After a young family bought a recently updated Craftsman-style home in Washington, DC, they quickly realized they’d need a more functional first floor to accommodate their newborn baby, dog, and no shortage of visiting relatives and friends. The homeowners enlisted the help of New York–based interior designer Eneia White to help define the open-concept main level, including the kitchen, dining room, living room, and entry.
“It was fun building zones for this project,” says White. “They needed the furniture and finishes to help create definition. Open concept spaces can be somewhat difficult for new homeowners, as we have to weave selections from each space in a way that feels cohesive—with the illusion that it was collected and created over time.”
While the home receives a healthy dose of natural light, the existing decor lacked definition. White landed on an unexpected black-on-black color palette that created what she calls a “softer, more approachable” side to the shade.
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“We tend to lean on more uplifting colors to make spaces dynamic, so we took a risk going dark,” she says. “But I love the boldness of this tone-on-tone marriage.” Thanks to an abundance of interesting textures, quirky shapes, and the cozy scale of the furnishings, the home still feels warm and inviting.
A custom sectional by Kravet was fabricated with entertaining in mind: ample seating, deep cushions for lounging, and a performance fabric. It “ate up the budget” and had a 30-week lead time, White reports but “The wait was worth it. It’ll be a staple in their home for years to come.”
The homeowners requested a longer kitchen island for hosting, and instead of having a new island made, White shopped for a cabinet style to mimic the existing frame of the island. It was added onto one end before the new countertops were templated.
White kept additional kitchen renovations to a minimum by painting cabinets—Sherwin Williams Caviar—and swapping the backsplash for a high gloss tile by Nasco. “The slightly textured and reflective backsplash tile reflects light, and the brass pendants over the island add a hint of tradition,” says White. “Playing with a typically heavy color was a really fun challenge."
Kitchen
Black Sherwin Williams Caviar cabinetry and a black Nasco Stone + Tile backsplash create dimension. The cream midcentury counter stools by Rove Concepts add contrast, and brass pendant lights by Shades of Light reflect natural light to keep the look from straying too dark.
Dining Room
White painted the brick fireplace in Sherwin Williams Extra White, then created a tuxedo-like effect with a black dining table and black dining chairs, both by Nuevo Living. The graphic black-and-white art is by Leftbank. The walls and tray ceiling are painted Sherwin Williams Modern Gray.
Living Room
The star of the space is an extra-deep custom sectional by Kravet in a neutral performance fabric perfect for a young family. The media credenza is by Universal Furniture, and the coffee table is Ballard Designs.
Entry
Textural pieces draw the eye in the entry, like a console by Hooker Furniture, table lamp by Circa, and mirror by Ballard Designs.
