Magic happens when a DC designer moves into a new residence and discovers she wants to change everything.
Designer Shoshanna Shapiro swapped out builder-grade tile for Bedrosians Cloe tile.
THE PROJECT
Being your own client is a tricky proposition. There’s the issue of not having a counterweight to a flurry of ideas, plus the added pressure of second-guessing every bold move. But when designer Shoshanna Shapiro, principal at Sho and Co (shoshannaco.com), decided to move from Montgomery to Frederick County to be closer to family, she and her husband, who are now empty nesters, knew she needed to replace a builder-grade materials and finishes in her new 4,000-square-foot home.
Pendants from Regina Andrew grace the new kitchen.
THE DESIGNER
Over the years, Shapiro’s work has been notable for its organic and natural aesthetic punctuated with modern lines. “I personally love anything with texture and a connection to nature,” she says. “I’m not one to splash bold colors, but in certain areas, a dark contrast is a nice change. I want the interior of my home to flow seamlessly with the exterior.”
When she works with clients, Shapiro first searches to understand what makes them feel inspired and proud of their homes. From there, she improves a home’s functionality and creates spaces that are thoughtfully designed and easily maintained. “I pay attention to the small details and always leave the clients with a feeling of being heard and special. Each of my clients is unique, and it’s my job to ensure their home is so much better than they could imagine.”
THE GOALS
“After experiencing some serious health issues nine years ago, my life changed,” says Shapiro. “The way I lived changed as well. Feeling a sense of health and warmth became vital in the healing process. I became more minimal and wanted the items to feel natural and luxurious. Minimal luxury, with the presence of live plants and textures that resemble the beauty of nature, made me feel healthy in my home.” Shapiro says she also wanted to create an environment for large family gatherings, which was made easier by an open floor plan on the main level.
The home office
LIVING ROOM AND KITCHEN
These areas, says Shapiro, are the home’s hub. The designer and her team seamlessly brought together the area by creating separate zones. “The furniture placement helped accomplish this, but we also added a vintage room divider screen to provide a small sense of separation from the open eating area. That piece always makes me smile and adds a layer of character lacking in this new build,” she says.
The living room features a large sectional from Maiden Home
Shapiro selected a large sectional from Maiden Home (maidenhome.com) in off-white linen. “Knowing the color scheme will be natural and neutral, I chose a light-colored sofa so I can rotate out throw pillows and blankets to create a different feel throughout the seasons,” says Shapiro, who added a lounge chair from Four Hands (fourhands.com) with a boucle fabric and a light wood frame. A black metal glass door shelving unit from Four Hands holds a collection of books and vintage art Shapiro and her husband have collected over the years.
A Loloi (loloirugs.com) rug, with gray and taupe tones, lines the room, which also includes a round, distressed table from Classic Home (classichome.com) and a side table from Made Goods (madegoods.com). “I like to ensure there’s a good mix of materials when sourcing a room. This helps to create interest in the space, especially when highlighting texture and natural materials,” says Shapiro.
Shapiro crafted the dining room’s pendant, and the table is from Classic Home, with chairs from RH.
Adding character to the kitchen is a must when working with a new home, says Shapiro, who started with oversize pendants from Regina Andrew (reginaandrew.com). The pieces, crafted in ceramic and gold, scale perfectly above the oversize island. The design team chose stools from Essentials for Living (essentialsforliving.com); the pieces add the soft touch of texture to the space. “You just want to pull up and stay awhile—they’re so comfortable,” says the designer.
“We also added a long-neck gold faucet from Waterstone (waterstoneco.com) with a large white porcelain sink,” she says. “We swapped out the builder’s basic tile for Bedrosians (bedrosians.com) Cloe tile. The movement and color variation provide a handmade feel that the builder-grade home was lacking.”
DINING AREA
The cozy space has been a hit from the start, and its focal points are a light fixture that Shapiro made by hand and a table from Classic Home. Side chairs in a soft, buttery suede from RH (rh.com) surround the table, with end chairs (also from RH) encased in cushioned slipcovers.
In the owner’s suite, a black metal canopy bed from McGee & Co.
OWNER’S SUITE
Anchoring the room is a black metal canopy bed from McGee & Co. (mcgeeandco.com), layered with bedding from Parachute (parachutehome.com) and Boll & Branch (bollandbranch.com). “The nightstands from Noir (noirfurniturela.com) with the diamond pattern on the door are perfectly sized for this large room,” says Shapiro. “At the foot of the bed, we have a leather basket-weave bench from Saffron + Poe (saffronandpoe.com). The warm natural tone of the piece pairs well with the bleached walnut wood in the nightstands. Depth of textures and contrast are features that make this space feel so inviting.”
HOW THE HOME IS LIVING
Despite taking her time on the home and noting that her usual contractors were busy on other projects (“Clients always come first,” Shapiro says), the designer says the home is living perfectly and as planned. “It’s just great,” she says, which is a ringing endorsement for a designer Shapiro knows particularly well.
A metal glass door shelving unit from Four Hands.
DESIGN DETAILS
HOME TYPE
Single family
LOCATION
Suburban Maryland
DESIGNER
Shoshanna Shapiro, Sho and Co
shoshannaco.com
RESOURCES
Maiden Home
Sectional, living room
maidenhome.com
Four Hands
Lounge chair, living room
fourhands.com
Loloi
Rug, living room
loloirugs.com
Classic Home
Table, living room
classichome.com
Made Goods
Side table, living room
madegoods.com
Regina Andrew
Pendants, kitchen
reginaandrew.com
Essentials for Living
Stool, kitchen island
essentialsforliving.com
Waterstone
Faucet, kitchen
waterstoneco.com
Bedrosians
Cloe tile, kitchen
bedrosians.com
RH
Side and end chairs, dining area
rh.com
McGee & Co.
Canopy bed, owner’s suite
mcgeeandco.com
Parachute
Bedding, owner’s suite
parachutehome.com
Boll & Branch
Bedding, owner’s suite
bollandbranch.com
Noir
Nightstand, owner’s suite
noirfurniturela.com
Saffron + Poe
Bench, owner’s suite
saffronandpoe.com
Photography by: RYAN SHAPIRO PHOTOGRAPHY
