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Houzz Tour: Color and Pattern Play in a Georgetown Townhouse
Very manly raspberry accents, offbeat wallpaper and doses of wit show a lighthearted spirit in this home for an evolving family
A home's story evolves as those living in it change and grow — just ask interior designer Liz Levin, who quickly found out that the addition of kids dramatically changed the character and functionality of her house in Washington, D.C. "A married couple's house looks and feels very different from one punctuated by the presence of young children," she says. "I know that this house isn't going to be our 'forever' house, but the space is really a testament to a young family's ability to experiment with patterns and playful accents and find things that make everyone smile."
Despite the limitations of a small budget and cozy spaces that always force the family to cluster, she says she'll always look back at her first house fondly. "The tight, within-an-earshot sleeping quarters make for some frustrating and humorous moments," she says, "but it's also given us some pretty great memories."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Liz and Jesse Levin and their 2 daughters
Location: Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Size: 1,800 square feet
Despite the limitations of a small budget and cozy spaces that always force the family to cluster, she says she'll always look back at her first house fondly. "The tight, within-an-earshot sleeping quarters make for some frustrating and humorous moments," she says, "but it's also given us some pretty great memories."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Liz and Jesse Levin and their 2 daughters
Location: Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Size: 1,800 square feet
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Liz presented her ideas on adding color in the living room to her husband, Jesse, in a man-friendly way.
"I didn't call the accents hot pink," she says, "because it sounds much better when I call it what it is: raspberry."
"I didn't call the accents hot pink," she says, "because it sounds much better when I call it what it is: raspberry."
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A friend of the couple gave them artwork, which she placed over the fireplace. "There is a small flash of that raspberry color in the center of the peony. I told Jesse that I wanted to pull that out as an accent color, because the room previously was a sea of beige. The wallpaper tied it all together, and I sold it to him on that concept," she says.
The designer appreciates both a curated look and a relatively spare mantel. "I tend to like art over the mantel, because a mirror is a bit of a void unless it reflects something interesting on the other side of the room. I like a symmetrical foundation: art, a pair of things like candlesticks, plants or ceramics."
Tip: For an interesting, collected mantel, Liz suggests adding small filler items that you can update with the season (like a small pink plant in spring, and little pumpkins or pinecones and small ornaments for the holidays).
The designer appreciates both a curated look and a relatively spare mantel. "I tend to like art over the mantel, because a mirror is a bit of a void unless it reflects something interesting on the other side of the room. I like a symmetrical foundation: art, a pair of things like candlesticks, plants or ceramics."
Tip: For an interesting, collected mantel, Liz suggests adding small filler items that you can update with the season (like a small pink plant in spring, and little pumpkins or pinecones and small ornaments for the holidays).
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Jesse loves the offbeat, bold wallpaper pattern behind the living room sofa. "It's not boring, which fits the taste of a man who wears bright orange urban sneakers," Liz says.
The living room doors open into a large shared garden with giant oak trees, a rarity in an urban neighborhood where most of the homes have small patios.
Newer than the neighboring cottages and Tudors, the Levins' turn-of-the-century home has been updated over the years with modern lighting, baths and fixtures. Unlike older, more compartmentalized townhomes in the Georgetown area, this house has a more open feel, according to Liz.
The living room doors open into a large shared garden with giant oak trees, a rarity in an urban neighborhood where most of the homes have small patios.
Newer than the neighboring cottages and Tudors, the Levins' turn-of-the-century home has been updated over the years with modern lighting, baths and fixtures. Unlike older, more compartmentalized townhomes in the Georgetown area, this house has a more open feel, according to Liz.
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The dining room is a mix of old and new: The table is a hand-me-down from Liz's grandmother, the chairs were a Design Within Reach vintage find from Craigslist, and the planters are from a beloved Georgetown decor spot, Moss & Co.
"Although this image is styled, our dining area definitely morphs into a family-friendly space. The vintage chairs clean up nicely with a Magic Eraser, and a high chair folds away for entertaining, but on any given day, it's usually at the head of the table by the window. A booster that I found in chocolate and white to match the drapery came even later," she says.
Tip: Don't be afraid of white, even if you have small kids. Choose the fabric wisely, making sure it's either stain resistant or washable.
"Although this image is styled, our dining area definitely morphs into a family-friendly space. The vintage chairs clean up nicely with a Magic Eraser, and a high chair folds away for entertaining, but on any given day, it's usually at the head of the table by the window. A booster that I found in chocolate and white to match the drapery came even later," she says.
Tip: Don't be afraid of white, even if you have small kids. Choose the fabric wisely, making sure it's either stain resistant or washable.
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| The kitchen is so tiny that Liz's mother-in-law likens cooking there to cooking on a boat. "Layers of pots, pans and prep bowls fill our tiny counter space when we cook together in the kitchen. It's tight, but we manage to make it work," she says. |
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A wall treatment and decor of mellow yellow and green cocoon her first daughter's bedroom. The designer loved filling the space with traditional nursery decor finds from Land of Nod and Pottery Barn Kids. But she also enjoyed the thrill of finding rare gems via online shopping.
"I just Googled 'vintage Dick and Jane poster' and voilà! Up came all of these results," she says.
Crib: Land of Nod; curtains: Kathryn Ireland; side table: House Eclectic; area rug: Chiasso; armoire, changing table, glider: Pottery Barn Kids; giraffe: Amazon; brown bunny canvas: Amenity Home
"I just Googled 'vintage Dick and Jane poster' and voilà! Up came all of these results," she says.
Crib: Land of Nod; curtains: Kathryn Ireland; side table: House Eclectic; area rug: Chiasso; armoire, changing table, glider: Pottery Barn Kids; giraffe: Amazon; brown bunny canvas: Amenity Home
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The print hanging above the bed displays Liz's tongue-in-cheek attitude and her penchant for design with a dash of humor.
Reading lights: Lamps Plus; print: Super Rural
Reading lights: Lamps Plus; print: Super Rural
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She filled the master bedroom with family heirloom pieces and hand-me-downs. This dresser belonged to Jesse's dad in the '70s. Liz mixed old and new by pairing the vintage dresser with a colorful foo dog and a sleek, minimalist music player.
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"You acquire things from your travels, your life's history, your kids ... and your home should reflect your experiences and evolution," says Liz. The tall dresser in the master bedroom is an heirloom piece from her mom's nursery.
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This multifunctional room initially housed the designer's home office. After getting a satellite office, she changed the room into an energizing space. "I love the wallpaper pattern, but I only wallpapered two of the four walls so it wouldn't be so overwhelming. Pattern phobia is real, and I understand that you can tire of something," says Liz, who has since changed the room into a temporary nursery for her second daughter.
Tip: The designer shares that she likes to use bold, graphic wallpaper in small doses: a powder room you don't spend a lot of time in and can close the door on; a living room wall that needs a dose of excitement; and spaces like this basement area, a "boring, sad little box," Liz says, that quickly got a surge of personality and punch with the new wallpaper.
Wallpaper: Hinson; parson's desk, futon: West Elm; red file cabinet, kid's desk, chair: Ikea; "Favor" poster: Poster Corner; pillows: Etsy; red lamp: vintage, from Liz's younger brother; desk photograph: 20x200; picture frames: Pottery Barn
Tip: The designer shares that she likes to use bold, graphic wallpaper in small doses: a powder room you don't spend a lot of time in and can close the door on; a living room wall that needs a dose of excitement; and spaces like this basement area, a "boring, sad little box," Liz says, that quickly got a surge of personality and punch with the new wallpaper.
Wallpaper: Hinson; parson's desk, futon: West Elm; red file cabinet, kid's desk, chair: Ikea; "Favor" poster: Poster Corner; pillows: Etsy; red lamp: vintage, from Liz's younger brother; desk photograph: 20x200; picture frames: Pottery Barn
Ideabook published on Sept. 25, 2012.
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There's no way my husband would ever go for it no matter what I called the color....because he doesn't like hot pink, not because he's afraid his balls would fall off.
While there are some men who do like and are comfortable with the colors pink, purple, etc, there are also men out there who simply do not.
However, I did think the 3rd comment on this article was hilarious...
Thanks for sharing your beautiful home with us!