SHOPPING CAPITOL HILL WITH THE WASHINGTON POST

It was thrilling this week to see The Washington Post's Home & Design section feature Capitol Hill, usually associated with the halls of power, and not the halls of family houses. WaPo reporter Jura Koncious teased out some of the best places to find great home goods in "Destination Design: Capitol Hill" (and kindly noted a few of my own favorites). Click through to read her highlights of shops in and around Eastern Market and the adjoining weekend flea, and start making your list—this is the time to dream about where you'll go and what you'll buy when spring finally breaks through!

Aside from shopping, Capitol Hill has some incredible interior design. This stunningly revamped row house was designed by architect Frederick Taylor, and makes exquisite use of the often cramped spaces of the Hill's narrow homes. It was particularly clever to cede lawn space for an addition, then add further outdoor space on the second story and roof (hat tip to blog Notting Hill for first highlighting this great place).

House Beautiful featured this very atypical, sassy Hill house designed by Barry Dixon. Once again, re-thinking the standard, narrow structure of the row house requires a creative touch.

I adore this remake of another Capitol Hill home featured in Traditional Home. Mary Douglas Drysdale pulled together a bright, playful style I'll call "Federal Fun"—columns, convex mirrors, formal colonial furniture—all set against a relentlessly cheerful color palate.

/Images/magazines and firms as cited above/

To read more about shopping one of my favorite Hill spots, the flea at Eastern Market, click HERE.