For this year’s DreamHome exhibition, the Washington Design Center tried something new, reaching outside the home design industry to collaborate with eight local jewelers whose jewelry served as inspiration for each of the eight rooms. And last Thursday night’s opening reception included something else that hadn’t been done before – models were stationed in each of the rooms, wearing the jewels that inspired the room’s interior design.
“We’ve never had a theme before that required a model,” explained Jennifer Sergent, director of marketing for the Washington Design Center, who noted that themes in the past were more abstract, rather than based on a physical object. After deciding on the “bejeweled” theme for the 2011 DreamHome, Sergent reached out to jewelers in the Washington metropolitan area, pairing each with an interior designer who chose a piece of their jewelry to reinterpret as a room using furnishings, fabric, rugs, and wall coverings from the Washington Design Center’s showrooms. “There were no rules,” said Sergent, who allowed designers to pick any type of room they wanted.
Thursday’s opening reception drew 450 guests to see the results, with 100 percent of the $20 tickets benefiting Georgetown University Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics. After picking up rosemary and limoncello lemonade cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from Well Dunn Catering, guests toured the DreamHome to check out both the interiors and the corresponding jewelry worn by the models. The evening’s playlist was on theme as well, with every song mentioning gems and jewels.
In years past, the Washington Design Center hosted the DreamHome in both the spring and fall, but this year Sergent’s team decided to host only one exhibit, due to cost and logistical considerations. DreamHome will be open for most of this year, through December 9. The only time to see the jewelry in person, however, was at the reception—photos of the pieces are now included in each room for reference.
The Washington Design Center again partnered with a local magazine, this time working with Home & Design, which showcases Washington=area architecture and interior design. Each gift bag included an issue of Home & Design, along with a copy of the Washington Design Center’s buyer’s guide; and later in the year, the magazine will host an event at the DreamHome for real estate brokers and custom home builders. The DreamHome will host additional parties and trunk shows throughout its run, including a Destination DC forum in June. It is also available for rental for private events.
