A short list of Top Designers in DC by Dering Hall and we are thrilled to be included!
Also, join The Washington Post's Jura Koncius & Raji for a live chat this Thursday, April 24 at 11am to discuss about all things design and show houses! Click here to post your questions!
Raji RM & Associates | Interior Designer & Decorator
Washington DC | New York
Contact us to learn more about our work
Enfilade: an interconnected group of rooms arranged usually in a row with each room opening into the next - Merriam-Webster
Design by Raji RM & Associates
I was eleven years old when I first traveled around Europe for my classical dance performances. Visiting some of the greatest cities - London, Wales, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam et al and usually the day after a performance, I was whisked away by the families and friends who were our hosts and given a tour of the city. These tours often included some of the local palaces and gardens. Although I couldn't understand the significance then or appreciate the full history and architecture of the places I visited, I do remember feeling an awe at the grandeur and ornamentation and particularly remember enjoying the vast spaces and the room after room after room that I could see through in one length and run back and forth to the dismay of my parents. Little did I know the important architectural concept that would in many ways quite literally shape my life.
Design by Raji RM & Associates
In my early twenties, one of the first words I learnt in architecture and design and still love is - the enfilade. Wikipedia has a nice definition of it - in architecture, an enfilade is a suite of rooms formally aligned with each other. This was a common feature in grand European architecture from the Baroque period onward, although there are earlier examples, such as the Vatican stanze. The doors entering each room are aligned with the doors of the connecting rooms along a single axis, providing a vista through the entire suite of rooms. The enfilade may be used as a processional route and is a common arrangement in museums and art galleries, as it facilitates the movement of large numbers of people through a building.
I for one could not wait to create an enfilade in my own home (see photos above) which I finally did last year. Need I say il est juste ma tasse de thé?!
See more of Raji's home here and here.
Raji RM & Associates | Interior Designer & Decorator
Washington DC | New York
Contact us to learn more about our work
As designers we are exposed to many beautiful things in our daily life. When I'm shopping for our projects, traveling, dining, reading, visiting and browsing - I find that all these forays are an opportunity to hone the eye and learn something new. In this day and age we are not short of exposure, if anything it's overexposure and hence it is equally important to be able to glean through the millions and zero in on the things that are truly beautiful and make the cut. Quality, material, skilled workmanship, price, age, provenance and uniqueness are all important - some relatively more than others depending on who and what you are shopping for.
Decades ago I stumbled upon a ceramic box given to me as a gift which had a signature at the bottom. I loved the box for it's shape, the sweet birds painted on it and it's fragility. At that time, I had no idea who it was by or even what that signature meant. Many years later rummaging at Paris' Marché aux Puces I stumbled upon a ceramic vase. Vaguely familiar in it's colors and finish, turning it upside down I realized it was the same signature that was on my box. Determined to find out who the signature belonged to and what these wonderful ceramics are about, I talked to a few vendors I knew and soon embarked on a search for more pieces by the "Cloutier Freres". As I discovered more ceramics by these exceptional artists and twin brothers, Robert & Jean Cloutier, my love for their work increased exponentially. While I await the first book on these exceptional ceramicists' works, collecting these whimsical, puts-a-smile-on-your-face, beautifully made pieces est juste ma tasse de thé!
Design by Raji RM & Associates
From maison et toi
From maison et toi
From maison et toi
From maison et toi
Design by Raji RM & Associates
From maison et toi
Image via Pinterest
Images via Pinterest
Images via Pinterest
Image on left via maison et toi and on right via Pinterest
Design by Raji RM & Associates
Raji RM & Associates | Interior Designer & Decorator
Washington DC | New York
Contact us to learn more about our work
A huge thanks to Michele Ginnerty of the terrific blog - My Notting Hill for posting about Raji RM's upcoming cover story and work! If you live in DC, Maryland or Viriginia, you will find Michele's blog very interesting. My Notting Hill has become a powerful resource that covers detailed information about the DC area design scene. It is also wonderful to read and follow Michele's own design dilemmas and how smartly and tastefully she resolves them. Be sure to check out the full post here.
Raji RM & Associates | Interior Designer & Decorator
Washington DC | New York
Contact us to learn more about our work
One of the most prolific artists of the Twentieth and Twenty First Centuries. An artist who understands scale enough to master it, how to play with it and what it does to human emotions. Scale combined with the power of a single note, a single gesture, a single color. Scale combined with form and material. By quiet observation one of my silent mentors. Juste ma tasse de thé!
Image via Jacinda Russell Art
Image via ArtObserved.com
Image via MOMA
Image via New York Times
Image via Minimal Exposition
Image via CocoBabaGanoush
Image via Art Observed
Raji RM & Associates | Interior Designer & Decorator
Washington DC | New York
Contact us to learn more about our work
It's no secret that I love all things French particularly the French Modern period between the 1920s - 1970s. Architecturally though, I'm more of a classicist. The juxtaposition of French Modern pieces against a classical background is a great complement to both these styles as you can see in my own home here. I am also a huge fan of English Architecture & Design. Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir John Soane inspire me endlessly. And, English country I think is one of the most charmed way of living and it does not necessarily have to be grand. Take the Cotswolds - quiet streets lined with little cottages made of mud and centuries old stones, preserved, transporting you to a different period, a different era.
While visiting a new client a few years ago, Cotswolds was exactly what I was thinking about driving up the street lined with homes that looked like they came straight out of the pages of a story book. And, as I walked through the door, the character of the rooms simply confirmed my initial feeling. And I thought - il est tout ma tasse de thé!
Design by Raji RM & Associates
Design by Raji RM & Associates
Design by Raji RM & Associates
Design by Raji RM & Associates
For more project photos click here.
Raji RM & Associates | Interior Designer & Decorator
Washington DC | New York
Contact us to learn more about our work
"Spurred on by show house success, designer Raji Radhakrishnan transforms her own Northern Virginia residence with equal amounts couture and comfort."
- Luxe Interiors + Design, Spring 2014
We are thrilled to see Raji's home grace the cover of not just one but two covers of Luxe Magazine - Luxe Regional (DC, MD & VA) and Luxe National. The magazines hit the news stands mid-April. Look for the Regional issue through out news stands in DC, MD & VA and the National issue will be available in Barnes & Noble and for subscribers of Luxe.
A huge thanks to Editor-in-Chief Pamela Jaccarino, writer extraordinaire, Charlotte Safavi & to the fabulous photographer, Rikki Snyder.
Luxe Interiors + Design, Spring 2014 - Washington, DC Maryland & Virginia
Luxe Interiors + Design, Spring 2014 National Issue
Raji RM & Associates | Interior Designer & Decorator
Washington DC | New York
Contact us to learn more about our work
Many of our projects fall in what can be categorized as a mix of styles. These rooms not only have modern and traditional furniture mixed together but the fabrics used are also a mix of modern and muted tones, the rich and decadent ones and the unexpected and highly textured. When it comes to the rich and decadent, one of our favorite fabric sources is the English company, Watts of Westminster which is carried by J. Lambeth & Co. We have found that their fabrics are not only of the finest quality, but their inky colors, subtle textures and exuberant patterns are most enchanting. Perhaps they feed into our obsession with fine living (think Downton Abbey!) or because Watts is located right behind Westminster Abbey! Finding a way to infuse their other worldly character into our projects is always a fun challenge and a most pleasurable one at that.
Here is a little background history from Watts of Westminster - 'Watts was founded by three architects, George Frederick Bodley, George Gilbert Scott the Younger and Thomas Garner; from its inception, the firm supplied fittings and furnishings for both ecclesiastical and domestic interiors. Their stated intention was to supply items of "Artistic character. Embroidery and Textile Fabrics, such as Damask, Silks, Velvets, Woollen and other Hangings, still be included in the List of Goods, which will also comprise Wall Papers and Stained Glass, together with all the usual articles of Household Furniture.”'
In the photo below, a sitting room designed by Raji RM, a red velvet fabric by Watts of Westminster on a cushion mixes in with a yellow damask cushion on a laid back white sofa.
When Raji designed this master bed room at a show house she infused a rich mix of tactile fabrics on a contemporary bed by Poliform for winter warmth and texture with the Watts of Westminster fabrics seen here in the bedding.
Design by Raji RM & Associates
Another bed room we designed with an ice blue Watts fabric pillow brings just the right touch of elegance to the room.
Design by Raji RM & Associates
Below are some of our favorite Watts fabrics (all photos below and the fabrics shown in them are from Watts of Westminster)
Raji RM & Associates | Interior Designer & Decorator
Washington DC | New York
Contact us to learn more about our work
Photo from Guggenheim
A few years ago, the Guggenheim had a fantastic retrospective of some of the most important works of Louise Bourgeois. As you climbed the winding ramps filled with displays, Bourgeois' two dimensional works led up to three dimensional installations. Some were really large ones like the 'cell' which inspired the design of one of my bathrooms. Among them, an installation called 'Le Defi' meaning 'the challenge' (see photo at right) - a blue painted wooden shelving with rows of old collected glass ware lit up here and there - caught my eye. I was drawn to it partly because at that time, I had set up a small group of my own glassware in a corner of my bathroom counter with one of them being a little vintage cut-glass lamp placed in the center. And I thought, this is something I should do, after all I already have most of the things used in that installation. And then, I forgot about it. That is until this summer when I started to ponder and plan the 'Foyer & Galleries' for the CharityWorks GreenHouse.
As I mentioned before, I chose to treat much of the narrow spaces I designed for the CharityWorks GreenHouse like an art gallery. So, besides hanging works on the walls, I also planned a few art installations mostly using salvage and re-purposing things. One of them in the upstairs landing is a light installation, my own version of 'Le Defi' which I call 'Bourgeois lite!' (see photo below), an example of inspired art and a relatively 'small challenge' when it is 'after Bourgeois' Le Defi'. Instead of a shelving cart I used a vintage book stand. My collection of vintage glass ware and small glass lamps are grouped in the two shelves of the book stand. A 1940s French swing arm lamp provides task light for the book opened to read and an industrial typist chair from the 1920s by the English Co, Tan Sad gives you a perch to sit at the landing and become part of the installation itself.
Raji RM & Associates | Interior Designer & Decorator
Washington DC | New York
Contact us to learn more about our work
Thank you Houzz for including Raji RM's work and what a nice thought! We could all use tip #10 - make a bridge to the next day.
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/22617995/list/11-Ways-to-Refill-Your-Creative-Well
Raji RM & Associates 2012 Kips Bay Show House, NYC; Photography by Rikki Snyder
Raji RM & Associates | Interior Designer & Decorator
Washington DC | New York
Contact us to learn more about our work
