Danziger Design

Every once in a while I come across something that just makes me smile. This cupcake artwork is one of those things… About a month ago, I purchased this from the Washington Design Center because I wanted to put a smile on my daughter’s face. It’s just one of those cheery things…

Well, after my purchase, I saw an article in The Washington Post about the sisters who started Georgetown Cupcake. The sisters will be appearing on a TLC show detailing the inner workings of the cupcake business that may be called, “Cupcake Sisters” (they are still working on the title). I’ve made a few phone calls and my goal is to get the producers of the show to use this cupcake artwork on the show. Why would we not want to share the smiles?! And the cupcakes!

I now have great fodder for cocktail-party conversation: My project in Bethesda’s Lionsgate Community was going to be featured in the current issue of Washington Spaces magazine – before it was shuttered in December. So, sadly, we’ll never see Thomas Arledge’s gorgeous photography in print…

Wendy Danziger, Maryland Interior Designer, in her Bethesda, MD client's home.

Lionsgate Salon; a uniform color palette makes for a unified space. We met the client's needs to dine, entertain, read, and watch tv all in one area.

Lionsgate contemporary kitchen with stainless appliances and backsplash

Lionsgate den with sleep sofa and custom window treatments

… But the one consolation prize is that the magazine put all its Winter 2010 content online, where the story and pictures will live at least until March. No one – not even the former employees of the magazine – seems to know when the Web site will go down, so let’s enjoy it while we have it.

You can find the story right here: A Bethesda Beauty. (Click on the photo gallery to see the rest of the pictures).

And in the meantime, I had the space shot by my own photographer J.W. Smith of Portfolio Fotos, and here are his photos, which show a slightly different perspective of the space.

Lionsgate Salon; a different perspective as photgraphed by J.W. Smith of Portfolio Fotos

Lionsgate Den; a different perspective - J.W. Smith of Portfolio Fotos

Lionsgate Master Bedroom with custom bed and bedding. Photo by J.W. Smith of Portfolio Fotos

Lionsgate Salon; sitting area. Photo by J.W. Smith of Portfolio Fotos

Danziger Design LLC and D.G. Liu Contractor, Inc. collaborate on a project to let the sun shine in.

I recently worked on a sunroom addition for a long-standing client in Bethesda, MD. The project required the services of a home remodeling company so I brought in D.G. Liu Contractor, Inc. The project is featured in their weekly newsletter (click on the first picture to view the newsletter).

Two other project pictures are shown above (click on the pictures to see them larger). The room features colors that you would see outdoors; browns and blue/greens – the rug (from C.G. Coe and Sons) set the stage for the room and its color palette. Two comfortable chairs provide seating for reading, drinking coffee, and watching tv. A bench provides extra seating when necessary.

This project was a true group effort between Danziger Design, D.G.Liu, and the homeowners, Mr. and Mrs. Toll. Communication was essential for this project to run smoothly and for the final outcome to be exactly what the clients were hoping for.

I wanted to share with everyone the tree I decorated for the 2009 Georgetown Jingle at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington. Fourteen interior designers were chosen to decorate trees and vignettes that were part of the silent auction at the Georgetown Jingle Family Event on December 13th. The purpose of this family-friendly event was to celebrate the fashions of the holiday season and to support families battling cancer by extending support to two programs at Georgetown University Hospital…the hospital’s pediatric bone marrow transplantation program and their Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program.

Look to see what the media had to say about the Georgetown Jingle and the designer’s trees:

Washingtonian
Washington Spaces
Home and Design

“I had a dream and you made it a reality. Thank you so much for that, not only for myself, but for all the victims in Montgomery County who come here.”

These are kind words to me from Jo Ann Ricchiuti, of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office regarding the lobby at the Family Justice Center in Rockville, MD. The Family Justice Center was created to provide a “one-stop shop” for domestic violence victims seeking assistance.

I had the privilege of working as a volunteer with Jo Ann to help design the lobby of the Family Justice Center. I had such mixed feelings about the project – I was honored to participate, and at the same time I was so sad knowing that a facility such as this was needed in Montgomery County. The goal was to create a lobby that made its visitors feel welcome and safe.

Knowing that I could not do this alone, I recruited several of my trusty sources to assist with this endeavor. My many thanks go out to Homer Mitrakas, painter extraordinaire, Steve Bournias of SCB Woodworking, and Kevin Wales of Just Moulding. Homer painted the entire lobby, Steve constructed an arch to camouflage the metal detector, and Kevin donated their time to install wainscot moulding throughout the lobby.

The lobby is pictured below – a beach theme was decided upon. I used the existing sand colored floor to come up with sky colored walls, a welcoming white arch, donated beach-inspired furniture, and moulding that you would find in a beach house.

I recently completed a project for a client’s dining room in which fabric panels were produced . This became a less expensive way of incorporating eye-catching art versus spending larger sums on traditional art work.

Framing company, Tri Graphics joined forces with moulding company, Just Moulding and under my direction the reasonably priced Place Vendome fabric was padded. The fabric can be purchased through the Michael Cleary Showroom in the Washington DC Design Center.

We welcome you to see the results in the photo above.

Recently, RP3 the advertising agency for Lionsgate Residences in Bethesda, Maryland sent out an emailblast of one of the penthouse residences in this luxury high rise.

We bring it to your attention, because our Maryland Interior Design firm designed this rather difficult space.

The purpose of this marketing blitz is to sell one of the last remaining Penthouse units at Lionsgate. The major similarity of the unit I designed and the one that is for sale is that both have a very large and open floor plan that present many design challenges.

To view the mailing, click below:

Lionsgate Marketing Blitz

The key in designing a space with an open floor plan is to create separate functional areas within the space and to unify these areas with color. Many newer homes especially in the Washington, D.C. metro area have this type of floor plan and require planning to create a space that is functional and pleasing to its residents.

Lightolier has come out with a sensational line of hand blown glass “diffusers” for recessed lighting that serve as a perfect balance between being aesthetically pleasing and functional.

We are part of a master bathroom project in Potomac, Maryland where it is impossible to use sconces to achieve good task lighting due to the interference of medicine cabinets. Our only option seemed to be incandescent downlighting which is not optimal when used above/over mirrored wall surfaces because of the glare it creates.

After extensive conversations with those in the know, the new Vetro Family of Lighting from Lightolier came to our attention.

Look, particularly at the D01 series for an edgy but elegant downlight. It adds some jewelry to an otherwise old light style.

Clients can purchase this Vetro Family of Lightolier at Dominion Electric in Arlington, Virginia. Thanks to Oscar Moreno at Dominion Electric and Jordan Feldman at Lightolier, we have a new design tool!

Friday, October 1st was a lucky day, not only for the design clients of my Maryland Interior Design Firm, Danziger Design, but for the entire design profession.

The quest is over for reasonably priced upholstery that is stylish, and above all, engineered to deliver great quality because…

Our very own Kravet Furniture showroom in the Washington, D.C. Design Center has a new line of upholstery shown at Kravet Smart.

All interior design clients in the DC Metropolitan area who are concerned about being kind to the environment will be so pleased to find cushions filled with soy based foam and recycled fiber cushioning. An added value bonus is Kravet’s “free” fabric program!

I am anxious to see how tailored and comfortable the sectional from Kravet Smart in aubergine looks when it is delivered later this year.