DC Design House Bathroom

Photos by Robert Radifera via DC by Design

I think my favorite space in the 2012 DC Design House has to be this bathroom by Christopher Patrick and Kaitlyn Andrews-Rice of Christopher Patrick Interiors. And that's saying a lot because I have to rank the combination of red and brown very low on my favorite color combo lists. But this bathroom is amazing! 

The designers worked with the already in place brown and white tile floor - instead of ripping it out and going with marble and painting the bathroom sea glass blue, they used the floor as inspiration for something new. I love that old details can make you think outside the box and create something totally beautiful even if it's not what you originally envisioned.

The Farrow & Ball wallpaper is the obvious showstopper, but paired with the wood details and brown tile, this bathroom becomes so comfortable and warm. The tortoise mirror, wall lamp and fixtures remind you that this space is elevated and chic, but gone are the watery tones and spa-like appeal of most current bathroom renovations. I'm truly enamored with this space.

Jennifer did a great job of summarizing the rooms of the 2012 DC Design House in this post on her blog DC by Design. She shows you befores and afters of this beautiful show house, open through May 13.

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Kelley Proxmire

I left out one highlight from my post yesterday about the DC Design House preview party, and that is that I met DC designer Kelley Proxmire. I nabbed a moment to introduce myself as Ms. Proxmire walked by me (with the most divine scarf about her neck, I might add) and I told her I wrote a blog so she gave me one of her press CDs with pictures from her room at the house...you might have seen this little darling making the rounds in blogland...

I think Kelley is a master of color. She uses it in ways that are so pleasing to the eye and make such an impact in a room. She uses accessories, fabrics, paint, trim - all to create the most pulled-together, cohesive looks. Kelley mixes looks - old and new, traditional and contemporary - but her spaces are always unified and have that well-thought-out quality that attracts many of us to good design.

Kelley was also recently asked to design the lobby of the DC Design House and my little CD had a picture of that project as well:

I have LOVED digging into the portfolios of some local DC designers, and Kelley's especially...her rooms totally do it for me...classic, colorful and elegant...proving you can have it all. Below are some of my favorite shots from her portfolio - see these and more pictures on her website at www.kelleyinteriordesign.com.

All photos via kelleyinteriordesign.com

DC Design House Preview Party

I failed you, dear readers. I volunteered to help at the preview party Friday night for the 2010 DC Design House, and I didn't take any pictures! I know, I know...bad blogger.

But, I wanted to share my evening because it was so fun! Highlights include:

1) Being "stationed" in Sally Steponkus' room...literally every single person that walked in sighed, awash in the relaxation that the room exudes. Truly, this room is a beautiful, monochromatic wonder...140 yards of custom-dyed Quadrille fabric...gorgeous. And I got to hang with Sally, which is always a bonus!

2) I had a wonderful, delightful, long chat with Wanda Crossley and Kevin Chadwick of Matthews House & Garden, an amazing home and garden shop in Upperville, VA. Michele of My Notting Hill did a great blog post about their shop - read it here. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed meeting this duo - they were so nice and are so talented. I've been meaning to see the shop since I read Michele's post, but after meeting the brains behind the operation, I'm so excited to go! I'll let you know when I'm coming, Wanda and Kevin :)

3) Another wonderful conversation I had was with Nestor Santa-Cruz, who I "met" over email last weekend, but actually got to meet in person at the party. He was charming, gracious and entertaining and I enjoyed spending the evening with him. I'm hoping to bring you more of Nestor's work on this blog.

4) I finished out my evening with a glass of wine and a chat with Michael Hampton and partner David Kantor. I've mentioned that Michael writes his own blog, but the duo also write a foodie blog - Michael and David's Adventures with Food, which I hear is mostly David's endeavor. Michael's room at the Design House is fantastic (I'm running out of positive adjectives, here, but trust me that this room deserves them all)...the color palette is wonderful and the finishing touches and details are just divine.

Photos via My Notting Hill of Michael Hampton's room:

I promise that next time I attend such a fun design event, I'll take pictures! Until then, the Design House is officially open for business, so buy your tickets and go!

2010 DCDH: Nestor Santa-Cruz

I was delighted to receive an email from Nestor Santa-Cruz yesterday with photos of his reception room for the 2010 DC Design House...wow, the room's transformation is stunning.

I unfortunately didn't take good photos of the room during the Bare Bones tour, but I did take a shot of the ceiling, which gives you an idea of what Nestor was working with...

And now for the magic:

All Photography by Angie Seckinger

A showcase of crisp, classic, sophisticated elegance - hallmarks of Santa-Cruz's design. I love that he kept the gorgeous wall mirror and incorporated it into the room's updated decor. With the photos, he included a blurb about his thoughts for the room and mentioned that he aimed to work with elements already present:

"In designing the Reception Room, I wanted to maintain a hint of the original house. The Neoclaasical background and architectural details gave me an opportunity to step back, and reappraise what the decor should be: comfortable and welcoming in an elegant way, but very personal."

This space is certainly in harmony with the house, and I have a feeling it flows beautifully with the other rooms...I'll have to see for myself when I go!

I'm so happy to be posting about Nestor because I absolutely love his work and he is Cuban-born but spent time growing up in El Salvador, which makes him all the more interesting to me (I was born in ES). We had a lovely back and forth chat over email yesterday and I was thrilled to "meet" him.

Thank you for the sneak peek into your beautiful room, Nestor!

Want to see it for yourself? Buy your tickets here...

2010 DCDH: Michael Hampton

I'm finishing my mini-preview of the DC Design House with the guest room to be designed by Michael Hampton.

Keep in mind that my series this week is but a small, small sampling of what this beautiful house will offer come April - the concepts were stellar...see who else will be working on the house here.

Back to Michael...he was wonderful to meet. You know when you meet someone and you just like them? No reason...you just do. That was Michael. I could tell he would be fun to have a glass of wine with...and he's a blogger! His eponymous blog covers art, interiors, architecture, travel...lots of subjects.

I neglected to take a picture of the guest room before (I know, bad blogger), but check out Michael's beautiful renderings of his space:

 

(Click image for larger view)

(Click image for larger view)

I must say, Michael's boards win for presentation. They were mini works of art and the presentation of his fabrics and materials was just beautiful. But, that is to be expected as Michael is not only a designer but a true artist. He told me that his blog actually started as a place to chronicle the process for his watercolors, but eventually morphed into more subjects of interest to him (like many blogs do!)

His guest room will take on a very soothing, sophisticated palette in light blues, tans and taupes. I can't wait to see that bed and his other furniture choices...if his room looks anything like his beautiful drawing, it will be a knock-out.

So, I've profiled images from each designer's portfolio this week, but in Michael's case, I wanted to profile his art. His sketches are incredible - drawing is a skill I wish desperately that I had - my dad is a wonderful drawer - how did that gene skip me? I digress...

I think you'll find Michael's sketches and watercolors truly beautiful - I would love to hang any of these in my home and could you imagine being a client and seeing a gorgeous rendering of your room before it all comes together? That must be so helpful as a designer to be able to show your thoughts on paper...

Some of his interior sketches:

All works by Michael Hampton via michaelhamptondesign.com

 

  

  

And his architectural watercolors:

  

  

  

Michael's eye for detail in his artistic work is so impressive. I am so excited to see him bring this creativity and artistic discipline to his Design House space.

2010 DCDH: Sally Steponkus

Next up is the master bedroom of the 2010 DC Design House to be designed by my personal favorite, Sally Steponkus. Sally has her work cut out for her...

 

The master bedroom is a rather large room that is currently pretty dark and dated. But Sally will be working her magic and turning it into a light, neutral, calm space.

 

(Click image to view larger)

Sally's concept is awash in a gorgeous neutral palette of tans for her stunning fabric and wallpaper and a lovely pale blue paint for her ceiling. Sally's classical style lends itself beautifully to the house and to this room in particular.

I asked Sally for her thoughts on the space:

The Master Bedroom will be a serene space filled with panel after panel of a custom colored Quadrille print fabric called Excelsior that is in keeping with the Beaux Arts style of the house, built in 1905.  At the moment I’m working on bringing some fun, young and fresh accessories in to blend with the traditional roots of the space.  I can’t wait to show it to everyone!

Sally also noted that she is very excited to be participating in the house once again this year, especially for such a worthy cause as the Children's National Medical Center. Here she is obliging me with a photo with her board:

 

If you read AO, you know I love Sally's work (and Sally!) and I've posted pictures from her online portfolio - click here to see them. Today I thought I'd show you drop dead GORGEOUS photos from one of her recent projects that Jennifer over at DC by Design recently featured:

Photography by Angie Seckinger

  

  

  

  

  

  

Amazing right? Totally slick, hip, contemporary and yet very classic. I LOVE the Leontine monogram. Sally is good! I'm sure the Design House bedroom will be fantastic - make sure you check it out in April when the house opens (it runs April 10-May 9).

 

2010 DCDH: Sarah Wessel Design

Next up in my DC Design House preview tour is the sunroom, which will be decorated by Sarah Wessel Design.

I adore sunrooms, don't you? All that light and all those windows - wish we had one! The sunroom in the design house is a beautiful, albeit challengingly shaped, space:

 

I have a soft spot for any room with a checkerboard floor, because that is one of my all-time favorite details - our kitchen has a similar floor. And this room has a traditional blue painted ceiling which I was happy to hear Sarah was going to keep, but paint it a much more sophisticated shade of pale aqua.

Sarah was an absolute pleasure to meet. Here is her concept for the space:

 

(Click on the image for a larger view)

Don't you love this board? I was all over the fabric (on the board's background) that she will use on the loveseat's pillows - everything in the room compliments it so well. Sarah's chosen pieces are very classic and neutral, but I think with the paint (a lovely chartreuse on the walls and a pale aqua on the ceiling) and the pillows, she will keep the space modern and lively. Like I mentioned yesterday, many of the board's I saw have a very soothing/neutral color palette, so this space will be a nice pop of color for the house - perfect for a sunroom.

Here are some interiors from Sarah's portfolio:

All images via sarahwesseldesigns.com

  

  

  

  

  

  

Sarah has an eye for beautiful, traditional interiors with great uses of color. I'm looking forward to seeing her put that touch on the DH's sunroom. 

2010 DCDH: SCW Interiors

I had a great time at the DC Design House Bare Bones Tour. The chosen house is HUGE and beautiful, albeit old and in need of some TLC. I didn't take too many pictures of the actual house (which I should have!) but I got a couple of shots showing some of the beautiful details of the Chevy Chase home:

The moldings throughout the main floor were fantastic - LOVE the greek key motif found throughout.

The painted ceiling in this small sitting room right off the entrance was beautiful. It's not often you walk into a room with a rich painted ceiling in an Egyptian motif. I'm wondering if the designer (Nestor Santa-Cruz) will keep it? I couldn't tell from the design board and Mr. S-C was not there.

The Bare Bones tour gives the public an opportunity to walk through the empty house and meet some of the designers and see what their concepts will be for each room. Not all designers were there, but most rooms had a concept board on display so we were able to gauge the overal look of each room.

I think my favorite part was meeting the designers - it was great to hear them talk about their rooms or just chat with them for a little while. I also met Jennifer Sergent of the blog DC by Design, which was great! It was fun talking blog shop with her.

As I walked through the enormous house, I definitely had some favorite concepts, so I thought this week I'd show you the boards that I liked the most.

As we (p.s. Did I tell you Carter came with me? Good man...) walked into the house, the first room we saw was the entrance hall which will be designed by SCW Interiors. The Alexandria-based firm is led by Shazalynn Cavin Winfrey, who I met standing by her lovely board.

As you can see, the room will be done in beautiful grey-toned neutrals with stunning light fixtures and wallpapers. This board set the tone for the rest of the house, as many designers were going toward more subtle color palettes and incorporating classical elements that worked well with the style of the home.

(Click on the board to see a larger image)

It was great talking with Shazalynn and hearing her vision for the space. Check out some more GORGEOUS work by her firm:

All images via scwinteriors.com

Shazalynn's board is a study in soothing tones, but as you can see from her portfolio the woman knows color! After I saw her DCDH concept, I wasn't expecting such bright hues in her portfolio. She also had many neutral spaces in her work, but of course I picked the ones with the most color to show here. Lovely work...and much of it done where I live in Alexandria.

Can't wait to walk into the house in April and see what SCW has done with the space.