More from Downstairs at the 2011 DC Design House

More sneak peeks from the downstairs of the DC Design House set to open April 9th - Erin Paige Pitts designed a fresh, fun pool room that would be the perfect place to relax and entertain in. Dark paneling was transformed by paint and all the furnishings and finishes were selected to reinforce a light and airy feel. The skirted table is a mix of transparent and opaque which is similar to the way the intaglios are framed under glass that shows the wall behind. Love the mini-screen placed in the bay window.

Starfish and glass balls create a really effective focal point.
Every surface was considered. The faux wood painted floors have a wonderful pattern (notice the different directions of the wood grain) and the detail on the doors update them to a more current look. Faux finishing by Twin Diamonds Studio.
Paint colors: All White, Stony Ground, Mouse's Back
Patrick Sutton's living room is a warm gathering space filled with texture, character and multiple seating areas. The once vacuous room now feels wonderful in scale while still retaining the grand feeling of the architecture.

Peacock blue is found throughout the fabrics and is used for these custom upholstered backdrops that flank both sides of the entry. The photo below is a bit blurry but I couldn't resist showing these wonderful peacock blue ottomans gathered around a large, painted table.
Paint colors: Great White, Blue Black Wallpaper: Versailles
Barbara Franceski created a comfortable and inviting gathering space in the narrow and unusually shaped family room. Barbara has terrific taste in furnishings and there are envy-worthy pieces in this room.
My absolute favorite is this stunning loveseat by William Yeoward, dressed in a red herringbone.

Paint colors: Oxford Stone, Dimity

Nadia Subaran of Aidan Design of designed a hip and streamlined pool kitchen with a terrific glass cabinet built-in.
I loved her choice of lighting; check out the barely there ceiling fan by LucePlan. It was also fun to see intaglios featured in round frames - a bit of a twist.
Colors: Dove Tale, All White, Blackened
No designers bid on the other main kitchen in the home but luckily for anyone who visits you'll be treated to an art gallery designed by artist John Matthew Moore that will also feature lighting by Rick Singleton. At press day the room was the center for the buffet lunch but here are 2 pics I was able to get w/o the crowds.

You'll see more of Rick's inventive lighting in my next post on the Upstairs at the DC Design House.

Note: there are still more rooms to see in the downstairs of the showhouse so be sure to plan to go!

Colors: Oxford Stone, Pelt, Breakfast Room Green on the ceiling