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In March, The Washington Design Center launched its first annual three-day luxury home furnishings market extravaganza. This once-a-year event showcased the newest in home interiors. Featuring notable speakers, showroom events product debuts and a cocktail reception in the newly renovated lobby, The Washington Design Center’s market was the inspirational event of 2007.

Frank Randolph of
Frank Babb Randolph Interiors

Ed Collins of the WDC with Ani Schroeder & Francesca Oriolo of Fendi Casa

Frank Randolph, Ann Lambeth of J. Lambeth & Todd Martz of AmericanEye

Deborah Hassan of Holly Hunt & David Iatesta of Iatesta & Company, Inc.

Jay Bremen of J. Asher, Jonathan Krasnov of DSA, Dakota Jackson of Dakota Jackson & John Smith of Jayson Fifteen

Julia Chappell of the WDC & Ricardo Ramos of Studio Nuovo

Mike Schmidt & Barry Dixon of Barry Dixon Inc., Becky LaRoche & Ann Lambeth of J. Lambeth & John Brennen of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.

Sandy & Jerry Pugrant of Pugrant Associates with Jake Major of the WDC & Todd Martz of AmericanEye

Barry Dixon of Barry Dixon Inc., Frank Randolph of Frank Babb Randolph Interiors & David Iatesta of Iatesta & Company, Inc.

Mauricio Guerra of Ebanista, guest, Charles Oliver of Century & Todd English of Michael-Cleary

David Iatesta of Iatesta & Company, Inc., Frank Randolph of Frank Babb Randolph Interiors & Julia Chappell of the WDC

Anne Alcott of Baker & Richard Ploff of Richard Ploff & Associates

Ed Collins of the WDC, Rosi Kalivokas of Clive Christian, Dale Dento of Julia Gray, Guest, Jake Major of the WDC, Mariel Sosa & Angie Seckinger of Clive Christian

Chris Greer of Scalamandré, Jim Delorbe & Jay Bowyer of Schumacher

Julia Chappell of the WDC & Stan Kelly of Stan Kelly Interiors

Sheree Friedman & Ricardo Ramos of Studio Nuovo with Ani Schroeder & Francesca Oriolo of Fendi Casa

Anne Alcott & Tony Callahan of Baker

The weather is warming up outside and it was a hot night at The Washington Design Center as we celebrated the debut of the Spring 2007 Design House, appropriately titled, “A Summer House.” In partnership with Home & Design Magazine, the opening party was a true celebration with calypso music, treats from the sea and splashes of blue to finish the theme.
Thank you to all The Washington Design Center showrooms that contributed to the Spring 2007 Design House. The furnishings and décor truly transformed the Design House into “A Summer House.”
The conference room outside the design house is available for meetings, special events or parties. Please contact Nicole Frye at 202.646.6114 or nfrye@mmart.com for more information.

Graduating from Harvard University in 1961 and University of Minnesota Law School in 1964, Lew Michael entered the US Navy in 1964 as a Navy judge advocate (JAG). In 1966, Lew became a career naval officer, and for 26 years moved to assignments throughout the world, including Naples, Italy, the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, San Francisco, CA, and several tours in Washington, DC, area—including the Pentagon. Lew’s first tour in DC was as a “grad” law student at George Washington University, where he earned a Master of Laws degree in International and Comparative Law.

Upon retirement from the Navy, Lew opened the Michael-Cleary showroom in November 1990 with business partner and friend, Paul E. Cleary. Paul started with the Kittinger Corporation as showroom manager in Chicago, then as head of the Kittinger Accessory Source, a branch of the Kittinger network of showrooms. In early 1990, it appeared that the Kittinger showroom at the WDC (which Paul had designed and decorated for the company) might close. Robert Minton asked Paul to open a showroom at the WDC to represent Minton-Spidell, and ultimately, almost all of the ancillary lines of the Accessory Source asked Paul to represent them. Lew was to be Paul’s business manager.

“It was a whole new world to me, but I enjoyed it all, meeting designers and working with beautiful furniture and accessories!” exclaims Lew. “I am really one of those people who have had the enjoyment of a new, completely different, change of career!”
Lew and Paul opened their first showroom on the 7th floor at the WDC. In 1995, they moved to the 4th floor, continuing to add new lines such as Burton-Ching and Kisabeth Furniture, and Groves Bros—the first fabric line. Unfortunately, Paul Cleary died at the end of 2001, and Lew became sole owner of Michael- Cleary. In mid-2003, Matt Costigan joined as a partner in the business, along with his partner, Richard Trenz, as the “silent partner” and legal Resident Agent.

Expanding to Suite 401 in 2003, Michael-Cleary continued to add new lines and fabric collections. In 2005, Michael-Cleary not only expanded into the former Nancy Corzine space, next door, but also opened a showroom in the Chicago Merchandise Mart.
“We have been on a real whirlwind of expansion!” exclaims Lew.“Matt Costigan and Richard Trenz will ultimately acquire the businesses, and maybe, just maybe, I will retire. I am truly thrilled that Michael-Cleary will continue to have a future beyond me through our plan of succession. It is a real pleasure to be in the WDC these past 17 years and to be a part of the design community. It has been a great ride.” Suite 410, 202.488.9787.

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