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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

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Gift idea for the color lover in your life, hot liquids be damned

Annie Elliott | September 3, 2009

I was walking up 18th Street in Philadelphia yesterday, and a store window caught my eye. The store is called Premium Steap, and it sells all things tea-related.


Now, it’s a little-known fact that I don’t care for hot drinks. I apologize.

For the record, I don’t think this is personality quirk is charming or the least bit interesting. I’d love to be able to say on a chilly fall day, “Oh, a cup of steaming hot tea would be PERFECT – thank you!” Or, “Let me just take off my snowy hat and sweater and lay them by the fire, and I’ll join you in that cup of hot chocolate!” Or even, “Ugh, I can’t THINK until I’ve had 2 cups of coffee.” All, sadly, would ring false coming from me.

(And for those of you well meaning souls who say, hopefully, “Iced tea?” I’m forced to confess that unfortunately, it reminds me of hot tea. I tell you, it’s a problem.)

All this by way of saying that it takes a LOT for me to go into a store called Steap. But it was worth it.

That’s right, Gentle Readers: Pantone Mugs. How excellent is that? As if in a trance I wandered into the store looking for more…

Just fabulous. They’re $14, and the shop owner was very apologetic that the RED ones – “Ketchup” – hadn’t arrived yet. As though there weren’t enough other colors to satisfy.

So hear this, family and friends: it is entirely possible to drink a nice cold Diet Coke out of a mug.

Or so I imagine.

Stomachache inducing photo of the steaming cup of coffee is by peepo via iStockPhoto.com.

Category: Color + paint color

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Happy Wallpaper Wednesday! Let’s talk about Cole & Son’s Acquario, shall we?Iconic Italian artist Piero Fornasetti designed Acquario for Cole & Son in the early 2010s. He was going through an ocean phase, captivated by its mysterious depths 🐠, so he developed this fish design and put it first on plates and fabrics, and then, luckily for us, on wallpaper. We just installed Acquario in the Print Room Blue colorway in a client’s tiny practice room (he plays classical guitar), and we LOVE it! That big old blowfish, just gliding along…he kills me.Featuring: @cole_and_son_wallpapers @fornasetti

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Given that my brain is still on an academic calendar 🤷‍♀️ , I thought I'd do a little review and see which blog posts resonated with you the most in 2025-26. Who knew that a post from 2011 (!!!) is still in the top 5! Click over to the post to to see the year’s greatest hits. #interiordesign #designinspo

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Jul 24

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Get ready for a dramatic before and after! We transformed a playroom into a dining room, and the result is pretty amazing. (But still fun!) #wallpaper #interiordesign #diningroominspo

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Jul 22

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For today’s Wallpaper Wednesday, we discuss the chinoiserie wallpaper in the Great Hall at  @citytavern_dc  in Washington, DC. Ooooohh - field trip!I was delighted to visit City Tavern recently. It’s a historic 1796 Federal building in the heart of Georgetown, and all the cool kids hung out there. You know, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson…those guys. At one point, the building boasted the largest room in Washington.I, of course, was captivated by the Great Hall, which is covered in @graciestudio hand-painted wallpaper — which was selected by none other than Jackie Kennedy! EVEN THOUGH at that time the building was a club that didn’t admit women. Harumph.The chinoiserie walls are gorgeous from far away, but they’re amazing up close, also: you can see faint brushstrokes left by the painters. Doesn’t that give you a shiver? I love it.

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Jul 21

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For a recent article in @vogueliving, I was asked how to mix wallpapers — either in the same room or adjacent rooms. I have a few pieces of advice to offer 😊See my latest blog post for more…#interiordesign #designblog #wallpaperinspo

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I was honored to co-chair — with the inimitable @ianthainteriors — the design competition, America at 250: The New Look of American Design, a project conceived by the nonprofit MADE: In America.Design students from Howard University partnered with Washington Design Center showrooms to create storyboards and vignettes reflecting their vision of “American style.” The Design Center is showcasing the students’ work through July 10; admission is free and open to the public. Details may be found at the link in the @washingtondesigncenter’s bio.I encourage you to visit! It’s so important to support the next generation of designers, and I was delighted to participate in this event. Iantha and I are grateful to James De Lorbe, Chairman of MADE: In America; and we extend our warmest thanks to jurors @melissacolganinteriors, @mariella.cruzado,  @gaildavisdesigns, @val_hawkins_architect, @hadleykeller, @byronrisdon, and @jazmynedesignstudio.
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