It was a real find,” enthuses Julie Geyer, referring to a spacious, 100-year-old Capitol Hill row house her clients recently acquired. The newly renovated abode lacked character, so the owners tapped her to inject personality and a fresh, clean-lined sensibility into the main-floor spaces. “They wanted to honor the home’s history while making it feel new,” the designer recounts. “And they wanted to be pushed a little.”

Geyer embraced a palette of strong and distinctive colors—from the saturated blue of the dining room to accents of rust that embellish the bright and airy living room and foyer. Among the details that elevate each space: picture frame moldings, Black Edition wallpaper on the foyer ceiling and a moody, evocative mural on the dining room wall.

EXPERT INSIGHTS
Advice from designer Julie Geyer

• When a room feels flat, picture frame moldings help bring dimension. They also showcase wallpaper and murals as art.
• I designed a custom radiator cover for this project large enough to incorporate storage— a great tip in an older home where closets tend to be at a premium.
• To keep a classic look fresh, choose furniture that is a modern take on traditional.

Interior Design: Julie Geyer, Julie Geyer Studio, Bethesda, Maryland.