It’s the Best Designers in Dallas issue–always a favorite. Subscribers should be getting the magazine any day and you can find the magazine on newsstands next week. This year, we asked the winning designers what our readers need to buy now in categories like paint colors, books, surfaces, seating, and fabrics. One of our favorite products in the feature is this Niermann Weeks Serpentine bed coveted by Laura Lee Clark Falconer. Or, maybe it is the Pluie Chandelier Petite from Allan Knight suggested by Tracy Rasor. Either way, check out the issue for more great products from the designers we love.
Danielle Monti-Morren and Raoul Morren ooze a cool, creative energy. Not in the “I’m cooler than you” way, but in the way that made me want to talk to them for hours. Global Style Directors for the British furniture company Timothy Oulton, the design duo helped launch the Dallas store last summer and returned to change things up. Based out of Los Angeles, they spend most of their time traveling to Timothy Outlon stores around the world (think Paris, mainland China, Barbados), where they work on marketing, branding, and product development for the Timothy Oulton brand.
Their personal life is equally compelling. Danielle and Raoul recently celebrated their anniversary of meeting 20 years ago this January – and have been married for fifteen years. Both living in Atlanta when they met, she was a recent graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology, he was a working musician and artist who was curating art shows for the city. Working together for fourteen and a half of those years as Monti-Morren Creative, they have helped each other develop a style that Raoul described as “eclectic modern.” For those of you who haven’t visited the Timothy Oulton store, located off of Central and Henderson, it’s definitely worth the trip (even if you aren’t looking for furniture). The store is a trove of amazing furniture and decor goods, with perks like an in-house coffee shop offering sweets and vintage candies, vintage cable-knit sweaters and menswear (Outlon’s vintage line “Threads”), and loads of inspiration to take home.
Find out more about Danielle and Raoul (we asked them tons of questions…get ready) and see a sneak peak of Timothy Oulton’s new look after the jump.
image via Blue Print
While we normally associate pink and red with Valentine’s Day, one of our furniture favorites, Blue Print, is changing it up this year. Visit the store between today and Thursday, and you could have yourself a blue valentine. What does this mean, you ask? It’s easy! Stop by and pick out something (or somethings, in my case) you love, and they’ll let your special someone know what caught your eye. To make it even better, they’ll discount the item at 10%! Make sure you stop by before V-Day to get the great deal.
Happy shopping.
Margaux Anbouba is a D Home intern.
The lovely Jane Waggoner passed on her spring lookbook last week, and it was chock full of insanely gorgeous rug action. Take, for example, that fetching number above inspired by the vast West Texas landscape and aptly dubbed ”Cool Desert.”
Based on this snap taken on a recent family trip to Marfa, I’d say she nailed it, yes?
I had the pleasure of partaking in a cocktail with recent Dallas transplant, designer Susan Bednar Long, at La Duni last week and left feeling pretty darn excited that yet another amazing creative has chosen to call our fair city home.
Susan and family relocated to Dallas for her husband’s job, and her firm S.B. Long Interiors will set up shop here in town while still maintaining offices in her home state of New York.
Friends, we’re lucky to have this lady…she’s wickedly funny, supremely down to earth, and she has some serious design range, turning out stunning interiors including sleek Tribeca lofts, stately Connecticut manses (including the governor’s mansion) and everything in between. (Evidence below.)
Welcome to Dallas Susan!
More of Susan’s gorgeous work after the jump…
(Some of Robyn’s favorites: 1.Anish Kapoor 2.Baskets by Yamaguchi Ryuun 3. Dan Flavin’s light sculptures 4. Mid-century modern 5. Rodolph’s Bolero fabric 6. Her spa bathroom)
Designer Robyn Menter is known for her artful, modern interiors. The spaces she creates through her eponymous firm manage to be at once sparse and welcoming, with a muted palette and iconic furniture providing the backdrop for character-infusing lighting, books, fresh flowers and, of course, eye-popping works of art. We asked this maestro of minimalism to share some of the things inspiring her of late, and her list did not disappoint.
Herewith some of Robin’s favorite things.
Interior designer Janet Rice has turned out a small cache of rather stellar chairs and side tables. They’re all feminine meets bold, rife with impeccable details and interesting patterns. The chairs especially make you sit up (no pun intended) and take notice.
Not unlike the lovely Janet herself, yes?
Veranda Magazine is celebrating its 25th anniversary with what promises to be a design wonk’s dream event.
It’s a panel discussion, entitled “Master Class in Design”, featuring Veranda’s editor in chief, Dara Caponigro (Domino fans will remember her as the dearly departed magazine’s style director) chatting it up with shelter luminaries David Easton, Windsor Smith, and Dallas design doyenne, Michelle Nussbaumer.
The action is going down at the Interior Resources Showroom on Oak Lawn this Thursday, June 21st, from 10:00-11:30 with a reception to follow. For more details or to RSVP, contact paige@intre.biz.
Suffice to say, you don’t want to miss this.
Everyone knows how much I love television. And as mentioned yesterday, I like telling you what to do. So let’s combine the two, shall we? Big things are happening over at Joseph Minton Antiques tonight. Here’s the story: the second season of Showtime’s The Borgias will begin on Sunday night. In honor of its return, Showtime has enlisted 10 shops around the country to produce window installations showcasing the 10 themes from the show using select items from Vand M.com. Justin Seitz is leading the charge here in Dallas, and I can’t wait to see it!
And that was just the decor dreamed up by the über cool team at Avant Garden. (As captured on my iPhone…Sorry for the less than stellar photos, but the scene was so good I just had to share.)
Last night’s party at The Dallas Contemporary celebrating the city’s top design talent also included a kickin’ band, witty remarks from our fearless leader Laura K, a formidable cheese spread, a room full of immensely creative and stylish peeps, and gift boxes brimming with warm chocolate chip cookies from Tiff’s Treats for the ride home. (Oh Tiff, how did I ever live without you?)
It was a good time. So good in fact that I might be sporting a bit of a hangover this morning.
Maybe.
Janet Gridley reads Roald Dahl books she checks out at the library, drinks espresso with two lemon twists at La Duni and counts a primitive cabin in Minnesota (accessible only by traversing a lake in a little motor boat) as one of her favorite places on earth. Erudite, warm and supremely down-to-earth, she also possesses an almost intimidatingly amazing sense of style and seriously impeccable taste.
After spending years as a sought-after stylist and art director for film, print and advertising, Janet was craving more permanence in her work, spurring a transition to interior design (she still accepts the occasional photo shoot when the project is too cool to pass up – think Blu Dot).
Now the Minneapolis transplant (she made the move to Dallas with her family five years ago) spends her days creating lasting interiors for residential and commercial clients filled with her signature blend of utility and whimsy. Recent projects include a stunning Preston Hollow modern that made an appearance in last November’s AIA tour and the Minneapolis foodie temple, The Bachelor Farmer.
In a nutshell, Janet’s an all-around cool chic, so I thought she’d be the perfect subject to kick-off our inaugural “Thursday Tastemakers” feature.
So without further ado, herewith some of Janet’s design inspirations:
Images clockwise from top: blankets, Iacoli McAllister light fixture, Studio Ditte, sink
Hardware: I can get lost in any hardware store, time stands still as I wander the aisles. With catalogs now online, there are sites for marine hardware, tool carts, and prison sinks. Little tool carts are great as nightstands and small bathroom cabinets.
Thread: I never really grabbed-on to the “colorblocking” trend, but I do love seeing small bright shots of color. I used an amazing Iacoli McAllister light fixture recently in a project.
Charming/naive pattern: I use a lot of pattern in my work, lately, through online resources such as the smithsonian libraries, I have found all kinds of inspiration. Pattern is everywhere, even a high school football game. I try to keep my eyes open and camera handy.
Sample Sale at the Dallas Design Center
You might want to check out the first ever Sample Sale at the ultra exclusive Dallas Design Center. Why is it the first ever? Well, there was a certain attitude that the riff raff might get in, or that sale prices weren’t deep enough; many showroom samples are consigned merchandise and the manufacturer that owns the chair or table doesn’t want to discount, or pay the freight back. But I have to say, the prices are discounted deeply—I saw a sectional from the Cameron Collection for $6000 including kick-a– fabric. That’s pretty comparable for what I might pay for much less quality. But, alas, Neal Stewart has beaten me to it. Hurry up, before Neal buys it all.
1. The new Gary Riggs Home showroom, located across from the Galleria, is a whopping 45,000 square feet.
2. Price points range from $7.50 to $25,000.
3. All merchandise was hand selected by Riggs himself.
4. Brands include Ralph Lauren, Baker, Henredon, Sherrill, Century, and more.
5. You can find everything from gifts and home accessories to artwork, furniture, and bedding.
6. The showroom also carries Riggs’ private line, Gary Riggs Art in Design.
7. Riggs and his team offer full interior design services.
8. Customization is available to fit each client.
9. There are thousands of fabrics to choose from.
10. The looks on display range from ultra-contemporary to very traditional.
*And a bonus No. 11: In a former life, Riggs helped create sets for the likes of Donny & Marie and the original Footloose. I’m pretty angry that I didn’t know this piece of information until now. So angry, in fact, I want to do this. Don’t bother me for the next two minutes and 47 seconds.
Jump for a peek inside the new showroom (photos by Mark Herron).
Russ Peters (left) and Bill Cates in their Oak Cliff backyard. Photo by Nathan Schroder
For the January/February issue of D Home, which you can peruse right here, I had the pleasure of writing about the home of Russ Peters and Bill Cates, the duo behind Peters Cates Design. Besides being talented and fun-loving and super-duper nice, they also use phrases like “accessory predators.” What’s not to love? Check out their Oak Cliff house, and you’ll marvel at their mastery of space planning.
Last week was rough. I had to watch and recap the A-List Dallas finale. (It’s finally over! Praise all things holy!)And you know I was very busy trying to learn a routine for the company Christmas party. We also needed to finish the Jan/Feb issue of D Home. And finally, I had to eat and drink every single thing that came in my path. But between all this busy business lady stuff, I heard some good news: Ceylon et Cie (where you can find this awesome pillow, by the way) is adding another location, which will be a warehouse pop-up event space/shop. More details to come!
