Favorite Finds at the New Washington Design Center

The 2012 announcement that a Bible museum would take over the Southwest DC building occupied by the Washington Design Center meant the collection of high-end home furnishing showrooms had to find new digs. The hunt for space ultimately led to the Franklin Court building at 14th and L streets, Northwest, where Wednesday evening, the Design Center debuted its new home with a ribbon-cutting and open house. Here are some of the top trends we spotted while touring the three floors of showrooms.

Anything-but-stuffy wingbacks
At the AmericanEye showroom, the classic shape was done up in vibrant colors and laid-back textiles.

A Lee Industries chair in a Peruvian striped fabric. Photographs by Marisa M. Kashino.

Also from Lee Industries, this time in a more dramatic silhouette with a contrasting white welt.

Glam cockail tables
Though compact in size, these were big on style.

A set of six geometric cocktail tables at Michael-Cleary can be clustered together or divided up.

The swirl effect of this McLain Weisand table at the Hines & Company showroom comes from marbelized paper and silver leaf.

Sculptural chandeliers
Not just for the dining room, these fixtures make a statement.

Aerial chandelier by Currey & Company at AmericanEye.

A Sputnik-like fixture on display at the Century showroom.

Haute hides
We saw lots of fur and leather, but these two pieces were our favorite examples of the trend.

Bronze, antler-like legs and moss-hued hyde made this ottoman a stand-out at the Holly Hunt showroom.

Comfy and chic: A Mongolian lamb and walnut arm chair by Berman Rosetti at the Hines & Company showroom.

Marisa M. Kashino

Senior Editor

Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 and was a senior editor until 2022.