Washington Houzz: Bold Colours and Art Energise a New Family Pad
Find out how a colour-loving family in Washington, USA, got the home of their dreams thanks to a designer found on Houzz
Bryan Anthony
31 July 2022
While their new house in Washington, DC, offered a great neighbourhood and plenty of room for this USA-based couple and their three young kids, it didn’t offer the colour, energy and sense of whimsy that matched their personalities. After searching multiple profiles on Houzz, the homeowners landed on interior designer Stephanie Bradshaw’s page and knew they had found their match.
“Most of my projects include lots of art, colour and pattern, and this is exactly what they wanted,” says Bradshaw. “Their house offered a blank canvas, and it was my job to help them fill it with the things they love.”
“Most of my projects include lots of art, colour and pattern, and this is exactly what they wanted,” says Bradshaw. “Their house offered a blank canvas, and it was my job to help them fill it with the things they love.”
Photos by Stacy Zarin Goldberg.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A young family of five
Location: Washington, USA
Size: Five bedrooms, five bathrooms
Designer: Stephanie Bradshaw
The entrance with its double-height ceiling and glass-and-steel balustrade is an open and airy space that features two pieces of commissioned art.
“With its white walls and high ceiling, the entry has the feeling of a gallery space,” says Bradshaw. “It’s a great area to showcase art and set the stage for the rest of the house.”
Artist Madeleine Walton of Purely Porcelain created a custom ‘knot wall’ out of 25 handmade black porcelain pieces laid in a grid pattern above the console table.
The colourful abstract painting near the staircase is by Emma Childs. The blue, pink and purple hues in the piece are used throughout the rest of the interiors.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A young family of five
Location: Washington, USA
Size: Five bedrooms, five bathrooms
Designer: Stephanie Bradshaw
The entrance with its double-height ceiling and glass-and-steel balustrade is an open and airy space that features two pieces of commissioned art.
“With its white walls and high ceiling, the entry has the feeling of a gallery space,” says Bradshaw. “It’s a great area to showcase art and set the stage for the rest of the house.”
Artist Madeleine Walton of Purely Porcelain created a custom ‘knot wall’ out of 25 handmade black porcelain pieces laid in a grid pattern above the console table.
The colourful abstract painting near the staircase is by Emma Childs. The blue, pink and purple hues in the piece are used throughout the rest of the interiors.
The so-called great room includes a living area and a dining space. Bradshaw wanted the two areas to feel cohesive but still have their own distinct personalities. “We used similar colours to connect the spaces and different textures, patterns and materials to let them stand on their own,” she says.
The blue velvet sofa and a pair of swivel chairs in a lavender chenille fabric connect to the colours of the abstract painting in the entrance. The angular timber coffee table is a new piece with mid-century inspired lines.
The blue velvet sofa and a pair of swivel chairs in a lavender chenille fabric connect to the colours of the abstract painting in the entrance. The angular timber coffee table is a new piece with mid-century inspired lines.
Bradshaw went with swivel chairs because they allow the user to face guests on the sofa or to turn and watch the TV mounted above the gas fireplace. The fireplace surround is clad in concrete tiles.
The existing built-in bookshelves flanking the fireplace have a new coat of deep blue paint (Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball). New brass cabinet pulls add some shine, and the back of the bookcases are lined in blue grasscloth for texture.
Ready to inject some colour and pattern into your home? Find a reviewed interior designer near you on Houzz
The existing built-in bookshelves flanking the fireplace have a new coat of deep blue paint (Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball). New brass cabinet pulls add some shine, and the back of the bookcases are lined in blue grasscloth for texture.
Ready to inject some colour and pattern into your home? Find a reviewed interior designer near you on Houzz
Graffito wallpaper: Kelly Wearstler by Kravet.
The dining area is relatively small, so Bradshaw sourced a round metal table to make the best use of the space. Six ivory leather dining chairs surround the table. The back wall of the dining area includes another gas fireplace with a piece of reclaimed wood above it that serves as a mantelpiece and a ledge for accessories.
The highlight of the room is the teal-and-white patterned wallpaper that adds interest and movement to the space. “The wallpaper draws the eye into the room and gives it energy and texture,” says Bradshaw.
The dining area is relatively small, so Bradshaw sourced a round metal table to make the best use of the space. Six ivory leather dining chairs surround the table. The back wall of the dining area includes another gas fireplace with a piece of reclaimed wood above it that serves as a mantelpiece and a ledge for accessories.
The highlight of the room is the teal-and-white patterned wallpaper that adds interest and movement to the space. “The wallpaper draws the eye into the room and gives it energy and texture,” says Bradshaw.
The existing kitchen includes off-white cabinets, marble-look engineered-stone benchtops and a trio of brass lights above the island. Bradshaw added four black leather bar stools for contrast. She also covered the windows with custom white Roman blinds featuring a subtle black print.
Bradshaw designed a built-in dining banquette below the window in the breakfast area. The seat cushion is upholstered in a purple indoor-outdoor fabric that’s ideal for a family with three young kids. A trio of black wishbone-style dining chairs (bought on Houzz USA), a wood dining table with a brass base and a blue-and-white patterned area rug complete the look.
“It’s an area of the house that the family now uses all the time,” says Bradshaw. “The kids can do their homework there and play games while their parents are busy in the kitchen.
“It’s an area of the house that the family now uses all the time,” says Bradshaw. “The kids can do their homework there and play games while their parents are busy in the kitchen.
“Both of the homeowners occasionally work from home, so it was important to have a nice, comfortable space for them to work from that offers some privacy,” says Bradshaw.
The home office includes an existing built-in bookcase painted a deep shade of blue (Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore). Bradshaw added an area rug in a complementary shade.
Browse more inspiring home offices
The home office includes an existing built-in bookcase painted a deep shade of blue (Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore). Bradshaw added an area rug in a complementary shade.
Browse more inspiring home offices
The homeowners have a growing collection of wine, so they turned one area of the house into a tasting room. The walls and the ceiling are painted a bold yet inviting shade of purple (Pelt by Farrow & Ball). A trio of wood wine racks (each holding up to 24 bottles) hangs on the wall.
The primary suite is a cosy space where the homeowners can unwind after a busy day. “They wanted their bedroom to feel like a hotel suite that they could retreat to each night,” says Bradshaw.
The custom blue velvet bed fits neatly along the bed wall, tucked between windows that overlook the backyard. A teal animal-print bench upholstered in Gazelle Peacock fabric from Thibaut sits at the foot of the bed. And a pair of armchairs in a soft bouclé fabric provide an ideal spot for reading.
The custom blue velvet bed fits neatly along the bed wall, tucked between windows that overlook the backyard. A teal animal-print bench upholstered in Gazelle Peacock fabric from Thibaut sits at the foot of the bed. And a pair of armchairs in a soft bouclé fabric provide an ideal spot for reading.
The homeowners didn’t want to head all the way to the kitchen for a drink in the middle of the night, so Bradshaw added a bar fridge between new built-in cabinets. She lined the alcove wall in a purple grasscloth wallpaper and added a pair of floating timber shelves to store coffee mugs and other items.
The couple’s twin daughters share a bedroom that features a bunk bed with an attached slide. “The daughters told us that they wanted a bedroom with rainbows and unicorns and that’s exactly what we gave them,” says Bradshaw.
The designer selected the paint colours for the rainbow and then had Artstar Custom Paintworks in Baltimore, USA, come in to paint it. The custom unicorn-inspired artwork above the bunk beds includes the names of the girls.
The designer selected the paint colours for the rainbow and then had Artstar Custom Paintworks in Baltimore, USA, come in to paint it. The custom unicorn-inspired artwork above the bunk beds includes the names of the girls.
The family’s young son still sleeps in a cot (not pictured), but the rest of his bedroom is ready to go for when he advances to his ‘big boy’ bed. The room has lots of blues and greys, including the dark blue upholstered bed, charcoal-grey Roman blinds and a graphic area rug featuring a fun pattern in royal blue and teal.
As the couple’s son has a fondness for dinosaurs, the room includes a framed brontosaurus and a stuffed tyrannosaurus toy.
As the couple’s son has a fondness for dinosaurs, the room includes a framed brontosaurus and a stuffed tyrannosaurus toy.
Existing built-in joinery in the mudroom provides plenty of storage for shoes, coats and other winter gear.
Bradshaw added a blue-and-white leaf-patterned wallpaper to bring some movement to the space. A round white mirror lets family members check their appearance before heading out the door.
Your turn
Which room in this house do you love most? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Missed our previous Houzz Tour? Go on a virtual trip to France with this stunning Paris Houzz: Greece Meets Sweden in a French Apartment With Flair
Bradshaw added a blue-and-white leaf-patterned wallpaper to bring some movement to the space. A round white mirror lets family members check their appearance before heading out the door.
Your turn
Which room in this house do you love most? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Missed our previous Houzz Tour? Go on a virtual trip to France with this stunning Paris Houzz: Greece Meets Sweden in a French Apartment With Flair
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This is a house where the decor does the talking. You almost don't notice the actual house or size etc. Lots of pops of color but doesn't look too busy. A fantastic job I reckon.
What a delightful home and such a change from all the black, white and grey houses we seem to be presented with lately.
Only changes I would make are:
remove mirror in dining room and different rug under table
add larger/lower mirror in mudroom so children can also "check themselves!"