Living in Northern Virginia I usually start to crave color during the months of February and March. Spending the day at the Washington Design Center (WDC), I can get my fill of beautiful fabrics, trims, wallpaper and furnishings and leave with the hope that Spring is right around the corner.

A Brief History

When I first moved to the DC area from Atlanta Georgia, the WDC was located on 300 D St. SW this had been its permanent home since 1983. That building is now the Bible Museum and our WDC has a new home at 1099 14th St. NW. The building that houses three floors of the WDC is called Franklin Court. The 21 elegant showrooms are filled with lighting, chandeliers, sofas, chairs, and more. The three floors of the WDC are for trade only, which means that the average retail shopper can come in and browse but cannot buy. All sales are made through professional designers only.

Finds at the WDC

For anyone living in Northern Virginia, DC or Maryland, our WDC is the only place in this area to go for beautiful fabrics and furnishings from all over the world. I typically am drawn to the WDC for two very different kinds of fabrics. 

1. To fill my need for draperies or fabrics that are for “drapery use only”.
2. Upholstery fabrics or fabrics that can take quite a bit of use.

Beautiful potential for curtains.

Drapery Fabrics

First let’s talk about drapery fabrics! Whether you want your windows to be the star or play a supporting role in your DC home, you will find fabrics throughout the show rooms at WDC for almost any type of decoration. Several examples of suitable window treatment fabrics are linen, silk and cotton. Because they are hanging, they will endure less wear-and-tear, thus you can focus more on the aesthetic and texture vs the functionality!

Window decorations are the grand finishing touch in a room. More than most other components of design, they are charged with multiple roles in bracing beauty and function. On the practical side, they control light and ventilation and provide the sheltering luxury of privacy. Visually, they are the great aesthetic unifiers, the major elements that bring the walls and windows together in decorative harmony and ensure that they blend with the style of the room.

Upholstery Fabrics

Great candidates for upholstery.

Every fabric showroom at the Washington DC Design Center, carries upholstery fabrics. Used to cover anything that we sit on for example: chairs and sofas, or for less common uses, like hand rails or doors, I often choose fabrics that are durable and textured.

If you are new to the upholstery world then it can be quite difficult to know what to use for a sofa or a chair or other furniture. This is why a designer can send you in the right direction, so you can choose the best quality for your furniture. Several examples of upholstery fabric: cotton, chenille, leather, velvet, or wool. All of these fabrics are wonderful for any upholstery project.

Accessing the Fabrics

As mentioned, anyone can view the fabrics, but only designers and architects can actually purchase them. It’s logical that if you’re looking broadly for custom fabrics that it would make sense to work with a designer, as we can integrate the fabrics with your vision for the room as well as have the ability to contract experienced window treatment makers, and/or master craftsmen for upholstering furniture.

Coming with a designer is one of the best parts!

Conclusion

The Washington Design Center is a gold mine of inspiration for fabrics and other designs. We love going with our clients to gather ideas and color palettes for their projects and if you are interested in freshening up any of the fabrics in your home, we’d love to discuss options with you!

Also, we want to give a big thank you to all our favorite fabric houses hosted at the Washington DC Design Center! The following are a few of our favorites and absolutely ones you should check out on your next visit: Cowtan & Tout, Kravet, Ralph Lauren, Romo, and Schumacher.

We couldn’t not show this gorgeous piece!