LADY DAMASK’S GIFT LIST (DRAFT, NOT TO BE SHOWN TO ANYONE)
PROFESSOR AUBERGINE – A PAIR OF MATCH PEWTER CANDLESTICKS. HE CLAIMS CANDLELIGHT IS MORE FLATTERING THAN ANY PAINT OR PLASTER (HE MAY BE RIGHT), AND I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK THEY WILL ILLUMINATE HIS STUDY BEAUTIFULLY—AND PERHAPS CAST A SHADOW OVER WHATEVER SECRETS HE SCRIBBLES THERE.
COUSIN GOSSAMER – A CASHMERE THROW IN A CHIC GREIGE. SHE WILL INSIST SHE HAS NO USE FOR IT, THEN PARADE ABOUT WITH IT OVER HER SHOULDERS LIKE A ROMAN EMPRESS. SOME GIFTS ARE LESS ABOUT WARMTH THAN SPECTACLE.
COLONEL CHESTNUT – A TIMELESS LOBMEYR DECANTER AND MATCHING SET OF TUMBLERS. HE WILL NO DOUBT CHRISTEN THEM WITH BRANDY BEFORE THE QUEEN’S SPEECH HAS CONCLUDED.THIS WAY, HIS SPILLS MAY BE CONFINED TO THE GLASSES RATHER THAN THE UPHOLSTERY. ONE CANNOT REFORM THE COLONEL, BUT ONE CAN AT LEAST CONTAIN HIM.
AUNT SAFFRON – A TRIO OF BERGS POTTER GARDEN POTS, ALREADY FILLED WITH PAPERWHITE BULBS. THEY WILL PERFUME HER WINTER MORNING ROOM DELIGHTFULLY AND, JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, DISTRACT HER FROM MEDDLING IN MINE. ONE MUST GIVE HER HANDS SOMETHING TO FUSS WITH BESIDES MY WALLPAPER CHOICES.
PRIMROSE (OUR MAID) – A SET OF AROMATIC SANTA MARIA NOVELLA WAX TABLETS FOR HER LINEN DRAWER. AND PERHAPS A SMALL NOTE REMINDING HER THAT DISCRETION IS A VIRTUE.
FOR MYSELF – A BREATHTAKING SET OF RÊVERIE CHINA FROM FÜRSTENBERG IS JUST THE THING TO INSPIRE REVEALING CONVERSATION AT DINNER PARTIES OR DISCOVER SUSPECTS.
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We’ve got gift ideas they’ll want, need, wear, and read.
30 | O, CHRISTMAS TREE ...
Our life as a faux fir, in all its messy, broken, imperfect glory.
32 | HELLO, YELLOW! Designers are celebrating the return of this sunny shade.
38 | WELL-KEPT
Enjoy your harvest longer by practicing proper produce storage.
40 | NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH
A look at the Dallas real estate market by neighborhood.
47 | 25 YEARS OF DALLAS DESIGN
What elements make up Dallas’ signature look? We combed through our archives to find out.
64 | A CASA FOR CHRISTMAS
Adam Saxton and Dan Murphy purchased the now-Instagram-famous Beverly Casa in 2021. Four years later, they’re happy to (finally) be home for the holidays. By Tommie Ethington
72 | CONCIERGE SERVICE
Consider the Best of Big D 2025: Home and Garden Edition list your key to the city. By the Editors
86 | A VERY DESIGNER HOLIDAY
Dallas’ design elite share their secrets for holiday hosting, decorating, cooking, and enjoying the season. By Ryan Conner, Emmaday Ormond, and Jessica Otte
102 | MAKING HERSELF AT HOME
In the five years since she moved to Dallas with her family, California-born Sharon Lee Clark has put her stamp on both her new city and in her colorful University Park home. By Caitlin Clark 72
GILLEA ALLISON President, D Home Gillea@dmagazine.com
A 25-Year-Old Thank-You
I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN MY MOM, CHRISTINE ALLISON, STARTED COVERING our dining room table with tear-outs from national shelter magazines, sketching ideas for what an elevated design magazine could look like for our city. Soon, creative energy surged through our house— editors, designers, and sales minds brainstorming late into the night. Even as a selfabsorbed teenager, I could see they were creating something truly special. And here we are 25 years later.
It hasn’t all been easy; the 2008 recession nearly led to folding, and the ups and downs of the home market continue to keep us on our entrepreneurial toes. But two key groups have remained steadfast: our design-loving readers and the professionals and businesses that have partnered with us over the years.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art.” Our readers are the tastemakers of their households and, thus, our city. The creators
of beauty—architects, designers, builders, furniture makers, landscape designers, lighting experts, craftspeople—you are the artists who shape the worlds we live in. Thank you for our partnership; we all share a commitment to excellence, and you make our work possible. This issue is both an homage to the past and a celebration of the present: the holidays! Enjoy the “25 Years of Dallas Design” feature (pg. 47), which takes a look back through the archives and solicits perspectives from across the Dallas design industry about where we are—and where we’re headed. You’ll also find the 2025 Best of Big D Home list (pg. 72), which is packed with local resources and shops. This year, our editors are honoring both new favorites and past gems that they still stand by. And don’t miss the incredible interior features—again, a tribute to generous homeowners who let us into their worlds and to the craftspeople who design them. There’s so much more in this issue, as there always is. Sit back and enjoy. Beauty awaits.
Thank you for being a reader,
CHRISTINE ALLISON Founder, D Home
The Beautiful Life
SHERRY HAYSLIP, THE NOTABLE DALLAS DESIGNER, HAD AGREED TO MEET ME AT SALVE, the sublime Italian restaurant once anchored at the edge of downtown. It was the year 2000. I was new to Texas, still carrying the brisk armor of a New Yorker, and I didn’t know my way around the city. Still, I had an idea for a magazine that would take the measure of Dallas’ homes and gardens. Not just glossy spreads of sofas and lamps, but something elevated, something that spoke to how people lived here, and why.
Such conceit! I had no background in design or architecture and understood even less about Dallas. But I did know instinct when I saw it, and our city struck me as a place that wore style not like a costume but like a birthright. And that fascinated me.
Over risotto and sparkling water, I asked Sherry a question that had been nagging at me: Why are the older neighborhoods of Dallas such architectural jumbles? Why are French châteaus brushing up against Mediterranean villas, Spanish missions beside Southern Colonials and Austin-stone regionals, all of it somehow both incongruous and perfect?
She set her glass down, her eyes twinkling. “Ah,” she said, “that likely has to do with the six flags over Texas.”
She began to tell me stories. Stories of Spain and France, of Mexico and the Confederacy, of the United States and Texas itself—each flag unfurled, each influence settling into the soil. I listened as she traced the handprints of immigrants and dreamers, occupiers and originals, each leaving
behind an imprint of stone, wood, iron, stucco, or glass. In that hour, I began to understand that Dallas’ architecture is not just eclectic; it is a palimpsest of history. A story written, erased, and rewritten in our very bricks and mortar.
Though it was all still in my head, D Home was born that very afternoon.
Dallas is a city of entrepreneurs and wildcatters—people who stake claims, who risk everything, who build out of sheer will. It is no wonder, then, that our design is bold, unapologetic, confident. But what elevates it—what keeps it from being swagger alone—is the undercurrent of taste, of grace, of a hospitality deeply Southern yet not quite Southern at all. We are not the West, though we wear the boots. We are not exactly Southerners, though we set a lovely table. We are something more elusive. Something only Dallas could be.
For 25 years, that in-betweenness has been our greatest gift as editors and storytellers. We are a city that resists easy definition, yielding instead an endless trove of beauty to discover, stories to tell, and homes to unveil.
And so, to you—our readers, our designers, our architects, our builders, our advertisers, and the extraordinary D Home teams that over the decades have poured their genius into these pages—I bow deeply, with gratitude and wonder. Our city, our communities, our neighbors, and our homes matter more now than ever. Thank you for letting us open the doors, part the curtains, and show the world what it means to live beautifully in Dallas.
Jenifer Baker
Having loved ones to buy holiday gifts for is a blessing. Losing your mind trying to make it through their lengthy wish lists is not. In an effort to simplify the giftgiving process, some sage individual—a stressed-out parent with a maxed-out credit card, no doubt—came up with the four-gift rule. The basic premise? Purchase your intended recipients one gift in each of four categories: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. In the pages ahead, we’ve got gift ideas that’ll check every box. Now the only hard part will be convincing the people in your life that you a $128 tissue-box cover. JAMIE
Tickle their fancy with little luxuries in beautiful packages.
WHITE MOBILE BLUE PRINT, $286
Something they need
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GALLERY, $169
LAPTOP CASE BELL’INVITO, $425
Something to wear
Something to read Expand their minds with the written word (and some pretty pictures, too).
Close to Home
For inarguable proof that Dallas is a top-shelf city, simply pick up one of the many tomes by, or featuring, local talent. There are new coffee-table books by architect LARRY BOERDER and designers CHAD DORSEY and JAN SHOWERS. Designers JEAN LIU and SHELBY WAGNER are featured in Interior Design Master Class: 100 Rooms, as is Studio Thomas James’ PHILIP THOMAS VANDERFORD in Bespoke: A Philosophy of Beauty. Even local institutions, like the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, are commemorated in Calatrava, which details the works of the titular architect’s storied career. And you can never go wrong with the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, whose restaurant’s beloved recipes are compiled in one beautiful package.
A New Chapter
You know what doesn’t fit nicely in a stocking? A digital subscription to a magazine. And you can’t wrap an e-book in pretty paper, either. Thankfully, two new entries to the local literary scene are here to save tangible holiday gifting—and fuel your own reading habits, too. FINE PRINT, an independent magazine shop in Oak Cliff, stocks glossies, both local and international in origin, that range in topic from fashion to outdoors. Across town at Preston Royal Village, BIRD’S BOOKSTORE opened its nest in September. In addition to boasting a beautiful space, they carry everything from art books to kids’ reads to an array of elevated giftables, including puzzles, pens, and Marcello Andres ceramics. @fnprnt_shop; birdsbookstore.com
THE MANSION ON TURTLE CREEK COOKBOOK ROAM FINE GOODS, $40
ASSORTED MAGAZINES FINE PRINT, FROM $20 3. INTERIOR DESIGN MASTER CLASS: 100 ROOMS
BOOKS, $60
DALLAS & THE NEW TRADITION: THE ARCHITECTURE OF LARRY E. BOERDER INTERABANG BOOKS, $65 5. WOMAN MADE: GREAT WOMEN DESIGNERS BIRD’S BOOKSTORE, $60 6. THE GLAMOROUS HOUSE JAN SHOWERS & ASSOCIATES, $65
RELAXED LUXURY KD BIEL, $120 8. BESPOKE: A PHILOSOPHY OF BEAUTY INTERABANG BOOKS, $75
CALATRAVA TASCHEN LIBRARY, $200
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O, Christmas Tree ...
Our life as a faux fir, in all its messy, broken, imperfect glory.
by JESSICA OTTE
Istill remember the year my husband and I bought our artificial Christmas tree. It was fresh and new, like we were—celebrating our first Christmas in our first house, with our firstborn barely 7 months old. We brought it home, assembled it, and tied around its base the monogrammed tree skirt we’d gotten as a wedding present the year prior. It seemed big in our tiny starter home, a place where we were making so many sweet memories while figuring out life as a young family.
As our infant grew into a toddler, our tree evolved. We left the lower branches bare the first year our son was mobile, those shiny glass ornaments proving too tempting for curious hands. We continued my husband’s family tradition of gifting ornaments that commemorate something significant from the past year. Hints of little boy-dom began to dot the limbs: a pair of shoes symbolizing baby’s first Christmas. A toy bulldozer when he became obsessed with construction trucks. Homemade handprint ornaments so we could always remember how tiny his hands once were.
Then our twins came along. The speed of ornament accumulation subsequently tripled. Animated figurines cemented favorite TV shows in the annals of our family history. Ponytailed soccer players marked the girls’ entry into the world of youth sports. Hobbies, milestones, Halloween costumes, and trips were all documented in physical form and displayed on our tree, its branches bowing under new weight. It seemed shorter amid the
taller ceilings of our new house, bought to fit our growing brood.
As we entered our arts and crafts era, so did the tree. While on a one-on-one outing taken soon after the girls were born, my son made an “ornament”—defined as such strictly because it had a wire hook affixed to the top—out of a tongue depressor that he’d colored with marker, wrapped with washi tape, and glued googly eyes to in an askew fashion. It is, objectively speaking, quite ugly. And it is, unironically, one of my most treasured possessions for what it symbolized: a precious moment alone with my oldest, which had suddenly become all too scarce.
Soon, the kids were old enough to hang their own ornaments, which translated to a lot of broken ornaments. Inevitably, portions of tree-trimming sessions would be devoted to drying tears and mending fractured pieces. The reassembled figures looked like a poor man’s Kintsugi, with superglue filling the cracks instead of gold. Our tree displayed them proudly just the same.
Today, because of my job, or because I’m a human being with eyes and access to Instagram, I often feel overwhelmed with pressure to have a picture-perfect, color-coordinated Christmas tree. But that is not my reality—at least not yet.
Now 8 and 6, my kids have figured out how to change the pre-lit strands from solid white to pulsating multicolor. The only ornaments that match are those of which we’ve bought two, one for each twin. A few of the bulbs on the aging fir flicker intermittently or have shorted out entirely. It leans a little to one side, and its branches are beginning to sag. The tree is tired, OK? It has a lot on its mind.
Family Keepsake
Artist Mindy Byrd creates dimensional mixed-media collages using your photos and choice of color scheme. Commission your own at byrdhousecollage.com
What I know is this: There will be time for perfect trees, just like there will be time for tidy living rooms that aren’t strewn with gleefully ripped wrapping paper, and for leisurely Christmas mornings with no assembly required. And when that time comes, I will long to return to right now, when my kids are still young enough to be entranced with the magic of this season. Our tree is an honest, and real, reflection of life with little ones: kind of a mess, but filled with so much love.
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Hello, Yellow!
Designers are celebrating the return of this sunny shade.
by EMMADAY ORMOND
As what goes around nearly always comes back around, the recent resurgence of yellow in interiors perhaps shouldn’t be a shock. But what might be surprising is the versatility with which today’s designers are using it, whether to add energy to an entry or a touch of drama to a bedroom. This definitely isn’t your grandma’s yellow—unless, that is, you want it to be (see Notes of Nostalgia, below).
CONTINUED ON PAGE 34 >>
Notes of Nostalgia
This sun-drenched kitchen takes an updated approach to a retro color scheme. Sara Garza of PUNCH WORLD STUDIO wanted to elicit a sense of sentimentality in keeping with her Oak Cliff home’s 1940s roots, so she leaned heavily on yellow, a color she associates with the kitchens we grew up seeing in our parents’ and grandparents’ homes. “We have romanticized how much more uncomplicated life used to feel, and I think there is truth to that nostalgia,” says the designer. “Yellow is a color that carries familiarity.”
Designer: Punch World Studio
Blend Well: This fearless kitchen combines warm yellow cabinetry with painted-peach walls and a pink-forward countertop stone.
Like Butter:
This sunny dining room, originally featured in our January/February 2005 issue, brings the family-dinner feel with yellow checkered wallpaper.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
We often think of yellow as an energizing color, so it may not be the first hue that comes to mind when planning a bedroom. But the color-drenched sanctuary at right—designed by Kimberley Miller and originally featured in our January/ February 2008 issue—shows how it can be successfully utilized in even our most serene of spaces. In the dining space above, the homeowners used the color to make their central gathering space feel warm and cozy.
Coming Home
Carla Fonts of DUNBAR ROAD DESIGN knew this entry needed to provide a warm welcome for her clients’ children and grandchildren. So she covered the walls in Schumacher’s “Shantung Silhouette Sisal,” which reimagines a classic chinoiserie motif in a conspicuous shade. That led to other unexpected design decisions, like the artwork, which was not originally meant for this entry. Fonts says it became the obvious choice when her team saw how it played with the yellow—a color that manages to be both classic and unexpected. Says the designer, “Anything that brings joy feels timeless to me!”
Designer: Dunbar Road Design <
Set the Mood
If you’re not ready to go all in on yellow, consider a contrast. This bedroom by Josh Pickering of PICKERING HOUSE INTERIORS uses a moody grisaille wallpaper to balance the tones. Here, the yellow draperies play more like punctuation. “Smaller doses of a bright, saturated color go a long way when paired with other elements,” Pickering says. Taffeta keeps consistent with the dramatic backdrop by bringing a rich, luxurious feel to the room. The result is striking but still cozy.
Designer: Pickering House Interiors
Golden Slumber: Sweet dreams are all but guaranteed in this saturated bedroom, designed by Kimberley Miller and featured in our January/February 2008 issue.
Impressions Matter
Since the entry is a guest’s first impression of a home, Mackenzie Page Zwick of MACKENZIE PAGE INTERIORS suggests giving them a wow factor. Take this Fort Worth foyer, in which the settee—covered in Kravet “Versailles” velvet—pairs perfectly with the soft blue door and mural-style wallcovering. The combination of elements creates a soft place to land that still packs a punch. “The homeowners have such fun personalities,” Zwick says. “I wanted the first impression of their home to be a reflection of that.”
Designer: Mackenzie Page Interiors
Time Traveling
What’s extra special about the atmospheric “India Yellow” from Farrow & Ball is that it changes by the hour, say designers Maddie Hughes and Alexandra Lutz of HUGHES & LUTZ INTERIORS. In certain light, it reads as golden chartreuse; other times of day, a rich mustard. Its period feel is an apt complement to the antiques in this dining room, which, taken together, lend a lived-in vibe. Say the duo, “The result is a rich, beautiful, and intimate space that feels really collected over time, which is exactly how the space came together.”
Designer: Hughes & Lutz Interiors
Primary Play
If this space by Andrea Marino of ANDREA MARINO DESIGN proves anything, it’s that yellow plays well with its primary-color peers. Hardly the lone attentiongetter in this richly appointed sitting room, the embroidered silk settee provides a focal point and a spot for the eye to rest, says Marino, as it adds “both warmth and an element of playful surprise while still maintaining a sense of tradition.” The designer says yellow works well in most color schemes—warm, cool, colorful, or neutral—making it a surprisingly versatile choice.
Designer: Andrea Marino Design
Well-Kept
Enjoy your harvest longer by practicing proper produce storage.
by CALLIE WORKS-LEARY
Whether you’re harvesting armfuls of vegetables from your own garden (lucky you!) or shopping seasonal produce at the farmers market, knowing how to properly store your haul can mean the difference between enjoying fresh food for weeks or watching it spoil within days. Some fruits and vegetables thrive in cool, humid conditions, while others prefer dry, well-ventilated spaces.
The good news? Proper storage doesn’t require fancy equipment or complicated techniques, just a little know-how about what each type of produce prefers.
Fruits
KNOW YOUR ETHYLENE PRODUCERS
Many fruits produce ethylene gas, which accelerates ripening in both themselves and nearby produce. Apples and bananas are heavy ethylene producers and should be stored separately from ethylenesensitive items like lettuce, carrots, and potatoes.
Stone fruits, like peaches and plums, should ripen at room temperature before refrigeration. Berries, on the other hand, need to go straight into the refrigerator and shouldn’t be washed until just before eating. Excess moisture promotes mold growth.
Onions
and Garlic
STORE SEPARATELY
While both are alliums, onions and garlic have different storage preferences. I store my homegrown onions in the garage fridge, where they will stay fresh for up to six months, depending on the type.
Sweet onions, like Super Sweet 1015Y, should be used first, as they are more perishable than storagefriendly varieties.
Garlic, however, should never be stored in the fridge, because the cold, humid conditions will cause it to sprout. Instead, keep properly cured garlic bulbs in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, like a pantry.
Tomatoes
ROOM TEMPERATURE RULES
To protect homegrown tomatoes from marauding squirrels, harvest as soon as the fruit begins to change color, and then let it ripen fully on the kitchen counter, out of direct sunlight. Science has proven that doing so does not negatively affect perceptible flavor.
Store both homegrown and market tomatoes at room temperature until fully ripe, at which point they can be stored in the fridge to extend freshness for a few extra days. (Refrigerating unripe tomatoes is what causes mealiness.)
Leafy Greens
HUMIDITY IS KEY
Lettuce, spinach, kale, and other leafy greens lose moisture quickly, leading to wilting. Wash and thoroughly dry greens before storage, as excess water can promote bacterial growth. Wrap them in slightly damp paper towels and place in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator. This method maintains humidity while preventing the soggy conditions that cause rot. For herbs like basil, treat them as fresh flowers. Trim the stems and place them in a glass of water on your counter, changing the water every few days. Most other herbs, such as cilantro and parsley, need refrigeration, with their stems wrapped in damp paper towels.
com), which offers classes and resources for North Texas gardeners. She is a native of Dallas.
Root Vegetables
KEEP THEM COOL AND DARK
Root vegetables like carrots, beets, turnips, and radishes prefer cool, humid conditions. Remove any green tops immediately after harvest or purchase, because they draw moisture and nutrients from the root. Store roots in perforated plastic bags in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer, where humidity stays high. Properly stored, most root vegetables will stay fresh for several weeks. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are the exceptions. They prefer slightly warmer conditions and should never be refrigerated. Store them in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place, like a pantry. Paper bags work better than plastic ones, as they allow air circulation while blocking light.
Callie Works-Leary is the founder of The Dallas Garden School (thedallasgarden.
“At Pulp Design Studios, every interior tells a story — yours. We create spaces that are dynamic, balanced, and infused with the spirit of our clients.”
Neighborhood Watch
A look at the Dallas real estate market by neighborhood.
by CATHERINE WENDLANDT
Neighborhood Spotlight: Lochwood Meadows
When Scottish expats Clowie WheelerOzanne and Scott Carmichael first came to Lochwood Meadows—a subdivision in East Dallas’ Lochwood neighborhood—they thought that the hilly, tree-lined streets “felt a little bit like home.” Once they found their home at 10909 Fernald Avenue and settled into the area, they couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
Just northeast of White Rock Lake, Lochwood was founded in 1954. It’s known for its family-friendly sense of community—most of its nearly 5,000 residents are in their 30s and 40s—and its affordable mid-century ranches, some designed by the famed Ju-Nel architectural firm. Lochwood Park boasts a playground, a walking trail, and pickleball courts for residents to enjoy.
Even as they prepare to sell their home, Wheeler-Ozanne says she has loved seeing all the kids playing in the yards of Lochwood. “I grew up in Scotland, but it’s what I would imagine a very American neighborhood looking like,” she says. “We adore it.”
1,880: number of homes in Lochwood Meadows
North Lochwood 1962:
NEIGHBORHOOD: PLACE DES VOSGES
Named for the Paris square, Turtle Creek’s Place des Vosges oozes with European charm. Designed by architect James Langford, the luxurious gated community features 16 French Normandy–style townhouses bordering a triangular courtyard with a spectacular fountain.
3901 Turtle Creek Blvd., No. 14
$3,595,000
3 bedrooms, 3.1 bathrooms
3,815 square feet
Year Built: 2000
Listed by Alex Perry with Allie Beth Allman & Associates
10909
FERNALD AVE., $1,095,000
4 beds, 3 baths
2,968 square feet
Year Built: 1966
Listed by Megan Stern with Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate
NEIGHBORHOOD: MOUNT VERNON
The grand and prestigious Mount Vernon enclave of Highland Park lives up to its historic name. The 110-acre neighborhood borders both Turtle Creek and Dallas Country Club, with many of its multimillion-dollar mansions, like 3918 Normandy Ave., enjoying stunning creek views.
3918 Normandy Ave., $9,500,000
4 bedrooms, 5.1 bathrooms
5,794 square feet
Year Built: 1986
Listed by Michelle Wood with Compass
NEIGHBORHOOD:
ROYAL NORTHAVEN
On the north end of Preston Hollow is the quiet Royal Northaven neighborhood, which boasts both older ranches and more recently constructed mansions, plus easy access to the Northaven Trail. The close-knit community hosts holiday events and block parties for its residents throughout the year.
10989 Crooked Creek Dr., $4,495,000
5 bedrooms, 5.1 bathrooms
5,276 square feet
Year Built: 2014
Listed by Johnny Mowad with Ebby Halliday Realtors
NEIGHBORHOOD:
KIDD SPRINGS
Developed in 1903, Oak Cliff’s Kidd Springs is one of Dallas’ oldest neighborhoods. Today, the popular area is known for its titular park—which was once the site of a posh country club in the early 1900s—as well as for its bevy of historic Neoclassical, Prairie, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, and Tudor homes.
1033 Cedar Hill Ave., $1,695,000
4 bedrooms, 3.1 bathrooms
3,806 square feet
Year Built: 1930
Listed by Taryn Sherman with Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate .
$740,000: median list price in North Lochwood $311: median list price per square foot in
median build year of Lochwood houses 12.3: acreage of Lochwood Park
SCENES FROM D HOME ’S FALL 2025 ISSUE PARTY
On October 24, the Dallas design community gathered at Reece Bath + Kitchen to celebrate the release of D Home ’s Fall 2025 issue. Esteemed architects, designers, and industry leaders mingled over gourmet bites and refreshing beverages, raising a glass to Dallas’ vibrant architecture and design scene. Reece, a trusted leader in plumbing, kitchen, bath, and HVAC solutions with more than a century of expertise, continues to set the standard for quality and service across residential and commercial projects. A heartfelt thank you to Reece Bath + Kitchen for hosting this memorable evening and celebrating in true Dallas style.
SCENES FROM D HOME ’S BEST BUILDERS & ARCHITECTS 2025 CELEBRATION
On September 3, more than 120 industry leaders gathered at Dallas Union Station for a special event celebrating their recognition as D Home ’s Best Builders and Best Architects of 2025.
Guests mingled while enjoying delicious bites, cocktails, and exceptional networking opportunities.
A special thank you to our Premier Sponsors: Dallas Market Center, Multimedia Solutions Inc., and Signature Sponsor Reichert Woodworks for making this event possible.
Jonathan Kramer and Mike Stewart
Juan Diego Quintero, Johanna Torres, Alexandra Mendez Rourk, Josh Allen, and Zoey Kim
Jojy Koshy and Christine Koshy
Blake Byrd and Nina Byrd
Eric Gonzales, Gabrielle Gonzales, and Laura Juarez Baggett
Alexandra Blumenfeld, Christy Blumenfeld, Laurel Stone, and Purva Jain
Brandi Fowler Berquist, Kristin Lively, John Lively, Brenna Vertalino, and Todd Shaddock
Sheri Barringer, Raegan Barringer, Will Reichert, and Isabella Brownlow
Scott Parks and Ali Haji
PRESERVATION
PARK CITIES 2025
HISTORIC HOME TOUR
PATRON PARTY
The Preservation Park Cities Home Tour Patron Party, sponsored by M.M. Moore, was graciously hosted by Laura and Dave Finley in their Highland Park home and chaired by Cory Bowen and Krista Porteous. Guests enjoyed wines from Root and Water Wine Room, a signature Cape Codder cocktail, and warm hospitality. Highlights included praise for the Finleys’ thoughtful renovations and excitement about the three residences featured on the Spring 2025 Home Tour, which blended historic charm with modern updates. Proceeds benefited Preservation Park Cities’ mission to preserve the history, architecture, and cultural traditions of the Park Cities. For news and updates on the Spring 2026 Home Tour, please visit preservationparkcities.org.
Ellie Wood, Bryce Finley, and Madison Ridgway
Corey Bowen, David and Laura Finley, with Krista Porteous
Jack, Alisa, and Mary Margaret Sell
Margo and Bill Goodwin
Staci and Doug Ferber
Hillary Littlejohn and William Cavanaugh
Brad and Megan Bean
Shane and Corey Bowen with Krista and Andrew Porteous
Amy and Evan Beale
Brice and Cynthia Beaird
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“Two words come to mind when asked about the Dallas ‘look’ now: Perfectionism and detail.”
“I think Dallas used to have a ‘look,’ but now I think there are many different ones. I look around at some of my favorite designers and admire what they are doing—it’s nothing like I design, but I admire it. I do think that one thing Dallas has that is universal: People here want their houses ‘done.’ That is not true in every city.”
—Jan Showers, Jan Showers & Associates
25 Years of Dallas Design
What
elements make up Dallas’ signature look? We combed through our archives to find out.
“Dallas’s ‘look’ is a combination of quality materials, superior craftsmanship, and design refinement, regardless of the style.”
—David Salem, Salem & Associates DS
Not unlike Dallas itself, Dallas’ design identity is hard to put neatly in a box. We’re antiques and neon signs. We’re prim and proper meets bougie and bold. We are mavericks who prefer to blaze our own trails—while still keeping up with the Joneses (in this case, Jerry and Gene). And along our most prestigious boulevards, century-old Tudors make cozy neighbors with modern masterpieces. To try to make sense of our design DNA, we took to D Home’s archives in search of commonalities. Every interior that has graced our pages was dissected and studied to identify key aspects and influences. Only eight were seen consistently enough over our quarter-century run to merit a place on this list. Some are no-brainers; others were somewhat surprising. Read on to find out what made our list of quintessential Dallas design elements of the last 25 years. Plus: Local designers who have helped proliferate these elements weigh in on what makes them work here, why they’ve taken hold, and how to incorporate them in your own home.
—Cheryl Van Duyne, Cheryl Van Duyne Interior Design
Classic Americana
Despite its flashy reputation, Dallas still returns to timeless simplicity.
“Classic Americana ties us back to our roots and grounds us in history. It reflects values that have always resonated in Dallas—tradition, hospitality, and a connection to the land. Even as the city has grown more urban and cosmopolitan, people continue to crave that sense of warmth and familiarity. The style feels approachable— it balances simplicity with comfort, and it evokes nostalgia while still leaving room for personal interpretation. That’s why it has remained such an enduring part of Dallas homes over the decades.”
—Eddie Maestri, Maestri Studio
1 2
Antiques
Who says Dallas doesn’t appreciate old things? Our penchant for patina proves otherwise.
“Eighteen years ago, people developed an allergy to antique furniture. They went from initially and tentatively asking if they could put clean-lined furniture into their traditional houses to insisting on it. The number of modern houses in Highland Park exploded. The taste in furniture is a parallel but exaggerated trajectory.
As with anything, the strongest and most beautiful examples stood fast. Almost everyone made an exception [to the modern movement], leaving the spectacular dining room chandelier or keeping an heirloom out of sentimentality.
In my point of view, there’s no longer a taste for utilitarian antique furniture, but the welcome mat is always out for statement furniture or old but simple furniture, and there’s an overall warming towards the old again. My temperature will never be cool on beautiful furniture from the past. I think antique furniture lends authenticity, if not credibility, to our experience of houses.” —Barry Williams, Williams Design, Inc.
DESIGNER: George Cameron Nash ISSUE: July/August 2008
DESIGNER: Joyce Fox ISSUE: May/June 2005
Pattern
Dallasites have never met a fabric or wallpaper we didn’t love.
“Dallas is primarily a Southern city, and Southerners have always embraced wallpaper and pattern. A decade ago, small patterns came into play and are still popular. In the 1970s and ’80s, Gracie wallpaper was all the rage. Everyone wanted yellows, peaches, and greens. Then it went completely out of style, and clients were asking us to take it out and replace it with soft neutral palettes and watery blues. Now, it’s completely back. Everything is cyclical.” —Cathy Kincaid, Cathy Kincaid Interiors
European design has had a heavy hold on Dallas interiors.
DESIGNER: Pickering House Interiors ISSUE: May/June 2017
“French design became unique, growing from Greek/Roman times, and has been influential all over the whole world. It is considered timeless and can be seen in combination with more modern design today. The best of all design has touches of what came first, then has had new inspirations added. That is called history, present, and future.” —Charlotte Comer, Charlotte Comer Interiors
DESIGNER: Charlotte Comer Interiors ISSUE: May/June 2007
Collins & Sweezey ISSUE: January/February 2008
DESIGNER: Jenkins Interiors ISSUE: Summer 2025
Blue and White
This time-honored color palette has inspired a million copycats.
“The use of blue and white is rooted in traditional design but can be reimagined in more contemporary ways. Blue and white is unique—it can define the palette of an entire home or simply highlight a single antique piece on a shelf.”
—Leslie Jenkins, Jenkins Interiors
DESIGNER:
DESIGNER: The Design Girls ISSUE: July/August
DESIGNER: MORE Design + Build ISSUE: January/February 2014
We’ve long looked East for inspiration, from folk art to preppy pagodas.
“Asian design seems to fit into almost any decor— from very traditional to stark contemporary— because it is timeless. The magnificent screen I hung on the wall of my former study (pictured, top right) is a case in point; most of the other pieces in the room lean toward the French style.” —John Phifer Marrs, John Phifer Marrs Interiors
Bold Statements
In both modern and traditional spaces, Dallas demands a touch of drama.
“There’s a certain confidence and appreciation for statement making in Dallas homes— whether it’s through scale, color, or a striking architectural detail. Clients here tend to see design as an opportunity to express personality that might otherwise feel riskier in other markets.”
—Brant McFarlain, Brant McFarlain Design
DESIGNER: Rick Janecek ISSUE: July/August 2012
John Phifer Marrs Interiors
DESIGNER: Mary Beth Wagner Interiors ISSUE: September/October 2021
Appreciation for Art
We’ve been known to design a room around a great painting.
“Dallas de nitely has a greater appreciation for art than most other cities. We are very lucky to have some of the best museums in the country, with incredible shows from around the world. I always tell clients to buy art that they really love, to nd the meaning that translates well with them and with the home. Make it fun! We can always nd ways to design around it. That is the exciting part!”
—Gonzalo Bueno, Ten Plus Three
Scan to see more examples of the quintessential Dallas design elements throughout D Home’s history
DESIGNER: Mary Faulkner Interiors ISSUE: January/February 2009
DESIGNER: Ten Plus Three ISSUE: January/February 2013
DESIGNER: Joseph Minton ISSUE: March/April 2007
DO TODAY’S DALLAS INTERIORS HAVE A “LOOK”? ONE REPORTER INVESTIGATES >>
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ITraditional With a Twist
Twist
On-point interior design has always been important to the people of Dallas, but these days, it’s seriously fun.
n some ways, D Home and I have grown up together. This year, the magazine celebrates its 25th birthday, and I’ve been knocking on people’s doors and asking them to explain their design choices for more than 15 of them. Back when I was the executive editor from 2009 to 2014, I walked through a lot of Instagram-ready rooms out tted with museum white walls, clean-lined furnishings (draped with the requisite Hermès blankets), and pops of color, courtesy of candy-hued lamps and tasteful artwork. (To be fair, I also saw some truly wild things, but that is for another column at another time.)
Of course, tastes and trends evolve, and Dallas is not immune. Most recently, wide-open oorplans and underused yet overdone rooms have lost their footing in local post-pandemic houses. Make no mistake, though, we remain devoted to opulence. “I’m going to say it: Dallas loves the sparkle,” con rms Sharon Lee Clark, who relocated from Los Angeles to Dallas in 2020. A ne artist who also designs wallpaper and fabric through her company, Krane Home, Clark has noticed a common thread in her DFW clientele’s orders. “Hand-printed metallic wallpaper and fabrics are always my Dallas clients’ top picks,” she says.
These days, though, we’re balancing our more-is-more elements with items that deeply re ect our personal history, say designers. “My younger clients are coming to me with inherited china and dining room sets, asking, ‘How do we work this in?’ ” says interior designer and California native Jean Liu, who now divides her time between Dallas and New York. “There’s an appreciation for holding on to antiques that I don’t see on the East Coast as much.”
Cynthia Collins, an interior designer and co-owner of the beloved boutique Blue Print, couldn’t agree more. “[In Dallas,] we’re certainly not afraid of
by LAURA KOSTELNY
color, scale, or mixing periods. Our interiors can be de ned as a fearless, bold blend of the old and new,” she explains. “Unlike some other cities, where design can feel a bit more restrained or homogenous, Dallas celebrates individuality.”
Sure, everyone in town vacations in the same spots, and somewhere along the way (maybe on vacation!), we all agreed that a dining room is not a dining room without wallpapered walls, but that’s where we draw the line on uniformity, apparently. Design team Maddie Hughes and Alexandra Lutz, for instance, say they are happily mixing in one-of-a-kind European antiques with Mexican and Spanish accents. “People are very well-traveled here, so that’s leading to rooms that are more eclectic,” says Hughes. Adds Lutz: “[Our clients] don’t want us to repeat a wallpaper pattern in another project. They don’t want to go to their friends’ homes and see the same things.”
That sense of self is something Meredith Ellis has witnessed rsthand at her showroom, JAMES, which debuted in Austin in 2015 and expanded to Dallas two years later. “My Dallas clients are very savvy and knowledgeable—more so than other parts of the state,” she says. “They think for themselves, so they’re not interested in buying art for the sake of having art. They want things that speak to them, which makes working with them more special and fun.”
Of course, it’s not all fun and games here—but it’s not not. Designer Mary Beth Wagner notes that even her most formal clients want places tailor-made for eating, drinking, and making merry. “People love their game tables, more so in recent years because of the surge in popularity of mahjong.” She adds that in-home barrooms are also a very popular request—spaces designed to keep the conversations owing as easily as the drinks.
And we’ll take those drinks on the rocks, thanks very much. When artist Donald Robertson and his wife Kimberly, a motivational speaker and interior designer, relocated here from the West Coast in 2021, one of the rst things they noticed was the omnipresence of a very cool appliance. “Everyone has a separate ice maker, which makes sense—it’s hot, and everyone drinks here,” says Kimberly, who also clocked that we have fewer stories than expected (“You’ve got kids and tornadoes, but no basements!” she quips) and an innate need to nest. “In California, people decorate to ip a house. Here, it’s a stickier state—people stay in their homes until the kids graduate from college.”
And honestly, maybe that’s the best way to describe our general approach to living well at this moment in time: We’re carving out meaningful rooms that are meant to last. As Collins puts it, “It’s not just about looking beautiful; it’s about making a space feel inviting and lived in, even at the highest level of sophistication. I’m not sure if this mindset shifts dramatically from city to city, but here, hospitality de nitely runs deep. Linger a little longer is the goal!”
INSIDERS DISCUSS DALLAS’ DESIGN INDUSTRY TODAY—AND WHAT’S TO COME >>
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PIERRE FREY “ROSA” WALLPAPER CULP ASSOCIATES; JULIAN CHICHESTER “MEDUSA” SCONCE MECOX; “DESERT ROSE” FABRIC HOLLY HUNT; LOUIS XV COMMODE BY JACQUES DUBOIS NICK BROCK & COMPANY
AOut of the Group Chat
We opened our all-star address book to assemble a text chain of movers and shakers from different corners of the Dallas design industry. They tapped out their takes on everything from outside misconceptions and harsh truths to shifting landscapes and A.I.
by JESSICA OTTE
s anniversaries tend to do, our 25th has had us feeling re ective. But after having spent so much time looking back at where we’ve come from, we wanted to talk to those who know the industry best about where they feel Dallas design is today and where it’s going.
So we assembled a panel of experts in the most modern of forums: a group chat. It took place in September 2025 and included Amanda Taylor AT and Jud Taylor JT, owners of the long-standing modern furniture showroom Scott + Cooner; Ashley Leftwich AL, cofounder of wallcovering and art studio EVER Atelier; Erin Sander ES, owner and designer at Erin Sander Design; Holly Hickey Moore HH, principal of Holly Hickey Moore Interior Design and the cofounder of SHIFT, a business forum for the Dallas design community; Jason Snider JS, assistant manager at Mecox Dallas; Jenny O’Connor JO, interior stylist at Jenny O’Connor Studio; Mili Suleman MS, founder and creative director of KUFRI Textiles and cofounder of SHIFT; and Jamie LaubhanOliver and Jessica Otte , D Home’s creative/editorial director and executive editor, respectively.
In terms of aesthetics, how do you define Dallas design today?
I think there are two perspectives: how people outside of Dallas view the design scene, and what’s actually true once you dig deeper.
From the outside, Dallas design often comes across as flashy and a bit sterile—maybe because of the fast turnaround and high volume of spec homes and condos that need to appeal to the masses.
There are also homeowners who tend to copy one another, so instead of design telling a personal story, it becomes more about efficiency. That’s where you may see the common pastels, coastal-inspired bubbly interiors, stark white walls ... iykyk ;)
But when you look closer, Dallas has incredible people who are world travelers, deeply cultured, and bring intelligence and authenticity into their homes. Those interiors are moody, eclectic, artful, and layered with stories. I just don’t think we, as Dallasites, push that aesthetic enough—we get caught up in chasing perfection instead of embracing the wabi-sabi beauty of how design should naturally be expressed.
Do you feel that problem is unique to Dallas?
I’ve lived here 27 years, and I can firmly say, Dallas likes to keep up with the Joneses! It does represent various styles but lacks “true personal style” reflected in homes. This is where designers can and should guide them.
The biggest obstacle for us, from a retail perspective, is getting clients comfortable with, and not overwhelmed by, their deep-down desires for their spaces. We try to help clients flex their mental muscles and train their eye so that the process of looking and selecting becomes more authentic and less daunting.
Sometimes people just want you to give them what their friends or neighbors have. We are on a soft mission to steer clients away from that. Sometimes you just gotta put the phone down and work from your own head and heart. There is such a thing as design fatigue, and I think the end user experiences that more these days due, in part, to overexposure from social media.
I get tired of the copying and wish we celebrated true authenticity more.
In this issue, we identified design elements that have remained popular in Dallas homes over the last two-anda-half decades. What elements do you predict would be on a list like this 25 years from now?
Perhaps artisanal goods from local artists and artisans.
l’d like to think we will see more of modern minimalism with a focus on high-quality products down the road.
I think one element that has also remained constant and is a huge part of design is technology—it just keeps evolving in different ways.
That brings me to a looming tech question: Let’s talk about A.l.! How do you see it impacting the design world?
We are in such a crucial time with A.l. as we each navigate the magnitude with which we integrate it into our daily practices and rhythms. I feel grateful as a designer that there is a significant client-service/personal-interaction piece to what we do that is very tangible—and I think would be hard to be replaced. Conversely, the new tools at our disposal will give a welcome efficiency in generating presentation materials and conveying our ideas.
And yes I wrote that, not ChatGPT.
I saw an article recently by Kelly Wearstler called “Can A.l. have Taste?” I think the gist was that A.l. can be an incredible tool for designers to use to brainstorm ideas, educate clients, and pass off some of the tedious tasks so they can focus on the creative work.
I wonder if there will be a growing audience for in-person experiences as A.l. continues to make it harder for us to distinguish between what’s real and what’s not. For other arts, this would be things like live theater, concerts, and museum visits. For the interior design world, maybe it’s showhouse-type events, such as Kips Bay.
I see A.l. as a tool ... and used it yesterday to help with our website’s SEO. So for all those technical things that I don’t know how to do, I think it is great.
I do think there is a blurred line when used in conjunction artistically ... and it is my hope that clients continue to crave human craft/creativity.
Having brick and mortar showrooms, we have to hope clients still want to engage and come in to sit, touch, and feel. Our business is getting more challenging, in my opinion, as technology advances, so we strive to differentiate ourselves with service, service, service!
I work with a photographer who brings a tiny high-quality printer along to his shoots. As we shoot each space, he prints off the images we are capturing. At the end of the day, the client gets to keep them. I call it a party favor. Now, keep in mind that these are images that are displayed all day on his giant computer monitor for all to see. But the absolute delight everyone takes in these printouts of the same images is one of my favorite examples proving that even with all the newer technology and doom scrolling, we are still analog beings at heart.
Jud, you mentioned challenges you’re experiencing. I’d love to hear the biggest challenges you all are facing within your respective realms.
Our biggest challenges are always human-centered ... finding stellar, studio-focused, flexible people who understand this is work and not all glamour.
I’m way too familiar with tariffs. With the metal derivative component and how furniture is classified, a lot of companies are getting very high invoices they were not expecting. Textiles and rugs always had some sort of duty before, but probably not as high as we’re seeing today.
Our clients are pretty inquisitive about how tariffs will affect pricing, and we are more than happy to tell them the truth. An educated buyer is easier to work with, and regardless of politics, people appreciate transparency. The tariffs we are passing through haven’t seemed to be a turnoff. I think clients just want transparency and consistency.
I agree with both of you that educating the client and transparency have been big themes for us with regard to tariffs. The agility needed as business owners never ceases to amaze me.
Do you all feel Dallas gets the respect it deserves as a design destination? If not, how do we change that?
I think Dallas is highly respected as a design destination, actually. But one way to gain even more traction is broader visibility for our designers and the showrooms and makers they work with. One way that happens is more published work in local (D Home!!) and national publications.
I love to hear that perspective from you, Jenny! I have seen an increase in requests for meetings from very unique and bespoke companies from all around the world to come in and present to our team. We had an artist from Tasmania earlier this year, which I think speaks to the fact that Dallas is top of mind for these creatives for placement of their pieces.
I do think Dallas has pretty high marks in design overall. Having a large Design District is pretty cool!
I agree—Dallas has a great Design District and artisanal offerings that make it a destination for many other markets to come and shop. I also think having Kips Bay continue here is a great opportunity for our city to gain design attention.
Do you all feel like the design community here is supportive of, and connected to, one another? How can we keep this going or improve?
Yes, I do feel like the design community is very supportive—but l also believe you get back what you put into it. There’s more than enough work to go around, and each of us has our own aesthetic. In my experience, I’ll pass along projects that aren’t the right fit, and others do the same for me.
Where I think we can improve is in how we share resources. Too often, those relationships with artisans, makers, and trades are held tightly. But it’s those people who actually make our projects possible. Supporting them, keeping them in business, and widening access to their talent is what ultimately strengthens our whole community.
I’m in desperate need of a good metal guy.
I just wrote down a name in my notebook. I’ll send it to you.
Tariffs anyone?
“
A rug is the most important piece in your space; it’s the foundation that sets the tone of your room and gives you the biggest impact and the most bang for your buck.”
SYDNEY HARRELL
Project Spotlight: The DFW Textile Sourcing Showroom
“A
rug is the most important piece in your space; it’s the foundation that sets the tone of your room and gives you the biggest impact and the most bang for your buck.” This is the advice Sydney Harrell, owner of DFW Textile Sourcing, provides when people are designing a room and wondering where to start. “You can change the furniture and artwork in a room, and others may not spot it, but if you change out the rug, people will immediately notice,” she says.
After months of planning, Harrell has opened the DFW Textile Sourcing showroom on Lovers Lane, created to showcase an extensive selection of rug samples and options for her clients. The showroom is open to both the trade and public by appointment only. Rugs
can still be shipped internationally, and designs are fully customizable.
Harrell and her team oversee design and production details of the rugs, working closely with skilled artisans and looms in India, Turkey, and Nepal to create made-to-order, 100 % wool rugs that are as beautiful as they are functional. Each hand-dyed and hand-knotted rug is ethically crafted with no unsafe labor or chemicals in the dying process.
“Now it’s easier for people to choose colors and actually see some of our products in person,” Harrell says. “We have new designs coming out every month. With a full staff and two design consultants, we can help customers mix and match any of our rugs and narrow down the choices, and we have plenty.”
Adam Saxton and Dan Murphy purchased the now-Instagram-famous Beverly Casa in 2021. Four years and plenty of blood, sweat, tears, and likes later, they’re happy to (finally) be home for the holidays.
text by TOMMIE ETHINGTON
photography by CODY ULRICH
remodel architecture by WILLIAM S. BRIGGS
renovation by HUDSON CONSTRUCTION GROUP
styling by ADAM FORTNER
florals by NOLAN KISER, BOTTEGA DE FLORES
Formal Dining
The dining room features a custom table the couple commissioned from Keith Fritz Fine Furniture in Indiana, along with handpainted wallpaper for the ceiling by Porter Teleo. Chairs from the couple’s previous home were painted and reupholstered to match the pattern on the ceiling.
Two nonnegotiables when it came to decorating the exterior for the holidays were a wreath on every window and the live oak tree being wrapped in as many lights as possible.
is simple:
“You should buy pieces that you like, and then make your design work with it,” says
The Beverly Casa motto
homeowner Adam Saxton.
sofa, chair, rug: Ralph Lauren; marble fireplace: Material
Bespoke Stone; framed scarf: vintage Hermès scarf by Kermit Oliver; paint color: Benjamin Moore “Hale Navy”
copper gas lanterns: Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights; antique urns: Pittet Architecturals; holiday lights: O Holy Lights
Entry
Keeping the structure of the original staircase intact was a priority, but the couple updated the balusters and added a brass railing, which is draped with a faux garland by Afloral.
handrail with oval brass balusters: C5 Construction; stair runner: Hartley & Tissier; chandelier: Boyd Lighting; table: Ralph Lauren
When Adam Saxton and Dan Murphy
first toured their historic Highland Park abode in December 2021, they jumped at the chance to call it home. “It was love at first sight,” says Saxton. “We saw the potential of what it could be.”
Built in 1929, the house had “good bone structure” and curb appeal—at least from a distance. Upon closer inspection, the beautiful Italianate carved limestone surrounding the entrance was in desperate need of a deep clean. The front door, like many interior features, had been swapped out and felt both dated and period inappropriate. And the size didn’t come close to meeting the needs of their growing family.
Saxton and Murphy tapped William S. Briggs of Briggs Architecture & Design and Hudson Construction Group to perform an extensive two-year renovation and add a two-story addition that would double the home’s footprint. Initially, the couple consulted with a designer but ultimately decided to tackle the interiors themselves because they found they enjoyed the process.
“Typically, we highly discourage owners from working without [a designer], because a lot of people don’t realize how much time and effort it takes and how many details you have to decide on,” says Blake Evenson of Hudson Construction Group. But Saxton and Murphy were “by far the most detailed clients we’ve ever had.”
From a young age, Saxton saw what it took to dream up a home from scratch. He remembers tagging along with his mother to look at wallpaper samples, and he even hired a designer to help
Gallery
A hallway was required to connect the original part of the home with an addition. Architect William S. Briggs drafted a large hallway space that now doubles as an art gallery for the avid collector homeowners. Two photographs by David Yarrow—one shot in Dallas, the other in homeowner Dan Murphy’s hometown of Chicago—adorn the walls. The space features white oak herringbone floors and a glossy Venetian plaster ceiling.
ceiling lights: Urban Electric Company; table: Blackman Cruz; vase: Baccarat
Kitchen
There’s a place for everything in the light-filled kitchen, including an inset Miele coffee maker and slots into which custom-made cutting boards can be stowed away. The walnut island also hides two ice makers.
cabinetry: Douglas Custom Cabinetry; cabinet paint color: Benjamin Moore “Vintage Vogue”; stools: Roll & Hill; perimeter counters and range backsplash: Breccia Capraia marble from Ann Sacks; unlacquered brass hardware: Armac Martin; plumbing: Kallista
Wet Bar
In addition to a well-stocked wine cellar off the kitchen, the couple added a wet bar.
Their stone fabricator, Set In Stone, hand-carved the distinctive fluted edge on the marble countertops.
The owners of The Beverly Casa make entertaining seem effortless. “We just try to be casual, approachable hosts,” says Adam Saxton. Yet a lot goes into making guests feel welcome and wowed. For starters, Saxton and his husband, Dan Murphy, set the mood with their year-round signature scent: the Trudon “Ernesto” candle. “I think that is an easy way to make your home feel familiar and comfortable,” Saxton says.
The couple shares their other go-to sources that will help make your holiday soiree stand out:
FLOWERS: Bottega de Flores
COOKIES: Highland Park Pie Lady
PETIT FOURS: Stein’s Bakery
CAVIAR: Caviar Russe
CHEESE BOARDS: Scardello Artisan Cheese
RED WINE: Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto
CATERING: Shinsei
NAPKINS: EloquenceInk
SERVINGWARE: Farmhouse Pottery
TUNES: The Beverly Casa on Spotify
GIFTS: Assouline books
<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 67
decorate his first apartment after he graduated from Southern Methodist University.
“It’s just always been a part of my life, and I’ve always loved doing it,” Saxton says. Murphy, who had some prior experience with remodeling, was excited by the scope of the challenge. “This was the first build I’d done from the beginning, and it’s neat to have something that is 100 percent yours, exactly how you wanted it.”
In search of inspiration, the couple began taking trips—ranging from the Dallas Design District to the Paris flea markets— and sharing their adventures on social media under the name The Beverly Casa (@thebeverlycasa). Initially, the updates were intended for friends and family, but their audience grew quickly.
“Because we weren’t working with a designer and [were] figuring it out as we went, we solicited a lot of advice from the Instagram community,” remembers Saxton. They asked their followers to weigh in on major decisions, such as the exterior paint color, but also the smallest details, such as bronze rosettes they commissioned for the custom front door.
Some choices were controversial. In the formal dining room, they opted for high-gloss walls, a rug under the table, and a whimsical chandelier. “A lot of people say, ‘Oh, that’s interesting,’ and I can tell they can’t stand the light,” Saxton says, laughing.
The renovation wrapped in December 2023, and while a move amidst holiday chaos would give most people pause, the couple went for it. “We were so ready to get in the house,” Saxton says. “I
CONTINUED ON PAGE 71 >>
Each year, the couple selects a different theme for their wrapping paper, but they otherwise eschew trends in their holiday decor. “I just don’t think Christmas is the time to be cool—I like a classic, traditional, happy Christmas,” Saxton says.
Vintage Tree
Primary Bedroom
The primary bedroom’s neutral palette and minimal pattern are a departure from the rest of the home, but that’s not to say it’s boring. The homeowners added curved ceilings covered in Roman clay, plaster lamps with a made-you-look vertebrae motif, and art from Dallas artist Michael O’Keefe.
light fixture: Ralph Lauren; plaster lamps: Blackman Cruz; vintage Corbin Bronze bench: 1stDibs; Roman clay: Portolo Paints in “Patagonia” color
Closet
The closet is where the couple starts and ends their day. The environs are so cozy that it also doubles as a lounge.
“People like to come up and see it when we have parties,” Saxton says, adding that they keep the wine fridge stocked with mini bottles of champagne for such an occasion.
Douglas Custom Cabinetry in nearby Greenville, Texas, designed the walnut millwork— including the floor-toceiling shoe wall, which houses more than 100 pairs from the couple’s collection.
cabinetry: Douglas Custom Cabinetry; hardware: OCHRE Gallery; wallpaper: “Savile Suiting” by Phillip Jeffries; paint color: Farrow & Ball “Down Pipe” in matte finish stool:
Primary Bathroom
<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 69
don’t think we were that concerned about Christmas.” But, Murphy adds, spending the holiday season surrounded by boxes and packing paper rather than garland and wrapping paper “was a big reason we were so excited the next year to be settled and really go big.” As fate would have it, the couple spent the following Christmas at the hospital, welcoming their son.
This year, the self-described homebodies are looking forward to finally enjoying their decked halls. Their seasonal style mirrors their refined but playful home. An overflowing bouquet of poinsettias in a Baccarat vase sits on a table with a giant talon for a base. Vintage bubble lights adorn the family Christmas tree, along with blown-glass ornaments. Their favorite room to decorate is the library, with its cozy Chesterfield sofa and marble fireplace. Above the mantel is a framed Hermès scarf by Texas artist Kermit Oliver that Murphy scored at auction as a gift for Saxton.
From the library’s large bay window, the family can see the horse-drawn carriage holiday-light tours that traverse the neighborhood each Christmas season. “We were drawn to the Highland Park community partly because of the traditions,” Saxton says. “As someone who has lived in Dallas for 20 years and been making carriage reservations for all of that time, to be watching them go by from your own home—it’s surreal.”
And if the home itself wasn’t gift enough, the response from their communities—both online and local—has been an unexpected, and happy, one. The finished result has been lauded by neighbors and followers, and in 2024 the couple was bestowed with the Preservation Dallas Preservation Education Award for their efforts to document every detail of their restoration process.
“Winning the award was a big honor,” says Saxton, adding that he hopes others in the area are similarly inspired to breathe fresh life into historic homes rather than raze them. “Highland Park wouldn’t be the same without them.”
The primary bathroom is full of little luxuries—a heated brass towel bar, a skin care fridge, a shower that doubles as a steam room—and also major eye candy, like Greek key mirrors and a chandelier, both of which are made of Murano glass.
tile floor: Mosaïque Surface; mirrors: Legacy Antiques; chandelier: Jean-Marc Fray; tub: Victoria + Albert “Barcelona”; white oak vanities: Douglas Custom Cabinetry; chain-link table: Formations
Louis Vuitton
• CONCIERGE •
DINE SHOP
Madison Hotel
Consider this your key to the city.
BEST BIG D 2025 of The
HOME AND GARDEN EDITION
text by THE EDITORS photography by ELIZABETH LAVIN styled by JAMIE LAUBHAN-OLIVER and ADAM FORTNER
WELCOME TO THE BEST OF BIG D: HOME AND GARDEN EDITION. We’re so glad you’re here! Look at this list as your personal concierge—unlocking access to all the world-class shops, finest dining, and cultural institutions Dallas has to offer— then enjoy playing tourist in your own town.
The Suite Life
Book a night at these nearby lodgings to score some R&R without leaving DFW.
BEST DESIGN-INSPIRATION STAYCATION
The Madison
Jen Stevens of Fonde Interiors transformed a 1926 boardinghouse in Bishop Arts into a cozy, 27-room hotel. The finished result is a vibe, with a check-in desk straight out of a Wes Anderson flick and vintage-inspired decor throughout common spaces and guest rooms. It’s a perfect place to recharge your creative batteries. 1159 N. Madison Ave. 469-778-4319.
BEST DESIGN MINI-GETAWAY
Flintlock Ranch
This deliciously layered rental is only an hour outside of Dallas but feels a million miles away. Designer Denise McGaha rents out the luxe guesthouse of her Decatur working ranch, where her family keeps cows, goats, and chickens. Visit with her menagerie and enjoy scenic vistas (and killer sunsets!); then retreat into the comfort of the well-appointed environs. There’s also a lushly appointed Airstream for spillover guests. 272 County Road 3250, Decatur. flintlockranch.com
BEST PLACE FOR A STAYCATION
Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas
The former Four Seasons underwent a $55 million remodel last year. Our favorite updates include the hotel’s club lounge (with a 24-hour dessert station!), the dramatically refreshed lobby bar, and the spectacular pool cabanas that, if you squint out at the Texas landscape, will make you swear you’ve landed in the Mexican Riviera. 4150 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving. 972717-2499.
No Vacancy? No Problem.
BEST NEW CONCEPT STORE
KD Biel
Luxury homebuilder Kurt Bielawski was a fine apparel buyer in another life. He combines his retail experience and his passion for home in his masterfully curated new shop. Aside from private label items, you’ll find hard-to-source brands like Copenhagenbased Bergs Potter and London’s Shore Studios. 1316 Slocum St. 214-434-1127.
BEST ANTIQUE STORE
Nick Brock & Company
That famous yellow door has been a beacon for antiques lovers for years. Unique pieces large and small span centuries and tastes—but all are alluring. Pro tip: Take your time and don’t skip the display cases. 1322 Slocum St. 214-828-0624.
BEST CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE Scott + Cooner
In 2021, Lloyd Scott and Josy Cooner handed the keys to longtime employees Jud and Ashley Taylor, who have continued the showroom’s legacy of fine contemporary furnishings. Expect brands like Cassina, Baxter, and Poliform—and exceptional client service. 1617 Hi Line Dr., Ste. 100. 214-748-9838.
BEST NEWCOMER SHOWROOM Verellen Atelier
In March, this High Point favorite opened only its second atelier in the country right here in the Design District, bringing their Belgian-born furniture to Dallas. The brand is known
for shapely pieces covered in neutral textiles that add a dose of understated coolness to any style of room. 150 Glass St., Ste. 100. 214-831-6123.
BEST TRADITIONAL FURNITURE (IF YOU WANT IT NOW)
Blue Print
This local institution has helped define Dallas’ preppypolish-meets-cool-confidence aesthetic. At their original shop or their expansive Design District showroom, you’ll find everything from Biedermeier chests to modern art. Best of all, everything is stocked, so you can take it home same day. 2707 Fairmount St. 214-954-9511; 1505 Oak Lawn Ave., Ste. 100. 469-793-6868.
BEST TRADITIONAL FURNITURE (IF YOU’RE WILLING TO WAIT)
Caitlin Wilson
Designer Caitlin Wilson’s traditional furniture is exquisitely designed and expertly crafted, with options to customize your choice of upholstery fabric. But as pieces are made to order, most carry a three- to eightmonth lead time, so patience is a virtue. 2923 N. Henderson Ave. 469-458-3385.
BEST VINTAGE FURNITURE
Sputnik Modern
Don’t come here looking for fixer-uppers. Owner Chris Thurman has an incredible eye for pristine, museumquality vintage pieces from iconic designers like Karl Springer, Milo Baughman, Dunbar, and Verner Panton. We’re not saying we fantasize about his wares—but we’re also not not saying that. 2241 Monitor St. 214-887-6221.
Your interiors will rival the chicest boutique hotel with help from these home outfitters.
BEST DESIGN COLLABS
Scout Design Studio
From statement-making accessories with a sense of humor to collaborations with local artists and design darlings, Scout’s offerings don’t just make a room—they’re a whole mood. 155 Howell St. 214-741-2414.
BEST DOPAMINE DECOR
Tlazo Home
This home-decor-meetsgift shop has an identity all its own, thanks to owner Alejandro Gonzalez’s keen eye and emphasis on Latino makers. Find whimsical home accents, joy-sparking serveware, vibrant textiles, and an array of artisanal wrapping paper. 411 N. Tyler St. 214-377-8450.
BEST WALLPAPER LINE
Megan Adams Brooks
You can find a print appropriate for any space or scheme in Brooks’ eponymous line (plus fabric to match). Of late, the Dallas artist has partnered with creative pals on collaborations that broaden the collection’s horizons even further. meganadamsbrooks.com
BEST MINIMAL HOME ACCESSORIES
Anyon Atelier
Find your escape on a side street off Henderson Avenue. Anyon Atelier’s peaceful courtyard gives you a taste of what awaits inside. The selection of furniture, art, and accessories is a master class in effortless curation— and a breath of fresh air for Dallas. 5238 Milam St. 214434-1934. BEST VINTAGE DIG
Denotes Gold List Members (see pg. 82)
Benny Jack Antiques
Every booth boasts pieces of vastly different styles, so you’re guaranteed to find something in your wheelhouse. You can also follow the shop’s Instagram, where they post new inventory daily. 1026 N. Riverfront Blvd. 214-2383740. @bennyjackantiques
BEST HOME SALVAGE SHOP
Discount Home Warehouse
The fun is in the hunt. One week you might find the antique arched door you never knew you needed; the next, perfectly patinaed hardware that’ll make your new build look like a historic home. 1768 Empire Central Dr. 214-631-2755.
BEST OUTDOOR PILLOW SELECTION
Plein Air
Atelier
Outdoor pillows endure the elements. Landscape designer Melissa Gerstle’s to-the-trade showroom stocks plentiful options if yours have seen better days, along with an array of high-end outdoor furniture, should you be ready for a complete overhaul. 1205 Slocum St. 214-466-8066.
BEST NURSERY AND GARDEN SHOP
Walton’s Garden Center
Walton’s stocks it all: herbs, Acers, perennials, indoor plants, pretty pots, and a gift shop filled with everything from mahjong sets to Christmas ornaments. 8652 Garland Rd. 214-321-2387.
Scout Design Studio
Sputnik Modern
Blue Print
Caitlin Wilson
Scott + Cooner
Nick Brock & Company
Lela Rose
Sputnik Modern
Tlazo Home
Ellis Hill
Scott + Cooner
The Conservatory
B BD 25 of SHOP
Exit Through the Gift Shop
These local purveyors have just the right thing, no matter who you’re shopping for.
BEST BONSAI
Sunshine Miniature Trees
Sunshine has served as something of a botanical art gallery in Vickery Meadow since 1969, with hundreds of bonsai to choose from in dozens of varieties. (They stock oodles of other houseplants and indoor trees, too.) 7118 Greenville Ave. 214-691-0127.
BEST CERAMIC ART
Strong Roots Pottery
Danielle Williams’ stunning pottery is made to be happy homes for your plant friends, but they hold their own as stand-alone decor, too. Her bantu knot pieces sell fast, so keep tabs on her Instagram to preorder her next batch. @strongrootspottery
BEST ARTISANAL SOAP SoapGirl
Rebecca Day promises pure artisanal products with no detergents, additives, or preserves, handcrafted using a process that yields smoother soaps. Bars come in a range of tempting scents, from “Plain Jane” to “Patchouli + Black Lava Salt.” soapgirl.co
BEST REFILLERY
Earnest
John Honest Goods
It’s all in the name: good things with honest ingredients. Buy a bottle or BYOB and fill up on handmade, all-natural soaps, shampoos, and laundry detergents. 3022 Greenville Ave. 972-308-6607.
BEST NEW BOOKSTORE Bird’s Bookstore
In our From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler fantasies, we’d hide amongst the MMaison Interiors–designed oak shelves, sip milky oolong
tea, spritz ourselves with Perfumer H scents, and pick our way through the 6,000 titles. 6025 Royal Ln., Ste. 207. @birdsbookstore
BEST ROMANCE BOOKSTORE
The Plot Twist
We prefer the cutesy merch at Oak Cliff’s Blush, but Denton’s Plot Twist has a larger selection. Best of all, the shop has a bar and moody lounge in the back in which to sip Tamlin’s Tears with other ACOTAR fans. 227 W Oak St., Denton. 940-218-1005.
BEST MAGAZINE SHOP Fine
Print
Designer Crystal Cobb’s new magazine shop offers global magazines and rare publications that celebrate glossies from every angle. If you’re looking for inspiration you can’t find online, Fine Print has you covered. 212 S. Madison Ave. 214-730-0080.
BEST RECORD STORE Good
Records
Yes, you can buy vinyl here. But you can also catch a live show and learn about new music. This is a community. Thank God for Chris Penn, the man who made it happen. We lost him this year, but his store lives on. 9026 Garland Rd. 214-752-4663.
BEST GIFT SHOP
Talulah & Hess
Lakewood’s all-occasion gift shop stocks a wide variety of baby items and a men’s section better than most, so there is truly something for everyone. 5810 Live Oak St. 214-821-1927.
BEST FRAGRANCE SHOP The
Conservatory
The clothing, shoes, and jewelry here are always worth a look, but the fragrance sec-
tion deserves a special nod. Ask for Shasa Mitcham, aka the “Best Nose in Dallas,” to find your scent. 4 Highland Park Village. 682-419-2148. Multiple locations.
BEST WEDDING REGISTRY
Ellis Hill
Not only can brides-to-be register for tabletop items, housewares, and decorative accents, they can specify oneof-a-kind personalization for their fine bed and bath linens, too. 5029 W. Lovers Ln. 214520-6108.
BEST PET STORE
Lucky Pup Dog Shop
This Bishop Arts shop is a puppy’s paradise. Browse leashes in dozens of colors, pet beds that are actually cute, veggie-filled treats, and all the accessories your barking best friend deserves. 415 W. Eighth St. luckypupdogshop.com
BEST LEATHER GOODS
Wilkinson’s Fine Goods
Handmade in downtown Denton, third-generation leather artisan Clint Wilkinson’s leather wallets, belts, and bags are built to last a lifetime. 347 E. Hickory, Denton. 940-231-6637.
BEST NON-RANCHER RANCHWEAR
Lela Rose Ranch
The fashion designer brought her Westernwear designs to Highland Park Village last year. They ain’t cheap, but they’re so darn pretty. And a good Texas toile never goes out of style. 69 Highland Park Village. 214-599-6283.
BEST CUSTOM STAMP MAKER
Acme Rubber Stamp
This family-owned institution is celebrating 100 years of
serving Dallas-area clients with something to say (in ink, that is). They can create any type of stamp—from selfinking styles to wood-mount varieties—with custom text, images, and company logos. 2522 W. Main St., Gun Barrel City. 214-748-4707.
BEST BABY FASHION
Dondolo
Children’s fashion doesn’t get more classic than this. Even updated takes on traditional prints—like a Dallas-themed toile—are executed with impeccable taste and an unmistakable innocence. 3737 Atwell St., Ste. 105. 469381-4121.
BEST TOY STORE
The Toy Maven
In addition to the great selection, the real secret weapon is the staff, who have hands-on experience with every item in their inventory and are quick with a recommendation. 6025 Royal Ln., Ste. 223. 214265-9971. Multiple locations.
BEST WOODEN TOYS
Once Kids
Their interlocking brick blocks resemble those made famous by a certain Danish juggernaut, except they’re made from an eco-friendly bamboo. Check out their other whimsical wooden offerings, including skylines of Seattle, Chicago, and Big D. once-kids.com
BEST BOOKSTORE FOR KIDS
Talking Animals Books
This cozy bookstore is straight out of our You’ve Got Mail dreams. While we love their thoughtfully edited children’s section, what makes this such a magical spot for kids is the right-sized reading nook—lit with string lights— tucked under the stairs. 103 W. Worth St., Grapevine. 682223-1311
Five-Star Suppliers
These holiday helpers are the next best thing to St. Nick.
BEST GIFT-WRAP SERVICE
St. Michael’s Woman’s Exchange
Since 1958, the volunteer-run Highland Park Village shop has operated as a fundraising project, donating proceeds to those in need. You can count on their wide-ranging gift selection, as well as on the staff’s careful, impeccable gift-wrapping skills. 5 Highland Park Village. 214-521-3862.
BEST PLACE FOR A FLOCKED TREE
Nicholson-Hardie
This family-owned and -operated nursery is one of our perennial favorites, but they also offer holiday tree flocking that’ll turn your home into a winter wonderland, even if you’re still wearing flip-flops in December. Pick up a freshly cut tree in-store, or have it delivered to your door. 5725 W. Lovers Ln. 214-357-4348.
BEST CHRISTMAS COOKIES
A Dancing Baker
Jennifer Pedersen is the baker-artistdancer behind the prettiest frosted sugar cookies we ever did see— printed with Christian Louboutin lipsticks, ceramic teacups, Air Jordan sneakers, Christmas sweaters, and disco balls. Your holiday party guests will be mesmerized by the crisp lines and beautiful textured patterns. adancingbaker.com
BEST HOLIDAY SHOP
Mary Cates and Co.
The best things in life are free, but a little store-bought Christmas magic never hurt anyone. Come October, this interiors shop fills with wreath-ready glittery orbs and a kaleidoscope of glass trees. Savvy shoppers show up on December 26th. 5370 W. Lovers Ln., Ste. 328. 214-871-7953.
BEST VINTAGE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
Country Garden Antiques
This Design District store has a huge selection of Christmas ornaments with a perfect mix of country-chic vibes and holiday nostalgia. It’s never too early to get this year’s decor picked out, and they display ornaments yearround. 147 Parkhouse St. 214-741-9331.
Room Service
BEST
BAGELS
Starship Bagel
Through research and dedication, Starship re-created the bagel as it was originally eaten, before it became a round sandwich bread. If you want to enjoy the bagel traditionally—alone or with some schmear—even the judges at New York BagelFest couldn’t find a better example in the country. 1108 W. Main St., Lewisville. 469946-9033; 1520 Elm St., Ste. 107. 469-772-9606. Multiple locations.
BEST DONUTS
La Rue Doughnuts
Amy La Rue made the donut hole into an art form at Carte Blanche, so it comes as no surprise to find a fresh spin on everything from crullers to cake donuts at her new shop. You’ll never look at French toast the same way after you try it in donut form here. 3011 Gulden Ln., Ste. 117. 945-278-6598.
BEST BAKERY FOR BREAD
Oak Cliff Bread
If the spectacular country sourdough and pain de mie loaves aren’t enough, rotating weekly specials include seeded breads, Danish rye loaves, and even a jalapeño cheddar sour. The focaccia is the airiest yet most olive oil–indulgent we’ve found in the region. 1300 S. Polk St., Ste. 230. 682-439-5319.
BEST BAKERY
Village Baking Co.
The only problem you’ll have at this French-style bakery is how difficult it is to settle on a single baked good. Stop by one of their five locations and find delicately flaky croissants, gluten-free coffee cake muffins, and kouign amanns, which will be your next pastry hyperfixation. 308 N. Bishop Ave. 214-296-9028; 3219 Knox St., Ste. 130. 214-258-5183. Multiple locations.
BEST PANADERIA
Vera’s Bakery
How do we love Alfonso Vera’s colorful conchas? Let us count the ways. Add the flaky cream horns, heart-shaped orejas, and swirled niños envueltos—all for under $2 each—plus a self-serve coffee station, and it is clear why this modest family-owned bakery has been a beloved Oak Cliff staple for 30 years. 932 W. Davis St. 214-943-2167.
BEST DELI
Trades Delicatessen
This Bishop Arts deli does it all right, from baking its own bagels to smoking and slicing its own salmon and thick-cut pastrami. The Italian sub is a majestic creation, and breakfasts are wonderful, too. Orders are packed to go, but you can sit up front or in the adjoining pub. 312 W. 7th St. 972-589-3525.
BEST PIZZA
Partenope Ristorante
Don’t just take our word for it: A panel of Italian food journalists charged with tasting the world’s best pizza have named Partenope one of the nation’s 20 top pizzerias for four years running. One taste of the meattastic Napoli Centrale, topped with ragu, prosciutto, and sausage, and you’ll understand why. 1903 Main St. 214-273-5425; 110 S. Greenville Ave., Richardson. 214-604-4857.
BEST FRIED CHICKEN
Manhattan Project Beer Co.
The bird, which can (and should) come slathered in a Thai chili sauce loaded with sweet heat, is every bit as good as the beer that made this our best-brewery pick in 2022. 2215 Sulphur St. 469-678-8870.
BEST COOKIES
Sara’s Market & Bakery
We continue to be shocked at the number of Dallasites who aren’t hip to this Mediterranean market. One of their best-kept secrets are the packages of bite-
When it comes to cooking, sit back, relax, and let these experts do the hard work for you.
sized buttery, chocolate- and pistachio-dipped or jam-filled cookies that would make a great hostess gift if we ever managed to not eat them all on the way home. 750 S. Sherman St., Richardson. 972-437-1122.
BEST ICE CREAM
Local Creamery
This small-batch ice cream shop does seasonal creations with the best of them, such as The Grinch, a mint-and-Oreos mash-up that pops up around Christmas. Their vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry flavors are award winning, with the latter elevating an old standard into a delicacy. 5805 Preston Rd., Ste. 598. Plano. 469-468-3768
BEST CINNAMON ROLLS
Ceylon Brioche Buns
James Jimenez’s hefty brioche buns are swirled with brown sugar, butter, and a blend of Saigon and Ceylon cinnamon. The rolls come lightly frosted or naked with an accomanying tub and are delivered to select Dallas area codes. They’re only available for preorder and sell out fast. ceylonbrioche.com
BEST PLACE FOR DESSERT
BigDash Ice Cream and Pastries
The centerpiece of the menu at BigDash, a Syrian bakery mini-chain with heart, is some of the best baklava in the United States. We also love the crispy baked knafeh, filled with sweet cheese and drenched in syrup, and Dubai-style chocolate bars. Bring a loaded gift box home and you’ll be a hero. 888 S. Greenville Ave., Ste. 140, Richardson. 972-979-4098; 7300 N. MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 100, Irving. 214-484-9414. Multiple locations.
BEST DOWNTOWN MARKET
Ari’s Pantry
Charismatic chef and caterer Ari Lowenstein had us at hello. Or was it the free basil that came with a purchase of fresh pasta? Who can say. All we know is that his third location may be our
favorite, thanks to the towering focaccia sandwiches and unexpectedly charming interior. 1800 Main St., Ste. 124. 972-8036723. 3011 Gulden Ln., Ste. 119. 214-884-8359. Multiple locations.
BEST CHEESE SHOP
Scardello Artisan Cheese
Scardello spends another year at the top of our list, but they’re keeping it fresh with evening classes. Snag a cheese club membership ($75 per month) to receive a monthly bundle of four cheeses, plus the opportunity to add wine, chocolate, and other treats. 3511 Oak Lawn Ave. 214-219-1300; 903 S. Harwood St., Ste. 134.
BEST BUTCHER SHOP
Deep Cuts
Nathan Abeyta’s North Dallas shop is always worth the drive, but especially on Fridays and Saturdays, when you can get a shaved Black Angus rib eye and New York strip cheesesteak for the drive home. The meats are top-notch, the house-made sausages are killer, and he makes his own Wagyu tallow and bone broth, too. 7989 Belt Line Rd., Ste. 146. 469-906-6420.
BEST FARMERS MARKET
St. Michael’s Farmers Market
Every Saturday from April to September, the west parking lot of St. Michael’s and All Angels Episcopal Church fills with fresh produce, baked goods, and other locally made goodies. We always nab a loaf of Bresnan’s sourdough and love the salmon from Smokin’ Jack’s. 4344 Colgate Ave. saintmichaelsmarket.com
BEST DAILY FARMSTAND
Kelley Produce
Last year, Keith Kelley and Janiece Black opened this farmstand inside the Shed at the Dallas Farmers Market so area residents and downtown commuters could stop in any day of the week to get fresh fruits and veggies, local dairy and breads, and grocery staples. 920 S. Harwood St., Ste. 162.
BEST BUZZ AND BLOOMS
Le Bloom
When we’re hankering for matcha and magnolias, we head down to this floral cart’s first brick-and-mortar cafe, near Knox. SMU grad Layne Tenenbaum hawks her Pinterest-perfect seasonal bouquets only on weekends, but be aware: The blooms sell out early, as do the lattes, called Fronks, made with dairy alternative. 4152 Travis St. @lebloomdallas
BEST LOCAL(ISH) TEA BRAND
Forgrave
The new tea line, founded by Hockaday grad and certified tea sommelier Catherine Hicks Cosgrove, is stylish enough to fit right in on the shelves of Brian Bolke’s Conservatory, which was the first retailer to carry the brand. Forgrave’s “Glass Cigar” tea infuser even makes the steeping process chic. worldofforgrave.com
BEST
HOT CHOCOLATE
Kate Weiser Chocolate’s Carl the Snowman
There still is nothing better than witnessing a kid watch one of Kate Weiser’s adorable chocolate snowmen melt into a warm bath of steamed milk, releasing cocoa and marshmallows along the way. These delicious delights with violent ends never disappoint. 3011 Gulden Ln., Ste. 115. 469-619-4929; 8687 N. Central Expwy., Ste. 400B. 469-619-4929. Multiple locations.
BEST COOKIE TRUCK
JD’S Chippery
Since opening in 1983, the nostalgia-inducing store has made Dallas a sweeter place with warm cookies and sodafountain Diet Coke so good that it’s become social-media famous. Better still: It can now get your party rocking by rolling up in an adorable vintage Citroën delivery van. 6601 Hillcrest Ave., Ste A. 214-363-2038; 6025 Royal Ln., Ste 101. 214-6069222. jdschippery.com
Benny Jack Antiques
Forgrave
Village Baking Co.
Oak Cliff Bread
The Conservatory
Oh My Mahjong
Pogo’s Wine & Spirits
City View
Feast your eyes (and treat your mind) to the best art-centric sights and experiences in Dallas.
SEE:
BEST NEW ART SPACE The Thoma
Foundation Gallery
Marilynn and Carl Thoma made their fortune in Chicago and then brought their private art collection to Dallas. They display rotating exhibitions in their foundation offices, showcasing a range of works. 1925 Cedar Springs Rd., Ste. 205. 214-9717770.
BEST GALLERY FOR EMERGING ARTISTS
Pencil on Paper Gallery
While galleries typically leave art education to museums and niche spaces, Pencil on Paper has a robust program, training artists from cradle to grave. 4755 Algiers St., Ste. 100. 469-360-4931.
BEST ARTS INCUBATOR
Kettle Art Gallery
Those who’ve had a tough time attracting the attention of other galleries could benefit from this Deep Ellum mainstay, which has a reputation for launching Texas artists via shows or an annual art sale. 2650 Main St. 972-834-6989.
BEST DRIVE-BY GALLERY Drawbertson Gallery
Artist Donald Robertson stuffed a former Buda Juice’s windows with giant pop-art paintings of Rotel cans and fashionable giraffes. To go inside, DM @drawbertson on Instagram, and he’ll trot down from his nearby studio. 5307 E. Mockingbird Ln., Ste. 107. @drawbertson
Family Friendly
Everyone’s welcome at these holiday happenings.
Bellmen of the Ball
Our best party hack: Keep these names in your back pocket.
DO:
BEST ARTS AND CRAFTS STORE
Dallas Art Supply
There’s a reason the women behind Dallas’ beloved Oil and Cotton art studio installed a full-service coffee bar in their new auto shop-turnedart supply store. They want you to leisurely peruse their small-batch products and then sit and create. 623 Fort Worth Ave. 469-559-9525.
BEST KIDS ART STUDIO
Kid Art
Whether you’re in need of a summer camp for your creative tyke or a place to drop the rug rats so you can enjoy a parents’ night out, this Snider Plaza stalwart offers all that and then some, for a range of ages, durations, and mediums. 6705 Hillcrest Ave. 214-750-7118.
BEST ART CLASS
Trade Oak Cliff
Get creative and let loose in this hands-on, judgement-free art space, founded by former high school art teachers. They offer classes throughout the week that encourage beginners to dip their toes (and brushes) in the water and create. One-on-one and group classes are available. 1300 S Polk St., Ste. 234. 945-354-7722.
BEST NEEDLEWORK STORE
Saville Needleworks
This Snider Plaza shop fills with sun, making it easy to compare thread colors while kitting your canvas. The selection is a mix of traditional (“Home Sweet Home”) and modern (“Call Home”), ensuring both youngs and grands will find something they like. 6723 Snider Plaza. 469-759-6198.
BEST HOLIDAY TRADITION
BEST FLORIST
Concepto
Creative director Pablo Arellano’s floral works are more art pieces than arrangements. Blooms aren’t merely placed, but manipulated, molded, and reimagined in ways that emphasize their texture, color, lines, and shape. conceptoboutique.com
BEST DISPOSABLE
DINNERWARE
Pavilion Paper
Entertaining experts decree: “Use your good stuff!” But those experts won’t be there at the night’s end when we’re face-to-face with a sink full of hand-wash-only china. Pavilion Paper’s single-use plates marry aesthetics with convenience, mimicking patterns you love but in disposable form. pavilionpaper.com
BEST LIQUOR STORE
Pogo’s Wine & Spirits
Not only does Pogo’s carry our preferred brands of Italian gin and Japanese whiskey—in addition to less obscure international and domestic wine and spirit varieties—they also deliver. 5360 W. Lovers Ln. 214-3508989.
BEST STATIONERY
Dear John Paper Co.
At Stephy Gustafson’s shop, you can get everything from stationery sets with a cute cowboy-boot border to totally
You do have to get up pretty early to catch this annual event, but it’s something you should do at least once. Pro tip: Spring for bleacher seats on the Adolphus side—you’ll be closer to bathrooms and hot drinks. dallasholidayparade.com BEST HOLIDAY LIGHTS DISPLAY Deerfield
The line of cars stretches long enough that the north Plano neighborhood’s website warns that there are no public bathrooms. An elaborate light show involves more than a dozen homes, synchronized to a custom radio station. Archgate Drive off Legacy Drive, Plano.
custom invitations for your next soiree. Each purchase supports “Operation Mrs. Claus,” reaching single mothers in Gustafson’s hometown. 6030 Luther Ln., Ste. 150. 918760-4663.
GREETING CARDS
BEST
Color Box Design & Letterpress
With themed charcuterie templates and lunch notes (“You got this!”), Color Box Design & Letterpress helps you think outside the box. Plus, greeting cards, made on vintage printing presses, are perfect for any occasion you didn’t even know you needed a greeting card for (and all the ones you did, too). 9021 Angora St. 214-9017008.
BEST HOSTESS GIFTS
Marcel Market
Owned by Paris natives Amélie and Gregory Monvoisin, this Bishop Arts shop carries the best in French groceries, home accessories, and apothecary items. On your way to your next gathering, grab an assortment of jams or a luxe hand cream for your host and secure favorite-guest status. 250 N. Bishop Ave., Ste. 160. 972-803-5331.
BEST HOLIDAY TREATS
María Andrée
Boutique Bakery
Whatever you’re celebrating this season, this alwaysinventive University Park
HOLIDAY POP-UP
Santaland and Snowday at the Galleria
Why stand in line to meet Santa when you can make an appointment and take a virtual train ride to his workshop? 13350 Dallas Pkwy., 469-759-9323.
bakery is a one-stop shop for all festive treats. Last year, we loved their custom Hanukkah mini cupcakes, sprinkle-topped Christmas tree cakes, and holiday bento boxes that would make for a great hostess gift (or a sweet reward just for you). 6906 Snider Plaza. 469-868-6097.
BEST CHOCOLATIER CocoAndré
Intense flavors from around the world find their way into the truffles at this familyowned chocolate shop in Elmwood. Assemble a gift box of treats infused with guajillo peppers, mezcal, and Turkish coffee. 2111 S. Edgefield Ave. 214-941-3030.
BEST WINE SHOP AND CLUB
Terroir
This boutique retail shop is the place to find and learn about unique and interesting wines, selected by the owner, a Dallas food and beverage expert. Wine amateurs are encouraged to come in for guidance. 9225 Garland Rd., Ste. 2120. 469-778-0011.
BEST TRAVEL MAHJONG SET Oh My Mahjong
You may need your readers to see the tiles, but these sets from Megan Trottier—with Paris, Hawaii, Palm Beach, and Charleston themes— include all the itty-bitty pieces you need to play anywhere, anytime. And they’re an unexpected gift for the mahj-er who has everything. ohmymahjong.com
BEST CHRISTMAS CITY Grapevine
From the Elf-themed sculpted-ice attraction at the Gaylord Texan to a railroad ride on Santa’s North Pole Express, not to mention Main Street’s 4,500-square-foot outdoor ice rink, Grapevine goes big for the holidays—hosting 1,400 events in 40 days. grapevinetexasusa.com
BEST CUSTOM PLASTER ARTISANS
Casci Plaster
Year awarded: 2023
What we said then: Their team [practices] the ancient art of plaster to perfection, creating custom moldings, ceiling pendants, fireplace surrounds, and more preferred by Dallas’ design elite. 2615 S. Good Latimer Expy. 214-421-3390.
BEST ASIAN AND AFRICAN ANTIQUES
Art of Old India
Year awarded: 2013
What we said then: Pankaj Dalal’s Design District showroom is packed with treasures from India, East Africa, Central Asia, and Egypt. 1030 Dragon St. 214760-9216.
BEST WAY TO SUMMER IN SOUTHAMPTON WITHOUT LEAVING HOME
Mecox
Year awarded: 2007
What we said then: The high-style pickings at Mecox provide your Dallasbred abode a touch of East Coast sensibility. 5360 W. Lovers Ln. Ste. 208. 214-5803800.
BEST DECORATIVE PLUMBING AND HARDWARE
Pierce Hardware
Year awarded: 2004
What we said then: Find the latest products in plumbing and hardware, whether it’s a fancy French faucet for your powder room or the knock-’em-
The
FOR
Gold List
25 YEARS, WE’VE BROUGHT YOU THE BEST OUR CITY HAS TO OFFER. But we’re not the only ones who’ve been around the block and lived to tell about it. Many of our selections from over the years are ones we still stand by today. Here and throughout the preceding pages, we’re highlighting stores, makers, and services that are as deserving of Best of Big D status now as when they first earned the distinction.
dead stainless pulls you need to make that antique armoir pop. 2615 W Mockingbird Ln. Ste. 101. 214-368-2851.
BEST OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES
Stori Modern
Year awarded: 2017
What we said then: The eco-friendly brand is online only, a direct-to-consumer model that ensures customers get the best pieces at more affordable prices. storimodern.com
BEST FURNITURE CONSIGNMENT
Vinya
Year awarded: 2016
What we said then: Mother-daughter duo Debra and Tristan Owens carefully curate pieces to give Vinya its eclectic feel. With pickup and a simple 50/50 split policy, consigning is fuss-free. 1313 Slocum St., Ste. 105. 214-443-0303.
BEST PLACE TO BUY TOWELS
Casa di Lino
Year awarded: 2014
What we said then: The friendly staff can help you pick the right type and monogram it, if you’re into that sort of thing. 4026 Oak Lawn Dr. 214-252-0404.
BEST STORE FOR APPROACHABLE ART
Blue Print Gallery
Year awarded: 2018
What we said then: Viewing rooms house accessible
pieces by Charles Patrick, Brenda Bogart, Marise Maas, Carolyn Evans, Marilla Palmer, and more. 2701 Fairmount St. 469-7098911.
BEST SMELLING STORE Grange Hall
Year awarded: 2011
What we said then: The main reason we stick around for so long is that Cire Trudon display. Those candles smell like what we imagine heaven to smell like. 4445 Travis St. 214-4430600.
BEST PLACE TO STOCK A GUEST ROOM White Rock Soap Gallery
Year awarded: 2018
What we said then: Stock up on natural and handmade vegan products [including] soaps, soy wax candles, shampoos, shower steamers, and more. 10233 E. NW Hwy., Ste. 401. Multiple locations. 469-215-5125.
BEST LEATHER GOODS Leatherology
Year awarded: 2022
What we said then: Sisterbrother duo Rae and David Liu have crafted quality leather staples, like wallets, purses, and duffels, since 2008. leatherology.com
BEST PLACE TO BUY A CANDLE Society by Jackson Vaughn
Year awarded: 2016
What we said then: Take
just one step inside this little store and know you’ve discovered the sweetestsmelling shop in Dallas. 403 N. Bishop Ave. Multiple locations. 214-942-4600.
BEST PLACE TO BUY BEDDING
Peacock Alley
Year awarded: 2016
What we said then: Peacock Alley specializes in all things comfort. Customize an order with piping and monogramming, or choose a ready-made cushion from the store. 2711 Fairmont St. 214-520-6736.
BEST PLACE FOR THE BABY (AND MOM) WHO HAS EVERYTHING Madre
Year awarded: 2015
What we said then:
Madre’s carefully curated stock includes cute cocktail napkins for Mom ... and crib bedding and blankets for the baby. 4715 W. Lovers Ln. 214-577-4077.
BEST APPLIANCE STORE
Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Showroom
Year awarded: 2016
What we said then: The sleek Lemmon Avenue showroom is filled with striking, fully functioning vignettes and helpful experts who let you testdrive any appliance. 3707 Lemmon Ave. 972-699-5202.
BEST STONE YARD Whiz-Q Stone
Year awarded: 2007
What we said then: The Fort Worth stone yard offers more than 200 kinds of natural stone, sand, soil, and gravel, from the common to the obscure. 4501 E. Loop 820 S., Fort Worth. 817-429-0822.
BEST PLACE TO BUY A GRILL Jackson’s Home & Garden
Year awarded: 2004
What we said then: Jackson’s will deliver and set up your grill, even fill the propane tank. They also service and clean every grill they sell. 6950 Lemmon Ave. 214-3509200.
BEST SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS STORE The Citizenry
Year awarded: 2017
What we said then: [The Citizenry] collaborates with local artisans to bring its modern designs to life, supporting fair wages and positive work environments around the world. 4527 McKinney Ave. 214572-5869.
BEST LOOKING GLASS Alamo Glass & Mirror
Year awarded: 2003
What we said then: Take in that arty “zipper table,” and they’ll protect it with a piece of glass cut to size. What’s more, they stock no fewer than 250 framed mirrors in myriad styles, finishes, and colors. 10510 Olympic Dr. 214-821-2886.
Acme Rubber Stamp
BEST OLD-FASHIONED LUMBERYARD
Davis-Hawn Lumber Company
Year awarded: 2007
What we said then: The full-service lumberyard, hardware store, and mill has made a name for itself recreating historical siding patterns, floorings, and moldings, remilling reclaimed lumber. 1941 S. Beckley Ave. 214-946-8123.
BEST HARDWARE SUPPLIES STORE
Elliott’s Hardware
Year awarded: 2016
What we said then: If the thought of a chain store makes you start to sweat, you will appreciate the shop’s knowledgeable, friendly staff and easyto-navigate space. 1325 Inwood Rd. Multiple locations. 214-634-9900.
BEST PAINT STORE
Texas Paint & Wallpaper
Year awarded: 2011
What we said then: Texas Paint & Wallpaper has been open since 1947. That’s a long time to perfect the art of customer service, and they’ve done just that. They also have an unrivaled selection of Benjamin Moore paints. 5529 W. Lovers Ln. Multiple locations. 214-350-5529.
BEST BIG FISH (AT HOME)
Dallas North Aquarium
Year awarded: 2004
What we said then: There’s something for everyone at this fish [store], with aquariums ranging from 10 gallons for $50 to upwards of 400 gallons ($45,000). 2910 E. Trinity Mills, Carrollton. 972-492-6165
BEST EXCLAMATION POINT FOR YOUR YARD
Fannin Tree Farm
Year awarded: 2005
What we said then: The company, founded in 1975, has the largest tree inventory in the area—from 3-inchers all the way up
to gargantuan trees seen in the wild. Whatever they plant is guaranteed for a year. 15700 Hwy. 121, Frisco. 972-747-9233.
BEST SPOT TO TEST YOUR GREEN THUMB
Oasis Plant Shop
Year awarded: 2018
What we said then: The Bishop Arts shop offers an Instagram-worthy backdrop to begin your flora affair. 416 W. Eighth St. 972-773-9989.
BEST MOVER
Curtis Specialized Moving and Storage
Year awarded: 2016
What we said then: Curtis has built its business on the moving and climatecontrolled storage of your most precious valuables. They will even break out the white gloves when carrying upholstered pieces. 460 W. Mockingbird Ln. 214-634-0304.
BEST CUSTOM FRAMER
Debra Stevens
Custom Framing
Year awarded: 2016
What we said then: Debra Stevens has an eye for making a piece look its best—be it a family portrait or gallery-worthy piece of art. If you’re not sure about matting or frame style, she’ll lend her creative opinion. 972620-1365.
BEST LAST-MINUTE DINNER INSPIRATION The Defined Dish
Year awarded: 2022
What we said then: Both on her blog or in one of [three] cookbooks, local Alex Snodgrass has yet to give us a recipe we don’t love. thedefineddish.com
BEST RUG CLEANER
Oriental Rug Cleaning Co.
Year awarded: 2015
What we said then: Just what kind of trust does a century of experience earn you? When the Dal-
las Museum of Art needs carpets cleaned, they take them here. 3907 Ross Ave. 214-821-9135.
BEST DRY CLEANER
Sunshine Laundry and Dry Cleaning
Year awarded: 2018
What we said then: Getting bedsheets laundered and pressed by Sunshine Laundry helps us become the hostesses with the most—and the brown paper wrapping gives it that extra, vintage touch. 4114 Maple Ave. 214-521-9921.
BEST PHILANTHROPISTS
Dwell with Dignity
Year awarded: 2010
What we said then: Dwell with Dignity works with social service agencies battling poverty and homelessness. With the help of volunteers, they furnish underprivileged families’ homes down to the very last detail. dwellwithdignity.org
BEST MIDAS TOUCH Las Negras Studio
Year awarded: 2002
What we said then: Master gilder Carlos Espinosa’s commissions range from [adding 22-karat gilding to] furniture to picture frames to architectural elements in houses. 12640 E. Northwest Hwy., Ste. 415. 214-871-0410. By appointment.
BEST SPICE COLLECTION
Penzeys Spices
Year awarded: 2007
What we said then: In addition to its exhaustive selection of spices, rubs, stock bases, and peppers, Penzeys features a savory bunch of specialty spice blends. 12835 Preston Rd. 972-392-7777.
BEST CRAFT ICE Howard & Sons Ice Company
Year awarded: 2023
What we said then: Crafted with care, Howard & Sons’ crystal-clear ice
cubes melt slowly, ensuring that your drinks stay chilled without diluting the flavors. 972-514-2340.
BEST FISH MARKET TJ’s Seafood Market
Year awarded: 2016
What we said then: [What started as a tiny market is now a] full-service restaurant [that also teaches] seafood education lessons. And if you don’t want to cook, TJ’s caters. 6025 Royal Ln., Ste. 110. 214-691-2369.
BEST ITALIAN MARKET Jimmy’s Food Store
Year awarded: 2021
What we said then: Jimmy’s remains a stalwart of Dallas’ food scene, but it’s the personal service and family feel that have made it an East Dallas staple. 4901 Bryan St. 214-823-6180.
BEST SHOE REPAIR Deno’s of Highland Park
Year awarded: 2014
What we said then: Deno’s has revived our favorite pairs from trashed to like-new, dyed sandals new hues, and repaired our beloved but tattered handbags. 62 Highland Park Village. 214-521-1070.
BEST GERMAN MARKET Henk’s European Deli & Black Forest Bakery
Year awarded: 2021
What we said then: Don’t leave without a warm apple strudel or German chocolate cake, or [shop] a selection of imported coffees, cookies, and condiments. 5811 Blackwell St. 214-987- 9090.
BEST BIRTHDAY CAKE Cade’s Cakes
Year awarded: 2017
What we said then: There’s nothing Sam Cade can’t make into a
cake. Her realistic confection interpretations of sushi rolls, a bottle of rosé, and Chewbacca will make you party. 15080 Beltway Dr., Addison. cadescakes.com
BEST PLACE FOR A PIÑATA
ABC Party HQ
Year awarded: 2018
What we said then: The family behind this North Oak Cliff shop can make your paper-mache dreams come true—from Disney princesses to political figures. 1414 W. Davis St. 214-943-5588.
BEST KNIFE SHARPENER Veiga Knife Sales & Sharpening
Year awarded: 2022
What we said then: Should your trusty 8-inch Wüsthof need some attention, just about every cook in every kitchen in town will tell you to go here. 2929 Gaston Ave. 214-8213240.
BEST BAKERY FOR SWEETS
Emporium Pies
Year awarded: 2013
What we said then: Favorites here include the Drunken Nut and the aptly named Lord of the Pies, a towering slice of apples baked in handmade caramel and topped with cinnamon streusel. 314 N. Bishop Ave. Multiple Locations. 469-206-6126.
BEST OLD AND YOUNG MASTERS
Valley House Gallery
Year awarded: 2002
What we said then: The gallery, dating from 1954, is one of the oldest in the state and the only one in Dallas that’s a member of the prestigious, by-invitation-only Art Dealers Association of America. 6616 Spring Valley Rd. 972239-2441.
María Andrée Boutique Bakery
Blue Print
The BEST LISTS
A Well Dressed Home
Alexis Pearl Design
Alice Cottrell Interior Design
Allen Kirsch & Associates
Allison Seidler Interiors
Amy Gibbs Interiors
Amy’s Interiors
Andrea Marino Design
Angeline Guido Design
Anne Williams Design
Avrea and Company
Baker Design Group
Barbara J Vessels Interiors
Betty Lou Phillips Interiors
Bobbitt & Company
Interior Design
BODRON/FRUIT
Brant McFarlain Design
Burkle Creative
Caitlin Wilson Design
Cameron Drinkwater Interiors
Canon & Dean Design
Carrie Barron Interiors
Carrie Hatfield Interior Design
Cathy Kincaid Interiors
Ceylon et Cie
Chad Dorsey Design
Chambers Interiors & Associates
Charlotte Comer Interiors, Inc.
Cheri Etchelecu
Interior Design
Cheryl Van Duyne
Interior Design
Childress Interiors, Inc.
Chris Angelle Design
Collins & Sweezey
Collins Interiors
Dallas Design Group Interiors
Dana Bass Designs
Deborah Walker + Associates
Debra Stewart Interior Design
DeLeo & Fletcher Design
Denise McGaha Interiors
Dona Rosene Interiors
Doniphan Moore Interiors
Dunbar Road Design EJ Interiors
EJM Interior Design
Emily Summers Design
Associates
Emory McKim Design
Erin Sander Design
Fagan White Design
Heidi Arwine Interiors, LLC
Hillary Littlejohn
Studio Design
Holly Hickey Moore
Interior Design
Hughes & Lutz Interiors
IBB Design Fine Furnishings
Ike Isenhour Inc
J Wiley Designs
Jan Jones LLC
Jan Showers & Associates
Janet Gridley LLC
Jase Jones & Associates
Jean Liu Design, LLC
Jen Mauldin Design Jenkins Interiors
Joanie Wyll & Associates Inc.
John Phifer Marrs Interiors
Joseph Minton, Inc.
Joshua Rice Design
Josie McCarthy
Associates
Kara Adam Interiors
Kristen Fegale Interiors
Kristin Mullen Designs
Lark Interiors
Laura Lee Clark
Interior Design, Inc.
Layered Dimensions
Interior Design
Linda Fritschy
Interior Design
Lindley Arthur Interiors
Lisa Henderson Interiors
Lynn Sears Interiors Inc.
Maestri Studio
Mary Anne Smiley Interiors LLC
Mary Beth Wagner Interiors
McLean Interiors
Meredith Ellis Design
Meredith Steinhart Interior Design
Michelle’s Interiors
Morgan Farrow Interiors
Morrissey Home Muse Noire Interiors
Neal Stewart Design Assoc. Inc
Noel Pittman Design
Nuance Interiors
Pam Kelley Design
Paul Draper Design
Paul Duesing Partners
Peters Cates Design, Inc.
Peyton Riley Design
Pickering House Interiors
Poppy McGough Design House
Pulp Design Studios
Richard Gordon Design
Richard Trimble & Assoc., Inc.
Rick Rozas Design
Roz Murphy Design S.B. Long Interiors
Salem & Associates
Samantha Fisher Interiors
Sara Johnson Interiors
Schooler, Kellogg & Co
Sees Design
Seitz Design
Shannon Bowers Designs
Shelby Wagner Design
Sherry Hayslip
Interiors
Simms Hayes Design
Smith & Ragsdale
Interior Design
Studio Thomas James
Studio White Interiors
SWOON, the Studio Ten Plus Three
Tiffany McKinzie
Interior Design Inc
Traci Connell Interiors
Traci White Designs
Tracy Hardenburg Designs
Trish Sheats Interior Design
Urbanology Designs
Wendy Konradi Interior Design
Williams Design, Inc.
Woolery Associates
Yates Desygn
Young and Frances
These lists are the result of peer-based surveys. A panel of industry professionals vetted the lists. The resulting lists reflect the companies and individuals who received the most votes from their peers. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or the publishers of D Home.
A DESIGNER HOLIDAY Very
Dallas’ design elite share their secrets for holiday hosting, decorating, cooking, and enjoying the season.
this page: James Campbell (left) and John Phifer Marrs relax with a cocktail in front of their farmhouse fireplace. “We like to serve Kir Royales to our guests during the holidays,” says Marrs, noting the champagne and cassis cocktail is “the perfect color” for the season.
text by RYAN CONNER, EMMADAY ORMOND, and JESSICA OTTE
photography by ELIZABETH LAVIN
Holly Jolly: With the addition of some tartan bows, a holly berry wreath, a few bells, and a paper-mache angel that once belonged to Campbell’s aunt (“Our pride and joy,” Marrs says), this vignette makes a holiday-ready welcome.
Designer John Phifer Marrs literally wrote the book on collecting—his 2021 tome, Interiors for Collectors, showcased his knack for beautifully displaying assortments of his own and of his clients. So it should come as no surprise that his holiday style is of the curated and sentimental sort, both at the Dallas high-rise he shares with his partner, James Campbell, and at their farmhouse an hour outside the city.
Affectionately named Ho-Hum Farm, the couple’s second home is a treasured respite this time of year, and one with a decidedly more laid-back vibe than their Dallas apartment. “The farm is so comfortable and forgiving,” says Marrs, who decks it for the holiday season with a similarly casual—and yes, collected—approach. Each year, he sets out his array of snow globes—gifts from his mother—while nearby a portrait of Santa that she painted is displayed on an easel. “It makes me very, very happy,” Marrs says of the painting.
Stuffed animals accumulated throughout Marrs’ life, starting from childhood, take their places around the base of the Christmas tree, which is decorated with ornaments selected with care and gifted from friends.
“I’m not one to go buy ornaments unless it’s something really special,” he says.
A traditionalist at heart, Marrs also believes that Christmas decor is meant to be red and green—which works well, given that much of the furniture in their living room bears the shades already. And while not inherently holiday in nature, Marrs’ extensive watermelonthemed collection also enjoys a second life after being stored away following the summer season, as their colors perfectly complement the scheme.
That use-what-you’ve-got mindset is echoed in Marrs’ approach to giving an extra holiday touch to items in use all year long, rather than replacing them entirely. Red-and-green bows are tied around candlesticks, holly berry garland is draped from the chandelier, and sprays of greenery are set atop wall art. “It’s sort of like putting on a hat,” he says. “It just dresses up the paintings.”
At Ho-Hum Farm, it’s the simple things that make the season so special.
Ready, Set ... :
The dining room table is set with chintzware china from Campbell’s mother, antique Heisey glass candleabras, and seasonal red linens.
Organic Appeal: Marrs favors a natural approach at the farm, bringing in garland, branches, pine cones, and berries to complement the antique landscape paintings lining the staircase.
Santa, Baby: Marrs’ mother, Betty, painted this charming portrait of Father Christmas especially for Ho-Hum Farm. Marrs and Campbell proudly display it each December.
Merry and Bright: The farmhouse is a respite for the couple from work and city life. Here, Marrs kicks his feet up in front of his china display and a Christmas tree bearing an array of ornaments, each of which tells a story.
On Repeat
Designers share the family experiences and holiday traditions they hold dear.
“In 2001, my 90-year-old mom moved in with me from Oklahoma City. She had faithfully kept up with all the family through the years via Christmas cards and birthday cards, which I had never done! So that first Christmas, I did a sketch of her riding the ‘Oklahoma to Texas Express’ and used it on the front of our Christmas card to let friends know she was coming to live with us. It was such a hit—everyone responded with, ‘Can’t wait to see your card next year!’ Since then, I have continued the new tradition, sketching the ordinary things our family has enjoyed that year. I always try to show our simple life in an uplifting light, even when Mom progressed from the walker one year to the wheelchair the next. There was always joy to be found in just being together.”
—MARY ANNE SMILEY, Mary Anne Smiley Interiors
“We hold a gingerbread decorating contest every year for all my kids’ friends with $30 Amazon gift cards for winners, so the competition is fierce. The only rule: It can’t look like a gingerbread house. We’ve gotten gingerbread spaceships, gingerbread feet, and even a gingerbread Target over the years. It’s my favorite holiday tradition!” —JANELLE PATTON, Lark Interiors
“If we are entertaining, we typically have a ‘come and go’ daytime party on Boxing Day, December 26th. We make a chili bar in the kitchen, set up loungers around an outdoor fire, and lay out games and fun things for kids to do inside and out. It’s always such a nice time to catch up with friends whom we may not have been able to see in the chaos of December.”
—MARY FRANCES YOUNG, Young and Frances
“My great-grandmother Ella would always make homemade noodles for family holiday gatherings. Her recipe for perfect noodle texture was to cut and dry the handmade noodles on newspapers laid out on her kitchen counter. During the drying process, the
noodles end up with imprints of the newspaper print stuck onto certain pieces. Once boiled, the prints disappear, but certainly not without bringing smiles to all our faces. My daughter is now in charge of the noodles. She carefully selects her newspaper pages to use in the drying process.”
—ERIN SANDER, Erin Sander Design
“My mother, who passed when I was young, was a fanatic about Christmas—we had seven Christmas trees in our home! My family uses all of the ornaments that were on her Santa-themed tree but have now adopted a tradition of buying a new ornament anytime we travel to add our own memories in with hers.”
—MORGAN FARROW, Morgan Farrow Interiors
“We have an event called the Jingle Ride in our neighborhood, in which we collect gifts for underprivileged families in our community. As neighbors, we sort them and make a shop for the families. Our family hosts a party to make it even merrier—with mulling spices/ cider, and food for the kids and adults.” —KRISTEN FEGALE, Kristen Fegale Interiors
“Every year we host a ‘Making Spirits Bright’ party. It’s a Christmas cocktail competition. This will be our fourth year. We invite eight to 10 couples, who are put on teams and tasked with creating a holiday-themed cocktail (making the recipe, design, presentation, etc.). People get more and more competitive and creative each year. The winners walk away with a gift card good for one date night at a new cocktail bar or something for their bar shelves.” —ALLISON McLEAN, McLean Interiors
“We give my girls each a book as their Christmas Eve gift that has some sort of meaning or relevance to what’s happening that year. My mom started the tradition for me and my sisters, so I continued it with my girls.”
—CARRIE HATFIELD, Carrie Hatfield Interior Design
KRISTIN MULLEN
NATURAL CHEF the
Fresh and Festive: “When you walk in, my house feels very Christmassy, but it doesn’t scream red and green,” Kristin Mullen explains. She opts for faux garland on her mantels to ensure they last throughout the season but fills antique Belgian pitchers with fresh greenery in the kitchen. “I love the smell of them,” says the designer, who also keeps a basket of fresh pears on the counters. “They feel like such a natural way to bring in seasonal color and a little nod to Christmas. They’re simple and sculptural, and that soft green feels timeless.”
Cooking up Christmas Cheer
Creating a holiday meal is a family affair for Kristin Mullen, her husband, and her four children.
Kristin Mullen has been obsessed with antiques since she was a twentysomething living in New York. “There were two stores on my commute that stopped me in my tracks,” she says. Both were filled with clean-lined European antiques, an aesthetic that was instrumental in shaping her design sensibility. For the last 17 years, Mullen has owned a flourishing interiors business, Kristin Mullen Designs, and she also curates a booth at the Round Top Antiques Fair. She most recently launched an online boutique called The Edit, which offers antiques, upholstery, and linens.
Naturally, the designer’s own home, which she shares with her husband, John, and their daughter, Darcy, is beautifully layered with Swedish antiques and European finds. Come Christmastime, in keeping with the neutral scheme of her interiors, Mullen prefers to incorporate subtle organic touches over thematic red-and-green decor. “My holiday aesthetic is greens-forward,” explains Mullen. “I’m very inspired by nature, so I use a lot of greens and pine cones.”
When Mullen bought and renovated the 1980s home, she took great care in specifying a kitchen with a smart layout designed for holiday cooking and entertaining. “I planned it knowing that we needed to be able to have many cooks in the kitchen,” she says, explaining that her three grown sons and their significant others often come over for Christmas and share in the culinary duties. From the family’s favorite no-fuss drop cookies—she shares her recipe for Russian Tea Cakes at right—to the Christmas Day lunch/dinner (dubbed “linner”) of ham, green rice casserole, and salad, meal prep is a family affair. “We really love to cook and be together,” she says.
Pines and Needles:
In the living room, Mullen adds a simple green garland to the mantel—an understated, organic take on holiday decor that perfectly complements the cozy, European-inspired surroundings. “I like my mantels and my shelves to look like they are from the forest,” she says.
A Very Good Morning: The casual and comfortable breakfast nook is where Mullen serves up a simple Christmas Day breakfast, which usually includes a homemade egg casserole she can make ahead as well as seasonal muffins and mimosas. The one meal she does not cook is on Christmas Eve. “That dinner is locked in,” she says. “That is always a Jimmy’s [Food Store] lasagna, a giant salad, and garlic bread.”
Russian Tea Cakes
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter at room temperature
4-6 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla or 1 tablespoon of brandy or rum
2 cups sifted flour (not self-rising)
2 cups finely chopped pecans
Powdered sugar for rolling
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 325 °F. Cream butter very well with a mixer. Add sugar until the mixture is quite fluffy. Stir in the next three ingredients and mix together lightly until all of the flour is absorbed. Shape the mixture into small balls, approximately 1 1⁄2 inches in diameter. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-12 minutes until they turn a delicate yellow. When cool, roll in powdered sugar. Makes 2 1⁄2-3 dozen.
Very Tried
True and
Debuting a new dish for a family gathering can be risky. Thankfully, these 11 recipes are designer approved.
When preparing the holiday meal falls onto your plate, it can be an overwhelming proposition. There are courses to consider and portions to parcel out, not to mention tastebuds and food sensitivities to take into account. Then there’s the tiny task of actually cooking it all. To make matters simpler, we asked designers to share their favorite holiday recipes and the stories behind them. From easy appetizers and impressive entrees to crowdpleasing desserts, this designer-approved spread is a sanity saver.
TURN THE PAGE FOR THE RECIPES AND THE STORIES BEHIND THEM >>
3
1
5 Mary Lou Jones’ Cheese Puffs Jan Jones Boursin Mashed
2
4
Christmas Cheese Ball
Michelle Kopfer Roberts
Coffee-Rubbed Prime Rib Roast with Roasted Garlic Gorgonzola Butter
Bryan Yates
Tomato Tart
Emory Mckim a
A DESIGNER HOLIDAY
Jan Jones,
Jan Jones Interior Design
“My late mother, Mary Lou Jones, made her cheese puffs every Christmas Eve. We always had an open house with lots of great food.”
Mary Lou Jones’ Cheese Puffs
INGREDIENTS:
1 loaf of unsliced white bread with the crust cut off 3-ounce package of cream cheese
8-ounce extra sharp cheddar shredded cheese
1 stick of salted butter
2 egg whites
DIRECTIONS:
Melt cheeses in a double boiler. Beat egg whites; fold into melted cheese mixture off heat. Cut bread into 1-inch cubes. Dip bread cubes into cheese mixture, coating thoroughly. Put on cookie sheet in fridge overnight if using the next day, in freezer if using later. Bake at 375 °F for 15 minutes until lightly browned.
2
Shay Geyer,
IBB Design Fine Furnishings
“My family loves mashed potatoes, and I love to get creative with adding flavors. This has become our family’s favorite version.”
Boursin Mashed Potatoes
INGREDIENTS:
8 medium-sized Yukon Gold potatoes
2 packages garlic & herb Boursin cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 stick of butter
Salt and pepper
Chopped fresh parsley
DIRECTIONS:
Boil peeled potatoes until fork tender (boil in chicken broth for added flavor). Add Boursin cheese, sour cream, and butter to hot potatoes, and use potato masher to mix until smooth and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Michelle Kopfer Roberts, Michelle’s Interiors
“I got this from a friend who brought it to a party. The colors in this make it very festive!”
Emory Mckim, Emory Mckim Design
“I grew up watching my mom make countless Ina recipes and we used to watch her show together. Anything Ina is so special to me, as I trust anything my mom cooks! This was something I stumbled upon years ago. It was decadent without serving regular rolls or French bread, but had the ‘bread’ side that we needed with other bursts of flavor. It is easy to make the days leading up to the feast and keep in the fridge until the day we need to pop it into the oven!”
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
3 large garlic cloves
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
Pulse flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and butter in a food processor 12 to 15 times, until the butter is the size of peas. Add egg yolks and pulse a few times to combine. With the motor running, add ice water through the feed tube and pulse until dough starts to form. Dump onto a floured board and roll flat. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 °F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. While the oven preheats, place the tomatoes in a large bowl. Put parsley, basil, garlic, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a food processor and process until finely minced. With the motor running, pour olive oil down the feed tube and process until combined. Pour mixture over the tomatoes and toss gently. Set aside. On a well-floured board, roll dough out to an 11 x 17-inch
5 4
Christmas Cheese Ball
INGREDIENTS:
3 packages cream cheese
3 packages thin ham (diced)
1 bunch green onions (diced)
1 small jar diced pimentos (drained)
1 capful Worcestershire sauce
Garlic powder to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Mix together and shape into a ball. Sprinkle paprika on top. Serve with crackers.
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup good olive oil
6 tablespoons
Dijon mustard
3/4 pound grated
Gruyère cheese (1 pound with rind)
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly grated Italian
Parmesan cheese
rectangle and transfer to the prepared sheet pan. Place a second sheet pan directly on the pastry and bake for 15 minutes. (You can also line the pastry with foil and fill it with dried beans.) Pierce the pastry with a fork. Bake another 8-10 minutes, until lightly browned. Pierce any spots that bubble up while baking. Allow crust to cool for 15 minutes. Lower the oven to 375 °F. Brush mustard on crust with a pastry brush. Sprinkle a thick layer of Gruyère on the pastry, reserving 1/2 cup for the top, and sprinkle with the 1/2 cup of Parmesan. Layer on overlapping tomatoes in rows. Strain any liquid from the garlic-and-herb mixture, and then sprinkle mixture over the tomatoes. Sprinkle the reserved 1/2 cup of Gruyère and remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan on top. Bake for 30 minutes. Cut into squares, and serve warm.
Bryan Yates, Yates Desygn
“Cooking prime rib has become one of my favorite Christmas traditions. I stumbled upon this recipe that sounded both fun and festive. It turned out to be not only easy to make but absolutely delicious.”
Coffee Rubbed Prime Rib Roast with Roasted Garlic Gorgonzola Butter
INGREDIENTS:
PRIME RIB:
1 prime rib roast* (3-4 rib)
2 tablespoons coffee grounds
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 vanilla bean seeds, scraped
DIRECTIONS: 1 3
(source: Half Baked Harvest)
1 1/2-2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
2-3 cups chopped root vegetables (I used potatoes, brussels sprouts, and carrots)
1 onion, quartered
2 heads garlic, tips sliced off
In a bowl, combine the coffee grounds, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, ginger, vanilla bean seeds, salt, and black pepper. Rub the spice mixture all over the beef, coating evenly. Add the chopped root vegetables, onion, and garlic to a roasting pan. Place beef on top of the vegetables and allow it to come to room temperature. Either leave on the counter for 30 minutes, or refrigerate covered for up to one day. About three hours before you plan to cook the beef, remove it from the refrigerator.
Cook beef for 30 minutes at 450 °F, then reduce temperature to 350F. Continue roasting until a meat thermometer registers 115-120 °F (for rare) or 125 °F for
ROASTED GARLIC GORGONZOLA BUTTER:
4-6 cloves roasted garlic
6 tablespoons unsalted
butter, softened
4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
1 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
medium rare, about an hour to an hour 15 minutes longer. Allow the finished roast to rest for 20 minutes. While the meat is resting, mash the roasted garlic finely with a fork. Combine with butter, Gorgonzola, Worchestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Slice meat away from ribs, cutting along the bones. Then, slice meat crosswise to desired thickness. Serve with the Gorgonzola butter.
*I had my butcher remove the bones and then tie them back on for added flavor.
Jan Showers,
Jan Showers & Associates
“My mother made these trees every Christmas, and we ate every last one! You can make them in any shape for any occasion using many different cookie cutters.”
Parmesan Appetizers
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesean cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons grated onion
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
24 slices thin white bread (Pepperidge Farm Very Thin Sandwich Bread works well)
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 400 °F. In a bowl, combine cheese, mayonnaise, onion, and pepper. Cut bread slices with cookie cutter. Spread 2 teaspoons of the cheese mixture atop cut bread pieces. Bake for 5-7 minutes until golden and bubbly. Serve immediately.
Jason Jones,
Jase Jones & Associates
“Poires au vin—pears cooked upright in wine— is a gorgeous dessert dish, both for the flavor and beautiful holiday color.”
POIRES AU VIN
(source: Classic French Recipes)
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound of 2-ounce small, firm pears
1/3 cup red wine
1 cup superfine (caster) sugar
1 clove
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Small pinch of nutmeg
DIRECTIONS:
Peel pears, leaving stems attached. Put in pot with wine, sugar, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until pears are tender (approximately 30 minutes). Arrange pears in a dish and pour the cooking liquid over top.
Sara See, Sees Design
“It isn’t Christmas without my Italian Pizzelle cookies. To make them, you have to have a pizzelle iron—it’s similar to a waffle iron—but it’s worth it.”
Pizzelle
INGREDIENTS:
3 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted
1 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
DIRECTIONS:
Beat ingredients together in order listed. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto center of preheated pizzelle iron. Cook 30-60 seconds. Remove with fork and allow to cool on wire rack.
Put 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup half-and-half or heavy whipping cream in a small saucepan. Melt over medium-low heat, stirring regularly until melted and hot. Do not let boil. Sauce will be slightly thick. Remove from heat and add 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla, stirring until incorporated. Serve hot over bread pudding. 6 7 8 9
Denise McGaha, Denise McGaha Interiors
“Christmas brunch is served with Neiman Marcus popovers, strawberry butter, and consommé. The recent departure of the downtown Neiman Marcus as we knew it makes this meal even more nostalgic and presents a way for me to keep my memories of my time there alive. Once you are Neiman-ized, it is in your blood. You are part of a family and a way of living.”
Neiman Marcus Popovers with Strawberry Butter
DIRECTIONS:
INGREDIENTS:
POPOVERS:
4 cups all-purpose flour
11/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 large eggs, at room temperature
31/2 cups lukewarm milk
STRAWBERRY BUTTER:
1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup strawberry preserves
Janelle Burns,
Janelle Burns Interiors
“My tried and true holiday recipe is for bread pudding, which I make once a year on Christmas Eve. My mother obtained the original Golden Nugget recipe (from the original location on Fremont St. in Las Vegas) merely by asking for it after dining at the hotel. The hotel concierge printed it on official embossed hotel stationery, and it now lives in a binder with my favorite family recipes. I top it with a butter sauce, made from a recipe by a family friend who’s an amazing cook.”
Golden Nugget’s Famous Bread
Pudding
INGREDIENTS:
16 ounces half-and-half
8 ounces whipping cream
8 fresh eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla flavor
4 1/2 slices white bread
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons raisins
DIRECTIONS:
Mix half and half, whipping cream, eggs, sugar, and vanilla together well. Arrange bread on bottom of pan. Pour mixture over bread. Combine cinnamon with sugar and sprinkle over top, followed by raisins. Cover with foil and bake in water bath at 400 °F for 75-90 minutes.
Pudding Sauce
DIRECTIONS:
Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Beat the eggs until foamy and pale; then gradually add the lukewarm milk while continuing to beat. Slowly add the sifted dry ingredients to the egg mixture and beat on medium speed for about two minutes. Let the batter rest at room temperature for an hour. Preheat the oven to 450 °F. Spray popover or muffin pans with nonstick spray. Fill the pan cups almost to the top with batter and place the pan on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, and then reduce the temperature to 375 °F and bake for an additional 30-35 minutes. While the popovers bake, prepare the strawberry butter by whipping the butter until fluffy, then gradually adding preserves until blended. Chill wrapped in plastic. When popovers are a deep golden brown and airy inside, turn out and serve warm with strawberry butter.
Joslyn Taylor,
SWOON, the Studio
“Every year we host a fancy dinner on Christmas Eve for family and friends ,where everyone dresses up and we break out all the festive goodness. The menu has evolved over the years, but the one constant is Alice Waters’ cranberry upside-down cake. It’s one of those desserts that takes a lot of effort but has huge impact in both presentation and taste. It’s a once-a-year undertaking, which makes it extra special.”
Upside-DownCranberryCake
(source: Alice Waters)
INGREDIENTS:
FOR THE TOPPING:
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2⅔ cups fresh cranberries
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
FOR THE BATTER:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, separated
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 °F. Put butter and brown sugar in a 9-inch round cake pan, and put it in the oven. As the sugar dissolves, stir to distribute the mixture evenly. When the sugar starts to caramelize, remove pan from the oven and allow to cool. In a small bowl, combine cranberries and orange juice. Toss to coat berries well. Spread berries evenly in pan, and sprinkle with any juice remaining in bowl. Set pan aside. In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Using an electric mixer, cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, and then beat in egg yolks one at a time. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, ending with dry ingredients. Set batter aside. Using electric mixer, whisk egg whites with cream of tartar until whites are stiff enough to hold a slight peak. Fold one third of the whites into batter at a time. Spoon batter into prepared pan, and spread it evenly over cranberries. Bake until top is browned and cake pulls away slightly from edges of pan, 25-35 minutes. Let cake cool for 15 minutes before turning onto cake plate. Serve with slightly sweetened whipped cream, flavored, if desired, with orange liqueur.
The
More
The Merrier
Javier Burkle has perfected the art of holiday hosting.
The Calm Before the Storm: Javier Burkle and Mason McCleskey prepare to welcome 200-plus guests into their Highland Park home.
PARTY PRINCE the
Javier Burkle’s annual holiday party is the only kickoff to the season we want. Let’s set the scene:
It’s the first Saturday in December. It’s Dallas, so who knows what the weather will be. But the Highland Park home the founder and principal of Burkle Creative shares with his partner, Mason McCleskey, is sure to be decked out in garlands and greenery.
“It’s very classic Christmas,” Burkle says. “It’s a classic Christmas explosion.”
You enter to the tune of Christmas carolers, dressed in Dickens-era garb, harmonizing to holiday classics. You’re handed the house drink—a tequila soda—or your regular, if the servers know you from Christmases past. The home is impeccably decorated in a style Burkle describes as “Ralph Lauren chic meets modern Mexican man.” Almost every room has a differently themed Christmas tree. Fine china and polished silver adorn each table.
And yet, sitting atop Burkle’s fine dinnerware are Raising Cane’s chicken fingers and french fries. A silver gravy boat is filled with that famous Cane’s sauce. Guests are as likely to be on the sofa as they are to be in Burkle’s closet. And in the backyard, a lounge singer croons.
“The whole evening is a really good play of high and low,” Burkle says. “People know what to expect and are excited to see each other and ready to talk to a stranger.”
One may think hosting more than 200 people in your sub-2,000-square-foot house sounds like an especially chaotic can of sardines. But Burkle lives for it. He loves seeing friends from every stage of his life sing along to Selena hits (the lounge singer’s specialty) or window-shop in his closet (where the admitted clothes hound has nearly 400 pairs of loafers neatly on display). His favorite part of the preparation process is planning his ever-growing guest list, anticipating whom he’ll get to spend his evening with.
From decking his halls in lavish decor to anticipating his guests’ every need, Burkle says opening his home to friends and chosen family is what the holiday season is all about. “I think the point of it is to share,” he says.
Host with the Most
Javier Burkle shares his top tips for memorable holiday hosting.
PREPARATION IS KEY
“I enjoy my parties,” Burkle says. “I try to be as prepared as I can [so] it’s not a day-of rush.” He knows exactly how early he can place his Raising Cane’s order and sets a reminder to do so on his calendar a year out. He also selects his serving pieces, decorates his home, and even prepares weather contingencies well in advance so when it comes time to party, Burkle can join in on the fun with his friends.
MAKE IT
PERSONAL
Every detail of the party is perfectly Burkle. “I just go to my favorite stores, and that’s what I put on the dessert buffet and charcuterie board,” he says. That goes beyond food, to the decor, too; the Christmas tree in his closet, for instance, is outfitted with personal mementos and topped with his greatgrandfather’s top hat.
IF YOU’VE GOT IT, FLAUNT IT
Don’t let your fine china and silver collect dust on your shelves, waiting for a formal affair. “When you own china or when you own silver, use it!” Burkle insists. Not a gourmet chef? No matter! Plate catered food on your own serving pieces.
Ring in the Season: Carolers greet revelers as they enter the home (above). A garland, hung from the chandelier outward to each corner of the room, pairs with Burkle’s formal Christmas tree to be the main decorative statement. Burkle uses heirloom crystal (below) from his grandmother, as well as crystal pieces found during his travels, to display the spread—including a cake by Alex Kincaid, the head of communications for Burkle Creative, who also owns a cottage bakery.
A DESIGNER HOLIDAY
Set the Scene:
Burkle and McCleskey’s outdoor dining area (left) is primed to serve a fan favorite: Raising Cane’s chicken fingers. The vintage urn isn’t just for decoration; it holds flatware inside. Burkle keeps champagne and spirits on ice in his kitchen sink (above). The pool house (right) hosts a dessert buffet featuring Burkle’s and McCleskey’s favorite treats from Trader Joe’s and local shops.
Guests gather in the outdoor living area to enjoy the lounge singer, so Burkle makes sure it’s comfortable, adding plaid pillows and blankets. A natural garland on the fireplace and a real Christmas tree with colorful lights take the cozy level up a notch.
Fireside Friends:
Six Tips
for an Effortless Holiday
HOSTING:
“Effortless entertaining actually requires a fair amount of effort, just done in advance. Press those linens, polish that silver, set the table, and arrange flowers the day before so you can savor the celebration once your guests arrive.”
—JANET GRIDLEY, Gridley LLC
“The best holiday entertaining hack is to whip up a batch of simmer pot jars in early December to have on hand all month. They make your house smell so warm and inviting—even at the last minute! And they are a quick crowd-pleasing grab-and-go gift, especially for the hostess who has everything.”
—JANELLE BURNS, Janelle Burns Interiors
“Pro tip: Trader Joe’s Cedar Balsam candles are the perfect pine smell without being too ‘perfumey.’ ”
—MARY FRANCES YOUNG, Young and Frances
DECORATING:
“Don’t use traditional ornament hooks. Get green florist wire, and wire the ornaments to the branches. It really makes a huge difference!” —JAN JONES, Jan Jones Interior Design
“Start with a palette that complements your home—traditional reds and greens aren’t for everyone. Think bold colors, gilded accents, and voluminous ribbon layered in your own style, so the holidays feel as warm and welcoming as the home itself.” —DANA BASS, Dana Bass Designs
“I collect all kinds of vintage silver. Every holiday, I pull it off the shelves and decorate with it. The sparkle of the silver looks wonderful with candlelight and Christmas tree lights. I drop poinsettia plants in vintage silver hotel ice buckets and use them around the house. It’s a quick way to elevate grocery-store greenery.”
—SUSAN BEDNAR LONG, S.B. Long Interiors
Me r ry Makers
These holiday-ready cocktail recipes are sure to make spirits bright.
Bourbon Cocktail
INGREDIENTS: bourbon ginger ale or ginger beer cranberry juice fresh cranberries rosemary for decoration
DIRECTIONS:
Mix bourbon, cranberry juice, and ginger ale together in equal parts. Pour into highball glasses over crushed ice and decorate with a few cranberries and a sprig of rosemary.
“When we have people over for holiday parties, we like to serve this welcome cocktail. Anything with bourbon screams merry to me, and this festive cocktail looks pretty with red cranberries and green rosemary sprigs. Plus, the drink is light enough in color that any spills will be forgiving in my interior.”
—SUSAN BEDNAR LONG, S.B. Long interiors
Holiday Sangria
INGREDIENTS:
½ cup agave nectar
¼ cup Grand Marnier
¼ cup brandy
1 orange, halved and then sliced 1 lime, sliced 1 green apple, sliced
2 sticks of cinnamon
1 bottle of dry red wine (a good cabernet is best)
1 can of Goslings’ ginger beer
DIRECTIONS:
In a large pitcher, add agave nectar, Grand Marnier, brandy, orange, lime, green apple, and cinnamon sticks, and stir to combine. Pour in the entire bottle of red wine. Cover and place in the refrigerator for an hour or two (the longer it sits, the better it will taste). Right before you are about to serve, add the ginger beer to the sangria mixture, pour over ice, and serve chilled. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and some sliced fruit.
Champagne Cocktail
INGREDIENTS:
1/3 ounce orange liqueur (Cointreau, Triple Sec, Grand Marnier) ½ ounce pomegranate juice 1 bottle (750 mL) champagne fresh raspberries
DIRECTIONS:
Mix pomegranate juice and orange liqueur with plenty of ice in a mixing glass and strain into a chilled cocktail or champagne glass. Top with champagne and garnish with a raspberry.
“This is my all-time favorite champagne cocktail recipe— perfect for Christmas because of its bright color.”
—MICHELLE KOPFER ROBERTS, Michelle’s Interiors
1 2 3 1 3 2
“Holiday hosting should feel joyful, not stressful. That’s why I love this sangria—it comes together ahead of time, so by the time guests arrive, the flavors are bold, the pitcher is ready, and all I need is a pop of ginger beer. It’s easy, elegant, and guaranteed to keep the party merry.”
—SHAY GEYER, IBB Design Fine Furnishings
Very SOUTHERN BELLE the
LISA HENDERSON
All the Wrappings:
The focal point of Lisa Henderson’s living room is the Christmas tree. She learned how to needlepoint about 15 years ago, and each year she handcrafts new ornaments to hang on the tree. She also sprinkles in ornaments that she collects while traveling. “I’m always the person to pop into a Christmas tree store and get a little something,” she says.
Lisa Henderson, owner of the eponymous Lisa Henderson Interiors, is lauded for her updated take on traditional spaces, mixing classic silhouettes and patterns with fresh color palettes and playful details. She’s no stranger to working with antiques, drawn not only to their timeless natures but to the stories behind them as well. That formula holds true in the University Park home she shares with her husband, Luke, and their children Lottie, 13; Luke, 11; and Libby, 8. The beautiful yet livable spaces inside are filled not only with punchy fabrics, passementerie, and touches of whimsy but also treasures picked up on travels and plenty of meaningful family mementos.
So it’s no surprise that Henderson follows the same tried-and-true design principles when it comes to the holidays. “I love a super traditional Christmas,” she says. “I want my holiday decor to be meaningful, too. An heirloom and a collection at Christmas is really important to me.”
Seasonal Sentiments:
Henderson’s holiday table is the perfect balance of precious and approachable.
“Not every item has to be formal,” she explains. “Those [Misette] placemats are very casual, and they are mixed with the more formal [Bernardaud] china.”
Other items are finds from the family’s travels. Their collection of nutcrackers make up the nostalgic centerpiece.
To wit, Henderson is currently amassing a set of holiday china that she plans to one day pass down to her daughters. She also collects nutcrackers, allowing each of her children to pick out a new one each year. The assortment is displayed on bookshelves and incorporated into her tabletop centerpiece. But they aren’t just for show, she insists. “The kids love to play with them,” she says. “They break. We fix them. There’s lots of repairs done on those nutcrackers over the years, and that’s OK.”
Each year, it’s a family affair when Henderson brings down the boxes of seasonal decorations. The family listens to holiday music as they unpack and decorate the tree together. They especially delight in hanging the ornaments. Henderson herself has needlepointed more than three dozen (see page at right), each of which commemorates a memory or experience that happened that year. “Christmas should be sentimental and nostalgic and special,” she says. “It’s about family.”
Memory Maker
Six designers reveal their most beloved holiday heirlooms.
“We cut down our own Christmas tree. While most people search for a perfectly groomed pine, I’m on the lookout for the most awkward, feral cedar I can find. I love a good makeover. We dress it in Scandinavian straw snowflakes and tuck a small paper ornament with E.E. Cummings’ ‘Little Tree’ into the branches.”
—JANET GRIDLEY, GRIDLEY LLC
“When my husband was a teenager, he and his friends found a Christmas angel on the side of the road who had seen better days. They decided to rescue her, taking her home to hang on the family tree. Angie, as she has affectionately come to be known, was such a hit that it became tradition to display her year after year. As the family has grown, Angie gets assigned visitation rights, making her way from one house to another. She is spending this Christmas in Connecticut with my sister-in-law, but I expect her back in Dallas on my tree in 2026.”
—JEAN LIU, JEAN LIU DESIGN
“Each year, we gift our clients hand-painted ornaments by Austin artist Lee Pearce (@laleepopart) to commemorate their newly completed homes. We commissioned one of our own home and continued the tradition ever since. We love that every holiday season, they’re reminded of that joy and sense of home.”
“My most meaningful holiday memento is an ornament collection of nostalgic shops and houses. My grandmother gave me the first ornament, a Victorian house, in 1984. I’ve received one every year since then. The collection now fits one tree perfectly, and it just wouldn’t be Christmas without unboxing and hanging each one, from Tudor to Craftsman to midcentury modern.”
—JANELLE BURNS, JANELLE BURNS INTERIORS
“I really love incorporating needlepoint into my holiday traditions. Every piece I work on tells a special story about the year or something we love as a family, from travel memories to favorite foods or even holiday traditions. The ornaments I made for each of my children’s first Christmases are some of my favorite pieces in my collection.”
—LISA HENDERSON, LISA HENDERSON INTERIORS
“I have a favorite oversized stocking that my mother made for me out of both of my grandads’, my dad’s, and my old ties. They are interwoven together and make an incredible statement, plus it’s extra meaningful because I actually remember them being worn as ties.
at Making Herself
In the five years since she moved to Dallas with her family, California-born
Sharon Lee Clark has put her stamp on both her new city and in her colorful University Park home.
Home
text by CAITLIN CLARK photography by NATHAN SCHRODER styling by JENNY O’CONNER
florals by HAILE WOSSEN tree by BILLY MILNER
Dining Room
“I love a printed grasscloth for a formal dining room,” says homeowner Sharon Lee Clark. “The grasscloth texture just makes it feel so much dressier and so much more formal than a smooth paper.”
wallpaper: Krane Home “Monkey and Tiger” grasscloth; painting: Sharon Lee Clark art; chairs: upholstered in Krane Home “Pomegranate” fabric with Samuel & Sons trim; chandelier: Coleen & Company “Sarafina” chandelier with rattan shades from The Lamp Shoppe Dallas; Cloisonné lamp: eBay
(previous spread)
Entry
One of Sharon’s only musthaves for their Dallas home was a spiral staircase. “I know that sounds so silly,” Sharon says. “I mean, we were moving to Dallas, and we were going to be able to have so much more space. My dream came true.”
chairs: Hickory Chair x Suzanne Kassler “Alexandra” chairs upholstered with Krane Home “Basketweave” fabric and Samuel & Sons tassels; table: Hickory White Furniture; stair runner: Stanton “Dottie”; wallpaper: Krane Home “Flora”; sconces: Coleen & Company with Samuel & Sons tassels; far left art: Krane Home Traditional Korean Peony Screen B art print by Sharon’s mother, artist Jane Min Lee
Living Room
To complement the home’s ornate fireplace and moldings, Sharon added Samuel & Sons bullion fringe to the sofa and ottoman. “I was really big on trim in this house,” Sharon says. “I’m a big fan of Samuel & Sons because they’re not too stuffy, but they still feel dressy.”
wallpaper: Krane Home “Royal Pineapple”; chair in foreground: RH upholstered in Krane Home “Royal Pineapple”; sofa: custom Viboch
Design upholstered in Krane Home
“Banana Leaf” with Samuel & Sons fringe; drapery: Everhem with Krane Home in “Tiger & Magpie”; rug: Stanton “Mykonos”; Christmas tree styling: Billy Milner
What is the best place in the country to raise a family? Where kids can walk to school or ride their bikes to their friends’ houses?
Where you can settle into your “forever” home, at least until everyone’s done with high school?
To find the answer, Los Angeles–based tech entrepreneur Max Clark compiled a thorough spreadsheet, taking into account myriad factors ranging from top public schools and safety to proximity to an international airport. The Park Cities area of Dallas got the highest marks overall, so in December 2020, Max—along with his wife, Sharon Lee Clark, and their two young sons—packed up their life and moved to a home they’d only seen via videos. “When we heard we were in escrow, I was so elated that I immediately started ordering things for our home,” Sharon says. “I had rugs before we closed.”
The original decision to move to the Park Cities may have been purely by the numbers, but the ease with which California native Sharon—a Korean American fine artist and founder of Krane Home, a home decor brand selling art, wallpaper, and fabric—has assimilated into her new Dallas world
“ ... I didn’t quite understand how beautiful the Southern way of living is until we actually moved.”
—Sharon Lee Clark, homeowner
feels entirely like kismet. In her short time here, she’s already chaired or cochaired events for the Children’s Cancer Fund, Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, and The Family Place. Beyond the social scene, Dallas has proven to be an aesthetic fit for the longtime Angeleno, as well. The fashionable Sharon doesn’t fear a colorful print, and her decor work is equally vibrant. In Dallas, it seems, Sharon can finally be herself.
“I knew my Texas clients loved the Krane Home aesthetic. They love Sharon Lee art,” she says. “I knew that, but I didn’t quite understand how beautiful the Southern way of living is until we actually moved.”
And while the quaintness of University Park was perfect from the get-go, their 2007-built house needed a bit more love. No walls were moved in the 6,000-square-foot home, but Sharon did perform what she calls “a liquid facelift” on the formerly French Country–style interiors. “We essentially repainted and wallpapered every solitary surface, and removed and replaced every single piece of hardware, from cabinet pulls to knobs. We painted and lacquered all of the woods and moldings and replaced every light fixture,” she says.
Family Room
Built-ins were painted an azure color, and the fireplace was retiled to complement Krane Home’s “Birds” wallpaper. Through the doorway, you can see a giclée print of Sharon’s mother’s painting, Ten Longevities Traditional.
wallpaper: Krane Home
“Birds”; art above mantel: Krane Home Migration art print by Sharon Lee Clark; sofa: Lee Jofa with Rogers & Goffigon fabric and Samuel & Sons fringe; armchair fabric: Krane Home “Basketweave”; pendant: Coleen & Company; millwork paint: SherwinWilliams “Connor’s Lakefront”; rug: Prestige Mills; desk: Made Goods; ottoman: Jennifer Taylor Home
Kitchen
Even before they found their home, Sharon was dead set on using Country Floors’ “Gelosia” ceramic tiles in a kitchen. “This kitchen had a very generic white subway tile backsplash,” Sharon says. “This looks very traditional, but in a fresh way.” She likes to add a pop of citrus to each room. Here, it’s with the peonies on ceruleanhued Roman shades.
backsplash tile: Country Floors “Gelosia”; lanterns: Coleen & Company; paint on island: Sherwin-Williams “French Moire”; Roman shades: Everhem with Krane Home in “Peony Forest” fabric and Samuel & Sons trim; accessories: Trunk Curated by Kimberly Schlegel Whitman
ArtfulMadeGifting Easy
Sharon Lee Clark is set to open a new showroom and studio just in time for the holidays.
When Sharon Lee Clark first moved to Dallas, she pivoted her business to an entirely e-commerce model. Now that she’s settled into her new surroundings, the designer is ready to do brick-andmortar business. Krane Home’s new showroom and art studio recently opened near the Katy Trail, across from Javier’s. Looking to commission a painting for a loved
one? Sharon can help you gift it.
“It’s a really special thing you can do that doesn’t require a ton of effort,” Sharon says. “You can come see me in my new studio, we can have a quick chat about what your vision is, I can do a quick sketch with my paints, frame it, and have it dropped off at your doorstep, wrapped and ready to go.”
Check it out! Krane Home Showroom & Sharon Lee Clark Art Studio. 3110 Webb Ave., Ste. 200. 214-506-8014. Open by appointment.
Playroom
The boys’ playroom features a framed map of Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, one of the campgrounds that Max, an Eagle Scout, traversed during his Boy Scout days.
wallpaper: Krane Home “Gingham Jungle”; table: Pottery Barn Kids; carpet: Couristan “Patra”
Primary Bedroom
In the primary bedroom, Sharon went for a traditional feel, with matching draperies and wallpaper in a neutral hue that she and her husband equally loved. She used Krane Home’s “Painted Poppy” fabric to reupholster a vintage Baker settee she’d found on Facebook Marketplace.
wallpaper: Krane Home
“Banana Leaf”; bed: Oly Studio; bench: Oly Studio; bedding and bench fabric: Krane Home
“Banana Leaf”; bed hanging fabric: Krane Home
“Painted Wave”; lamps and lantern: Coleen & Company; nightstands: Lillian August
Primary Bathroom
One room that initially stumped Sharon was the primary bathroom, which felt disproportionately large. “Whoever built this house decided they were going to host aerobics classes in the bathroom,” Sharon says, laughing. She brought in a vintage rug, reupholstered some wingback chairs, and added Murano glass lighting from 1stDibs for warmth and color.
wingback chair: vintage Baker chair upholstered in Krane Home “Painted Wave”; pillow fabric: Krane Home “Painted Poppy”; vintage shell chair: Chairish; vanity paint color: SherwinWilliams “Silken Peacock”
<< CONTINUED FROM PAGE 105
Sharon’s Closet
Though Sharon’s painter warned her that the Sherwin-Williams “Jazz Age Coral” hue she was planning to coat her closet with was much too bright, Sharon wouldn’t back down. “My closet is sort of the backlash to the bedroom being so neutral,” she says. “I had to get my ya-yas out.”
carpet: Decorative Concepts; lamp: Mary Beth Wagner; chair upholstery: Krane Home
“Block Print Gingham”; pillow fabric: Krane Home “Painted Poppy”; wallpaper: Krane Home “Peony”
It’s easy to imagine a wallpaper designer papering every inch of their home to the point of visual cacophony, but Sharon deploys her prints with careful precision. Each room is a unique capsule of Krane Home designs, which take the form of wallpaper, art prints, draperies, upholstery, pillows, Roman shades, and tablecloths. “I feel like it’s nice when one room flows into another,” she says. “Like, does this wallpaper talk to the wallpaper in the adjacent rooms in a way that makes sense?”
Indeed, everything is in conversation. Glinting golden tigers and magpies cover the walls of a moody hunter green wet bar, which opens up to a neutral-hued formal living room where, if you look closely, the same tiger and magpie motif is handscreened on the curtains. In the dining room (Sharon’s favorite), the designer started with grasscloth wallpaper, which features yellow flowers that perfectly match the saffron-colored blooms on the upholstered dining chairs. Chandeliers and lanterns by Coleen & Company were ordered in custom colors to match Sharon’s paintings or prints. She likes to make sure her signed Mario Buatta book is always on display somewhere in the home— an homage to the late Prince of Chintz, who inspired what she refers to as her “Sound of Music approach” of using the same pattern in various applications in the same space.
Comparing the Clarks’ current home to the “before” videos memorialized on Zillow is a testament to the power of paint, paper, and patterns. But like the motivation behind the move that brought them to Dallas, the home was designed for their boys. This time of year, the family loves delivering Christmas treats to their neighbors, whose twinkling holiday displays far outpace those in their former L.A. neighborhood. At home, they always opt for real-deal wreaths and hang ornaments as colorful as their home.
Holidays aside, what Sharon most wants to impress upon her children is a sense of pride in their roots. “You want to raise your kids with respect for their past and their ancestors—the people who helped raise your mom and your mom’s mom,” says Sharon, who points out several paintings in the home by her mother, accredited Korean Folk artist Jane Min Lee. “We can still layer that in our lives and raise our kids in the same magical, beautiful way.”
ELEVATED DESIGN. ENDURING STYLE.
Every project begins with the story each home’s architecture tells. For nearly five decades Dallas Design Group has shaped that story with detail and artistry. Recognized in D Home’s Best Designers list for more than 20 years, our team delivers interiors that are timeless, functional, and beautifully personal. dallasdesign-group.com | 214.752.9005
A LEGACY OF
Dallas Home & Design
These award-winning designers, homebuilders, and landscape professionals have helped define the Dallas home industry during the last quarter century. Here, you can learn more about their businesses, design philosophies, and the enduring impact they have made in neighborhoods and communities throughout the city. If you are in the market for a new or redesigned home or garden, these are the experts to know.
Kara Adam
KARA ADAM INTERIORS
“ WHEN IT COMES TO THE DESIGN OF YOUR HOME , anything is possible.” This philosophy has guided Kara Adam since founding her namesake firm in 2004.
A Texas native, Adam is known for her ability to marry classic architecture with bold, art-led interiors. She brings a discerning eye for color, texture, and proportion that results in homes as intelligent as they are inviting. Her work is distinguished by an emphasis on contemporary art—Adam collaborates closely with art advisors so that each project feels not only livable but also layered with cultural and personal meaning.
Her portfolio spans family residences, vacation homes, and city retreats, but the common thread is an unshakable belief that design should enrich daily life. Clients describe her spaces as warm, elegant, and quietly daring—rooms where art and antiques live alongside custom furnishings and modern ease.
During the past two decades, Kara Adam Interiors has become a sought-after firm in Dallas and beyond, with projects that have been featured in Architectural Digest, Luxe Interiors + Design, and D Home. She was recently invited to serve on the inaugural advisory council for Salon Art + Design Dallas, underscoring her influence at the intersection of art and interiors.
For Adam, design is not about following trends, but about creating homes that hold meaning for the families who live in them. As she puts it: “Anything is possible when you design with intention—and when every choice, from the architecture to the artwork, is made to last.”
WHEN GLENN BONICK , OWNER AND FOUNDER OF Bonick Landscaping, looks back on his 44 years in business, he considers what he built from the ground up more than a landscaping company—he views it as a service company, too.
Bonick Landscaping
“We have grown far beyond what I started all those years ago into a company with a dedicated group of people who are passionate about serving our clients,” Bonick says. “Most of our work is in the Park Cities and surrounding communities, as well as Fort Worth, and we remain focused on the long-standing relationships we’ve enjoyed with our clients, as well as with architects, interior designers, and builders. I love that we are considered a boutique company, yet large enough to handle any job that comes along.”
Known for excellence in design and execution, Bonick Landscaping provides forward-thinking landscape architecture and sophisticated design aesthetics. There’s a feeling of distinctness with each project, and the Bonick team wants clients to feel a sense of pride and serenity when they pull into their driveway, greet their guests, step into their outdoor living space, dive into their pool, or light up their fireplace.
“We are the creators and nurturers that carry a home’s landscaping from creation through care and maintenance,” Bonick says. “We love how we get to grow and evolve with our clients’ projects. With nature, nothing is permanent— it’s always growing or dying, and our job is to partner with our clients and help them create beautiful gardens and care for their investment.”
Mark Danuser
MARK DANUSER , CEO AND OWNER OF TATUM BROWN Custom Homes, has been building some of Dallas’ most distinctive residences for more than two decades. Known for his hands-on approach and unwavering commitment to quality, Danuser has cultivated lasting relationships with clients who trust him to bring their vision of home to life.
“What drives me is creating homes that are not only beautiful, but also livable and enduring,” he says.
Danuser and his team have earned a stellar reputation for their dedication to designing and constructing high-quality, luxury residences that feature one-of-a-kind details, welldesigned floor plans, and thoughtfully chosen fi nishes, as well as the partnerships they form with tradesmen, architects, and designers specifically selected for each project.
For Danuser, the pursuit of great design and construction is an evolving journey. “The best homes stand the test of time,” he says. “Our goal is always to create a home that feels just as relevant, comfortable, and inspiring decades from now as it does the day the family moves in.”
CHERI ETCHELECU - MARTIN, ASID, HAS HAD HER award-winning Dallas firm for more than three decades. Many of her clients have turned to her design expertise multiple times through the years whenever they are ready to take on a new project. “I am passionate about designing spaces that last; I want to be able to return years from now and see that the design has endured through time,” she says.
Etchelecu-Martin is known for the personal attention she gives to clients and for her keen eye for architecture. “A home’s architecture most often guides my designs. Functionality is
important; I ensure the room is functioning first, then we design it to suit the client’s unique style,” she says. “I pride myself that each project I design represents the client—not me. I love when clients tell me how much they enjoy the space because it truly reflects them and how they live.”
For Etchelecu-Martin, good design is ongoing and requires a constant editing process to become a timeless success. “You’ll never tire of pursuing good design if you love it—it’s those little edits made over time that make great design even better,” she says.
972.980.1700 | @cherietchelecu ceid.net
David Goettsche
WHEN DAVID GOETTSCHE , FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT of Desco Fine Homes, is asked what he loves most about his job, he is quick to answer, “everything.” In the more than 40 years he has been a custom homebuilder, he has built hundreds of homes and accumulated many customersturned-friends. And although they are friends, he hasn’t had to return to the houses he built for them. “This means we did everything right the first time,” he says. “This sense of accomplishment is what motivates me.”
Goettsche is known for his in-depth construction knowledge, superior customer service, and presence on the job site, whether he’s working on new construction or a remodeling project. “When someone hires Desco to build their house, they get me,” Goettsche says. “I check jobs frequently, because I know how important this investment is to my customers.”
Goettsche, a Dallas native, has worked in the construction industry for nearly 50 years. He didn’t know what he wanted to do for a career and took classes ranging from religions of the world to insurance and business to figure it out. When working in landscaping, he learned about building houses from a customer, and not long after, built his fi rst house. Today, Desco Fine Homes builds in the area’s most distinguished neighborhoods and creates functional, beautiful spaces that are designed to bring the family together. Goettsche has no plans to stop. “It keeps me young,” he says. “I can’t ever see myself doing anything else. I love being a hands-on builder, from the time I first meet a customer to handing them the keys.”
972.381.8995 | @descofinehomes DescoHomes.com
DESCO FINE HOMES
Joseph Paul Homes
JOSEPH PAUL HOMES , A D HOME BEST BUILDER for 11 consecutive years and member of the prestigious Southern Living Custom Builder group, operates more like two businesses in one— an architectural design firm and a custom homebuilding company.
Owner Joe Vastano designs and consults on projects locally and throughout the U.S., meeting with clients to create homes that reflect their individual style. Vastano earned his B.S. in environmental design from Texas A&M and an M.A. in architecture from UCLA, credentials that help him execute his clients’ vision. “We are partners in the building of their home,” Vastano says. “We are
involved in every aspect from the time the pencil hits the paper to final move-in day.”
Vastano builds homes that are an extension of the homeowner and that refl ect their dreams and aspirations. He designs each custom home after an extensive interview with the client and practices the traditional owner-architect relationship, balancing their design, specifications, and budget objectives. He then executes the project as the homebuilder. This two-tiered approach results in tailor-made homes that are as inspiring as they are timeless and beautiful.
JOE VASTANO
Pam Kelley
PAM KELLEY DESIGN
PAM KELLEY DESIGN , A FULL - SERVICE DALLAS
interior design firm, is led by Pam Kelley, who for more than 30 years has expertly managed residential projects throughout the country.
“My vision for each project is to create classic design with a modern sensibility for today’s living,” she says. “I enjoy the entire process on each project, from budget preparation and space planning to architectural renderings and financial management.”
Kelley has been featured in the Rizzoli book “Entertaining at Home,” by Ronda Carmen. Kelley’s beautiful work has also been featured in the pages of D Home , Better Homes & Gardens , Cottage Home , and Traditional Home , among many others. Licensed by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners and an active member of ASID and TAID, Pam Kelley invites you to let her and her team help you create the home of your dreams.
214.908.6115 | @pamkelleydesigns PamKelley.com
Susan Bednar Long
SUSAN BEDNAR LONG ’ S PASSION FOR DESIGN began in Connecticut, where childhood drives past Philip Johnson’s Glass House sparked an early appreciation for architecture and elegance. While studying fine art in college, she created site-specific installations and discovered that interior design offered the perfect balance of artistry and practical problem-solving.
Before founding S.B. Long Interiors, she designed flagship stores for Ralph Lauren. There, she mastered the art of layering—bringing together furniture, textiles, artwork, and objects to create spaces rich with depth and character.
ries—whether finding a Tony Duquette side table in Round Top or collaborating with Venetian master craftsmen on the execution of inlaid wood flooring.
A passionate traveler and collector, Long delights in uncovering antiques and distinctive pieces that tell sto-
Her award-winning modern traditional style blends classical and contemporary elements that feel fresh, sophisticated, and deeply personal to each client. Living in Beverly Hills deepened her love of Mediterranean design, while working in Manhattan sharpened her eye for modernism. Her Connecticut country home celebrates her appreciation for New England style and architectural preservation, while years of working in Provence and exploring Venice continue to inspire design discoveries and refine her creative approach.
Tiffany McKinzie
TIFFANY MCKINZIE INTERIOR DESIGN
A HOME IS MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS . It tells a personal story about the lives of the people who inhabit it. Since 2002, award-winning designer Tiffany McKinzie has executed the exquisite designs of hundreds of new construction and renovation projects in Dallas along with some of the most exclusive highrise living residences in the city. Clients love her transparency, honesty, and reliability—in addition to her beautiful and innovative design ideas—and appreciate how she comfortably brings forward their desires and translates them into their new surroundings. McKinzie breaks down the entire construction and design process into easily manageable sections, guiding clients every step of the way. Long before the last nail is hammered, she adds the finishing touches that bring the well-told story into play. Named a D Home Best Designer for 15 years, McKinzie designs homes in upstate South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Dallas.
ROBERT ELLIOTT CUSTOM HOMES , NAMED A D Home Best Builder 13 times, is a distinguished homebuilder specializing in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow and a preferred builder in the new and exclusive Freestone Golf Club. Owner Robert Elliott and his team are celebrating 20 years in business and are known for creating beautiful, timeless homes that accurately express the personality and character of the people who will live there.
Elliott helps customers understand the big picture from the start, from the initial concept through the fi nal walk-through. The result is a home that meets the needs and desires of the homeowner and refl ects the expertise and experience of this sought-after builder.
Transparency and collaboration are key throughout the building process, and the team at Robert
“We approach every home differently as defined by you, the client,” Elliott says.” We are committed to meeting your expectations and take great pride in our ability to produce any style of architecture to create your unique dream home.”
Shaddock Homes
SHADDOCK HOMES : A LEGACY OF QUALITY AND INTEGRITY . For more than five decades, Shaddock Homes has been redefining luxury living for families across Dallas-Fort Worth. Known for award-winning designs and a commitment to excellence, Shaddock Homes goes beyond building houses— it creates energy-e cient, environmentally conscious homes where families can thrive.
Founded by Peter H. Shaddock, who has been building in the area for over 59 years, the company has earned a reputation for distinctive architecture, superior craftsmanship, and exceptional homeowner satisfaction. What began as Peter’s vision has flourished into a family-owned and operated tradition, now led by Peter H. Shaddock alongside Peter Shaddock Jr. Todd Shaddock, and Beth Shaddock.
The Shaddock team is a group of dedicated professionals who take pride in bringing dream homes to life, ensuring that every detail reflects both quality and care. As Peter H. Shaddock affirms: “We know your home is the foundation of your family’s lifestyle. That’s why we design with the way people live today in mind and stand behind every home with a solid warranty.”
With thriving communities in Allen, Carrollton, Celina, Dallas, Fate, Forney, Fort Worth, Frisco, Lewisville, McKinney, Parker, Plano, Prosper, St. Paul, and Wylie, Shaddock Homes continues to build not only for today but for generations to come—delivering luxury, fine craftsmanship, and the trusted legacy of a family name.
Sharif & Munir Custom Homes
MICHAEL MUNIR AND MICKEY MUNIR
SINCE 1978 , SHARIF & MUNIR HAS BEEN COMMITTED to delivering a world-class homebuilding and renovation experience to hundreds of satisfied homeowners. Celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2023, Sharif & Munir Custom Homes has been named a D Home Best Builder every year since 2005 and earned the D Home Legacy Award in 2019. Mickey Munir started the company in 1978, and Michael joined the company 25 years ago. Michael says it’s an above-and-beyond approach that has set Sharif & Munir apart in the Dallas-Fort Worth area homebuilding industry for the past four decades.
“Our passion is creating homes for people—we truly love it,” Michael says. “Our tagline has always been ‘Uncustomary Custom Homes,’ and that’s for a reason—we have never built the same home twice. We are very diversifi ed in the types of homes we build. Our signature is quality, no matter the style.”
Mickey and Michael take pride in the fact that there isn’t an identifi able Sharif & Munir look. Mickey is a licensed architect and Michael is a licensed interior designer. This strong design background means that each home will have an individual look that is built to suit for the client. Sharif & Munir takes a collaborative approach with each project and works with some of Dallas’ premier architects and interior designers to match each home to a homeowner’s personality, style, and budget.
“The clients we serve are what make this job so fun,” Michael says. “They are just as passionate as we are about their homes, which is why we become so invested in our work. Many of our clients become friends. This is why we go above and beyond for every client—it’s the right thing to do.”
972.788.1234 | @sharif_munir Sharif-Munir.com
Bob Thompson
BOB THOMPSON HAS DEEP ROOTS IN DALLAS - FORT Worth. A TCU alum and custom homebuilder in some of the area’s most sought-after neighborhoods for four decades, he proudly says his work is meaningful not only because of the beautiful, timeless homes he builds for clients but also because of the friends he has made along the way. “We have built homes for clients all over Dallas-Fort Worth and as far away as Hawaii for CEOs of the largest companies, well-known professional athletes, and everyday families,” Thompson says. “When we can provide the best architects, designers, and professionals—in collaboration with our team—we get the best possible product for our clients.”
Named a D Home Best Builder for the past 21 consecutive years, Thompson also measures his success in customer satisfaction. Whatever a client needs, the team answers the call—literally—as every customer has access to their cell phone numbers. “Building someone's home is very personal to them,” Thompson says. “Homebuilding is as much of a service business as it is a construction business.”
In addition to his D Home Best Builder awards, Bob Thompson has received the following accolades:
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Dallas Builders Association
• Prestige Build Winner, D Home Visionary Awards
• Southern Accents Showhome Builder
• Neiman Marcus Showhome Builder
• Dallas Symphony Orchestra Showhome Builder
• McSAM Special Achievement Award for Excellence
Contact Bob Thompson to learn more about opportunities at Maverick Golf & Ranch Club in Fort Worth.
BOB THOMPSON HOMES
Suzy Childress ASID Allied, RID
CHILDRESS INTERIORS
SUZY CHILDRESS , NAMED A D HOME BEST DESIGNER FOR more than 10 years, is known for designing beautiful interiors that grace high-end homes and vacation properties. She understands that maneuvering the new construction and remodeling process without extensive design experience can be costly and stressful for clients. “I enjoy working with clients, builders, and architects to create a team approach so that projects are completed on time and within budget,” she says. Childress is sought after for her invaluable experience and expertise in new construction and remodeling, from initial space planning and interior architectural detailing to project and construction management. Whenever she hears “We couldn’t have done this without you” from clients, she knows she has achieved her goal of complete client satisfaction. Her sincerity in forming collaborative relationships with clients and industry professionals adds to her success. Childress’ award-winning designs have been featured on the cover of Luxe and D Home magazines.
THE ABILITY TO RETREAT EACH DAY TO A CALMING , SERENE space is a gift and one that Collins & Sweezey successfully bestows upon each client. Crisp, fresh interiors with a mixture of unexpected, enduring elements—these are the spaces this award-winning design firm is known for. Katie Collins and Martha Sweezey understand that through an artful blend of features, a successful project is imagined. Their shared design aesthetic reflects a precise ability to create and redefine spaces that bring an imprimatur of refinement. A blending of styles creates diversity in every design, resulting in distinctive spaces that define sophistication and warmth. Comfortable, clean, and sleek, their designs are as transitional as they are traditional and have been prominently featured in Southern Living, D Home, House Beautiful, and Southern Home, among other notable publications.
russ peters and bill cates , d home best designers for 13 consecutive years, create beautiful, livable spaces and homes. With an emphasis on the unity between aesthetics and purpose, they design and create truly original spaces, from bungalows to estates. Peters Cates Design is a full-service residential design firm specializing in custom interiors, furniture, furnishings, space planning, remodeling, additions, and full project management. From inception to execution, they provide smart design solutions enhancing the homes and lives of their clients.
debra stewart interiors is recognized for its intelligence, artistry, and unique sensibility. “We believe in creating spaces that make every day extraordinary,” says Stewart, whose mission is to craft interiors filled with beauty, inspiration, and integrity. With a multidisciplinary approach, she blends art and architecture, collaborating with clients, architects, and contractors to bring each vision to life.
For more than 34 years, she has partnered with premier artisans and trusted professionals to deliver seamless processes and stunning results. A Registered Interior Designer and professional member of ASID, Stewart also holds the NCIDQ certification. Named a D Home Best Designer for 21 years, her work has been widely featured in publications.
Ownership Statement D Home U.S. Postal Service. Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation. (Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685) 1. Publication Title: D Home. 2. Publication No.: 25830. 3. Filing Date: September 17, 2025. 4. Issue Frequency: Quarterly. 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 5. 6. Annual Subscription Price: $19.95. 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 750 N. St. Paul Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, Dallas County, TX 75201-3214. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Gillea Allison, Group Publisher, 750 N. St. Paul Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, Dallas County, TX 75201-3214. Jessica Otte, Editor, 750 N. St. Paul Street, Suite 2100, Dallas, Dallas County, TX 75201-3214. 10. Owner: D Magazine Partners, LP. Stockholders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Stock Are: None. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgages, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12. For Completion by Nonprofit Organizations Authorized To Mail at Special Rates: Not applicable to D Home. 13. Publication Title: D Home. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September 2025. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: a. Total Number of Copies (net press run): *13,492 **12,634; b(1). Paid/Requested OutsideCounty Mail Subscription Stated on Form 3541: *0 **00; b(2). Paid In-County Subscriptions: *3548 **3208; b(3). Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid Distribution: *1595 **1583; b(4). Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS: *0 **0; c. Total Paid and/ or Requested Circulation (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), (4): *5143 **4791; d. Free Distribution by Mail (Samples, Complimentary, and Other Free): d(1). Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541: *0 **00; d(2). In-County as Stated on Form 3541: *3333 **3341; d(3). Other Classes Mailed Through the USPS *0 **0; d(4). Free Distribution Outside the Mail (Carriers or Other Means): *1358**1420; e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3, (4): *4691**4761; f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and 15e): *9834 **9552; g. Copies Not Distributed: *3659 **3417; h. Total (Sum of 15f, 15g): *13493 **12969; i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c divided by 15f. times 100): *52.30 percent **50.16 percent. 17. This Statement of Ownership will be printed in the Winter 2025 issue of this publication. 18. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on this form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including multiple damages and civil penalties). Christine Allison, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, September 17, 2025. *Average No. Copies Each Issue During Proceeding 12 Months. **Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date
Mary Beth Wagner
MARY BETH WAGNER INTERIORS
MARY BETH WAGNER HAS BEEN SETTINGTHE STANDARD FOR elegant interior design in Dallas for more than 15 years. Her fullservice interior design firm is known for making each home a reflection of those who live within, expressing their unique personality, all while providing a seamless and enjoyable experience.
Wagner and her team specialize in major renovations as well as new construction from the ground up. With each project, she believes good design entails a combination of mixing quality pieces and layering.
“Each room should feel lived in—not staged,” she says. “Textures, wallpaper, lighting, and paint—these are the timeless elements that make a room feel inviting.”
Having cultivated many trusted, long-term relationships with builders, architects, custom furniture manufacturers, and showrooms through the years, Wagner can assemble the right team for any project.
Find out who made the cut in our first-ever LABL Awards. Scan the QR
DAN PIASSICK
THE HOLIDAY ISSUE
In celebration of D Home’s 25th anniversary, editors past and present reflect on their most memorable covers from the archives.
“Anytime D Home editorial/creative director Jamie Laubhan-Oliver popped by my desk and asked, ‘Road trip?’ my answer was always yes. No questions asked. Those yeses took us on some wild—and memorable—adventures.
Like the time she convinced me to head to the design mecca of High Point, North Carolina, for the annual furniture market. One night, after a long day of visiting showrooms, we hopped in our rented Camaro, blasted down the highway, and hunted for the best barbecue in town. As we walked into our restaurant of choice, we realized it was empty. Unbeknownst to us, everyone else was taking cover from a tornado that was projected to touch down in minutes. Not us. Two girls from the Texas/Oklahoma panhandle don’t scare that easy. We drove back to our hotel amidst the eerie skies. Another time, she planned a jaunt to Fort Worth. Sonic iced teas in hand, we rolled up to antiques legend Joe Minton’s curated cottage. Minton charmed us with stories for every piece in his home. He even shared his top-secret party trick: Boston Market pot pies. As for the cover that resulted? It’s timeless and cozy, the kind of image that makes you want to step straight into it and curl up by the re. But every time I see that cover, I don’t just think of design—I think of the ride, the laughter, and the adventure. Those road trips and scouting missions are my favorite memories from my time at D Home.” —Ryan Conner, former executive editor
