Upon Closer Inspection
10/09/19 9:45am

Upon Closer Inspection: Green Scene Sees Different Kinds of Attic Antics

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Every week, the detail-oriented folks at Green Scene Home Inspections will give CandysDirt.com readers an education in inspection. Want to see what they see? Tune in every Wednesday for “Upon Closer Inspection.”

One of the biggest issues we find in the attic is water getting where it shouldn’t be. In the above photo, you can see that the roof decking in the attic has water stains. The water is getting in through poor flashing around the chimney on the roof.

Flashing is material (usually aluminum or steel) placed around edges and joints to keep water from seeping in. The brick section you see in the photo is where the chimney comes through the attic. Over time, flashing can pull away from the surface and allow water to penetrate. See below for a picture of correct chimney flashing.

Correct chimney flashing

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10/09/19 9:30am

1926 M Streets Cottage Just as Charming Today As Ever

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Imagine if the original inhabitants of this 1926 cottage at 5238 Ridgedale Avenue walked in the doors today, what would they say? Wow, I never knew this home could seem so spacious. Where’d the walls go? Where is the China cabinet? Sure, the interior has changed since the 1920s, but the traditional charm of this M Streets cottage still exists.

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Wanna Shop?
10/09/19 9:15am

Make Your Home A Now House With This Design Collection From Jonathan Adler

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We searched Amazon for some of the best of the Now House best and now we’re sharing it with you. Note: CandysDirt.com may collect a small commission or other compensation (Bezos hug) from the links on this page. Items are priced correctly and in stock at time of publication. 

If you’re into Jonathan Adler, but not into extravagant prices, check out Now House, a Jonathan Adler designer collection sold exclusively through Amazon.

Wait, didn’t we JUST say this isn’t about extravagant prices? We did and it isn’t. You see, Now House has all the boldness you’d expect from your boy J. Adler without commas in the price tag. It’s affordable and accessible and just as drool-worthy as anything you’d find in his retail shops. Or on his website because if you’re reading this, we knew where you’re throwing down your Andrew Jacksons.

Enough chit-chat, let’s get into it as we highlight some of our favorite pieces and believe us when we say, it was almost impossible to narrow to five. In fact, if you’d like to see it all right now, just head here.

Otto Pedestal Accent Table

Price: $198

The Piece: If you want a home that’s so hip it hurts, start with the Otto Pedestal Accent Table in White, Mint or the Palest Baby Blue. It’s stately, shapely and the perfect sidepiece for your couch. In the olden days, you’d pop a TV Guide and a three channel remote on top, but today the possibilities are endless. Add a vase, an objet d’art or some coasters for your Whiskey Sour.

What Buyers Are Saying: “Pay close attention to the size on this item – it’s small. But it’s also super cute and wildly stylish. If you have a low chair and need a cocktail table, buy this. The light blue color is perfection. Everybody who visits my home comments on this little sweetie.” –Dubious 2

Order the Otto here.

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Wednesday WTF
10/09/19 9:00am

Well, Unique Is One Word For It, We Suppose

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uniqueChurch conversions — well, done church conversions, that is — are always fun. Move the pews out of the way, take advantage of the stained glass and the high ceilings, and really create something unique.

Or, you can create something really, really unique.

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Second Shelters
10/09/19 8:45am

Savannah, Georgia, Stunners at Two Vastly Different Price Points

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Click on the image above to find out more.

Home Tours
10/08/19 12:05pm

Saints and Sinners Find a Stop on Heritage Oak Cliff Home Tour

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One glance around Dale Dietert and Hank Hammett’s sitting room at 616 Blaylock Drive reveals a gem of a Mexican art collection. (Photos: Courtesy of Heritage Oak Cliff) 

Dale Dietert and Hank Hammett’s home at 616 Blaylock Drive oozes with undeniable Bohemian charm. The warm and welcoming kitchen plays the perfect backdrop to the couple’s frequent house parties. The chairs in each room tell a story of their own. But this stop on the Heritage Oak Cliff Home Tour delights with an enthusiastically curated Mexican art collection. One glance at the colorful art and antiquities tells you you’ve stumbled on something special. Even better, the homeowners love to talk about it.

Dietert and Hammett generously provided us with some snapshots and descriptions of some of their beloved pieces. If you’re coming along on the home tour, why not make a game of it?  Join us after the jump for a game of art-and-seek.

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Historic Preservation
10/08/19 9:55am

Is This The Most Important O’Neil Ford Midcentury Modern Home in Texas?

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Ford midcentury modern

Photos: Steven Reed Photography

Want to catch lightning in a bottle? You have the rare opportunity to buy an O’Neil Ford Midcentury Modern that just hit MLS. If I’ve told you once I’ve told you a thousand times: When you have a chance to buy an architect-designed home, do it!

Preservation Dallas deemed the home to be one of O’Neil Ford’s most important designs in Texas. So, with that stamp of approval, you cannot go wrong. First, a primer on O’Neil Ford:

O’Neil Ford is widely recognized as one of Texas’ most celebrated 20th-century architects. He designed most of the University of Dallas campus in Irving; Braniff Memorial Tower, the Braniff Graduate Center, the Gorman Lecture Center, parts of the art village, the Haggar University Center, and the Haggerty Science Building. San Antonio, his home base, is covered in his work: the renovation of La Villita, the campus of Trinity University, the campus of Saint Mary’s Hall, the University of Texas at San Antonio Main Campus, and the Tower of the Americas.

He also created buildings for Skidmore College in upstate New York and for Texas Instruments. O’Neil Ford completed the design of the building of the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville in the Texas Hill Country, shortly before his death in 1982. His sturdy structures always utilized brick, glass, and wood, and were brilliantly attuned to their physical settings.

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Title Business
10/08/19 9:45am

Title Tip: Due and Payable — Time To Open Those Property Tax Bills

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It’s that not-so-wonderful time of year when property tax bills start hitting our mailboxes. At the time of this writing, tax statements have been mailed in Dallas, Collin, and Tarrant Counties. Bills are being posted daily from other counties and from other taxing authorities including school districts, community colleges, cities, improvement districts, etc.

To get your statement before it arrives in the mail, simply go online and search for your county’s tax assessor. If you live in Dallas County, forget Dallascad.org. Go to the county tax assessor’s site to get an actual copy of your property tax statement.

Once the taxing authorities in your area have posted your tax bill, your taxes are considered due and payable. That typically happens in early October. In a few (but not all) areas, homeowners may get a discount for paying their taxes before the end of the year. Most homeowners actually pay their property taxes in December and January. Your 2019 property tax bill is considered delinquent if not paid by January 31, 2020. Hefty penalties and interest are charged after January 31st.

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