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Genius at Work – Darrell Dean
Washington is a strong city for design.
Incredible architecture, international influences and award winning talent.
But to the larger audience, we're seen as conservative and predictable.
Sure we don't have the inventory of New York or the edginess of LA, but take a
closer look and you'll find innovators, risk-takers and geniuses in their fields.
One of those virtuosos is Darrell Dean of the eponymous antique store on
Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown. His finds are always fresh and striking and
completely original. The man is brilliant. His shop is a constant source of
product and inspiration. If I could, I would buy the entire cache. Where is that
generous benefactor?! Thank God for trusting clients and interesting projects. I
stopped in Darrell Dean this weekend and was blown away as usual. I shot 40+
photos while browsing the two levels. Interior designers far-and-wide, take note!
The store front on Wisconsin Avenue at P Street.
Perfectly situated between Cherry and Café Bonaparte.
A pair of brightly upholstered mid-century swivel chairs.
These would be sick if recovered in a buttery beige kidskin.
This glass-topped, faux parchment table is a show-stopper.
How did I describe Darrell’s inventory … “striking and completely original”?
Case in point. A nautically inspired, zoomorphic chair
I have been eyeing these crystal encrusted lamps for a looong time.
… As well as this 1970s faux tortoise, multi-faceted table.
I think I’m going to place it in the Huntley & Co. Lake Geneva project in Switzerland.
One reason I love Darrell’s pieces is that they are often graphic and sculptural.
Like this table – both the top and the base are interesting
These lamps are actually quite large, and with the stripes, very striking in person.
It’s hard to find a good planter these days. This one is the right
size and glamorous without being over the top. Tempting.
Speaking of glamour. A pair of white leather and brass armchairs from the 50s.
And don’t they look comfortable?!
A pair of patchwork, salvaged wood obelisks. Love!
Darrell Dean epitomized. Dramatic and unique, but not too perfect.
One last shot before I leave and then across the street to Puro Café for lunch.
Another relaxing, fun-filled weekend while Nina is at boot camp. Two more weeks!
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1524 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-6330
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Road Trippin’
On Friday I delivered my sweet but stressed Norwegian Elkhound, Nina, to a trainer in
Virginia for a much-needed behavioral boot camp. To make the most of my time sans-dog,
I inaugurated my three weeks of freedom with a series of excursions to Warrenton, The Plains
and Maryland's western shore. Road trips are a great way for a curious, visual or adventurous
soul to satisfy his or her inner explorer. And better yet, you avoid the airport … which is like
sticking hot needles in ones eye these days. With a little planning and the right companion,
2 days and 3 nights plus a few hundred miles can be just the escape you've needed.
Summer weekends are here, DC urbanites. Get packed and get going!
I stayed at The Black Horse Inn on Friday. The perfect setting for
a Virginia bed-and-breakfast with rolling hills and grazing horses.
A view of the property's north side.
The stables are a short walk from the main house.
Like everything on the property, the stalls are nicely detailed and well maintained.
We had dinner at The Rail Stop on Friday night in The Plains.
A casual spot once owned by local Robert Duvall.
After dinner we walked across the street to Forlano’s Market and had a glass of wine on the front porch.
This market/restaurant is the perfect addition to Main Street – charming, unpretentious and filled with
locals and visitors alike. Dinner here will be on my itinerary the next time I visit hunt country.
I planned on a quiet afternoon in old town Warrenton, but as it turned out, Saturday was the town’s
annual spring festival replete with bands, booths and lots of interesting characters. Classic people-watching!
Looking down S. 3rd Street to E. Lee Street.
I love the architecture, history and intimacy of southern towns.
We had lunch at The Iron Bridge Wine Co. on Main Street. Delicious food and
great wine in a handsome setting with excellent service to boot. Worth a trip.
On the way out of town, the clever signage for Tri County Feeds caught my eye.
So much so that we pulled over to take a look inside. In fact, the company
is a retailer specializing in riding gear and services for the equine set.
I’m no great equestrian, but if I were, I would definitely buy this saddle and outfit. So chic!
Sunday required a change in gears with a drive to Maryland and a cruise up the Potomac back to
DC via boat. I commented at one point that the shoreline reminded me of Lake Minnetonka.
That is until I saw a little estate called Mount Vernon perched on a hill on the Virginia side.
Once up the river in DC, we stopped for awhile to enjoy the views. Where else can you drift on a
boat on a beautiful day with little water traffic and gaze at the Lincoln and Washington Memorials?!?!
Wrapping up the perfect easy-breezy weekend.
Looking forward to more local adventures while my canine kid is at camp!
Tricia (and Nina) xo
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Scents & Sensibility
One of the best things about spring and early summer is the smells.
Honeysuckle, lavender, gardenia … mmm. Besides encouraging my obsession for flowers,
the scents of the season have kick-started a bit of a love affair with women's fragrances for me.
In the past, I was always a one-bottle-babe. I thought of perfume as part of my identity, like skin
tone or eye color. As in "I'm fair, brown-eyed and I wear L'Air du Temps". But these days I'm not so
conventional. Or better yet, not so boring. A woman has more than one point of view, more than one
mood. Mademoiselle cannot live on Chanel No. 5 alone! Fortunately, there are a bevy of talented
perfumers available to muse our muzzles. Fresh, floral, earthy or exotic – whatever your essence –
there's a scent to describe your internal allure and intoxicate your senses. Bottle-up and be amazing.
The fabrication of fragrances dates back to ancient Egypt.
This Etruscan vessel is a perfume vase. Designers take note.
In addition to my standard Coco by Chanel, I acquired three new fragrances this year.
Calypso Figue by Christiane Celle, Brigitte by Tocca and Sole 149 by Pucci – a birthday
gift from a girlfriend. Beyond the scents themselves, I like that I can change them up
and layer them according to my mood and my adventures for the day.
Four classics from the first half of the twentieth century that are still popular, still chic.
Chanel No. 5 (1921), Arpège (1927), Acqua di Parma (1930) & Fracas (1948).
I’m intrigued by the ad for Balenciaga’s new fragrance. It speaks to a cultivated and
sophisticated aesthetic that appreciates the contrast of textures, eras and styles.
It’s described as a muted scent of soft violet with a woodsy-musky base.
Speaking of advertising, how does one sell a smell? Clearly, it’s all about the power of the
image. If I wear perfume ABC by company XYZ, I will be beautiful/sexy/desirable, etc.
Below are some memorable ads from recent years and the impressions they left upon me.
L’EAU AMBRÉE by Prada
– warm, sensual and modern –
ETERNITY MOMENT by Calvin Klein
– men will fall in love with you –
FLOWER BOMB by Viktor & Rolf
– feminine but powerful –
JUICY COUTURE PERFUME by Juicy Couture
– for the social deb with a wild side –
CB I Hate Perfume is the brainchild of Christopher Brosius. He creates fragrances based on moments
and experiences. I’m dying to try In the Library, Russian Caravan Tea and Fire From Heaven. His
concept “scent is life” is brilliantly simple. You have to love a guy who studied the arts at Carnegie
Mellon, Columbia and Parsons, drove a taxi in New York, went on to work for Kiehl’s and says things
like “People who smell like everyone else disgust me.” Cool, irreverent and scary-talented. Love him!
Fragrances for the home have become as popular as fragrances for the body. They’re another
way for us to express who we are and share what inspires us. I love Antica Farmacista's
products. I discovered their Vanilla, Bourbon & Mandarin room diffuser a few years ago.
It’s absolutely delicious and is my home’s secret weapon. Shhhh.
Aedes de Venustas is another favorite source of mine (I can’t believe I’m giving away
all my secrets!). I find amazing fragrances for myself and for friends and family.
Boule d’Ambre by L’Artisan Perfumer. Amber crystals encased in a terracotta sphere.
I have the Odalisque candle by Cire Trudon in my bedroom. Its notes of citrus, wood bark and
orange blossom are sexy and comforting and not overwhelming next to my bed. The company
was founded in 1643 and developed scents for the Court of Versailles and Napoleon.
A simple but amazing gift for that special someone? Primavera room spray from Santa Maria Novella.
It is said to capture the scents of a Tuscan garden in spring – cherry blossoms, gardenia and dogwood.
Heavenly! Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world and was
established in 1221 by Dominican Fathers. I would also love to buy their Caprifoglio eau de cologne –
a unisex fragrance with the essence of honeysuckle. Those monks knew what they were doing!
And not exactly old compared to the scents above, but nonetheless “vintage”.
These oldies-but-goodies were favorites in their respective eras.
OBSESSION by Calvin Klein
– you’re an elusive and enigmatic muse –
This commercial looked like the celluloid love child of John Pawson and M.C. Escher.
But I did love the tagline – "Ahhh, the smell of it."
ENJOLI by Charles of the Ritz/Revlon
– for the wife/corporate go-getter/sexpot who’s kickin’ ass and takin’ names –
I loved this ad when I was a little girl. I know, not surprising ; )
It’s incredible, isn’t it, that we can wear so much history and inspiration on our skin?!
Fragrance is a magical part of nature … of life. Just remember, use it in moderation.
You want to beguile and entice, not overwhelm or offend!
Tricia xo
THE MUSINGS OF DESIGNER TRICIA HUNTLEY
