amazing vase | dwell studio for global views

DwellStudio has gone product design for Global Views (one of our FAVORITE local vendors).  JMI is hesitant to endorse "the vase" due to some people's ability to pack them in their home like sardines.  Just like candleholders, we cringe when client's homes are cluttered with these unnecessary fillers.  Vases and candleholders are typically the first things to be placed in the garage during a revamp (along with faux flowers/greenery).  So remember to EDIT and only keep the best & brightest.

DwellStudio has created a series of vases that alone can be a stand-out sculptural object on a desk, mantel, or console table.  Beautiful on their own or with fresh flowers, these are some amazing vases!

all available through J.McIntyre HOME (that's right... we will order you ANYTHING!)

j.mcintyre HOME | progress

Coming right along!!!

the deets...

J.McIntyre HOME is coming along!!!  We have finalized our location and are proud to announce that this August we will be moving into an awesome new development in Downtown Arlington.  This area of Arlington is booming with the Cowboys Stadium right down the street, and we are excited to be part of the growth!  This is a great central location for all of our clients in Fort Worth, Arlington, and Dallas, and will hopefully become home to new walk-in customers looking for unique home goods.

Dodson Development has taken an original 1950's retail building and transformed it into a charming new home for the Flying Fish restaurant, Twisted Root Burger Co, and the second location of BEE: Best Enchilada Ever (and believe me, they are!).  So come late summer we will be settled in our new location, surrounded by great restaurants, bars, and other small business owners... and we can't wait!

retail treat | DVF for bloomingdale's

We are serious fans of Diane Von Furstenberg (can you say wrap dress?!?!).  And now the house of DVF has come out with a new funky and colorful line of home goods for Bloomingdale's.  Brides rejoice!  What an awesome addition to your registry list... we can't get enough of the colorful bedding, chargers, plates, egg-shell bowls, and what an awesome horn wine bottle holder.  Check out the goods...

blogs we love | d home

D Home magazine has launched a new blog for the Dallasite who wants to be in the local know!  Check it out...

unwrapping an etiquette enigma

Today's post requires me to tread lightly on a subject that I have long pondered since the post-graduate days of invitations to wedding showers and baby showers began.

GIFT ETIQUETTE

As I searched this morning for a baby shower invitation for my best friend, I was reminded of the many occasions where the mail was delivered to my home and shortly after came the excitement of being invited to a party!  Then the astonishment of this request at the bottom of the invitation...

"unwrapped gifts please"

My point of view on this comes from two places.

1. I thoroughly enjoy wrapping gifts.  It is a creative element that I feel goes hand-in-hand with the gift you are giving.  With so many options for stylish wrapping paper, ribbons, tags, cards, and those cute little Chinese lunch-box gift packages, who wouldn't?!?
2. I feel that if I am bringing a gift to a shower, I should be in charge of making the decision on how I would like my present to be presented.

With a little research, I found a great explanation on this subject and why it is against proper etiquette to include this request.

(post from invitationbox.com)

Bridal Shower & Baby Shower Gift Wrapping

Monday, January 25th, 2010

In modern times, the main purpose for hosting a baby shower or bridal shower is to celebrate the bride or mommy-to-be and shower them with gifts that they will need for the next chapter of their lives. Many customers have been asking lately about the etiquette behind asking your guests to wrap or not wrap gifts. Many brides/mothers feel that they would rather spend quality time visiting with guests, dining, playing games etc. rather than focusing on material items and others do this from the GREEN perspective.

The straight across answer to this dilema is that it is against proper etiquette to ask your guests to bring an unwrapped gift to a shower – period. It is often considered tacky or that the honoree is unappreciative for the gifts presented and does not want to take the time to open each gift. While in most cases this is not the truth, asking guests to bring an unwrapped present does not give off a good vibe. From the GREEN perspective, we can see how many brides/mothers may feel it important to ‘save a tree’. This has become more accepted but still goes against traditional etiquette.

The bottom line is that most guest truly enjoy watching you open their gift, as well as other guests’ gifts, at the bridal shower or baby shower. Everyone gets a chance to see what the new baby or your new house will have and it can be a very fun bonding experience. Remember that a shower is not only a reflection of the host but also the honoree.

I’m not one that always sticks with traditional etiquette, but in this case, we suggest allowing your guests to bring wrapped gifts.

LOL @ LOL

Lower Oak Lawn (LOL) is quickly becoming the new Dallas hot spot with restaurants, coffee shops, salons, etc. all slated to open in 2011.  The Design District is booming and I couldn't be more excited!  Equally as enthused is local blogger Kendall Shiffler, the self-proclaimed "aficionado for everything Lower Oak Lawn".  Be sure to check out her blog Lower Oak Lawn - Life in the Design District for all things LOL.

Friday I enjoyed a glorious patio lunch on what had to be the most beautiful day EVER in Dallas.  A friend and I met at the Meddlesome Moth, a new-ish restaurant concept in the Design District.  An appropriate location for such a uniquely designed space from Dallas restauranteur Shannon Wynne.  A few interesting design elements... the floating stained glass panels in the dining room were salvaged from the Hard Rock Cafe, and the tap wall is covered in quarters.  Be sure to hit the patio with a large glass of wine before the Texas summer heat arrives!

The Meddlesome Moth

everything sale!

Another Horchow EVERYTHING SALE is here!  Don't miss the entire inventory at Horchow marked down 20-30%.  If you have had your eye on something, now is the time to buy!

Here are some of our favorite items from the Neiman Marcus home store...