Posh CityCenterDC is the perfect spot for Tiffany & Co.’s first storefront in the nation’s capital. The 5,000-square-foot, glass-fronted boutique, which opened in March, combines signature Tiffany elements with classical features that reflect DC’s venerable architecture. “We are striking a balance between modern and time-honored tradition using a mix of materials, custom artwork and unique design elements,” says Richard Moore, the company’s DVP of global store design.

The sleek, airy space is punctuated by 14-foot, fluted-marble columns, while the circular floor design of white, gray and amazonite marble was inspired by coffered ceilings in the U.S. Capitol. Tiffany’s iconic wheat-leaf pattern is etched into the showroom windows and onto polished, metal-framed glass panels that delineate spaces
within the store.

New York artist Michele Oka Doner created the one-of-a-kind gilded Magnolia chandelier with hand-painted Tiffany Blue accents; it hangs from a ceiling designed to complement the circular floor motif. Distinctive, fluted jewelry cases display signature silver and diamond Tiffany designs as well as iconic pieces by luminaries such as Jean Shlumberger and Paloma Picasso. Accessories in bold Tiffany Blue, including dishware and purses, line one wall. A neon sign by New York graffiti artist Faust quotes company founder Charles Lewis Tiffany: “Beautiful design makes a beautiful life.”

Design: Tiffany & Co., New York, New York; CallisonRTKL, New York, New York. Construction: Shawmut Design and Construction, New York, New York.