Feeling saturated from online catalog images of stale, predictable interior spaces, or just feeling blahed out by tired out spaces in your own home?

Have I got a cure for you! The perfect antidote for interior design fatigue is a visit to the 2016 Edition of the DC Design House. This year’s 9th Annual DC Design House (located at 2509 Foxhall Rd NW in DC’s Wesley Heights neighborhood) is open daily through October 30th. Tickets are $35.00 at the door and Benefit the Children’s National Health System. Visit DCDesignHouse.com for more information on hours etc.

A number of highlights stood out for me about this year’s Design House. First and foremost, the house itself is impressive in its own right. It was built in 2010 (designed by GTM Architects and built by Gibson Builders) but feels rich with history with its thoughtful design and classic architecture. I love the way the spaces spill into each other effortlessly and the layout feels generous but intimate and inviting; no small feat for such an enormous home at over 11,000 square feet. The residence has a luscious leafy green backdrop with refreshing beautiful views from all of the rooms to the back of the home. The front has views of stunning landscaped gardens. If you are in the market for a $10 million home, lucky you, because it’s for sale!

Bedroom by Charles C. Almonte; photo by Holly O’Brian

Secondly, throughout the home, I noticed various instances of very reasonably priced pieces juxtaposed with items that are much more high end. For example, in designer Nancy Corzine’s Family Room, an inexpensive side table is topped with a high end lamp. This mixing of high and low price points provides a unique result where the combination itself ends up feeling special and rich. In designer Rachel Dougan of Vivi Interior’s space you will find a lovely piece which consists of a black sculptural base cabinet with a custom marble top, and it turns out the base is from IKEA; by far the most impressive and unexpected IKEA hack that I’ve seen!

My favorite room this year was the Bedroom designed by the Architect/Interior Designer Charles C. Almonte . I was lucky enough to get to meet the designer himself and asked him about the inspiration behind this room. He explained that the colors and textures in the space were selected to evoke the images of sunrise and sunset; warm and inviting in the evening and uplifting and energizing in the morning. The colors themselves are lovely and calming but invigorating at the same time. Corals and sun-kissed blues and greens are combined with natural fibers of the window treatments and a sisal rug layered under a richly colored Moroccan rug. Charles also brings in floral elements and warm metals making this a most inviting and elegant room. I really love this space!

I also loved the Living Room designed by Interior Designer, Pamela Harvey. Pamela combined whites, greens and blacks in a sunny, fresh and simply elegant space.

Family Room by Pamela Harvey Interiors; photo by Holly O’Brian

Andrea Houck created a gorgeous and glamorous girl’s Parisian-inspired bedroom with lots of pink, purple and white with bright splashes of whimsy.

Girl’s Parisian-Inspired Bedroom by Andrea Houck, Interior Designer; photo by Holly O’Brian

Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed the Vintage Cabana/Roof Deckdesigned by Quintece Hill Mattauszek at Studio Q Designs . This space is vintage Hollywood Glamour and I did not want to leave. The linens are crisp white and refreshingly bright and simple combined with intricate well thought out golden and palm green details that invite you outside in all of its luxuriously relaxing simplicity.

These rooms are just some of my favorites, but there is much much more to see. If you are local to DC, be sure and stop by soon (as October 30th is the final day). I would love to hear about your favorite rooms and overall impressions for this year’s Design House. Thanks so much for reading and have a fabulous day!

Holly