Lower Oak Lawn

With 2012 just a few days away, Leslie Taylor showroom is prepping for the new year by hosting an inventory reduction extravaganza, offering beautiful furnishings at sale prices to make room for new product set to hit the floor in January. The sale will be hosted for two days only — Wednesday, December 28 and Thursday, December 29, 2011 — so hurry in!

Also new at Leslie Taylor is their website. Recently launched, the new site offers organized galleries with product photos as well as a new blog! Visit www.leslietaylorhome.com to check it out!

You may have noticed that at the corner of Irving Blvd. and Manufacturing Street a new storefront has appeared–SofaWorks. Specializing in customizable sofas with affordable pricing, the new Dallas location will be open on January 2, 2012.

SofaWorks is a manufacturer and distributor of “made to order” sofas, sectionals, chairs and custom ottomans. The manufacturing facility is located in Los Angeles, but the first “factory direct” showroom will open in Dallas. The reason for the Dallas location, according to owner Don Jefferies, is because “we felt there was void in sourcing high fashion upholstered furniture made to the exact specification in size, configuration, seat cushion and back cushion fill and firmness. Plus, offering an extensive selection of the latest fabrics, or COM, and leather, for both the interior designer or direct retail customer.”

At SofaWorks, you can personalize your sofa with choices of arm style, fabric, back height and style, and even select finishing details like hand hammered nail trim, contrast welt or button tufting. Delivery time for a custom sofa is about four to six weeks.

You can visit the SofaWorks website at www.thesofaworks.com or call (214) 760-1181.

With showroom space just around the corner, I get to see Jennifer Janian from JANUS et Cie more often than some of my other Design District friends. And I’m glad I do. Jennifer always has a glowing smile, is stylishly dressed and super helpful with blog ideas!

Jennifer shared her favorite thing about the holidays, saying, “One of my favorite December traditions in Dallas is having holiday cocktails with friends at the Library Bar in the Warwick Melrose Hotel. The bar always has a fabulous crooner at the piano. It’s so cozy and inviting – the perfect place for gathering together, kicking back in a leather chair with a hot toddy or something sparkling.”

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New restaurants keep springing up all over the District! Today, Kay Agnew’s new eatery, Bridge Bistro, opened up for lunch, featuring a French-American-Cajun menu, bridge-themed drinks and creative coffee concoctions.

Stop by 921 N. Riverfront Blvd, right at the corner of Riverfront and Payne, to try herb-stuffed mushrooms, crawfish etouffee, a coffee with ginger, honey and pollen, or the “Rialto” cocktail with Campari and orange Pellegrino. View the full menu here.

Bridge Bistro will be serving breakfast and lunch, and offer a private room for parties.

I’ll be the first to admit, this year’s gift guides have aired a bit on the feminine side. Brining us a true guys-guy gift guide is Chris Dicken, a chef, outdoorsman and avid antiquer! Chris is always enthusiastic in helping provide great content about his showroom, E.C. Dicken to me for the blog and has been fun to get to know during my time here in the District.

When I asked Chris his favorite part of the holiday season, he gave a warm and thoughtful response. ”This time of year it is always good to take an inventory on what you are thankful for. I guess what I’m most thankful for is my wife and four children. I’m so blessed with family and to be married to my best friend is truly a joy. This time of year it is easy to get caught up in what to expect under the Christmas tree or what is this going to cost but I think the Christmas season is best suited to give thanks for the things that money cant buy namely friends, family and a home.”

Chris included with his gift guide a few images from his recent buying trip to England, which will arrive at the showroom in early January. I wanted to make sure you saw these so I put them first! Keep reading for Chris’s gift guide.

Chris’s gift guide picks come with his stamp of approval. “These are all products that I like and use frequently,” Chris told me.

1. Medium Duffle Bag // www.flson.com
Filson has the best clothes for the individual who like to be outdoors.

2. Become an Organ Donor // TaylorsGift.org
In the spirit of giving you can make a donation to TG or become and become an organ donor.

3. Sutton Seasonings // SuttonsSeasonings.com
Local interior designer Peggy Shelmire developed and sells this great salt mix.

4. Ptarmigan Gentleman’s Knife // Ptarmigan
One of the best places for bespoke shotguns and clothes.

5. CFO Disc Drag Fly Fishing Reel // www.orvis.com
Fly fishing outfitter Orvis is a favorite of mine.

6. Foul Weather Fly Fishing Vest // www.flson.com

7. Macbook Pro // Apple
Anything from the Apple store is cool!

If you’ve been at any of the events posted here on the LowerOakLawn.com blog, chances are you’ve met Jennifer Fordham. Jennifer is bright, easy to talk to, and a great designer! She’s always out and about in the Design District supporting her fellow showrooom neighbors and networking up a storm!

The Poggenpohl employee’s favorite thing about the holidays is friends and family coming together to celebrate. “I also love getting friends together, grabbing some hot chocolate and looking at Christmas lights!”

So what is on Jennifer’s Christmas list this year? “I, of course, think that the best gift would be a Poggenpohl kitchen,” Jennifer explains. “As one of my clients said today, buying a Poggenpohl kitchen for my wife would make up for a lot of my mistakes and cover a few future ones!”

Check out Jennifer’s other holiday gift suggestions below!

1. Letterpress holiday cards // Paper Source
This year I couldn’t resist putting people on the naughty list, so these were my cards.

2. LYS Candle Holders // Mody & Mody
I love these candle holders from B&B!

3. Designer Silicone iPhone 4 Case + Other Stocking Stuffers // The Container Store
For small gifts The Container Store stocking stuffers are pretty great.

4. Michael Kors iPhone Wristlet // Nordstrom
Often I want to leave my purse at home when I go out but an Iphone is too bulky for my back pocket. Problem solved!

5. NM Chocolate Chip Cookies // Neiman Marcus
My first job out of school was store planner for Neiman Marcus. There I learned that everyone loves cookies for Christmas…especially NM cookies! I still buy these as host gifts.

Monday, Dec. 19, from 8 p.m. to midnight, The Just Us League, ArtLoveMagic, and the Hilton Anatole will host a night of music, celebrity guests, food, drink and dancing under the Anatole Nebula. The event will feature a live auction to help raise funds for children’s art workshops across Dallas.

The Just Us League is a 111-member collective who create a single piece of artwork in 111 minutes with the help of 11 different members. The League will be live painting at the event, auctioning off the pieces created at the end of the night. Also up for auction will be large-scale works that the League created previously. To top off the night, all eleven artists will come together to create a larger-than-life portrayal of a snow-frosted landscape of downtown Dallas.

The night is free and open to the public, with complimentary entry, valet, and food and drinks until 10 p.m. All proceeds will go to ArtLoveMagic, a nonprofit that has been producing free art workshops for children in Dallas through their Creative Kids Art Supply Fund.

For those of you who haven’t met Blake yet, you’re missing out! The friendly and outgoing property manager at Alta 1900 Lofts is totally in-the-know about all things LOL. And not just because he works here. Truth is, Blake spent a lot of time down in the District before heading down here to manage the apartments.

Blake’s favorite thing about the holiday season is time shared with his entire family. “Time is such a precious commodity with my siblings working in different cities and my nieces and nephews growing up so fast,” Blake explains. “Christmas day is spent with a perfect blend of holiday festivities, 30 family members and my parent’s “7 grand dogs” in attendance — there is never a dull moment!”

From family to neighbors and even dogs, Blake but together a great gift guide for all!

Blake Peery’s Holiday Gift Guide: 

1. Scrabble Door Mat // BoConcept
This welcome mat makes the statement for your guest’s even before you answer the door.

2. Donate a Meal // North Texas Food Bank
It is not always easy to get away from work and volunteer, but anyone can make a difference by donating as little as $10, which provides 30 meals for those most in need amongst North Texas.

3. Tiffany & Co. Holiday Ornaments // Tiffany & Co.
I collect these each year to add to my tree(s). I love the timeless designs!

4. Gift Certificate // Green Pet
This is the best place to go for eco-friendly pet food and products. I especially love their amazing collar collections.

5. Yarmond Shearling Slipper // Ralph Lauren
A winter must have….even in Texas!

6. Tyler’s “High Maintenance” Jar Candle // Sample House & Candle Shop

7. Ginger Bread House Kit // World Market

Who better to solicit for holiday gift guides than interior designers – people who are paid for their good taste? Melissa Woody has been featured here on the blog before and was a natural choice! Melissa’s newly opened Lamp Shoppe on Dragon Street is getting a lot of buzz and keeping her busy, but she was sweet enough to take the time to put together a handful of wonderful gift selections!

On her favorite part of the holidays, Melissa says, “My favorite thing is having my kids come home from college and bring all their animals! We eat, drink and have the best of times with family and friends!”

We wish you, your kids and their pets a very Merry Christmas Melissa! Now on to the gift guide…

Melissa Woody’s Holiday Gift Guide:

1. Homemade English Toffee
When the kids come home from college it wouldn’t be the same without my homemade english toffee. I usually start making batches right after Thanksgiving. It makes for a great gift too!

2. Winter Berry Christmas Candle // Williams-Sonoma
It smells just like Christmas! Build a fire in the fireplace, light your candles, and pour a glass of wine. It doesn’t hurt that the candles are also monogrammed!

3. Oval Turquoise Post Earrings // Neiman Marcus
Choose a special little bauble from the 2nd floor jewelry section at Neiman Marcus Northpark. Girls can always use another pair of earrings!

4. Socialite Dog Collar // Dublin Dog
I can’t forget about all of my 4 – legged friends! Dublin dog company has a large wonderful selection of collars, toys and accessories, believe it or not…My dogs know when it’s Christmas and get excited for their gifts!

5. Custom Lamp or Gift Certificate // The Lampe Shoppe
A custom lamp or gift certificate from The Lamp Shoppe sure goes a long way for those that love design!