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Swiss Avenue Historic District

Swiss Avenue Historic District's Mother's Day Home Tour is a weekend-long tribute to Dallas' historic past that will feature a collection of the city's most fabulous early 20th Century homes. There will also be an open-air art fair, a vintage auto display, a children’s play area, live entertainment in Savage Park, free horse-drawn carriage rides, complimentary air-conditioned mini-coaches, and food trucks offering a variety of freshly prepared menu items, ice-cold beverages, and more.

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HGTV's No Demo Reno seeks homeowners north of Dallas for design makeover

Flipper News

A buzzy HGTV show is seeking participants: No Demo Reno, the renovation series hosted by Jenn Todryk, AKA the "Rambling Redhead," is casting homeowners who live north of Dallas. Way north.

Todryk is the founder of a highly relatable blog called "Life as a Rambling Redhead" which has earned her more 1.2 million followers on Instagram.

No Demo Reno follows her as she devises cost-saving ideas to create transformations on homes, with a goal of keeping the original floorplan. The show rejects demolition as the path to renovation, meaning no casual removal of walls.

The series debuted in March 2021, followed by a successful second season in 2022. Now they've been renewed for a third round, and need homeowners in the area — specifically, Lucas, Fairview, Allen, and McKinney — who crave a redesign of their home.

They're looking for:

  • Homeowners in need of a cosmetic home renovation ranging from 3-4 spaces
  • Primarily indoor spaces: kitchens, main living spaces, and other unique rooms
  • Homeowners must have an existing budget between $85K-150K

Other requirements: They need people who are excited to be on TV, and who like the idea of having Todryk take the reins on the design of their home.

Homeowners must be willing and able to vacate during the remodel, anticipated to take 10 weeks.

Also, appliances are not included in the scope of the budget.

Apply online, or email tvshowcasting@rtrmedia.com for more details.

Todryk is originally from Burleson; she and her husband Mike own Armor Coffee, a coffee shop in Allen, and they have three kids.

She's also written a book, published in 2017, titled W(h)ine: 50 Perfect Wines to Pair with Your Child's Rotten Behavior, which she says has sold out three times, and has earned 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with reviews such as, "Warning: you might pee yourself because it's so funny!!!"

One of the majestic homes on tour in the Munger Place Historic District.

Munger Place Historic District Association presents Wine Walk & Historic Home Tour

Munger Place Historic District Association will present their 2023 fundraiser, Wine Walk & Home Tour. Visitors can join for a walk-through history while sipping wines hand-picked by Jimmy’s Food Store and appetizers, and enjoy the architecture, design, and history of homes established over 100 years ago. The homes will be in walking distance of each other.

Proceeds support the Boys & Girls club and local schools.

Photo by Eddy Lee on Unsplash

Zillow's experts predict the top 5 home trends for 2023 in Dallas and beyond

Now Trending

Zillow analyzed its listings data to determine the top five home trends to watch in the New Year, and while it may be 2023, not 2020, many pandemic-era home fads are still hanging on.

Do not disturb
Take, for example, segmented layouts. The past three decades have seen contractors taking down walls to create open-concept spaces, but more than a quarter of all Zillow listings mention "privacy" or "private spaces," up 7 percent over last year.

"The pandemic exposed the fatal flaw of the open floorplan once everyone was living, working, and schooling at home: the lack of privacy. A soundless space for video calls or a quiet sitting room for reading became more desirable than ever," says the study.

Homeowners who have open floorplans will look to compartmentalize their space through furniture layout and design to create private nooks and corners, Zillow predicts.

Room to roam
Backyards are also still a luxury, and are highlighted in one out of every five Zillow listing descriptions. Mentions of patios and pools also surged, up by more than 13 percent and 11 percent, respectively, in 2022.

"The rising popularity of outdoor features suggests the pandemic has changed the way we want to live for good, priming the backyard for a 2023 evolution," says Amanda Pendleton, Zillow's home trends expert. "When the pandemic forced all entertaining outdoors, homeowners reclaimed their backyards from the kids or the dogs. Now they're rethinking how that space could serve as an extension of their home in new, creative ways."

In 2023, Zillow says to look for outdoor home gyms, natural pools alive with plants, edible gardens, and outdoor rooms for dining, lounging, and quiet reflection.

Gather 'round
Speaking of entertaining — and just general everyday living — kitchen islands are increasing in functionality and desirability.

Zillow listings mentioning a kitchen island saw an uptick of 19 percent in 2022, as people move further away from formal dining rooms and embrace the casual comfort of gathering in the kitchen.

Expect to see these islands stand out with contrasting paint colors or wood stains and different countertop materials, Zillow predicts. The trend of repurposing unique furniture pieces or vintage tables as islands will also grow in 2023, the company says.

Upgrade and upkeep
Lots of other home improvements are on the horizon, especially for younger homeowners.

A new Zillow survey finds 48 percent of homeowners younger than 40 have tapped the equity in their home in the past two years, most commonly to pay for home improvement projects.

However, 90 percent of those homeowners under 40 who took out a home equity line of credit or second mortgage, or opted for a cash-out refinance, have yet to spend all the money they borrowed, suggesting 2023 may be the year they complete all the renovation projects on their to-do list.

What's on the docket? Improvements that make homes more sustainable, low-maintenance, and high-tech. Investing in drought-resistant landscaping and smart-home systems are energy-efficient projects that can help save money and the environment, and boost a home's value when it's time to sell.

Mirror, mirror
One trend you might not have seen coming is the return of mirrored walls and ceilings, which are now appearing 12 percent more often in listing descriptions on Zillow.

We're not talking 1970s panels, per se, but rather antiqued mirrored surfaces applied in a grid for a tres chic Parisian feel.

Don't want this shiny upgrade to feel overwhelming? Embrace the closed layout and go bold in one room only.

Photo courtesy of Harold Prinz

AIA Dallas Tour of Homes

AIA Dallas Tour of Homes

The 16th Annual AIA Dallas Tour of Homes is Dallas’ only citywide home tour curated exclusively by architects. The tour celebrates the beauty and diversity of Dallas residential architecture by featuring homes with a variety of styles, square footage, and price points.

This year’s tour includes a contemporary take and classic mid-century modern designs. The first historic home on the tour, on Maple Springs, was designed and occupied by Dallas architect Harold Prinz, AIA in 1950, which boasts the 1950 AIA Dallas Design Award: Honor for Excellence in Residential Architecture.

In Preston Hollow, a MCM home on Northaven tells the story of resiliency, rebuilt after incurring tornado damage in 2019. Other homes are featured in Southlake, Colleyville, Bluffview, Little Forest Hills and University Park.

All ticket holders will receive access to exclusive tour content on the AIA Dallas app the weekend of the event, including maps, descriptions, and photos.

Photo courtesy of Turtle Creek Association presents

Turtle Creek Association presents Tour of Homes

Turtle Creek Association presents Tour of Homes

The 21st Annual Turtle Creek Association Living Large Tour of Homes virtual tour will give visitors an exclusive look inside four of the most glamorous and intriguing residences in Turtle Creek.

The homes will be featured virtually and showcased through personal stories, architectural anecdotes, and glimpses into fine collections of art, heirlooms, and unique design. Patrons will experience the special aspects of each of these residences and their owners from a personal perspective.

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CultureMap Emails are Awesome

Leggy crane flies land atop this week's 5 most popular Dallas stories

This week's hot headlines

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines. Looking for the best things to do this weekend? Find that list here.

1. Crane flies have landed ever so lightly in Dallas, which means one thing. The crane flies have arrived in Dallas, and this year, they're here in droves. Fragile, leggy, and whisper-light, crane flies are most often found around streams and lakes. But at certain times of year, they show up in urban areas, hovering and bobbing around houses and doorways.

2. Site of former Valley View Mall in Dallas meets sad unfortunate end. A once-beloved North Dallas mall is meeting its timely ending: The former Valley View Mall at LBJ Freeway and Preston Road saw demolition begin on March 16, putting an end to nearly a decade of inept waffling. The mall closed in 2015, with big plans for redevelopment that never happened.

3. Grab this '60s East Dallas home with only one owner before flippers get it. A '60s house in East Dallas with only one owner that's basically untouched is on the market at a great deal of a price. Located at 2323 Homeway Cir., it's a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home built in 1969, with 1,802 square feet and an attached two-car garage.

4. Country music bad boy Morgan Wallen headlines ACM Awards benefit show in Dallas-Fort Worth. Dallas-Fort Worth will be the center of the country music universe on May 11, when the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards are broadcast from The Star in Frisco. As with any worldwide, Super Bowl-level event, there'll be many happenings leading up to it. First up: a benefit concert headlined by Morgan Wallen.

5. Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 bars with cool cocktail specials. It's always good to support your local watering hole but sometimes the heart wants something else, and even better when it's something cheap. For our March edition of Where to Drink, we spotlight five drinking opportunities around Dallas that include a seasonally-focused happy hour, a one-day drink special, a new happy hour for the summer, and a new happy hour at an Arts District hotel bar.


Texas rises through the ranks of most innovative states, says new report

MOVING ON UP

The Lone Star State has again taken a step up on an annual report that ranks the most and least innovative states in the country — this time cracking the top 15.

Texas ranked No. 15 in personal finance site WalletHub's 2023’s Most and Least Innovative States ranking. It's a steady improvement for the state, which ranked No. 16 in 2022 and No. 17 in 2021.

The report analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia and how each performed across 22 key metrics, including population of STEM professionals, venture capital investment activity, number of technology companies, patents per capita, and more. The data was pulled from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Science Foundation, National Center for Education Statistics, United States Patent and Trademark Office, and other records.

Here's how Texas performed at a glance:

  • No. 18 – for share of STEM professionals
  • No. 16 – for projected STEM job demand by 2030
  • No. 25 – for eighth grade math and science performance
  • No. 21 – for share of science and engineering graduates aged 25 or older
  • No. 13 – for share of technology companies
  • No. 31 – for R&D spending per capita
  • No. 18 – venture capital funding per capita

For the 11th year, Texas won Site Selection Magazine's Governor's Cup, the governor's office announced earlier this year. The award, which Texas has won 19 times since its inception in 1978, recognizes the nation’s top-performing state for job-creating business relocations and expansions.

"Texas truly is America’s economic engine, and we stand apart as a model for the nation. When choosing where to relocate or expand their businesses, more and more innovative industry leaders find themselves at home in our state," Governor Greg Abbott says in a news release about the award.

"I congratulate the exceptional economic development teams at the local, regional, and state level who have worked so diligently to attract and retain these growing businesses and the jobs they create in diverse communities across this great state," he continues.

The most innovative states included the District of Columbia, which ranked at No. 1, followed by Massachusetts, Washington, Maryland, and California, respectively. The least innovative state was identified as Mississippi, followed by Louisiana, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Arkansas, respectively.

Source: WalletHub

Access to quality education is a significant contributor to each state's innovation economy, the experts say in the report.

"Investing in education, particularly K-12 but also at the University level, it is no accident that innovative ecosystems develop in states with strong education systems and research universities," says David L. Deeds, professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. "These institutions build strong capable modern workforces that attract capital, and jobs and create innovations. The benefits do not happen overnight, in fact, they take years if not decades, but consider what The UC’s or the University of Texas at Austin have meant for the development of premier innovative ecosystems."

Hall Group to open new hotel in mixed-use re-do of Frisco office park

Hotel News

Frisco is getting a new hotel at one of the city's pioneering office developments: Called the Hall Park Hotel, Autograph Collection, it'll open at Hall Park, and will be part of the Autograph Collection Hotels – Marriott Bonvoy collection.

According to a release, construction is anticipated to be complete in late 2023, with an opening set for spring 2024.

The hotel is part of the first phase of a $7 billion new masterplan to shift Hall Park from an office focus into a live-work-play community. It'll be owned by Dallas-based Hall Group, and operated by Coury Hospitality.

Autograph Collection Hotels – Marriott Bonvoy is known for its diverse independent hotels that champion individuality.

Hall Park Hotel will feature:

  • world-class contemporary art
  • outdoor pool
  • 4,000 square-foot ballroom
  • state-of-the-art fitness center
  • chef-driven restaurant and lounge
  • expansive patio

There will be 224 guest rooms and 60 well-appointed suites, supporting both short term and longer stays, with a focus on business travelers, events, meetings, regional “staycationers,” and tourists visiting Toyota Stadium, The Star in Frisco, regional youth sports tournaments, the upcoming PGA of America complex, and Universal Studios Park.

This makes the second hotel for Hall Group, the first being the Hall Arts Hotel which opened in the Dallas Arts District in 2019; and the fifth Autograph Hotel in the DFW area (others include the Adolphus in downtown Dallas, Hotel Vin in Grapevine, the Sinclair in Fort Worth, and Hotel Drover in Fort Worth).

Coury Hospitality is based in Las Colinas, with a portfolio of more than 30 hotels and restaurants, including 10 hotels in the Autograph Collection.

“Our partnership with Autograph Collection Hotels provides the opportunity to deliver a one-of-a-kind property to the residents and visitors of Frisco that will include a museum-quality art collection and world-class food and wine offerings,” says Hall Group chairman and CEO Craig Hall. “Framed by views of the art-filled Kaleidoscope Park, which is currently underway, hotel guests will be able to experience Frisco not only as a business and sports hub but also as an emerging arts and culture destination.”

Other new developments at Hall Park include The Monarch, a 19-story, luxury apartment tower expected to open in the fourth quarter. It'll have 214 units with 29 floorplans, including eight penthouse units with oversized balconies and high-end appliances and finishes, spa-inspired master baths and park views.

Amenities include a club room with kitchen, pool, fitness center, outdoor grilling areas, yoga and meditation space, bike storage, pet washing area, and meeting space.

The base of the residential tower will hold a 10,000-square-foot eatery, slated to open in 2024, with a diverse selection of 10 unique, chef-driven restaurants.

They're also building The Tower at Hall Park, a 16-story office tower that shares a podium with the hotel and will boast multiple terraces on every suite level, outdoor amenity space, and direct park access. That tower will also include 10,000 square feet of ground-level retail and restaurant space facing Kaleidoscope Park. It's also forecast to open in the fourth quarter of 2023.