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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

Greater Washington DC

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Renovate and LOSE three closets? You must be mad!

Annie Elliott | January 1, 2011

If you said, "Hey! I think we should remove THREE closets AND a whole wall of built-in bookshelves to gain 2 feet of space in a bedroom!" most people would think you were nuts.

Welcome to my world, Gentle Readers. Welcome.

In the case of the room below, though, I suggested that we do just that....

Read more »Renovate and LOSE three closets? You must be mad!
» Bedroom, Renovation

Built-in bookshelves, or freestanding bookcases?

Annie Elliott | December 30, 2010

Gentle Readers, while I'm on vacation, I'd like to direct your attention to some earlier posts - slightly revised and updated - that you may find interesting. Have a wonderful New Year!

When should you hire a carpenter for customized built-ins, and when is buying freestanding shelves the better option? ...

Read more »Built-in bookshelves, or freestanding bookcases?
» Kitchen + bath, Living Room + Family Room

Merry Christmas, Gentle Readers!

Annie Elliott | December 24, 2010

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, have a wonderful day tomorrow!

I'll be back with you next week....

Read more »Merry Christmas, Gentle Readers!
» Dining room, Living Room + Family Room

And the moral of the story is: paint your radiator

Annie Elliott | December 22, 2010

Thanks, Uncle Jimmy! Just in time for Christmas, he painted our dining room radiator!

Remember when we talked about radiators? Well, I went to the paint store and bought this Modern Masters metallic paint....

Read more »And the moral of the story is: paint your radiator
» Color + paint color, Dining room

Tacky Christmas decorations are actually kind of me

Annie Elliott | December 20, 2010

I called a client on my way to her house to hang some art. As we were getting off the phone, she said, "And please ignore the tacky midwestern Christmas decorations!"

Oh, my friend. Have no fear. I will never, EVER judge you for your tacky Christmas decorations. (Which weren't, in fact, very tacky at all. Disappointing.)...

Read more »Tacky Christmas decorations are actually kind of me
» Color + paint color

Built-in bookshelves and Benjamin Moore’s AC-34 Cape Hatteras Sand

Annie Elliott | December 17, 2010

You say, "hallway," I say, "library."

This area a master suite was woefully underused. It's too wide to be considered a true hallway, but it's too narrow to be treated like a room.

Since this client is a GENIUS with photographs and has roughly a gazillion, we thought it might be handy to have some shelves where she could store completed albums as well as unframed pictures in boxes. Open shelves and closed storage, in other words....

Read more »Built-in bookshelves and Benjamin Moore’s AC-34 Cape Hatteras Sand
» Color + paint color, Living Room + Family Room

What decorating book do YOU recommend?

Annie Elliott | December 15, 2010

Gentle Readers, a fellow blogger and I need your help. Yesterday, Nichole of 40 days of... asked for recommendations for design books. I have the same question!

Can you help?

I've already raved about Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan's book...

Read more »What decorating book do YOU recommend?
» Color + paint color
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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

annieelliottdesign

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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

annieelliottdesign

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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.

annieelliottdesign

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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.

annieelliottdesign

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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

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

annieelliottdesign

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Sep 17

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When you become an empty nester, when is it ok to reclaim your adult child’s space? Check out my latest blog post for my recommendations on how to approach empty nesting!📸 @stacyzaringoldberg📸 @kipdawkinsphoto📸 Michael Wilkinson📸 @angieseckinger

annieelliottdesign

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Sep 10

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Pink, green, and a splash of dark orange come together to create this sunny, summery bedroom 🪷
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