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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

Greater Washington DC

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On black and white interiors

Annie Elliott | November 16, 2007

Black and white rooms go in and out of fashion, and they’re coming back in now (thank you, Kelly Wearstler). But they’re hard to pull off in real life – in rooms you actually want to spend time in – because the effect can be so sterile.Pair black with rich creams and taupes and a …

Read more »On black and white interiors
» Color + paint color

Versatile ceiling fixture

Annie Elliott | November 12, 2007

Flush- and semi-flush mount ceiling light fixtures – not chandeliers or pendants – generally fall into one of two categories: nondescript or hideous. Thank goodness for the well-priced Dakota ceiling fixture by Minka Lavery. It’s neutral enough to be labeled “transitional” (did a more non-committal design category ever exist?), but it’s elegant without being distracting. …

Read more »Versatile ceiling fixture
» Lighting

Hej igen! Rediscovering Ikea, Part En (1)

Annie Elliott | November 7, 2007

Ikea. Does the very word make you cringe? I understand. I’ve been there. When I moved off-campus in college, my friends and I thought Ikea was the greatest. Inexpensive. Sleek. Disposable. Sure, the putting-it-together thing was kind of a hassle, but a few friends, an Allen wrench, and a six-pack made it kind of fun. …

Read more »Hej igen! Rediscovering Ikea, Part En (1)
» Color + paint color

Hej igen! Rediscovering Ikea, Part Tva (2)

Annie Elliott | November 7, 2007

Well, guess what. I’m here to say that it might – might – be time to revisit Ikea. Especially if you have kids, a mudroom, a home office, or a weekend house. Or all of the above. A few months ago, a colleague of mine (a fantastic professional organizer, Nicole Anzia of Neatnik) dragged me …

Read more »Hej igen! Rediscovering Ikea, Part Tva (2)
» Kids, Lighting, Rugs

Mirror over the fireplace: yay or nay?

Annie Elliott | November 2, 2007

I used to be emphatically nay. Who wants to look at himself in someone else’s living room? And when you sit down, who wants to look at the ceiling? But Billy Baldwin made the good argument that if you have a beautiful fireplace and a beautiful piece of art, you create visual competition by placing …

Read more »Mirror over the fireplace: yay or nay?
» Art + accessories, Living Room + Family Room

Fuschia Flokati: a success story

Annie Elliott | October 31, 2007

I love Flokati rugs. I like to think I was ahead of the curve on this one, but alas, my blog wasn’t up yet, and now you can get them anywhere. The cream-colored Flokati is the most popular and, naturally, the easiest to work with. In part as an experiment, in part because I was …

Read more »Fuschia Flokati: a success story
» Color + paint color, Furniture + upholstery, Rugs

Hello and welcome

Annie Elliott | October 30, 2007

Welcome to bossy blog! This is the place to come for interior design nuggets: decorating advice, products I find myself recommending to clients again and again, occasional tales of decorating woe or success, and, above all, thoughts about color.

Read more »Hello and welcome
» Color + paint color
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Nov 2

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Where do those gorgeous but multitudinous pillows go at night? See some ideas in my latest blog post… 😌#interiordesign #pillowinspo

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Oct 28

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My home is my lab :) As evidenced by my constant tinkering. Today: replacing my own DR chandelier.

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Oct 23

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One could argue that each element in this New York living room is dramatic, from the mirrored (wallpaper) ceilings to the purple sofa. If we had put an antique rug in this room — which, let’s be honest, is often my first thought — the effect could have been dowdy. It would have been cozy, it would have been consistent with the moody vibe, and it still would have been kind of interesting given the other things in the room.But the contemporary rug, Danika by @starkcarpet, makes the room SING. The huge geometric scale is a beautiful contrast to the smaller patterns on the chair and the Roman shade. The light background brightens the room while making the darker colors more intense. And the black…well, black always adds drama.It’s hard to explain, but you see it, right?@schumacher_midatlantic @timorous_beasties @starkcarpet_dc#schustagram

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Oct 21

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Happy Wallpaper Wednesday! This week, we dive into Martinique by CW Stockwell.This small, family-run print facility in Los Angeles was founded in 1905. Clifton Stockwell’s daughter and son-in-law traveled to the Bahamas in 1942 and were so enchanted by the foliage that they collaborated with illustrator and textile designer Albert Stockdale to create a wallpaper pattern. The result was Martinique — also known as “The Original Banana Leaf Print.” (Martinique is not to be confused with Brazilliance by Dorothy Draper 😉 .)Martinique famously adorns the Beverly Hills Hotel’s halls, stairwells, and Fountain Coffee Room.CW Stockwell now sells the Martinique pattern in seven colorways as wallpaper, grasscloth, and linen fabric.@cwstockwell @scalamandre#interiordesign #wallpaperinspo

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Oct 19

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I love this cocoon of a bedroom :) And what makes it REALLY interesting? The red lamps. There’s no other red in the room. Oranges, yes, so the red has something to relate to, but the exact shade appears nowhere else.It’s these unexpected elements that can take a room from beautiful to fabulous.Hats off to: @visualcomfort @cowtanandtout @cowtanwashingtondc#dcdesigner #interiordesign

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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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