A Dupont Circle rowhouse gains new life and a modern aesthetic with a complete renovation.
Schumacher fabric lines the Vanguard chairs
THE PROJECT
A bachelor who lives in a Dupont Circle rowhouse wanted his property to undergo a top-to-bottom renovation—the previous owner had lived there 40 years, and the home needed a clean, modern look. Before the gut renovation, the house was traditional, with crystal chandeliers, a dark black marble bathroom and floral wallpaper everywhere. Heavy moldings loomed over the fireplaces and weighed down trim in every room.
Lighting from Oly Studio graces the living room.
THE TEAM
The homeowner selected renowned designer Samantha Friedman, founder of Samantha Friedman Interior Designs (samanthafriedmaninteriors.com), to oversee the project. “For the most part, we kept the primary footprint intact but knocked down a few walls and completely reconfigured the primary bathroom,” says Friedman, whose design aesthetic for the project was tailored and masculine but not overly heavy. “I always believe in layering fabrics and textures to create a warmer environment,” she says. “I love neutrals mixed with bold patterns for a pop of personality and color. I like blending traditional elements with modern lines to create a more classic and cleaner look.”
Friedman also has a simple mantra: Designs for the client, not for her own sensibilities. “I always have my spin on a project to make it unique, but it’s their home. My goal is to push the client just enough that they wouldn’t have selected what I’m showing them, but they love it.”
The design team brightened every room.
THE GOALS
The homeowner entertains frequently, especially for events related to his job. He wanted a home that flowed seamlessly from room to room. “We opened areas up, used a continuous color palate throughout the main areas and employed moveable furniture.”
THE CHALLENGES
“The house is over 100 years old, so everything about the renovation proved difficult,” says Friedman. “The plumbing and HVAC had to be changed, and the walls were plaster, making things more difficult.” The team got creative with the layout in the living room by placing a bench in front of the fireplace and layering a small Oriental rug over a wool sisal rug that ran the length of two seating areas.
A masculine and modern aesthetic graces the home
LIVING ROOM
Friedman’s goal for this entertainment hub combines tonesetting comfort and elegance. Guests discover a glass wall sculpture, tile on the fireplace, a velvet-framed bench and accent tables from Made Goods (madegoods.com) affixed with mirrors. Other standout pieces include Schumacher (schumacher.com) fabric lining the backs of Vanguard chairs (vanguardfurniture.com), a sofa from Hickory Chair (hickorychair.com) and a concrete table and light fixture from Oly Studio (olystudio.com).
The dining room boasts Omexco wallpaper.
DINING ROOM
“This room was so fun to design!” says Friedman. “It’s masculine and warm, with a table and chairs from Hickory Chair.” Accent pieces deliver abundant style, including chair covering from Edelman Leather (edelmanleather.com), accessories from West Elm (westelm.com), a light fixture and sconces from Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting (finearthl.com) and art from The Art Registry (theartregistrydc.com). The Omexco (omexco.com) wallpaper is cut and paneled to accommodate the artwork.
The kitchen features R Bratti granite countertops.
KITCHEN
Friedman’s team maintained the kitchen’s footprint but opened the space to create a dining area. “The only way to get the table to fit was to build in a banquette,” she says. “The house was very dark, but it had these great skylights and windows, so we lightened the cabinets to make the space feel open. We also used wallpaper to unify the space.” The custom table is by Tritter Feefer (tritterfeefer.com), and the chairs are from Vanguard. R Bratti (rbratti.com) granite lines the counters, and Visual Comfort (visualcomfort.com) lighting adds warm lumens to the space.
Designer Samantha Friedman loves the bold colors in the primary suite, a constrast to other rooms.
PRIMARY SUITE
To contrast the home’s masculine tones, Friedman says color is the operative word in this space. The room shines with a bed and chairs from Hickory Chair. Luxurious fabric, including the headboard, comes from Romo (romo.com), and the shagreen benches were sourced from Made Goods. A wool carpet from Carpet Impressions (carpetimpressions.com) lines this gorgeous sanctuary.
A soaking tub offers a quiet sanctuary off the primary suite.
HOW THE HOME IS LIVING
“My client loves the home,” says Friedman. “He hosts many events, and the spaces are perfect for working and living at home. It’s light, airy and just formal enough while still comfortable.”
DESIGN DETAILS
HOME TYPE
Rowhouse
LOCATION
Dupont Circle
DESIGNER
Samantha Friedman
Samantha Friedman
Interior Designs
samanthafriedmaninteriors.com
RESOURCES
Made Goods
Accent tables, living room
madegoods.com
Schumacher
Chair fabric, living room
schumacher.com
Vanguard
Chairs, living room and kitchen
vanguardfurniture.com
Hickory Chair
Sofa, living room; bed and chairs, primary suite
hickorychair.com
Oly Studio
Table and lighting, livingroom
olystudio.com
Edelman Leather
Chair covering, dining room
edelmanleather.com
West Elm
Accessories, dining room
westelm.com
Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting
Lighting, dining room
finearthl.com
The Art Registry
Art, dining room
theartregistrydc.com
Omexco
Wallpaper, dining room
omexco.com
Tritter Feefer
Table, kitchen
tritterfeefer.com
R Bratti
Countertop granite, kitchen
rbratti.com
Romo
Headboard fabric, primary suite
romo.com
Carpet Impressions
Carpet, primary suite
carpetimpressions.com
Photography by: JESSE SNYDER
