Black and White is Always Right

At Pamela Harvey Interiors, we were excited to be selected to design the Living Room of the 2016 DC Design House.  Our room is featured in the DC by Design blog and The Washington Post style section. 

The 2016 DC Design House, located at 2509 Foxhall Road NW, benefits Children's National Health System. For more information visit their website at www.dcdesignhouse.com

Taking cues from the home’s classic architecture, Pamela envisioned a Living Room design that evokes timeless elegance and subtle glamour. The symmetrical bones of the room encouraged a balanced floor plan, perfect for entertaining. Imagining the ultimate hosting space, we were inspired to include a baby grand piano.

The room’s color palette of black and white with striking pear green accents sets the tone. Strong black finishes with subtle golden accents anchor case goods throughout the room. We chose black drapery panels in a Schumacher moire, hung on an acrylic rod with brass rings to pop against the crisp white walls. 

Paper white Hickory White sofas, covered in party-proof Sunbrella fabric, are accented with pillows in a Mary MacDonald floral and a textured animal print, both from Schumacher.  An exquisite trio of vintage Hollywood Regency ottomans boasts a graphic cut velvet, also from Schumacher, adding a stunning presence opposite the fireplace.

Sconces by Tommy Mitchell feature gilded butterflies encased in a backlit acrylic box, serving as both art and ambient light for the space.  Bronze Sculptures are featured throughout the space, adding both masculinity and sophistication.

1.  You’ll never go wrong with these classic garniture urns from Global Views and their clean, timeless silhouette.  Place them on a mantle or console table to add understated elegance. (8"Sq. x 22"H, 6"Sq. x 16"H) Our Price: Lg-$139.95, Sm- $59.95

2.  Hang the Maddox Mirror from Lillian August on a feature wall within your home- its strong sunburst design adds vibrancy. (40" Dia.) Our Price: $999.95

3.  To add bold interest, accent with one of these custom animal print pillows featuring a rich velvet in a golden tiger pattern. (20" Sq.) Our Price: $199.95 ea. 

4.  Choose these pillows with their playful large polkadots to add sophistication with a bit of whimsy. (20" Sq.) Our Price: $199.95 ea. 

5.  To add bold interest, accent with one of these custom animal print pillows featuring a rich velvet in a golden tiger pattern. (20" Sq.) Our Price: $199.95 ea. 

6.  The Jacqueline chandelier by designer Aerin Lauder from Circa Lighting, with its swooping strings of white acrylic beads, makes a chic focal point in any space. (19"W x 35"H) Our price: $999.95 

7.  The Clemente floor lamp from Circa Lighting, with it's streamlined mid-century modern leaning, adds a touch of divergence within our more classic design- let it do the same for you. (17.5"W x Adjustable 47-54"H) Our Price: $659.95

8.  To capture the key design feature of black and white contrast, grab a pair of these pillows in a graphic fern print. (20" Sq.) Our Price: $199.95 ea. 

9.  Pillows in this striking Schumacher floral by Mary McDonald can add a punch of color to your neutral sofa.  (20" Sq.) Our Price: $259.95 ea. 

Pantone's Colors of the Year: Rose Quartz and Serenity

Each year Pantone selects a Color of the Year that represents the mood taking place in our culture.  This year Pantone is looking to color your world ‘calm'.  For the first time ever, they’ve selected not one, but two colors as their eponymous Color of the Year: Rose Quartz (Pantone 13-1520) and Serenity (15-3919). 

Spotlight on a Romantic Bedroom:

The 2016 D.C. Design House!

For the past 8 years the DC Design House has been the premier design event of spring for the DC metor area. This year is is moving to the fall. Mark your calendars it opens to the public on October 2nd and closes October 30th. I am very honored and excited to be selected to participate  in the 2016 DC Design House again this year. All 20 designers are busy right now painting, wallpapering, hanging light fixtures , installing new landscaping and more, getting ready for the grand opening.

Pamela Harvey Interior Design | The Washington D.C. Design House

I have been chosen to decorate the Living Room. A classically designed room with great mouldings, a white marble fireplace and plenty of natural light. The first impression of this year’s house is “refined elegance”, represented as you enter the foyer with the black and white marble floor. Taking cues from both the home’s architecture and the black and white beginning. I designed the Living Room to evoke elegance, glamour  - yet restraint.  My concept was to create a room that would by classic and perfect for entertaining. My starting point is a favorite fabric of mine named “Grey Gardens” fitting for a DC residence and it sets the tone of the room. The room is black and white with accents of Pear Green. As you enter the Living Room you will be awestruck by a black lacquer baby grand piano, with an upholstered skirted bench which hosts 1 of a pair of painted Italian peacocks.  The walls – trim and ceiling will be painted in Farrow and Ball Estate Emulsion color Pointing.

The  house chosen as this year’s site, which is right next door to the 2013 site, recently served as the temporary residence of the French Ambassador while his house underwent renovation.  The residence — situated on a three-quarter-acre lot at 2509 Foxhall Road in DC’s Wesley Heights/Berkley neighborhood — was designed by GTM Architects and built in 2010 by Gibson Builders.

The site of the 9th annual DC Design House, located at 2509 Foxhall Road

Listed for $10.8 million by Nancy Itteilag of Washington Fine Properties, the 11,242 square-foot, five-story home boasts 7 bedrooms, 8 full and 2 half baths, 5 fireplaces, and an infinity pool.

That’s a large house to fill and transform, but this year’s designers are certainly up to the task. I’m in esteemed company, for sure. Here’s the complete designer line-up:

First Floor
Front Garden/Porch – Blake Dunlevy /D & A Dunlevy Landscapers, Inc.
Entry/Stair Hall/Upper Hall – Farrow & Ball
Dining Room – Jonathan Senner/Atelier Jonathan Senner
Family Room – Kelley Proxmire/Kelley Interior Design
Terrace – Country Casual
Library – Josh Hildreth & Victor Sang/DMG Interiors
Living Room – Pamela Harvey/Pamela Harvey Interiors, LLC
Sitting Room – Camille Saum/Camille Saum Interior Design, LLC
Breakfast Room/Kitchen – Betsy Barmat Stires/Frog Hill Designs

Butler’s Pantry – Nadia N. Subaran & Megan M. Padilla/Aidan Design, LLC
Powder Room- Lena Kroupnik/Lena Kroupnik Interiors

Second Floor
Master Suite – Victoria Sanchez/Victoria at Home
Bedroom #2 – Charles C. Almonte/Charles Almonte Architecture/Interior Design
Bedroom #3 – Andrea Houck/A. Houck Designs
Laundry – Allie Mann/Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.
Bedroom #4 – Rachael Dougan/ViVi Interiors

Third Floor
Balcony/Anteroom – Quintece Hill-Mattauszek/Studio Q Designs
Bedroom #5/Dressing/Bath – Barbara Brown/Barbara Brown Interiors, Inc.

Lower Level
Lower Garden – Stephen Wlodarczyk/Wheat’s Landscape