When the owner of a condo in Shirlington walked into Tchoupitoulas Furnishings in Old Town Alexandria, she took a look around and hired the shop’s owner, designer Alexandria Davenport, on the spot. Davenport—whose store’s motto is “tradition with a twist”—specializes in “balancing fun new finishes with Grandma’s sideboard,” the designer says. The condo featured industrial elements such as exposed concrete and ductwork, and the homeowner, who has a traditional sensibility, needed help melding the two aesthetics.
“I was given carte blanche,” Davenport recalls. “And I got to start from scratch with the furnishings—the only thing my client kept was a wine service.” Davenport honed in on a look that she terms “elegant but with a touch of modern.” She sourced furniture through her shop, starting in the living room with a customized sofa and tufted chairs by Theodore Alexander. Pieces blending wood and metal connect to the industrial elements in the room.
For example, a desk by Niermann Weeks, which doubles as a dining table when the owner has company, is made of wood with a curved metal base, while a modern metal coffee table by Amanda Nisbet for Niermann Weeks is finished in gold. And Davenport juxtaposed a traditional sideboard with an abstract canvas by Gretchen Fuss.
In a corner of the living area, the Pike Occasional Table by Niermann Weeks sounds a distinctive note with its playful pairing of a jagged design and a sumptuous, gold-leaf finish. “I try to create fun mixes,” Davenport says. “I take timeless pieces and add a little whimsy.”
Interior Design: Alexandria Davenport, Tchoupitoulas Furnishings, Alexandria, Virginia.
Alexandria Davenport’s Trade Secrets:
