Washington Hilton celebrates 60 years!

One of the most iconic hotels in Washington is the Hilton Hotel which proudly sits above Dupont Circle on Connecticut Avenue and is affectionately but rather cheekily termed by Washingtonians as the 'Hinckley Hilton'.  It's also the hotel where I stayed as part of a high school trip back in 1996 long before dreaming I would make my home here! Celebrating its Diamond Jubilee this year the hotel has welcomed nearly every US president and has been a meeting place for leaders from all walks of life.  

Opened on March 25, 1965 and designed by architect William B Tabler, 60 years later the hotel still is vibrant and active within the city. All year they will host a series of special events honoring its rich history and toasting their future.  The hotel will be blending a wave of nostalgia for the 60s through decor and food offerings (Baked Alaska anyone?) . As part of this they're unveiling a specialty 60s cocktail, the 1919 Boulevardier, crafted with Maker's Mark, Cacao infused Campari, and Dolin Sweet Vermouth (the best!).  

I think it's time for a revisit to this Washington treasure, located at 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW, which should be easy with 4 restaurants inside. 

The Porcelain Flowers of Vladimir Kanevsky at Hillwood

I'm back here at the blog to let you know about an amazing exhibit that has recently opened in Washington at Hillwood, the Marjorie Merriweather Post mansion turned museum.  I've written about Hillwood on numerous occasions and also about the artist whose amazing work they are currently featuring: Vladimir Kanevsky. 

I last wrote about Kanevsky in conjunction with Hillwood 3 years ago HERE when he did a lilac centerpiece on the table of designer Alex Papachristidis, similar to the lilac to be found in the library today.    These are no ordinary blooms however.  They are the most convincing and charming FAUX flowers you have ever seen, created out of copper, porcelain, and paint. 

The nice thing about these faux flowers, other than their lack of maintenance, is that they can be displayed throughout the mansion without a lot of fuss: no drips.  See the Amaryllis in the living room above naked without a drip plate!

I would like to think if Post were still living she would be a collector of Kanevsky's work.  

Part of the charm of these flowers are their imperfections similar to real flowers - holes in leaves, etc.  

The only thing missing is the scent: the lily of the valley seen below would be most fragrant!

Other than the lilac, I think my favorite piece may be the dandelion, warts and all. Weed as art!

This humble thistle may be a close second. 

The fun thing about creating these flowers is one gets to play with scale - the tulips shown on the breakfast room table below are simply ENORMOUS. 

The piece de resistance of the whole exhibit is to be seen in the dining room where about 1/2 of the collection is displayed. 

Cheek by Jowl, they are almost hard to study individually...

Though the morning glory does its best to reach out to the viewer! 

Given how difficult dahlia are to grow I think a Kanevsky version is a sound investment. 

And Washington's famous but short-lived cherry blossoms are no match for these stems.

Ordinarily Hillwood is full of fresh flowers from the garden, much as during Post's time at the house. The lack of real blooms allows one to focus on the details where you realize, flowers are depicted everywhere, even on the curtains!

Even the dining room sconces feature fruit.

The breakfast room still does sport a large collection of orchids in the bay window, no fear. 

Spring is a glorious time to visit Hillwood for the gardens, but please do visit and enjoy the magic of Vladimir Kanevsky as well.

The Porcelain Flowers of Vladimir Kanevsky is on view NOW through September 5th, 2021 throughout the mansion at Hillwood.  

Reservations are required so don't plan on stopping by without one!

All photos used throughout this post are my own.

Architect Mihran Mesrobian at home

Last fall I had the pleasure of touring the home of noted local architect Mihran Mesrobian when it was briefly on the market.  Mesrobian was an Armenian-American architect responsible for many of the most interesting apartment houses and large buildings found throughout Washington from the 1920s and 30s.  He passed away in 1975 but the house was kept on by his family. It acted as a time capsule to when it was built in 1941; his own design laboratory.  Come explore it with me!

Located in Chevy Chase, just over the DC border in Maryland, the traditional brick and cast stone garden walls tie the property into the rather traditional houses that surround it.

The house however is a stand-out in Art-Moderne style. Notice all of the original steel casement windows, the interesting front door, and the curved glass block wall.  Modern!

Turning to the side the living room has a curved bay while there is a stone terrace off the dining room and a roof terrace off the master bedroom. I would remove those 1960s aluminum awnings to let some light in.

I'm not sure if the brick was originally painted but I think it helps it feel more modern.

The geometric entry hall has the most beautiful stair railing. The doorway in front of you underneath the stairs is a coat closet with back access to the kitchen to the right.

I'm crazy for these aluminum railings.

Two steps down to the left is the living room; with the original 1941 furnishings and curtains!

Remember when I said this was a time-capsule; I meant it!  2 more steps up into the dining room (I love a step down living room, it makes me feel like Fred Astaire).

The original 1941 curtains in the dining room from Schumacher in a Peruvian Linen. I hope the new owners keep these with their wild colors!

Remember this is a design laboratory! Up the stairs is an unusual crystal chandelier and a blue-glass interior window to a little sewing room over the front door.

The house has a lot of bedrooms -a real family home.

A look at the other side of the interior blue window.

The master bedroom with a small door out to the balcony over the living room bay.

I think we're due for a comeback of colorful bathroom fixtures. Waterworks has a line of colored tile, Architectronics, that I'm dying to use in a project.  Maybe not a maroon sink with moss green tile but more color in general!!!

In the basement is Mesrobian's home office with his personal drafting table!

More beautiful vintage curtains. I think people used to have a lot more fun with design than we do today with our greige and whites.

These old school linoleum floors are classic.

The basement bathroom even had faux-tile linoleum sheet walls. Have you ever seen anything like this? And check out the shower curtain!

Here you can see how it's actually a painted/printed linoleum product -not actual tile. 

The few times I've bought these suction cup soap dishes they never hold but this has been here since 1941 and only one suction cup failed.... I guess they don't make them like they used to.

Off the laundry is this ironing room with a built-in ironing board.

And what basement is complete without a vintage screening room!

Complete with old tv!

More bold upholstery choices -more Schumacher perhaps?

Out the back kitchen door you can see a very sunny family room (I don't have photos of that unfortunately)

2 car garage and ample parking in the driveway. At some point someone spray painted all of the metalwork silver but I would take it back to classic black. I haven't had a chance to drive by to see what the new owners have done. As the house is a national landmark the outside isn't allowed to change much.

A really great metalwork Juliet balcony off the family room.

At some point the garden must have been very elaborate. I imagine there was once a fountain here below the classical ram's head.

As I mentioned the house sold very quickly; It's a large lot in a great neighborhood with good schools and a lovely house full of character. I'm dying to see what became of the interiors!

I explore a lot of real estate (perennial open house goer) but I've never seen a time capsule quite like this. I hope you enjoyed following along!