Dallas Blog | Material Girls | Dallas Interior Design

This week, I was so honored to be included in iVillage’s article, “What My Mom Taught me: Celebrity Home Designers” in celebration of Mother’s Day.

It got me thinking about how much my mom has influenced my career path and how much she means to me.

My mom has been interested in interior design as long as I can remember. Growing up, things were always changing around our house.  Whether she was re-painting a room or a piece of furniture, putting up wallpaper, or making drapes, she was the woman who did it all (and all by hand).  Most of my friends assumed she was a decorator and did that for a living.  My husband loves to tell the story of how when he first met my parents and came to their house, he sat down on the couch and realized he was sitting on mounds of fabric swatches.  Little did he know, the same thing would continuing happening a few years later at our own house

 {My childhood home, in which my parents still live in today}

I have such fond memories of my mom and decorating.  I think it was at some point during highschool, when I caught the design bug from her.  My bedroom’s color scheme went from pink to purple to blue to turquoise.  The artwork in my bedroom (AKA, the Mark Paul Gosselar poster) was strategically placed at eye level and the Laura Ashley bedding was always fully coordinated to a matching valance.

My mom has always been there for me through every move- dorm, apartment, rental house, office and now, our new house.  These moves always bring a fun new decorating adventure for us.

 {My oh so stylish college apartment}

Most weekends we spend at the consignment stores hunting for treasures for one of our houses and telling eachother “you so need that!” (when we clearly don’t)…like this bar cart I got last weekend for $45!

My phone usually rings within hours of receiving the newest House Beautiful in the mail with my mom asking, “did you see that gorgeous spread?” or “did you read the blog post today on Colour Me Happy or Cote de Texas?”  We pour over magazines and blogs together, analyzing each and every room.

 

 {House Beautiful}

We’ve also recently started going to Roundtop to further feed our obsession with antiques.  We also hit up all the warehouse sales in the design district, go on local home tours, and stalk our favorite streets in Dallas (hello, Tokalon).

 {Some of our china from Roundtop}

We can’t help it- Interior design is just what we do! (and it always has been)  We couldn’t care less about shopping for clothes- in fact, that’s usually considered a nightmare to us.  We will take Riverfront Boulevard over Northpark any day of the week!

So in honor of my mom on this Mother’s Day, I thought I would share with you her thirty year transformation of the house she has lived in since the 80′s (and boy could you tell it was the 80′s when she first moved in!)

Entry in the 80′s-

We are SO excited to announce that we are partnering with the very luxurious Vero Linens for this month’s giveaway!! Vero’s luxury cotton bedding has been produced for over 150 years by a family of craftsmen in Northern Italy – so they know how to make some quality bedding! Vero Linens utilizes old-world finishing techniques including the classic hem-stitch finish on their sheets, pillowcases, shams, and duvet colors. Vero Linens uses only the finest grades of Egyptian cotton produced to make some of the finest cotton goods in the world. PLUS, they sell their linens directly to the consumer so there is never a retail mark-up! How great is that?! This means that Vero Linens doesn’t sell their linens through retailers and there is no retail mark-up, and with luxury linens this typically means a mark-up of 225% to 250%! So you really can’t beat a deal like that!

Enter here now!!

Now one lucky MG reader has the chance to win a complete set of 100% Egyptian cotton sheets in the color, pattern and size of your choice! Vero Linens’ sheet sets are available in two patterns, solid and tone-on-tone stripes, in three neutral colors:

Diamante Pillowcases

Righetta Pillowcases

A set like this would normally retail for well over $1000, so enter HERE now for your chance to win fabulous sheets (and a great night’s sleep) for free!! 

This giveaway will end May 27th and the winner will be announced on MG Monday, May 28th! 

“Why put off buying today, what you can sell tomorrow?” (is my new personal slogan).  It’s a revolving door over here at casa de Larkin.  It’s not uncommon for me to buy something and then the next week it shows up on Craig’s List.  I just can’t stop myself- I have furniture and accessory A.D.D.  I will buy something vintage and then get sick of it before I even have an opportunity to recover it.  With the new house, the addiction has only gotten worse.   I’m constantly lurking on Craig’s List, Ebay, estate sales, thrift stores, vintage shops, 1st Monday at the WTC, warehouse and sample sales for that unique find.  It’s gotten so bad that I just realized my whole house is filled with faux bamboo and I’m starting to look like the crazy “bamboo” lady. If you are interested in taking any of these off my hands, please email for pricing, availability and condition (I may have more photos too)!  (I’ll also post them on a link on the Dallas page)

 {Abstract giclee art from Dallas design district.  Framed in brushed nickel frame. 49.5″W x 73″H}

 

 {PAIR of vintage  butterfly back chairs- approximately 30″w x 25″d}

 

{Vintage white faux bamboo dresser with gold hardware- 54″w x 20″d}

{Abstract giclee art from Dallas design district- framed in black frame- 31.5″ square}

{Global Views faux malachite magazine holder from Dallas design district- never been used- 20″L x 14″W x 20″H)

{Pair of 24″ square pillows with Duralee artichoke print- green and gray; One rectangular gray/white greek key pillow in Duralee fabric}

{Vintage desk/vanity chair- needs to be re upholstered and legs re painted}

{Amazing octagonal mirror upholstered in light creamy taupe fabric with gold nailheads- 42″ x 42″.  Antiquing on mirror}

Close up below-

{Global Views drum shades- set of TWO white shades with gray trim- will sell separately- 25″dia x 12″h}

Can easily make them into gorgeous chandeliers! (this is what it looks like made into a light fixture)

{Gorgeous beveled Horchow mirror- fell off my wall so has two cracks on front and one on each side- but should be repairable.  Selling it for super cheap!- 32″w x 47″h}

{Pair of mercury glass lamps with white shade- 15x10L- shade size x 24″H}

{Wood pedestal table-  22″dia x 26.5″ h}

{Highland Court/Duralee fabric- blue and white ikat- 1.5 yards}

{Curvy/glossy black vase- 12″w x 14″h}

{White armoire with acrylic Anthropologie hardware- probably needs to be re-painted- 82″h x 41″w x 23″d}

{Dark wood floor length mirror- 18″d x 26″w x 70″h}

{Set of three tall jewel tone vases- will sell separately- Green- 19″h; teal- 22″h}

{Fairly new CB2 Acrylic Counter Stool- 16″L x 16″W x 33.5″H- Seat height- 23″H}

{Craft desk- dark espresso- very similar to the craft desk they sell at Pottery Barn- 48″L x 30″W x 36.5″H; Accomodates one counter stool}

{Small sunburst mirror- 14″dia}

{5 yards of Pindler and Pindler gray-blue linen fabric- from the Dallas design district- 54″ wide- still in its original packaging!}

{Global Views- turquoise oblong shaped bowl- 24.5″L x 7.5″W x 8″H}

{Vintage plates from Roundtop- a PAIR}

Also selling- two Pottery Barn natural rugs.  One is a 5×8 seagrass rug with neutral border and the other one is a 5×8 sisal rug with a black border, black iron patio dining set, tv stand, TV, white outdoor rocking chairs, wood table desk and more fabrics!

There’s a lot more where this came from…email if you need something specific. You never know, it may be collecting dust in my garage!

Congratulations to Whitney from Saginaw, TX! She is the lucky winner of this beautiful rug from Decorative Carpets! This rug retails at $1078 and will be a stunning accent piece in Whitney’s home!

Whitney told us that she and her husband are in the process of building a new house right now, and their style is a mix of traditional and modern. She also mentioned that her go-to color is gray because it is soft and fresh and makes a room look more modern, we couldn’t agree more! Her new Decorative Carpets rug is the perfect blend of classic and modern, and we think it will fit perfectly in her new home. We hope you love it Whitney, congrats again!

Be sure to follow @DecorativeCrpts on Twitter and like them on Facebook to keep up with all of the latest design and flooring trends!

Thank you to all of our readers who participated in this giveaway! Stay tuned for the next fabulous giveaway coming soon!

Spring has sprung! Besides getting ready for the beautiful weather, we’ve been busy asking our favorite Dallas showrooms about the top fabric trends for spring. This is what they said is big for 2012:

1. Ethnic/ Tribal Prints
Spring is a time to be playful, and these fun designs have been almost impossible to keep in stock.

 

2. Children’s Rooms
Grownups shouldn’t have all the fun- infants through teens are all enjoying the new designs this spring, especially the new line from Lulu DK that has been flying out of the Schumacher showroom.

 

3. Outdoor
Not too surprising is the popularity of outdoor fabrics.  Although we love spending time in our homes, there’s nothing like sprucing up a patio or porch for the upcoming warm weather!

 

 

4. Orange and Blue
Every season has its perfect palette, and this year, showrooms have noticed the popularity of bright orange and blue hues. Seen in almost every popular line from Modern Colors to Alexa Hampton, these colors are everywhere!

 

5. Colored Leather
One unexpected trend is the popularity of colored leather. Used for all types of spaces from bedrooms to offices to living rooms, this fabric is a fun little surprise, especially in bold colors.

 

Bonus: The anticipated trend for 2013? Kelly Green, and lots of it!

The old mantra “out with the old, in with the new” may have met its match.  Nestled in East Dallas, the Hollywood Heights neighborhood makes me wish all zip codes were this well preserved.

With most of its houses dating back to the 1930s, it is one of the oldest conservation districts in the whole US-of-A, and homeowners in the area today are not permitted to tear down any part of their house or even renovate their exteriors, which allows for a true and rare glimpse into the history of American architecture!

Now, doesn’t that just make you feel downright patriotic?

 

Each year, the HSMNA (Hollywood Santa Monica Neighborhood Association) puts on a home tour.  This year marks its 21st  and I’ll be there with bells on, supporting my new hood.

There is an entire weekend full of events- starting with the Candelight Tour and Auction Party on Friday night at the Arboretum and ending with the Art in the Park event at Lindsley Park on Sunday (which will feature local art and gift vendors, including art from Christian at Think Twice!)  Five houses will be open to visitors on the tour.  I can’t wait to see which homes are on the tour and how they are decorated on the inside!

This event is extra special to me, as it takes place right around the same time we move into the neighborhood.  (HSMNA, please consider this house below for one of your upcoming home tours- I’ll be ready in five years! wink wink

Purchase Home Tour tickets HERE for $12! See you there!

April 28-April 29

Saturday and Sunday

Noon to 6 pm

Attention Dallas dwellers! Mark your calendars for an exciting event organized by the amazing people behind the thriving, non-profit organization Dwell with Dignity!

Launched this past Saturday, April 14th is the much-anticipated “Thrift Studio” fundraising event: the bi-annual 30-day pop-up shop in the Dallas Design Center that is selling the overstock of donated, gently used furniture, housewares, accessories, and high end designer finds to the local public! One hundred percent of the proceeds from the “Thrift Studio” will benefit the future of Dwell with Dignity and its mission to help families escape poverty and homelessness through design, providing those in need with furnishings, art, bedding and kitchen supplies, even food for the pantry.

This month-long event will take place every Tuesday-Sunday between April 14^th-May 12^th with participants including Wisteria, Michelle Nussbaumer, Horchow, Container Store, and TLC Contract, among others. Purchase your ticket today! You might even run into your very own Dallas Material Girl

This month’s giveaway winner will receive a rug from Decorative Carpets, a family-owned business that has specialized in providing high quality flooring for the world’s most prestigious commercial and residential interiors since 1955. With headquarters in West Hollywood and a manufacturing facility in Bangkok, Thailand, all of Decorative Carpets’ products adhere to the highest of standards and can be found in every corner of the globe!

One lucky MG reader will win a 3′x5′ hand spun rug inspired by late 19th century Mongolia, made from hand carded Himalayan natural wool. With a retail price of $1078, this rug will make for a stunning accent piece in any room!

**To be chosen, you MUST fill out the entry form here AND either “Like” Decorative Carpets’ Facebook page or follow their Twitter account! The winner will be chosen from those lists.

The giveaway starts today and will end on Tuesday, May 1st with a winner announced on May 2nd. Enter today!

 Good luck to you all!

Although we’re always on the lookout for fun, creative showrooms, it’s sometimes hard to find one whose character truly stand out from the rest. But West Palm Beach, Florida-based resale shop Circa Who has done just that with its wild selection of colors, fun trimmings, and collection of whimsical pieces from artichoke lamps to dolphin candlesticks.

Circa Who manages to fulfill your wildest design fantasy, while not going tacky-overboard, and the store’s owner and buyer Tracy Deramus describes the pieces as “20th Century furnishings meets vintage Palm Beach.” We love the mix of fabrics and colors that the store offers, with more than enough pieces to satisfy even the most avid of bamboo-lovers.

Here are a few of our favorites…

Orange ‘X’ Benches

 

 Pair of Clam Shell Lamps

 

Hollywood Regency Mirror

Cyprus Root Console

Faux Bamboo Chippendale Arm Chairs

Greek Key Headboard

Faux Bamboo Barrel Chairs

Pagoda Mirror

William Haines Cabinet

Artichoke Lamp

We asked store owner Tracy a few questions:

When did Circa Who open, and what inspired you to open your own store?

 The store has been open since 2004. While buying things to put my own house together, I realized there is so much FAB merchandise out there with so much LIFE left. I started buying all the things I loved and hoarding them in my husband’s warehouse and he encouraged me to open up a shop.

What inspires you to find “20th century-meets-West-Palm-Beach” pieces?

  I love the 20th century design, and how it was interpreted through Palm Beach details, especially in the 1970s!

Do you have a favorite room in the house to decorate?

The entrance/ foyer.

Who would you say are your ‘typical’ customers?

DIY decorators.

What is your favorite aspect of owning your won business?

Doing something that I LOVE to do!

Anything else you would like to share with Material Girls readers?

 I always tell my clients that it is the piece I fall in love with, not the color or the fabric. It’s the new life that I leave up to them!

Check out the site for more information on the store and its playful pieces! http://circawho.com/

Congratulations to Lisa from Plano, TX on being the winner of our IO Metro pouf giveaway!! Lisa is the lucky new owner of this adorable pair of gray and white kilim poufs!

We wanted to ask Lisa a little about her design preferences and her plans for her new poufs -

Lisa told us that she recently furnished an entire room with IO Metro pieces – Her new poufs will fit right in!

Lisa also told us that her favorite paint color is Benjamin Moore’s “Nimbus Gray” which is a soothing blue-gray color -

Here it is used in a bedroom -

Thank you to all of our MG readers who participated in our giveaway! Stay tuned for the next giveaway coming soon!