Danziger 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.

To view my most recent mailing, please click below:

VIEW MAILING

If you would like to receive my future mailings, click on the CONTACT tab on my website and fill out the form provided. Note on the form that you wish to receive future mailings.

I am most excited to share some information gleaned from a lighting course sponsored by ASID for those Interior Designers practicing in the Washington, DC. Metro area.

The buzz word in lighting is LED- (light emitting diodes) and it is being perfected all the time. The bulb comes in many interesting shades and outlasts a fluorescent bulb.

Did you know that using Parabolics in commercial design is now thought to create shadows? It is great for lighting horizontal surfaces like conference tables but is not a good source for lighting vertical surfaces. Actually, prismatic lenses are better now since we are constantly using computers and want to avoid sitting in our own shadow.

A discussion of residential lighting led to a debate about how to eliminate glare without giving up good task lighting over bathroom sinks.

We were advised to go for sconces on either side of mirrors versus using recessed down lighting over the sink area to achieve optimum effect. Placement of 66” on center from the floor is the goal.

If scones cannot be used because of the interference of medicine cabinets, you should go back to the recessed down lighting (right) but with a fixture that will diffuse the light.

Some of the sites recommended by the instructor Steve Klein at kleinlighting.com for this purpose are referenced below.

For the Trim:
http://www.cooperlighting.com/specfiles/pdf/RSA/rsa_mlv2033.pdf
For the Housing:
http://www.cooperlighting.com/specfiles/pdf/RSA/microgem_ic_C700.pdf
For the Lamp:
http://www.bulbrite.com/products_en_7_59_171_0_6-650051.php
 

No words describe how elated I was and am to meet Katie, our patient contact from Georgetown University Hospital. Everyone should have a sweetheart like this in their lives.

When I got to her home, her parents were incredibly gracious and when Katie arrived carrying a tea set, I was hooked!!! I had to inquire as to whether she knew the theme for the tree was a Children’s Tea Party and the answer was “yes”!

Can’t wait to meet with her later in October when she is “in town”.

Stay tuned!

Wendy is finally getting together with the patient from Georgetown University Hospital. Cannot wait to meet this wonderful child assigned to me through the people at Georgetown Jingle. Tune in for more after our get together Weds. September 16 at her home.

On Wednesday, July 30, 2009, the Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Kensington edition of “The Gazette” mentioned our Bethesda Interior Design Firm’s involvement in the Montgomery County Family Justice Center for Domestic Violence.

We encourage you to go to visit the write-up in “The Gazette”. It is the 4th item in the column.
Our hope is that the beach themed lobby is welcoming to all those who seek out services in this office building located in downtown Rockville, Maryland.

Beside providing interior design services at no charge- we have been able to enlist some of our prized resources- our painter Homer Mitrakis, cabinet person, SCB Woodworking, Drapery fabricator, Windows by Betty as well as Just Moulding.