Artisan Spotlight: Marroquin Custom Upholstery

A pair of beautiful custom ottomans made for me by Marroquin Custom Upholstery.

Behind the Scenes... I've been writing about beautiful rooms for magazines for many years, and it's usually the designers who get most of the attention in a story. But designers are the first to tell you it's the unsung artisans whose work can make or break a room, a whole project, and even their own reputations.

Marroquin Custom Upholstery, owned by Jesus Marroquin and his family, is the go-to upholsterer for many of Dallas' top designers including Joseph Minton, John Bobbitt, Paul Garzotto, Betty Lou Phillips. "I describe Marroquin as the De Angelis of the Southwest," says Bobbitt of the legendary New York upholstery family used by Peter Marino and the like. "Marroquin is capable of executing any kind of custom detail that I can come up with. They're especially good with difficult upholstery like horsehair, leather, and suede, and with fine nailhead designs, historic detailing and antique furniture."

Jesus Marroquin oversees every piece himself and is notoriously picky and obsessive. "He won't rush a piece even if you're standing over him screaming," says Bobbitt with a laugh. "I have to say though, they always get things done on time."

Family Affair: Jesus and Elsa Marroquin, front row.
Monica Marroquin with Godzilla. Adrian and Ivan Marroquin. Not pictured: Andres Marroquin.

Dallas was his dream

Jesus Marroquin was 23 years old when he came to America in 1973, and like most immigrants from Mexico, he came across the river. A priest picked him up in his car and asked where he was going. "I said Dallas. I just liked the sound of it," says Jesus, who by then already had years of training and experience with some of the top furniture upholsterers in Mexico City. Soon, he started working with well-known Highland Park upholsterer Art Jones and his son Robert. By the time Marroquin left ten years later to start his own reupholstery company, they'd produced a line of furniture and opened 20 showrooms across the country. 

Marroquin married wife Elsa in 1980, and their four children, Monica, Ivan, Adrian, and Andres, now work in the family business, doing a variety of jobs from marketing to accounting, shipping, and designing. All of them have trained on the floor, learning how to upholster furniture to their father's exacting standards. "You can't expect to be upstairs on the computer taking orders if you don't know how a chair is done," Ivan says.

From the White House to your house

After producing a custom line of furniture for 21 years for a top Dallas showroom (many of Marroquin's pieces ended up in the White House and Camp David), Marroquin opened his own shop almost 10 years ago. In addition to reupholstery work, he is partnering with Nancy Caperton on a line of furniture at Culp Associates called the Caperton Collection.You don't have to be a designer to bring your furniture to be reupholstered by Marroquin, and they'll help you design a custom piece from scratch, with or without your designer.

A custom chair in progress, meticulously hand-finished.

Sweat the small stuff

Marroquin bought a 55,000 square foot warehouse space near the Design District in 1999. Depending on demand and the economy, they employ between 45 and 20 full time people, including head tailors, seamstresses, carpenters, tanners, painters, and master upholsterers. Some have been with Marroquin for 26 years. "It takes five years to train people to do the quality we require, and we always start with ones who already have a lot of experience and knowledge," says Jesus. "Quality is the biggest thing for us, and it takes time to train employees to understand that. It's easy to just let the little things go. It's a lot harder to find the flaws that the clients won't see."

Daybeds, chairs, stools waiting to be reupholstered. Marroquin often tears a piece down to its frame, rebuilding if necessary, and completely redoing the springs and webbing.

It takes a village

On average five people will work on a single piece of furniture to be reupholstered. "The team works together otherwise we couldn't do it," says Jesus. "But I'm involved in everything, even the smallest piece that comes in." Each employee has years, if not decades, of experience specializing in a particular detail of work, including springs, nailheads, skirts, button tufting, refinishing, and making frames.

"The key is to build the frame exactly right. After that, no problem," says Jesus, who can make any custom design you want from a photograph or sketch. Once a piece is documented, it's ready to be crated and shipped (depending on how far it's going). They ship to Europe, South America, Mexico, Dubai and beyond.

Precise and exquisite dressmaker details.

Charming details on a custom chair.

Ottoman from the Caperton Collection, through Culp Associates

Dreamers

"One of my dreams when I came to this country was to do furniture for the White House, and I did furniture for the White House," says Jesus, who became a naturalized American citizen in 1986. "Another dream I had was to have a beautiful wife. I am not so handsome, but I got a beautiful wife. And I dreamed to have really good kids, and I got them. I also dreamed to build this company and this facility. As you see, I came to America with nothing but a lot of dreams, but this country took me in and kept me. I made a success of my life. For a Mexican like me, this is the American dream."

To view more of their custom furniture and to contact them, go to marroquincustomuph.com. 

Seamstresses are experienced in working with delicate and difficult fabrics such as Fortuny and horsehair.

Tools of the trade.

Alberto DeHoyos hammers nailhead trim on a custom sofa for John Bobbitt.

This hand-operated machine is the traditional way to cover buttons for tufted upholstery.

Marroquin has more than 150 different styles of chairs, sofas, and ottomans ready to be made.

Sofas from Marroquin's custom collection.

Sofas from Marroquin's custom collection.

A Star is Born: Each piece is photographed and documented at Marroquin's photo studio.

River Oaks Redux

The River Oaks lobby, as conceived by Rottet Studio

Midcentury Masterpiece . . . For the longest time, great midcentury buildings in Texas have been torn down or renovated into monstrosities of pastiche—slap some white columns on that clean facade and rip out the original terrazzo floors and you have a building that appeals, and sells, to everyone... in theory. I'm convinced that people often just buy what's available, and much of what's out there is bad design. Create something beautiful, and the people will come. 

Case in point: The River Oaks in Houston. Currently under extensive renovations, the 1960s-era mid-rise is staying true to its stunning original Mies van der Rohe-inspired roots, and is well on its way to becoming one of the most glamorous residences in the country. 

The project is being led by developer Richard Leibovitch of New York-based Arel Capital, interior architect/designer Lauren Rottet of Houston-based Rottet Studio and Andre Landon, principal architect at EDI International in Houston. Leibovitch could have built a massive high-rise on the three-acre property overlooking the tony River Oaks neighborhood, and presumably made a lot more money. Instead, he kept much of the original footprint of the building, which will house 84 large residences, including extravagant 10,000 square foot penthouses with private pools and terraces. Something I've never seen associated with a high rise before are the six ground-level, two-story townhouses with 2,200 square feet of secluded private gardens. The building's surrounding grounds are stately and expansive, and views of the city will likely never be compromised by high rise development, since the building's neighbors include low-rise residential areas, St. John's School and St. Luke's United Methodist Church. 

Lauren Rottet is one of the most exciting interior designers working in the country today—in fact, she made it to the top of Leibovitch's list before he even knew she was based in Houston. She's author of some of the most glamorous spaces in the country, including the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Surrey in NYC and the St. Regis in Aspen. Rottet's plans for The River Oaks include curated art and furnishings, rich woods, natural stone and expansive use of glass in the lobby and common areas. The building will have 24-hour concierge service, a dog park and dog grooming facilities, overnight guest suites, gym with separate massage and yoga facilities. 

The River Oaks website is now up, and the sales office opened earlier in July. Units start at $875,000. 3433 Westheimer, Houston, TX, 713.600.5978

The River Oaks exterior view

The River Oaks lobby

Condominium inside The River Oaks

Private penthouse pool view

Ground-level townhouse with private gardens

Three Fun Things

Room by DJ Lucy Wubel with Peacock Alley

POW! DJ Lucy Wrubel's graffitti-inspired, color-soaked bedroom for Dwell with Dignity's spring Thrift Studio design popup is exactly like her personality—wild and fun! (Wrubel did the room in conjunction with Peacock Alley.) Thrift Studio opens to the public on Friday April 19, but you won't want to risk losing out on something fabulous (like you did last year), because things sell out fast. Buy a preview party ticket here for Thursday, April 18, and you'll have first dibs before the crowds show up. Look for stylish vignettes created by some of Dallas' most-loved designers and stores, including IBB Design, Square Foot Studio, Wiliam Christopher Design, Horchow and Studio Ten25. For a complete list, go here. Everything is for sale, with the proceeds going Dwell with Dignity's wonderful programs.

Room by William Christopher Design for Thrift Studio

Room by One Kings Lane for Thrift Studio

One Kings Lane is the corporate sponsor of Thrift Studio's pop up this year, and not only have they come to Dallas to create a vignette, but all day April 19 they'll be hosting a Tastemaker Tag Sale with Thrift Studio, so log on and buy all kinds of great vintage and designer furniture and accessories for a great cause!

Azure balcony designed by Urban Interiors for the Turtle Creek Home Tour

WOW! The best thing about high-rise living is the view, don't you agree? The upcoming Turtle Creek Home Tour, held on April 21, is always one of my favorites, since it's a chance to see the Dallas skyline from five different locations, including the Warrington, the Azure, the Vendome and the Ritz. It's also a rare opportunity to walk through some of the most beautiful apartments in the area. Proceeds from the tour go to keeping Turtle Creek looking beautiful—it's one of my favorite places to walk and bird-watch, and this time of year the azaleas and dogwoods are spectacular. It's always in spring and fall that I'm most grateful that Dallas has such a gorgeous area like Turtle Creek. Go here to buy your tickets.

Highland Park home designed by Buchanan Architecture

365 . . . if you're obsessed with architecture like I am, you think about it 365 days out of the year. Fittingly, 365 is also the name of the Dallas Architecture Forum's upcoming home tours. The forum's 365 Modern Living Cocktail Receptions are actually a series of small parties inside some of the city's most interestingly-designed homes, where you'll hear talks given by the architects and designers. It's also a chance to meet some of the top people behind the projects you've read about on the blog and in regional magazines for years, including Mil Bodron, Svend Fruit, Russell Buchanan and Dee Dee Hoak. Go here to buy your tickets.

Architecture and interiors by Buchanan Architecture

This experimental house designed by Buchanan Architects caused a stir when it was finished. You'll find out why when you take the tour (I don't want to give everything away), but I can tell you that some of the highlights include an entry vestibule clad entirely in onyx slab, while the exterior is clad in an insulated metal panel system that's ultra-energy efficient.

Inside Kevin and Cheryl Vogel's Art-Filled House in Dallas

At home with the Vogels' collection of great art and classic furniture

Living Among Art . . . in 1953, artist Donald Vogel and his wife Peggy purchased six acres of undeveloped land off Spring Valley Rd, in what was then far north Dallas. They built a contemporary glass and brick house, which was initially a combination artist studio, gallery, home, and frame shop. Dubbed the Valley House, the Vogel's home became an enclave for artists, musicians, and writers, who gathered over meals and drinks to exchange ideas and inspiration. The sculpture gardens which I wrote about on this blog a few years ago, are spectacular.

Fort Worth architect John W. Jones and artist

Donald Vogel designed this mid-century masterpiece.

Donald's son Kevin Vogel and his wife Cheryl inherited the 3,5000 square foot house and the operation of the art gallery in 2004 after Donald died. Having grown up in the house and worked in the family art business since he was in high school, the ensuing renovations were a labor of love. "I almost lived in the creek down in the back," says Kevin. "We had heat, but no air conditioning, and the fans were going 24/7, with the windows open all the time. The house was weird to my friends, because no body else had ceilings that were almost 14 feet or big open rooms like this." Kevin and Cheryl met in 1978 when she was at grad school at SMU and Donald hired her as the gallery's secretary.

The Vogel's backyard is actually a sculpture garden,

which they allow the public to visit.

The first phase of renovations shored up the home's crumbling infrastructure. Built on a flood plain, the house survived a major flood in 1964. "We had 54 inches of water in the house, it was above my head," he says. A second phase of renovations included updating the kitchen and bathrooms, with the help of Arthur Johnson and Scott Hill of Square One Furniture.They replastered the walls, but kept the original wire-cut antique brick floors (originally sourced from a building in Colorado by interior designer Earl Hart Miller) and dark-stained ceiling beams in the living room. "We tried to do things that Donald would have liked," says Cheryl.

They're still making changes, but most of the new furniture was moved into the house a little over a year ago.

A pair of iconic Vladamir Kagan sofas are as sculptural

as any of the artworks in the house, and create an intimate space

for the Vogel's gatherings, which often include artists, writers, and musicians.

"The house is like living in sculpture," Cheryl says. "It's beautiful without one stick of furniture." When it came to choosing furniture, though, decisions weren't made entirely on looks. "I like a bold piece of furniture that makes a statement, but the conversations in the room need to be more important. We didn't buy anything just because it was pretty, it needs to be comfortable too." Her first purchase started with a collection of black leather Matteo Grazzi chairs from Scott + Cooner for the dining table.

"I love the way four people can sit on one of these sofas

and have their own private space," says Cheryl.

People can seat themselves on the hearth if they like,

and the room spills out onto the terrace." The tripod table is from Brant Laird.

After spotting this antique wing chair at Nick Brock Antiques,

Cheryl decided to leave it in its unfinished state. "It looks so skeletal

without its upholstered arms," she says.

The house has no hallways, and virtually all of the rooms are utilized all of the time, says Cheryl. "Everything happens off the main room, kitchen, and living areas. It's a place for us to show large scale paintings and to have a comfortable conversation and watch movies.

"We have five or ten events for charity a year here, and parties for artists or friends," she says. "The piano, an old Steinway built in the late 1800s, drives the party," says Cheryl, who had the piano reconditioned to concert-level status so that musicians could give performances at the house. The Vogels also host many charitables events in their house each year, and Cheryl, who loves to cook, gives dinner parties for artists and friends almost every weekend, such as one she gave for Tary Arterburn, founder of Studio Outside, who is the consulting landscape architect for the gardens now. "It's a wonderful kitchen for everyone to be cooking together," because it opens onto the main room.

After mounting a show by SMU professor

Barnaby Fitzgerald, the Vogels were enchanted

with this painting so they bought it for their house.

The Vogels have a large collection of 19-c. watercolors and drawings, but because of all the potentially damaging sunlight that floods through the house, they keep them stored away. "We bring them out one at a time and display them. It's very Japanese to do that, I think."

They fell in love with the Barnaby Fitzgerald painting, above, after an exhibit of his works several years ago at the gallery. Says Cheryl: "It didn't sell, and so of course we didn't hesitate in buying it. We just brought it in and put it on the backs of chairs until we knew where to hang it. It was one of the first things we bought that made me feel like I was at home."

Plaster hand remnant is from a sculpture by Frederick William Sieveres.

The white sculpture in foreground is actually a naturally occurring

mineral formation, which was excavated from the

Fountainbleau area of France. "I bought it because it reminded

me of sculpture by Jean Arp," says Cheryl. The terra cotta goat is

by Charles Umlauf, and the painting is by Donald Vogel.

Donald Vogel's former art studiois now a conversation area

and repository for the Vogel's personal collection of canvases.

It still includes many of the artist's original furniture and art.

The paper lantern is Noguchi; the tall wood sculpture is by Phil Evett.

Despite the home's mid-century design, "I'm not a modernist person in the real sense," says Cheryl. "I grew up in Florida with lots of color and pattern. I do like to shop for modern furniture though. There's a great store on the Rue du Seine in Paris that has great modern furniture that inspires me. And I'm always looking at magazines. In the construction phase, I got some good advice from Paul Draper, a friend and designer who urged restraint. He said 'You can't just fill up your house with all your favorite bold furniture.'" She also credits photographer David Gibson and architect Bill Booziotis, also friends, for informally helping them redesign the house.

Artist Donald Vogel's original desk includes his old paint brushes.

In the top photo, the figurative wood sculptures are by Phil Evett.

"I'm very influenced by the homes of artists I visit," says Cheryl. "It's about people being together in a space, rather than fussy objects. It should be a space that is amiable for conversation, and there should be books everywhere. I'm always running out of book space. But this house is very demanding. the more we live here, the more we take out and the better it looks." Like a temperamental artist, "The volume of the rooms has a special quality that demands to have its own way," she says.

A version of this story first appeared in Modern Luxury magazine, here.

Best in Dallas Interior Design and Architecture

This White Rock Lake area house has a room

devoted solely to bird watching.

Photo by shoot2sell

Best Of . . . the start of a new year is alway a good time for reflection. This post is all about some of my favorite houses, interiors, and architecture from the blog. Done by Dallas interior designers, Dallas architects, and sometimes the homeowners themselves, these images remind me why I love covering design and why I keep it local. We've got some of the best talent anywhere in the country, don't you think?

Above: One room, one purpose. David and Kim Hurt love wildlife, and devoted this amazing glass room to pursuing the great outdoors from the comfort of their vintage Womb chairs, no less.

To read the full story, go here.

Derek and Christine Wilson aren't afraid to let their toddlers

have free access to their art-packed rooms.

Unbelievably, Derek and Christine Wilson, whose living room is pictured above, live in their art-filled house in Highland Park with two very small children. (Room by Dallas interior designer Brant McFarlain).

To read the full story, go here.

This living room was designed around vintage

Pucci fabric. Photo by Kevin Dotolo

Designing a room around a single inspiration is hardly a new thing, but when the muse is a yard of pink and green vintage Pucci fabric, it makes you want to know more. (Room by Dallas interior designer Beth Dotolo).

To read the full story, go here.

I bet you think this room is about pattern and geometry.

Photo by Kevin Dotolo

It's really about symmetry. You could cut this living room down the middle and it would almost be a mirror reflection. I love the fact that the designer, Beth Dotolo, uses symmetry to balance the room's pattern and shapes. The house belongs to 20-something Lauren Chapman, who is Bradley Agather's best friend (her living room is above).

To read the full story, go here.

The ventilated hood is hand-painted on paper to resemble

crocodile skin. Photo by AMWZ Photography

Dallas artist Annie Omar of Dallas Faux created this stunning ventilated hood for a kitchen designed by Dallas interior designer Tiffany McKinzie. This is one of my favorite kitchens ever -- the faux patent leather croc hood is so unexpected and takes a restrained, beautiful kitchen to a whole new level.

To read the full story, go here.

Dean Martin sat here.

That fact alone is enough for me to swoon. Art gallery owner Kristy Stubbs' bought these glamorous chairs from Dean Martin's house in Palm Springs.

To read the full story, go here.

To hell with strict modernism.

In this showhouse living room, Dallas interior designer John Bobbitt mixed a handful of unlikely subjects, including a 70s Axle Vervoordt sofa, an antique Persian rug, a 17th century Italian mirror, and a coffee table made from antique clockworks. The whole thing is set off by the room's original 18th century Chinese wallpaper. And, it's set inside one of the most famous modern houses in Texas.

To read the full story, go here.

An inspired collaboration.

Interior designer Laura Kirar is from NYC, but the gorgeous room divider she commissioned for the entry of this penthouse at the W Residences here was created by Dallas artist Amanda Weil, who took a photo of a tumbleweed, blew it up really big, then developed it on semi-translucent film which she transferred to glass. I love it when big name, out-of-town designers collaborate with local artisans, but I love it even more when an artist can take a Texas cliché like a tumbleweed and make it relevant and modern.

To read the full story, go here.

A stellar collection of top Dallas-area design talent

worked on this showhouse.

The colorful room pictured above is by Dallas interior designers Kathy Adcock-Smith and Linda Fritschy, but dozens of top local talent participated in last year's City Living Tour, which benefitted the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League. I love showhouses because they're a great way to see great work by designers who are under-the-radar. Magazines and blogs tend to cover the same people over and over, so it's nice when new names get recognition. Some of the interior designers whose work I wasn't familiar with included Catherine Dolen of Catherine Dolen & Associates, April Warner of Lauck Group, and Amy Thomasson of Cadwallader Design. They all created beautiful rooms and I promise you'll be hearing more from them.

To see all the beautiful rooms inside the City Living Tour, go here.

Peace Prize.

Eleven years ago, the great architect Philip Johnson designed the Interfaith Peace Chapel in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas. There was a lot of angst and in-fighting before it ever got built. People got fired. The coffers dried up. In the midst of it all Johnson died. It was the loudest and least peaceful idea of place of worship you could imagine. Then the thing finally got built, thanks to many good souls including Dallas architect Gary Cunningham, and when it opened late last year, it was a masterpiece.

To read the full story, go here.

A 30s era house in Ft. Worth, restored to its Colonial grandeur

Winterthur is a mecca for anyone interested in classic American architecture, and there's only one man licensed in this country to reproduce the hundreds of years of architectural elements represented there -- Brent Hull of Brent Hull Companies -- and he happens to live in Fort Worth. Brent Hull does historic millwork, homebuilding, and consulting in Dallas, Fort Worth and across the country. Owners of the house above hired Hull to renovate their 30s era home with hand-carved millwork from Winterthur, and it's a beautiful example of our American architectural heritage.

To read about the house, go here.

To give is to receive.

Photo by Dave Shafer.

When Dallas interior designer Lisa Robison's husband asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she said seed money to start a non-profit. Dwell with Dignity was born, and in a short amount of time, it's become one of the most talked about charitable organizations in the country. The Dwell House, shown above, is where all the good sprouts.

To read the full story, go here.

A bedroom with a tranquil view.

Perennials founder and Dallas interior designer Ann Sutherland just launched her own design firm, Square Foot Studio. Designers often use their own homes as incubators for ideas, and you can see Sutherland's design style in her own home in Dallas. I love the peaceful courtyard view from the bedroom, and the cheeky John Dickinson footed table.

To see more of Ann Sutherland's house, go here.

At first glance, you might miss the chicken

perched on Lisa Brown's shoulder.

Photo by Justin Clemmons

I get more comments from this story than almost any I've done. Dallas art dealer Lisa Brown and her family keep exotic chickens in the backyard of her stylish Greenway Parks house, and it's part of an art-and-animal filled lifestyle that I call Farmhouse Chic.

To read more of the story, go here.

Traditional, done timeless.

Photo by Dan Piassick

It's not sweet. It's not heavy-handed. A man could sleep in this room and not wake up with nightmares. It's everything a classic bedroom ought to be, I think. The gray/blue monochromatic color scheme mixed with dark woods keep the florals in check. The drapery adds a layer of softness, and the gilt tieback is glamorous. Dallas interior designer Pam Kelly did this room.

To see more of her beautiful rooms, go here.

I love the fact that there's a Dallas design firm that specializes

in interior design for high rises.

There are big challenges in designing rooms so high up in the air. For one, they tend to float away visually unless you ground them with the proper color flooring and rugs. They may have sweeping windows and views, but high rise apartments tend to be small. Dallas interior designers Vicki Crew and Susan Smith at Urban Interiors specialize in helping people downsize from sprawling Dallas houses into glam new aeries. I love that.

See more of their work here.

Modern art and gilt Louis chairs make me happy

Love everything that Dallas interior designer Laura Lee Clark puts her hands on. These chairs could go in a modern space and look more like sculpture than seating.

To read more about Laura Lee Clark's rooms, go here.

Effortlessly eclectic

Dallas interior designer Louise Kemp's house in Preston Hollow mixes good modern art and furniture with an array of naturalistic elements (the plaster unicorn is 19th century), and antique French chairs (the one at far left is recovered in a cubist needlepoint made by Kemp's mother, Dallas designer Mary Cassidy). The house was renovated by Dallas architect Ron Wommack.

You should really see the rest of it here.

So very un-Dallas.

This smashing Preston Hollow house by the great architect Edward Durrell Stone has changed hands many times since it was built in the mid-50s, and who knows how it survived the wrecking ball. Dallas architect Russell Buchanan, who won an award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for his work restoring it, tracked down Stone's long-forgotten papers and blueprints. Dallas interior designer David Cadwallader did the interiors. It's one of the best houses in Dallas, no question.

To read the full story, go here.

Got architecture?

If your apartment lacks interior architecture, create your own. That's what Dallas furniture designers Arthur Johnson and Scott Hill of Square One Furniture did in their mid-century highrise. The fireplace is completely portable, but beautiful with its faux shagreen surround. A pair of over-sized floor lamps balance the room. Scott has a degree in architecture from UT and it shows! Sometimes scale and proportion are all that matter.

To read the more of the story, go here.

If you think this house is amazing, wait till you see the backyard.

The Vogel family has lived in this modern house since the 50s when Donald Vogel built it. It's on the grounds of the Valley House Gallery, one of the oldest art galleries in the country, and the family turned their spectacular backyard, which consists of many acres, into a public sculpture garden. It's hidden away and little-known, but it's without a doubt one of the most spectacular places in Dallas.

To see the gardens the Vogels call their backyard, go here.

Hollywood Glam started here.

A room designed by Dallas interior designer Jan Showers is instantly identifiable, and I love that about her work. Showers was among the very first in the country to begin using French 40s and 50s furniture and Venetian glass in her interiors. Now, it's everywhere, but Showers seems to always do it better than anyone. I love the James Mont-style Asian coffee table, the French blue lamps, and the modern art in this room. Those pillows remind me of Josef Albers op art paintings, and they've sort of become one of Showers' signature looks.

To read more about Jan Showers, go here.

This house was designed around a 1960s jazz tune

This has to be the coolest house in Dallas. The client, a jazz lover, gave Dallas architect Cliff Welch a CD with a little-known jazz tune from the 60s as inspiration to design his new house. I love the fact that Welch took it seriously, listening to the song for months and dissecting the tune note by note. He interpreted the song's structure into the house's design, and even pulled colors and the feel of the furnishings from classic jazz album covers.

To read the rest of the amazing story and hear the song that inspired the house, go here.

Remarkably, people live here.

Philip Johnson designed this dazzling house in Preston Hollow decades ago, but Dallas architect Svend Fruit and Dallas interior designer Mil Bodron of Bodron + Fruit made it sublime with their restrained renovation. Who needs furniture when you have an art collection like this?

To read the full story, go here.