STYLE AT HOME SEPTEMBER 2017
Turquoise, chartreuse and blush are hues you’d normally associate with an eclectic beachside abode with a dreamy Caribbean sunset, not a transitional interior in a big city. But in this newly built 4,200-square-foot Washington, D.C., home owned by a pair of recent empy nesters, the place and palette are in perfect harmony.
“The wife has always loved turquoise,” says designer Erica Burns, who collaborated with GTM Architects and Sandy Spring Builders to execute the look. “She told me the hue made her happy, so we ran with it!” Turquoise became the home’s principal unifying colour, seen on walls, furnishings and accessories, but it’s tempered by lots of neutrals. “We opted for mostly light beige walls, creamy upholstery and white oak floors,” says Erica. “An all-white backdrop would have read too cool, but warmer neutrals add movement and sophistication.”
That said, the use of vivid colour is what really distinguishes the home. It makes its statement as soon as you walk in the front door and look to the right: Glossy turquoise paint cloaks the panelled library, where the homeowners enjoy an evening cocktail or relax with their books.
“When you pick a strong colour like turquoise, the other hues you use should complement it, not compete with it,” says Erica of her almost painterly approach. So across from the saturated high-gloss library, the dining room walls are a soft blush shade, and the dining chairs a more muted turquoise. In the kitchen, soft chartreuse accents perk up adjacent furnishings and elevate the bold backsplash. Meanwhile, subtle patterns throughout the home echo the palette but never overwhelm it. “It’s important to employ hues in different doses and textures,” explains the designer.
From the wainscotting to the arched doorways to the coffered ceiling, beautiful architectural details make the bold colour choices read as sophisticated. Incorporating antiques alongside the clean-lined contemporary furnishings also imbues elegance, and metallic hits help. “I used warm brass and gold accents in the formal rooms for an Old World feel,” says Erica. “And in the back of the house, which is lighter and more casual, I worked oil-rubbed bronze into the lighting and kitchen hardware.”
The finished home is elegant and unexpected. “Some people would find these colours hard to integrate into a home while keeping it elegant,” she says, “but we are so happy we pulled it off!” It just goes to show that having the confidence to use colour and the daring to mix styles can yield unforgettable results.
