It's not always easy to order a mansion when you want one. But a new, shall we say, vacation mansions concept aims to offer a dab of Downton Abbey with a lot of space and spice to luxury travelers in the desired locations of Washington D.C., New York and Los Angeles.
These may be celebrities, heads of state, diplomats, wealthy families or even wedding parties with friends and relatives who want to share the moment in style. It can be C-suite associates in for a weekend or a week of training and bonding. It can even be a reunion that will be remembered for generations to come.
These are the thoughts behind LXIV, a Washington D.C.-based start-up whose flagship and launch product is a posh "away estate" in Georgetown (and soon to come to Los Angeles, New York City and beyond) that will give travelers a peek at a lifestyle known mostly to captains of industry and heads of state.
The company purchased the circa-1840 estate in 2022 and spent the next two years making it into a stunner. The manse once stood as two separate homes that merged in 1929 when acquired by Ruth Hanna McCormick Simms, the daughter of Mark Hanna, a prominent figure in the Ohio Republican Party. In 1928, she became one of the first women to be elected to Congress and made history again by securing a party nomination for the Senate, although she ultimately did not win the seat. Later, she ran Thomas Dewey's presidential campaign and married Medill McCormack, heir to the publishing company and McCormack's industrial fortunes. Finally, she married Republican congressman Albert Gallatin Simms of New Mexico.
Over the decades, the estate became an "in" spot for numerous social events attended by Washington's elite. Its gardens were designed by Rose Greely, the first licensed female architect in D.C., further enhancing its cultural significance. Over the years, the house has served as an entertainment go-to as well as a backdrop for clandestine negotiations and treaties, and a home to a litany of literati and glitterati, including John Balfour, Scottie Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Boyden Gray, among others.
Just up from M Street along the notorious cobbled streets and bricked sidewalks of Old Georgetown, the manse welcomes up to 12 guests per night with six bedrooms -- three king suites and three queen deluxe suites -- along with 14 bathrooms and an assortment of gathering spaces that include an outdoor pool, solarium, fully-equipped fitness and sauna area, and several flowering gardens. A nightly rate starting at $15,000 (with booking commissions of 10 percent) brings plenty of inclusions, although ringing the basement bells for awaiting handmaids and valets may not be one of them.
"We saw a gap in the market for a truly private and personalized experience," explains Ezra Glass, co-founder of LXIV Group, who previously owned a high net-worth concierge company that catered to dignitaries visiting the D.C. area. "During our travels in Europe, we would stay in these nice villas and estates in the south of France and realized these should exist in the US. We wanted to combine that feeling of being in a grand estate with all the privacy, security, space, and everything else you get in those home-style comforts with the services of really nice five-star hotels. It's very infrequent that you get both."
Moving through the manse, guests enter a grand foyer with its walnut-carved entryway and are immediately struck by the sense of light and scope. The first floor brings a series of interconnected rooms, each with its own distinct character. The living room, sporting the original parquet flooring and anchored by a custom-made fireplace, is inviting for relaxation and conversation. Upstairs, the bedrooms each have their own designs and themes and unusual layouts. The master suite, with its king-size bed, spa-like bathroom, and private balcony overlooking the gardens, is a haven of tranquility.
The property's restoration was entrusted to co-owner Jessica Glass, a renowned interior architect, and interior designer Eric Chang, who sought to preserve the home's historical charm while adapting it for contemporary living. To that end, the outside remains protected as an emblem of this historic part of the city, but the interiors seem more out of New York's MOMA or a page from Architectural Digest. The walls are adorned with ten tons of hand-applied Matteo Brioni plaster, creating a rich velvety texture that enhances the home's historic features. Darker tones are used in intimate spaces, while brighter colors energize communal areas. Each margin is designed to harmonize with the gardens, incorporating natural motifs, and materials inspired by the outdoor environment.
"I'm a strong believer that luxury should be comfortable. So everything's custom made for these spaces," Glass adds.
On arrival, a dedicated lifestyle manager greets guests, not with a generic welcome, but with a personalized itinerary crafted in advance, taking into account their preferences, and objectives for their stay. Champagne may be poured or wine from coveted bottles in the mansion's private curated collection. Discussions of plans and wants will be raised in the living room, a comfortable arrangement of couches and oversized chairs in front of a custom-created fireplace and illuminated by a magnificent Andrea Braescu chandelier comprised of 600 porcelain leaves.
Perhaps it's arranging a private after-hours tour of the National Archives, led by a renowned historian, or securing a wish-list reservation at a Michelin-starred restaurant with a specific table and a customized tasting menu (or calling in a star chef for a grand meal event prepared in the gleaming LVIX kitchen). Maybe it's organizing a private yoga session with a noted instructor in the estate's tranquil gardens, followed by a rejuvenating massage in the spa house. Or it could be curating a personalized shopping experience at the city's most exclusive boutiques, with a stylist on hand to offer expert advice. Whatever the desire, the dedicated lifestyle management team works to make it happen.
For those more straightforward requirements, Josh, a virtual iPad assistant akin to Alexa, caters to guests' needs, from adjusting the lighting and ordering transportation to fulfilling any other desire. Staff will be instantly notified of guest requests via their personal devices. In the event of a security breach, high-profile guests can be swiftly escorted to safety through a hidden passageway equipped with a spiral staircase. A dedicated app provides detailed information about the art and design elements within the mansion, allowing guests to learn about the creators. Suppose guests find themselves loving the luxurious amenities, such as the Christofle flatware, Duxiana bedding or curated art collections. In that case, they can effortlessly purchase these items through a tap on their phones.
The estate requires a three-day minimum for bookings and welcomes pets (custom furnishings have been fitted with soft but amazingly durable materials). It should be noted that some restrictions may apply during high-activity times, such as the upcoming presidential inauguration or annual Kennedy Center awards.
"Our goal was to kind of create a new genre, a new kind of stay or different kind of hospitality and I think we accomplished that," says Glass.
For inquiries, property details, or to make a booking, visit lxivgroup.com.