Last month, D Magazine released the 2023 Best of Big D list—our picks for the best DJs, restaurants, tanning spots, and more around town. But what about the best vintage furniture? Or the best spot to find Palm Beach-inspired home decor? D Home has put together its own list of superlatives. Some names might seem familiar; some might surprise you. But the winners of Dallas’ top shopping, culture, services, and food are creators and curators in their own right—and these awards represent just a taste of what they have to offer.
Shopping
Best Local Round Top Dealer
East End Salvage
Tired of making the twice-yearly sojourn to Round Top? Skip the trip and score antique and vintage finds (some of the best of the market, in our opinion) at East End Salvage’s McKinney warehouse, open by appointment. Owners Kaci and Robert Lyford, formerly of beloved shop Patina Green, have an innate eye for beauty. 705 Greenville Rd., McKinney
Best Place for a Dose of Palm Beach Style
Dunbar Road
Interior design clients love Carla Fonts, founder of interior design firm Dunbar Road, for her Palm Beach aesthetic, honed after her family immigrated from their native Cuba to the South Florida city. Her retail shop—open since last September—is filled with new and vintage curiosities, furniture, and luxe wares, all of the same bright and bold variety. 5021 W Lovers Ln. 214-281-5272.
Best Olfactory Experience
The Conservatory
Treat yourself to a sensory experience like no other at The Conservatory, with their vast range of home and body fragrances. The experts here will help sniff out the perfect candle, incense, or room spray for your space, while the well-known nose of Shasa Mitcham can source a signature personal scent from their array of perfumes and colognes. 4 Highland Park Village. 972-629-9919.
Best Place to Stock Your Bar Cart
Blue Print
Since expanding to offer tabletop pieces in 2021, the team at Blue Print has earned a reputation as the masters of entertaining outfitting. But their expertise goes far beyond napkin rings and fine china. The Uptown shop’s selection of barware is top notch, ranging from napkins and bar sets to funky bottle stoppers and matching olive picks. They offer registry, too. 2707 Fairmount St. 214-954-9511.
Best Wallpaper
Ever Atelier
Founded by friends and creatives Ashley Leftwich and Sarah English, this locally based wallcovering studio specializes in transforming ordinary walls into captivating works of art with edgy and eye-catching murals and wallpapers. Best of all, since they design and manufacture everything in house, they can customize existing prints or collaborate to bring fresh ideas to life. everatelier.com
Best Place to De-stress
Go Easy Shop
A go-to destination for discerning CBD enthusiasts since 2020, this Oak Cliff shop offers a wide range of products—including pastel pre-rolls and infused edibles—with a feminine bent. Owner Molly Mathias is a proponent of education, catering to all experience levels, and emphasizes quality to ensure customers can relax and unwind without any unwanted side effects. 250 N Bishop Ave., Ste. 150. 214-814-2242.
Best IG and IRL Vintage Seller
Cycle Etc. Vintage
Instagram sellers are a dime a dozen. But whereas most specialize in one arena, Kaleigh Bergstrom sources everything from clothes to furniture and home accessories. Bonus: You can shop many of her finds in person at one of several local partner shops, including vintage duds at Hey Koneko and throwback glassware sets at Bar & Garden.
Best High-End Furniture Consignment
Vinyā
After 16 years, this Design District consignment shop—run by interior designer Debra Owens and her daughter, Tristan Owens—is still our favorite place to take much loved pieces for which we no longer have a place. If you’re in the market, source high-end, pre-owned treasures from names like Vladimir Kagan, Knoll, Christian Liaigre, and more. 1313 Slocum St., Ste. 105. 214-443-0303.
Best Fireplace Screens
Claire Crowe Collection
The artist behind the butterfly fireplace screens that were omnipresent in Dallas a decade ago is still crafting beautiful, functional art pieces from her Design District studio. Her nature-inspired designs—think dragonflies, gingko leaves, and flowers—feel light and lovely permanently captured in iron, whether displayed on a mirror, in an art piece, or, yes, as a fireplace screen. 2242 Monitor St., Ste. 100. 214-226-6025.
Culture
Best Place to Make Wearable Art
Dallas Silk Art
Grab your painter’s cap, head to The Colony’s Grandscape development, and follow along as the water-marbling experts here lead you through the process of creating your own piece of wearable art—whether that be a scarf, pair of shoes, or a hat—using diluted acrylic paints suspended in water to dye your medium of choice. It’s meditative and mesmerizing, and the results are always beautiful. 5768 Grandscape Blvd., Ste. 195, The Colony. 972-410-0382.
Best Design Inspiration Instagram
Harris Vintage
If you’re worried your home is bordering on (gasp!) boring, a quick perusal of multidisciplinary creative Kaitlyn Coffee’s Instagram is just the RX you need. Comprising vignettes from her eclectic Lake Highlands home as well as interiors around the world that inspire her, her feed is packed with enough color, personality, and inventiveness to make you banish beige for good.
Services
Best Way to Create Ambience
Strike by Chad Dorsey
Much is made of mantel styling in the world of home decor. But Dallas interior designer Chad Dorsey’s collection of fireplace surrounds—available in seven designs and more than a dozen materials—are so stunning on their own, they require no ornamentation. Simply strike a match and enjoy.
Best Gardening Classes
Dallas Garden School
Born without a green thumb? The Dallas Garden School’s Callie Works-Leary, a Texas Master Gardener (and regular contributor to D Home), shares her knowledge through a range of virtual classes. Topics include how to attract pollinators to your plot and which specialty flowers to plant where.
Best Prefab Pool
Plungie Pools
The Texas summer heat waits for no man—or contractor. Plungie’s compact, cost-effective, prefabricated swimming pools offer relief from triple-digit temps in a jiffy, with installation taking days instead of months, as with traditional in-ground pools. 4400 State Highway 121, Lewisville. 855-758-6443.
Best Custom Plaster Artisans
Casci Plaster
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful way to make a statement in your home than plaster—or artisans more renowned than those at Casci. For 90 years, their team has practiced the ancient art to perfection, creating custom moldings, ceiling pendants, fireplace surrounds, and more preferred by Dallas’ design elite. 2615 S. Good Latimer Expy. 214-421-3390.
Food
Best Craft Ice
Howard & Sons Ice Company
Experienced entertainers know that just as important as what you pour is what you’re pouring over. Crafted with care, Howard & Sons’ crystal-clear ice cubes melt slowly, ensuring that your drinks stay chilled without diluting the flavors. Party on. 972-514-2340.
Best Custom Cakes
Cade’s Cakes
When it involves Sam Cade, the answer to the question Is It Cake? is always “yes.” The Dallas baker and Netflix star can turn any inspiration object into a confectionary masterpiece. Some of our favorites have taken the shape of cowboy boots and a Whataburger patty melt.
Best Cocktail Mixer
Tepetán Cocktail Mixers
Locally made Tepetán cocktail mixers were born as a solution to the founder’s desire to easily craft a fresh margarita. Offered in four distinct flavors—including our favorite, the cucumber-and-mint “Spa Day”—these premade, clean-ingredient mixers make concocting great-tasting cocktails a breeze.
Best Giftable Food
Everett & Elaine
With roots firmly planted in Texas pecan orchards, Everett & Elaine creates fresh nut-based treats using high-quality ingredients and zero preservatives. Welcome a new neighbor with one of their pies or a dozen cookies, both of which you can score online, at local farmers markets, or from their storefront. Or round out a gift basket with their candied nuts and trail mixes. 8356 Thompson Rd., Northlake. 469-705-4525.
Every Designer, Builder and Architect named to our Best lists is talented and trustworthy.
Best Designers
A Well Dressed Home
Alexis Pearl Design
Alice Cottrell
Interior Design
Allison Seidler Interiors
Amy Gibbs Interiors
Amy’s Interiors
Angeline Guido Design LLC
Anne Williams Design
Avrea and Company
Barbara J. Vessels Interiors, Inc.
Betty Lou Phillips Interiors
Beyond Interior Design
Bobbitt & Company Interior Design
BODRON/FRUIT
Brette Jacques Interiors, Inc.
Burkle Creative
Cadwallader Design
Cameron Drinkwater Interiors
Canon & Dean Design
Carrie Barron Interiors
Carrie Hatfield Interior Design
Cathy Kincaid Interiors
Chad Dorsey Design
Chambers Interiors
& Associates
Charlotte Comer Interiors, Inc.
Chelsea Hargrave Interiors
Cheri Etchelecu Interior Design
Childress Interiors
Collins & Sweezey
Collins Interiors
Cheryl Van Duyne Interior Design
Dallas Design
Group Interiors
Dana Bass Designs
Deborah Walker + Associates
Debra Stewart Interior Design
DeLeo & Fletcher Design
Denise McGaha Interiors
Dona Rosene Interiors
Doniphan Moore Interiors
Dunbar Road Design
EJ Interiors
EJM Interior Design
Emily Summers Design Associates
Erin Sander Design
Fagan White Design
Gallerie Noir
Heidi Arwine Interiors
Hillary Littlejohn Studio Design
Holly Hickey Moore Interior Design
House of Amelia
IBB Design Fine Furnishings
Ike Isenhour Inc
J. Wiley Designs
Jan Jones LLC
Jan Showers & Associates
Janet Gridley
Jean Liu Design, LLC
Jenkins Interiors
Joanie Wyll & Associates Inc.
John Phifer Marrs Interiors
Joseph Minton, Inc.
Joshua Rice Design
Josie McCarthy Associates
Kara Adam Interiors
Kirsten Kelli
Kristen Fegale Interiors
Kristin Mullen Designs
Lark Interiors
Laura Lee Clark Interior
Design, Inc.
Layered Dimensions Interior Design
Linda Fritschy Interior Design
Lindley Arthur Interiors
Lisa Henderson Interiors
Lynn Sears
Interiors Inc.
Maddie Hughes Designs
MADRE Design
Maestri Studio
Mary Anne Smiley Interiors LLC
Mary Beth Wagner Interiors
Meredith Ellis Design
Meredith Steinhart Interior Design
Michelle Nussbaumer
Design
Monica Wilcox Interiors
Morgan Farrow Interiors
Morrissey Home
Neal Stewart Design Assoc. Inc
Noel Pittman Design
Pam Kelley Design
Pamela Fitch Design
Paul Draper Design
Paul Duesing Partners
Peters Cates
Design, Inc.
Pickering House Interiors
Pulp Design Studios
R. Brant Design
Richard Gordon Design
Richard Trimble & Assoc., Inc.
Rick Rozas Design
RN Interior
Design, LLC
Robyn Menter Design
Associates, Inc.
Roz Murphy Design
S.B. Long Interiors
Salem & Associates
Samantha Fisher Interiors
Schooler, Kellogg
& Co
Sees Design
Seitz Design LTD
Shannon Bowers Designs
Shelby Wagner Design
Sherry Hayslip Interiors
Smith & Ragsdale Interior Design
Studio Thomas James
Studio White Interiors
SWOON, the Studio
Ten Plus Three
Tiffany McKinzie Interior
Design Inc
Tori Rubinson Interiors
Traci Connell Interiors
Traci White Designs
Tracy Hardenburg Designs
Trish Sheats
Interior Design
Urbanology Designs
Wendy Konradi Interior Design
Williams Design Inc.
Yates Desygn
Best Builders
Ackley Custom Homes
Alair Homes
Alexander Hunt Distinct Homes
Allgood/Pfannenstiel
Atrium Fine Homes
Attaway Homes
Austin Neuhoff Homes
Austin Taylor Group
Avida Custom Homes
Axiom Builders
Bailey Family Builders, Inc.
Barcus Construction
Management, LLC
Barnett West
Custom Homes
Barringer Custom Homes
Barrow Builders Group
Bauhaus Modern Homes
Bean Co Homes
Beechwood Custom Homes
Bella Custom Homes
Biggerstaff Construction
Bob Bobbitt Company Inc
Bob Thompson Homes
Braswell Homes
Brian Michael Distinctive Homes
BufordHawthorne Builders, LP
Calais Custom Homes
Caprock Custom Homes
Charles A. Barnett III, Inc.
cjb HOMES
Classic Urban Homes
Cleve Adamson Custom Homes
Coats Homes
CREATE
Crescent Estates Custom Homes
Cresswell Custom Builders
Crow Bar Constructors Inc.
Custom Homes of Texas
Danes Custom Homes
Dave R. Williams Homes
David Leite Custom Homes
David Lewis Builder
Deering Construction
Desco Fine Homes
Dettaglio LLC
Double Door Custom Homes Inc
Edinburgh Custom Homes
Ellen Grasso & Sons Custom Homes
Ellerman Homes
Endurance Homes
Faulkner Perrin Custom Homes
Ferrier Custom Homes
Gardner Custom Homes
Garvey Homes
George Davis & Associates
George Lewis Custom Homes
Goff Custom Homes
Greenwell Homes
Hardy Construction
Hartman Construction, Inc.
Hawkins-Welwood Homes
Hayes Signature Homes
Haynsworth Custom Homes
Heritage Blue Homes
Herman Darden LLC
Hoffmann Homes
Holmes Builders
Hudson Construction
Isler Homes
J.D. Smith Custom Homes
Jarrett Construction
Jim Johnson Group
Jim Scott and Sons Builders
JLD Custom Homes
Joe Kain Homes Inc.
John Young Construction Co.
Joseph Paul Homes
Key Residential
Kienast Homes
Knox Built Construction
LRO Residential
Luxury Homes Designed and Built by Tony McClung
Malone Custom Builders
Marable Homes
Mark Clifton Homes
Matie Custom Homes
Matt and Paul Home Design and Construction
McCowen-Sainton Homes
McKinley Built Homes
MegaCo Construction
Michael S. Wilson Custom Homes
Milan Custom Build
Millennial Design + Build LLC
Mishler Builders
Montgomery Custom Homes
More Design + Build
Mosaic Building Co.
New Leaf Custom Homes
Nixon Custom Homes
Patten Custom Homes
Pencil Point Construction
Phillip Jennings Custom Homes
Platinum Homes by Mark Molthan
Prospect Custom Homes LLC
Provenance Builders
R.A. Millennium Properties
Randy Clowdus Construction
Range Builds
Reside Builders
RGD+B
Richard Dietrichson Fine Homes
Richard Miller Custom Homes
Richland Builds
Rick Shipley Custom Homes
RJA Construction
Robert Clark and Associates
Robert Elliott Custom Homes
Robert Hopson
Construction Group LLC
Ron Davis Custom Homes
Rosewood Custom Builders
S&H Design Development, LLC
S&R Development
SCH Homes
Sebastian Construction Group
Shaddock Custom
Shaddock Homes
Sharif & Munir Custom Homes, Inc.
Sleepy Hollow Homes
Snelling Homes
Southgate Homes
Stark Homes, LLC
Starr Construction
Starside Custom Builders
Sterling Brook Custom Homes
Steven Hild Custom Builder
Susan Newell Homes
Sustainable Structures of Texas
Tanner Homes
Tatum Brown Custom Homes
Tekton Built
The Hill Group
Thomas Development + Construction
Thomas Signature Homes
Tim Jackson Custom Homes
Todd James Homes
Tommy Ford Construction
V Fine Homes
Ventura Custom Homes
Victor Myers Custom Homes
Waterside Properties
Wes McKenzie Custom Homes, Inc.
Westchester Custom Homes
Zachary Custom Homes
Best Architects
A. Gruppo Architects
A Michael Architecture
ABEYTA • TIBBS ARCHITECTURE LLC
AMDG Studio
Barry Bull Ballas
BERNBAUM/MAGADINI Architects
Blume Architecture
Bob Anderson, Architect
Bodron/Fruit
Bucahanan Architecture
C A Nelson Architecture Group LLC
Clinton & Co
Cunningham Architects
David Benners Architecture
Domiteaux Garza Architecture
Eckxstudio for Modern Architecture
Eskenasy Ferguson Architecture
Far + Dang
Fusch Architects
Harper Design Projects
Howard Glazbrook III Architects
Ibañez Shaw Architecture
Ikemire Architects LLC
Fuqua Architects
Janson Luter Architects
Jerry L Coleman, Designer LLC
Jessica Stewart Lendvay Architects
JRAF Studio
L. Lumpkins Architects
Larry E. Boerder Architects
Laura Juarez Baggett Studio
M Gooden Design
Maestri Studio
Manolo Design Studio
Marc McCollom Architect
Marek Architecture
Max Levy Architect
M-Gray Architecture
Malone Maxwell Dennehy Architects
NeatBuilt
NIMMO Architecture
Official Design
Oglesby Greene Architecture
Richard Drummond Davis
Architect Inc.
Risser Design & Development
Robert Clark & Associates
Rogers-Ford Architecture
and Interior Design
Ron Wommack Architecture
Shipley Architects
SHM Architects
smitharc architecture + interiors
Stephen B. Chambers Architects Inc.
Stephen Zepeda Architecture LLC
StudioEL73
Symmetry Architects
Turner Boaz Architecture
Turney & Associates
VeuxDeux Design
Welch Architecture | Interiors
wernerfield
William S. Briggs Architect
