This week is your last chance to see the DC Design House 2016!
It’s one of the best ones but ends on October 30th.
Be sure to get your tickets here. It is so worth it and for a good cause benefiting Children’s National Hospital and Health System.
Members of the Casart Crew visited the The DC Design Showhouse the previous weekend. Not only was it a picture-perfect-weather-day but luckily most of the designers were there!
We enjoyed speaking with them and learning more about their inspiration. They were more than willing to let us take their picture in their rooms, as this gave them a well-deserved break from chatting and standing continuously.
The designers who agreed to be profiled in our Design Mind Series are mentioned first and the remaining designers are noted according to the flow of the house tour. Some designers sent us photos but we weren’t able to get everyone’s, which is why some are missing. All photography, unless otherwise noted, is credited to Hannah Mattheis for Casart Coverings.
A consistent theme we noticed throughout the house was the use of wallpaper, ceiling treatments, a balanced used of old and new and unexpected use of color or pattern.
The Vintage Cabana off the roof deck (Area 13) on the second floor by Quintece Hill-Mattauszek of Studio Q Designs, is a welcome retreat and talk even among other designers, who expressed their admiration for the botanical layout. Her inspiration started with the wallpaper in the dry bar that recalls vintage Hollywood glam and sets the theme for a welcoming spot for guests to enjoy great conversations with their company.
You can read her Design Minds post here.
Charles Almonte’s Orange Colored Bedroom (Area 11) is bright and beautiful! He described it as the type of bedroom to help get you up in the morning. Charles’ inspiration started with the botanical drape and headboard fabric, which sets the stage for the colors and gives a sense of a boutique hotel room’s tropical getaway.
You can read his Design Minds post here.
Jonathan Senner’s Dining Room (Area 3) is the first room you walk into after the entry and what a stunning example of entertaining in glamorous Parisian style! The star-spiked lights grab your attention first and your eyes flow down from the reflective ceiling to the two beautifully set dining tables. You realize that this is a practical arrangement that allows for more intimate conversation than if it were one long table, which can easily be re-arranged for more formal gatherings. His inspiration started with the city map of Paris wallpaper, which is framed by the existing architectural paneling at both ends of the room. Jon’s statement piece is the painted malachite credenza situated on the center wall that brings an Art-Deco ambiance to the space.
You can read his Design Minds post here.
The Entry Hall (Area 2) is by Eve Fay of Farrow & Ball. Immediately, you are captivated by the geometric design, which plays into the modern / retro feel of the dining room next door.
The China Pantry (Area 4) by Aidan Design celebrates customization and Old World charm. Nadia and Megan’s inspiration was “common themes in vintage china. The cabinetry is custom designed and finished with a serene blue and a raw umber glaze to make it sublime. All linens and china-plate patterns are custom hand-painted with fanciful dragonflies & butterflies. Plates and glassware displayed in the cabinet carry out the vintage-themed gold, silver and pastel accents.
The Powder Room (Area 5) by Lena Kroupnik has glamour and allure. The stark before pictures that are on site show how a cheetah print wallpaper with an overall pattern can trick your visual senses and make the space seem much larger. A favored local artist, Maryanne Pollack‘s abstract painting harmonizes colors and adds a bold contemporary touch to an otherwise traditionally anticipated space.
Kelley Proxmire designed the Cozy Coral Family Room (Area 6) with an interesting mix of bright coral and bold navy blue. It feels comfortable for casual family and relaxing gatherings. The sofa is her own and looks brand new thanks to ultra-suede that stands the test of time. This space blends beautifully with the adjoining terrace design.
Kimberly Asner with Country Casual Teak designed the Outdoor Terrace (Area 7) using a bold contrasting navy and white schematic. The space looks like an extension of the family room, which was the goal, and offers a sweet gathering spot that is outdoors and yet protected. Kimberly “envisioned friends and family moving seamlessly between the rooms and made sure there was plenty of plush seating for entertaining. Outdoor spaces can be just as comfortable and functional as the rest of the home, especially when outfitted with all-weather materials like teak wood and solution-dyed acrylic fabrics.” All the furniture and fabrics are meant to withstand all types of weather, including the custom designed pendant lights.
When the weather gets cold, however, you can saunter inside to the Library and Whiskey Bar (Area 8) designed by Josh Hildreth and Victor Sanz of DMG Interiors. The wood-paneled space is a perfect salon for visiting with friends, especially when there’s a “hidden” bar in the closet space. We love the unexpected and practical use! The unusual celadon leather, retro wing-armchairs caught our attention, as did the beautiful tapestry and antiques used in a modern way.
Pamela Harvey’s Living Room (Area 9) gets the wow factor for architectural delight and timeless elegance with the balance of white and black and pops of pear-green color for visual impact. Because all designers had to use the existing moldings in their current condition without changing, this room seemed best suited to play them up with extra-large, beautiful photographs of orchids by Fritz Gibbon. Their black backgrounds work wonderfully with the black drapes and the metallic gold frames accentuate the glamour throughout the room. The vintage Hollywood ottoman combines 3 separate pieces but could be easily used individually and even as tables. The self-playing piano helped to set the mood.
From here we went upstairs to find the beautiful-in-blue Master Bedroom Suite (Area 10) by Victoria Sanchez. It is so serene and calm with custom tailoring and hand-embroidered details that Victoria designed herself with inspiration from the fabric pattern. The room projects total tranquility. Her gold chandelier is an undulating fun feature that can be found in her Victoria at Home shop.
After seeing Charles Almonte’s room described above, we proceeded to the third floor where we enjoyed the lounging Loft (Area 12) by Yardstick Interiors. Pooja Mittra was there to provide some explanation for her inspiration which uses deep navy-blue walls contrasted with white in the sofa, rug and cabinetry. The irregularity of the nook is offset by the intimacy of the room. It was also interesting to learn how Pooja followed her passion for interior design after a career change from civil engineering.
After seeing Quintece of Studio Q Designs, described above, we thoroughly enjoyed the Chinoiserie theme of the Chic Retreat (Area 14) by Barbara Brown. The space can be for business as well as relaxing. Chinoiserie elements mix beautifully with deep blue and lime green with softly colored walls.
Barbara also designed the adjacent Dressing Room and Bath (Area 15), which had to be a challenge with little space to move, sloping-angled ceiling and two window alcoves. The patterned wallpaper throughout again proves that a space can look larger than it really is. The alcove nooks are elegant and welcoming sitting spots. The bath ties in seamlessly and has exceptional artwork of quick-sketch, female nudes in contour sepia ink.
Andrea Houck’s Mademoiselle Chambre (Area 16) is fun and energetic– just as a today’s teenager would want it to be, with a shimmery wall treatment and modern mixes of fashion, glamour, world travel and daydreams represented on a board of collage inspirations.
The Chic Laundry Room (Area 17) by Allie Mann of Case Designs adds all the practical elements for essential laundry tasks that were not there before, like a shelf for folding, area to hang clothes, and a large sink for washing or even cutting flowers. All of these task areas are completed in a sleek and classic style that is contemporary and not your grandma’s laundry room.
The Lady Lair (Area 18) designed by Rachel Dugan of Vivi Interiors is the equivalent of a feminine man-cave. Although the ceiling is sloping, the angles are controlled with upholstery banding that highlights the Art-Deco style of a Pullman car on the Orient Express. The unusual wallfinishes are opulent and the closet bar with fanciful Fornasetti light provides a visual transport to another time set in modern culture.
Going back down the back stairs we walked through the whimsical Sitting Room (Area 20) designed by Camille Saum as the Salon Del Celebrity. Hand-painted celebrity caricatures don the walls and the pearlescent capiz-shell fireplace adds shine to a Hollywood ambiance.
The Kitchen / Breakfast Room (Area 19) by Betsy Barmat Stires of Frog Hill Designs, adds personality to the classic nature of the existing cabinetry. The rib-backed Thomas Moser chairs are surprisingly comfortable and back-supporting. The chandelier is stunning.
There was so much to see that we welcomed a sit-down session in the backyard garden, where the soft flowing fountain brought calm and reflection.
You won’t want to miss this opportunity to see it all for yourself so
be sure to visit the DC Design House through October 30th — only through this Sunday.
It’s your last chance to purchase your tickets here.
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