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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

Greater Washington DC

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The Wedding Cake House: Thanks, Home & Design!

Annie Elliott | September 3, 2018

Wow! Thank you, Julie Sanders and Home & Design!

Magazine showing exterior of contemporary home

The September/October edition of Home and Design magazine features one of my favorite projects, the “Wedding Cake House” in Northwest DC.

Yellow 19th century mansion with front porch
The “Wedding Cake House.” Photo by Jenn Verrier

The 1898 house was so nicknamed because of the detailing on the frieze of the front porch: swags of greenery and bows that resembled iced decorations on a cake.

Detail of historic frieze on front porch
Architectural detail of the front porch

The house underwent a major renovation by Treacy Eagleburger Architects before the current residents moved in. As for my part of the project…take a peek at the foyer. The light green sponge painting was tired and outdated, and the built-in bench was neglected.

Before (picture from the real estate listing)

We removed the chair rail, painted the walls a cheerful ivory, added a custom cushion and pillows to the built-in bench, and substituted area rugs for custom-cut broadloom to expose more of the beautiful heart pine floors. The result is a light and bright family-friendly foyer and stairwell.

Formal historic residential foyer and staircase
After. Photo by Angie Seckinger

There are more pictures in the article — I hope you enjoy it! It’s a special house, and it was a privilege and a delight to work on it.

Yellow living room with painting of Chinese man
Living room — formerly the dining room — of the “Wedding Cake House.” Photo by Angie Seckinger

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, Washingtonian magazine, and The New York Times.

Category: RenovationTag: foyer, historic house, Home & Design, magazine article, news story, stairwell, Wedding Cake House

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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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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

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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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