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