What are you doing New Year's Eve?

Well Christmas is over and now it's time for the sparkliest night of the year, NEW YEAR'S EVE.  If you're not shiny on this night, when will you be?  I generally prefer silver to gold for this occasion, taking inspiration from the disco ball.  Whether you're hosting your own soiree or going out on the town, surround yourself with all things shiny, plenty of champagne, if at all possible - FIREWORKS, and you're all set to ring in the new year with pizazz.

{Matthew Williamson}

                                                          

{the prettiest sparklers}

May 2012 bring you all the joy and blessings you deserve!

Nice Day for a White Wedding

This intimate yet grand wedding I just drempt up was inspired by two things:

1. Accidentally driving by Nottoway Plantation (White Castle, LA) on a road trip last year and then seeing their incredible all-white ballroom

2. A couple of photos I've drooled over for years giving me color-scheme and style ideas

Inspiration:

{The ceremony would be held in a grove of ancient oaks on the beautiful Nottoway grounds, a cocktail hour would follow inside and outside the first floor of the manse}

{Of course one must remove all wall art, furniture, and lighting...I guess the curtains can stay...but the white lace sheers must go!  This ballroom is surrounded by a stunning second-floor veranda where guests can take to the sweet Louisiana breezes when not dancing to the dixieland band}

The old-world, ornate, all-white ballroom would be the most chic backdop for some really modern and color-saturated decor.

{Teal, Fuchsia, & Metalic Brass}

In the Room:

{Switch the chandeliers to some sparkley mid-century brass}

{Fabulous and geometric brass shelf holding the escort cards surrounded by an agate and crystal collection}

{Custom teal neon of the Newlywed's surname above the ornate mantels}

{Well you've just got to have a brass cake, don't you?}

At the White Linened Tables:

{Bride and Groom's chairs (that textile - I could die!), Guest chairs}

{Polished brass and vintage teal glass vessels with fuchsia ranunculus and peonies, and a sprinkling of white plaster busts all on a white neon-filled perspex box provide a fascinating an super-cool centerpiece cluster}

 Now that's a wedding with style!

Can I please just live in here?

Fantasy Bachelorette Pad - Part 6: The Holiday

It's Christmas time and I most definitely have visions of sugar plum fairies dancing in my head!  Therefore, today's installment of my Fantasy Bachelorette Pad will be all about happy holiday scenes in my imaginary dream home! I tend toward a vintage/modern/girly side of things, surprise surprise....but in my parent's home where Christmas really lives I will always prefer a traditional red, green, and gold Christmas.  Family heirloom glass ornaments from the 50s and 60s and tattered home-made creations with 20 year old dry macaroni and glitter will always trump a chic color-coordinted tree for my Christmas morning.  But we're here to drool over Bachelorette Pad Christmas, and there ain't nothin' tattered about that!

{We have this exact vintage aluminum tree}

{below are some of my own decorations}

Merry Christmas everyone and happy decorating!

Wrap it up, I'll take it

Cynthia Rowley and One King's Lane have teamed up to bring you the most fashionable wrapping paper, possibly ever, to your Christmas morning.

{I'd love to frame this one!}

If Santa really knew me, he'd wrap my Christmas cheer up in these beauties!

The Guide to MY city

I thought I'd compile a little guide to Dallas.  What to DO, and where to SHOP, EAT, DRINK, and STAY - organized by neighborhoods.

UPTOWN:

SHOP...

The Shak - The younger, hipper sister to Stanley Korshak - Dallas' quintessential luxury department store.

Krimson & Klover - Cute boutique in an old house off Mckinney Ave uptown

L Bartlett - West Village

EAT...

The Common Table - Casual dining spot with a great patio scene

Lucky's Cafe - 50s style diner with sinfully good breakfast and the best chicken fried steak in the city

Thomas Avenue Beverage Co. - Casual place with great food and great patio just short walk off McKinney

Breadwinner's Cafe - My favorite brunch in town!

Crooked Tree Coffee House

Saint Ann - Housed in an old school building in the heart of chic uptown with a beautiful garden in the back

STAY...

Hotel Zaza - Stay in one of the 'Magnificent Seven' suites with themes like Rock Star and The Last Czar

Stanley Korshak

Saint Ann

KNOX/HENDERSON:

SHOP...

Grange Hall - More like a gallery of interesting and beautiful objects than a store, (but it iS a store) they also have incredible jewelry and accessories with a tendancy towards the macabre

We Are 1976 - Great little shop with a fascinating assortment of interesting gifts, books and art by locals

Forty Five Ten - Full of amazing designers like Philip Lim and Thakoon - mentioned often in Vogue and the NYT

Milk and Honey - Just like Anthropologie, but more affordable!  What could be better?

Again & Again - They take recycling to a new level by refurbishing old furniture with beautiful and creative paint and upholstry

EAT...

The Pearl Cup - Cute little coffee shop

Swig & The Gin Mill - Great hang-out restaurant with oh-so-good rustic food with a cool lounge in the back

The Porch - Everything's good here but they're famous for their mac-n-cheese

Toulouse - Fabulous French bistro right on the Katy Trail

Sangria - Mmmmm...Tapas

The Old Monk - Nice and dark with the tantilizing smell of fish and chips wafting through the air...just right for an Irish pub

Barcadia - Super fun bar with old-fashioned arcade games and giant Jenga and Connect Four that gets the crowd a'mingling

Velvet Taco - Best tacos in town

Victor Tangos - Great atmosphere, greater food and cocktails

Hacienda on Henderson - Tex-Mex + Patio + Karaoke = YES!

Vickery Park - Great neighborhood bar

Grange Hall

Sangria

DEEP ELLUM:

SHOP...

Lula B's East - One of my favorite stores on earth, mid-century modern furniture and decor with the entire upstairs dedicated to vintage clothing

EAT...

Twisted Root Burger Co.- Very special burgers, Texas style

Lula B's East

NORTH DALLAS:

SHOP...

Vintage Martini - Amazing selection of vintage and archive clothing, the owner is pretty muh an encyclopedia on fashion history...he also treats window dressing as the art it is, so major points for that

EAT...

The Magic Time Machine - Ok, the food's not great and the place looks like it's about 20 years past it's prime but going there was just about the most fun I've ever had at a restaurant.  The entire staff is dressed as different film/book characters and they are IN CHARACTER no matter what.  The salad bar is in a vintage car and each room has a different theme.  Kitschy fun all around.

Gloria's - El Salvadorian food and great salsa dancing make this place a hit every time

Furs from Vintage Martini

DESIGN DISTRICT:

SHOP...

Again - A well-edited selection of vintage furniture and decor re-worked in the most modern way

Uncommon Market - An antique store put together with a unique eye

EAT...

Meddlesome Moth - Superb food and a huge selection of craft beers

Meddlesome Moth

PARK CITIES:

SHOP...

Mine. - Snider Plaza

Impeccable Pig - Snider Plaza

Jenna B's - Mockingbird Station

EAT...

Creme de la Cookie - Tasty desserts at this bakery near SMU

Mi Cocina - The Mexican food is as good as the people-watching at this Highland Park Village eatery, with Christian Louboutin and Chanel as neighbors you'll have yourself a high falutin' good time

Mi Cocina

BISHOP ARTS DISTRICT:

SHOP...

Indigo 1745 - Eclectic apparel in Oak Cliff

Artisan's Collective - Gallery spot with tons of local artists' wears

EAT...

The Soda Gallery - Unique and hard to find sodas from around the world...it's like an international soda fountain

Bolsa - Fresh local ingredients, a menu that changes daily and some seriously good cocktails

Smoke - The Belmont's restaurant has a quirky gourmet take on classic Texas food

Tillman's Roadhouse - Amazing atmosphere and what's better than table-side smore making

Oddfellow's - They do a fantastic brunch at this traditional American cafe

STAY...

The Belmont - 1940s motor court motel turned chic and happening hotel.  Check out the Terrace Suite with a private hot tub overlooking the city.  BarBelmont is a great spot to gather and listen to live music with the best view of the skyline

Oddfellow's

Outdoor concert at The Belmont

TO DO:

Dallas Arboretum - Step into some of the most beautiful gardens in Texas, overlooking White Rock Lake with the Dallas skyline in the distance...the perfect place to spend a beautiful day in any season

Dallas Arts District - Downtown

          Nasher Sculpture Center - a respite of art and nature in the midst of downtown skyscrapers

          Winspear Opera House - Gorgeous new performing arts center, check the dates for their outdoor film series

          Meyerson Symphony Center - Listen to some beautiful music in this I.M. Pei designed buliding

          Crow Collection of Asian Art - A real gem of a museum in downtown Dallas

          Wyly Theatre - This brand new theatre is a truly groundbreaking structure with seats, walls, and even the stage hydrolically powered for movement.  Seeing any performance there is a real experience!

Dallas Arboretum

Wyly Theatre

I hope next time you're in Dallas you have as much fun as I have here.  Discovering all the depth of this city has been so much fun for me, and I'm finding and trying new things here all the time - so I'll keep you posted!