Before+After: Design – Home & Design Magazine
Designer Erin Paige Pitts takes a traditional DC dining room from stodgy to stylish
“My clients purchased their home in Northwest DC, then hired me to overhaul the traditional rooms in fresh, kid-friendly and transitional style,” says Erin Paige Pitts. “The dining room was an important component because it connects to the living room, kitchen and family room, which makes it a hallway of sorts. Even though we wanted to be able to seat 10 to 12 at the dining table with extensions, we had to keep the flow open.”
Then | Now |
The dining room was dark and drab, with deep-red walls and not much natural light. The centrally located space connecting other main-floor rooms needed to make an impact. | Pitts enlivened the dark room with a strong shot of color “to make it memorable,” she says. Sherwin Williams’ turquoise-blue Open Seas inspired the color palette in the adjoining rooms. |
Boring, dark-stained furniture contributed to the feeling of stodginess, as did a classic Oriental rug with strong primary colors. | Pitts exchanged wood-framed dining chairs for light velvet-upholstered seating by Mr. & Mrs. Howard for Sherrill. A creamy Kravet rug now covers the floor, with matching drapes in Romo fabric. |
The room had no stand-out features. | Original artwork, including an abstract canvas by Deborah Barlow, adds interest. A Currey & Company chandelier imparts sparkle. |
Interior Design: Erin Paige Pitts, Erin Paige Pitts Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland.