As the designers of this year's DC design house prepare to get started on the new house later this month, it's fun to peek at the progress made in last year's showhome. Every year, the house chosen is one with great potential and stunning architectural details, and last year's beaux arts mansion was no exception. Even so, jarring color choices and dated finishes left something to be desired — some of DC's best designers were up for the challenge!
• 1-2: Rose DiNapoli of Morris DiNapoli transformed the dark and dated room into a restful but sophisticated study. In addition to changing the color palette, removing the cabinetry and adding wainscoting created an open and cohesive feel in the small room.
• 3-5: Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey of SCW brought out the subtle drama of the foyer, staircase, and upstairs hall. The chic striped wallpaper, bold paintings, and stunning light fixtures added an unexpected punch while still having it relate perfectly to the feel of the rest of the house.
• 6-7: Michael Hampton transformed the dramatic guest room into a tailored but sumptuous bedroom. His subtle color choices and swathes of fabric brought out the room's softer qualities. The drapes behind the bed made the whole room seem more refined.
• 8-9: Sally Steponkus swathed the master bedroom in crisp and inviting neutrals which transformed the once dark space into a luminous retreat. Her subtle patterns gave the traditional space and furnishings a clean and upbeat feel, all the while exuding a sense of relaxation.
• 10-11: I was especially interested to see what Nestor Santa-Cruz did to the boldly faux-finished reception/sitting room. In past design houses, he has left large parts of the previous ornamentation in place and creatively incorporated it into his new vision. Such was the case with this room. Although he painted over the celestial ceiling mural, he left the faux-stone walls and ceiling grid untouched and worked around them, creating a sleek urban room.
• 12-13: Kelley Proxmire revived the upstairs family room with deep browns and crisp whites. The high contrast color choice, graphic upholstery, and youthful artwork lent a fresh air to the once tired room.
• 14-15: Frank Babb Randolph transformed the grand living room into a serene and sophisticated gathering spot. Although he swapped out the electric peach wall color for a restful gray, he infused parts of the room with bold hues reminiscent of the previous room's palette. Frank's color choices made the most of the fabulous light and beautiful architectural details of the room.
Keep an eye out for more details on the 2011 DC Design house!
Images: Leah Moss
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Wow, they know how to make everything *beige*. (facepalm)
I am dissapoint.
I really love the color of the living room but I'm disapointed that the beautiful windows weren't used in the guest room and the master bedroom is fine, but nothing special (however, it does look better than before)
I'll agree with Tzipporah2 and QueenoftheFall...this is boring. They figured out how to leech all of the color out of what looks like a unique and interesting house.
I really dislike placing a bed in front of a window.
I like the changes to cabinets, wallpaper, and paint, but the "afters" mostly look staged, and rather bland.
I love all these, but I have to agree with previous posters that I miss some of the beautiful colors it had before :(
Also, the gorgeous windows in the guest bedroom aren't being used to their full potential.
Overall an improvement, but I want more color!
i think this is a wonderful before and after. Very sophisticated.
So are these staged houses that are meant to just be looked at and never lived in? Because they're all very sterile. No pets, no children, no stuff allowed.
In short: Bleh.
I was surprised to see so many negative comments to be honest. (though I'm not sure why I was surprised... this IS apartment therapy where everyone seems to get their 'bitch' on...?) Anyway..... I really liked the guest room and thought what they did was quite clever. I really love the staircase; that wallpaper and the pink artwork: wow. I like the clear plant stands in the entrance and I also loved how (in the last pic) some of the previous colour scheme was used in the furnishings. I LOVE colour but in such a big space having so much of such 'punchy' colours would be ott. Inspiring post, thankyou. :)
I like everything, but I confess I'm a bit disappointed that the celestial ceiling was painted over -- I'd liked to have seen a full photo of it because I suspect I'd have enjoyed it a lot -- unless it was more ugly than the snippit shown suggests!
Come on people, the textures and patterns of the neutrals are elegant and sophisticated. Not everybody wants to live with fuschia!
I'm so glad I will never have to walk into that entry way. The upstairs picture particularly makes me sad.
totally meh, except I loooove the pink "formal portrait" above the staircase. Awesome.
why so angry?
The rooms are great showcases for changing a really boring place into a dramatic room worthy of its building. They're also *showrooms*, hence how they look unlived-in, in the same large house.
I don't love everything about them, but really dig the drama that will last *way* longer than those red walls in the bedroom! Plus, I'd love to sleep in that guest room because you won't get the sun in your face on vacation!
Performing high-spec renovations on these magnificent rooms is a little like putting expensive clothes on a beautiful woman - no matter what you do, it's going to look attractive. I'd be far more impressed if these talented designers did up some horrible little rathole and made it look good.
That said, I can't argue that these transformations aren't good. A little Park Avenue Matron for my tastes, but still accomplished. I especially like the study.
It's very sophisticated and probably "correct" in some circles. I find it completely lacking in personality and very boring indeed. It reminds me of a guy I used to date and described to my friends as "very nice and we have pleasant conversations, but..." ...
Classy and sassy.
the stairs/entry is kinda badass in a sofia coppola's marie antoinette way. i hate they painted over the ceiling's mural. the rest? très bland.
Arguably, the "after" is an improvement on the "before," but it feels SUPER dated to me. None of the rooms make me want to be in them. I like the peach chairs in the living room, and the sofa and end table in the sitting room. Nearly everything else looks like it could be sourced at Filene's...
Not my style at all but I think it's beautiful. But wait! Did they get rid of those gorgeous French doors in the LR??