Hastening Designs: A Timeless Blend of Art, Elegance, & Heritage
Written by Shayda Windle | Photos by Shannon Ayres
Tucked into the heart of Hunt Country, Hastening Designs is more than a showroom — it’s a sanctuary for beauty, history, and artistic craftsmanship. Founded by artist and designer Louis Shields, this elegant gallery and design studio has become a beloved destination for collectors, interior design enthusiasts, and lovers of European antiques.
A direct importer of 18th- and 19th-century French provincial, Italian, and English furnishings, original artwork, and rare decorative pieces, Hastening Designs reflects Shields’ lifelong devotion to craftsmanship and aesthetics. But its appeal goes far beyond the provenance of its treasures. Every corner of the space tells a story, whether it’s an 18th-century games table from the south of France, a six-foot-long coffee table Shields restored with a rich green patina, or a bold abstract painting juxtaposed against antique bookcases.
Shields’ journey to Middleburg is as storied as the pieces he curates. Born in Alabama, he studied painting at the University of Alabama, printmaking at the Washington Studio School, and figure drawing at the Corcoran. He began his career in fashion design in San Francisco and went on to open a boutique on New York’s Fifth Avenue. In 1971, he followed his artistic instincts to England, envisioning a quiet life as a painter in a countryside cottage.
“Instead, I got married, had my first daughter, and discovered that working with antiques was a natural path for me,” Shields recalls. Over the next decade, he restored historic homes — including a 15th-century residence he and his family owned — cultivating a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship of the past.
When he returned to the U.S. in 1981, he sought a place that echoed the beauty and tradition he had grown to love in England. He found it in Middleburg. “It felt like coming home,” he says. He opened the first Hastening Designs in 1982, importing European pieces by sea and restoring each one with meticulous care. The community quickly embraced his work, and the business flourished.
As clients’ needs evolved, so did Shields’ offerings. He began designing custom furniture to complement his antiques, added upholstery services, and eventually expanded into full-service interior design. A friend’s suggestion led to his first design commission — soon followed by others.
He approaches interior design with the eye of a painter. “Designing a space is like creating a painting,” he says. “But it’s one you can walk into and sit down in.”
His projects are as ambitious as they are inspired. One recent example: a six-story classical residence on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C., completed over three years and thoughtfully curated with European antiques and modern art. Another past project is a striking replica of a 16th-century villa from Spello, Italy, built in Middleburg. That home features stone fireplaces from the 16th through 18th centuries, antique painted doors from Paris and Italy, and stone floors, all on 61 acres of rolling Virginia countryside. Three years after selling the Middleburg villa, the owners brought him on again — this time to design the interiors of an authentic 16th-century villa they purchased in Florence.
Today, Hastening Designs offers a comprehensive design experience, from selecting period-appropriate furniture and custom upholstery to choosing color palettes, fabrics, lighting, and fine art. Shields also accepts commissions for original paintings and restores antique artwork himself with a masterful touch.
Even the finishing details carry his signature flair. In true 18th-century style, Hastening Designs offers its own custom-formulated beeswax furniture polish, based on a traditional English recipe, to nourish and preserve the wood’s natural patina.
At its core, Hastening Designs remains a reflection of Louis Shields himself: imaginative, refined, and steeped in history. Whether you’re seeking a centuries-old armoire, a bespoke daybed, or simply design inspiration, a visit to this Middleburg gem is nothing short of a journey through time. ML
Hastening Designs
103 W. Federal Street
Middleburg, VA 20117
hasteningdesigns.com
Published in the June 2025 issue of Middleburg Life.