I’ve been meaning to attend the latest DC Design Center Design House, Halls of Fame — Showcasing Eight Elite Designers, but you know, life and time take over. Finally, I was able to get there this weekend, right before it closes on December 12. Although there were not as many rooms as I remember from the last Design House that I attended, one major thing was different. It had moved to the 5th floor, with actual window views in the DC Design Center. This was so much better than the Concourse level, where my sister and I first went and thought we had missed it because it looked like it had closed, moved or someone just forgot to turn the lights on. When we finally realized where it was, it was worth the visit.
The receptionist asked me my feedback and I had to be honest that unlike the last show there didn’t seem to be as many rooms but there was definitely a sense of definition between them. The DC Design Center is changing their format and only having one Design House a year. This one has been up for nearly 6 months; whereas, they used to run every spring and fall. The last one I attended was last spring 2009. I may have gotten more out of that one but there were a few standouts that took the show for me for this one.
Number 1 was Kelley Proxmire’s Foyer. I as blown away by the flooring. What an exceptional graphic, yet sophisticated and unusual design. I have been referencing this octagonal design from a visual reference from of all things, a honeybee hive for months. This one has been inspired by the design of David Hicks. What also threw me about the floor is, even though I knew it was painted, it reminded me of vinyl. Each plank looked like it had been wrapped in sheeting and then painted. It was actually eco-friendly bamboo with a give to it, so it wasn’t too hard on your feet like wood would have been. The graphic design makes the room and the perfect pairing of turquoise complements. Bravo! There was even a stuffed peacock in the adjoining dining room that made the transition.
We also liked the Master Bedroom by Adamstein & Demetriou Team as it reminded us of a “W” hotel room where you can always feel contemporary comfort. We were lucky enough to view the room just as natural sunlight was filtering in, which created that soft end-of-day light, even though it was mid-morning. The open mesh drapes gave a sense of a metallic grille that was unusually soft and fluid as curtains. We also liked the mix of vibrant orange and red and white colors popping against the dark-brown, painted faux-linen walls. That round lit chandelier over the claw foot tub was gorgeous.
We also liked the decorative finish done with a troweled-on plaster that Frank Babb Randolph used in his Portico. It reminded me of the brushed-on finish that I’ve used in many projects without as much labor involved, but then again, mine lacks the actual texture of stucco plaster.
My favorite thing about the Family Room by Rita St. Clair was the funky zebra “high egg-back” chair, complete with horse tail down the back.
There was a lot to offer with this DC Design Center Design House, so go quickly if you haven’t already. I’ll end with the Garden Room, since that seemed to be the newest type of space with natural light pouring in. It was really out of the box by Michael Roberson.
If you’d like to see even better pictures, go to the Washington Design Center’s blog, written by Nicole and Jennifer. I only wish I had thought to take a picture of the beautiful glitter gift wrap that the designers used on presents to decorate their rooms recently for the holidays. Here’s one picture from the WDC blog, but now I’m on a quest for that gift wrap.
Found — at The Paper Source for about $10 per roll (59″ x 26″). This picture below doesn’t do the wrapped glitter gift justice but it looks pretty phenomenal the glitter doesn’t rub off.
Happy holiday design inspirations and wrapping.
— Ashley
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