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Take a Picture Tour of D.C. Design

This Saturday marks the opening of the 2009 D.C. Design House. The location: a three-story Victorian mansion on a hilltop in Georgetown. Over nine weeks, 15 local designers redecorated two floors and 16 spaces in a house that was built in 1874 and 1875 and today serves as the rectory for St. John's Episcopal Church, Georgetown parish.

With 12-foot ceilings, original wood floors and hefty crown moldings, the expansive center-hall house exudes a sense of history.

With 12-foot ceilings, original wood floors and hefty crown moldings, the expansive center-hall house exudes a sense of history.

Gordon Beall

D.C. design firm JD Ireland selected Farrow & Ball's Lotus wallpaper for use in the hall, in the stairwell and on the second-floor landing of the house.

D.C. design firm JD Ireland selected Farrow & Ball's Lotus wallpaper for use in the hall, in the stairwell and on the second-floor landing of the house.

Gordon Beall

With her associate Heather Safferstone, designer Sally Steponkus created a modern sitting room using an unconventional dark taupe-gray paint (Mouse's Back by Farrow & Ball) to create a dramatic backdrop.

With her associate Heather Safferstone, designer Sally Steponkus created a modern sitting room using an unconventional dark taupe-gray paint (Mouse's Back by Farrow & Ball) to create a dramatic backdrop.

Gordon Beall

A graphic pillow in gray and yellow accents the 76-inch-wide sofa in mushroom-colored cotton.

A graphic pillow in gray and yellow accents the 76-inch-wide sofa in mushroom-colored cotton.

Gordon Beall

To set off the orange walls, the Bethesda designer Camille Saum commissioned a stenciled ceiling and a bold checkerboard-painted wood floor. The cove of the wide crown molding was painted aubergine (Farrow & Ball's Cinder Rose).

To set off the orange walls, the Bethesda designer Camille Saum commissioned a stenciled ceiling and a bold checkerboard-painted wood floor. The cove of the wide crown molding was painted aubergine (Farrow & Ball's Cinder Rose).

Gordon Beall

Camille Saum's radiant space (walls painted in Farrow & Ball's Orangery) could start a run on tangerine-, pumpkin- and apricot-painted dining rooms.

Camille Saum's radiant space (walls painted in Farrow & Ball's Orangery) could start a run on tangerine-, pumpkin- and apricot-painted dining rooms.

Gordon Beall

Laundry would not seem like a chore if you were washing clothes in a space dressed with hand-painted wallpaper, custom storage and a designer chandelier. Draza Stamenich is the young McLean designer who created the show-house laundry room in a minuscule space tucked off the kitchen.

Laundry would not seem like a chore if you were washing clothes in a space dressed with hand-painted wallpaper, custom storage and a designer chandelier. Draza Stamenich is the young McLean designer who created the show-house laundry room in a minuscule space tucked off the kitchen.

Gordon Beall

The dark colors, heavy curtains and tufted leathers typically associated with libraries have no place in D.C. designer Sarah Wessel's light and airy space, which is dressed in a pale palette of blue, white and beige.

The dark colors, heavy curtains and tufted leathers typically associated with libraries have no place in D.C. designer Sarah Wessel's light and airy space, which is dressed in a pale palette of blue, white and beige.

Gordon Beall

To accentuate the room's 12-foot height, Wessel installed two pairs of custom built-ins that extend from floor to ceiling. The shelves display accessories and art from local shops Cote Jardin and Susquehanna Antique Co.

To accentuate the room's 12-foot height, Wessel installed two pairs of custom built-ins that extend from floor to ceiling. The shelves display accessories and art from local shops Cote Jardin and Susquehanna Antique Co.

Gordon Beall

Using color, texture, pattern and perfect furniture placement, D.C. designer David Mitchell has transformed one sizable room into three cozy, comfortable living room spaces.

Using color, texture, pattern and perfect furniture placement, D.C. designer David Mitchell has transformed one sizable room into three cozy, comfortable living room spaces.

Gordon Beall

The entire room, drenched in a pale palette of blue, ivory, yellow, khaki and wheat, feels casual yet formal. Priceless Swedish antiques share space with modern wall art . Two inexpensive fiddle-leaf fig trees are paired with custom curtains to frame the French doors.

The entire room, drenched in a pale palette of blue, ivory, yellow, khaki and wheat, feels casual yet formal. Priceless Swedish antiques share space with modern wall art . Two inexpensive fiddle-leaf fig trees are paired with custom curtains to frame the French doors.

Gordon Beall

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher Text Editor Janet Bennett Kelly

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This Story Take a Picture Tour of D.C. Design Photos \| This Saturday marks the opening of the 2009 D.C. Design House. The location: a three-story Victorian mansion on a hilltop in Georgetown. Over nine weeks, 15 local designers redecorated two floors and 16 spaces in a house that was built in 1874 and 1875 and today serves as the rectory for St. John's Episcopal Church, Georgetown parish. D.C. Design 2009 - Our Favorite Spaces One Big Room, Three Cozy Spaces Modern, With Bursts Of Cheer From Floor to Ceiling, A Radiant Place to Dine Let There Be Light, White And Blue in the Library A Little Luxury As You Launder : Home Front: D.C. Design House, Plus Flip! for Decorating Author		Network News X Profile View More Activity TOOLBOX E-Mail This Reprints		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
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