Niermann Weeks Collaboration with Laura Lee Clark, and a Party!

Lille Ceiling Fixture, $7,380

Love It!  Believe it or not, this delightful object is a ceiling light. It's part of the new collection from Niermann Weeks, the Maryland company that produces handcrafted lighting and furniture. Laura Lee Clark has partnered with Niermann Weeks in an exclusive collaboration to bring their works to Dallas in a big way—there's plenty of room to showcase it all in her new 5,000 square foot showroom at 1515 Slocum Street. 

You're invited to her grand opening party Thursday, May 16 from 6:00-9:00 PM. I hope you come—I will be there, of course (Texas Interiors is the media sponsor). Laura Lee's parties are known for being among the best in the Design District—she always has a well-stocked bar and great food, and it's where  the most interesting designers and their clients seem to gather. 

The President of Niermann Weeks, Justin Bennix, will be there to help give away a pair of fabulous Neirmann Weeks lamps. Hope you win!

Here are some of my favorite pieces from their newest collection:

Melbourne Chaise Longue, $6,430

Tissage Dining Table, $8,190

Marten Coffee Table, $8,530

Serpentine Bed, $14,920

Trocadero Fireplace Screen, $3,240

Top Dallas Designers at Thrift Studio!

Chair, draperies, pillows and art by Amber Davidson at Stella Dallas

LAST CHANCE . . . a lot of fab pieces sold at Thrift Studio's preview party last night ($125 per ticket), but you'll have another chance tonight ($25 per ticket) to buy furniture, art, and accessories before the popup opens to the public on Saturday. Buy your tickets online or at the door. 

The scene last night brought out the best in Dallas interior design, including host committee member Emily Summers, who bought nine tickets and dashed through the space with her team in tow, buying as much as she could. I bumped into architect Richard Drummond Davis, who said he wouldn't have missed the evening since most of the  host committee was packed with designers he'd worked with in the past. 

If you're wondering what Thrift Studio is, it's a twice-a-year shopping event put on by Dallas-based Dwell with Dignity, and featuring beautiful rooms by some of the best designers in town. Everything you see inside the rooms are for sale, and everything benefits Dwell with Dignity.

Because everything is donated from the best showrooms and designers' collections (and sold at a fraction of what it would normally cost), this sale has become on of the most sought after in town.

Here are a few shots from each room—if you want to see more, you've got to go experience it for yourself!

AMBER DAVIDSON,  STELLA DALLAS

JOHN PHIFER MARRS, JOHN PHIFER MARRS, INC 

CYNTHIA COLLINS, BLUE PRINT

LISA LUBY RYAN, VINTAGE LIVING

PEACOCK ALLEY

BRECK WOOLSEY AND CHARLES TAYLOR, BRECKINRIDGE TAYLOR

All photography donated courtesy of Lance Selgo, Unique Exposure

P.S., see Laura Lee Clark's room in my previous post, below! Laura Lee did the window design for Thrift Studio, and as John Phifer Marrs said last night, she set the bar high for everyone.

Thrift Studio Preview!

Laura Lee Clark's tropical-inspired room in the window of Thrift Studio

PEEK INSIDE . . . I love designer  Laura Lee Clark's window vignette for Thrift Studio, which opens to the public Saturday, October 13. She's one of many top designers and stores in Dallas who've donated their time and talent to creating rooms full of fabulous and fun furniture, art, and accessories. It's all for sale and it all benefits Dallas-based Dwell with Dignity. Don't wait until it opens to the public, buy your tickets here to attend one of two preview parties before it opens!

The wonderful canopied daybed and table were donated by Janus et Cie

Everything's for sale including the amazing crystal chandelier donated by Allan Knight, which she mixed with cheerful, battery-powered paper lanterns (I hear they hold a charge for 4 months!) The artwork is a batik fabric,  and the Chinese doors are antiques. The majority of the pieces come from Dwell with Dignity's warehouse of donated goods, including this sectional and table. Laura Lee had dozens of bright pillows custom made from high-end fabrics.

The lavender chairs are from Dwell with Dignity's own inventory, and the beautiful geode sculptures were donated by Empress Gilbert (see her things at E.C. Dicken).


Next Friday—the day before Thrift Studio opens to the public—I'll show you photos from the other vignettes. Look for rooms by Lisa Luby Ryan, Stella Dallas, John Phifer Marrs, Breckinridge Taylor, Cynthia Collins, and Peacock Alley. 

I've seen them all and they blew me away!

Buy your preview tickets here, so you'll be the first to snag some of these great designer finds before Thrift Studio opens to the public. 

Dallas Design News February 2012

At Shop Ten/25, a cast aluminum horse head, $315

Spring . . . Dallas interior designer Abbe Fenimore's online emporium, Shop Ten/25 has a fresh new look for the new year, including favorite finds like this cast aluminum horse head . . . .

Custom silk pillows at Laura Lee Clark, $275-725

Dallas interior designer Laura Lee Clark has one of the best pillow collections in town at her Dragon Street store, and I love some of the colors for spring like these pinks, corals, and lavenders. See more of her pillows here. . . .

Designer's Guild's new Havana Collection at ID Collection

I'm always delighted by the bright colors and patterns from Designer's Guild each season, and there's nothing like fresh green to get you in the mood for spring. This particular group is part of their new Havana Collection, and it's on the floor now at ID Collection. . . .

Peacock Alley's new Rio Collection for spring in nude and graphite

Peacock Alley's new Carmel pillow in coral for spring

If pink is pretty, nude's a knock-out. Peacock Alley's newest bedding for spring comes in the kind of colors you associate with this time of year. I like it especially when paired with their new graphite color, which keeps the paleness from being too sweet.

Glass technologist James Carpenter will speak at the Dallas Architecture Forum

$20 will get you in to hear glass master artist James Carpenter, who created the moving glass screen inside the Richard Meier-designed Rachofsky House in Dallas, along with glass for the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, and the exterior and lobby for Seven World Trade Center. February 8 at 7 pm, go here for more information.

Bentwood rocking chair by Blue Dot, new at Nest

Nest just picked up the amazing furniture line Blue Dot, and will have more than a dozen pieces for sale. Everyone loves Blue Dot for the architecture-inspired design and affordability. And while you're at Nest this month, bring in non-perishable food/can goods and receive up to 20% off during the store's annual Furnish & Feed benefit. . . .

Dara Mark's new art at Smink

Smink is getting new works of art by Dara Mark and other artists throughout the spring, so stop by and see what's hanging on the walls . . . .

Faux Furniture Rehab, new from Holden Art Studio

Holden Art Studio's new custom paint finish service, Faux Furniture Rehab, transforms existing furniture and cabinetry (like the gorgeous table above, which is painted to look like an exotic wood) into something fresh and beautiful without stripping or chemicals. Their new website is up with lots of examples of their work, including kitchen cabinets . . . .

Shopping Dallas: Laura Lee Clark

Laura Lee Clark's new store

Best Buys!

Text/Photos Rebecca Sherman

Open only a few months, Laura Lee Clark's new store is already one of the best places to find stylish, unexpected GIFTS, such as these from the ocean.

Black sea fan on Lucite stand, $300.

Silver plated sea stars, $30 and up.

Large shell fossils, $230.

Large Chinese blue and white foo dog jar, $650

FORTUNY pendant, $2,000

One of the things Laura Lee does so well is mix modern art with antiques. I love how she's displayed these large scale paintings from BARRY WHISTLER GALLERY in her new space. I ran into Barry recently and he told me that she'd already sold several paintings off the wall, simply because clients could easily see how they might look in a residential setting.

Laura Lee's offices are in back of the store, which consists of several big, white loft-like spaces. Can you imagine working in such a gorgeous place?

Silver necklace on stand, $560

Chinese warrior heads, $25 each. Love these. I can see using them as place card holders on the table, or in a big bowl like these for impact.

Pair of Regency side tables, $950 each.

Pair of paper mache columns, $5,600

Large silver pot with succulents, $130

CHARLOTTE MOSS's A Flair for Living, $65

Isn't this a gorgeous room?

19th century starburst, $5,600

This silver leaf and linen Raj chair was so heavy I could barely move it. $3,495

Another gorgeous view.

Yes, that fantastic centerpiece with birch logs, moss, and glass rods is for sale. Ask about it when you come in.

Horn box with silver fittings, $295

This shot reminds me of some of the beautiful stores on Magazine Street in New Orleans....

Pair of 19th century FRENCH CHAIRS, $1,070

Lavender barnacles, $150. Laura Lee's selection of naturalistic pieces are so sculptural and some of the best buys around.

Antique MERCURY GLASS bottles (with new stoppers), $235 each. The platinum color patina on these bottles and the chairs are so beautiful, don't you think?

LUXURY STORES and LUXURY HOUSES, $95 each

Striped sea urchins with spines, $24 each

Vintage Coptic crosses, large is $550.

David Bates painting (price on request).

Lamp on Lucite base, $395

Rustic, turquoise ceramic oil bottles, $35 and up.

I popped into the shop on a Saturday morning with my camera without much warning, and Laura Lee still looked incredibly stylish and relaxed. I had to take her picture.