Exotic Decor at Our Dallas store
We are fortunate enough to go on several trips a year to such exotic locations as India, China, and South America. During our journeys we stumble across unique items that might be vintage, antiques, or even the last one left. So, every trip, we're sure to bring our empty suitcases to fill with these rare finds so we can carry them back home.
Our Employee’s Home: Paige’s House
What is your role at Wisteria? I am the Senior Creative Manager, I manage all the photography for the catalog and web. I direct and edit the photography at the photo shoots and the styling on set.
Handmade Books in Jaipur, India
This company was started when three young friends rented a booth at a trade fair 14 years ago to sell books and bags made of handmade paper. This Indian artisan has grown great lengths since then and now specializes in handmade paper, bags, books, and leather products. They are located in Jaipur, India and also have a small group of designers and workers from a small village outside of Jaipur.
With warm weather comes food fresh from the garden and delicious recipes like this one:
Pesto Pasta
To make the pesto, combine the following into a food processor:
1 cup packed fresh basil
1/4 cup grated parmesan
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1 clove garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Slowly add:
2 tablespoons olive oil
and 2 tablespoons butter, softened
Toss with 6 ounces of warm linguine.
Every month, we want to introduce you to one of our employees’ dogs. And what better way to really get to know our pets than with this interview! Call it shameless promotion of our beloved furry friends, but we don’t care, we’re in love with these creatures.
Meet Gunner, my chocolate Labrador! He, of course, insisted he answer the questions himself.
What’s your favorite pastime?
Sleeping in front of the open screen door.
What’s the one thing that really makes your hackles stand up?
Cats walking in front of our house and taunting me. The mailman. And the neighbor’s dog digging under the fence and stealing my ball.
What’s your favorite toy?
When I’m inside, it’s my kong. Outside, my frisbee.
Who’s your favorite snuggle buddy?
My mommy, of course. And, my daddy when she’s not home.
Favorite treat?
Homemade dog treats from my Grandma Cookie (seriously, that’s what my husband’s mom calls herself!)
What is your favorite kind of mischief to get into?
I really love sleeping on our leather sofa. But because of my shedding problem, I’m usually banished to the floor. So, I take every chance I get to sneak up on the sofa by acting oblivious, slowly slinking up there when no one is paying attention. And if someone tells me to get down, I just act like I’m about to snuggle with them. My owners can’t resist my cuteness, so they’ll let me snuggle up next to them and stay there.
If you had to describe your perfect day, what would it be?
Sleeping in. Waking my parents up by jumping on the bed. Having breakfast with them (including some table scraps). Late morning nap. Playing frisbee before lunch. Afternoon nap. Going on a walk. Dinner. Snuggling on the couch. Late night treats. Bedtime.
What is your role at Wisteria?
I am the Senior Creative Manager, I manage all the photography for the catalog and web. I direct and edit the photography at the photo shoots and the styling on set. I also contribute in the overall conception of the catalog and marketing pieces. I have a very very cool job, challenging, but cool. It is never boring and I get to work with so many talented people.
What is your personal design style?
Well. I would say eclectic, except I feel that’s too broad, and my aesthetic is pretty specific, in my own mind. I like a lot of different styles and periods of furniture. I tend toward graphic solid design for the basis of my home. Essentially everything in my house is gray, black, or white. The tile, the walls, the big pieces. I like to accessorize with color. I am absolutely obsessed with textiles. I love textiles from India and Uzbekistan. I like bold pops of color through fabrics, pillows, and textiles. I love burlap, embroidery, and suzanis. I also love flowers, plants, and sketches of bugs and animals. I like natural elements and you see them throughout my home either in vases or in the artwork I collect. The most important thing to me is that my home feels comfortable and cozy and feels like “me.” My design style is this: it has lots of rules and no rules at all. I am an avid collector and a equally avid editor. So I am constantly changing things around.
Get the look of bold, dark hues and crisp lighter ones paired with sleek metal.
1. Baluster Outline Lamp 2. French Colonial Armchair 3. Black Bowfront Four-Drawer Chest
4. Moroccan-Inspired Bone Photo Frame 5. Architectural Salt and Pepper Shakers 6. Wooden Upholstered Sofa with Bridal Rug
7. Antiqued Peacock Mirror 8. Tiered Marble Top Console 9. Chinese Chippendale Chair 10. Baroque Candlestick Lamp
11. Gothic Arched Console Table 12. Octagonal Horn Mirror 13. Sleek Marble-Top Coffee Table
Now, there are two colors that sound like they wouldn’t go together! But, like often in nature, seemingly unlike things can complement each other quite nicely.
Here at the Wisteria office, we have all these beautiful olive-colored ceramic containers that I had been wanting to do a floral story with and was just waiting for the inspiration. And then it came, orange! I love orange! So bright and cheery. Sweet but not too sweet. The easiest thing about these arrangements is that they only have one variety of flower for each arrangement. ANYONE can do this!
For the first arrangement, I mounded Royal Ambiance roses together in a low pot. The second arrangement I wanted to use orange tulips in a small mouthed container. It is important to strip the leaves off of tulips in order to get them to fit. I also clipped all the flowers at a diagonal and made sure I immediately put them in the water for a quick drink. For the last arrangement, I wanted something a little more masculine and sophisticated so I used two bunches of Eremerus. I love how it remains sculptural but still resembles fresh cut wildflowers.
All these arrangements, because they are in the same color family, would look lovely placed throughout the home, adding consistency and a splash of summer color around every corner of your house.
Established in 1971, the Xerces Society has been diligent in the protection of invertebrates. Current programs focus on native bees and other pollinators, threatened butterflies and bumble bees, migratory dragonflies, and freshwater mussels. With the knowledge of scientists and the support of the community, the Society implements outreach and advocacy programs, influences policy development, and undertakes research projects. Over the past four decades, they have protected endangered species and their homes, produced publications on insect conservation, trained thousands of farmers and land managers to protect and manage habitat, and raised awareness about the invertebrates of all landscapes. The Xerces Society needs your support to save the invertebrate communities and their habitats! Find out more at www.xerces.org.
It’s a bookshelf! It’s a cabinet! No, it’s an étagère!
Sometimes it can be confusing to know exactly what type of shelving you are looking for and what it is called. Hopefully, we can help eliminate some confusion for you.
There are several different types of shelving units. Each is named depending on design elements such as size, structure, function, and by its embellishments. One type shelf is called an étagère. First called a “whatnot,” it was originally used as a type of display case for trinkets, doo-dads and “whatnots” due to its open design. The practice of collecting baubles and knickknacks was especially common in the mid-seventeenth century when excessive ornamentation was popular in interior design.
When they were first constructed, étagères were also known to be very ornate in comparison to other types of shelves, so they ended up getting a more stylish classification in order to highlight their impressive features.
For an example of what a modern étagère looks like, check out our Sommelier’s Étagère. For more design terms, check out our design glossary!
Joe is our Repair Manager. Not only is he one of the friendliest guys at Wisteria, but he does really amazing work, building product prototypes and repairing existing products.
What are your favorite things about working at Wisteria?
I came here for its proximity to my home, and I have found a treasure chest of nice people that make coming to work every morning something to enjoy.
What is one thing about you people probably don’t know?
I own and operate a small but growing casino party company.
What is your favorite place to visit?
Galveston!
What is the one place in the world you’ve never been but would love to go?
The Everglades
How would you describe your personal style?
I take each moment as it comes and deal with adversity straight on. I don’t worry or care about anything that is out of my control. I leave my problems outside so they never become someone else’s problem.
What is your favorite Wisteria item?
Anything that doesn’t have to go through the paint booth.
My one indulgence is:
Cashews
Favorite spot in my house:
In my work shop.
Favorite food:
Toss up between Mexican and Mongolian Barbecue, although smoked pulled pork has to take honorable mention.
My pet’s name is:
Lucky, my outside cat and Doc, my inside cat.
Favorite place to watch the sun set:
On the beach, about 14 miles SW of Galveston, with my wife Della and my phone somewhere else.
Additional notes about yourself:
I am a direct descendant of the founder of the city of Carrollton. I was born and raised here, as was my wife. I have two grandchildren.
Charley is the cute, little, blonde girl in our summer catalogs. Get to know her here:
How old are you?
We had her mom ask her this one, so she responded, “Four. You know that, Mommy!”
Have you ever modeled before?
No.
Do you want to model again?
Maybe.
What’s your favorite outfit?
A skirt, a fancy shirt and boots.
What’s your favorite toy?
My dollhouse.
What’s your favorite food?
Macaroni and cheese at Mommy’s house.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A vet and a doctor.
What are your favorite kinds of animals?
Birds, donkeys, and cows.
Least favorite animals?
Lions and tigers.
Who is your best friend?
Cody (He’s the photographer from the shoot. We think she was trying to get him to photograph her again!)
What was your favorite part about being in the Wisteria catalog?
Being animals with Cody.
What is your favorite letter of the alphabet?
E
Why E?
Because I have one in my name.
Who is the oldest person you know?
Points at her mother (who is 33!).
When people ask you who you are what do you say?
I’m Daddy’s baby girl!
After this, she got bored and walked away! Later, her mother told us she was at a family event autographing the June catalog for her family members!
We were out on location shooting our coastal catalog a few months back and got some great behind-the-scenes shots. Even when shooting outdoors on a beautiful day, it takes a full crew of people, gear, scrims, silks, and lights to get everything just right. First we shot locally, with our friend Charley as our model. Her friend Hudson came to visit the set and as you can see, he wasn’t thrilled about having his picture taken, but he was still pretty cute. Lucky for us, Charley was all smiles, and we had a great day shooting outdoors with her. Next stop for us was the coast! It was a whirlwind of driving a trailer down overnight shooting from the break of dawn to after sunset and then packing it all up to drive back to Dallas for another shoot. We were exhausted, but it was worth it. The shots look fantastic! I love our July catalog cover and all the new coastal products look great! We hope you enjoy this look behind the scenes of our coastal shoot!
