Washington, DC is full of historic rowhouses with glass transoms above the front door. That’s exactly the kind of surface a gold leaf house number needs. So when we work in the city, we’re often hand-gilding an address onto a homeowner’s transom. In addition, from our shop in Edgewater, Maryland, we letter restaurant windows, paint walls, and install dimensional letters and plaques across the District.
Gold Leaf Transom Numbers in Washington DC
First, we lay genuine 23 karat gold leaf on the inside of the glass. As a result, the numbers read correctly from the street and stay safe from the weather. Then a painted outline backs them up and makes them stand out. DC homeowners ask us for this more than anything else, and it also suits the city’s historic districts. For example, here are some of the transoms we’ve gilded, listed by house number:
- 1743, 712, and 1110, all classic gold leaf transom numbers
- 1645 in Southeast DC, plus 1204 and 1729
- 2233 in art deco style, and also 4113 in an Americana style
- 504 on antique glass, as well as 308
- Florida Avenue transom numbers and, finally, historic lettering at the John Logan House
Restaurant and Storefront Windows
Gold leaf on glass gives a restaurant or shop a classic look that lasts. For instance, we gilded the windows and transom at All Souls Bar. We also lettered the windows at Barcelona Wine Bar on 14th Street NW. In addition, we made a window logo for Songbyrd Cafe, gold leaf logos for Shinola, and transom lettering for Dupont Studios. However, busy entrance doors need something tougher, so at Colony Club we used durable gold leaf film.
Painted Walls, Letters, and Plaques
We also hand-paint lettering on brick, as we did for Fishscale on Florida Avenue NW, Colony Club, and Halfsmoke. Likewise, we install dimensional letters, like the stainless steel letters at Washington Gas in Southeast DC. Similarly, we installed mirror stainless letters for Price Benowitz. For Washington Hebrew Congregation, we made brushed bronze letters and a cast bronze plaque. Finally, for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, we made cast aluminum plaques.
Monuments and Landmarks in Washington DC
Some of our proudest work stands in the city’s public spaces. For example, we carved stone lettering at the World War II Memorial. We also cut large letters into the wall at Ballou High School. In addition, we made a gold leaf sign for the Josephine Butler Parks Center. Besides that, we restored the historical mail coach on display at USPS headquarters.
Beyond the District, we work throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Baltimore. To see more, browse our transom house numbers gallery and our glass gilding category.
Contact Designs & Signs
Want gold leaf numbers for your home in the District? Send us a message through our contact form, or call (410) 798-5115.