Hines & Company at the new DC Design Center

Last week I attended an event at Hines & Company in the new nearly finished Washington Design Center. I'm happy to report the new design center is a HUGE improvement on the old one (which isn't saying much), spacious and light filled.

The Design Center officially opens in about a week on November 12, 2014, but many of the showrooms are already open for business. Walking into most of these showrooms just make you want to redo your entire house with so much eye candy, which is always a problem!

 I'm dying to find a place for this Zoffany Wallpaper called 'Trade Routes'.

Lighting is one of my many passions ( see all of my previous posts on my favorite antique lighting store, Artisan) and the selection at Hines ranges from the contemporary to the classic.

My favorite lamp was this rock crystal column from Vaughan. It bridges the line between classic and contemporary with a luxe material; it would look great with a gilded and/or black shade.

I always love paisley fabrics, particularly natural linen, and this Fonthill fabric by Stark checked all of the boxes, named Amelie.  Thanks for inviting me Hines & Company and thanks for all of the inspiration too!

Elizabeth Hamilton and Peter Fasano at John Rosselli, DC

I had the pleasure earlier this week of attending a presentation by husband & wife fabric designers Elizabeth Hamilton and Peter Fasano at the beautiful John Rosselli showroom here in Washington earlier this week. I had first heard of the design duo on everyone's favorite design blog Style Court who frequently references their work. Events like this aren't only great learning experiences but a fun chance to catch up with friends.

Due to some unfortunate weather the crew was small but vivacious.  The ever lovely Sally Steponkus, Josh Hildreth, Frank Babb Randolph (who doesn't have a website but then again is a self-professed NON-reader of blogs), and Atlanta's notable blogger 'The Blue Remembered Hills' (amongst others) were on hand to learn about hand printed and hand painted fabrics.

The banter between Elizabeth and Peter was almost as interesting as the discussion of how they produce their fabrics; both those readily available (at John Rosselli) and their custom projects. You probably saw in last month's issue of House Beautiful magazine an article of 4 designers working with them on completely different custom fabric designs.

Naturally the fabric swatches of the husband and wife team are mounted side by side in the showroom.

Peter specialized in hand painted fabrics while they lived in NYC and after their move they've been concentrating more on silk screening. For all the pattern they are known for professionally Peter said in their own house they prefer more texture and no pattern!

As always the showroom was filled with goodies that I wanted to take home. I also loved that the store is scented with delicious candles. It's more like visiting a stylish friend's home instead of a showroom!  I particularly loved the lounge chairs below with the cute drinks table, available in wood or metal. Stop into John Rosselli in Georgetown to see whats new and prepare to be inspired by visiting all of the links I've included in this posting!

Many thanks to the staff at John Rosselli for making me quite at home and all of my dear friends who were in attendance making for such a fun mid-day treat.

Lecture opportunity with Stephen Salny THIS THURSDAY: The interiors of William Hodgins

Washingtonians are in for a treat!  Author Stephen Salny will be speaking on his latest book, William Hodgins Interiors, in Georgetown at Blake Hall for the ICAA THIS Thursday, Sept 18th at 7:15. Join members of the ICAA for drinks beforehand at 6:30. Mr. Salny will be signing copies of the book, which will be available for purchase, after the lecture.

Boston based decorator William Hodgins is considered one of America's greatest interior decorators. William Hodgins Inc was launched in 1969 and his work encompasses residential commissions from New England to Florida, as far west as California, and overseas.  Author Stephen M. Salny will present an in-depth look at Hodgins most important work to date during his illustrious, ongoing forty-year career.

Stephen M. Salny, who grew up in the Boston area and has had a long-standing interest in interior decoration, first became familiar with Hodgins' work at the age of 13. Salny knew many families who hired Hodgins to decorate their homes. Salny and the designer met in the early 1980s at Hodgins client's home in Palm Beach and they became good friends. In writing about Hodgins, Salny has had the pleasurable privilege of spending quality time with Hodgins, his associates, former employees, and many of his clients.

Information on attending the lecture is available at the ICAA website HERE about 1/2 way down the page. I hope to see you there!!

John Russell Pope tour and an upcoming ICAA event

I recently had the honor to host a lunch time tour of the John Russell Pope designed National Gallery of Art for the Mid-Atlantic branch of the ICAA of which I sit on the board.

Probably my favorite public building in a city of favorites, this classical gem was designed by architect John Russell Pope for Andrew W. Mellon. Mellon (basically and in short) gifted the building and the basis of its collection to the nation. In an odd twist of fate both Mellon and Pope passed away in August,1937 before the Galleries' dedication in 1941.

Clad in Tennessee pink marble the Neoclassical structure harkens the growing trend towards modernism while still looking to the past, as does much of its' collection.

Below you can see some early sketches by Pope which show the partee or basic plan as well as the massing of the building.

Largely based on Rome's Pantheon with wings housing the galleries, the structure incorporated the latest technology of the time which has held up remarkably well considering the wear and tear the building receives on a daily basis (including a recent earthquake)!

The central rotunda is my favorite space in the museum and possibly the city. The columns surrounding the central fountain are solid marble (quite the engineering feat getting those into place) which visually support a large coffered dome. While appearing to be the same stone as the rest of the interior, the dome is actually composed of plaster with a steel frame.

Indeed the entire structure is concrete and steel based with a very (modern) veneer of marble. It hides his secret well.

On either side of the rotunda are 2 skylit sculpture courts. As throughout the museum most spaces on the piano nobile are daylit by large skylights.

 The building itself is an encyclopedia on classical detailing.

I love this bronze lantern in one of the vestibules -notice the Greek key and architectural motifs.

The openings in the galleries themselves are clad in different materials -here in Italian travertine with silk damask walls (dating to the 1980s)

Seen above the current chief architect for the museum, Susan Wertheim, talks to the group about the Pantheon influence in front of Panini's painting, Interior of the Pantheon.

Speaking of classical detailing the ICAA has an upcoming lecture by Phillip James Dodd centered on his new book The Art of Classical Details on Thursday, May 22nd - a fascinating lecture not to be missed!

Information and tickets to the lecture can be purchased from the website; look towards the bottom of the events page linked HERE. Hope to see you there!

Michael Hampton at Baker furniture 'tabletop'

Last night I attended a fun event at the Baker Furniture showroom here in Georgetown where 4 designers worked their magic to get everyone into the holiday spirit by decorating tabletops.

My favorite table design was by my good friend designer Michael Hampton I'm pleased to report! Michael's interesting modern table focused on a new china pattern from Bernardaud in collaboration with Prune Nourry et JR.

The best thing about this china pattern isn't seen at first sight, the backside features the rear of the two hands! Learn more about his interesting tablesetting at his blog.

The fun part of attending such events, other than the chance to catch up with friends, is the chance to checkout the beautiful showroom. I loved this fun new chandelier called Syro.

 Another beautiful table was decorated by local designer Patrick Brian Jones.

Vintage crystal and china mesh seamlessly with new atop sparkling placemats. While I prefer a proper tablecloth it would hide the beautiful Baker furniture and that does rather defeat the point!

Events director and boutique owner Timothy Albrecht used a number of beautiful items from his store, Consider it Done, to decorate his own table. He was also kind enough to lend items to the other designers!

I love the modern brass utensils and gold and white is always classic.

 See anything to inspire your own holiday dinner table?

Many thanks to Baker Furniture for hosting the event and the fun evening!

Palisades house tour: an exclusive look

Tomorrow, Saturday October 19, 2013 is the first ever Palisades Village house tour that has been making the rounds of all the DC publications. The Palisades is a quirky neighborhood overlooking the Potomac River that despite the growing of the city has remained quite separate from the city. The neighborhood retains a charming small town atmosphere despite being less than a mile from the heart of Georgetown.

One of the houses on the tour was completed by BarnesVanze architects and is probably the house I'm most excited to see on the tour (seen here in these images). The house was designed to replicate the feeling of the local 19th century houses found on the river that had been added onto over time. I think given these pictures one would never guess this house wasn't 150 years old, do you?

The dramatic dining room was built to look as if it had been an enclosed porch and features diamond paned windows.

The homeowners entertain frequently and this kitchen is any chef's dream so as to remain part of the party. 21st century living in a charming 'old' house.

The best feature of the house though has got to be the bright and airy attic family room which features dramatic views down to the river. Don't miss the tour and this fantastic house!
All photographs by Anice Hoachlander of Hoachlander Davis Photography.

You too can live artfully with Marjorie Merriweather Post!

You may remember I posted about the latest exhibit, Living Artfully, hosted by my neighbor Hillwood, Marjorie Merriweather Post's house. This Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 you can join a host of distinguished curators to learn both how Marjorie lived so well and how to incorporate this into your daily life. Details below.

Classic Chic:  Interior Design for Living Artfully, will explore French-inspired interior design and the 20th century’s great designers September 21 from 10:30 am - 4:00 pm at the renowned DC treasure, the Hillwood Estate, Musuem and Gardens.
The day will be led by Hillwood curators Liana Paredes and Estella Chung who will discuss Marjorie Post’s Hillwood and the antique and design firms French & Co. and McMillen Inc., whose opulent French interiors combined with modern amenities made it one of Washington’s most memorable homes when Marjorie Merriweather Post lived and entertained there in the 1950s and 60s.

Next James Archer Abbott of Evergreen Museum and Library will highlight the work of global design house Maison Jansen, about whom he has written. 

Following a lunch break and opportunity to look closely at the Hillwood Mansion interiors with the design experts, New York interior designer Michael Simon will discuss the importance of incorporating history and a knowledge of the past into contemporary design, much as Post did at Hillwood.

Lastly, the curator Estella Chung will moderate a round table discussion with the speakers about mid-century design classics and contemporary applications. Hope you can make it!

An inspiring lecture: Gil Schafer

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of attending one of those lectures which snaps you right back to life career-wise in a "oh, thats why I'm doing this" kind of way! Award winning architect and president of the ICAA, Gil Schafer spoke in Georgetown about his life, his work, and his book, The Great American House: Tradition for the way we live now.
Many of you are probably familiar with his work through the many national publications in which it has been featured as he works with many top name designers such as Miles Redd and Bunny Williams.  However, his work stands strong on its own and it was a pleasure to hear him speak of his childhood inspiration, his grandmother's country house in Georgia. Ever modest, Schafer is quick to speak on how a great house is 3 parts: Architecture, Decoration, and Landscape. He explained how these topics made his grandmother's house so special and in turn, he pays strict attention to them in each of his projects.

Schafer pointed out that he strives for dignity and comfort in his houses but not strict elegance (although one could argue they are also quite elegant just not in a 'fancy' way.) Hierarchy of spaces is important; so living and dining rooms will be detailed quite differently from family and breakfast rooms ( no bloated, oversized mcmansions here!). Like me, Schafer thinks of himself as an architect who thinks like a decorator. How will you live in a space? Is it comfortable, is there room for curtains, is it so contrived so that someone won't feel at home? Schafer believes decorators teach architects, if they listen, to loosen up.While he tries to give new houses a 'history' he warns one to be careful not to become too kitsch or slavish in its historical decoration: this is a modern time of course.   Schafer also stressed the importance of landscape in a project from the get go and not 5 years later when the  money is available.  He advises someone building a new house to plan on a fully developed landscape with a SMALLER house at first and then later put on an addition as needed.

Schafer practices in the classical language but is not a purist; he believes it's important to live in the current moment in a modern, comfortable way; not a museum (here here!).  His new houses are designed 1 or 2 rooms deep with traditional, proportionally sized rooms that aren't too big so that natural light is spread throughout the space. While his work contains much larger interior openings and windows than found in older houses he keeps the proportions the same so the buildings appear 'correct'. And most important to me during his poetic and inspiring lecture, he correctly used the words house and home; home was rarely uttered. Nails on a chalk board!

Images of Schafer's New York City apartment courtsey Gil Schafer.

2013 DC Design House

As I mentioned in my teaser yesterday, last week I attended the preview of the DC Design House open now through May 12th. The showhouse raises money for Children's National Medical Center, a very worthy cause. The bar, located on the first floor, was one of the few built-in spaces (kitchens, baths) which was totally changed. Andrea Houck changed out the builder grade bar countertop for luxurious onyx and filled it with fun, vintage barware. I love that she subtly lit the glass shelf edges with LED lights causing them to glow and also added a beautiful glass lamp for ambiance.

Victoria Neale completed the cozy family room, centrally located off the main hall. I love the curtains which really complete the room and the linen and bleached oaks tones are very trendy right now.

At the very top of the house, Savant Interior Design included a built-in fish tank into their media room; an underused element in such fun spaces I think!

Yes; family room, media room, library, living room - this house is BIG, huge in fact. You certainly get your money's worth on the tour this year!

David Mitchell decorated the wood paneled library with views out to surrounding trees; a very cozy space which almost feels like a treehouse. Mitchell believes in comfortable rooms where all the furniture can be used and enjoyed. This room certainly fits the bill!

 I loved this mission style chair with the wool plaid fabric.

 The mix of warm elements makes this one of the coziest rooms in the house.

As I mentioned the house contains many sort of 'extra' rooms - such as a lower level dining room (in addition to the formal dining room and the breakfast room off the kitchen!).

This dining room was beautifully decorated by Scott Cooke in a very traditional vein which you know I love. The room is very large and even contains a sort of library nook looking out onto the backyard.

Cooke took a cue from the elaborate tray ceiling and placed a round table in the center of the room. Round dining tables are my favorite and I love the comfortable upholstered chairs he choose, perfect for lingering over long dinner parties.

Beautiful antiques fill the room such as these candle sconces. Dining by candle light is a beautiful thing, I'm so glad he included them (wicks correctly pre burnt I might add )!

Another corner of the room featured this beautiful vase atop a gilded pedestal, artfully lit. I love the wood floor detailing.

The large hall on the 2nd floor outside of the master suite was decorated by Claire Schwab out of Alexandria. Schwab choose beautiful moss tones with hints of orange to create a cozy landing out of what otherwise would be a banal hallway.

 I mean this as the highest compliment when I say it felt very 'Martha Stewart', particularly the plants in front of the window.

One of the most talked about spaces was the morning room decorated by Iantha Carley. The cheerful, sunny room was fitted out with a variety of beautiful textures and patterns but what I most appreciated was the attention to small details, such as the orange colored dog bed in the corner!

Saving the best for last, by far the most successful space in the house is the Master Sitting room on the 2nd floor designed by Michael Hampton.  Hampton based the room on the beautiful flame-stitched carpet from Patterson Flynn he had always wanted to use on a project; showhouses are great for such experimenting!

The room is a luxurious retreat with soft, warm neutrals comforting the user. While the house this year feels harmonious with the rooms flowing nicely together for the most part (unusual for a showhouse), this was still a soothing room to enter. Recognize the side table from Bunny Williams's Beeline Home collection?

Much loved were the towering Circa light fixtures on either side of the bookcase. Notice the faux bois wallpaper which has been cut into squares and alternated to create movement on the walls? Great details!

The vestibule is papered in a fantastic luxe lacquered wallpaper which adds glamour to the tiny space. I loved the neoclassical light fixture which Hampton says he got off ebay for only $200 years ago (I love finds like that)!

The room is anchored on a comfy daybed in the center of the room ideal for lounging or even extra sleeping. Great light fixtures throughout the room provide a nice layer of detail and finish.

Be sure to visit the showhouse this year located in Wesley Heights along Foxhall Road, you won't regret it!
Read more coverage by other local bloggers here:  Design du Monde, DC by Design, and My Notting Hill