Market Day at the Washington Design Center

Greetings friends,

I feel like Spring is almost here, which is so refreshing! I hope you all are enjoying warm temps this week as we are here in the DC area.  I am so done with gray skies, and not being able to soak up some sunshine!

During my recent trip to the Washington Design Center for it's first annual Market Day, March 3rd, I was especially inspired by talks by Celerie Kembel and Tilton Fenwick, among others.

Of course a day wrapped in beautiful textiles, furnishings and brilliant designers, (& champagne and hors d'oeuvres) is a dream day in my book.

I loved hearing how Celerie Kemball's current design project of homes in the Dominican Republic has given her style a new dimension.  She has been spending the last two years traveling the world buying unique things for these homes. 

 How refreshing...nothing from a catalog or Home Goods.  I am itching to travel lately.

Celerie, her mother Mimi, and sister Phoebe (a world renown chef) make up the family business and have locations in Palm Beach and New York.  Celerie is vivacious, comical and very approachable.

The two designers Anne Foster and Suysel Cunningham that make up Tilton Fenwick are genuinely warm, sincere and generous in sharing their ideas.  I loved hearing how they got started (a bit unrealistic getting a showhouse in their first few months of business and a feature in a magazine when they had no client portfolio, just their own homes, a great brand and website! - lots to learn here). In just one year of business they were voted as one of the Top 20 "New Traditionalists"!  I crave learning from professionals and as I grow our business I want to see how other successful designers run their businesses.  Here is Ann, Suysel and my friend Ruth Olbrych, Antiques by Zaar. 

Their use of pattern and color with unpredictable elements is amazing.  The have a textile line with Duralee, an upholstery line with Target and a rug line with StudioFourNYC.  They are on fire!

Another highlight of my day was meeting Sophie Donelson, the Editor in Chief of House Beautiful. I read that magazine cover to cover and enjoy her knowledge and passion for design.  She brings youth, change and fun to the magazine, and is also very approachable; a darling (but brilliant) girl-next-door!

There is so much to learn! Starting our 4th year with design clients, I am excited that our referrals are generating consistent business.  I  can't wait until High Point Market next month to see all the new products in the industry, but especially to network with other designers and learn from the pros!

Have a great spring, and happy decorating!

WDC grand opening

This week we had the pleasure of attending the Washington Design Center grand opening and hear some top designers talk about their work, among them Eileen Kathryn Boyd, Charlotte Moss, Amanda Nisbet and Newell Turner, Editor in Chief from House Beautiful. 

 One take away was from Newell Turner who reiterated that the time for people to decorate their homes is now, and to not keep putting it off.   He said the magazine business is booming and people continue to love decor in the glossies and the decorating bug is definitely on the rise.   Ms. Boyd was saying how our target prospects that purchase 'throw away' furniture should be sold on the idea of buying a quality heirloom piece to start their collection worthy of passing down to their children one day.  Have them start with a designer line or fine antique, even if it is the only 'permanent' piece in the room.   As designers we should promote the idea of buying quality pieces that will last more than five years.  It's like starting a fine art collection.   Look at the cars our clients drive and spend their money on.  Their homes deserve the same,if not better, since more time is spent in their nest than in their cars.  And a fine piece of furniture will last longer than your car!  Our job is to help people value the service we offer as designers because it will help them build a future of smart choices and better products. Bravo!

Here are some beauties that caught our eye, like this exquisite chaise from Century furniture,

these gorgeous rugs from Doris Leslie Blau (available in any size and color way)

who hosted guest speaker Vicente Wolf,

the amazing Kravet display by pantone color, and all the patterns they have in that colorway (brilliant!),

 and this beautiful agate side table at Kravet.  Love it!

This amazing brass floor lamp by Niermann Weeks at the J. Lambeth showroom

and this fun spiral chandelier at American Eye were among the hundreds of jaw dropping light fixtures on display everywhere.

 A beautiful lilac grouping at Michael Cleary's showroom

and a wonderful wood end table by Hickory at M. Cleary were stunners.

I had fun meeting up with Alison Geise, a local designer I connected with through blogging.

Bethany and I had a ball and came home in a decorating comma from overload but with plenty of ideas for her new home and our projects.  I can't wait to go to High Point Market for hundreds more showrooms! It really helps to see things in person and think beyond our normal go-to's.

If you're not a designer you can get a guest pass and stroll through most of the showrooms.  

The Washington Design Center 

1099 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Have a great weekend!

The new DC Design Center

In need of hands-on versus online inspiration for upcoming projects, I headed to the DC Design Center in Washington last Friday. It opened recently in a new location and has it's own designated parking garage, which is A MUST in DC.  You can go as a Visitor if you can't get a Trade Pass, so check it out!

Here are some highlights:

There are amazing lighting and furnishings at J. Lambeth, beautiful wallpapers from Phillip Jeffries (like this high gloss rafia) at Holly Hunt, a fabulous showroom sample sale going on now at American Eye featuring one of my favorite Lee Industries leather chairs, and lots of gorgeous carpet and area rugs at Stark.  

Stay tuned for the WDC:

You can check out the events at the WDC and I hope you'll join me there on March 18th!

There are fabulous designers in attendance like Charlotte Moss, Amanda Nisbet, Vicente Wolf, Eileen Kathryn Boyd, with lovely luncheons, book signings and love of new lines unveiled. 

Will I see you there?

WDC Field Trip

Bethany and I journeyed into DC last Friday to go to the Washington Design Center.  It was great meeting some of the company reps that we talk to on the phone.  The WDC is about an hour and a half from us and it is not opened on the weekends, so we don't just run down there to borrow swatches. I wish it were closer!

The great thing about the Design Center is the size of their samples. The fabrics and wallpapers are images you don't have to squint at.  They are amazing! We fell over dead over the Phillip Jeffries papers.

We have had a sample of this slate wallpaper at our studio, but seeing an entire wall papered in it was amazing!

Here are some more random shots of our day.

We had a ball doing our "market research" (a.k.a. any kind of shopping)!