Our High Fashion Home team has worked tirelessly over the last few months to bring you the latest and greatest.  Check out our What's New furniture section to see over 200 of the best new furniture items you will find.  Here are some of my faves:

If you are like me, I have a great affinity for downtown skylines. Some people prefer great parks or beautiful ocean views. I happen to enjoy staring out onto towering concrete and steel structures. The Forbes Travelereight of the great urban silhouettes. came up with a list of world's most stunning city skylines. Check out






Chicago: From modern skyscrapers like the John Hancock Center and the Sears Tower—the world’s tallest high-rise building for more than 23 years ending in 1997—to earlier icons such as the 1895 Reliance Tower and 463-foot-tall Chicago Tribune Tower, completed in 1925, Chicago boasts a skyline of monumental proportions.




Sydney: More people recognize the glorious Sydney Opera House than have probably ever been to an opera.




Dubai: It was clear with the erection of the 1,053-foot-tall Burj al Arab Hotel in 1999 that the sheikdom of Dubai was bent on stealing the global skyline spotlight. Lest there be any doubt, consider that this year Dubai will be home to the tallest skyscraper in the world: the 1,900-foot Burj Dubai tower.




Seattle: Seattle’s location between Puget Sound and Lake Washington lends an impressive backdrop to its central skyline, of which the Space Needle has been the most recognizable feature since its completion in 1962.




Paris: It’s an absence of skyscrapers that defines the French capital’s skyline (with no usable surfaces, the Eiffel Tower doesn’t count). Thanks to its concentration of historic slate gray-roofed six and seven-story buildings, many of which date from the mid-19th century and before, Paris has a remarkably uniform skyline for a city of its size.






London: London’s Parliament and Big Ben “were skyscrapers in their time,” say architects Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat. “And today London has some amazing modern buildings, such as The London Eye and the Norman Foster-designed ‘Gherkin’ building, which looks like a giant pickle.




Houston: “Houston has the Transco Tower and also Pennzoil Place, two towers that kiss,” say New York architects Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat, “and all three are Philip Johnson buildings.”




Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh has one of America’s great unsung skylines.

3. Next time you're invited to a dinner party, don't bring just any ol' bottle of booze. Check out the recommendations at Cork'd and you'll be on the guest list for every dinner party to come!
4. Ever spent way to much time searching for an 800 number only to give up? I have and it is frustrating to no end. Go to Hard To Find 800 Numbers. They'll find it for you.



5. Flickr is the best place to find amazing photos for free (noncommercial use only). I've found some truly inspiring pictures there! And, HFH has a photostream there of inspiring interiors for your time-wasting pleasure.
6. It's no fun to buy a ticket to fly across the country only to find the fare has dropped a week later. Sign up with Yapta. They will moniter your flight information and if the fare drops, they'll let you know and help you get a refund. That'll get you some new vacation shoes!
7. Being an adult means being responsible and being responsible means prepping yourself for the worst. As much as we don't want our houses to be broken into, it happens. It happened to my parents and it was a nightmare. But fortunately for them, they were insured and had an inventory of all of the bigger items they owned. When it came time to replace them, they knew exactly where to start. If you need a place to start, go to Stuff Safe. They make it easy to upload pictures of your stuff with descriptions and values. And hopefully, you'll never need to use it!

9. Hate your boss? (Even if I did, I couldn't tell you here!) Let 'em have it without getting fired by posting an anonymous rant on Work Rant.
10. For all of you book fiends out there (Eclectorator, I'm looking at you!) check out What Should I Read Next? Just enter the title or author of a book you loved and it will give you 10 suggestions that you will also love. I tried it, and it was dead-on.
11. Why would you want to pay for shipping when you could not pay for shipping. Go to Free Shipping On for the inside scoop on free shipping from over 500 stores.
They have a ton of fantastic, time saving, just-plain-cool sites on their list. Enjoy perusing the internet!

A couple days ago, D*sign Addict and I hit up a Fashion Group International: Fall Trends 2008 seminar. We got to see what will be hot for Fall 2008 (besides the Houston weather), so that we could bring it to you. While their report was quite extensive, I've condensed it for you to the top ten most wearable trends for the season. Take a look, feel free to give me some feedback, and remember- despite what you see on the runway, looking like yourself is your best bet! Now, on with the show!

If you're a parent, more than likely your summer vacations will be limited to kid-friendly locales like beaches, theme parks, and the occasional zoo. If you are not a parent, more than likely you don't want to spend your summer vacation with other people's kids. Maybe you're looking for a romantic spot in which to cozy up with your love, or a relaxing vineyard to enliven your wine palette, or you could just need some peace and quiet. Italy and France are both fine and good for those purposes, but it's not always feasible to jump across the pond. Money, family, and vacation time all prohibit big trips. So when you need to get away, just for a weekend, it's easy to do so by just jumping in your car. Better yet, rent a Prius and save on gas (even more relaxing!). There are great spots all over Texas where one can wine, dine, and chill.


The Hill Country: Magnolia House Bed & Breakfast
Nestled in Fredericksburg, the Magnolia House is in close proximity to tons of shopping- antiques are a big part of the city. The Hill Country is also a great place to visit if you enjoy wine- there are several vineyards to visit and taste at. The B&B itself is charming and quiet and serves a MEAN breakfast. I promise you won't be disappointed!


West Texas: Thunderbird Motel
You may or may not be familiar with Marfa, TX, it's great art scene, or the Mystery Lights. When driving up to El Paso, you won't find a lot on the way. I know this as I've made countless road trips there to visit grandparents. If only, as a kid, I had enough sway with my parents to make a quick detour off of I-10 to explore Marfa. We could have stayed at the design lovers paradise, Thunderbird Motel. The minimalist space is nonetheless luxurious and perfect for a desert getaway.


The Gulf Coast: Hoopes House
If water and sun is what you crave, drive down to Rockport. You can lay on the beach, catch up on your reading, and sip on something fruity. Then, when the sun has wreaked havoc on your energy level and skin, head back to Hoopes House for some much deserved R&R indoors. The restored 1890's home offers casual, spacious rooms that don't evoke feeling of staying in a museum, but a beachy summer villa.



South Texas Plains: Inn on the Riverwalk
Enjoying a nightlife somewhere doesn't require you to stay at a Holiday Inn. You can enjoy a quiet stay in the middle of downtown if you know where to look. If exploring the Riverwalk in San Antonio is your thing, try Inn on the Riverwalk. You'll be close to all of the action of the Riverwalk- the clubs, shopping, dining, etc- but instead of coming back to a generic hotel room, you get a sweeter place to rest your head.




The Big City: Modern B&B
For an anniversary or birthday, it's nice to get out of the house and try someplace new without even leaving town. I know where I'm heading: Modern B&B. Just to be clear, this isn't your mama's B&B. This place is sleek, modern, cool. You'll still be close to all of the hip things going on in the city. You'll come back to an amazingly designed room, a view of the city, and a good night's sleep.

Good Trend #1: All White





Bad Trend #2: Bedroom or Dining "Suites"







Good Trend #2: Mix and Match Dining Chairs





Bad Trend #3: Elaborate Drapery Treatments and Bedding Sets





Good Trend #3: Simple Panels and Bedding Sets






Bad Trend #4: Silk Bedding for Baby





Good Trend #4: Modern Baby Bedding





Bad Trend #5: Ready-made Slipcovers



Good Trend #5: Upholstered Sofas That Can Be Slipcovered