’s kite flying season, and those in the know head up to Flagpole Hill for a cloud-nine afternoon. It may look like a small slope of grass to the untrained eye, but locals know it’s the best place to catch some wind. The 94-acre park is easily spotted by the three giant flagpoles at the top.
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BEST PLACE TO PIMP YOUR RIDE >>
JR’s Custom Auto
150 East Hwy 183. Irving. 972-438-4902. www.jrscustomauto.com.
In business for 25 years, their client list looks like a who’s-who of sports celebrities and entertainers. JR’s Custom Auto will lower your car, modify its performance, add audio/visual components or upgrade your interior with a suede headliner and zebrano wood. For a mere $17,000 to $20,000, you can trick out your ride with powder-coated Asanti rims and three-piece, 24-karat gold Asanti wheels, custom-fitted with real alligator or ostrich hide. (Sorry, tires not included.) To fully load your chariot, the sky’s the limit.
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TEA TIME
For a proper brew, loose leaf tea is the only way to go. Here’s the best bets for your particular palate.
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| Counter-clockwise from top: Mariage Frere, T-sac tea filter, Tea column, Tea Forte, and Mesh tea infusers |
Tea questions? Visit The Cultured Cup where either Kyle or Phil will point you in the right direction and serve a cup while you deliberate. They carry a wide variety of tea, including Mariage Frere’s simple yet elegant unbleached muslin bags – best stored in an air-tight tin after opening. And for those who would rather roll their own, the unbleached T-sac tea filter may be the best solution. Pick your tea, pack the pouch, and pour the water. Available at The Cultured Cup. 5346 Belt Line Rd. 972-960-1521.
The tea column is a perforated, foil-lined swizzle-type stick from The Company Of A Philadelphia Gentleman. Packaged for individual use, the tea column keeps tea leaves from becoming stale, guaranteeing a perfect cup every time. Available at For Goodness Sake. 4444 North Park Center. 214-691-9411.
Tea Forte’s delicate, triangular silk cones decorated with a sprig of green are so cleverly designed that even non-tea lovers will want to check them out. For maximum flavor and freshness the cones should be kept in their tin package until use. Available at La Duni, 4264 Oak Lawn Ave. 214-520-6888.
Looking to skip bags all together? Little Dipper mesh tea infusers are available at Central Market. 5750 E. Lovers Ln. 214-234-7000.
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| Around The House The Great Outdoors Out & About |
OUT & ABOUT
BEST MUSEUM IN A LAW OFFICE >>
MADI Museum
3109 Carlisle St. 214-855-7802.
www.madimuseum.org.
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Running across an art museum that’s free to the public and housed in an attorney’s office is so Paris or New York. Well, now it’s so Dallas. Dorothy and Bill Masterson opened the MADI Museum in early 2004, creating a shocking facade to the new Kilgore Law Center where once a drab office stood. MADI art – which started in Argentina in the ’40s and has specific perimeters for its creators – is bold, bright, humorous, and enticing to even the youngest audience. “It’s the thing in itself,” Dorothy Masterson says. “You don’t have to find any hidden meaning.”
BEST DAY TRIP
Granbury, Texas
817-573-1622. www.granburytx.com.
It’s spring. Get on the road. Take the family to see Granbury. The colorful town was settled by the Crocketts (of Davy fame) in the middle of the 19th century on a league of land awarded by the Republic of Texas to the descendants of those who fought in the Texas Revolution. Gone are the gun shops and saloons, the jailhouse and the beef market. But 39 historic buildings remain, many surrounding the Courthouse square. You’ll find a Victorian opera house, more than a dozen antiques stores, and Rinky-Tink’s, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor offering 32 flavors. The square buzzes on weekends with two venues offering live matinees and evening shows, and the 75-mile road trip from Dallas (one way) is well worth it.
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BEST ALL-AROUND THERAPY >>
The Wine Therapist
1810 Skillman St. 214-821-9463. www.thewinetherapist.com.
Phillip Nikpour, founder and wine director of The Wine Therapist believes in therapy of all kinds: massage therapy, music therapy, even wine therapy. His wine shop – not your average retail wine venue – is a taste-before-you-buy shop with original artwork and an ambience for lounging. Guests come to hang out and enjoy chair massages ($1 per minute), Spanish classical guitar, good company, and great wine.
BEST AUTHENTIC GREEN SHOPKEEPERS
Green Living
1904 Abrams Pkwy. 214-821-8844. www.green-living.com.
Could it be that Dallas has finally developed an eco-conscience? The very existence of Green Living may be a sign. Green Living is much more than an earth-friendly retail store, it is a community resource run by owners who literally practice what they preach. In addition to selling fairly traded, environmentally correct products for your home and garden, they recycle community waste and are dedicated to educating the public on environmental issues. This Lakewood Center store offers the newest green cleaning products, paints and stains, household accessories, and an assortment of apparel and household textiles. For those who remember the organic co-ops of the ’70s and ’80s, this will feel like a pleasant trip down memory lane.
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BEST GET-IT-NOW FRUIT DESSERT >>
York Street
6047 Lewis St. 214-826-0968.
Your every bite at York Street will be divine, but the flavors that will stay freshest in your memory are Sharon Hage’s rhubarb and blueberry pies. Regulars of this East Dallas restaurant mark their calendar for the late February arrival of the rhubarb and the late August run of wild Maine blueberries. The rhubarbs and Maine blueberries last only a few weeks, so customers call early in the day to reserve these fleeting desserts.
BEST SAGE WAY TO BUY SPICES
Central Market
5750 E. Lovers Ln. 214.234.7000.
Anyone who cooks knows herbs and spices can elevate a plain dish to heavenly heights. The trick is freshness. Spices lose their punch with time, and some spices – particularly the red, pepper-based ones like cayenne, paprika, or chili powder – lose their bite when exposed to light and heat. (Best to keep them in a cool, dark place or in the refrigerator.) At Central Market’s bulk spice bar, no fewer than 134 herbs and spices (and blends) contained in clear-glass jars are alphabetically arranged on shelves. Customers measure out the amount needed into a little plastic bag, place it on a scale, punch in a code number, and voila! out spits a self-sealing price label. It’s also great if you mix your own spices or want to refill your own spice rack jars. Savings are incredible – as much as one-half to one-tenth of what you’d pay for a prefilled jar.
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BEST CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE MADE IN DALLAS >>
Square One Furniture
4528 McKinney. 214-599-0266. www.squareonefurniture.com.
When Neiman Marcus needed sophisticated, contemporary display furniture that would blend into a variety of departments, including designer boutiques and its bridal salon, the company chose Square One Furniture, owned by local design savants Arthur Johnson and Scott Hill. This beautiful collection of modern furniture seamlessly integrates varying styles and periods. High quality and clean silhouettes are the trademarks of Square One’s tables, beds, case goods, and accessories. The consistent, yet versatile look of this line eases anyone into the world of soft contemporary.
BEST URBAN VINEYARD
Inwood Estates Vineyards
It’s a rare opportunity to try a wine made with grapes grown in an urban setting, but the newest release from Wales Manor and Inwood Estates Vineyards is a Chardonnay blend made with grapes grown in the heart of Dallas. Dan Gatlin planted his first vines on a patch of land off Inwood Road in 1981 and has since experimented with different varietals to identify those best suited to Dallas’ climate. Mosey up to McKinney’s Lone Star Wine Cellars (103 East Virginia St., Ste. 104. 940-637-2612) to sample his blends.
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BEST WORK-OF-ART SALAD >>
Hector’s on Henderson
2929 N. Henderson Ave., 214-821-0432.
Chef Todd Erickson is fresh out of the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and he’s already proving himself with dishes that are as smart looking as they are delicious. His salad is served on a long, narrow dish with a cool, crisp mixed-green salad on one end, pickled woodear mushrooms on the other, and in the middle, warm pistachio-crusted goat cheese. The flavors are great on their own, but the best way to eat it is with little bits of each on your fork at once, says Erickson. The taste is sweet, savory, spicy, and crunchy.
BEST SLEEP MASKS FOR FASHIONISTAS
Maggies Clothing Co.
8312 Preston Ctr. 214-750-1100. www.maggies.com.
Beauty is as beauty does. Cris Notti’s Tahitian Dreams and other sleep mask designs like Palm Beach Green are fashioned for comfort and style. Most are silk covered and cotton padded; others come fur-backed with faux leather banding. Great for long flights, or when that someone beside you reads in bed. Whoever thought a sleep mask could be so chic?
BEST BARGAIN TABLECLOTHS
BBJ Linen
Oak Lawn Design Plaza. 1444 Oak Lawn Ave., Suite 112. 214-651-9020. www.bbjlinen.com.
BBJ, a leading specialty linen rental company offers top quality rentals with a plus: an on-line design center that lets you explore endless possibilities of style, color and texture before you set foot in the store. It has a total fabric spectrum of lamours, bichons, damasks, and brocades in table linens, chair covers, pads, ties, bands, and couture accents. Bargain hunters will love their outlet room, loaded with piles of second or third-quality (and often slightly damaged) linens that you can own for as little as $10 apiece. One editor overlapped two lipstick-red moire cloths to conceal small holes, and strategically placed a centerpiece over a stain for her Valentine’s Supper Club tablescape: eight cream silk napkins and two moire cloths: $28.
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DESIGNERS’ BEST BETS
The year’s most stylish retail finds discovered by local designers
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<< 2 Looking for a large, framed mirror that’s beautiful and affordable? Joyce Fox found a beauty at Home Depot Expo. It was such a good buy that she ended up purchasing three 6-feet-by-3-feet mirrors for a client. The mirrors were hung about 18 inches apart at the end of a hallway to reflect the homeowner’s courtyard. Available at Home Depot Expo ($299), Dallas Galleria. 972-934-2900. Plano 972-633-6500. North Richland Hills. 817-581-2400.
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3 Magie Hollingworth’s papier mache sculptures are a favorite of Dallas designer Laura Lee Clark Falconer. The tall, conical art forms are available for $1,525 and come in a variety of neutral hues. They’re commissioned by Grange Hall/Urban Flower, 4445 Travis St. 214-443-0600. >>
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<< 4 No wonder Rick Rozas loves this chic chair. Hair on hide is tough to get in large pieces and is wildly chic. Starting at $4,000 and available at Smink Inc. 5370 W. Lovers Lane, 214-350-0542.
5 Hygiene doesn’t get any more cultured than this. John Marrs of John Phifer Marrs Interiors turned us on to the Santa Maria Novella line of soaps and fragrances come from a centuries-old tradition at a monastery outside of Florence – that’s right, soap
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made by monks. These pomegranate-based products range from $13.50 to $52 and are available at Nuvo, 3900 Cedar Springs Rd., 214-522-6886. >>
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