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Don’t arrive at this season’s parties empty-handed.
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| LET THEM EAT CAKE: Presentation is everything. Bring dessert to the party and leave the stand as a sweet memento. White cake iced with sugar snowflakes, from Frosted Art Bakery & Studio. 1546 Edison St. 214-760-8707. www.frostedart.com. Tiffany & Co.’s full-lead crystal Windham cake plate. $175. 330 Northpark Ctr. 214-378-9800. Wrapping paper courtesy of Container Store. photography by Tinkerbox Studio |
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| SHOW OFF (above left): Photos become picture perfect with a sterling silver and emerald glass frame by William Yeoward. $125. Madison. 45 Highland Park Vlg. #A. 214-528-8118. www.kkmadison.com. OPPOSITES ATTRACT (above right): Friends are the spice of life. Reward yours with these black horn and mother-of-pearl salt and pepper shakers. $41. St. Michael’s Woman’s Exchange. 5 Highland Park Vlg. 214-521-3862. photography by Chris Plavidal | |
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| SNAKE CHARMERS (above left): These exotic python-print plates show off your salads and desserts. Bonus: They’re dishwasher-safe. Set of 4, $26. West Elm. 5307 E. Mockingbird Ln. 214-821-3999. www.westelm.com. photography by Chris Plavidal RING LEADER (above right): Dress up plain napkins with pretty beaded twists. $36. Home, James! 4514 Travis St. 214-528-0700. photography by Elizabeth Lavin | |
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| SALT OF THE EARTH: Sea urchin-shaped salt cellars by Vintage Furnishings add flavor to the table. $22.50 and $30. At My Table. 6816 Snider Plz. 214-691-6816. photography by Chris Plavidal |
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Museum shops offer unexpected and exhibit-worthy gift ideas.
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| CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. Play in style with this reproduction chess set. $85. Crow Collection of Asian Art. 2010 Flora St. 214-979-6430. www.crowcollection.org. Wrapping paper courtesy of Container Store. photography by Tinkerbox Studios |
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| CARPE DIEM (above left): Seize the day with this gorgeous Mottahedeh porcelain platter, created specifically for the Reves Collection. $495. Dallas Museum of Art. 1717 N. Harwood St. 214-954-0234. www.dm-art.org. WESTERN WARE (above right): Lovely Limoges cowboy hat box. $150. Amon Carter Museum Store. 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. 800-573-1933. photography by Chris Plavidal | |
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| KEEP IT CLEAN: Bust dust in style with this Alessi handheld vacuum cleaner in stainless steel-and-white thermoplastic resin. $139. Modern Art Museum-Fort Worth. 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth. 817-738-9215. photography by Chris Plavidal |
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| BOWLED OVER: Felt bowls fend well alone and paired with another in contrasting color. $39 each. Nasher Sculpture Center. 2001 Flora St. 214-242-5110. www.nashersculpturecenter.org. photography by Chris Plavidal |
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| FRONT RUNNER: Deck your holiday table with this festive Thai silk runner. $78. Crow Collection of Asian Art. 2010 Flora St. 214-979-6430. photography by Chris Plavidal |
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These earth-friendly gifts merge refinement with responsibility.
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| LOG ON: Glam up the fireplace without furthering carbon emissions by burning wood. Selenite (salt) crystal logs make ashes a memory. $140 each. Napa Home. 4012 Oak Lawn Ave. 214-520-4880. Wrapping paper courtesy of Container Store. photography by Tinkerbox Studios |
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| SO FRAICHE AND CLEAN (above left): Johnan Ratliff crafts all-natural soaps from botanical and certified organic ingredients such as coffee beans and chocolate. $12 each. Stanley Korshak. 500 Crescent Ct., Ste. 100. 214-871-3600. CLAY TIME (above right): Italian potter Rina Menardi molds vases by hand—the natural way—in clay. $199. Smink. 5370 W. Lovers Ln., Ste. 314. 214-350-0542. photography by Chris Plavidal | |
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| PRETTY POTPOURRI (above left): Côte Bastide crystal potpourri is made from natural amber sap harvested in Italy and France. $56. Napa Home. 4012 Oak Lawn Ave. 214-520-4880. photography by Elizabeth Lavin QUILT TRIP (above right): Botanical hand-embroidered quilts are woven with organically grown cotton. $199-$299. Pottery Barn. 3212 Knox St. 214-528-3202. www.potterybarn.com. photograph courtesy of Pottery Barn | |
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| KNOCK ON WOOD: Local artist Alex Burton hand-carves bowls from wood scraps that he finds behind Oak Cliff homes. $175. Artisans Collective. 410 N. Bishop Ave. 214-356-0818. photography by Chris Plavidal |
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Feel free to judge these design and architecture books based solely on their amazing covers.
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BOOK KEEPING: (from left) Contemporary, $495. Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St. 214-954-0234. www.dm-art.org. New Outdoor, $30. Nuvo. 3900 Cedar Springs Rd. 214-522-6886. www.nuvodallas.com. Hollywood, $40. Mecox Gardens. 4532 Cole Ave. 214-580-3800. www.mecoxgardens.com. Atomic Ranch, $39.95. Dallas Museum of Art. Axel Vervoordt, $75. Nuvo. Rooms to Inspire, $50. Anthropologie. 100 Highland Park Vlg., No. 105. 214-219-4510. Inspirations, $39.95. Stanley Korshak.500 Crescent Ct., Ste. 100. 214-871-3600. www.stanleykorshak.com. Wolternick, $108. Root Studio. 5450 W. Lovers Ln. 214-350-9535. Furnish, $55. Nasher Sculpture Center. 2001 Flora St. 214-242-5110. www.nashersculpturecenter.org. Wrapping paper courtesy of Container Store. |
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| POP ART: Neiman Marcus continues to surprise us after 100 years as this commemorative pop-up book shows. $100. Neiman Marcus. 1618 Main St. 214-741-6911. photography by Chris Plavidal |
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| SERIAL READER (above left): Build a library on this striking book series from Beta-Plus. $204-$216, each. Root Studios. 5450 Lovers Ln. 214-350-9535. photography by Elizabeth Lavin OUT OF AFRICA (above right): An exotic approach to style, the perfect book for the armchair traveler. $50. Nuvo. 3900 Cedar Springs Rd. 214-522-6886. photography by Chris Plavidal | |
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| STUDY HALL: Learn everything you ever wanted to know about case study houses in this tome replete with architectural blueprints. $200. Nasher Sculpture Center. 2001 Flora St. 214-242-5110. photography by Chris Plavidal |
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While it’s the thought that counts, we can’t ignore good taste. These finds have both history and style. What more do you need?
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| WHITE ELEPHANT: No recipient will want to part with a 19th century blanc de chine elephant incense burner. $1,800 from Joseph Minton Antiques. 1410 Slocum St. 214-744-3111. www.mintonantiques.com. Wrapping paper courtesy of Container Store. photography by Tinkerbox Studios |
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| HOLD YOUR HORSES (above left): And your books with a pair of English brass bookends, circa 1860. $650 for a pair. Canterbury Antiques. 2923-A N. Henderson Ave. 214-821-5265. PITCHER PERFECT (above right): A crystal and silver decanter, circa 1850, makes drinking (more) fun. $500. Country French Interiors. 1428 Slocum St. 214-747-4700. photography by Chris Plavidal | |
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| BOX IT UP (above left): Sometimes the box is better than the gift. Chinese lacquer box with inlaid mother of pearl. $350. Gathering Galleries. 955 Slocum St. 214-741-4888. MAIL ORDER (above right): Love letters and bills make nice in an onyx letter holder with turquoise cloisonné trim. $1,600. Nick Brock Antiques. 2909 N. Henderson Ave. 214-828-0624. photography by Chris Plavidal | |
