D.C. Design House
This year’s DC Design House raised funds for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC, the only exclusive provider of pediatric care in the Washington metropolitan area. We in the design community created 23 gorgeous areas in a beautiful home in NW Washington, and Niermann Weeks proudly loaned many products. Our project attracted over 10,000 visitors and collected almost a quarter million dollars. Way to go, DC! All the little children thank you.
But now, of course, I must show you how different designers wonderfully presented their spaces, most using Niermann Weeks. I must also credit the paint company Farrow and Ball, whose paints gave a varied and serene look to all the wall surfaces.
Entering the Georgian style home, my daughter Eleanor Niermann and I came into the foyer designed by John Matthew Moore, who had nestled our round Lucien Table into the staircase curve. The Lucien’s dark mahogany finish contrasted crisply with all the other paler tones.
His amazing portrait of three white swans anchored the adjacent reception hall. His remarkable painting technique made us feel these mighty birds were right with us, safely, but at our eye level. Our Cambon Bench quietly tied these compelling swans to the neutrals in the hallway.
Moving into the Parlor by Annette Hannon, I was pleased how she quietly incorporated our Thistle Ceiling Fixture into her room for receiving guests. Its gold leaf finish provided a perfect foil to all her tones of pewter and beige.
Photo by Robert Radifera
Our Thistle throws fascinating shadows onto the ceiling.
Photo from www.mynottinghill.blogspot.com/2012/05/last-call.html
Moving upstairs, we entered the master bedroom by Sharon Kleinman of Transitions. She transformed a difficult room with little open wall surface, too many doors, and little natural light into a very restful space. Farrow and Ball’s paint on the wall and trim gave her a simpler palate than what she found on the walls, and then she used our Biarritz Ceiling Fixture and Sconces to cast a glow.
Winding our way back downstairs, we were blown away by two rooms, L’Orangerie by Kelley Proxmire and the Dining Room by Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey of SCW Interiors. Oh media gods, please take note of the strong design talent exhibited by these two DC interior designers.
Unfortunately, Kelley Proxmire did not use any NW products in her Orangerie. Nonetheless I must commend her on her bold use of color, in this case the strong oranges with the neutral grays. She wields this color combination like the maestra that she is.
Photo by Robert Radifera
Look at how Kelley combined black, and white, and peacock with our Rive Gauche Chandelier in this room in the Washington Design Center in 2010.
Returning, however, to the 2012 DC Design House, Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey of SCW Interiors presented a lovely and practical vision in the Dining Room. Fortunately for us, she had incorporated many NW products in her interior. For me, her room provided the premier space in this showhouse. She let the antiqued mirror of our Monaco Chandelier diffuse light throughout this shadowed room. To further lighten the space up, Shazalynn placed a glass table top right under the chandelier. She also upholstered our English Club Chairs in an airy, floral fabric. To separate this dining area from a more informal visiting area, she used our Baltic Console as a room divider. Our console provided an obvious break between the two areas yet allowed one’s eyes to look right through it. That’s our also Italian Sconce on the yellow back wall, but more about that in the next image.
On either side of the dining area, Shazalynn created a nook for relaxing informally. She placed our Italian Sconce on the wall as well as our round Fantome Table to hold drinks and accessories.
To the side of the dining area, the designer placed a custom Fantome Bench with an inset metal shelf to hold kindling for the fireplace. How lovely and clever all at once.
All of us at Niermann Weeks give thanks these designers for creating beautiful spaces, showcasing our products, and supporting DC’s Children’s National Medical Center.
Thank you also for reading my blog, and be well!
Eleanor
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