Better Homes and Gardens

A young couple
freshens up a
historic home in
Washington, D.C.
written and produced by charlotte safavi
photos helen norman
styling jessica thomas
Kathryn and Ron Ivey
upped the curb appeal
of their rowhouse,
opposite, with new
window boxes, a stone
walkway, and a
wrought-iron fence.
The foyer introduces
Kathryn’s style, which
is equal parts tradition
(the Afghan carpet and
blue-and-white
ceramics) and whimsy
(penny tiles spelling out
the house number).
A vented box
hides the
radiator and
makes a handy
hall shelf.
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alk about sweat equity. For Kathryn and Ron Ivey, fixing up their
Washington, D.C., house meant weekends spent swinging sledgehammers
and hauling away three layers of flooring. “We literally put our blood,
sweat, and tears into this house,” says Kathryn, who even put a leg
through the basement ceiling when she accidentally stepped in a hole
where an old vent had been.
What made it all worth it? In a word, bones. The 1890s rowhouse in
the coveted Capitol Hill neighborhood has huge windows, 10-foot-high
ceilings, architectural details galore, and a finished English basement
(a studio apartment with a separate entry) that’s perfect for Kathryn’s
interior design office. The couple further accentuated the positives by
refinishing the original wood floors and widening doorways.
For the decorating, Kathryn took what you could call a black-and-white
approach. White walls and black trim make a crisp backdrop for a mix
of traditional furniture; intense hits of fuchsia, teal, and red; and bold
patterns used in high-impact spots like the living room’s round ottoman.
“I grew up in the South, so traditional style is in my blood, but I wanted to
interject a youthful, fresh twist,” Kathryn says. Mission accomplished.
“We wanted a warm,
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Kathryn and Ron
were thrilled to find a
brick fireplace behind
layers of plaster. They
added built-in shelves
to store books and
logs and to disguise
an unsightly radiator.
Kathryn pulled juicy
colors from the
upholstered ottoman
for pillows and throws
that liven up her
traditional furniture,
which is pulled into a
cozy grouping.
LESS IS MORE
When a mantel
is one too many
horizontal lines,
it’s OK to skip it.
approachable place that’s also
playful.”
Kathryn Ivey
“We knew this house could become a
beautiful,warm home
Black paint
highlights the
architectural
details.
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with a lot of elbow grease.”
Kathryn Ivey
In the dining room,
left, contrasts in color
and style make a
traditional space look
modern. The striped
rug and sleek black
chairs set off the
humble wood farm
table, and an oversize
wrought-iron
chandelier from
Wisteria stands out
against white walls. In
the kitchen, below,
replacing oak cabinets
with shelves and a
subway tile backsplash
lightened up what had
been a dreary room.
Dark grout and
countertops continue
the black-and-white
theme. A marbletopped table from
Crate & Barrel, right, is
food-prep surface,
serving space, and
breakfast spot. The
shelf below holds
kitchen appliances and
serving pieces.
In the master bedroom,
opposite, Kathryn
mixes masculine
elements like the black
nightstands and a
tailored headboard
with more feminine
hummingbird
wallpaper and lavender
Roman shades. The
vanity, this page, was
a $10 garage sale find.
Its curvy lines and
ornate hardware are
modernized by a chair
in fearless red.
For complete buying information: BHG.com/Resources
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