2014 DC Design House: 3 Days Left to Tour

The 2014 DC Design House is nearing the final days for previewing the talents of 29 designers in modernizing a 1920’s colonial for contemporary living.  This year’s design house, at 4600 Linnean Avenue in Forest Hills, has been donated by Suzi Wilczynski, granddaughter of Marshall B. Coyne, the founder of the Madison Hotel. As in years past, the Design House provides a unique event for top designers in the region to showcase their talents for the benefit of Children's National Health System.  Within the 8,000 square foot three story house are five bedrooms, six full bathrooms and two half baths.  The house sits on a two-third acre site with a swimming pool and three-car garage – a once surburban home in the heart of an "urban" community. 

It is worth mentioning the Design House ties to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase community, beginning with the designer of the front façade, David Benton of Rill Architects, and the designer of the foyer and stairwell, Camille Saum Interior Design, both of Bethesda. The living room has been redesigned by Bethesda based Kelley Interior Design.* The kitchen and butler's pantry were designed by Nadia Subaran of Aidan Design, also based in Bethesda.  The owner, Ms. Wilczynski, is the founder of Dig-It! Games, an educational computer game software company located in Bethesda that may have helped influence the siting of the children’s playroom adjacent to the family room.  Not to be missed is the pool bath and dressing room designed by Cahill Design Build and the backyard garden by Botanical Decorators, both Olney based firms.

Art is featured throughout the house.  Many furnishings used in the redesign are available for sale, with twenty-percent of the proceeds going to the Children's National Health System.  The house is also available for sale, giving new meaning to For Sale As-Is. 

The DC Design House is open today, Friday, May 9 from 10 - 3pm.  Saturday and Sunday 12-5pm. Ticket price: $25. 

*A special note on the growing significance of a redesign in marketing a property: In February 2014, Urban Turf reported the sale of DC’s second most expensive house, the Williams-Addison House in Georgetown, which was listed at $16.8 million, noting that the property was expanded and significantly renovated by Capital City Real Estate, architect Dale Overmyer and interior designer Kelley Proxmire.