Paper City Article

Fabulous Fornasetti

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:06:46 GMT

Cole %26amp; Son %26mdash; purveyors of wallpapers to the likes of Westminster Cathedral, the House of Commons and the White House %26mdash; launches its second collection of Piero Fornasetti-inspired wallpapers, Fornasetti II, this month. The sizeable oeuvre of the late-20th-century Milanese artist inspired 15 new patterns from Fornasetti%26rsquo;s son, Barnaba, who adroitly merges elements of the neoclassical and surreal in an elegantly cheeky fashion in patterns such as wide-eyed owls and their young (Nottambule), abandoned keys hanging in thick hedges (Chiavi Segrete), the arcades of St. Mark%26rsquo;s Square inhabited by curious monkeys (Procuratie e Scimmie), birds resting in trees behind wrought iron (Uccelli) and engrossed theatergoers in private boxes (Teatro). Most patterns are available in three to four colorways; some are meant to complement several preconceived compositions, such as Balaustra and Macchine Volanti, a combination that unites a dreamy sky full of flying contraptions with a marble balustrade from which one might take in the fanciful scene. To the trade at Lee Jofa at Dallas Design Center.

Fabulous Fornasetti

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:05:10 GMT

Off the Hook

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:31:56 GMT

Certain career transitions seem fairly obvious: The actor who directs. The athlete turned sportscaster. A pampered housewife transmogrified into a reality television star. But a former sushi chef now making fine art furniture? That%26rsquo;s not one you hear every day. Yet after viewing Michael Wilson%26rsquo;s modern-organic designs, the leap from raw fish to California walnut isn%26rsquo;t as radical as one might think. The Japanese-American woodworker applies the same labor-intensive, sculptural sensibility to his individually carved chairs, stools and tables as he did to a request for omakase. Working primarily with reclaimed woods sourced from his in-law%26rsquo;s Missouri property and the Texas Hill Country, Wilson developed his own treatment for every step of production, milling lumber himself and creating his own personal recipe for a non-synthetic oil and wax finish. The results appear to have been released from a tree trunk in his Wimberley studio. And, unlike your sashimi order, each branded and dated piece is sure to stand the test of time. At Grange Hall, Scott + Cooner.

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Objet by Dutch Small: Straight Razor Revival

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:30:02 GMT

It%26rsquo;s no secret to men of style that a barber%26rsquo;s straight razor is an indulgence worth partaking %26mdash; often. But when the guy on the go can%26rsquo;t spare the time for a trip to a pro, the smoothness delivered by a hand-crafted stainless-steel blade is still within reach, thanks to Texas%26rsquo; premier blade smith, Russell Montgomery of Serenity Knives. Known to the culinary world as knifemaker to the elite, Montgomery has crafted wares for nationally renowned kitchens such as Oxheart and celebrities in other genres whom he%26rsquo;s too discreet to name. On the leading edge of a self-shave revival, his newly released hand-forged straight razors are very much about convenience but also about the relaxing ritual of a nearly forgotten craft. %26ldquo;It doesn%26rsquo;t take long to learn to shave with a straight razor, and you get a closeness that isn%26rsquo;t possible with disposables,%26rdquo; he says. %26ldquo;I also like taking time to take care of myself and forget about the demands of the day. It just feels good.%26rdquo; His sculptural creations are available in either folding or fixed-blade designs and have handles in stainless steel or exotic wood species such as cocobolo or lignum vitae. $200 to $500, exclusively at serenityknives.com.

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Objet by Dutch Small: Straight Razor Revival

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:28:34 GMT

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It's in His Nature

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:52:37 GMT

Ask Stefan Gulassa to give a shout-out to those he most admires, and he’ll rattle off the names Isamu Noguchi, Jean Prouvé and Constantin Brancusi. So we might expect him to give a nod to their influence via his newly launched home accessories for Sutherland. But one look at his eight-piece collection reveals the Seattle-based designer is most inspired by the nature and landscape of the Pacific Northwest. Working primarily with bronze and wood, he has crafted a cubed tray reminiscent of eroding basalt formations, a low-profile gallery vase that eliminates sight-obscuring centerpieces, the industrial adjustable candlestick with its removable hurricane glass and the Toko wall vase meant to house a single branch or large leaf. But it’s his sleek bronze book stand that’s sure to bring new meaning to “best seller.” To the trade at David Sutherland showroom.

Pen %26 Paper

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:27:37 GMT

Ronda Rice Carman, UK blogger (allthebestblog.co.uk) and style collector, will be at The Houston Design Center Wednesday, May 15, 6:30 pm, to sign her book, Designers at Home: Personal Reflections on Stylish Living (Rizzoli), at Ken Kehoe %26amp; Co., Suite 261. A native Houstonian, Ronda lives in Scotland with her family and is a contributing writer for The Huffington Post and New York Social Diary and a reviewer for the cultish Mr. %26amp; Mrs. Smith Hotel Collections. Her book delves into the personal living spaces of 50 %26mdash; yes, 50 %26mdash; designers: We can%26rsquo;t wait to peek into the English hunting lodge of Nicky Haslam and the homes of Ashley Hicks, Jay Jeffers, Rose Tarlow, Malcolm James Kutner and Collette van den Thillart, among others. The visual talk and signing is gratis, but reservations are required. Books will be sold at the event by PaperCity%26rsquo;s Curate bookshop. RSVP online at thehoustondesigncenter.com or call 713.864.2660, ext 1. The Houston Design Center, 7026 Old Katy Road.

Going Through Customs

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:35:44 GMT

The Zen-like calm that infuses Adriana Hoyos%26rsquo; newly opened furnishings showroom in the Design District provides an artful balance to the company%26rsquo;s Design Your Own (DYO) program, a pulse-quickening DIY-er%26rsquo;s dream. This client-driven service invites both novices and experts to customize any of the 300 pieces in Hoyos%26rsquo; seven furniture collections %26mdash; all housed within the 3,500-square-foot space %26mdash; via a dizzying array of finishes, surfaces and fabrics. 1617 Hi Line Dr., 214.613.4149; adrianahoyos.com.

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A Clean Start

Wed, 08 May 2013 11:16:21 GMT

Crate %26amp; Barrel’s stylish new curated collection of cleaning and organizational products, Clean Slate, might just force our hand into some spring cleaning. The collection is comprised of everything from brooms, brushes and bristles with an antique touch (we’ll be wielding the hedgehog crumb brush, $13 and goat-hair round dust brush, $35) to laundry essentials (sprays and detergents from The Laundress, Better Life natural soaps and cleaners, and the chicest, shiny stainless bucket with wood handle for $20) and organizational accessories (twill shoe-bag drawer lined in ticking, $12). Other things that caught our eye: a laundry butler that has us reliving our days in a New York City washateria; a cart for all things gift wrap that’s bound to make birthdays a little easier; and the exclusive collection of wicker baskets that give everything a place to call home. This collection just might have you rethinking the help. Clean Slate, online only at crateandbarrel.com/cleanslate; free shipping through May 19.

A Designer's Dream

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:28:27 GMT

Everybody should be so lucky. Out of the blue, a young interior designer with a promising portfolio gets a referral. The builder of a grand, one-off house has recommended her to the homeowners. The wife pays a visit to the designer%26rsquo;s office, spends half an hour looking at some photos of past work, takes a quick reading of the vibes (one presumes), and announces, %26ldquo;Okay, you%26rsquo;re hired.%26rdquo;

The chemistry indeed turns out right. Everybody involved is thrilled with the designer%26rsquo;s work. But, wait %26mdash; it gets better. In the year-and-a-half course of it all, she and the couple become close friends. This is a dividend of doing business that simply can%26rsquo;t be quantified. And in a profession where judgments are subjective and client relationships can be fraught, it%26rsquo;s a bonus that is never guaranteed.

%26ldquo;I started my company when I was 26,%26rdquo; says Julie Dodson, the designer, who just turned 37. %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;ve had really great projects, but I have never had one of this magnitude. It was that difference-making project that you dream of as a designer. And I had such a great experience working with them. For so long, I took on every single project that I could because I love designing and creating. But I learned through experience that taking on too much can get you into trouble. And I learned to choose people I%26rsquo;m going to like working with.%26rdquo; How fortunate is Dodson to be able to reach that conclusion based on a positive experience, rather than a regrettable one.

Architecturally, the house strikes a delicate balance between weightiness and buoyancy: stone, slate, patina-ed brick and heavy timbers on the one hand; soaring ceilings, light-flooded spaces and a flowing plan on the other. Dodson%26rsquo;s challenge for the interior was attaining an equally harmonious expression of the couple%26rsquo;s personalities. %26ldquo;He loves the mountains and to hunt. She has this breezy Southern California girl in her,%26rdquo; Dodson says. %26ldquo;They vacation on the West Coast every summer, and I wanted the house to have that feel, rustic yet sophisticated. But casual %26mdash; they%26rsquo;re just happy people.%26rdquo;

Dodson was going for a touch of the Hollywood Regency style. The symmetries and formal elements she used do speak to the grandeur of the house, but her design lacks the mannered %26mdash; not to say compulsive %26mdash; over-the-top quality of that aesthetic. And if it%26rsquo;s not exactly minimalist, what she has done with the house is certainly understated. The interior is like a taut white canvas splashed here and there with luxurious golds and daubed with woodsy browns %26mdash; and flaunting, every once in a while and just where you wouldn%26rsquo;t expect it, a surrealist doodle. Such as the tromp l%26rsquo;oeil tented ceiling in the pool bathroom, about which Dodson says, %26ldquo;The ceiling got lost when it was the same color as the wall. I wanted to add the feel of an old French circus tent, loose and draped.%26rdquo; Or the damask pattern stenciled onto the loft stairway in one of the children%26rsquo;s bedrooms. %26ldquo;I don%26rsquo;t know where this stuff comes from, out of my brain,%26rdquo; she says, perhaps dissembling. Let%26rsquo;s just call it originality.

Another of her unconventional moves was the extensive use of indoor-outdoor fabric on upholstered pieces, Link Outdoor%26rsquo;s Twill acrylic in sugar white. %26ldquo;They have three girls. They entertain a lot. And it%26rsquo;s very durable,%26rdquo; she says. The homeowners also happen to be serious wine collectors. So, can people spill red wine all over the furniture and live to tell the tale? %26ldquo;Yeah, I actually did that,%26rdquo; Dodson says. %26ldquo;It wiped right off.%26rdquo;

It would take a number of fingers and toes to count the chandeliers in this house %26mdash; and also to detail their various periods and styles. %26ldquo;Lighting was huge,%26rdquo; Dodson says. %26ldquo;We probably went a little overboard as far as budget is concerned. But it makes such a statement, it%26rsquo;s like the jewelry on a house. The lighting can make a room really special.%26rdquo;

Of her clients, Dodson says, %26ldquo;They really trusted me, even when I doubted myself. That%26rsquo;s a designer%26rsquo;s biggest fault sometimes. Every now and then, you get this moment of insecurity in making a decision. But they had 100 percent confidence. And even when they didn%26rsquo;t, they%26rsquo;d say, %26lsquo;Okay, let%26rsquo;s just do it.%26rsquo;%26rdquo; And we suspect they have no regrets.

An Inside Job

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:19:33 GMT

Gerald and Debbie Barnes had reviewed plans for a radical remodel and decided it was more than they wanted to tackle. But several weeks later, Gerald came home with second thoughts. So the executive vice president and chief merchant of Neiman Marcus Direct spent the next hour with a roll of blue tape, meticulously mapping the reconfigured first floor proposed by designer David Cadwallader. When Debbie walked in, Gerald looked up and said, %26ldquo;I think this is pretty cool. We should consider it. It could work.%26rdquo;

It does work, for the same reasons all good design succeeds. And it%26rsquo;s not just the well-chosen furnishings. Artful flow and elegant proportion come together in the Barnes residence, and the result, says Gerald, is
%26ldquo;our dream home.%26rdquo;

It%26rsquo;s not that they didn%26rsquo;t love it before. They moved into the 1929 house more than 20 years ago, prior to the birth of their first daughter, and they never considered moving or building. %26ldquo;Somehow we knew we would always be in this house,%26rdquo; Debbie says. %26ldquo;But we also knew there was more we wanted to do, and we always wanted to work with David.%26rdquo;

It started, Gerald recalls, when they decided to replace the windows. One thing led to another in the %26ldquo;If we%26rsquo;re going to do this, then why don%26rsquo;t we do that?%26rdquo; tradition. Debbie e-mailed Cadwallader, asking him to %26ldquo;come over for a couple of hours, look at the house and tell us what you would do. So we all sat at the kitchen table and talked awhile, and then he left. When he came back a few weeks later, he presented detailed plans and blueprints that completely changed every aspect of the house.%26rdquo;

The couple was rather overwhelmed at the enormity of the remodel and more than a little resistant to the idea of moving out during construction. But the concept intrigued them. Debbie credits her husband%26rsquo;s innate ability to interpret floor plans %26mdash; developed over years in retailing %26mdash; with their eventual decision to go forward. %26ldquo;Gerald has a real visual sense. He could always walk onto a store floor and figure out exactly where everything should go,%26rdquo; she says.

They rented a house nearby and moved out in Summer 2011. They were back in six months %26mdash; an on-time, on-budget achievement for which they credit Cadwallader, his assistant Courtney Catalfano and their contractor, Evan Ratcliff of Key Residential.

%26ldquo;The key is that you have to like your designer%26rsquo;s style and trust that he knows who you are and what your house should look like,%26rdquo; Gerald says. Debbie adds, %26ldquo;David could have done this house without us, because he has great taste and has known us forever. You really have to love your contractor, too, because he%26rsquo;s the one who%26rsquo;s here day in and day out.%26rdquo;

%26ldquo;You can%26rsquo;t imagine the transformation this house has gone through,%26rdquo; Gerald says. %26ldquo;What has changed it the most is the addition of recessed lighting and windows [for better views of the landscaping by Evie Kincaid of Tricia Quaid Landscape Design]. We also widened all the doorways and raised the original arches.%26rdquo;%26nbsp; Their remodeled home is built around the kitchen. %26ldquo;Gerald cooks not only when we have parties, but every night of the week,%26rdquo; Debbie says. %26ldquo;The important thing was an open space, so when we have people over they can watch.%26rdquo; And participate, notes Gerald: %26ldquo;We always have a guy or two who wants to get involved, even if it%26rsquo;s just wielding the salt and pepper grinders.%26rdquo;

The island, topped with stainless steel, has an L-shaped quartz inset at one end and is surrounded by leather-clad stools to ensure a comfortable perch from which to observe the action. Refrigerators and ovens, a warming drawer and a Wolf range with infrared broiler give the chef plenty of resources, but his most treasured %26mdash; and used %26mdash; tool is a one-of-a-kind chef%26rsquo;s knife, handmade by Joel Bukiewicz of Cut Brooklyn.

%26ldquo;David was so patient as I redesigned the kitchen about three times,%26rdquo; Gerald says. %26ldquo;I would pick everything out and then change my mind.%26rdquo; Carol Foxhall, executive chef at Marfa%26rsquo;s Gage Hotel (and a former Neiman Marcus buyer), offered him valuable advice: %26ldquo;She would say, %26lsquo;You don%26rsquo;t need this, but you have to have that.%26rdquo;

A sleek banquette wrapped in mid-century modern fabric shares seating duties with leather chairs around the slender dining table. It seats eight, which says a lot about the type of entertaining the couple prefers: intimate, friend-focused, food-centric.

In the adjacent living area is a couch and chairs they%26rsquo;ve owned for decades; Cadwallader gave them a facelift with new upholstery and leather. Coffered ceilings lend the living and dining rooms a sense of space and light while maintaining a certain intimacy. A graceful stairway curves past a site-specific artwork to an expansive landing, the master suite and the girls%26rsquo; bedrooms (although Sophie, on a trip home from college, noted that hers %26ldquo;looks suspiciously like a guest room%26rdquo;).

%26ldquo;This house is all about family and comfort and having a place where people can hang out and eat good food and be happy,%26rdquo; Debbie says. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s the house we%26rsquo;ve always wanted.%26rdquo;

A Woven Wonder

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:21:13 GMT

We love designer Celerie Kemble%26rsquo;s new collection of rugs for Merida, which she centered on the art of bleeding color as seen in Ikats, watercolors and nature. Shown: Catalyst in Pink Grapefruit, 100 percent wool, made in Massachusetts; order it in any size up to 10 feet wide without seaming. 5-by-7 $4,200, 8-by-10 $5,900, exclusively at Carol Piper Rugs, 1809 W. Gray, 713.534.2442; carolpiperrugs.com.

Dwell, Yeah!

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:19:44 GMT

For the first time in its four-year history, Dwell with Dignity %26mdash; a nonprofit collective of interior designers and volunteers %26mdash; will partner with e-commerce powerhouse One Kings Lane for its Thrift Studio fund-raiser at the Dallas Design Center. In addition to scoring great deals on furniture, accessories and more in artfully styled vignettes, design fans will also have 72 hours (starting 10 am Friday, April 19) to peruse select products plus items from the personal collections of participating designers via the One Kings Lane Thrift Studio Tastemaker Tag Sale online. A VIP Preview Party Thursday, April 18, 7 pm, offers first dibs on furnishings from the likes of Horchow, IBB Design Fine Furnishings, Lucy Wrubel for Peacock Alley, Square Foot Studio, Studio Ten 25 and William-Christopher Design. All proceeds from both venues will benefit families struggling with homelessness and poverty. The public sale runs April 19 through May 18; shop Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 am to 5:30 pm, and Sundays, noon to 5:30 pm. 1100 Slocum St., Suite 590.

Design Dish

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:54:40 GMT

The Design District is on fire: Gallerie Noir, the area%26rsquo;s newest full-service interior design firm and showroom, is now open on Dragon Street %26hellip; Ground has officially broken on the Trinity Strand Trail, paving a 7.8-mile environmentally friendly hike-and-bike path along the original Trinity River watercourse. Stay tuned for more details %26hellip; The highly anticipated Scott + Cooner expansion is complete, allowing room for more fabulousness at 1617 Hi Line Drive %26hellip; Wine Poste has taken its Web-based wine sales to a renovated warehouse at 2001 Irving Boulevard. Pick up your order, sample a flight or host an event in the former Brendan Bass building %26hellip; Coming soon: Ornare%26rsquo;s Brazilian-based closet, kitchen, bath and office collections; professional office furnishings and equipment from Steelcase; and Jean de Merry%26rsquo;s new home furnishings showroom.

Design Buzz

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:19:53 GMT

Delicious home design shop Biscuit has added all things yummy for kids, gifts for men and delightful bath accouterments, while carving out a new room for things that are %26ldquo;me,%26rdquo; says owner Bailey McCarthy. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s a whole new look with lots of accessories and gifts.%26rdquo; Season two of her eponymous bedding collection also debuts this month. And that, my friends, is how the new Biscuit crumbles at 2606 Westheimer, 713.942.9797; biscuit-home.com %26hellip; Designing woman Deanna Breaux Gathe brings home design boutique Peluche D%26eacute;cor to Uptown Park at the end of the month. Does her name ring a bell? Gathe was the on-air interior designer for the hit TBS design show Move and a Makeover. After living in Atlanta for more than a decade, Gathe has relocated to Houston and, in the process, met her husband and settled in. Her boutique, next door to Bella Rinova in the former Lenny e Cia space, will be stocked with antiques from Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Turkey and South Africa, as well as pillows and throws, many of which Gathe sources on her exotic sojourns around the world.

Horns of Plenty

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:46:02 GMT

After two decades at its former Wirt Road location, Joyce Horn Antiques has relocated to the burgeoning design area on Old Katy Road, just opposite Houston Design Center. The venerable 30-year-old firm %26mdash; run by its namesake, Horn%26rsquo;s daughter Reid Nelson and manager Chris Prewitt %26mdash; gained fame for its ample selection of French antiques with a smattering of European pieces culled from Scandinavia, Germany, Spain and Italy. Every other month or so, a new shipment arrives to refill the sprawling 11,000-square-foot space, which is broken into smaller vignettes with decorative painting by artist Leslie Sinclair and even a charming mezzanine with a spiral iron Louis XIV staircase from a house in Paris, which was sourced eons ago on a buying trip to France. Days before the location%26rsquo;s debut last month we spied a Louis XIII 19th-century enfilade, a Gustavian 18th-century settee with strong bones (only in need of great fabric) and a 19th-century painted bombe commode %26mdash; one of many painted pieces Horn and Nelson seek out for their clientele. And did we mention the mirrors? Horn teasingly admits she was known for years as the armoire queen, and now she%26rsquo;s none other than the mirror queen %26mdash; and no wonder, we can%26rsquo;t recall a better selection (particularly loads of those crusty gilded Louis Philippe sort) anywhere in town. Although shopped in large measure by the design trade, Joyce Horn Antiques welcomes everyone, regardless of decorative acumen, Monday to Friday (Saturday by appointment). 7065 Old Katy Road, 713.688.0507; joycehornantiques.com.

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Behind the Scenes of the Nantucket Showcase

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:28:02 GMT

Prestige Builders presents Nantucket Showcase with Lucinda Loya Interiors, a 5,000 square-foot contemporary townhouse located in Houston's Tanglewood neighborhood. Let Alton LaDay Media and PaperCity take you behind the scenes. The second and final tour begins this Friday, the 19th from 11 AM to 4 PM and will continue through the weekend. For tickets, the full list of Premier Partners and more information please visit, www.prestigebuildersinc.com/showcase or call 713.339.3779. All ticket proceeds will benefit the Art Institute of Houston.

A New Area Code

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:06:57 GMT

Don Connelly %26lsquo;s Area has moved into new digs: 5,500 square feet on two floors with massive warehousing space, to be exact. Designer Connelly and long-time manager and buyer Daniel Cuellar have turned a humble dry-cleaning establishment on Westheimer Road bordering River Oaks into a repository of cultish and lavish decorating bibelots and furnishings. After 18 years on Kirby Drive, the new hive is still one of the freshest stores in town. Spacious and light-filled, it%26rsquo;s a hub for their approachable style %26mdash; a cross between L.A. modern and farmhouse warmth. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s a little more edited and grown-up,%26rdquo; Cuellar says. %26ldquo;We%26rsquo;re not in our 20s anymore.%26rdquo; There are new accessories from Barry Dixon for Arteriors and thick acrylic charm bowls in splashy colors from Alexandra von Furstenberg. Connelly scours Europe, predominantly Belgium, Holland and France, for his multitude of design clients, procuring only those items he would place in his own home, thus his design sensibility always rings true. What caught my eye: pickled-pine wing chairs, a cheery pink and red dhurrie, a great collection of design books (as always), chunky seagrass nesting tables and a rope console in the vein of Christian Astuguevieille. 3735 Westheimer, 713.668.1668, area-houston.com.

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The Glow Reveal

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:04:43 GMT

If we%26rsquo;ve learned anything from Sophia Loren and her d%26eacute;collet%26eacute;, it%26rsquo;s that a certain amount of exposure can still reside within the bounds of good taste. This Italian-made floor lamp certainly confirms the theory: Unzip its double-ended leather casing to disclose the touch switch and a little or a lot of the contrasting silk lining. $7,250, at Promemoria Dallas; also available in desk and table styles.

The Tale of a Potentate's Pots

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:55:07 GMT

We are enthralled with finds that have a relatable provenance, such as this trove we recently stumbled upon at Watkins Culver Antiques. This marvelous and glowing set of copper pots is a grouping of 26, stamped %26ldquo;G de R,%26rdquo; with some stamped %26ldquo;Laversine%26rdquo; and %26ldquo;Paris, %26rdquo; as well. What does it mean? Nelta Culver explains, %26ldquo;G de R is Baron Gustave de Rothschild, who occupied the Ch%26acirc;teau de Laversine in the late 19th century. Pots were initialed when they were sent to be re-tinned. Some of the pots also have numbers, used to denote the size of the pan and its use in large kitchens.%26rdquo; We knew that %26hellip; This marvelous set of copper pots includes rare large casseroles with lids and large saucepans, also an outstanding stockpot with lid. Laurance Anderson of the French antiques shop Made in France popped over to see the collection and swears she has never seen copper pots this incredible. Pricing is $2,100 to $4,500.

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This Just In

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:37:18 GMT

Gracie custom-designed hand-painted wallpapers, established in 1898, opens its first Texas showroom in the Dallas Design District mid-May. The new showroom will showcase wallpaper installations as well as unique Japanese and Chinese antiques and furniture and custom lacquer.

Happy. Chic. Adler

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:33:48 GMT

Jonathan Adler has designs on West Ave. That%26rsquo;s the location of the infamously chic designer%26rsquo;s 3,500-square-foot flagship store. The shop is chockfull of Adler%26rsquo;s inventive, wildly colorful spins on furniture, rugs, bedding tabletop and more, with inspirations ranging from mid-century design to pop culture. Cozy up to the gift bar to zero in on a fitting trinket %26mdash; we went for the ceramic boxes labeled Dolls and Uppers from the Vices collection ($28). Brand-new are jazzy Aegean Wave beach towels ($88) and a zingy junior collection. Customizable options for pillows, rugs and throws abound. And don%26rsquo;t miss the art finds %26mdash; Curtis Jere Rain Drops mirrors and artist Scott Lifshutz%26rsquo;s delft-style watercolor portraits. 2800 Kirby Dr. in West Ave, no phone number at press time; jonathanadler.com.

Signing %26 Designing

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:54:25 GMT

Decorators are winging through Houston, signing books and talking design.

Wednesday, April 10, meet Eric Cohler at Decorative Center Houston at the Lee Jofa Showroom, Suite 150, 11 am. He will be signing his new book, Cohler on Design ($50), and discussing his collection of fabrics and furnishings for Lee Jofa. Books will be for sale at the event. RSVP houston.showroom@leejofa.com.

Thursday, April 25, San Antonio architect Michael Imber will be at Greenwood King%26rsquo;s The Lobby, 6:30 pm, speaking and signing his new book, Ranches, Villas, and Houses ($60). Imber is founding president of the Institute of Classical Architecture %26amp; Classical America Texas Chapter, and his book focuses on stunning Texas projects of traditional forms derived from the Southwest landscape. Books will be for sale at the event. RSVP thelobby@greenwoodking.com.

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My, How They've Grown

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:50:06 GMT

Suggesting that Lloyd Scott and Josy Cooner-Collins own the room isn%26rsquo;t just an idle observation %26hellip; it%26rsquo;s now a fact. The dynamic duo recently added 5,000 square feet to Scott + Cooner in the Design District. While a portion of this expansion is devoted to lighting from Delta Light and the Soft Architecture collection by FLOS, a sprawling 3,500 square feet houses the full range of modern furniture from B%26amp;B Italia. Landing the latter was a decades-long quest, says Scott, who has been selling the collection in their Austin location for two years. %26ldquo;We%26rsquo;ll have all the top items %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s B%26amp;B Italia with a fresh face.%26rdquo; The new lighting showroom is geared as much to the modernist home as it is to a boutique hotel or of-the-moment bistro; because of this, the partners created a new Scott + Cooner Contract division to appeal to commercial designers and architects. %26ldquo;This lighting is contract - or architecture-based because it%26rsquo;s something that has to be thought about %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s not about moving into an apartment and putting a pendant light over the dining room table,%26rdquo; she explains. %26ldquo;What Josy and I do is try and have the most cutting-edge design that%26rsquo;s out there. These designs are for a renovation of your environment, and you can do it in so many ways.%26rdquo; 1617 Hi Line Dr., 214.748.9838; scottcooner.com.

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Houston's Mod Moment

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:31:44 GMT

We%26rsquo;ll have mid-century on our minds at the third annual Houston Modern Market Week, April 15 through 22. The Market kicks off with a film festival celebrating Palm Springs modern architecture, including flicks about architect Donald Wexler, architect William Krisel and photographer Julius Shulman. Five films will be screened throughout the week at River Oaks Theatre, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston%26rsquo;s Brown auditorium and AIA Houston headquarters; some with a lecture by author/architect Alan Hess. Friday, April 19, a Preview Party grants diehards early access to the Modern Market itself, which will fill Winter Street Studios with an amalgamation of fine art, furniture and jewelry, plus design and architectural objets; admission includes a three-day pass to the Market, which concludes Sunday, April 21. Other draws include lectures by noted architectural authors Stephen Fox and Don Emitte, as well as the MFAH%26rsquo;s David Brauer and Christine Gervais; a vintage car show; and a Houston architecture bus tour. Proceeds benefit Houston Mod, an initiative that aims to maintain the city%26rsquo;s modern heritage. Tickets and information, houstonmodernmarket.com.

Cabinet of Curiosities

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:18:34 GMT

It%26rsquo;s been a decade-in-the-making obsession by a gent who%26rsquo;s best known as the co-founder of Texas%26rsquo; first (and foremost) art fair. As for the result, the mere word %26ldquo;book%26rdquo; seems a delirious understatement. We%26rsquo;re speaking of Chris Byrne%26rsquo;s extraordinary graphic novel The Magician, which debuted to great acclaim at the L.A. Art Book Fair this January. Few who know Byrne from the Dallas Art Fair, or as independent curator, realized this University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts grad was also an artist on a mission. As The Magician so deftly reveals, its author is infatuated with the arcane, the unexplained and the wondrous. We%26rsquo;re hoping this book, which was published by Seattle-based Marquand Books and co-designed by Scott Newton, finds a home at the temple of Surrealism, aka The Menil Collection. This wunderkammer is actually 12 individual publications inside what resembles a magician%26rsquo;s hermetic box of wonders, offered in an edition of 20 with five artist%26rsquo;s proofs. What are the experts saying? Artist Gary Panter of Pee-wee%26rsquo;s Playhouse weighs in: %26ldquo;Chris Byrne has made an alt comic of such invention, thoughtfulness and ambition that only Chris Ware%26rsquo;s artistic production is on a similar playing field,%26rdquo; while PictureBox publisher Dan Nadel says: %26ldquo;The Magician is %26hellip; a Cornell-ian box, a visual novel, a conjurer%26rsquo;s tool kit. There%26rsquo;s never been anything quite like it.%26rdquo; Inquiries Ed Marquand, Marquand Books, edm@marquand.com.

We're Crazy for This Space Oddity

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:21:24 GMT

Take chinoiserie wallpaper, French iron gates, electric-blue walls and a chrome mannequin, and you’ve only begun to describe the stair landing inside Kimberly Cunningham and Mark Burge’s intricately layered Kessler Park home. Their never-seen-anything-quite-like-it interiors mix might be expected from an artist or mad hatter. Instead, it’s the lair of two corporate sales execs.

The rambling three-story was built in 1987 by Larry Hermann on the former estate of John Yakimo, a well-known resident in Kessler Park around the mid-century. Yakimo’s original home, stables and elaborate gardens are gone, but today, the remainder of a long and curving walkway traverses the hillside at the rear of the property.

“We bought it for the backyard,” says Mark. “There’s no uniformity to it; it’s wild, it’s not landscaped, and it’s on a ridiculously steep hill. It’s so unexpected and surrounded by 200-year-old Texas trees.” %26nbsp;

“I knew it had such potential,” adds Kimberly. “The lines were so unusual and the layout didn’t make much sense. But I saw it as my palette, my big white canvas.”

The couple didn’t tear down a single wall, but cosmetically cleaned house with new countertops, floors, tile, hardware and lighting. Mark had a hand in some eye-popping custom touches such as painting a fire engine red runner up the stairs and installing malachite-inspired glass panels in the powder bath’s French door.

The fusion of humor, color, new and old goes from there. Custom acid green, fuchsia, purple and black wallpaper welcomes guests in the entry. Hook a sharp right and the main living area combines contemporary yellow Marcel Wanders Stone stools with a craftsman-style chandelier rescued from an old restaurant.

Considering her laid-back decorating method, it’s mind-bending that they remodeled and furnished the digs in a cool eight months, particularly when you consider all the repurposed finds. An old metal grain conveyor serves as a stairway handrail. A pair of vintage iron fence posts were flipped upside down, wired with electricity and hung from the ceiling as sconces next to a guest bed. Instead of hanging a trio of old oil paintings on the wall, Kimberly had them ripped from their frames and used as upholstery on a vintage club chair. She wrapped the kitchen’s appliances with bold floral wallpaper rather than replace them. Mark couldn’t stomach throwing out the master bedroom’s extra pine wood plank flooring reclaimed from an old church so he built two long benches that sit alongside the Italian pietre dure kitchen table inlaid with semiprecious stones in a mosaic design. One of Kimberly’s most recent custom works is a wingback chair covered in mosaic tiles. She tapped Oak Cliff artist Katrina Doran to render a design the owner calls “dark stag scene meets Bambi.”

Yet for all of its idiosyncrasies, the free-spirited design mix is decidedly cozy and utterly endearing. “We know it’s out there,” concludes Kimberly. “But we love living here and that’s all that matters.”

The Decorative Oeuvre of Rusty Arena

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:46:14 GMT

Houston%26rsquo;s Rusty Arena is toasting 25 years at the helm of a brilliant design practice. Catherine D. Anspon has a sit-down (on a settee upholstered in Arena%26rsquo;s Caligraph fabric, no less) with the famously low-key artist and artisan to look back on where it all began and find out what%26rsquo;s next. (Hint: We%26rsquo;re seeing water.)

From HSPVA to Kips Bay

From Betty Ewing%26rsquo;s Houston Chronicle columns to the pages of Veranda and Architectural Digest, Rusty Arena has metamorphosed from the kid most likely to succeed in the inaugural class of 1973 at Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts to the darling of the national design firmament. This is a talent whose extraordinary hand-printed wallpaper and textiles are both timeless and contemporary. If we were to compare Arena to a modern art-world talent, it might be Cy Twombly, an artist whom he admires. Like Twombly, Arena is adept at channeling the beauty and resonance from times past to today. Even the monikers of his wall coverings and textiles hint at sources and inspirations from lost civilizations, other worlds, the ancients and the antique %26mdash; Santorini, Cartouche, Valmont. In the two and half decades since Arena Design launched, its protagonist has segued from trompe l%26rsquo;oeil and faux finishes to his signature creations: hand-painted wallpapers and fabrics. He forays successfully into both, and his work draws gasps for the subtle way that light plays on the hand-blocked bolts of velvet. He%26rsquo;s also earned accolades from Carolyne Roehm for the opulent wall covering he crafted for Susan Gutfreund%26rsquo;s library in the New York Kips Bay Show House (the hand-painted and hand-printed jute hereafter titled Avian Kips Bay).

Trumping Trompe L%26rsquo;Oeil

Arena reveals dual epiphanies in his oeuvre. After a nasty painting critique at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston%26rsquo;s school in the mid-1970s, he came home frustrated and decided to move his work permanently from canvas to the walls of his home %26mdash; and began enthusiastically hand-painting everything in sight. A decade later, he was going strong as the faux finisher/trompe l%26rsquo;oeil man about town, with scores of significant national commissions. When a custom faux painting project in Lawrence, Kansas, in the 1990s stretched on for months, Arena vowed to begin replicating his designs on wall coverings, which could be transported to the site instead of himself. And thus was born Arena Design, which is represented today in eight showrooms across the country.

Screen Gems

Arena won%26rsquo;t reveal his secrets, but he was approached by Fortuny to create a wallpaper collection. Because Arena Design%26rsquo;s hand-screened processes are as proprietary as his inspirations, the project did not go forward. He did collaborate with Herm%26egrave;s to craft a collection of velvets for visual display in the fabled retailer%26rsquo;s Paris storefronts, and he has as his dream %26ldquo;one day designing a scarf for Herm%26egrave;s.%26rdquo; He%26rsquo;s also worked on collaborations with the legendary textile company Jim Thompson, which is headquartered in Bangkok.%26nbsp;

Atelier Arena

Arena creations are hand-screened in Houston, using special papers he will not divulge for the wall coverings and jute, linen or velvet for the textiles. At any time, an arsenal of screens are in production for either wallpapers or fabrics, and many designs will appear in both. All this takes place in his showroom, a 20,000-square-foot warehouse in a still gentrifying part of north Houston where Arena and four studio assistants are the keepers of the screens %26mdash; a total of 279 are available, some of which are highlight screens used in combination with others to produce the atelier%26rsquo;s prized output, to fulfill stocked patterns and custom orders. Arena moved to the area in 2006 and plans to foster an arts corridor (along the lines of his previous atelier on Spring Street, which developed into a booming destination for artist studios during his tenure).%26nbsp;

Inspirations

%26ldquo;It always goes back to nature, which never ceases to fascinate me.%26rdquo;

%26ldquo;My travels, which began when I was super young and totally changed my life %26mdash; countless trips to Turkey, Bangkok, Angkor Wat, Casablanca, Java, everywhere in Europe, Paris, the south of France, Mykonos and all throughout Asia, Asia Minor, capped by the night I lay under the stars atop a Mayan pyramid in Chichen Itza and looked up to gaze at Orion %26hellip; an experience that could not be repeated today, because they don%26rsquo;t let you anywhere near the site.%26rdquo;

%26ldquo;I%26rsquo;m really drawn, actually addicted, to the History Channel, particularly their archaeology programs. I could watch it 24/7."

Working on %26hellip;

%26ldquo;I%26rsquo;m amidst a creation for a yacht that%26rsquo;s exciting! The owner, a dream client, was introduced to me by Cord Bowen, who heads the industrial design department at the University of Houston School of Architecture.%26rdquo;

An Arena Primer

Reissuing for the 25th anniversary: Caligraph, a bold, large-scale single screen-print from the original contemporary collection.

Classic designs, Arena%26rsquo;s greatest hits, continuing in production: Amaranth, a subtle all-over Old World pattern channeling Baroque architectural flourishes; Niosh, a modern classic bearing a one-inch dot repeating in a grid format; Maja, an homage to the Spanish court, originally created on linen, currently available in an embossed velvet

Spring 2013 introductions %26mdash; new classics for the Silver Anniversary: The perennially popular Papyrus, produced as a paper for the first-time; Discus, which recalls Greco-Roman antecedents, printed on iridescent-metallic washed jute; Harness, a geometric link and hoop inspired by the fretwork in Aviatrics; Aerial, a lush hand-embossed cotton-velvet fabric in a whispery abalone shade that %26ldquo;will grace two beautiful sofas designed by Lucinda Loya in the Nantucket Showcase by Monsour Taghdisi%26rsquo;s Prestige Builders,%26rdquo; Arena says.

It's a Beautiful Life

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:41:27 GMT

When top talents across genres converge, great things result. One such amalgamate is the stunning Nantucket Showcase, which opens to the public Thursday, April 11, with an opening-night party benefitting Legacy Community Health Services. Envisioned as a showcase from the get-go and built by Monsour Taghdisi, president of Prestige Builders, the 5,000-square-foot contemporary townhouse is located at 1310 Nantucket in Tanglewood, and opens to the public for viewing Friday, April 12. Taghdisi tapped Reagan Miller, AIA, with Miller Dahstrand Architects to design the home, and interior designer Lucinda Loya to head the design portion of the project. Loya, in turn, has assembled a stellar group to bring the showcase to perfect fruition: Richard Dawson and Lawrence Estes of Dawson Estes Landscape Architects are designing a lush rooftop garden and grounds landscaping. McClain Gallery, Barbara Davis Gallery and Hiram Butler Gallery are assembling an enviable collection of art. For a pair of custom sofas, artist Rusty Arena has designed and hand-printed a large-scale classically inspired pattern in tones of oyster and alabaster. Elegant Additions, Poggenpohl, Gaggenau, Mecox, Randy Twaddle Studio, Internum %26amp; Design, Kay O%26rsquo;Toole Antiques and Teri Pugh Studio are a few of the exceptional artists and showrooms involved.

The Details:
Nantucket Showcase opening night Thursday, April 11, 6:30 pm; $200 per person; benefitting Legacy Community Health Services. The Showcase will be open to the public April 12 through 21, with the following hours: Fridays and Saturdays, 11 am to 4 pm; Sundays, noon to 5 pm. Tickets $20; proceeds to benefit The Art Institute of Houston. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit prestigebuildersinc.com/showcase.

Lawndale's Design Fair

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:39:08 GMT

On Wednesday, April 24, Lawndale Art Center launches Design Fair 2013, with 1stdibs founder and chairman Michael Bruno giving a lecture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The action picks back up Friday, April 26, with a preview party chaired by Martha Claire Tompkins and Pepper Paratore, and spans the weekend through Sunday, as Lawndale shows the work of both emerging and established retailers and designers.

This year%26rsquo;s Fair, co-curated by Jenny Lynn Weitz-Amar%26eacute; Cartwright and Scott Cartwright of WAC Design Studio, is focused on small works, intimate objects, jewelry, accessories and, of course, the mid-century modern furnishings for which the Fair is known. Garrett Hunter, who has curated previous Fairs and sits on Lawndale%26rsquo;s Advisory Committee, says the goal of the Fair is to produce %26ldquo;a balanced dialogue between vintage and contemporary by showing design produced from the early 20th century to this day.%26rdquo;

As a past participant, I have personal experience with this event, which has become an important component of the local design scene. Part education, part retail experience, the Design Fair allows designers and retailers to connect with the broader community %26hellip; interacting with some of the brightest minds in local design. While the yearly focus may change, the broader goals of engaging the public and educating consumers about the talent in the city remain the same.

New to this year%26rsquo;s Fair are local retailers Settlement Goods %26amp; Design and Saint Cloud, which will open its Rice Village shop in early May. Others to keep an eye out for include Manready Mercantile, fine art/craft gallery Fl!ght of San Antonio and craft-based artist Bari Zipperstein, whose ceramic vases celebrate modernist architecture and California cool. Also making its debut is the Texas Co-op, brainchild of curators Jenny Lynn and Scott Cartwright, which offers guests a behind-the-scenes look at the design process as it takes shape. Serving as an on-site laboratory for demonstration and interaction with 3-D printers, rapid prototyping and CNC technology, the lab was conceived to start dialogues within the creative community and to serve as a platform for bigger projects down the road.%26nbsp;

But this year, it all begins with 1stdibs founder Michael Bruno%26rsquo;s lecture, in conjunction with the MFAH Design Council, at the Brown Auditorium, Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 pm. Bruno has turned 1stdibs %26mdash; the online global luxury marketplace for antiques, mid-century modern furniture and lighting, fashion and estate jewelry %26mdash; into a global phenomenon. He offers these insights into the online world of luxury goods:

%26bull; Look for a strengthening market (following two years of softness coinciding with the recession), as the past few months have seen strong traffic and sales across all categories.%26nbsp;

%26bull; Among the categories that 1stdibs serves, furniture and fine art continue to see the most traffic, while fashion and jewelry receive the most attention from the press.%26nbsp;

%26bull; Houston and Dallas have more buyers for Birkin bags than any other market in the world %26mdash; with the exception of London.

%26bull; Interesting sales? Last year, 1stdibs sold a 1954 Christian Dior Oscar gown worn by Natalie Portman for $50,000.

Lawndale Design Fair 2013

Preview Party %26amp; Sale: Friday, April 26, 6 %26ndash; 9 pm, at Lawndale Art Center; tickets $60 for Lawndale members, $75 nonmembers; purchase at door or through 713.528.5858

Fair Days: Saturday and Sunday, April 27 %26ndash; 28, 10 am %26ndash; 5 pm, at Lawndale Art Center; general admission $5

Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main St., 713.528.5858; lawndaleartcenter.org

PaperCity DesignAwards

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:18:29 GMT

The deadline is drawing near to enter the PaperCity DesignAwards, with the Houston Design Center, recognizing outstanding interior design, interior architectural design, historical preservation, and garden design.%26nbsp; For information on categories and entry procedure, see page 4, and go to papercitymag.com/pcdesignawards. Deadline is Friday, April 19. Questions, e-mail designawards@papercitymag.com.

Design Buzz

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:17:09 GMT

Big news on San Felipe: Janus et Cie moves out of the Decorative Center Houston to the former clapboard digs of Smith %26amp; Hawken, next to Ouisie%26rsquo;s and Relish, opening June 19. The L.A. purveyor of outdoor furniture favored by many of the chicest beachside hotels is going retail in Houston and showcasing rugs and fabric in addition to the furnishings (with about 70 percent of furnishings available immediately) and in-stock decorative accessories, planters and throws %26hellip; Matt Camron Rugs %26amp; Tapestries%26rsquo; exclusive collection of 100 percent-wool, hand-woven Ikat flat-weave rugs has arrived. Available in stock and custom sizes. Visit at 2702 Sackett, mattcamron.com.

A Delft Hand

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:42:57 GMT

Saving Face

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:38:05 GMT

Did the hipster facial hair moment come and go before you were able to cultivate your very own handlebar? No matter. The wickedly droll Jonathan Adler has added the Muse bottle opener to his arsenal of ideas. This hand-sculpted brass %26rsquo;stache gives you all the irony without sacrificing personal appearance. Give it a twirl. $98, at Jonathan Adler.

Concept: House

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:25:38 GMT

After expanding throughout the Eastern seaboard and the Midwest, the Cleveland-based home furnishings concept Arhaus has headed westward %26mdash; Southwest, to be exact %26mdash; and opened its 47th store (the first in Texas) in the former two-story Barnes %26amp; Noble space at the Centre at Post Oak. The store is divided into concepts, as senior VP of fashion and merchandising Gary Babcock explains: A room to the left mixes industrial-inspired furniture with apothecary-themed accessories (think lab, not mad scientist), while the area just beyond borrows bits and pieces from the 1920s to conjure an %26ldquo;old Hollywood meets Brits born well in Downton Abbey%26rdquo; vibe. The dozen or so designers behind the blueprints for all the artisan-made furniture (which Arhaus contends is never mass produced) work with 10 to 12 colors plucked twice a year from the Pantone color book, sketching all manner of accessories, lighting, garden pieces, upholstery, case goods and the like, immersing themselves with what%26rsquo;s trending in home and fashion. While some decisive customers might elect to buy an entire room to go, the sales staff (which boasts design backgrounds and will make house calls to clients, too) can help you customize an upholstered piece with more than 2,000 fabrics to choose from, or show you those one-of-a-kind antiques or art installations dotted about the store. 5000 Westheimer Road (corner of Post Oak Blvd.) 713.850.1615; arhaus.com.

The Perfume of the Past Cohabits with Cutting-Edge

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:59:44 GMT

On the day we entered the stately, art-packed 1895 Victorian home of game-changing gallerist Devin Borden and pilot Robert Briscoe, we found two whippets, a trove of cool vinyl, some intriguing Roman artifacts and a luncheon party in progress.

Strains of Schumann waft from an elegant late 19th-century Steinway grand piano, which is tuned into (and dates from) the exact year of the music parlor where it now holds court. The oft-played instrument occupies the epicenter of the first floor of this graceful, perfectly preserved 1895 residence, which proudly reigns in the West End. Miraculously, its original woodwork, working transoms and intact pocket doors have survived, existing as a portal back into the period of its birth. But because this is the home of one of Texas%26rsquo; most significant contemporary gallerists and his partner, a captain of aviation, the house is not preserved in amber but brought forward to the 21st century, thanks to a sensitively installed collection of artists from our time, including those who often attend the hosts%26rsquo; legendary luncheons and dinner parties. If the curtain to the past were pulled back, we suspect original owner Conrad Schwarz (1845%26ndash;1919) %26mdash; a German immigrant, vehicle manufacturer and enterprising carriage and early car dealer %26mdash; would whole-heartedly approve.

Bidding wars: On how you and Robert acquired this pristine Victorian in the West End. Robert had just returned from his first tour of duty in Iraq.%26nbsp;It was December of 2005.%26nbsp;We stepped over the threshold, and it was not a question of if, but of how we would acquire this amazing house.%26nbsp;Although the owners at the time had had it on the market for several months with no action, all of a sudden they were also entertaining a counteroffer from a law firm, which certainly had deeper pockets than us. Luckily the final negotiations were happening between Christmas and New Year%26rsquo;s; we think all of the law partners were in Colorado skiing.%26nbsp;
%26nbsp;
Musing on the past. I am in love with my new gallery at Isabella Court, which opened a year and a half ago. I am in the Evelyn Wilson Interiors space, which I remember from childhood because of its very Dorothy Draper black-and-white-striped awnings. My mother also brought me to Wadler-Kaplan Music when it was in the space at the other end of the building, which is now occupied by Kerry Inman. (I played the piano and still do.%26nbsp;My first recital was in the Brown Auditorium at MFAH.%26nbsp;I played Robert Schumann%26rsquo;s Wilder Reiter, which was perfect except for the last note.)
%26nbsp;
On a Yankee/Southern childhood. I was born in the East, but my father%26rsquo;s office was transferred to Houston from Rockefeller Center when Exxon consolidated in the Sunbelt.%26nbsp;We first lived in Champions and later Cypress, where my parents built a Cape Cod saltbox and filled it with American antiques, eccentric for the time and place. Not to be pigeonholed as carpetbaggers, they kept chickens and horses and participated in the Salt Grass trail ride.%26nbsp;At school, apart from reading and math, I learned to love chicken-fried steak, okra and black-eyed peas (not to mention corn dogs and Frito pies). At the same time, a good part of every summer was spent at my grandparents%26rsquo; house in a little town in the Catskill Mountains. Clearly, it was a conflicted Yankee/Southern childhood.
%26nbsp;
First brush with art. My earliest art memories are the sculptures on the Princeton campus and at the MoMA, particularly the work of Gaston LaChaise.%26nbsp;Later, I remember waiting in line with my mother to see the late C%26eacute;zanne paintings at the MFAH.%26nbsp;And although they are not fine art, per se, the dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History, especially the wolves running in the snow,%26nbsp;completely captivated me.
%26nbsp;
On buying and selling. Part of our summer vacations visiting family back East would include buying antiques. We would return to Houston in August with a trailer full of treasures from all over New York and New England.%26nbsp;My parents would resell the ones they didn%26rsquo;t want at antique shows on the weekends back in Texas, where I think I got a knack for buying and selling, as well as developing an eye. Later I became good friends with Susanna Sheffield, who worked for Warren Hadler in Houston and later had her own gallery here.%26nbsp;I had my first painting show at Susanna%26rsquo;s space on Jack Street in 1988.

Dinner at the de Menils. My first art job, apart from occasional gallery sitting at Sheffield Gallery, was as a gofer for Fred Hughes, Andy Warhol%26rsquo;s business manager for 25 years and a prot%26eacute;g%26eacute; of the de Menils from his time at the University of St. Thomas. Fred was doing reconnaissance in Houston as the newly formed Warhol Foundation was searching for a director.%26nbsp;The greatest thrill of that gig was a small dinner at the Menils%26rsquo; house with Fred, two of the newly hired Warhol curators (Timothy Hunt and Steven Bluttal) and Walter Hopps.%26nbsp;I had seen La Rime et La Raison in Paris in 1984, and as a young person interested in art this was a dream come true. There was an Yves Klein and an Arcimbaldo in the entry hall.%26nbsp;No one said a word at dinner except Walter and Mrs. de Menil, who beseeched everyone to eat their pineapple.

True tale from your life as a gallerist. I will never forget staying up all night to finish executing a design of a chair by Robert Wilson that he had drawn the day before one of his shows in Houston.%26nbsp;The day before. It was a pleasure, but I remember feeling woozy at the opening.

On your very first art acquisition %26mdash; a Mark Flood canvas. This was in the late 1980s at Commerce Street studios where Mark, then John Peters, had a studio.%26nbsp;I was a student, and I didn%26rsquo;t have much money.%26nbsp;Mark was beyond cool to make an offer that if I brought him two stretched canvases, he would paint them both and give me one.%26nbsp;I was back the next day with two stretched canvases.%26nbsp;He said that although he had made that offer before, no one had ever taken him up on it.%26nbsp;And he would be damned if he ever did that again.%26nbsp;The other painting is in Bill Lassiter%26rsquo;s collection.

House music: Bach lives on. I have many favorites, and it seems like a shame to mention only one. The names are not unusual: Schubert, Schumann, Bach. I will say that if I could bring only one manuscript to a desert island, with a piano of course, it would be Bach%26rsquo;s Well Tempered Clavier Book II.%26nbsp;The good news is that if my harpsichord happened to wash on shore, I%26rsquo;d be perfectly happy as well.

Classical versus vinyl. Classical is okay on CD because the noises of vinyl %26mdash; the hisses and pops %26mdash; can really be distracting in transparent passages. I really prefer jazz and rock on vinyl. Maybe because the technology and the art form are contemporary with each other? What I really like about vinyl is the ritual:%26nbsp;getting out a record and listening to an album, the songs in order. Then it%26rsquo;s over. It%26rsquo;s quiet. Shuffle mode and the endless stream of Pandora and Spotify are great if you are driving, but at home I prefer a record %26mdash;%26nbsp;tons of jazz, Mingus, Holiday, Davis.%26nbsp;I am really excited about some of the recent rereleases, like the Beatles catalog.%26nbsp;EdithPiaf. Kraftwork. David Bowie%26rsquo;s The Next Day is out on March 19.

Night table. I love English history %26mdash; David Starkey%26rsquo;s Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne; also the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians Volume I (I think I was reading about Brahms) and The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal, a gift from Hiram Butler.

Cinematic moments. I can%26rsquo;t wait to see The Place Beyond the Pines.%26nbsp;I think Ryan Gosling is underrated. Almodovar has a new film this spring, I%26rsquo;m So Excited.

Blockbusters. The Oldenburg works at MoMA this spring are not to be missed.%26nbsp;There are also great shows coming this year to Houston, particularly %26ldquo;Picasso Black and White%26rdquo; at the MFAH and Forrest Bess at the Menil.%26nbsp;The Blaffer will bring us Andy Coolquitt in May. I%26rsquo;m excited about %26ldquo;Outside the Lines,%26rdquo; an abstract painting show being organized by the CAMH and co-curated by Bill Arning, Valerie Cassel Oliver and Dean Daderko, but we have to wait until winter.

Digital and web loves. I am addicted to Swamplot, a perfect blend of architecture, development, restaurant openings and closings. And The Great God Pan is Dead.%26nbsp;Houston is lucky to have an independent voice like Robert Boyd covering our art scene.

If a movie were cast about you%26hellip; I don%26rsquo;t know about me, but Robert can only be played by Robert Mitchum.

Fave city in the world. I will take Rome, and you can keep the rest.%26nbsp;I was there for the umpteenth%26nbsp;time this past summer but still managed to do something I had never done before on each day of the trip. Robert and I had the Pietro da Cortona ceilings at the Palazzo Barberini all to ourselves for 30 minutes. Conveniently, they had moved these couches to the middle of the grand salon, so we just lay back and took it all in. Our favorite meal was at L%26rsquo;Enoteca Cul de Sac.
%26nbsp;
Signature menu and libations. You are unable to leave my house without having at least one piece of Popeye%26rsquo;s spicy fried chicken or a tamale from the Texas Tamale Company. I love Belhaven Scottish Ale and the Belgian Ales from Ommegang Brewery from New York State, like Three Philosophers.%26nbsp;If you were lamenting the passing of Dublin Dr Pepper, have no fear: The recipe with Imperial Cane Sugar is available at Central Market.
%26nbsp;
Never leave the house without%26hellip; Well, within reason, my two dogs, Solomon and Millie. I consider myself the luckiest person alive to be able to bring my dogs to the office.
%26nbsp;
Wardrobe staple. Brooks Brothers no-iron and Munsingwear Penguin shirts, which I%26rsquo;m sure everyone is tired of seeing me in. Right now I like to dress them up with neon and Day-Glo unisex tees from American Apparel.

Last art acquisition. I purchased a wooden construction by Nathan Green from Art Palace at the Texas Contemporary Fair. It is simple and beautiful. I also recently acquired a Devon Britt-Darby painting from his exhibit at PG Contemporary and a gorgeous yellow and blue print by Charles Wiese.

Next art acquisition. I have my eye on a Ted Gahl painting at David Shelton Gallery and a wonderful primitive sculpture by Clark Derbes who had a show with Gus Kopriva at G Gallery this winter.

Guilty pleasure. If it is a quiet day at the gallery and I can get out, I will go through the entire MFAH.%26nbsp;The entire museum. I pick a favorite object in each gallery. The re-installations of African, pre-Columbian and ancient art are sublime.%26nbsp;Do not miss the Indonesian gold.%26nbsp;The Korean galleries are amazing.%26nbsp;I love seeing what changes are happening with the Old Master installations. Emily Neff is a magician with the American painting galleries. I usually intend to stay for an hour but I walk out after three.

How you and Robert met: the Romans as matchmakers. We started talking about Roman history, and we both loved Suetonius%26rsquo; The Twelve Caesars. That%26rsquo;s a pretty good indicator that you are a match.

Blacksmith to philanthropist: On tales of the original homeowner, the mythic Conrad Schwarz. We knew about the grave of Schwarz in Washington Cemetery (adjacent to Glenwood Cemetery) from Karen Hallet, who owned the house before us.%26nbsp;We went down and found it:%26nbsp;a majestic obelisk made of granite.%26nbsp;I found his obituaries in the Houston papers at the library, and we had a copy of his will.%26nbsp;But the
rest was a mystery. Through a friend in Germany, we discovered that there is still a Konrad Schwarz Strasse in Niedenstein, about 15 miles from Kassel [of Documenta fame]; unfortunately, the monument he built in 1911 to the Veterans of the Franco-Prussian war was destroyed.%26nbsp;The street was named for him to honor his trust, which still provides a modest amount of money to needy people in the area. Pretty amazing stuff for a blacksmith from Houston, Texas.

Inspirations. Susanna Sheffield taught me to look for honesty and integrity in mark-making. My time with Hiram Butler %26mdash; for five years as his director and then 15 as his business partner %26mdash; was an ongoing education in art dealing. Hiram%26rsquo;s knowledge of prints and works on paper is incredible, and witnessing his ability to %26ldquo;think big%26rdquo; is inspiring.%26nbsp;Susanna didn%26rsquo;t suffer fools gladly, and neither does Hiram.

The pull of the past in contemporary art practice. I love history, and I look for understanding of history in contemporary art.%26nbsp;I have as little patience for artists who don%26rsquo;t know that they are replicating something that someone did 10, 20 or 30 years ago as I would for someone who doesn%26rsquo;t know that Madonna didn%26rsquo;t write %26ldquo;American Pie.%26rdquo;%26nbsp;I am fortunate to work with smart and talented people like Laura Lark, Geoff Hippenstiel, Jillian Conrad. I could name so many more, who I might add are also really nice. And they are serious about what they are doing.

Artists mining history: Darryl Lauster and Ted Kincaid. I totally respect that Darryl%26rsquo;s current work does not shy away from tough political discourse, although he doesn%26rsquo;t hit you over the head with it.%26nbsp;His earlier cast furniture works were an examination of what %26ldquo;American%26rdquo; art means. Ted%26rsquo;s knowledge of photography and the history of photography comes into play in such wonderful subtle ways in his fake/real photographs that they still leave me shaking my head.%26nbsp;That%26rsquo;s not the moon ...

On you as an archaeologist. Actually [I%26rsquo;ve been on] just one dig, but several times: the Via Gabina dig near Rome which ran from 1978- to 1990.%26nbsp;I participated in the late %26lsquo;80s. Just last month, we celebrated a reunion for all of the excavators, especially to honor the two men who organized and directed it, Walter Widrig and the late Philip Oliver-Smith. There is a wonderful book about the excavation and lots of information available at viagabina.rice.edu.%26nbsp;Our greatest find, an exquisite mosaic, is prominently displayed%26nbsp;at the National Museum at the Palazzo Massimo in Rome.

Parallels between searching for ancient artifacts and sleuthing out extraordinary artists. I think the commonality is looking.%26nbsp;And patience.

Upcoming for Devin Borden Gallery. I open a show every month this year; Nicholas Kersulis from Los Angeles will be up through April 2; Geoff Hippenstiel opens March 8 and runs through April.%26nbsp;I am looking forward to major installations by Melissa Thorne and Jillian Conrad.

Last art jaunt. I just got back from Mexico City with my brother Dan, who was visiting from Berlin.%26nbsp;It was a quick trip to enjoy some beautiful architecture and some good food. The Red Tree House in Colonia Condesa is near great restaurants, and the Art Deco architecture on the Avenida Amsterdam is inspiring.%26nbsp;The William Spratling Silver exhibition at the Franz Mayer Museum was especially good.%26nbsp;The huachinango at Merotoro was delicious.%26nbsp;It%26rsquo;s the second restaurant by Pablo Bueno and Gabriel Camara of Contramar fame.

Turn On, Tune In, Stand Out

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 10:32:29 GMT

Architecture Robbie Fusch. Interior design Brant McFarlain. Floral Grange Hall.

It%26rsquo;s a design-obsessed world. National and regional shelter publications have been joined by literally dozens of Web sites and TV shows in the search for see-worthy interiors %26mdash; so many gorgeous homes and, increasingly, so little to differentiate them. So when you stumble across a truly singular dwelling, it%26rsquo;s with a mix of surprise, delight and much relief. The kind of place with a Saarinen table in the entry, a work-in-progress puzzle on the dining table, an aerial silk rigging in the upstairs recording studio and two funky tents in the back garden.

That, in a very small nutshell, is the very large but completely comfortable home of Jenny and John Kirtland. Built just two years ago on a spacious corner lot in one of Dallas%26rsquo; most prestigious but least intimidating neighborhoods, it%26rsquo;s both lush and livable, with a full measure of quirkiness %26mdash; interior design that doesn%26rsquo;t hold its breath waiting for someone else%26rsquo;s approval.

The couple met onstage when Jenny, now with Polyphonic Spree, opened for John%26rsquo;s band Deep Blue Something. You might expect the home of two musicians to have a Laurel Canyon vibe, and there are touches of that aesthetic in natural wood finishes and graphic-patterned wallpapers %26mdash; not to mention the music room and that recording studio. But there are also sleek mid-century pieces, luxurious leathers and extraordinary custom lighting, all embraced by the architecture of an elegant but relaxed English country home, complete with pale stone fa%26ccedil;ade and soaring cathedral ceilings laced with glowing wood beams. %26ldquo;We love modern,%26rdquo; Jenny explains, %26ldquo;but we didn%26rsquo;t want a white box. The English-style architecture gave us a casual feel without that antique-y feeling.%26rdquo;

Although they had loved the process of gutting and remodeling their first home in a Lower Greenville neighborhood, the Kirtlands decided to build as their family grew. %26ldquo;We had just had our daughter when we bought the property,%26rdquo; Jenny says. They worked with architect Robbie Fusch and builder Tom Kindred to realize their vision.

That point/counterpoint of traditional and modern informs every room. They had purchased much of the furniture and rugs before moving in, then partnered with Dallas designer Brant McFarlain %26ldquo;to finish out the rooms. His taste is similar to mine,%26rdquo; says Jenny, %26ldquo;so we worked well together.%26rdquo; The interior evolved at a relaxed pace, with pieces relocated several times %26ldquo;before they found their place.%26rdquo; For instance, their original dining table was split to create twin consoles %26mdash; one in the upstairs hall, the other creating a DJ station with dual turntables in the music room.

The music room is a microcosm of their style mash-up: grand piano with a tufted velvet bench, a sinuously modern sofa that curves over a retro-chic purple shag rug and shelves filled with an LP collection (think Wilco meets Puccini, The Flaming Lips vs. Captain and Tennille, Merle Haggard sidling up to Stereolab). This is a favorite spot for entertaining, with friends taking turns DJing.

%26ldquo;We don%26rsquo;t really entertain formally,%26rdquo; Jenny says. That explains the jigsaw puzzle in the dining room, which is typically used for games and homework rather than formal gatherings. The family congregates primarily in the open kitchen/living area, dominated by a brass-seamed wood

%26ldquo;Our friends Lisa and John Runyon (of Runyon Fine Arts) helped us with the art collection,%26rdquo; which includes album cover art by Christian Marclay and a Will Cotton drawing that served as the concept art for a Katy Perry album. Their music-industry ties are evident throughout the house, especially in the upstairs recording studio, tucked into a tall gabled space and crowded with microphones and instruments. Right in the center is Jenny%26rsquo;s aerial silk rigging, a sluice of bright blue that she uses for workouts %26agrave; la Cirque du Soleil %26ldquo;although when they do it, they look so calm and graceful.%26rdquo;

Working at a relaxed pace, Jenny spent a lot of time sourcing the striking wallpapers that give each room its character. %26ldquo;I scoured European design magazines and books, and I went down a lot of online rabbit trails,%26rdquo; she says. Her favorite finds: designs by the Swedish one-named wonder Hanna and papers by New York artist Shanan Campanaro, who transforms individual art prints into dazzling wallpapers such as the Rorschachian pattern in the dining room and the magical Lamb%26rsquo;s Ear in a rear hallway.

The no-pressure progression of the house shows in the natural, unforced style of the finished project. %26ldquo;The real pressure was off when we moved in,%26rdquo; Jenny says, %26ldquo;so I could finish each room on my own time, with no deadlines.%26rdquo;

All Fired Up

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:27:10 GMT

It%26rsquo;s all about ceramics when the 47th annual National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) fires up the George R. Brown Convention Center Wednesday through Saturday, March 20 through 23. Supplementing the conference itself are exhibitions, workshops, lectures and demonstrations%26nbsp; %26mdash; in all, 175 ceramic-related exhibits held in 90 venues, including three juried shows: the NCECA Biennial at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (through May 5); NCECA%26rsquo;s National Student Juried Exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston%26rsquo;s Glassell School of Art (through March 23); and the Texas State K-12 Juried Student Exhibition at the Downtown Public Library (through April 12). As for the conference itself, Janine Antoni %26mdash; whose work blurs the line between performance art and sculpture %26mdash; gives the keynote address, with additional lectures by Bill Bowers, Namita Gupta Wiggers and Clayton Bailey. Look for site-specific instillations from five featured artists; a gallery expo uniting an array of national dealers; Art-Stream Gallery%26rsquo;s appearance in a 30-foot Airstream reconditioned into an exhibition space; and the 21st annual Cup Sale, where you can buy petite pottery for a pittance to raise funds for the NCECA Fund for Artistic Development. Information nceca.net.

A Different Kind of Drama at Museum Tower

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:09:15 GMT

Screenplay rewrites occur for a variety of reasons, from cast changes to conflicting visions between writer and director. Furniture, to our knowledge, has never been one of those reasons %26mdash; until production began for the current season of Dallas. A dazzling acrylic bed by Allan Knight %26amp; Associates inspired rewrites %26ldquo;to put more scenes in the bedroom,%26rdquo; says Knight. That would be the bedroom of the fictional Pamela Barnes in the very real Museum Tower. Filming occurs in that famously glass-clad building, in part because the view includes a nearby skyscraper cast as the headquarters of Ewing Energy. %26ldquo;Pamela is very powerful, wealthy, ruthless, and the set speaks to that type of character,%26rdquo; says Dallas director Richard Berg. %26ldquo;We wanted something so cutting-edge modern that it became intimidating.%26rdquo; In scouting locations last fall, Berg found the aesthetic he wanted in the fiercely glamorous model unit at Museum Tower, created by local designer Marco French. A call to French led to a tour of Knight%26rsquo;s showroom, the source of the model apartment%26rsquo;s edgy furniture, lighting and accessories. %26ldquo;My jaw dropped,%26rdquo; Berg recalls. %26ldquo;It was an astounding collection, in particular his acrylic pieces,%26rdquo; for which Knight is justifiably renowned.

The result: Everything in Barnes%26rsquo; home %26mdash; including that rewrite-worthy acrylic bed %26mdash; is by Knight himself or a line he represents, a rare if not unprecedented partnership between Hollywood and a to-the-trade showroom. %26ldquo;Richard showed me plans and images,%26rdquo; says Knight, %26rdquo;and he told me it needed to be done in less than a week. We have 40,000 square feet of furnished rooms, so we just pulled the best of the best off the floor and installed it.%26rdquo;

The payoff is more than publicity, says Knight: %26ldquo;This is very different from Southfork. This was a chance to be part of something new in Dallas, to change some perceptions about the city.%26rdquo;

The Historic and Avant-Garde Living Space of a Gallerist and Game Changer

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 05:18:37 GMT

When David Shelton relocated his eponymous burgeoning art biz from San Antonio to Houston last September, that city%26rsquo;s loss was our gain: Shelton%26rsquo;s stable is packed with solid, stellar talents. Where did Shelton select to hold court in Houston? The charming circa-1929 Isabella Court, long a haven for architects, designers, performers, and now an art enclave. The building once famously housed Evelyn Wilson Interiors and portraitist Paul Gittings, who often employed the building%26rsquo;s scenic stairways as backdrops for family photographs. Built by enterprising Houston developer Pierre Michael, he tapped Miami architect William D. Bordeaux, AIA, to create the glamorous Spanish Colonial Revival-style mixed-use Isabella residential-commercial building for the booming Main Street corridor in 1929.

Art dealer Shelton%26rsquo;s recently minted digs rub shoulders with other important art destinations %26mdash; Inman Gallery, Art Palace, Devin Borden Gallery and Kinzelman Art Consulting %26mdash; to complete the midtown/Main Street art-power picture, with the new DiverseWorks a block away. Fortuitously, Shelton%26rsquo;s move coincided with the availability of one of the fabled residential spaces for which the National Register Isabella building has long been famous %26mdash; this one located just above his new gallery. This is home as distillation of work. Inside is a unique apartment where eight decades of history and touches of the Spanish Colonial Revival style make an engaging receptacle for Shelton%26rsquo;s eagle-eyed contemporary collection, which mirrors his trend-setting aesthetic and timeless stable in the gallery below, containing coveted internationals such as humorous pop-text master Alejandro Diaz and Vince Valdez of the exquisite drawings of boxers, as well as dazzling emergents such as San Antonio-based collagist Kelly O%26rsquo;Connor and conceptual landscape painter Sara Frantz.

Geography. Originally from Houston, grew up in New Braunfels.

Influences. My most transformative period was a summer studying art, culture and history in Europe when I was 17.

Schooling. SMU, where I studied political science, business and art.

First job. Winn Morton Designs in Dallas. I began working with him during my last year at SMU and stayed for almost a year after graduating. Winn is an extraordinarily talented and sophisticated costume and scenic designer, and a consummate gentleman. I was fortunate enough to work with him on spectacular productions including Crystal Charity Ball, Mayor%26rsquo;s International Ball, Opera Ball and the Tyler Rose Festival, which he still does. He gave me the fortitude to move to NYC, for which I will always be grateful.

The road to DSG. Between 2005 and opening in San Antonio in 2009, I worked with two artists/friends on various museum, gallery and art fair shows around the country. Prior to that, I spent many years in marketing, branding and advertising at Nina Ricci, Max Factor, Netscape, and Young %26amp; Rubicam in NY, L.A. and SF.

Converting your parents. My parents collected difficult children. Of course, I am referring to my siblings, of which there are two. As far as collecting art, no, they didn%26rsquo;t, but they have acquired some formative works since 2009.

Biggest break to date: The tale of Vincent Valdez%26rsquo;s six-figure suite at the 2011 Texas Contemporary Fair.Vincent, his fianc%26eacute;e and I were at the gallery one evening several months prior to the inaugural Texas Contemporary Art Fair. We were talking about art, what we wanted to do, and what statement we wanted to make. Vincent said that he could produce a new suite of drawings, which he proceeded to describe. Loving the idea, I told him that if he could do that, then I could give him his own booth at the art fair. This is how we ended up with two booths, and Vincent%26rsquo;s work was acquired within the first 15 minutes of the opening preview, leaving another stunned collector to ask if he had just missed it by two seconds as he hung up his cell phone.

Why you packed up and moved to Houston. What initially prompted the idea was the temporary exhibit we did in Fall 2010 at the Inman Annex in Isabella Court, which is where Devin Borden is now. It was a fantastic experience, and we received an enormously gracious and supportive response from Houston friends, collectors, museums, institutions, artists and enthusiasts. The Texas Contemporary did further cement the idea, but I also felt that if we were to relocate to Houston, it would need to be at Isabella Court. During this time, I had a number of important conversations with Betty Moody, Kerry Inman and Julie Kinzelman, all of whom were instrumental in the process. Serendipitously, things pretty much just came together a year later.

First art acquisition. My first contemporary art piece acquired after moving back to Texas was a small, gold-plated sculpture by San Antonio artist Daniel Saldana. The second was a monumental Western belt buckle that an artist, Michelle Valdez, found in her grandfather%26rsquo;s pickup truck, onto which she simply engraved: %26ldquo;I Love Beuys.%26rdquo; These are two of my favorite works.

Collecting advice. Go with what you like, but challenge yourself a bit. I don%26rsquo;t believe that you need a %26ldquo;place%26rdquo; for a specific work of art that you like. That will happen on its own.

Blogs you read every day. I read The New York Times print edition every morning.

Home decor: Personal style. I could describe it as I wish it to be, which is quite minimal, but the reality is more eclectic.

House music. A messed-up playlist that often includes Mercury Rev, Nina Simone, M. Ward, Gorillaz, LCD Soundsystem, Elvis Costello, Sarah Vaughan, K.D. Lang and Louis Armstrong. And I love John Cage.

Night table. The Ultimate Food Lover%26rsquo;s Guide to Houston and When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris. I have seen him twice, and his books are best when he reads them.

Films. I still need to see Lincoln. I love period pieces and depressing drama.

Restaurant after an opening. Double Trouble, but it%26rsquo;s a bar.

Power lunch. I enjoy Max %26amp; Julie on Montrose, especially this time of year. Plus, it%26rsquo;s close by. My other favorite is Provisions, which is calmer during the day.

Libation. Red wine. My current sensation is Neal Zinfandel from Rutherford Dust Vineyards in Napa.

Tweet, Facebook, Instagram and/or blog. I use Facebook a bit, but try to live in the actual world for the most part.

Guilty pleasure. The cookies and brownies at Pondicheri. Absolutely the best.

Wardrobe staple. Boots. I love boots. Usually brown, often suede.

Upcoming for DSG. This spring, solo exhibitions with Cruz Ortiz, who had a one-person exhibit at the CAMH two years ago, and Vincent Valdez, both of which are very exciting and quite divergent. For the fall, we are working on exhibitions for James Smolleck and Margaret Meehan, as well as a couple of interesting new additions for 2013. Stay tuned.

Blockbusters. I%26rsquo;m very excited about Tony Feher being the opening act for the new Blaffer Art Museum, as well as his current installation at DiverseWorks. And I look forward to the James Turrell Retrospective at MFAH. Of course, this will necessitate visits to L.A. and NY, as well.

You on the big screen. Jude Law. With dark hair.

Last art jaunt. Miami, this past December.

Next art trip. San Antonio. I go frequently but want to see the new installations at Artpace, including window works by Leigh Anne Lester and %26ldquo;Transitisos,%26rdquo; which is a group of artists from the Mexico City-based Changarrito Collection, as well as Vincent Valdez%26rsquo; solo exhibition at The McNay once more before it closes. These trips always include studio visits and meetings with artists. Next up is Dallas.

Ultimate destination. Paris. I love to eat and wander aimlessly there. Never quite certain what I may find.

Three artists you are tracking. I can%26rsquo;t say, because I am interested in them for the gallery, but they are fantastic. Aside from that, some of my favorites are Joseph Beuys (especially his drawings) and Al Taylor. I also love Peter Doig%26rsquo;s work. There are some inspiring artists in Houston who are making incredible work, and I really believe in the three young artists in our current exhibition at the gallery, Ted Gahl, Lane Hagood and Nathan Hayden.%26nbsp;It was organized by Shane Tolbert, who is not only the assistant gallery director, but also a great Houston artist.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

To take visiting artists. Vinoteca Poscol on Westheimer is perfect for great food for sharing, comfortable conversation and good lighting. We always have a great evening there.

Cocktail party menu. I love all sorts of cheeses, breads and condiments. And radishes with a bowl of course sea salt have become a tradition of sorts.

Never leave the house without. A watch. I would not know what to do %26mdash; fully acknowledging, of course, that I could simply look at my iPhone.

Gallerist in history that you emulate. Hopefully no one. I am not a product of the traditional gallery culture, nor have I worked at one other than my own.

Aesthetic. The gallery program presents a vigorous narrative that transcends contemporary political, social, cultural, and gender issues, which often overlap. At times it is delivered within an historical context or through humor, though not in a particularly overt manner. Our intention is for the viewer to interact with the work on a personal level and interpret it on their own terms. If their interpretation evolves, develops, or changes over time, all the better as that indicates relevant moments of discovery.

You and your artists. We have very close and individual relationships, which I find necessary. Something that the outside world does not see is how each of the artists continually challenge and surprise me, in very different ways, through their creative processes, with the evolution of their work, and in the development of their practices. This is the most invigorating aspect of being a dealer, and I hope to do the same with them.

Stable as Texas-centric. Yes, definitely, although we plan on introducing a few East and West Coast artists who will be important to the roster as we further expand our reach on a national basis.

Geography. We have quite a number of San Antonio and Austin artists currently on the roster. I suspect that new additions will be from elsewhere, including Houston, which will be good for the overall group of artists. From the beginning, I have wanted to maintain a fairly tight roster in order to work with each artist on as personal a level as possible.

The latest and greatest. The three most recent additions are James Smolleck and Leigh Anne Lester, both from San Antonio, and Margaret Meehan from Austin/Dallas. We are planning upcoming solo exhibitions for all of them, and I am extremely excited to introduce their new work in Houston.

San Antonio as Texas%26rsquo; talent pool. I definitely believe that it is, and one of the most relevant. The challenge is to gain exposure to a larger audience outside of San Antonio, and especially outside of Texas.

Last acquisition. A graphite drawing by Sara Frantz. She is extraordinary.

Next acquisition. It will have to be some of The Cards, which are small ink-on-paper drawings by Nathan Hayden in the current exhibit at the gallery. There are over 300 of them as part of a large installation piece, titled unkindofremarkable, so I%26rsquo;ll wait for people to choose theirs, which will make it profoundly easier to decide.

Scoop from the fairs in Miami Beach. Inman Gallery and we did the inaugural Miami Project, along with about 60 other galleries. It was organized by Max Fishko and Jeffrey Wainhause, who also produce the Texas Contemporary here in Houston. It is exciting %26mdash; and quite stress inducing %26mdash; to do a Miami fair, much less a new one. But Max, Jeffrey, and their team did an amazing job and it turned out incredibly well. We will definitely do it again this year.

Buzz from your booth at the Miami Project. We were just inside the main entrance, so were able to hear the immediate response from people. The most common refrain was that it was a %26ldquo;quality fair,%26rdquo; and people sounded relieved as they said so. It really was beautiful %26mdash; open, bright, easy to navigate %26mdash; with a lot of impressive art. And more than a few people wanted to talk about Texas and Houston, which is even better. Marty Walker from Dallas was directly next to us, so they got a double dose of Texas.

Which artists drew the biggest interest in Miami, and sales. Alejandro Diaz, with his Happiness Is Expensive neon sign, of which the edition is now sold out; Kelly O%26rsquo;Connor%26rsquo;s collage works; and Vincent Valdez%26rsquo;s large-scale pastel on paper all drew a tremendous level of attention from collectors, dealers and museums. We did well, as did most of the dealers. Not only were we able to place work in existing and new Texas collections, but also in multiple collections in New York, London and other cities.

Next fair. Texas Contemporary 2013. We treat art fairs as a sort of exhibition and tend to show new work, which we are already working on.

First six months in Houston. The fall season was insane. Coming off of our move to Houston, we did three art fairs and three openings over the span of three months, but it has been fantastic. People are extraordinarily supportive and welcoming, and there is such great creative energy and confidence. I really believe that this is a seminal time for Houston, specifically regarding art and culture. There is increasingly a national, and international, impact that people are discovering and appreciating. The New York Times obviously agrees; they cited Houston as the #7 place in the world to go in 2013, largely due to art and culture.

Biggest surprise about Houston. The level of generosity and support from artists, collectors, enthusiasts, galleries, art consultants, museums, institutions, and organizations, as well as artist-run spaces, critics, writers and publications, all of which speaks very well of Houston as a community. The best part of which is that, while respectful, you also know that expectations are high.

Favorite person, place or thing about the Houston art world. The significance and quality of our museums, institutions and organizations. Houston draws so many interesting people who come here specifically to view, discuss, show and purchase art, or at least include it as a meaningful part of their visit in between some really great meals.

How you decided to go for it and open David Shelton Gallery. I had known quite a few Texas artists for years, primarily in San Antonio, and had been thinking about opening a gallery for some time. Franco Mondini-Ruiz was the first person to suggest that I come back to Texas because so many great things were happening. Anjali Gupta, who was then editor of Art Lies, was also instrumental.%26nbsp;After I saw the quality of contemporary art being produced, the decision was easy.

Inspiration: Collector, artist, fellow gallerist or curator that most shaped you. It is an ongoing personal endeavor.

Do you still live with your first acquisition. I do! The sculpture is on a table in my foyer, and the belt buckle is framed on a shelf just above it %26mdash; but I might need to take it out for Rodeo Houston.

Most thrilling discovery. The artists with whom I work are continually coming up with new ways of challenging themselves and evolving their work. This is what I most enjoy.

Happy Camper

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:20:41 GMT

Reminiscences of Hill Country summers may spark memories of tribal campfires and short-sheeting your counselor%26rsquo;s bed. But designer Ann Sutherland does nostalgia one better with Camp Wannagetaway, a newly launched collection of vintage-inspired stripes and toiles for Perennials Outdoor Fabrics that evokes lazy summer days spent near a favorite watering hole. The large-scale Boathouse Stripe has a heavily slubbed hand; Vintage Stripe alternates two colors for a rustic linen look; Ticking Stripe provides perfect companionship for solids and prints; County Fair showcases a pastoral countryside; and the softly textured chenille Crepe de Jour offers a homespun feel. All boast Perennials%26rsquo; Nano Seal finish for extra protection against dirt, fading, rough-housing and, assumedly, the occasional dropped s%26rsquo;more. To the trade at David Sutherland Showroom, Dallas Design Center, 1025 N. Stemmons Freeway, Suite 340, 214.742.6501; davidsutherlandshowroom.com.

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Happy Camper

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:18:21 GMT

Reminiscences of Hill Country summers may spark memories of canoeing down the Guadalupe, tribal campfires and short-sheeting your counselor%26rsquo;s bed. But designer Ann Sutherland does nostalgia one better with Camp Wannagetaway, a newly launched collection of vintage-inspired stripes and toiles for Perennials Outdoor Fabrics that evokes lazy summer days spent near a favorite watering hole. The large-scale Boathouse Stripe has a heavily slubbed hand; Vintage Stripe alternates two colors for a rustic linen look; Ticking Stripe provides perfect companionship for solids and prints; County Fair showcases a pastoral countryside; and the softly textured chenille Crepe de Jour offers a homespun feel. All boast Perennials%26rsquo; Nano Seal finish for extra protection against dirt, fading, rough-housing and, assumedly, the occasional dropped s%26rsquo;more. To the trade through David Sutherland Showroom, Decorative Center Houston, 5120 Woodway Dr., Suite 170, 713.961.7866; davidsutherlandshowroom.com.

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Architecture of the Object

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:02:13 GMT

In December, students from the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture at the University of Houston unveiled an enticing exhibition of craft and luxury goods entitled %26ldquo;Made in Houston.%26rdquo;%26nbsp; The project, now in its third year, is the brainchild of UH architecture professor Cord Bowen and gives its participants the opportunity to create and sell works in a real-world environment.%26nbsp;The architectural students worked in groups to design, market, manufacture and sell their work, which is showcased at PH Design Shop in Rice Village. Among the offerings produced by eight teams, the creations of Unnecessary Objects stood out. Taking cues from current design trends towards %26ldquo;softer%26rdquo; materials as well as the fast-growing artisanal beverage market, Dillon Phillips, Mike Rhodes and Michael Viviano devised the Beer Sling.%26nbsp;Simple, yet elegant and refined, the carrying case is a great example of form converging with function. The handsome editioned case, made from Herman Oak leather, will patina over time and includes side buckles for packing any size brew, as well as well as a strap for easy traveling. Limited edition of 10, $94 each, through PH Design Shop.

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Take 28 for Bocci

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:09:28 GMT

We are fascinated with the lighting line by in-demand Vancouver, BC%26ndash;based manufacturer Bocci. The sculptural 28 Series lights, created by Omer Arbel, allow one to customize the size and scale of fixtures based on the perspective of each project.%26nbsp;An exercise in form married to function, each glass pendant is mouth-blown, with no two exactly alike. The unique canopy system lets pendants be grouped together or hung individually throughout a space, which provides infinite combinations of color, composition and shape. From $500, through Hempel Design, 832.620.8532; stevenhempel@gmail.com; stevehempel.com.

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Lights, Tile, Art

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 10:23:08 GMT

Two Houston dealers are showcasing artists who dip into the design pool. Texas talent Adela Andea employs a hypnotic hybrid of materials %26mdash; LED lights, fans, snaking plastic filaments of neon, computer parts and liquids %26mdash; in her illuminated installations, while L.A. it-girl Ren%26eacute;e Lotenero deconstructs home environments then photographs the result (she%26rsquo;s particularly obsessed with the humble household tile). Adela Andea light works from $3,000, at Anya Tish Gallery; Ren%26eacute;e Lotenero sculptures and photographs from $1,200, at Peveto.

Best Seats in the House

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 12:16:28 GMT

Tucked amidst the antique shops on Lovers Lane dwells Christy Drew Designs, the city’s newest residential interior design firm and furniture gallery. Owned by long-time designer Drew and her husband and business partner, Paul Johnson, this boutique brims with everything from French Country chic to contemporary classics — amongst them, these gorgeous circa-1840s Gustavian-style wing chairs hand-carved in walnut and washed in cream and gold milk paint. Their newly replaced seat cushions are the only things that belie their Swedish origins — even their burlap backs are as original as an Ingmar Bergman film. Christy Drew Designs, 5019 W. Lovers Lane, 214.353.7575; christydrewdesigns.com.

Hempel Design in the White House

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:29:05 GMT

While we%26rsquo;re not on the Presidential holiday list (yet), we do have a personal connection. Iowa-based Larassa Kabel, a mistress of drawing represented by Houston%26rsquo;s Hempel Design %26mdash; and recently exhibited by their Montrose art and design gallery %26mdash; was just tapped for the 2012 White House Christmas card, selected by First Lady Michelle Obama from a slew of artistic submissions in a contest through the Social Secretary%26rsquo;s office of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Did you get a Bo Obama card in your mailbox?%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

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A Change in the Leather

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:28:53 GMT

Any noun becomes infinitely more proper when preceded by the word %26ldquo;bespoke.%26rdquo; Enter Cowden Bell, a purveyor of bench-made leather and hide furnishings who%26rsquo;s produced everything from wall panels to alligator-clad settees from his Weatherford, Texas, studio. The artisan%26rsquo;s T-backed chairs%26nbsp; (a recent addition to his collection) can be had in a dizzying array of leathers and leg finishes %26mdash; which means every custom fiend can design up a storm. To the trade at I.D. Collection, Dallas Design Center, 1025 N. Stemmons Freeway, Suite 745, 214.698.0226; interiordesigncollection.com.

Wright is Right On

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:55:57 GMT

A must-see exhibit of the New Year is %26ldquo;Frank Lloyd Wright%26rsquo;s Samara: A Mid-Century Dream Home%26rdquo; at the Arlington Museum of Art. This unexpected gem shines light on one of America%26rsquo;s most iconoclastic and immortal architects vis-%26agrave;-vis a slice of the Usonian life: an intimate portrait of a house in West Lafayette, Indiana, that is one of the best surviving examples of Wright%26rsquo;s later work. Samara, which dates back to the mid-%26rsquo;50s, is an innovative 2,200-square-foot, cantilevered casa named by Wright after the winged seeds of pine cones from the evergreens that ring the one-acre property %26mdash; a motif further abstracted throughout the home%26rsquo;s furnishings. Samara mirrors a moment in modernism when a middle-class couple tapped the world-renowned Wright to design their dream residence. In fact, Samara is still owned and meticulously maintained by its original family: Dr. John E. Christian, a 90-something retired Purdue University professor, and his wife, Catherine, who also worked at Purdue back in the day. The exhibition, organized by Scott W. Perkins (curator of the Price Tower Arts Center in Bartlesville, Oklahoma %26mdash; the only FLW skyscraper ever erected), relays the Samara story through original furniture, archival materials, period photos, video and even architectural fragments. Through February 17 at the Arlington Museum of Art, 201 W. Main St., Arlington, 817.275.4600; arlingtonmuseum.org.

Inside the (Country) Nest of Ashley Putman

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 10:56:30 GMT

The old farm comprises 100 acres of gentle prairie outside Fayetteville. %26ldquo;I thought, %26lsquo;This is too much land!%26lsquo; How do you take care of all that?%26rsquo; I%26rsquo;m a city girl! But when we saw the house, we were convinced.%26rdquo; The girl? Freelance graphic designer Ashley Putman. A Baton Rouge native, she lived in Dallas, New Orleans and New York %26mdash; where she worked at Barneys under creative director Simon Doonan and art director Susie Jones %26mdash; before settling down in Houston. She%26rsquo;s married to lawyer Steve Putman, with whom she has two sons, John and Scotty, eight and four. The farmhouse? A simple dwelling most likely built before 1900. %26ldquo;It was completely dilapidated, not updated in probably 40 years,%26rdquo; she says. %26ldquo;There was gross wallpaper, linoleum floors. But I liked that we would save it, bring it back to life. We had to pull up everything %26mdash; and we got lucky. There were shiplap walls and longleaf pine floors throughout.%26rdquo;

And what about that abundance of land? %26ldquo;It just kind of takes care of itself,%26rdquo; she says. With a little help from Steve, that is, who clears the deadwood and keeps bees. %26ldquo;We just enjoy it; we get on the Polaris and ride around, take nature walks. It%26rsquo;s all about letting the boys run free and explore. The minute we get out of the car my oldest is catching crickets.%26rdquo; It%26rsquo;s also about Ashley%26rsquo;s de rigueur Saturday uniform of jeans and T-shirts, a bracing house cocktail invented by Steve, long rustic dinners with friends, and the effortlessly relaxed, appealingly quirky interior spaces she designed. In all, she has created a perfect exemplar of the country house in its restorative essence.

Why graphic design? I thought maybe I would go into painting and took art classes. But I was interested in businesses. I didn%26rsquo;t want to just throw my emotions on a canvas. I wanted to do something creative, but also to think. What hooked me was being able to think through a problem for a business.

Who gets branding right? This is such a girl thing, but J.Crew. I am obsessed with them, because of [creative director] Jenna Lyons. She%26rsquo;s done amazing things for that business. Graphically, they%26rsquo;re great. Their ads are beautifully put together and styled. I always love Target%26rsquo;s ad campaigns. IKEA does a great job too. For fashion, C%26eacute;line %26mdash; and, of course, Barneys.

For interiors, what does graphics teach? You%26rsquo;re concerned with all the things you would think about when you%26rsquo;re designing a page: color, balance, focal point, perspective. And when to stop.

Do we sense a career switch? I think about becoming an interior designer all the time. But I%26rsquo;d have to go back to school, wouldn%26rsquo;t I? Maybe I could just start a styling business? It might happen.

She %26hearts; NY Living in New York changed me forever. Seeing the world convene in one city, all the different cultures and viewpoints, all of the arts at your fingertips. I devoured it.

Professional paragon. French art director Vahram Muratyan. (He%26rsquo;s behind the Prada Parallel Universes Initiative and the sensational flipbook Paris versus New York). He embodies what great graphic design is about: communicating in the simplest, most beautiful way possible. And adding a little humor or surprise never hurts.

Why Fayetteville? I didn%26rsquo;t even know it existed until we started looking for a place to go and relax. It%26rsquo;s untouched as compared to places that are more popular, like Round Top, and it doesn%26rsquo;t have all the bells and whistles. It%26rsquo;s just charming and quiet. There%26rsquo;s lots of land, wide open spaces.

Houston, we have a problem. There%26rsquo;s not a lot of history in Houston when it comes to beautiful buildings. But you can%26rsquo;t just tear down everything. That%26rsquo;s the reason we saved that house. And it%26rsquo;s given us so much joy, seeing what it is today.

Steve Putman%26rsquo;s mixological offering, Snow on the Prairie.
2 ounces gin
1/4 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce Cynar
1/2 ounce lime juice

Shake, pour over ice and top with soda. Balanced and refreshing!

Pop Quiz
Color? Red.
Scent? Rose.
Flower? Peony.
Vegetable? Tomato. Oh wait, is tomato a vegetable?
Wine? Bordeaux.
Car? My husband%26rsquo;s old Mercedes.
Music? Etta James.
Foreign city? Positano.
NY neighborhood? The West Village.
Book? Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys.

Telling Stories: Who Needs Walls to Talk?

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:34:44 GMT

Jane Waggoner has no coffee table%26nbsp; %26mdash; certainly not a punishable offense, but a rather curious dilemma for someone having her home photographed for publication. %26ldquo;I just sold it to one of my clients who really wanted it,%26rdquo; the interior decorator explains. Of course, this is the same woman who took a sledgehammer to her own black marble fireplace Thanksgiving morning before a house full of guests were expected to arrive, so it%26rsquo;s not the first time she%26rsquo;s presented a work in progress. (%26ldquo;I didn%26rsquo;t want anyone to think I picked out a black marble fireplace,%26rdquo; she clarifies.)

The aforementioned blight was ultimately transformed by scribbled ironwork and glass tile from Waterworks, but not before spending almost a year as a sandpit. Clearly, Waggoner isn%26rsquo;t kidding when she says, %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s better to have nothing than the wrong thing."

This attitude has served her well professionally and personally, as evidenced by a home filled with carefully curated furniture, art and objets, each with its own tale to tell. Pointing to anything %26mdash; the hand-printed kitchen wallpaper by upstate NY artist Joanna Rock, the metal bed created by Brooklyn artist Chris Bundy after Waggoner read about him in Women%26rsquo;s Wear Daily, the quarry tile she tracked down from Wales after spying it in an Architectural Digest feature on actor Matthew Modine%26rsquo;s home, the elaborate needlepoint rug that represents five years sitting outside City Ballet while daughter Madeline took lessons %26mdash; elicits an anecdote as engaging as the owner herself.

Waggoner speculates that her circa-1920s Georgian was renovated at some point in the %26rsquo;70s. When she moved in during the spring of 2000, she did the cosmetic touches herself, citing The Artist in His Studio %26mdash; Alexander Liberman%26rsquo;s iconic 1960s book that includes intimate conversations with some of the world%26rsquo;s most influential artists working in France during the 20th century, as well as revealing photography of the surroundings in which they created %26mdash; as her primary inspiration. %26ldquo;The most common thread in my work is simple: I want everything to have a soul, to show the hand of the artist. It%26rsquo;s important to connect with the person that made the thing.%26rdquo; And if that means waiting patiently for the perfect chair, candlestick or lamp to reveal itself, so be it. %26ldquo;The creative road is never straight, always evolving %26mdash;%26nbsp;it%26rsquo;s part of a journey that can%26rsquo;t be rushed. If a client says %26lsquo;I want it now,%26rsquo; I%26rsquo;m probably not the decorator for him.%26rdquo;

She walks the talk with her three-year-old venture, a line of fine hand-knotted carpets under her own name, available at Forty Five Ten and to the trade through Interior Resources. Each is handmade in Nepal with GoodWeave certification, an exacting program that ensures no child labor is involved. Patterns and colors reflect her travels, a master%26rsquo;s degree in Art History (she wrote her thesis on Constantin Brancusi%26rsquo;s influence on Isamu Noguchi, which the latter refuted when she called him on the phone to verify; Waggoner was vindicated nearly 25 years later during the exhibition %26ldquo;On Becoming an Artist: Isamu Noguchi and his Contemporaries, 1922-1960%26rdquo;) and time spent working at the Museum of Modern Art, The Cleveland Center of Contemporary Art and The Dallas Museum of Art. Made from high-altitude Tibetan sheep %26mdash; or, in Waggoner%26rsquo;s words, %26ldquo;The Bentley of wool%26rdquo; %26mdash; with 100 painstaking knots per square inch, each carpet requires an average of five months to complete. The result is a sumptuous, one-of-a-kind heirloom that could make even the most diehard Nicholas Kirkwood addict forswear shoes forever. She%26rsquo;s currently exploring the development of stenciled seagrass rugs using chalky white paint reminiscent of her John Dickinson side table %26mdash; the prototype now rests between two textured velvet sofas in her living room.

A disdain for mass-produced objects goes hand-in-hand with one of Waggoner%26rsquo;s most endearing traits: a kind of extreme sentimentality most often associated with the Hallmark Channel. She keeps a love poem tucked behind a Milton Avery artist print; her grandfather%26rsquo;s eighth-grade graduation photo sits atop the custom mantle; a wire sculpture created by Madeline%26rsquo;s first boyfriend shares shelf space with scads of important art tomes and a Rusty Scruby photograph. She transformed a vintage bamboo settee and chair belonging to her grandmother with down-filled cushions encased in Gretchen Bellinger velvet from David Sutherland; and, upon walking through the front door, one is greeted by another of Grandmother%26rsquo;s refurbished pieces, an antique chair upholstered in a second needlepoint magnum opus that took three years for Waggoner to complete.

It all adds up to a uniquely personal cocktail of old and new, tension and balance, one-of-a-kind collectibles and humble finds %26mdash; all with one thing in common: a narrative arc. %26ldquo;If something doesn%26rsquo;t have a story,%26rdquo; she says, %26ldquo;get rid of it.%26rdquo;

Fluff Up Your Biscuit

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:00:10 GMT

If a bed is anything, it should be warm and homey. Hence, design blogger Bailey McCarthy%26rsquo;s favorite euphemism for a bed is %26ldquo;the biscuit%26rdquo; %26mdash; and her eponymous bedding line and storefront give you ample reason to curl up. Seeing a void in the market for luxurious, affordable bedding, McCarthy parlayed the success of her interior design blog, peppermintbliss.com, into collections of coordinating prints and linens. The American-made line is manufactured and printed on 350-thread count sateen, with designs named for McCarthy%26rsquo;s favorite fellow bloggers, including The Joanna in honor of Cup of Jo%26rsquo;s Joanna Goddard and The Katie for Matchbook Mag%26rsquo;s Katie Armour. Her new 1,400-square-foot storefront, Biscuit Delicious Homegoods, at the corner of Kirby and Westheimer, also stocks reclaimed furniture refurbished and repurposed, lighting,%26nbsp; and other goodies McCarthy has collected over years of client work and doubles as an office for talking design with clients, as well as a gallery space for a rotating roster of artists %26mdash; currently featured is Texas-born photographer Gray Malin. From a forest-green-lacquered console with matching China rose stools upholstered with playful, unexpected floral fabric to tufted headboards and a funky chintz chaise, McCarthy seamlessly blends preppy and playful. 2606 Westheimer Road, 713.942.9797; biscuithomegoods.com.

A Very PaperCity Giveaway

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:54:23 GMT

The Educated Eye

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:13:21 GMT

As a person of high standards, I can%26rsquo;t suffer the boring, cheaply crafted iPhone cases offered by the mass market; I want everything I own to be the best. Which is why I was recently delighted to stumble upon Exovault, this year%26rsquo;s%26nbsp;finest stocking stuffer. It is a line of virtually indestructible iPhone cases designed by sculptors and handcrafted by skilled machinists in Brooklyn.

Great design solves problems in an elegant way, and for me to get excited, a product must also be crafted of well-considered materials and require a high degree of skill to produce. After chatting up the design-minded spokesperson at Exovault, I learned each case is created from two solid pieces of metal stock with precision to 1/100th of an inch. With optional exotic wood appointments, this is the kind of distinctive product that sets apart tastemakers from plastic-devouring masses.

For those who eschew the importance of artistry, there is a practical reason for avoiding chrome or brass-plated carbon steel products and opt instead for solid brass, aluminum or titanium: rust, that avoidable scourge across the spectrum of decorative arts and consumer goods.

An educated buyer of fine design considers which materials are best suited to his or her application when determining which object is merely satisfactory and which is excellent. Fortunately for those who obsess about these details, the Exovault is a winner.

Oh, and back to it being virtually indestructible: I%26rsquo;m told a customer once left her phone wrapped in a custom-engraved brass and hardwood case on top of her car while loading groceries and later watched it fall off of the roof onto the highway. %26ldquo;She pulled over and tried to get to it but not before a few cars had run it over,%26rdquo; said company spokesperson Amelia Biewald. %26ldquo;When she finally picked it up, she saw her case was scratched but her iPhone was okay. The next day she e-mailed me the story and ordered the same case again with the same custom engraving.%26rdquo;

It may be overkill for it to be available in an array of metals that do not deteriorate, as your case will still be intact, but obsolete, when a new iPhone is released. But it%26rsquo;s the right kind of design: Yummy, delicious overkill dressed in exotic wood. Exclusively at exovault.com.

Minding Your Manor

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:09:34 GMT

With a name like Society, one might assume shop owners Pamela Jackson and Jeremi Headrick are sticklers for decorum. But while their pocket-sized outpost in Bishop Arts exudes refinement, the overall vibe is decidedly unpretentious. Their motto, Simple Elegance for Gracious Living, is reflected in a beguiling assortment that ranges from mid-century ceramic compotes and Tatine candles to glass salt cellars and a vintage marble bust of a turban-topped nobleman. The duo%26rsquo;s names may ring a bell to those familiar with their design and decor work under the moniker Jackson Vaughn; their skills certainly came in handy when transforming this vacant-since-1941 space nestled next to Eno%26rsquo;s. The planked walls (dotted with black-and-white photos of family members) and concrete floor complement their ever-changing amalgam of vintage/new/quirky gifts and collectibles, all peacefully coexisting despite the fact that, often times, their only commonality is that Jackson and Headrick couldn%26rsquo;t imagine life without them. 403 North Bishop Ave., 214.942.4600; jacksonvaughn.com.

Great Spaces

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:07:41 GMT

Spaces for Home has arrived in Upper Kirby next door to Avalon Diner, with 4,400 square feet of space devoted to all things homey. Vignettes reflect stylish worlds from coastal to New York loft to ranch to Tuscan, with an inventory that’s constantly updated. An ideal bar cart, a perfectly put-together tabletop vignette — from sofas, lounging chairs and beds to wall hangings to trinkets, with everything on the floor available for immediate sale. And if you love the bones but want a spruce job, owner Susan Gay can make magic with custom upholstery. 2439 Westheimer Road, 713.520.7167.

Thom Filicia in Person

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 01:40:01 GMT

Decorator Thom Filicia comes to town Wednesday December 5, 11 am, to Decorative Center Houston on Woodway. One of the most published decorators of the decade and hugely popular on Queer Eye, he%26rsquo;ll be chatting up a storm in a Q%26amp;A with yours truly, who promises to grill him on important things such as %26ldquo;What is Tina Fey like?%26rdquo; and %26ldquo;Does she really have man hands?%26rdquo; This is not out of left field, my friends; Fey is a client of Filicia%26rsquo;s and she wrote the foreword to his new book, American Beauty: Renovating and Decorating a Beloved Retreat (Clarkson Potter, $45). We will also touch on Filicia%26rsquo;s sublime decorating tips, advice, credo and inspiration. Following the Q%26amp;A, he will sign his book ($45, available for sale at the event). American Beauty is a book about a singular house, a fixer-upper that he fell in love with in Upstate New York on the Finger Lakes, an area he spent a great deal of time in as a child. More than 300 luscious photographs depict this passion for a house. The talk and book signing is at Kravet showroom, Suite 150, and open to the public; please RSVP to 713.961.9292, ext. 1320; klarson@decorativecenter.com. Decorative Center Houston, 5120 Woodway at Sage.

Filicia will appear at Curate bookshop in Uptown Park, 1141-03 Uptown Park Boulevard (next to Paul Carter Jewels) Tuesday, December 4, 7 to 9 pm, to inscribe and sign his book. RSVP to this evening event at curatebooks@papercitymag.com.

The Educated Eye: Bodum Pavina

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:56:02 GMT

In 2003, I saw a story about the Bodum Pavina thermal drinking glasses, and I fell to my knees and cried with joy. Finally, someone had solved two of what I consider the biggest problems with drinking glasses: condensation and heat.

The Bodum glasses encompass everything that should be considered in a well-designed item. The beautiful curvilinear form is further accentuated by a clever double wall, which creates the illusion that the liquid is suspended in the glass and also protects one%26rsquo;s delicate little hands and fingers from heat and moisture. Each one is mouth-blown, so the level of craft involved in the production is very high. There is something lovely about someone who has spent years learning and honing their craft; it takes a great deal of skill to mouth-blow glass with this high degree of intricacy. This process means that rather than perfect, consistent pieces, each one will exhibit the slightest bit of evidence of handcraft, such as a wee bit of waviness in the rim. The material of the glass has been duly considered: Borosilicate, a lighter, scratch-resistant, durable type of glass that handles changes in temperature better than other types.

What I find beautiful about the design is that it isn%26rsquo;t garish, and it doesn%26rsquo;t demand attention. The soft and elegant interior form is repeated on the outside. It%26rsquo;s always more difficult to make something pretty and simple %26mdash; and they did it. Even though it%26rsquo;s just a little drinking glass, it%26rsquo;s gorgeous. And, starting at $15 a glass, it%26rsquo;s affordable. It%26rsquo;s easy to spend hundreds of dollars on artistic, mouth-blown, well-considered glassware, but Bodum has managed to pull together all of these attributes in an affordable product with the same level of artisanal merit.

This one object exhibits everything that is important in design. It has beautiful form, integrity in craft and function %26mdash; and it solves a problem elegantly. If you can solve all of those things, you%26rsquo;ve got good design.

Then and Now Again

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:33:12 GMT

While traveling through Albuquerque, Ant%26egrave;ks proprietor and designer Jason Lenox happened upon a stunning collection of turn-of-the-century Navajo objects. The craftsmanship was superb, yet he felt a modern interpretation might be in order. Thus, Lenox opted to work with German silver, an alloy containing nickel and copper for a not-so-shiny finish, and one-of-a-kind turquoise cabochons from the mines of the Sonoran Desert, while staying true to the original hand-stamped detailing. The result is a vintage-inspired assemblage of jewelry boxes, candlesticks, cigar ashtrays, letter openers, small trays, matchbox covers and picture frames created by skilled artisans. And, like its predecessors, each remains slightly unique. $69 to $495, at Ant%26egrave;ks, The Arrangement, The Gypsy Wagon, The Modern, Pinto Ranch.

Bust Into Flame

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:29:31 GMT

When his son was born, Napoleon bestowed upon the infant only one gift: a Cire Trudon candle. Granted, it was encrusted with three bands of gold, but that tells you plenty about the company%26rsquo;s reputation as the oldest and most prestigious wax manufacturer in the world. (Latter-day fans include Sofia Coppola, who lit plenty of Cire Trudon candles while filming Marie Antoinette in Versailles.) Stage your own revolution with busts of the aforementioned cake-eating advocate, Monsieur Bonaparte and Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux%26rsquo;s slave, amongst others. Meant to be collected rather than burned, each looks hot on a Saarinen side table or a Steinway baby grand. $125 to $175, at Grange Hall.

IMAGE: Cire Trudon

Bust Into Flame

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:23:36 GMT

When his son was born, Napoleon bestowed upon the infant only one gift: a Cire Trudon candle. Granted, it was encrusted with three bands of gold, but that tells you plenty about the company%26rsquo;s reputation as the oldest and most prestigious wax manufacturer in the world. (Latter-day fans include Sofia Coppola, who lit plenty of Cire Trudon candles while filming Marie Antoinette in Versailles.) Stage your own revolution with wax busts of the aforementioned cake-eating advocate, Monsieur Bonaparte and Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux%26rsquo;s slave, amongst others. Meant to be collected or burned, each looks looks equally hot on a Saarinen table or a Steinway baby grand. $125 to $175, through Carl Moore Antiques, Chateau Domingue, Kuhl-Linscomb, Longoria Collection.

IMAGE: Cire Trudon

A Continental Credo

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:45:27 GMT

Designer Betty Lou Phillips has released her 11th design book, The Allure of French and Italian D%26eacute;cor (Gibbs Smith, $60), a wealth of pictorial and written advice on such topics as Venetian plaster, sourcing reclaimed materials and creating the feeling of an established home. With more than 200 luscious images, it%26rsquo;s a romp through the historical development of French and Italian interiors, with a visual overview of this look brought stateside through the eyes and the design work of Ms. Phillips.

Happily Under Foot

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:41:04 GMT

Given that his empire now consists of furniture, lighting, candles, bedding and more, it%26rsquo;s easy to forget that Jonathan Adler got his start behind the potter%26rsquo;s wheel. The designer continues his quest for interior domination with a collection of handmade rugs loomed from the highly durable wool of Tibetan sheep. The hand-knotted craftsmanship may be old world but his irreverent colors and patterns are decidedly 21st century: Inspiration includes Islamic tiles, sedimentary rock formations, a backgammon board and an Art Deco puzzle. Consider us floored. The Rug Company, 1626 Hi Line Dr., 214.760.4888; therugcompany.com.

We're Over the Moon about Miles Redd...

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:43:39 GMT

We adore this book and have been waiting for it … well, forever. Exuberant, clever design sensation Miles Redd whizzes us away with The Big Book of Chic (Assouline, $75) to ‘20s Paris, witty salons, inky-blue libraries and curious follies. Oversized, lush and filled with his very quirky, cozy glamour, this book shoots shards of cherry red, French blue, cerulean and Venetian pink into NY high-rises and country Georgians, rich with important details such as nickel-plated nail studs, coral door pulls and exuberant trims. Shades of Cecil Beaton, Diana Vreeland and Grès! Plug in Cole Porter, pour a Scotch and fly away. Signed copies are available through curatebooks@papercitymag.com.

Art Felt

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 04:18:09 GMT

Architect Eleanor Bond, circa 1940. Renovation, Ted Collins and Kerry Ketner, 2009. Interiors Kenneth Kyle, San Francisco, with input from Barry Williams and Laura Lee Clark, Dallas. Flowers Rachel Burrows for Avant Garden.

It certainly isn’t the most impressive piece in her art-centric Greenway Parks home: a fading magazine ad for an L-shaped Kroehler sofa, a sweep of nubby turquoise with button tufting and sleek tapered legs. “I bid $22 for it on eBay,” says Kristy Stubbs. “I thought I was bidding on the sofa.” She did find the sofa, with its original upholstery, and added a vintage Gibson guitar propped against the back cushions like a throw pillow. It’s one
of six instruments she acquired from a collector in partial payment for a Basquiat drawing. “My sons play, so I knew I could do something with them,” she explains. %26nbsp;

Here’s what makes this home and its owner unique: Both have an engaging, unfussy approach to high-profile art and highly collectible furniture. From the François Malbreil painting just inside the front door — found at a Paris art market — to the stairway’s scrolling iron vines and the dining chairs from Dean Martin’s Palm Springs hideaway, Stubbs has created witty and sophisticated spaces that reflect her lofty position in the international art market and, more subtly, her roots in Athens, Texas.

With her eponymous 18-year-old gallery in West Highland Park and its pop-up sibling at Highland Park Village, Stubbs is a local and international go-to source for postwar and contemporary art for headliners from Damien Hirst to José-María Cano. After briefly considering a career in medicine — two semesters in chemistry changed her mind — she got the first inkling of her direction in a Rhodes College art history class. Immersed in a six-week tour of museums and galleries in Mexico, she was awestruck by a Matisse and the possibilities of trading art on an international scale. “From that class alone [taught by professor Lawrence Anthony], five students went on to lifetime careers in art,” she notes. “My roommate then has been an associate of Acquavella Gallery in New York for 25 years. Brian Russell and Lewis Kalmbach are both career artists, and Erin Harris directs the Carpenter Art Garden in Memphis.”

Stubbs, of course, is the fifth. After transferring from Rhodes to UT Austin to complete her degree (in biology and English lit), she returned to Dallas knowing she wasn’t destined for a nine-to-five job. One afternoon, she agreed to babysit a Dallas gallery for a friend who needed to leave work early. “As soon as I walked in,” she says, “I knew this was where I wanted to be.” It was 1986, and the renowned Ron Hall Gallery was looking for a receptionist. Stubbs went for it “because I wanted to be an apprentice, to really learn international art trading. Within three weeks, while Ron was in Europe, I sold a painting by (American Impressionist) Frederick Frieseke for $350,000.” Hall made Stubbs his international sales director, dealing in American and European impressionist paintings. “We started attending art fairs around the world and sold some of the greatest art of the last 100 years, Monets and Renoirs and Giacomettis,” she recalls. “Those works don’t trade as freely today. They’re in institutions or private collections, but back then, we always had a masterpiece in the gallery.”

As the supply of late-19th and early-20th-century art diminished, the Hall Gallery moved into postwar and contemporary works by luminaries such as Robert Motherwell, Helen Frankenthaler, Georgia O’Keeffe and Morris Louis. Her individual reputation in the art world was growing, and she served on the advisory boards for Art Chicago and Art Miami in the early 1990s. “I had developed an eye for what’s good. When you’re in that environment, you learn.”

In 1994, Hall moved his gallery to the ground floor of a Fairmount Street church. The upstairs space was vacant, and “he was going to lease it,” Stubbs remembers. “I said I would take it. It was a little like moving out of your parents’ house and into their garage apartment.” Over the past 18 years, Stubbs has worked with savvy collectors in the U.S. and abroad, shaping her expertise in contemporary British art as well as Impressionist and Modern works. Her gallery is known for intriguing thematic shows, from “Paris %26gt; Texas” — her first, juxtaposing Matisse and David Bates — to last year’s “Eleven From London,” featuring YBAs (young British artists).

In the same way she walked into a gallery and immediately knew art would be her career, she walked into her home and knew it was … well, her home. Built in the late 1940s, its expansive walls are perfect for her big paintings. The staircase was the dealmaker, she says, “because it’s so glamorous.” In fact, the house was so perfect, it took her 12 years to change anything. “The kitchen felt like my childhood home, which may be why it took me so long” to give it a makeover. She also updated the master bath, taking special delight in the built-in shoe cabinet and the tub-filler that releases a slim column of water from the ceiling.

Art is front and center at every turn. A Thomas Osika sculpture anchors the entry courtyard. The stairs curve gently around a towering World War I gramophone speaker, next to a continuous-loop video of audiovisual artist Paul Fryer singing into it. Flanking the west windows in the living room are two vintage egg chairs, their cushioned interiors covered in chocolate velvet. “I waited years to find the second one,” Stubbs says. “And I’m really glad they aren’t identical.” Above the sofa, Alberto Di Fabio’s Galacti Synapsi asserts the similarities of the human brain and the farthest reaches of the galaxy (the artist is also an astrophysicist).

The dining room is dominated by a Damien Hirst work and a painting by British artist Brian Clarke — but it’s an 1896 portrait that captures everything she loves. “It’s British, it’s Impressionist, the artist painted with John Singer Sargent, and I found it in a little gallery on a London side street.”

The kitchen, in suave neutrals with Stubbs’ own cabinet-front design rendered by Monroe Cabinets’ Santiago Planas, houses a trio of Picasso ceramics, which she started collecting 15 years ago. She displayed a David Bailey photograph over the breakfast table after hearing Elton John had one in his kitchen.

Just outside the library, Psalm 127, one of Hirst’s butterfly works, hovers above a vintage prayer bench covered in pearlescent velvet. “When it was delivered, they said ‘Do you have an icon? You need to put it beneath an icon.’” She knew just the place.

Favorite spot (art):%26nbsp; At the Musée d’Orsay, in front of Manet’s Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe.

Favorite spot (home): On the turquoise sofa in her library.

Best art book ever: I Want To Spend the Rest of My Life Everywhere, With Everyone by Damien Hirst.

Most important mentor: Ron Hall.

Biggest design influence: Barbara Barry.

Reality check: The new series Gallery Girls is “probably absolutely realistic — from what I’ve heard.”

Best advice: “Hang art at eye level so the vertical center is 58 to 62 inches from the floor. And align multiple works by their vertical centerpoints, not by the top or bottom edges.”

Inside the Rarefied Heads of Jim Dahlgren and Allan Duck

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 03:30:51 GMT

They had me at %26ldquo;coat of arms.%26rdquo; Walking through the showroom halls of Dahlgren Duck %26amp; Associates, owners Jim Dahlgren and Allan Duck pepper their sentences with bespoke, Sheik and my favorite aforementioned three. The duo fly relatively under the radar despite their over-the-top field of expertise: outfitting the Gulfstreams and Oceancos for extremely private and particular clientele such as the King of Saudi Arabia and Oprah Winfrey. Dahlgren Duck can produce almost anything dreamt up for transportation, restaurant, club or hotel %26mdash; be it custom-sized aircraft bedding, a roll of monogrammed MYDraps or the occasional $5,000 fork.

Custom knows no bounds. What are some of your luxe designs?

Custom crystal (height, diameter, capacity and weight appropriate for aircraft cup holders); titanium flatware for aircraft; customized umbrellas with exotic skin-wrapped handles and sterling-silver collars.

Those who%26rsquo;ve received Dahlgren Duck invoices.

Paul Allen, The Sultan of Brunei, Warren Buffet, Arnold Palmer, President of Mexico, Enya, Sergio Garcia, President of the Ivory Coast, Harrison Ford, Royal Family of Abu Dhabi, Steve Wynn, Ed McMahon and Donald Trump.

Memorable invention.

A crystal flute with a sterling-silver base, fitted with interior lighting to illuminate the champagne bubbles.

Requests that have made you wince.

AD: About the only requests that make us wince are those with unreasonable delivery expectations.

Most elaborate order.

Integrated dinner services and interior amenities for a wishing-to-remain-anonymous head of state%26rsquo;s Boeing 747-400. The VIP sections required custom molds for each china pattern, all with hand-painted finishes, and custom-shaped sterling-silver flatware with gold embellishments, set with semiprecious stones. The custom-molded Baccarat crystal carried the Royal emblem and had grooves to fit into sterling-silver bases also inset with semiprecious stones. Embroidered table linens were produced in pure linen flax; throw blankets were designed of woven cashmere in custom colors, with the reverse side in custom-colored silk.

Your stranded-on-a-desert-island desire from your showroom.

AD: I%26rsquo;m classifying our incredible sleep experience package as one item: 100 percent Egyptian combed
Mako cotton satin-finish bed linens by Rivolta Carmignani of Italy, Ogallala down pillows and
mattress enhancer, and Vi-Spring bed.%26nbsp;

JD: Jura espresso machine with a box of Illy coffee.

Fantasy client.

JD: Frank Lloyd Wright said, %26ldquo;The accessories become the living design and art of a home or environment.%26rdquo; He designed custom flatware, hardware, dinnerware, etc., and he would have been great to work with. I had a chance to work with Faye Jones, a pupil of Wright%26rsquo;s, and it was a magical time.

Bespoke Boeing %26mdash; items fabricated specifically for aircrafts.

%26bull; A food and tea service trolley available in various precious-metal finishes as well as ebony with shagreen touches, Santos Rosewood with shagreen or a rich cream-colored leather trimmed with black anodized aluminum. Front and rear face plates lend themselves to the addition of a royal crest, coat of arms, monogram or logo.

%26bull; A coffee mug in microwaveable gold or platinum. Developed 25 years ago, it is the first to have a raised handle and is the appropriate diameter to fit an aircraft cup holder.

If Dahlgren Duck had a theme song, it would be:%26nbsp;

JD: %26ldquo;Celebration%26rdquo; by Kool and the Gang.

AD: %26ldquo;Take it to the Limit%26rdquo; by The Eagles.

Number of pieces in the most commodious dinnerware service.

84.

Dahlgren Duck has outfitted.

Any Rosewood Hotel and Resort; The Setai Fifth Avenue in New York; The Mark Hotel in New York,
The Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C.; Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas; The Eldorado Country Club in Palm Springs; and Falling Rock at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania.

Best client brainstorming.

JD: One client was looking for cutting-edge design and never-before-produced dinner services. I suggested we try and secure some moon rocks from NASA %26mdash; we could cut and polish them, and then inset into a set of flatware. To think we could offer (at the time) the richest man on earth something no one else had was priceless. NASA would not release the moon rocks, as they remain a rare and protected commodity, so it is still out there to be achieved!

You%26rsquo;re given $10,000 with the condition that it must be spent at a casino. What game do you play?

AD: I am not a casino gambler, deferring to my father%26rsquo;s advice that, %26ldquo;If you have money to gamble (at a casino) then you don%26rsquo;t need to %26hellip; and if you don%26rsquo;t have money to gamble, you can%26rsquo;t afford to!%26rdquo; However, as per your question and its stipulation, I guess I would play Baccarat.

JD: One roll of the dice for double or nothing %26mdash; I don%26rsquo;t want to waste time gambling on things out of my control.

By land, air or sea ... your favored way to travel?
%26nbsp;
JD: Private yacht over private plane because the enjoyment with family and friends is much more lingering!

Three %26ldquo;d%26rdquo; words that make you happy.%26nbsp;

AD: Desire, dedication, delivery (on time)!

JD: Daring, darling, diligent.

Ambition.

AD: To support the shrinking number of true artisans in the world who make our one-of-a-kind magic possible.

Custodian of Cool

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 02:58:05 GMT

Proof that adult sensibilities are formed in childhood? Exhibit A: Kristen Nix. “I grew up in a home that appreciated quality materials, good design and artwork,” she says. Her father sold modernist office furniture, lines such as Herman Miller and Knoll. Her mother, Sheridan Williams, is an interior designer. “My mom also set the example that a woman can have it all.” Now, at 31, Nix has launched a business, Kristen Nix Interiors. She’s married to Lee Nix, an investment banker. They have a two-year-old son, Ryan, who just may turn out to be the restaurateur of the moment around — who knows? — 2035. And then there is the house. That would be a soft-spoken 1963 contemporary masterpiece by the late Houston architect and art patron Preston Bolton — the kind of house you don’t inhabit so much as curate.%26nbsp;

“It’s taught me to keep things simple,” she says. “I don’t want to mess with its integrity.” So she resists frequent suggestions that its natural brick be painted, in the current fashion. She resisted her own impulse for window coverings, realizing that glassy as it is, the house is sited for complete privacy — and that glassiness is the building’s essence. “Houston’s going through this phase where everybody wants the country French farmhouse look, reclaimed wood everywhere,” she says. “Every one of my girlfriends has that. But it’s not me.”

And now, our subject’s double-time dossier: UT degree in journalism. Internship at Vogue. Stint as one of five art directors for The Book for Neiman Marcus. Gig as event coordinator for Dancie Perugini Ware Public Relations. Degree program in interior design at Houston Community College. Intensive workshop with superstar London designer Kelly Hoppen. Internship with Houston’s Randy Powers, who remains “a key mentor for me.” Just a word to the wise: Keep your eye on Nix, and don’t blink. She’s going places, and if we’re very, very good she’ll take us with her.

On interning at Vogue. I was 21. It was totally Devil Wears Prada. I thought I was going to New York to have a fun summer. But I worked my butt off, even if that was just waiting on a Saturday for a carnet to come from Europe with something that Anna [Wintour] was going to wear the next week, and I had to be there to sign for it.

Guest list for a dream party (or working dinner). Tory Burch, Kelly Hoppen, Celerie Kemble, Aerin Lauder, Randy Powers and my mom. We would all talk interior design. When Tory Burch was in Houston last, I told her, “Okay, you have got to come out with an interior design line. Fabrics! Furniture!” She is just waiting to happen.

Interior design do. A textured wall — linen, grasscloth — adds so much depth and dimension.

Interior design don’t. Too much pattern in a room.

Project paradox. I’d love to do a traditional Georgian family house — painted brick, big gas lanterns, gravel driveway. I’d love a reason to use more cake trims and gild the lily.

Kitchen confidential. I love to cook. I have the coolest garden. I don’t use cookbooks, but I compiled a binder of recipes from my late grandmother, Mimi; my dad, who’s a fabulous cook; and
the Internet. Love Gwyneth Paltrow’s site.

Okra asceticism. I’ve got three huge okra plants. Okay, I love it fried. But we only do that on weekends.

Mother and child reunion. I wanted a little girl so badly, and I didn’t realize I was going to love a little boy so much. There’s something really cool about this opposite-sex relationship. He’s a people person, and he’s like my husband, where he does things very thoroughly, in the right way. He loves to play cooking. He’s a little OCD. He cleans up after himself. That’s very useful.

POP QUIZ

Flower: Orchid.

Soap: Mrs. Meyer’s Basil.

Scent: Not a perfume girl.

Song: Currently “When I’m Small” by Phantogram. But anything by Sade. I’ve listened to her music since I was a little girl — like, my mom picking me up in the carpool. Sade’s my soundtrack.

App: Duh! Diptic. It’s awesome.

Book: Gone Girl.

Restaurant: Da Marco, during truffle season. Uchi, for the hama chili.

Getaway: Turks and Caicos.

Car: Sixties-vintage Mercedes convertible.

Pet: No more pets! Do you need a Yorkie?

Guilty pleasure: Tate’s chocolate chip cookies.

The Museum Director %26 the Computer Whiz

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 02:40:10 GMT

Architecture renovation and design Michael Landrum and Philip Paratore. Landscape Sarah Lake. Art direction Michelle Avi%26ntilde;a.

This art collection reads like a who%26rsquo;s who of the last 30 years of art history, mixed in with a recent litany of Texas notables. Rare early examples or special editions by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Robert Gober, Cady Noland, Fred Tomaselli and, yes, the aforementioned Cindy Sherman and John Currin rub shoulders with works by cult figures due for acclaim such as Sturtevant, one of the earliest appropriation artists, whose flower-power canvas from 1966 is a dead ringer for a Warhol. The owners of this remarkable trove are Bill Arning, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston%26rsquo;s brilliant, hyper-caffeinated director, and his equally brilliant partner, Mark McCray, a software architect with the global advertising giant TBWA\Chiat\Day. The repository of their ever-expanding hoard of remarkable art with a side of design is a revived, historic bungalow that just turned 100, in the gracious Audubon Place neighborhood. Design- and-architecture duo Michael Landrum and Philip Paratore crafted the 11-month renovation, transforming the casa from its shag-carpeted former life to a new incantation as domestic container for the most cutting-edge art.

Arning and McCray in a Q-and-A:

Stats.

Arning: Director at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston since spring of 2009 %26bull; 25 years in the art business, doing everything with art except making it and selling it %26bull; written on contemporary art for general magazines like Time Out New York to rarefied academic journals on the theory of the human sensorium %26bull; curated shows in museums and alternative spaces worldwide and penned essays for scores of museums, including Jim Hodges for his upcoming survey at the Dallas Museum of Art and on Peter Hujar for the Galleria Civica di Modena in Italy. %26nbsp;

McCray: Technical director at TBWA\CHIAT\DAY, which means architect and develop applications and software integrations for various departments in the agency.

First brush with art.

Arning: My parents were not collectors, but my father was a Sullivan and Cromwell lawyer and considered his taste in art to be superb because he truly appreciated Picasso and Matisse and took us to MoMA regularly. I got from him a taste for going to museums at a very young age. My older sister Valerie had a more advanced sensibility, introducing me to Andy Warhol, John Cage, Rudolf Nureyev, Tennessee Williams and the Velvet Underground, and I devoured everything I could about the edgier art in all disciplines she shared with me. There were other collectors who were partners at my father%26rsquo;s law firm, and one of them took my folks to SoHo in the %26lsquo;70s. I remember my father coming back livid that his friend had tried to get him to buy for thousands of dollars a geometric progression of rocks on the floor. Now I realize that was likely a classic early Mel Bochner, but my dad took that offer as an insult, as if he were being tricked. When he came to see the type of wild art I showed at White Columns, he tried to appreciate what I was working on, but he would always have to retreat to the relative safety of a good Picasso Minotaur.

McCray: My parents were never art collectors. And I honestly think that the first exposure I truly had with art was seeing it up close at Chiat%26rsquo;s Venice office. The office itself was a Frank Gehry%26ndash;designed boathouse-binoculars-treehouse three-part building, which housed many pieces of Jay Chiat%26rsquo;s personal collection. My first art %26ldquo;moment,%26rdquo; however, was at the Whitney%26rsquo;s American Century (1900-1950) with some work by the American Impressionist Childe Hassam.

Manhattan during Factory days.

Arning: I went to Friends Seminary in Manhattan from kindergarten through high school %26mdash; a very good place for a culturally curious self-starter. We had a sound poet on faculty who had us cut our poems into pieces and reassemble the syllables Dada style. In junior high, my best friend%26rsquo;s dad was the art critic For Newsweek magazine, and he also was one of the early pioneering video artists. I would go to their loft at 80 Wooster Street and see works by Rauschenberg, Nam June Paik, Komar and Melamid, and Sturtevant. The fact that Sturtevant was repainting artworks I knew were by other artists like Warhol really blew my teenage mind. It has taken 40 years to untangle her complex oeuvre.

At Friends, we did anti-Vietnam war protests and Earth Day celebrations as school activities, and John Lennon, Patti LaBelle, Alice Cooper and Harry Chapin came and spoke to us. Warhol%26rsquo;s Factory was three blocks away and we would walk over and wait for Andy to appear. I thought that is what every American high school student did for fun. I started to subscribe to Artforum when I was 17 and still have every issue going back in our home office, a clear monument to my misspent youth.

I%26rsquo;m lucky to live with a lot of great art from my friends and artists I%26rsquo;ve worked with, but I never think of myself as a collector, because to me, living with these art works is like being in a three-dimensional inhabitable diary of my life. Also I%26rsquo;ve never paid much for anything I own, and consequently everything I have is either an %26ldquo;early work%26rdquo; or
a benefit edition. I can live with that.

On famous friends and my drug portrait.

Arning: I never want to forget how lucky I have been to know the greatest artists of my generation and to have been with them for their breakthrough moments. I have a Cindy Sherman film still because she was on the board of White Columns and donated it to raise money for the space, and at the end of the event it was unsold. She had her first solo museum show at CAMH. I recently got a chance to tell her that I landed here, and she congratulated me for ending up at such a cool museum.

I came to have a Fred Tomaselli drug portrait of myself because Kiki Smith and I were editing an issue of Bomb Magazine and the theme was stars. Fred had been doing these constellation diagrams where every star was a drug %26mdash; both licit and illicit %26mdash; that people take to get through life. Fred had been doing these drug portraits of different people, and he said we could include one in the magazine, as long as he could do mine. I had a rock band for a number of years, so when he gave me the drug list, I could check off an awful lot of them. When I saw the finished portrait, I felt funny at the thought of a stranger having it, so I asked him if I could buy it. At the time they were inexpensive. Last year at the ADAA Art Fair in New York, James Cohan Gallery had a wall of them. I ran into a prominent NYC artist who was also the subject of one of the portraits at the fair who had not bought his at the time. He very much regrets it because they have gotten to be quite valuable now.

It had really been quite a while since I had seen John Currin and his wife, the talented sculptor Rachel Feinstein, but they were in Maine this past summer on the last night that Mark and I were on Mt. Desert Island, and we got a chance to catch up with them over dinner. I had not seen their kids, who were marvelous. I bought my Currin painting from his studio when I visited very early on in his career, and it is from the first yearbook portraits that he finished right before his White Columns show.

Restoration tales.

Arning: Our house was apparently the party house for the Audubon Court neighborhood for decades. A couple named Stan and Paul lived in it, and the interior was quite eccentric, shag carpet in the master bath. When we bought it, a friend pointed out that from the top of the stair landing, you can see seven different wallpapers, and none were subtle. Johnny Langer at Source History in Galveston gave us a paint history of the house and said, %26ldquo;This never happens, but there have been five complete paint jobs on the house in the last century, and no one had one bit of imagination. There are five shades of white. You can do any color you want on the house, and it will be historically acceptable.%26rdquo; We went for a color called nightshade on the exterior that appears as a rich brown with these unusual purple undertones in bright sunlight.

Michael Landrum and Philip Paratore found the house when it was first being cleaned up to sale by the late owners%26rsquo; relatives. I had casually mentioned to Michael and Pepper (as Philip is called by friends) that we were serial renovators. This is my third fixer-upper, and I wanted a piece of %26ldquo;old Houston.%26rdquo; It was about an 11-month process for the renovation, and we kept the room configurations essentially as they were. Having your architects as your next door neighbors was great, as they were very hands on during
the process.

Musical obsessions.

Arning: I was very lucky to see Perfume Genius in New York this summer, and I think their two albums, Put Your Back N 2 It and Learning, are amazing. Rufus Wainwright%26rsquo;s Out of The Game is also on heavy rotation. For Texas pride we love Austin%26rsquo;s Christeene%26rsquo;s first album, Waste Up, Kneez Down, and anything by Houston%26rsquo;s finest psychedelic band, Indian Jewelry.

McCray: Mx Justin Vivian Bond. V, as Kiki from Kiki %26amp; Herb, sings one of the best covers of %26ldquo;Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?%26rdquo; by Stevie Nicks. It is quite possibly my favorite song. V is also an inspiration to me %26hellip; Also Frankie Rose, Dream Cop, St. Vincent, Christeene, Azealia Banks, Wild Beasts.

Personal heroes.

Arning: I took my %26ldquo;Art Since 1945%26rdquo; class with Robert Rosenblum, one of the great art historians of the %26lsquo;60s and %26lsquo;70s. He would switch to the artist%26rsquo;s first name when he was lecturing, due to his intimate familiarity with them and their work. It was never Jasper Johns for long, it would be %26ldquo;Jasper.%26rdquo; It was never Robert Rauschenberg, it was %26ldquo;Bob.%26rdquo; I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life %26mdash; I wanted to be able to call the artists of my time by their first names. When I was at MIT, we brought the big European Sturtevant retrospective to Cambridge. We were the only U.S. venue for that important show. Rosenblum had been one of the early supporters of Sturtevant when almost no one appreciated her work in the %26lsquo;60s, so we brought him to lecture on her work. (Houston%26rsquo;s Jim Harithas was also another huge early supporter, giving her the first museum show at the Everson Museum in 1974.)

At dinner after his talk, I got a chance to thank Rosenblum for having changed my life by showing me what I wanted to do with my career. I also was able to ask him about a memory I had where he whipped out a Robert Rauschenberg print from his pocket. I knew that could not be true of course. When I described what I thought I saw, he laughed. It turns out Rauschenberg had given him a painting on a functional silk handkerchief that he could put in his pocket to impress us kids. At a certain point, he stopped carrying it to class when it became too valuable. I was very glad to find out I had not hallucinated.

McCray: I admire people who have clear vision like Robert Wilson, Anna Wintour and Steve Jobs. Though the rest of their personalities may not be the kind I would choose in my friends, I can respect their determination, and they inspire me to hone my tastes and approaches to creative endeavors. Bill also inspires me to be a lot more open than I usually am.

Upcoming for the CAMH%26rsquo;s walls.

Arning: We are co-organizing the Marilyn Minter survey in 2014 with the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, and my co-curator on the project is the brilliant Elissa Auther. We are going to show 35 years of Minter%26rsquo;s strong, sexy conceptual painting. I think it will really be a game-changing exhibition. Many people think of Minter from her recent celebrity, working with Madonna on her last tour, the glamorous fashion-based work that took her to household-name status. We are going to show that her work of today
is grounded in a very long feminist-based painting history.

Who would play you on the big screen.

Arning: After seeing The Master, I think Joaquin Phoenix can play anyone, and I am sure he would get my mad, art-filled, hyper-caffeinated rhythm perfectly. As Mark%26rsquo;s beard continues to get wilder day by day, I could see Liev Schreiber growing his beard out correctly to get the look down.

McCray: For me, Luke Perry for looks, Mark Ruffalo for personality. For Bill, Jon Hamm for looks and personality.

Recommended art jaunts.

Arning: I keep returning to the Fort Worth Modern %26mdash; I went last month for a day trip to a luncheon with Christie%26rsquo;s Jessica Phifer, but also really wanted to experience Michael Auping%26rsquo;s extraordinary Lucian Freud survey. I%26rsquo;m going to return for an overnight trip to see one of my favorite artists, Gary Simmons, at the same museum. I did his first large show a few decades back at White Columns, %26ldquo;Disinformation Schoolroom,%26rdquo; that had a live white cockatoo teaching an empty classroom.

I just led a trip for CAMH supporters to see the gallery district in the Lower East Side of New York. I arranged to have a number of artists meet us at their shows including Dave Cole at Dodge Gallery, Kembra Pfahler at Participant Inc, Alix Pearlstein at On Stellar Rays and Desi Santiago at Envoy. It was a marvelous day.

I%26rsquo;m very lucky that my family home is in NYC, so I stay with my brother and his wife in my old teenage bedroom in the East 20s in Manhattan. I walk straight west and hit galleries in 15 minutes.

McCray: I really love Chicago. I get to visit great friends and walk on the lakeshore path. We get to see Anish Kapoor%26rsquo;s %26ldquo;Bean%26rdquo; and check out the modern wing of the Art Institute.

Three on your fast track.

Arning: We%26rsquo;re working on a big painting project for CAMH, so I%26rsquo;m thinking a lot about abstraction, and painters like Keltie Ferris, Charline Von Heyl and Tauba Auerbach are keeping me busy puzzling out their complex relationships to historical models and how wild their practice seems in relation.

McCray: Jim Hodges. I saw a piece of his at a gallery in New York that had a disco ball that descended from the ceiling into a black pool in the ground as four small spotlights tracked its path providing the familiar disco ball lighting effect. But there was no sound. It was a really powerful piece for me.

Favorite Houston tables.

Arning: Power lunch is Cinq at La Colombe d%26rsquo;Or, great food and very quiet. As a hotel restaurant, it%26rsquo;s always serving, and the Caesar salad with oysters is a perfect lunch. I love Canopy because it%26rsquo;s so charmingly social; I feel like I often know someone at over half the tables %26mdash; that means no real business gets done, but fun is always had. I am also now a huge fan of lunch at L%26rsquo;Olivier. They have an inventive menu and really good art on the walls.

McCray: Canopy: The food is consistently good and they%26rsquo;re dog-friendly. L%26rsquo;Olivier has turned out wonderfully. I%26rsquo;m really excited for them. [Brasserie] Max %26amp; Julie: beef Filet with B%26eacute;arnaise sauce and pommes frites. Da Marco has the best panna cotta I%26rsquo;ve ever seen or tasted. Lucky Burger is a guilty pleasure. Black Hole is my coffee house of choice.

Latest art acquisition.

Arning: I have loved Elijah Burgher%26rsquo;s mystical drawings since I first saw them in a show at a funky Chicago alternative space in Wicker Park. Mark and I went to see the great Roy Lichtenstein survey at the Chicago Art Institute this summer, so I visited his studio and finally bought one. It%26rsquo;s at the framers now. Also I could not resist the Geoff Hippenstiel show Devin Borden mounted at the Houston Fine Art Fair, and we got one of those jewel-like beauties.

McCray: A Joyce Pensato. I had not planned on spending any money at the last CAMH Gala, even though I was salivating over the Pensato. I think towards the end of the night, there might have been one other bid. So I threw Bill%26rsquo;s number on it minutes before the auction was ending, and it was mine. I really love it.

Five fave blogs.

McCray: Engadget.com is a great place to see all kinds of information related to emerging technologies from various fields. The writing is always a bit snarky, but it%26rsquo;s always interesting and it%26rsquo;s always inspiring me to approach tech projects differently. Macrumors.com, to find out the next big thing with Apple. Nytimes.com to find out what%26rsquo;s going on in the world and in NYC. Facebook.com because I enjoy the news-sharing aspect of the site. Kcrw.com for Morning Becomes Eclectic, NPR, and Radiolab.

Trajectory.

Arning: I went to New York University in Greenwich Village mainly because it was near CBGBs rock club, where my band played and where I saw the most incredible live shows: Talking Heads, Television and the Ramones doing two sets a night for a $3 cover charge and, for dinner, a $2 bowl of punk rock chili made in the back of the club. CBGBs was where I learned that art should be edgy, vivacious and smart. I thought my future career was going to be %26ldquo;rock star,%26rdquo; ignoring the fact that I was technically challenged as a musician.

When I discovered the NYU art history department, I found I could speak to my fellow students in a language that made sense to me for the first time in my life. I got my first gallery job on 57th Street, which represented one truly great artist, Barton Lidice Benes (who just passed away this year). I met a few celebrities there, such as Warren Beatty. In 1985 I got a job at an established not-for-profit called White Columns and began learning how to raise money and work with funding organizations.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp; I stayed at White Columns for 11 years, then taught, and did some curating and freelance writing. Then I became exhibitions curator at the very prestigious MIT List Visual Arts Center, where I stayed nine years. It really takes a decade to make a difference in the cultural ecosystem of a city, to understand what it already has seen, what it needs to know, and to put the systems into place to fill in the gaps in its art experiences.

McCray: I started at Chiat when I was 20 years old. So it was a long time ago ... When I first began college, I had no idea what I wanted to do or be. Years after moving to NYC, I started NYU and graduated in 2008. I%26rsquo;m currently applying to Northwestern University for a graduate degree in Medical Informatics.

After a stint in LA as a hardware support rep at a multimedia company, which taught me all kinds of things about how computers actually worked, I landed a job at Chiat as an IT help desk person. I%26rsquo;ve moved up through the ranks to becoming the subject-matter expert for all financial and job tracking systems for the agency. Now I architect and develop applications and software integrations for various departments in the agency. I started at Chiat in Venice, CA and%26nbsp; relocated to Manhattan in April 1997. In 2009 I moved to Chicago to get a break from NYC, then in late 2010, I moved to Houston.

On romance.

Arning: Like most people these days, Mark and I met online. He was living in Chicago, but his family lived just outside of Houston. Our first proper date was when he was visiting his folks and we went to see Tchaikovsky%26rsquo;s Queen of Spades at Houston Grand Opera. A few weeks later, I had a business trip to Chicago. We went to hear Jonsi, the singer from Sigur Ros solo tour there. For a while, we commuted back and forth between our cities until Mark relocated here about two years ago.

Life before Bill.

McCray: I was more interested in music for a long time; I played bass in a band for a while and was making music on my own. But once I moved to Chicago, I think I somewhat started to see differently. Something about moving from New York to Chicago, following my head and my heart, gave me some space, both physically and mentally, to open up a little. I started to notice my surroundings a bit more. And though NYC has so much to offer arts wise, things somehow started to click in Chicago. And then when I met Bill, I was immediately exposed to so many new art experiences. I%26rsquo;m much more interested in it now.

On art collectibles and your John and Oko pillows.

Arning: The Art Production Fund in New York has a really wonderful program of artist-made functional items (Called WOW or Work on Whatever), so the Jonathan Horowitz John and Yoko pillows are from them (we also have the Gertrude and Alice set). We have beach towels by Marilyn Minter, Jack Pierson, Elizabeth Peyton and Rirkrit Tiravanija. Every year in Miami, they launch next year%26rsquo;s beach towels, and you have to be quick. I missed the Rob Pruitt Panda towel %26mdash; the artist whose Andy Monument just arrived in Houston, and I still kick myself for that!

On your night table.

Arning: Zadie Smith%26rsquo;s On Beauty and Changing My Mind; Caitlin Moran%26rsquo;s How to Be A Woman; Bill Clegg%26rsquo;s 90 Days; Alan Downs%26rsquo; The Velvet Rage; C Carr%26rsquo;s Fire in the Belly: The Life and Times of David Wojnarowiz, Lynn Gumpert and Klaus Kertiss; Toxic Beauty, The Art of Frank Moore; Elissa Auther and Adam Lerner%26rsquo;s West of Center: Art and the Counterculture Experiment in America, 1965-1977.

McCray: Flagrant Conduct by Dale Carpenter, The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.

Kicking back at the casa.

Arning: Mark and I like to entertain, but I don%26rsquo;t drink, and Mark is a one-beer-a week kind of guy, so our fun is a little different. We like to throw barbecues with a twist %26mdash;%26nbsp;our best theme dinner was in early September, a %26ldquo;creative Weenie roast.%26rdquo; I grilled three types of hot dogs, (traditional, gourmet and veggie), and guests had to arrive with creative toppings. Lawndale Art Center%26rsquo;s Regina Vigil won with an avocado, honey Dijon and gorgonzola mix. My bacon, red onion, sour cream and blue cheese was pretty good, too. Proud Pony Production%26rsquo;s Jarrod Gullett tried a version based on chopped chicken liver that was good on paper but kind of failed on the tongue. Mat Wolff from the AIA Houston won an honorable mention for a yummy homemade aioli but arrived late and missed the judging.

McCray: Typical Sunday: Sleep in late, iced latte. Dog park with Daisy. A relaxing lunch with Bill and friends. Sometimes gardening. Sometimes music-making. I sometimes like to have nothing planned to do on the weekend as that%26rsquo;s my downtime. And weekends can never be long enough.

On my Mac love affair and my next tech acquisition.

McCray: This doesn%26rsquo;t exist now to my knowledge, but it has to be coming soon: A new iMac with a retina display. It would give my eyes the biggest sigh of relief.

Who cooks.

McCray: It%26rsquo;s 50/50. We%26rsquo;re both into cooking. I%26rsquo;m more into baking. I bartend. Bill barbecues.

Rare Form

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:18:32 GMT

One can%26rsquo;t blame a dish that chooses to run away with a Puiforcat spoon. Originally established as a family-owned cutlery workshop in 1820, the company was purchased by Herm%26egrave;s in 1993 and continues to produce designs that inspire both love at first sight and serious squabbling amongst those jockeying for great grand-mer%26eacute;%26rsquo;s estate. From October 3 through 27, a selection of Art Deco and more contemporary pieces will leave Puiforcat%26rsquo;s closely guarded archives for a rare public appearance at the Highland Park Village Herm%26egrave;s store. The show%26rsquo;s standouts include a sterling-silver, ivory and Macassar-ebony chess set designed in 1927 by fourth-generation family member Jean %26Eacute;. Puiforcat, selling for $95,000. (Bobby Fischer types will note that each piece%26rsquo;s shape reflects its possible path on the board and the characteristics of its individual personality.) Equally notable is the circa-1925 Visionary Lamp ($55,000), which weighs in at 4.4 pounds of mirror-finished sterling silver, making it both a gleaming addition to one%26rsquo;s bedside table and a chic weapon against home intruders. The Vulcain vase, circa 2007 %26mdash; crafted from a single sheet of sterling silver %26mdash; requires more than 600 hammer strokes to achieve its perfectly oval shape ($29,500); while the pitcher%26rsquo;s deftly flared solid-silver body and Indian-rosewood handle (circa 1930; $78,700) takes the dispensation of orange juice to a whole new level. Herm%26egrave;s, 21 Highland Park Village, 214.528.0197; appointments recommended.

In the Family's Way

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:17:31 GMT

Not content with her career as a writer, journalist and creator of the verygoodlooking.com blog, Sally Horchow aims to modernize the company her father Roger Horchow founded 40 years ago (and ultimately sold to Neiman Marcus). As the Horchow brand%26rsquo;s new lifestyle director, Horchow compiles her personal picks in an online boutique %26mdash; current favorites include personalized chevron napkins, Jonathan Adler throws and hand-woven seagrass baskets %26mdash; plus dispenses personable, expert advice on decorating and entertaining via video. horchow.com.

Winners by a Nose

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:16:08 GMT

If you don%26rsquo;t own a lighthouse, at least smell as if you do. LAFCO owner Jon Brasler makes it happen with his oversized art glass diffusers featuring fragrances from the original candle collection. (Guests at The Mansion are well acquainted with LAFCO%26lsquo;s Daffodil scent sweetly permeating the lobby.) Match each essence to a specific room or to the contents of
your real estate portfolio. Latter choices include the aforementioned Lighthouse, as well as Ranch, Beach House, Ski Lodge, Farm and Tree Aerie. According to Brasler, %26ldquo;These aren%26rsquo;t diffusers you have to hide behind a bookcase. We don%26rsquo;t include logos on them because once they leave the store, they%26rsquo;re yours %26hellip; not ours.%26rdquo; Expect the essential oils to last between six months and a year. The key, Brasler says, is to place them well away from vents and, assumedly, wayward ships. At LAFCO, Nicholson-Hardie, Stanley Korshak.

For She's a Jolly Good Pillow

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:13:29 GMT

Your couch: %26ldquo;Oh my gosh, I%26rsquo;m so honored to meet you!%26rdquo;

Anna Wintour pillow: (silence)

Your couch: %26ldquo;Seriously, I%26rsquo;m such a big fan of American Vogue.%26rdquo;

Anna Wintour pillow: (silence)

Your couch: %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;ve had a subscription since I was just a cushion!%26rdquo;

Anna Wintour pillow (avoiding eye contact): %26ldquo;I see you%26rsquo;re still here. Can you send someone to
plump me?%26rdquo;

New Yorker Gaston Marticorena gets you up close and personal with the imperious editrix: four different front-row designs digitally printed on sumptuous cotton and stuffed with the finest goose down. We can%26rsquo;t imagine her allowing it any other way. 18%26rdquo; square pillows $310 each, at Grange Hall.

Self-Made Men

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:11:49 GMT

When Dan Hellman and Eric Chang stepped on stage at The Guggenheim to accept Interior Design magazine%26rsquo;s 2006 Best of Year Design award for their now iconic Z pedestal table, editor-in-chief Cindy Allen smiled, shook their hands, then leaned over and whispered, %26ldquo;Who the hell are you?%26rdquo; It wasn%26rsquo;t an entirely inappropriate question, considering the circumstances. Up
until that point, the two were known in rather small circles as childhood friends who shared a passion for creating modern furniture with an artisan%26rsquo;s attention to detail.

It started with a saltwater fish tank (%26ldquo;a cool one,%26rdquo; Chang assures me) in young Hellman%26rsquo;s bedroom that needed a cabinet. The $300+ price tags and ugly designs available at the local fish store prompted a %26ldquo;Hey, let%26rsquo;s make one!%26rdquo; moment. After several trips to The Home Depot for books, tools and wood, they ultimately wound up with a somewhat clumsy piece of furniture that cost several thousand dollars %26hellip; and the thrill of crafting something by hand. From that point on, they were hooked. Post-college-graduation, they decided to rent an area-rug-sized space in a Brooklyn co-op that catered to artists and craftsmen %26mdash; the first time the two had access to professional-grade tools and equipment. Being surrounded by professional furniture makers who didn%26rsquo;t mind sharing advice helped, too.

Over time, an aesthetic defined by dynamic surface details and serious handwork %26mdash; as well as a business plan %26mdash; emerged. The then 23-year-olds decided to enter Interior Design%26rsquo;s aforementioned contest, and the rest, so they say, is one of those overnight-sensation stories. Within a week of winning, they got a call from designers representing the Four Seasons, who needed 15 bar tables for the Seattle property, plus a coffee table for its presidential suite.

Today, the bespoke-suited duo now labor out of their own 11,000-square-foot facility in Brooklyn filled with classic woodworking equipment that still requires hand operation. They recently launched the very sexy Avery chair, a design four years in the making that represents their first foray into seating, as well as the Anora lamp, a graceful exercise in balance. Yet for all the industry buzz, the two remain proponents of the spoke shave (a tool originally used to create wagon wheels) that shears hardwood a hundredth of an inch at a time, an arduous process resulting in the twisting facets found in many of their designs. Responsibly forested wood is sourced locally. Within their workshop, they set aside co-op space for artisans with whom they%26rsquo;ve worked in the past. And, perhaps most importantly, they still exude the same enthusiasm found in their days spent in Hellman%26rsquo;s family%26rsquo;s garage: Just two dudes making furniture %26mdash; albeit the kind more at home with a Manhattan on the rocks than saltwater. At David Sutherland Showroom; hellmanchang.com.

%26nbsp;

Mixed Breed

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:09:50 GMT

We%26rsquo;re obsessed with Hybrid plates and cups, a brilliant collision of East meets West. Designed by CrtlZak for Seletti and made in Tangshan, the bone-china tableware is sliced in half, creating the ultimate double take. At the Nasher Store at the Nasher Sculpture Center, 214.242.5110; nashersculpturecenter.org/store.

%26nbsp;

Printed Matter

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 02:30:30 GMT

We always like a good curiosity book. Cabinets of Wonder (by Christine Davenne, Abrams, $45) is hauntingly beautiful with collections of butterflies, skulls, hunting trophies and ancient Egyptian artifacts %26mdash; myriad oddities convened in cabinets of curiosity in exceptional homes and museums throughout the world. Oddball and divine.

Designer Amanda Nisbet%26rsquo;s new book, Dazzling Design by Amanda Nisbet (Stewart, Tabori %26amp; Chang, $50), brims with color, life and wit. With chapters titles such as %26ldquo;Bold Beginnings,%26rdquo; %26ldquo;The Magic of the Mix,%26rdquo; and %26ldquo;Pattern Play,%26rdquo; one just knows she%26rsquo;s not into greige. Signed books available.

The beautifully photographed Diane Keaton: House (Rizzoli, $85) is an exploratory vision by the actress of how we should live our lives. The volume stunningly portrays rusticated homes, aging farmhouses and crumbling lofts, all with beauty hidden beneath neglect and decay. Keaton showcases the work of inventive designers such as Roy McMakin, Annabelle Selldorf and Tom Kundig. Engaging and intoxicating.

Atlanta hostess and tastemaker Danielle Rollins has penned an exquisite new entertaining/lifestyle book, Soir%26eacute;e: Entertaining With Style (Rizzoli, $50). Much of it was photographed at her own magnificent 1920s Georgia estate, Boxwood, which was decorated by Miles Redd. Stunning. Signed books available.

%26nbsp;Cornelia Guest, daughter of the late and fabulous CZ Guest, will sign her entertaining book Cornelia Guest%26rsquo;s Simple Pleasures (Weinstein Books, $32.50) Thursday, October 11, at Tootsies, 5:30 to 7 pm. In this volume, Guest shows how simple yet elegant entertaining can be with understated elegance learned from her parents, the late CZ Guest and Winston Frederick Churchill Guest. Recipes and menus are meatless, cruelty-free and organized into seasons, from light spring lunches to cozy, warm suppers. RSVP to the signing at courtney@franciscoandco.com; information 214.696.9993. Can%26rsquo;t make the signing? Give us a tap at curatebooks@papercitymag.com, and we%26rsquo;ll have a book inscribed for you. Tootsies, 8300 Preston Road. Image: Cornelia Guest.

This is one we%26rsquo;ve been waiting for all year: interior design sensation Miles Redd%26rsquo;s exuberant new The Big Book of Chic (Assouline, $75). Oversized and lush, it%26rsquo;s filled with his quirky, cozy glamour %26mdash; from NY high-rises to country houses, many of which have appeared in national design publications and others that have never been published. We can%26rsquo;t get enough of his high-flying fantastical design. Signed books available

We%26rsquo;re Baaaaack %26mdash; Domestic Art: Curated Interiors
In this compendium of quirky, eccentric houses first published in PaperCity Dallas and Houston, you%26rsquo;ll find the private retreats of Eric Prokesh, John Bobbitt, Christopher Ridolfi, Ken Downing and Sam Saladino, Mike Thompson, Lucy and Steve Wrubel, George Sellers, James McEnroe, Jan Showers, Todd Fiscus, Bill Mackin, Rob Dailey and more. The 37 deftly designed residences each express a distinctly curious point of view.

%26nbsp;Inspired by legendary, classical designers such as Renzo Mongiardino and Sister Parish, designer Alex Papachristidis brings his own modern perspective to design in The Age of Elegance: Interiors by Alex Papachristidis (Rizzoli, $55). This beautiful book shows projects from grand New York apartments to beach houses, all with Papachristidis%26rsquo; hallmarks: stenciled floors, passementerie, layering of fabrics and gilded finishes. Bonus: He opens his addressbook and shares favorite resources for fabrics, furniture and antiques. Signed books available.%26nbsp;

Pools: Reflections by Kelly Klein (Rizzoli, $100)

The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now by Gil Schafer III (Rizzoli, $55)

Contemporary Classical: The Architecture of Andrew Skurman (Princeton Architectural Press, $60)

The Help: The Deluxe Edition by Kathryn Stockett (Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam, $30)

%26nbsp;

Signed, Sealed and Delivered

Give us a tap or a ring, and we%26rsquo;ll have your book signed and inscribed for you. Just e-mail curatebooks@papercitymag.com.

A Class Not to be Dismissed

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 02:08:59 GMT

%26ldquo;Kids are intimidated by realism. Adults are intimidated by modernism.%26rdquo; So says Oil and Cotton co-owner Kayli House Cusick who, along with partner Shannon Driscoll, welcomes anyone who%26rsquo;s ever wanted to explore the space between academic art, hand craftsmanship and human ingenuity to their Bishop Arts storefront. In any given month, you%26rsquo;ll find beginner-friendly workshops for adults on figure drawing, copper-plate printmaking, embroidery, calligraphy, basket weaving, jewelry making, silkscreen printing and more, along with weekly classes geared specifically for tots to teens. Everything is taught by professionals with serious cred %26mdash; and, in an effort to up the ante, the pair recently formed a collaboration with the University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design. On Saturday, October 13, artist Pat Hickman, recipient of two National Endowment of the Arts grants, will head to Oil and Cotton after her UNT lecture to conduct a workshop entitled %26ldquo;Inner Membranes: Gutwork,%26rdquo; where students experiment and discover ways of working with %26mdash; there%26rsquo;s no pretty way of saying this %26mdash; hog intestines as a skin membrane. (A quick glimpse at images from Hickman%26rsquo;s current Dartmouth exhibit, %26ldquo;Traces of Time,%26rdquo; proves the results can be breathtaking.) Cusick, a piano teacher and children%26rsquo;s arts curriculum writer, and Driscoll, an arts conservator, also house the occasional pop-up shop, and sublet space to local furniture maker Kyle Hobratschk %26mdash; all a testament to their %26ldquo;make do with what you%26rsquo;ve got%26rdquo; ethos. 837 W. 7th St., 214.942.0474; oilandcotton.com.

Tile Me Up, Tile Me Down

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 02:07:17 GMT

Designed by designers for designers, the new 6,400-square-foot Daltile Design Studio includes five room vignettes, bathrooms, shower, kitchen and fireplace to help visualize combinations of tile and stone, as well as a Star Wars armory of tech tools. Check out the floor visualizer and kitchen renovation simulator for inspiration %26mdash; choose the type of light in your current space to see the color it casts on different textures, or let the interactive screen show you what knobs, finishes, backsplashes and floors work best. Other areas are set up like a working design firm, with communal tables and a library space with loose tile samples. Newness to note: Larger-format floor tile (24%26rdquo; by 48%26rdquo;) from the NEXT collection, mini marble mosaics and subtly iridescent subway tiles; oil-rubbed bronze, gilded copper and forged steel tiles.%26nbsp; The massive light installation of dangling tiles alone merits a visit. 1502 Slocum St., 214.760.1115.

A New Kind of Border Patrol

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 02:06:09 GMT

Holt Haynsworth of the eponymous photography studio wants to frame you %26hellip; in the best possible way. Tucked between Bistro 31 and Hadleigh%26rsquo;s in Highland Park Village, his new shop Haynsworth Frames stocks everything including over-the-top Swarovski crystal collectibles, sleek sterling-silver designs, offerings from Weingeroff and The Julie Knight Collection, and, come November, jewelry-caliber designs from Thorson Hosier, as well as custom Lucite frames, and nontraditional frame sizes for professional portraits. But his real point of distinction may be an ability to discern exactly what frame will work best with a particular image and, in turn, seamlessly meld with the look of client%26rsquo;s home, room and right on down to the furniture said frame will rest upon. Going forward, Haynsworth plans to bring back unique offerings from his travels around the world, ensuring your once-in-a-lifetime moments get a one-of-a-kind treatment. Open noon to 8 pm Monday through Saturday, and Sunday by appointment. 74 %26frac12; Highland Park Village, 214.559.3730.

There She Goes Again

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 02:05:01 GMT

Leslie Pritchard cherishes many things %26mdash; rescue cats, fine wine, the Black Keys, cowboy boots %26mdash; but mass-produced furniture isn%26rsquo;t one of them. To entwine her affection for custom creations with a desire to save cast-aside pieces, Pritchard opened Again %26amp; Again in 2005, a hub for home furnishings worth resurrecting. Now she%26rsquo;s added another location to her repertoire. While the newest storefront on Riverfront shares the same name as its precursor, it features a showroom of already refurbished, ready-to-go pieces that flows into a warehouse filled with sofas, chairs, consoles, nightstands and headboards still begging to be transformed. Beyond the entrance lies a fully stocked fabric bar with swatches and paint samples for those needing something concrete to match what lives inside Pritchard%26rsquo;s marvelous mind. Meanwhile, at the Howell Street destination, shoppers will find a consignment jackpot, along with displays of traditional, transitional contemporary and antique furniture that have been completely restored %26mdash; a tool Pritchard uses to show customers what can be done with a little effort and imagination. %26ldquo;I take something that is an ugly duckling and turn it into couture furniture,%26rdquo; she explains. %26ldquo;Here, love is our special ingredient.%26rdquo; Those wishing to buy old and make new can visit either Again %26amp; Again any day of the week (hours vary). Just ask for Leslie %26hellip; or look for the big smile, cowboy boots and cats. 1202 Riverfront and 141 Howell St., 214.746.6300; againandagain.com.

Altered States

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 01:28:34 GMT

Architect Bud Oglesby, 1978. Renovation, David Alkire DMAC Enterprises, 2011.

Tackling a dwelling whose interior was preserved in the decorative equivalent of amber requires no small amount of vision, even when said habitat was originally conceived by noted architect Bud Oglesby. Fortunately, Rob Dailey saw the possibilities that lay beyond its 35-year-old fa%26ccedil;ade. And in less than a year, he placed his own unique thumbprint on the two-story town home before ultimately deciding to make like a rolling stone, list his creation and sell it %26mdash; a feat that only required five days on the market. But the vision and ideas live on in his mind%26rsquo;s eye and in these beautiful photographs.

%26ldquo;It was obvious this space had very special bones, so it was just a matter of listening to what it wanted,%26rdquo; Dailey says. %26ldquo;Granted, it was cool, but I didn%26rsquo;t want to do the whole revisit-the-%26rsquo;70s thing.%26rdquo; With that in mind, he enlisted the help of David Alkire, a contractor he had collaborated with in the past. One of their first tasks on this particular project involved the original giant curved staircase that dominated the entrance. While it was clearly a unique feature, Dailey decided to replace it with a sleek custom-designed steel-and-white-oak staircase that now leads to a stunning glass bridge that connects the two upstairs bedrooms. The result is a cathedral-like gallery with an air of quiet grandeur. %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;ve had friends who refer to it as a holy place,%26rdquo; Dailey says.

Its hush is unbroken by the appearance of an old church pew from his parents. Dailey left the bench outside for nearly seven years to let nature take its course; the beautifully weathered wood offsets the piece%26rsquo;s somewhat severe lines, and it now exudes the approachable dignity of a favorite elder statesman. The gallery%26rsquo;s overall solemnity is interrupted by the appearance of a happy little message from artist Trenton Doyle Hancock: %26ldquo;Wow, That%26rsquo;s Me.%26rdquo; Add a weighty table loaded with design books as well as interesting objets, and you have an entrance that captures the depth and dimension of Dailey. It certainly conveys a sense of permanence, but with a sleight of hand and a little pre-planning, the space can be %26mdash; and was %26mdash; converted into the setting for many memorable dinner parties.

The juxtaposition of vast openness with the intimate tableaux found throughout the home is a Dailey signature honed over his almost 30-year career as an interior decorator. Beckoning from tables, cabinets, dressers and counters, each eye-pleasing assemblage includes items ranging from his grandmother%26rsquo;s pencil box to an unusual piece of scrimshaw %26mdash; some fun, some sentimental and all incredibly beautiful.

The lengthy list of Dailey-induced changes throughout the domicile contains a certain alchemy of organic touches and modern elements that has always marked his professional work. He raised the galley kitchen%26rsquo;s ceiling and opened up the entire back wall with glass to create a conversation between indoors and out. Gently curved edges soften the steel-clad fireplace. New gallery skylights mean shadows and sunbeams interact throughout the day. The spa-like master bath includes a subway-tiled shower room with a soaking tub and a frosted-glass wall that overlooks neighboring treetops.

Furnishings he%26rsquo;s had for years were repurposed to fit the new digs, such as the brown velvet sofa %26mdash; cut down from its original 16-foot length %26mdash; in the charming living room and the Dailey-designed acrylic coffee table that enjoys new life as a bench at the foot of his bed. Artworks from Nicolas Alquin, Deborah Grant and Alex Remington range from a soothing ink-on-rice-paper rubbing to a hyper-realistic photograph of a getting-ready-for-her-close-up drag queen, which Dailey refers to as %26ldquo;Norman Rockwell meets David LaChapelle.%26rdquo; Together, they contribute to a space
so inviting and personal that it is impossible not to take an immediate liking to its (former) owner.

It%26rsquo;s difficult to fathom leaving a place like this behind, but it%26rsquo;s obvious Dailey creates beauty wherever he goes. His favorite quote by Marcel Proust says it all: %26ldquo;The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.%26rdquo;

He has currently set up temporary camp in another Oglesby-designed space nearby, the perfect setting for his ongoing exploration. We%26rsquo;ll assume there won%26rsquo;t be a %26rsquo;70s clich%26eacute; in sight. Just lots of faith in the future.

%26nbsp;

Meet You at the Pavilion

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:41:50 GMT

With every new and exciting retail development, change is inevitable. In the case of David Taylor and his mom, Mona Dees %26mdash; owners of the much-loved, recently shuttered Antiques %26amp; Interiors on Dunlavy %26mdash; change was a very fortuitous opportunity. Vacating their Dunlavy locale, the duo has settled into a new home in the former Antique Pavilion. Renamed Antiques %26amp; Interiors at the Pavilion, they%26rsquo;ve nearly doubled in size. In addition to bringing 31 of their antique, art and design proprietors with them (including Faded Rose Antiques and Mary Daly of The Fabulous Flea), they%26rsquo;ve multiplied their dealer count to a whopping 80 within 25,000 square feet of glorious floor space. Several esteemed residents of the former establishment %26mdash; including Crow %26amp; Co., David Lackey Antiques %26amp; Art and Pillsbury-Michel, Past Era Antique Jewelry %26mdash; continue to have booths, while Taylor and Dees have attracted those who ply in the interiors trade, too %26mdash; but not to the exclusion of the collectors who, with a rabid passion for quality art, antiques and jewels, wander in to discover their next covetable find. Here you%26rsquo;ll find design minds such as Amelia Handegan from Charleston and Houston designer Dennis McNabb stocking furniture, accessories, objets and art, as well as collector Melody Rodgers (known for her cool costume jewels), faux painter Sheema Muneer, designer Nina Wickman at WW Design, Madeleine McDermott Hamm, Merilee Cunningham, Dana Aichler, Larry Bahn/ The Country Gentleman, Holly Cauble and art dealers Robert Alker and Burt Melnick %26mdash; just a few of the boldfaced names that round out the tempting offerings. 2311 Westheimer Road, 713.520.9755; antique-pavilion.com.

Design Buzz

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:12:05 GMT

Hien Lam Home at 2032 West Alabama is doing a bit of rebranding and will now be called Lam Bespoke, a nod to their emphasis on creating custom upholstered furnishings. Lam Bespoke is also the sole dealer in Houston for Mitchell Gold Bob Williams furnishings. On Thursday, October 11, Leslie Sinclair will sign her book Segreto: Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors from 11 am to 3 pm.

Printed Matter

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 01:33:36 GMT

Miles Redd%26rsquo;s The Big Book of Chic%26nbsp;

Interior design sensation Miles Redd %26mdash; he of the exuberant new book The Big Book of Chic (Assouline, $75) %26mdash; bounds into town Thursday, October 25. Redd will talk, give a presentation and sign books for the ICAA (Institute of Classical Architecture %26amp; Art) at a private club with 6 pm cocktails, 7 pm talk. Oversized and lush, his new book is filled with his quirky, cozy glamour %26mdash; from NY high-rises to country houses, many of which have%26nbsp; appeared in national design publications and others that have never published. We can%26rsquo;t get enough of his high-flying fantastical design. ICAA members gratis, nonmembers $10; reservations limited. Reserve via Julie Koch at Elegant Additions, 713.522.0088, julik@elegantadditions.net. IMAGE: Miles Redd.

The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now by Gil Schafer III

Gil Schafer III appears at Greenwood King The Lobby Thursday, October 4, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, for a talk and presentation, followed by a book signing of The Great American House: Tradition for The Way We Live Now (Rizzoli, $55). AD 100 member Schafer is brilliant at building new, blending the best of American historic and classical architecture with decoration and landscape. Projects in the book include his Hudson Valley home, a historic Nashville residence and a Greek Revival mansion in Charleston. Gratis, but reservations a must, thelobby@greenwoodking.com. Greenwood King The Lobby, 3201 Kirby. IMAGE: Gil Schafer III.%26nbsp;

Cornelia Guest%26rsquo;s Simple Pleasures

Cornelia Guest, daughter of the late and fabulous CZ Guest, will sign her entertaining book Cornelia Guest%26rsquo;s Simple Pleasures (Weinstein Books, $32.50) Tuesday, October 9, at Tootsies, 6 to 8 pm. In this volume, Guest shows how simple yet elegant entertaining can be with understated elegance learned from her parents, the late CZ Guest and Winston Frederick Churchill Guest. Recipes and menus are meatless, cruelty-free and organized into seasons, from light spring lunches to cozy, warm suppers. Cocktails and bites from Tony%26rsquo;s. Respond to 713.403.2905; rsvp@tootsies.com. IMAGE: Cornelia Guest.%26nbsp;

Pools: Reflections by Kelly Klein

Photographer, fashion muse and author Kelly Klein flies to Houston Saturday, October 13, for a cocktail reception and book signing of her new oversized volume Pools: Reflections (Rizzoli, $100) at Chateau Domingue, 6 to 8 pm. Mesmerized by pools, which she calls %26ldquo;architecture in the ground,%26rdquo; Klein asked 600 photographers to submit shots of their favorite pools, which she culled down to 180 images of pools in their splashy glory: the dishabille and abandoned, magnificent hotel statements and understated private pools.
Please respond to 713.961.3444; rsvp@chateaudomingue.com. Chateau Domingue, 3615 W. Alabama. IMAGE: Kelly Klein.%26nbsp;

The Age of Elegance: Interiors by Alex Papachristidis

Designer Alex Papachristidis is the keynote speaker at Houston Design Center%26rsquo;s Fall Market Tuesday, October 23, 11 am. His talk and presentation of his new book, The Age of Elegance: Interiors by Alex Papachristidis (Rizzoli, $55), is followed by a book signing and light lunch at the Alkusari Showroom, 7026 Old Katy Road, Suite 229. Reservations 713.864.2660; thehoustondesigncenter.com/fallmarket. IMAGE: Alex Papachristidis.%26nbsp;

Soir%26eacute;e: Entertaining With Style by Danielle Rollins

Atlanta hostess and tastemaker Danielle Rollins brings her new entertaining/lifestyle book Soir%26eacute;e: Entertaining With Style (Rizzoli, $50) to town Tuesday, November 6, for a cocktail party and book signing at Tootsies, 6 %26ndash; 8 pm. Rollins%26rsquo; magnificent 1920s Georgia estate, Boxwood, decorated by Miles Redd, appears in this stunning book. Respond to 713.403.2905, rsvp@tootsies.com. IMAGE: Danielle Rollins.%26nbsp;

Wednesday November 7, Danielle Rollins appears at Decorative Center Houston for Fall Market, where she will be on a panel discussing the world of gracious living, with designer Amanda Nisbet and Veranda%26rsquo;s Leslie Newsom Rascoe. The 11 am keynote address will be followed by a book signing at Fabricut showroom, Suite 3022. RSVP 713.961.9292, ext. 1320; klarson@decorativecenter.com. Decorative Center Houston, 5120 Woodway.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

Dazzling Design by Amanda Nisbet

Designer Amanda Nisbet is a keynote speaker Wednesday, November 7, at the aforementioned Fall Market at Decorative Center Houston. She will sign her new book, Dazzling Design (Stewart, Tabori %26amp; Chang, $50), 2 to 3 pm, at the David Sutherland Showroom, Suite 170. RSVP 713.961.9292, ext. 1320; klarson@decorativecenter.com. Decorative Center Houston, 5120 Woodway. IMAGE: Amanda Nisbet.

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Signed, Sealed and Delivered

Can%26rsquo;t make the book signing of one of your favorite designers? Give us a tap or a ring (713.524.0606, ext. 203; curatebooks@papercitymag.com) and we%26rsquo;ll have a book signed, and inscribed as you wish. Books can be delivered, if you happen to live close to PaperCity%26rsquo;s offices or in a direction we might be driving. If not, pickups
are welcome, or we happily post.

Inside the Head of Carol Isaak Barden

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 01:18:38 GMT

Carol Isaak Barden isn%26rsquo;t a woman who shudders at the thought of a challenge. This former caterer turned globe-trotting journalist turned bespoke builder runs with abandon toward the unknown. When the World Trade Center was attacked and her source of income (travel writing for Travel %26amp; Leisure, Cond%26eacute; Nast Traveler and Southern Accents) all but evaporated, she took charge of her destiny: She wrote yet another chapter in her life%26rsquo;s story and set up shop, inspired that she could build a better town home. A decade ago, she launched Carol Isaak Barden + Company, armed with oodles of style and exposure to the best architects and architecture the world over yet nary an ounce of commercial building experience. Thriving today, her focus has shifted from spec properties to high-end custom houses, working with architects ranging from Francois de Menil to award-winning firms such as Suyama Peterson Deguchi and Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen %26mdash; the latter two from Seattle, the city where she was raised that still influences much of her lifestyle and design aesthetic. Step into the mindset of a woman dripping with sophistication and armed with a steely determination to find her way in the world, no matter how daunting the challenges.

On switching hats midstream. For 20 years, I logged thousands of miles a year writing features for the glossies. It had been a dream job, but suddenly the airlines were flying empty, and I was grounded. Six months after the Twin Towers attack, I became a real estate developer. Surely I could build smarter townhouses than the ugly ones I saw going up all around me. I enlisted architect Allen Bianchi, hired a builder and launched my little company. Clueless, I had no idea how hard it would be. Later I would learn just how fast you can lose money in real estate.

On the business of bespoke building. Suddenly, the strangest thing began to happen: Clients began asking me to help them build their homes. After searching endlessly for something they might buy, they gave up, bought a lot and called me. I lead people through the process, guiding them on the selection of an architect, design, bidding and construction phases.

The perfect client. Not everyone should build a house; I%26rsquo;ve watched couples fight and bicker over a bathroom faucet. Barbara Gamson is the perfect client, because she knows exactly what she wants, made a list of her requirements at the start and barely deviated from it. She directed the schematic design, selected finishes and spent endless hours researching the tiniest details. The architect and builder follow her lead, and I have no doubt that her house will absolutely suit her lifestyle.

Defining new-generation living. Houses will become smaller, not larger. New homes are not so chopped up; instead, open living spaces are designed for multitask living. A couple may cook, dine, watch TV, read and work in the kitchen. Living rooms double as media rooms with big flat-screen TVs %26hellip; everything has been turned upside down by the new technology. Lights, temperature and security are controlled from an iPad, and a homeowner traveling can receive a text on his cell anytime someone enters his house. Homebuyers seem less willing to take on the cost of cleaning, heating, cooling, insuring and maintaining a McMansion.

My fantasy posse. I would love to live in a modestly sized home designed by the divine Christian Liaigre. I admire John Saladino, Seattle architect Tom Kundig, Tadao Ando, Francois de Menil, Ed Tuttle, Tod Williams and Billie Tsien. Also lighting designer Alison Berger and Stephanie Odegard, who creates the most magnificent rugs.

Where inspiration strikes. Paris, Istanbul, Marrakesh, Florence, Cairo, the tiny Greek island of Hydra, Petra in Jordan, Jerusalem and Kyoto. The building that left me speechless was the Taj Mahal %26mdash; far more beautiful than I could ever have imagined.

Life%26rsquo;s not as effervescent without ... My Nespresso Pixie espresso coffeemaker and frothing machine.

Never finish a home without ... An elevator. It%26rsquo;s a must for arthritic dogs (and people) and hauling luggage. Other necessities: an enormous walk-in pantry, an air and water purifier, a generator for hurricane season, a real garden and energy-efficient doors and windows that keep a house cool and quiet.

As someone trained in Paris at La Varenne, my ideal kitchen has ... The biggest Viking range imaginable, an enormous island, Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, Blanco stainless sink, two ovens and a microwave. If I could change anything about my kitchen, I would knock out the swimming pool I never use and design a kitchen large enough to include comfortable chairs and sofas.

Go-to restaurant. Uchi. I love going there for a perfect cup of green tea, delicious food and the imaginative interior design. I love all that wood!

On acts of random decorating. My house is eccentric with lots of surprises. There%26rsquo;s a Greek statue in the entrance, French and Chinese antiques, an Empire chandelier, piles of textiles, architectural models, stacks of construction drawings. My studio is here, and so are the hundreds of design books I%26rsquo;ve collected. Because I have shopped globally, my furnishings are from everywhere: France, Italy, Thailand, China, Mexico, Hong Kong, Nepal, Indonesia. I think the best rooms evolve as we live in them. Life is random, unpredictable and always changing. Shouldn%26rsquo;t our homes be the same?

To thine own self be true. I%26rsquo;m all about comfort. My summer staple is stacks of crisp white Claridge + King shirts (sleeves rolled up). I wear black pants and black tees or sweaters all winter, white linen all summer. I love kicky skirts in summer and collect comfortable flats (I despise high heels). I wear lots of chunky jewelry %26mdash; especially Herm%26egrave;s silver bracelets. I mix gold and silver together and ignore all the rules. I rarely wear color (have never worn pink or blue in my life) but love chocolate brown. For years, I%26rsquo;ve collected accessories %26mdash; scarves, handbags, glass frames and ethnic jewelry. My favorite garments are from Herm%26egrave;s, especially my oatmeal cashmere shawl coat and my big cashmere scarves that have gone around the world with me as blankets and coats. I can%26rsquo;t live without the luxury of white linen %26mdash; sheets, nighties, robe, everything. Even my dog, Monk, has white linen on his bed.

Escapist hotel. I have dozens of favorites, but if I must choose one, it%26rsquo;s the serene Amandari in Bali.

Bespoke amenities. We%26rsquo;ve designed a Titanic-size closet for Ceron, the poolside outdoor shower for lap swimmer Patrick Summers, a 40-foot heated pool with LED lighting at 1850 Norfolk. We are currently working on a wine cellar for the owner of The Handmade House.

Repeat visits required. Europe%26rsquo;s stone cathedrals and Kyoto%26rsquo;s Buddhist temples. I always visit houses of worship and sacred sites to both pray and admire the architecture.

Dibs on the Greek Revival

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 01:05:57 GMT

Michael Bruno, founder of 1stdibs (the Web site beloved by designers and … well, just about anyone with any taste), has invited Greenwood King Properties to feature homes on the luscious 1stdibs.com site. Under the heading Fine Homes, Greenwood King showcases 14 properties at any one time, all fairly stratospheric in price and aimed at this international, design-loving audience. Launched in 2001, 1stdibs is the portal to more than 1,000 antiques, art and vintage jewelry dealers all over the world, and Julie Greenwood’s charming Fredericksburg shop The Garten was invited on the site in 2005. Bruno was a real estate broker in San Francisco before he dreamed up 1stdibs and moved to Paris; he launched the Fine Homes division last fall, and now a handful of highly curated real estate companies — one must be vetted and invited to join 1stdibs — showcase some of the most magnificent properties on the market at any one time. With more than 2 million visits a month by people seeking rare and extraordinary objects, furnishings and art, Bruno knew instinctively that design lovers and real estate junkies
were cut from the same cloth. 1stdibs.com.

An Endangered Penguin Saved

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:58:26 GMT

We are in awe of Dan Linscomb and%26nbsp; Pam Kuhl Linscomb, who have saved the Penguin Arms, a 1950 building at 2902 Revere Street designed by architect Arthur Moss. Revered by architectural and design aficionados, history buffs and anyone with a brain, the Penguin Arms was on Houston MOD%26rsquo;s Most Endangered List and most likely would have been razed by developers. The Penguin Arms served as a six-unit apartment building and is the only example of Googie architecture left in Houston, a genre influenced by the Space Age and Atomic Age that swept the nation. The Linscombs, owners of Kuhl-Linscomb, have saved a number of houses on the street to serve as charming storefronts for their world of furniture, design objects and everything beautiful for the home. The Penguin Arms will serve as a venue for curated design objects. And, why not? It%26rsquo;s surely one itself.

Interior Motives

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:53:19 GMT

Like many of her clients, interior designer Dianne Josephs is downsizing her life. Rather than seeing the gorgeous pieces she%26rsquo;s acquired over a lifetime gather dust in a storage unit, she%26rsquo;s unveiled them all at Atelier 1505, a 2,000-square-foot curated space housed within Lewis %26amp; Maese%26rsquo;s Antiques %26amp; Auctions warehouse. Open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, the inspired space borrows from the legendary designer John Dickinson%26rsquo;s%26nbsp; firehouse in San Francisco, with wainscoting and crown-molding details painted taupe with shades of gray blue and a punch of stripes (%26ldquo;I%26rsquo;m mad for stripes,%26rdquo; Joseph confesses). Within this retail venture %26mdash; a first for this design mind %26mdash; you%26rsquo;ll find clever vignettes assembled from such finds as a pair of whimsical bamboo daybeds painted red with a floral motif, consigned by the stylish Christina Girard; Swedish-style pieces; Dutch benches; serious pieces such as a Neoclassical birch biblioth%26egrave;que; plus lamps and chandeliers galore. 1505 Sawyer St., 713.864.2112; atelier1505.com.

Mixed Breed

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:50:06 GMT

We%26rsquo;re obsessed with the Hybrid plates and cups, a brilliant collision of East meets West. Designed by CrtlZak for Seletti and made in Tangshan, the fine bone-china tableware is sliced in half then spliced together, creating new hybrids of Eastern and Western culture. Available mid-October at Kuhl-Linscomb, and through Curate bookshop, curatebooks@papercitymag.com.

A Bungalow of Immense Style

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 05:57:46 GMT

It started rather slowly, in an under-the-radar sort of way. Then all of a sudden, we noticed a burgeoning urban migration west. Neighbors began to take to the road in droves, motoring out of the city most weekends, bound for the countryside and a little change of scene. One of the most stylish of the westward bound resides in a dramatic pied-%26agrave;-terre in a River Oaks high-rise weekdays, then escapes on weekends to an idyllic cottage that crawls and terraces down cliffs overlooking Austin%26rsquo;s Shoal Creek.

Owner Andrew Echols searched for months before finding this charming 1932 cliff house. Like a lot of older properties, this one has passed through many owners, some of whom left their mark on the property, which makes it a challenge to figure out who made what alteration when. No matter. Andrew, with the help of designer Cathy Echols and his long-time friend, architect Michael Landrum, has made this sweet but sophisticated cottage all his own. The confident globe-trotter knows what he likes and has the means to find it here, there and everywhere. He then relies on Cathy%26rsquo;s eye to place everything, from art to antiques, in the reimagined space, as well as to make the color selections.

Andrew, Cathy and Landrum worked together to make the most of this house %26mdash; reconfiguring awkward spaces, enlarging tiny closets and bathrooms, and generally bringing the eight-decades-old structure into the modern era. The walls throughout are a Benjamin Moore hue custom-mixed for Cathy to capture the color of milk. (%26ldquo;Whole, not skim,%26rdquo; she notes.) The trio dressed up the kitchen with soapstone counters but left the charm of the white-painted cabinetry intact. The baths underwent a cosmetic upgrade with gleaming Carrara marble tile and polished-nickel fixtures. A guest wing was added downstairs, in a garage area formerly connected to the house; above it, teenage son Stuart%26rsquo;s bedroom awaits his weekend arrival.

The two-story living room now feels gloriously spacious. Grounding the room are thoughtful architectural details such as V-groove-covered walls with a slight 1/8-inch reveal and cove moldings that cleverly conceal lights above. One of Andrew%26rsquo;s fortuitous finds was a pair of marble urns from the former Chiles estate in Fort Worth, decorated by William Haines, which anchor the grand style of this expansive room. Custom sofas are covered in an inexpensive, easy-to-clean muslin %26mdash; double layered, with the idea that as layers wear and soil, a new one can be upholstered atop it.

With the living room, dining room and master suite all facing toward the back gardens, the team made the most of the property%26rsquo;s cliff-hugging location by installing multiple step-down terraces. A flagstone walk leads to a dining area surrounded by lush greenery growing with abandon. A few yards further and several steps downward, is a placid pool, where one can take a dip or take in the view. %26ldquo;Since the property slopes downward,%26rdquo; says Andrew, who worked with John Arns of Madrone Landscape Design of Austin, %26ldquo;we had to determine how the house terraces would cascade down and follow the slope.%26rdquo;

Although the house glows by both day and night, Andrew %26mdash; who favors spending idle moments in the living room %26mdash; remarks, %26ldquo;When the back is moonlit and you%26rsquo;re inside, there%26rsquo;s a beautiful treehouse effect.%26rdquo; No matter one%26rsquo;s vantage point, inside or out, this stylish retreat truly fulfills its owner%26rsquo;s original vision: It offers a magical change of scene from a hectic Houston life.

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Words to the Wise

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 06:00:14 GMT

British furniture designer Timothy Oulton is prone to making pronouncements such as “If everyone gets it, I’m not doing my job” or “Antiques aren’t relevant.” Clearly, this isn’t a man who’s stingy with an opinion. And, during the opening of his first stand-alone store in the U.S. (in Dallas at Potter Square, 4500 N. Central Expressway), we discovered he’s not particularly parsimonious with British slang, either. In an effort to get our Anglophile on, we queried: How does one avoid being called a wanker? Here’s what he told us:

1. Use manners; be nice to people.

2. Be loyal.

3. Buy the best you can afford.

4. Choose classic over trendy every time.

5. If you believe in it, go for it; don’t listen to others.

6. Don’t be afraid to apologize.

7. Don’t take life too seriously, but commitwholeheartedly.

8. Be interested.

9. Be passionate.

10. Think big.

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IMAGE:%26nbsp; Toff Timothy Oulton

The Outdoorsy Type

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 05:57:08 GMT

For those still debating the merits of papering a powder room, perhaps its time to live large. Known for its imaginative, mural-like wallpapers, Italian company Wall %26amp; Decò recently introduced OUT (Outdoor Unconventional Textures), a three-part surface covering that enables incredible photographic reproductions and large-scale graphic designs to be applied onto outside walls. The system consists of an adhesive, a technical fabric and a finishing treatment that ensure a tenacious grip on exterior surfaces, even in damp environments. The choices guarantee no one will ever again refer to your domicile as “the second house on the left” — think eye-popping Bauhaus patterns, optic prints, tribal motifs, houndstooth, camouflage and weathered wood for starters. We suppose the only real question you need ask is: Does this pattern make my house look big? wallanddeco.com.

Something to Write Home About

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 05:55:23 GMT

As if the Bishop Arts district didn%26rsquo;t have enough cool factor already: Neighborhood, a new home shop and design studio, has put out its welcome mat. Husband-and-wife duo John Paul and Erin Hossley (architect and interior designer, respectively) stock modern-minded furnishings %26shy;%26shy;%26mdash; much of it locally made %26mdash; by Stash Design, Field Day, Tony Barsotti, Shea Petricek; work from local artists such as Cabe Booth, Taylor McClure, Kevin Obregon and Scott Horn; and books, pillows, lighting and candles from Joseph Joseph, Core Bamboo, Fairfax %26amp; King. Whether you%26rsquo;re more the brewski or martini type, sidle up to the Design Bar for free consultation and advice.%26nbsp; A menu cleverly displays hourly prices for services, and Neighborhood stays open late for design-owls: until 8 pm Tuesday through Thursday and 10 pm Friday and Saturday. 411 N. Bishop Ave., 214.943.5650; neighborhood-store.com.

Feats of (Very Good) Clay

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 05:50:07 GMT

Working from a Bastille workshop that once sheltered Napoleon%26rsquo;s silversmith, lifestyle powerhouse Astier De Villatte salutes the classical identity of the 17th and 18th centuries. The brand%26rsquo;s forte lies in its exquisitely designed ceramics by Beno%26icirc;t Astier de Villatte and Ivan Pericoli, who revived an ancien technique called estampage to bathe black terracotta in a milky-white finish. This method amplifies the unique character of the clay, leaving deliberate little hiccups and imperfections to make each one of kind. While the result may appear purloined from a Loire Valley farmhouse, the modern sensibility will filch its fair share of compliments in your Turtle Creek high-rise. Pictured: Composition Louis XV, charmingly all as one piece, $1,568. Exclusively in Dallas at Grange Hall.

You'd Better Hoof It

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 05:46:58 GMT

Growing up in San Francisco, Brian Bolke had always admired John Dickinson%26rsquo;s iconic white plaster furniture, often identifiable by chunky animal legs, nature-inspired details or African motifs. Now, Bolke, owner of Forty Five Ten, is partnering with showroom impresario David Sutherland to bring these spare-yet-whimsical pieces to those outside the trade via his McKinney Avenue store. Sutherland (who has long represented the collection and was working with Dickinson to develop a more resilient material at the time of his death) collaborated with Dickinson%26rsquo;s estate to produce each piece out of reinforced concrete, rendering them usable indoors and out. This is the first time that Dickinson%26rsquo;s pieces have been available at retail, and also the first such collab for David Sutherland. Fourteen Dickinson designs are currently available; a few more will be added in the years to come. Etruscan table, $2,900; Twig mirror, $3,600; Twig lamp, $1,860; small African table, $1,940; medium African table, $2,340, at Forty Five Ten.

IMAGES:

Etruscan table by John Dickinson

Twig mirror and Twig lamp by John Dickinson

Small and medium African tables by John Dickinson

Let There Be White

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 04:57:09 GMT

Georgia and Chris Christensen open up in a dwelling that once accommodated an inadvertent documentarian, a matinee idol and, now, one very happy golden retriever.

Architect David George, 1960; renovation, 2004, Scott Hill and Arthur Johnson, Square One. Flowers Jack Collins for Grange Hall.

When Georgia Christensen entered this sprawling example of Texas modernism in Preston Hollow, she immediately knew she was home. Not because of the 90-foot expanse that draws the eye from the entrance through the living room, dining room, kitchen and den. Nor because of its thoughtfully rendered update. The expansive backyard pool and beautifully worn interior concrete floors were certainly a plus, but the real reason was much more primal: The dwelling transported her back in time. Her father, architect Roland Laney (a contemporary of George, Bud Oglesby and O’Neil Ford and also a proponent of the Texas modernism movement), had designed her childhood home, and the sensibility she encountered in this particular space triggered a flood of happy memories.%26nbsp;

Of course, there was a time when Georgia, executive creative director at Neiman Marcus, didn’t always see eye to eye with her dad’s design choices. “Growing up, everyone else had wall-to-wall carpeting,” she says. “We had hardwood floors with sheepskin rugs. I was mortified.” Additional cringe-worthy moments for her teenaged self occurred when he brought home discarded materials from construction sites, occasionally turning slabs of stone into tables or, in one memorable instance, a credenza.%26nbsp;

Thankfully, tastes evolve, and the Christensens now enthusiastically dwell amid pedigreed modern pieces that once graced the Laney family home, including classic Eames chairs and beautifully inlaid side tables by Erno Fabry Associates. Less hallowed but equally loved are her grandmother’s desk and an upright Baldwin piano, whose presence causes husband Chris to roll his eyes.%26nbsp;

The overall vibe is one of tranquility without austerity. “I like things that are clean and open. I don’t want to live in a space that feels decorated,” Georgia says. “Maybe it’s all about control, but I need something that is the antithesis of chaos.” This, of course, is coming from a woman who didn’t think twice about having a white sofa back in the day when she had two toddlers.

The vast expanse of sparkling white is the backdrop for the family’s self-expression. Photographer Chris’ charming series of black-and-white multigenerational portraits dominates the entrance to the couples’ bedroom. Son Will, a film student at Columbia College in Chicago, shot the urban street scenes, an intriguing photographic counterpoint to Grandma’s desk. And daughter Lizzie (now a senior designer of women’s wear for Steven Alan in New York) contributed the woven-raffia installation conceived as a sophomore class project at Rhode Island School of Design. Georgia’s own oil painting graces one wall in the dining room, a moody landscape that evokes the Texas plains. Mix in images from photographers she has worked with over the course of her career — including the legendary Lillian Bassman and Rodney Smith — and a very personal collection is formed. All in all, it’s a radical departure from the couple’s former home in Westport, Connecticut, a typical colonial on two acres with, in winter, a pond turned skating rink for neighborhood hockey games.

The heritage of their new modern mecca stands on its own — it’s just a bonus that the house was formerly owned by Abraham Zapruder, a Dallas-based clothing manufacturer who achieved notoriety when he inadvertently filmed the assassination of John F. Kennedy. And one more genealogical gem: The residence was frequently visited by Tab Hunter, as a guest of yet another predecessor.

Nowadays, that type of drama keeps its distance, but the history of beautiful and functional design lives on.

In the entry, mirror and credenza by Square One. Chairs from Marble Chair Company. John Saladino lamp.

Part of the den serves as a library with hundreds of design and art tomes. Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller lounge chair. Circa-1940s inlaid side table by Erno Fabry Associates, manufactured in Denmark.

The work of late photographer Lillian Bassman strikes a fashionable chord over Georgia’s childhood piano.

Anchoring the soaring entry is a sculptural ladder sourced from an artist’s studio in Paris while Georgia was shooting Neiman Marcus’ Spring 2000 Art of Fashion campaign with Diego Uchitel. Skylights are original to the house. Raffia installation by Lizzy Christensen, created during her first class in apparel design at Rhode Island School of Design.

In the kitchen, rift-cut oak cabinetry. Carrara marble counters. Succulents in sandblasted wood from Grange Hall.

In the master bedroom, side table, mirror and chest by Square One. The rocker was purchased in 1942 by Georgia’s grandfather for his first grandchild. Bed from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Linens from Restoration Hardware. Crate %26amp; Barrel lamps.

Thos. Moser cherry-wood dining table topped with porcelain egg vases by Ted Muehling for Nymphenburg, from Grange Hall. Georgia Christensen’s oil on canvas, Untitled, 2007.

Georgia and Chris Christensen with Grace, their golden retriever.

In the den, marble-topped Saarinen table. Chairs by Square One. Ink-on-paper drawing by outsider artist Milton Davis. Spirit mask from Tambanum Village in Papua, New Guinea. Custom-made nesting tables designed by the Christensens.

Well-Tomed

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 03:54:14 GMT

Alexander the Great%26nbsp;

Love Looks Not with the Eyes: Thirteen Years with Lee Alexander McQueen by Anne Deniau (Abrams, cloth-cased, $75) is a much-anticipated book for fall. This visual fashion history covers the 13 years when Deniau was the only photographer allowed backstage to film the before, during and aftermath of McQueen%26rsquo;s emotionally charged runway shows in Paris. His horrifyingly intricate and exacting productions were spectacular and brilliant, and are now articulated into fashion legend. More than 400 pages, the 10%26rdquo;-by-13%26rdquo; volume has a cover that%26rsquo;s going to grace many a Knoll cocktail table.

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Pools of Thought%26nbsp;

The very talented Ms. Klein has a fifth book out, Pools: Reflections (Rizzoli, $100), the second of this oeuvre. Kelly Klein%26rsquo;s first watery volume was Pools, but the spectacular Horse, Cross and Underworld were equally lavish. The ex of designer Calvin Klein, this talented editor and curator of photography has assembled the most extraordinary images of pools from around the world, referencing works by David Hockney and others with art installations by James Turrell, Tom Sachs and Robert Rauschenberg, seen through the lenses of photographers Steven Klein, Bruce Weber, Juergen Teller and more. Klein herself is a well-regarded photographer of fashion and design, and all profits from this book are donated to New York%26ndash;based ACRIA, a leading AIDS research and education organization. For an inscribed and signed copy of Kelly Klein%26rsquo;s Pools: Reflections, please e-mail curatebooks@papercitymag.com by October 1 to order.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

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Classic Symptoms of an Architect

Lauded architect Gill Schafer III%26rsquo;s new book, The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now (Rizzoli $55), is a stunning testament to a life well-lived. Schafer is equally adept at renovating and building new, erecting Neoclassical, Greek Revival and Federal-style vernacular; the strains of his architect-trained ancestors (his grandfather and great-great-grandfather were architects) are firm and strong. His work melds the best of the past, present and future, with each home beautifully thought out, romantic and dreamy. Each of the 256 pages in this tome is an inspiration to build one perfect home in your lifetime. Schafer, the former chairman of the Institute of Classical Architecture and an AD 100, shows all the reasons why. For a signed and inscribed copy of The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now, please e-mail curatebooks@papercitymag.com by October 1 to order.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

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The World for a Dukedom

One of the most hotly anticipated books by everyone from decorators to Islamic art specialists, Doris Duke%26rsquo;s Shangri La: A House in Paradise (Thomas Mellins and Donald Albrecht, Rizzoli $55) chronicles an architectural masterpiece by celebrated architects Wyeth and King, which was completed in the late %26rsquo;30s. Duke, dubbed %26ldquo;the richest girl in the world%26rdquo; in 1925 when her father died, had legions of lovers and a smaller number of husbands, but she more successfully collected untold treasures to fill this vast Mughal mansion. Gathered throughout 60 years of travel and scholarship (objects, not husbands), 3,500 treasures decorate the Mughal Suite, Moroccan Room, Turkish Room, Mughal Gardens, Mihrab Room and Damascus Room. The Play House is a reduced-scale version of the 17th-century Chehel Setun in Esfahan, Iran. In her collection of lovers and husbands, she married twice: first Robert Cromwell, then the famous polo-playing playboy Porfirio Rubirosa %26mdash; and I blush to tell you why he was famous. Tragically, while driving a rented car, she miscalculated her brakeage and lurched forward, crushing her interior designer, Eduardo Tirella against the massive iron gates of her Newport estate, which they were redecorating. Duke herself died in 1993 from an overdose of doctor-prescribed morphine, but this billionaire tobacco heiress left the design world with a jewel.

Winsome and Willowy

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 03:00:19 GMT

For six years, accessories haven Willow has wound its way into our hearts and homes with a selection of must-have fashion and decorative pieces that mix wit and sophistication with owner Jill Faucetta%26rsquo;s trademark flair. Now she%26rsquo;s moved a couple of blocks over, into River Oaks digs approachably appointed with seagrass flooring and tufted white-canvas chairs. Faucetta is known for searching out finds hither and yon, and her resulting inventory keeps loyal fans checking back. Recently we spotted shell serving pieces, vintage crystal decanters and Thompson Ferrier candles, some travel-sized and others packaged in humidor boxes to pair with the Paul Maldonado cigars Faucetta also carries. We%26rsquo;re mad for Jiwo%26rsquo;s handmade java-wood clutches, horn jewelry and snakeskin frames by Moo-Moo Designs and Charles Albert%26rsquo;s shark-tooth cuffs. 3201 Westheimer Road, 713.870.0270; shopwillow.com.

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Jill Faucetta. Photo by Jenny Antill

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Artist Salle Werner-Vaughn’s Architectural Enchantment

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:57:23 GMT

%26ldquo;This house is about metamorphosis,%26rdquo; reveals its owner, artist Salle Werner-Vaughn, about a modest 100-year-old dwelling that%26rsquo;s more simple cottage than high-brow bungalow. Under Werner-Vaughn%26rsquo;s watch, this charmingly crumbling structure somehow precariously clings to existence, blocks from the roar of South Shepherd and the unruly din of 21st-century gas stations, convenience stores and the occasional taqueria. Her words are prophecy, as this little casita, vine entwined and with its patina of years and gently faded paint, has undergone its own transformation in recent days. The perfume of the past hangs in the air, while the rescuer of this diminutive dwelling recites strains of Ovid%26rsquo;s poetry from the first stanzas of the Metamorphoses: %26ldquo;Of things changed I sing.%26rdquo; Luscious swathes of silk envelop a Scandinavian side chair, circa 1820, while a pair of Imperial Russian armchairs from the same era gaze across a space towards a French Empire-style recamier. Everywhere the furniture stands like perfect props in a tableau vivant, their placement in contrapunto to haunting paintings from Werner-Vaughn%26rsquo;s own hand. These canvases are tinged with Surrealism, alternating with the romantic attitude of a Claude Lorrain landscape. Enhancing this delicious spell are the artist%26rsquo;s classically inspired bronze sculptures; arranged on painted pedestals, they channel the ancients.%26nbsp;

The aforementioned Ovid would be right at home in this sensitive setting, with its depths of feeling and its bow to other epochs and long-ago ages. Gazing at the painted walls and floors (the latter devised to resemble the wildly colored marble from the Pantheon%26rsquo;s interior), we agree with the artist%26rsquo;s statement: %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;ve created a beautiful world.%26rdquo; It%26rsquo;s no accident that, despite its unprepossessing size, this lovely tiny residence in the heart of a rapidly changing neighborhood is called by its creator %26ldquo;the Palace, By the Way.%26rdquo; We can almost hear the lyre playing%26nbsp;as we glimpse the artist%26rsquo;s sculptures of Apollo, Zeus and Daphne. Now step through this promising portal and enter an era of gentility and grace, elegance and history, art and poetry. And stay tuned: A foundation is planned to preserve this vaporous setting, just one bungalow of five that are part of a cluster of homes and gardens%26nbsp;titled Harmonium,%26nbsp;that Werner-Vaughn has lovingly tended for more than 20 years, aided by gallerist neighbor Hiram Butler, who one Christmas decades ago gave her a little house to move to her property. Musical recitals, poetry readings and salon afternoons and evenings are all in the future for the Palace, By the Way.

Salle Werner-Vaughn is represented by Meredith Long %26amp; Company, Houston.

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Red Room: In the former dining room, this 19th-century recamier was salvaged from a Houston Heights antique shop and restored by Hector Valdez; the French antique wears a richly ornamented sari. The painted floors are inspired by the exuberantly colored marbles of the Pantheon. Werner-Vaughn%26rsquo;s haunting canvas, Paradise, 1986. In the foreground, an early 19th-century gilded Russian armchair.

Portrait of a Lady in Black-and-White: Artist Salle Werner-Vaughn inhabits her newest work, Palace, By the Way, which she characterizes as %26ldquo;sculpted spaces ... more than about mere interiors, but instead ... walking into a sculpture.%26rdquo; Chanel caftan from Neiman Marcus. The antique necklace is from the Near East, a region of fascination and inspiration for Werner-Vaughn (she created an illustrated film for the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the myth of Marduk).

Palace as Palazzo: The name for her diminutive dwelling, Palace By the Way, references %26ldquo;the concept of the palace of the mind,%26rdquo; Werner-Vaughn says. Rolls of lush silk swirl around a tablescape and one of a pair of Scandinavian chairs, while an 18th-century Italian candelabrum stands guard, part of a trove of antiques
that Werner-Vaughn has owned for many years, and gleaned over the course of innumerable travels. The luminous Surrealist-style canvas, The Dream, circa 1990s, would be at home in the Menil. Werner-Vaughn, who has exhibited at an Old Master gallery in New York, is represented by the venerable Meredith Long %26amp; Company of Houston. She also has a suite of paintings permanently on view at the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University.

Pucker: Red-patinated bronze lips rest on a miniature stand in the wall. What do they mean? The surreal moment is left for the visitor to decipher. The luscious, distinctive crimson hues of the walls (a discontinued paint from Martin-Senour) is a shade Werner-Vaughn refers to as %26ldquo;old schoolhouse red %26hellip; It also reminds me of the Red Room of Pompeii or a Russian lacquer box,%26rdquo; she says.

Pompeii in Magnolia Grove: In a space around the corner, walls painted by Ruperto Corral echo the sublime interiors of Pompeii. On the floor, Werner-Vaughn created a shrine-like sculpture, while a 19th-century painted Scandinavian chair becomes a place of repose. Werner-Vaughn worked on the home with two assistants, a painter, the aforementioned Corral and a carpenter, Julio C%26eacute;sar Orozco, both
of whom she directed; she profusely praises the skill and pride they took in their endeavors. The progress was slow, more than a year in the making, after moving walls and reconfiguring the interior. At the artist%26rsquo;s insistence, the team kept scratches, scars and marks throughout to preserve the spirit and history of Palace, By the Way. She has owned the house for 20 years and had previously used it for storage, after acquiring it from the family of a Mrs. Horton, whom the artist believes may have descended from the original owner.%26nbsp;

%26nbsp;Still Life with Mirror and Leaf: Werner-Vaughn%26rsquo;s vignettes resemble a Dutch or Renaissance painting. This one was formed from a lavish bolt of silk (acquired from close friend Carol Isaak Barden) and a square of sample damask left to Werner-Vaughn from the estate of a favorite upholsterer. To this setting, she has added her own artwork, beginning with a mirror sculpture that channels antiquity. Above the table hangs her canvas, Within, 1967.%26nbsp;

Roman Reveal: A Roman-style head, cast at United Metalsmiths and gifted to Werner-Vaughn by the foundry%26rsquo;s owner Tom Cole, rests on a marbleized wooden pedestal painted by the artist.

Time Travel: This little residence could pass for a forgotten palazzo in the Italian hills, if it weren%26rsquo;t for the fairly contemporary wooden blinds; custom-ordered from blinds.com, they were designed to recall the energy of a less complicated age. The cornices, which Werner-Vaughn has owned for years, were brought from her house across the street, which bears its own moniker, Now and Then. The artist marbleized the columns, another salvaged relic from her collection, which give the tiny space an air of Venetian decay.

Not Too Shabby

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:51:02 GMT

Shabby Slips owner/designer Renea Abbott has expanded yet again. Several years ago, she bought a bungalow that backs up to her sleek slipcover, furnishings and antiques shop on Bissonnet and repurposed it as a show house to help clients and shoppers imagine how they might live the gorgeous Abbott-styled life. That little house has now been reimagined as a quaint country cottage, while adjacent to the back entrance of Shabby Slips, Abbott has debuted another new space: an open, airy former warehouse with cement floors. Here you’ll find an array of 17th- to early-20th-century antiques culled from Europe (France, Italy, Germany and Sweden, to be exact), plus lighting of the wonderfully crusty crystal kind. Meanwhile, her original atelier is devoted to her upholstered and slipcovered furniture and accessories. 2304 Bissonnet, 713.630.0066; shabbyslipshouston.com.

Renea Abbott. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Mad for Modern

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:44:58 GMT

A new Ligne Roset showroom has opened at West Ave. New-to-Houston design-atics Brittany and Adam Branscum (who pack, respectively, degrees in interior design and architecture) have moved from Oklahoma City, where they own BD Home, to re-launch Ligne Roset in Houston, which they%26rsquo;re mad about %26shy;%26mdash; both the brand and the city. %26ldquo;There was a Ligne Roset store three years ago, says Brittany, %26ldquo;and when it closed, people missed it.%26rdquo; Two favorite pieces in the store? The Ploum sofa designed by the Bouroullec brothers and the Serpentine chair by Eleanore Nalet, they say. 2800 Kirby Dr. in West Ave, 713.630.6500; lignerosethouston.com.

IMAGES:

A new showroom at Ligne Roset

Brittany and Adam Branscum

Classic Symptoms of an Architect

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:42:12 GMT

Lauded architect Gill Schafer III%26rsquo;s new book, The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now (Rizzoli $55), is a stunning testament to a life well-lived. Schafer is equally adept at renovating and building new, erecting Neoclassical, Greek Revival or Federal-style vernacular; the strains of his architect-trained ancestors (his grandfather and great-great-grandfather were architects) are firm and strong. His work melds the best of the past, present and future, with each home beautifully thought out, romantic and dreamy. Each of the 256 pages in this tome is an inspiration to build one perfect home in one%26rsquo;s lifetime. Schafer is the former chairman of the Institute of Classical Architecture and an extraordinary speaker. He will be in Houston Thursday, October 4, at Greenwood King The Lobby for a talk and book signing. Gratis, but please RSVP to thelobby@greenwoodking.com. Books will be for sale at the event.

Gil Schafer III

We're Mad for Furm

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:38:16 GMT

What%26rsquo;s the best way to contemplate your trove of Warhols and Mehretus? Perch on a chair fabricated from a former fine art shipping crate while gazing at your holdings. Then, to show off your art volumes, we recommend a coffee table made of art crates that may have transported an exhibition from MoMA to the MFAH. And finally, clink cocktails from a bar cart, which perhaps once protected a priceless Dutch master en route. These are a few of the offerings from the handsome, sturdy Furm Furniture line %26mdash; the brainchild of two art-world insiders, Felipe Contreras and Scott Peveto of Peveto, a fine-art resource management company sited on Colquitt%26rsquo;s Gallery Row. The full collection also includes side tables and file cabinets. We%26rsquo;re mad for this concept and can certainly say: Furm follows function. From $975 to $1,600, through Peveto; info@peveto.org.

Furm Furniture%26rsquo;s club chair, at Peveto

Stoned

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:34:38 GMT

Sweet Ruth Davis, an owner of the fabulous shop Found, calls this the Spherical Seat. We call it the Butt Cups seat. Either way, it%26rsquo;s totally cool. Made of concrete composite, it%26rsquo;s $485 at Found.

Feats of (Very Good) Clay

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:33:10 GMT

Pardon My French

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 04:23:01 GMT

Laurence Anderson is as charmingly French as the Gallic shrug. She was 34 years on Ferndale in a charming, albeit petite antiquit%26eacute; named Made in France; now she has packed up her tapestries, hotel silver, old letters and books, and the odd balcony or chimneypiece and moved lock stock and baril to Kirby and Westheimer %26mdash; and treasures abound. %26ldquo;I go to France four times per year and pick everything myself,%26rdquo; she assures us. A large container has just arrived, and in its depths are 10 tables, each more worn and warm than the last, and a screen from a castle in Wales that spans three centuries, with 17th-century Aubusson tapestries, 18th-century carved bottom panels and a 19th-century mirror in the center panel %26mdash; %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;ve never seen anything like it!%26rdquo; she says. There%26rsquo;s also a 1930s %26ndash; 1940s portrait of a lady that%26rsquo;s to die, and other remains and fragments from castles and strongholds. 2565 Kirby Drive, 713.529.7949.

IMAGE: Laurence Anderson. Photo by Jenny Antill.

The Row House Reinvented

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 04:19:03 GMT

Developer Holden Shannon and designers Matt and Tina Ford of Shade House Development have initiated an ambitious plan to tweak what has become part of the American iconography: the row house. They%26rsquo;ve taken a little more than an acre of land in the Houston Heights and are constructing nine pristine white row houses, almost Shaker in their simplicity, in a rental development dubbed Row on 25th.

Shannon, a Rice University grad with a business interest in the Row, says, %26ldquo;The idea here was taken partially from the white Minnesota farmhouses where I live part of the year, with their vast green cornfields %26hellip; as well as the town of Marfa with its quietness and visual restraint.%26rdquo; Matt Ford has created a subtle gradation of white exterior-paint hues, orchestrating a darker contrast as each structure recedes into the space. %26ldquo;We also cantilevered the homes so they float eight inches off the ground and placed them to the back of the lot, planting a native Muhly grass field in front to set off the white forms,%26rdquo; he says. Still in the planning stages is a common area with tables, plus benches by metal artist George Sacaris. Interior designer Barbara Hill has been enlisted to stage the 1,900-square-foot dwellings %26mdash; which rent for $2,850 a month %26mdash; with apropos art and furnishings.

Never losing sight of the upscale amenities required in the competitive real estate rental market, the team has installed Sub-Zero refrigerators and professional-grade appliances in the kitchens, which are clad with gray limestone (a material used in the master baths, too) from counter backsplash to ceiling. Ford used ash and reclaimed longleaf pine for flooring, stainless-steel on kitchen cabinetry and slab windows (save for the west wing, where windows havebeen omitted), enabling light to gently cascade through the courtyard and
into the house.

A modernist%26rsquo;s mecca, the walls are smooth and free of door and window trim. Concerned with living greener? You can take solace in the fact that Ford %26mdash; whose eco-minded work has been featured in Dwell magazine %26mdash;%26nbsp;has utilized Zero-VOC floor and cabinet finishes, used reclaimed material for the fencing and installed reflective metal roofing and tank-less water heaters. Row on 25th is at 226 W. 25th Street. Information shadehousedev.com.

IMAGES:

Row on 25th Shaker-like row houses. Photo by Jack Thompson.

Interior, Row on 25th

Well-Tomed

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:35:57 GMT

Alexander the Great%26nbsp;

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The World for a Dukedom

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English decorator Ben Pentreath has a design studio in London and a country house in an old parsonage in Dorset. It%26rsquo;s the Dorset house I%26rsquo;m dying to see in English Decoration (Ryland Peters %26amp; Small, $40). This book covers classic English style, high and low, a bit eccentric, a little bit artless. A must read: Pentreath%26rsquo;s blog at benpentreath.com/inspiration. Diane Dorrans Saeks

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I don%26rsquo;t cook, but I love reading about food and photos of food. I%26rsquo;ve lunched in the Antwerp castle garden (beneath a flowering apple tree) with the Vervoordts, so At Home with May and Axel Vervoordt: Recipes for Every Season (Flammarion, $45) is on my reading and gazing list. Their simplicity and artlessness (sort of) is the ultimate sophistication. The book has 107 recipes %26hellip; and lots of garden lunch settings. Swoon. Diane Dorrans Saeks

Making a Point

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:07:47 GMT

Here%26rsquo;s proof that two heads are better than one. You see, John Schaeffer of Point 2 Point specializes in moving and storage; Glen Rodkey of Crowded House Services is known in interior design circles as the man to call when you need your Louis or your Duncans moved. (Crowded House has, for years, been PaperCity%26rsquo;s official mover for fine furnishings.) These two men recently put their heads %26mdash; and their Houston-based businesses %26mdash; together and made a merger, putting their operations under one roof at the edge of the Heights. When it%26rsquo;s time for your next move, or if you just need expert help picking up that new Empire dining table, call the newly minted Point2Point Crowded House to handle the relocation, delivery or storage. 303 Garden Oaks Blvd., 713.861.4224; p2pandch.com.

Inside the Nest of Amy Anton

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 05:17:18 GMT

The swank and stylish abode%26nbsp; of Amy Anton is a polished%26nbsp; nest that%26rsquo;s also home to a%26nbsp; lively trio of tween boys plus one large Labrador. And take notice: The lady of this house makes a mean kale salad and whips up rack of lamb in Talitha Getty-ish caftans and flip-flops, with The Police blaring from her iPod.

Art Direction Michelle Avi%26ntilde;a. Interior decoration Elizabeth Satel Young of ESY Design. Hair ashley scroggins for cutloose salon. Makeup Teri Sullivan. Sittings assistant Erin Oppeneim.

Amy Anton is a bit of a paradox. She%26rsquo;s a fitness fanatic (scuba diver, runner) and ardent foodie %26hellip; a founding board member of Gracie Cavnar%26rsquo;s Recipe for Success and catalyst for the nonprofit%26rsquo;s newly minted RecipeHouse %26hellip; a doer and dedicated volunteer %26hellip; wife of Hourglass Capital partner Drew Anton (theirs was a Washington and Lee college romance) %26hellip; and mom of three boys (dashing gents around the playground Ashton, 11, and twins Pete and Elliot, 9). She%26rsquo;s also a children%26rsquo;s-book author whose first volume detailed a charming tale of underwater archaeology involving an octopus named Ina (mom MaryFaye Way was the book%26rsquo;s illustrator), and she%26rsquo;s an adventuresome traveler, with destinations ranging from Panama to Turkey logged in her passport. Here%26rsquo;s what%26rsquo;s cookin%26rsquo; with Miz Anton.

Top Dish. I won an Italian cooking recipe sponsored by Saveur Magazine. I went to Italy, to Tuscany and Umbria for a week with four other winners, and we stayed in all of the Antinori family%26rsquo;s private estates. We cooked with their chefs and drank their amazing wines. I had three children under the age of four at the time, so it was a much-needed escape. My winning recipe? Braised lamb shanks. I cooked it [again] for 12 friends for my birthday dinner a couple years ago. We set up tables in the back yard and pretended we were in Tuscany.

Fitness Triumph. Drew and I both work out with Wooch Graff at Timberline Fitness. He is incredibly motivating, and we love the challenges he gives us. The gym has this amazing vibe. Everyone there cares about you, and everyone is there to work out and push themselves. Last year, Drew and I did the Tough Mudder race, which was a 12-mile race with 20 obstacles. It was 40 degrees outside, and half the obstacles involved water or ice.

Child-Rearing. Healthy food leads to a healthy body, which begets a healthy mind. It is so important to sit down at the dinner table with your kids and share a meal and talk about what%26rsquo;s going on in their lives. With regard to healthy food and kids, you just have to keep trying. Keep serving salad. My kids and husband love to eat and cook because we make it fun and include them. Ashton likes to make Caesar dressing, and the twins love to make my grandmother%26rsquo;s lemon squares %26mdash; they even know the secret ingredient if you ask them! Drew can grill anything, so we do a lot of fish and chicken and pizza on the grill. Then we all sit down in the dining room and talk about our day. It%26rsquo;s a lot of work, but worth it.

House Music. I am not the DJ in the family; Drew and my kids are. When we%26rsquo;re not listening to their favorites, we listen to the music we used to play in college: Allman Brothers, Van Morrison, Rolling Stones, The Doors, Led Zeppelin.

Fashion Designer. Right now, I%26rsquo;m loving Isabel Marant, Stella McCartney and Zero + Maria Cornejo, but I like to pick up things from designers no one has heard about.

Personal Style. Eclectic and easy. I never know when I%26rsquo;ll have to run outside and throw the lacrosse ball with the boys. I also tend to wear flip-flops 365 days a year. It%26rsquo;s a bad habit.

Must-Shop Houston Retailers. I love small boutiques where I can get one-of-a-kind things, such as Leap and Sloan/Hall. Abejas is a great place for on-the-go travel clothes.

Home Decoration. Hollywood glamour mixed with a clean modern aesthetic. I also have a lot of souvenirs from traveling, which I like to incorporate. Everything has a story here, if you can believe it. Also, everything has to be comfortable for Drew and the kids. We use every room in the house, especially when we entertain, which is often.

Design Stops. Kuhl-Linscomb, Found and IKEA.

Summer Reading. I just finished the new Jonathan Franzen book, Freedom, and Gregory David Roberts%26rsquo; Shantaram is a tome but worth the read. Fave volume of all time? Tie between Hermann Hesse%26rsquo;s Siddhartha and Larry McMurtry%26rsquo;s Lonesome Dove. Very different books, but both are journeys with classic life lessons.

If an Actress Were to Play You ... Julianne Moore.

Next Destination. On my way to Spain in two weeks with Drew. Last trip was to Panama, to dive on an ancient shipwreck. We always have a trip on the books. It gives us something to look forward to. We%26rsquo;re going to Nicaragua for Christmas, and next summer, I%26rsquo;m dying to take the kids to Turkey for a month.
%26nbsp;
Guilty Pleasure. The $2 bag of Santitos Tortilla Chips. I eat them all day long.

Weekend Retreat. Wimberley. The kids run around and swim and fish. My dad built a climbing wall and has zip lines everywhere. Drew and I go for a long run, and then Mom and I plan a yummy dinner that usually involves something from the garden and includes lots of friends. Drew grills.

Travel Adventure. Thanks to my dad [Peter Way], I dove on a 17th-century shipwreck. Horseshoes and nails and a sword have been recovered, which may have belonged to the pirate Captain Morgan. Pretty cool to see something that old underwater.

Fitness Triumph. Drew and I both work out with Wooch Graff at Timberline Fitness. He is incredibly motivating, and we love the challenges he gives us. The gym has this amazing vibe. Everyone there cares about you, and everyone is there to work out and push themselves. Last year, Drew and I did the Tough Mudder race, which was a 12-mile race with 20 obstacles. It was 40 degrees outside, and half the obstacles involved water or ice.

Hair Care. Moroccan Hair Oil. It makes your hair so shiny!

Hair Cut. Christine Thai from Lot 8 Salon. We%26rsquo;re good friends.

Garden. Right now it%26rsquo;s tomato season, so I will be drying tomatoes and making sauces to freeze when I get back to Wimberley. You wait and wait for them, and then you have more than you can eat! It%26rsquo;s magical to have my kids come up from the garden with a whole basket of tomatoes. We just harvested carrots, beets, onions and garlic. I made plum jelly at the beginning of the summer.

Cause. I became involved in Recipe for Success when Gracie Cavnar launched the nonprofit eight years ago. Gracie knows how passionate I am about food, so she called me right away, and I%26rsquo;ve remained on the board since then. I spent a lot of time at MacGregor Elementary, helping chefs Monica Pope and Randy Evans teach cooking and nutrition to fourth graders. Now I%26rsquo;m in charge of our new space, Recipehouse in Montrose, where we host cooking classes, meetings, birthdays parties for kids and adults. I hosted the kickoff party in March with chef Elizabeth Winston from Farmhouse Delivery. The menu included goat cheese bread pudding.

Childhood. I grew up as countertop baby, learning to cook from my mom, who is an amazing cook. My parents would have interesting people to dinner all the time, so the dinner table was a place to share food and ideas.

Houston Dining Spot (Besides Your Kitchen). T%26rsquo;afia. Owner Monica Pope is a friend, as she and I started on the board of Recipe for Success in 2005. I like to support her and think her menu is so innovative.

Kale Caesar Salad, one of Ashton%26rsquo;s faves
1 clove garlic, minced
Juice of 1 lemon
Dash Worcestershire sauce
1 T Dijon mustard
2 anchovy filets
1 egg yolk
1/2 C grape seed oil (or other mild-flavored oil)
1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese
1 head Kale

%26nbsp;Juice the lemon and mince the garlic and let them sit in a small mixing bowl while you chop the kale. Whisk in the Worchester sauce, Dijon, anchovy and egg yolk. Ashton loves to break the egg in his hand, let the white run through his hands, and add the yolk. Slowly add the oil while whisking constantly. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the Parmesan, and pour the desired amount over kale. Best to let it sit for a half-hour to absorb the flavors.

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IMAGES:

%26ldquo;We love our backyard,%26rdquo; Anton says. %26ldquo;My friend Betty Maccagnan of MB Simple did that landscape design %26hellip; We built a fire pit where the boys roast marshmallows.%26rdquo;

Of her fave spot in the living room, Anton says, %26ldquo;The gray-and-white sofa took almost a year to get right. We had it painted, and then I waited and waited for the fabric. No other color really worked, and I wanted that big stripe in the middle. That is the only thing the kids aren%26rsquo;t allowed on.%26rdquo; The gray in the striped sofa is Gainsborough velvet in Zinc by Schumacher. Dress by Tsumori Chisato, ring Halleh, bracelet Martin Bernstein from Sloan/Hall. Jimmy Choo shoes from Tootsies. Table from Mecox Gardens.%26nbsp;

This serene and handsome dining room has hosted many family dinners. Table base from Area. The chairs were a fortuitous secondhand purchase, reupholstered in green mohair. Chandelier from a warehouse sale, rewired by Alcon Lightcraft. The painting is actually a fused-glass creation, Orfeo Quagliata%26rsquo;s Barcode #17, 2007, from Peel Gallery.

In the living room, Anton%26rsquo;s sons (Ashton, Elliot and Pete) are poised for action. Sofa upholstered in Kravet velvet 26414. All custom upholstery by Jose Lopez for ESY Design. The Beacon Hill cocktail table was a find from Decorative Center Houston, acquired by the late Susie Jacomini, who began the couple%26rsquo;s design work. Star sculpture from PH Design Shop. Texas Artists Today book. Houston artist Marcelyn McNeil%26rsquo;s Billows, 2012, from Anya Tish Gallery.

Who%26rsquo;s in the kitchen with Amy? Anton instructs her sons in the art of mixing a salad from fresh local veggies acquired during the family%26rsquo;s weekly trips to the Rice University Farmers Market every Tuesday. Anton reveals, %26ldquo;We bought the house 10 years ago because we loved all the windows and I coveted the eight-burner Dacor stove/oven.%26rdquo;

Drink up. Benjamin Moore%26rsquo;s Hale Navy adds drama to the well-stocked bar. Tray from Area. What%26rsquo;s poured? The house specialty is tequila on the rocks with lime. Drew bartends. The kids drink milk.

White cube. On the stairs to the boys%26rsquo; rooms, their artwork is displayed. The flag once flew at Anton%26rsquo;s parents%26rsquo; ranch in Wimberley.

Study in black and white. In the library/media room, Anton wears a Stella McCartney top and pants from Tootsies with Christian Louboutin shoes from Saks Fifth Avenue. %26ldquo;We immediately painted most of the rooms in the neutral colors Amy is naturally drawn to,%26rdquo; notes designer Elizabeth Satel Young, who characterizes her client as %26ldquo;very laid-back.%26rdquo; Young selected a carpet by Stark to set a tranquil tone for this high-traffic space. On the sofa, zebra pillows from Area add pop. Above, Joe Mancuso%26rsquo;s Cathedral (White), 2004, from Barbara Davis Gallery, is an Anton favorite. %26ldquo;What I love about the Mancuso piece,%26rdquo; she says, %26ldquo;is that it appears to be so white, but the closer you get, the more color is revealed %26mdash; like people! I also loved going to his studio and hanging out with him and picking out the painting.%26rdquo;

Farm to table at Casa Anton.

Cocktail party. Anton rocks an evening frock by Nina Ricci with shoes by Rupert Sanderson, both from Tootsies, while making an entrance at the bar.

Coming Home Again

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 05:10:55 GMT

Ex Domus Interiors has settled into its new River Oaks address quite nicely. Owner Ken Bernstein knows the antiques business well: He first entered the field with a stall at MAI (Memorial Antiques and Interiors), then moved seven years later to the Antiques and Interiors collective on Dunlavy. Now he’s grown up and out into his own aptly named two-story space (ex domus means “for the home” in Latin), which he stocks with a smashing mix of 18th- and 19th-century treasures from Belgium, Spain, Italy and France. But expect the unexpected here: While Bernstein’s main focus is Country French antiques, he also dabbles in modern and vintage accessories and custom lighting. 2129 Westheimer Road, 713.530.1909; exdomusinteriors.com.

A Taste for Mid-Century, a Patina of Industrial

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 05:06:32 GMT

We pounced upon our newest design discovery %26mdash;%26nbsp;the natty and tantalizing Native Citizen %26mdash; days before its opening, en route to a Dominic Walsh Dance Theater meeting. The dance company is the home decor shop%26rsquo;s upstairs neighbor; the pair share a two-story, circa-1930s former printing plant that is being reborn and contemporized by architect Carlo Di Nunzo. Native Citizen owner Will Shoemaker and co-owner Denny Stygstra, who also serves as the showroom%26rsquo;s designer, preside over a 29-store retail empire, aka Langford Market, which is headquartered in Houston and has spread to six states. Besides clothing, each Langford Market boasts unique fixtures that are offered for sale in their phalanx of boutiques. Langford%26rsquo;s team of pickers has been housing props in a 30,000 square-foot warehouse in town. So Shoemaker and Stygstra figured, why not add a design destination to their retail mix? And that%26rsquo;s how Native Citizen came to be. The handsome 3,000-square-foot space is home to all manner of finds, from $2 painted clay pots to substantial pieces of furniture by Herman Miller and Steelcase, priced towards $2,000. Also in the mix (and singled out by Stygstra as best bets) are restored %26lsquo;60s and %26lsquo;70s lamps (including a cool Sputnik number), chandeliers formed from wall sconces and industrial touches such as coffee tables fashioned from salvaged factory parts (steals, from $300). This must-stop emporium also functions as an art gallery, representing the modernist-styled canvases of Mexican-born, Houston-based Edgar Medina; Medina%26rsquo;s abstractions, priced $600 to $2,000, could pass for paintings on the Mad Men set. Open daily, noon to 5 pm. 2311 Dunlavy St., 832.368.0754; nativecitizen.com.

German Precision

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:27:14 GMT

When Bernadette Schaeffler moved to the United States from Cologne, Germany, one of the first things she had to adjust was her sense of proportion. “We don’t have family rooms in Europe,” she confides. “Dimensions are much different.” Fast forward 20 years, and this striking blonde now brings her continental sensibility — albeit modified for Texas-size spaces — to the Design District via her new 4,000-square-foot showroom, aptly named Bernadette Schaeffler Collection. Expect plenty of color, antiques sourced from throughout the world and artfully aged metal furniture, along with a Parisian-inspired flower shop where Schaeffler herself designs arrangements. (You’ll recognize her by the trademark red lipstick.) 1616 Hi Line Dr., Suite 100, 214.749.0816; bernadetteschaeffler.com.

IMAGE: Bernadette Schaeffler. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Give 'Em the Slip

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:25:41 GMT

Are certain additions to your household a little, well, exposed? Austin-based Square Feathers advocates modesty via a collection of adorably slipcovered wastebaskets (and lampshades). $67 and $157, respectively, at IBB Design Fine Furnishings, Stephanie Anne, Stella Dallas.

Our Cup of Tea

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:23:39 GMT

English gent Timothy Oulton has opened his first freestanding store in the States in Dallas %26mdash; a grand 10,000-square-foot repurposed building off Henderson Avenue filled with antique-inspired goods that could be at home in a London gentleman%26rsquo;s club, an Oxford don%26rsquo;s study or Keith Richards%26rsquo; man cave. Oulton, who is known for producing furnishings with a link to the past, painstakingly handcrafts each piece using time-honored techniques so that no two are alike. He has locations in Beijing, Shanghai, Hamburg, Singapore, Barbados and a soon-to-be-opened establishment in Amsterdam, plus shop-in-shops at H.D. Buttercup in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as New York%26rsquo;s ABC Carpet %26amp; Home. So we were thrilled when this master of reinvention opened a freestanding outpost in %26hellip; shall we just say, the provinces. He explains, %26ldquo;We chose Dallas because we thought it was a great fit for us. The city%26rsquo;s energy and larger-than-life approach to living are values at the heart of our brand.%26rdquo; We love his dining tables fashioned from reclaimed sassafras wood last seen on decommissioned Chinese junks; the luggage and travel goods (each taking a minimum of 72 hours to complete) rendered in leather with solid-brass hinges and locks, and the solidly squared trunk of aged aluminum and rivets inspired by the Spitfire jet. (Some trunks and cases have relinquished their passports and been reincarnated as tables, storage, chests and even desks.) Oulton is the furniture world%26rsquo;s equivalent of a rock star, which makes the yellow submarine floating inside a giant aquarium quite apropos. Vintage finds round out the stock, while the London Caf%26eacute; serves up tea and sweets, and blooms to go from Stems of Dallas add spots of color. 4500 N. Central Expressway in Potter Square, 214.613.2464; timothyoulton.com.

Neon Brights

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:19:38 GMT

Springbok pillows in colors more Vegas Strip than African savanna. $265, at Nest.

IMAGE: Springbok pillows. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Loving Hansel %26 Gretel

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:18:11 GMT

We have a woodlands thing going on here with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams%26rsquo; Too Sexy Sadie Bird fabric married to an iconic MG+BW chair ($940) and high-gloss Lincoln Pull-Up Tables made from the Trembesi tree with a hand-waxed top to show the natural rings of the wood (16.5 inches high and 13.5 inches wide, in onyx, sterling and sugar; $370). At Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.

Four Corners But Never Square

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:16:04 GMT

After years spent at the visual helm of such prominent retailers as I. Magnin, Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys New York, designer Brenda Houston was hip to what was missing: sophisticated objets centered around natural materials. Her handmade bronze boxes, washed in platinum or gold and topped with sliced agate, fill the gap beautifully. $2,000 to $3,000, at Laura Lee Clark Interior Design.

Objets de Ding

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:13:39 GMT

Beloved Wisteria, the catalog of fabulous home decoratives founded and owned by Andrew and Shannon Newsom (his mom is Lisa Newsom, founder of Veranda magazine; her mom is Jane Moore, lauded Houston antiques dealer and decorator), is based in Dallas, with a retail store and warehouse space on Cedar Springs near Love Field Airport. But even the pros at Wisteria occasionally ding an object or over-buy an item, so voil%26agrave;: Wisteria Flea Market, located just behind the main outlet, with up to 60 percent off. Unlike the preternaturally popular biannual warehouse sale (which will continue to happen) where hundreds start lining up at the crack of dawn, the Wisteria Flea Market is open a civilized Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm. 6500 Cedar Springs, 214.350.3115; wisteria.com.

More Than a Mouthful

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:09:25 GMT

Snow White could have avoided the %26uuml;ber-nap if she had known about this photo-realistic pouf from Cerruti Baleri. $856, at Scott + Cooner.

A Wing and a Scare

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:07:23 GMT

The only thing remotely frightening about this feathered skull by Laurence le Constant is how badly we want it. Each fastidiously selected plume is applied one at a time, a process that represents hundreds of hours of work. $4,750, at Grange Hall.

Star Gazing

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 04:09:43 GMT

With July 4^th%26nbsp;around the corner, we%26rsquo;re thinking of barbeques, fireworks and all things red, white and blue. Jason Lenox (owner of Ant%26egrave;ks Home Furnishings) heeds the latter%26rsquo;s call with an impressive early 20^th century patriotic collection gathered from various auctions and estate sales in the past year. In addition to the Liberty Bell needlepoint canvas, we have our eyes on a 48-star American flag, which Lenox says, %26ldquo;%26hellip;has flown through two World Wars.%26rdquo; Lenox's antique treasures are now for sale, with 10% of proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that supports soldiers and their families who were affected on or after 9/11. Ant%26egrave;ks Home Furnishings, 1135 Dragon St, 214.528.5567; antekshome.com.%26nbsp;

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Hill Country Haven

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 06:01:24 GMT

From the limestone veranda overlooking Lake Austin, the iconic suspension bridge that spans the width of the lake is just visible on the horizon. Greg Manteris, standing by the pool on this picturesque property, points to the fourth fairway of the Austin Country Club, literally a stone%26rsquo;s throw from the edge of their patio gate. Manteris, owner of Houston%26rsquo;s Creative Flooring Resources, and his wife, interior designer Renea Abbott, proprietor of Shabby Slips, make an escape to this Austin retreat nearly every weekend.

%26ldquo;Our routine is to finish work on Friday at three, which often turns into four or five o%26rsquo;clock,%26rdquo; Manteris says. %26ldquo;Then we get here at 8 pm, go straight to whatever restaurant we want to try, and meet up with friends.%26rdquo; The busy couple often go hours without seeing or talking to one another Monday through Friday, but weekends in the Hill Country are their time to reconnect, enjoy life on the water (their Cobalt runabout boat is docked in the slip below their home) and unplug from their hectic Houston lives.

%26ldquo;This was just a sliver of land that nobody knew what to do with,%26rdquo; says Manteris, who bought the 15-year-old house and property with Abbott five years ago. %26ldquo;The builder who developed it thought outside the box, looked at the land, and I think he was pretty genius to come up with this design %26hellip; Every room has a view, and the way he sited them makes you unaware of the neighbors around you, yet you see the lake.%26rdquo; He also notes, %26ldquo;From the water, the houses look very European %26mdash; but without all the clich%26eacute;s.%26rdquo;

While the interiors are as drop-dead glamorous as the city abodes that Abbott designs, she readily admits that many of the pieces are actually castoffs from her stylish Houston shop. Like any talented designer, she understands the importance of playing with a high-low mix %26mdash; for instance, works by artist Ford Beckman or an 18th-century Italian commode sharing the stage with curtains from IKEA or an oversized ottoman upholstered in bargain $12-a-yard fabric. %26ldquo;When you first walk through a house, you point out things like %26lsquo;That fan has got to go,%26rsquo;%26rdquo; she says. %26ldquo;But as you see, it%26rsquo;s still there. I would have rather had a light fixture, but you have to stop at some point.%26rdquo; It%26rsquo;s a sentiment many can relate to.

After weekend-living for years in Santa Fe, the couple relishes the easy drive this getaway provides. Along the way, they%26rsquo;ve even inspired many of their Houston friends not only to visit and stay the weekend, but to look for Austin real estate, too. And speaking of Austin %26hellip; Many years ago, Abbott had a hand in establishing the Austin outpost of Shabby Slips, but now she acts more as a mentor to its original owner and is consumed with her own bustling Houston business, which recently expanded yet again.

Yet these days she and Manteris, who routinely travel from Round Top to Paris to find treasures for Shabby Slips and their own houses, have an escape. They%26rsquo;re able to shut their shop doors and leave the demands of their busy careers several comfortable %26mdash; and convenient %26mdash; hours away.

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The cozy chocolate-brown master bedroom has a Venetian gilded headboard found in France, flanked by two large white-lacquered chests from Shabby Slips, which Abbott has reconfigured with brass hardware (formerly door knockers) from Fixtures %26amp; Fittings. The crystal baluster lamps from Visual Comfort can be found at Shabby Slips. Pair of gilded Louis Philippe mirrors from France. Louis XV berg%26egrave;res. Antelope-printed carpet from Creative Flooring Resources.

Leopard print is the predominant animal pattern in Abbott and Manteris%26rsquo; Austin home. Here it%26rsquo;s used in pillows and the Scalamandr%26eacute; cotton velvet covering a pair of gilded Italian pope chairs. Greek-key silk-velvet pillow fabric by Clarence House. Bronze horse sculpture by Siri Hollander from New Mexico.

The antelope taxidermy trophy in the living room was acquired at Lewis %26amp; Maese Auction House. The small wooden chair was made in Africa and bought at a flea market in Santa Fe.

In the sitting room just off the kitchen is a suite of upholstered pieces designed by Abbott and covered in white muslin. The pair of club chairs is from Houston shop neighbor Watkins Culver. Sisal rug and Fortuny silk light fixture from Creative Flooring Resources.

In the living room, the view from the corner toward the arched opening in the dining room and kitchen areas reveals a stone hearth and a Black Forest antler trophy. Mirrored cocktail table from Shabby Slips. Holding an orchid is a silver vessel procured by Abbott on a recent buying trip to March%26eacute; aux Puces in Paris. The contemporary artwork is by Ford Beckman, from McClain Gallery, Houston.

The dining room, open to the kitchen and sitting room, has a table and upholstered chairs from Shabby Slips. A Robert Kuo silver vessel holds decorative greens. The chandelier is from a former West Alabama haunt, Brian Stringer Antiques.

This guest suite is affectionately called %26ldquo;Ceron%26rsquo;s Room,%26rdquo; in honor of their chum and frequent visitor, hairstylist Ceron. Tufted linen headboard from Neal %26amp; Co. Gilded sunburst mirror from Shabby Slips. Bedding from Restoration Hardware%26rsquo;s Hotel collection.

The master bath was created entirely with Calacatta Gold marble tiles. The cabinets and mirror are custom pieces that can be replicated through Abbott at Shabby Slips. The oversized ottoman, also by Shabby Slips, is covered in a fabric Abbott found for $12 a yard. The bath accessories have been collected through the years and hail from Paris to Pottery Barn.

In the black-and-white-papered guest bedroom stands a Thomas O%26rsquo;Brien for Baker bed dressed with bed curtains from IKEA. The pink pillow shams (Renea admits she%26rsquo;s obsessed with adding a feminine touch) are from Kuhl-Linscomb. Ghost chair by Philippe Starck from Sunset Settings. Wallpaper is Cowtan %26amp; Tout. Sisal flooring from Creative Flooring Resources.

In the living room, brass-and-lacquered chest from Area. Pair of polished-nickel Hargett lamps from Circa Lighting. Artwork is by Joanie Jacomini, from the 2010 Round Top Antiques Fair.

Since Abbott and Manteris might only cook once a week, they didn%26rsquo;t do much to the gleaming white kitchen, save for replacing the counters with honed black granite and adding a Wolf stovetop and Sub-Zero refrigerator. Chrome and white-leather barstools from High Fashion Home. Most dishes from Pottery Barn.

Renea Abbott and husband, Greg Manteris.

Situated just off the kitchen, dining- and living-room areas, the veranda overlooks Lake Austin%26rsquo;s limestone cliffs. Outdoor furnishings from Restoration Hardware.%26nbsp;

Loving Hansel %26 Gretel

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:49:57 GMT

A Little Birdie Told Me

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:46:28 GMT

The Bird Cage lamp from Roche Bobois is somewhere between Cousin Itt and a sweet nightingale aerie. Available in two heights, 30 inches and 67 inches, with white ceramic birds, a shade with leather handle and a white-lacquered metal base. $1,886 and $3,904, respectively, at Roche Bobois.

Dividing its Roots in Two

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:43:20 GMT

For six years, Bret Duhon and his sister Mimi Wadsworth have been entrenched in the Houston design community, running their stylish home shop, Boxwood Interiors, on Dunlavy. Now that the original location is being redeveloped into a retail/residential center, the duo has divided Boxwoods and is re-envisioning the store in two separate locales. An intimate space at 1839 West Alabama retains the Boxwoods name, as well as home furnishings, lighting, pillows and accessories galore, all arranged in fetching vignettes. This space also stocks the famed Farrow %26amp; Ball paints (last year, Boxwood was named the British brand’s number-one stocking dealer in the States). Just down the road at 1320 West Alabama, a sister shop known as B2 is situated in a former convenience store and the house behind it. Here you’ll find a new design center created as a spread-out-your-project resource to help decorating-minded shoppers find everything from fabrics to wallpaper, with customization of lamps, pillows, painted furniture and upholstery. 1839 W. Alabama, 713.528.1501; B2, 1320 W. Alabama, 832.582.8785 boxwoodhouston.com.

IMAGE: Mimi Wadsworth, Bret Duhon at Boxwood Interiors. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Design Buzz

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:41:06 GMT

If you%26rsquo;ve driven West Alabama lately, searching for clever home-design finds on what%26rsquo;s become a trove of house-centered shops, you%26rsquo;ve probably noticed a new shingle at 2027 West Alabama. Dennis Brackeen, Linda Chan, Blake Karambis and Jenna McPhail %26mdash; who own Kirby and Company just next door at 2031 West Alabama %26mdash; have moved their design offices here. They also use part of the 1,900 square feet as more showroom space for overflows from Kirby and Company, including a chic mix of contemporary, vintage and antique pieces %26hellip; Monsour Taghdisi, president of Prestige Builders, unveils a design showhouse next spring. Working in tandem with decorating wiz Lucinda Loya and her eponymous firm, the duo will outfit a 5,000-square-foot contemporary town house in Tanglewood built by Prestige. The opening party will benefit Legacy Community Services, a nonprofit that provides low- or no-cost health services to those in need. For more details, go to presigebuildersinc.com.

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IMAGE: Kirby and Company. Photo by Jenny Antill

Chair Dress

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:39:08 GMT

Wrinkles do add character. Cappellini’s ingenious new Garment club chair has a single piece of textile loosely folded around a distinctive geometric molded-polyurethane foam form. The construction and loose handkerchief cover allow for creases to become part of the character of the chair. The cover can be easily removed and interchanged, based on season or fashion. Varying fabrics available; chair and cover $4,079, at Internum.

Dutch Master

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:37:44 GMT

This is not your mid-century of aqua, boomerang tables and kitsch plastique. Instead, Forma Revivo %26mdash; the newly opened-to-the-public %26lsquo;50s and 60s furnishings destination %26mdash; offers a sleek, serious and clubby take on the golden decades of the 20th century when master cabinetmakers in Scandinavia and America ruled. The resulting beautifully restrained creations made sitting, lounging, dining and cocktailing art forms in themselves. Forma Revivo%26rsquo;s man at the top, Dutch Small, has a coast-to-coast following, thanks to his connections with a Manhattan gallery that represents his finds, as well as a celebrity clientele ranging from Naeem Khan to Wes Anderson. What makes Small%26rsquo;s curated stock stellar is his astute eye combined with ongoing research, and the careful restoration of each piece to museum perfection before it%26rsquo;s offered for sale. Armed with a wealth of information about the finest designers of the era, he specializes in rare masters such as Hans Wegner, Harvey Probber, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Edward Wormley and Milo Baughman (the latter, showcased in an August exhibition) in lieu of the brilliant but ubiquitous Eames. Thus, his ambitious 3,500-square-foot space, designed by Barbara Hill at David Adickes%26rsquo; SculpturWorx complex (entrance on Crockett Street), promises to be a hot showplace for the authentically modern and significant (price points $150 to $32,000). And did we mention Small%26rsquo;s family ties? His career was meant to be: Maternal grandfather Allen Newby did custom work for the King %26mdash; Elvis, that is %26mdash; restoring Graceland%26rsquo;s over-the-top furnishings and interiors. 2500 Crockett St., 713.936.0762; formarevivo.com. Inaugural show: %26ldquo;Form, Fiber, Finish %26mdash; An Exhibition of Important Mid-Century Design%26rdquo; (through July).

IMAGES:

Forma Revivo. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Dutch Small. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Phyfe %26 Drum (Table)

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 05:35:57 GMT

During the golden era of cabinetmakers (the 18th and early 19th centuries), England had Sheraton, Chippendale and Hepplewhite %26mdash; but on American shores, the name to know was Duncan Phyfe. From 1792 to 1847, this Scottish immigrant plied his craft in Lower Manhattan, operating a factory and showroom on Fulton Street. Fashionable Phyfe furnishings %26mdash; handcrafted from exquisite hardwoods and veneers including satinwood and rosewood, often with gilding %26mdash; garnered his firm commissions ranging from Southern plantation Millford in Pine Woods, South Carolina, to the august du Pont family. Yet this renowned designer%26rsquo;s work was last showcased in a museum retrospective 90 years ago, when the Metropolitan Museum of Art highlighted his early-19th-century Grecian styles. (That 1922 exhibition birthed a new industry for finely honed reproductions and a penchant for all things Phyfe, from his trademark lyre-back chair to his splay-legged dining table with its emphatic pedestal base.) Now you can see Phyfe%26rsquo;s craftsmanship in a new retrospective at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The biggest surprises here are Phyfe%26rsquo;s original tool kit and his dramatic high-post bedstead, as well as stylistic discoveries such as his extravagant archaeological pieces, whose ornamentation, gilding, hand-painting and stenciling mirror the excesses of the Empire period. The show is co-organized by the MFAH and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where Phyfe originally had his day; the co-curator is Bayou Bend Collection%26rsquo;s Michael Brown, whose decorative-arts career began with a thesis on Phyfe for the University of Delaware Winterthur Program. Eight years in the making, this presentation and its catalog (Metropolitan Museum of Art, $65) offer a fresh take on America%26rsquo;s most celebrated furniture-maker and may spark yet another Phyfe revival. %26ldquo;Duncan Phyfe: Master Cabinetmaker in New York,%26rdquo; through September 9, at the MFAH, Beck Building, 713.639.7300; mfah.org.

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IMAGE: Phyfe %26amp; Sons%26rsquo; Grecian Bedstead, 1841. Collection The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC.

Mamma Mia, Mamma Mia!

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:56:00 GMT

From the Houston native who gave us his namesake Carrabba%26rsquo;s Italian Grill (before spinning it into the hugely successful coast-to-coast chain) comes Mia%26rsquo;s %26mdash; a fun, casual eatery a stone%26rsquo;s throw from Carrabba%26rsquo;s original River Oaks location on Kirby. Poised under the shade of a grand old oak tree, Mia%26rsquo;s (named for owner Johnny Carrabba%26rsquo;s daughter and designed by Eubanks Group Architects) serves up hearty portions of tasty down-home fare such as mighty cheese-, hickory-smoked and buffalo burgers; addictive fried-chicken baskets served with jalape%26ntilde;o gravy; hand-dipped corn dogs; and, %26ldquo;From the Lil%26rsquo; Red Smoker,%26rdquo; pulled pork and chicken sandwiches, plus barbecue ribs. Not quite what you%26rsquo;d expect from the man who gained fame on the red-sauce circuit, is it? Serve-yourself sodas and drinks (save for the shakes and beer) make it easy for mumsy and daddy to let the kiddos seek some independence, while the wraparound front porch and nostalgic air make the concept seem as rooted in the community as the old oaks shading the two-story structure. 3131 Argonne St., 713.522.6427; miastable.com.

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IMAGE: Johnny Carrabba III with daughter Mia and son Johnny IV

Designer Suzanne Kasler Books It

Thu, 31 May 2012 05:33:11 GMT

Interior designer and author Suzanne Kasler is in Houston Tuesday, June 12, 11 am, at Houston Design Center at the Bunch %26amp; Shoemaker Showroom. Kasler will speak about the design business, accompanied by stunning visuals of her work, and sign her new book, Suzanne Kasler, Inspired Interiors ($50). Kasler is the principal of Atlanta-based Suzanne Kasler Interiors, and her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, House %26amp; Garden, Southern Accents and Veranda. Her book showcases her “deft use of couture-like detailing, a keen sense of sublime color selections and an aesthetic that bridges American and European sensibilities.” There is no charge to attend the talk and book signing, but reservations are required; seating is limited, so speed-peck thehoustondesigncenter.com, or call 713.864.2660. Books will be for sale at the event. Houston Design Center, 7026 Old Katy Road, Bunch %26amp; Shoemaker Showroom, Suite 512.

Design Buzz

Thu, 31 May 2012 05:19:07 GMT

One of our favorite decorators, PaperCity contributor Randy Powers %26mdash; J Randall to those who are not intime %26mdash; has made the Elle D%26eacute;cor A-List of 60 tippy-top designers across the United States. He%26rsquo;ll be inducted into this hive of chicdom Wednesday, June 6, in New York, and we%26rsquo;ll be clapping in person. Grab a June issue of Elle D%26eacute;cor to see the company he keeps (i.e., Miles Read, Jeffrey Bilhuber, Charlotte Moss, Kelly Wearstler, et. al). Then, this fall, Powers%26rsquo; own casa in Houston will appear in Architectural Digest. Famed interiors editor Robert Rufino styled the shoot, and it was%26nbsp; photographed by Edward Piasecki.

IMAGE: Randy Powers.

Casa Fearless

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:31:47 GMT

On a block in Preston Hollow, where original %26rsquo;50s-style ranches coexist with looming new builder manses, the only commonality Ana Seyffert%26rsquo;s dwelling shares with the adjacent homes is a street name. You may recognize her corner lot %26mdash; the frontage is a conspicuous one: The jutting green-hued contemporary structure boasts screaming red aluminum bicycles by Mexican artist Ariel Rojo on the left of the lawn; a water focal point similar to a wading pool runs along the entire length of the home; and the eight-foot-tall electric yellow Cellocia Borunda sculpture by Sebastian blooms to the right of the mammoth glass front door. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s about choosing things you can live with,%26rdquo; says Seyffert, %26ldquo;and not being afraid to try new things.%26rdquo; Fear is a word that is noticeably absent from this Mexico City transplant%26rsquo;s creative lexicon. As an interior designer who is co-owner of Spun Creative Group, a company she started with her graphic-designing daughters Natalia Saenz-Duran and Tatiana Saenz-Camu, Seyffert tests the most unusual products found on the design market in her own home first %26mdash; envision white faux-crocodile leather tiles as flooring in her master bath or the powder room%26rsquo;s three-foot faucet that extends from the center of the mirror down into the basin. %26ldquo;How do you tell your clients to do something you haven%26rsquo;t tried?%26rdquo; she questions. Her risk-taking theory is evident in her remodeled 5,589 square-foot house that has 22-foot-tall kitchen ceilings, Danby marble-encased cooking surfaces, a two-ton steel central staircase and a steel-and-wood cantilevered poolside grill canopy that weighs more than a GMC Denali. With 33 windows and an exterior as well-hewn as her living areas, Seyffert%26rsquo;s affinity for natural light and concentration on outdoor spaces have won her copious national awards, such as the Spark Modern Fires Design Competition. %26ldquo;She likes to push engineering boundaries,%26rdquo; says her contractor, Joe Shannon of Veritas Developers, who oversaw the two-year renovation of what once upon a colorless time was one of those original and inconspicuous %26rsquo;50s ranches.

IMAGES:

Conversation Pit: Surrounding a low pedestal with built-in fire element are deep, woven chairs by Zuo Modern, and pillows covered in Sunbrella fabric. The pool fountain is crafted of limestone and stainless steel. Eight Vazon planters by KuL Designs from Positive Space line the deck.

A Step Up: The two-ton stainless steel staircase overhangs a GLO drop-pendant light from Leucos.

Bedecked: Tangerine-colored Sixinch chairs from Positive Space share the poolside deck with glazed ringed cylinder tables from Ceramic Furniture Collection, available at Seasonal Living. Sebastian%26rsquo;s vibrant-yellow Columna Amarilla sculpture is to the right.

Cocina Espectacular: Kitchen counters and Viking and Sub-Zero appliances are encased with white Danby marble. Faucets are Dornbracht. Contrast Lighting pendant lights are from The Lighting Alliance. Philippe Starck%26rsquo;s Emeco Icon Barstools.

Organic Fare: Hannes Wettstein%26rsquo;s Hola white-leather dining-room chairs for Cassina are from Scott + Cooner and surround the Live Edge Design dining table, fashioned from fallen trees. Light Bubbles rectangular pendant light by Prospetto is from Lights Fantastic. The EcoSmart Firebox XL fireplace with stainless-steel lining is set into a Norstone stacked stone wall.

Metal Pedals: Mexico City artist Ariel Rojo%26rsquo;s Rack Bici sculptures seem to spin across the lawn.Literary illumination: Natural light via the glass front door flows through bookshelf wall into Seyffert%26rsquo;s office.

Abuelita Fabulosa: Centered in her grandchildren%26rsquo;s playroom are a table and chairs from Unica Home. The trunk-style storage cabinets are Seyffert%26rsquo;s own creation. Retro kitchen oven, tea set and tea cart from Pottery Barn Kids. A pair of Kartell Cindy lamps flank a black cabinet housing a murphy bed from Old Creek Wall Bed Factory.

Where the Wild Things Are: Ceramic animal busts from Two%26rsquo;s Company watch over an heirloom chair reupholstered in zebra-printed cowhide.

El Hombre: Olivia Guzm%26aacute;n%26rsquo;s Aliento sculpture.

Working Order: In Seyffert%26rsquo;s office, a Neptune pendant lamp by Prospetto for Lightolier is above a table and bench from West Elm, and a pair of Sixinch banana-yellow chairs from Positive Space. Sliding bookcase ladder from Bartels.

A Blue (and Giving) Mood

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:24:11 GMT

Indigo, a recently opened home accessories store in West Village, stocks global decor such as fur pillows, woven rugs and homemade finds including jewelry and scarves, emblazoned with everything from Navajo-style designs to Persian-influenced patterns. Owner John Tracy, a transplant from Sun Valley, Idaho, finds inspiration from his travels and maintains his shop of socially conscious goods that provide work to craftsmen around the world. 3699 McKinney Ave., 208.390.5889; dallasindigo.com.

IMAGE: Scarves and carpets at Indigo

Home Sweet Stella

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:22:19 GMT

The three-and-a-half-year-old shop Stella Dallas has a stellar new address %26mdash; an ivy-covered-brick showroom that once housed the interior design business of decorator Barry Williams. After shuttering her original Lovers Lane locale and moving to the Design District, owner Amber Frazee rethought the concept for Stella Dallas %26mdash; now there%26rsquo;s nary a stationery or gift-y item in sight %26mdash; stocking heavy on home furnishings and ramping up her interior-consulting biz. The powder-pink-walled space is decorated with a Dash %26amp; Albert rug, dozens of Ikat-patterned pillows, plus vintage storage consoles brimming with fabric samples by Quadrille, China Seas, Schumacher and more. Flanking the great room are two spacious nooks of note %26mdash; one houses Missoni Home dressed floor-to-ceiling in the iconic chevron pattern, and the adjacent, with Lilly Pulitzer Home, is splashed with tr%26egrave;s preppy items. 1812 Market Center Blvd., 214.691.0000; shopstelladallas.com.

IMAGE: Stella Davis. Photo by Claire McCormack Photography.

Matts %26 Rugs

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:17:22 GMT

Love anything with the word %26ldquo;bohemian.%26rdquo; YSL, Talitha Getty in Morocco %26hellip; we%26rsquo;re so there in spirit. Matt Camron Rugs %26amp; Tapestries has added the bohemian tribal Moroccan Collection to its repertoire %26mdash; a grouping of longer-nap, vibrantly patterned vintage wedding blankets traditionally gifted to brides for good luck and now repurposed as rugs. Need a perfectly matched pair or unusual size? Then custom reproductions of these one-of-a-kinds are what you need. At Matt Camron Rugs %26amp; Tapestries.

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A Chandelier Fit for Fellini

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:14:55 GMT

The otherworldly designer Philippe Starck and the crystal house of Baccarat have long been a high-profile pair. Starck spearheaded the decoration of Baccarat%26rsquo;s extravagant Parisian headquarters %26mdash; a private maison turned gallery, restaurant and boutique %26mdash; and worked wonders on its fit-for-a-tsar Moscow home base. That said, when a collaborative piece from the outrageously lavish duo plus others lands stateside, the design flock comes running. Discerning aesthetes are swarming Scott + Cooner to lay eyes on a cinematic light fixture that stands 10 feet tall and boasts trimmings from pedigreed sources: The company that once created props for surrealist painter Ren%26eacute; Magritte produced the chandelier%26rsquo;s umbrella accent; the boom stand from which it hangs is a reproduction of one used by master filmmaker Federico Fellini; and the punching-bag counterweight is made of rich Herm%26egrave;s leather and filled with the same beach sand that Baccarat uses to make its crystal. Procuring this limited-edition lumi%26egrave;re (only 120 were made) will cost a cool $42,000 %26mdash; a small price to pay for a well-lit work of art. 1617 Hi Line Dr., 214.748.9838; scottcooner.com.

Stark’s Designer Duality

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:12:36 GMT

Stark Carpet has revamped its concept and bequeathed our Dallas Design District with a new 14,000 square-foot, to-the-trade showroom and retail store combined. Stark Carpet on Slocum Street is part to-the-trade showroom, as it has been for 70 years, housing the highest caliber Aubussons and Tibetans, as well as contemporary patterns by design greats Alexa Hampton, Charlotte Moss and Howard Slatkin. The adjoined Stark Home is a modestly priced retail arm keeping retail hours, stocking discontinued and specially priced merchandise; more than 4,000 traditional, contemporary and antique area rugs; and more than 250 carpet remnants. 1103 Slocum St., 214.742.8252; stark-home.com.

Cheers for Chair-ity

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:08:00 GMT

The pop-up shop Thrift Studio has opened inside the Dallas Design Center for a 30-day sale, with proceeds benefitting Dwell With Dignity. Here, one can peruse art, furniture and room vignettes created by the likes of Michelle Nussbaumer, Wisteria, Cadwallader Design, The Container Store, Horchow, Melissa Woody Interiors and even the folks from Austin%26rsquo;s Uncommon Objects, who arranged a Marburger Farm-style space with antiques one would find at Round Top. Proceeds from the open-to-the-public sale of these stellar furnishings %26mdash; culled from designers, showrooms and shops such as David Sutherland Showroom, ID Collection, Antiques Moderne, Global Views, Emily Summers, Jan Showers and Laura Lee Clark %26mdash; facilitate Dwell with Dignity%26rsquo;s mission of installing home interiors
via decorators and volunteers for families struggling with homelessness and poverty. Drop by Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 5:30 pm, and Sunday, noon to 5 pm, before the shop shutters on May 12. (The tony Culp Associates is its anchor neighbor and supporter.) 1250 Slocum St., Suite 550, 214.599.7974; thriftstudio.com.

IMAGE: Dwell With Dignity Thrift Studio. Photo by Lance Selgo.

Well-Tomed at Wisteria

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:03:46 GMT

When it comes to discourse on home decoration, Lisa Newsome is fluent. As the founding editor of the shelter pub Veranda, she launches her latest, glossy-page project: The Houses of Veranda with a book signing Tuesday, May 8, at Wisteria, 11 am to 2 pm and 4 to 6 pm. 6500 Cedar Springs Road, 214.350.3115.

Delightfully Addled by Adler

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:01:21 GMT

How thrilled were members of the design contingent upon hearing that they no longer had to jet to New York, Miami or Los Angeles in search of a Jonathan Adler boutique? They were so enthused that the shop-gossip rumor mills, decorating blogs and Twitter feeds gushed over the news for months preceding the opening of the new Dallas store. Sir Adler%26rsquo;s glossy new digs, perfectly positioned in the Knox-Henderson neighborhood, is mere steps from some of the brightest in dining, fashion and decorating. Inside, the premier Texas boutique screams Jonathan Adler: White-pottery pieces galore, colorfully patterned pillows and poufs, witty decorating objets, and clever table toppers %26mdash; from lacquer trays in Adler%26rsquo;s signature vivid hues to coasters boasting his lovable cartoon drawings. Of course, the new store is fully furnished with dozens of covetable pieces in Adler%26rsquo;s mid-century-meets-modern-day style. For groovy digs with a swinging-%26rsquo;60s bent, look to Adler%26rsquo;s pyramid-shaped Claude %26eacute;tag%26egrave;re in walnut and nickel, the burled-wood and Lucite Bond desk and the neoclassical modern Templeton sofa in smooth, charcoal velveteen. One can only hope that with a new Dallas store, plenty of visits from Adler and his adorable, style-making hubby, Simon Doonan, will follow. 4525 McKinney Ave.; jonathanadler.com.

%26nbsp;

IMAGES:

Mrs. Godfrey chair by Jonathan Adler

An Adler-designed interior

Design Kudos: Minton + Seitz + The Borgias

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:57:49 GMT

Last month, a pair of window vignettes at Joseph Minton Antiques had this town positively mesmerized. In one, a pontiff knelt before an antique mirror as half a dozen faux doves flew above him. In the other, a snowy scene was staged, with a swoopy Lucite table flanked by ornate emerald-green chairs and icy birch trees. The raison for such opulent storefront scenes was a nationwide design exhibition spearheaded by television network Showtime and the design-savvy Web site Vintage and Modern (vandm.com). In launching season two of the sexy Showtime drama The Borgias, the television-tastemaker duo tapped 10 shops across the country to design tableaux based on the show%26rsquo;s indulgent themes using items from vandm.com. Fort Worth%26ndash;based designer Justin Seitz of Seitz Interior Design partnered with Joseph Minton Antiques to work the %26ldquo;Faith%26rdquo; theme in glassy portholes, propping them with intricate wall coverings, vintage furniture, gilded light fixtures and more. The installations have since been deconstructed, but the spirit of Borgias-rich furnishings lives on.

IMAGES: The Borgias-inspired windows at Joseph Minton Antiques. Photo by Dan Piassick.

Inside the Head of Susan O'Brien

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:28:47 GMT

If%26nbsp; one knows Hail Merry owner Susan O%26rsquo;Brien, then one knows her glowing fa%26ccedil;ade and silky locks are possible testaments to the benefits of her snacks voted %26ldquo;Best New Vegan Product of 2011.%26rdquo; Her health-mad hobby of making raw foods at home has flourished into a company producing 15 raw, vegan and gluten-free products blanketing the shelves of more than 1,000-plus retail doors across the nation %26mdash; from Whole Foods Market in Hollywood to Drip Coffee in Dallas to The Health Nuts in Manhattan.

The defining moment that drove you to start Hail Merry: I did a deeper dive into the real benefits of virgin coconut oil and raw nuts because at that time %26mdash;%26nbsp;it was 2006 %26mdash; Dallas had zero raw-food companies, and what I could buy in Los Angeles was, let%26rsquo;s just say, off. I knew it could be done with better branding and better taste. Hail Merry became a way for me to utilize my design skills and create something that would change the way we think about our food.

Favorite Hail Merry product: Chocolate Raw Almond Butter Miracle Tart.

What in the Hail Merry is new: Coconut Vanilla Cr%26egrave;me Miracle Tart. Think coconut cr%26egrave;me pie with health benefits!%26nbsp;

You%26rsquo;re on the proverbial desert island and you can take one organic snack: Avocado with lime and smoked sea salt.

Signature pick-me-up: My home-brew chai tea. First, I brew herbal tea (usually Traditional Medicinals EveryDay Detox), then I add the warm tea to my Vitamix and add an inch of fresh ginger and lots of organic spices like cinnamon, cardamom and turmeric. To make it creamy, I throw in some raw cashews.

You can%26rsquo;t cook without: Kyocera ceramic knives.

To cleanse or not to cleanse: The Gem has a great three-day cleanse. The recipes and blends of the pressed juices are perfection.

You stock the larder from: Central Market, Lucky Layla Farms in Plano for raw grass-fed milk for my kids, Tom Spicer%26rsquo;s Spiceman FM 1410, Urban Acres and Whole Foods Market.

Top five items always on your grocery list: Vital Farms eggs, Chameleon Cold-Brew Coffee for my husband, Manitoba Harvest Hemp Seed Butter, Driscoll%26rsquo;s organic raspberries and Wrights of Texas Fresh Green Salsa (it%26rsquo;s so good you can eat it like soup).

Three favorite restaurants in Dallas: Parigi, The Gem for lunch, Shinsei Restaurant for sashimi and drinks with friends.

Where you stop in for an organic snack and what you order: Whole Foods Market salad bar %26mdash; I love the Health Starts Here soups and salads.%26nbsp; I also love my friends Reza and TJ at Southpaw%26rsquo;s Organic Grill %26mdash; I order the Power Salad or a smoothie.

What do you order at Mi Cocina: I head straight upstairs to the Monkey Bar for a margarita and skip the food.%26nbsp;

Sinful food craving: New York%26ndash;style crispy thin cheese pizza.

What%26rsquo;s in your beauty bag: Facial cleanser: Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser. Moisturizer: Tata Harper Reparative Moisturizer. Serums or oils: Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum %26hellip; I am truly obsessed with this brand. She uses ingredients and oils sourced from her organic farm in Vermont %26mdash; my dream is to visit her farm one day. Mascara: Drugstore Great Lash by Maybelline. I like the color and shape of the pink and green tube %26mdash; that%26rsquo;s all. I hate to think about what%26rsquo;s inside. Lip gloss: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, as I prefer balms for moisture. Shampoo and conditioner: John Masters Organics shampoos and conditioners. I also love Moroccanoil Treatment. Body wash: Jason body wash in Purifying Tea Tree.

You stock up on cosmetics from: In Dallas, I buy from Barneys New York. Elsewhere, One Green Street in Houston and Fred Segal in Los Angeles %26mdash; both stores stock new up-and-coming brands who focus on organic ingredients.%26nbsp;

Hairstylist: Sam Figueroa at Patrick O%26rsquo;Hara Salon.%26nbsp;

Aesthetician and treatments you book: The Peter Thomas Roth Lactic Acid Peel from Devon at Facelogic Spa %26mdash; you don%26rsquo;t flake afterwards. But my most important beauty regime is regular full-body massage by Stephen Boyd of Boyd Massage.%26nbsp;

Exercise regimen: Yoga, spinning and classes at The Bar Method.

Three top fashion spots: Cabana in Dallas, Undrest by the Sea in Venice Beach, and Fred Segal in Los Angeles.

Fashion designers you prefer: Koch, Tish Cox and IRO %26hellip; really, it%26rsquo;s whatever Merry Vose sends my way.

Your perfect heels: Nicholas Kirkwood black heels.%26nbsp;

Bands/musicians you love: My son%26rsquo;s band Plowboy, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Stephen Tyler, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Florence and the Machine, The Black Keys and Arcade Fire.

Style muse: Florence Welch.

IMAGES:

Susan O'Brien. Photo by Stephen Karlisch.

Shinsei

Undrest in Venice Beach

Kyocera ceramic knives

Barneys New York Dallas

The Black Keys

Lucky Layla Farms

Hail Merry poster by artist David Hummel

Florence Welch

%26nbsp;

Transformers

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:50:14 GMT

It%26rsquo;s an enviable circumstance %26mdash; not to mention a rather practical living situation for a frequent traveler. The gentleman who inhabits this masculine, wonderfully scaled space, situated eight floors up in Inwood Manor, can simply shut the door en route to his beloved country retreat and leave behind the what-ifs that often plague ground-level homeowners.

Decorator Cathy Echols was charged with refashioning, in her words, a %26ldquo;%26rsquo;70s disco cool%26rdquo; apartment and making it relevant again. The 2,600-square-foot expanse retains many of those elements, not to mention several fun furniture and lighting pieces once owned by the former owners, who lived there for almost two decades. The space was originally gray with burgundy accents (plumbing and otherwise). Echols repainted with Farrow %26amp; Ball Tanner%26rsquo;s Brown %26mdash; a deep aubergine hue that changes with the time of day, appearing eggplant at one hour and chocolate at another. %26ldquo;I believe using one color not only unifies the space, but makes it look fresher and large,%26rdquo; she says. %26ldquo;And in a high-rise, the space can already read like a box. I think you shouldn%26rsquo;t try to make it read like something else, or you%26rsquo;ll lose the sleekness and stylishness of it.%26rdquo;

She worked with many existing materials that her client had purchased along with the space, such as the rich chocolate-brown marble flooring and a plush L-shaped sofa in the living room that anchors the open floor plan, opening into the dining room. She refreshed its cushions with charcoal Polyform wool fabric and slicked the built-in tables that run along two sides of the sofa (with oodles of storage beneath) with still more Tanner%26rsquo;s Brown.

In keeping with this theme of consistency, Echols purchased dozens of polished nickel flush ring pulls from Fixtures %26amp; Fittings %26mdash; %26ldquo;they remind me of something you%26rsquo;d find on a ship,%26rdquo; she says. She installed them on every cabinet, from the bar to the bath to the kitchen.

Blessed with two large balcony spaces that open up onto the dining- and living-room area, as well as another that spills into the bedroom suite, the apartment is extremely conducive to entertaining. The galley kitchen, revamped with new appliances and mirrored to give the illusion of a larger space, is a functional area where the owner, a talented cook, can whip up meals for a dozen or more.

Neither he nor Echols is shy about playing with scale in decorating. She indulged her client %26mdash; whose collection ranges from a pair of mammoth Napoleonic sphinx sculpturesthat graced a theater in London before it burned to the ground to 4,000-year-old urns from China %26mdash; by having an %26eacute;tag%26egrave;re custom-built to display them, with the sphinxes on top and the urns below.

%26ldquo;In this building, you can actually remove all the front walls and theoretically have glass installed across every room,%26rdquo; she says. %26ldquo;We talked about that, particularly in the bedroom, but it eventually became a question of where would we put the art?%26rdquo; The solution: Keep certain strategically placed walls to display pieces such as the large-scale work by Retna, a graffiti artist from Los Angeles, in the living room and a series of four smoke-ring photographs by Donald Sultan from McClain Gallery that are best viewed from a prime vantage point on the sofa.

To give the marble flooring a kick of warmth, Echols installed woven jute underfoot in both the bedroom areas and part of the living room %26mdash; another nod to consistency of materials.%26nbsp; %26ldquo;The jute blended in a way that solid or patterned carpet simply didn%26rsquo;t,%26rdquo; Echols says. %26ldquo;We went back and forth, afraid it could look like acres of carpet if we weren%26rsquo;t careful. We tried leopard and all sorts of patterns, and it went from nice to Vegas really fast.%26rdquo;

While the owner moves around the globe, his high-rise home %26mdash; safe and secure, stories up from the street %26mdash; awaits him, with all the comforts and conveniences of city dwelling just where he left them.

%26nbsp;

IMAGES:

Living large in black and white %26hellip; In the living room, an orchid from David Brown in a cache-pot by Robert Kuo for Baker. Crystal and silver collectibles top the glass cocktail table

In all the gin joints in all the towns %26hellip; A drinks bar is tucked away off the main hall.

Interior designer Cathy Echols of CH Designs, dressed in Herm%26egrave;s, is in the living room of her client%26rsquo;s high-rise home. Painting by graffiti artist Retna, from New Image Gallery, Los Angeles

%26nbsp;

In the dining room, six leather cantilevered chairs from the previous owners attend a McGuire glass-topped table.%26nbsp; A turned natural-wood bowl serves as the centerpiece. To the left, Allison Schulnik%26rsquo;s monkey painting from Mark Moore Gallery in Santa Monica. Lighting by Andy Coolquitt.

In the sunlit sitting room off the master bedroom, a pastoral painting by %26rsquo;20s muralist David Karfunkle. Sofa by Shabby Slips, covered in Belgium cut velvet. Waylande Gregory bowl from Sloan/Hall.

Surrounding a custom glass-topped cocktail table in the living room, a Polyform brown-leather chaise and an L-shaped sofa purchased from the former owners of this high-rise and re-covered in a rich wool fabric. Custom-made %26eacute;tag%26egrave;re holds a collection of large-scale antiquities. Bronze lamp from Blackmon Cruz Workshop in Los Angeles. Donald Sultan%26rsquo;s smoke-ring photos from McClain Gallery.

Trio of skulls, made of bone, from Sloan/Hall. Vintage silver boxes.

At the bedside in the master bedroom, Echols styled this tableau atop a round metal garden table from Watkins Culver: a large quartz lamp, orchids from David Brown, several nighttime reads, Herm%26egrave;s travel clock and a contemporary work by Houston artist Shane Tolbert.

In the sitting room is a George Cameron Nash sofa surrounded by two drum ottomans by Shabby Slips. French berg%26egrave;re with vintage fabric and fox throw. Wood table from Balinskas Imports. Lighting by Andy Coolquitt. Gold-washed lamp, one of a pair, by Robert Kuo for Baker. Pastoral painting by %26rsquo;20s muralist David Karfunkle.

In the master bedroom, the curtain panels dressing the four-poster iron bed were created by D%26amp;D Drapery from Duralee linen/cotton herringbone fabric. Bedding from Kuhl-Linscomb. Three-tiered round bedside table with brushed-nickel from Baker.

In the master bedroom, a zebra-skin-covered berg%26egrave;re sidles up to a zinc-topped antique garden table. Rug by Edward Foster.

In the master bedroom suite, mohair-covered love seats by Shabby Slips. Photographs by Deanna Templeton entitled Nudes hang on either side of an antique Chinese armoire. The vase at the end of the bed is from Balinskas Imports. Gilt-frame mirror by Frametek, with tortoiseshell in the foreground.

Sari for Yourself

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:38:06 GMT

We%26rsquo;re mad for vintage sari silk rugs %26mdash; fashioned from repurposed saris, of course. We found beautiful examples at Carol Piper Rugs and Abraham%26rsquo;s Fine Rugs. The process begins in India, where artisans reduce the garments to threads, re-dye them and spin them into carpet-grade fiber. The fibers are then woven into antique rug designs, such as the Turkish medallion pattern shown here (available at Carol Piper Rugs), which was initially designed for the Ottoman court. Since the exact color combinations are unique, no two rugs are the same %26mdash; something any decorator worth his toile will be happy to hear. At Carol Piper Rugs and Abraham%26rsquo;s Fine Rugs.

IMAGES:

Carol Piper Rugs

Abraham's Fine Rugs

Wandering Washington Avenue

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:36:22 GMT

While one side of Washington Avenue has become a hotbed for trendy restaurants, the other side has attracted some intriguing interior-design shops and showrooms. In the midst of a high-rise home renovation, I was eager to explore the area, so I tripped into three neat shops, all next to one another on Washington and open to both retail and the trade on weekdays. The first, Sugar Creek Interiors (8200 Washington Avenue, 713.212.0000), is 8,000 square feet packed with furniture, lamps, artwork and accessories from La Barge, Century Furniture, Visual Comfort, Burton James and Theodore Alexander, all arranged into inspiring vignettes. For me, what sets SCI apart is how astute-eyed owner/designer Cindy Hunter has culled together all sorts of accessories, such as hard-to-find furnishings by R%26amp;Y Augousti, vividly colored Italian glass, natural minerals and crystals, boxes, mirrors and frames. Next door, rug pro Jennie Perry, owner of Emmet Perry %26amp; Co. (8200-C Washington Avenue, 713.961.4665), is a terrific resource. She has more than 800 new rugs in stock %26mdash; you can purchase yours there, or special-order in any size and scale. Her inventory includes designs by Tufenkian, Nourison, F. Schumacher, Saxony and Chilewich. This 20-year veteran of the %26ldquo;soft-flooring sector%26rdquo; has literally thousands of samples, from sisals to wools to mod patterns that had me daydreaming of ways to incorporate them into my own design. Finally, light up your home at Savannah House (8200-A Washington Avenue, 713.863.2948), designer Kathryn Edwards%26rsquo; well-lit space. She%26rsquo;s carrying on the lighting business her in-laws inspired her to join and is now bringing on board the third generation %26mdash; her own son. Like Perry, she%26rsquo;s an advocate of customization and can turn anything from an Imari vase to a piece of blue coral into a show-shopping lamp, sconce, hanging light or chandelier. We%26rsquo;re guessing she stocks around 1,000 lamp shades alone. Her craftsmen can rework an old lamp you%26rsquo;ve nearly given up on, create custom shades with your fabric, add new bases and repaint or glaze a piece %26mdash; it you can imagine it, she%26rsquo;ll help you realize it. Savannah House also carries bedding by Pine Cone Hill and Pom Pom, rugs by Dash and Albert and Beatriz Ball tableware.

IMAGES:

From left: Cindy Hunter (Sugar Creek Interiors), %26nbsp;Jennie Perry (Emmet Perry Rugs, Kathy Edwards (Savannah House)

Savannah House lamp

Sugar Creek Interiors

Mitchell, Bob … Meet Hien

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:32:20 GMT

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams fans, we have some welcome news. The design duo who filled a storefront spot on Kirby near Richmond until recently have now taken up residence %26mdash; 6,000 square feet, in fact %26mdash; on the cushy second floor of Hien Lam Home. HLH can special-order anything from their collection and will keep lots of gorgeous upholstered pieces in stock, but the MGBW products are merchandised amid other case pieces by complementary lines, inspiring customers to mix and match. 2032 W. Alabama, 713.523.1558; hienlamhome.com.

Found

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:26:31 GMT

Keys to the Door: Owners Ruth Davis and designer Aaron Rambo.

Stocked Goods: Found, the wonderfully curated home shop that began life five years ago in a two-story atelier tucked away on Bartlett Street, has moved into a newly renovated locale. Found%26rsquo;s owners, Ruth Davis and Aaron Rambo, have leapt from 3,700 square feet to more than 5,300 in one expansive space: the former Etui spot on the very visible West Alabama stretch that has become known as yet another stellar design district in town. Look for room vignettes throughout the shop, stocked with new furnishings such as upholstery by John Derian and lamps by Christopher Spitzmiller, styled by the talented Rambo with large-scale vintage industrial pieces, late 18th-century European antiques and art that mixes well with it all. In addition, Davis and Rambo have an entire section devoted to the home tomes they adore, as well as an open studio where you can see the projects Rambo has on the drawing board and even hire him for something you have in mind. 3433 W Alabama, 713.522.9191; foundforthehome.com.

IMAGE: Aaron Rambo, Ruth Davis. Portrait by Jenny Antill.

The Hunt for Grand Objets

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:32:13 GMT

Searching for the next luxe objects to line the shelves of Nest, the dashing design duo managed to make many a sidetrack to hot shops, bo%26icirc;tes and cafes, now entered in our iPhones.

IMAGE: Donald Fowler, Heather Wiese-Alexander

IMAGE: Donald Fowler looking at Missoni wares

LONDON%26nbsp;

Day ONE

Three weeks of travel every four months cause one to master the art of the stay. We arrive at The Rockwell, a boutique hotel situated near Earls Court. The first order of business is brunch at Bibendum. Tomorrow, we will begin early at the London home-furnishings show Top Drawer and at a nearby debuting show titled Home. Donald and I have not seen each other for nearly two weeks, so we take the day to catch up and align our thoughts on the upcoming season%26rsquo;s buy.

IMAGE: The Rockwell.

Day TWO

Both shows are surprisingly small. Our focus at Nest is on smart, beautiful lifestyle objects. Our clients are well-educated and well-acquainted with luxury. So, the search is on. Within three hours, we are hooked on bright hobo shoulder bags and gorgeous bowls by Krasznai. Donald points out a sleek, beautiful laptop table by iwoodesign. I swoon. He knows me too well. We walk for another four hours and have just a small handful of items to show for it. Tomorrow merits a day in the shops of London for added inspiration.

Day THREE

We start with a wake-up moment at Tina, We Salute You (yes, that is the name of the cafe) to talk shop and strategize. The need to include natural, light woods, unexpected mixed media and bright accents has materialized. We peruse the Dalston district and find ourselves in Eva Sonaike%26rsquo;s store. She is a former German Elle editor of Nigerian decent, with a notion for returning goodwill to her native country. Her beautiful pillows and throws will, no doubt, find their way home with us. Hours later, we meet with Pia Wurstenberg in her studio. She melds terracotta pottery together with glass and turned-wood accents %26mdash; another amazing find we can%26rsquo;t wait to bring to Nest. Cocktails? Yes, please. We wander over to Mark%26rsquo;s, the little brother to the famous Hix near Picadilly. It%26rsquo;s calm, yet buzzing. I sip a gin punch, and Donald nurses a John, John %26amp; Tom Collins %26mdash; just one drink with a rather long name. We talk cobalt blue and the resurging relevance of punk. Our cocktail napkins fill with ideas of product development and color stories.

IMAGE: Pia Wurstenberg pottery.

IMAGE: Eva Sonaike pillow.

IMAGE: Tina, We Salute You.

Day FOUR

Back at the shows, we find sure trends: 1. Neon accents grounded in natural foundations. 2. Cobalt, azure, lapis %26hellip; that blue. 3. Odd couples: metal and puffy-fabric lighting; resin and wicker basket-weave chairs; and, something we don%26rsquo;t love, but that%26rsquo;s still trending %26mdash; the animal head atop some vintage-esque bust (it%26rsquo;s really time for that one to disappear). 4. Birds. There are birds, birdcages, bird references everywhere. Lucky for us, we have the perfect Nest. Tonight, Donald meets up with Carl Blucher, buyer for the hip London furniture store Aria. I stay behind to fashion an invitation suite from my stationery line, Bell%26rsquo;Invito, for a VIP client %26mdash; which is a great way for me to clear my head before we move onto process the day%26rsquo;s finds.

Day FIVE

I laugh as the Donald, whom I have never seen in any form but perfect, looks up from the dimly lit breakfast booth, looking uncharacteristically disheveled. This might be the first time that he has not stood up to give me a proper greeting. I decide we should have some coffee, a gallon of water and venture into fresh air. I have to admit, I might be a little jealous of the previous evening%26rsquo;s lampooning at The Owl %26amp; Pussycat pub. We make a day of taking in Selfridges, Liberty and Fortnum %26amp; Mason, and discover Willer, a tiny well-edited store we love and will definitely revisit. We decide our afternoon could use a non-work diversion %26mdash; a Jack the Ripper walking tour is in order.

Days SIX and SEVEN

Our next show begins in Paris in two days. Today and tomorrow will be filled with laptop work in cafes, outings, random brainstorming and strategizing dinners. Eventually we Eurostar it to Paris and embark on week two.

PARIS%26nbsp;

Day EIGHT

My favorite Paris hotel is Mon H%26ocirc;tel, as it%26rsquo;s quiet, central, chic and affordable. My room has three small, beautiful balconies and a giant central loft-style bathtub. I consider staying longer and letting Donald take the New York leg. We work at the hotel and meet a friend for dinner at Le Cinq. I would stay out late, but my partner in crime insists we arrive at the hour-away show by 9 am %26mdash; mornings are where we differ.

IMAGE: Le Cinq

Day NINE

Somewhat promptly, I arrive at breakfast at 8:10 am. I could live on the French breakfast of crusty bread, ham, cheese and butter. Donald slips me a present: an assortment of green teas from Fortnum %26amp; Mason. We take the two trains required to get us to the Maison %26amp; Objet show. We arrive on a packed car and push our way through the throng into the first of eight massive pavilions filled with lifestyle objects %26mdash; think twice the size of Highland Park Village for each pavilion. We take a deep breath %26hellip; here we go. We fall in love with Gae %26amp; Tana%26rsquo;s cashmere throws with colorful yarn tassels, Christian Lacroix candles and modern, clear glass hookah pipes with 3-D white porcelain fish that look as if they are jumping out of the vessel. By that afternoon, we are zombies.

IMAGE: Gae and Tana cashmere throws.

Day TEN

We have been called by Issey Miyake to their showroom to view their new collection of bags. Donald described them to me, and while I love the idea, I am a bit skeptical of their fit in Nest. We enter a huge, gorgeous old door where we are greeted and shown up to the collection. The Miyake bags are magnificent %26mdash; I immediately want the rose-gold tote, as the structured space-age aesthetic gives easily to the touch and yields an unexpected softness. I%26rsquo;ll take a hobo in black, too. Next we are due at L%26rsquo;Eclaireur, Colette and Merci. Somehow, amidst the work, I ended up with a shopping bag full of Valentino. All our romping, shopping and dreaming work up an appetite, and we find ourselves at Angelina savoring its famous hot chocolate.

Days ELEVEN and TWELVE

We take the next three days combing through every vendor at Maison %26amp; Objet to find the unique, unexpected, smart and interesting. We find great totes stitched with pop icons, beautiful wallets, more neon accents jumping from burlap and other neutral canvases. We break up the days with neighborhood pubs, new restaurants and friends %26mdash; both old and new. Noteworthy excursions were Brasserie Julien (an Art Nouveau dining staple), David Lynch%26rsquo;s hot new Club Silencio, an Anglo neighborhood pub called Stolly%26rsquo;s Stone-Bar and, of course, a stop-in for caviar at the Four Seasons Hotel George V.

IMAGE: Club Silencio.

%26nbsp;

The Shopping Duo's Haunts

LONDON:

Aria, ariashop.co.uk

Bibendum, bibendum.co.uk

Eva Sonaike, evasonaike.com

Fortnum %26amp; Mason, fortnumandmason.com

Home, home-london.net

Liberty, liberty.co.uk

Mark%26rsquo;s, marksbar.co.uk

The Owl %26amp; Pussycat, owlandpussycatshoreditch.com

The Rockwell, therockwell.com

Selfridge%26rsquo;s, selfridges.com

Tina, We Salute You, tinawesaluteyou.com

Top Drawer, topdrawer.co.uk

Willer, willer.co.uk

%26nbsp;

PARIS:

Angelina, angelina-paris.fr

Brasserie Julien, julienparis.com

Club Silencio, silencio-club.com

Collette, colette.fr

Issey Miyake, isseymiyake.com

Le Cinq at the Four Seasons Hotel George V, fourseasons.com/paris/dining

L%26rsquo;Eclaireur, leclaireur.com

Merci, merci-merci.com

Mon H%26ocirc;tel, monhotel.fr

Stolly%26rsquo;s Stone-Bar, cheapblonde.com

Anxious for Adler

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:22:16 GMT

If brightly colored lacquer trays, whimsical white pottery and mod furnishings by Jonathan Adler are what you seek for the abode, brace yourself: The decor genius opens a shop later this month at 4525 McKinney Avenue, in the same block as Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and Abacus. The 2,300-square-foot boutique will stock all of Adler%26rsquo;s pillows, rugs, pottery, notecards and furnishings. Preview the goods at jonathanadler.com.

Art Shop

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:20:05 GMT

Renee Rhyner, who has represented %26uuml;ber-talented Dallas photographers, illustrators and graphic artists for 20 years, has opened The Shop online to showcase the work of her stable and to bridge a gap between commercial art and fine art. Here you%26rsquo;ll find fine-art photographs and illustrations, posters, notecards and books from Dave Anderson, Fredrik Broden, Brian Cronin, Stephen Karlisch, Bruce Hulse, Tom Brown, Juliette Borda, Alice Franklin, Piergiorgio Sclarandis, Beth Perkins, Ann Stratton and a just-acquired Mazziotta Collection of 30 years of images shot for the Dallas Morning News and Dallas Times Herald by John and Peggie Mazziotta. reneerhyner.com/shop.

IMAGES:

Fredrik Broden%26rsquo;s Untitled #1

Brian Cronin%26rsquo;s Indian Flower

Treasures of a Different Tune

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:07:00 GMT

Since his orchestral debut with the Houston Symphony Orchestra more than 60 years ago, the legendary Texan pianist Van Cliburn has travelled the world %26mdash; tickling the ivories for heads of state, royalty and political figures, and collecting rare works of decorative art along the way. Cliburn%26rsquo;s extraordinary private collection %26mdash; brimming with more than 150 pieces of historical English furniture, rare Russian art, plus myriad silver and jewels %26mdash; goes up for bid at Christie%26rsquo;s next month, with a viewing at its New York City Rockefeller Galleries, May 12 through 16, with the auction on Thursday, May 17. It%26rsquo;s music to the most discerning ears. Information christies.com.

IMAGES:

Silver soup tureen from the Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna Service, circa 1840. Photo courtesy Christie%26rsquo;s Images Ltd. 2012.

Van Cliburn, Moscow, 1958. Photo courtesy Christie%26rsquo;s Images Ltd. 2012.

Den of Design

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 06:02:51 GMT

Rarely does decorator Gary Riggs do something quietly %26mdash; his statement-making interiors are an over-the-top homage to the whimsical, opulent and colorful. Give the ever-creative Riggs a 45,000-square-foot space to dress, and expect wonderment of the decorating kind. His newly opened showroom, Gary Riggs Home, is a furnishing indulgence in colossal size %26mdash; a certain upgrade from his now-shuttered Allen digs. The spacious new Alpha Road address once lodged both a Restoration Hardware and a Crate %26amp; Barrel. But what%26rsquo;s housed there now is quintessentially Riggs: Multiple levels of highly styled vignettes ranging from the contemporary to the traditional with everything you could possibly arrange inside your manse. What to shop? A curated compilation of furniture, bedding, gifts, accessories, artwork and more, handpicked by Riggs and buyer Michael Reese. Bright names in design are represented %26mdash; Theodore Alexander, Ralph Lauren, Baker, Vanguard and Ferguson Copeland, plus Riggs%26rsquo; namesake line, Gary Riggs Art in Design, as well as a spectrum of top-notch services, from in-house designers to custom upholstery. 5217 Alpha Road, across from Galleria Dallas, 214.547.1054; garyriggshome.com.

IMAGE: Gary Riggs Home

Double Take

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:59:20 GMT

Love to work in a leather-lined office? Bathe in a glazed white-crocodile bath? We adore the look, but it%26rsquo;s even more fun when you do a double take %26mdash; or rather, a double touch %26mdash; and realize both are rendered with porcelain tile, not hide. That%26rsquo;s right, you can replicate the look of pebbled leather, skins, even limed-oak hardwood floors with Italian porcelain tiles. We found double-take worthy looks at Horizon Italian Tile. 1617 Hi Line Dr., 214.741.4447; horizontile.com.

IMAGE: Crocodile tiles at Horizon Italian Tile

Welcome Home, D. Porthault

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:52:37 GMT

We cried a thousand Parisian tears when D. Porthault shuttered its Highland Park Village doors; we sang Linen Boutique owner Joanne Walgren%26rsquo;s praises when we learned she picked up the entire D. Porthault collection of sheets, towels, lingerie and accessories. Known for mixing prints and embroideries, in both classical and whimsical styles, D. Porthault has graced the abodes of Coco Chanel and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and royals such as the Duchess of Windsor. Drop in Walgren%26rsquo;s Lovers Lane shop to pick up something for the boudoir or the baby in the identifiable %26ldquo;trefles%26rdquo; (four-leaf clover) or %26ldquo;coeurs%26rdquo; (heart) pattern %26mdash; two favorites amongst Dallas fine-linen aficionados. Linen Boutique, 5600 W. Lovers Lane, 214.352.5400; linen-boutique.com.

IMAGE: D. Porthault

Getting Your Fix

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:16:34 GMT

We know, we know. Don%26rsquo;t remind you that the sitting-room sofa begs for a new slipcover, or that great-granny%26rsquo;s precious Aubusson rug is in dire need of repair. What to do? Where to go? Letting your fingers do the walking or googling your way out of the conundrum is simply out of the question. That%26rsquo;s why we%26rsquo;ve updated our Secret Sources list, a clip-and-save resource highlighting some of the most talented artisans, craftsmen and repair experts in town, all culled from the black books of a select cadre of designing deities and interior-minded friends. We%26rsquo;re naming names and divulging the contact info you%26rsquo;ll need to tackle your most important household fixes.

Furniture Repair %26amp; Fabrication

Cullen Caners, The Center, 3550 W. Dallas, 713.525.8400; cri-usa.org. Founded in 1979, Cullen Caners is known for its hand-cane, rush and wicker work, done with the precision and skill of an artisan.

James Farmer, 713.398.7657. This furniture artisan employs Old World techniques such as using wooden pegs and fasteners in lieu of nails and solid wood instead of plywood. When possible, he also uses the same carving tools that were in use 200 years ago. With training in fine art, his painting technique on furniture is sought by designers such as Tom Harper.

The Furniture Connoisseur, 1401-101 Sterrett St., 713.222.2888; thefurnitureconnoisseur.com. Former furniture maker Robin Richardson understands the TLC that fine wood furnishings require. He sells every hard-to-find, professional-grade cleaning product you can imagine, from wax to polish, leather to silver care, as well as his own line. Maintenance services are also available.

Restorations, 2402 Lawrence, 713.880.5751. Furniture craftsman Donald L. Nichols is the expert refinisher to whom designer Catherine Brooks Giuffre turns when a client%26rsquo;s prized piece has seen better days. Gloriously fastidious about his m%26eacute;tier, this artisan restores, rebuilds and can even reproduce the missing match to a 17th-century demi-lune, or put the luster back into great-grandmother%26rsquo;s Chippendale dining table.

Restoration Builders, 415 N. Wayside, 713.839.1269; restoration-builders.com. Owner Jeff Granberry has been honing his skills as a furniture craftsman since he was a teen. His 11,000-square-foot, climate-controlled workshop allows his team to take on complex and detailed work, from cabinet doors and furniture to custom hardware.

Lighting

Alcon Lightcraft Co., 1424 W. Alabama, 713.526.0680. Have a chandelier, lamp or sconce that doesn%26rsquo;t light up your life anymore? Bring it to the lighting doctors at Alcon Lightcraft, and they%26rsquo;ll rewire, restring or refurbish your prized illuminators. Alcon owner Eddie Morrow stocks a great selection of antique and reproduction lighting and parts as well.

Bernard Woolf %26amp; Associates, 4211 Richmond, 713.626.4025; lulighting.com. Affiliated with Lighting Unlimited, Bernard Woolf specializes in custom lighting projects. His son, Justin Woolf, owns the contemporary shop Light just across the street and has hung his own consulting shingle, too (713.640.5568; woolflighting.com).

D%26rsquo;Zigner Resource, 9434 Katy Freeway, 713.782.4176; thedzignerresource.com. For years, decorator Richard Holley sourced VHH Design for handmade and custom-fabricated lamps, shades and bases made from most any objet. When the company closed, Diana Meade and Rod Tanner took over and renamed it D%26rsquo;Zigner Resource. While they%26rsquo;re usually
to the trade, Holley has found they%26rsquo;ll oblige laymen if you%26rsquo;re really polite and respectful of D%26rsquo;Zigner%26rsquo;s artistry.

House of Glass, 3319 Louisiana St., 713.528.5289; houseofglasshouston.com. Besides selling hundreds of chandeliers and sconces, H of G restores wiring on crystal prisms or reworks finishes by cleaning, waxing and polishing. Owners Art and Lynn Graeter have been at it awhile %26mdash; just like Art%26rsquo;s parents, who founded the place in 1948.

Illuminations Lighting Design, 607 Durham Dr., 713.863.1133; illuminationslighting.com. Illuminations designs art-display and landscape lighting to rave about, say our friends in the design world. Owner Tom Kretzschmar has been in the business for three decades.

West End Restoration, 6401 Stillman, 713.802.1431. David Moody repairs and rewires chandeliers, sconces and lamps. Turn to him as well for silver polishing and repair, plus metal soldering.

Hardware

Settlers Hardware, 1901 W. Alabama, 713.524.2417. Architects and designers rely on owner Susan Neptune and her team to locate antique and repro-duction hardware. Open to the public Thursday through Saturday; by appointment otherwise.

Metalwork %26amp; Silversmiths

Akers Metal Polishing Plating %26amp; Repair, 2223 Richmond, 713.527.8205; akersmetals.com. Since 1979, Sam Akers has handled all sorts of household metal repair and restoration. Akers is your source to re-plate, polish, tin-line copper cookware, hand-engrave silver or restore and fix broken silver, brass, copper and pewter.

Bright Metals of the Heights, 626 E. 11th St., 713.861.0729; brightmetals-oftheheights.com. This humble little workshop in the Heights can re-plate almost anything made with chrome, nickel, brass, copper and gold (new or antique), or just polish to perfection.

George Sacaris Studio, 2000 Nance St., 713.256.7733; sacaris.com. This artist, whose m%26eacute;tier is metal work, actually trained to be an architect. With an eye for design details, he fabricates his own line of contemporary furniture and sculpture, and custom-creates architectural pieces including stair rails, doors, windows, lighting and custom walls that slide like barn doors.%26nbsp;

Peck and Company, 98 Dennis, 713.526.2590; peckand company.com. Founder/designer Bill Peck and his craftsmen custom-design everything metal, from elaborate tables and headboards to drapery rods, fire screens, light fixture and pot racks. A true artist down to his unique finishes, Peck is a busy man %26mdash; but don%26rsquo;t despair. His contemporary and traditional work, often seen in Architectural Digest and Veranda, is worth the wait.%26nbsp;

Vogler Sheet Metal Co, Inc., 2625 Karbach, 713.861.1154; voglermetal.com. Developer/builder Carol Isaak Barden clued us in on this find. Owner Kenny Jeanes%26rsquo; team can take stainless, cold- and hot-rolled and galvanized steel, copper or brass, and make fireplace fronts, kitchen vent hoods, countertops, downspouts, planters, mailboxes, gates, gutters, roofs
and more.

Leather

Zoltan Olah Bookbindery, 4019 Valley Estate Dr., 281.589.0735. This artisan is carrying on a dying craft: working exclusively with leather. He%26rsquo;s the one to call if you need a book rebound, or a leather top on a desk repaired or replaced. He even does his own tooling by hand %26mdash; a rarity.

Millwork

Architectural Design Cabinet Works Inc., 5614 Royalton, 713.661.3641; architecturaldesigncab.net. Artisan Alex Cubelli creates custom cabinetry and architecturally compelling millwork (commercial and residential). His specialty is wood made with veneers and high-end exotic woods. From bookcases to customized moldings, his designs in wood, acrylic, glass, Corian, stone, metal or veneer inlays run the gamut from traditional to contemporary.

Chavez Carpentry, 10207 Market St., 832.423.9402; chavezcarpentry@rocketmail.com. Felix Chavez is a third-generation carpenter who%26rsquo;s built the kitchens where Bill Caudell and J. Randall Powers cook, eat and live; he%26rsquo;s also done extensive millwork throughout their Tanglewood home. This spring, we commissioned Felix (who%26rsquo;s passing the craft on to the fourth Chavez generation via Felix Jr.) to create all the cabinetry in our high-rise abode. I can attest that his attention to detail and commitment to quality are truly
top-drawer.

Stonewood Studios, 713.870.7999; stonewoodstudios.net. Owner Sandy Kays has gained a following among contemporary home builders including Fulton Davenport and Carol Isaak Barden for European-style contemporary cabinets (with frameless construction) that he builds at a fraction
of the price of the big names. He also installs concrete counters in a variety of finishes.

Woodwork Concepts, 281.236.5672; brucevirene@gmail.com. Bruce Virene, a very hands-on owner, has created sleek, contemporary-styled cabinets, millwork, custom fixtures and entertainment centers for more than 40 years. Erica Levit, who has frequently collaborated with Virene, calls him a masterful craftsman
who can find a fix for anything.

Wood Essence,4810 Laigle Road, Manvel, 281.489.6010; wehouston.com. Designer Paula Douglass calls Wood Essence co-owner Craig Manuel %26ldquo;one of the finest artisans with whom I have ever had the pleasure of working. Don%26rsquo;t let the Bermuda shorts and straw hat throw you. Craig redefines millwork standards and is loved by his peers and clients alike.%26rdquo;

Concrete %26amp; Stone

Chateau Domingue, 3615 W. Alabama, 713.961.3444; chateaudomingue.com. Owner Ruth Gay forages throughout Europe to find reclaimed and aged architectural elements, as well as antiques, ranging from grand, statement-making doors to windows, tiles, ironwork, sinks, gates and all manner of flooring. Stroll into this expansive space (inside and out), and you%26rsquo;ll feel like you%26rsquo;re walking through centuries of gorgeous architecture.

Dungan Miller Design, 713.522.9073; dunganmiller.com. Owner David Miller works with a who%26rsquo;s who of local designers, from Richard Holley to Joe Schaffer and Carlos Jim%26eacute;nez. Specializing in finishing and staining concrete, he%26rsquo;s there the day the foundation slab is poured, supervising and finessing its appearance (a trick developed by predecessors Terrell James and Suzanne Dungan), then he returns upon the house%26rsquo;s completion to stain/seal the flooring. He also specializes in the time-consuming task of micro-topping: creating a wafer-thin layer of concrete atop a counter that resembles porcelain.

Elegant Additions, 2426 Bartlett St., 713.522.0088; elegantadditions.net. This to-the-trade resource is known for its swank kitchens and bathrooms. But did you know it%26rsquo;s also a resource for custom stone and concrete installations? From onyx pedestal sinks to lightweight alternatives to concrete counters, owner Julie Koch and her staff can source it for your architect and designer. They also create custom hardware, such as drawer pulls and doorknobs.

James Dawson Design, 1802 Utah St., 713.864.4045; jamesdawsondesign.com. For the last 18 years, James Dawson has created custom furniture and counter surfaces made of myriad metals, concrete, Richlite and zinc. Decorator Tom Harper is a fan.

Materials Marketing, 1335 West Gray, 713.960.8601; mstoneandtile.com. Family owned out of San Antonio, Materials Marketing celebrates 50 years and is America%26rsquo;s oldest and largest stone manufacturer. With a showroom in Houston, Materials Marketing custom-builds hand-carved, natural-stone fireplace surrounds, moldings, columns, pilasters, kitchen hoods, hearths and more. Or choose from hundreds of drawings of architectural elements and have them modified to your plans.%26nbsp;

Spirit Ridge Studios, 713.768.3026; spiritridgestudios.com. Owner Steven Dvorak resurrected his granddad%26rsquo;s concrete business, but we%26rsquo;re betting gramps wouldn%26rsquo;t recognize the place today. Aside from pouring and casting anything in concrete, he can mix and match color hues, textures and sheens. Home emporium owner Pam Kuhl-Linscomb commissioned him to craft the countertops in her stores. He also creates distressed furniture and metal countertops of copper, stainless steel and the like.

Custom Glass %26amp; Acrylic

Art Glass by Wells, 12307 Chimney Rock Road, 713.729.3699; artglassbywells.com. Since 1962, Art Glass by Wells has been cutting custom-designed stained, beveled and etched glass, as well as handling professional restoration. If your job is impossible to transport, these experts will come to your home to make on-site repairs.

Bella Vetro, 832.203.8791; bellavetro.net. David Fink creates custom glass mosaic work, from florals and portraits to pattern designs, of nearly any dimension for walls or even your swimming pool.

Bobbitt Glass, 1020 W. Gray, 713.523.7369; bobbittglass.com. Bobbitt has been cutting glass since 1938. If you can dream it up, chances are this family-run business can rise to the challenge, creating glass and mirrored pieces that are beveled, tinted, smoked or aged.

Lone Star Glass, 3804 Bissonnet, 713.661.0091; lonestarglass.com. These experts cut glass tabletops and mirrors, replacement shower doors, cabinet glass, window panes, store-front doors %26hellip; any glass project that needs to be edged, textured, patterned or even curved.

Meyerland Glass %26amp; Mirror, 12922 Murphy Road, Stafford, 281.494.8484. Renovation specialist Bill Caudell turned us on to this source, which fashions gleaming glass shower doors, beveled mirrors and more.

River Oaks Glass Design and Repair, 2219 Richmond, 713.528.1527; riveroaksglassrepair.com. Brothers Tim and Ed Linehan are the artisans you want on speed dial when catastrophe strikes at home. Consider them your go-to guys for repairing crystal, porcelain, jade, ivory, stained glass or pottery, from a chipped Baccarat glass to a pre-Columbian statue. If you dinged it, they can fix it.

Fabric Protection

Fiber ProTech %26amp; Maintenance, 281.893.4511. Paulette Latham is a whiz at removing stains from rugs, carpets, fine upholstery and drapery, and protecting them from future damage, too. We challenged her with white outdoor pillows that had been sullied with window-washing water. The outcome after she handled the task: perfection.

Novaco, 12633 Memorial Dr., 713.863.8704. Novaco%26rsquo;s fabric-protection service is a must. We wouldn%26rsquo;t dream of upholstering a berg%26egrave;re in cashmere without it %26mdash; and neither, we hear, would Sylvia Dorsey of Longoria Collection. Owner Carol Novick treats carpets and fabrics with a protective coating without a change of color or hand.

The Royal Treatment, 281.650.6272. Owner Pete Diaz specializes in coating fine upholstered pieces with a stain-resistant system that bonds deep down to the fibers of the fabric
and withstands frequent cleaning.

Finishings (Faux %26amp;%26nbsp; Otherwise)

Anything But Plain, 12539 Duncan, 281.444.2070; abpstudios.com. Owner Janie Ellis%26rsquo; decorative-painting and -finishing studio specializes in such finishes as Venetian plaster, lime-based-putty veneer plaster and hard-coat diamond plaster. She also runs a school in Houston to carry on the tradition. To the trade.

Arena Design, 4519 Saunders Road, 713.861.7630; www.arenadesign.us. Rusty Arena has covered the country with his stunning murals and faux wall finishes. Versed in everything from trompe l%26rsquo;oeil to aged plaster and patina wall finishes, Arena has worked with designers Vicente Wolf, John Kidd and a myriad of others.%26nbsp; He also has his own stunning line of hand-painted fabrics and wallpapers.

Decorative Arts, 713.520.1680. For special finishes such as grain, chinoiserie, gold-leaf or painted floors, decorator J. Randall Powers turns to Chris Lowe and Bee Morrow at Decorative Arts for assurance that faux bois won%26rsquo;t turn into a faux pas! The duo, who also do commissions for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, have been at it 30 years.

Iarussi Studio Inc., 832.419.3014. Artist Jay Iarussi translates the disciplines, techniques and materials required for canvas painting and sculpture to his wall murals and finishes. Using plaster and transparent acrylic gels, he creates everything from the rustic exterior of a Venetian palazzo to an austere backdrop for contemporary art. Lately Iarussi has seen the trend move back to canvas, where he is often commissioned by designers to create triptychs and panels.

Imago Dei, 2525 Robinhood St., 713.466.9990; imagodei gallery.com. Artists and founders Jamie and Jeremy Wells employ other artists like themselves %26mdash; people trained in fine art %26mdash; to paint stunning tromp l%26rsquo;oeil and murals. They also painstakingly create plaster finishes to your specifications.

Kevin Davis Wall Artisans, 301 W. Clay St., 713.429.1307; kdwa.net. This artisan is skilled at creating not only wall finishings, but also plasterwork and historical renovation. He%26rsquo;s well-versed in working green within the LEED certification system, using natural paints and plasters.

Segreto, 1200 Blalock, 713.461.5210; segretofinishes.com. Owner Leslie Sinclair knows so much about decorative painting she could write a book on it. And she did! Her impressive work, published in shelter magazines such as Veranda and Traditional Home, encompasses the gamut of decorative paint work from tromp l%26rsquo;oeil to faux finish cabinetry and plaster walls to custom murals and painted wall and ceiling flourishes suited just for your space.

Miscellaneous Services

Chappell Jordan Clock Galleries, 2222 Westheimer Road, 713.523.0133; cjclocks.com. Chappell Jordan has repaired and sold new and antique clocks since 1965. If owners Ralph Pokluda and Jeff Zuspan can%26rsquo;t fix your clock themselves, they know specialized repair people all over the country to send it to (from artisans who style clock hands to cabinetmakers who can repair old grandfather-clock cases). Time-consuming and labor-intensive, their meticulous work is appreciated by the curators at Bayou Bend, who send Chappell Jordan all their clocks that have lost their tick.

Point to Point Crowded House Services, 303 Garden Oaks Blvd., 713.861.4224; crowdedhouseservices.com. Whether you%26rsquo;re moving across town and need your entire home packed and unpacked again, or you%26rsquo;ve just splurged on a Biedermeier secretaire that must be transported with kid gloves, keep this number in your iPhone. Crowded House moves antiques and fine furnishings for many of the city%26rsquo;s top designers and showrooms, and stores them as well.

SpaceMan Home %26amp; Office, 3556 W. T.C. Jester, 713.688.8808; spacemanager.com. David Linda creates custom closets and organizing anything messy in your life, from children%26rsquo;s playrooms to home offices. Building to your specs, he considers details such as your height, whether you%26rsquo;re right- or left-handed and whether you prefer your trousers folded or hung. Made with laminate wood core, Lucite and rounded edges, his systems are guaranteed for life.

Zwerneman Construction, 1515 Neal Road, Tomball, 281.351.6526. While Stanley Zwerneman is a master of all trades who can deconstruct, reconstruct or build a new abode from the ground up, one thing he also does exceptionally well is reconfigure closets. From enlarging the space upwards to installing custom hardwood cabinetry created in his own workshop, Zwerneman can change the way you look at all your storage options.

Rug Repair

Fantastic Carpet Services, 8950 Westpark, 713.780.9279; fantasticcarpetservices.com. Many of our showroom contacts rely on James Walter McGury III%26rsquo;s business (family-owned and operated since 1979) to clean, install and repair carpets, area rugs and draperies.

Pride of Persia Rug Co., The Houston Design Center, 7026 Old Katy Road, Suite 164, 713.522.7870; prideofpersia.com. Our designing pal B.J. Pajak recommends Mehdi Abedi and Lisa Slappey, who specialize in repairing as well as selling antique rugs. So trusted is their knowledge, Mehdi even gives classes on the subject at Rice University%26rsquo;s Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.

Richmond Rugs, 10630 Craighead Dr., 713.521.7847; richmondrugs.net. Owners Julie and Massoud Nogabi and their staff do all their work by hand: cleaning and repairing handmade, machine-made, new and antique rugs. Greg Manteris, owner of Creative Flooring Resources, depends on their services.

River Oaks Rug Cleaners, 4098 W. 11th St., 713.802.1000. Although River Oaks%26rsquo; claim to fame is Oriental rug cleaning, they%26rsquo;re considered the absolute best in caring for sisal. It%26rsquo;s no wonder that most of their work comes from Decorative Center Houston. They also install and fabricate carpets and rugs, and clean wall-to-wall carpets and upholstery.

Slipcovers %26amp; Bedding

Leontine Linens, 800.876.4799; leontinelinens.com. Leontine is known for stunning monograms and custom bed and bath linens. These are heirloom linens your grandchildren will cherish one day.

Perfect Quilt, 8566 Katy Freeway, 713.467.6155; perfectquilt.net. This to-the-trade custom workroom, run for 27 years by Carol Addiego, can create any pillows, bedding, nursery accessories, tablecloths and seat cushions you dream up.

Shabby Slips, 2304 Bissonnet, 713.630.0066; shabbyslipshouston.com. Owner and designer Renea Abbott can slipcover your furniture in a demure frock all its own. With custom slipcovers fashioned from washable, natural-fiber fabrics (your own or theirs), her artisans design and sew the chicest slipcovers, pillows, curtains, headboards, bedding
and more.

Upholstery

Custom Creations Furniture, 1200 Missouri St., 713.522.5953; customcreationsfurniture.com. Katie Stassi Scott says, %26ldquo;[Steve and Ceci] de la Torre%26rsquo;s family business is an absolute pleasure to work with %26mdash; they have a critical eye when it comes to detail, they provide honest lead times, and they produce a consistent quality of work.%26rdquo; To the trade only.

Designer%26rsquo;s Services, Inc., 7320 Ashcroft, 713.271.2222; designersservices.com. Alberto Dvorak has descended from a long line of Czech cabinetmakers. For the last two decades, he has built new pieces as well as reupholstered old classics and antiques, from a plush Shabby Chic%26ndash;style sofa to a sleek Knoll modernist piece. Designer Julia Blalock swears by him.

Hien Lam Upholstery, 819 W. Drew, 713.523.3416; hienlamupholstery.com. It%26rsquo;s tough to find a talented and reasonably priced upholsterer; Hien Lam and his family are both. Want to build a chair or re-cover one you already own? Bring him the piece (or just an idea for one) and the fabric yardage, and in a week or two, you%26rsquo;ll have a beautifully finished piece worth raving about. Designers flock here.

Inman %26amp; Company Upholstery Shop, 2424 Chapman St., 713.224.4740. Many of Houston%26rsquo;s top-drawer designers and antique dealers count on Manuel Santellan to deliver the upholstered goods. Regular upholstering and furniture repair aside, these guys can build and cover anything you design, as well as upholster walls.

Joe%26rsquo;s Upholstery, 705 Ridge St., 713.864.1839. In business for 40 years, Joe%26rsquo;s can re-cover anything, from a French 18th-century settee to a Herman Miller desk chair. And there%26rsquo;s lots of free stuff too %26mdash; free estimates, free pickup and free delivery. Started by daddy Jose Alvarez, the shop is now in the capable hands of his talented son, Richard.

Mattiza%26rsquo;s Custom Upholsteries, 12521 Fondren, 713.723.8508. Have a tricky piece to upholster in a fabric that%26rsquo;s even trickier to work with, such as leather or silk shantung? Mike Pineda is your man. He can fashion anything from the ground up, too, from a dining banquette to a chaise (and has since 1980). Designer Lisa Pope Westerman gives Pineda and his 14-person shop, high marks.

Stafford Auto Trim %26amp; Glass, 12005 Murphy Road, Stafford, 281.495.9592; staffordtrimandglass.com. Aside from the obvious car seats, convertible tops, auto-carpet repair and replacement work, Steve Webb%26rsquo;s company (in business for 31 years) is a good resource when you%26rsquo;re struck by a creative idea such as sewing several area rugs together. Upholsterers who specialize in heavy-duty sewing tasks can make all sorts of things, such as awnings and outdoor seat covers, too.

Wallpaper

Cannon Craft Wallcovering Services, 10015 Haddington Dr., 713.468.5491. Designer Laura Umansky trusts no one but owner Alan Cannon%26rsquo;s firm to hang her wallpapers: %26ldquo;They%26rsquo;re experts in unusual wall coverings, like Maya Romanoff mica or mother-of-pearl, and never disappoint.%26rdquo;

Spanish Decorations, 281.935.9339. Have a costly roll of tea-leaf or grass-cloth wallpaper you wouldn%26rsquo;t trust to just anyone? Then call Spanish Decorations. Owner Ruben Luna has been installing precious wallpapers, such as hand-painted Zuber murals and hand-screened prints, for 30 years.
A perfectionist by nature, he matches seams flawlessly.

Window Coverings

Action Window Coverings, 14695 Brown Road, Tomball, 281.351.5553. I worked with owner Don Perry to custom create solar shades throughout our high-rise. Not only was the turnaround quick and professional, but the cost was quite competitive.

D%26amp;D Drapery Co., 5000 San Jacinto, 713.522.1643; dddrapery.com. In addition to window shades and coverings (including motorized models), brothers David and Scott Ferley
and their family have overseen an enterprise sewing curtains, bedding, pillows, tablecloths and more for designers and laypersons alike since 1957. Their work is exquisite %26mdash; not to mention super-custom. Designer Catherine Brooks Giuffre and PC editor Holly Moore are fans.

Eva%26rsquo;s New Design, 2305 Westheimer Road, 713.523.1065; evasnewdesign.com. Bring that pile of tear sheets from your favorite shelter magazines to the pros at Eva%26rsquo;s, where the staff can recreate or custom-design any curtain, window treatment, bedding, shades and pillows you can dream up.

King Custom Draperies, 2215 Dickey Place, 832.788.6905. Decorator and Area manager/buyer Daniel Cuellar calls King Custom Draperies %26ldquo;the Proenza Schouler of curtains, bedding, pillows and tablecloths.%26rdquo; Talented owner Mai Doan has more than 30 years%26rsquo; experience fashioning fabric for interiors and has a tremendous eye for detail.

IMAGES:

Photo by Maxine Helfman.

Photo by Stephen Karlisch.

Throwing Open Their Chic Doors

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:10:19 GMT

Mother/daughter team Sissy Fenoglio and Elizabeth Fenoglio Love, creators of the to-the-trade showroom for furnishing and accessories Festoni Home, are going retail. The design duo is officially open to the public Monday through Friday (and by appointment Saturdays). Their collection %26mdash; which launched in 1994 and opened its North Post Oak Road locale five years ago %26mdash; started with lighting, then expanded into furnishings, accessories, upholstered sofas and chairs, and contemporary art. With the launch of their retail store, the Fenoglios are stocking alpaca throws from Jonathan Adler, Callista Home pillows, and flat-woven rugs made in India in colorful stripe patterns to mix with their own affordable furnishings. Looking for interior ideas? Be inspired by a half-dozen vignettes showcasing Festoni Home%26rsquo;s interior-design capabilities, ranging from a cool black-and-white city space punctuated with sleek chrome pieces to a beach retreat awash in lime green and refreshing sea blues. 1298 N. Post Oak Road, 713.830.1080; festoni.com.

IMAGE: Festoni Home

Get Your Chintz On

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:07:33 GMT

Decorative Center Houston Spring Market, Wednesday, April 18, kicks off with a panel presentation, Design Across Disciplines, moderated by PaperCity%26rsquo;s Holly Moore and Laurann Claridge. Panelists include L.A. designer Windsor Smith, Houston-based designer and retailer Blair Gordon, architect Lauren Rottet, as well as NY-based design and cultural photographer Scott Frances. The presentation takes place from 11 am to noon in the ground-floor lobby. From 2 to 3 pm, AD 100 designer Bill Stubbs, host of the TV show Moment of Luxury, presents the afternoon keynote, %26ldquo;More Fun More Business.%26rdquo; Open to the public; RSVP to 713.961.9292, ext. 1320; marketing@decorativecenter.com.

IMAGES:

Lauren Rottet

Windsor Smith

Blair Gordon

Scott Frances

Stoned

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:04:34 GMT

Celebrated and misunderstood architect Edward Durrell Stone (1902 %26ndash; 1978) may have designed the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Embassy In New Delhi, but he was at times revered, misunderstood and largely ignored. His youngest son, Hicks Stone, an architect in New York City, has published Edward Durrell Stone: A Son%26rsquo;s Untold Story of a Legendary Architect (Rizzoli, 2011) and will be in town to discuss the book and his father%26rsquo;s turbulent life Monday, April 16, 6 pm, at Architecture Center Houston, 315 Capitol, Suite 120. The discussion, reception and book signing are co-hosted by the Houston Public Library and Houston MOD. Free; for more information, call 713.520.0155; aiahouston.org/arch.cfm.

A Suite Arrangement

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:59:36 GMT

Looking for office space that doesn%26rsquo;t include claustrophobic, fabric-covered cubical walls and fluorescent lighting? Jeremy and Jamie Wells, the artists who founded Imago Dei, were searching for just such a space, where they and their colleagues could collaborate in a setting conducive to inspiration for their mural and decorative finish work. That%26rsquo;s when Jeremy stumbled onto a 6,500-square-foot commercial property on Robinhood in Rice Village that was large enough for their own endeavor with plenty of space to rent to others seeking a SoHo art-gallery vibe in their workspace, yet all the office amenities required in the 21st century. Named The Village Executive Suites, the offices doubles as gallery, with a changing array of art mounted quarterly. And in place of all that dull white plaster, you%26rsquo;ll find the Wells m%26eacute;tier on display %26mdash; the wall finishes are fashioned with American clay, diamond veneer, Venetian plaster, silver leaf and more. Details and floor plans at thevillagesuites.com. 2525 Robinhood, Suite 1100, 281.953.7477.

IMAGES:

The Village Executive Suites

%26nbsp;Jeremy Wells

Furniture for Modern-Day Monarchs

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:45:57 GMT

Range Rovers. The queen. The Concorde. If it comes out of England, we%26rsquo;re yampy for it. The list just grew by one: Ensemble London, a fresh, refined collection of sofas, chaises, tables and chairs. Their silhouettes may say old-school England, but their execution is thoroughly modern. (After all, the line is part of Hutton Home, as in the late John Hutton, as in Donghia%26rsquo;s still-original aesthetic.) There are minimalist club chairs that lean way back, sleek side tables that totter on curvy legs and architectural case goods that pare all those fussy English chests and consoles down to their straight-lined essences. In fact, it%26rsquo;s exactly what Kate and Wills would put in a modernist manor: Think Sir Norman Foster, not Sir Christopher Wren. Ensemble London, to the trade at David Sutherland Showroom; ensemblelondon.com.

IMAGE: The Bru Rondo club chair by Ensemble London

Design Buzz

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:30:54 GMT

We%26rsquo;re mad for Found and the elegantly quirky stock of furnishings and decoratives. Next month, Found owners, Aaron Rambo and Ruth Davis are relocating their home design boutique from their two-story Bartlett Street location to a single-level mid-century building at 3433 West Alabama (former home of Etui). They%26rsquo;re readying to pack up an inventory that includes a m%26eacute;lange of 18th- and 19th-century European antiques, vintage pieces, glassware, books and candles. Look for these finds to be reassembled in a contemporary build-out in early May.

Rice Design Alliance Home Tour

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 03:11:22 GMT

Rice Design Alliance%26rsquo;s Home Tour, media sponsor PaperCity, is a spring tradition for acolytes of enlightened architecture. Marking its 36th anniversary this year and set for Saturday and Sunday, March 24 and 25, the trek, named Living with Art, features eight artful abodes saturated with compelling creations by local, national and international artists. Making the tour all the more compelling is that the houses are interesting architectural case studies all in their own right, making the spaces all the more compelling are the nuanced and noteworthy collections, which quietly surround us. To purchase tickets visit: signup.rice.edu/2012Tour/, or click here.

Dates: March 24-25, 2012, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day

Locations:

1527 Kirby Drive; 1937 William G. Farrington Company

1540 Kirby Drive; 1937, Joseph W. Northrup, Jr.

3763 Jardin Street; 2010, Michael Landrum

1529 Maryland Street; 2006, Parra Design Group

528 Buckingham Drive; 2000, Kevin Young Designers

2526 Bellmeade Drive; 2006, Glassman Shoemake Maldonado

2002 Mason Street; 2003, Wittenberg Oberholzer

1528 W. 24th Avenue; 2010, John Blackmon and Ian Glennie

%26nbsp;

Derring-Do at BelAir

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:57:34 GMT

At BelAir Studio %26amp; Design, a perfect bricolage of elegant and unusual home furnishings is making decorating news. The just-opened boutique is a hop across Greenville Avenue from Terilli%26rsquo;s Restaurant and brims with interesting pieces %26mdash; geometric pillows, cowhide bar stools, Lafco candles, Elizabeth Anyaa custom-felted textiles, vintage lighting, repurposed antique furnishings %26mdash; that are defined by idiosyncratic textures and a luxe use of color. Key is the in-depth knowledge of the decorative arts and the witty, cultivated style from owners Susan Colvin Gant, Shannon VanBeber and Cindy Svendsen. The trio%26rsquo;s mantra? Everyone, regardless of budget, is worthy of good design. 2802 Greenville Ave., 214.827.7420.

Chasing Perfection

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:50:54 GMT

Original architecture Bud Oglesby. Design collaboration Brant McFarlain. Floral design Grange Hall.

In Alden Pinnell%26rsquo;s upstairs home office, there is a mound of black stereo equipment on the floor %26mdash; the middle of the floor, to be exact. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s balanced on something like pennies, and if you sit in one specific spot on the couch,%26rdquo; says his wife, Janelle, %26ldquo;the sound is close to perfection %26hellip; It%26rsquo;s the sweet spot.%26rdquo; The equipment, it seems, is on loan from a friend. The Pinnells are testing the high-fidelity paraphernalia with an ear to adding %26ldquo;audiophile%26rdquo; to their ever-growing list of mastered quests. You see, when the Pinnells take on an interest, they become fanatical about it %26mdash; a habit that typically results in a new collection, a very profitable return or simply great cocktail conversation.%26nbsp;

Alden, along with business partner Russell Moon, founded SkinCeuticals in 1997 %26mdash; a Garland-based professional skincare line marketed to dermatologists, spas and plastic surgeon offices. The year 2004 saw sales reaching $35 million; the following year ended with acquirement by L%26rsquo;Or%26eacute;al Paris. Worldly travels and a New York apartment for Alden and Janelle came next, along with a focus to really collect contemporary art, all while planning the renovation of an historic DP%26amp;L, Co. building in Dallas. That remodel project, now known as The Power Station, involved taking three condominiums %26mdash; once inhabited by Alden, Brady Wood and Brandt Wood %26mdash; and combining them into a primary residence for the Pinnells, with an art-gallery exhibition space for artists. They immersed themselves in art history classes at The Museum of Modern Art and conducted endless research on Kunsthalles, or artist-run exhibition spaces. Says Alden, %26ldquo;We did a tremendous amount of studio visits all over Asia and around the world.%26rdquo; See? No half-hearted cramming there.

With a first baby on the way, however, the Pinnells scrapped their two years of prodding and planning to renovate The Power Station and %26ldquo;live with art.%26rdquo; The top priority on their conquest list became a search for the perfect piece of Dallas real estate or an already constructed residence for their family. %26ldquo;We had always admired the house,%26rdquo; Janelle says of the %26rsquo;90s-era glass-walled home they now inhabit with their two small children. %26ldquo;A friend suggested we look at it, and we made an offer within 24 hours.%26rdquo; It%26rsquo;s thought to be the last home noted architect Bud Oglesby designed %26mdash; constructed for art collector I.C. Deal; he and his wife were the sole homeowners before the Pinnells%26rsquo; purchase. %26ldquo;Deal and his wife donated 125 contemporary drawings to the DMA,%26rdquo; Alden says. %26ldquo;I remember seeing great art, Picassos and such, in this house.%26rdquo; The slate floors, soaring ceilings and openness beg for focal points from an art collection. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s a house that needs art,%26rdquo; Janelle adds.

With hundreds of art pieces already in their possession, the Pinnells turned their attention to furnishings, calling upon decorator Brant McFarlain to collaborate. McFarlain immediately ordered a remodel of the his-and-her master baths, placed current furniture and assisted in the procurement and building of new items. Art purchasing happens quickly with Alden and Janelle, but upholstered pieces are a methodical process. A running file of furniture and design items brims with pieces they would like to own, especially ones found on trips or usually seen first in their stacks of design books. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s very slow and very curated,%26rdquo; Alden says. %26ldquo;We want the house to be relatively spare, as we want the art to be what is looked at most.%26rdquo;

Images:

In the foyer, two Lucas Samaras sculptures flank the entry area %26mdash; from left, Wire Hanger Chair (Vesta), 1989, and Wire Hanger Chair (Couples), 1986. Above them, Meredyth Sparks%26rsquo; Warsaw (Found), 2008

On target: Kathryn Andrews%26rsquo; Bowman, 2011, faces outward onto the street while James Brown%26rsquo;s %26ldquo;Sex%26rdquo; jumpsuit watches over. %26ldquo;They were auctioning off James Brown entire estate at Christie's in New York,%26rdquo; says Alden. %26ldquo;This jumpsuit was the most interesting. I also got a full-length mink coat for Russell Moon.%26rdquo;

Warming up: Nigel Cooke%26rsquo;s The Winner, 2009, hangs above the fireplace. Hans Wegner Papa Bear chair and ottoman from Collage.

In the foyer, Mark Bradford%26rsquo;s Fireball, 2010, anchors the bottom of the floating staircase.

%26ldquo;One of these is going up for auction this week,%26rdquo; says Alden of Wangechi Mutu%26rsquo;s Histology of the Different Classes of Uterine Tumors, 2006, on the upstairs catwalk. The artist topped vintage female anatomy medical illustration paper with mixed-media such as fur and packing tape.

In the living room, a pair of red Hans Wegner shell chairs accompanies a Knoll side table. Between the B%26amp;B Italia sofas, a BDDW tripod lamp. The custom media cabinet was designed by Brant McFarlain: %26ldquo;We had to build something low enough to hold the TV, yet still see the art,%26rdquo; Alden says. %26ldquo;The cabinet doors are covered in speaker cloth.%26rdquo; By the window, Elliott Hundley%26rsquo;s Zephyrus and the Flower of Regret sculpture, 2008.

%26nbsp;Chuck Close%26rsquo;s Lucas, 2006, resides above the master bed. Tolomeo wall lamps by Artemide.

In one of the dining areas, Pietro Roccasalva%26rsquo;s Il Traviatore, 2010, watches over a Wendell Castle MC2 dining table and B%26amp;B Italia chairs.

A Florence Knoll Rosewood partner%26rsquo;s desk shares space with a Knoll Pollock executive chair in Janelle%26rsquo;s office. Installed behind the desk, to the left, is a mixed-media work by Richard Tuttle, Treasure; Wealth; Plush; Luxury; Fortune; Enrich, 1973%26ndash;1976. %26ldquo;It was designed this way,%26rdquo; Alden says. %26ldquo;Tuttle%26rsquo;s magic is that he is so hyper-specific about how he does things. The precursor to the DMA %26mdash; the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts at Fair Park %26mdash; gave Tuttle one of his first shows. Not sure if many know that.%26rdquo; The white storage unit was designed by McFarlain. Charles Mayton%26rsquo;s The Long Exposure, 2011, hangs above.

In the bedroom, Michael Borremans%26rsquo; The Load, 2008, is installed above Eero Saarinen%26rsquo;s Womb chair, ottoman and side table.

John Dickinson Redux

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:31:05 GMT

For everyone who covets the late designer John Dickinson%26rsquo;s iconic plaster furnishings but has yet to snag the rare piece at auction, we have good news. David Sutherland, the gentleman who first represented the California designer in Texas, has acquired the rights from Dickinson%26rsquo;s estate to reproduce some of his most important pieces in a limited series. Starting with 12 and adding two more designs next summer, Sutherland is producing the small and medium African tables, the Footed table and the Hoofed table %26mdash; which are recognizable by their paw and hoof feet %26mdash; as well as the table with Rope Tie, the naturalist Tree Stump pedestal and the Twig lamp and mirrors. Dickinson%26rsquo;s white-plaster tables, lamps and even beds, many produced in the %26rsquo;70s, were quite fragile, but thanks to technical innovations, the Sutherland John Dickinson Collection will be reproduced with a lightweight glass-fiber-reinforced concrete that can withstand moisture, freezing conditions and rust, so most can be used outdoors as well. To the trade at David Sutherland Showrooms.

Images:

%26nbsp;John Dickinson%26rsquo;s Footed tables

%26nbsp;John Dickinson%26rsquo;s Footed lamps

The House That Rob Built

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:29:04 GMT

The fourth floor of Neiman Marcus Downtown is priming for an invasion. Come Thursday, March 22, Rob Dailey (of Robert William Dailey Design and Decoration) will storm the Gift Galleries, armed with his type of ammunition: hue-soaked pillows, rugs, artwork, upholstered furnishings and table decor. Upon request of keen NM Downtown general manager Shelle Sills, Dailey is curating a pop-up home shop under the moniker Fashion House %26mdash; filled with NM staples, such as Reynaud and Michael Aram, mixed amongst pieces Dailey has brought in from the outside world. %26ldquo;Customers can view tabletop china and glassware in a most unexpected way,%26rdquo; says Dailey of the fantasy installation wherein high-price and affordably priced merch blends with ease. Along with his own furniture designs, look for pieces from David Sutherland Showroom, lamps and accessories from George Sellers, rugs from Paul Smith, cushions from Vivien Westwood and Alexander McQueen, and photography from Alex Remington. How much time does one have to discover Dailey%26rsquo;s magical mix? He is warning all to stop in early because: %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s temporary so you never know when it might pop out!%26rdquo;

Images:

Alex Remington%26rsquo;s Mow, 2012

Rob Dailey; photo Stephen Karlisch

Welcome to Groveland

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:54:57 GMT

Design Paula Douglass, Douglass Interiors. Architecture Birdsall P. Briscoe, 1936.

Paula and Sam Douglass weren%26rsquo;t looking for another house or project to tackle. The powerhouse duo had just spent a year and a half painstakingly renovating a Howard Barnstone house in River Oaks, where they were happily ensconced when Paula received a phone call quite out of the blue. It seemed another house %26mdash; a 1936 Birdsall P. Briscoe landmark situated several blocks away on a stunning tree-lined street populated with just three homes %26mdash; was for sale. But had you logged onto har.com in June 2007, you would never have found the property listed. This sale was rather hush-hush %26mdash; one referenced in the world of real estate as a sale pursuant to private treaty.

%26ldquo;I get asked all the time: How did I even know about the house sale? And it was because of a relationship I had with their daughter,%26rdquo; recalls Paula. %26ldquo;I think the Harrisons [the third owners of the house] were very concerned about the survival of the building and felt that they could have a little more control over that element if they handled the sale themselves.%26rdquo; One of only five potential buyers approached, the Douglasses were asked to submit a sealed bid to the current owners. We%26rsquo;re guessing you know the end of that story, which brings us to the beginning of this one.

Meet Paula Douglass, the visionary behind the meticulous architectural renovation of the house that she and her husband call Groveland %26mdash; a property that won this year%26rsquo;s Greater Houston Preservation Alliance Good Brick Award for their three long years of scrupulous work. Trained in architectural interior design, Paula is principal of her eponymous design firm, Douglass Interiors. This renaissance woman also went back to school to earn a law degree and worked as a trial attorney at Fulbright %26amp; Jaworski before tort reform. Now retired from her legal work, throughout her career she kept her hand in design and obsesses over every detail of the projects she undertakes. Her husband, Sam, also a lawyer, is a maverick Houston entrepreneur who co-founded funeral-home behemoth Service Corporation International before becoming a founding partner of the Wedge Group, a private-equity concern that involves the Douglasses in myriad endeavors. Wonder how this long-married couple met? A friend suggested Paula show Sam her design portfolio, and they%26rsquo;ve been together ever since,

Groveland is a brick Georgian, Regency style, set back from the street with some of the oldest live oaks in Houston shading the path to its entry. Unlike others who might have sought to imprint their own aesthetic on this grand estate, the Douglasses kept the original architect in mind. %26ldquo;Every decision was made with an eye toward what Mr. Briscoe would have done,%26rdquo; Paula says. %26ldquo;Is this consistent with his thought process? How would he have solved this issue given the advantages we have today? %26hellip; I%26rsquo;m still amazed at the brilliance of Birdsall Briscoe. The positioning of the house, even in the heat of the summer %26hellip;%26nbsp;You can sit on the back terraces, and the breeze from the south comes, and you can understand how sleeping porches functioned during that time period. He was an amazing architect with huge vision and amazing talent.%26rdquo;

She%26rsquo;s always loved this Birdsall Briscoe home in particular %26mdash; the trees, the proportions, the dimensions. %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;ve had great respect for the architectural provenance of Groveland, she says. Therefore, casting a doubtful look at the inauthentic changes that had been wrought to the property over the years, she took the time to reverse any tweaks that weren%26rsquo;t true to Briscoe%26rsquo;s vernacular. The property, originally built for the Paddock family, was purchased by the Stranges in the early 1950s before it passed to the Harrisons.%26nbsp; %26ldquo;A lot of the renovations, in terms of bringing the house into the 20th century, were made during [the Stranges%26rsquo;] ownership because that was the time in history when elevators, central air and heat came into existence,%26rdquo; Paula notes.

One of those changes, which Paula and her crew went to great lengths to freshen, was the library %26mdash; or, as the owners call it, the Green Room, in reference to its marvelous bright hue. In person, it resembles the creamy flesh of a perfectly ripe avocado. %26ldquo;The original paneling was antique pine, so this particular shade of green is representative of interiors done by the New York decorating firm McMillen, Inc., in the early %26rsquo;50s,%26rdquo; Paula says. %26ldquo;Gold leaf was very much a technique and application used by either McMillen founder Eleanor McMillen Brown or her peer, Sister Parish. Essentially we only restored it.%26rdquo; As for touches such as the luminescent papered ceiling that recalls the Fortuny printing process, Paula notes, %26ldquo;I respect the art form so much that we did not want to destroy that.%26rdquo;

While the green room might not have required an exhaustive renovation, the rest of property, which had been uninhabited for several years, certainly did. Serving as project manager and full-time contractor, Douglass Interiors supervised the three-year completion of the project. %26ldquo;I didn%26rsquo;t know how long it was going to take to restore it,%26rdquo; Paula admits. %26ldquo;There were many, many surprises; however, Groveland has truly been brought back. She%26rsquo;s in a better state now than her original condition.%26rdquo;

Paula worked with all of the disci-plines, from structural to decorative, employing teams of skilled artisans. %26ldquo;If you were to take all the walls off and go down to the studs, you%26rsquo;d see how beautiful all that work is as well,%26rdquo; she says. %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;m a very detailed-oriented person and have always subscribed to the very highest standards of quality in anything I%26rsquo;ve done.%26rdquo; Consumed with creating the most aesthetically pleasing footprint, she labored to do what few would even consider, from relocating unsightly air-conditioning units to a concrete slab specifically built for them behind the carriage house to burying miles of electrical, plumbing and gas lines deep underground. And did we mention the historical accuracy with which she not only restored the gardens but added to them? She faithfully followed the plans of Bayou Bend%26ndash;era gentleman Pat Fleming, who originally laid out Groveland%26rsquo;s gardens.

The devout believer even requested that the Rev. Larry Hall from The Church of St. John the Divine bless Groveland and all who pass through it %26mdash; once before work ever began and again after it was completed. %26ldquo;Actually, I have blessings for all our projects before we start, and we bless the crews,%26rdquo; Paula says. %26ldquo;No one during this three-year project was hurt, we had no illnesses.%26rdquo;

Like the other homeowners who came before them, the Douglasses added something of their own to enhance the property. %26ldquo;Our contribution to the Groveland project is Raffles [a structure between the main house and the carriage house, named in homage to the great colonial hotel Raffles in Singapore], the outdoor kitchen, the pools, the creation of the east garden, as well as the Christos garden,%26rdquo; Paula says. Intimate in size and scope, Raffles is where the family casually unwinds to watch movies and football and entertain alfresco.

%26ldquo;This is a lovely home that%26rsquo;s been very kind to us,%26rdquo; she says. %26ldquo;This house has taken care of a lot of people. It has allowed us to have a family in a wonderful, healing environment. I%26rsquo;m forever grateful for that %26hellip; I think every home should always, if possible, accommodate the needs of family and friends so they can always feel welcome %26mdash; a warm and inviting respite.%26rdquo;

Images:

The original brick and Birdsall P. Briscoe architectural elements were utilized in the building Raffles, the Douglasses%26rsquo; contribution to Groveland. They also added the recessed Diana pool on the Grand Lawn.

In what was originally the library, the second owners of Groveland hired McMillen, Inc., to complete some decorative work in the 1950s. It is believed the hand-painted ceiling paper, custom paint and gold-leaf detail are the product of Eleanor McMillen Brown or her peer, Sister Parish. The French brass inlay and bronze dor%26eacute; cartonnier writing desk with white marble clock and bronze cherubs %26mdash; a gift to Sam Douglass %26mdash; was installed in three separate pieces. Above the desk, a limited-edition landscape watercolor painting by HRH the Prince of Wales. To its left, a photograph by Sam Preston, Sam Douglass%26rsquo; grandfather. Antique Persian mahal carpet (Sultanabad), circa 1890.

Paula and Sam Douglass at home in the sunroom of the historic River Oaks home they%26rsquo;ve named Groveland.

As part of the renovation, Kelly%26rsquo;s Room gained an adjoining bathroom with rare Calacatta Gold marble. Gold and Lalique crystal plumbing fixtures.

The restored white-oak parquet oak floor in the foyer is original to the Birdsall P. Briscoe%26ndash;designed house. The 18th-century German-made side chair with barley twist rails has its original Belgian tapestry. Gold-leaf mirror, one of a pair.

For the fa%26ccedil;ade of the house, each limestone coping was removed, restored and cleaned, along with the rest of the brick, with a variety of solutions recommended by the Galveston Historical Foundation and specialist Bob Holmes.

Palm Court is one of Paula Douglass%26rsquo; favorite areas on the estate. On the restored plaster walls hang a scalloped ceramic sconce and a small Donald Roller Wilson painting. Atop the burl-wood and ebony-granite pedestal, an original bronze sculpture by the late Jim Reno. The terrazzo floor has black granite rondels. Mahogany millwork by Craig Manuel of Wood Essence, with French lacquer application by Brady Painting, conceals all the HVAC, lighting and IT elements.

In the sunroom, a 19th-century Napoleon III Empire mahogany cylinder writing desk, with original French blue-leather writing pad and hardware. Ornate shell mirror, circa 1930s. The Billy Baldwin%26ndash;style chair is covered with zebra skin %26mdash; a playful element designer Paula Douglass often mixes with silk. The columns are original to the house, although the faux marbling was done by the home%26rsquo;s third owner. The shade of blue is woven throughout the room.

Round mahogany dining table with inlaid pieces of cherry from Manheim Antiques in New Orleans. The custom Italian walnut dining chairs with custom Italian tapestry are from an old pattern and feature brass details.

The original Gracie hand-painted wallpaper was painstakingly restored.

In Palm Court, a bar and cigar humidor overlook the expansive lawn behind the house.

The southwest bedroom is dubbed Kelly%26rsquo;s Room after a beloved friend. The custom-designed bed with velvet fringe canopy is accented by a Fortuny chiffon overlay atop Scalamandr%26eacute; silk. Restored mahogany and plaster walls. One of a pair of antique Chinese Chippendale%26ndash;style doors lead to the bathroom.

This breezeway connects the bar, salon and outdoor kitchen, and is perfect for alfresco entertaining. The candelabra, from a church in France, likely date to the 16th century. At the end of the breezeway is a koi fountain.

A Passion for Plumbing

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:11:56 GMT

After 30 years in the upscale fixtures-and-fittings business, Westheimer Plumbing %26amp; Hardware CEO Marilyn Hermance has settled into a gleaming new space at the corner of Kirby and Richmond. Designed by Ferenc Dreef, the 8,000-square-foot showroom has clever on-site amenities including tubs you can actually fill and an open tiled shower enclosure with several dozen nozzles ready to be tested. Marilyn %26mdash; who co-owns the company with her husband, Robert Hermance, and their son, Douglas %26mdash; now has ample room for the showroom%26rsquo;s faucets, sinks, tubs, toilets, knobs, pulls, mirrors and bathroom furnishings. The Hermances showcase the British bath firm Devon %26amp; Devon, known for its bathtubs and consoles, and the Electric Mirror Company, which builds flat-screen TVs into medicine cabinets. Then there%26rsquo;s the Jason air tub, which, thanks to an infusion of oxygen pumped through the water lines, leaves your skin feeling like Kate Sommerville gave you an oxygen facial. We gushed over the jewelry-like knobs crafted by artisans at Edgar Berebi and the Lalique crystal and gilded faucets by the French firm THG %26mdash; perfect for a pretty powder room. 3600 Kirby Dr., 713.942.9519; westheimerplumbing.com.

Image: Devon %26amp; Devon soaking tub

Light

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 04:20:52 GMT

Keys to the Door: Owner Justin Woolf.
Stocked Goods: Justin Woolf %26mdash; son of Bernard Woolf, the lauded founder of Lighting Unlimited %26mdash; represents the third generation of the Woolf family to hang a light bulb in the lighting world. The young Woolf%26rsquo;s gleaming new showroom, simply named Light, is housed in a retro brick building tweaked by architect Karen Lantz of Enter Architecture, where Woolf has narrowed his focus to primarily contemporary and mid-century classics. Here you%26rsquo;ll find great-looking utilitarian recessed lighting and the like, but the majority of the space emphasizes statement-worthy lamps, chandeliers and lights with swiveling heads, including Philippe Starck%26rsquo;s Bedside Gun lamp for Flos (a cheeky gold-plated %26ldquo;gun%26rdquo; that%26rsquo;s actually a stand against such weapons) and Moooi%26rsquo;s Horse lamp for Front (a life-size, full-size black beauty with a lampshade atop its crown). Woolf knows that the Internet has made pieces such as Marcel Wanders%26rsquo; Skygarden pendant for Flos and Richard Sapper%26rsquo;s Tizio task table lamps for Artemide accessible to many, so he%26rsquo;s priced his stock to compete with the online resources. 4202 Richmond Ave., 713.640.5568; thelightcompany.net.

Image: Moooi's Horse lamp for Front

Internum

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 04:14:50 GMT

Keys to the Door: Manager Carla Munoz.
Stocked Goods: If you favor sleek, pulled-back contemporary environs and have a soft spot for the contemporary musings of the Italians, drop into Internum. This new furniture showroom on Kirby Drive, situated in the former Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams space, is devoted to modern furniture collections made in Italy such as Minotti, Poltrona Frau, Kenzo Maison and Baxter. Meander around the cool, light-filled space, and you’ll find Cappellini icons ranging from Tom Dixon’s S-Chair to Marcel Wander’s Knotted chair, not to mention Jasper Morrison’s Hi-Pad chair. Recently Internum brought in two more worthy Italian lines: Gervasoni (fabulous indoor/outdoor pieces by Paola Navone) and Arketipo, a collection of versatile furniture suitable for both residential and commercial applications. Whether you only bring a piece or two into your home or commit to the aesthetic with complete abandon, Internum is a great source for those who adore the Italians for more than their fashion and food. 3303 Kirby Dr., 832.242.9470; internum.com.

Images:

Tom Dixon’s S-Chair for Cappellini

Dror Peacock chair for Cappellini at Internum

Maison Maison

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 04:10:26 GMT

Keys to the Door: Owner Suzanne Duin.
Stocked Goods: Maison Maison, the beautifully curated antiquarian shop in River Oaks, has found a new maison to call home. Interior designer Suzanne Duin has moved her former Westheimer Road locale to a quaint little house on Virginia, a spot that for many years hosted Jane Moore Interiors. Duin%26rsquo;s new space, much like its earlier incarnation, procures European antiques (many of which are French, in case the store%26rsquo;s name didn%26rsquo;t give you a clue), home accessories and antique pillows that reflect a well-traveled life %26mdash; whether or not you traversed the world to fetch them yourself or left it in the hands of the tasteful Duin. 2922 Virginia St., 713.520.1654; maisonmaisonantiques.com.

Image: Maison Maison owner Suzanne Duin

Frankly Francophile

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 04:00:13 GMT

Amitha Verma has gathered 25 antique and home-design dealers specializing in European products, many of them French, into her new antiques co-op, Village Antiques, on Blalock. The 6,000-square-foot space features pieces from the 18th century to the present. Verma%26rsquo;s corner focuses on painted furniture; also on our radar are designers Denise Schneider, Will Egerto and Beverly Shaeffer%26rsquo;s design-forward selections and Gracie Wilkins%26rsquo; slipcovers and pillows. 1200 Blalock, 713.468.3931; villageantiques.net.

Paging Mr. Waters

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:55:30 GMT

John Waters, the dashing, albeit disturbing filmmaker with the pencil-thin moustache who brought us Polyester (in pungent Odorama!), Pink Flamingos and Hairspray, hits Houston twice this month. %26ldquo;The Pope of Trash,%26rdquo; as William Burroughs anointed him, celebrated his hometown, Baltimore, as the land of churchgoers gone haywire, deranged housewives and outrageous drag queens. And now he arrives for his Houston debut with a one-man vaudeville act, This Filthy World: Filthier and Dirtier %26mdash; a world tour in which Waters delivers a monologue on some of his fave trashy topics. This Filthy World will be performed for one night only at DiverseWorks Wednesday, March 14, subverting the nonprofit%26rsquo;s spring gala as DW%26rsquo;s main fund-raiser. (For sponsorship packages, including dinner with Waters, e-mail new executive director Elizabeth Dunbar, elizabeth@diverseworks.org. Very limited seats for the performance and cocktail are $250, through Megan Batson, 713.223.8346.) The next evening, discover a side of Waters you never knew: the serious artist. The art endeavors of the brilliant Prince of Bad Taste have earned him exhibitions from The Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh to the New Museum of Contemporary Art in NYC. Now he makes a stand with a medley of sculpture and photography at McClain Gallery, opening Thursday, March 15 (through April 14). What%26rsquo;s a given? We%26rsquo;ll be bringing in a pink flamingo for Monsieur W. to sign.

Image: John Waters; photo Greg Gorman.

Star Renovator

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:52:35 GMT

We believe everyone in this world has a special gift or talent %26mdash; perhaps several, if you%26rsquo;re fortunate. Bill Caudell is definitely one of the latter. Just one of this stylish man%26rsquo;s gifts is his uncanny ability to see a room as few can spatially conceptualize it. Alone as well as with his partner, decorator J. Randall Powers, Caudell has spearheaded the renovation of countless high-rises, townhouses, and city and country dwellings, seeing beyond dated or rundown surrounds to what might one day rise gloriously from their remains. Over the years, Caudell has been enlisted by design pros, friends and friends of friends alike %26mdash; including my fianc%26eacute;, William Zeitz, and I as we tackle a renovation project of our own this spring. I was inspired by Caudell%26rsquo;s work over the years, such as a 1920s house on Brentwood, a %26rsquo;30s Regency-style townhouse on Tangle Lane, a %26rsquo;60s modern villa in Kemah and an 1870 farmstead in Woodstock, Vermont, many of which have been published in these pages, as well as in Elle Decor and Veranda. His clients have included a Montrose house on the National Historic Registry, an 1812 King%26rsquo;s Grant manor in New Hampshire and a former rickety kit house on Clear Lake transformed with Caudell%26rsquo;s help into a stunning custom lake house. I%26rsquo;ve now witnessed first-hand how this renovation specialist can see beyond a vacant shell (devoid of appliances, kitchen isle and even counters and cabinets) to help create the beautiful, functional kitchen that will one day fill our space. Happily, after much convincing, Caudell has hung a shingle: His rare skills are now accessible to a lucky few who take on the
task of renovation or building their dream house from the ground up. For information, contact Caudell at wlcaudell@gmail.com.

Images:

%26lsquo;60s modern in Kemah

1920s Brentwood house

%26nbsp;

Star Turn with Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:50:07 GMT

As part of The Houston Design Center’s Spring Market event, mega-watt designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard shines his high beams on Houston at a talk and book signing Tuesday, March 27, 11 am, in the Alkusari Stone showroom (Suite 229) at HDC. Bullard’s new tome, Live, Love %26amp; Decorate (Rizzoli, $50), has a foreword by Sir Elton John, a client whose penthouse Bullard lavished with a python-skin bed and green-lacquered walls. Bullard has also amped up Cher’s Moorish Malibu mansion and Tamara Mellon’s NYC penthouse, and he shows us his own Hollywood home, which was once owned by Rudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson. Catch Bullard on Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorator, as well as in town March 27; books will be available for purchase, but space is limited, so RSVP now. The Houston Design Center, 7026 Old Katy Road, 713.864.2660; thehoustondesigncenter.com.

Image: Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Bridge Over Trinity Waters

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:08:57 GMT

International star-chitect Santiago Calatrava has re-shaped our skyline %26mdash; in the large-scale, modernist way that the design genius is famous for %26mdash; with his sleek, white automotive bridge spanning from downtown to West Dallas. Next month, Calatrava%26rsquo;s Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge opens for transport over the Trinity River, debuting with a three-day pedestrian frolic via a string of events during the weekend of March 2. Party-design whiz Todd Fiscus will direct two of the three out-of-this-world f%26ecirc;tes, so expect nothing less than a spectacle of grand fireworks, literally. On Friday, March 2, the ticketed Celebration Party for 2,000 guests will be held atop the bridge to benefit The Trinity Trust. A $200 tariff grants access to dinner, dancing and a performance by Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. On Saturday, March 2, the MHH will draw even more supporters, this time for a gratis Street Fair %26mdash; with all-day entertainment ranging from a live chalk art installation by artist Douglas Rouse to performances by Jonathan Tyler and The Northern Lights. Finally, early birds who rise at 6:50 am Sunday, March 4, can flutter to the Sunrise Blessing and Ribbon Cutting. We hear it will include plenty of pomp and circumstance %26mdash; think ceremonial rites performed by hundreds of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, plus music from the Orchestra of New Spain and the Street Corner Symphony. Talk about a civic commotion of charitable proportions. Tickets and information 214.740.1616; mhhbridgecelebration.com.

Image: An over-the-top overpass: the Santiago Calatrava%26ndash;designed Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. Photo by Dana Driensky.

Little Goes a Long Way

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:58:06 GMT

%26ldquo;There%26rsquo;s something in the air,%26rdquo; mused Douglas Little over iced tea at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. %26ldquo;People are starting to throw caution to the wind again.%26rdquo; Little is in town as he has recently been named creative director for Art Ball 2012, a job dreamt up for him by Art Ball co-chairs Merry Vose and Julie Hawes. And the designer %26mdash; known for his remarkable Bergdorf Goodman window displays and his luxury candle and fragrance line D.L. %26amp; Co. %26mdash; has wild abandon on the brain as he tells us his plans for the Dallas Museum of Art fund-raiser, set for Saturday, April 14. At the mention of one sexy word %26mdash; the night%26rsquo;s theme, %26ldquo;Wanderlust%26rdquo; %26mdash; Little reels with imaginative %26eacute;lan. He thumbs through a stack of tear sheets depicting his vision for the Ball and proclaims, %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s about curiosities, travelling to distant lands and asking ourselves, How do we make it 3-D.%26rdquo; Samplings from his sketchbook? At the Fleischner Courtyard entr%26eacute;e, a tall, faux-bois tree dripping with cymbidium orchids will be constructed out of white plaster. Inside, six distinct areas will be staged and inspired by a fantastical destination, from the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to Asia and Morocco. Little has even commissioned a set of emerging artists to create a collection of travel posters to be revealed that eve. The silent auction will be highly fantastic as well: For the block, several stylish types %26mdash; jet-setters, as Art Ball will dub them %26mdash; have been asked to select the single item they pack or covet when travelling. In other words, Art Ball is shaping up to be an outrageously flamboyant vacation %26mdash; only you needn%26rsquo;t pack the Goyard, nor fret about jet lag. Tickets and sponsorships 214.922.1353; artball@dallasmuseumofart.org.

Image: A bar topped with tigers? Douglas Little's Art Ball fantasy via illustrator Andrea Adams.

Force of Nature: The Joule Breaks Ground, Again

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:26:50 GMT

What does a $78 million makeover look like? Keep a keen eye on the Main Street downtown spot that%26rsquo;s home to The Joule hotel. While there may be cranes and forklifts in place there now, by this fall you%26rsquo;ll get the picture. The luxurious hotel that first opened its doors in 2008 in the iconic 1920s bank building is undergoing a sizeable revamp and expansion. And in true Joule fashion, not one cent will be spared on enlarging the hotel%26rsquo;s digs %26mdash; eventually, it will span almost the entire Main Street block. Internationally known designer Adam Tihany %26mdash; he of The Joule%26rsquo;s original environs and stylish interiors at the hotel Casa Manni Roma in Italy and the Mandarin Oriental in Geneva %26mdash; has signed back on to lead the fresh design concept. Be on the lookout for these A-list add-ons: a 2,500-square-foot expansion of The Joule%26rsquo;s current lobby; 31 new guest rooms, including two three-story penthouses, all elegantly furnished per Tihany%26rsquo;s rich, contemporary aesthetic; a 4,000-square-foot rooftop garden; a subterranean spa complete with an ice fountain, geothermal pool, steam room and sauna; and a second nosh spot from The Joule%26rsquo;s resident gourmand, Charlie Palmer. The best way to measure all this glamorous energy? In those delicious-sounding little units of energy called joules, of course. 1530 Main St., 800.325.3589; thejouledallas.com.

Image: Blockbuster: A rendering of The Joule%26rsquo;s multi-million-dollar expansion. Photo courtesy Headington Companies.

Tesla Houston

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:24:33 GMT

Keys to the Door: Manager Kirthi Narasimhan.

Electric Avenues: Oh, if Botticelli were with us today, designing automobiles — and thinking green — this would be his Venus. But Tesla’s sinuous Model S sedan comes with something no Venus ever did: an electric cord. Indeed, the newest Tesla has changed the way eco-minded aesthetes feel about electric sedans: no ugly stepsisters here. The about-to-launch beauty (first deliveries will happen mid-2012) gleams at Tesla Houston Galleria (the showroom is actually inside Galleria IV) the first Texas outpost for the California-based company, founded in 2003 by rogue Silicon Valley types who couldn’t tolerate unattractive green machines. Problem solved. Their Tesla Roadster (just a few are left to buy) was a hand-built, battery-powered racecar for the road, rocketing from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds, with a carbon-fiber body wrapped around a cabin meant for two. The impending four-door sedan more than doubles the fun, seating up to five underneath an optional full-glass roof and speeding them to 60 miles an hour in less than six ticks of the second hand. The largely aluminum sedan is fitted with a powerful Lithium-ion battery pack: Just plug your Tesla in anywhere, then, on a single charge, zoom around for up to 300 mellifluous miles. But don’t think it’s all high-speed hijinks in this stunner: The ultra-quiet interior — no engine noise — comes with a 17-inch touchscreen and all the necessaries. A limited-run Model S Signature edition adds premium leather, special badging and many perks. (A real Botticelli Venus not being one of them.) From $49,900; waiting-list reservation $5,000 (Model S) and $40,000 (Model S Signature); full details at teslamotors.com. Galleria IV, Level 1, 713.622.3393; teslamotors.com.

Image: The Tesla Model S sedan, now at Tesla Houston Galleria

Design Tome

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:58:52 GMT

One of America%26rsquo;s top designers (no, this is not a reality show), Jeffrey Bilhuber, has designed homes for Anna Wintour, Peter Jennings, Iman and David Bowie, and a host of other celebs and moguls. He arrives in Houston Thursday, February 9, to discuss his newest book, The Way Home: Reflections on American Beauty (Rizzoli, $60). A compilation of high and low, extreme livability and utter chicness, this is Bilhuber%26rsquo;s third design book, and his work has appeared in every major magazine. Meet him and see a dazzling and informative show and talk Thursday, February 9, 6 to 8 pm, at Greenwood King%26rsquo;s The Lobby. PaperCity will have books for sale and for Bilhuber to sign. The Lobby, 3201 Kirby, rsvp to thelobby@greenwoodking.com, 713.524.0888.

Images:

A room by Jeffrey Bilhuber

Jeffrey Bilhuber. Photo by William Abranowicz.

A Family Affair You'll Want Made Public

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:43:49 GMT

As designing men go, try to top these two. They%26rsquo;re handsome. They%26rsquo;re pedigreed. They%26rsquo;re brothers. We introduced Corbin and Ross See to Dallas in July 2009, when we published a sumptuous, contemporary house that the aesthete siblings decorated for Jennifer and Tom Karol (its living room even landed on the cover). Now, the scions of Oklahoma City designer Carson See have collaborated with another icon who recognizes top talent when he sees it: David Sutherland. Pull up a tufted chair and peruse 1818 Bench Made Furniture, a collection of chairs, sofas and chaises that upend traditional shapes and conventions. The proportions are jaunty, the construction top-notch %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s all built by hand, tailored like the best men%26rsquo;s haberdashery. The brothers See certainly know craft and quality: Corbin%26rsquo;s C.V. includes time at Holly Hunt in Chicago; Ross%26rsquo; resume includes time with top decorator Mariette Himes Gomez. Watch these two: They%26rsquo;re going places. (And, like their furniture, they%26rsquo;re terribly easy on the eyes.) To the trade at David Sutherland Showroom; davidsutherlandshowroom.com/1818.

Images:

The men of 1818: Ross See,%26nbsp; left, and Corbin See

The Brady chair, sitting spryly on tapered mahogany legs with brass or nickel sabots

Museum Tower’s Design à Trois

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:55:17 GMT

Going up? Local designers Emily Summers, Ann Schooler and Marco French certainly are. Each of the interior-design masterminds has been given his or her own place at the under-construction Museum Tower in Downtown %26mdash; sans signing on the dotted line. While Summers, Schooler and French may not be taking up permanent residence at the much-anticipated tower, they will be wielding their decorating wands, each styling a show home inside the glass-encased, 42-story high-rise designed by Los Angeles architect Scott Johnson. Exact details are still under wraps for the trio of pied-%26agrave;-terres that will open early this year, but we can only envision three distinctly different design concepts. From Summers, we expect nothing less than a space inspired by art and architecture, with no end to restrained glam. As for Schooler, perhaps she%26rsquo;ll debut a decidedly Southern showpiece, filled with rich antiques and well-designed frills. And from French? We predict a contemporary condominium filled with his signature warm drama, yet imminently liveable. It%26rsquo;s true what they say: Good things do come in threes. Museum Tower Sales Gallery, 2112 Flora St., 214.954.1234; museumtowerdallas.com.

Image:%26nbsp; Work of art: a rendering of downtown%26rsquo;s new Museum Tower

Move Over, Thoreau

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:20:06 GMT

It%26rsquo;s a rarefied life in the woods, indeed %26mdash; thanks to an enlightened mid-century architect, a thoroughly modern decorator and a homeowner whose obsession with restoring houses and moving on may have just come to an end. Has she found her Walden?

Tammie Kleinmann and Henry David Thoreau would%26rsquo;ve been the best of friends. %26ldquo;I went to the woods,%26rdquo; wrote the transcendentalist, in his seminal 1854 book, Walden: A Life in the Woods, %26ldquo;because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life.%26rdquo; Kleinmann can relate. She%26rsquo;s a wife, a mother and the co-founder of a full-service production company that represents directors of films and commercials. In other words, this is one high-energy, hard-working character. There%26rsquo;s something else you should know about Kleinmann, right up front: She is utterly, positively addicted to houses. She has renovated and sold about 15 of them in nigh on 20 years %26mdash; a do-the-math computation that makes the head spin. But that%26rsquo;s where Thoreau comes in: He sought self-discovery and self-reliance %26mdash; and some say, self-help %26mdash; by spiriting into a cabin in the forest, to live among the whippoorwills, owls and cockerels; to grow beans; to slow down. Kleinmann? The same thing may be happening to her, sans the beans and the whippoorwills.

As a shelter from it all, a girl could do worse. Her current house %26mdash; shared with husband Brian Nadurak (an art director at The Richards Group), their teen daughter, teen son, four dogs, a bird and a fish %26mdash; is a long, low composition by the late Texas architect O%26rsquo;Neil Ford, he of important buildings for Texas Instruments in Dallas and worldwide; the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville; many light-handed, region-sensitive residences; and, the building that put him on the international modernist map, the Little Chapel in the Woods on the Denton campus of the Texas Woman%26rsquo;s University. Eleanor Roosevelt spoke at its dedication in 1939. But by 1958, Ford had penned another masterpiece back in Dallas, on a leafy acre near Forest Lane and Hillcrest Road. The Kleinmann-Nadurak house follows one of the most progressive tenets that sprang from modernist thinking: Present a solid, almost featureless fa%26ccedil;ade to passersby, but gift the occupants with thrilling transparency out back. This house does that in spades. Duck through one of the plain front doors and a whole wooded world is served up, in CinemaScope. Ten-foot ceilings throughout, few interior walls and gobs of glass bring the lot%26rsquo;s towering trees rushing in. Dappled light shimmers wherever you look. Scrutinize the vista closer and you notice a creek coursing by. It%26rsquo;s idyllic, to be sure %26mdash; architecture and Mother Nature becoming fast friends. (At this, O%26rsquo;Neil Ford excelled.) The house lies lightly on the land, and its materials are quiet, too: brown brick outside and in, wood mullions, terrazzo floors and slatted-wood ceilings, those stained a soft, pale gray. It%26rsquo;s a restrained palette, befitting the restrained architecture.

But how does a 2012 family adapt to such a delicate mid-century shelter in the woods? That was designer Alice Cottrell%26rsquo;s charge. Kleinmann called on the one person she trusted to furnish the house %26mdash; the Ralph Waldo Emerson to her Henry David Thoreau. Cottrell had worked on a number of Kleinmann%26rsquo;s houses, and the two pals %26mdash; they even shop and travel together now %26mdash; had just reinvigorated Kleinmann%26rsquo;s previous residence when this one was purchased. (May we remind you of Kleinmann%26rsquo;s propensity to fall hard and fast for houses? But, she says, %26ldquo;I have never bought a house just to sell it.%26rdquo; Often she succumbs to the proverbial knocks on the doors with offers to buy, or another house will sweep her off her feet. This one, though, she says, %26ldquo;I stalked.%26rdquo;) Cottrell set about reimagining existing pieces and putting beloved pieces into new roles, all while sticking to an overall aesthetic that already captured her client%26rsquo;s vivacious personality. Kleinmann snaps, crackles, pops, sighs and swoons when describing what this house %26mdash; and all of her houses %26mdash; mean to her. Cottrell, on the other hand, is a gentle soul, quite dry-witted and seemingly unable to be flustered %26mdash; the perfect foil for Kleimann%26rsquo;s nuclear-powered enthusiasm for dwellings and decorating. The translation went splendidly, and in the end, Cottrell seemingly channeled the chicest of the glassy, woodland lairs on our pop-culture consciousness: the villain%26rsquo;s swank lodge in North by Northwest, the professor%26rsquo;s house in Tom Ford%26rsquo;s A Single Man. But as a real, family house, it%26rsquo;s a success. %26ldquo;We live all over this house,%26rdquo; Kleinmann says, with a husband who works on his own paintings in a sunlit corner and teen kids who host sleepovers on an epic, 19-foot sofa in the den. Will this be it? Has Kleinmann found her Walden? We present the numbers: Thoreau lived in his house in the woods for two years. Kleinmann and brood are at two-and-a-half years in theirs %26mdash; %26ldquo;the longest that I%26rsquo;ve ever lived somewhere,%26rdquo; she says.

IMAGES:

%26ldquo;The minute%26rdquo; owner Tammie Kleinmann saw this end of the capacious living room, she knew it would be the dining space. %26ldquo;Eating here and watching nature,%26rdquo; she says, %26ldquo;is like watching TV.%26rdquo; The B%26amp;B Italia chairs are covered in faux red fox from Dorian Bahr. The ottomans, at left, were designed by Alice Cottrell, built and upholstered (in faux grizzly-bear fur from Bergamo Fabrics, through I.D. Collection) at Kisabeth Furniture. Above them, a work by Berlin artist Cornelia Schleime. The window sheers are from Jack Lenor Larsen, silky and diaphanous. %26ldquo;We didn%26rsquo;t want drapes, in philosophy,%26rdquo; Kleinmann says, but Cottrell suggested them for some key windows. %26ldquo;It was the best thing we did.%26rdquo; Now, by drawing them, the vistas can be made even more dreamlike. The console table, far right, is from Napa Home %26amp; Garden; atop it, a fossilized crab (%26ldquo;about a trillion years old, says Cottrell%26rdquo;), made into a lamp by Jim Penix of Mineral Hunters in Dallas. Above it, a work by German artist Peter Schunter.

Off the kitchen, a den-like space that links O%26rsquo;Neil Ford%26rsquo;s original 1958 house with its 1961 expansion by Ford prot%26eacute;g%26eacute; Scott Lyons. Much attention and budget has been devoted to making the glassy house eco-friendly, by passionate contractor Marc Kleinmann (in fact, Tammie Kleinmann%26rsquo;s ex-husband) of EGC Custom Homes in Dallas. %26ldquo;I have a fetish for the mechanics of a house,%26rdquo; Tammie says. %26ldquo;I should%26rsquo;ve been in heating and air conditioning.%26rdquo; The greening of this house has included an efficient chimney insert and painstaking securing of all the walls and glass with modern sealants, making the house as airtight as possible %26mdash; and dropping the energy bill by 50 percent. All doors and window mullions were carefully refinished, too. %26ldquo;Everything%26rsquo;s been scraped and sealed and painted,%26rdquo; Tammie says. %26ldquo;I want this house to be here a long time.%26rdquo; In the den, a custom sofa by Alice Cottrell, in Rodolph plush, through Culp Associates. The rabbit-fur Smiley Cushion is from Calypso St. Barth; the rabbit-fur throw is by Adrienne Landau, through the David Sutherland Showroom. The ottoman is Minotti, in Edelman leather. Overhead, a zoomy light fixture by David Weeks Studio, through Ralph Pucci. Underfoot, tactile carpet by Missoni Home.

The living room, just the place for winter t%26ecirc;te-%26agrave;-t%26ecirc;tes. The B%26amp;B Italia club chairs are %26ldquo;the therapy chairs,%26rdquo; says Kleinmann, where she and husband Brian Nadurak sit with glasses of wine. The floor lamp between them is Holly Hunt. Cottrell designed the sofa, built by Kisabeth Furniture; the arm pillows are custom, too, in David Hicks fabric from Lee Jofa. The cocktail table was sliced from a teak tree that had encapsulated two other trees; Cottrell estimates that it weighs 1,000 pounds. (It took six men to move it into the house; Kleinmann couldn%26rsquo;t bear to watch.)%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

The rear of the O%26rsquo;Neil Ford house, looking toward the living-room wing. (Scott Lyons%26rsquo; 1961 expansion is at far right.) The original grounds were designed by husband-wife team Arthur and Marie Berger, who landscaped the DeGolyer Gardens in 1940, now part of the Dallas Arboretum. Kleinmann and family are mindful to %26ldquo;preserve the yard as carefully as we preserve the house.%26rdquo; An unwanted swimming pool was demolished and removed %26mdash; bit by bit %26mdash; in wheelbarrows, so as not to disturb the trees on the park-like acre. %26ldquo;Trees first, house second,%26rdquo; says Kleinmann, of her priorities, always.

Alice Cottrell, of Alice Cottrell Interior Design, with her dog Charlie.

A dinette of delicious leanings. The kitchen%26rsquo;s banquette is covered in real cork fabric, by Kravet. (A scientist friend of Cottrell%26rsquo;s tested it in a lab; it defied every chemical drizzled on it.) So confident has Kleinmann become in all of Cottrell%26rsquo;s fabric selections that %26ldquo;Alice only brings me one fabric now %26mdash; and I always go for it.%26rdquo; The restaurant-grade table is called Knobhill, from West Coast Industries. Above the banquette, two mixed-media works by Argentine artist Pancho Luna, through Craighead-Green Gallery

The master, modernist bedroom %26mdash; a study in velvety textures contrasted with architect O%26rsquo;Neil Ford%26rsquo;s brick and glass. (The sumptuousness of it all makes Tammie Kleinmann feel like she%26rsquo;s %26ldquo;waking up in a hotel.%26rdquo;) Alice Cottrell designed the headboard, in faux white fur by Kravet; at the foot of the bed, a faux red-fox throw by Adrienne Landau, through the David Sutherland Showroom. At the tall windows, faux cashmere curtains by Robert Allen. Underscoring it all, an Edward Fields carpet from Kleinmann%26rsquo;s previous residence; Cottrell had it re-cut for this house. The vintage Koch + Lowy lamp at bedside is from Vinya Design %26amp; Consign.

This cat doesn%26rsquo;t scratch %26mdash; she shoots. California artist Harry Siter%26rsquo;s gun-wielding Mother Nature, of bronze, aluminum and redwood, protects her trees,

The sleekest, chicest powder bath in Dallas. Cottrell had the house%26rsquo;s original cabinetry painted, then specified woven vinyl sisal for the floor, by Bolon of Sweden, from Interior Resources in Dallas. On the walls, Cole %26amp; Son%26rsquo;s jaunty Automania wallpaper, with line drawings of vintage sports cars; on the ceiling, silvery Mylar wallpaper by Wolf Gordon. The sink%26rsquo;s faucet is sensor-driven, to save water. (Cottrell calls it %26ldquo;the American Airlines Admirals Club faucet.%26rdquo;). Cottrell had two of Flos%26rsquo; Lampadina table lamps %26mdash; designed in 1972 by Achille Castiglioni %26mdash; converted into wall sconces. The damask towel is from Anthropologie.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

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A Sky-High Jean Scene

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:56:50 GMT

Yes, she%26rsquo;s a Harvard grad who helms Litex, the ceiling-fan and light-fixture empire based in Grand Prairie %26mdash; but she%26rsquo;s a woman of rather discerning style, too. She collects couture, she has shopped right off the runways at the Paris shows and her own James McInroe%26ndash;designed home has been in PaperCity. Now, Jean Liu turns the stylish tables: She has just joined a heady list of designers who have conjured model units at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. (Her cohorts have been Ann Sutherland,
Jan Showers, Laura Hunt, Carleton Varney and Barry Williams.) For the 23-story tower, Liu invented a cosmopolitan place, filled with contemporary art, sophisticated accessories and plush, Deco-inspired furniture. As for the props? An elegant bar cart, a white cowhide rug and an Herm%26egrave;s throw tossed over an Eames lounger. It%26rsquo;s all so glamorous that it feels like another Jean would be right at home here: a certain %26rsquo;30s bombshell with the last name of Harlow. 2555 N. Pearl St., 214.855.2020; theresidencesdallas.com.

Image:%26nbsp; Harlow was here? The newest model unit at The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. Photo by James F. Wilson.

Dig, Drag, Divine

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:55:20 GMT

They are the sexiest Franco-American pairing since Ana%26iuml;s Nin and Henry Miller. She%26rsquo;s Arkansas. He%26rsquo;s France. She was a cabaret dancer. He was a firefighter. But together, they are Martinie %26amp; Altom, a tiny architectural-salvage firm in Dallas. (They met in France, then came here to be a bit nearer to her kin in Arkansas %26mdash; but not too close.) However, don%26rsquo;t think peeling-paint doors and cracked-up glass block: Sydney Perkins and Mikael Martinie are hauling back incredible chunks of limestone, marble and granite in the form of mantels, window surrounds and sinks %26mdash; all from ancient houses and churches in France. These two do it all, from researching edifices that are being torn down to chipping out the pieces themselves. (Just look at the photo albums on their Facebook page.) The bounty is highly curated: andirons, stone crosses, iron gates, even handmade terracotta roof tiles, each one %26ldquo;signed%26rdquo; by its maker eons ago by dragging three fingers through the soft clay before firing, making a rather decorative fluted flourish on each tile. The pieces here are varied, from a pink-marble 1850s fireplace surround found in a garage in a winemaking village to a more modern surround of black-gray volcanic rock that would energize a sleek space, certainement. Ask Mikael and Sydney about each piece %26mdash; they have stories. (Not to mention the one about the firefighter who meets the cabaret dancer %26hellip;) 1500 N. Riverfront Blvd., 214.883.5862; martiniealtom.com.

Image: Salvage chic: Sydney Perkins and Mikael Martinie. Photo by George Fiala

High-Style Haul

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:53:37 GMT

This is not your typical stash of mid-century detritus. Yes, you%26rsquo;ll see Mr. Eames and Mr. Nelson popping up here and there, but the aesthetic at River Regency Antiques %26amp; Modern %26mdash; a mixed-up little shop on Riverfront Boulevard %26mdash; is a bit more swank, a bit more Barbarella. Dr. Morris Prigoff is responsible: The podiatrist had various booths at shops all over town when, finally, he thought, Why not open my own store? Behold the answer, a crowded jumble of furniture, lighting, art and accessories %26mdash; from a one-off, amoeba-shaped architect%26rsquo;s desk to a lipstick-red wiggle of a sofa to a set of glossy white 1960s Fiberglas side tables that look like gigantic molars. There are chairs, cocktail tables, sofas, dinette
sets, even an unofficial shop mascot: the mounted African antelope head in the back room, surveying the scene. (He%26rsquo;s for sale, too.) The whole m%26eacute;lange is looked after by shop manager Robert Solache, who is passionate about the pieces herein %26mdash; and, when not waxing on about Danish Modern cocktail bars or estate-sale finds, creates his own interesting art. Pull up a Milo Baughman lounge chair, and he%26rsquo;ll tell you all about it. 1500 N. Riverfront Blvd., 214.760.8779; riverregency.com.

Image: River Regency Antiques %26amp; Modern. Photo by George Fiala.

Czechmates

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:56:58 GMT

Mary and Roy Cullen invite us in. Catch more of the Surrealist hits and gorgeous glass from the Cullen Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, through March 11, 2012.

Days before their splendid works on paper, canvas and glass were carted off for exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, our features editor, photographer and I descended on the pedigreed River Oaks domicile shown on these pages that%26rsquo;s the abode of Mary and Roy Cullen. Our purpose? To document these treasures and their owners amongst them.

To call this couple assiduous collectors would be an understatement, as there%26rsquo;s something more at play here than mere acquiring. The Cullens (yes, that Cullen family)%26nbsp;are preservers of the past, archivists of artists and revivers of lost or nearly forgotten talent %26mdash; resurrecting creative voices, resuscitating visionaries, recording their nuances, lives and concerns while illuminating a period in 20th-century history that deserves to be more widely known and understood. The story of this house is the tale of a time and place far from our own: Czechoslovakia in the years before and after World War II. While literally peeking into the Cullens%26rsquo; interiors, we are also peering behind the Iron Curtain at those who created and even, against all odds, occasionally thrived despite its stern, unwavering grip.

The Cullens%26rsquo; perhaps unlikely fascination with Czech history began in 1989, more than a decade before they built this house. It was prompted by a landmark exhibition organized by the MFAH and co-curated by Alison de Lima Greene, %26ldquo;Czech Modernism: 1900 %26ndash; 1945.%26rdquo; That exhibition opened doors that evolved into a floodgate, launching a collection that would go where only the bravest curators dare to tread. The Cullens%26rsquo; obsession involved tracking down arcane Czech treatises, sleuthing out artists from behind the Eastern bloc, unearthing forgotten or nearly vanished figures from the halls of art history and intrepidly plunging into the annals of Cold War Europe. Yet another tantalizing, serendipitous occurrence landed them front row and center at the Velvet Revolution: Through a personal connection, they were in Prague, then met Vaclav Havel and attended his presidential inauguration in 1989. In a nutshell, you have the background of this couple%26rsquo;s all-consuming pursuit.

The Cullens were well into their Czech quest when they built this house from 2003 through 2005. They tapped New York%26ndash; and San Francisco%26ndash;based Ike Kligerman Barkley as their architects %26mdash; a bicoastal firm, known for its sensitive, seamless borrowings from the past, which sought inspiration in the circa-1808 Nathaniel Russell house in Charleston, South Carolina. Fortuitously, the Cullens%26rsquo; next-door neighbor, Michael J. Siller %26mdash; who lived with his partner, Larry Hokanson, in a home of a similar blueprint by the same architects, but one with imperial Russian proclivities %26mdash; was enlisted as their designer. In fact, when the Cullens first glimpsed the Siller-Hokanson home, they implored the men to sell it to them. When Siller and Hokanson declined, the Cullens located an adjoining plot of land and cajoled its owner to part with the prime parcel, and Siller graciously made the introduction to their architects. The resulting Cullen commission puts forth a refined appearance, its dignified facade making a perfect pendant to the equally stately, Russian-inspired residence next door, both lining a busy River Oaks thoroughfare. And as you%26rsquo;ll glimpse, the Cullen home%26rsquo;s late-18th-century-style interiors live up to the grand promise of its exterior.

Besides highlighting their burgeoning Czech collection, the Georgian revival house manifests the couple%26rsquo;s commitment to vertical living and downsizing. They moved from a 1930s-era house, also in River Oaks, that they had called their Texas home throughout most of their 40-year marriage. (They%26rsquo;ve also lived, on and off, in a loft in Chicago, Mary%26rsquo;s hometown.) Conscious of the architectural riches they were leaving behind, and mindful that the new owners might tear down the property, they struck a deal to take the embellishments of their former casa with them. Ornate mantelpieces, a pair of elaborate built-in corner cupboards in the dining room, highly carved pediments, moldings, window frames and even the front-door surround found new life in their refined new brick-and-limestone edifice.%26nbsp;

Besides the recycling of its architectural elements, the Cullen house is most noteworthy for giving a new home to priceless and rare examples of Czech avant-garde art %26mdash; paintings, works on paper, magazines, books, treatises and other ephemera %26mdash; and glass, all of which span the early years of the 20th century to the 1960s, and miraculously survived two World Wars, revolution and the clench of Communism to somehow make its way to Houston, mostly due to Mary%26rsquo;s exhaustive investigative research. The many gems include in-depth works by names that were new to me and will be to many readers. This collection is a revelation indeed about Czech movements including Surrealism, Artificialism, Devetsil, Skupina 42 and all their practitioners, including those of whom Mary speaks with warm familiarity. She relays lively anecdotes and associations that would be only known to family or friends about headliners Karel Teige, whose sexy collage of an airplane buzzing stockinged legs graces the exhibition catalog cover; Jindrich %26Scaron;tyrsk%26yacute;, considered one of the avatars of the avant-garde; Jindrich Heisler, who still made photomontages despite being hidden in a bathroom during World War II; and especially Toyen, whose 1936 surrealist masterpiece The Message of the Forest says it all about life at the time.

What%26rsquo;s on view at the MFAH now through March 11 testifies to the couple%26rsquo;s confident collecting, passionate pursuit and absolute dedication to their subject. Reflecting back on the unveiling this past November, Mary Cullen said, %26ldquo;When the exhibition opened, many people asked me if I wasn%26rsquo;t thrilled about having my collection at the museum. My answer was that what I was really thrilled about was to have all these great Czech artists having their moment in Houston, and in such an amazing museum as the MFAH.%26rdquo;

The final alignment: Surely it was a happy coincidence that Roy Cullen%26rsquo;s grandson, collage master Dana Harper, married a Czech artist, Hana Hillerova, in 2007, their wedding celebrated in Prague. And fittingly, the couple%26rsquo;s daughter, born last year, is named after the celebrated Czech Surrealist Toyen. Life, art and the collection have come full circle.

%26ldquo;New Formations: Czech Avant-Garde Art and Modern Glass from the Roy and Mary Cullen Collection%26rdquo; at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, through March 11, 2012.

Images:

The collectors at home, Roy and Mary Cullen with son Meredith Cullen. %26ldquo;The Cullen Collection is unique in its sophisticated overview of both avant-garde art and modern glass ... You sense the passion that inspired artists and glassmakers during this revolutionary era of liberation and innovation,%26rdquo; says MFAH curator Alison de Lima Greene, co-organizer of %26ldquo;New Formations,%26rdquo; which highlights the pioneering couple%26rsquo;s avocation for Czech modernism.

The dramatically spiraling three-story stairway is the heart of the house. An Austrian chandelier illuminates its organic curves. Carpet by Hokanson. The library manifests the Cullens%26rsquo; dedication to the printed word. These walls star Latin American modernists including disciples of influential Uruguayan Joaqu%26iacute;n Torres-Garc%26iacute;a%26rsquo;s School of the South.
Karel Teige%26rsquo;s Untitled, 1947.

In a nook of the living room, a wooden sculpture by Mexican-American artist Tom Garcia (Mary Cullen%26rsquo;s brother), titled Harlow, 1967. On the lower right wall, an oil on canvas by Czech artist Zdenek Rykr, Tvar, undated.

A vignette in the library showcases a 1929 ceramic vase by Austrian talent Gudrun Baudisch, resting on a rare Cubist table by Vlastislav Hofman, circa 1912. Above, a gouache on cardboard by Brazilian H%26eacute;lio Oiticica, Seco # 15, circa 1956, signals the Cullens%26rsquo; other interest: Latin American modernism. These impressive doors in an upstairs hallway were gleaned from an auction in Chicago, then silver- and gold-leafed.

Toyen%26rsquo;s Portrait d%26rsquo;Andr%26eacute; Breton, 1950.

The downstairs salon transports us to turn-of-the-century Prague and Vienna, starring a suite of Czech furniture upholstered in a Josef Hoffmann Wiener Werkst%26auml;tte-design fabric.

The couple%26rsquo;s bedroom offers an ode to mostly female Surrealists, featuring a collaboration between Leonora Carrington and Edward James (to the right of the Scalamandr%26eacute; curtain), while a Carrington drawing, Map of Down Below, circa 1941, is immediately to the left of the bed. Other headliners are works by Aube Ell%26eacute;ou%26euml;t, the daughter of Andr%26eacute; Breton, as well as British artist Emmy Bridgewater. Also shown: Scalamandr%26eacute; fabric-covered French armchair, a Venetian chest of drawers and an 18th-century canopy topping an 18th-century architectural embellishment over the bed made up with Pratesi linens. Designer Michael J. Siller praises his clients%26rsquo; %26ldquo;impeccable taste and incredible eye for detail,%26rdquo; and notes that in the process of working on this commission, %26ldquo;I gained some lifelong friends.%26rdquo;

The living room mixes Georgian-style furnishings with the Czech avant-garde, including Portrait of Andr%26eacute; Breton by Toyen, 1950 (left of the door, top row, left), which was lost for half a century behind Breton%26rsquo;s bookcase, and an untitled 1947 collage by Karel Teige (right of the door, top left), which served as the slightly racy image for the exhibition catalog cover. The chandelier was purchased in the town of Nov%26yacute; Bor, Czech Republic. Mary Cullen says of their collecting mania, %26ldquo;Czech art is still not fully integrated into the history of the 20th century.%26rdquo; Their collection and its accompanying exhibition will assist in remedying this.

John Dickinson Redux

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:47:11 GMT

For everyone who covets the late designer John Dickinson%26rsquo;s iconic plaster furnishings but has yet to snag the rare piece at auction, we have good news. David Sutherland, the gentleman who first represented the California designer in Texas, has acquired the rights from Dickinson%26rsquo;s estate to reproduce some of his most important pieces in a limited series. Starting this month with 12 and adding two more designs next summer, Sutherland is producing the small and medium African tables, the Footed table and the Hoofed table, which are recognizable by their paw and hoof feet, as well as the table with Rope Tie, the naturalist Tree Stump pedestal and the Twig lamp and mirrors. Dickinson%26rsquo;s white-plaster tables, lamps and even beds, many produced in the %26rsquo;70s, were quite fragile, but thanks to technical innovations, the Sutherland John Dickinson Collection will be reproduced with a lightweight glass-fiber-reinforced concrete that can withstand moisture, freezing conditions and rust, so most can be used outdoors as well. Exclusively to the trade at David Sutherland Showrooms.

The Ideson: A New Chapter

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:46:09 GMT

There%26rsquo;s nothing like a reborn building to ignite an interest in history. The Julia Ideson Library and its triumphant, just-unveiled $32 million redux wins our vote for being one of the most inspiring architectural and preservation stories of 2011. At the helm, Phoebe Tudor and her fellow co-chairs Minnette Boesel and the late Margaret Skidmore were tapped by former Mayor Bill White in 2006 to lead the public/private fund-raising charge, with the City of Houston donating $16 million to the ambitious five-year project, matched by individual, corporate and foundation gifts. Phase one was the renovation of the 1920s-era Julia Ideson Library, which for 50 years was the main downtown branch for the Houston Library System. Phase two was a new addition completed last month that saw the realization of the 1920s-era master plan devised by the Ideson%26rsquo;s original architect, Ralph Adams Cram of Boston (known for Rice University and St. John%26rsquo;s the Divine in New York), but thwarted by the Great Depression. The revived Ideson and its handsome Spanish-style expansion by Gensler architect Barry Moore, which melds seamlessly with the historic three-story structure at 500 McKinney, serves multiple purposes. The original building becomes a nexus for social f%26ecirc;tes, from weddings and receptions to fund-raisers, complete with a catering kitchen and its own events director, as well as an exhibition space where curator Danielle Burns has organized %26ldquo;Cabinet of Curiosities,%26rdquo; (through May 5), culled from the Ideson%26rsquo;s vast archives. Beautifully restored are the library%26rsquo;s signature details, as extolled by Miz Tudor: %26ldquo;The carved-wood coffered ceiling, the murals, the red-tile floors, those tall windows, the elegant stucco walls %26hellip;%26rdquo; Connecting Cram%26rsquo;s original building, the new wing %26mdash; on track for LEED certification %26mdash; is all about giving a climate-controlled place to history. It features a new Texas Room for the Ideson%26rsquo;s rich trove, including the fabled collections of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center (HMRC), which encompass city directories, the Sanborn Maps that record buildings block-by-block from the post-Civil War period on, plus millions of tantalizing photographs of the built environment and daily life, ephemera and personal as well as civic documents. Kudos to the new Ideson standard-bearers for keeping these treasures where they belong, rather than shipping them off to some distant warehouse facility, so that Houston%26rsquo;s history can be accessible and celebrated.

Horizon Italian Tile

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:41:05 GMT

Keys to the Door: Owner Olivia Boone; manager Bryan Dye.
Stocked Goods: For the last 16 years, architects and designers from all over the state have sought out Olivia Boone%26rsquo;s expansive Italian tile showroom in Dallas for their commercial and residential projects. In an industry where experience and relationships parlay into perks %26mdash; like being first in line at the quarry for their pick of premier-grade slabs %26mdash; Boone and her staff are rewarded with the best natural stone, from basalt to gorgeous Carrara marble. Now they%26rsquo;ve expanded to Houston with a sleek showroom that opened last month to both retail and the trade. Boone recruited Bryan Dye and Ed Gonzales, whom many remember from their days at Waterworks. With access to some of the oldest and largest Italian porcelain-tile manufacturers, Horizon%26rsquo;s old-world artisan suppliers are embracing new technologies to develop porcelain tiles that will have you doing a double-take. There%26rsquo;s pebble leather, not to mention glazed croc tiles so glamorous that your admiring fingertip will be shocked to find porcelain tile, not skin beneath. For those who enjoy a little trick of the eye, compare a piece of Calacatta marble tile (matte or glossy) alongside natural Calacatta marble, and your eyes will dart back and forth, trying to detect which is which. And for those who remember when wood-grain-looking porcelain tiles were nothing but badly stamped repetitive patterns, discover 24- to 40-inch %26ldquo;planks%26rdquo; of red and white oak, maple, ash, teak and more with miniscule grout joints, their surfaces rendered with sophisticated ink-jet prints in countless wood-grain configurations. Find those plus Japanese porcelain varieties, wall tiles of ceramic and glass, and loads of high-tech solutions that let you lay good tile over existing tile you might have inherited in your home or office. 2707 W. Alabama, 713.523.4500; horizontile.com.

Image: Horizon Italian Tile

Archive of the Avant-Garde

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:37:39 GMT

It%26rsquo;s been 10 years and multi-millions of dollars in the making, evidencing a big budget and single-minded focus on a world a continent away that few museums could muster %26mdash; and none ever before have attempted. So it%26rsquo;s no surprise that all eyes in the international art world will be on the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and logging onto icaadocs.mfah.org when the MFAH%26rsquo;s ground-breaking, truly game-changing digital Latin American archive launches Thursday, January 19. The landmark resource %26mdash; which, most significantly, will be free %26mdash; is a decade-long, ongoing scholarly initiative of the museum%26rsquo;s highly lauded Latin American department%26rsquo;s research arm, the International Center for the Arts of the Americas (ICAA). The project brought together 10 teams totaling more than 100 researchers in 16 cities, from Buenos Aires and Bogota to S%26atilde;o Paulo and Lima, to scan 10,000 rare documents including magazines, exhibition catalogs, treatises, pamphlets, photographs and other endangered ephemera. The goal: to preserve for posterity a history of the art of the Southern continent and its Latino neighbors. An upcoming series of 13 volumes will publish the teams%26rsquo; finds, with the first book%26rsquo;s release coinciding with the launch of the digital archive. %26ldquo;No editorial project of this scope currently exists or has ever been attempted in the field of Latin American art,%26rdquo; says Mari Carmen Ram%26iacute;rez, founder/curator of the MFAH%26rsquo;s department of Latin American art, which has received $50 million to date toward initiatives in 20th-century Latin American and Latino art, including the ICAA Documents project as well as building its collection. %26ldquo;It is not about new movements and artists that have been discovered so much as artists who have been reassessed %26hellip; The Documents Project will have a decisive impact on the long-term development of the field.%26rdquo; The project%26rsquo;s greatest champion was late MFAH director Peter Marzio, who called the endeavor %26ldquo;catalytic.%26rdquo; Ramirez recalls, %26ldquo;He envisioned students stumbling upon the archive while surfing the Internet ... and thereby discovering a brand-new world in Latin America that would shape the rest of their lives.%26rdquo; icaadocs.mfah.org.

Images:

Cover for the journal Azulejos (Mexico City), Vol. I, No. 2 (September, 1921). Image courtesy of Coll. Instituto de Investigaciones Bibliogr%26aacute;ficas, Mexico City.

Xul Solar%26rsquo;s Jefa (Patroness), 1923

The Auction Block

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:35:44 GMT

Morton Kuehnert hosts an auction of the Proctor family estate on Sunday, January 22. Judge Frederick C. Proctor, general counsel for the Gulf Oil Companies from 1905 to 1919, built his final home at 2950 Lazy Lane, next door to Bayou Bend, the home of Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg. The Proctor home, built by renowned architect Birdsall P. Briscoe, was dubbed Dogwoods by the next owners, Alice and Mike Hogg (Ima%26rsquo;s brother). To the dismay of many in the community, it was demolished in 2005 to make way for new construction. But the furniture, sterling, crystal, toys, books, paintings and personal items of the Proctor family live on %26mdash; and you can take home a piece of Houston history at Morton Kuehnert%26rsquo;s Fine Antiques and Decorative Art Auction, which will also feature hunt and safari trophies, decorative art and fine antiques from other prominent Houston and Austin estates. View the catalog online at auction.mortonkuehnert.com.

Image: Louis XV%26ndash;style clock suite; estimate $700 to $1,400

The Holiday Wish List

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:30:29 GMT

Santa, The Christmas Book from Neiman Marcus has just arrived. Any chance you could slip the NM-edition Hacker-Craft Speedboat onto your sleigh? Whether you%26rsquo;ve been naughty or nice, you%26rsquo;ll flip through the pages of this year%26rsquo;s book %26mdash; the 85th annual edition %26mdash; and dream big this holiday season. Besides the stunning Hacker-Craft boat ($250,000), we have our eye on Tom Burr%26rsquo;s sleek black table-tennis table ($45,000). Perhaps you dream of enough books to quell your attention for a lifetime. If so, consider French publisher Assouline%26rsquo;s custom-built library %26mdash; floor to ceiling, wall to wall, every detail expressive of this luxury firm%26rsquo;s aesthetic, with 250 books of your choosing, too ($125,000). And for those who would rather experience something than acquire it, consider a day trip to Stone Barn Farm just outside Manhattan, where six of you can dine at Blue Hill situated on this 80-acre self-sustaining farm where the animals are raised, fruit and vegetables harvested in a picturesque setting ($9,500). Or hop a private Jetway flight to Europe next May, and take in the continent%26rsquo;s most celebrated flower shows ($420,000). In the true spirit of giving, this year a small portion of each fantasy gift ($2,500 to $10,000) will be donated to charities nationwide. See more in the catalog, or download the Apple iPad app NM Editions.

Maximal Martha

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:52:35 GMT

It%26rsquo;s enough to give the best hosts performance anxiety: Martha is back on press, and she%26rsquo;s throwing the book %26mdash; all 432 pages of it %26mdash; at party-giving perfectionism. (The exquisite pain!) It is 12 months of Stewart%26rsquo;s unmatched style in Martha%26rsquo;s Entertaining: A Year of Celebrations, $75 and out this minute from Clarkson Potter. You will swoon: There%26rsquo;s a lobster-tail picnic aboard a boat; a Japanese-themed lunch; and a Halloween dinner deep inside Martha%26rsquo;s horse stable. You%26rsquo;ll learn about rhubarb crumbles, tiny tuna burgers and the way Stewart likes her salad Ni%26ccedil;oise: %26ldquo;It is always best,%26rdquo; she writes, %26ldquo;made early in the summer, with the smallest and most tender string beans, young peas, freshly dug new potatoes, tiny eggs from the Bantam hens, and small, sweet cherry tomatoes.%26rdquo; Of course, there are peeks at her homes (we love the rare 1958 Edsel Roundup station wagon in front of her stone house in Maine), but what we most notice is how fetching Martha looks through it all. In one photograph, she dons a modern gold jacket, temptingly hoisting her cream-filled croquembouche high, an all-knowing look on her famous face. Martha knows best. Ask her how on Friday, November 18, when she signs the new tome at Williams-Sonoma in NorthPark Center, beginning at 1 pm. As for us, we%26rsquo;re going to ask for a ride in that Edsel.

Forty Five Ten’s Red-Hot Holiday(s)

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:26:01 GMT

The phrase %26ldquo;three%26rsquo;s a crowd%26rdquo; gets a whole new meaning this month. Forty Five Ten, the Knox-Henderson fashion haunt, has teamed with PaperCity and Belvedere Red %26mdash; the vodka that benefits the Global Fund to eliminate AIDS in Africa %26mdash; on a trio of in-store December f%26ecirc;tes, each from 6 to 9 pm, and a month-long program of giving that benefits, yes, a threesome of local charities. Here%26rsquo;s the scoop:

%26bull; Party Times: Thursday, December 1, home-decor artisan Jan Barboglio; beauty guru Edward Bess; The Woods jewelry designers Shawn Hecox and Samantha Hitchcock; and Paula Minnis, of the refugee-made jewelry and home-wares line Gaia %26mdash; all make appearances while DJ Lucy Wrubel spins.

%26bull; Thursday, December 8, meet French perfumer Fr%26eacute;d%26eacute;ric Malle, fashion designer Yigal Azrouel and jewelry designer Jeanine Payer.

%26bull; Thursday, December 15, InStyle fashion director Hal Rubenstein signs his new book 100 Unforgettable Dresses; jewelry designer Kimberly McDonald debuts her objets for the home; and Julie Macklowe touts her new skincare line, VBeaute.

%26bull; Charitable Cheers: You%26rsquo;ve never shied from benevolent shopping; do it at Forty Five Ten for the entire month of December. First, make a $5 donation to The Family Place and, in return, you%26rsquo;ll get a Holiday Mix CD from DJ Lucy Wrubel. Next, should Fifi and Fido need a Merino wool sweater, shop the pet clothing of Mungo %26amp; Maud: Ten percent of sales benefit the animal-rescue organization DFW Rescue Me. Finally, spice things up chicly with a jar of $12 Jennifer Rubell Salsa and all of the proceeds will be given to Dallas Contemporary. Keep 4510 McKinney Avenue locked in on your sled%26rsquo;s GPS.

Image: The new Kimberly McDonald home collection, debuting at Forty Five Ten.

Winter-White Wonder

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:07:37 GMT

Searching the real estate listings for months with friend and real estate agent Rosie Meyers, Deanna Anon saw it all: homes of all styles, both old and new, as well as high-rises. But it wasn%26rsquo;t until Meyers insisted she revisit a house tucked away in a gated neighborhood in River Oaks that the tides would turn.

%26ldquo;One weekend, I got a call from Rosie, and she said, %26lsquo;I really want you to come back and see this house again,%26rsquo;%26rdquo; Anon recalls. %26ldquo;In the time since we had looked
at it, decorator Randy Powers and Bill Caudell had moved in temporarily while their home was under renovation and had painted walls and brought in furniture, and the place looked homier.%26rdquo; When Anon strolled through the doors of the previously unfurnished space again, she says, %26ldquo;I knew it was right.%26rdquo;

The floor plan fulfilled much of her must-have list, including a media room (which solved the conundrum of having a television in her living room %26mdash; a must-not-do, she declares) and ample living space downstairs with a lavish master bedroom and a bath with all sorts of renovation possibilities. But what it didn%26rsquo;t include were the home office and walk-in laundry room that she desperately needed.

Clearly the decisive Anon recognized not only what she wanted in terms of amenities but also what she envisioned in terms of design direction, making her an ideal client. Enter interior designer Renea Abbott and architect Kurt Aichler, who were commissioned to realize her vision. Friends not only with the homeowner but each other, Abbott and Aichler had worked together on previous projects as well. With ample space %26mdash; 4,000 square feet of it %26mdash; to work with, the duo began tackling Anon%26rsquo;s wish list. High among her must-haves: interiors bathed with light, the removal of the decorative ironwork from the windows, and walls cloaked in paler shades of dove gray and winter white. Check, check and check. But they didn%26rsquo;t stop there.

Envisioning natural light in the bedroom and a skylight above the tub, Aichler found a creative solution for the light-challenged first-floor bedroom suite. He tapped into the roof above the attic, just a story above, to fashion a slim reveal of light that creates the illusion of electric bulbs hidden where the joints of the molding meet. In actuality, he and his crew took three days to build four walls around the perimeter of the attic that would cull light from the skylight to a tiny space cut between the ceiling joints below.

As for that office, Aichler relocated a couple of closets from one side of her bedroom to create a niche accessed through the hall. Her closet was reinvented as a galley-style space on the other side of the dramatic charcoal-gray wall behind her bed. %26ldquo;After years and years of living with small closets, it was important to me to have a large galley-style closet and be able to find what I want,%26rdquo; Anon says. She also relocated her bathroom from that spot.

She and her former spouse, Jeff Anon %26mdash; owners of the Houston-born Tex-Mex concept Berryhill Tamales %26mdash; remain in constant contact and hold one another in the highest regard. %26ldquo;He%26rsquo;s my rock, my best friend,%26rdquo; Deanna says of Jeff, who has just dropped in to say hello. Given their mutual respect and admiration, as well as the two teenage sons they are raising together, it%26rsquo;s no surprise they choose to live in close proximity to each other. Deanna, who works for Reliant Energy, explains,%26rdquo; I wanted to live within a two-mile radius of where I%26rsquo;d lived before, because this is my life %26mdash; the Tanglewood area %26mdash; where Jeff is, as well as the Houstonian Club and the Houston Polo Club, where Jeff and one of my sons play polo.%26rdquo;

Of course, the house is still a work in progress. Her next step will be to fluff the office space by adding a black-lacquered desk and silver-leaf ceiling, as well as acquiring investment-worthy furnishings and art. %26ldquo;Jeff has fabulous art pieces,%26rdquo; Deanna says. %26ldquo;The Miro and the Picasso, he gave me. We%26rsquo;ve always loved purchasing art together, and he knew I had to fill spaces on the walls.%26rdquo; She also contemplates developing some outdoor space: %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;m thinking perhaps%26nbsp; French doors leading to a patio with a water treatment outside my bedroom.%26rdquo; Otherwise, Deanna%26rsquo;s domestic vision is nearly complete, fitting every must-have on her list.

Images:

The Lueders limestone surround (in pewter tone) and the custom mantle in the living room were created by Materials Marketing. Thomas Pheasant constellation mirror by Baker. Waylande Gregory vase from Shabby Slips. Orchids from River Oaks Plant House.

Deanna Anon with sons, Auston (left) and Pierce. The living room was transformed from dark-gray environs to a lighter-gray palette with Pratt %26amp; Lambert%26rsquo;s Windham. Behind the sofa, a set of 12 Swedish Braille pages in whitewood frames. McAlister Collection rug in granite from Stark. Marvin Gould charcoal-and-graphite work on paper.

A silver- and gold-leaf shell chair pulls up to an ornate desk in the living room.

Ornamental kale, artichokes and green apples make an unexpected centerpiece on the dining-room table.

Although the media room looks black, it%26rsquo;s actually a midnight-blue hue called Domino by Sherwin Williams. The sofa was reupholstered in Kravet crushed-cotton velvet. Mies van der Rohe cocktail table from Design Within Reach. Sconces from Circa Lighting. Portrait of Abraham Lincoln by New York artist Hunt Slonem, represented at McClain Gallery. An oil painting by Marc Chagall hangs over the fireplace, which is filled with birch logs.

This vignette in the entry showcases a work by Houston artist Mel DeWees above an inlaid chest from Carl Moore. Floral repouss%26eacute; 24K-gold bowl beside a pair of candelabras.

In the master bathroom, a contemporary abstract work by artist Mel DeWees hangs above a stool recovered in a navy Fortuny fabric. Bathtub and hardware from Fixtures %26amp; Fittings. Porden patterned wallpaper by Designer%26rsquo;s Guild. Wall color, Zephyr by Benjamin Moore. The charcoal-gray bathroom cabinets are rendered in Blackjack by Benjamin Moore, a high-gloss oil paint. White carrara marble countertops from Color Marble Yard.

To create a comforting womb-like feel in the master bedroom, Deanna insisted on painting the wall behind the bed dark charcoal (Blackjack by Benjamin Moore) in contrast with a lighter-gray wall (Zephyr by Benjamin Moore). The silk-velvet-upholstered bed with Frette linens was designed by Renea Abbott, Restoration Hardware coverlet and a faux-mink throw from Z Gallerie. Ebony chest of drawers from Shabby Slips, painted dark gray. Silk charmeuse curtains by Shabby Slips. Pair of Miro prints above a wood bench topped by a linen cushion.

Great Reads

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:57:20 GMT

Harper%26rsquo;s Bazaar: Greatest Hits (by Glenda Bailey, foreword Stephen Gan; Abrams, $65) is a lush and lovely look at great editorial%26nbsp; layouts covering Bailey and Gan%26rsquo;s decade at the helm, with all the gang: Agyness Deyn as Michael Jackson, Marc, Donatella, Alber, Karl and more.

We love WASPs, prep, anything Ivy League. Two new books, Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style (by Jeffrey Banks and Doria de La Chapelle, foreword by Lilly Pulitzer; Rizzoli,%26nbsp; $45) and The Ivy League (Assouline, $65), follow last year%26rsquo;s cult reissue Take Ivy and True Prep, the update of The Official Preppy Handbook. Then there%26rsquo;s Tommy Hilfiger%26rsquo;s brilliant advertising campaign, Meet The Hilfigers %26hellip; Okay, so we%26rsquo;re not the only ones loving prep. Preppy is smart and glamorous and takes a historical approach to the fashion and lifestyle that defines the look. The Ivy League examines life inside the eight universities that are the most exclusive private clubs in the world, with a membership that never expires. It%26rsquo;s a peek into the character of each of the Ivys %26mdash; the important stuff like architecture, mode of dress, athletic rivalries and more.

We also love Martin Lawrence Bullard: Live, Love %26amp; Decorate (foreword by Sir Elton John; photography Tim Street-Porter; Rizzoli, $60). It%26rsquo;s bold and glamorous, has lacquer, mirrors, shagreen %26hellip; what%26rsquo;s not to love. Bullard, based in Los Angeles, showcases the homes of clients including Sir Elton, Cher (two properties) and Tamara Mellon, as well as his own home, which was once the domicile of Rudolph Valentino then Gloria Swanson. Stop the glamour!

The New Artisans: Handmade Designs for Contemporary Living (Olivier Dupon, Thames %26amp; Hudson, $45) is a charming manifesto that showcases work by more than 800 designers and makers who use craft rather than mass production to create stylish, covetable objects, including ceramics, furniture, glasswork, metalwork, lighting, paper and woodwork, jewelry and stationery, tableware and textiles. Dupon, the author, is based in France and writes the blog Dossier 37.

We love Marisa Berenson, so we%26rsquo;re excited about her new book, Marisa Berenson: A Life in Pictures (guest editor Steven Meisel, intro by Hamish Bowles %26mdash; wouldn%26rsquo;t you love to have been at those planning sessions? %26mdash; Rizzoli, $60). An It-girl of the %26lsquo;70s, according to YSL, Berenson has inspired grand photographers, stylists, fashion designers and editors for decades. Extra cred: She%26rsquo;s the granddaughter of Elsa Schiaparelli. Who knew. The volume%26rsquo;s lavish photography and intime conversation with Diane von Furstenberg %26mdash; oh, to have been a fly on the wall at their wine afternoons %26mdash; make this book a cocktail party of its own.

How sad all these beautifully, perfectly crumbled rooms in Cuba have been hidden away for so long. With travel to Cuba a dim possibility in the near future, we%26rsquo;re boning up on the opulence of colonial Spanish Creole aristocracy, the grand mansions, baroque palacios, coffee plantations and ingenios (sugar plantations). How are we doing this? Vicariously through photographer Michael Connors%26rsquo; amazing new book, The Splendor of Cuba: 450 years of Architecture and Interiors (Rizzoli, $85), which includes beautifully preserved examples of Mudejar craftsmanship and villas in their magnificent original state %26mdash; interiors and exteriors from Havana to Cienfuegos, rife with details of courtyards, balustrades, grilles and louvered doors, as well as a good look at Finca Vig%26iacute;a, the former residence of Ernest Hemingway. Hopefully,
we%26rsquo;ll soon be booking Cubana de Aviaci%26oacute;n.

In our mind%26rsquo;s eye, Jeffrey Bilhuber can do no wrong. And his new book is pretty, all right. The Way Home: Reflections on American Beauty (photographs William Abranowicz; Rizzoli, $60) is chockablock with inspiration from 12 recent projects, best described by Bilhuber himself: %26ldquo;%26hellip; these rooms happily reconcile high and low, rare and common, handsome and homely.%26rdquo;

I was born 100 years too late, and Bals: Legendary Costume Balls of the Twentieth Century (by Nicholas Foulkes; Assouline, $175) proves it. The most beautiful book ever created on this beautiful subject, Bals explores the nine grandest private costume parties of the 20th century, from the Romanov dynasty through Art Deco Paris and the jet-set %26rsquo;70s (Paul Poiret, Truman Capote, Cecil Beaton). With first-person memories from Jacqueline de Ribes, H%26eacute;l%26egrave;ne David-Weill and Marisa Berenson, it%26rsquo;s almost as good as being there. Almost.

Books available at Curate Pop-Up Book Shop in Uptown Park (on the courtyard next to Cafe Express), open November 1 through December 31, with more than 600 titles in the genres of design, architecture, fashion and pop culture, as well as vintage design books.

Restoreth Thy Soul

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:22:51 GMT

If you%26rsquo;re a mystic mind who believes in the meaning behind a sequence of dates, or if you, like a Las Vegas bookie, put better odds on numbers that feel like a winning combo, you might think the numerals 11-11-11 signify a good omen. If you%26rsquo;re Gary Friedman, chairman and co-CEO of Restoration Hardware, 11-11-11 signifies the auspicious start of a new era: the debut of Restoration Hardware: The Gallery Highland Village, the first built-from-the-ground-up realization of RH%26rsquo;s new retail concept.

Houston hit the design jackpot when Friedman and his collaborators chose the city for this endeavor. Gone are the nostalgic tchotchkes of the early Restoration days; in their place are 24,000 beautifully designed, globally researched objects built around the precepts of inspiration, quality and discernment. With bated breath, we await Friday, November 11, when the 14-foot gates of the three-story, 25,000-square-foot Howard Backen%26ndash;designed gallery open. Friedman takes us on a tour.

LC: The design direction of the store has changed dramatically in the last decade. Take us back to the impetus of this stylish move.

GF: It%26rsquo;s been a long journey. There have been two or three really big moves, but if you look back over the last 10 years, it%26rsquo;s probably hard to recognize them. When I got here in the early 2000s, the catalog had things like a dog toy on the cover, and most of the business was with what the company called discovery items %26mdash; nostalgic tchotchkes. We began to evolve it to a more premium-positioned lifestyle brand in the mid-2000s. We were tight on capital and had to do it in a very scientific manner, step-by-step. Otherwise, we risked dislocating the customer and possibly bankrupting the company, which was never profitable. When the economy blew up in the fall of 2008, from our point of view, there were two choices. One, you could follow the rallying cry in this country, %26ldquo;Value, value, value.%26rdquo; What that meant to most retailers, even developers and manufacturers of home products, was lower quality, lower prices. We said, %26ldquo;Where do we really want to be? Instead of letting this be a time of paranoia, let%26rsquo;s use it as a liberating moment and do exactly what we believe we should do,%26rdquo; because the consumer wasn%26rsquo;t buying anyway.

LC: How did the decision to go upscale bring you to this point?

GF: We said, %26ldquo;If we%26rsquo;re going to go down, let%26rsquo;s go down in style and let them remember us. Let%26rsquo;s do exactly what we love and use this as a moment of opportunity.%26rdquo; So we took the business to where we could offer unparalleled value. While everyone was going down [market], we went the other way, positioned the business in a way that was
very personal to us and reflected what we love with a point of view and style like
we preferred to live.

LC: Your inspiration?

GF: In the fall of 2008, a handful of us embarked on a journey and circled the globe seven times in 12 months to radically move the business up. Price didn%26rsquo;t guide us; design and quality did. In difficult markets, it%26rsquo;s our belief that people don%26rsquo;t want less quality. They want more. They aren%26rsquo;t going to be less discerning about their purchases, but more. They don%26rsquo;t have to be less inspired, but more inspired. You don%26rsquo;t inspire people by selling them cheaper goods or lower quality. We believed we needed to take design and quality up, and if that meant taking prices up, so be it, as long as it presents a great value.

LC: What%26rsquo;s the grand plan?

GF: The legacy real estate we have was all built 10 to 15 years ago for a very different company. The old Resto reflects nothing of the new Resto. I don%26rsquo;t think there is a single product in our entire assortment that we carried 10 years ago. We have 24,000 products in the entire company, and not one is the same. Some people say, %26ldquo;Gary, this has been a long turnaround.%26rdquo; But %26ldquo;turnaround%26rdquo; infers something once worked, but Resto never did. This was about taking the existing real estate and the existing name, and building a new company. It%26rsquo;s not anything of what it was. In many ways., it%26rsquo;s entirely new, and that%26rsquo;s why it took us this long to architect it %26mdash; we were capital-strapped. The new real estate is a canvas for the new collection. The reason why we call them %26ldquo;design galleries%26rdquo; is because we don%26rsquo;t want to be seen as a store. In our minds, our gallery represents an artistic expression of home furnishings.

LC: Can you pick a piece or two and describe how it came to be part of your current collection?

GF: Within the catalog, we have a profile on Raymond Libeert of Libeco, which is one of the oldest and the best Belgium linen weavers. My entire home is done in Libeco linen, and it was done that way before I came to Resto. After sleeping for years on 450- to 600-thread-count sheets made by Carlo Bertelli%26rsquo;s company in Florence, we are now one of the biggest importers of Italian bedding in America. Also, Timothy Oulton was making salvage-wood tables, bookcases %26hellip; I think he was making about 45 pieces a month for the entire world before he met us. Now it%26rsquo;s a very different number. With a lot of these people, we%26rsquo;ve developed partnerships %26mdash; it%26rsquo;s the relationships with those vendors that are very important to us. But we are still not that large. We still only have 86 stores in the United States. It%26rsquo;s unique that this quality of product is available across a broader distribution platform.

LC: The structures you build or remodel for the new Restoration Hardware are evidently as important as the contents you%26rsquo;ve curated. Why?

GF: One thing that was really important to us was that we build architecture or acquire buildings that really are harmonious to the product. We are designing buildings to be an architectural statement that are as beautiful as any great home. Our architect, Backen, Gillam %26amp; Kroeger Architects, has been an Architectural Digest Top 100 firm for years. Howard J. Backen was also the architect of my house. I think he%26rsquo;s one of the best in the world. The Gallery%26rsquo;s exterior is made with hand-troweled Venetian plaster, and as you walk through the 14-foot gated oculus-shaped entry, you step into a crushed-granite 2,500-square-foot garden courtyard, beautifully landscaped. Then you walk into the structure of the Gallery itself, with 14-foot ceilings and stunning 13-foot elegant arches trimmed with wood, with French doors (24 sets of them) that open onto the garden courtyards and balconies. The interior is flooded with natural light. The double, three-story staircase is dramatic, modeled after some great European staircases (and spans 37 feet at its widest point). Around it is what we are calling our design biblioth%26egrave;que, a global gesture towards design. You%26rsquo;ll march up the staircase which has reproduced antique maps from the most influential design cities, with clocks above the maps that will display the time in all those cities, whether it%26rsquo;s Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Sydney or Paris.

LC: We understand in this space there will be areas devoted to garden, a newsstand and other niche departments. Tell us about the evolution of these areas.

GF: At the base of the stairway, we will have these vintage newsstand racks with the daily newspapers, magazines and books published in those design destinations around the world. Again, it%26rsquo;s a global gesture of design, communicating we have a global view on design. It will be a place people can come and dream, be inspired, look at magazines. Within the base of the staircase, we have an organic tea atelier, where we%26rsquo;ll serve organic tea as a gesture to make people feel comfortable and relaxed. Some other elements of the store include a fresh floral boutique by David Brown that will represent our point of view on floral design. We love floral arrangements that are architectural, somewhat colorless %26mdash; green and white and natural based. We will have a digital rug installation by Ben Soleimani. Ben is one of the authorities in the rug business, whose famous stores in London cater to kings and queens. Although we will have a lot of our rugs hanging, we%26rsquo;ll also have a digital 6-by-9-foot giant iPad display. It will look like a rug from 20 feet away, but you can go up to it and swipe an iPad screen next to the display and view the entire rug collection. We decided to put a park on the roof. We have a big greenhouse you%26rsquo;ll walk into that%26rsquo;s mostly glass; there are trees and plants, and you%26rsquo;ll see a 7,500-square-foot green space on the roof. That will be the first of its kind. Altogether, we%26rsquo;ll have 10,000 square feet devoted to our gardens between the 2,500-square-foot garden store you%26rsquo;ll enter through and the 7,500-square-foot roof garden upstairs. It won%26rsquo;t feel like a store; you%26rsquo;ll feel like you%26rsquo;re in some great European estate.

LC: You must travel the world in search of inspiration. Take us through the list of far-flung places you%26rsquo;ve journeyed to pull together the new Resto.

GF: We travel a lot through Europe, as well as India. We hit cities from Antwerp and Paris to London, Barcelona and Morocco.

%26nbsp;

Fascinated by the number of high-profile artisans Friedman has signed on, we compiled a list of some of the designers who worked with him to reinvent Restoration Hardware.

%26bull; Mark Sage and Rudi Nijssen, antique collectors and innovators, Belgium

%26bull; Timothy Oulton, antique dealer/reproductionist, London

%26bull; Luay Al-Rawi, artisan/entrepreneur, The Netherlands

%26bull; Ben Soleimani, head designer of Mansour/Mansour Modern rugs

%26bull; Carlo Bertelli and Giulia Cavallaro of Florence-based Tessitura Toscana Telerie, bed linen

%26bull; Ann Sutherland, Perennials, outdoor fabric

%26bull; Raymond Libeert, CEO of Libeco-Lagae, linen

%26nbsp;

Images:

The gateway to The Gallery. This photo of the courtyard gate at the entrance of the Beverly Hills store gives you a sneak peek of what%26rsquo;s in store in Houston.

Chairman and co-CEO Gary Friedman, the architect of Restoration Hardware%26rsquo;s revamp.

This massive hand-carved architectural-column-based wood table is made from salvaged reclaimed pine from a series of 100-year-old buildings in Great Britain.

In a garden courtyard, generously sized Majorca seating is hand-woven from all-weather wicker strands wrapped around an aluminum frame.

Restoration Hardware is one of the biggest importers in the USA of imported Italian bed linens, such as this hotel satin-stitch variety.

Louis XV%26ndash;style chairs, some with carved oak details, bring a rococo flourish to tailored upholstered pieces.

Physicist Leon Foucault%26rsquo;s gyroscope, invented in the 19th century, inspired the Foucault Twin Orb Iron chandeliers, some with and others without crystal adornments.

Classical gicl%26eacute;e print reproduced on archival watercolor paper reprinted from the 1928 Royal Ascot Thoroughbred original.

The Belgium Slope armed chairs and sofas are covered in Belgian linen.

Flor

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:04:45 GMT

Keys to the Door: Manager Clay Barker.
Stocked Goods: They had us at %26ldquo;Fuzzy Button.%26rdquo; Flor, the company famous for its cleverly named, mix-and-match carpet squares %26mdash; think peel-and-stick tiles, but with a much higher taste level %26mdash; used to be just an online thrill. (And catalog, too: We were among the first subscribers at its launch in 2003.) Virtual no more: There%26rsquo;s now a brick-and-mortar store in West Ave on Kirby Drive, where you can mix and match your way to carpeted nirvana. We%26rsquo;ve always loved the pixilated effects one can create with Flor%26rsquo;s nearly 20-inch tiles %26mdash; shuffle as many solid colors together as suits your fancy %26mdash; but there are stripes and patterns, too, from woodblock effects to wiggles and geometrics that channel Missoni and David Hicks. The textures are as myriad as the visuals: Some feel sweater-y, others like sheepskin, and there are wools, Berbers, ribs and loops, all quite sophisticated. Installation is a snap: Sticky dots hold the squares together underneath, and the whole assemblage sits comfortably atop concrete and wood floors %26mdash; easily removable, terribly changeable. In fact, the eco-friendly 1,800-square-foot Houston store hopes you bring back any tiles you%26rsquo;ve tired of, for subsequent recycling into new goodies. Just the thing for you fickle floor types, who feel like sisal one season, Aubusson the next. 2800 Kirby Dr. in West Ave, 713.522.0278; flor.com.

Image: Photo by James Edward Photography

Restoration Hardware Baby %26 Child Gallery

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:58:41 GMT

Keys to the Door: Manager Jennifer McCracken.
Stocked Goods: Crystal chandeliers and 11-foot arches running the length of two corridors lead you into the Restoration Hardware Baby %26amp; Child Gallery, where many a wall is covered in button-tufted Belgian linen and industrial-accented with wood, rope and steel. It%26rsquo;s a worthy canvas for RH%26rsquo;s collections of children%26rsquo;s furniture, shown as installations and layered with antiques and signature pieces from the brand-new mama store next door (see pages 38 and 39). Howard Backan, Architectural Digest Top 100 architect, masterminded the space with RH chairman and co-CEO Gary Friedman, creating a mini Restoration Hardware with diminutive versions of many of the brand%26rsquo;s iconic pieces. Think kid-sized flatiron desks, an industrial cart reconceived as a platform bed and a tiny leather Kensington sofa. Expectant moms and dads will enjoy perusing the nursery necessities, from cribs and changing tables to drapes and bed linens, while long-time parents will appreciate the kid-friendly styles for bedrooms, playrooms and baths that won%26rsquo;t clash with the rest of a well-appointed home. Highland Village, 4018 Westheimer Road, 713.328.3130.

A Modern Moment

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:54:03 GMT

Tuesday, November 15, get your modern self to Carol Piper Rugs for the opening of an exhibition of dazzling rugs from some of the most important European modernist designers including Maison Jansen, Andre Arbus, Ivan da Silva Bruhns and Jules Leleu. To add fuel to the modernist flame, Yale University Art Gallery historian and associate curator John Stuart Gordon will sign advance copies of his book A Modern World: American Design From the Yale University Art Gallery, 1920-1950. Tuesday, November 15, 6 to 8 pm, at Carol Piper Rugs, 1809 W. Gray, 713.524.2442; info@carolpiperrugs.com.

David Brown at Restoration Hardware

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:51:52 GMT

David Brown, long considered one of the most talented flower designers in the Southwest, has been invited by the powers that be at Restoration Hardware: The Gallery Highland Village to unveil his own branded shop-in-shop in the new Restoration, opening November 11. David Brown Flowers (the second in Houston, the original David Brown is located in Uptown Park), will occupy 1,200 square feet within this mammoth 25,000-square-foot retail experience. Perched on the third floor in the roof garden%26rsquo;s glass conservatory where much of the outdoor furniture and accessories are to be displayed, Brown curates a selection of cut stems and artfully crafted, ready-to-purchase arrangements and custom pieces in RH%26rsquo;s favored natural palette of white and green. The talented floral designer, who has more than 35 years%26rsquo; experience in the bloom biz, will source everything from buds and blossoms like hydrangea, roses, ranunculus and white amaryllis, as well as hearty succulents, English ivy topiaries, maidenhair ferns and fragrant potted rosemary. And, speaking of pots: All of Brown%26rsquo;s inspired designs will be fashioned in Restoration Hardware vessels, too %26mdash; perfect to send someone that very day, or plan ahead to decorate the tables at your next dinner soir%26eacute;e.

Bath Crystals of the Best Kind

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:50:15 GMT

Twist the handles of THG%26rsquo;s new taps, and you%26rsquo;re stroking miniature works of art: hand-cast crystals by French house Daum, extant 133 years and counting. Artist-executed using the ancient %26ldquo;lost wax%26rdquo; method %26mdash; molds are made one at time, filled with crystal fragments, fired, then broken, revealing the glass sculpture inside %26mdash; the flourishes adorn sleek THG fittings for sinks, showers, towels, soaps, even papiers pour la toilette. The one-of-a-kind handles (no two are alike, because of the handmade molds) are in six exotic motifs, from dragons to moons, flora to wild vegetation. We think they%26rsquo;re wildly civilized, no? To the trade at Elegant Additions.

Formal Rooms

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:45:08 GMT

It%26rsquo;s a black-tie debut, celebrating Cantoni%26rsquo;s new luxury line, Dress Code. Made in Italy by Robi Malerba (a craftsman who has been working with Michael Wilkov, Cantoni%26rsquo;s energetic founder, for almost three decades), the subtle design details range from diagonally stitched leather seats on dining chairs to faux croc insets on bar units and shelves. Crafted with touches such as inlaid horn, coplanar doors, mirrored glass, and sleek lacquer and chrome accents, this is the sort of collection you can build a room around. And not to drop names, but the Malerba family has also created furniture for the likes of Harrod%26rsquo;s and other lauded retailers. Impressed? Thought so. 9889 Westheimer Road, 713.787.9494.

Art Beneath Your Feet

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:43:55 GMT

Adorable girl about town and artist Elizabeth Moore Arnold has turned her considerable talent to designing rugs. Her first creation for Carol Piper Rugs continues a recent theme in her artwork: dying vines on a stark white wall. Arnold saw beauty where others might see loss. Rug patterns are frequently of a repeating design, but Arnold is drawing each of her carpets by hand, and they are available in hand-knotted Tibetan weaves at $120 per square foot and in hand-tufted weaves for $90 per square foot. To order at Carol Piper Rugs.

The Art of the Bath

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:41:01 GMT

Bryan Downey %26mdash; the man who took his famous great-great-uncle%26rsquo;s sculpture and pottery and made it modern again %26mdash; has replicated Waylande Gregory%26rsquo;s signature pottery adorned with gold and platinum stripes, dots, grids for use in the bath. The patterned tissue boxes, soap dispensers, cups and dishes coordinate glamorously with polished-nickel and chrome variations. From $145 to $350, launching this month at Longoria Collection.

Design Gurus

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:36:59 GMT

Peel proprietor Steven Hempel (that arbiter of all things limited edition and lust worthy) and graphic artist, cool chick and PaperCity designer Michelle Avi%26ntilde;a are teaming up with Michael Mandola to open Gift. Curated Shopping by Peel, a pop-up holiday shop in West Ave. Open November 15 through the holidays. Gift will stock well-designed luxury products playing to the five senses %26mdash; think luxury chocolates from K. Chocolatiers, Pamela Love jewelry, O%26rsquo;Clock watches and Thierry Lasry sunglasses, as well as design objets, tabletop wares and books. 2800 Kirby in West Ave.

Moving Day

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:34:20 GMT

Black Friday %26mdash; that notorious day after Thanksgiving when gobs of us mob stores from coast to coast %26mdash; marks the day when custom furniture retailer Quatrine moves from its current Rice Village locale to Highland Village. Taking up residence in the former Pierre Deux space, this 2,700-square-foot boutique will be home to a brand-new collection of furniture and accessories from the American-made firm, which can boast that everyone working in their midst has either an architecture or interior-design degree, servicing their design clientele and the rest of us quite knowledgeably. Famous for their washable slipcovered upholstery, which can be custom-designed to your specifications, they also handcraft wood pieces, from dining tables to consoles, in their California factory. Quatrine, 4003 Westheimer Road, Highland Village, 713.521.1915; quatrine.com.

Smokin' Hot

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:01:50 GMT

We adore the surreal mystery of Fornasetti %26mdash; a collage-auteur of the highest order, whose works transformed the 20th-century decorative arts scene. With Fornasetti Profumi (only the second season of the home-fragrance collection), Piero Fornasetti%26rsquo;s son Barnaba has collaborated with scent-meister Olivier Polge to create one fragrance, and one only, for the candles, incense, burning crystals and oils. But what a scent it is. Taken from the aromas of the house and gardens, it%26rsquo;s at once reminiscent of leather, burning firewood and ancient money, and dusty with notes of orris, cedarwood, thyme, lavender and labdanum. The ceramics for the fragrances, made in Italy by a company dating to the 1800s, are brilliant. There are trays of lips for the incense, one rouged pair holding the incense stick; a revolver with a smoking barrel; lidded candle pots with iconic cameos, hands, sardines and palazzo fa%26ccedil;ades; and bulbous scent spheres with keyholes, eyes or noses %26mdash; all to be repurposed as pencil pots, vases and change holders. $75 to $495, at Kuhl-Linscomb.

Images: Fornasetti Profumi.

He Sculpts, She Sculpts

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:25:29 GMT

Abandon all logic, ye who enter here. For tucked away off a well-worn interstate exit in a well-worn East Dallas neighborhood %26mdash; tiny bungalows, with minivans and pickup trucks pulled right up to their weathered facades %26mdash; there exists a sun-bleached industrial building where some of the most otherworldly, though-provoking art in Texas or anywhere is happening. Virtually every day. Times two. The corrugated-metal building harbors secrets. Inside it are the workspaces and private galleries of preeminent sculptors Frances Bagley and Tom Orr, who share more than just the cavernous space: They share ideas, opinions, laughs and a wedding date. They are wife and husband.

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They are also rather dichotomous. They are fiercely independent, yet supremely collaborative. They don%26rsquo;t quite. Finish each other%26rsquo;s sentences. But almost. They are funny, intense, warm, cool, intellectual, inquisitive %26mdash; but not necessarily simultaneously. Indeed, they have the cadence that only comes with time together. Lots of time. As for their work, that differs wildly %26mdash; and garners critical acclaim. Using mostly woods and metals, Orr explores parallel lines, moir%26eacute; effects, visual reverberations, reflections, shadows, shimmers, crumples, textural interplays and grids. %26ldquo;His fascination with illusion and [his] obsessive interest in sequence and process,%26rdquo; writes professor Cindy Hurt in Art Lies magazine, %26ldquo;has ultimately advanced the exploration of Op art to a new level, revealing a philosopher quietly at work.%26rdquo; Bagley, writes professor Charissa Terranova in the online art journal Glasstire, %26ldquo;ratchets up the stakes of peculiarity set by godfathers of the odd Hans Bellmer and Marcel Duchamp,%26rdquo; using foams, fabrics and found objects to wend her way through mysteries, conventions and obscurities. The female form %26mdash; and dogs and deer and horses %26mdash; figures heavily in her work.

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Above: In the apartment/lounge, a 12-foot table rescued from the building%26rsquo;s former life as an auto-parts dismantling/reconditioning facility. Orr stripped it of years of grease and layered tops. The black Windsor chairs around it %26mdash; Victorian cottage furnishings %26mdash; are from his youth. On the wall, Bagley%26rsquo;s The Five Women, wood and pigment.

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Funny enough, it all coexists under one 23,000-square-foot roof. (The proverbial %26ldquo;peacefully%26rdquo; is up for interpretation.) Bagley found the property after their longtime spaces at the Continental Gin Artist Studios in Deep Ellum had outlived their usefulness. She was driving down an East Dallas side street when she spied two buildings on almost three acres, and a sign planted in front: FOR SALE. FORECLOSURE. %26ldquo;I called Tom, panting,%26rdquo; she says. A real-estate attorney, who happens to be a well-known contemporary-art patron, helped them ink the deal. The place, though, was far from move-in ready: The former car-parts dismantler had sat vacant for years. There were barrels of acid dotting the grounds, and grease everywhere inside. %26ldquo;It was rough,%26rdquo; Orr says. %26ldquo;Really rough.%26rdquo; Piles of Sheetrock later, Orr and Bagley had walls, and his-and-hers studios and his-and-hers galleries, about 13,000 square feet in total. There%26rsquo;s a spartan little apartment, too, that they call %26ldquo;the lounge,%26rdquo; with an open dining-living-kitchen space, a small bath and a tiny shower. Friends and visiting artists have been known to bunk there. The other part of the main building is inhabited by a display company; the second building, much smaller, is given over to a silk-screen company. One day, Bagley and Orr may construct another building for other artists, but for now, they are quite content.

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Part of what they love about their repurposed building is its sheer square footage and its lofty ceilings. %26ldquo;Space is important,%26rdquo; says Orr, %26ldquo;especially since we work so big.%26rdquo; Bagley concurs. %26ldquo;You can work on several big things. That is a real luxury.%26rdquo; Both like that they can keep their works around them %26mdash; regarding them, dialoguing with them %26mdash; before they%26rsquo;re taken away to patrons, to public buildings, even other countries. (The two have exhibited works in Japan, for instance.) %26ldquo;I don%26rsquo;t understand,%26rdquo; Bagley says, with convicted incredulity, %26ldquo;how some artists make something and let it go right out the door.%26rdquo; Her work isn%26rsquo;t the only thing to which Bagley is bonded. Her husband and their building are important to her, too. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s something neither of us would%26rsquo;ve done on our own,%26rdquo; she says. %26ldquo;We%26rsquo;re a team here.%26rdquo;

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To which Orr quickly adds, %26ldquo;We talk about work constantly.%26rdquo;

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To which Bagley quickly adds, %26ldquo;We wear each other out.%26rdquo;

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Above: In Orr%26rsquo;s gallery, a large work called Lodge, executed with vintage dinette chairs and square aluminum tubing. Orr thought of a beaver lodge, %26ldquo;which has a similar construction %26mdash; and social interaction, as the ring of inward-facing chairs.%26rdquo; The tubes are not attached to each other in any way; Orr has placed them using only gravity and tension.

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Above: In Bagley%26rsquo;s gallery, Pretty Girl, mixed media with video. %26ldquo;I have always been interested,%26rdquo; Bagley says, %26ldquo;in how extracted visual information tells a different story. I used the very attractive eyes of a woman added to a rather distorted figure made of gauze. It is the contrast that caused me to title it Pretty Girl. Is she pretty?%26rdquo;

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Above: Outside, a steel work by Orr that was installed lakeside in Ube, Japan, at an exhibit of contemporary sculpture. The work was inspired by cascading water, visually created here %26ldquo;by lines crossing over lines,%26rdquo; says Orr.

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Above: Bagley%26rsquo;s Poodle, of spray Styrofoam. %26ldquo;I was experimenting with animal forms,%26rdquo; she says, %26ldquo;and this is an effort gone wrong. My mistakes are often my best work.%26rdquo;

Above: A new, untitled, mixed-media work by Orr, inspired by Japanese ghost stories.

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Above: In a corner of Bagley%26rsquo;s studio, a merry-go-round horse (once part of a larger installation called The Kingdom) flies toward a yellow taxidermy form of a squirrel, %26ldquo;before the fur is added,%26rdquo; says Bagley. %26ldquo;The form was just ugly and vague enough,%26rdquo; she says, %26ldquo;to be used as the basis for the Idol of Baal,%26rdquo; in gigantic scale, for Verdi%26rsquo;s Nabucco, the 2006 Dallas opera for which Bagley and Orr designed the costumes and sets %26mdash; breaking new ground for opera design, indeed.

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Above: In Bagley%26rsquo;s work space, a board of random bits and inspirations.

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Above: The larger of two gallery spaces for Bagley. The four draped figures are Styrofoam deer heads used in taxidermy, minus ears and horns. %26ldquo;The movement of the twisted heads,%26rdquo; says Bagley, %26ldquo;covered by a drape of fabric or curtain, for me, references theater and obscurity.%26rdquo; The work on the floor, Braided Rug, is woven of human hair, something with which Bagley has been intrigued since she was a child %26mdash; %26ldquo;how hair is cut and can be formed.%26rdquo; The rug took about five years to realize, Bagley says, %26ldquo;because of the expense of the real human hair. I had to buy it in batches when I had a little money. The actual braiding took about six months, with two assistants helping me.%26rdquo; There is additional meaning for Bagley, too: %26ldquo;It speaks of how we, as human beings, have fur. It is a reference to a bearskin rug %26mdash; our fur on the floor.%26rdquo;

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Above: The view from Orr%26rsquo;s workspace, past his gallery, through Bagley%26rsquo;s gallery and toward Bagley%26rsquo;s workshop. Over the door, a photograph that Orr found in the 1960s, in an abandoned photo studio in Oak Cliff that his uncle%26rsquo;s salvage company was wrecking.

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Above: A vintage Howdy Doody surveys Orr%26rsquo;s studio.

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Above: Orr at work on a prototype panel for an installation in Japan, just completed. Called Luminous View, the finished work is executed in a long, narrow room, 35 feet by 8 feet by 8 feet, and is a winning entry in an international competition called %26ldquo;Art in a Container,%26rdquo; exhibited at the Kobe, Japan, biennale, October 1 through November 23. Orr used layers of Polygal architectural panels threaded with electroluminescent wire.

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Above: In Orr%26rsquo;s studio/workshop, a found chair and vintage cushion with no meaning. %26ldquo;Nothing, except that I like it,%26rdquo; he says.

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Above: Looking forward: A working model for a future Orr installation at Love Field, to be executed in 2013 of powder-coated square aluminum tubing. Travelers will walk under the large-scale work as they transition from a parking garage to a terminal.

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Regarding Frances and Tom: Where to see works by Bagley and Orr

%26bull; Bagley%26rsquo;s limestone-block Reading Garden, an outdoor installation at 2951 S. Hampton Road, at the Hampton-Illinois branch of the Dallas Public Library

%26bull; Bagley%26rsquo;s inverted brass pyramid and floor compass at 330 N. Olive St., in the Dallas Area Rapid Transit East Transfer Center

%26bull; Orr%26rsquo;s monumental wood, paint and aluminum works in the Customs area of Terminal D, at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

%26bull; Orr%26rsquo;s gridded Steel Wave at 400 S. Record St., downtown, on the plaza of the Belo Building

%26bull; The Wildlife Water Theater, their in-water collaboration at White Rock Lake behind the Bath House Cultural Center (521 E. Lawther Dr.), executed with steel poles, glowing polycarbonate poles, Fiberglas discs and land elements

%26bull; The artists%26rsquo; own Web sites, francesbagley.com and tomorr.net

Postmodern Traditions

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 01:36:34 GMT

Keys to the Door: Co-owners Mehdi Abedi, PhD, and Lisa Slappey, PhD.
Stocked Goods: It%26rsquo;s hard to find people as scholarly on the subject of rugs as Lisa Slappey and Medhi Abedi, owners of Pride of Persia, which specializes in new and old oriental rugs. (Armed with at least one doctoral degree apiece, the duo even teaches a class on Persian rugs at Rice%26rsquo;s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.) Now they%26rsquo;ve opened another rug showroom, just a stone%26rsquo;s throw from Pride of Persia: Postmodern Traditions, stocking contemporary, custom hand-woven rugs. Their inventory includes Tibetan-style Nepalese rugs of wool and silk, pieces from the Tibet Rug Company and contemporary Persian Kashkooli and Loribaft Gebbeh rugs %26mdash; the choices abound. Look through the piles of options, we bet you%26rsquo;ll find one to design an entire room around. Houston Design Center, 7026 Old Katy Road, Suite 169, 713.522.7870.

A Little Birdie Told Us

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 01:18:44 GMT

A cross between a design book and a birding book, The Birding Life: A Passion for Birds at Home and Afield (by Laurence and Carol Sama Sheehan, Kathryn George Precourt and photographer William Stites, Clarkson Potter, $50) is a beautiful and timely look at this slightly eccentric and certainly WASP-y passion. We adore the wit and the interior design elements, including chapters titled %26ldquo;Birdboy%26rsquo;s Urban Aerie,%26rdquo; %26ldquo;Diary of a Mad Birder,%26rdquo; %26ldquo;Enchanted Nests%26rdquo; and %26ldquo;The Eggs and Us.%26rdquo; Several birding-enthusiast Houstonians and properties crop up in the pages: the Texas ranch of Jan and Jack Cato, the poetic Heights home of artists Lisa Ludwig and Joseph Havel, gallerist Betty Moody, Houston Audubon Society%26rsquo;s High Island near Galveston, Area store-owner Don Connelly%26rsquo;s Hill Country farm and antiques dealer Kay O%26rsquo;Toole%26rsquo;s high-rise aerie. If you remember Houston Home %26amp; Garden magazine, you%26rsquo;ll recognize the authors and photographers. Carol Sama Sheehan was editor for many years, Kathryn George Precourt was design editor and Bill Stites was a staff photographer. Birding is a small world.

French Kisses

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:58:28 GMT

Don%26rsquo;t miss designer Kathryn Ireland in person when she signs her newest decorating volume, Summers in France (Gibbs Smith, $35), on Tuesday, October 11, 11 am, in the Bunch %26amp; Shoemaker showroom (Suite 152) at The Houston Design Center. Ireland, the keynote speaker at HDC%26rsquo;s annual Fall Market event, comes in from L.A., where her firm is based. She has written three books and is a featured designer on Bravo%26rsquo;s Million Dollar Decorators. Her chic bohemian style smacks of the South of France and L.A., and the lush, 224-page Summers in France chronicles the 20 years she has spent transforming her home, La Castallene, in southern France. Reservations a must, through 713.864.2660 or thehoustondesigncenter.com.

One Big Birthday + Architect Furniture That Veers Toward Art

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:07:45 GMT

Russell Buchanan has certainly mastered thrilling angles and unorthodox compositions %26mdash; just walk in to any of the Dallas architect%26rsquo;s houses. Did you know, though, that he applies those same aesthetic wiles to furniture? For 25 years, Buchanan has designed and built chairs, benches, tables, stools and screens with a definitive edge. Douglas fir, maple, steel, iron, aluminum, glass, Dacron polyester: The materials in Buchanan%26rsquo;s furniture are as humble and expressive as those in his structures. The pieces swing from the serene to the surreal, riffing on canoe hulls, tuxedos, bats, tusks, even Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld. We love it %26mdash; and you can see it all with us on Thursday, October 27, when Collage 20th Century Classics touches off the first exhibition of Buchanan%26rsquo;s furniture as a complete body of work. Tied to this special occasion? Another 25-year milestone: Collage owners Abby and Wlodek Malowanczyk%26rsquo;s 25th year in business, which means 2.5 decades of museum-worthy mid-century furniture %26mdash; perhaps even before you could wax rhapsodic about Wegner, Juhl, Kjaerholm, Aulenti, et al. Exhibition October 27 to November 30; opening reception October 27, 6 to 9 pm, RSVP to 214.828.9888 or info@collageclassics.com. Collage 20th Century Classics, 1300 N. Riverfront Blvd. More information collageclassics.com, buchananarchitecture.com.

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Image: Architect Russell Buchanan%26rsquo;s rolling Grasshopper screen, built in 1993 of heat-shrunk Dacron polyester and maple

Star Power

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:59:40 GMT

Behold this glamorous starburst fire screen, designed by John Lyle in white bronze with blackened-steel base and starfire glass; 41%26rdquo; wide by 33%26rdquo; high. Billy Haines would have eaten it up. To the trade at David Sutherland Showroom.

Bath Crystals of the Best Kind

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:53:54 GMT

Twist the handles of THG%26rsquo;s new taps, left, and you%26rsquo;re stroking miniature works of art: hand-cast crystals by French house Daum, extant 133 years and counting. Artist-executed using the ancient %26ldquo;lost wax%26rdquo; method %26mdash; molds are made one at time, filled with crystal fragments, fired, then broken, revealing the glass sculpture inside %26mdash; the flourishes adorn sleek THG fittings for sinks, showers, towels, soaps, even papiers pour la toilette. The one-of-a-kind handles (no two are alike, because of the handmade molds) are in six exotic motifs, from dragons to moons, flora to wild vegetation. We think they%26rsquo;re wildly civilized, no? Through Elegant Additions, Hidell Hardware Co., Pierce Decorative Hardware and Plumbing, Renaissance Tile %26amp; Bath, TKO Associates.

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Image: French finery: THG bath fittings with Daum crystal handles%26nbsp;

Move Over, Yul Ulu

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:50:26 GMT

Not since Auntie Mame tugged on strings of crystals to send her potential in-laws bouncing up and down on hydraulic benches (from fictitious Denmark designer %26ldquo;Yul Ulu,%26rdquo; no less) have beaded room dividers been so fun. For modern-day Mames, artist Tracy Glover has devised handblown glass orbs, onions, lozenges and teardrops that can be strung on nickel or brass chains, or pulled taut on stainless-steel cables. (You could even dangle them as window treatments, or as pendant lighting.) Wildly colorful and entirely custom, they%26rsquo;re just the things for giving your own No. 3 Beekman Place a fabulously bohemian lift. Made to order through Casa di Lino, 4026 Oak Lawn Ave., 214.252.0404; casadilino.com; tracygloverstudio.com.

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Image: Strings with zing: Glass-bead room dividers by Tracy Glover

Oops, She Did It Again

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:46:09 GMT

(And no, we don’t mean who you think.) Say the word “again” in certain circles and chances are Leslie Pritchard comes to mind. Pritchard, you know, is the woman behind two crowd-pleasing consignment shops, both packed with refurbished and one-of-a-kind vintage furniture and accessories. There’s Again %26amp; Again, the can’t-miss pink bungalow at the corner of Bonita and Henderson avenues, and now Again on Howell Street in the Design District, where Pritchard has relocated and renamed her former Again Design Studio, which was just down Henderson from the bungalow. The former studio was a showcase of Pritchard’s top-tier furniture, compared to the funkier finds at Again %26amp; Again, and, she says, “our designers and customers made it clear we needed to be in the Design District.” So it was hello, Howell, where Pritchard has adopted a 14,000-square-foot, loft-like space with ample parking, natural light galore and quick access off of Riverfront Boulevard. Here, everything is under one roof: the amped-up inventory of mid-century modern, antique and Hollywood regency furniture; consigned offerings from the likes of B%26amp;B Italia, Roche Bobois and Edward Wormley; an in-house upholstery shop with plenty of space to display and sell fabrics and provide design consultations; and a meeting area, which can be reserved for designer-client powwows. “Our aim,” Pritchard says, “is to be a good friend and total resource for all those interested in repurposing, recycling, reinventing and re-loving 20th-century furniture.” Count us in. Again, 141 Howell St., 214.746.6300; againandagain.com.

Image: The airier Again, in its new Design District locale. Photo by Margaret Wolf.

Great Reads

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:41:10 GMT

On the 75th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright%26rsquo;s extraordinary Fallingwater residence, Rizzoli publishes a landmark volume, Fallingwater (edited by Lynda Waggoner, $60), with 328 pages, 250 photographs and new text covering the planning process for Fallingwater%26rsquo;s recent extensive renovation. With new photography by Christopher Little, this masterful architectural wonder is f%26ecirc;ted fabulously.

Design%26rsquo;s Newest Darling, in Print. Before you dive into your next home-decor project %26mdash; and we know you%26rsquo;re always just minutes away from that %26mdash; scoop up this tome for some inspiration: Design*Sponge at Home (Artisan Books, $35), the first book from Grace Bonney, founder of the popular blog Design*Sponge. Flip through a whopping 400 pages%26rsquo; worth of design inspiration, DIY projects, how-tos and splashy peeks into the abodes of creative types and beyond: Madewell%26rsquo;s head designer, an antiquarian in France, et al. The pages we dog-eared first were the eight devoted to a resource guide for everything from block-printed Indian textiles to salvaged glassware and tableware. We%26rsquo;re even in love with the book%26rsquo;s pulsating, coral-hued cover and its Cocteau-esque, gold-foil room illustration. Lauren Mang

How sad all these beautifully, perfectly crumbled rooms in Cuba have been hidden away for so long. With travel to Cuba a dim possibility in the near future, we%26rsquo;re boning up on the opulence of colonial Spanish Creole aristocracy, the grand mansions, baroque palacios, coffee plantations and ingenios (sugar plantations). How are we doing this? Vicariously through photographer Michael Connors%26rsquo; amazing new book, The Splendor of Cuba: 450 years of Architecture and Interiors (Rizzoli, $85), which includes beautifully preserved examples of Mudejar craftsmanship and villas in their magnificent original state %26mdash; interiors and exteriors from Havana to Cienfuegos, rife with details of courtyards, balustrades, grilles and louvered doors, as well as a good look at Finca Vig%26iacute;a, the former residence of Ernest Hemingway.%26nbsp; Hopefully, we%26rsquo;ll soon be booking Cubana de Aviaci%26oacute;n.

I was born 100 years too late, and Bals: Legendary Costume Balls of the Twentieth Century (by Nicholas Foulkes; Assouline, $175) proves it. The most beautiful book ever created on this beautiful subject, Bals explores the nine grandest private costume parties of the 20th century, from the Romanov dynasty through Art Deco Paris and the jet-set %26rsquo;70s (Paul Poiret, Truman Capote, Cecil Beaton). With first-person memories from Jacqueline de Ribes, H%26eacute;l%26egrave;ne David-Weill, and Marisa Berenson, it%26rsquo;s almost as good as being there. Almost.

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Image: Photography Maxine Helfman. Model Brandon Davidson for Kim Dawson Agency.

Eye on Design

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:19:14 GMT

We have our eyes focused on nine designers, all local, all vocal about what's new, what's here to stay, best paint hues and fabulous finds. Laurann Claridge mines what's on their minds %26mdash; design-wise %26mdash; and comes up with decorating gems.

Rachael Miclette

Principal/designer, Jacomini Miclette Design

Swedish antiques inspire Miclette.

Your personal aesthetic? And professional? My style reaches for a modern, clean and simplified shell architecturally. I bring comfort to the interiors with traditional furnishings mixed with French and Swedish antiques and a few contemporary elements like a Lucite table or abstract paintings. Professionally our clients tend to be traditional yet like a clean and sophisticated look. %26ldquo;Less is more%26rdquo; is also a good way to define our design style that incorporates antiques and custom-designed furniture.

Miclette favors a soft, easy-to-live-with palette.

If you could inhabit the space of any designer past or present, which would you make your own? Bobby McAlpine%26rsquo;s little cabin getaway, The Shack. It%26rsquo;s a small yet warm and welcoming mix of dark rustic woods and warm luxurious fabrics, with hints of gilt frames all layered on top of each other to create a fancy oasis in an unpretentious setting.

Sage design advice you live by. John Saladino on color: %26ldquo;Color should be used in a way that%26rsquo;s appropriate to the environment, so that it reinforces the architecture, balances the natural conditions and nurtures the souls of the inhabitants of the house.%26rdquo;

Alabaster grapes top a chic cocktail table.

The challenge: You have a clean-lined, two-tiered glass and polished-nickel coffee table. Accessorize it! The bottom tier would have four stacks of coffee-table books written by designers, architects and artists past and present. The top tier would have a collection of alabaster grapes on a stack of design books or a pewter shallow footed bowl, a shagreen decorative box and three decorative candlesticks in a gilt finish or possibly carved stone.

Best furniture investment that withstands the test of time. A small accent table %26mdash; a period piece, the perfect size to put next to a club or side chair.

What are some of the clever ways you%26rsquo;ve incorporated collections into a space? We designed an eight-foot painted metal-and-glass %26eacute;tag%26egrave;re that mimics an antique French birdhouse to house a collection of Steuben glass. It%26rsquo;s hexagonal with arched glass panels, a steeple top and hidden LED lights. The six glass shelves displayed the pieces, which could be viewed on all six sides.

The designer adores this classic berg%26egrave;re, soon to be upholstered.

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Aaron Rambo

Co-owner, Found

Rambo%26rsquo;s own loft

Your personal aesthetic? And professional? My personal aesthetic: masculine, strong, clean forms %26hellip; art-filled, hung salon style %26hellip; muddy in color %26hellip; original finishes %26mdash; whether chipped vintage lacquer or 19th-century paint %26hellip; large-scale objects displayed as artwork %26hellip; well-worn surfaces that don%26rsquo;t have to be treated as precious %26hellip; a few feminine touches, like a tight arrangement of blush-pink roses, to soften the look. Professionally: approachable, collected, personal.

Design blogs and periodicals you devour. Blogs: habituallychic.com, the sartorialist.com, nickolsonstyle.blogspot.com, anafternoonwith.com (Michael Mundy). Magazines: Elle D%26eacute;cor, Veranda, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Dwell, Wallpaper.

Designer Fr%26eacute;d%26eacute;ric M%26eacute;chiche%26rsquo;s Paris apartment. Photo from Insider%26rsquo;s Paris: An Intimate Tour by Jean Demachy (Filipacchi Publishing, 2003).

If you could inhabit the space of any designer past or present, which would you make your own? Designer Fr%26eacute;d%26eacute;ric Mechiche%26rsquo;s apartment in the Marais. It%26rsquo;s collected, edited and full of amazing antiques. Walls are clad in wood from an 18th-century stagecoach; it features muted color, chipped, gilded finishes, bold contemporary artwork and sculptures.

Paint hues that never let you down. Sherwin Williams%26rsquo; Sealskin, a warm black with a brown undertone. Sherwin Williams%26rsquo; Backdrop is a clean, gray taupe that works with everything (I used it for the walls in Found). And just about any color from Farrow %26amp; Ball%26shy; %26mdash; the depth of color changes with the light (love Mouse%26rsquo;s Back). I prefer a uniform color on both the trim and walls in different sheens with as few changes in color throughout the house as possible.

Steal: Brutalist brass chandelier, $45

Your most fabulous find. A French postal bag ($35) that I put in a custom acrylic, museum-quality display box that was almost $800 from Sarah Balinskas. My steal: A vintage Brutalist brass chandelier that hangs over my coffee table. I found it on top of some shelving outside a dive in the Heights for $45.

The challenge: You have a clean-lined, two-tiered glass and polished-nickel coffee table. Accessorize it! Set a tall stack of books you often reference atop it, as well as a heavily carved, large gilt wood architectural fragment that adds some antiquity and texture to a sleek, modern table. Something alive, whether a potted orchid or loose arrangement of a single bloom to add a pop of color and keep the table from feeling static. Add a tray on the lower shelf to hold magazines, books, remotes, etc.

Gilt wood candlesticks for a tabletop

Some of Rambo%26rsquo;s favorite hues

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Kelie Mayfield

Principal, MaRS Design Culture

The designer%26rsquo;s own living room

Your personal aesthetic? My personal aesthetic leans to the eclectic %26mdash; though you%26rsquo;d never be able to tell from my home. The interiors and landscape nod to the mid-century modern style. The majority of the contemporary, multifunctional furniture I custom-designed. I take a minimalist approach; it%26rsquo;s more interesting that a space has just a few key elements in its architecture, art or furnishings that make a powerful statement.

Design blogs and periodicals you devour. Thecoolhunter.net and charlesandmarie.com feature high design on just about everything from all over the world, while cargocollective.com hosts visually compelling artists, photographers, graphic designers (such as Bruce Mau). Love the apps MoMA, Wallpaper, Houzz on my iPhone.

Mayfield%26rsquo;s mod interpretation of pipeline translated to wallpaper for a client

Sage design advice you live by. Have fun with design. A famous architect I worked for, Enric Miralles, once told me to keep a sense of humor %26mdash; it is what makes architecture better.

Most fabulous find. Steal: A Proletariat ticket bought for $100 at DiverseWorks Luck of the Draw. I came home with an Aaron Parazette lithograph.

Mayfield conjured graphic wallpaper from an industrial pipeline design.

Favorite ways to corral a collection or cull clutter. I designed our bedroom furniture to conceal the clutter on nightstands and dressers. Our walnut dresser is fitted with four white lacquer trays with compartments to put watches, wallets and keys that tuck nicely away under the vaulted top of the dresser. The platform bed and headboard have a built-in nightstand that includes a drawer for your reading and also a sliding tray fitted with chargers to power up our iPhones.

Inspirational art by Paul Fleming

The artist you%26rsquo;d design a room around. Anish Kapoor. It would be an exciting challenge to design a space around one of his mirror-like works, which are known for their capacity to distort the viewer and their surroundings. I%26rsquo;d experiment with large patterns and light to enhance the distortion of the room as seen through his reflective sculptural piece.

Inspirational art by Anish Kapoor

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Best furniture investment that withstands the test of time. A good-quality, clean-lined contemporary sofa. I favor Italian manufacturers such as Minotti, Maxalto, Moroso or B%26amp;B Italia, upholstered in a durable felt or wool.

A sleek Minotti sofa

Clever ways to cull a collection. Working with Gulf South Pipeline, I discovered a treasure trove of vintage images that captured the process of building their 7,700-mile natural-gas pipeline. I enlarged them and played with the pixilation to create wallpaper graphics throughout their office.

Workplace design for Gulf South Pipeline crafted by Mayfield

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Tom Harper

Owner, Tom Harper Design

Your personal aesthetic? And professional? I design more transitional, modern spaces %26mdash; minimalist, less colorful. I live in a small, intimate space and keep tchotchkes to a minimum. Clutter makes me crazy! I love old tattered items mixed with sleek modern pieces. Professionally, I keep things current without getting trendy or outrageous, to design a timeless space you can truly live in.

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The late artist Cy Twombly%26rsquo;s untitled blackboard works created with oil pastel and industrial paint on paper (circa 1970) serve as inspiration to Tom Harper. Photo from Cy Twombly: A Monograph by Richard Leeman (Flammarion, 2005).

If you could inhabit the space of any designer, past or present, which would you make your own? Philip Johnson%26rsquo;s Glass House. It sounds so clich%26eacute;, but it%26rsquo;s spectacular simplicity. One of my favorite perspectives of a home is from the outside at night. Could any space be more dramatic than a house built of glass, well lit and beautifully appointed? I%26rsquo;d love the challenge of displaying art without walls.

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Lit from within at night: architect Philip Johnson%26rsquo;s own famed Connecticut residence, The Glass House. Photo from The Glass House: Pairings (National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2007)

Paint hues that never let you down. Gray. It%26rsquo;s a great neutral and goes with everything %26mdash; more current and fresh than tan. Grays are tricky, though; they can read blue, green or purple rather than gray. A sample can of paint can be a lifesaver and prevent a few headaches; a paint color will look very different from one room to another. I love Restoration Hardware paint, especially Pumice and Slate.

Restoration Hardware paint chips

Sage design advice you live by. %26ldquo;Edit, edit, edit.%26rdquo; So many spaces are overdone and cluttered. Your eye needs a place to rest, and it can%26rsquo;t do that if you are in a visual whirlpool.

Your most fabulous find. My best buy ever was my neoclassic EJ Victor writing desk. Valued around $8,000, I purchased it for $50 from a Gucci store being remodeled. Thank you, Tom Ford! Another steal is my porthole mirror from Aaron Brothers Art %26amp; Framing It looks like wood and gold leaf, is quite stylish, and you%26rsquo;d swear it%26rsquo;s a $300 piece, but it%26rsquo;s only $40.

Steal: Porthole mirror, only $40

The challenge: You have a clean-lined, two-tiered glass and polished-nickel coffee table. Accessorize it! Neat stacks of design books topped with an interestingly shaped object like a moss ball; a wood or bronze piece about a foot high; boxes of all kinds (made of materials like horn, croc and quartz) to stow remotes, coasters, etc.; a tray to corral a collection of things or use as a functional serving piece. The key to coffee-table design is using different textures and shapes, varying the levels and heights, keeping things in tight groups.

A giant moss-like ball for a tabletop

The artist you%26rsquo;d design a room around. Cy Twombly. I%26rsquo;d create an almost black-and-white room, somewhat transitional, and hang one of his slate-gray %26ldquo;graffiti%26rdquo; pieces. Using elements of silver leaf, glass, cashmere, Mongolian wool and shear white window treatments, I%26rsquo;d add just a touch of muted color, like a silvered, pale blue green or amber.

Catherine Brooks Giuffre

Designer, J Randall Powers Design/CBG Interiors

The living room of Brooks%26rsquo; former home

Your personal aesthetic? And professional? Classic, refined and timeless. My entire home is painted one color, so each room flows harmoniously into the next, making it possible for every piece of furniture/upholstery/lighting to be moved seamlessly. Our artwork is the main color focus. Professionally, my goal is to complete a job that%26rsquo;s reflective of my client.

If you could inhabit the space of any designer, past or present, which would you make your own? Rose Tarlow%26rsquo;s Beverly Hills apartment. Not only a designer but an antiques dealer as well, her mix of the two is superb. I admire her sense of scale and bravery putting pieces together. Every piece has a function because she starts with a serene foundation, whether it%26rsquo;s paint or grasscloth, and then adds to it.

Rose Tarlow%26rsquo;s living room in her Beverly Hills home. Photo from Architectural Digest, October 1981.

Paint hues that never let you down. Martin Senour%26rsquo;s Soapstone. It%26rsquo;s an exterior paint color I use inside. It%26rsquo;s neutral but has so much depth that several rooms can be painted the same color, and they%26rsquo;ll look just slightly different, given the light. It has a touch of green, gray, brown and none of the unflattering yellow or pink hues. A trick: Paint the trim the same concentration as the walls; because the wall paint is latex and the trim is oil-based, the trim looks a shade darker. The look is very custom. Then paint the ceilings 25 percent of the wall color. Other colors: Martin Senour%26rsquo;s Dovetail is a pretty white trim color, Wooden Spoon is a great basic, and Lariat Tan is a darker neutral more brown/taupe.

Your most fabulous find. A Louis Philippe chest from Kirby Antiques, made of burled walnut veneer with the original marble top. The clean lines, beautiful wood and marble lend themselves to every style, from contemporary to over-the-top decorated. It was the end of the day, and he was ready to make a deal %26mdash; $1,300.

The challenge: You have a clean-lined, two-tiered glass and polished-nickel coffee table. Accessorize it! A tray (raffia, parchment, leather, silver) to create a story or hold a collection; a box to hold remotes, matches; something organic, maiden-hair fern in an interesting planter, fresh flowers (even a single flower) or branches for drama and height. Something sentimental: child%26rsquo;s artwork, a special gift, something passed down that would spark conversation. And last, books that inspire.

Perfect accessories to top a table

Best furniture investment that withstands the test of time. McGuire furniture, especially the original designs from the 1960s. It has so much style, is very comfortable and retains its value. McGuire pieces can always be consigned and sold for their original value, more if it is a discontinued style. And the glass cylinder Brooks lamp designed by J. Randall Powers for Visual Comfort. It%26rsquo;s a classic.

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Very collectible McGuire furniture

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Chandos Dodson

Principal designer, Chandos Interiors

Your personal aesthetic? And professional? My personal aesthetic is classic-traditional and modern. While my design pedigree is in traditional work, I design far more contemporary and modern residences. I live in a mid-century Preston Bolton home and love its exposed brick and floor-to-ceiling windows.

If you could inhabit the space of any designer past or present, which would you make your own? Mark Cunningham%26rsquo;s New York apartment. The furnishings and art are super chic and modern, while the architectural details are pared down and classic. If it were painted differently, someone with traditional tastes could move right in. The art is amazing.

Mark Cunningham%26rsquo;s New York apartment, featured in Elle Decor

Sage design advice you live by. In the words of Billy Baldwin: %26ldquo;Indecision cuts all arteries; the heart will not beat. A room will be dead before it is born.%26rdquo; Be decisive.

Your favorite ways to corral a collection or cull clutter. I renovated my pantry to accommodate an overflow of kitchen appliances cluttering my countertop. I added a base cabinet and several plugs to the pantry and stored everything at waist height, allowing me to easily move them into the kitchen when needed. I also installed narrow four-inch-deep shelves so I can quickly grab any spice, oil and vinegar.

Alexandra von Furstenberg%26rsquo;s weighty Lucite box

The challenge: You have a clean-lined, two-tiered glass and polished-nickel coffee table. Accessorize it! Start with gorgeous books, add a wood and shell-inlay tray (Moroccan in feel), a gray shagreen box for height and concealed storage, a small bronze sculpture (something Henry Moore%26ndash;like) and white Casablanca lilies.

A Dodson-curated tabletop

The artist you%26rsquo;d design a room around. I love Claire Sherman%26rsquo;s Moss (2010). I%26rsquo;d use it in a navy-lacquered study with navy velvet upholstery and an Ikat rug.

Claire Sherman%26rsquo;s Moss inspires Dodson

Best furniture investment that withstands the test of time. Unless you plan to use your furniture only briefly, invest in a quality set of dining chairs. Because dining rooms typically don%26rsquo;t have a lot of furnishings, every piece counts. The Klismos chair is an all-time favorite %26mdash; a classic silhouette that goes in any interior.

Top design books, vintage or new. Rooms to Remember: The Classic Interiors of Suzanne Tucker %26bull; Michael S. Smith: Elements of Style %26bull; Naomi Leff: Interior Design %26bull; Alberto Pinto: Classics %26bull; Jean-Michel Frank.

Dodson envisions a bronze sculpture on a tabletop like Jack Zajac%26rsquo;s Mandoria Piccola, at Gremillion Gallery.

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Laura Umansky

Owner, Laura U Collection

Inside Laura U, the designer%26rsquo;s own Houston shop

Your personal aesthetic? And professional? Personally my look is contemporary and extremely edited. I have a hard time making design decisions for myself: To commit to one thing means I%26rsquo;m denying all of the amazing things I have yet to discover. My home is small by choice, white and gray with pops of primary color in the kitchen only. Professionally I mold my aesthetic to match my clients%26rsquo;. We work collaboratively until I can extract what it is that they are really looking for. I love to work in any style; however, we always add a bold pattern, a statement piece and a bit of whimsy.  

Design blogs and periodicals you devour. Elle D%26eacute;cor, Wallpaper, Anthology, lonnymag.com. We always fight over the latest issue of House Beautiful.

If you could inhabit the space of any designer, past or present, which would you make your own? The Brion Tomb by Carlo Scarpa (San Vito d%26rsquo;Altivole, Italy). It%26rsquo;s perhaps the most peaceful place I have ever seen, and I admire Scarpa%26rsquo;s work more than any other.

Your most fabulous find. We found three vintage Tomlinson chairs with their labels intact. Low slung, cane backs, great shape %26mdash; Craigslist easy and Craigslist price. Fab!

The artist you%26rsquo;d design a room around. We actually designed a kitchen around Damian Hirst%26rsquo;s Ellipticine with warm white walls and high gloss Poggenpohl cabinetry, furnished
with a tulip table base and bright-yellow 3form top (mirrored backing). The ceiling is painted lavender with an amazing violet art-glass chandelier. Underfoot, Hokanson carpets pull in every color from the art. The result is youthful and fun.

Clever ways to cull a collection. We worked with a collection of antique spools %26mdash; hundreds of them. We carved out a corner of a wood-paneled wall to create a niche for a display that could be viewed from two different rooms. Then it was sealed with acrylic.

One of three vintage Tomlinson chairs Umansky scored on Craigslist

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Karen Pulaski Tyrell

Owner/principal designer, Tribute Goods Design

At home with her children%26rsquo;s art

Your personal aesthetic? And professional? My personal style is modern, vibrant, tactile and inviting. I respond to my senses and feel moved by objects that convey sentiment, intellect, beauty and history. From my children%26rsquo;s art projects to custom-designed Italian pottery with a motif echoed in a drapery trim, I look to my environment for grounding and inspiration. I don%26rsquo;t believe in repeating textiles, furniture or wall coverings %26mdash; ever. I encourage fine-art collecting, while color schemes are always determined by the client%26rsquo;s skin tones.

If you could inhabit the space of any designer past or present, which would you make your own? The Empire Suite at the Carlyle Hotel. Designed by Thierry Despont, it%26rsquo;s the essence of modern yet timeless chic living in the heart of the city. Details are rich and sexy, from the sculptural staircase to the modern bathrooms to the perfectly proportioned master suite and, of course, the 360-degree views of Central Park.

The swank Empire Suite chez the Carlyle Hotel

Sage design advice you live by. Form follows function %26hellip; Love what you do and who you are doing it for. It will be felt in the space.

Your most fabulous find. Splurge: an antique French drapier%26rsquo;s table from Made in France that I use as my desk. The fine-grained oak, delicate details and the scale are unusual. It%26rsquo;s both masculine and feminine. Steal: A tole-and-brass light fixture from 1stdibs.com %26mdash;%26nbsp;mid-century %26ldquo;junk%26rdquo;! Shipping was more than the light fixture. I love the juxtaposition of an eight-point starburst with camellia blossoms; it looks like a Chanel brooch.

Steal: From 1stdibs.com

The challenge: You have a clean-lined, two-tiered glass and polished-nickel coffee table. Accessorize it! Small cut-glass objects for light play; scented candle and matches; a few art books on the lower shelf and an interesting shagreen box with a pop of color.

The artist you%26rsquo;d design a room around. A Francis Bacon painting %26mdash; the intensity of color and emotions that his work projects charges a room. Fill the room with a simple rug and good neutral upholstery with accents to pick up the richness of color from his work.

Art inspiration stems from this Francis Bacon oil on canvas, Seated Figure, 1978.

Best furniture investment that withstands the test of time. Art. The contemporary art market has surpassed the S%26amp;P for several years.

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Brian Beatty

Owner, Brian Beatty Design

The versatile chest finds a place in designer Victoria Hagan%26rsquo;s vignette. Photo from Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits by Marianne Hagan (Rizzoli, 2010).

Your personal aesthetic? And professional? My personal aesthetic is %26ldquo;collected undecorated%26rdquo; %26mdash; some call it European. I detest clutter but appreciate a mix of quirky, vintage, modern and antique pieces. Professionally it all depends upon the client%26rsquo;s personality, lifestyle and space. I listen and pay attention, then interpret a suitable, tasteful look.

Paint hues that never let you down. My clients often prefer a safe palette of whites, beiges, grays, which are easy to live with, but%26nbsp;I also love dark hues. On a recent project, I did several black rooms %26mdash; the result was classic, elegant and fresh. I usually prefer the walls and trim to be the same color, to create a calm, updated backdrop, then %26ldquo;twist%26rdquo; the ceiling with a great tonal paper (love pattern on the ceiling) or very soft %26ldquo;off%26rdquo; paint color.

Sage design advice you live by. A sense of humor, natural light and no clutter.

Your most fabulous find. Recently I came across a magnificent set of eight satin-black Regency dining chairs from the %26rsquo;30s %26mdash; a steal for $3,600. Stately, graceful and comfortable.

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Beatty loves this English Regency parcel-gilt Klismos chair, circa 1810. Photo from Chairs: A History by Florence de Dampierre (Harry N. Abrams, 2006).

The challenge: You have a clean-lined, two-tiered glass and polished-nickel coffee table. Accessorize it! That shiny table needs something organic %26mdash; stat! Top shelf: One great %26ldquo;found%26rdquo; wood object or element, or a cluster of small Prinknash gunmetal matte glazed pottery bowls and/or bud vases. Bottom shelf: one current or vintage art book, displayed open.

A cluster of Prinknash pottery

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Welcome to Gray Gardens

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 09:39:47 GMT

Stroll past Lynn and W.L. Gray%26rsquo;s cozy English country cottage set on a cloistered street in the River Oaks area, and you might find yourself debating its hue. Is it warm gray, or perhaps a green tone muddied up with a dash of black or brown? Actually, the exterior of this three-story house is cloaked in seven different shades of paint.

Designer and colorist Lynn Gray, who presides over the property she and her family have lovingly dubbed Gray Gardens, has a method behind this color madness %26mdash; one that encapsulates the most subtle and natural variances of hue. %26ldquo;My husband and I are both Scottish,%26rdquo; she says, %26ldquo;so our favorite time of day is the gloaming. That%26rsquo;s the time when the sun starts to go down and the sky turns that pretty orange hue. It traces back to Scottish music, where they talk about walking through the gloaming. People often think it%26rsquo;s a field, but it%26rsquo;s not. It%26rsquo;s the light %26hellip; What I wanted with this house was to make it appear like it%26rsquo;s in the gloaming all the time.%26rdquo;

The house had already experienced a darker sort of twilight. The quaint structure, which was originally erected in 1935, had fallen into disrepair over the years because its aging homeowners couldn%26rsquo;t keep up with the maintenance. When the Grays happened upon it, the neighbors uncharitably described it as the ugliest house on the block. The exterior was painted an unsightly shade of green that Lynn didn%26rsquo;t care for: mint. To counteract the color temporarily while she worked on the myriad other issues in the house, she painted the front door black, then slowly added more ebony accents, from trellises to trim around the exterior, all in an effort to calm down that mighty mint. Meanwhile, she watched the sun set night after night, contemplating how its warm glow changed the appearance of everything in its shadow.

Cross the threshold, and you find that there are as many stories to tell inside this house as out. Now owned by a woman who describes herself as a collector of collections, particularly those with a naturalist bent, the house is a haven for a rotating array of objets and furniture that she switches in and out according to whim. %26ldquo;I%26rsquo;m a naturalist,%26rdquo; Lynn says. %26ldquo;I think the seashell thing started when I was a little girl. My great-grandmother had a seashell in her living room, and I used to hold it up to my ear and listen to it.%26rdquo;

Seashells gave way to birds%26rsquo; nests, then feathers, bones, skulls, rocks %26mdash; %26ldquo;any of the stuff you%26rsquo;d likely find in a natural science museum,%26rdquo; she says of the pieces that fill tabletops and curiosity cabinets alike. %26ldquo;In my library, I have a table with eight birds%26rsquo; nests that all came from the same ligustrum in front of the library window. I get one a year, and they are all different birds %26mdash; none of the nests are ever the same. That tree is like a bird condo. When I see the baby birds fly off and their broken shells are either in the nest or have fallen from it, I get on the ladder, climb up, get the nest and put it under a dome.%26rdquo;

She shares such acquisitive leanings with her husband, W.L., whom she married 20 years ago. They harmoniously blended not only their families, but also their shared passion for collecting. While Lynn initially %26ldquo;calmed down%26rdquo; her desire to amass religious art (and de-acquisitioned the pieces she already owned), W.L. brought with him a fondness for crystal decanters, blue-and-white china, art and nearly anything Herm%26egrave;s. Over the decades, she%26rsquo;s bought back many of her religious artifacts, melded his English antiques into their decor and merged his collection of decanters on groaning tabletops with the treasures they%26rsquo;ve found while traveling the globe. And then, of course, there%26rsquo;s their shared fondness for Herm%26egrave;s. Lynn%26rsquo;s collection of silk scarves even graces what she refers to as the %26ldquo;fifth walls%26rdquo; %26mdash; aka the ceilings%26mdash; of their home.

Where there is a space, Gray intends to fill it; where there is a wall, ceiling or architectural detail, she%26rsquo;ll paint it. But one thing remains certain: This house will forever host a changing assemblage of what this couple loves most at any given moment.

Cinnabar bracelets keep four of Lynn%26rsquo;s ostrich eggs, part of a collection, from wobbling off the bookshelf%26rsquo;s edge. She also collects tortoiseshells %26mdash; she has amassed the molted shells since she was a child. Top left:

The shell-encrusted Louis XV-style console in the living room was a surprise from W.L. Gray to his wife. Lynn fabricated the two candelabras with seashells and hot glue. The wing chair, most likely from the early 1900s, is one of a pair %26mdash; old family pieces from a good friend.%26nbsp;

The circa-1940s French writing table in the library is where Lynn writes children%26rsquo;s books for her grandson. The stories are about Poppy and The Empress (aka grandparents W.L. and Lynn), who live in a magical green house in the land of Serendipity with their little MG. One of a pair of Chippendale wedding chairs %26mdash; note the tiny hearts carved into them %26mdash; made for a couple getting married in the early 1900s.

Color play in the master-bedroom suite includes Steel Wool walls, Dawn Mist ceiling and high-gloss black trim, all Pratt %26amp; Lambert Accolade. The red-leather studded bed, from Meredith O%26rsquo;Donnell, is dressed with a red-and-black-checked Pendleton blanket and vintage monogrammed pillowcases. Sable antelope trophy head. The Grays collect pieces by artist Julie Speed, which are rendered like old masters%26rsquo; works. Photographs of Native American tribes by Edward Curtis, who traveled the Southwest with authentic tribal costuming to prop his subjects.

Lynn%26rsquo;s cabinet of curiosities is an Asian piece dating to the 1920s that displays everything from Mardi Gras crowns to cinnabar, shells and coral. But this is just the tip of the iceberg: She has boxes filled with such collectibles, hidden offsite in a storage locker.

The Grays have amassed 18 crystal decanters, from mid-1800s treasures to contemporary finds.

W.L. wears primarily Belgian Shoes and Stubbs %26amp; Wootton slippers. For years, Lynn ordered and wore Belgian Shoes herself and tried forever to get her husband to buy a pair of what she calls the most comfortable shoes she%26rsquo;s ever worn. He finally conceded and now owns tartan, devil-accented and velvet monogrammed Belgian Shoes, each with the signature tiny leather bow. Every year, Lynn orders six pairs for him; he never knows what colors or patterns he%26rsquo;s getting.

Driving and hunting caps, mostly purchased during their travels to Scotland.

W.L. keeps a tidy, well-organized closet just off the master bath. 6. A bird%26rsquo;s-eye view of some of the found nests that Lynn keeps under gleaming glass domes.

The exterior of Gray Gardens is painted seven shades of a gray-green hue with Pratt %26amp; Lambert Accolade. The front door offers a sneak peek of what%26rsquo;s to be found inside: lots of coral accents, both real and painted. The vintage iron urns flanking the entry have followed the Grays from house to house.

Lynn insisted that the bottom of the pool be %26ldquo;emerald black.%26rdquo; The installer tried to dissuade her, but she wanted a lagoon-like look, and she%26rsquo;s thrilled that she held her ground. (The installer ultimately agreed.) The mismatched antique iron garden urns are watered from below, via openings on the bottom of the pots and stands.

Lynn and W.L. Gray drive around town every Sunday in their vintage 1952 MG TD convertible. They are only the second owners of this beautifully maintained hunter-green MG. W.L. had wanted to own an MG TD since his college days %26mdash; while his wife loves how the car perfectly coordinates with their house.

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Competing Geometries

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 06:43:16 GMT

If cowboy boots tell you a lot about the man who wears them, James McInroe%26rsquo;s positively scream. The decorator is clonking about inside an apartment at the Mansion Residences %26mdash; the tony high-rise lashed to the Rosewood Mansion hotel, complete with sweeping views, smiling concierges and cr%26egrave;me br%26ucirc;l%26eacute;e whenever you please, since room service comes with the deed %26mdash; placing a modernist sculpture on a glass cocktail table, just so. The boots at the south end of McInroe%26rsquo;s all-black ensemble are a combination of gray and black skins. Bison? Shark? Who knows. But, more tellingly, the toes are capped not with steel tips or some kind of tooled, Western-y points: They are capped with upturned arcs of black patent leather. Shiny, glossy, black-as-pitch leather. Clearly, you don%26rsquo;t call James McInroe when you want to go ropin%26rsquo; or ridin%26rsquo;%26mdash; you call James McInroe when you are ready to blaze trails of a more seriously chic kind.

Which is precisely what happened here, relative to this nearly 3,000-square-foot aerie with the aforementioned round-the-clock room service and CinemaScope views of uptown and down. The owners are longtime clients of McInroe%26rsquo;s, who settled here after stints at a house in University Park and another high-rise along Turtle Creek Boulevard. The Mansion apartment, indeed, had the proverbial good bones %26mdash; very good bones. The original blueprints reveal why: %26ldquo;Booziotis %26amp; Company Architects,%26rdquo; the Dallas firm responsible for The Margaret and Trammell Crow Collection of Asian Art and the stunning private art gallery for Marguerite and the late Robert Hoffman. Stepping off the elevator, one looks to the right to see a massive, floor-to-ceiling entry door of gleaming Macassar ebony. It slowly pivots open into a gallery-style foyer, from which two hallways zoom. Go left, and a curved wall thrusts you toward the sunken living room, all high ceilings, tall windows and bountiful space. At this side of the apartment, too, are an open-plan office, a light-filled den and a yacht-like kitchen, everything hidden and battened down. Turn right inside the entry foyer and you%26rsquo;re pulled into darker halls and byways, which lead to a cozier den and the private quarters, complete with highly contemporary glass-and-marble baths and fitted closets galore.

Because of the inherited severity of the apartment%26rsquo;s shell %26mdash; it brings to mind Halston%26rsquo;s famously minimal New York townhouse by Paul Rudolph %26mdash; one instinct might%26rsquo;ve been
to pull in two Barcelona chairs, one potted orchid and call it a day. Not so McInroe and his design partner Marcia Curtis-Hornsby, who massaged the space into something a bit
more dramatic, and certainly more luxurious. To calm down %26ldquo;too many fighting veneers in one place,%26rdquo; says McInroe of the apartment%26rsquo;s various woods, the existing bamboo floors
went from natural to gorgeously dark, their original beveled grooves now sanded off and coats of ebony stain slicked on. The wide, drywall columns between the living room%26rsquo;s enormous windows were encased in mirror, to magnify and maximize the skyline view. Where wall-to-wall carpet was envisioned (shades of Halston again), velvety bolts of the
stuff were snugged down.

But it wasn%26rsquo;t until McInroe and Curtis-Hornsby stirred in the owners%26rsquo; furnishings and art that the apartment found its new voice. The former Dunn and Brown Contemporary was the main source for the highly modern collection; Lisa Brown, now of Lisa Brown Consulting, continues to expand it. Almost half of the decorative stash %26mdash; furnishings included %26mdash; came from the couple%26rsquo;s previous residences. In fact, McInroe almost recoils in dread at the theorem that new digs mean new everything. %26ldquo;We never do that,%26rdquo; he asserts. %26ldquo;We always work with clients%26rsquo; collections. We only add %26lsquo;new%26rsquo; where it improves the look of things.%26rdquo; Some pieces were recast in fresh finishes, and others got new roles entirely. Indeed, the project gave McInroe and Curtis-Hornsby artistic license, allowing new juxtapositions, new combinations. That is the strength and imprint of a James McInroe, Inc., project: its courageous %26mdash; often outrageous %26mdash; mix of dark and light, high and low, elegant and edgy. Here, it%26rsquo;s happening in spades, from Mies van der Rohe chairs covered in hairy white cowhide to a prim, piped sofa (%26agrave; la a Chanel suit) facing off to a carved, black, X-base stool whose seat cushion is covered in rabbit fur. Jet black, of course. Same as the patent-leather tips on those screaming boots.

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The den, handily adjacent to the kitchen. The sofa is custom, by James McInroe, Inc., in Brentano fabric. Flanking it, luxuriously scaled selenite lamps, also designed by McInroe.
The cocktail table is Lucite and glass; the pair of chairs is 1970s, made in Spain, and covered in Velours de Versailles from Kravet. Two King Tuts, made by Lenox in 1978 for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, survey the scene. The Louis XVI-style bench is 1960s, from James McInroe, Inc., upholstered in black rabbit skin. Underneath, Greek-key carpet by Stark, now unavailable.

On a cocktail table in the living room, 1970s Murano-glass sculptures from James McInroe, Inc.

Certainly, the chicest sunken living room in town, two steps down from the rest of the apartment. Decorator McInroe has organized the capacious room into multiple zones for conversing and dining. The ivory-leather and polished-ebony Normandie lounge chairs are from Jan Showers; the pair of Mies van der Rohe Brno chairs (in rather hairy white charolais cowhide) are from James McInroe, Inc. Background, far right, are 1970s chromed-steel chairs by Design Institute America, also from James McInroe, Inc. The tall table lamp, far left, is 1960s, covered in ostrich skin. In the foreground, a 1999 cast-bronze sculpture by Joel Shapiro; above the fireplace, a 2009 painted-aluminum work by Jane Manus. On the mirrored columns are two photogravure works by Ted Kincaid, through Barry Whistler Gallery. Underfoot, luxe, velvety, commercial-grade nylon carpeting, the source of which McInroe keeps secret.

The apartment%26rsquo;s entry foyer, with a curved wall that leads to the living room and points beyond. The black-lacquer wall console is original to the apartment; above it, Chuck Close%26rsquo;s Self-Portrait/Pulp, 2001, of colored and pressed paper pulp, all handmade.

In a nook just off the kitchen, a fitted banquette augmented with Milo Baughman chairs. On the banquette, pillows in Sunbrella fabric designed by Trina Turk for Schumacher. On the linen-upholstered walls, eight etchings by Trenton Doyle Hancock, circa 2002. The gilded-iron chandelier is from Mexico City, circa 1960s; the vase below it is Italian, by Porcellane d%26rsquo;Arte.

On a low granite wall that divides the living room from the entry, a 2009 work by Tara Donovan, of Mylar and hot glue. Beyond it, on the curved wall, a site-specific work by Matthew Sontheimer, Forepost, 2001-2010, in adhesive vinyl. The Macassar ebony wall panels are original to the apartment.

In a darkened hallway, Erick Swenson%26rsquo;s Untitled (Velvet Horn), 2009, in polyurethane resin, acrylic paint, MDF and steel. Beyond, a second den with a pair of 1960s cowhide-upholstered American chairs, a Pierre Cardin cocktail table, and at far left, a custom daybed by James McInroe, Inc. On the far wall, a hallucinogenic Op art piece%26nbsp; %26mdash; %26ldquo;1970s, of course,%26rdquo; says McInroe.

The serene master bedroom, with a parchment wall original to the apartment that most certainly channels the great French decorator Jean-Michel Frank. The zebrawood headboard was designed by James McInroe; the upholstered panel is leather, from Larru Leathers. Many of the bed linens are by Home Treasures, at Casa di Lino in Dallas. The pair of bedside lamps is 1970s Czechoslovakian glass; the chandelier is Murano glass. The tinted bird%26rsquo;s-eye maple wall was original to the apartment, too; on it, an oil-on-photograph work by Ann Stautberg, from Barry Whistler Gallery.center The decorator James McInroe, in the apartment%26rsquo;s foyer.

The elevator lobby on the apartment%26rsquo;s floor serves just one other dwelling, as there are only two apartments per floor at the Mansion Residences. Here, an Italian buffet from the 1940s, a pair of Gaetano Sciolari lamps and a dhurrie rug, all from James McInroe, Inc. The pair of 1940s chairs and the 1940s mirror are from Jan Showers.

Anything But Flor’Dinary

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:29:02 GMT

They had us at %26ldquo;Fuzzy Button.%26rdquo; Flor, the company famous for its cleverly named, mix-and-match carpet squares %26mdash; think peel-and-stick tiles, but with a much higher taste level %26mdash; used to be just an online thrill. (And catalog, too: We were among the first subscribers at its launch, in 2003.) Virtual no more: There%26rsquo;s now a brick-and-mortar store (near neighbors Nest, Ligne Roset and Forty Five Ten) where you can mix and match your way to carpeted nirvana. We%26rsquo;ve always loved the pixilated effects one can create with Flor%26rsquo;s nearly 20-inch tiles %26mdash; shuffle as many solid colors together as suits your fancy %26mdash; but there are stripes and patterns, too, from woodblock effects to wiggles and geometrics that channel Missoni and David Hicks. The textures are as varied as the visuals: Some feel sweater-y, others like sheepskin, and there are wools, Berbers, ribs and loops, all quite sophisticated. Installation is a snap: Sticky dots hold the squares together underneath, and the whole assemblage sits comfortably atop concrete and wood floors %26mdash; easily removable, terribly changeable. In fact, the eco-friendly Dallas store (energy-savvy lighting, forest-friendly wood flooring, even paperless receipts) hopes you bring back any tiles you%26rsquo;ve tired of, for subsequent recycling into new goodies. Just the thing for you fickle floor types, who feel like sisal one season, Aubusson the next. (We shan%26rsquo;t point fingers.) 4528 McKinney Ave., Suite 104, 214.520.6363; flor.com.

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Image: We%26rsquo;re Flor%26rsquo;d: Offerings at Flor, now open in McKinney Avenue%26rsquo;s mini design district.

Walls Gone Wild

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:23:28 GMT

It%26rsquo;s a bit like papering your living room in Prada, or doing your sofa cushions in Christian Lacroix. Swiss textile house Jakob Schlaepfer, suppliers of incredible fabrics to the aforementioned fashion houses, plus Yves Saint Laurent and Marc Jacobs, too, just recently %26mdash; the company was founded in 1904 %26mdash; turned its attention to wallpapers and fabrics for the manse. You should see what the good folks at Cory Pope %26amp; Associates are unfurling from Schlaepfer%26rsquo;s D%26eacute;cor line: Pollock, whose abstract sequins flip to and fro as you brush your fingers across them, and Remus, whose trippy profusions of flowers, clouds, branches, birds and butterflies could blow all those 1800s Chinese wallpapers right back into the history books. To the trade at Cory Pope %26amp; Associates.

Image: Gardens on a roll: Papers and panels from Jakob Schlaepfer.

Dangle Some Decadence …

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:21:14 GMT

%26hellip; over a buffet, in your library, perhaps a solarium? We love the clean-yet-cluttered magnificence of Restoration Hardware%26rsquo;s new chandeliers %26mdash; a crash of ornate crystals within simple iron cages. One is an homage to an old-world gyroscope, its Saturn-like bands whirling around a faceted-crystal chandelier trapped inside. The other? A replica of an early-20th-century birdcage, its iron door resolutely slammed shut on a sparkly chandelier within, and all dangling from thick, aged marine rope. Either way, the modernist and the maximalist in you will be completely, utterly satiated. (And illuminated.) There will be maximal thrills galore, by the way, when Restoration Hardware unveils its high-concept Highland Village store in Houston later this fall %26mdash; an extravaganza second only to its new West Hollywood flagship, which boasts such extra perks as a tea shop, a floral-design studio and a design-centric newsstand. In the meantime, you%26rsquo;ll have to swing from these new chandeliers in your own high-concept abode. From $2,195 to $4,495, at Restoration Hardware; restorationhardware.com.

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Image: High-low luminaries: Restoration Hardware%26rsquo;s new iron-and-crystal chandelier

Trina's Whirl

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:55:49 GMT

Trina Turk has taken up residence in Highland Park Village in a groovy Southern California%26ndash;inspired boutique, bursting with her bombshell %26rsquo;60s and %26rsquo;70s aesthetic transferred to Riviera play clothes and home accessories. Just what (or who) are Trina%26rsquo;s modernist muses? Let%26rsquo;s take a look in the topsy-turvy mind of Ms. Turk.%26nbsp;

In your library, the five most inspirational design/fashion books, vintage or new? Slim Aarons: A Place in the Sun%26nbsp; %26bull;%26nbsp; Charles and Ray Eames: Designers of the Twentieth Century%26nbsp; %26bull;%26nbsp; Architecture of the Sun: Los Angeles Modernism 1900 %26ndash; 1970%26nbsp; %26bull;%26nbsp; California Design series by the Pasadena Art Museum%26nbsp; %26bull;%26nbsp; Maija Isola: Life, Art, Marimekko

What inspires your posh prints? Prep coquette, the Mediterranean, the Mexican Riviera, the globetrotting gypsetter.

Where did you travel this summer? Istanbul, Bodrum, Turkey.

Favorite hotels in the world? Parker Palm Springs. La Sirenuse in Positano.

What%26rsquo;s in your weekend-resort carry-on? Lots of vintage and Trina Turk jewelry, white shorts, printed TT dresses and swimsuits, one big straw hat, a few sunglasses options, flat and heeled metallic sandals.

Ping-Pong paddle, toolbox and scissors. Next tool for play? A blowtorch.

Favorite labels from the %26rsquo;60s and %26rsquo;70s? Donald Brooks, Pauline Trig%26egrave;re, Rudi Gernreich.

Car you covet? 1961 Studebaker Avanti designed by Raymond Loewy

Architect who would build the perfect house in Trina%26rsquo;s World? Ray Kappe or John Lautner.

Gaud%26iacute; or Mies? Mies.

Interior designers in Trina%26rsquo;s World?%26nbsp; David Hicks, Billy Haines, Paul L%26aacute;szl%26oacute;, Edward Wormley, Alexander Girard, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings.

Dorothy Draper or Jean-Michel Frank? Both.

Five best movies you have ever seen? Sunset Boulevard%26nbsp; %26bull;%26nbsp; Chinatown%26nbsp; %26bull;%26nbsp; The Graduate%26nbsp; %26bull;%26nbsp; Blade Runner%26nbsp; %26bull;%26nbsp; Pandora%26rsquo;s Box

Netflix or the cinema? Cinema.

iPad or laptop? Mac or PC? Mac laptop.

Are you coming to Dallas soon? Yes, I%26rsquo;ll be there in September for our grand opening party. See you then!

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Images:

Trina Turk in the Anastasia Dress in Tigerleaf print. Photo by Jonathan Skow.

Resin Ball Ring with Palm Springs Block inscribed band.

Sun Seeker Dress in Sunset Lanterns CDC from Trina Turk%26rsquo;s Resort 2011 collection. Photo by Jonathan Skow.

Trina in an arch next to the Odeon in Ephesus (2nd century AD). Photo by Jonathan Skow.

Selfridges living room by David Hicks, 1969. Photo from David Hicks: Designer by Ashley Hicks (Scriptum Editions, 2003)

Malin House by John Lautner. Photo from The Architecture of John Lautner (Rizzoli, 1999); photo by Alan Weintraub.

Trina Turk for Alice Supply Co. Ping-Pong set in the Ogee print.

Trina in the Shade hat, Capri. Photo by Jonathan Skow

Mr. Turk dustpan, brush and scissors by Trina Turk in the U-Turn print, in collaboration with Alice Supply Co. Photo by Jonathan Skow.

Parker Palm Springs hotel.

Pauline Trig%26egrave;re, 1964. Vogue; photo by Henry Clarke.

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Brigitte Bardot and Jacques Charrier in Saint-Tropez, 1959. Photo from Riviera Cocktail by Edward Quinn (teNeues, 2007).

Go With the Glow

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:53:49 GMT

Just the thing for lighting up the place. The style-savvy Alexandra Von Furstenberg %26mdash; she was the creative director for her famous former mother-in-law, Diane, and she is one of those wildly glamorous Miller sisters; her sibs are Pia Getty and Marie-Chantal, the Crown Princess of Greece %26mdash; turns acrylic into angular, architectural tables and desks. There are two collections in our midst: Fearless, infused with neon hues, and Voltage, Von Furstenberg%26rsquo;s smokier, darker side. This particular table is aptly called Radiant, for the cut of a diamond %26mdash; and, in gleaming yellow, could certainly give your lemon-drop martinis an appropriate perch. To the trade at Dahlgren Duck %26amp; Associates, 1617 Hi Line Dr., 972.478.5991; dahlgrenduck.com.

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Image: Hello, yellow: Alexandra Von Furstenberg%26rsquo;s acrylic tables, now at Dahlgren Duck %26amp; Associates.

Sleep Like a (Million Dollar) Baby

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:51:54 GMT

Should you be in the market for a new spot to slumber, consider something of the Qing variety. (Qing Dynasty, that is.) This rare, six-post canopy bed %26mdash; intricately carved from huanghuali wood and dating to the 18th century %26mdash; is up for bid at Dallas Auction Gallery%26rsquo;s two-day Asian sale, September 7 and 8. Look carefully at the low railings: Twelve openwork panels are carved with chi-dragons, clouds and characters representing longevity, all supported on cabriole legs. What will it take to sleep this well? Bring $800,000 to $1.2 million, the bed%26rsquo;s estimate. Information 214.653.3900; dallasauctiongallery.com.

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Image: High-dollar dreamland: A rare canopy bed from the Qing Dynasty (it could fetch more than $1 million), on the block at Dallas Auction Gallery. Photo courtesy Dallas Auction Gallery.

The Fair-est of Them All

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:32:06 GMT

For this month%26rsquo;s fashion feature, we tapped into the grandest fall trend: the enchanting, ethereal 1930s. Lucky for us, the perfect place to capture it all was right here: The Hall of State inside Fair Park, the famous exhibition site of 1936, and the world%26rsquo;s largest collection of Deco buildings. We set up shop at the impressive edifice %26mdash; constructed from Texas limestone %26mdash; and photographed our bob-haired beauties posing betwixt bronzed doors and bold chandeliers. They channeled, in fact, the glamorous portraitist Tamara de Lempicka, who painted Deco-era scenes, set against geometric backgrounds. See it all, beginning on page 26. For your own Deco moment, go see The Hall of State %26mdash; especially when The Dallas Historical Society unveils its latest exhibit, %26ldquo;TEXAS!,%26rdquo; which honors the state%26rsquo;s 175th anniversary, with a glimpse into its heritage via objects gathered from El Paso to Beaumont and everywhere in between: think Davy Crockett%26rsquo;s pipe and pistol or a gown worn by the Grand Duchess of Texas during the 1940 Galveston Mardi Gras. It begins September 30; visit dallashistory.org.

Meet the Smiths

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 03:14:23 GMT

Above the hearth in the family room is an oil on canvas by Yoshitomo Nara. The small sculpture to the right of the painting is by Houston artist Sharon Engelstein. Donghia Stellare Gold Dust chandelier. Sofa, armchairs and vintage draperies were all crafted by Custom Creations. Geometric tone-on-tone rug from Creative Flooring Resources.

Leigh and Reggie Smith are living a love story. Not only are they parents to three school-aged children, but they are completely entranced with one another %26mdash; and with the ever-growing collection of contemporary art that fills the soaring walls of their River Oaks home. The Georgia-born and -raised couple met in law school and lived in Atlanta for a time before making Houston home. Leigh%26rsquo;s sister Carol McCranie Magri %26mdash; a student at Parsons School of Design during the %26rsquo;80s who also worked with Christie%26rsquo;s auction house %26mdash; introduced Leigh and Reggie to the galleries and artists about which the New York art world was then abuzz. %26ldquo;We started buying art literally the first year we were married, in the late %26rsquo;80s. It slowly became a passion we shared,%26rdquo; recalls Leigh, a bubbly brunette who was drawn with Reggie into the Pop Art movement of the era. Reggie adds, %26ldquo;We couldn%26rsquo;t afford to buy a big painting right out of school, but we could buy print work. That%26rsquo;s primarily how we started, with a lot of prints by Rosenquist, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Tom Wesselmann, Ruscha and Rauschenberg. They are all great print makers, and we bought pieces that have really held their value and escalated in crazy ways. But back then, it was really affordable.%26rdquo; Today, these art patrons are active on the boards of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston%26rsquo;s Glassell School of Art and the Aurora Picture Show, among others.

When the family of five outgrew their Museum District Georgian-style house, they found a grand and gracious River Oaks home whose expansive wall space, 14-foot ceilings and large rooms could not only handle the depth of their present collection but give the couple space to acquire still more. Built in 1982 by legendary local real estate magnate Harold Farb, the house passed through three owners and, in 2009, was acquired by the Smiths, who reinvented the floor plan with family in mind, collaborating with friend and designer Terry Prather. %26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

While the former formal living room made a smashing presentation in all its fabric-festooned glory (adorning walls, ceiling and windows) as one walked through the front door, the Smiths reimagined the buttoned-up style as a toned-down family room awash in easy-to-live-with neutrals. Now their Yoshitomo Nara painting over the hearth is the focal point of the room.Surrounded by playful Japanese art such as the pastel-hued, 60-inch-tall resin sculpture in the library, also by Yoshitomo Nara, and a gelatin silver print of a work made with Bosco chocolate syrup by Vik Muniz in the dining room, one is tempted to assume a certain facile aim behind the Smiths%26rsquo; collecting. But dig a little deeper. The couple is cognizant of the fact that with three children in their midst, it%26rsquo;s important to veer from dark or sexually charged imagery created by the artists they favor, so the messages in their chosen works can indeed appear mixed.%26ldquo;So much of our collection has a cleverness to it,%26rdquo; says Leigh. %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s conceptual with an intellectual, funny twist. Like Yasumasa Morimura dressing up like someone else, or playing with a historical image like Oscar Wilde or the iconic Frida Kahlo portrait rendered way too big (she never worked in that scale), where if you look at it, you realize it%26rsquo;s not a woman but an Asian man %26hellip; The Japanese art isn%26rsquo;t so cute when you get into it. It%26rsquo;s rather dark. They use imagery that looks like Hello Kitty, but there%26rsquo;s a rock-n-roll edge. It%26rsquo;s a little subversive with a counter-culture slant.%26rdquo;
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And when it comes to discerning what artwork her children would like to live with in their own bedrooms, Leigh says, %26ldquo;They definitely ask for certain pieces in their rooms; especially moving here, now that they%26rsquo;re older, there was a lot of bargaining back and forth.%26rdquo; The children are budding collectors of art, too (as well as dolls and action figures). They%26rsquo;ve grown up traveling with their avid art-supporting parents, who nearly always include museum and gallery excursions on holidays. The Smith kids even managed to get in on the art-buying act this past Christmas, when they teased their mom for weeks, saying they were going to get her the pet monkey she%26rsquo;d always longed for, when in fact they conspired with their dad to splurge on a Donald Roller Wilson monkey painting for her.A collector of many things outside the realm of contemporary art, Smith%26rsquo;s sentimental fondness for pieces of the past, particularly ones%26nbsp; that tie back to her childhood, has a place here, too. You%26rsquo;ll find dollhouse furniture, royal commemorative plates and English presentation plates dating from the early 1800s to the turn of the last century, which might have been gifts given on special birthdays or christening presents. In the breakfast room, Smith has neatly stacked a trove of tin picnic baskets, several of which once belonged to her grandmother. %26ldquo;Then we collect seashells,%26rdquo; she says. %26ldquo;All my children and I are crazy about seashells. Everywhere we go, we collect them and stick them in boxes all around the house.%26rdquo;One thing is for sure: This is a home constantly evolving as the Smiths add to their art stash by supporting Texas%26rsquo; emerging artists and traveling to discover others whose work has the art world chattering %26mdash; all while remaining true to their own marvelously quirky collecting predilections.

One corner of the large family room features Misc Tyrone, an oil painting on canvas by artist Barkley Hendricks, who recently exhibited at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. To the right hangs a painting by German artist Ulf Puder, from Barbara Davis Gallery. Cigarette tables from Mecox. The sculptural box atop the two-tiered side table is by Yoshitomo Nara. The lips pillows are by Marilyn Minter, commissioned by the Aspen Art Museum.

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The dining room has Venetian-plaster wall treatment. Antique oval Italian dining table and chairs, from the former Brian Stringer Antiques. Flowers by David Brown. Aubusson rug from Matt Camron Rugs %26amp; Tapestries. Curtains custom made by G%26amp;S Draperies, with Vervain fabric from S.Harris. Above the hearth is a self-portrait photograph by Monica Castillo, mounted on acrylic.

In the garden room hangs a 1937 oil-painting portrait by Francis Picabia, an artist from France whose estate is represented by Waddington Gallery, London. Waylande Gregory vase from Sloan/Hall. The daybed covered in natural linen is from Antiques on Dunlavy. The shape of the sofa, designed by Terry Prather, mimics the curve of the window bay; it was created by Custom Creations with F. Schumacher %26amp; Co. fabric.

In the entry hall rises a grand staircase with iron and brass railing. The sculpture, Girl Balancing on a Globe by Yinka Shonibare, is a piece the Smiths purchased at Art Basel in Switzerland from Stephen Friedman Gallery of London. The tiger-striped carpet on the stairs is from Creative Flooring Resources.%26nbsp;

In the master bedroom, a pencil portrait titled Green Diane by John Currin from the Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York. Curtains by Custom Creations are Pindler linen with Kravet leaf trim. The chairs are covered in linen printed-vine fabric by F. Schumacher %26amp; Co. Area rug with coordinating vine pattern by Creative Flooring Resources. Paint is Farrow %26amp; Ball Light Blue No. 22.

A peek inside Sarah%26rsquo;s room, the Smiths%26rsquo; daughter. The photograph-like portrait of the Smith children is actually a pastel-and-acrylic on paper by Heidi McFall, commissioned through the Annina Nosei Gallery, New York. Phillip Jeffries grass-cloth wall covering. Heirloom chairs upholstered in fuchsia chenille. Bed by Crate %26amp; Barrel, with bedding from Serena %26amp; Lily. Vintage white ceramic chandelier.

In the expansive entry hall, lined with glossy parquetry floors, is one of a pair of French Louis XV-style settees. The gilded chandeliers are original to this circa-1982 house. Over the hearth in the library, a photographic portrait by Yasumasa Morimura of himself made to resemble one of several famous self-portraits by artist Frida Kahlo. Entitled An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo, the piece is from Luhring Augustine Gallery, New York.

In the corner of the library stands Quiet, Quiet a 60-inch-tall resin and lacquer sculpture by artist Yoshitomo Nara from Blum %26amp; Poe. The lacquered floor-to-ceiling cabinets are painted River Oaks Green, a hue that actually appears black. Look closely, and you%26rsquo;ll spy Nara and Murakami collectible toys. Aubusson rug from Matt Camron Rugs %26amp; Tapestries.

The sitting room outside the master suite includes fabulous portraiture by artists James Drake (top left), Jim Nutt (bottom left), John Alexander (top center), David Hockney (bottom center) and Larry Rivers (bottom right and top left).

Julian Opie%26rsquo;s oval orange portrait from Galerie Bob van Orsow, Zurich. The Laurie Simmons sculpture is entitled Clothes Make the Man; starburst demi-lune table from Carl Moore Antiques.

The breakfast-room niche features photographic works by Liliana Porter from Sicardi Gallery and a toile-inspired piece by Sarah Charlesworth, from Baldwin Gallery in Aspen. Lining the shelves is a collection of Leigh Smith%26rsquo;s vintage tin picnic baskets. Wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries .

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In the garden room is a baby grand piano by German maker August F%26ouml;rster. The Louis XV-style daybed, covered in linen and topped with two Fortuny-covered pillows, is from Antiques on Dunlavy. Custom rug from Creative Flooring Resources. The curtains depicting cacao beans are Vervain fabric from S.Harris.

A view from the pool toward the back of the house. Leigh Smith, left, and her children, Sarah, Sam and Ross, stand at the landing.

Fall Books

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 01:48:49 GMT

One of the most hotly awaited books for fall, Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent (introduction Cathy Horyn; contributions Cindy Sherman, Miuccia Prada, Jean-Paul Gaultier and more; Rizzoli, $100), follows the French muse and editrix through her fearless career spanning the early %26rsquo;90s through collaborations with photog Mario Testino, Tom Ford in his Gucci years and her stewardship of French Vogue. Karl Lagerfeld once said that if you close your eyes and imagine the ideal French woman, it would be Carine. This book is chic, chic, chic, with 250 magazine tear sheets and covers, plus personal ephemera.

One of my favorite Vogue columns (aside from the Letter from Anna Wintour) is %26ldquo;Nostalgia,%26rdquo; where celebrated public figures choose a photograph from Vogue%26rsquo;s archives, then write about the memory it evokes from the time in their lives when it was first published. In Nostalgia in Vogue (edited by Eva McSweeney; foreword by Anna Wintour (yay); Rizzoli, $55), 63 essays are reproduced from the memories of Patti Smith, Manolo Blahnik, Carly Simon, Anjelica Huston and more.

We covet John Currin and his mannerist paintings that draw upon cultural influences, such as Renaissance oil paintings, 1950s women%26rsquo;s-magazine ads and contemporary politics. In John Currin (essays by Wells Tower; interview with Currin by Angus Cook; Rizzoli in association with Gagosian Gallery, $100), the contemporary-tinged figurative paintings cover the past five years of female subjects, perfectly hovering between the beautiful and the grotesque.

Mr. Color himself, decorator Carleton Varney, channels Dorothy Draper in his love of grand scale and bright, snappy color combos. And he should channel Dorothy %26hellip; he was under her tutelage and is now head of the venerable Dorothy Draper and Company. In his newest book, Mr. Color: The Greenbrier and Other Decorating Adventures (Shannongrove Press, $95), Mr. Varney takes us through the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, which Dorothy originally did up and Varney has redone. Gorgeous photographs and fun beyond words.

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In a new retrospective monograph spanning more than three decades, contemporary artist Anish Kapoors%26rsquo; depicted works are both profoundly poetic and visually explosive. One of the most renowned sculptors working today, Kapoor captured the 1991 Turner Prize, was the creator of Monumenta 2011 for the Grand Palais in Paris and has represented Britain at both the Paris and Venice Biennales. Anish Kapoor (by Jean de Loisy and Homi Bhabha; Flammarion, $75) belongs on every art lover%26rsquo;s bookshelf.

An artists%26rsquo; book, Richard Prince: American Prayer (Rizzoli in association with Gagosian Gallery, $65), is a 600-page celebration of the artistry of book design, with unforgettable covers, arresting spines, must%26ndash;read passages and authors%26rsquo; personal inscriptions. Prince opens up his personal library (think Kerouac%26rsquo;s rolled manuscript for Big Sur, and editions of Lolita in multiple languages) and is also invited into the Bibliotheque nationale de France to select his favorite titles for this book and the accompanying exhibition in the French library. American Prayer offers a glimpse into the source material for many of Prince%26rsquo;s most well-known series.

We%26rsquo;ve long loved Oliver Messel, an eccentric and brilliant theatrical designer who also crafted rooms for Antony Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon, and Princess Margaret and that ilk. Messel was the most celebrated theatrical designer that England ever produced, and romanticism and wit were his hallmarks. In Oliver Messel: In the Theatre of Design (introduction Lord Snowdon; contributions by Carolina Herrera, Hamish Bowles and more; Rizzoli, $75), his nephew Thomas Messel, an eminent furniture designer, worked on the refurbishment of two of Messels%26rsquo; design projects: the Dorchester Hotel and Flaxley Abbey.

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In Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (by Lisa Immordino Vreeland; Abrams, $55), the famous fashion editrix%26rsquo;s pithy statements are chronicled, along with 50 years of her astonishing and vivid fashion pages, inspirations and other vestiges of her rich life.

The timing couldn%26rsquo;t be better for Oberto Gili%26rsquo;s Home Sweet Home: Sumptuous and Bohemian Interiors (text Susanna Salk; Rizzoli, $85). Gili%26rsquo;s photographs (House %26amp; Garden, Vogue) are romantic and poetically rich with personal taste. This lush tome is filled with personal spaces %26mdash; apartments lined with books and treasures, an ancient castello filled with generations of antiques. In addition to his own home in Piedmont, 35 homes and artist%26rsquo;s studios are depicted in rich and glorious detail, including those of Isabella Rossellini, Anish Kapoor, Renzo Mongiardino and Muriel Brandolini.

We never get tired of (or seem to run out of) grand, eccentric English country houses. In this batch, English Country House Interiors (by Jeremy Musson; foreword Sir Roy Strong; Rizzoli, $60), we are granted unparalleled access to Wilton, Chatsworth (j%26rsquo;adore the Duchess of Devonshire) and Castle Howard. Photog Paul Barker%26rsquo;s stunning new color photographs depict the furnishings, fabrics, plasterwork and table settings we so long to emulate.

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A Happy Home

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:58:04 GMT

Annie Selke believes each of us deserves a home that makes us happy %26mdash; wildly, wonderfully happy. The creator of Pine Cone Hill (known for marvelously colorful and patterned bedding), Dash %26amp; Albert Rug Company and the recently debuted Annie Selke Home line of fashionable yet functional furniture, Selke has now penned the simple how-tos for creating a house that will make us happy as a clam for years. In Fresh American Spaces: Romantic-Nuanced-Happy-Cultured-Exuberant (Clarkson Potter, August 2011, $45), she explains there are essentially five American decorating styles: everyday exuberance, refined romantic, happy preppy, nuanced neutral and cultured eclectic. Want to know which one suits your style best? Swing into Kuhl-Linscomb Saturday, October 1, when the author will be there signing copies of her book. Should you walk away inspired to change up your look, KL is also offering customers 20 percent off any Pine Cone Hill product on the day of her in-store appearance.

Redo, Revamp, Review

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:55:44 GMT

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Designer Chris Nguyen. Photo by Jill Hunter.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; %26nbsp; Designer Kristen Johnson. %26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

Renovating soon? If you%26rsquo;re short on ideas, especially ones fit for a high-rise living, tour the Houston House Salutes Emerging Designers show house, over two weekends %26mdash; September 23 through September 25, and September 30 through October 2. Houston House, a 1966, three-story luxury apartment building on the edge of downtown (the first of its kind built downtown), has wildcatter creds: Houston House was home to the famous Castille Club (Elvis, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck) and made a cameo in Urban Cowboy as home to the rich girl Travolta has a fling with. The work of architect Charles Goodman, the luxe rental high-rise is currently undergoing a $10 million redo by Kirksey Architects, with a chic new lobby, 24-hour fitness center, full-size basketball/volleyball court, media, club and conference rooms.%26nbsp; On the tour, four apartment interiors fashioned by Houston designers Chris Nguyen, Kristen Johnson, Richard Sanchez and Saba Jawda, as well as the lobby and renovated public rooms. Houston House, 1617 Fannin at Leeland; information 713.308.2000; show-and-tell details houstonhouseapts.com.

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Designer Saba%26nbsp; Jawda.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp; Designer Richard Sanchez

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Havana Habitats

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:40:45 GMT

For a peek into the under-known domestic life of today%26rsquo;s Cuban carriage class, make tracks to Houston Center for Photography, where Havana lensman Adri%26aacute;n Fern%26aacute;ndez is highlighted in an intimate exhibition that marks his American debut. Concurrently showing in a significant international photo biennial %26mdash;%26nbsp; opening this month at Mus%26eacute;e du Quai Branly, Paris %26mdash; Fern%26aacute;ndez appears headed for the limelight. His conceptual, compelling take on life in the fabled capital present two types of images. Black-and-white shots of the exteriors of the last mansions of the Cuban aristocracy reveal glimpses of modernist facades hidden behind fences, barricades or excessive foliage. He also snaps these casas%26rsquo; opulent, often lurid interiors, rendering time-warp trappings of %26rsquo;60s- and %26rsquo;70s-era wallpapers and decorating schemes in a hyper-saturated color inkjet portfolio. Curated by Havana-based Christina Vives, Fern%26aacute;ndez was %26ldquo;discovered%26rdquo; by HCP director Bevin Bering Dubrowski on a recent trip to Cuba with a group from The Menil Collection. %26ldquo;Adri%26aacute;n Fern%26aacute;ndez:%26nbsp;Life Style,%26rdquo; September 9 %26ndash;%26nbsp;November 6, at Houston Center for Photography; hcponline.org.

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Image: Adri%26aacute;n Fern%26aacute;ndez%26rsquo;s Untitled No. 24, 2008 %26ndash; 2011, at Houston Center for Photography

Design Buzz

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:33:55 GMT

Scalamandre, the luxe fabric line known for its sumptuous silks and trimmings, is coming to Houston. Watch for it to take up residence at The Houston Design Center (7026 Old Katy Road, Suite 103) this September, in the forefront of the center. The opening coincides with Scalamandre%26rsquo;s debut of a new collection of fabrics and trimmings, which are all in stock and ready-to-ship, according to new showroom manager Bill Dunn. Meanwhile, fashion designer Steven Stolman %26mdash; whose creations were de rigueur in beach enclaves from Florida all up the Eastern seaboard %26mdash; has signed on as president of the 82-year-old firm %26hellip; Later this month or early October, Flor opens in West Ave. Sound familiar? Flor, the company famous for its cleverly named, mix-and-match carpet squares %26mdash; think peel-and-stick tiles, but with a much higher taste level %26mdash; used to be just an online thrill. We%26rsquo;ve always loved the pixilated effects one can create with Flor%26rsquo;s nearly 20-inch tiles %26mdash; shuffle as many solid colors together as suits your fancy %26mdash; but there are stripes and patterns, too, from woodblock effects to wiggles and geometrics that channel Missoni and David Hicks, as well as wools, Berbers, ribs and loops, all quite sophisticated.

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Image: Flor in West Ave.

What Lies Beneath

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:31:41 GMT

Proud papa Matt Camron has brought his progeny, Sarah Esfahani into the rug fold. As new creative director for his brand, which started in Houston and now spans six additional cities, his exuberant 27-year-old daughter is bringing more vibrancy underfoot in the guise of the new flat-woven wool collection by Matt Camron. The rugs are available in more than 200 shades with what%26rsquo;s called abrash, a natural color variation that occurs because each piece is woven with hand-spun wool that%26rsquo;s been hand-dyed. The focus is on bold and versatile graphic patterns in vivid hues. You can even custom-match one of these hand-knotted rugs to a fabric or paint chip in a variety of sizes. In-stock pieces from $2,900 for an 8-by-10-foot rug, at Matt Camron Rugs and Tapestries.

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Image: Sarah Esfahani for Matt Camron Rugs.

Modernist Mecca

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:15:32 GMT

Wondering what%26rsquo;s become of the former Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams space on Kirby near Richmond? The location recently transitioned into a concept called Internum that carries several Italian furniture lines in addition to Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Internum, which also has locations in Miami and Mexico City, carries Minotti, Poltrona Frau, Cappellini, Kenzo Maison and Flexform. Stay tuned as owner Arturo Lagunes reveals more Italian acquisitions in the coming months.

Spinning a Yarn

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:12:33 GMT

Magda Sayeg, the mad(knit)cap artist behind the crafty gang known as Knitta, is going Down Under. Remember how Knitta stealthily tagged signposts, park benches and door handles throughout Houston awhile back? (Sayeg also guest-curated a recent Etsy collaboration in Houston late last month at West Elm.) Now Knitta%26rsquo;s global domination is all sewn up: Look for its muse and founder to move onto yet another continent. Yes, Magda%26rsquo;s heading to Australia to do an installation for one of the city%26rsquo;s historic laneways, beginning at the end of this month. Concurrently, she%26rsquo;s doing her second installation in Brooklyn, care of an invite from the New York%26rsquo;s Department of Transportation. (Look for a long fence beneath the Williamsburg bridge to be Knitta-ized.) Finally, through Sunday, October 9, you can vote for Sayeg%26rsquo;s installation in Grand Rapids, Michigan %26mdash; an homage to a red Herman Miller chair %26mdash; to win the illustrious Art Prize, as the winners are selected by popular vote. Show your support at artprize.org.

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Image: %26ldquo;Knitta Please,%26rdquo; 2009, at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, Australia

Dangle Some Decadence …

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:33:36 GMT

Dangle some decadence over a buffet, in your library, perhaps a solarium? We love the clean-yet-cluttered magnificence of Restoration Hardware%26rsquo;s new chandeliers %26mdash; a crash of ornate crystals within simple iron cages. One is an homage to an old-world gyroscope, its Saturn-like bands whirling around a faceted-crystal chandelier trapped inside. The other? A replica of an early-20th-century birdcage, its iron door resolutely slammed shut on a sparkly chandelier within, and all dangling from thick, aged marine rope. Either way, the modernist and the maximalist in you will be completely, utterly satiated. (And illuminated.) There will be maximal thrills galore, by the way, when Restoration Hardware unveils its high-concept Highland Village Gallery store later this fall %26mdash; an extravaganza second only to its new West Hollywood flagship, which boasts such extra perks as a tea shop, a floral-design studio and a design-centric newsstand. In the meantime, you%26rsquo;ll have to swing from these new chandeliers in your own high-concept abode. From $2,195 to $4,495, at Restoration Hardware; restorationhardware.com.

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Image: High-low luminaries: Restoration Hardware%26rsquo;s new iron-and-crystal chandelier.

Curious, Isn't It?

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 05:10:09 GMT

Read our pages long enough, and you%26rsquo;ll soon realize we have a fondness for Victorian-inspired cabinets of curiosities. We don%26rsquo;t discriminate in size, either. Take this Lilliputian glass-and-metal box with five tiny compartments of equal size, each cradling a fragile found bird%26rsquo;s nest. (Yes, yet another naturalist piece of ephemera we could wax on and on about.) Share our obsessions? Good! $450, at Objects Lost and Found, 2815 Ferndale St., 713.523.8496; objectshouston.com.

Very PaperCity

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:46:04 GMT

We may have been called many things, but %26ldquo;apathetic%26rdquo; and %26ldquo;indecisive%26rdquo; have never been charged. We%26rsquo;re passionate about what we like and dismissive of what we don%26rsquo;t. And there%26rsquo;s a lot to be fervent about in the worlds of design, food, art and fashion. So here is our first (and now annual) Editor%26rsquo;s Picks %26hellip; of what we simply can%26rsquo;t live without (today) %26mdash; meaning, it%26rsquo;s Very PC.

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Holly Moore, Editor in Chief, Houston and Dallas

I so love anything surreal, like this Cole %26amp; Son Fornesetti wallpaper, Tema e Variazioni. To the trade at Lee Jofa.

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Eye portrait by Houston artist Brenda Holmes Gilbert, commission only. From $1,300, at Sloan/Hall. IMAGE: Photo by Jenny Antill.

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A memory of late designer Herbert Wells%26rsquo; estate sale with select items from his collections of mochaware, English drabware, furniture, and lighting. Wells%26rsquo; estate sale is August 19 through 27 at Antiques of River Oaks.

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I can%26rsquo;t wait for fall books on Oliver Messel: In the Theatre of Design (October, Rizzoli, $75); Carine Roitfeld: Irreverent (October, Rizzoli, $100); and Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (October, Abrams, $55). Pre-order by e-mail at curatebooks@papercitymag.com.

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This Sevan Dove Ring packs a power punch with delicate carved doves seen beneath a doorknocker blue topaz, sapphires and diamonds. $9,235 at Judith Ann Jewels.

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I can%26rsquo;t miss Thursday nights at Morton Kuehnert Auctioneers when they have %26ldquo;Antiques and Interiors%26rdquo; on the podium. Let%26rsquo;s just say: treasures galore. Preview 10 am until the
7 pm gavel-down time.

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The reincarnation of Bernardo Vintage Couture Jingle Bell sandals (1965). $295, at Tootsies.

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Design genius Van Day Truex%26rsquo;s Dyonisos decanter for Baccarat. Simply brilliant. $610, at Baccarat and Neiman Marcus.

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I am obsessed with ibride%26rsquo;s 19th-century-style hidden bookcases faced with portraits of Les Dandys Baudelaire-era gents. The four shelves are invisible from the front but accessible from the side. I am having a dinner party with (from left) Rastignac, Bel-Ami and Rodolphe, 66 by 48 by 14 centimeters. $858, through Grange Hall, Dallas; ibride.fr.

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I want squatter%26rsquo;s right to the Emerson House from Brinca Dada, %26mdash; but it%26rsquo;s only 30 by 21 by 18 inches, Lilliputian-sized for Bauhaus babes. $299, at Events; brincadada.com.

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Nymphenburg wafer-thin porcelain vessels and vases are as delicate as paper. I get chills. Lightscape designed by Ruth Gurvitch in glazed white or hand-painted with misty Asian scenes. $129 to $3,349, at Sloan/Hall.

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Laurann Claridge, Features Editor %26ndash; Home Design, Food and Beauty Guru

Head to Catalina Coffee, 2201 Washington, where Amaya Roasted Coffee brews its fresh beans with integrity, in small batches. IMAGE: Photo by Jack Thompson.

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I can%26rsquo;t get enough Lucite in my life, so I need Alexandra Von Furstenberg%26rsquo;s emerald charm bowl for my baubles. $395, at Area.

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A Bient%26ocirc;t at 2501 River Oaks Boulevard is like crack for the accessory-crazed. I love these stackable lizard bracelets to wear in multiples.

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Hien Lam%26rsquo;s new sprawling showroom on West Alabama is perfect for when you want a well-built sofa, chair or ottoman crafted with all kinds of style options.

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Alexander McQueen corset-like belt. Chastity? I don%26rsquo;t think so. $590, at Tootsies.

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Heidi Schulze%26rsquo;s Cell Youth Actif serum takes a few years off your face and gives you juicier, clearer-looking skin, fast. $120, at Solution for Hair and Makeup.

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House of Mam%26rsquo;s, a funky retrofitted light-blue trailer in an empty lot at Rutland and 20th Street in the Heights, serves up New Orleans%26ndash;style snoballs. I%26rsquo;m crazy for the sour cherry flavor topped with a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk.

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Beauty for Real%26rsquo;s Get Glowing Cheek Tint and Luminizer is a luscious bronzing formulation that goes on as smooth as silk and gives you a luminescent, lit-from-within look. $29, at Fa%26ccedil;ade; beautyforreal.com.

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An armful of beautiful bracelets designed by Katy Briscoe. Price upon request, at Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Darling, You%26rsquo;re No C.Z. Guest. Fake it with faux boxwood that makes you do a double-take. From $125, at David Brown. IMAGE: Photo by Jack Thompson.

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Kate Allen Stukenberg, Fashion Editor

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Darjeeling cookie jar by Jonathan Adler for my wall of white dishes. $150, at Blue Leaf, Kuhl-Linscomb.

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Garrett Leight, son of sunglasses master Oliver Peoples, has released a limited collection of striking sun shades. Hampton $340, at Mortar.

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I covet Madeline Weinrib%26rsquo;s cotton flat-weave carpets. $1,350 for an 8 x 10, at Kuhl-Linscomb.

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A French frock for the 60th Annual Consular Ball honoring France on November 19, chaired by Melissa King, Philamena Baird and moi. J%26rsquo;adore this Giambattista Valli gown, price upon request, at Tootsies.

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Vivienne Westwood Anglomania for Melissa baby shoes in jelly plastic. $72, at Lenny et Cia.

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Keep It bracelet $225, at the Louis Vuitton boutique.

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Standing reservations for brunch at Tiny Boxwood%26rsquo;s new sister restaurant, Tiny%26rsquo;s No. 5, every Saturday %26mdash; forever. If only they took reservations %26hellip; sigh. 3636 Rice Blvd. IMAGE: Photo by Jenny Antill.

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Meredith Wendell metallic bow belt. $250, at Joseph. IMAGE: Photo by Jack Thompson.

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Bitty Bitty Bum Bum chic seat for my daughter, Mary Parmelee in happy, kid-friendly fabrics. starting at $800, at Quatrine.

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Heavenly ballet flats feel as if you%26rsquo;re not wearing shoes at all. I%26rsquo;ll take one in every metallic tint. Yosi Samra ballet flats from $65, at Abejas.

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Houston design duo Sarah and Saba Jawda%26rsquo;s highly anticipated Jaw(Line) furniture collection is jaw-dropping. Logo lounge chair, as pictured, $3,000, through 713.419.8018.

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Catherine D. Anspon, Visual Arts and Social Editor

The compelling Museum of Fine Arts, Houston%26rsquo;s Hellenistic jewel, the Head of Poseidon / Antigonos Doson; its identity, a post-Alexander the Great Macedonian ruler, was revealed via clever detective work involving an ancient Greek silver coin. And at The Menil Collection, I visit A Statue of Eannatum, Prince of Lagash, a droll alabaster figure of a Sumerian royal, circa 2600 %26ndash; 2340 B.C., whose lapis eyes gaze across the centuries with wit and wonder. IMAGES: Head of Poseidon / Antigonos Doson, 227 %26ndash; 221 B.C., at MFAH; photo courtesy of MFAH, Gift of Isabel B. and Wallace S. Wilson. A Statue of Eannatum, Prince of Lagash, 2600 %26ndash; 2340 B.C., at The Menil Collection. Photo courtesy The Menil Collection, photo Hickey Tobertson.

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During our Wimberley road trip, I encountered R. Michael Reed%26rsquo;s geometric, op-art Plexiglas-and-pigment creations at a show curated by Keith Coffee. Now, Reed%26rsquo;s on my radar, and I%26rsquo;m closely following his career. Inspired by Albers, this sculptor/painter%26rsquo;s 2- and 3-D investigations of light, space and movement invoke the vision of Cruz-Diez. Contact the artist at rmreed2342@gmail.com. IMAGE: Collection Janet Blocker.

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When I get my tresses trimmed at Venus Hair, I check in on some memorable art cars. In front of the Heights hairdo haven at 361 West 19th Street, owner Susan Venus parks her ride: a 1975 Cadillac hearse, tricked up by painter Beans Barton as Cataillic. across the street, scissorhand Jill Johnson%26rsquo;s carousel-inspired wheels preside. IMAGES: Jill Johnson and Jeff Townes%26rsquo; Like It or Not, 1982 - ongoing; photo by Paul McRae. Susan Venus and Beans Barton%26rsquo;s Cataillic, 1975 - ongoing; photo by Paul McRae.

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To eye the most extraordinary talent before they land a Colquitt or 4411 dealer, make tracks to museum-corridor incubator Lawndale Art Center or Box 13 ArtSpace in the thriving East End. Top Texas notables shown at Lawndale have ranged from Otabenga Jones %26amp; Associates before they went to the 2006 Whitney Biennial and, this spring, the best young painter in the state: current Lawndale artist-in-residence Daniel McFarlane, now represented by Barbara Davis Gallery. This summer at Box 13, we loved Joey Fauerso%26rsquo;s travelogue photographs/video with cameos by nude fauns, as well as the crafty sculpted cardboard sensations by Dennis Harper %26mdash; especially his takes on Tut mania. Information lawndaleartcenter.org, box13artspace.com. IMAGE: Daniel McFarlane%26rsquo;s Quite Red, 2011, at Barbara Davis Gallery.

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Lightning often strikes at lecturer David Brauer%26rsquo;s classes on art history at the Glassell School of Art. Discourses by this brilliant pundit, who co-curated the Menil%26rsquo;s British/U.S.A. Pop art survey in 2001 (and is one of my fave professors ever), cover the full gamut of isms and trends, from land art (tales of his own travels to De Maria%26rsquo;s The Lightening Field) to the Fall 2011 course lineup, %26ldquo;Manet and Impressionism%26rdquo; and %26ldquo;Early Modernism, 1940 %26ndash; 1960.%26rdquo; Enroll at mfah.org/visit/fall-classes. IMAGE: Walter De Maria%26rsquo;s The Lightening Field, 1977. Photo Courtesy The Lightening Field by Kenneth Baker (Yale University Press, 2008).

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Shop Our Art Gallery. We%26rsquo;re very excited about curating Texas talents as part of our new art commerce initiative, PC Acquire. Pop online to peruse and buy exclusive, extremely limited-edition photographic masterpieces by our inaugural artist, internationally exhibited Kimberly Gremillion. From $550, through papercitymag.com. IMAGE: Kimberly Gremillion%26rsquo;s Fan 1, 2008.

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Emerging installationist JoAnn Park%26rsquo;s memory works are fashioned from Mason Jars filled with odd and endearing contents %26mdash; very Joseph Cornell. I love this one brimming with pastel feathers; order one for less than $50 through Hello Lucky, 1025 Studewood Street. Information hello-lucky.com. IMAGE: Photo by Jack Thompson.

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Houston artist Susan Plum%26rsquo;s practice comments on feminist issues %26mdash; her media of flame-worked glass offers a metaphor for the Mayan civilization%26rsquo;s weaving of the universe. Whenever I don her earrings, I feel empowered. Information susanplum.com.

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House of Pies on Kirby Drive for late-night think tanks, a cheeseburger and strawberry-rhubarb pie.

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I can%26rsquo;t get enough of performance art. The one work that has stayed with me %26mdash; and remains the most topical %26mdash; is Houston talent Maria Cristina Jadick%26rsquo;s enactment of serving a classic baked good. The surprise? Jadick%26rsquo;s homemade apple-pie crust is emblazoned with the outline of an Apache helicopter. Is this startling statement the next fur-lined teacup? To catch the artist%26rsquo;s next opening, visit mariacristinajadick.com. IMAGE: Maria Cristina Jadick%26rsquo;s As American as Mom and Apple Pie, 2011.

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Heights caffeination destination Antidote is like Cheers %26mdash; everyone knows your name, but in lieu of a brew, Antidote is brewing organic beans. Another bonus: The walls of this former Laundromat at 729 Studewood boast works by Houston up-and-comers such as Matt Messinger, one of the winners at Lawndale Art Center%26rsquo;s 2011 Big Show. (Every couple of months, Messinger sets up a sidewalk sale across the street, so get in early on an important collecting opportunity.) IMAGE: Matt Messinger%26rsquo;s Golden Eagle, 2011, at Antidote Coffee.

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Jenny Antill, Photo Editor and Photographer

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Power couple Mike Lopez and Olivia Topete%26rsquo;s boot camp sessions, $197 a month, at Real EFX Fitness (832.387.4062; getrealefx.com). Instead of camo, I wear Lululemon%26rsquo;s Wunder Under crop pants (from $68) and Racerback tank ($39), at Lululemon; lululemon.com.

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McKay Otto%26rsquo;s luminous paintings make me glow. mckayotto.net, jcacciolagallery.com. IMAGE: McKay Otto%26rsquo;s Ever In Time Ever, 2010. Photo by Shau Lin Hon.

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The Tejani necklace is a cascade of manmade pearls in antique silver. $340, at Willow Boutique inside the Brownstone Gallery; shopwillow.com.

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Poetic Li-cense candle $30, at Enticingly Chic.

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The 2012 Fiat 500c Lounge, from $20,000, through Helfman Fiat Studio, 7720 Katy Freeway, 713.533.6100; fiat.com.

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Local lovely globetrotter Halleh Amiralai%26rsquo;s tasty neck candy. 18K pomegranate diamond necklace $4,650, at Sloan/Hall. IMAGE: Photo by Kennon Evett.

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I love John Alexander%26rsquo;s canvases and drawings. What caught my eye? This compelling takeoff of a convention delegate. Price upon request, at McClain Gallery. IMAGE: John Alexander%26rsquo;s The Delegate, 2007, at McClain Gallery.

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Acid isn%26rsquo;t required for this trippy rug by Joseph Carini of Carini, inspired by Japanese kimono patterns. 9 by 12 feet, $10,000, at Carol Piper Rugs. IMAGE: Mountain Blossom by Joseph Carini.

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Beware of the urge to hoard. Claridge + King (aka sisters Liz King and our own Laurann Claridge) now offers The Great White Shirt: a crisp, white, fitted, button-down number to wear with ball skirts or jeans. $110, at Indulge, Kuhl-Linscomb; claridgeandking.com.

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Max Bill hand-winding watch by Junghans. $700, at Kuhl-Linscomb.

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Look at Those Cheeks, and toss the birth control. We love babies and can%26rsquo;t get enough of Mary Parmelee%26rsquo;s cheeks, fashion editor Kate Stukenberg%26rsquo;s new arrival. IMAGE: Photo by Jenny Antill.

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This whispery palette is perfect for displaying canvases and photography. Windham by Pratt %26amp; Lambert, $43 a gallon, at Buffalo Hardware.

Cocktail ensemble from the new BHLDN, the sister store of Anthropology. Ball skirt $800, bolero $400, corset $250, at BHLDN in Highland Village.

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Ficus Lyrata, Fiddle-leaf fig is my hot new housemate. $200 for a 14%26rdquo; specimen, at Thompson %26amp; Hanson. Photo by Jenny Antill.

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Seth Vaughan, Editorial Assistant, Social Scribe and Dandy Boy About Town

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What can I say? I%26rsquo;m attracted to screwy objects %26mdash; and people. Verdura 18K yellow-gold Nut and Bolt cuff links $4,950, at Neiman Marcus.

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Thursday-night strolling through the galleries of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, for free. IMAGE: Franti%26scaron;ek Kupka%26rsquo;s The Yellow Scale, circa 1907, at MFAH. Photo %26copy; 2011 Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY / ADAGP, Paris.

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This has been a favorite haunt since I was in short pants: Goode Company Bar-B-Q on Kirby.

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We are Happy to Serve You cup $12, at Kuhl-Linscomb.

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Faux-bamboo, gilded-metal French nesting tables, circa 1960, offer a perfect perch for a gin and tonic. Set of three $1,628, at Carl Moore Antiques.

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With inspiration like this on the walls, I%26rsquo;m ready to be fitted for a waistcoat. Framed vintage 1917 menswear print $265, at Brown.

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Wheel Style

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:44:55 GMT

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Ralph on the Road: Two Bits of News from Mr. Lauren:

%26nbsp; %26bull; This may be your last chance to see 17 of his gorgeous (and gorgeously restored) automobiles in one place, at the Mus%26eacute;e des Arts D%26eacute;coratifs in Paris. After August 28, the pinched-tail 1931 Alfa Romeo, the feline 1955 Jaguar XKD, the bubble-fendered 1938 Bugatti Atlantic, above, and their fetching stable mates roll back into Lauren%26rsquo;s garages. Information lesartsdecoratifs.fr; ralphlaurencarcollection.co.uk.
%26nbsp;%26nbsp; %26bull; There is, however, one way to stay on Ralph%26rsquo;s winding road: the new Automotive Watch, above, with its matte-black dial ringed by gleaming burled elm %26mdash; inspired, by the dashboard of the aforementioned 1938 Bugatti. The black calfskin strap? That references the Bugatti%26rsquo;s supple leather seats. The watch is crafted for Ralph Lauren by top timepiece maker IWC, and is approximately $11,900. (Bugatti not included: One of two extant from only four ever made, its value is estimated at $30 to $40 million.) Shall we go for a spin? Information 877.639.7934; ralphlaurenwatches.com.

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Jeeves, Please Take the Long Way Home.%26nbsp; (And we mean long.)

Behold Audi%26rsquo;s sinfully luxurious new A8 L (L for, yes, long), powered by a 12-cylinder engine as smooth as Fortuny silk. We could go on and on about the stretched A8%26rsquo;s gorgeous aluminum body, its LED headlights, its all-wheel-drive Quattro system, et cetera. But it%26rsquo;s the back of the cabin that is worth our column inches: The extended wheelbase allows for longer rear doors and gobs of legroom, with everything bathed in ambient light and fitted with soft leather and gleaming wood. An available Executive package adds power-articulated rear seats, with heating, cooling and lumbar support. Go even more bespoke and outfit the rear of your L with a central console, to which can be added a folding table and a refrigerator for the chilling of the Veuve. That bubbly, by the way, will be moving along quite briskly: Audi%26rsquo;s 6.3-liter W12 engine produces 500 horsepower, capable of propelling this limousine from standstill to 60 in 4.9 seconds. But, really, there%26rsquo;s no need to hurry. Jeeves, did you catch that? Price upon request. Information audiusa.com (click on %26ldquo;Experience,%26rdquo;
then %26ldquo;New Audi Models%26rdquo;).

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An Aston Martin You Can't Have (Yet)

Behold the most stunning crystal ball in all the world. It%26rsquo;s a British-Italian venture between two legends, Aston Martin and automotive design house Zagato, and it%26rsquo;s a peek at what will be a limited-run 2012 Aston Martin %26mdash; confirmed days ago. What to know: V12 engine, 510 horsepower, entirely hand-formed aluminum body, Zagato%26rsquo;s famous %26ldquo;double bubble%26rdquo; roof styling, only 150 to be made at most. What to do: Talk very, very nicely to your Aston Martin dealer. (And bring $530,000.) Information astonmartin.com; zagato.it.

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A Week in Wheel Style: Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

Move over, Grandmother%26rsquo;s Country Squire: We%26rsquo;ve had our driving-gloved hands on a vehicle that will absolutely change your mind about what a station wagon can be. (And it will still swallow a Chippendale chest in the cargo hold.) Our impressions, herewith:
%26nbsp;%26nbsp; %26bull; It%26rsquo;s got presence. It is highly architectural, with folds, creases, buttresses, a wide stance and rather unusual angles. It%26rsquo;s as if Rem Koolhaas might%26rsquo;ve had a hand in it.
%26nbsp;%26nbsp; %26bull; The ride and drive are extremely precise. The suspension is nicely balanced; the steering is lightning-quick. It is on par with the best of the Mercedes E-Classes.
%26nbsp;%26nbsp; %26bull; This thing hauls %26mdash; more than just shopping bags. The 6.2-liter supercharged V8 puts a whopping 556 horses on the ground, through a six-speed manual transmission. (All hail the return of shifting for yourself.)
%26nbsp;%26nbsp; %26bull; The gigantic, two-panel glass roof suffuses the interior in natural light. Your passengers will look especially fetching. Your older ones will recall those grand, old, glass-roofed Vista Cruiser wagons.
%26nbsp;%26nbsp; %26bull; That interior, by the way, is a fine place to spent quality travel time. Our CTS-V was fitted with mahogany-like African sapele wood on the dash, console and doors; a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system; and 14-way power seats that puffed cold air at us %26mdash; in three speeds. (Just the thing for hot rides.) From $63,660. Information 800.458.8006; cadillac.com.

A BMW with Strokes of Genius: Your New Wheels?

Art and auto cognoscenti are humming about the rarest of rides, up for auction this month in Carmel, California. Its most special feature? Bodywork painted by Pop-art superstar Frank Stella. Bonhams is offering the supersleek 1979 BMW M1 on behalf of the Guggenheim Museum (the world%26rsquo;s toniest garage, no doubt) to which the car was given in 1999. Its sale will finance future acquisitions and will catapult its new owner into the automotive stratosphere: It is the only BMW painted by one of the company%26rsquo;s wildly famous Art Car artists %26mdash; since 1975, BMW has commissioned the likes of Warhol, Calder and Koons to paint special cars %26mdash; that wasn%26rsquo;t ordered by BMW itself. This one was painted by Stella for a private client, and is expected to fetch up to $600,000. Should you be the victor, be sure and point out your BMW%26rsquo;s second-most-compelling feature: Stella%26rsquo;s signature on one of the rear window%26rsquo;s louvers. Exceptional Motorcars, Motorcycles and Automobilia, August 18 and 19, 323.850.7500; bonhams.com/quail.

Fall's Hottest Ride: Range Rover's Randy Little Brother

Get thee on the waiting list: The first deliveries happen this fall for the Evoque, the newest sibling in the Range Rover family. The dapper, diminutive SUV comes with all the necessaries %26mdash; 240-horsepower engine, six-speed transmission, Land Rover%26rsquo;s grippy Terrain Response traction system %26mdash; and a conscience, too. It employs polymers, composites, aluminum, even recycled polyester to keep its weight and its petrol-gulping down. But it%26rsquo;s that handsome shell and sumptuous interior that have us in a Beefeater spin. Just look at it: taut, angular and wedgy, with premium leather seats inside, contrast-stitched by dual needles and surrounded by polished woods and brushed aluminum. The paint colors are coolly evocative: a shimmery Ipanema Sand, a loden-like Galway Green, a deep Buckingham Blue. The Evoque can be had as a five-door, but we insist on the two-door coup%26eacute; with rear hatch, whose long, pinched sides recall the great English %26ldquo;shooting brake%26rdquo; sports wagons %26mdash; you know, the ones with the hunting dogs and the Wellington boots stashed in the back. You%26rsquo;re onto us. From $43,995 (five-door) and $44,995 (coup%26eacute;). Information 800.346.3493; helloevoque.com; landrover.com.

Dining and Duquette

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:23:33 GMT

The ever-wonderful Hutton Wilkinson will be in Houston this month with a sneak peek at his new design tome Tony Duquette: Hutton Wilkinson Jewelry. Hear Hutton%26rsquo;s tales of Duquette drama and design, along with stunning photographs, brought to you by ASID. The luncheon and talk will take place Wednesday, August 31, at The Junior League %26mdash; $150 includes a private reception to meet Wilkinson (10:30 to 11:30 am); $100 covers the luncheon and talk (11:30 am to 1:30 pm). The event benefits ASID scholarships. Three books will be available for sale and to be signed: Tony Duquette: More is More, Tony Duquette (Abrams, $75) and pre-sales of Tony Duquette/Hutton Wilkinson Jewelry (Abrams, $50). Tickets and information 713.626.1470.

A Well-Lived Life

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 04:13:46 GMT

Much-revered designer Herbert Wells%26rsquo; estate will go on sale at Antiques of River Oaks beginning Friday, August 19, 10 am, through Saturday, August 27 and includes select items from Wells%26rsquo; library, his collection of mochaware, French wrought iron, groupings of finials, modern glass, English drabware, lighting and furniture. For the story and photographs of Wells%26rsquo; Inwood Manor high-rise home, see the July 2011 issue of PaperCity. Information, Fred and Josie Nevill at Antiques of River Oaks, 3461 W. Alabama, 713.961.3333.

Image: Pieces from Herbert Wells%26rsquo;s estate sale.

PH Design Shop

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 06:10:42 GMT

Keys to the Door: Owners Amanda Hayes-Valentine and Chris Promecene; manager Kim Coleman.
Stocked Goods: Calling all stationery fans. One of our favorite Houston paper boutiques, PH Design Shop, has moved and widened its scope. While you%26rsquo;ll still find sleek Russell + Hazel notebooks and desk accessories, cute Jack %26amp; Lulu correspondence cards and those quirky greeting cards that drew us in every visit, owners Amanda Hayes-Valentine and Chris Promecene now have a lot more room to work in %26mdash; unlike their Lilliputian startup shop on Shepherd. The duo that has shown us how to customize our holiday cards, invitations and babies (both the corporate and the cuddly kind) in a cool, sophisticated way has added a growing selection of thoughtfully curated gifts. In fact, Hayes-Valentine has taken it upon herself to scour the globe, from Japan to Sweden, for presents for every occasion %26mdash; from thirsty linen napkins and serving trays to men%26rsquo;s gifts with a vintage twist (match strikers and cotton pocket squares, anyone?), as well as signed resin serving pieces by Tina Frey Designs that any mod bride would covet. Looking for that hot Dodocase for your iPad? PH has it. Ditto, MoMA clocks and calendars, photo frames and soft rope leashes with worn leather collars for your four-legged friends %26mdash; so cool that they might inspire the dog-deprived to head over to BARC. Melanie Herz Promecene and Dallas Felder with Morris Architects came up with the design scheme, which includes a striking art installation of glassine envelopes attached to the ceiling. The shop is painted PH%26rsquo;s signature,%26nbsp; familiar, happy deep shade
of violet, with papers and gifts propped on gleaming white tables and trays. It all reminds us of the cool stores we%26rsquo;ve found while traveling. Good news: This one is all ours. 2414 Rice Blvd. in Rice Village, 713.522.8861; phdesignshop.com.

Image:%26nbsp; Amanda Hayes-Valentine and Chris Promecene. Photo by Jack Thompson.

Man + Machine

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 05:59:21 GMT

Only mere mortals think of wheeled conveyances as ways to get from Point A to Point B. Herewith, seven lofty modes of transport %26mdash; and the Dallas men who own them. These gents do not tolerate the mundane. They are individualists, all. And is it just us, or does each man uncannily resemble his ride? We present seven high-speed studies.

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Greg Brendel (top of page) + 1960 Ferrari 250 Granturismo Coup%26eacute; Pininfarina%26nbsp; |%26nbsp; The specs: One of 145 remaining, of 353 made. Twelve cylinders, three carburetors, 240 horsepower. Original leather upholstery. Original leather tool satchel in trunk. The bond: Ten years together. Brendel has collected Ferraris for 15 years; he currently owns five. Why Ferrari: %26ldquo;The dominating racing heritage and rich history and culture,%26rdquo; says Brendel, %26ldquo;dating back to the %26rsquo;50s, all due to founder Enzo Ferrari. The road cars all derived from the racetrack.%26rdquo; Why this car: %26ldquo;Its original, unrestored condition, and the unmistakable exhaust rumble of the vintage 250 motor.%26rdquo; Under the radar: Not being red and not being wedgy, Brendel%26rsquo;s coupe %26ldquo;does not scream %26lsquo;Ferrari%26rsquo; in the modern sense.%26rdquo; But whose thumbs go up when he passes? Aesthetes with %26ldquo;the discerning eye.%26rdquo; Our take: It%26rsquo;s the Cary Grant of Ferraris: dapper on the outside; spirited underneath. Plus, it smells deliciously of mellowed leather, steel and gasoline. This is the conveyance of pedigreed playboys, of gentlemen with wild streaks.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

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William Baker + 1960 Studebaker Lark VIII Station Wagon%26nbsp; |%26nbsp; The specs: Eight-cylinder, 259-cubic-inch engine. Advanced %26ldquo;TT%26rdquo; (Twin Traction) option, for increased grip in slippery situations. Pull-down window shades at every side window, driver included. Plastic saints affixed to dash top. The bond: Five years together. Why this wagon: %26ldquo;My daily driver is a Honda Element,%26rdquo; Baker says, %26ldquo;and I can almost picture the morphology. It%26rsquo;s as if the Element is a descendant of the Studebaker. And both have room for my dog, Trouble, and lots of space for flea-market finds.%26rdquo; On the road:%26ldquo;I love driving it on weekends in the spring and fall.%26rdquo; Friends have piled into Baker%26rsquo;s wagon for a holiday-lights tour of Oak Cliff. Other vintage vehicles? %26ldquo;No, but it was about time. Almost everything else I have is vintage.%26rdquo; Our take: The Lark melds midcentury style with modernity. Funny, so does Baker, a principal at Jones Baker Interiors + Architecture, where colorful, clever restaurant and hotel interiors are devised. (Think Cibus, Cru, Trader Vic%26rsquo;s.) Baker is an inveterate collector of kitsch %26mdash; kitsch with a certain cool. Ditto the Lark: jaunty air, perfect patina.

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Vijay Kannan + 2011 Jeep Wrangler%26nbsp; |%26nbsp; The specs: Vee-six engine with 202 horsepower. Four-speed automatic transmission. Beach-vehicle permit affixed to windshield, from Surfside, Texas. The upgrades: Beefy twin-tube front bumper and brush bar. Additional driving lights. Eight-hole MB wheels, model number 72. The bond: Three months. Why a Jeep: Kannan is an urbane adventurer. His city life means high-rise living and studying for his M.D. at UT Southwestern Medical Center. (At 25, he already packs a neuroscience degree from Johns Hopkins University.) But when the scrubs come off? Intense rock climbing and kayaking. One requirement for his ride: He has to be able to sleep in it overnight. Plus, Kannan says, %26ldquo;You really need a Jeep to get over large rocks and felled trees.%26rdquo; The new black: Kannan is also a man of subtle sophistication %26mdash; and careful analysis. He purposefully chose glossy black enamel for his uprated front bumper, not common matte-black, because the gleam, he thinks, %26ldquo;really directs the path of interpretation of the rest of the vehicle.%26rdquo; As for his Jeep%26rsquo;s overall aura? %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s stealthy. I love to look at bright-colored Jeeps with fun modifications %26mdash; but that sort of attention-grabber is not what I%26rsquo;m going for.%26rdquo;

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David Sutherland + 2005 Bentley Continental GT%26nbsp; |%26nbsp; The specs: Six-liter engine. A velvet-gloved 552 horsepower. Hand-stitched leather cockpit. Handbuilt, book-matched wood dashboard and door panels. Why a Bentley: Sutherland%26rsquo;s career as %26ldquo;an editor of products%26rdquo; (he owns the top-notch David Sutherland furniture showrooms in Dallas and Houston) has made him %26ldquo;acutely aware of proportion, line, mass and color.%26rdquo; Says he: %26ldquo;Bentley is so much more than an iconic name. It wins races and runs with presence.%26rdquo; The wait: %26ldquo;I first saw the Bentley GTs in 2003, ordered one in 2004 and took delivery of a 2005 model in December of 2004.%26rdquo; Sutherland specified the exterior color, the specific wood inside, even the color of his seatbelts. (Dark brown, FYI.) Times change: %26ldquo;My first car was a 1965 Chevy Bel Air and I could stand between the engine and the fender well! This engine isn%26rsquo;t one for a tinkerer.%26rdquo; The bond: Six years together. %26ldquo;My favorite time of the day is starting the engine. It has a rumble that just asks %26lsquo;Where are we going %26mdash; and how fast can we get there?%26rsquo;%26rdquo;

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Jared Levy + 1973 Triumph Tiger TR7R%26nbsp; |%26nbsp; The specs: Original 750cc engine, %26ldquo;re-engineered%26rdquo; for added horsepower. Lucite-ball shift knob with red dice encased. The tweaks: Gas tank from a 1955 Triumph. Custom-designed handlebars. Special red wheels (%26ldquo;My lucky color,%26rdquo; Levy says). The bond: Five years together. (A Craigslist discovery, in fact. %26ldquo;When I got the bike, it was a basket case.%26rdquo;) Levy does his own welding, painting and engine work. Rough rider: Levy designed the seat himself: a sling of leather, whip-stitched through grommets at the edges and hand-tooled with the Triumph logo. %26ldquo;It has no padding %26mdash; but it just completes the raw look of the bike.%26rdquo; Our take: Levy spends his days thinking about derivatives and dollars %26mdash; and advising others about theirs. (The investor and analyst has been a CNBC contributor, and has just launched his first book.) But at the closing bell, it%26rsquo;s all about a winding boulevard. Levy climbs on his steed three or four days a week and rumbles around Dallas %26mdash; a modern-day James Dean, indeed. Why a Triumph: Levy%26rsquo;s father had one. Besides, %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s an extension of me. It%26rsquo;s quirky, odd and eccentric. It does require a bit more maintenance than I do.%26rdquo;

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Tim Myrick + 1967 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow%26nbsp; |%26nbsp; The specs: %26ldquo;A huge 6.2-liter V8,%26rdquo; says Myrick. %26ldquo;A real muscle car. It will pass anything on the road but a gas station.%26rdquo; Famously, though, Rolls-Royce didn%26rsquo;t release horsepower figures back in the day, preferring to say just a dignified, %26ldquo;Adequate%26rdquo; or %26ldquo;Sufficient.%26rdquo; The bond: Four years together, though Myrick owns three other Rolls-Royces. He bought his first in 1985, for his 25th birthday. He still owns it. Why a Silver Shadow: %26ldquo;It was so futuristic for 1967, with four-wheel disc brakes and an automatic height control that even adjusts for the use of gasoline while driving.%26rdquo; Prime pedigree: Myrick%26rsquo;s 1967 car was first owned by flamboyant San Francisco socialite Joan Hitchcock %26mdash; then, six months later, by flamboyant Dallas grand dame Nancy Hamon. Hamon had the car for 32 years. (In the walnut-doored glove box, Myrick found photos of a swingy, shift-dress%26rsquo;d Hamon in 1968, vamping with her new toy.) Why Rolls-Royces: Myrick, a partner in Uptown Psychotherapy Associates and a judges%26rsquo; captain for the national Rolls-Royce Owners%26rsquo; Club, defers to Sir Henry Royce himself: %26ldquo;The quality remains long after the price is forgotten.%26rdquo;%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

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John Reoch + 2010 Volvo C30 T5 R-Design%26nbsp; |%26nbsp; The specs: Turbocharged 2.5-liter 5-cylinder powerplant. Six-speed manual transmission. Panama hats tossed in rear seats. The bond: Eighteen months together. Options list: Black Sapphire paintwork and %26ldquo;Off-Black%26rdquo; leather upholstery. The R-Design package already adds lower-body skirting, a large rear spoiler, special wheels, even special seats. Why this Volvo: %26ldquo;It%26rsquo;s modern, fresh and intelligent. Also, the car has a very strong heart.%26rdquo; A little luck: Reoch has collected St. Christopher medals %26ldquo;for decades.%26rdquo; The one affixed to his C30%26rsquo;s dashboard is a vintage piece from the 1930s or %26rsquo;40s, %26ldquo;specifically for cars.%26rdquo; Stable mates: Two British motorcycles (a 1965 BSA and a 1967 Triumph) and two Italian ones, both Ducatis. Through Reoch%26rsquo;s veins flow premium gasoline: His first car was a 1952 MG TD %26ldquo;in colonial yellow.%26rdquo; His second? A 1954 Jaguar XK 120 M with wire wheels, gunmetal-gray paint and a red leather interior. Boundaries blurred: Reoch, an avid art collector and commercial real estate attorney, even has high-speed style at home: He had his favorite body shop spray an aluminum Philippe Starck rocking chair for him %26mdash; in purple Lamborghini paint.

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Behind the scenes of "Man + Machine": click here

Rarefied Air

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 06:39:28 GMT

If messieurs Patek and Philippe were still with us, they%26rsquo;d be advised to watch their backs. If misters Rolls and Royce still plied their crafts, they might want to sleep with one eye open. For when it comes to concept, design, fitting and decoration, there is some heady competition in the architect-decorator team of Ralph Duesing and John Bobbitt. The Dallas gents %26mdash; Duesing the gentle type, with a C.V. that includes studies at the %26Eacute;cole Nationale Sup%26eacute;rieure des Arts D%26eacute;coratifs in Paris, and Bobbitt the boisterous storyteller, with one of the most unerring eyes in the nation for scale, furnishings, art and accessories %26mdash; have a project under their dapper belts that holds its own against any masterwork built with utter devotion and care.

A bit of rewinding is in order. Bobbitt takes a meeting with a potential client. %26ldquo;I want a New York apartment,%26rdquo; says the woman, %26ldquo;but in Dallas.%26rdquo; Bobbitt%26rsquo;s heart skips two beats. The decorator has a thing for Manhattan, having lived there, and for its grand prewar apartments. The woman presses on: %26ldquo;But first, who are your favorite designers?%26rdquo; Bobbitt rattles off his shortlist: Renzo Mongiardino, Peter Marino, Jacques Garcia. The woman grinds the interview to a halt %26mdash; she%26rsquo;s been talking to others, but Bobbitt gets the job. An oversimplification, perhaps, but a demonstration of the mythical connection that must exist between all parties embarking on a journey such as this. And the program isn%26rsquo;t simple: Turn a standard, three-bedroom apartment at The Vend%26ocirc;me on Turtle Creek into a 4,800-square-foot Beaux Arts gem for two %26mdash; with one bedroom only. No guest quarters? %26ldquo;That%26rsquo;s what hotels are for,%26rdquo; says the woman to Bobbitt, who, at that moment, knows he is dealing with an unconventional sort.

Bobbitt%26rsquo;s keenest move was his next. He rang Ralph Duesing, the Dallas architect known for houses of classical leanings, but with restraint and modernity. Duesing works classically, too, hand-drawing everything %26mdash; floor plans, elevations, millwork designs, the tiniest details. His evocative renderings look more like works in the Uffizi Gallery than they do blueprints. It was a match made in draftsman heaven for Bobbitt, who decorates much the same way, making intricate sketches and drawings before the first settee is chosen or the first drapery panel goes up. The two spent nearly a year planning and drawing the Vend%26ocirc;me apartment; construction took twice as long. Two years in the building? No ordinary project, this. It was conceived as the ultimate prewar apartment %26mdash; inserted into a high-rise built in 2002. But Duesing and Bobbitt sorted it out, even raising the ceilings nearly two feet in certain areas (a happy discovery by Bobbitt early in the project, who, looking up at The Vend%26ocirc;me at a stoplight, noticed extra distance between the 17th and 18th floors and deduced that there was more space above the apartment%26rsquo;s existing ceiling; he was right). The new interior is an arrangement of volumes that alternate from grand to intimate %26mdash; and, says Duesing, %26ldquo;as you pass from room to room, there is a deliberate light-dark-light progression that subtly defines each space.%26rdquo; The materials are luxurious: floors of Portuguese lagos azul stone and African wenge wood; walls of thick, ebonized walnut; French doors of solid bronze; wooden doors of solid crotch mahogany. Even the myriad friezes at the ceilings are bespoke, each designed by Duesing and built and carved from solid woods. (%26ldquo;None of it comes from a catalog,%26rdquo; says Bobbitt. %26ldquo;Ralph drew every one.%26rdquo;) Classical building techniques were used throughout, down to the mortise-and-tenon construction of every door, every panel, every drawer. %26ldquo;This,%26rdquo; says Bobbitt, %26ldquo;is an apartment of interior haute couture.%26rdquo; Proof? Decadent luxuries such as a fully paneled dining-room wall that hinges open to an adjacent drawing room, or the round-walled room whose ceiling is a fully operational cosmological clock. The clock %26mdash; its motorized rings mark the hour, the day, the month, even the moon%26rsquo;s phases %26mdash; is a nod to the owners%26rsquo; collection of celestial globes and armillary spheres. %26ldquo;Instruments that mark time,%26rdquo; Bobbitt explains. %26ldquo;It all relates.%26rdquo;

Within this highly crafted shell, Bobbitt has mixed beloved art with completely new acquisitions. Bronze griffins and swans spring from the walls, as sconces. A pair of leggy Klismos chairs pulls up to a plump ottoman upholstered in zebra hide. A curvaceous Venetian-glass chandelier dangles over a glossy rosewood dining table. Everywhere, the selections are confident, curatorial; they hold their own against the apartment%26rsquo;s monumental shell. %26ldquo;It is,%26rdquo; says a justifiably proud Bobbitt, %26ldquo;exactly the kind of apartment I%26rsquo;ve wanted to do for somebody %26mdash; for a long time.%26rdquo;

Images:

The apartment%26rsquo;s private elevator vestibule opens to this formal foyer. The doors are solid bronze and glass; their Roman-grille motif is repeated elsewhere, most notably in the dining room%26rsquo;s custom carpet. The gilded-bronze lantern overhead is 19th-century, in the Louis XVI style, from East %26amp; Orient Company.

Shouldn%26rsquo;t everyone have a clock room? Indeed, the ceiling of this round-walled inner vestibule is a working cosmological clock, made of steel, gilded wood and turned walnut. Involved in the design: an engineering firm, a machinist and a computer programmer. On the rotating rings, artist Jane Athey spent nearly a year executing the time, days, months, years, zodiac symbols, even moon phases.

The luxurious dining room, for round-table nights of the best kind. A 19th-century Venetian-glass chandelier illuminates the mise en sc%26egrave;ne, including a rosewood table and Dessin Fournir mahogany chairs, all from David Sutherland Showroom. The silk-and-wool carpet is by Hokanson, designed for the apartment by John Bobbitt. The wall panels are faux marquetry, inspired by a 17th-century technique wherein ebony was inlaid with brass, pewter and tortoiseshell. The unadorned walnut panels were first built in place, then disassembled and crated to Vancouver, Canada, where Gorman Studios executed the stunning decorative work. Artists returned with the panels %26mdash; and stayed for two months, touching them up after reinstallation. The framed painting is by 1800s American landscape artist George Inness.

One wall in the dining room holds a secret: It unlocks and unfolds to the adjacent drawing room, allowing for a second table for parties. The tolerance between the wall and the floor is paper-thin; Bobbitt posits that the wall%26rsquo;s hinges could support a bank-vault door. The entire apartment is built to such a level. The contractor was Cole Smith Jr.; the project manager was Keith Williams, both of Crow Bar Constructors. The finishes throughout (%26ldquo;heirloom-furniture-grade,%26rdquo; insists Bobbitt) were by Barry A. Martin Painting Contractors; the bespoke drapery and bedding were by Donna Burley of Straight Stitch.

Not only a jewel box of a powder room, but a concentration of extreme craft. The inspiration is a pair of 18th-century Venetian corner cabinets that Bobbitt discovered years ago in Paris: The walls here are glass %26mdash; including the green moldings %26mdash;%26nbsp;all by Bowman Glass in Dallas. Molloy Mirror executed the antiquing and silvering; what isn%26rsquo;t glass is wood, gilded in white gold by Carlos Espinosa of Las Negras Studio. The sink and faucetry are from Sherle Wagner; the mirror above the sink is antique Venetian.

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An artisanal attention to detail permeates the apartment. Here, just one of the many frieze moldings, each designed by architect Ralph Duesing, drawn by hand, then built up and carved from solid woods. Note the molding%26rsquo;s corner joint: The scroll pattern, in particular, isn%26rsquo;t interrupted by the corner itself %26mdash; the size of each scroll was dictated by the room%26rsquo;s measurements, so that no scroll was truncated in corners.

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On the dining room%26rsquo;s rosewood table, a bowl of amber starfish and shells, a %26ldquo;curious find,%26rdquo; says Grange Hall%26rsquo;s Jeffrey Lee.

In the library, one of the iconic orangutans of Arkansas artist Donald Roller Wilson, just one of a collection propped throughout the apartment.

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In the entry hall, a pair of sentries %26mdash; swans of mercury-gilded bronze, as sconces.

Domestic bliss, with a twist. In a hallway adjacent to the formal dining room, a long wall for plates and glasses. A testament to the cleverness of Duesing and Bobbitt: One section of the wall nearest the service elevator is removable, so that large furnishings and works of art can be moved into the apartment with ease.

Architect Ralph Duesing, left, and decorator John Bobbitt.

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One side of the living room, with its walls of solid, ebonized walnut and a centerpiece of a chandelier by Thomas Grant. The inset in the wall is upholstered in Holly Hunt leather from George Cameron Nash; the sofa is Cameron Collection, from Nash, too. The zebra-upholstered ottoman is by Bobbitt, who devised hidden, pull-out trays in it %26ldquo;big enough to hold a dessert plate%26rdquo; %26mdash; and certainly a cocktail glass or two.%26nbsp;

For Your Floors, Something Jolly Fabulous

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 06:04:49 GMT

We won%26rsquo;t blame you if you fall onto the carpets once you fling open the door to The Rug Company. In fact, you%26rsquo;ll have your choice of upon whom you can tumble: Vivienne Westwood? Paul Smith? Kelly Wearstler? All are on the design roster here, partly responsible for The Rug Company%26rsquo;s highly gorgeous cashmeres, silks, wools and needlepoints %26mdash; often with a %26ldquo;slightly English twist,%26rdquo; says Amanda Price, managing director for the United States. Price has been a wee bit busy, as the British concern has just made Dallas its sixth-ever standalone locale, joining the original in London, plus New York, L.A., Miami and Chicago. Inside the Dallas digs, marvel at 5,000 square feet of handmade rugs, not only from Westwood, Wearstler, et al, but also from the late Alexander McQueen (his fast-flapping hummingbirds are genius), Diane von Furstenberg (her Tribal Diamond is a stunning graphic), even Rug Company founders Suzanne and Christopher Sharp, whose pop-art flowers rendered in multicolored cowhide make for an especially witty carpet. There are florals, abstracts and Aubussons, too, plus pillows and wall hangings %26mdash; couldn%26rsquo;t your dwelling do with a Vishnu on the veranda? A skull in the solarium? Oh, those English: How they twist. 1626 Hi Line Dr., Suite B, 214.760.4888; therugcompany.info.

Images:

Martyn Lawrence-Bullard for The Rug Company.

Jaime Hayon for The Rug Company.

Avant Garden: Quite a Bit to Crow About

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:56:49 GMT

It%26rsquo;s almost unthinkable that stylist Raegan McKinney could work harder than he does already %26mdash; floral design, photo shoots, the works. But in his precious spare time, he%26rsquo;s been refreshing Avant Garden, too. Under jumbo new photo panels of even-more-jumbo roosters %26mdash; in brilliant turquoise blue %26mdash; AG creative director McKinney has stirred in fresh collections of blue-and-white porcelains, wood carvings from 18th-century China, fruits made of white resin, ethereal driftwood bowls, concrete leaves, barnacles, clam shells, seashells, even vintage blue-and-white plates, platters, saucers and vessels. Is Mr. McKinney having a bit of a blue period? Let%26rsquo;s hope so: Look what it did for Picasso. 4 Highland Park Village, 214.559.3432; avantgarden.com.

Image: Avant Garden. Photo by Stephen Karlisch.

For Private Jets of Utmost Pedigree

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:31:42 GMT

%26hellip; a trolley in gold plate, one of 17 possible finishes, from Dahlgren Duck. The hush-hush Dallas firm has, since 1983, provided bespoke china to princes, flatware to the finest hotels, even special barbed-wire fence motifs (in sterling silver, no less) on custom German glassware for a Texas ranch. It has just settled into new digs on Hi Line Drive, where it quietly purveys blue-blood wares %26mdash; Herm%26egrave;s, Puiforcat, Saint-Louis, Christofle, all the good ones %26mdash;%26nbsp;to palaces, resorts, CEOs, designers and, yes, aircraft owners whose tastes soar above plastic cups and peanuts. The $17,500 gold trolley, by the way, is collapsible %26ldquo;for tight storage,%26rdquo; says founding partner Allan Duck, %26ldquo;and the faceplate allows for a royal coat of arms or corporate logo,%26rdquo; Who%26rsquo;s ordering? We%26rsquo;ll stay hush-hush. 1617 Hi Line Dr., 972.478.5991; dahlgrenduck.com.

Image: Flying quite high: Dahlgren Duck%26rsquo;s gold-plated trolley, for the best jets

For Parties with Patrician Leanings

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:25:48 GMT

Have your next affair right on the lawn %26mdash; with Suite 206%26rsquo;s newest pieces: rentals that say %26ldquo;living room%26rdquo; far more than they say %26ldquo;downtown lounge.%26rdquo; The collection includes ottomans, sofas, berg%26egrave;res and those chic domed chairs, all shown here at the Nasher Sculpture Center, and all in linen, burlap, wicker, nail heads, you name it. There are lamps, pillows and bar fa%26ccedil;ades, too. The impetus for the new goods? %26ldquo;People,%26rdquo; says rental guru Josh Madans, %26ldquo;are looking for a luxurious, residential feel %26mdash; event decor that is an extension of their home.%26rdquo; You, too, can be Marie Antoinette for the night: Ring 214.749.0400, or see suite206.com.

Image: Yours for the day (or night): highly residential rentals. Photo by Rebecca Lorrine Photography.

PaperCity + Tumblr

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:36:55 GMT

Around here, we%26rsquo;ve been doing some tumbling! And, no, we don%26rsquo;t mean the toppling that involves one-too-many sips of Dom P%26eacute;rignon and a pair of four-inch-high Louboutins. The kind we speak of is of the online nature: Meet papercitymag.tumblr.com %26mdash; our new Web obsession, where the viral spirit of social media meets our glossy, magazine feel. Click around a bit %26mdash; we%26rsquo;re posting fresh visuals, linking to stories on papercitymag.com and sharing things we love from fellow style-setting Tumblrs, including Vogue (vogue.tumblr.com), Alexander McQueen (m-c-q.com), The New York Times%26rsquo; T Magazine (tmagazine.tumblr.com) and plenty more. Come tumbl with us %26mdash; we%26rsquo;ll even supply the Dom and stilettos.

Destination Decorating: Calypso St. Barth Home

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:31:27 GMT

You%26rsquo;re an honorary member of the international gypset: You%26rsquo;ve floated luxuriously, nomadically, from Marrakesh to Bali, Rajasthan to Antibes, collecting design inspiration on your way. But now you%26rsquo;re back in Dallas, decorating your Preston Hollow hacienda and searching for Casbah pillows to complement your hand-loomed rug from India. Grand news: Calypso Home has both %26mdash; and more. The recently opened sister store to its neighboring Calypso St. Barth clothing boutique in The Plaza at Preston Center follows Calypso%26rsquo;s global-bohemian aesthetic. The boho decorating set will find stylish furnishings and accessories such as handmade dining tables and chairs, textiles crafted by Los Angeles fashion designer Heidi Merrick and ethereal bedding from the glamorous Parisian design firm Maison de Vacances. Of course, our favorites are those Calypso icons, offered long before the home-store spinoff %26mdash; think ikat-patterned throws, shag poufs made of New Zealand wool and the wonderful, colorful artisanal objects that add a dash of spice to your Dallas life. Your pad, like you, will never cease to be worldly. 8413 Preston Center Plaza, 214.750.4266; calypsostbarth.com.

A Look Back at the Life and Rooms of Decorator Herbert Wells

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:27:57 GMT

Known as the %26ldquo;King of Khaki,%26rdquo; Herbert Wells %26mdash; or Herb, as he was oft referred %26mdash; was a self-made man with an eye for style who decorated Houston as a milliner, window artist and, finally, interior designer to the upper crust (his true oeuvre) for 60 years. He died in the winter of 2010.

Born outside Boston, Herbert Wells moved when he was four or five with his family to Hartford, Connecticut, where his father worked in the business that dominated that small New England city: insurance. After high school, Wells found a position designing windows at Hartford%26rsquo;s most prominent department store, G. Fox %26amp; Company. He was inspired by Mary Louise Elliott Hirsch, a Bryn Mawr girl who became his lifelong mentor and nurtured his huge talent. She encouraged the 20-something Wells to dream big %26mdash; and dream big he did, venturing all the way from Hartford to Houston in 1949, with his mother and brother in tow.

Upon his arrival here, Wells worked at Sakowitz department store downtown. %26ldquo;I was kind of an Eastern snob,%26rdquo; he recalled when giving his oral history to writer Mimi Schwartz in 2007. %26ldquo;I thought, this won%26rsquo;t do. If you%26rsquo;re going to do anything in Houston, you ought to be in business for yourself.%26rdquo; And as fast as you could say, %26ldquo;Herb Wells reinvents himself as a milliner,%26rdquo; the gentleman who had never made so much as a fedora in his life set up shop around 1951 at a house he purchased in the Montrose, at the corner of Hawthorne and Mount Vernon %26mdash; one that his patrons and friends would call %26ldquo;Mount Vernon%26rdquo; with reverence.

Jerry Jeanmard, his business partner and the man who carries on the Wells Design/Jerry Jeanmard mantle, remembers, %26ldquo;He began making hats because the materials weren%26rsquo;t expensive.%26rdquo; Armed with the mailing lists of the River Oaks Garden Club and The Church of St. John The Divine, Wells was soon well on his way to finding his place among the well-heeled old-guard set.

It was a small jump from hats to houses for the budding decorator. His first interiors client, Martha Lovett, purchased hats from him then, in a quandary one day, asked him to help design curtains for her bathroom. Ironically, the task of making curtains, while a fortuitous start, would come to be something he avoided in many home schemes, including his own.

Later that decade, simultaneous with his interior design career, Wells opened a retail shop with his brother and mother at the corner of San Felipe and Post Oak Boulevard. Although the store would have several locations through the years, it always maintained its status %26mdash; a calling card that spoke volumes about Wells%26rsquo; level of taste. %26ldquo;My first memory of Wells Design,%26rdquo; says Jeanmard, a graphic designer turned interior decorator who got his momentous start with Wells, %26ldquo;was this wonderful 10-foot door made with end blocks of wood. I remember the store was just the best. I couldn%26rsquo;t afford a single thing. The only item I have is a lamp with a bear holding up a palm tree, and I got that when they closed the shop and were having a sale. I still have it.%26rdquo;

This vanity project sated Wells%26rsquo; desires to both shop and procure beautiful objects, but it was purported to have never made much of a profit. Then again, that wasn%26rsquo;t quite the point. Soon after the start of his interior business %26mdash; which, for a brief interlude, took him in the direction of designing debutante party decor %26mdash; Wells became known for many famous firsts. %26ldquo;He introduced a lot of modern pieces to Houston,%26rdquo; recalls Jeanmard of the man who often worked with Texas architects Frank Welch and Howard Barnstone. %26ldquo;A lot of mid-century classics you%26rsquo;d see now at Design Within Reach.%26rdquo; In addition, Houston designers can thank Wells for bringing sisal floor coverings to Houston. And did we mention Marimekko? Wells was wild for the Finnish designs, and long before Neiman Marcus picked up on the dresses, he had myriad pieces of the fabrics in his shop.

Beyond Wells%26rsquo; palette of subdued Martin Senour paints, which reflected his fondness for khaki and taupe tones, Jeanmard says that the single overriding theme strung throughout his work was a quality his business partner emulates to this day: an avoidance of pretension. Graced with a dry wit and a quick sense of humor (which might explain their 20-plus-year collaboration), Wells instilled in Jeanmard a preference for plainer, simpler assemblages %26mdash; pulled back, in a sense. But make no mistake, he always opted for the best quality pieces, whether they were priced high or low, but never showy nor vulgar ones. And, need we mention: Reproductions were verboten.

Jeanmard recalls that Wells didn%26rsquo;t have a %26ldquo;look,%26rdquo; per se. %26ldquo;No, he definitely adapted to the client%26rsquo;s desires. To work with a decorator well, you have to be able to relinquish some control, and that was one of the things Herb would charm people into doing,%26rdquo; he says.

Despite Wells%26rsquo; brilliance in determining which hue was the right fit, he shunned the label %26ldquo;colorist.%26rdquo; He also dazzled people with his gleaming architectural eye. %26ldquo;It was as good or better than anyone I%26rsquo;ve ever known,%26rdquo; Jeanmard says. %26ldquo;He could look at a plan and immediately know if you had to move this wall. I was completely in awe of that.%26rdquo;

Wells married Sue Carter, a divorced mother of two, when he was well into his 40s. The couple lived first at the International-style home he helped decorate inside loop 610 near Uptown Park, then at his house on West Oaks. After she passed away, the widower Wells became the devoted companion of the elegant Anne Farish of Houston and Aspen until his death at age 86, late this past winter.

The two reconnected in the early %26rsquo;80s, more than 20 years after their initial meeting. A fan of his shop, Farish hired him to design a playroom for her children, which then led to a project redoing her terrace, which he re-imagined in a daring combination of orange and pink. %26ldquo;Herb%26rsquo;s style was always so refreshing and original,%26rdquo; Farish says. %26ldquo;Frequently it had a stroke of whimsy and the unexpected. He was always open to new ideas, intrigued and excited by new designs. But he
never waited for a trend to emerge.%26rdquo;

Wells and Farish traveled together frequently, whether just out for the day in Houston at The Menil Collection or the Decorative Arts Council, or exploring Dale Chihuly%26rsquo;s studio, visiting the art festivals in Miami or tripping up to New York City. Back home, the couple shared a cairn terrier named Tuesday Wells. Of the feisty former show dog, Farish recalls, %26ldquo;Tuesday tried to bite neighbor Barbara Bush%26rsquo;s dog, Millie. When Herbert moved out of the neighborhood, Barbara wrote to say she would miss Herbert terribly %26mdash; but not Tuesday.%26rdquo;

Well-Known Clients Who Sought Out the Wells Touch:

Lyndon and Ladybird Johnson
Louisa Sarofim
Bob and Elyse Lanier
The River Oaks Country Club (2005)
Wiess House at Rice University (received a Good Brick Award from the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance in 2006)
Jane Owen
The Brown family
The Cullen family
The Hobby family
The West family

Images:

Wells in his home office.

An overview of the living room in Wells%26rsquo; Inwood Manor apartment.

The pink apothecary jars are part of the collection Wells kept in his media room. He favored periwinkle-blue and pink hues, and grouped them on the shelves of a revolving French steel biblioth%26egrave;que. He bought the apartment next door to his own at Inwood Manor several years after he moved into the San Felipe property, then broke through the common wall to combine them.

In the living room, part of a collection of periwinkle-blue porcelain and pottery. Wells was a huge fan of that color.

The entry features an English antique chest and Louis Philippe mirror. The Regency chair, its seat covered with suede, is part of a set in the dining room. Wells%26rsquo; madcap selection of hats hangs above.

Wells left this old parquet-topped French desk to his prot%26eacute;g%26eacute;, Jerry Jeanmard. A wall covered with Clarence House fabric divides this office space from the conference-table area in the next room %26mdash; Wells was always a fan of upholstered walls and sisal rugs.

Playing it old school, Wells always wore a jacket and would famously flash friends the fun, silk patterned linings he had custom-made. One of his dozens of sport coats drapes across the arm of a modern 20th-century wing chair in his bedroom.

This elephant head in the dining room is made of leather.

The fa%26ccedil;ade of Wells Design, his fabled Post Oak shop.

Herbert Wells with his loyal friend and companion, Anne Farish.

Some of Wells%26rsquo; collection of vaseline glass. Wells responded to the chartreuse color, amassing it even when it wasn%26rsquo;t fashionable to do so.

Wells%26rsquo; favorite project was the interior of the former Ray house in River Oaks. It now belongs to Sarah Dodd Spickelmier and Keith Spickelmier.

This needlework piece actually refers to herb plants, not Herb Wells.

More of Wells%26rsquo; favorite blue-hue apothecary jars perch atop this French steel biblioth%26egrave;que, which is likely from Ann-Morris Antiques in New York. (Wells bought many pieces from that firm, particularly steel ones.)

As you might imagine, Herbert Wells was a difficult man to buy for. One Christmas, Jerry Jeanmard made him this collage from his spiral-bound address book. A former graphic designer and illustrator who%26rsquo;s credited for creating the Blue Bell ice cream logo, Jeanmard preferred to create gifts for Wells.

This pair of French bonneti%26egrave;res, which originally belonged to Sue Wells, likely held china in Wells%26rsquo; dining room; previously, he%26rsquo;d installed them in his dressing room. The decorative finials were a Wells signature. The window shutters slide into pockets in the wall, as apparently Wells wasn%26rsquo;t much of a curtain guy.

Although this leather valise is monogrammed with %26ldquo;HW,%26rdquo; Wells or a friend likely found it already inscribed with the initials.

Another fragile collectible, this one enshrined under a glass dome.

Wells%26rsquo; renovation of the Oak Room at the River Oaks Country Club.

Originally Wells did not want a dining room in his home, but on a trip to Aspen with his companion Anne Farish, he saw this table and couldn%26rsquo;t resist. Teetering upon a steel pedestal base, it has a honed-marble top. The Regency chairs date back to his house in West Oaks.

A sampling of Wells%26rsquo; many silk pocket squares %26mdash; he possessed dozens. Always dressed in a jacket and tie, he preferred to never exactly match his tie and his pocket square.

An overview of Wells%26rsquo; bedroom. He had a stripped architectural fragment reconfigured into a headboard for the bed. Artist Virgil Grodtfelt%26rsquo;s watercolor hangs above a painted antique nightstand. The swing-arm lamp is from Hanson, the maker of the first swing-arm lamp %26mdash; Wells didn%26rsquo;t like imitations. Tramp art chest. The towels hanging in the open bath area were positioned thus because Wells admired their color. (And did we mention, they%26rsquo;re actually dish towels.)

Stark Contrast

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 01:58:20 GMT

A totally different Stark has us sitting up and taking notice of his imaginative work. David Stark, a celebrated party planner based in New York, is a frequent collaborator with West Elm, and he%26rsquo;s at it again. Known for making something masterful out of humble materials such as newspaper and cardboard, now he%26rsquo;s fashioning white table runners and placemats from artist%26rsquo;s canvas primed with gesso %26mdash; not to mention wrapping that stiff material around vases and cutting it up into faux flowers dabbed with a bit of blue paint at their centers. Inspired by the blue of the Mediterranean Sea, Stark%26rsquo;s dotted plates and dishes have surfaces splashed with a playful array of dots and squiggles. He%26rsquo;s also taken to re-imaging soup and sardine cans into porcelain tapas dishes and twisting ropes around bottles and bowls for a nautical summer look. At West Elm; westelm.com.

Kirby and Company

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:34:30 GMT

Keys to the Door: Owners Dennis Brackeen, Linda Chan, Blake Karambis and Jenna McPhail.
Stocked Goods: With loads of retail and design experience between them, the creative forces that have come together to conjure Kirby and Company in the former space of antiquarian Brian Stringer on West Alabama prove there%26rsquo;s strength in numbers. Antiques and vintage furniture dealer Blake Karambis, who also owns Kirby Antiques, brings in remarkable furnishings such as a 17th-century French commode from Burgundy ($24,750) to a gorgeous geranium-hued mid-century Knole sofa studded with brass tacks ($5,875). Designers Dennis Brackeen and Jenna McPhail%26nbsp; style them in room vignettes with sisal carpets, refreshing color finishes and pattern-painted floors to give you a glorious visual.%26nbsp; Linda Chan, former owner of Boxwood and Foxglove Antiques, has an astute eye for detail and can reinvent a piece to make it completely modern. With pieces fairly priced, too, the foursome creates modern upholstery pieces from the ground up, while enlivening others %26mdash; a painted iron 19th-century French Font Lit de Jour ($3,200) with a sturdy but cozy mattress and pillows, and a gleaming blue Murano glass lamp placed on Lucite and covered with a shade of their own making. It all makes for quite the fetching look. 2031 W. Alabama , 713.636.2340; kirby-company.com.

Who’s Stumped?

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:32:45 GMT

Metal artist and designer George Sacaris is getting back to nature. Known for his cool contemporary commissions and public art pieces, Sacaris (who also has a degree in architecture) recently unveiled his Faux Bois Collection at ICFF in New York. Hand-formed using a process he developed with lightweight aluminum, his hollow faux bois%26ndash;styled stumps, available in five sizes, can serve as stools, side tables, cocktail tables and benches, inside or out. Best of all, no two are exactly alike. Choose from his standard finishes %26mdash; glossy powder-coated white, adobe (taupe) and brown, plus satin-brushed aluminum %26mdash; or a higher priced mirror-polished option (the latter recommended for indoor use only). You can also special-order a stump, in which case the color options are limitless. Standard finishes $790 to $6,100, at Kuhl-Linscomb.

Image: George Sacaris' Faux Bois Collection. Photo by Jack Thompson.

Dining In Becomes More Attractive (HOUSTON)

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:30:37 GMT

As if Williams-Sonoma didn’t already know the way to every gourmand’s heart, now the savvy retailer has added another dimension to the possibilities that exist for your kitchen: furniture and fixtures. The collection — comprised of kitchen island workspaces, dining tables and chairs, and overhead lighting fixtures — is seamlessly in keeping with the brand’s aesthetic of pedigreed functional items. The pine dining collection is constructed of wood salvaged from antique doors and entryways; one kitchen island is built from French oaks planted during Emperor Napoleon’s rule. Looking for a little outside perspective, the company tapped New York–based interior designer Thomas O’Brien, and the results are seen in a Carrara-topped worktable made from solid ash, as well as a 1920s-style pendant lamp with a faceted glass shade and polished nickel details. Our favorite, though, is the Berthillon French kitchen island, which incorporates polished cupboard latches reminiscent of an icebox and a rubber-wood butcher’s block that’s perfect for preparatory tasks. Dinner is served indeed. Westheimer Road in Highland Village, 713.212.0346; williams-sonoma.com.

Blair Gordon Design – Tailored Home

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:28:03 GMT

Keys to the Door: Owner Blair Gordon.
Stocked Goods: Perhaps you recall seeing ginger-haired former model Blair Gordon profiled in our pages early last year. Then new to town, this former stylist and designer, who worked with high-profile fashion labels Ralph Lauren and J. Crew, had escaped the hustle of New York to settle in Texas. Now the gentleman who spent years styling Ralph%26rsquo;s Madison Avenue windows is styling his own, in a little bungalow that houses both his design studio and shop. Blair Gordon Design %26ndash; Tailored Home is awash in calm neutrals with a mix of menswear fabrics (houndstooth, plaids and stripes) covering stacks of pillows, and neutral linens, cottons and the like adorning his own line of upholstered pieces. It%26rsquo;s a setting where
mid-century classics such as a rare Arne Jacobsen egg chair in the original black leather plays with a pair of bone-inlaid chests with myriad tiny drawers from the Middle East, a circa-1970s chrome %26eacute;tag%26egrave;re by Milo Baughman, a 1940s golden Murano glass chandelier and a pair of Adrian Pearsall%26rsquo;s ottoman swivel chairs. It%26rsquo;s here, in this intimate 1,400-square-foot space, that Gordon brings in stand-alone pieces that can go anywhere %26mdash; items you might even consider building a room around. Of course, if you don%26rsquo;t have the slightest notion how to do that, just meander to the back, where Gordon welcomes one and all into his art-filled office (that stuff is for sale, too), where you can commission him to create your next space. 2027 W. Alabama, 281.888.7930; blairgordondesign.com.

Images:

Blair Gordon Design %26mdash; Tailored Home. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Owner Blair Gordon. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Nash + Liaigre = Maison Madness

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:24:33 GMT

It%26rsquo;s a match made in bronze-legged, leather-upholstered heaven. Superstar French designer Christian Liaigre and showroom impresario George Cameron Nash have the saws and hammers flying on two shops-within-shops: one at Nash in Dallas, one at Nash in Houston. Pourquoi? It%26rsquo;s the debut of Maison Liaigre, Mr. L%26rsquo;s new, original designs %26mdash; a reinvention of sorts, after almost 20 years represented by Holly Hunt %26mdash; to include sleek chairs, sofas, tables and lamps. The boutiques at George Cameron Nash %26ldquo;will definitely mirror Liaigre%26rsquo;s Paris atelier,%26rdquo; says Nash, who flew to France to select the showroom pieces himself. (One, the St. Germain lounge chair, with wiry bronze legs and arms that channel Giacometti, is headed straight for Nash%26rsquo;s Dallas apartment. %26ldquo;I bought it 10 seconds after I saw it,%26rdquo; he reports.) Nash%26rsquo;s Liaigre boutiques are two of only a dozen or so planned; a Manhattan brownstone is turning MoMA-esque as we type, to become the U.S. flagship early next year. Lucky us, we get the choice bits this month, when the George Cameron Nash shops open. We haven%26rsquo;t seen French fireworks like this since that little wedding of Marie and Louis at Versailles in 1700. (And what a pairing that was.) Maison Liaigre, to the trade at George Cameron Nash.%26nbsp;

Image: Bronze standard: The St. Germain chair, just one of the nouvelle showstoppers coming to the nouvelle Christian Liaigre boutique at George Cameron Nash.

Pick a Posy

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:18:38 GMT

Although it%26rsquo;s actually called Dance, when we spied this black bisque vase at David Brown, we renamed it the Modern Picket Fence %26mdash; for your tabletop. We can picture it arranged with twining vines and tall, grassy foliage trimmed to irregular heights. Or, do as Brown is wont to do, and fill it with several orchid stems. Gorgeous. $245, at David Brown.

Image: Dance vase at David Brown. Photo by Jenny Antill.

Maximal Minimal

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:08:51 GMT

Established %26amp; Sons is generating the biggest buzz among international design disciples in the last decade %26mdash; earning kudos and projecting heat for its smart amalgamation of art, architecture and industrial design. Zaha Hadid desk, anyone? Along the way, E%26amp;S has taken up residence along the global fair circuit, showcasing important offerings in booths from Miami Beach to Basel, Switzerland. Now Established %26amp; Sons%26rsquo; co-founder, British designer Mark Holmes, has spun out his own firm: Minimalux, whose second collection had its American debut at Houston%26rsquo;s own Peel Gallery this spring. The sharply curated Museum District stop is the exclusive U.S. source for Minimalux%26rsquo;s line of luminous metal objects executed in copper, stainless steel, sterling silver and aluminum %26mdash; beakers as vases, bowls shaped like a finely-milled auto part, pill holders fashioned as test tubes %26mdash; that boast a precisionist finish and are as concise and futuristic as they are beautiful. From $125, at Peel Gallery, 4411 Montrose Blvd., 713.520.8122; peelgallery.org.

Image: Minimalux%26rsquo;s Conical Vase, 2010, at Peel Gallery