HOUSE OF GEMS
TWO TITANS OF DC JEWELRY INVEST IN DECADENT STORE REDESIGNS.
Two titans of DC jewelry invest in decadent store redesigns.
The owners of Boone & Sons Jewelers, a family-run boutique since 1966, knew that their Chevy Chase shop, at 1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, was due for an update when they called on interior designer Sara Tuttle (571-4428687; saratuttle.com), who happily took on the jewel box of a job.
“My aim was to refresh the space while keeping the jewelry the focal point,” says Tuttle, who decided to layer in neutral texture by means of various wallpapers. A French blue and hand-painted gold botanical wallpaper by Gracie gives the thirdgeneration Chevy Chase shop a feel that is, as Tuttle says, “at once classic and modern—exactly what we wanted.” On the ceiling, she used a wall covering made from mica chips for “a sense of luster and sparkle, like diamonds.”
Across the city in Vienna, acclaimed designer Barry Dixon (540-341-8501; barrydixon.com) went to work bringing another jewel box to life. When Liljenquist & Beckstead decided to open a new flagship store in the space once occupied by Gucci at The Shops at
Fairfax Square, the owners tasked Dixon with fashioning an elegant space that represents their brand.
“Our approach was to craft an assemblage of custom tables, mirrors, lighting, and upholstery,” says Dixon of the carefully devised classic interior, whose design was inspired by the shop’s own jewelry. “We worked in shades of platinum, gold, and bronze. We also contrasted the cool sparkle of glass and crystal against the rich warmth of leather, mahogany, and walnut in a dramatic mélange of geometric shapes.”