Amanda Chando believes in the power of interior design to sway our mood and stir our emotions. “It’s really important that every day you’re surrounded by pieces, colors and textures that make you happy,” asserts the designer, who operates an Annapolis-based studio and showroom.

She and husband Ben Chando, a builder who recently hung out his own shingle, have embraced that brief in the Severna Park, Maryland, home they share with their three young daughters. But it’s been a gradual process.

Having successfully overhauled their previous residence just down the street, the couple was ready for a new challenge. They purchased their current dwelling in 2019 with the intent to renovate it and move on to the next project before long. They started by reconfiguring the layout of the two-story, 1965 home, making it more livable by today’s standards. “We gutted the whole house,” recounts Ben. “It was a traditional Colonial, very compartmentalized.”

The existing galley kitchen was particularly tight. Eliminating a guest bedroom and bath at the front of the house allowed it to expand into an L shape. Off the kitchen, a two-story addition brought the home’s total square footage to 4,900. On the main level, it houses an in-law/au pair suite and mudroom; a new primary suite sits above.

The duo made many early decisions with resale in mind. “We emphasized the building quality—the trim, the door selections, the flooring material, the bathroom tile,” explains Amanda. “I wanted someone to walk in and see that we really cared—and would then want to buy the home.” The reclaimed, white oak floor planks they installed throughout the house illustrate that point.

“We redid everything but kept the character of the original house,” Ben reveals. “When we did the addition, we wanted it to look like it had always been there.”

Only better. “The goal was not just to maintain the house’s character but also to bring in additional character,” adds Amanda. “That’s always been our thing for any project we work on together.”

In an unexpected plot twist, the family settled into the revamped spaces and decided to stay put indefinitely. For Amanda, that meant it was time to rethink some of their safer choices and bring in more personality. “The house was beautifully built but it was not fully designed and decorated,” she discloses. “It needed to reflect us. So now I’ve been adding the finishing touches that make it a home.”

In this second phase, creamy walls have been repainted or papered. The foyer, for example, was treated to a wildflower-printed grasscloth. An aged-pink paint color was the designer’s revised choice for the living room walls. As she explains, “I leaned into mood.”

The kitchen’s dramatically veined quartzite countertops and backsplash were installed during the initial redo. Recently, though, a taupe-colored subway tile went up on the walls. The designer-homeowner channeled an English countryside spirit in the mudroom, wrapping the walls in a poppy-motif paper and jazzing up the built-in cabinetry with deep-blue paint. “We’ve gone all in at this point,” she says, laughing.

A collected mix of eclectic furnishings and vintage artwork fills the spaces. Upholstery and accent fabrics provide vibrant pops. “I’m very influenced by English design,” Amanda reveals. “I absolutely love mixing colors, patterns and layers.”

The rejiggered and expanded second floor houses the three girls’ bedrooms, as well as the new primary suite. An upstairs laundry room was added during the renovation; in the tricked-out space, a hexagonal floor-tile design whimsically spells “WASH.”

Work on her own homes, as it turned out, sparked Amanda’s interest in interiors. After stints in fashion and sales, she launched her firm, Details and Design, in 2018. Clients often are drawn to her knack for crafting moodier moments. The husband and wife frequently collaborate on client projects and recently expanded their reach to Sarasota, Florida.

They enjoy sharing their now-five-bedroom abode with appreciative family and friends. The best feedback they’ve received? “A friend came in and said “It feels so homey in here,’” recounts Amanda. “There you go.”

Interior Design: Amanda Chando, Details and Design, Annapolis, Maryland, and Sarasota, Florida. Renovation Contractor: Benjamin Chando, Parker Wren, LLC, Severna Park, Maryland.

RESOURCES

LIVING ROOM

Paint: Dead Salmon & Jitney by farrow-ball.com. Jute Rug: momeni.com. Wooden Settee: wovenshop.com. Wooden Settee Fabric: schumacher.com. Beige Sofa & Sofa Fabric: leeindustries.com. Sofa Trim: temperleylondon.com; romo.com. Wooden Chest, Mirror, Small Stool & Desk: antique. Coffee Table: madegoods.com. Desk Chair: custom. Desk Chair Fabric: zakandfox.com. Roman Shades: theshadestore.com. Roman Shade Tape: schumacher.com.

FOYER

Wallpaper: papier.com. Entry Tile: msisurfaces.com. Console, Cupboard & Mirror: antique. Sconces: hueylightshop.com. Ceiling Fixtures: visualcomfort.com. Paint: Treron & Hopper Head by farrow-ball.com. Rug: stantoncarpet.com through annapoliscarpetandfloors.com. Trim: schumacher.com.

POWDER ROOM

Tile: tilebar.com. Light Fixture: hvlgroup.com. Mirror: antique. Sink: palmerindustries.com. Paint: Brinjal by farrow-ball.com. Plumbing Fixture: signaturehardware.net through walterworkshardware.com.

KITCHEN

Cabinets: medallioncabinetry.com. Countertop/Backsplash: marblemantelinc.com. Pendants: lostine.com. Sconces: hvlgroup.com. Center Table: antique. Stools: fourhands.com. Backsplash Tile: sonomatilemakers.com through architessa.com. Plumbing Fixtures: brizo.com through build.com. Ovens: Thermador.com. Hardware: lostine.com; dlvdesigns.com.

LAUNDRY

Tile: architessa.com. Washer & Dryer: electrolux.com through abwappliances.com. Wallpaper: scalamandre.com. Cabinets: medallioncabinetry.com. Curtain Fabric: Classic Cloth through wellstextiles.com. Sink: rejuvenation.com. Plumbing Fixtures: brizo.com through build.com.

MUDROOM

Flooring: cletile.com. Ceiling & Door Paint: Hay & Titmouse by farrow-ball.com. Wallpaper: coordonne.com. Millwork Design: D+D.