After moving into their McLean home in March 2021, the owners of this fetching nest wasted no time renovating its main level. They hired Alexandria-based Marks-Woods Construction to open up the floor plan—removing fussy columns, arches and decorative trim in the process—and brought in Fairfax designer Ann Gottlieb to make the interiors more artful and livable. The design blends classic and vintage pieces with contemporary artworks from Merritt Gallery in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
The color palette in the sitting room, now one of the family’s favorite gathering spots, is bold, luxe and playful. A dramatic feature wall painted Benjamin Moore “Wrought Iron” provides a sophisticated backdrop for an edgy photomontage by artist Tom Chambers.
Built-in shelving by Braemar showcases books and collectibles while hiding the kids’ board games and puzzles behind cabinet doors. The custom charcoal-striped Roman shades are by Schumacher. Gottlieb suggested keeping the original mocha-stained hardwood floors—a decision the homeowners are thrilled they made.
Creative lighting is also part of the design. A sculptural Regina Andrew chandelier casts shadows through milky white glass, while bulbous glass-and-wood sconces by Hudson Valley Lighting hang on either side of another dreamlike photomontage by Chambers.
But it’s the brilliant green quartet of Scandinavian club chairs, arranged around a marble slab coffee table, that forms the room’s centerpiece.
“Yeah, those Carl Hansen chairs are pretty dope,” Gottlieb says. She recalls showing the couple two fabric swatches, both jewel-toned variations of a washable velvet by HBF Textiles. Emerald was the winner.
The couple’s kids (ages 5 and 6) refer to the 145-square-foot space as the “chocolate room” because it’s where they get to savor the treats Dad brings back from his work travels.
The parents, however, describe it as more of a “rye whiskey kind of room,” an ideal spot for after-dinner drinks and conversations that linger deep into the night.