Remodeling Brightens a Row House at Washington, D.C.

This Washington, D.C., household was ready for a simpler life if they discovered this historic row house on Capitol Hill — a good size but roughly half the square footage of their prior residence. While less space was expected (and desired), the home’s layout was due for an update. Contractor Darren Kornas, interior designer Jackie Sink and architect Steve Lawlor worked together to incorporate an airy interior that suited the household’s present furniture and eclectic style.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Two and their 3 teenage daughters
Location: Capitol Hill area of Washington, D.C.
Size: 2,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

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The row home’s southeast-corner location provides great light on either side, and Lawlor and Kornas completely gutted the home to open this up. A remodel in the 1980s had removed most of the home’s original details, so there wasn’t much to preserve.

Lawlor made the interior with gallery-like walls, cozy nooks and built-ins for plenty of screen opportunities. The dining room built-ins — just visible past the living room — hide a wall, add storage and generate a buffet.

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The family had plenty of existing furniture, but Sink nevertheless had her work cut out for her, since the furniture’s bigger scale didn’t always fit this smaller home.

Some pieces, however, could be used for drama — this massive mirror and chandelier in the dining room, for example.

Bar stools: CB2

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Lawlor and Kornas reshaped the interior layout, rearranging the floor plan along with moving the kitchen in the centre to the rear of the home.

The new color palette is based on the wonderful cement backsplash tiles from the kitchen. The tiles are set up in two little spaces, but they are visible from many points on the principal floor.

Tiles: Popham Design (no longer available)

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The kitchen’s fresh location was the home’s back porch. As in most row houses, the porch was enclosed, surrounded by a bank of windows. Lawlor maintained this look from the brand new kitchen replacing but replicating the first windows. Gray cabinetry and counters add to the style.

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The original miniature galley kitchen wasn’t much bigger than a hallway. Moving the kitchen to the back of this home gave it more light and additional square footage.

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Sink chose two Benjamin Moore colours — Light Pewter and Nimbus — to the cabinetry and the exterior, which help balance out the wood tones in the home. “All these are warmer grays, which are very comfortable to live with,” she states.

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Sink had the family’s old living room couch reupholstered. Durable, inexpensive painter’s drop cloths became custom slipcovers for the armchairs.

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Virtually everything else in this room, with the exclusion of this Pottery Barn carpet, is in the previous home or was discovered at a yard sale.

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Upstairs, one of the girls’ bedrooms feels fresh and youthful with soft sage-green walls and a bright paisley bedspread. Sturdy texture is added by A Pottery Barn jute carpet.

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The other two daughters share a bedroom, with a crisp navy, white and green palette inspired by this Serena & Lily duvet.

Over the beds Lawlor opened up the ceiling to expose false dormer windows — a frequent accession to row home facades. Light now pours through those vents. Sink painted the inside of every vent Pear Green from Benjamin Moore to get a lively touch.

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Long, open halls today join the bedrooms, preventing them from feeling overly closed off. Original wood floors run through the entire upstairs.

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White trim highlights conventional details from the master bedroom. A cozy custom-upholstered bed frame along with a lush Persian rug give this space a new look using classic fabrics and colours.

Trim paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore

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This corner view of the home indicates the enclosed rear porch, now the kitchen.

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The row home is one of many in this Washington, D.C., community. As it’s in a historic district, updates to the home’s exterior were confined to the exterior color.

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