Vittoria Schutz is an interior designer, hotelier, and founder of The DWIGHT D.

Tell us what design means to you.
As a professional interior designer, design for me is a constant balancing act between the age-old battle of Form v Function. It has been as much about the finishes as it has about the symmetry, balance and peaceful existence a well-designed and thoughtful space will provide. Like icing on a cake the finishes are the fun, sugary, visually stimulating part. But good design is equal parts icing and well-made cake that is moist and flavorful, and the cake should be able stand alone without any icing at all!

Can you tell us a little about your background and what you are doing now?
My professional training in art and design is from Moore College of Art here in Philadelphia but I think back to childhood and have to laugh when I remember my OCD approach to organizing my toy closet and the two story forts I would build out of cushions and blankets at sleep-over parties.

For the past 8 years designing, building & decorating The DWIGHT D and the new adjoining expansion project, The Estate House at The DWIGHT D and then developing & running the properties as a successful hospitality business has taken all of my time. Thanks to the current pandemic and a sharp halt in travel I am excited to find the time to take on design clients again and I’m currently doing several renovations around town.

Next up is the launch of my online LifeStyle store DD. It’s a curated collection of home furnishing inspired by a weekend at the hotel!

Congratulations, tell us about DD.
Well, DD stands for DWIGHT D-the name of the boutique hotel but to our guests, who leave great reviews over and over it is synonymous with quality, comfort, and an eclectic mix of old world class and dignified interiors with a hearty dose of whimsy and modern comfort/convenience. The idea for the store really started with our pillows. At least once a week guests would depart only to call a day or two later and ask if we sell the pillows-saying they haven’t slept as well in years. The pillows in my opinion are the true benchmark of a great night’s stay and a top-quality hotel experience.

Having spent plenty of time in Philadelphia-what’s your ideal weekend here?
I love architectural salvage, antique, and consignment shopping. Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs have lots and lots of options-I have favorite spots as far out as Vineland, NJ and Devon, PA too. I also love our food scene, Vernick, Fri Sat and Sun, the Gran Caffe to start…too many great restaurants just a few blocks walk from my office-dangerous!

Tell us about your experience staying at The DWIGHT D from the perspective of a resident of the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood?
I tell anyone who asks that Rittenhouse Square, and our block on 16th Street specifically, is one of the most special places to live. It is like living on Sesame Street. Every day you’ll cross paths with a variety of people from the neighbors who smile and stop to chat as they walk by with the sweetest little dogs-I know them all by name (the dogs!), the same delivery guys, and mail delivery person each day, every day, for 8 years-we always share a wave or a nod. And of course, Tom Peters from Monks who always has a good story to share-you know he was Knighted in Belgium? Ask him when you see him, he’s the coolest guy. And the entire staff at LaViola-so nice & accommodating and always looking out for us and our guests. Connie, the dry cleaner across the street…so many people that make this block vibrant and they all have a true commitment to the neighborhood. The people that you meet when you’re walking down the street…it’s the people that you meet each day. Come visit, you’ll see what I mean!