Washington DC Design House......a must see

The Washington Design House in Georgetown, Washington, DC April 18- May 10, 2009 This year the Design House benefiting Children's National Medical Center a world class pediatric hospital in DC that serves sick children in the region regardless of the patient's ability to pay for treatment was held in Georgetown. Fifteen of the DC Metro area's top designers transformed a former boys' schoolhouse into a design powerhouse. The event is being held in an 1875 Victorian rectory mansion for St. John's Episcopal Church, Georgetown Parish. Throughout the beautiful mansion Farrow & Ball the green, eco, environmentally friendly paints grace all the rooms. A few favorites:

Sarah Wessel designed a luxurious library, despite facing major challenges, including a floor that sloped four inches from the edges of the room to the center. She used eco-friendly wing chairs by Lee Industries (wing chairs are a big trend throughout the house) upholstered in a linen damask. Stunning custom bookcases built and designed by: Boogaerts Fine Cabinetry are lined inside with Farrow & Ball wallpaper.

David Mitchell decorated the large and long living room by including a mix of “high and low, elegant and casual", creating a space that is both casual and formal. He separated the room into two seating areas, one end with a sofa paired with antique Gustavian chairs, the other with a beautful reproduction French daybed. A big skirted table topped with a stunning spray of cherry blossoms in a glass container in the center of the room gracefully divides the two areas. What could have been a large and intimidating space turned out to be very inviting and comfortable with the mix of old and new, modern and classical, antiques and reproductions. Mitchell cut graphic art paper into 9-inch-by-6 inch rectangles, then put them into color combination's that he liked and framed them to create a strong art element on two walls in the living room. Sally Steponkus collaborated with Heather Safferstone to create a comfortable, cozy and chic Guest Sitting room. They accented the Mouse's Back wall color by Farrow & Ball with yellow. The pair of white and gray graphic wing chairs from Kravet with a quatrefoil pattern was the inspriation for the room. The solid sofa is piped in a fresh white to define the clean architecture of its shape and delineate the theme of contrasts in the room. The Greek Key is their favorite motif… it’s even on their business cards. If you are in the Washington area, definitely stop by for this treat.