The couple saved some green by using the same black quartz countertops in both the powder room and butler’s pantry. “That was a fun, little space,” Photopoulos says of the pantry, which also features dramatic wallpaper. Playing along with Fubini’s black-and-white scheme, she chose a bold, graphic pattern by Schumacher.
In the adjoining dining room, an off-black grass cloth wall covering by Thibaut adds texture and contrast to crisp white wainscoting. Contemporary Gabby chairs in woven black leather surround a large oval table under a sculptural chandelier. When Photopoulos spotted Schumacher’s Leaping Leopards print in yellow, she and her team knew they’d found the perfect fabric for that room’s commanding window treatments.
“You might notice that our whole house is subtly safari-themed,” Hannah says. “We both really love animals.”
Realizing that her clients were not at all averse to mixing textures and patterns, Photopoulos pushed the aesthetic.
In the master bedroom, a green grass cloth wall adds interest behind a pin-striped king bed and an animal-print daybed bookended by emerald pillows. A whimsical art print reminiscent of the elephant god Ganesh (the Hindu god of new beginnings) reflects Ben’s Indian heritage. Matching chaises by CR Laine provide soft landings for sinking into with good books.
The guest bedroom’s gray walls and custom-painted powder-blue night tables set a slightly more serene tone, though a playful leopard-print headboard, upholstered in CR Laine fabric, keeps with the animal theme.
Anchoring the living room is a cozy sectional sofa dotted with throw pillows in pops of navy and grass green. Photopoulos added a set of chairs with cool roping detail and a trek-inspired leather-strap bench from Brownstone Furniture. The windows are outfitted with natural fiber Roman shades and Kravet drapes in a pattern called Flock.
Though they still have empty rooms to fill, the owners say they are thrilled with the first round of design. Once they’re ready to grow their family and furnish additional bedrooms, there’s no question they’ll call Photopoulos for the finishing touches.
But for now, after months of social distancing with no visitors, their home’s big reveal is happily on replay: “When we have people over, everyone’s like ‘Oh my gosh! You did so much right away,’ ” Hannah says. “So when you walk in the house, it feels like the house is done.”
Having dutifully stayed on budget, Photopoulos and her team even managed to give their clients a little housewarming surprise with some leftover funds: They personalized a gallery wall on the stairwell landing with prints and silhouettes of animals both exotic and domestic, from cheetahs and giraffes to house cats.
“I feel like they really captured [our] whimsy,” Hannah says. “We wanted to be sophisticated, but also have a little bit of fun and playfulness.”
Jennifer Shapira is a home and design writer based in McLean.
Project Credits:
Enhanced Homes
Blakely Interior Design
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