Elaine Raffel
Elaine Raffel left the corporate world to become a freelance creative focused on real estate and design in Dallas.
Valentine’s Day comes with cliché-packed cards, overpriced prix-fixe dinners, and cellophane-wrapped roses — not to mention a lot of expectations. Instead, let’s flip the switch. This year, why not focus on the longest relationship you’ll ever have: the one you have with yourself.
Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year — Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201) — marks the first time the program has named a shade of white. In a design world fueled by bold statements and fast-moving trends, designers largely agree it’s long overdue.
Designing a spec house comes with its own set of rules. The goal isn’t self-expression or trend-chasing—it’s creating a home that feels considered, livable, and broadly appealing without slipping into generic.
Texas is a state built on land—measured, bought, sold, and passed down for generations. But some of its most valuable stories were never written into records. They were painted onto stone.
If you want a fast, honest look at how your relationship functions under pressure, try moving or remodeling your home. Small decisions—what stays, what goes, where everything lives—have a funny way of colliding with bigger conversations about money, timing, and patience.
