Capital Design Week
Celebrity designers and showroom experts introduced a host of chic new arrivals at The Washington Design Center in March
Roger Thomas, the designer behind the interiors of the Wynn Las Vegas and Wynn Macau resorts, unveiled his new 26-piece collection for Edward Ferrell + Lewis Mittman (along with a killer slide show of his luxe hotel rooms and lavish casinos) to a full house of local designers. Thomas travels the world for inspiration. The Roger Thomas Signature Collection includes the Veneto lounge chair with silver-leaf frame (pictured at top with Thomas). The Belgrave desk boasts an inset leather top. “I love chairs to be as dramatic from the back as they are in the front,” said Thomas. As for desks, he continued, “When they stand alone, they need to be pieces of sculpture.” A winning combination, indeed. Visit www.el-fm.com.
The Salon Sofa is one of 25 pieces that recently debuted in the Henredon for Scalamandré collection. This dramatic high-back piece combines tufting and nailhead trim. Visit www.scalamandre.com.
Stephanie Odegard introduced some of her latest rug designsVisit www.odegardinc.com.
Farrow & Ball has introduced 18 fresh new colors to its palette. Visit www.farrow-ball.com.
Interior designer Candice Olsen, host of HGTV’s “Divine Design,” offered design tips and introduced her new upholstery collection during Capital Design Week. “I wanted to showcase beautiful design schemes on classic shapes,” she said, describing her line that includes the Beckett chair and the Ollie sofa. Olson’s collection is available at the Charles Ray showroom or visit www.candiceolson.com. —Sharon Jaffe Dan
Party Central
Find 145 bar stools under one roof
Great Gatherings, a 17,000-square-foot showroom dedicated to the art of celebration, recently opened in the new Virginia Gateway Center in Gainesville. The store offers all the accoutrements of home entertaining—from billiards tables and bar stools to outdoor furnishings and grill ensembles. Great Gatherings also features a wide range of accessories, including tabletop items and barware from brands such as Waterford, Nambé and Mikasa; espresso machines; Wurlitzer juke boxes and more.
Great Gatherings plans to serve the Washington, DC, party circuit well, with four additional stores slated to open in the area by next year. The showroom is located at 13177 Gateway Center Drive in Gainesville, VA. Phone (703) 753-0515 or visit www.mygreatgatherings.com.—SJD
On the Shelf
New books celebrate good design indoors and out
Tour an eclectic mix of residences that capture the cultural diversity of the nation’s capital in Dream Homes: Greater Washington, DC. Part of a hardcover series, the book features homes designed by many of the Washington area’s top architects, with styles ranging from classical Gothic, Italianate and Victorian to chic urban contemporary. Panache Partners, Plano, TX, February 2008; $34.95.
Noted interior designer Charlotte Moss takes you through a couture-inspired home in her latest design book, A FLAIR FOR LIVING. Balancing the rich details of the French court with patterns reminiscent of English manor life in her design, Moss emphasizes that spaces with personalized elegance can be attained without forgoing comfort. Assouline, New York, NY, May 2008; $65.
French author and photographer Sébastien Siraudeau explores the antique shops and flea markets of France in his first book translated into English, VINTAGE FRENCH INTERIORS. Whether your home is minimal, traditional or rustic, a French treasure can spark up any room and make a distinct decorative statement. From hand-embroidered linens to cut-crystal wine goblets, this book provides plenty of ideas to help you create a French-inspired home. Flammarion, Paris, France, March 2008; $34.95.
Porches, versatile additions to any home, not only change the way your house looks but also change the way you live in your house as well. Take a break, sip a glass of lemonade and watch the world go by with ON THE PORCH. Architects James Crisp and Sandra Mahoney offer a complete design guide to porches, with tips on construction, maintenance, lighting and finishing touches. Taunton Press, Newtown, CT, April 2007; $30. —Margaret Lee
