When a couple hailing from a traditional abode in Louisiana moved to a circa-1900 Capitol Hill row house, they tapped Andrea Houck to reimagine its outdated interiors. The owners wished to honor the home’s historic bones while creating a fresh, lively vibe. “The wife loved the charm and was comfortable maintaining the traditional aesthetic,” Houck says. “I was tasked with redecorating the main-floor living and dining rooms.”

A Pierre Frey embroidered-silk pattern of delicate foliage and butterflies provided the jumping-off point for the unexpected design scheme, which layers classic style with airy, feminine overtones. The favored fabric took a front-and-center role as an elaborate, decorative window treatment in the living room. “We pulled colors from that cornerstone textile for other design elements, from the soft lavender-gray hue on the walls to the upholstery and accent fabrics,” Houck recounts.

A faux finish by Billet Collins on the existing fireplace duplicated the original marble, which was damaged. Houck selected a Hickory Chair ottoman in playful Romo cut velvet, while velvet Kravet Couture chairs create a cozy spot by the bay window. Antique demi-lune consoles flank the fireplace.

In the adjacent dining room, Houck took her cues from an existing grass-cloth wall covering that clad the hallway and stairwell nestled between the living and dining rooms. “We decided to keep it and repeat it in the dining room,” explains Houck, who chose a rich, gold Kravet wall covering just like it that adds elegance in the dining room; on an accent wall, the grass cloth is embellished with a tree-of-life pattern that echoes the draperies’ garden theme in similar shades of lavender and green. The fireplace was faux-painted to look like its original mahogany; it complements dark-wood Hickory Chair furnishings that are both stylish and comfortable.

Interior Design: Andrea Houck, A. Houck Designs, Arlington, Virginia.