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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

Greater Washington DC

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Color + paint color

My love/hate relationship with purple

Annie Elliott | October 20, 2013

I’ve always hated purple. It didn’t matter what shade it was. Lilac, lavender, aubergine, eggplant, plum, grape…I just didn’t like it. If you said, “purple living room,” this is what I pictured:   With images like that in my head, I don’t even know that my aversion was to purple itself. It may have been what I associated …

Read more »My love/hate relationship with purple
» Color + paint color

Mint green bathrooms! A cry for help

Annie Elliott | October 8, 2013

Help me out, Gentle Readers, will you? Light greens are tricky. Refinery 29 makes a pretty great case for mint green for summer-into-fall fashion… …and no 1950s GE kitchen would be complete without green — the avocado and mint varieties. But beyond that, decorating with light green is tricky. I even tried to save one of …

Read more »Mint green bathrooms! A cry for help
» Color + paint color, Kitchen + bath

The challenges of open floor plans

Annie Elliott | July 7, 2013

It sounds so great, doesn’t it? An “open floor plan?” One envisions soaring, light-filled spaces; coordinated furniture; plenty of room for family and friends to relax… I hate to break it to you, Gentle Readers, but open floor plans present some challenges. Before you buy an open-plan home or renovate to create one, here are some things …

Read more »The challenges of open floor plans
» Color + paint color, Dining room, Living Room + Family Room

West Elm’s Martini Table

Annie Elliott | May 7, 2013

New rule: the seventh time I recommend something, I have to blog about it. I’m exaggerating (who, me?), but this little accent piece has come in handy so many times! It’s not right to keep it to myself any longer. I’d like you to meet West Elm’s Martini Table. It’s a stool! It’s a table! …

Read more »West Elm’s Martini Table
» Color + paint color, Furniture + upholstery

Three excellent “lows” for your high/low mix (and for less than $200!)

Annie Elliott | April 9, 2013

Let’s face it: we all love the pricey stuff. It can be prettier, better made, and just more interesting than pieces you buy off-the shelf. But you know how I value the high/low mix. And I keep turning to these three items as my favorite “lows.” 1. Robert Abbey’s Genie Lamp The ubiquitous gourd lamp has …

Read more »Three excellent “lows” for your high/low mix (and for less than $200!)
» Color + paint color, Furniture + upholstery, Lighting, Living Room + Family Room

Thanks, Kansas City Star! Tips for Emerald Green

Annie Elliott | March 16, 2013

Need more tips about using Pantone’s color of the year to make your home au courant? Look no further than today’s article in The Kansas City Star: “Dare to Dabble in Bold Emerald.”  Thanks so much for including me, KCS! I suggested that layering Emerald Green with various shades of blue was a pretty foolproof way to work …

Read more »Thanks, Kansas City Star! Tips for Emerald Green
» Color + paint color, Lighting

There are grand hotels, and there are grand hotels: The Jefferson in Richmond, and The Queensbury in Glens Falls, NY

Annie Elliott | February 26, 2013

There’s nothing like a little contrast. Two weekends ago, our family flew to the town where I grew up, Glens Falls, NY. We’d arranged to meet friends up there, and John wanted the girls to try alpine skiing. We stayed in Glens Falls’s best hotel, The Queensbury. I love The Queensbury Hotel. It’s the fanciest …

Read more »There are grand hotels, and there are grand hotels: The Jefferson in Richmond, and The Queensbury in Glens Falls, NY
» Color + paint color
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Aug 12

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Happy Wallpaper Wednesday! Let’s talk about Cole & Son’s Acquario, shall we?Iconic Italian artist Piero Fornasetti designed Acquario for Cole & Son in the early 2010s. He was going through an ocean phase, captivated by its mysterious depths 🐠, so he developed this fish design and put it first on plates and fabrics, and then, luckily for us, on wallpaper. We just installed Acquario in the Print Room Blue colorway in a client’s tiny practice room (he plays classical guitar), and we LOVE it! That big old blowfish, just gliding along…he kills me.Featuring: @cole_and_son_wallpapers @fornasetti

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Aug 9

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Green, light blue, and a touch of navy come together to create a room that's bright, welcoming, and incredibly summery 🥰 🥰 🥰 #interiordesign #summercolors

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Aug 7

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Given that my brain is still on an academic calendar 🤷‍♀️ , I thought I'd do a little review and see which blog posts resonated with you the most in 2025-26. Who knew that a post from 2011 (!!!) is still in the top 5! Click over to the post to to see the year’s greatest hits. #interiordesign #designinspo

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Jul 24

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Get ready for a dramatic before and after! We transformed a playroom into a dining room, and the result is pretty amazing. (But still fun!) #wallpaper #interiordesign #diningroominspo

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Jul 22

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For today’s Wallpaper Wednesday, we discuss the chinoiserie wallpaper in the Great Hall at  @citytavern_dc  in Washington, DC. Ooooohh - field trip!I was delighted to visit City Tavern recently. It’s a historic 1796 Federal building in the heart of Georgetown, and all the cool kids hung out there. You know, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson…those guys. At one point, the building boasted the largest room in Washington.I, of course, was captivated by the Great Hall, which is covered in @graciestudio hand-painted wallpaper — which was selected by none other than Jackie Kennedy! EVEN THOUGH at that time the building was a club that didn’t admit women. Harumph.The chinoiserie walls are gorgeous from far away, but they’re amazing up close, also: you can see faint brushstrokes left by the painters. Doesn’t that give you a shiver? I love it.

annieelliottdesign

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Jul 21

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For a recent article in @vogueliving, I was asked how to mix wallpapers — either in the same room or adjacent rooms. I have a few pieces of advice to offer 😊See my latest blog post for more…#interiordesign #designblog #wallpaperinspo

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Jul 8

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Star-studded wallpaper on the ceiling childish? Not necessarily! Here are the differences between babyish and grown-up star themed wallpaper. #wallpaper #interiordesign

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Jul 4

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Happy Independence Day! I happen to love a room decorated in red, white, and blue. It’s not always gimmicky; wouldn’t you agree that the dining room below is bold and sophisticated? 🤪 My advice: vary the shades (clash those blues if you have to!), throw some large-scale patterns into the mix, and add texture. A grasscloth ceiling, for example 😉 Have a great 4th, everyone!#interiordesign #homedecor #pattermixing

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Jul 3

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I was honored to co-chair — with the inimitable @ianthainteriors — the design competition, America at 250: The New Look of American Design, a project conceived by the nonprofit MADE: In America.Design students from Howard University partnered with Washington Design Center showrooms to create storyboards and vignettes reflecting their vision of “American style.” The Design Center is showcasing the students’ work through July 10; admission is free and open to the public. Details may be found at the link in the @washingtondesigncenter’s bio.I encourage you to visit! It’s so important to support the next generation of designers, and I was delighted to participate in this event. Iantha and I are grateful to James De Lorbe, Chairman of MADE: In America; and we extend our warmest thanks to jurors @melissacolganinteriors, @mariella.cruzado,  @gaildavisdesigns, @val_hawkins_architect, @hadleykeller, @byronrisdon, and @jazmynedesignstudio.
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