Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,500,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
City View: Dallas Design Corrals a Range of Styles
All antlers and cowhide? Hardly. See the real styles and trends, and the misconceptions, about design in this Lone Star State hub
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
In honor of the return of the Ewings and South Fork Ranch fame to prime-time television this week, I sought out design professionals in Dallas to find out about design styles and trends in their city. I asked interior designers, bloggers, architects, contractors and other professionals to describe at least one of the following:
The truth is that Dallas design falls in the range somewhere between the two, and just like in the rest of the country, many residents are interested in living smaller, smarter and more efficiently, as well as stylishly. Check out what Dallas professionals have to say about design in their fair city.
"Dallas" airs at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. Central time) Wednesdays on TNT
- Something that makes a design distinctly Dallas
- A trend that is on the rise in Dallas
- A misconception about design in Dallas
The truth is that Dallas design falls in the range somewhere between the two, and just like in the rest of the country, many residents are interested in living smaller, smarter and more efficiently, as well as stylishly. Check out what Dallas professionals have to say about design in their fair city.
"Dallas" airs at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. Central time) Wednesdays on TNT
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Catherine Dolen of Catherine Dolen & Associates says, "Dallas is known for stunning traditionally styled interiors — especially with a French influence ... |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
... however, there is definitely a move toward a more transitional, cleaner look. The refreshing mix of simpler lines, less pattern and eclectic furnishings is definitely making its mark."
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
"Dallas is known for having the over-the-top design aesthetic. Lots of 'bling' and unfortunately, most people think Dallas design can be gaudy," says Abbe Fenimore of Studio Ten 25. "I think many people would be surprised to know that Dallas also has a fabulous side that can be fresh, well styled and approachable. With design-forward publications like DHome and Modern Luxury, there is something for everyone here in Dallas."
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Interior designer Beth Dotolo of Pulp Design Studios says, "One misconception about design in Dallas is that it is distinctly Texas traditional, with Western motifs and heavy wrought iron. On the contrary, Dallas residents are diverse, forward thinking and embrace a modern approach to interior design. Our Dallas clients are moving towards an updated interior design approach that is attainable, functional and adaptable to their lifestyles, while still beautiful, bold, and modern." |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| "I find the trend here in Dallas is all about incorporating regions and cultures from around the world," says Jeffrey Johnson of Jeffrey Design. "In addition, the modern-contemporary style is on the rise for all ages. Clients want to show off with elegant, cosmopolitan design, adding off-the-wall art or unique furniture pieces." |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
"There is quite a bit of new-home building going on in Dallas, which is a very good sign for the economy," says Dona Rosene of Dona Rosene Interiors. "Dallasites want their homes to be unique in the details, like backsplash designs and bathroom tile designs. Everyone wants a lighter, cleaner aesthetic, even if they are still traditional in style."
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I think “distinctively Dallas,” to be honest, ends up being the blend of the two general stereotypes of Dallas. You’ve got Larry Hagman/Sue Ellen, big hair, big money, Neiman Marcus Dallas, which is all about opulence, ritz and glamour," says writer and photographer Valerie McCaskill Dickman. "Then you’ve got the rustic, vintage, gypsy, cowboy, ranch-style Dallas, which is a little more earthy, masculine and simple. Then, somehow, you get the merger of the two, which I think is perfectly represented by this regal, golden hand-carved, hand-painted vintage chair, which was reupholstered in — you guessed it — Texas cowhide."
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| As for rising trends in Dallas, Dickman has her eye on the hot art scene. "There is a major art movement happening in Dallas, from a more bustling and ever-expanding downtown art district to the resurgence of some grittier but much-loved neighborhoods, like Deep Ellum and Bishop Arts," she says. "A specific interior trend I’ve noticed is a lot more personal, self-expression pieces featured that span artistic mediums or even hybrids of several." "For example, here I did a rather wild DIY paint job on an old piano to play off a map theme in my office. It manages to work alongside more rustic vintage pieces, such as the entry bench to the right and a rusty metal wheel at the top of the stairs. It’s a complementary blend, like the house — a new-construction home that has historic Craftsman style. That’s similar to how most of Dallas considers itself: the best of both worlds, blending contemporary with rustic." |
"Dallas residents are trending towards smaller, more functional spaces; the days of the McMansion are coming to an end, and many clients are asking for space-cautious design," says Wiley Gilliam, president of Modern Craft Construction.
"In this example, my client desperately needed an office in her home," says Gilliam. "The solution was to add a small space in her master bedroom that could be closed off to look like a closet."
"In this example, my client desperately needed an office in her home," says Gilliam. "The solution was to add a small space in her master bedroom that could be closed off to look like a closet."
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Jillian Woods of The Virginia House blog says, "I think one major misconception would be that Dallas is all country western. Though cowboy pride runs deep and wide here, there is still room for other styles and influences. Vintage cottage style has taken hold here just like everywhere else in the country." (The blog name comes from Woods' middle name, by the way. She lives in Texas.)
by Kim D. Hoegger
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Simultaneously offended and amused by an over-the-top tacky Dallas design TV show I'll keep nameless for now, interior designer and shop owner Kim D. Hoegger wants to set the record straight. "Dallas is reserved and very traditional in its approach to design, not gaudy and glitzy as portrayed on that terrible TV show. It gives Dallas designers a bad name!"
"My Dallas clients are a little more studied, a little less in-your-face about how they go about presenting their lifestyle. They don't have a desire to build the biggest or most expensive house they can possibly afford," says Janelle Steinberg, of Janelle Steinberg Interior Design. "They value architectural character in their homes and aren't interested in cookie-cutter McMansions. They want classic, transitional and updated traditional design styles — sensible refinement that's tasteful and timeless."
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
D Home magazine's creative director, Jamie Laubhan-Oliver, brought up Dallas' unique geography as an influence, saying, "I think one of the pluses to living in a rural-urban city is that we are able to find and experiment with unusual interior materials, and we aren't afraid to do it. We will mix French, modern and farmhouse all in the same room."
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| "A trend that is on the rise in Dallas? Glamour. Glitz and sparkle. Lush layers. When most people think 'Dallas,' they think of boots and jeans, cattle and oil. Dallas is actually a very affluent city with a high sense of style," says Laubhan-Oliver. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| As for a misconception about design in Dallas, Laubhan-Oliver says, "Oversized furniture. Southwestern style. Antlers in every room. I think it's fun to take a modern approach to those things with faux deer and empty taxidermy mounts." |
|
by JDS DESIGNS
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| "A misconception about design in Dallas is that we are all country. We are up-to-date with the rest of them," says Jenna Denson of JDS Designs. "Something that makes a design distinctly Dallas would be our obsession with our sports team; we decorate rooms around our love for the game." |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
There are some elements that will always be distinctly Dallas. Just make sure you're not overwrought. "Dallas would not be Dallas without wrought iron," asserts blogger Melinda Faranetta. "Artisans who work with steel are found throughout the community and make it easy for designers like myself to use our imaginations."
What's the style where you live? If your city has a distinct style you'd like to see featured, please let me know in the Comments section.
More:
Houzz Tour: Casual Glamour in Dallas
My Houzz: Budget-Friendly Bohemian Ranch in Dallas
My Houzz: Reinvented Ranch-Style Home in Dallas
What's the style where you live? If your city has a distinct style you'd like to see featured, please let me know in the Comments section.
More:
Houzz Tour: Casual Glamour in Dallas
My Houzz: Budget-Friendly Bohemian Ranch in Dallas
My Houzz: Reinvented Ranch-Style Home in Dallas
Ideabook updated on June 14, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
Love Jan Showers - all of the sudden I started seeing her everywhere, from magazines to her book to her furniture.
Mercy Me, I'd love to see more of those mid-C homes from Dallas. I'll keep my eyes open for them!
By the way, I don't think anyone was trying to put down rustic country; I think people were just making the point that that's not all there is to Dallas as it can tend to be a stereotype for the area, along with the whole GCB type of bling.
Btw, thanks for spotlighting our wonderful city.
Abbe Fenimore
Studio Ten 25