Dallas Blog | Material Girls | Dallas Interior Design

Ohhhh January market…what could be better than you?  The thought of strolling through eleven floors of showrooms (that normally aren’t open on the weekend), seeing the latest and greatest in design, while munching on food so good, you’d think you were at the Texas State Fair, gives me goosebumps (in a good way).

While at market, you really do lose all sense of time and reality.  Those three hours that you originally had to spare, have suddenly vanished, and you can’t remember the last real meal that you had, before your body was taken over by delectable ice cream bars, greasy popcorn, cotton candy and sliced salami.  The overwhelming feeling of excitement upon seeing beautiful new products is almost too much to handle.  But not to worry, you know that a glass of wine from Global Views or a warm cookie from Two’s Company will numb the pain of not being able to take home every fabulous piece that you lay eyes on.  Each new showroom that you stumble upon brings the promise of finding another “wow” piece for a project and ends up catapulting a plethora of exciting ideas.  (am I giving you goosebumps yet?)

Showrooms start preparing for the Dallas market months in advance….and who can blame them?  It takes a lot of time and effort to get ready for a seven day visit by thousands of buyers and exhibitors from all over the country!

So needless to say, what started as a normal Saturday for me last weekend, where I was “just going to run up to the trade center to select a finish for a client”, soon turned into a shopping extravaganza with my mom, as market was just too tempting to pass up!

Here are some of our favorite stops along the way-

CURREY & CO-

Currey and Company is one of the most sought after lighting companies by designers. I tend to use them A LOT in my projects (as their lead time, product design, and customer service seriously can’t be beat!) There is honestly something for everyone at Currey (whether you lean more traditional or contemporary) and I do have to say that the showroom manager there is awesome (hi Lori!)

I purchased this chandelier for a client having never seen it before in person (only through their website), and just like we had hoped, it’s even more unbelievable in person!

TAYLORS ON TEN-

Right next door to Currey is Taylors on Ten, the showroom that sells the infamous Visual Comfort lighting line (among other great lines such as Phillips Collection, Soicher Marin, Emissary and Bliss Studio).  One of the newest additions to the Taylors showroom is the Ralph Lauren lighting line, which debuted there at market.

GLOBAL VIEWS-

I have a serious addiction to Global Views.  As we walked through all of their amazing vignettes, I proceeded to tell my mom which pieces I’ve used..and how…and where in my projects.  Gotta love mom for still appearing interested after ten minutes of this mind-numbing history of my projects.  As I told her how many pieces I’ve used of theirs in the past year, it dawned on me that I, Emily Johnston, am obsessed with Global Views.

Global Views always has the best presentation at market.  Whoever comes in and does their visual merchandising, has got it down to a science!

TWO’S COMPANY-

I love this showroom, and not just because of their warm cookies!  Two’s Company has some of the better (and more affordable) accessories out there.  They are really on top of their game here with the latest trends and providing designers with stylish furniture and accessories that will really make a statement.

I really want this oversized wall bracket (on the right!) Now to figure out where to put it…

IN DETAIL:

In Detail has everything from Arteriors, to Lazy Susan, to Best Slipcover Co, to Go Home, Ltd. I always have good luck here!

Arteriors’ latest designer to come on board is Dallas’ own, Lisa Luby Ryan.  I hadn’t seen her Arteriors pieces in person before Saturday, and I must say that they are very impressive!

And congrats to Arteriors for their mention (and visit) from the Kardashian sisters on the premier of Kourtney and Kim Take New York.  (I hope I wasn’t the  only one watching that show Sunday night!) Click HERE to see what they used from Arteriors in their DASH New York store.

CYAN DESIGN-

I really want a pair of these mercury glass lamps for my bedroom. Enough said!

BELLA NOTTE:

It’s always exciting to see what new linens and colourways the folks over at Bella Notte are coming up with.  I am in LOVE with this gray-purple and icy blue bedding that they had on display.  If this entire set could somehow transport itself into my bedroom, that would be great!

On Saturday, everyone was rushing around getting ready for the big ARTS Awards gala, that was that night.  I went to it last year and it’s amazing how they transform the trade mart into this spectacular event.

Of course, we can’t forget to show you the list of the night’s big winners…click here for the deets!  A big congrats to some of our favorites who took home an award this year- The Phillips Collection (Manufacturers category), Arteriors Home (Portable Lamps category), and 18 Karat (Decorative Accessories category).

Serena and Lily’s Bazaar is now officially open!  Featuring one-of-a-kind goodies from around the world, this unique display of furniture, art, textiles and accessories closes in just six days (Thursday, 1/27).  I already went looking for art on there and a bunch of it is sold already!

Here are some pics of what’s still available for the taking-

{Bamileke Stool}

{House with Purple Sky}

{Kuba Pillow #1}

{Upholstered Foot Stool}

{Austrian Schnapps- Gift Set}

A few months back, I was looking everywhere for the perfect lucite coffee table for my client, Becca.  As you know, lucite is not inexpensive and can often be difficult to find.  We searched high and low for the perfect 42″ square acrylic table (one that wouldn’t break the bank) and finally ended up going with online source, Plexi-Craft.   I hadn’t seen the table in her home until today and I absolutely LOVED it in person!  The quality was great and it looked beautiful (exactly like the inspiration photo she had shown them).

Plexi-Craft can apparently create anything that you dream up (within reason).  You can design it and order it custom….

Or go with one of their pre-made lucite pieces…

Either way, what a great, affordable acrylic source where you can get EXACTLY what you have in mind (and if you are anything like me, I always have a very specific vision in mind.  Whether or not I can find it ready-made, well, that’s a different story…)

I’m keeping Plexi-Craft on my lucite radar for sure!

One of my clients in Dallas just let me know that she is selling this adorable blue desk and lucite chair.  She just bought it last year from a vintage shop and recently had the desk refinished and the lucite stool recovered. She had bought it to use as a desk, but I think it would make an amazing vanity table too!

Isn’t this the cutest pairing? I almost want it for myself, but alas, I don’t have any place to put it.   Email me if interested in purchasing and I’ll give you the deets!

emily@materialgirlsblog.com

White Elephant Antiques in Dallas is hosting an event on Wednesday night called “Antiquing After Dark” to benefit Dallas-based charity, Dwell With Dignity!

There will be store wide incentives and also an opportunity to win a $250 gift certificate to White Elephant for Dwell With Dignity members. Other White Elephant goodies will be auctioned off to benefit Dwell With Dignity.

This is the first Antiquing After Dark event at The White Elephant so it’s sure to be a fun time! Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, November 17th, 6-9pm

White Elephant Antique Mall

1026 N. Riverfront Dr.

Dallas, TX 75208

My friend Bonnie sent me photos of her recent furniture purchases from (relatively) new consignment store, Area 25 in Dallas.  She got a really great looking glass top dining table and two stylish white leather x benches for a song!

As you probably already know, I am crazy for consignment shops so of course had to scurry on over there to check it out for myself.  This is one I hadn’t heard of before!

First to give you a lil background info…Area 25 was started by Home Stager, Sheryl Lawrence, and includes a bunch of her own pieces that she’s accumulated throughout her career as well as unique finds from others.

There really was something for everyone here. Pieces ranged from the more ornate traditional style to the sleek and modern.

I spy..Bonnie’s benches!

They even had cowhide rugs (including metallic ones).  Too bad my living room is the size of a closet and there’s no cow small enough to fit in it.

I want a bust sculpture so badly!  They had a few different sized ones there that would look great on a console, chest or pedestal.

Some well priced apothecary jars…

Someone please get these electrical sconces!

I loved this really cool chrome table base.  All it needs is a glass top and you’d be good to go!

I thought these gray “log” candleholders were pretty interesting.  Actually just about anything gray is catching my eye these days!

It’s almost that time for me to make another visit to Area to see what new finds have come in!  Be sure to venture over there and/or join their mailing list.  You’ll be glad you did!

4901 West Lovers Lane, Dallas

I have always had a slight aversion to leather.  I take that back- I have an aversion to pairing leather with leather with leather (*see below photo*).  I’ve seen more than enough houses where a dark brown leather sofa is paired with a dark brown leather chair paired with a dark brown leather recliner paired with a dark brown leather ottoman (maybe I’m exaggerating- but you get the idea!) and that look is just not for me.  I like to mix things up a bit more!  I rarely specify leather for clients (or for myself).  I find leather to be very cold and uninviting and never the material that I want to curl up on a sofa with.

{Yikes!}

Of course leather has its good qualities…

1) It is flexible.  It can go more modern (paired with metallic legs/arms) or more traditional (paired with antique brass nailheads)

2) It’s very practical and durable.  In the instances where you have kids or pets, a leather sofa might be a good idea.   I’m not in either situation (yet) so I think I’m going to try to hold on to my white skirted sofa for as long as possible!

3) It’s smooth, soft, and clean looking.  There is no fuss with leather (unlike a slipcover) and it never looks disheveled.

4) It’s season friendly.  It warms in the winter and cools off in the summer.

There are some exceptions to my leather rule and here they are below.   A conglomeration of stylish leather pieces at every price point that make even the most leather-apprehensive person, take a good second look.

Z Gallerie Shield Dining Chair

Eames Lounge Chair

Anthropologie- Atelier Chesterfield

1st Dibs- Barcelona Chair

Arteriors- Calvin Top Grain Polished Nickel Barstool

Jonathon Adler- Preston End Table

Four Hands- Dixon Dining Chair- Wasabi

Pier 1- Faux Leather- Bal Harbour Dining Chair

Design Within Each- Eames Aluminum Executive Chair

Jayson Home and Garden- Sienna Chair

Restoration Hardware- Devon Leather Chair

Would you do leather furniture in a heartbeat or are you a die hard fabric fanatic like myself?

Suzanne Kasler’s furniture line for Hickory Chair is nothing short of stunning.  I’m always drooling over her French inspired pieces and daydreaming about one day adding a piece of her collection to my own living room.

Well, that day isn’t going to be anytime soon unfortunately, so you can imagine my surprise when I came across her Tuxedo Chest at Hickory Chair and almost fell over when I saw how closely it looked to the vintage 1950′s chest that I just bought at Lula B’s Antique Mall in Dallas.

Of course the first person I emailed was my boyfriend (who definitely didn’t share my level of excitement) to tell him that there was our entry chest’s twin (well, its three paneled, more expensive twin) sitting at Hickory Chair for about $7,000 more than what I paid.

I swear, you really never know what you will find at these great vintage shops on Riverfront!

{Suzanne’s Tuxedo Chest}

{Lula B’s vintage chest}

Of course nothing compares to Suzanne’s furniture (and I can’t say I’m any less obsessed with her collection), but after taking the former laminated countertop credenza from Lula B’s and transforming it with a marble top, it looks like a whole new piece of furniture!  I call it my “Suzanne inspired piece”.  Now if only Lula’s would get a quatrefoil shaped chair in the Alexandra’s likeness, I’d be on a roll!

Be sure to visit Lula B’s Antique Mall for other amazing deals and steals!

1010 Riverfront Boulevard

Dallas, TX 75207

Interested in winning a $10,000 gift card from CB2?  Well now’s your chance!

CB2 has teamed up with photographer Todd Selby for “The Selby is in Your Place” contest.

To enter, all you have to do is this-

-Send in three photos of your most creative space.  The public will vote on it to determine the top fifty contestants.

-These fifty will then proceed to Round Two, which will be judged by Todd Selby and CB2 (judging will be based on originality and creativity)

-Grand Prize Winner gets….$10,000 in CB2 merchandise and a private photo shoot with Todd Selby! The shoot will be featured on his blog.

To get started as a contestant, enter HERE and also be sure to place your VOTE for your favorite room!

Contest ends September 15th at 11:59 PM CST.

GOOD LUCK!

“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