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INTERIOR DESIGN
Sitting in the living room of his gracious 1891 home, interior designer Josh Hildreth glances out to a crape myrtle in a corner of the garden. In that spot—high above a busy street in Wesley Heights—a well once stood. “The lure that came with the house,” Hildreth relates, “is that Teddy Roosevelt was a friend of the owners. He used to go riding in Rock Creek Park and would come by to water his horse at that well.” Layers of history burnish every corner of this elegantly mellow home. Adapting it for contemporary living, Hildreth has introduced grace notes in harmony with its heritage. The blend of old and new reflects the interests of the designer—a lifelong devotee of the history of architecture and the decorative arts—and those of his husband, Rick Robinson, chief operating officer of an association, who favors mid-century and modern design.