I received an email last week from a contributor at HOUZZ asking me about Dallas design style.

Image Via: Studio Ten 25

She wanted to know:

1. Something that makes a design distinctly Dallas
2. A trend that is on the rise in Dallas
3. A misconception about design in Dallas

I had to laugh because all I could think of is what everyone outside of Texas thinks our houses look like in Dallas.  It’s like any other city really, you have your regional influences and wonderful mix of design aesthetics.  I promise…what you see on those Dallas based reality shows is not reality. It’s made for T.V. and they can give those who watch a bad impression at times. So here is what I had to say….

“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 DHomeand Modern Luxury, there is something for everyone here in Dallas.”

What do you think Dallas design is like? I would love to know what people think the Dallas design style is!

Image Via: Intown Dallas

I am such a HUGE fan of the design site HOUZZ! I could spend hours looking through gorgeous images and catching up on their informative articles.  I also have my own STUDIO TEN25 page on Houzz where you can see my latest projects and learn more about what I love.

I often get emails from readers asking “what is it really?” And “What should I look for on there? ”   I also refer many of my design clients to the site so that they can find the inspiration for their project, it gives us a great way to communicate visually!   So, today I am so excited to welcome Becky from Houzz on the blog! Becky is going to break it all down for you and give you the tips, tricks and scoop on how to use Houzz. BEWARE, you may become addicted!!   ENJOY!!!!

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Hello everyone! My name is Becky and I’m a contributor at Houzz, a home design site focused on helping design professionals and homeowners manage the remodeling and decorating process. Thanks so much to Abbe
for having me!

Abbe asked me to talk about something I happen to know a lot about: how to use Houzz when you’re planning a renovation, looking for inspiration, trying to find an architect, designer or contractor, or simply have a design dilemma and want some community input. Here are three easy ways to search the hundreds of thousands of photos in our database to find new ideas, advice and the right professional for your job.

Let’s start with a simple search. Let’s say you want to gut your old 1960s bathroom and replace it with a fresh and unique design. All you need to do is click on “Photos” at the top. Next, look to the left side and click on “Eclectic” under “Filter by Style” and “Bathrooms” under “Filter by Space.” Thousands of pictures of eclectic bathrooms will come up. If you’re looking for local design, you can filter even further by choosing your metro area under “Filter by Metro.” When you see work you like, you can click on the designer’s name to find their contact information.

As you’re browsing through the images yielded by your search, click on “Add to Ideabook” on any of the pictures you like, and create a “Bathroom Renovation Ideas” ideabook. You can create as many ideabooks as you like and share them with the professionals you hire or simply keep them for your own inspiration. Likewise, professionals can create Ideabooks to show clients their ideas. In addition, we have a products section full of hundreds of thousands of the best home products that you can peruse and add to your ideabooks the same way.

You can also filter your results by simply searching styles, furniture, colors, lighting and just about anything you can think of in the search box at the top. For example, a search for “zebra rug” brought up thousands of images for me to look through, including this beautiful living room that Abbe designed.

In addition to searching the photo database, you can also search for articles written by experts on thousands of topics, from D.I.Y. instructions on building a firepit to advice from an architect on how to keep your remodeling project on budget.

Another way to find designers and other pros is to go to the top of the page and click on “Professionals.” Next, look to the left side of the page, choose your city and then choose the type of professional you are seeking. For example, a quick search for Kitchen and Bath Designers in Atlanta turned up 638 of them. You can browse through their portfolios, link to their websites and read recommendations that their clients have left.

Finally, if you have any remodeling questions of your own, post them on the Houzz Discussions Board and Houzz community members will chime in with opinions about how to solve your problem. Once you’re over on the boards, you’ll likely find yourself chiming in on others’ design questions as well.

Find more inspiration from interior designers and more design professionals at Houzz.

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Don’t forget to stop by Joss & Main and take a look at my “Graphics & Glam” Curator’s Collection! If your not a member (it’s free to join)…use my personal invitation link HERE to get the hook up!

I love the design website Houzz and was so excited to see them feature one of my client’s dining rooms in their “dining rooms with a stamp of personal style” article by Shoshana Gosselin.

Houzz is a community of home design enthusiasts from around the world. It’s the online version of cutting pages out of magazines and stuffing them in a folder – but much easier to search, save, and share.  I am in inspirational heaven over here!

Interior designers can showcase their portfolios, sharing their work with a community dedicated to home and landscape design. 10,000+ professionals have uploaded more than 70,000 inspiring photographs, making Houzz the Internet’s largest database of design and decorating ideas. See my profile HERE.