For the first time in its eight-year history, the DC Design House is moving to Virginia. Beginning April 11, an elegant 8,869-square-foot home in McLean will be showcasing the interior creations of talented designers. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Design House is an annual event for the D.C. metro area benefiting the Children’s National Health System. The staff is composed exclusively of volunteers, and in the past seven years, they have raised $1.25 million for the organization.
The event started when Skip and Debbie Singleton, principals of DC Living Real Estate LLC, attended a charity event for Children’s National over a decade ago. They were immediately drawn to the organization, and in 2008, they put together an interior design showcase intended to be a one-time event; it was so successful, however, that the DC Design House soon became annual.
This year’s house was built by Virginia-based Artisan Builders and designed by Harrison Design. Intended to imitate the style of an old Virginia farmhouse, the home was assembled bit by bit over the years. The L-shaped floor plan floods natural light into the interior, which is filled with a beautiful combination of antique and new elements.
Each year, the DC Design House team begins by contacting designers who walk through the home, select their top three spaces and submit anonymous design plans. A committee of senior designers selects the plans based on the strength of design, says Skip. This year, 24 designers are designing 28 spaces in the house with four designers doing two of the rooms. They have about one month to complete their spaces and will be present in their finished rooms throughout April.
As for the style, many designers seem to be playing off the old farmhouse feel of the home. Designer Michael Hampton is seeking “to create a room of relaxed formality” for the library, while Pamela Harvey is trying to capture a “casual elegance” in the entrance and upper hall. “It’s a very pure and simple aesthetic,” explains David Benton of Rill Architects. “It’s Virginia.”
The DC Design House will have a preview day from noon to 4 p.m. on April 11. Tickets are $50, and Chef Bryan Voltaggio will be signing books and providing food tickets. On April 12, the Design House is open to the public; tickets are $30, and it’s open Saturday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. with evening hours from 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays. The last day to see the house will be May 10 from noon-5 p.m. Visitors may schedule group tours, and boutiques will be set up in the lower level and garage. Twenty percent of sales from the boutiques and the items in the rooms, which are also for sale, go to Children’s National. –Victoria Gaffney
(April 2015)
