Gifts From Home edited by Todd Johnson   Issue Date: JUL/AUG 2005, Posted On: 7/11/2005

Bulldogs Napoleon and Lil’ Bean rule over their domain at Napa Home. Gifts From Home With the demise of Translations and the evolution of Forty Five Ten into a fashion-first outpost, Dallas shoppers have bemoaned the dearth of stylish gift shops. (Honestly, how many photo frames and candles can we give?) Now that owners Julia Elam and Randolph Phillips have moved their popular Napa Home from Austin to Dallas, we no longer worry. Taking a cue from its name, Napa Home exudes a fresh northern California sensibility with refined home accessories, olive oil-infused bath products, custom-made furniture, and lovely china. Creams, charcoals, and blacks, with the occasional splash of acid green, dominate Napa Home’s stylish wares. Nothing faux or fussy here. Epicureans, note the shop’s corner of flavored oils and sea salts. And don’t forget to scratch the tummy of Napa Home’s official greeters, Elam’s bulldogs Napoleon and Lil’ Bean. “They have a following; people come in to see the dogs,” Elam says. Something tells us, however, that Napa Home’s following is more about the presents with panache than the pooches. 4012 Oak Lawn Ave. 214.520.4880. www.napahometx.com.