Just Spec'd - Nancy Corzine Marston Bench

We just spec'd these wonderful benches from the Nancy Corzine collection sold in Dallas through Allan Knight. These iron beaut's feature a graphic greek key detail to up the glam factor and they are as comfortable in a classic traditional enviroment as they are in a fun and funky one!

PHOTO CREDIT:

Elle Decor

Scott Joyce

Daily Dose - Oppurtunity

"I held a moment in my hand, brilliant as a star, fragile as a flower, a tiny sliver of one hour. I dripped it carelessly, Ah! I didn't know, I held opportunity."

~Hazel Lee

Photo Credit: Afrogirl via Flikr

Nice & Neighborly in The Design District

As an interior designer time is usually my biggest enemy, there is never enough of it. The biggest factor in my "loss" of time is spent in a car traveling from jobsite to jobsite or in and out of showrooms sourcing products. I have been trying to get my company to utilize our large 3 story roof to install a helipad which would cut down on my commute but they said something about the recession. Darn. I really wanted to do a whole Mission Impossible scene trying to get to work everyday, I told them they didn't even have to land it, I could just rappel out. What a way to wake you up and get your blood flowing, doesn't that increase your creativity and productivity right?

(maybe without the burning car...)

So since I got shot down on that expense request for the time being luckily some really smart people invented the a thing called the "world wide web" so that much of that time spent in and out of showrooms is now regulated by what I can't source online or products that you have to see in person, like fabrics and antiques that you need to hand inspect.

I am blessed, however, that we are located in the Design District, just on the south side of the newly renamed Riverfront and basically really never have to leave a mile radius to go source the best products and fabricators in the industry. With the revamping of the Trinity Corridor and the marketing push by Ablon Properties "LOL" - Lower on Oaklawn, others are taking suit and overflowing back by my once lonely place of business. Just read my rambling from last month's post Movin' On Up ... some of the "new" neighbors include- and I say that with quotes because some of the companies have been there over two years...are the Dallas Contemporary gallery, Tufenkian Carpets, Lofty Concepts, and my new friends over at The Lee Collection (now TLC Contract Group). All the companies are renovating their new digs, increasing the overall appearance of our once shabby street while still paying homage to the "warehouse" look. My goal is to introduce you to each of these great companies, first starting with The TLC Contract Group

The TLC Contract Group was founded by Debbie Lee Grayson who had the vision of a customer service oriented company that would provide clients the benefit of direct ordering and fulfillment from the world’s best known furniture, fabric, and fixture manufacturers,
specializing in commercial, medical, and hospitality interior and exterior finish-out, furnishings and fixtures. With the ability to purchase items directly from leading global manufacturers, The TLC Contract Group passes outstanding savings on to its customers and clients.


Their projects include those done here locally in the Dallas area and throughout the country. I met a newfound friend, Kara Legako a designer for TLC, who is as personable as she is cute, whom I later found out had been working with Dwell with Dignity, one of my favorite non-profits. She also organizes the DwD workdays to utilize TLC's warehouse to help with the building, painting or whatever else hands on projects need to take place for a DwD install. TLC Group will also accommodate the individual designers and other firms who are looking for pieces from the big manufacturers that have huge minimum opening orders and stocking dealer agreements that must be fulfilled before ordering from them - with The Lee Collection you can bypass that and purchase a whole project through them or singular pieces. They have access to the manufacturer's own fabric lines to help from all of those COM charges too. Kara was nice enough to give me a tour and introduce me to the crew and also let me post some of their pieces from past jobs that they have on consignment which will be up on the dallasDECORUM Facebook page shortly.

You can find TLC Contract Group at

Showroom:
150 Glass Street
Dallas, TX 75207
PH: 214.378.8778
F: 214.378.8558
Email:
info@theleecollections.com

A Pat on the Back - Sharif Munir Nominated for 2010 McSam Awards

A big pat on the back to Sharif & Munir Custom Homes being nominated by Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas for two 2010 McSam Awards for Luxury Home of the Year and Best Brochure!

As a designer who worked hand in hand with the builder on this project I can't say enough how lucky I have been to be able to work on such hi-caliber homes that Sharif & Munir unfailingly delivers every time. Most of their new clients are also old clients, turning to the builder again and again (one I am working on right now is going on house #3 with them, which I can't wait to show you photos of those - our install will be this summer so stay tuned for photos! The home is an English Tudor with a modern but classic edge, mostly outfitted in clean lined monochromatic furnishings with pops of vibrant colors here and there, think Allan Knight mixed with some EC Dicken for good measure) Okay...okay back to here and now, sorry I get off on tangents...tour the new home at 5107 Kelsey Rd. off of Walnut Hill & Inwood!

One of my favorite features of the home is the gallery medallions that I designed (there are two that mirror each other, one is on the opposite wing of the home). This one is off of the butlery and elevator - what home would be complete without one?

Study Floor Detail

From a thought to a thing. I started with a sketch, then a CAD drawing, then to this above, then to...

Now see how pretty it looks cleaned and waxed up! At each intersection I added stone inserts to break up the wood a little bit

This floor makes a grand and dramatic entrance, used throughout the formal galleries and entry ways by utilizing three different types of natural stones for texture and contrast.

Formal powders are meant to be your little jewel boxes, so go all out - no holding back! I selected David Goldberg handpainted custom wallcoverings from ID Collection, it has a subtle damask pattern that you can not appreciate in the photo, but glimmers and glows in the light of the elegant sconces. A stone countertop and decorative backsplash complete the look.

From this...

To THIS!

A warm and handsome den accompanied by a full bar...perfect for that evening cognac.

His master bath....this is only a small portion of it. He also gets a full shower, his own water closet, dressing area, and walk in wardrobe

Her master bath, off of the coffee bar in the master...complete with her own water closet, roman tub, full shower, walk in closet complete with island and makeup vanity (so you don't have to always make the bathroom look perfect, just close the closet door!) AND french doors to her own courtyard!

A few of the other bathrooms...for a total of 9, yes it is a bit of a challenge to design 9 bathrooms in one home, keeping in feel with aesthetic so everything blends well while making each one special, but I think we managed!

The back exterior...

and I didn't even show you half of the home!

Tour the open house to see in person this weekend!

5107 Kelsey Rd.

For more information, contact the builder or shoot me an email!

Cause Worthy Shopping

You can help a cause and check out the new Whole Foods Park Lane location today, . The gastronomically fabulous grocery chain will generously be donating 1% of sales today to one of my favorite non-profit Dwell with Dignity.

You can also shop for that new spring piece for your wardrobe either Friday or Saturday and HD'S Boutique will be giving to the DwD cause as well! Be sure to check out the wonderful Child Perfume!

Daily Dose

If only everyone could know and live with their inner craziness…people would be fairer and happier.

Paulo Coelho

The Sunny Side of Schumacher

I am barely breaking my spring fever and am already looking ahead to the warm (in Texas - sweltering hot) summer months. While shopping for outdoor fabrics to don a client's outdoor furniture, I rediscovered the fashion designer turned fabric designer Trina Turk's outdoor fabric line for F. Schumacher. The LA and Palm Beach based clothing designer has cast her wand over the residential homeowner with her bright, vibrant colors and intricate sea inspired motifs - with out the use of a coral or seashell print in sight. Is that possible? By abstracting the traditional prints she has created original and striking shapes and patterns in her line sure to add some spunk to your afternoon pool parties.

F.Schumacher is also running some recession proof deals through April, promotions on both furniture and and fabrics. For the inside scoop contact your local F.Schumacher showroom or contact your local rep-for the Dallas area see below.

At a Palm Springs resort, waitress wearing Trina Turk swimwear

F.Schumacher also hosts local home grown Texas fabric designer Bonnie Sharp who resides in D-Town and was featured in DHome for her Bon Studio Textiles line of modern and graphic prints. Bonnie worked under designer Emily Summers developing her modern aesthetic before striking it out on her own with her textile studio. As each order is printed by hand, the possibilities of customization are endless.

Local Rep for Dallas Area:

R. Bradley Scott
Territory Manager Schumacher
1025 N. Stemmons Freeway, Suite 300 Dallas , TX 75207
Tel: 214.748.3331 Fax: 214.747.5709

2010 DHome Best Designers Issue

I just received my copy of the new DHome, their annual issue of "The Best Designers in Dallas" as nominated by their peers in the industry. Some of the 55 top designers included 3 of our own designers of Dallas Design Group, Interiors - Nancy Anderson Ross, Tracy Rasor and Lisa Barron. Congrats girls!

Nancy Anderson Ross shared some of her designer secrets and personal pleasures with DHome...

FLOWER: Peonies

COLOR: Cognac

PAINT: Pancake Makeup

MUST HAVE ITEM THAT COSTS LESS THAN $50: White Orchid Plant

SHEETS: White and Ivory Lace

SCENT: Fresh Air

CANDY: Texas Millionaires

MUSEUM: Uffizi, Florence

LOCAL RESTAURANT: Houston's

FABRIC: Venetian Silk Velvet

ANTIQUE STORE: Pittet's

LOCAL STORE: Saks Fifth Avenue

CANDLE: Unscented Pillars

BOOK: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

CHAIR: Beidermeier

TELEVISION SHOW: Frontline

GUILTY PLEASURE: Chocolate Ice Cream with Chopped Pecans and Coke Over the Top

Showroom Spotlight - Elegant Additions

As an interior designer whose workload is about 60% construction based, I am constantly looking for the newest things to come out in the market, especially plumbing and hardware products. Just like the pair of perfect earrings complement your outfit, hardware is like the jewelrey to a room. Elegant Additions at The International on Turtle Creek is like the Harry Winston to my rooms...flawless hardware - complete with a modern or traditional edge, extraordinary detailing and impeccable service. And I must say that impeccable service in a hardware/plumbing company isn't always easy to come by. Case in point - just when you think your job is finishing up the builder calls you, asking why is there a chrome faucet with brushed nickel cabinet pulls, or the granite fabricator is asking you how to install a farmhouse sink. Really??? Yes, I have had to walk someone through an instruction manual on how to install a farmhouse sink. Obviously Elegant Additions didn't supply the hardware, because this would not have happened. Besides offering up the best products, they ensure that they will be there every step of the way, even going as far being at a jobsite in the middle of the night assisting the plumber with a dragon head faucet for a morning reveal to the client. You gotta love this job...

There are also so many things you can do to an item to customize it, you will be hard pressed to see it show up at the Jones' next door. (And by the Jones', I may mean THE Jones' - but I am not confirming or denying, just merely suggesting ;) At a recent launch trunk show, I had the pleasure of meeting Julie Koch, the driving force behind this successful company, who started Elegant Additions in 1985 with a partner and a group of investors. Eventually the partner and investors were bought out, and Julie has grown the company into an national, multi-million dollar operation, respected by manufacturers and colleagues alike, with showrooms also in Houston and Atlanta.

This is their newest line, the Metropolitan Collection by Hamilton Sinkler, a modern reinterpretation of classic hardware, but has been modified by using larger scale and a range of finishes. Their hardware has graced hi end retail clothing ateliers, commercial projects, even custom hardware for Mark Ecko for his New Jersey digs. Again, all pieces can be customized - you can provide a sample of a finish and they will match it, or you can completely resize or change elements. They will even go so far as to make a resin mold of the actual product so you can be sure you know what you are signing off on.

One of my favorite pieces above, the egg door knob.

Below are some of my other favorite finds the Elegant Additions carries

I am tempted to say this may be my favorite knob ever....

Just spec'd this - two of them to be exact for a client's bar trough sink, one at each end


For the glam and over the top client

This is amythest, yes, REAL amythest. We just spec'd a client's master bath hardware to be a version of this with sodalite stone to match their handpicked sodalite slabs from a quarry in Carrera, Italy

This line is features exotic stones like tigers eye and quartzite to really make a statement, they have tons of vanity bases and styles to choose from

For More Information Contact -
150 Turtle Creek, Suite 203
Dallas, Texas 75207
Telephone: 214.745.0088
Fax: 214.745.7007