As first impressions go, doors pretty much lead the way. A door can say a lot about a home or a business, or it can reveal very little about what lurks beyond.
Since the first step is the doorstep, that’s where I started when exploring Dallas’ “next urban neighborhood.” From the old, rustic doors of the antique shops on Slocum Street to the modern, glass showroom facades of the Decorative Center, the doors of the Design District are effortlessly chic.
Evolving from an industrial warehouse hub in the 1950s and 1960s to a center for antiques and decorative showrooms, the Design District is known internationally for its high fashion decorative fabrics and furnishings. It has become a reliable resource for decorative arts professionals who enjoy exclusive access to the area’s showrooms and stores. Interestingly, the economic downturn has led many showroom owners and artists in the Design District to re-think their designer-only policy, and many have opened their doors to the public.
Lately, the biggest door that opened for the Dallas Design District is the new exit ramp to Oak Lawn from the Dallas North Tollway. Dallas real estate development firm PegasusAblon, in anticipation of this new doorway, has invested heavily in its vision to take the Design District from a trade-only decorative destination to a vibrant, distinctive urban neighborhood.
Just a couple of years into the redevelopment of the Design District and the entire Lower Oak Lawn area, (now known as LOL), PegasusAblon’s team has effectively re-purposed and given new dimension to a treasured Dallas neighborhood.
Over the past week, I’ve been stalking LOL, touring the new apartment complexes and window shopping at the various furniture, lighting and antique shops and showrooms. The carefully crafted design of the new apartment communities is beautifully apparent. Both the Alta and Alexan Design District have developed home spaces that are unique and warmly livable for the urban professional seeking affordable style and premier proximity to Dallas’ hottest urban locales. I fell in love with the stained concrete floors, granite countertops and breathtaking skyline views.
Both communities are equally lush in amenities, including state-of-the-art gyms and A+ pools. Special features such as decorative tile back splashes in the kitchens add a custom home feel. The main difference between the two lies in the floor plans. The Alta units have a loft-like feel with open floor plans and exposed ventilation. While studio style units are available at the Alexan too, this community also offers more traditional apartment layouts.
The old saying goes; choosing a place to live is all about location, location, location. In that same vein, LOL is all about proximity, proximity, proximity. By car, LOL and the Design District are less than one minute from the Dallas North Tollway, two minutes from the AAC and Victory Park, five minutes from Downtown, six minutes to Uptown and just seven or eight minutes to West Village shopping. And with the current buzz about four new restaurant ventures planned for the LOL area, soon enough it will be the place to be — not just the place to live.
Doors are opening to a new community in Dallas — a community that is simultaneously rich with heritage and steeped in authenticity, yet artfully punctuated with a hip and ultra modern aura. The doors to LOL and the Design District are wide open with possibility and potential, giving Big D a new perspective on urban renaissance and redevelopment.
Tip: Ready to explore LOL but don’t know where to start? Check out Furniture Your Way showroom on Slocum Street, one of the oldest leather manufacturers in the DFW region. This week they hosted a massive sale, opening their doors to the public. With over 100 leather styles to choose from, you can find the look you want to achieve, whether it’s Hill Country Rugged or Dallas Modern Sleek. While I was out taking photos to chronicle the doors to LOL, the owner of the store walked right out the door to introduce himself to my friend Renee and me. He welcomed us through his doors and invited us to take a look around. Now this is a door worth gracing!
Find the Doors
Interested in checking out what’s behind all those beautiful doors? See the map below.
View Doors of the Dallas Design District in a larger map
| (1) Gary Elam Antiques 1025 Slocum St. Dallas, TX 75207 (214) 747-4767 |
(2) The Kitchen Source 1544 Slocum St. Dallas, TX 75207 (214) 741-1912 |
(3) Hermitage Antiques LTD 1313 Slocum Street, Ste. 101 Dallas, TX 75207 (214) 752-2229 |
| (4) Scott and Cooner 1617 Hi Line Dr., Ste 100 Dallas, TX 75207 (214) 748-9838 |
(5) Alexan Design District 1551 Oak Lawn Ave. Dallas, TX 75207 (214) 741-0777 |
(6) Furniture Your Way 1414 Slocum St. Dallas, TX 75207 (214) 741-6460 |
| (7) b.gover limited 1436 Slocum St Dallas, TX 75207-3803 (214) 571-9675 |
(8) Statement Furniture 1131 Slocum St Dallas, TX 75207 (214) 760-2450 |
(9) Jan Showers & Associates 1308 Slocum St Dallas, TX 75207 (214) 747-5252 |
| (10) San Miguel Allende Inc. 1418 Slocum St Dallas, TX 75207-3803 (214) 760-9117 |
{Photos by: Kendall Shiffler}
A great posting and job very well done. You showed a lot of insight, talent and creativity – and even got me to post on your blog.
Lower Oak Lawn was an inspiring place to be 25 years ago. I’m glad to hear of its revitalization. And that they are going retail!
Kendall, Great information! Makes me want to drive to Dallas and check out some of the shopping areas, and just enjoy the great city of Dallas.
You’re right…A door is a first impression speaking volumes about what’s inside. I really want to see what’s inside Door #8!
Great article! I have always loved doors since I traveled to Europe and these are great!! I have only been in Dallas for three years and have never ventured to LOL – now I definately will. Thanks!
Kendall, Thanks for enlightening us on an area of Dallas is not always in the forefront. I can’t wait to visit this area and see all the wonderful stores. I think that as our city changes and improves we need to hear more about upcoming areas that are hidden gems! Thanks again!
LOVE it! Love the map where you can find the doors. Design District is a hidden gem of Dallas! Makes me want to go shopping!
Cool! I can’t wait for the restaurants to open. Hopefully it will become another Bishops Arts District-type of area! I really had NO idea any of that was down there!
I enjoyed touring Lower Oak Lawn! I had seen the apartments being built but had no idea a whole area was being revamped.
Wow! Who knew any of this was down there? I can’t wait to wander into some of those shops…and I’m really excited to see what restuarants come in there! Dont’ stop here, tell use more about this new urban stop!
I’m in the market for a new place. Did you happen to notice if any of the apartments you toured offered 3br/3b? I would love to hear any more tips you have from your recent tour of LOL.
I’ll let you know when I hear something about the restaurants. You can blog about them on Babb Appetite!
Love the article on the doors in the LOL area. My office is just down the road, and I had no idea that a fab area was just mere blocks away! You’ve inspired me to make plans to explore the area more….can’t wait! Keep up the excellent blogging!
I live so close to LOL and haven’t really paid attention to all this fun stuff you’ve mentioned! Can’t wait to do sone exploring and hopefully some redecorating;). I agree with Alison…hopefully it’ll become like the Bishop Arts district. Great job introducing it to us!
Question for you, Kendall – What kind of a place do you see LOL becoming? I’ve only been over there a couple of times, but it felt a little like Uptown’s hipper, more artsy cousin (or at least like that’s the vibe they were going for).
Do you think that’s the kind of atmosphere they’re trying to develop, or is that just the places I’ve been?
And Leslie – completely agree about Door #8!!
I LOVE the Bishop Arts District. You should write an article on all the neat places there.
Also…. I am loving the New Moon trailer you have on the site.
Karen, I’d agree with you. I can’t speak for the developers but from what I can tell from walking around and checking out the apartment complexes it seems like a place for more “creative professionals.”
The two main “artsy/creative” places I think of in Dallas are Bishop Arts and Deep Ellum. I’d say its less “hippy” than BA and more polished than DE. A “hipper” uptown, like you say.
Plus, it’s so close to everything…it’s hard to go and have a few cocktails in Bishop Arts without having to make a 20 minute drive home. LOL is reasonable cab fare distance from Uptown/Highland Park.
It’ll be interesting to see what sort of restaurants go in. I found on one blog that the owners of Flying Saucer are rumored to be starting a new restaurant in LOL.
Here’s the blog post where it talks about rumors for the new restaurants: http://www.theablock.com/?p=300
Kim — I toured the Alexan and the Alta — they had some 2br/2ba but no 3br. They were awesome though. Alexan has a lap pool which I would love!
There is one more complex down there that I know about — Trinity Lofts which might offer 3 bedroom units. (it’s hard to tell from the floorplans on their site). Their website is: http://trinityloft.com
I also saw another one under construction — can’t find the name of it — who knows what they’ll offer!
All the information you gave about this area was fabulous! I am always looking for new antique shops, and this post has made me want to venture down there ASAP!
Thanks for informing me of an area that I probably wouldn’t have ventured to. I’ve lived here my whole life and that’s never been a hot spot. I’ll have to go check it out!
After reading your blog on Friday, I took a little shopping trip down to LOL this weekend and had a great time exploring! I am semi-new to Dallas and had no idea this area existed. Such a cool, up-and-coming neighborhood! I’m in the process of decorating my new apartment and I found some great antiques in the Design District. Looking forward to the new restaurants too!
Thanks for enlightening me, Kendall! Keep up the good work.
Hi Kendall,
I have a question for you. I’m seriously considering moving into the Alexan. I’m new to town and I don’t know this Design District area. Do you know if it’s safe? I appreciate your reply.
Thanks!
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