Tour a Bold, 1900s-Era Row Home in Washington D.C.

People usually don’t want drama in their lives — unless their home calls for it. That’s how Sapna Mehta and Andy Grimmig felt about the row house they bought in Washington, D.C. Built in 1911, it had glorious 10-foot-high ceilings, but a lot of the place’s ornate detail had been stripped away. Similarly sad: “Some parts were stuck in the ’70s, like wood-panel walls and linoleum countertops,” says Sapna. Guided by architect Carmel Greer, they reinvented the house, knocking down walls for a better flow and putting in high-impact elements like beaux-arts-style marble mantels, extra-thick crown molding painted glossy black and reclaimed heart pine herringbone floors.

With two kids, livability was key, which meant lots of open space and soft (stainproof!) fabrics. The result? A home that’s comfy and all sorts of chic. As Sapna says, “ ‘Family-friendly’ doesn’t have to mean ‘boring.’ ” Here, Sapna and Andy sit with Livia, 1, and Rumi, 4, in the family's living room.

Don’t let the fanciness fool you: Kids regularly flop onto the custom navy velvet sofa and caramel-color leather chairs from DwellStudio and chill on the suzani rug by Timothy Paul. A large distressed mirror from ABC Carpet & Home rounds out the room’s mix of modern and vintage.

Supersized built-ins are as ornamental as they are functional. “I love that our art objects and books have room to breathe,” says Sapna. A quest for a showstopping mantel for the new gas fireplace led her to this black marble one from MantelCraft. What’s missing: chairs and a coffee table — more room for the kids to cartwheel!