Dallas Blog | Material Girls | Dallas Interior Design

Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse- room decorated by Bunny Williams- via SF Luxe

The photo above of the Bunny Williams room featuring horns as fireplace accessories only further peaked my interest in these exotic pieces of decor.  There’s just something about their curvy, dramatic shape and sleek form that I’m really drawn to.

Horns flanking a mirror on a fireplace is my favorite application but they also look great in many other forms- chairs, tables, mirrors, and even serving trays!

I went to accessorize a client’s house the other day and was dead set on bringing her a horn accessory for her coffee table, and what do you know, she beat me to  it, and already had a horn of her own!

Decorpad- Miles Redd

Decorpad

Arteriors Bernard Authentic Horns

Barbara Cosgrove Horn Lamp

Z Gallerie- Franklin Magnifier

FCL Style- Horn Side Table

West Elm- Horn Wall Mirror

Shop Ten 25- White Horn Sculpture

Ballard Designs- Horn Oval Bowl

Jayson Home and Garden- Francisco Stool

Horn Mounted on Lucite Base- 1stDibs

Mecox Gardens- Landis Black Leather Armchair

The Well Appointed House- Blue Ceramic Tray with Horn Handles

Inside Avenue- Gray and White Horn Bone Box

What about you? Have you gotten on the horn bandwagon or do you think it’s an overused trend?

Oh to be in college again! <Sigh>.  As my intern Kim gets ready to go back to school, I’m left living vicariously through her start of a new semester.

It feels like a million years ago that I lived in the dorms, but no matter how much time passes, I don’t think I’ll ever forget that decrepit building, the long trek up four flights of stairs to get to my room, those “pain in the neck” shower caddies (not to mention the awful community bathrooms) and the Laura Ashley floral EVERYTHING that I decorated my room with.

“Kids these days” are so lucky that there are such stylish and affordable decor options out there to make the dorm room the comfortable home away from home that it should be.

I recruited Kim (the recent dorm residing expert) in helping out with my top picks for cheap (but not cheap looking!) small space/dorm must-haves.

Airgo Chair- currently on sale!

Small Double Bell Alarm Clock- White

Twin Cherished Garden Quilt

Girls’ Solid Canvas Bins

Desk Lamp- Green

Tranby Mirror- only $19.99! A mirror at this price is pretty unheard of

Coming and Going Coat Rack

Knitted Poufs- beanbags with a twist!

Splendent Suzani Pictures

Perfectly Prepped Hair Accessories Organizer

Brocade Desk Accessories

Bredgrund Shower Curtain

Kim sent me photos of her dorm room from a few years ago and I had so much fun taking a peek into her hot pink, black and white dorm room world! Truly a designer in the making…

I ordered a mirror from Made Goods for a client of mine and we have been anxiously awaiting its arrival ever since.  It came in last week and let me just tell you, it’s PHENOMENAL in person!

The Isabella (above) is so intricate and the level of detail really exceeded our expectations.  I knew it would be beautiful, but I was seriously wowed when I saw it up close and personal.  (excuse the iPhone photo- the mirror and wallpaper is not pink in person, I promise!)

Made Goods just launched a  new collection of more than sixty products and mirrors that will blow your mind!  If only I could see them all in person…

MIRRORS

LIGHTING

FURNITURE

OBJECTS

Suzanne Kasler’s new collection at Ballard is fabuloso!  I stumbled upon it yesterday on their site and just love how her designs have so much character to them.  A lot of the pieces look like antiques but at a fraction of the cost.

Here are some pieces from her collection so you can see what I’m talking about!

Vintage Inspired Mirror

Set of 5 Atelier Antler

Montpelier Folding Table

Sepia Framed Botanical Print

World Map Giclee

Atelier 7 Arm Candelabra

Sauvignon Mirror

Jacque Bracket

Eiffel Tower Picture Holder

Inspired Interiors by Suzanne Kasler

Karen of Glencoe, Illinois!

Karen is now the proud owner of a set of Barbara Barry Luxe Organizers.  She won our “Get Organized Giveaway” sponsored by Shop Ten 25, and what perfect timing too…Karen’s birthday is tomorrow, August 3rd!  Happy early birthday Karen!  We hope you enjoy your boxes!!

Karen was sweet enough to answer MG’s burning questions below-

What are you going to do with the boxes?

Boxes will probably go into my living room and I will store some prized photos and art postcards that I love.

Where do you get design inspiration from, when working on your home?

I really love design blogs of course!  But I truly cherish my design magazines especially: House and Garden, Elle Decor, Interior Design, Metropolitan Home, House Beautiful, World of Interiors, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. etc.  and I know that many of these magazines are no longer alive, but they live on in my bookshelves.

We saw that your favorite material was cashmere and we were wondering what is your favorite color of cashmere and have you ever used cashmere in your own home.  If so, in what applications?

Orange cashmere.  An Amazing throw on my dark, dark grey sofa.  One great shot of fabulous orange.

“Visit William Sonoma Home” has been an item on my to-do list for some time now.  The home furnishings retail company opened up a Plano location a few years ago and I have been meaning to make the trek up north to check it out ever since its grand opening.

It’s funny how quickly time passes and up until last Friday at 12 pm, I hadn’t stepped foot in their door.  I was at one of my client’s houses (who lives in Plano) and she suggested that we go up to WSH to take a look at a chandelier that she had been eyeing.  I never realized how close she lived to the store (otherwise, I probably would have dropped by sooner!) but it was nice to take a quick unexpected trip to check out their lighting.

We came in for a chandelier, and left with a mirror! Isn’t that how it always works?

The store was beautiful.  You can tell that they put a lot of thought into their vignettes.

Everything at the store seemed to be of great quality.  There’s nothing worse than when you go to a new store (whose website merchandise you love) and then you come to find out that the merchandise in person is a huge disappointment!

This wasn’t the case with WSH at all. I was very impressed with how they presented their furniture and accessories.  They even had refined music in the background to boot!

I am a regular to their website, so it was fun to come in at long last, and see those mysterious pieces that I’ve always wanted to view in person.

They were right in the middle of their “White Sale”- 25% off bedding and bed essentials and 15% off bath towels and rugs.

Half the store’s walls were covered in a warm colored grasscloth and the other half was painted a really pretty light neutral color.  Of course I had to snoop and ask them what color the walls were (and the trim nonetheless!)

Turns out walls were painted Benjamin Moore’s Shaker Beige (HC-45) and trim was painted Benjamin Moore’s Navajo White (OC-95).

It was the perfect paint color to pose as the backdrop for all of their exquisite pieces.

They also had some great sales on furniture and accessories.  The chair on the left hand side of the below photo was only $299!

There’s nothing more captivating than a bold orange wingback!

William Sonoma Home

7300 North Dallas Parkway

Building A, Suite A-100

Plano, TX 75024

As you have probably already figured out by now, I’m obsessed with anything vintage.  I’m embarassed to say that I’ve dedicated the last eleven (yes, I said eleven!) weekends going to consignment and antique stores trying to find those unique pieces- ones that have a sense of “history” to them.

But let’s face it- sometimes we don’t want imperfections, small scale furniture, old fabrics and materials that go hand in hand with these antique pieces and we would actually prefer something new.

But how about something new that evokes a vintage feeling?  What a concept!  I found some fabulous pieces that have a vintage feel to them (but the beautiful thing is that they are all brand spanking new!)  Hold onto them long enough, and these pieces might eventually become vintage pieces themselves!

I just ordered these CB2 metal trunks for a client’s home office.  I completely fell in love with these modern treasure boxes when I laid eyes on them.  What a great idea for storing books and other random pieces.  Close them up to hide your junk or leave them half open to display antique books.

Anthropologie has tons of vintage inspired items..check out this Hushed Hours Bed.  It’s distressed and made to look like it came from an ancient clock tower.

And also this Cameo Wallpaper composed of Victorian silhouettes, elaborate frames, and vintage-like stamps.

Crate and Barrel did a great job of designing these Turner bar and counter stools to look like vintage industrial pieces.

I want some in every color!  Wisteria now sells stacks of Book Boxes- colorful books that resemble vintage French reads.

These AFK Art for Kids Barbie prints sold at Layla Grayce would make for a great series in a little girl’s room.

You can always count on Arteriors to produce something fabulous like this Fraiser Vintage Silver Desk Lamp.

I actually wouldn’t mind waking up to this alarm clock every day!

Mercantile sack pillows seem to be everywhere these days.  Take a peek at Restoration’s spin on it- with their French linen pillow covers.

Art-Deco influenced lamp at Horchow…

I remember when this Antoinette fainting sofa was all over the blogosphere!

Z Gallerie’s Cafe Chair collection looks like it could be pulled straight out of the 1950’s.

“Industrial chic” pendant by Barn Light Electric-

And how about a new book about old vintage treasures?  (available at Amazon)

Only one week left to enter our “Get Organized Giveaway”!  Winner will receive their very own Barbara Barry Luxe Organizer set.

To enter, click HERE.

Contest ends next Saturday, July 31, at noon (ET)

Good luck!

We are SO excited to announce our latest and greatest summer giveaway- one that we are hosting with the chic online boutique, Shop Ten 25.  Shop Ten 25 consists of uber glamorous finds for the modern home and I think you will be as excited as I am once you see what’s in store for the lucky winner!

They are giving away not one….not two….but a set of three Barbara Barry Luxe Organizers to an MG reader.  I had to read the contest rules’ fine print to double check that MG bloggers were not allowed to enter I have been eyeing this set for a while now, as I just love anything and everything that comes from Barbara.  She is truly the epitome of all that is classic and timeless.

We decided to make this contest easy breezy for you to enter too.  All you have to do is fill out your contact information HERE and you will automatically be entered into the pot to win this gorgeous set!  Winner will be determined on August 1 and announced here on Material Girls.

Contest ends July 31 at noon (ET)

For only $15.99 a pop, I’ll take one of these outdoor pillows in every color!