When a global pandemic shook up the entire world, I found myself transitioning my new business from the Washington, DC metropolitan area to Durham, North Carolina. As a business owner it was tricky and sometimes scary. I love DC, and at the time I couldn't imagine working anywhere else. But knowing it would be best for my family, I committed to only taking DC jobs that were 'too good to be true.' Enter J + R.
We had crossed paths when I worked on the condo next door. Between already furnishing a unit in the building, and having helped the builder select finishes during construction, I knew their home as well as anybody. We connected instantly during our initial consultation. They had waited on purchasing most of the furnishings for their new home so they could have a cohesive design. It was the 'too good to be true' scenario. So we jumped in to deliver their dream home!
A major priority was finding deep comfortable sofas suitable for lounging, without sacrificing on their desire for an elegant design. These custom sofas in a gorgeous muted blue distressed velvet hit the perfect notes of easy luxury. Our clients also wanted to keep the views of their beloved Old Town Alexandria free and clear. They opted for motorized roman shades that allowed maximum natural light, unobstructed views, and a clean aesthetic.
Art is one of the hardest things to source for clients. I always prefer to work closely with my clients to ensure they invest in pieces that truly speak to them. When they fell in love with this bold, gorgeous art work, I knew we had to incorporate it into the design plan. This piece truly anchors the open concept dining/living/kitchen.
The visual flow of this area also includes the small foyer and spiral staircase that leads to the roof deck. I'm a believer that by giving potentially "overlooked" spaces intentional designs, you can take a home to the next level. In this case adding some stunning wallpaper to around the black stairs created that "wow" moment in a space that could have easily been ignored.
Speaking of wallpaper...
The Primary Bed was the only space where we needed to work with existing furnishings. This bed, area rug, and dresser (not pictured) gave us the staring point to create this space. We are especially obsessed with how the wallpaper and sconce combo brings the room together for something both fresh and timeless.
The tranquil en-suite primary bath is the perfect place to start and end your day.
A professional writer, our client needed a home office that could not only store her large library collection, but also have designated space for writing and a comfortable chair for reading. That custom swivel chair in the window pane upholstery may be my favorite piece of the entire home.
Working on this home brought so much joy along the way. Our reveal at the end was hands down the most exciting one to date. I'm so glad we took on this project and excited we are finally able to share it with you! Let us know your favorite design elements in the comments!
xoxo
Melissa
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