Become a Certified Color Consultant

Up first is a unique opportunity to become a Certified Color Consultant. This interactive, two-day class hosted September 26 & 27 at the Dallas Design Center promises to unlock the secrets of color and teach designers innovative ways to capture new clients. The only Color Consultation Certification program accredited by the top professional design organizations (ASID, NKBA, IDCEC ASID, IIDA, IDC, and IDEC), designers can earn  .8 CEUs or 8 credit hours.

The event is free but the folks at RABH ask that you please RSVP by September 23 to dallasevents@robertallendesign.com.

Images courtesy of Kiki Titterud.

The Miele showroom hosts regular events like product cooking presentations, Master Chef hands on classes and laundry therapy. Laundry therapy! Who doesn’t need that?

I’m not a teacher, most of my friends and cousins are still childless, and I work in the Design District, which isn’t exactly the most kid-friendly part of town. So basically, I’m never around kids, like ever. So when I ventured over to Miele this morning for their first Kids Cooking Class, I had no idea what I was in for!

This morning the children of Miele’s Dallas sales reps and employees gathered for a test drive of Miele’s newest class: Cooking for Kids. During the class, the kids learned how to cook Macaroni & Cheese Cupcakes, Chicken Lollipops and a Crunchy Granola Snack.

Miele’s dynamic duo, Lorraine and Andy, helped the kids follow the recipe and showed them how to easily use the Miele appliances in the showroom’s fabulous test kitchen.

The mom’s got to get their hands dirty too, helping with some of the class’s younger members.

The kids were incredibly well behaved and outfitted in adorable little Miele Kids aprons.

They were all eager to help and so proud of the food that they created. I’m surprised at how much fun I had. And I was just taking pictures! There’s nothing like the smile of a child to brighten your day!

Due the success of today’s festivities, Miele is going to start offering more kids cooking classes. Subscribe to LowerOakLawn.com for all the latest info on upcoming classes and kid-friendly activities in the Dallas Design District!

Check out more pictures from today’s event on Flickr:

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Miele Dallas Gallery
1700 Oak Lawn Ave, Suite 200
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 741-3535
www.miele.com/dallas

Tis’ the season! Well not quite yet, but it’s sure approaching quickly. Invitations are already being sent for this season’s holiday parties. I got two today! There’s no better place to begin brainstorming ideas for your 2010 holiday party than this Wednesday’s second annual Holiday Hostess Soiree at The Kitchen Source from 6:00 to 9:oo pm.

I had the pleasure of attending last year’s event, and let me tell you, it’s totally worth the $35 ticket. First, ticket proceeds benefit the Dale Clark Foundation. There’s nothing like a little charitable giving to put you in the holiday spirit! Second, you’re sure to pick up some great tips and tricks for putting on a truly fabulous fete!

Evening highlights include:

• Cooking demonstration by Magnolia Hotel’s Chef Paul Zofsak
• Custom & creative cocktail preparation by Certified Mixologist Sly Cosmolpus
• Event planning tips from Ed Barrett of Signature Productions
• Peruse invitations and paper goods from Paper Affair
• See beautiful sample Tablescapes by Posh Couture Rentals.

Check out pictures from last year’s Holiday Hostess Soiree on Flickr then purchase tickets online at DGPublications.com. See you there!

The Kitchen Source
1544 Slocum Street
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 741-1912
www.thekitchensource.net‎

Photo via {HostessBlog.com}

Say what you will about the French, they sure know how to throw a party! (Don’t believe me? Ask Marie Antoinette.) Next week you can learn how to throw the ultimate French fete at Pierre Deux’s “Art of the French Table” event.

Dr. Elizabeth New, President and Founder of French Affaires, a company that celebrates French travel, culture, language, and l’art de vivre, will be on hand to talk about the key elements of entertaining in French style. Benjamin Calais, CEO and owner of Calais Winery will lead a wine tasting featuring locally grown French-styled wine and foods that complement them.

As a lagniappe for their loyal customers, Pierre Deux will be offering 20% off your purchase of non-sale merchandise, when you present this card at point-of-purchase. (Thanks to MW for my new vocab word!)

The event will be hosted at Pierre Deux’s Dallas showroom on Thursday, September 30 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. It is free but they’re asking that guests répondez, s’il vous plaît (that’s RSVP in French folks) by Tuesday, September 28 by calling 214.749.7775 or emailing dallas@pierredeux.com.

Pierre Deux
1525 Hi Line Drive, Suite A
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 749-7775‎
www.pierredeux.com

We’ve been covering the Dallas Design District art scene on LowerOakLawn.com for almost a year now, and judging from the hundreds of people I saw out at the exhibit openings this weekend, it’s more hopping than ever! While LowerOakLawn.com is, of course, a great resource for keeping up with the Design District art scene, for those of you needing a crash course to get up to speed in a hurry, you’re in luck!

This fall SMU is giving Dallasites a new and exciting way to learn about Dallas’s hottest artistic community, offering an informal continuing education course at SMU entitled Get The Artistic Low-Down On Lower Oak Lawn. Taught by Gail Sachson, Vice-Chair of Dallas’ Cultural Affairs Commission, this two Saturday class will give students a great historic look at art in the Design District, plus information on the area’s public art, and of course, a tour of the area’s hottest galleries. Read the course description after the jump for more info and to register online. Gail tells me the class is filling up quickly, so be sure to register ASAP! 

Get The Artistic Low-Down On Lower Oak Lawn

Familiarize yourself with Dallas’s trendiest art scene through a provocative presentation and tour of the Lower Oak Lawn (LOL) area, previously the private domain of designers. What was once considered “To the Trade Only” has become “To the Trendy Only” and with its refined development, this community is challenging New York’s Chelsea as the hot spot for art and artistic activity. On 10/2, meet on campus. On 10/9, tour the galleries and alternative spaces that give LOL such a buzz, in a day designed just for you.

Class will meet in the Meadows Museum Auditorium only on the first class day, 10/2. Second class session on 10/9 will be a field trip to Lower Oak Lawn in Dallas and students will meet at a location TBA .

Cost: $69
Register: Online Registration

The Mary Tomás Studio Gallery on Dragon Street is different than most of the other galleries in the Design District. Not only does the gallery display art, but it’s also the personal studio of painter and proprietor Mary Tomás. On any given day you can drop in and watch Mary hard at work on her latest canvas creation!

Last time I was in, I learned something new about the gallery. It turns out Mary also offers painting classes! Every Monday Mary teaches techniques of the Old Master painters while helping artists develop their own “painting language.”

No painting experience? No problem. Mary assures me that all skill levels are welcome at the classes which cater to everyone from the budding artist to the painting pro. The classes are semi-private and small in size so participants can receive individual instruction.

Classes are hosted every Monday at 10:30 am and 2:00 pm and cost $180 for six weeks of instruction. Participants  purchase their own painting supplies and can email Mary at mary@marytomas.com for a full supply list. You can contact Mary by email or call the gallery to receive a supply list and to sign up!

More interested in checking out the art than making it? Then stop in to see her work and meet her adorable chiweenie (yep, that’s a chihuahua and a weenie dog!), Suki.

Mary Tomás Studio Gallery
1080 Bldg. at 1110 Dragon Street
Dallas, Texas 75207
(214) 727-5101
www.marytomas.com/studiogallery

Last week, a large crowd of designers gathered at the Kravet showroom in the Dallas Design Center to learn the 101′s of social media from the VP of Communications for Kravet and Lee Jofa, Beth Greene. Kravet also hosted three local experts as guest panelists to showcase examples of designers who utilize social media to drive business, including Alana Villanueva {Dallas Decorum}, Sally Hammond {Divine Distractions}, Shay Geyer {Designer Detective}.

Left to Right: Sally Hammond, Alana Villanueva, Beth Greene and Shay Geyer

Sally Hammond, designer and writer of the popular blog Divine Distractions, explained to me that Kravet has been the early adopter of social media in the fabric world, and that she believes “they are very smart to get their designers on board.”  Sally was surprised to see designers of all ages in attendance: “I thought older folks like me might not find social networking to their liking, but fortunately, I was wrong. I think that for the design community, we are approaching the tipping point where it will be mandatory for everyone to get on board [with social media] or they will begin to see a decrease in market share.”

Designers of all ages were interested in hearing what the panelists had to say about social media.

Alana Villanueva whose blog Dallas Decorum serves as a conduit for information between designers and showrooms in Dallas said:

“It was so great to share my social media experience with the Dallas design community at the Kravet showroom and see the energy of our designers’ enthusiasm for design and their businesses. Today’s client wants to know you before making an investment in hiring you, and they want to get to know you fast, at their discretion. It is just another example of our “instant gratification” mindset and by harnessing the power of social media you can take your marketing game to the next level without a huge amount of expense. The point is to have fun and just be you!”

Other social media savvy ladies in attendance were Beth Dotolo of Nest Interior Design {Nest Design Blog and Hello Splendor}, Laura Davis of HDP Architecture {Dallas Architect Blog}, and Erin Sanders {Erin Sander Design} — just to name a few! To see who else was there, check out pictures on the Flickr album or by clicking the thumbnails below:

[flickr album=72157624071737893 num=10 size=Square]

Overall the event was a rousing success. For those designers looking to learn even more about how to incorporate social media into their businesses, check out next week’s lecture on Social Media for the Design Industry at the Leslie Taylor Showroom.

Kravet
1025 North Stemmons Fwy., Ste. 720
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 761.9131
www.kravet.com

Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment. – Claude Monet

Ann Sacks Tile & Stone in the Dallas Design District is hosting a Color Theory class on Wednesday March 24 from 10-11:30 am. And the good news is that the class counts towards continuing education credits! Architects will earn 1.0 learning units and interior designers will earn 0.1 CEU. The event is free and open to the public, so you don’t have to be a designer to attend; so come and enjoy a morning filled with color!

RSVP by March 19 to evelyn.dewitt@annsacks.com or (214) 742-8453.

Ann Sacks Tile & Stone
1616 Oak Lawn Ave.
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 742-8453
www.annsacks.com

Relax and energize your mind, body and soul tonight at the Alexan Design District’s Yoga Chi class. Classes are held on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 7:oo pm in the Alexan Design District fitness center.  If you have a yoga mat, bring it! If not, the Alexan stocks a handful of mats for you to borrow — just remember, it’s first come first served!

It’s a good idea to arrive 5 to 10 minutes early to check in and get your mat set up. Also, guests and prospective residents must enter through the leasing office which closes at 6 pm.

Check out pictures from last week’s class after the jump!

[flickr album=72157623285568387 num=8 size=Thumbnail]

Alexan Design District
1551 Oak Lawn Ave.
Dallas, TX 75207
www.alexandesigndistrict.com