Brilliant blue walls. A bold chevron rug. Hints of orange and red.
Vibrant hues and graphic lines make this Chevy Chase home a looker—but there’s more to the story than a striking paint choice and an eye-catching pattern. The homeowner, a New Zealand native, wanted to find an interesting way to display his collection of international art in the first-floor library. He turned to local architect Doug Pettit of Landis Construction, who, after talking with the homeowner, decided to use Dutch painter Piet Mondrian as the muse for the space.
“As we talked about possibilites, it occurred to me that we might accentuate the dimensions of this small, exposed space,” Petit says. “I pictured floor-to-ceiling shelving that frames the window as one focal point within an asymmetrical system of cubbies. The cubbies would display selected collectibles. Mondrian says, ‘To create equilibrium among such disparate elements you have to find the golden ratio.’”
In the attached dining room, local interior designer Annie Elliot of Bossy Color used bright color and graphic patterns to complement the Mondrian-influenced library. Elliot chose a chevron flatweave rug from India, black-and-white furniture, and a bold blue paint while preserving the home’s original wainscoting and white tray ceiling. The result of Pettit and Elliot’s work: Midcentury meets global, to stunning effect.
Love the look but can’t hire the pros? You can recreate this look using similar (and reasonably priced) pieces—read on for details on how to do it.
Get the look: Sunset print, $19.76-$50.96 at Society6; Meridian Deco two-tier drum pendant light, $248 at Y Lighting; Benjamin Moore paint in Brilliant Blue; Wool chevron rug, $299 at Urban Outfitters; Parsons Myrtle top dining table, $599 at Crate & Barrel; Felix side chair, $79.95 at Crate & Barrel; Square lacquer tray in Fig, $44 at West Elm; Marin media console, $799 at Crate & Barrel.
The Library:
Get the Look: Waterscape seaglass vases and organic shaped serving bowl, $19-$34 at West Elm; Large ceramic horse, $425 at Jonathan Adler; Verena contoured display bookcase, $188.99 at Amazon; Speed by Naomi Atkinson framed art print, $37-$67 at Society 6; Jaipur Rugs Flux Smoke blue shag rug, $62-$615 at Wayfair; Pierre leather club chair, $278 at Hayneedle; Sunpan Modern Rocco end table, $50.99 at Wayfair; Jiti Kyle cotton pillow, $62.46 at Wayfair.
