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When Elizabeth and John Wells decided that their home in Bethesda wasn’t the best long-term fit for their family of five, they set their sights on moving to DC where they could be closer to their children’s schools, and to Children’s National Hospital, where Elizabeth is the executive vice president, chief clinical officer, and physician-in-chief. They wanted a home with classic charm and space to entertain, plus nooks for reading, homework, and work, and chose a 1940s home in Spring Valley where the quiet, pretty streets reminded them of the New England towns they grew up in—with the benefits, Elizabeth says, of being in the city.
The home’s layout and yard were exactly what they’d envisioned, including, Elizabeth says, a backyard turf perfect for both a batting cage and trampoline, plus a pool—a dreamy set-up for their three sports-loving 14-, 11-, and 9-year-old sons. But the inside wasn’t quite in keeping with the couple’s vibrant style. For an update of the living room, powder room, entrance hall, den, and dining room—around 1,000 square feet in total—the couple sought the help of Johanna Howe of Howe Interiors, with whom they’d worked on their previous home. Howe says she set out to revamp the spaces in a way that was not only family- and dog-friendly, but also “sophisticated enough to entertain both for work and socially.” The end result she says, is full of “vibrant colors, layered texture, and unique furniture, art, and accessories.”
Here, we talked to Elizabeth about the design for her family’s home.
Starting from the beginning, were there any specific elements you knew you wanted to include that ultimately inspired other decisions?
I remember asking Johanna for mural wallpaper for the dining room. I thought what she found was stunning, including how the scene was not concentrated near the floor but at eye level. Then she found the gold chandelier and sconces that perfectly fit the scene.
Tell us about some of the artwork.
We worked with both Johanna Howe and Lauren Hilyard on art. I was obsessed with Kirsten Deirup’s painting “Decoy” as soon as Lauren showed it to me. The living room furniture and fabrics work well with it. Our art designer pointed out how the Lisa Sanditz “Barge/Hudson” painting which we chose for our den also looks like a stack of books and I think Johanna brought that out in designing the look of the bookshelves. It helped to have a designer and art adviser so in sync and respectful of each other’s input.
What were some of the challenges?
・Choosing rugs can be a bit challenging, blending the desire to have something beautiful and soft with the reality of family life, but Johanna helped us find the right fabric, patterns, and scale for each space.
・I learned how challenging the uneven walls of older houses can be and I now appreciate the talent of an exceptional wallpaper person.
・We discovered we needed to upgrade the lighting system and I wish we’d realized that before wallpapering, but fortunately our designer had us save wallpaper to redo the panels, and it worked well.
Having spaces that work for your active family was important. Can you give us some examples of elements that are especially in tune with that vision?
Having a welcoming living room with big front windows makes it easy to catch the kids [when they’re on-the-go] and have them sit in the swivel chairs and talk for a minute while they wait for friends and activities. We also wanted a traditional dining room where it feels natural to linger at the table talking with family or guests.
What do you like most about the design?
I love how the rooms complement each other and carry the style and colors throughout. Wallpapering the bathroom with wallpaper on the ceiling was a choice I loved. All together, the home is warm and calming but also fun.
What advice would you give someone else starting the design process?
When you move into a new home, it’s natural to want everything done at once. We had a head start because we were already working with a designer who knew our style well. But, it’s worth it to be patient, live in the home a bit, and let the plan develop. And then stay away on install day to fully experience the joy of coming home to the transformation!
The post This Chic, Colorful Spring Valley Home Blends Family-Friendliness With Sophistication first appeared on Washingtonian.
