2023 April Preston Hollow Advocate

Luxury Leaders

Christine McKenny 214.300.5539

Richard Graziano 214.564.2602

Kimberly Cocotos 214.682.5754

april 23

contents

PRESTON HOLLOW

ADVOCATE

VOL. 23 NO. 4

PROFILE

6 Fabric frenzy

DINING

26 Escondido TexMex

FEATURES

20 Protesting property taxes

30 Inside The Interior

34 An artist’s home

42 North Haven Garden clubs

COLUMN

46 Second hand is No. 1

SPECIAL SECTION

11 Top Realtor

Floral sculpture by a local artist in Cindy Avroch’s house. Read more on page 34. Photography by Lauren Allen.

FABRIC FRENZY

Rutherford’s new owner is embracing tradition

Interview by ALYSSA HIGH | Photography by KATHY TRAN

Robert and Anna Rutherford opened Rutherford’s Design in Inwood Village over 30 years ago. The shop offers full-service design, furnishings, trims, gifts and more fabric than one could count. Now in their 80s, the couple is taking a step back from running the business and leaving Steffanie Evans at the helm.

Evans stumbled upon Rutherford’s on a whim.

“About a year and a half ago, I stumbled in here (Rutherford’s) while waiting on hardware next door at Westside. I was blown away and met one of the designers and really got a lot of fun stuff done in my house,” Evans says. “Through that I learned about the family that owned the business. The family was retiring. Mr. Rutherford is 86 years old.”

Evans officially took over Feb. 1, but the Rutherfords are still on staff to advise and assist.

YOUR BACKGROUND ISN’T IN INTERIOR DESIGN. WHAT DID YOU DO PREVIOUSLY AND HOW DOES IT HELP YOU STEP INTO THIS ROLE?

My background is actually in American history and museum studies. So much of this pulls from my background in museums because of the history of furniture, the history of fabrics. There’s been so many parallels that connect what I’ve done before coming into here which has been really fun. I think that’s just part of the range of interests where I love being creative. I love design, but I love history too. And all of this has history. Anything new we create, I love to think about how it helps people create history in their homes. When we think about where we go to visit family or where we’re going to raise our children or where we’re going to serve family, that’s the space that we create that you need to feel comfortable in.

WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN INTERIOR DESIGN?

I’ve always had an interest in design. My husband and I have moved about 15 times in 23 years, usually for work or school, but always building and renovating something new. It’s something that I’ve had a strong interest in. I can be a little artistic and creative, so this is a great outlet for me.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE STYLE TO DO?

I noticed that when I design I tend to be a little solid and modern. I’ve got to swing the other way, and I’ve got to become whimsy. I’ve got to grab some bright fabrics and bring a little depth into a space, and then it might get too busy. And then I kind of pull back, and then it looks all too current, so then I need to bring in something vintage or antique. So my rooms usually end up having a little bit of everything in it.

WHAT DOES YOUR TYPICAL CLIENTELE LOOK LIKE?

We do anything. That’s the biggest fear I hear when I talk to friends or neighbors or potential clients is, “I don’t want to take on a designer. I can’t afford that.” I have to admit, at some point I was there myself until coming to this where we have people that say, “I have a chair; it needs new fabric.” If you don’t see fabric you like here, we can go find it. We can order it. We go to our vendors. We go to markets or the design districts. We make sure that it fits your price point. You know what your budget is. You know what your style is. We make sure that you have all the resources to make that project happen, whether it’s a chair or an entire house. It shouldn’t be an intimidating process. It shouldn’t be a process that people avoid because of cost or being overwhelmed because that’s what we’re here to help with to make sure you stay on task and on time and on budget to do whatever project you want to do, whether it’s a pillow, a room or a house.

YOU MENTIONED YOU HAVE A SHOP INSIDE THE STORE. WHAT DO YOU SELL?

It’s a good mix of old and new. There’ll be updates and changes coming over the next several months for sure. While we are a design firm, we’re also a retail shop. That’s why we’re here close to Inwood Village at a busy intersection and a great neighborhood that we became known for as well. So whether it’s artwork or vases or trays, all of that finds a place here.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE OF RUTHERFORD’S?

There’s such a strong history and some great things here and great relationships. It’s a

balance of keeping those intact but also growing the business and creating a new identity without losing who we are and doing a lot of updating and bringing new things in here, but also holding on to the 30-year history that was here, which is exciting and daunting at the same time. I’m just really excited. I hope I can carry on the tradition for the next 30-35 years. They did such an incredible job of what they built here. It’s nothing I could ever do and start on my own. It would take a long time and a lot of resources. I’m so humbled to be able to purchase the business and step in and learn from them and carry it forward. I want to keep it relevant and bring it up to date and make sure we’re getting new things every few weeks and be a new resource for the community, whether it’s a housewarming gift or a brand new home.

WHAT OTHER SERVICES DOES RUTHERFORD’S OFFER?

We have vendors that come to us first to give us first dibs on their new product line and things like that which have been really fun to learn about. If you need a new rug or need a new lamp, we have vendors and workshops that will build the lamp that you want for that specific room. That’s when it gets kind of fun. You can think outside the box. When somebody’s looking for something special, we find a way to create it.

Interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

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EDITORIAL

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Jehadu Abshiro jabshiro@advocatemag.com

SENIOR EDITOR: Renee Umsted rumsted@advocatemag.com

Editors: Alyssa High ahigh@advocatemag.com

Emma Ruby eruby@advocatemag.com

Ariel Wallace awallace@advocatemag.com

Editor-at-Large: Christina Hughes Babb chughes@advocatemag.com

Digital Editor: Raven Jordan rjordan@advocatemag.com

Senior Art Director: Jynnette Neal jneal@advocatemag.com

Art Director/Photographer: Lauren Allen lallen@advocatemag.com

Contributors: Patti Vinson, Carol Toler, Sam Gillespie

Contributing photographers: Lauren Allen, Kathy Tran, Emil Lippe, Hunter Lacey, Yuvie Styles, Shelby Tauber, Sylvia Elzafon, Lo Kuehmeier, Victoria Gomez, Julia Cartwright

Chief Revenue Officer: Rick Wamre 214.560.4212 / rwamre@advocatemag.com

Advocate (c) 2023 is published monthly in print and daily online by Advocate Media - Dallas Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation based in Dallas and first published in 1991. Contents of this print magazine may not be reproduced. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for the content of all advertisements and sponsorships printed, and therefore assume responsibility for any and all claims against the Advocate. The Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject ay editorial, advertising or sponsorship material in print or online. Opinions set forth in Advocate publications are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the Publisher’s viewpoint. More than 180,000 people read Advocate publications in print each month; Advocate online publications receive more than 4 million pageviews monthly. Advertising rates and guidelines are available upon request. Advocate print and online publications are available free of charge throughout our neighborhoods, one print copy per reader. For information about supporting our non-profit mission of providing local news to neighborhood readers, please call 214-560-4212 or email rwamre@advocatemag.com.

Newsletter:

Re ltors

The Advocate’s annual Top Realtor special section recognizes the Top 5% of all active neighborhood Realtors, determined by reported sales volume.*

TOP 25

JOAN ELEAZER

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

ALEX PERRY

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

ERIC NAROSOV

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

JULIE PROVENZANO

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

AMY DETWILER

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

MICHELLE WOOD

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

RYAN STREIFF

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

JESSICA KOLTUN

Jessica Koltun Home

JANELLE ALCANTARA

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

MICHELE BALADY BEACH

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

KATHERINE BALLARD

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

CYNTHIA BEAIRD

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

CHRISTY BERRY

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

ROBERT BLACKMAN

Solvent Realty Group

GRETCHEN BRASCH

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

KURT BUEHLER

Keller Williams Realty-FM

ROBYN CARAFIOL

Keller Williams Dallas Midtown

AARON CARROLL

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

GIANNA CERULLO

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

ILENE CHRIST

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

ASHLI CLEMENTS

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

KIMBERLY COCOTOS

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

BRYAN CRAWFORD

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

JUSTIN CROFT

Berkshire HathawayHS PenFed TX

MAX DANIEL IV

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

HOLLY DAVIS

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

NANCY DUNNING

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

SHIRLEY COHN

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

MARJAN WOLFORD

At Properties Christie’s Int’l

LAURA MICHELLE

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

FAISAL HALUM

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

SIMONE JEANES

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

JONATHAN ROSEN

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

GARRETT HOLLOWAY

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

DEBBIE SHERRINGTON

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

PENNY COOK

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

DIANE DUVALL-ROGERS

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

BLAKE ELTIS

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

PAMELA FLOREZ

Coldwell Banker Realty

KAREN FRY

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

CAROLINA GARZON

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

LEELEE GIOIA

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

MARK GODSON

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

RICHARD GRAZIANO

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

BLAKE GRIFFIN

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

TOM GRISAK

Keller Williams Realty Allen

LANCE HANCOCK

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

ROGERS HEALY

Rogers Healy and Associates

CHRIS HICKMAN

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

ELLY HOLDER

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

NANCY HOLLOWAY

PowerPlay Texas

TOM HUGHES

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

TIFFANY JACKSON

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

DORIS JACOBS

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

MARLENE JAFFE

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

HANNE SAGALOWSKY

Coldwell Banker Realty

TERRI COX

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

JORDAN ROSEN

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

SUSAN BALDWIN

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

PIPER YOUNG RIVERA

At Properties Christie’s Int’l

TY VAUGHN

Robert Elliott and Associates

MELISSA JENNINGS

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

BECKY FREY

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

LUCY JOHNSON

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

LORI KIRCHER

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

REBECCA LEE

Monument Realty

CATHERINE LEE

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

BARDHA LLONCARI

Jessica Koltun Brokerage LLC

JILL LONG

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

BRIAN MANES

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

ERIN MATHEWS

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

MELINDA MATISE

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

CHRISTINE MCKENNY

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

CHRISTINE MILLS WILKINS

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

MARY MONKHOUSE

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

BRADY MOORE

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

JERRY MOOTY JR.

At Properties Christie’s Int’l

DANNA MORGULOFF-HAYDEN

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

MINNETTE MURRAY

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

CINDY O’GORMAN

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

ANNE OLIVER

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

BLAKE PHILLIPS

Blake Phillips

STEPHANIE PINKSTON

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

ANNE PLATT

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

SARAH PLUMB

Citiwide Alliance Realty

POGIR

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

FERAS RACHID

Opendoor Brokerage, LLC

EMILY RAY PORTER

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

SHARON REDD

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

DAN RHODES

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

THOMAS RHODES

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

KATHERINE ROBERTS

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

KYLE ROVINSKY

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

ELISSA SABEL

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

FRADA SANDLER

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

MATT SCOBEE

Iconic Real Estate, LLC

KRISTEN SCOTT

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

JENNIFER SHINDLER

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

CYNTHIA STAGER

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

CLAY STAPP

CLAY STAPP + CO

MEGAN STERN

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

EVE SULLIVAN

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

HOLLY THOMPSON

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

RACHEL TROWBRIDGE

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

MARTI VOORHEIS

Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate

KAY WEEKS

Ebby Halliday, Realtors

DAMON WILLIAMSON

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

PATTI WINCHESTER

Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s Int’l

KIMBERLY WOODARD

Ebby Halliday Realtors

LILLIE YOUNG

Allie Beth Allman & Associates

BURT ZINSER

Compass Real Estate Texas, LLC

There is no greater honor than a client choosing to work with us again or referring their friends and family. We take great pride in earning your business and always strive to build a long lasting relationship.

GET THE EXPERIENCE – GET THE LOOK!

Real estate leader, Terri Cox has a natural talent for creating beauty, balance and order that pays dividends for her clients. This “magic touch” is a real phenomenon and an asset in every market. Cox has a passion for igniting the imagination of buyers so they can picture themselves in the home, through her stylizing and market prep expertise. “When this happens, there’s often very little that will stand in the way between them and their new found dream.” Cox was recently asked to sell a home in University Park. Other agents told the owners they could get offers in the $2 million range without doing any improvements. Cox proposed they stylize their home and make several improvements. The result: The home was sold for $500,000 more. Get the Experience- Get the Results.

HOW TO PROTEST YOUR PROPERTY TAXES &

Story by RICK WAMRE

Just because the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) says your home increased in value doesn’t mean that’s true.

With a few simple steps and information you probably already have handy, you can potentially lower your annual property tax bill.

The Advocate asked neighborhood experts to walk us through the simple process.

“As interest rates have gone up, property values in general have gone down this past year,” says Toby Toler, a neighborhood resident and owner of Toler Company, a residential and commercial property tax consulting company for the

past 40 years (tolerco.com).

“Sometimes it may seem like the appraisal district is genetically predisposed to defend their determination of property value,” Toler says. “So you need to present evidence of something they don’t already know about your home in order to have a successful result.”

Worried that protesting might make your tax assessment even higher? Don’t be.

“We don’t raise value as part of a protest. There’s no fear of that happening,” says Cheryl Jordan, DCAD director of community relations. “Some appraisal districts do that, but we don’t.”

DATES & DEADLINES

PUT THESE IMPORTANT TAX VALUATION DEADLINES ON YOUR CALENDAR TODAY:

SO IT’S APRIL 21

When you receive your home’s notice of valuation, you have a few options if you believe DCAD’s value is too high:

VISIT DALLASCAD.ORG and check the information listed there for your home. Does DCAD have the correct number of bathrooms and bedrooms listed? Is the square footage correct? Is the year the home was built listed correctly?

“In high-dollar areas, square footage or the number of bathrooms doesn’t have to be that far off at $500 or $600 per square foot in value to make a difference,” says neighborhood resident David McGee, owner of David L. McGee Appraisals (dmcgeeappraisals.com).

“Even if DCAD is off by only 100 or 200 square feet, that’s several thousand dollars of additional taxable value you’re paying for.”

WHILE ON DALLASCAD.ORG, look up the values of similar neighboring homes. Yes, it’s interesting to know the valuation of neighbors’ homes, but that’s not the point: Use that information to prove your home is overvalued.

CHECK OUT THE ADVOCATE ’S PRINT MAGAZINE OR WEBSITE f or neighborhood Realtors, and ask one for a report on “comparables” for your

house. Realtors have access to the Multiple Listing Service, which compiles data for most home sales in Dallas County. A Realtor can find comparable homes that have sold within the past 12 months to determine an appropriate value for your home. Remember, though: Realtors are only paid when they assist you with buying or selling a home, and they’re hoping this investment of time will eventually lead to working with you to eventually buy a new home or list your existing home.

If you really want rock-solid evidence of your home’s value, hire a property appraiser. The appraisal will set you back about $400-$750 (homes over 4,000 square feet or so tend to cost more), but you’ll have an independent, third-party valuation with comparables and adjustments (age, condition, improvements, location), McGee says.

KI CK STARTING THE PROCESS (APRIL 21-MAY 22)

You can file a protest online anytime after April 21; there’s no cost, and the sooner you file the protest, the more quickly your case will be reviewed.

“There’s no benefit to waiting if you know the value is wrong,” Toler says.

“DCAD’s phones typically aren’t clogged the first two weeks after value

DCAD releases residential notices of value, with a valuation as of Jan. 1, 2023, for Dallas County property owners. You can wait to receive your notice in the mail, or you can start looking for the valuation online at dallascad.org within a day or two of April 21.

MAY 22: Deadline to file a written protest of DCAD’s valuation.

JULY 14: Final date to come to an agreement with DCAD about your property value.

JULY 15: If you haven’t reached a valuation agreement with DCAD, you can ask for hearing with the Appraisal Review Board. That hearing probably won’t be worth your time (we’ll explain later), but it’s a necessary means to an end to keep protesting your valuation.

60 DAYS AFTER YOUR ARB HEARING : Deadline to request binding arbitration through the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts office or file a lawsuit in the District Court in Dallas County.

notices are mailed. People with a case ready to go are rare.”

Fill out the online “file a protest” form on your property’s account page at dallascad.org, upload the “evidence” that proves your home is overvalued, and write a short, concise explanation of your concerns.

DCAD computer algorithms typically analyze comparables and determine individual property values, so there’s room for human analysis to fine-tune those values, Jordan says.

Maybe your home is on a busy street, while the algorithm has selected comparables that are on quieter, more valuable streets.

Maybe your home needs a lot of remodeling or updating, but the algorithm hasn’t taken that into account while selecting new or updated homes nearby.

“The best thing that I’ve had luck with is to take a picture of everything that’s wrong with your house, print out the pictures and show all of those problems to DCAD,” McGee says.

“Show them all the things that need to be repaired — cracks in the foundation, original bathrooms, busted driveway, your house backs up to a drainage ditch with dead animals in it — show them your condition rating if it’s different from the comparables. That gives the (DCAD) appraisers a way to adjust your valuation.”

Focusing on your home’s shortcomings can help, but it’s not a guarantee.

“The sales market has changed in the past four years,” Jordan says. “It used to be that when you sold a property, you would fix it up. Nowadays, people are selling as-is. That has already been accounted for in (DCAD’s) value because the sale accounted for that in the price.”

TAKING THE NEXT STEP (JULY

14)

This is your deadline to file an appeal of your valuation with the Appraisal Review Board, which is a panel (or sometimes an individual) paid on a per-day basis to evaluate appeals.

The ARB hearing panel is a “buffer” of sorts to ensure DCAD’s appraisers are fairly evaluating your property’s value.

Typically, you will upload/mail the same information you used while negotiating with DCAD while hoping for a better valuation outcome.

ARB members rely on a DCAD appraiser who attends the hearing and presents evidence about valuation — if you don’t have an extremely compelling case, it’s likely the ARB will side with DCAD’s appraiser, perhaps throwing you a 1% or 2% token valuation “bone” as a consolation prize.

Some ARB hearings are in-person, meaning you will need to travel to attend what likely will be a 15- to 30-minute hearing. Some hearings are conducted by telephone (not Zoom).

You have the right to request any information DCAD is using to value your property, including data, schedules, formulas and comparables — as long as you request the information in writing and at least 14 days prior to the ARB hearing.

During the hearing, you’ll have a chance to succinctly state your case to the ARB, and the DCAD appraiser will do the same thing. Then the ARB will rule on your case immediately

SO YOUR VALUATION IS STILL TOO HIGH — NOW WHAT?

You’ve negotiated with DCAD, and you’ve presented your case to ARB, and you’re still convinced your home is being overvalued: You have one option left — file a request for binding arbitration with the Texas comptroller’s office or file a lawsuit in District Court. (The lawsuit option typically makes economic sense only for high-dollar homes and commercial properties.)

You’re going to forward the same information you’ve already compiled to the comptroller, along with a check for $450 (or more, depending on your property’s value).

Think carefully about this step, because your deposit, less $50, will be refunded only if the arbitrator sets your home value closer to your proposed valuation than to DCAD’s valuation.

HERE ARE THE DETAILS:

• You must file for binding arbitration within 60 days of receiving your ARB determination; for the most part, you’ll be sending the same information you’ve submitted to DCAD and ARB in hopes you can convince the arbitrator to come to a different conclusion.

• You must be current with your property taxes.

• You must complete a Form AP219, Request for Binding Arbitration (PDF) form available online, and send that form, along with a copy of the ARB determination, any relevant documentation and your filing fee to the address on the Form AP-219.

Once you’ve submitted your Form AP-219 and it has been received and acknowledged by the comptroller, you have 45 days to reach a settlement with DCAD prior to your case

LET ME HELP REDUCE YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL!

Dear Taxpayer,

I know you’re carefully considering the decision to protest your property taxes and determining if you should trust someone with this important task.

I’m Tiffany L. Hamil, a native Texan and Dallas resident. I began working in the property tax industry in 2005. After obtaining my law degree and Master of Laws in Taxation in 2010, I opened a boutique tax firm specializing in federal and state taxation. I spend the majority of my time assisting taxpayers, like you, with their property tax needs.

ADVANTAGES OF HIRING A PROFESSIONAL

ONE AND DONE. It takes about 15 minutes to retain a professional. Once you do that, your work is done. No need to prepare a case. No need to attend a hearing. This saves 2+ hours of your time.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION: To prepare a Comparative Market Analysis, you need access to sales prices. Because Texas is a nondisclosure state, sales information isn’t readily available to the public. My firm has access to this information.

KNOWING THE LAW AND A TAXPAYER’S RIGHTS. Have you ever been in a protest hearing and thought “They can’t do that!”? As a lawyer, I know the Tax Code, and I can reference and provide interpretations of the Tax Code and case law during Appraisal Review Board hearings.

CREDIBLE CASE ANALYSIS. Over the past 15 years, I have obtained extensive knowledge of DCAD’s residential appraisal system. I have developed proprietary software specifically to prepare market and equity analyses using methods and formulas tailored to DCAD’s methods of appraisal.

When you hire the Law Office of Tiffany L. Hamil, PLLC, you also gain a partner with experience. Last year, my firm filed more than 1,550 residential protests for which we obtained a resolution. We aren’t the largest property tax firm, nor do we seek to be. We pride ourselves in supplying honest representation, providing excellent customer service and building lasting relationships with our clients.

If you are considering protesting, we encourage you — AT NO COST — to contact us at 214-369-0909 or email info@relief.tax. With a quick phone call or email, we will quickly review your property to see if it makes financial sense for you to hire us for the 2023 tax season. Simply call or email us these 3 items: 1. Your name,

2. The property address to be protested, and 3. Let us know if anyone is already 65+ or turning 65 within the next 5 years.

I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Tiffany L. Hamil

being assigned to an arbitrator. The arbitrator will set a date, time and location for a hearing — it can also be held via Zoom. Your success will determine not only your property tax bill but also how much, if any, of your deposit is returned to you EXAMPLE: You believe your house should be assessed at $400,000, and DCAD believes your house should be assessed at $500,000. If you and DCAD don’t reach a settlement and the arbitrator determines the correct value for your house should be $451,000, your valuation will be set at $451,000 but you will forfeit your deposit since the final value was closer to DCAD’s valuation than to yours.

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE

O nce you’ve uploaded the information, a DCAD appraiser may give you

a call or send you an email asking for more information or, if you’ve been persuasive, offering a lower value for your property.

“It’s OK not to take their first offer,” Toler says. “It can’t get any worse, and you can always say something like ‘I was expecting more,’ or ‘I don’t think that offer gets me there,’ or ‘Is there any more slack in your rope?’

“If they’re willing to make you an offer, it’s not going to go away — that’s likely their new value for your home,” Toler says.

Remember you have until July 14 to reach an agreement, so work to get your best offer from DCAD no later than July 1 so you have time to take the next step, if you need to.

Editor’s Note: Dates and deadlines are subject to change depending on when DCAD sends out tax notices.

Check dallascad.org for up-to-date deadlines and information about procedures for filing protests. For more detailed information about protesting your taxes, including how DCAD determines property values, visit our website and search Property Tax Protest.

TEX MEX HAPPY

Escondido brings a resort feel to our neighborhood’s newest Tex-Mex joint

Story by ALYSSA HIGH |

THERE’S NOTHING MORE TEXAN THAN A SKILLET FILLED with sizzling beef, colorful peppers, cheese, fresh tortillas and a variety of toppings. The sizzle of a fajita is our culinary version of white noise.

At least, that’s what Jon Alexis, the owner of Escondido, says.

Otomi embroidery with chickens and donkeys fills frames on the walls, and the farm animal motif continues in the coasters and napkins. The chandeliers are metal cactuses, and the bright whites and intricate tiling resemble a Mexican resort. The Preston Royal restaurant is a bit like a Cabo swim-up bar, Alexis says.

He discovered Tex-Mex when he moved to Texas from Virginia in 1989.

“When we first came here, eating in Tex-Mex restaurants was like being on vacation,” Alexis says. “It was this amazing cuisine. I had never experienced anything like it.”

Restaurant veteran Alexis and his wife Natalie are no strangers to the area. The pair owns TJ’s Seafood across the street, which Alexis bought from his parents in 2009. When the 2019 tornado closed Cantina Laredo across the street, Alexis saw it as an opportunity to venture into the Tex-Mex world.

“I love Tex-Mex. It’s really happy,” Alexis says. “Having a frozen margarita and some chips and salsa makes life better.”

Photography by KATHY TRAN

Steak ancho butter fajitas, a frozen guava margarita and chips and salsa at Escondido.

Tell me a better bite of food in Paris. Tell me a better bite of food in TokyO.

Alexis and his wife ate at the best Tex-Mex places in Dallas and neighboring cities to find their signature dishes, and they worked on creating recipes to beat those dishes in their own restaurant.

“We cherry picked our favorite aspects of all of them,” Alexis says. “We wanted to make a damn good Tex-Mex spot, and so far there’s a line to get in every day, so we think it’s working.”

Aside from fajitas, Escondido’s menu is full of classic Tex-Mex favorites like enchiladas, tacos, chile relleno, carne asada and huevos rancheros. The restaurant features a full bar, offering several flavors of house and frozen margaritas. They even offer mini margaritas for those drinking on the lighter side.

“Let’s be real. I’m a white kid,” Alexis says. “I felt like I really had to do it right. It had to be really amazing.”

Escondido’s signature dish is ancho butter fajitas, which comes with either chicken, steak, shrimp, portobello or a chicken and steak combo for the protein choice. Fajitas are served with all the typical toppings, plus roasted garlic, spiced lime, rice and refried beans.

“A perfect fajita with a perfect tortilla and perfectly grilled onions,” Alexis says. “Tell me a better bite of food in Paris. Tell me a better bite of food in Tokyo than that.”

Escondido , 5950 Royal Lane, 214.471.5929, escondidodallas.com

Grilled salmon on elote and green chili salsa.

INSIDE THE INTERIOR

THE INWOOD VILLAGE DESIGN FIRM THAT DOES IT ALL

Glitzy décor pieces. Bright colorful furniture. Crystal chandeliers for days. When you walk into The Interior, you never know what style will be featured in the designer’s showrooms, which change out every three weeks.

The Interior is a full-service design firm located in Inwood Village. The firm started four years ago with managing director Mark Lafferty, who says he has collected the most talented designers and contractors.

With an architectural engineer on staff, seven interior designers and regularly contracted landscapers and contractors, clients don’t have to worry about choosing the right companies. Having an in-house floral designer adds a special touch to the designs, Lafferty says.

“Tracy (the floral designer) is an extremely talented, gifted artist, and it is a lost art, a dying art,” Lafferty says. “People don't understand how they wrap every stem and put it in and cut them and get the highs and the blends. When I meet someone who has that talent, I grab them and bring them into our staff and bring them on our team here. They’re a part of us.”

The Interior does everything from sourcing a rug or art to furnishing and decorating multimillion dollar homes.

“We’re with them for the journey,” Lafferty says. “We become friends and become associated with

Story by ALYSSA HIGH Photography by VICTORIA GOMEZ

their brand, acquainted with their family, know their hobbies and know who they are and what to design into their lifestyle.”

Lafferty entered the interior design world from an extensive background in garment sales.

“I was in the garment industry and traveled immensely,” Lafferty says. “As my kids were getting older, I wanted to stay home more and this was the natural thing. Garments change five seasons a year, and I’m used to that, so it’s easy to talk to somebody about products when you understand that flow.”

The Interior has two showrooms, one in the Design District and one in Inwood Village.

“That’s the magic about having a

showroom and retail here is the fact that, if a client makes a decision and it doesn’t work out, we’ll trade it out for them,” Lafferty says. “Very few designers can offer that because they don’t have the retail showroom to back that up.”

To Lafferty, design is all about making the clients happy, many of which maintain a working relationship through second and third houses, even vacation homes in other states.

“We listen to people; we listen to what they have and then we figure out what’s going to work best for them to take them to the point where they’ll be happy for years to come,” Lafferty says.

CITY VIEW ANTIQUE MALL

One of Dallas’ oldest antique malls

SALE &

Mark your calendar for Wed. April 26-30, for our Annual Spring Event! Sales of 20-50% Off throughout the store, plus Outside Tented Flea Market on Saturday with even more vendorsover 100 dealers in all. Come check out all the new Spring and Easter finds at City View!

6830 Walling Ln. (off Skillman/Abrams) 214.752.3071

The Interior’s showroom in the Design District features dozens of mock ups for living room spaces.

Preston Rd. @ Forest

Making the world a better place, one burger at a time.

VERSACE ASPEN

A COZY PRESTON HOLLOW HOME FILLED WITH TEXTURE

Story by JEHADU ABSHIRO

Photography by LAUREN ALLEN

Amethyst-toned velvet wallpaper lines the powder room. A would-be mother-in-law suite is outfitted with a silver shag carpet. A set of cream hide swivel chairs and an ottoman bask in a window. This is clearly the home of a textile designer. An award-winning artist, Cindy Avroch grew up in Brooklyn painting alongside her mother in the kitchen from a young age. Her mother, a textile designer by trade, was in

the first graduating class of the Fashion Institute of Technology, back when it was located on the top two floors of the High School of Needle Trades.

Avroch attended FIT to study textile design. Early in her career, she also spent time studying the trends in Europe and Los Angeles.

“If Baroque florals were the thing, we had to become an expert at painting and drawing Baroque florals,” she says.

“If teddy bears were the next trend, we’d have to teach ourselves to draw teddy bears in every single position you can imagine.”

She helped build art departments before working with Walt Disney and Warner Bros. After the birth of her second son, who has autism, she

took a step back from her career.

But she kept making art, eventually foraying into lighting design and découpage tabletop accessories, distributing in stores across Europe and America.

Avroch was a single mom, dating in the city and making art.

But Aug. 8, 2008 — the first day of the Beijing Olympics — was her last first date. Avroch and Michael Rosenthal scheduled drinks in an empty New York City. They met on Match. com. Avroch, who had also been a gymnast, wanted to cancel the date so she could watch the opening ceremony, but a friend convinced her to go on the date with Rosenthal. When she got there, Rosenthal was chatting with the chef at the bar, who said they had their pick of table. The best time to make a reservation at a sought-after restaurant is during the dog days of summer, when residents flee to vacation homes.

She ignored her drinks-only first date rule once he started talking about his son, and she stayed for dinner.

“I don’t know if it was love at first sight, but it was definitely something different about him,” she says.

When Rosenthal found out she was an artist, he invited her to his newly minted apartment to help figure out what to do with the paintings that lined the halls.

“And I looked at him and gave him a shot in the arm,” she says.

She thought he was feeding her a line, but he really had an apartment full of paintings without homes. She fed him a few suggestions and told him he needed to paint the den red.

“He’s like, ‘Red walls?!’” Avroch says. “So, we painted. It was everybody’s favorite room in the house because it just made them feel so cozy.”

They dated for several years and bought an apartment or two in New York before it was time for Rosenthal to move back to Texas. His son was starting a family, and he wanted to be nearby.

“So he asked me to come to Dallas, and I said, ‘Not as your girlfriend,’” she says. “And so we got married. And here I am.”

They began searching for a house in Preston Hollow in 2016. Nothing

Inspired by New York City subway’s arches, the stone and reclaimed Colorado wood beams bring warmth to the space.

seemed right for them, so they settled on building an 11,971-squarefoot home with a reminiscent red library, theater, four bedrooms and a dressing room-style closet that convinced Avroch Texas might not be so bad, after all.

Rosenthal worked on creating the bones of the home with an architect. Then Avroch took over.

“I wanted to dress each room. And each room has its own voice

and meaning,” she says. “I took each room and gave it its own personality.”

The house took three years to build, and the couple moved to Dallas in February 2019.

The foyer opens into a large formal living room with deep, plush blush velvet couch juxtaposed with a set of four gold coffee tables Avroch designed.

A custom dining room table is made of a glass slab that has been

strategically crushed with a suction tool and then gilded. The focal wall uses the raw side of stone tile for texture, of course.

While the formal spaces are heavily textured and pull from many styles, the kitchen is airy and neutral.

“It’s got the green glass and the white walls and the stone, so the food becomes the wow factor,” she says. “The joy of the cooking becomes what’s exciting in that room.”

Sunday is for family dinner where she grew up, and Avroch still cooks often. She recently tried her hand at making fresh pasta from scratch. And her eldest son is a chef in New York City but spent part of the pandemic cooking in the family’s double-islanded kitchen, which boasts several ovens, two refrigerators and a rotisserie.

The couple chose to carry into the kitchen reclaimed wood flooring

(which at one time had buckled due to moisture in a classic he-said-hesaid contractor scenario during the build).

“It’s soft on your feet. When you’re standing on a marble or stone floor in the kitchen and you cook, it’s really hard on your feet,” she says.

The man cave, conveniently off the kitchen, is modern and moodier with rich indigos and emeralds.

Each room has sculptures and

Far left: When originally designing the atrium under the stairwell, there wasn’t a coat closet, but as a life-long New Yorker she deemed that every house needs a coat closet.

Center: The dual seating arrangement in the man cave uses modern furniture and darker hues to create conversational spaces.

Above: The red library is an ode to the den from their first date in New York City.

paintings curated for the space. Antiques from her mother contrast with more modern sculptures. A favorite is a piece of a school of fish swimming toward a champagne bar, with a lone fish woozily swimming away, painted on silk by an artist who used to own a French restaurant before marrying an Australian and resolving to simply spend her summers painting on the beach.

A natural painter who dabbles in most art styles, Avroch’s own work is mixed with contemporary and local artists. A handful of her large florals are scattered throughout.

A curator once noted that while Avroch paints with skill, her real passion is sculpture.

“Three Points,” inspired by stalagmites, hangs near the entryway. A life-sized unfinished metal man she’s welding lays underneath the staircase, complimented by a Greco-Roman statue and healthy monsteras.

“When we were picking the interior pieces, the architect described it as Versace meets Aspen,” Avroch says. “And that’s how I describe it.”

Avroch took special care in selecting lighting elements for each space, often doing custom orders.

BLOSSOMING TOGETHER

North Haven Gardens is home to an assortment of plant aficionados

Story by ALYSSA HIGH | Photography by LO KUEHMEIER

Daffodils. Tree peonies. Poppies. Azaleas. April brings blooming flowers of all sorts.

In addition to selling plants and gardening materials, North Haven Gardens focuses on community and education and provides space for garden aficionados to discuss their favorite foliage. Garden advisers coach classes varying from lawn care to vegetable gardening to seasonal insects.

Several groups meet at the North Haven Gardens each month, including Bonsai Society of Dallas, the Orchid Society, the Texas Daffodil Society, the Dallas Rose Society, the African Violet Society, the Dallas Organic Garden Club, the Sogetsu School of Ikebana and the Bonsai Society of Dallas. All have meetings scheduled throughout April.

“With our community outreach and what we do here with the clubs and societies that meet with us, some of them for 30-40 years or more, we’re part of a community of gardening which we pride ourselves on,” Education and Outreach Coordinator Rusty Allen says.

Some of the clubs, like the Texas Daffodil Society, are part of national chapters that date back to

the founding of the United States, while others are local groups that focus on learning from each other.

“Customers get a chance to come in here, and we have a beautiful atmosphere; there’s an ambience here,” Allen says. “They can have lunch and then go sit down on a Sunday afternoon and paint. There’s a destination to come and stay here for a while and relax and learn something or buy a plant, all in one spot.”

The Bonsai Society of Dallas was founded in 1965 as the first club of its kind in Texas. Though its name has changed from Bonsai Society of Texas to Bonsai Society of Dallas, BSD still welcomes all who have an interest in bonsai art, regardless of age and skill level. BSD holds demonstrations, workshops and guest lectures throughout the year in addition to meetings at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month.

The Greater North Texas Orchid Society meets on the first Sunday of each month in North Haven Gardens’ classroom. The club, which has been operating since 1947, focuses on how to grow and show

orchids. The group hosts beginner classes called “Orchid 101” at North Haven Gardens’ tropical gardens followed by a regular meeting to discuss best practices and prepare orchids for show and sales.

The Texas Daffodil Society is focused on stimulating interest in and developing an appreciation of growing daffodils. The society hosts informational speakers, bulb sales, information booths and an annual daffodil show. Membership is open to anyone interested in learning more about daffodils.

The Dallas Rose Society enjoys roses of all types, and its members are just as varied. While some participate in rose shows, many join the monthly meets every third Sunday at 3 p.m. to discuss how to better grow their plants. The society’s meetings are free and open to all.

The First African Violet Society of Dallas was founded in 1954 as the first club dedicated to growing Saintpaulia, aka the African violet. FAVSD members grow the violets to enter in competitions through monthly meetings, conventions, workshops and shows at the state and national

level. In April, the group will travel to the NASA Area African Violet Spring Sale and Display in League City, the Dallas Metro Tri-Club Sale at North Haven Gardens and the Moonlight African Violet and Gesneriad Society Spring Show and Sale in Fort Worth. The African Violet Society of Dallas meets every third Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. in the North Haven Gardens classroom.

“As great pleasure and pride can be had from the successful growing of these wonderful little beauties, we are happy to share the insight that our combined years of experience has brought us,” the group’s website says.

The Greater Dallas Organic Garden Club has been digging in Dallas since 1993, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The club discusses organic gardening and related subjects through education and community outreach and is hosting “Tasty Cooking with Herbs” with guest speaker Kevin Burns on April 23 from 2:304:20 p.m. at North Haven Gardens.

Burns will be discussing what he has learned about growing, caring for and using herbs in the garden from his 20-plus years of experience. Burns was inspired to start a garden after touring formal gardens

in Germany on his honeymoon with his wife. Since then, he has grown his carbon footprint knowledge to composting, recycling, rainwater harvesting, making his own laundry soap and using a clothesline instead of a dryer. Burns and his wife own a 55-acre ranch outside of Fredericksburg that has been designated as a Wildlife Management Area.

The Sogetsu School of Ikebana studies a style of Japanese flower arrangement that dates back over 1,500 years. Unlike traditional bouquets, Sogetsu focuses on the lines, shapes and forms of the individual flower.

“The Japanese see cutting a flower as giving it a new life, instead of destroying its life,” says Sue Smith, president of Sogetsu Dallas. “The ‘less is more’ is part of the concept; you will notice more lines and branches et cetera, fewer types of flowers in the arrangements generally.”

The Dallas chapter of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana meets the fourth Thursday of each month with a $5 beginners class at 11 a.m. and a regular meeting at 1 p.m. Registration is required, but visitors are welcome.

Rusty Allen, North Haven Gardens’ education and outreach coordinator, poses in front of a floral display.

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By CHRISITINA HUGHES BABB

Second hand is No. 1

The rise of ‘re-commerce’ and how it benefits savvy shoppers, the environment and people in need

Suspended from a plastic hanger on a neat, tight-packed rack of women’s clothing is an Elie Tahari long-sleeved dress in fall colors. It might go for $250 at an online clearance sale. Here, since it’s been worn before, it’s $40.

Such finds are not unusual at The Family Place Resale Shop, which on a lucky day, counts Jimmy Choo shoes, Lululemon athleisure wear or Tory Burch handbags in stock, not to mention a couple dozen rows of gently used clothing — brands of less esteem, still in good shape — for $5 apiece, says shop manager Ralph Fernandez. Unique furniture, art, luggage and attractive bric-à-brac occupy another area of the store.

While plenty of consumers have long made sport of digging for home goods and fashion finds at secondhand shops and malls of Preston Hollow, the re-commerce ecosystem has gained momentum.

A W magazine headline last fall read, “The Future of Fashion is in the Past.” CNBC broadcast a prime-time package about the “Thrifting Craze.”

Driving through retail centers, it’s clear our neighborhood is a good place to thrift. According to a 2022 study by researchers at Lawn Love — based on the number of stores, Google searches for them, etc. — Dallas ranks No. 12 for second-hand shopping on their list of 200.

Oklahoma State University’s Department of Design and Housing professor June Park explains the pros of shopping used.

“You are closing the loop by reusing material goods, and it’s a good way to support your community because many thrift stores are locally based small businesses, and a sizable portion of their earnings goes to charity.”

In 2021, secondhand clothing buys displaced about one billion purchases of new clothing, the report revealed.

A study by the upscale vintage furniture reseller Charish showed home furnishings is the largest sector of the entire resale market. Sales hit $15 billion in 2021 and are expected to accelerate to $22 billion by 2027.

Charish CEO Gregg Brockway says supply chain issues associated with the pandemic also had shoppers turning to pre-owned furniture.

“Vintage items aren’t subject to rising prices or material and production delays,” Brockway says. “They already exist, ready to be shipped or picked up.”

Fernandez spent 20 years in first-hand retail before The Family Place brought him on about three years ago. This was an opportunity to combine his skills in fashion and

merchandising with something he sees as a greater good. Proceeds from his store support services for survivors of domestic violence.

Family Place clients come into the program afraid, and often with only the clothes they are wearing. Programming supported in part by shop sales provides immediate safety, emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling and other services.

Clients receive vouchers to shop at the resale store, “which helps them feel empowered to make their own decisions and to select items that make them feel happy,” Fernandez says.

Among the general population, he says, there’s a continuing rise in environmental awareness, so “more and more people are finding great value in shopping the secondhand market.”

Photography by Lauren Allen.

The Family Place Resale Shop checks all the feel-good boxes, but it is not alone. Be the motivation charitable, environmental, economical or combination thereof, opportunities to board the re-commerce bandwagon abound.

ANTIQUE MALLS

In 2016, Antiques Roadshow visited Edgemere Senior Living. Celebrity appraiser Gary Piattoni worked his way down a long table, examining residents’ sundry curiosities. One woman said she had purchased a miniature portrait from “a nearby antique mall” for $94. “The frame alone is worth two to three hundred,” Piattoni said authoritatively. He valued the painting at $800.

Forestwood Antique Mall and North Dallas Antique Mall, premiere re-shopping destinations, are located in the Preston Hollow vicinity.

Neighborhood residents Marilyn and Austin Anders say they have shopped here regularly since the 1990s and rely on the Forestwood Antique Mall for keeping home decor fascinating, they say, as they load a rattan bookshelf into a pickup. “For our daughter,” Marilyn says.

They appreciate the layout at Forestwood. It is well organized. Rows are marked with street signs. The staff is usually helpful if you have questions.

Forestwood has a dine-in tearoom and services such as clock and jewelry repairs.

North Dallas Antique Mall is a three-floor converted theater next door to The Family Place Resale Shop. Here you might find (spotted in February) a foldable chestnut writing desk, Eames mid-century chairs, a rare baseball card or an illustration by Ralph Steadman, the cartoonist who collaborated with Hunter S. Thompson.

Forestwood Antique Mall is located at 5333 Forest Lane. North Dallas Antique Mall is at 11722 Marsh Lane, Suite 353.

CLOTHES

Clothes Circuit on Sherry Lane is a Preston Hollow staple for secondhand clothing. Shoppers trust they are sifting through quality items at fair prices, because this boutique has been here 35 plus years. Store operators say they offer the most favorable consignor terms in the business and donate excess inventory to The Family Place.

Thirtysomething Josia Rosenberg says ReThreads on Lovers is their secret go-to for business clothes, but concedes to showcase a Friday-afternoon haul. “These would be like $200, and they were $40,” Rosenberg says, holding up a pair of navy loafers in soft leather. “Hermes,” Rosenberg says, beaming and waving a pale blue micro-patterned necktie. Staffers at ReThreads say they stock new merch seven days a week.

On the third floor of NorthPark Center, FASHIONPHILE offers an ultra-luxurious resale experience for snappy shoppers in the market for a designer handbag, luggage, watch, jewelry or wallet. Personal shoppers are available to help find customers’ bespoke “preloved” Birkin bag or Cartier bracelet. (Buying those items secondhand saves 914.8 pounds of carbon dioxide and 2,040 gallons of water or 1,455 pounds of carbon and 654 gallons of water, respectively, per promotional material).

In 2020, Nordstrom set a goal to extend the life of 250 tons of clothing, met this goal before the end of 2021, and is on track to exceed it by 600% by 2025, spokesperson Cheyenne Tahbaz Weeraratne says.

“We have heard from customers that they feel their best when they are being sustainable,” she says. As part of its “commitment to circularity,” the department store, which has a location at NorthPark Mall and a Nordstrom Rack at The Shops at Park Lane, established the Nordstrom Quality Center, where a team refurbishes goods and routes them to Nordstrom Rack for resale. At the Park Lane Rack, the refurbished items are typically found within their respective sections (shoes, home goods, bags and luggage, for example).