Strategy To transform a small 1960s apartment building into a hip, high-energy boutique hotel with cozy yet cosmopolitan public spaces that attract a mix of guests and Washington D.C. locals.     Story We infused the Topaz with a positive East/West energy as magnetic as its outstanding location in Washington D.C. Inspired by James McNeill Whistler’s 1876 Peacock Room at the nearby Freer Gallery of Art, we used vibrant patterns, jewel colors, exotic textures and dramatic lighting to create the mystical seduction of an exclusive club with supremely good karma—and loads of charisma. It’s enough to make you wonder if you’ve stepped into a surreal oasis. Or a tale from The Arabian Nights that you never want to end.