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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

Greater Washington DC

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How-to

Modern beach house

How to make a beach house less beachy

Annie Elliott | May 23, 2026

Happy summer, Gentle Readers! It’s officially here, despite the can’t-make-up-its-mind weather. We have sun in our hearts. For those lucky enough to have a house near water, you may be thinking about redecorating right about now. (Oh wait, that’s me ;) I’m ALWAYS thinking about redecorating!) You may even be thinking about decorating beyond traditional …

Read more »How to make a beach house less beachy
» How-to

Thinking about spring cleaning? Make it a makeover!

Annie Elliott | May 10, 2026

Gentle Readers, I’ve decided that spring cleaning is not enough this year. Spring MAKEOVERS are in store! For inspiration, I thought I’d do a little before-and-after post of some past and present projects: heavy on pictures, light on commentary. It’s the blog version of a beach read to give you a jump on summer. Here …

Read more »Thinking about spring cleaning? Make it a makeover!
» Before and after, How-to, Living Room + Family Room, Renovation
White painting on a purple wall over green sofa

What to hang over your sofa

Annie Elliott | October 26, 2025

Thank you, Amy, for asking about this! If YOU’re thinking about walls over sofas, chances are other people are, too ;) First things first, Gentle Readers: Do you have a fireplace? If so, what are you hanging above that? I am a believer in using mirrors sparingly, so if you have a mirror over the …

Read more »What to hang over your sofa
» Art, How-to
Glam kitchen bar area

How to get your house ready for a party

Annie Elliott | September 28, 2025

Please mark your calendars: On Tuesday, November 11 (Veterans Day) at 7:00, the writer Jason Reynolds and I will be having a conversation at Politics & Prose Union Market about my new book*, working together, and all things home. Hello, Gentle Readers! This might be a little off-topic, interior design-wise, but having thrown a party …

Read more »How to get your house ready for a party
» How-to
Book cover: My Neighbor Saw Me Naked, and Other Reasons You Need Drapes. The essential decorating handbook. by Annie Elliott

My New Decorating Handbook Is Now Available For Pre-Order!

Annie Elliott | April 11, 2025

It’s revised, expanded, and just plain better! But first: HELLO, Gentle Readers! We’ve been busy over here at Annie Elliott Design! We moved into a new studio (I’m just waiting for some wallpaper — of course — and then I’ll tell you all about it), some client projects are really heating up, we have a …

Read more »My New Decorating Handbook Is Now Available For Pre-Order!
» How-to
Webby Award nominee Annie Elliott Design

We’ve been nominated for a Webby!!!

Annie Elliott | April 4, 2023

Oh, Gentle Readers! Such exciting news! Annie Elliott Design’s TikTok videos have been nominated for a Webby Award! There were more than 14,000 submissions across all Webby categories, and ours was one of 5 nominated in “Social – How-To, Explainer, and DIY.” The other 4 nominees in our category are Levi’s, Etsy, Variety Magazine, and …

Read more »We’ve been nominated for a Webby!!!
» How-to

A new take on “coastal style”

Annie Elliott | August 28, 2022

How’s your summer going, Gentle Readers? Swimmingly, I hope. If you’ve picked up a design magazine over the past several months, you undoubtedly have seen an article or two about “coastal style.” Have you noticed that the pictures are ALL THE SAME? White walls, white slipcovered sofas, navy blue pillows and lamps, seagrass rugs, blue …

Read more »A new take on “coastal style”
» How-to, Trends
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Oct 16

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I stand by my decision to drywall the window 🤭. See how we created a dark and cozy boudoir in a spacious sunny condo in DC…#interiordesign #dcdesigner

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Oct 14

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Your bed is the biggest piece of visual real estate in your bedroom. It needs pillows! Check out my latest blog post for ideas about arranging pillows on your bed 🛏️.

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Oct 7

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Happy Wallpaper Wednesday! Today we’re talking about one of my favorite things in the whole world: grasscloth. (Which technically makes today *Wallcovering* Wednesday, but tomayto tomahto.) Most grasscloth is made of actual grasses that have been washed, dried, bleached or dyed, and glued to paper. Wallcovering made of sisal, seagrass, raffia, or hemp also is placed under the heading “grasscloth.” Talk about timeless style: while grasscloth had a popularity surge in the 1960s and 70s (thanks to a cultural obsession with living in nature), its first known use was in 107 AD, in China ;) Grasscloth has long been appreciated for its insulative properties and durability. From a decorating perspective, I love it because it adds warmth, texture, and dimension to any space. Picture a room painted white, and then imagine that room with an off-white grasscloth on the walls (and, if you’re me, the ceiling). The second room is still light and bright, but it’s cozier and more interesting.Grasscloth can be minimalist in neutral earth tones or maximalist, dyed bold colors, colorfully painted, or appliquéd with spangles, embroidery, or tape trim. It shows its seams when installed, but that’s part of the charm. I love grasscloth in hallways, living spaces, and bedrooms, but I avoid using it in kitchens and steamy bathrooms because I’m nervous about odor retention and excessive moisture.Enough school for the day, but if you remember nothing else: grasscloth enriches every room it graces. Highly recommend.📸 Michael K. Wilkinson@schumacher_midatlantic @schumacher1889 @phillipjeffriesltd

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Oct 3

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You likely know where I stand on pillows: they NEVER should be an afterthought. Check out my latest blog post for recommendations on size, shape, style, and placement. Link in bio. 📸 @stacyzaringoldberg📸 @kipdawkinsphoto📸 @angieseckinger

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Oct 2

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This client’s gorgeous collection of gold icons in the bookcases puts this room in a league of its own. Whenever you have a collection — of ANYTHING: frog figurines, English engravings of flowers or dogs, snow globes — maximize its impact by bringing the objects together and placing them in a prominent place. These icons are breathtaking, and the sheer number invites you to go closer and study them. With reverence.#eastlake #vintagerug #antiquerug

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Sep 28

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Happy Fall! Ironic, isn’t it, that fall weather is cool, but the colors we associate with the season are warm? The earthy orange grasscloth in this foyer is undeniably “fall” to me. Add deep, warm versions of green and blue, et voilà: a cozy, inviting, autumnal space.

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Sep 23

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For this week’s Wallpaper Wednesday we go into the Woods… Woods is a great example of Cole & Son’s innovation in serigraphy, a traditional method of screen printing. The pattern is available on fabric and wallpaper in a variety of soothing yet elegant colorways. Due (I’m sure) to the booming success of the original, there are now some whimsical variations on Woods: Cole & Son added metallic stars to some colorways and pears to others. As you may imagine, however, this traditionalist prefers the original 🙂For some reason, Woods is especially popular for nurseries. Maybe those babies really wanted out of their cribs. 👶🏼In 2005, Woods deservedly won the ELLE Decoration International Design Award for Wallcovering of the Year. And it’s still going strong.

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Sep 22

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“Isn’t ‘modern farmhouse’ over yet?” I loved speaking with @authordinacheney @washingtonpost about the worst interior design trends! Turns out I’m not the only designer with strong opinions 😊@vincentewolfdesigns @kimletgordon @maxsinsteden #interiordesign #washingtonpost #designopinions #annieelliottdesign

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Sep 18

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Best part of being an interior designer is using your own home as a playground for creative ideas! We changed the paint in our living room again and here’s how it looks now! #interiordesign
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