Tour a Colorful Virginia Home Filled With Daring Design Moves

When Kristin and Lara Ramsey decided to refresh their home in Falls Church, Virginia, they figured they’d just add a few new paint colors and swap out some doorknobs. “Once we got started, we couldn’t stop,” says Kristin, an art therapist. “Now we’ve even redesigned the closets!”

The couple hired designer Sallie Lord and asked her to pull inspiration from Miami, one of their favorite vacation spots. Sallie canvased the walls with Extra White by Sherwin-Williams, then added bright furniture, art and accessories. She also carved out areas for the couple’s three kids — Forbes, 12, Campbell, 10, and Blythe, 7. “Every detail is bold but classic, and a little daring,” says Lara. “It’s how we try to live our lives.”

The custom front door was a gift from one of Lara and Kristin's oldest friends: "He's a talented woodworker and his wife officiated our wedding," says Kristin. Sallie put the family's heirloom grandfather clock next to it to bring out the natural wood tones. The couple's son uses the seating area to read. "He's into a lot of non-fiction stuff right now, like history, science and law," says Kristin. The chairs are from Four Hands, and the ottoman is from Anthropologie.

Sallie created a fun backdrop on the bookshelves by painting each a different color: “It acts like art,” she says. Kristin and Lara found the teal Joybird sofa on sale. “I’d been drooling over it for years and am obsessed with the color, and we finally found it at the right price,” says Kristin. The rug is from Pottery Barn.

Paint colors: (from left) Hot, Loveable, Osage Orange, Bluebell and Swimming by Sherwin-Williams

The couple wanted this space to look bright and airy, so Sallie stuck to a mostly white palette and painted the chairs around the dining table shades of pink (Forward Fuchsia, Impatiens Petal and Cyclamen, all by Sherwin-Williams). “It was a cool way to bring in color using something they already had!” Sallie says. The chandelier is by Global Views.

Before Sallie turned this nook into a bar, it was an empty wall where Kristin and Lara hung houseplants. Sallie added cabinets, a wine fridge and a mini fridge, which the family fills with sparkling water. The Walker Zanger tile and vintage glassware give the space a splash of color.

The family gathers here for formal dinners, especially during the holidays and when the grandparents visit. The Anthropologie mirror is popular with the couple’s daughters. “They like to pose in front of it like models,” says Kristin. The butterfly chandelier is from Visual Comfort & Co., and the plush pink chairs are from Wayfair.

Kristin and Lara wanted their kids to have a place where they could express themselves, so they covered the walls of the basement with chalkboard paint. The “create” sign is from Etsy. They might redo the carpet in a few years — but there’s no rush. “Right now the kids can spill paint on it and we don’t care at all,” says Kristin.

This is Kristin’s favorite room from the redesign. After she saw Sallie’s plan for magenta wainscotting (painted Forward Fuchsia by Sherwin-Williams), she asked if they could use this Emma J Shipley wallpaper on top. “It’s so mythical and unique, and not what I’d expect for a bathroom,” says Kristin. “The whole space feels like a comforting but dramatic cave,” says Lara.

The couple bought the Oliver Gal prints years ago off of Instagram and used them to build the color scheme for the rest of the house. "When we found these prints, we knew we wanted the entire house to have the same cool and playful energy," says Lara. The bed is from Pottery Barn Teen, and the wardrobe and nightstands are from Anthropologie.

“For someone committed to living life outside of the closet, I really do love this one!” says Lara. Sallie put Lindsay Cowles wallpaper on the ceiling, along with a chandelier from Hudson Valley Lighting. “A gorgeous closet makes getting dressed easier,” says Lara.

The plan here was to create a space that was both serene and glamorous. Sallie suggested wall tile from Audrey Lane and herringbone floor tile from TileBar, but the tub is the real star: “I play a lot of tennis and love to relax afterward with a magnesium salt bath,” says Lara.

Sallie made this family entryway bright and welcoming with light blue paint (Swimming by Sherwin-Williams), brushstroke wallpaper from Wallquest and yellow floor tiles from TileBar. The framed art was created by the kids and Kristin. “We each drew our own interpretation of sunshine,” she says.