Elaine Raffel

Elaine Raffel left the corporate world to become a freelance creative focused on real estate and design in Dallas.

Luxury Homes Serve a Lifesaving Mission: Tour the St. Jude Dream Home Showplace in Southlake

By Elaine Raffel / March 11, 2026 /

you’re looking for design inspiration — and a good reason to house tour — head to Southlake.

The St. Jude Dream Home Showplace, now open in the Carillon Parc neighborhood through March 22, features five newly completed luxury homes built through a unique effort benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Why Width Wins: Inside New Leaf Custom Homes’ Latest Joyce Way Showpiece

By Elaine Raffel / March 4, 2026 /

Some homes rise. This one reaches.

New Leaf Custom Homes’ newest spec at 6407 Joyce Way just hit the Preston Hollow market — and it may be one of the most distinctive properties in the builder’s portfolio to date.

The difference starts with width.

With roughly 125 feet of buildable span across a 0.45-acre lot, this 6,565-square-foot residence stretches boldly across its site. It doesn’t feel vertical or stacked. It feels expansive — and that proportion gives it instant presence.

Stone as Both Muse and Medium: Candy Evans Moderates Part 2 of ‘Impressions in Stone’ Series

By Elaine Raffel / February 24, 2026 /

Some of Texas’ oldest stories weren’t written in ink. They were painted onto limestone canyon walls thousands of years ago.

On Wednesday evening, Impressions in Stone returns to Texas Counter Fitters for Part 2: Using Stone to Create Art. Candy’s Dirt founder and publisher Candy Evans will lead the conversation..

Art + Color: 5th Annual Dwell With Dignity Event Returns to Texas Counter Fitters Showroom

By Elaine Raffel / February 18, 2026 /

On March 12, Art + Color returns to Texas Counter Fitters, transforming the Richardson showroom into one of Dallas’ most compelling art events of the season.

TileBar Comes to Knox-Henderson — and It’s Not Just for the Trade

By Elaine Raffel / February 11, 2026 /

TileBar may have built its reputation with designers, but one thing was crystal clear at the brand’s Knox-Henderson grand opening last Thursday. This showroom is just as much for homeowners as it is for trade pros.