DC Design House: Amuse Bouche
The DC Design House had its press preview day today, and OMG — just can’t get over it. Usually, I would never want to live in a designer showhouse — every room tends to be over the top and way too showy. But MAN, I want to move right into this one. It didn’t hurt that they served us lunch on the terrace by the pool.
It opens to the public on April 10 (see my previous posts here and here). And while I await more professional pictures for a more detailed post next week, here is a little eye candy — not a lot of words, just a lot of visual teasing. I do hope you will pay $20 for a ticket — it will not only give you a most pleasurable afternoon, but it will also benefit the National Children’s Medical Center.
Foyer, by Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey
I'm pretty sure the vases come from my favorite porcelain company, DC-based Middle Kingdom.
Living Room, by Frank Babb Randolph:
Sun Room, by Sarah Wessel:
Dining Room, by Basha White:
Kitchen, by Clive Christian:
I didn't know what to look at first, the cabinets or the china.
Refrigerator doors!
Library, by Victoria Sanchez:
Conservatory, by Barry Dixon:
Barry is a modern-day Thomas Jefferson, interested in architecture, science, nature, and how to elicit the beauty of them all at home.
The conservatory is a showcase for Barry's lines of furniture with Tomlinson Erwin-Lambeth, fabrics with Vervain, and rugs with Megerian.
Conservatory Terrace, by Andrew Law:
How I longed to be out here at the cocktail hour...
Landscaping by Cynthia Ferranto:
Here's what you see from the balcony on Andrew's terrace.
Master Bedroom, by Sally Steponkus:
The flowers make a perfect complement to the whimsical lines of Barry Dixon's Hendricks table.
Lamp from Verdigris in Old Town, lamp shade by Pottery Barn, shade trim by Michael Smith for Samuel & Son
Master bath, by Celia Welch:
Original tub, tile; new wallpaper and artwork
Home Office by Rose DiNapoli:
English antique wing chair, with a beautifully upholstered facelift
New paneling; old fireplace
Guest Room, by Michael Hampton:
Artist John Matthew Moore, normally known for his oversized floral paintings, created this one specifically for Michael's design, so it would resemble wallpaper.
Yummy custom-made alpaca bedspread by Sandra Jordan; hide rug
Guest Sitting Room, by Barbara Franceski:
Boy’s Room, by Lisa Adams:
Girl’s Room, by Page Palmer:
Upstairs Living Room and Terrace, by Kelley Proxmire:
And the Virtual Golf Room in the detached Carriage House, by Lynni Megginson:
The space is outfitted for golf, gaming (of the table and video variety), movies, cocktails -- you name it.
The nailheads represent golf balls; the sculpture represents the occasional dandelion you might see on the course.
I hope these small details have whetted your appetite for more to come. I’ll have more design details next week, but not so much that you won’t have to go see this amazing house in person — just across from the Chevy Chase Club.
Jennifer Sergent. Native Washingtonian. Former editor at Washington Spaces magazine and HGTV. Currently searching for – and writing about – DC’s design voices. Write to me @
My appetite without a doubt is wet and I hunger for more, more, more and more. Thank you for sharing some of the beautiful details.
Jennifer,
Those three hand painted vases are in fact Middle Kingdom! And in Barry Dixon’s room there’s a special yellow bowl commissioned by the dear departed Sansar in Bethesda, though I didn’t know about it until I saw your lovely photos.
You are absolutely correct to use the word ‘teaser’… and it WORKED!
Can’t wait to see it! We are so fortunate to have such amazing talent right in our own backyard! These designers continue to raise the bar with everything from color to the way items are juxtapostioned. Am looking forward to spending as much time as possible there next Saturday… hopefully they won’t kick me out… because I won’t want to leave. Thanks for the post.
Thanks for the preview.Looking forward to attending the show!
Alison, good! I was writing this post at 1 a.m., so I didn’t think it was a good time to call you on the phone and verify.
cannot wait to see it!!! great teaser!!
I agree with you…does look beautifully normal!!! Looking forward to seeing all the spaces in person.
It looks amazing!
Over sized floral by Matthew Moore….awesome
Over sized…but not floral….great piece of art.
What a magical night at the Circle of Friends event. I will make time to help any way I can to support this and future projects for Children’s National Medical Center.
Ooooh – I can’t wait to see it in person! Thanks for the great post.