DC Design House?

[Anonymous]

How was it? Do they have a boutique and cafe? How was parking? TIA.

[Anonymous]

I haven't been this year but hear it's the same old stuff. Kind of stodgy, snooty, and David Gregory is yelling at everyone about parking.

[Anonymous]

I never care for the design houses. Stodgy is right-- they cater to the old Washington of the '80s and '90s, where it is assumed that design=chintzy southern-inflected traditional, bigger homes are better, Bethesda and Georgetown are where one goes (by car, natch) for shopping and entertainment, and "the park" is a line that must not be crossed on weekends.

Basically a huge Boomerfest. Not for me.

Now this goofy parking kerfuffle puts me off it even more firmly.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was beautiful! I didn't find it stogy at all. Parking is not the best, but we parked on the first side street and it was an easy walk. I thought the boutique was a little better last year, but still nice.

[Anonymous]

Clearly if you think its stodgy and 80s- 90s, you have never seen it. Go back to your brick front manse in Ashburn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clearly if you think its stodgy and 80s- 90s, you have never seen it. Go back to your brick front manse in Ashburn.

Well that's odd, considering that brick front manses in Virginia are typically decorated in the epitome of Southern-inflected stodgy traditional design-- to which I had obviously objected.

But you're right that I haven't seen a design house in several years, having given up a while ago. So I Googled some images of this year's house and was pleasantly surprised that at least most of the designers welcomed a generally pleasing color palette and mixed in some modern shapes. But, although I liked a few of the spaces, I still don't think there's ultimately much of interest for younger-than-Boomers urban design enthusiasts. Granted, we don't drive sales in the realm these designers inhabit and probably won't for years, but still- my cohort and I don't generally want what they're exhibiting.

This house still thinks to feature old chestnuts like striped wallpaper and plaid fabrics, though probably less than it would have five years ago, and it's a freaking McMansion in a fairly isolated spot with limited appeal for today's urban-minded District woman. I'd say it's still effectively talking to yesterday's UpperNWestie woman. Even some of the more modern spaces I find too... full of large upholstered furniture and knick knacks.

If they could do this in a more interesting neighborhood, in a rowhouse that has not been spoiled by lowered ceilings with its original architechtural details preserved, and they could make the decor much cleaner... that I would see. And, as a bonus, people wouldn't need to drive to freaking get there.

[Anonymous]

No one wants an 'urban' DC design house, freak.

There's nothing aspirational about living in an 'interesting neighbourhood' -the ghetto (but in a walkable area, on a metro stop).

Each room is definitely at the mercy of its designer, who may select stodgier prints that will appeal to current older clients, or may select more interesting newer trends, while also staying classic. Either way, designers do work together to be aware of what others are doing in nearby areas so rooms don't clash. Follow the designers year to year and you'll probably notice which ones you like and which you don't.

"it's a freaking McMansion in a fairly isolated spot with limited appeal for today's urban-minded District woman"... spoken by an absolutely delusional have-not.

But as you point out, by the time you can afford a home like this, your current, cutting edge 'urban' aesthetic will be the mothball-scented la-z-boy recliner of tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one wants an 'urban' DC design house, freak.

There's nothing aspirational about living in an 'interesting neighbourhood' -the ghetto (but in a walkable area, on a metro stop).

Each room is definitely at the mercy of its designer, who may select stodgier prints that will appeal to current older clients, or may select more interesting newer trends, while also staying classic. Either way, designers do work together to be aware of what others are doing in nearby areas so rooms don't clash. Follow the designers year to year and you'll probably notice which ones you like and which you don't.

"it's a freaking McMansion in a fairly isolated spot with limited appeal for today's urban-minded District woman"... spoken by an absolutely delusional have-not.

But as you point out, by the time you can afford a home like this, your current, cutting edge 'urban' aesthetic will be the mothball-scented la-z-boy recliner of tomorrow.

Wake up to the changing city you live in (or sort of near, or on the periphery of) and notice that even in relatively sleepy Washington, tastes are moving on, Grandma.

[Anonymous]

I didn't go, but after seeing the pictures in the Post I thought a number of the rooms looked a bit amateurish. Not stodgy.