Jennifer Sergent

Freelance design writer + blogger | Marketing copywriter

Light Up the Season!

It’s that time of year again — the twinkling trees, mantels and displays at Georgetown’s Four Seasons Hotel, all created by the region’s top designers and tastemakers in response to the wishes of their young patient ambassadors from the Children’s National Health System.

This Sunday, Dec. 15, is Light Up the Season, the annual family-friendly fundraiser to raise money for Children’s National. All the displays are available for purchase, and you can take a look at them in person all week in the hotel’s lobby.

Here’s a taste:

Christopher Boutlier was inspired by his Children’s National patient designer to create a tree that reflects the patient’s desire for a magical garden with vibrant colors. All photography by Richie Downs/Asico Photo

 

After meeting with Children’s National patients, a brother and sister, and hearing about their love of all Christmas traditions, Erica Burns designed a holiday tree that features bright colors, sparkling materials, and soft and textured finishes to engage the senses.

 

Allie Mann and Alexandria Hubbard of Case Design created a Christmas-tree fort or “treepee” meant to be enjoyed both inside and out by their Children’s National designer patient, who draws strength from girl power and Children’s Beads of Courage, which represent acts of courage during patient treatment, and are displayed within the design.

 

With a love of all things glittery, girly and pink, the Children’s National designer patient inspired Zoe Feldman to create a mantel trimmed in pink tulle garland and topped with mini trees with hair clips, unicorns, candy, and bows that symbolize a love of dance.

 

Laura Fox shares the vision of her Children’s National patient designer by creating an enchanted garden mantel filled with whimsy, imagination and unexpected fairytale-like elements.

 

Mary D’Errico, Mary Hayes, Molly Heffner, Samantha Klein, Kade Sheridan, and Jessica Parker Wachtel of GTM Architects were inspired by their Children’s National patient designer’s love of Marvel Comic characters to create a tree that unleashes the superheroes in everyone with Spider-Man red, Captain America blue, Hulk green, and Iron Man gold.

 

Inspired by her Children’s National patient designer’s love of animals, Pamela Harvey created a modern-farmhouse dollhouse complete with custom lighting and designer finishes and furniture; a complementary black, white and green tree with handmade clay ornaments stamped with animals; and a barn with corral.

 

After discovering that her Children’s National patient was a musician, Sharon Kleinman of Transitions decided to make a musical tree with music-themed ornaments and a special recording of “O Tannenbaum” by the patient.

 

Ella Scott Design’s Sandra Meyer interpreted her Children’s National patient designer’s love of fairies and folklore with a tree filled with flowers, fantasy and mythical fairies in a nature-themed setting.

 

With a few cats at the home of their Children’s National patient designer, Nancy Harper and Cameron Land of Studio Miel celebrate all things cats by decorating a tree filled to the brim with cat ornaments – some handmade, stuffed animals, catnip, a nod to celebrated felines, and cat books for a “purrfect” Christmas.

 

Claire and Eleanor Niermann of Niermann Weeks teamed up with metalworker Rob Link, who was once a Children’s National patient, to create a chandelier-shaped menorah draped with crystals, complemented by a custom fire screen and decorative white trees.

 

Inspired by her Children’s National patient designer’s favorite Christmas book, “If You Take a Mouse to the Movies,” Quintece Hill-Mattauszek of Studio Q Designs designed and built a tree filled with adorable curiosity, including playful mice holding lights under a whimsical, recirculating “snowfall” that reflects against the clear branches.

 

With the pure magic of Santa and his reindeer in mind, Katie Russell of Kathryn Russell Tablescapes was inspired by her Children’s National patient designer to design a magical St. Nick tablescape with red, green and gold accents, reindeer patterned plates, snowflakes, and greenery.

 

Here’s all the information you need to visit the displays and attend the fundraiser:

Where:
Four Seasons Georgetown

What:
Light Up The Season Fundraiser (click here for tickets and information)

When: 
View displays anytime through Dec. 15
Fundraiser: Sunday, Dec. 15, 1-4 pm

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