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Monday, June 17, 2013

DIY: Liming a Table
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Limed Texas barn wood table top.

The first birthday gift my husband gave me after our wedding was an iron balustrade table topped with reclaimed Texas barn wood. I mentioned I liked it on a furniture-shopping trip with him and he later returned to the store and purchased it as a surprise for me. After years of family breakfasts, finger painting, school projects, and a Briwax treatment gone awry, my table was looking way too well loved. Read More

Friday, June 14, 2013

Supporter Spotlight: Uncommon Market

Uncommon Market is a long-term Dwell with Dignity supporter, and one of Dallas’ most unique stores.  Started more than 40 years ago by Ward & Don Mayborn, this family business offers shoppers an extraordinary mix of antiques and found objects.  Visiting is like taking a shopping trip through London’s Portobello Road market (without the jet lag).  You can find pretty much everything you always wanted . . . but never knew existed.

Uncommon Market

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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

INSPIRE: Cycladic Inspiration

Ah – the sunlit Isles of Greece.  With an endless expanse of turquoise seas and a constant bath of sunshine, the architecture and interiors have evolved to suit the environment.  The islands are tiered with flat roof cubic houses built amphitheatrically, one on top of the other and whitewashed to reflect the heat of the day.  Openings are carefully placed to control sun and shading.

The Cycladic interior style is one of organic flowing forms created in stucco.  This contemporary hotel room plays off those traditions.  Spaces are often accented with native materials and furnishings using wood, cotton, terra cotta and small pebble inlays.

Lovely resort room with Cycladic inspiration

Lovely resort room with Cycladic inspiration

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Monday, June 10, 2013

DIY: Recycled Door, Window and Shutter Projects

Oh, the things you can do with an old door, window or shutter.  Don’t have any hanging around your house or garage?  Then head to your nearest Habitat for Humanity Re-Store for a huge selection of stained, painted and unfinished doors, windows and shutters.  Solid core and hollow interior, exterior and cabinet doors and shutters range from $5-40, a bargain for the beginnings of what will be one of your favorite and easiest DIY projects EVER!DWD, DYI, doors, windows, shutters, 9

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Friday, June 7, 2013

Supporter Spotlight: Nathan Grace Real Estate

Nathan Grace Real Estate is the Official Kitchen Supporter for Dwell with Dignity. Nathen Title page

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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

INSPIRE: The Great Gatsby

With the arrival of The Great Gatsby, I am once again inspired by glamorous and luxurious design expressed during the Art Deco period of the 1920′s.  When I was younger, I would often purchase Art Deco accessories for my home which added a touch of sophistication and glamour.  I am more of an earthy, sustainable, eclectic type rather than bling, glitz, and glam but this resurgence has me thinking that I should pull some of those items out of storage to increase my style factor.  You may have noticed that retail stores like Tiffany and Co. and Brooks Brothers have manufactured this fashion genre and set design from the most recent Fitzgerald adaptation exemplifies this era.  Although this is not a new design, the movie has definitely reinvigorated this exquisite and lavish period and I hope some examples below demonstrate simple ideas that will translate to your home.

Per youthedesigner.com and many other websites, ”the term Art Deco was conceived from “Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industrial Modernes” (International Exposition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) in the year 1925 at Paris. It is characterized by the use of rich colors, geometric shapes and extravagant ornamentation.”

For starters, just look at Daisy’s sitting room from the new film.  I found this on a blog called materialgirlsblog.com.

daisys-sitting-room Read More

Monday, June 3, 2013

DIY: That’s Plantastic!

The sun is shining, the weather is GORGEOUS and it’s time to get outside and get creative.  I found some PLANTASTIC ideas to reuse and recycle items you may find around at the house or from the last Dwell With Dignity Thrift Studio.  Consider used and discarded children’s items that are ripe for this type of project, such as an old wagon.  Read more to learn how to quickly turn this into your own beautiful garden and so much more.

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Photo: Amy Rosenfeld

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Friday, May 31, 2013

Supporter Spotlight: Nice Moves

Since 2010 Nice Moves has supported Dwell with Dignity in one of the most tedious ways: moving! Anyone who has ever moved knows that by the time everything is boxed, labeled and ready to be relocated you want to be sure that your valuables are in steady hands. That is where Nice Moves comes in!

DwD_Nice-Moves-Truck Read More

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

INSPIRE: Modern Mix

I love houses decorated with an effortless mix of antique furniture and new, modern pieces. The character it adds to a house is so inviting. Now don’t get me wrong, I am pretty sure I could live inside a West Elm store, but when you can blend old treasures with some modern touches, it creates a unique space.

So many lovely details in this room! The floor to ceiling bookshelves are so divine, but check out the white, modern chairs paired with the antique claw foot table. There is something about this that just works.

 clawfoot-table

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Friday, May 24, 2013

Supporter Spotlight: IBB Design Fine Furnishings

Spice up your traditional design with this season’s hottest colors using IBB Design Fine Furnishings. A full-service interior design firm & fine furnishings store known for offering high-quality furnishings and fashioning beautiful living spaces. In IBB’s expansive Frisco, TX store, patrons are free to shop a showroom featuring a wide range of styles sure to fit every taste—everything from retro-mod to French Country chic. Or, employ one of IBB Design’s expert designers to put the perfect finishing touches on any room.

IBB Bedroom

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