Dallas Blog | Material Girls | Dallas Interior Design

I can’t wait to start watching The Nate Berkus show this fall, premiering next Monday, September 13th on NBC.

It is going to be filmed in NYC, so Nate had to relocate there from the Windy City.  The word on the street is that he moved into a rented two bedroom, 1700 square foot apartment in the Chelsea neighborhood.

I was perusing through Us Weekly the other day (my end of the week ritual) and there was Nate’s new apartment featured in an article.  I love when Us Weekly derails a little to the interiors side!  You don’t see it enough in gossip mags!

The article proves Nate’s not afraid to mix high and low either.  The designer’s Pottery Barn jute rug (that he takes with him from home to home) is among more pricey items such as a gold leaf hand sculpture by artist Pedro Friedeberg.

For an official tour of Nate’s new abode, click HERE to watch the video that was featured on Us Weekly’s website (and I have to say that their sneak peek is MUCH better than my poorly scanned photos from their magazine!)

House Beautiful came in the mail yesterday and what a pleasant surprise!  Our friend and fellow blogger Julia (Chicago) was asked to participate in the monthly “Send Us a Picture Of…” article.  Be sure to check it out!  Julia was asked “what change in her house has made the most difference?”

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!

When I think of year round “holiday-looking” homes, the Manhattan apartment designed by Miles Redd immediately comes to mind.

Who could forget this beautiful living room from the cover of December’s Elle Decor?

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These photos are such great inspiration for the next two days- puts me in the holiday spirit just by looking at them!

{Images via Elle Decor issue- December 09}

The Material Girls want to wish you and yours a very happy and safe holiday!  Looking forward to what 2010 brings!

Lauren Haskett this one’s for you…

You see, my co-blogger Lauren has always had a thing for JBJ (Jon Bon Jovi if you want to get technical).  I remember her going on about JBJ during studio classes back at O.U., on her 18th birthday when everyone else was asking for makeup and clothes, Lauren was begging for JBJ concert tickets, and her first dance with her husband at her wedding was to what else? A Bon Jovi song.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this poster was hanging from her ceiling right now…

So now I’ve combined her two favorite loves in one post-JBJ and Elle Decor.  Today must be her lucky day!  I think I deserve some kind of gold star for merging the two together for Lauren.

We recently were sent these photos from the December 8th event introducing Newark’s HELP Genesis JBJ Soul Homes, a new groundbreaking “green” housing project which was developed as a result of a public-private partnership between HELP USA and Jon Bon Jovi’s Soul Foundation.

{Exterior}

Fifty one new units of affordable housing with support services for special-needs individuals living with HIV/AIDS and low-income families were unveiled.

{Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Elle Decor Editor-in-Chief Margaret Russell, and Jon Bon Jovi in the model apartment}

Elle Decor supported and donated to the project as well as MG favorite, Home Goods.  The model apartment was completed using stylish and affordable accessories from the retailer and was created by talented designer (and one of our favorite people) Elaine Griffin.

{Elle Decor’s Model Unit (designed by Elaine)}

All of the items in the model home will be given to its residents through a lottery so everyone in the building will benefit from the donations.

{Designer Kenneth Cole, Margaret Russell, Elaine Griffin}

What a wonderful outcome- it’s so great to see such talented and successful people give their time, talent and resources to a project such as this.  On a related topic, let’s keep the spirit of giving going…only two more hours left of Pencils of Promise Blog Day!

Last night I attended a very special event here in Dallas.  I got to tour my highschool’s original building (formerly known as Merici Highschool)

I know what you are thinking…it must be some stark, commercial space devoid of any character…well, it couldn’t be further from that!  Luckily it was a little more exciting because the location is an actual residence that someone lives in today.

The house resides off of Strait Lane and is the former “home” of Ursuline Academy (the oldest school in Dallas, dating back to 1874).  The Strait Lane location is  just a hop, skip and a jump from its present campus location off of Walnut Hill (where it moved to in 1950).

The house was featured in House Beautiful’s October 2001 issue.  How much fun to see it as it was eight years ago compared to how it looks now!  It really hasn’t changed all that much.

I was pleasantly surprised from my visit- the house just had so much charm.  It was a very traditional home but with stylish, updated touches.  Just look at that leopard carpet! The yellow walls brought a bold punch of color to the space and were the perfect backdrop for the sophisticated black and white urn pictures.

You know how much of a sucker I am for black and white checkerboard flooring! This entry was right up my alley.

The formal living room (while not in a style that I would typically flock to), was beautiful nonetheless.  Soft pastel colors paired with gold accents made for a very pretty look in here.

I love anything in a series or grouping.  Plates, art, wall shelves, vases- you name it!  Groupings make a room feel more organized and cohesive.  As you can see in the Merici house, lots of thought was put into the placement of their collected items.  I think this is what really gives a home character- rooms that look like they have been put together over time.  This house definitely has history!

A Schumacher wallpaper envelopes the warm and inviting sitting room.

I spy the diamond patterned Stark sisal rug…a blogger’s dream! (and what a nice, up-to-date touch in here)

I love the cozy “library” feel that the dining room had.  Walls were lacquered in a deep shade of green, antique sconces adorned the walls, and colorful printed screens were displayed throughout, tying in the dramatic wall color.

Creamy white balloon shades cover the dining room windows and are surrounded by the soft natural glow of candlesticks.

The wooden beams and recessed walls nooks, displaying blue and white porcelain in the kitchen, give the visitor some elevated eye candy.

The house was so interesting in that the majority of the windows and doors were in very irregular shapes.

My favorite view was from the second floor looking into the master bedroom suite.  It’s hard to believe that this used to be a school! I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind learning chemistry next to a sunburst mirror and some wallpaper….ahh a girl can dream!

The master bedroom was another one of my favorite “pretty” rooms.  It was a bit more on the feminine side (notice how even the vents are wallpapered!) That pristine white bedding definitely had me at hello.

It was almost like being in a quaint, life size dollhouse.

Wallpaper covered doors throughout the house and even vents! You barely even notice that the doors below exist- they are camouflaged so well!

The study was another notable cozy area.  Globes, antique books, artwork, and wood paneling makes you feel right at home.

What a fun and interesting tour it was.  I can’t deny that I love seeing into other people’s homes (especially ones with such history to them!)

Choosing a grout color for the subway tile in your kitchen, is definitely something you want to take the time to consider.  Do you want white grout to create more of a seamless effect or light/dark gray grout for added contrast? I am partial to a little contrast myself!

(White on white- Decorno)

 

{Gray on white- Absolutely Beautiful Things}

But how often do you see black-grouted subway tile?  Yesterday I came across this New York City kitchen (below) that was designed by Miles Redd and  all I could think was wowza!  The black grout is such a statement maker!

 

The black gives you that extra bit of graphic punch in the kitchen and coordinates wonderfully with the black honed marble countertops.

And if that wasn’t enough to make your head spin, how about those black glossy cabinets in the butler’s pantry? Gorge!

It’s amazing how different the black-grouted kitchen looks compared to the gray-grouted kitchen.  Which grout color suits your fancy?

For more fabulous photos of this apartment, that was featured on the cover of the December Elle Decor, click here.

Today I received an email from an MG reader wondering if I knew the paint color that was in Audrina Patridge’s bedroom?

Dear reader, unfortunately I do not…however, I am so glad you sent me the link to these photos from In Touch magazine of Audrina’s Hollywood Hills home.  I can’t tell you how long I have been looking for a glimpse into either Lauren’s, Heidi’s, Audrina’s, Lowe’s, Stephanie’s, or Kristen’s homes!

I have never been able to find any photos of the “real” homes of the Hills cast.  And with all of the talk about the show being scripted and fake, it makes you wonder if the homes are in fact staged and just part of the Hills’ set design!  But apparently these actors (excuse me, I mean these girls) really do live there.

What do you think of Audrin’a digs that her mom decorated? I personally love the rich plum paint color in her bedroom paired with her crisp white bedding and curtains…however, I think other parts of her house could have used a real decorator’s touch.  What do you think?

If anyone out there knows what brand of paint/color is used in Audrina’s bedroom, please leave a comment with the info!

It is a sad sad day for interior design aficionados.  I just got word that 36 year old Metropolitan Home is closing up shop and the December 2009 issue will be its last.

Alain Lemarchand, President and CEO of Hachette Filipacchi Media, announced the upsetting news today but quotes that they “will boldly focus our resources and investment on ELLE DECOR which is the ad-page leader in the U.S. market.”

{Met Home’s final cover}

How many more upscale shelter magazines will continue to shut down?  In a few years will magazines be completely obsolete?  In the meantime, I’m praying and hoping that my other precious magazines- Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and Traditional Home will continue to ride out the storm.

I found myself very attracted to these two bedrooms that were featured in this month’s Traditional Home.  One of them happens to be located on the East coast in Washington D.C. and the other happens to be located on the West coast, in Seattle, Washington.

Exhibit A:

Washington D.C. Design House- (design by Kelley Proxmire)

Exhibit B:

Seattle, Washington (design by Carrie Hayden)

I really do love them both! They are both very feminine, soothing and luxurious (my favorite traits!); but on the other hand, their color schemes couldn’t be further from each other.  You have the bright and cheerful robin’s-egg-blue and ivory versus the subdued and more neutral gray and parchment scheme.

Which brings us to my never-ending internal “interiors” debate- do more color or do more neutral? Decisions decisions! They are both irresistable!