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Revisiting AD’s Coverage of a Presidential Dwelling

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When AD100 talent Mark D. Sikes was tasked with reimagining Blair House, the president’s guest house, AD’s legacy coverage came to mind—our last feature on the storied dwelling chronicled its renovation in the ’80s. He thought his update would be a great story for the magazine and approached our team while the project was underway. He was correct—and two years later, it appears in our November issue, adding a new evolution to AD’s Blair House reportage.

The federal government has consistently tapped great American decorators to beautify this lodging. In the ’60s, McMillen—a firm now in its 100th year—provided furnishings for several rooms in the home. Two decades later, Mark Hampton and Mario Buatta teamed up to refurbish the house from the inside out. Each renovation is guided by a larger goal: crafting an aesthetic that welcomes guests into our country. Sikes wanted to respect legacy and tradition while bringing the house into the 21st century. To do so, he collaborated with contemporary American creatives like Lauren Santo Domingo on staples of classic decor, like a set of custom Tiffany & Co. china. Aerin Lauder helped outfit the complex’s bedrooms. Sikes also used repeating motifs throughout to instill a sense of comfort, sticking to a few beloved US brands—textiles by Schumacher, for example, which was founded in New York City in 1889. You can find the company’s fabrics, accessories, and wallpaper throughout, weaving a cohesive sense of American rococo. In addition, Christopher Spitzmiller supplied lamps and Patterson Flynn crafted rugs. The finished product is a tasteful refurbishing that prioritizes comfort, luminosity, and our domestic design aesthetic—just in time for the structure’s bicentennial.

—Alison Levasseur, Global Interiors and Garden Director, AD

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Inside Blair House: The President’s Guesthouse Receives a Refined Refresh

AD100 interior designer Mark D. Sikes was tasked with updating the historic home in Washington, D.C.

From the Archive: Blair House, October 1988

The last historic restoration of the president's guest house in Washington, D.C.

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Mark D. Sikes’s Manual for Success

The AD100 interior designer shares an inside look at the well-oiled machine that powers the world of Mark D. Sikes—design studio, fashion label, product lines, and books included