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Obsessed: John Derian’s Faience Wall Hanging

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: April 23rd, 2013 9:28am
Category:: Design

I tend to believe that even the most mundane of items (glass bottles, rocks, inexpensive white dishes, embroidery loops) can become wildly chic when massed together (collected if you will).

I’m not talking twee, dust-attracting collections here friends… No, the look you’re going for is something more “merchandised” and intentional. (Think the amazing store displays at Anthropology and Forty Five Ten, and you’ll nail it.)

The plate wall is a perfect example of this many = awesome formula. I mean plates, in and of themselves, are pretty pedestrian objects. But a mass of plates, arranged just so, against a dark charcoal wall (à la Kelly Wearstler’s killer Viceroy Hotel masterpiece above), feels downright inspired, yes?

Ok, so recreating the look with a little IKEA, a smattering of Crate and Barrel, and some vintage would be easy (and inexpensive), but let’s say you want to take things up a notch and you want to do it fast (i.e. the perfect plates magically appear at your doorstep). Well for that, I would highly recommend heading to neimanmarcus.com and procuring John Derian’s 12-piece “Faience” wall hanging. It’s pricey at $1,795, but thinking of it as a room-transforming work of art makes the price tag infinitely more palatable. (At least that’s what I’m telling myself.)

Happy hanging.

Get The Look: Photographer Liz Banfield’s Dreamy Studio

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: March 11th, 2013 4:03pm
Category:: Design

(Images via Style Me Pretty)

We’re smitten with photographer Liz Banfield’s sunny studio spotted via Style Me Pretty. Dallas designer (and friend of the program) Janet Gridley designed the space, giving it youthful yet elegant vibe that we’re dying to recreate somewhere in our own home.

In that spirit, we’ve pulled together a little round-up of 10 items to help us get the look. Herewith the goods.

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Hilary Walker On The Power Of Collections…And Color

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: February 21st, 2013 6:09am
Category:: Design

This week our lovely D Home blog contributor Hilary Walker talks creating curated collections and the visual impact of grouping your finds by color. And that blue scene above? Well, it makes me want to hit some vintage shops this weekend to start my own blue collection.

Take it away Hilary.

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By Hilary Walker

If I had a dime for every time I passed by a charming collection of color coordinated accessories and thought “how perfectly lovely”… well, I’d probably have enough loose change to have created a similar collection myself.

There’s something especially catching about collections of items grouped by color. I think it’s because they have more impact simply by merit of their consistency and numbers.

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Your Alternative Valentine’s Day Plans

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: February 14th, 2013 1:04pm
Category:: Entertaining

Let’s say, hypothetically of course, that you’re not so much a fan of going out on Valentine’s Day. Suppose you think braving crowded eateries for overpriced, sub-par meals is the least romantic thing you can fathom. Perhaps instead you might consider a little gourmet food action to-go. It’ll be easy; in fact, we have it all mapped out for you, courtesy of the seven local foodies we profiled in our Jan/Feb issue of D Home.

Ready?

1. Hit Bolsa Mercado for ice cream by Lauren Leone. I mean what’s more romantic than kicking the whole thing off with dessert?
2. Grab some bread from Clint Cooper’s Village Baking Co.
3. Oh and some pasta from Julian Barsotti’s Carbone’s…
4. Don’t forget the cheese. We’d highly recommend something from Paula Lambert’s Mozzarella Company. (Bonus: you can grab this while you’re getting the ice cream at Bolsa Mercado.)
5. Pick up some Biscotti from EMA Baking Company to eat with the ice cream.
6. Nab a few bottles of wine from Benjamin Calais’ Calais Winery.
7. And last but not least more ice cream (you really can’t have too much) from Carnival Barker at Jimmy’s Food Store.

Now grab a little clutch of anemones from Central Market, head home, light some candles, and get to the romance/family dinner/girl’s night/however you roll.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Be Mine with A Blue Print Valentine

Author:: By Margaux Anbouba
Post date:: February 11th, 2013 9:01am
Category:: Events

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.

Let Blue Print Spruce Up Your Space

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: February 8th, 2013 9:16am
Category:: Design

We’re awfully big fans of Blue Print. Part of the appeal of the cozy decor mecca on Fairmount is the spot on mix of decorative accessories, design books, original art, and refurbished vintage furniture. The other part is the way all that aforementioned goodness is arranged in compelling little vignettes throughout the store.

We’ll now the lovely folks at Blue Print are offering to do the same for the rest of us with their new on-site styling services. For an hourly fee, a member of the Blue Print staff will visit your abode to “assess and prioritize your needs, help capture a vision for a particular space and put together a proposed plan on how to achieve your desired look.” They can do a full house overhaul or just help with simple tweaks (that make a huge impact) like rearranging furniture, de-cluttering, re-working bookshelves and tablescapes, placing art, and picking paint colors.

Very cool, yes?

Contact info@blueprintstore.com or 214.954.9511 to make a private appointment.

Yet Another Reason To Get Excited About The Joule Hotel Expansion

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: January 21st, 2013 2:59pm
Category:: Shopping

(Fingers crossed that these Fort Standard canisters end up on the shelves at Weekend.)

I frequently lament (to anyone within earshot) Dallas’ lack of a shop like Austin’s Spartan or The Foundry in Minneapolis — stores that cut through the clutter and stock highly edited collections of beautiful, artful, handcrafted things that feel anything but “crafty.” So I was hopeful when I read that TenOverSix is co-opening Weekend Coffee sometime in mid-March as part of the Joule Hotel expansion.

Yes, I realize a coffee shop isn’t the same as a store, but hang with me here… According to an interview with Joe Cole, president and co-owner of TenOverSix on their blog, Weekend will boast more than just cups of joe (albeit Victrola Coffee’s excellent cups of joe). Per Cole, “Rounding out the coffee program is a tight retail mix and some amazing baked goods. Given our retail background, we couldn’t help but come up with something to merchandise… We’ll also be adding great foodie-inspired items to the mix, including aprons by Marfa-based designer Constance Holt (also part of the Garza team who designed our bar stools); ceramics from The Netherlands’ Jansen + Co., which we’ll also be using in-house; some cool stuff from Brooklyn-based Fort Standard and amazing foodie magazines like Gather, Kinfolk, etc.”

Bring on the Weekend…

Rugs from Tufenkian and IKEA to Transform Your Kitchen

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: December 12th, 2012 12:58pm
Category:: Design

I am a bit obsessed with kitchens that don’t look like, well, kitchens. (So much so, that I’ve created an entire Pinterest board devoted to the topic…) While not exactly practical, I dig an otherwise utilitarian space tricked out with furnishings usually seen in the living room. After all, where do the bulk of your guests end up at every party you throw? Yep, the kitchen. It’s the hub; it deserves to feel special and cozy (or at least hang-worthy).

A big glittery chandelier, upholstered chairs, and framed art are perfect foils for the more practical aspects of that fetching kitchen above photographed by Vincent Leroux for Marie Claire Maison, but it’s the luxe rug that takes things from good to great. I regularly troll eBay for tattered kilim runners to put in front of my stove and sink. I also like IKEA’s Persian-inspired Valby Ruta runner. It’s durable, and at $30 you won’t be devastated if it becomes a causality of last night’s spaghetti dinner.

But if you really want to pull out the big guns, might I recommend one of the 2×3 Tibetan woven rugs currently on offer at the Tufenkian showroom. (Think designs from Barbara Barry, Vicente Wolf, and Laura Kirar handmade in Tibetan wool and silk for about $100.) With one of those one-of-a-kind lovelies hanging out in your kitchen, you may just want to move your bed in there too and call it a day.

Spend the Holidays with Jadz and Pat Pate

Author:: By Laura Kostelny
Post date:: November 13th, 2012 4:17pm
Category:: Style

And by that I mean just check out the story (by me) and pretty pictures (by Nathan Schroder) of Neiman Marcus vice president of creative services Jadz Pate’s cool house, which appears in the November/December issue. Don’t show up at their house on Christmas day and expect to be fed, for Pete’s sake. They are friendly people, but that’s just not appropriate.

Caitlin Adams Rethinks Her Addiction to Color With Pretty Products from Mecox, Wisteria, and West Elm…

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: October 22nd, 2012 11:25am
Category:: Design

Our lovely intern Caitlin Adams is back with another “Look for Less” post. This week she gives us the recipe for an eye-catching vignette that reflects her more, well…grown-up tastes.

*****

By Caitlin Adams

I used to be a fan of bright hues in every shape and form. I never tired of splashing every color of the rainbow throughout my home. My kitchen had turquoise shelves and I even (briefly!) considered painting my coffee table fuchsia.

Luckily, as I have matured, so have my aesthetic “taste buds.” Lately, I have been trading in the bright colors for clean spaces that will set my mind at ease after hectic workdays.

I still enjoy a pop of color here and there, but I’m now trying to concentrate on making smarter purchases that will last the test of time.

This lovely vignette encompasses everything a home needs: a gold trimmed mirror, something green, and a great set of coffee table books to impress house guests. It just oozes simplicity, and the gold accents are right on trend (and timeless!).

The perk? Every item can be found right here in Dallas. Let’s get shopping, shall we?

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Connor Stationery Event at Barneys New York

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: October 17th, 2012 10:26am
Category:: Shopping

Beautiful personalized stationery is the perfect antidote to our hyper-digital daily life. And as beautiful personalized stationery goes, Connor turns out some serious loveliness. The high-end stationer will be conducting private appointments at Barneys New York NorthPark* on Saturday, October 27, so you can create your ultimate “paper wardrobe.” You can schedule an appointment by calling 469-221-4488 or sending an e-mail to Linda Campbell at Barneys.

* As a side note, my sadness about the impending departure of Barneys from our fair city knows no bounds. Dramatic, I realize, but the store is just that good — the space, the smart product mix, the sparse, curatorial merchandising — the entire package. Suffice to say, between now and April, I’m planning to stop by the store every chance I get (bad news for my Barneys card).

Create A Great Looking Room for Not Much Cash

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: October 16th, 2012 7:11am
Category:: Design

In her new weekly series, our lovely intern Caitlin Adams takes on the trusty “look for less.” She kicks things off by sussing out all the ingredients you need to recreate this fetching room she spotted on Pinterest. Enjoy!

(Psst — I like her take better than the original.)

*****

By Caitlin Adams

Hello there lovely readers! I am so giddy to bring you the first installment of the new weekly post, “High/Low.”

After a hectic summer of pool towels and flip-flops littering my living room, I am ready for a little simplicity when it comes to my home decor. During my daily blog browsing, I ran across this living room and fell in love with the neutral grays and creams. Doesn’t this just look like the perfect place to spend a brisk fall evening? After letting my mind daydream about lying on the couch, drinking coffee, and reading a novel, I realized this room was my perfect first target.

The first thing in this room that caught my eye was the oversized piece of sheet music hanging above the couch. Using a simple piece to make a bold statement? Genius! Sometimes it takes someone else’s creativity to remind me that art is indeed everywhere. It would be so easy (and affordable) to find your favorite piece of music and have it blown up at your local photo shop. (Ed. Note: Staples offers oversize printing.)

Another great thing about this room is all the possibilities it has for the coming season. A neutral pallet serves as the perfect backdrop when decorating for the holidays. A few of these pumpkins would look adorable clustered on the table.

Here are my finds for the rest of the room. You can snap them all up locally.

1. Impact: 50 Years of the Council of Fashion Designers of America $60 at Forty Five Ten.
2. Box frame coffee Table $279 at West Elm (On sale!)
3. Tullinge sofa, $549 at Ikea
4. Beauty Light by Matthew Rolston, $75 at Forty Five Ten
5. Faux suede linen pillow, $39 at West Elm
6. Chenille throw, $35 at Target
7. Metallic pillow, $29 at West Elm

Introducing Our New D Home Blog Series: Feathering Your First Nest with Hilary Walker

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: September 26th, 2012 2:32pm
Category:: Design

Creating your first home can be an exciting and maddening experience. It’s fun to, say, painstakingly select the perfect paint color for your walls, but, if you’re a renter, cajoling the landlord to let you paint said walls…well, not so fun. Then there’s the matter of money. Pillows and vases and side tables are not inexpensive endeavors, but who wants to live in an empty, soulless, sad space.

What’s a novice nester to do?

Never fear, we’re here to help friends. We’ll technically we’ve enlisted some help… The lovely and talented blogger, designer, photographer, treasure hunter (among other things) Hilary Walker is going to join us each week here to talk all things feathering your first nest, helping you make it as cozy and creative as possible without breaking the bank.

Hilary is witty and warm and has amazing taste. Suffice to say, we’re excited to have her here and hope you will be too.

So without further ado, Hilary’s first installment. Enjoy!

*****

Well, hello there D Home blog readers! I can’t tell you how excited I am to be here. My name is Hilary and I’ll be writing this new column on the D Home blog focusing on feathering your first nest. I’m in the process of doing that very same thing, so I know what you’re going through! You’ll find me here every other week sharing clever and stylish ways to make your home cozy and creative on a budget. Think home decor, entertaining, art sourcing, budget finds, DIY, and the occasional post about things of pure inspiration. It’s going to be fun. Before we dive into all that, though, I think it’s important that we get to know each other! So, tell me… who are you?

Now, I don’t want to make things too wordy… I know you have a busy life and lots to grab your time and attention. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right? (or, if nothing else, it takes less time to “read”). So, instead of a long winded bio, I’ve created a visual intro (above) via my Instagram archive.

In the time before my next post, feel free to follow along on my blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. (Could this be why we’re so short on time?)

See you back here in a couple weeks!

We’re Lending A Little Paradise To A Parking Spot this Friday to Celebrate PARK(ing) Day Dallas

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: September 17th, 2012 1:06pm
Category:: Design

(Our moodboard for PARK(ing) day {because everything is more fun with a moodboard} featuring vintage finds and cherry red Expedit shelving units from IKEA to house all those copies of Fahrenheit 451.)

What’s paradise to a bunch of word loving editors you ask? How about transforming a single parking spot in the middle of downtown into a pop-up book haven (well that and alcohol).

To help promote The Big Read Dallas — a citywide, monthlong program igniting the spark of literacy in Dallas through the distribution and celebration of Ray Brabury’s Fahrenheit 451 — we’re doing just that. Our little mid-century modern “bookstore” is happening during PARK(ing) Day, this Friday, September 21st at 1517 Main Street.

We’ll have a slew of used books free for the taking, copies of Fahrenheit 451 for purchase, and the ability to sign up for a Dallas library card.

Stop by and say hi. And feel free to bring us a drink.

Behold This Jewelry for Your Curtains (And A Note on Fire Avoidance)

Author:: By Joslyn Taylor
Post date:: September 10th, 2012 3:27pm
Category:: Obsessions

I’ve been feeling the need for some fall self improvement — a little grown-up back to school action if you will, only more fun. So I’m researching juicers (because what’s more “self improving” than a daily vat of virtuous green juice), tucking into more novels, and, starting tonight, taking a weekly jewelry fabrication class that involves soldering irons and other mildly intimidating (yet thrilling) tools.

In my dreams, this class will go so well that I’ll be whipping up Wonder Woman worthy cuffs and metal tiebacks for my bedroom curtains à la these beauties by Samuel & Sons Passementerie in no time.

But my reality shows a bad track record at all manner of DIY (and given that this particular manner of DIY involves fire, all hell could very well break loose friends).

So I’m thinking it’ll be safer if hit up Culp Associates (they recently announced the addition of Samuel & Sons Passementerie to their Dallas showroom) to get in on this Alexander Calder inspired action for my drapes.

It’s the right thing to do, yes?