Home & Design

BEFORE

INTERIORS: Before & After

Designer Elizabeth Reich marries cozy and chic in a Bethesda living room
“My clients asked for a place where they’d want to sit and relax rather than a room that they’d just walk by.”
— Elizabeth Reich
THEN
NOW

The living room was nondescript, with beige walls and few architectural details to give it character. There was no room to display collectibles.Reich painted walls and trim in Benjamin Moore’s Gunmetal, a rich gray that modernizes the room while keeping it cozy. A wall of custom built-ins adds interest and display space.

Housing a hodgepodge of old furniture, the space lacked balance and harmony.Symmetry rules in a furniture grouping that includes twin Bernhardt sofas, coffee tables and armchairs. Low-slung stools at the entrance maintain openness.

Bare windows and a dearth of artwork contributed to a feeling of coldness. A stylish mid-century chandelier went unnoticed against the humdrum backdrop.Schumacher drapes soften the lines of the windows. Antiqued-gold drapery hardware picks up the finish on the chandelier, which pops against the gray walls. A colorful abstract painting by Baltimore artist Kelly Walker was commissioned for the space.

Interior Design: Elizabeth Reich, Jenkins Baer Associates, Baltimore, Maryland.

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HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

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