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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

Greater Washington DC

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Lighting

The Rise of Novelty Accent Lamps

Annie Elliott | August 18, 2026

There I was at Home Goods, Gentle Readers, walking through the lighting section on my way to towels, when something caught my eye. A flash of pink. What’s this? I thought. A lovely lampshade? BUT NO. It was this: Why? Why? Quirky little lamps were everywhere I turned. I can hear you saying, “They’re cute! …

Read more »The Rise of Novelty Accent Lamps
» Lighting

A rustic log cabin with a mid-century twist

Annie Elliott | February 12, 2023

What do you think of when you hear the words, “log cabin,” Gentle Readers? I had a clear picture in mind when John and I drove out to our friends’ cabin in West Virginia this weekend. When we pulled up, it looked true to its name. Then when you enter, surprise! A mid-century marvel! One …

Read more »A rustic log cabin with a mid-century twist
» Furniture + upholstery, Lighting

Delightful accent lamps to brighten your day

Annie Elliott | September 6, 2021

You may recall, Gentle Readers, that I recently wallpapered my foyer in a luscious green pattern, Narina by Cole & Son. The wallpaper does, however, make the foyer a bit darker. The space is north-facing already, so there isn’t an abundance of natural light. The foyer has a chandelier, the Mill Small Globe Lantern by …

Read more »Delightful accent lamps to brighten your day
» Lighting
Home bar against purple wallpaper

Accent Lamps: The Little Trend We Love

Annie Elliott | October 5, 2017

Bossy color never designs a room with trends in mind – and neither should you, Gentle Readers. However, we do perk up when a classic idea becomes a trend, then suddenly people embrace it, and then the manufacturers come up with great interpretations. Which is exactly what’s happened with the accent lamp. You may mistake it for …

Read more »Accent Lamps: The Little Trend We Love
» Lighting
http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=178895318

The Chairish Challenge! Eastlake Chairs in a sunny sitting room

Annie Elliott | October 12, 2015

Thanks, Chairish, for inviting bossy color to participate in your design challenge! THE ASSIGNMENT: Take a room from white to bright, starting with an accent chair from Chairish. THE RESULT: A bossified sunny sitting room. I chose a pair of Victorian Eastlake chairs as our starting point. Don’t you usually think of heavy, dark, musty and dusty rooms when you hear Victorian? …

Read more »The Chairish Challenge! Eastlake Chairs in a sunny sitting room
» Furniture + upholstery, Lighting, Living Room + Family Room, Rugs, Wallpaper, Window treatments
Jamie Drake's Grasse Sconce

Lighting by Jamie Drake and AERIN. An exercise in fabulousness.

Annie Elliott | March 11, 2015

Designing light fixtures can’t be easy. If it were, wouldn’t everyone be doing it? Scale alone is a tricky thing. Then you have to consider where it might go, create the design, choose finishes…then — goodness! — there’s wattage to think about, and probably something involving wiring… It seems complicated. Which is why we all should appreciate truly …

Read more »Lighting by Jamie Drake and AERIN. An exercise in fabulousness.
» Color + paint color, Lighting

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
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Aug 19

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All of a sudden, novelty accent lamps are EVERYWHERE! Some are cute, some are…inadvisable ;) If you just can’t resist a lamp in the shape of a snail, my latest blog post has recommendations for proceeding responsibly💡

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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

annieelliottdesign

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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

annieelliottdesign

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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

annieelliottdesign

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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

annieelliottdesign

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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

annieelliottdesign

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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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