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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

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Our 5 favorite interior design moments of 2018

Annie Elliott | January 3, 2019

We were thrilled to work on so many amazing projects in 2018 — and with such fantastic clients! (Seriously: we can’t overstate the importance of that.) But there are a few things we’re especially proud of. Here are 5 decorating highlights from Annie Elliott | bossy color in 2018.

1. The dramatic dining room transformation. You remember this one — you can see more before ‘n after pictures in this blog post. We had been considering a blushy wall color, but when Amy and I saw this wallpaper, we knew that was the way to go. Luckily, the clients agreed.

dining room, red walls, tablecloth, fireplace
Before: sad
Dining room, wallpaper, chandelier, mirror
After: deliriously happy! The wallpaper is Augustine by Thibaut

2. Cheetah carpeting. And not in a swinging ’70’s bachelor pad. It’s a gorgeous, classic family home with lovely clients. As my colleagues always say: “Animal prints are a neutral!” You be the judge.

cheetah carpeting with wall mural and white chair
Cheetah carpeting with Schumacher wallpaper
dining room, white dining chairs, chandelier, sideboard, green drapes
We obviously haven’t had this professionally photographed yet!

3. The twofer: wallpaper with TWO zingy trim colors. How bold is this client, please? The egg-yolk yellow paneling goes down the stairs, and wallpaper with light blue trim waits at the bottom. Ah. Mazing.

Stairwell with yellow wall, wallpaper sample, light blue trim
Will it work?
GP & J Baker Nympheus wallpaper
Why, yes it will!
Stairway, yellow paneling, light blue wood trim
GP & J Baker Nympheus wallpaper

4. Complementing — not competing with — a client’s fabulous art collection. We feel so lucky when clients collect interesting art. The trick is to show it off while not going totally neutral on the furnishings. (I mean, that’s ONE approach; it’s just not OUR approach.) We were really excited about how this residence turned out.

Living Room, Family Room, large painting, purple sofa
The painting is by abstract artist Karen Silve
Living room with large-scale artwork
The three paintings on the long wall are by Carol Barsha, and the blue painting on the left is by L.A. artist Chris Trueman

5. Standing up to neutral with DARK BLUE WALLS! There was nothing wrong with this living room, but the clients didn’t feel that it reflected them. (And it’s true: this family is so much more fun and interesting than the “before” picture would have you believe.) We did want to keep the amazing drapes, though — we were tickled to learn that they were purchased from a recent design house. The darker walls really show them off.

Neutral living room with gray sofa and chairs
Before
Dark blue living room with orange sofa and chairs
After!! The wall color is Benjamin Moore’s Gentleman’s Gray

Happy New Year, Gentle Readers! Please remember that we can always find room in our schedule for interesting, challenging projects like these. If you or a friend is ready to make your home beautiful and livable, please be in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

Annie Elliott | bossy color is a design firm based in Washington, DC. Annie’s design work has appeared in numerous local and national publications, most recently The Washington Post, Home & Design, Washingtonian magazine, and The New York Times.

Category: Dining roomTag: art, artwork, Augustine, Benjamin Moore, breakfast room, buffet, Carol Barsha, cheetah, Chris Trueman, dining chairs, dining room, drapes, Gentleman's Gray, GP & J Baker, green lamp, Karen Silve, Lee Jofa, Living room, navy blue, Nympheus, painting, sideboard, staircase, stairs, Thibaut, Trim color, wallpaper, white chairs

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The location of this built-in dresser is practical (between the first floor hallway and the powder room), but tbh, it looked a little odd until we intentionalized it with some grassy green paint. (Yep - I just made up that word. And I’m going to keep it 😉 Photo | @stacyzaringoldberg#annieelliott #annieelliottdesign #closetdecor #bedroomdecor #paintedfurniture #dresser #interiorstyling #interiorinspiration #interiorsandhome #homeinteriors #colorfullycollected

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Jun 25

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Sure, I love a fancy showroom—but if you want soul, patina, and weird little treasures, you need to get dusty. 💨👉My real sourcing happens in flea markets, antique stores, and the occasional estate sale.✨ That’s where the magic is. That’s where your home gets its character. Plus, it’s more fun than a mall and you might come home with a lamp that looks like a pineapple. 🍍Win-win.......#vintagestyle #antiqueshopping #eclectichome #antiques #vinatgefinds #designhunt #interiordesignerlife #interiorsandhome #dmvdesigner #interiordecor #interiorstyling #interiors

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Jun 24

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Let’s play “rules I’ve gleefully ignored,” shall we?
You must match your metals ❌
Small rooms can’t be dark ❌❌
Never mix patterns ❌ ❌ ❌
Design is supposed to be fun. If it makes you happy, it works. End of story.        Photos | @stacyzaringoldberg @mw.concepts #annieelliott #annieelliottdesign #designrules #kitchendesign #kitcheninspo #interiordetails #bedroomdesign #officedesign #interiorstyle #interiorandhome

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Jun 19

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Nothing says summer like a house that makes you slooooow down. I’m so lucky to have access to a family house in St. Michael’s…the spot is amazing, but we wanted to add a little somethin’ somethin’ to the sunroom. I leaned into the midcentury bones and brought in soft blues and reds to complement the  warm brick and beams. Now it’s got that relaxed, quiet energy that makes you want to pour a gin and tonic, sit still, and just be.📷 | @mw.concepts#annieelliott #annieelliottdesign #vacationhome #waterfronthomes #stmichaelshomes #midcenturyinteriors #midcenturymodernhome #interiordecor #interiorstyling #interiorinspiration #interiorsandhome

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Jun 17

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I was prepared to argue for this @leejofa wallpaper until I was blue in the face, but my client loved it immediately. Turned out the grannie-ness was a selling point, not an obstacle. I love it when my clients trust me! I gotta be honest: I’ve never regretted going too bold. Just playing it too safe. 📸 | @angieseckinger#annieelliott #annieelliottdesign #interiorstyling #interiorinspiration #interiorsandhome #wallpaper #hallwayinspo #leejofawallpaper #floralwallpaper #hallwaydecor #hallwaydesign #stairwellstyling #bolddesign

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Jun 12

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Squeeze the day! 🍊Cole and Son’s Arance wallpaper paired with @benjaminmoore’s high-gloss Strawberry Red has us drooling over this powder room. It’s the perfect reminder that a well-executed small space can be bold, bright, and irresistible!#annieelliott #annieelliottdesign #powderroom #bathroomdesign #bathroominspo #powderroomdesign #powderroomwallpaper #boldbathroom #bathroomwallpaper #coleandsonwallpaper

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Jun 10

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See what we did here? We painted the shelves the dark blue of the walls for a cohesive effect. Just the right amount of drama 🎭 Photos | @angieseckinger #annieelliott #annieelliottdesign #interiorsandhome #bookshelfstyling #builtins #builtinbookshleves #shelfstyling #livingroomstyle #decorinspo #homestyle #interiorinspo #livingroomdesign

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Jun 6

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Did I call an air vent a wart on the face of an otherwise beautiful person?😮‍💨 I did. And honestly? I stand by it.The New York Times asked how to deal with unsightly HVAC vents. I brought the metaphors and the solutions.✔️ Camouflage with furniture✔️ Use brushed metals or unlacquered brass✔️ Embrace a gallery wall✔️ Avoid murdering your houseplants with direct airflow (who knew?!)Huge thanks to @nytimes and writer @authordinacheney for digging into this design drama with me. And to Ed Janowiak of @acca_usa for bringing the science. 🙌 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/realestate/how-to-hide-hvac-vents.html

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Jun 5

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News flash, Gentle Readers: Your art CAN match your sofa, but it doesn’t have to. Swipe to see the pretty blue and green painting of the tree color-coordinating with the furnishings to make the room soothing and restful. It’s pretty! But, if you want to jazz things up, go for art that DOESN’T match. See the red painting? There’s no red in the room, save for those few accessories we added. The result is lively and energetic. It all depends on the feel you’re going for. (And don’t forget: whatever art you hang, you gotta love it. I insist.)Photo | @stacyzaringoldberg#annieelliott #annieelliottdesign #interiorstyling #interiorinspiration #livingroomart #interiorsandhome #beautifulinteriors #colorfullycollected #decorinspo #homestyle #artfilledhome #modernart #interiorinspo #livingroomdesign #livingroomstyle #starkcarpet #visualcomfort
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