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Soothing Blues and Whites in a Virginia New Build
Clean coastal-inspired style, statement wallpaper and custom woodwork mark the home of a decorator and a contractor
Molly Kay Johns and Thomas Johns designed and built their family’s home in Purcellville, Virginia, in 2017, after purchasing 5 acres of open land. “We lived in our previous home for 16 years and remodeled it from top to bottom, but always dreamed of building our own home from scratch. We are so grateful we were finally able to,” Molly Kay says. The couple’s previous 1960s ranch home is just 10 minutes away.
Photos by Heather Bien
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Molly Kay Johns and Thomas Johns, an interior decorator and a contractor, respectively; their three children, Hudson, 19, Easton, 17, and Brighton, 9; and 11 chickens (with names including Lady Glitter Sparkles, Poppy, Coco and Wild Style)
Location: Purcellville, Virginia
Size: 5,000 square feet (465 square meters) on a 5-acre lot; four bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms and a 3,000-square-foot barn
“I love so many styles and elements that’s it’s hard to describe exactly what my style is, but I would say I gravitate toward transitional and contemporary design with a slightly coastal influence,” says Molly Kay, of MK Interiors. Thomas, her husband, is a general contractor who owns Legacy Woodworking.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: Molly Kay Johns and Thomas Johns, an interior decorator and a contractor, respectively; their three children, Hudson, 19, Easton, 17, and Brighton, 9; and 11 chickens (with names including Lady Glitter Sparkles, Poppy, Coco and Wild Style)
Location: Purcellville, Virginia
Size: 5,000 square feet (465 square meters) on a 5-acre lot; four bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms and a 3,000-square-foot barn
“I love so many styles and elements that’s it’s hard to describe exactly what my style is, but I would say I gravitate toward transitional and contemporary design with a slightly coastal influence,” says Molly Kay, of MK Interiors. Thomas, her husband, is a general contractor who owns Legacy Woodworking.
Find a general contractor near you on Houzz
Molly Kay is pictured here in her family’s open-concept living room. “As a designer, I use Houzz quite frequently to receive inspiration and ideas as well as item sourcing. I encourage my clients to send me ideas they found on Houzz that can help me as I come up with designs for them,” she says. “I have also purchased a lot of products on Houzz as well.”
How to Create and Use Ideabooks
How to Create and Use Ideabooks
Kitchen
Molly Kay says that the kitchen is her favorite room in the home, noting, “It’s exactly what I had envisioned and functions perfectly for our family.” She and Thomas splurged on a few design features and materials in this space. “I knew I wanted a backsplash that went from counter to ceiling on the whole back wall. I am obsessed with marble, so for me, there was no other choice for counters and backsplash,” she says. “I love the classic look and feel of marble, and although I wanted a contemporary kitchen, I wanted it to have staying power and have many classic elements. The apron-front farmhouse-style sink, backsplash, commercial-grade faucet and cabinet hardware were splurges.”
To save money, the couple opted for less expensive flooring, using laminate from Lumber Liquidators on all three levels of their home.
Thomas constructed the custom wood range hood, floating shelves and island using his wood shop on the property. The pendant lights, Athena by Golden Lighting, and acrylic bar stools, Johnson by Gabby, were purchased on Houzz.
Two of Molly Kay’s top design priorities in this new home were an island and a mudroom, as their previous home did not have either. Now, Molly Kay has a 10-foot island and a storage-filled mudroom with a sliding barn door.
Molly Kay says that the kitchen is her favorite room in the home, noting, “It’s exactly what I had envisioned and functions perfectly for our family.” She and Thomas splurged on a few design features and materials in this space. “I knew I wanted a backsplash that went from counter to ceiling on the whole back wall. I am obsessed with marble, so for me, there was no other choice for counters and backsplash,” she says. “I love the classic look and feel of marble, and although I wanted a contemporary kitchen, I wanted it to have staying power and have many classic elements. The apron-front farmhouse-style sink, backsplash, commercial-grade faucet and cabinet hardware were splurges.”
To save money, the couple opted for less expensive flooring, using laminate from Lumber Liquidators on all three levels of their home.
Thomas constructed the custom wood range hood, floating shelves and island using his wood shop on the property. The pendant lights, Athena by Golden Lighting, and acrylic bar stools, Johnson by Gabby, were purchased on Houzz.
Two of Molly Kay’s top design priorities in this new home were an island and a mudroom, as their previous home did not have either. Now, Molly Kay has a 10-foot island and a storage-filled mudroom with a sliding barn door.
Living Room
“Along with being a contractor, my husband is also a master woodworker, so I love to include as many built-ins, wall moldings and other wood details [as possible],” Molly Kay says. The living room features a custom shelving unit for the TV and to display decor, including her collection of blue-and-white ginger jars, some of which she has had for almost two decades.
The layout of the main floor was very important to the homeowners. “I was very interested in room sizes and how the space would flow. I wanted as open of a concept as I could get,” Molly Kay says. “That way, I could have a large space where there was enough room for everyone to be together when we have lots of family and friends over.”
Jennings five-light pendant: Crystorama Lighting
“Along with being a contractor, my husband is also a master woodworker, so I love to include as many built-ins, wall moldings and other wood details [as possible],” Molly Kay says. The living room features a custom shelving unit for the TV and to display decor, including her collection of blue-and-white ginger jars, some of which she has had for almost two decades.
The layout of the main floor was very important to the homeowners. “I was very interested in room sizes and how the space would flow. I wanted as open of a concept as I could get,” Molly Kay says. “That way, I could have a large space where there was enough room for everyone to be together when we have lots of family and friends over.”
Jennings five-light pendant: Crystorama Lighting
The main living spaces stick mainly to a blue-and-white palette. “I choose pieces and colors that make me feel happy,” Molly Kay says. “If I have chosen all things that I love, I know I will smile and feel good every time I walk in the door.”
Thomas made the sliding door that separates the kitchen from the mudroom, “and I love that I can just pull it closed and not have to see if there is a mess on the mudroom floor,” Molly Kay says. The door is painted in a custom Sherwin-Williams mix of Uncertain Gray and Stardew.
Thomas made the sliding door that separates the kitchen from the mudroom, “and I love that I can just pull it closed and not have to see if there is a mess on the mudroom floor,” Molly Kay says. The door is painted in a custom Sherwin-Williams mix of Uncertain Gray and Stardew.
Mudroom
“In our previous home, we had no mudroom and hardly even an entryway. There was no place for backpacks and shoes and wet snow clothes in the winter, and it drove me crazy!” Molly Kay says. The new mudroom, seen here, features patterned floor tile and light blue painted lockers for all the family members.
The doors at the far end lead to a large pantry, a bathroom, a broom closet and the garage.
“In our previous home, we had no mudroom and hardly even an entryway. There was no place for backpacks and shoes and wet snow clothes in the winter, and it drove me crazy!” Molly Kay says. The new mudroom, seen here, features patterned floor tile and light blue painted lockers for all the family members.
The doors at the far end lead to a large pantry, a bathroom, a broom closet and the garage.
Dining Room
The formal dining room includes a faux-bamboo chair at each end of the table and gold-leaf table lamps with bases in a bamboo shape. One wall features custom wainscoting that adds texture, while another (next picture) is clad in a statement accent wallpaper.
The formal dining room includes a faux-bamboo chair at each end of the table and gold-leaf table lamps with bases in a bamboo shape. One wall features custom wainscoting that adds texture, while another (next picture) is clad in a statement accent wallpaper.
The far wall seen here is covered in a pale green Art Nouveau-inspired Farrow & Ball statement wallpaper. Thomas built the console, which stores place mats, table runners, candleholders and seasonal decor.
Golden Bamboo table lamps: Couture Lamps
Golden Bamboo table lamps: Couture Lamps
Master Bedroom
The couple’s master bedroom has a clean blue-and-white palette with Molly Kay’s choices for the bedding and area rug. The wall behind the upholstered tufted headboard, a custom piece, features wall trim accents. “I definitely wanted light and airy and calming,” Molly Kay says about her vision for this space.
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The couple’s master bedroom has a clean blue-and-white palette with Molly Kay’s choices for the bedding and area rug. The wall behind the upholstered tufted headboard, a custom piece, features wall trim accents. “I definitely wanted light and airy and calming,” Molly Kay says about her vision for this space.
Shop for chandeliers on Houzz
Master Bathroom
The couple’s previous home had a bathtub that rarely got used. “I knew I wanted a large, beautiful shower instead. I did marble on the floor, a marble counter, and marble in every aspect of the shower — the floor, walls, bench seat and niche,” Molly Kay says.
Thomas built and installed the double white vanity.
El Dorado six-light chrome chandelier: Artcraft Lighting; Fremont one-light sconce: Savoy House
The couple’s previous home had a bathtub that rarely got used. “I knew I wanted a large, beautiful shower instead. I did marble on the floor, a marble counter, and marble in every aspect of the shower — the floor, walls, bench seat and niche,” Molly Kay says.
Thomas built and installed the double white vanity.
El Dorado six-light chrome chandelier: Artcraft Lighting; Fremont one-light sconce: Savoy House
Kids’ Bedrooms
Floral wallpaper, Stacy Garcia’s Aquarella pattern for York Wallcoverings, creates a punchy purple accent wall in 9-year-old Brighton’s bedroom. The bed, nightstand and bench are all vintage pieces that Molly Kay purchased at various stores in Virginia.
Floral wallpaper, Stacy Garcia’s Aquarella pattern for York Wallcoverings, creates a punchy purple accent wall in 9-year-old Brighton’s bedroom. The bed, nightstand and bench are all vintage pieces that Molly Kay purchased at various stores in Virginia.
Repurposed lockers serve as unexpected, playful storage in the bedroom of the couple’s 17-year-old son, Easton. Molly Kay found them at an antique store and was told they had originally been used in a hospital.
Outdoor Deck
Outside, Thomas built a large two-level barn that is used to store woodworking equipment and a chicken coop for the family’s 11 chickens. “The chickens are our pets, as we can’t have indoor pets due to allergies,” Molly Kay says. “They are so fun! We don’t have any plans for any more animals.”
Molly Kay and her family love eating dinner outside on their deck and are able to watch the sun set over the barn. She and Brighton also enjoy having breakfast outside together.
Outside, Thomas built a large two-level barn that is used to store woodworking equipment and a chicken coop for the family’s 11 chickens. “The chickens are our pets, as we can’t have indoor pets due to allergies,” Molly Kay says. “They are so fun! We don’t have any plans for any more animals.”
Molly Kay and her family love eating dinner outside on their deck and are able to watch the sun set over the barn. She and Brighton also enjoy having breakfast outside together.
Exterior
The style of the home’s exterior is an updated take on a traditional Virginia Colonial, with dark blue siding.
The style of the home’s exterior is an updated take on a traditional Virginia Colonial, with dark blue siding.
This covered porch serves as an ideal outdoor retreat on warm, humid Northern Virginia summer days. “I didn’t have a front porch in my previous home, so having a front porch was important to me, because I just love being able to go out there,” Molly Kay says.
“We have a lot of family that live close by, and we had always wanted a home where everyone could gather for holidays and special occasions and have plenty of room to eat and socialize,” she says. “I just love our home so much.”
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“We have a lot of family that live close by, and we had always wanted a home where everyone could gather for holidays and special occasions and have plenty of room to eat and socialize,” she says. “I just love our home so much.”
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
See other home tours
Find an interior designer
Shop for home products
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