JULY-AUG 2021 Plano Magazine

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JUL-AUG 2021 | PLANOMAGAZINE.COM

S T U F F





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ISSUE NO.35

CONTENTS

10 FUN STUFF TO DO 12 TIFFANY’S AT LEGACY WEST 16 LONG COVE 18 FOURTH OF JULY IN PLANO 20 KED’S ARTISAN ICE CREAM & TREATS 24 NTX DEVILS 28 RED TRUCK CAFE 31 PEOPLE OF PLANO: MICHELLE LYLES

PLANOMAGAZINE.COM | editor@planomagazine.com | sales@planomagazine.com | 214.560.4212 PUBLISHER Jehadu Abshiro | FOUNDERS Luke and Jennifer Shertzer WRITERS Jaime Dunaway-Seale | Liesje Powers | Stephen Hunt DESIGNERS Jynnette Neal | Jessica Turner SALES Michele Paulda | Frank McClendon

CONTRIBUTORS Emilee Prado • Esther Huynh • Felicia Lopez • Joshua Baethge • Kathy Tran • Daniel Rockey • Katie Kelton • Mary Jacobs • Stephen Hunt • Sally Wamre


Turn Heads Again Over 14,000 patients served since 1987 BREASTS

BODY

FACE

SKIN

Dr. Elizabeth Kerner is a skilled and experienced board certified plastic surgeon committed to your care. She and her staff have been a part of the Plano community for decades, and have cared for their patients for so long they’re practically family.

6130 W Parker Rd #110, Plano, TX 75093 972-981-7144 drkerner.com

Christene “Chris” Krupa Downs, Attorney WILLS | ESTATE PLANNING GUARDIANSHIP | PROBATE LAW

214.556.3862 P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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JULY

10 HOLISTIC FESTIVAL

OF LIFE & WELLNESS

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SAT 10 AM-6PM,PLANO EVENT CENTER, 2000 E SPRING CREEK PKWY, SPIRITUAL HEALTH, MENTAL CLARITY AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING

JULY

11 ANNUAL BASTILLE DAY

SUN 1PM-4PM,LEGACY HALL BOX GARDEN, ALL THINGS FRENCH, FREE LIVE PERFORMANCE BY LA POMPE

JULY

15-18 MAGIC TREE HOUSE:

DINOSAURS BEFORE DARK

THUR-SUN SHOWTIMES VARY, WILLOW BEND CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 6121 WEST PARK BOULEVARD, ADAPTATION OF THE FIRST FANTASY ADVENTURE BOOK ABOUT JACK AND ANNIE’S TREE HOUSE

16-25 DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID

FRI-SUN SHOWTIMES VARY, NORTH TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS, 6121 WEST PARK BLVD B216, A CLASSIC LOVE STORY FOR THE AGES

JULY

19 LUNCH-N-PLAY I WIZARD MAGIC

JULY

23-24 RETRO EXPO

FRI-SAT 9AM-4PM, WWW.RETROEXPO.COM PLANO EVENT CENTER, 2000 E SPRING CREEK PKWY, COLLECTIBLES RECORDS, ACTION FIGURES, COMICS AND MORE

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AUGU ST JU LY

MON 11:30AM, LEGACY HALL, FREE, INCLUDES MEAL, TOY AN AFTERNOON IN A MAGICAL WORLD LIKE HARRY POT TER JULY

JULY

Retro

28 SUNSET MOVIE SERIES: CLUELESS

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WED 7:30-9:30PM, LEGACY WEST, 7800 WINDROSE AVE. FREE TO AT TEND, MOVIE NIGHT PACKAGE RESERVATION AVAILABLE

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AUG

5 PLANO MAGAZINE HAPPY HOUR HIKE

THURS 6-9PM, LEGACY WEST, 6007 LEGACY DRIVE MONTHLY SIP-AND-SHOP EVENT.

AUG

7 VINTAGE TRADE DAYS

SAT-SUN 10AM-5PM, PLANO MARKET SQUARE MALL, 1717 E. SPRING CREEK PKWY GREAT VINTAGE & ANTIQUE SHOW

AUG

7 STEVE O’S POOL PARTY

SUN 6PM, NYLO DALLAS PLANO HOTEL, 8201 PRESTON ROAD DJ I.E., DJ FREEZE, DJ TONE DEF. AFTER 9 DJ PHIL AND DJ GUMBO.

AUG.

14 DOWNTOWN PLANO BEER + WINE WALK

SAT NOON-6PM, DOWNTOWN PLANO ARTS DISTRICT 20 STOPS WITH TASTINGS OF COLD CRAFT BEER AND TASTY WINES.

AUG.

20 CHIPS POKER TOURNAMENT

FRI 5:30PM, ROOFTOP EVENT SPOT, 1000 E 14TH STREET #400, SEVENTH ANNUAL CHIPS TEXAS HOLD ‘EM POKER TOURNAMENT.

AUG

19-22 DISNEY DESCENDANTS THE MUSICAL

THUR-SUN,SHOWTIMES VARY, COURTYARD THEATER, 1509 H AVE. EDGE DANCE PRESENTS THIS MODERN TALE OF REDEMPTION FOR CHILDREN OF MALEFICENT, THE EVIL QUEEN, CRUELLA DE VIL, AND JAFAR.

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AUG

22-24 DIVINE CONSIGN

SUN-TUESDAY TIMES VARY, PLANO EVENT CENTER, 2000 E SPRING CREEK PKWY, SUNDAY BRUNCH AND EARLY PRESALE. SHOP MATERNITY, NEWBORN, TODDLER AND BEYOND.


Never to early to start thinking of the HOLLYDAYS START MAKING YOUR LIST FOR SEPTEMBER’S HOLLYDAYS MARKET OF PLANO

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arly birds wanting to get a jump on Christmas shopping will rejoice to know their ship is coming in. Hollydays Market of Plano is coming to the Plano Event Center Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24-25, when shoppers can find original treasures from up to 150 local vendors and artisans. The list of one-of-a-kind finds is endless, including home decor, boutique clothing, gourmet foods, florals, holiday decor, wood crafts, handmade jewelry, handmade soaps and candles — and more, says Stacie Henry, president of Home for the Holidays Gift Markets. Henry’s brainchild began in the Houston area with Hollyday Markets in Katy, Rosenberg, Humble and New Braunfels, quickly becoming the biggest gift shows there. Since 2008, Henry’s company has made it a mission to back others. In that time, she has donated more than $250,000 to local charities, and now she’s expanding to Plano, where she plans to support non-profits in our community. How did things get started? Henry, a devout Christian, is a former gift vendor herself. She says this is what God has been leading her to do. With multiple shows planned this year, some were cancelling because of COVID.

SAVE THE DATE Hollydays Market of Plano September 24th-25th

Plano Event Center, 2000 E Spring Creek Pkwy

FIRST CALL SHOPPING Friday 10 am - 2 pm | $10 GENERAL ADMISSION Friday 2 pm- 8 pm, Saturday 10 am - 6 pm | $6 MUFFINS AND MIMOSAS: Sat. 10 am - 2 pm | $30 | Includes general admission, one muffin, 2 mimosas with souvenir wine glass ROCKING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE: Fri. 6 pm - 9 pm | $50 | Includes general admission, 2 glasses of wine, souvenir wine glass, hor derves, and live music in the Windham Hall.

“It gets hard many times, and in the middle of the night one night, God gave me an image of one of my vendors, who said, ‘Yours is the only show I do. Your market is 100 percent responsible for my livelihood.’ It gives me motivation to work harder. It’s been all God,” she says. In all of her markets combined, 700-800 vendors rely on Henry’s gift markets for income. “I want people to shop local, buy handmade items and support the small businessperson. Vendors have had no shows in at least a year and a half, and I want to help them turn small businesses into big ones, help them support families,” she says. Henry helps vendors learn how to set up a booth, erect pipes and drapes for booth structure, display items, decorate the area and successfully run with their own ideas. Come out for our Muffins and Mimosas on Saturday from 10am to 2pm for only $30.This includes general admission, one muffin and two mimosas and souvenir wine glass. Henry especially invites non-profits to contact her for booth opportunities. “We let them know they can sell tickets themselves and keep the ticket money for their purposes.” Additionally, there’s a limited amount of free table space she dedicates each show to non-profits. Tickets for this two-day event can be purchased at the door or in advance online. Grab a friend, and get shopping! For vendor applications and information, contact Home for the Holidays Gift Market, 281-788-4297. homefortheholidaysgiftmarket.com

Come shop Home Decor, Clothing Boutiques, Gourmet Foods, Handmade Soaps and Candles, Florals, Holiday Decor, Wood Crafts, Handmade Jewelry. Advertisement

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RING IN THE BLING

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TIFFANY & CO. OPENS DISCOVERY STORE AT LEGACY WEST story JAIME DUNAWAY-SEALE A sparkly new tenant is open for business at Legacy West. Tiffany & Co. opened its eighth Texas location June 17 at the luxurious open-air shopping center. >>

ot os co ur te sy T if fa ny & C

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The 2,500-square-foot store, across the street from Legacy Hall, is the first of its kind in Texas. It is designed differently from the jeweler’s traditional over-thecounter model. The “discovery” store features display cases with underlying drawers. The drawers are filled with product and can be opened by an employee whenever customers want to try on merchandise. Jewelry designs include long-standing collections like Tiffany Victoria to the newer Tiffany HardWear, featuring gauge links and industrial shapes inspired by New York City. Customers will also find the environmentally conscious Save the Wild collection and the Tiffany T1, advertised by celebrities like Anya Taylor-Joy from The Queen’s Gambit. Look for pieces from Tiffany’s exclusive designers, including Elsa Peretti. Her legendary sculpted bracelets resemble Diana Prince’s indestructible cuffs and were worn by Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman 1984. The Plano location has one of the area’s largest selection of engagement rings for women and men. The jeweler started selling the men’s line for the first time in May. The rings feature a solitary round- or emerald-cut diamond in a striking center position. Each diamond is ethically sourced and traceable. Customers have access to the full craftsmanship journey of diamonds 0.18 carats or larger.

The Plano Tif fany’s location has one of the area’s largest selection of engagement rings for women and men.

For a truly personal experience, engagement rings can be engraved on site, and the iconic Tiffany blue box can be embossed with names, initials and the ever important question, “Marry me?” Besides jewelry, clients can customize charms, bracelets, key rings, crystal ice buckets and leather passport cases. A wall of home goods and accessories is located next to the personalization station. While customers wait for their customized products, they can browse a selection of sunglasses, handbags, wheat leaf glassware and bone china tableware. The interior decor immerses guests into the world of Tiffany. Subtle images of skyscrapers in the display cases make shoppers feel like they’re at the flagship in New York City. Another design element sure to delight guests is a blue box wall behind the checkout, where guests can watch — and Instagram — as an employee ties a ribbon around their glittery new purchase.

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tiffany.com/jewelry-stores/legacy-west

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WHAT A DIFFERENCE LAKE LIVING MAKES

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ust a short hop from the urban jungle, folks are discovering residential – and recreational quality of life at Long Cove. This Utopian refuge on Cedar Creek Lake features hardto-find custom luxury lakefront homes, home sites and contemporary cottages. And the newest release, four-bedroom waterfront cape cottages, designed by John Boyd & Associates and built by Robert Elliott Custom Homes. Cedar Creek’s most significant waterfront realty, Long Cove continues to release limited collections of its lakefront lots, which are snapped up quickly by folks discovering this all-year-long good-life opportunity. Residents at Long Cove enjoy a “1,200acre backyard” where the list of amenities is enviously extensive. Maintenance-free community docks secure neighbors’ boats, which boat valets deliver to owners whenever an outing seems like a great idea. Weekly and holiday events keep residents engaged, including pool parties, yoga, pilates, golf clinics and live concerts. The Toy Barn houses community basketballs and tennis racquets for anyone who’s game. Poolside at the Lake Club, the Regatta Grill serves handy refreshments, ensuring no one goes hungry while relaxing. A new infinity pool is underway, which residents will find endlessly calming.

Long Cove’s concierge services render a lengthy array of residential support resources: plumbing, housekeeping, party assistance, local restaurant recommendations, home checks when owners are away. And lots more. Residents and guests enjoy easy access to miles of completed hiking and biking trails. And on Long Cove’s Texas Art Trail, sculptures by Texas artists dot the community: Check out the White Rabbit, ponder the Spharia and admire various dock animals along Henderson Bay. Nearby, Wilbur’s Pond, a fourth pond on property, is to be stocked with bass and other local fish varieties. Looking to get out of city traffic? Spread out with family and friends at Long Cove.

Book a shoreline tour today and hear about the latest availabilities. Contact the Long Cove Realty team at 214.220.4924 or info@longcovetx.com

Choose from one of three home designs available on Long Cove’s 40-acre park and cove with waterfront custom homes, harbor front townhomes offering concierge service, lake access, luxury pools and golf oasis. Photos courtesy Long Cove Advertisement

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All American 4th Plano brings back tradition with fireworks and fun story LIESBETH POWERS

@planoarts’s lawn decorating contest winner. Photo City of Plano Facebook

Gathering together to watch fireworks made a comeback this Fourth of July in Plano. The display offered in-person and streaming options. The festivities at the Red Trail Pavilion at Oak Point Park— previously known as the park’s Amphitheater—at 2801 E Spring Creek Parkway, Plano had food and fun for all ages. The fireworks were live streamed on the city of Plano’s YouTube page, Plano TV and the Plano Arts & Events Facebook page with music simulcast on 97.5 FM, the KLAK station. Visit the Facebook page to view the video. Also in the spirit of Independence Day, Plano hosted a lawn decorating contest. The submissions were voted on by Facebook “likes” on Plano’s Arts & Events page from June 28-July 1. Prizes for the contest include a 2-night stay at the Cambria Plano Frisco and family membership to the Heritage Farm Museum, among others. Find a free coloring page at plano.gov/allamerican4th. To see the fireworks show visit @planoarts on Facebook or go to tinyurl.com/yvr86sua.

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plano.gov/1042/All-American-4th

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photos JESSICA TURNER


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Parker Rd

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Ked’s has tons of ice cream flavors, everything from espresso to Persian Nights Delight, which contains fragrant hints of turmeric and saffron.

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ussain Kedwaii worked in IT for about 25 years before he decided to do something completely different: open an ice cream shop. “It is fun, and you enjoy interacting with people,” Kedwaii says. “You see the whole family coming in, ever ybody enjoying their flavor of ice cream.” He opened Old Town Creamery on Coit Road in 2009, and it kept the name for almost a decade. But in 2018, when Kedwaii was hoping to franchise the business, he thought Old Town was too common. So he changed the name to Ked’s Artisan Ice Cream & Treats. “It’s also a little bit easier for people to remember,” he says. Forget 31. At any given time, Ked’s has at least 49 flavors on display, with about 10 more in stock. In total, Ked’s produces more than 120 flavors, and the staff has plans to add more for the summer. There’s something for everyone at Ked’s. Popular ice cream flavors include mango, sea

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salt caramel and an Indian flavor called kulfi. Kedwaii prefers to mix flavors. His personal favorites are banana and cinnamon topped with walnuts, and mango and passion fruit topped with pistachios. Kedwaii, who’s originally from Pakistan, wants to introduce international flavors to the Plano community. Sometimes, he and the staff base their flavors on feedback from customers, who describe what they used to eat in their home countries. “We try to cater to different types of people and make sure we have flavors of ice cream that nobody else has,” Kedwaii says. In addition to ice cream, Ked’s sells crepes, waffles and boba tea. Now that businesses are starting to open again, Ked’s is pursuing its franchising project. There was interest in expanding before the pandemic, but under the circumstances, no real progress was made. Kedwaii says he hopes to open more locations in North Texas next year. “Kids are happy. Parents are happy,” he says. “And that makes you feel happy also.”

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NTX Devils BRING AUSSIE RULES TO PLANO story & photography STEPHEN HUNT

The Dallas Cowboys team is the undisputed king of the Dallas-Fort Worth professional sports landscape, but there is another brand of football being played in DFW. The Plano-based North Texas Devils hope to grow Australianrules football in Collin County and beyond. Founded in October 2020, the Devils, who play in the United States Australian Football League, began practicing in February at Old Shepard Place Park in Plano. The team’s inaugural season began in May. That start date was delayed, but the Devils played its first match June 19 in Arlington against the Dallas Dingoes, a team in existence for more than two decades. Dallas prevailed, but Devils president and head coach James Henderson was pleased.

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“It was our first game,” he says. “We had 22 players take the field. We have a squad now of close to 40, and we get 20-25 to every practice, which is pretty decent for a new team and a sport people don’t know very well.” The Devils, named for the Tasmanian devil, one of Australia’s most iconic animals, had 15 players against Dallas who had never played Aussie rules. One player learned how to pass during pre-game warmups. “It’s a gigantic field, and I think the guys got a little in their positions, especially playing against a team that has been around for a while,” Henderson says. “A little more experience and work on skills for

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some of the guys will go a long way when we see that team for a second time again in September.” About three weeks ago, the Devils had its first exhibition match, attracting about 50 spectators. Turnout in Arlington was a bit lower, but still solid. “For a brand-new club, this is not a sport in the U.S. that is attracting crowds. We probably got about 40 there on Saturday,” Henderson says. “The other club has been around about 25 years and probably had about six people watching. We’re on the right trajectory as far as getting people engaged.” Henderson is an Australian who grew up with the sport before coming to the States. He calls Aussie rules a hybrid sport combining elements of

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American football, basketball, lacrosse and rugby. The top league Down Under, the Australian Football League, features one DFW athlete in Mason Cox, a Highland Village native who has played for Collingwood Football Club since 2015. Cox’s presence in the AFL has helped raise the sport’s visibility in the metroplex, something Henderson and the Devils want to tap, along with the sizeable number of native Aussies who call Collin County home. Even though the Devils lost its first match, Henderson is encouraged that even after that defeat, spirits among his players remain high. “The score was a blowout. My focus has been on creating a community and a culture, almost the entire

team came to our sponsor bar afterward,” Henderson says. “The texts flying around our group have been amazing. The positive response has been like no other club I’ve seen. You’d think you’d have some guys that are dejected because we lost by a lot. It’s been the absolute opposite response. I’ve been pretty impressed with how they’ve come back from it.” Henderson has been pleased with how many players have been practicing thus far but would like to raise the level of athleticism on the field in the future. “Our oldest player is 53, and we have guys in their 40s. I’d say 80 percent of the people we’re getting have not heard of the game or played it before,” he says. “We’re starting to shift our focus from having enough people to having more athletic people. We need to start lowering our average age to get more athletes in.” On July 17, the Devils hosts Austin and Tulsa in their first home match, which will likely be played in Plano. The three teams will play each other once in a roundrobin competition. On Aug. 21, Arlington will host a subregional tournament featuring some of the region’s top teams, including the Devils. “We’ve got the Denver women’s team coming, Houston, Austin, Oklahoma, Baton Rouge, a whole bunch of teams in this South-Central region,” Henderson says. “Should be about 12 teams participating.”

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photos courtesy name name

A R E E R N B N Y I A D D O T

RED TRUCK CAFÉ OFFERS HOME-COOKING FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER story STEPHEN HUNT


Clockwise:James Wells welcomes diners to Red Truck Café. Photo Stephen Hunt; Military Grade SOS, featuring ground beef gravy over toast with two eggs. Photo Stephen Hunt; French toast breakfast. Photo Red Truck Café.

James Wells has years of experience in the magazines for soldiers. We’re a drop-off point for restaurant industry. In February 2019, he put that that. Soldiers have a lot of downtime. They get to good use by opening Red Truck Café at the pretty bored, so they want something to read. They corner of Parker Road and Alma Drive in Plano. like the books and magazines, which also make Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the good packing material.” eatery offers everything from breakfast staples like In another nod to the military, Red Truck Café corned beef hash and eggs benedict to lunch has menu items like Zero Dark Thirty, a breakfast and dinner mainstays, such as chicken fried steak special that runs until 9 a.m., and Military Grade and an array of burgers and sandwiches. SOS (Stuff on a Shingle), which features ground The star of the menu is the Blue Plate Special, beef gravy over toast with two eggs. which rotates every weekday. Mondays it’s Veterans comprise a significant chunk of Wells’ meatloaf, Tuesdays it’s pot roast, clientele. Wednesdays it’s turkey and dressing, “We have a lot of military retirees,” he Red Truck Café Thursdays it’s chicken and dumplings says. “There’s a lot of military people in 910 W. Parker Road and Fridays it’s fried fish. the area with the defense contractors Plano, Texas 75023 Still have room for dessert? Red Truck like TI [and] Raytheon,” Wells says. (972) 996-5177 Café serves a homemade cobbler of Like most businesses, Red Truck the day, along with homemade pies. Wells previously ran popular Plano breakfast spot Poor Richard’s Café. “Being part of the community, that’s probably the biggest thing,” Wells says. “We always strive to be a feather in the community’s hat, not a thorn in the side. We try to get involved and support local causes.” One cause near to Wells’ heart is Blue Star Mothers of America, a nonprofit organization dating back to World War II. It provides support to mothers of active military and those who have had a son or daughter honorably discharged. “They send care packages to soldiers from their area who are deployed overseas,” Wells says. “We do a benefit with them on Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day. They like to collect books and

Café had to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Wells quickly shifted from dine-in service to a takeout-only model. “It was a bad time because we could only do takeout — drop of 80 percent in business overnight,” he says. “We managed to work our way through it and keep our key staff. If we couldn’t have done that, we would have been out of business.” Red Truck Café has earned a following through its home-cooked food, reasonable pricing and friendly service. Wells is at the restaurant often, sometimes seating customers. “It’s the people [I love most about this business],” Wells says. “It’s a different challenge every day.”

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redtruckcafe.com

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MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR, MICHELLE LYLES story LIESBETH POWERS

Michelle Lyles is the CEO of Lyles Home Design, mom of two, resident of Plano and an architect and homebuilder with more than 17 years of experience. Her projects have included restaurants, grocery stores, retail spaces, residential homes and movie theaters throughout the United States. WHAT SERVICES DOES LYLES HOME DESIGN OFFER? Initially starting out in 2012, Lyles Home Design was mainly a design firm established to help home and business owners organize their spaces and help provide direction for clients unclear about their vision. As of 2021, Lyles Home Design is a custom homebuilder, but we also handle architectural design services for residential remodels and home additions, including interior design. Many clients that we work with on the remodel side have already contracted with an interior decorator not really understanding that interior design and architectural design are a little different. We create permitting plans, bid documents for your contractor, along with helping you find what finishes fit your home. Our new construction team focuses solely on development and design builds. Beginning fall 2021, we will have customizable blueprints for sale. We have a team of general contractors for clients, even if they are looking for recommendations only and not in need of design services. Our goal has always been to help our clients in any way we can, and sometimes that’s not always with us providing full-service design. HOW DID YOU CREATE LYLES HOME DESIGN AND BRING IT TO PLANO? I started Lyles Home Design in 2012, shortly after I accepted a role to help a startup MEP firm. At that time, I’d been working in the commercial architectural field for a little over six years and was really looking for a change. The MEP was a great opportunity for me, but I didn’t want to stray too far from my passion for architecture, so I established myself at that point as a freelance designer while still working full time. HOW DOES YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND BACKGROUND BRING SOMETHING NEW TO THE INDUSTRY? This year marked my 15th year working in commercial architectural design and construction before officially stepping out and focusing solely on my homebuilding company. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work within an architectural firm designing restaurants and retail spaces. I worked under an electrical engineer for about four years designing electrical systems and understanding power as a whole. I’ve worked on the owner side for a few years as a design and construction manager for a luxury cinema company building theaters nationwide. I concluded my commercial experience working for a general contracting company as a project manager building grocery stores and storage facilities. Over those 15 years, I have always been the minority and certainly have faced my own struggles, but it’s really given me the courage to work harder and stand behind my beliefs and experience. Being a woman in the construction industry is a challenge all on its own, but I have always made it a point to be knowledgeable about the project, materials and budget that I’m working with, so when I am onsite working with superintendents and sub-contractors, I can be an equal in all of the conversations. I try and always remain one step ahead. GO ONLINE TO READ MORE ABOUT MICHELLE LYLES PLANOMAGAZINE.COM

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