Dallas Blog | Material Girls | Dallas Interior Design

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

I just got back from Baton Rouge where I met the winner of the Wisk Detergent laundry room makeover contest, Kristen Maurel!  I will be giving Kristen’s laundry room a makeover in June and the transformation will be featured on Designing Spaces in August.

I really enjoyed getting to know Kristen and her husband Matt, as well as touring their charming city.  I had some time to kill before our meeting, so I went and visited the Old Governor’s Mansion and the Old State Capitol building.  I had never been to Baton Rouge before so this surely was a treat to go around and get to know a new city.

The Governor’s Mansion was absolutely gorgeous.  It was a Georgian- style building that was constructed for Governor Huey Long in 1930 at a cost of $150k.  The mansion was built to resemble The White House (Huey was apparently very convinced that he would one day become the President of the United States).  So convinced, that he even wrote a book about it!  I had a great tour guide who was nice enough to give me the “sped up version” of the tour, since I was running low on time.

Wedding receptions are often held at the Old Governor’s Mansion as well as other corporate events.  I have to say that I definitely wouldn’t mind getting married at a historic place like this- talk about a dream come true!

I loved seeing all of the antique furniture, original frieze work and flooring, moldings, and crystal chandeliers.  I was so upset that I didn’t have enough time to visit the other old Plantation homes that came recommended- Nottoway and Houmas House.  These tours would have been right up my alley!

Above is the grand ballroom where wedding receptions are often held.  All of the light fixtures in the mansion were originals.

The dining area above is also part of the “wedding reception package” and its hand painted wallpaper is original to the house.  The docent told me how much it was per roll…I can’t remember exactly, but let’s just say that it was a ridiculous amount! Apparently they still sell it today overseas.

The private offices…

Apparently Huey loved green so much that he had multiple rooms throughout the house painted/wallpapered in some version of green!

I was surprised at how many elements throughout the house would have still been considered somewhat “stylish” today.  Above, the turquoise and brown color scheme in Huey’s office resembles the color trend of the present and you’ll notice below that they had a pedestal sink in the bathroom, which is quite common now (just not in turquoise!)

Another green room…

The private bedrooms were so quaint

Next, I went to the Old State Capitol around the corner.  This building consisted of both Gothic and Victorian Architecture.  Cast iron staircases, stained glass windows, a cathedral dome, faux bois, gold leafing, marble floors, and brass hardware adorned the interior.

All in all, it was a great trip and I can’t wait to go explore more of Baton Rouge’s architecture in June!

This entire weekend has been so dreary here in the big D <sigh>.  I am so looking forward to the weather becoming consistent and it actually looking like Spring around here!

One of my favorite pastimes when the weather is sunny and bright, is to have brunch outside.  The best day for this?  Sunday of course!

A girl can dream of brighter days ahead..but for now, I guess I will have to live vicariously through the magazines that showcase pretty garden parties with bright colors and sun-drenched terraces.

Traditional Home featured one this month in particular that really caught my eye.  Heather Christothoulou hosted a garden party outside her Seattle home complete with silver Chiavari chairs, white ginger jars, pink chandeliers and bright green accents.  What’s not to love?

I immediately recognized the Suzani dessert plates from Anthropologie on her table (I have the same set!)  Her color scheme is very close to my own dining room’s.  I am incredibly girly at heart so her garden party certainly struck a chord with me!

And all that fresh food looks so delish…

These photos are so uplifting that I almost forgot that I am still stuck in rainy and bleak Dallas weather.  How ironic is it that I am jealous of Heather’s Seattle weather right now?

Oh the Tanners!  How could we ever forget you?  Jesse’s mullet, Michelle’s baby voice, Danny’s obsessive cleaning disorder?  I’m still wondering why and how this show ever left the TGIF lineup!

But what was even more memorable was their San Francisco based home.  In the opening credits, a row of Victorian houses are shown to the memorable tune “Everywhere You Look”.  Remember these?  They are located in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Fran and some even date back to the 1800′s.

Most people think that one of these houses must be the Tanner’s.  But in actuality, the red doored home that they claim to be the Tanner residence, is really located on another street named Broderick.

Some unforgettable interior shots of the Full House house.

Notice the plaid sofa-

And that overdone window treatment!

Can we say 80′s wallpaper? (and I spy…a mullet!)

This kitchen needs a renovation!

Luckily Full House was just a make believe set and we can now fast forward to the decor of 2009.

Ahh much better!

I know you won’t believe me just by looking at it, but this home (owned by Courtnay Daniels Hayden) actually has a lot in common with the Full House set…and that is, they were both featured on the show!  Well, to get more specific, the exterior of the Hayden residence was.

Courtnay’s San Francisco home is often surrounded by bunches of tourists taking photos of the home’s exterior.  Such a unique conversation starter when guests come over- “I live in one of the Full House houses!”  But this house is certainly a far cry from the outdated set of the 80′s sitcom.

So you want to see photos? You got it dude!

{Elle Decor- January Issue}

That’s the end of the tour. Chity chi bob botta!

Fashion designer, Dennis Basso has outfitted all different kinds of people in his well known luxury fur: NY socialites, celebs, movie characters, and hip hop artists, (just to name a few). His luxurious mink/ sable coats and chic alligator handbags are just a few of the fashion pieces he is known for. (I’m sure PETA just loves him)

As the Obamas start getting settled into the White House, former President Bush moves out and makes his way down to Dallas, where he and Laura will live.

A better photo of the house via Newsweek

It was just another Texas summer’s day with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees. It was almost unbearable to leave the house; but in the end, I was glad I endured the heat because I ended up finding myself on another East Dallas/Lakewood adventure.

Driving around “running errands”/spying on houses with my mom is one of our absolute favorite things to do. We love winding our way in and out of neighborhoods (oftentimes getting lost) exploring the most beautiful houses in Dallas and wishing we were its residents.

Today we decided to visit her “all time favorite street in Dallas”- Tokalon. Back when we were growing up, my sister’s best friend lived on Tokalon and that is how she became familiar with the area. I faintly remember visiting that house a few times growing up with my sister but wouldn’t have been able to point it out on a map if I tried. Whenever streets come up, my mom often references Tokalon as her absolute favorite. Today I finally agreed to go explore this street and see if it really deserves all of the accolades that my mom gives it.

Last weekend I took a trip down to Georgetown and Austin to see the progress on the dentist office, do a bit of shopping, and take a much needed “vacation”. Driving around Austin, I couldn’t help but notice all of the gorgeous, historic, and extremely unique homes tucked away in their own little neighborhoods. One of these in particular was a neighborhood called Pemberton Heights, “one of central Austin’s best keep secrets” apparently. I didn’t know there could be so many lovely houses in just one place. I had a fantastic tour guide, a former resident of Austin (my boyfriend Ben) who took me to some of his favorite houses in the area.

They ranged from the outrageous…

to the magnificent…

Celebrity homes are often way over the top- each one fighting to have the bigger house…more times than not, the larger they get, the uglier they are. Do you remember Nick and Jessica’s house from Newlyweds? Every wall was painted beige and they did not have anything in there that showed an ounce of their personality- very boring. Or even the Lohan’s house on the new E! Show, Living Lohan- outdated and just plain awful.

Just because they are a celeb and have a large home, it doesn’t guarantee style or character. So we compiled a quiz of some of the best and worst celeb homes out there and want to see if someone out there can guess all 16 right! (no cheating!) By the time I finish typing up this quiz, there is no guarantee that each of these celebs still owns his/her house…they move around like it’s no ones business…and it is of course everyone’s business!