Showhouse Season: Calm, Cool & Collected Interiors
It’s Showhouse season everywhere it seems, particularly in my neighborhood in DC and in NYC at Kips Bay. I haven’t gotten up to NYC yet but have already picked my favorite room at Kips Bay….and the Georgetown House Tour was tremendous this year. So sit back & enjoy these lovely spaces!!
The Georgetown House Tour had incredible variety of architecture (from true historic period homes to sleek modern style) and all different looks. Unfortunately there was no photography allowed inside, so I can’t show you all of it….but let me share with you what I can, starting here….
This charmer was on the market at same time as mine so I actually got to see it then & LOVED it (& bookmarked these photos from the Open House). It has been redecorated somewhat since these photos were taken but still has same airy yet warm vibe. The kitchen features the house’s original beams from the 1800s, which add so much character, don’t you think??
The front parlor flows into the Living Room, which would be ideal for entertaining…
I grew up in a 19th century house that had white painted floors in some of the bedrooms, so I’m partial to the look of these. And the sky blue ceiling? ADORE!
Never fear: the house’s exterior & gardens are dreamy too….
The top floor has this little sliver of a space, with French doors that lead to the roof. I pictured myself doing yoga in this room, but hopefully not tumbling down the crevice at edge which goes down one level! :)
The back of the house as seen from the garden….
The Master bedroom - which in person has even more ethereal paint color than it reads here…..like sea salt air, neither blue nor green. Perfection!
The widow’s walk has view across Georgetown….
Next on the hit parade is a house that is on the market, designed by Linda Battalia, who renovated/designed my house (thank you, Linda!). She has undertaken many such building projects in the area and I love her approach - giving historic buildings a fresh update without losing their intrisic character.
The house is very grand in scale and location (on famous Cooke’s Row lined with mansions built in the 1800s for a prosperous family & all their grown children). However, what I love about Linda’s work is how she creates such spare, handsome spaces, devoid of any pretention…
The dark wood & skinny splaying of stairs seems to be one of her hallmarks! She did similar treatment in our house and I LOVE the look of it….
For full portfolio of photos of this house (located at 3030 Q Street NW, Washington DC), check them out online here. Or better yet, make a date with your realtor!
Ok, now we are leaving Georgetown (DC) and going up to NYC to see a BEAUTIFUL room by the ever-talented Sarah Bartholomew (ironically a DC native)…..
Photo credit: Patrick Cline.
Sarah is known for using lots of blue & happy patterns (hence my love affair with her work) but for Kips Bay she decided to use a more restrained palette…Her vision for the room was the classic A Room of One’s Own, complete with all the beautiful art & great books a woman would want…
Photo credit: Patrick Cline
Can we talk about these textures?? From ribbed walls to the plush velvet chair, gathered folds in the lampshade….it has such a tactile feel even from a photo….
Photo credit: Patrick Cline
I mean, no words necessary to describe these gorgeous vignettes!
Both photos by Patrick Cline
The rest of the Kips Bay show looks amazing too and will be up for couple more weeks. The Georgetown House Tour is over but you can still go to the Georgetown Garden Tour this weekend! For more info, click here — and for Kips Bay, get tickets online here. So many talented people involved in all of these showhouses and tours…..go and you’ll see what I mean!
Cheers,
Lee