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China or Bust

Dallas entertaining expert monograms her way to big-time partnership

Anna Fialho Byers
Aug 3, 2016 | 9:04 am

There’s no doubt that Kimberly Schlegel Whitman is the reigning monogram queen of Dallas. Just consider the success of her latest (seventh) book, Monograms for the Home.

When she’s not monogramming, though, the entertaining expert (and blogger, TV guest host, NorthPark ambassador, and CultureMap lifestyle editor-at-large) is busy running Halo Home by KSW, a specialty linen company that she co-founded in 2015 with calligrapher and monogrammer Jen O’Neal.

“I noticed a big gap in the tabletop market,” Whitman says. “The table linens I found were either elegant and very, very expensive, or the lower-priced tags had a very low quality. Jen wanted to collaborate on some personalized products, so we put our heads together and came up with the products we offer through Halo Home by KSW.”

Those products include tablecloths, napkins, placemats, and the like. One of the main goals of Halo Home, though, is to provide a wide assortment of colors to accompany the numerous china patterns that exist — and monogramming, of course.

“We carefully select all of our colors to complement the most popular china patterns,” Whitman says. “I was always shocked that it was hard to find the right rust color for my Herend Chinese Bouquet that I registered for when I got married. Now, there is a perfect match out there for that and for so many other patterns I love.”

In a step that seems only natural, Halo Home has also just announced a collaboration with America’s oldest fine china company, Pickard China. The Halo Home by KSW for Pickard china sets will be available in three monogram styles — and there are plans to expand the selection to include additional monogram fonts and personalized options.

“We are so excited about the Pickard collaboration,” Whitman says. “Our goal was eventually to be able to bring personalized products for the entire table to our clients, but we didn't expect it to happen this fast.

“They are a fantastic partner. I have always been a fan. It’s all made in the USA, and we work directly with the great-grandson of Wilder Pickard, Andy, who now runs the company.”

Pickard China has been around since 1893, when Wilder Pickard established the company in Chicago. When it was first founded, the company specialized in hand-painted ornate giftware pieces and dinnerware sets. These early pieces are now highly sought-after by collectors.

In 1937, Pickard relocated to Antioch, Illinois, where it remains today. Pickard is considered some of the finest china in the world.

Customers can order the collection within Pickard’s existing Signature Monogram Collection, or they can add an exclusive Halo Home monogram to any of the 72-plus retail patterns offered by Pickard.

Patterns range from elegantly elaborate to chicly simple, meaning there’s something for every taste. And price points range from $29 for a bread and butter plate to a splurge-worthy teapot for $472. Turnaround time for the customized orders is four to six weeks, and orders can be placed online through the Halo Home by KSW site, as well as select retail specialty stores.

Halo Home by KSW co-founder and author Kimberly Schlegel Whitman.

Kimberly Schelgel Whitman, Jessica Simpson Belk Event
Photo by Shana Anderson
Halo Home by KSW co-founder and author Kimberly Schlegel Whitman.
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home design trends

Warm retreats and natural details are top home design trends this fall

Amber Heckler
Sep 7, 2026 | 10:30 am
2026 Houzz Fall Design Trends Report, warm interiors
Photo by Teal Thomsen for Canyon Collected Design
Warm-toned spaces are very inviting for fall gatherings.

Trends come and go, but a new Houzz report has unveiled all the ways current home design trends are evolving with the seasons rather than fading into obscurity or becoming dated.

Houzz interviewed nearly 50 home design professionals to determine emerging home design ideas for its 2026 U.S. Fall Design Trends Report. One common goal unites every trend this fall: creating rooms that celebrate the personalities of those who live in it.

These are Houzz's top design trends for fall 2026.

Warmth has become the new standard
One thing that's for certain: homeowners have officially done away with stark white and gray interiors. Warm color palettes first emerged as a design trend in late 2023, and now these inviting tones have transcended trendiness to become the "new baseline."

Homeowners and decorators aren't just making simple swaps, either. They're taking a holistic approach by "layering warm wood tones, earthy colors, multiple textures, and natural materials" throughout the home. This gives rooms "more depth and personality" than the previously in-style monotone interiors, Houzz said.

Bringing back personalization
Houzz predicted minimalist spaces would be on the way out in 2025, and they were correct. The golden era of minimalism has come to an end. Homeowners are instead creating true lived-in looks that blend "character, history, and personal storytelling" over spaces that look like they were plucked straight out of a magazine.

Examples include introducing vintage pieces into a modern space and mixing bold colors, patterns, and textures. Even the simplest accent choices can transform a room into something that feels "thoughtfully assembled over time," the report said.

2026 Houzz Fall Design Trends Report, character and personality matter more than perfection Home design enthusiasts are now prioritizing character and personality over perfection.Photo courtesy of Lavish

2026 Houzz Fall Design Trends Report, warm interiors

Photo by Teal Thomsen for Canyon Collected Design

Warm-toned spaces are very inviting for fall gatherings.

Other than vintage items, homeowners can add a sense of authenticity to their homes through "materials and details that carry a sense of history" like handmade tile, natural stone, aged metals, and original architectural elements.

This also means letting go of the idea of a home's "resale value" in favor of a personal sanctuary, according to the report.

"Pros describe clients asking for homes that feel deeply personal, whether it’s the layouts and materials they choose or the objects they display," Houzz said. "That shift is also giving homeowners more confidence to make individual choices, including unusual tile patterns, expressive wallpaper, distinctive furnishings and colors they love."

Embracing natural materials
Wood cabinets or stone countertops might be the first things that spring to mind under this umbrella, but we're diving deeper than that. Stone furniture pieces, like marble end tables, river stone sinks, and travertine coffee tables are rising in popularity, as are wood light fixtures and wood paneling.

"Pros are seeing more appreciation for the variation, texture, and imperfections that make natural materials feel authentic," the report said. "Handmade and high-variation tile, honed and leathered stone, plaster, and warm wood all contribute to a more tactile look."

Preparing for long-term livability
A separate Houzz report found two thirds of homeowners are planning to stay in their homes for more than a decade, if not longer, and less than half say they are currently living in their "forever home." As the cost of homeownership in Dallas rises, more residents are choosing to live in their current spaces longer, which means eventually renovating to accommodate for the future.

Besides adapting a home for aging in place, design professionals are seeing an uptick in popularity for other amenities to "make a home comfortable to navigate at any stage of life."

"ADUs and secondary suites are being designed to accommodate multigenerational living, extended guest stays, rental income, and future family needs," the report said. "Meanwhile, dedicated wellness amenities like saunas, cold plunges, and meditation spaces offer new ways for a home to support evolving well-being routines."

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