Step Inside a Colorful, Inspiring Home in Maryland

Leaving the city for the suburbs is always a big change, and for Maggie Sullivan and her husband, the move meant going from a world of blacks and grays to a home drenched in color. When the couple moved to Chevy Chase, Maryland, they painted their 1918 Dutch Colonial house in Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball, then filled the inside with vibrant hues that bring back memories of Maggie’s time in Puerto Rico. “Living there inspired my love of bright colors,” she says. She worked with designer Marika Meyer to create rooms that are fun and energetic but also practical enough for her and her husband’s busy life here with daughters Vivian, 11; Frida, 9; and Ophelia, 6. Nearly every room includes blue accents, in particular turquoise, which holds special meaning to Maggie: She used to shop for turquoise on visits with her grandparents. “Someone once told me that turquoise was my ‘calming’ color and I think it’s still true,” she says. “I love the surprise element that comes with combining it in unique ways.”

The design for this space started with the rug. Marika chose a matching Holly Hunt fabric for the Highland House sofas and a striped Romo fabric for the armchair. The room is a favorite of the Sullivan girls: “We used to have one couch, but we got a second because they would fight over who got to sit there!” Maggie says.

The family loves to cook and needed a wide island with room to spread out. Architect Jim Rill’s solution: Build the new kitchen where the patio used to be! Maggie chose the dramatic backsplash. “We were looking for funky tile, and when I saw this Waterworks option I wanted as much of it as possible,” she says. “I love that it looks like fish scales.”

This space, outfitted with a durable John Boos tabletop and Arteriors chandelier, fulfilled Maggie’s wish for a cozy sitting area. “We gather here as a family, and everyone shares one challenge from the day and one thing that brought us happiness.”

The Sullivans refer to this space as the “fancy room” in part because of the luxe fabrics like raspberry-hued Osborne & Little upholstery on the Ligne Roset sofa. “I’ve never really considered myself a pink person, but I’ve embraced it as a mother of girls,” Maggie says. The iridescent coffee table is from Chairish, and the patterned pillows are from designer Marika’s own line. "It’s been a delight to watch how the colors came together in our house," says Maggie.

Tulip and Teddy, the family’s two Portuguese water dogs, make the most use of this spot, which Maggie loves for its tall windows. The hanging chair is from Serena & Lily and the sofa is covered in fabric designed by one of Maggie’s favorite artists, Josef Frank. "I had yellow walls in my childhood bedroom, and seeing them again brings back a certain cheerfulness," Maggie says.

Maggie said she wanted to infuse this space with girly energy. Marika and millworker Danish Builders designed the pink vanity, then added jewelry-esque drawer pulls from LookInTheAttic. “I love the brightness of the gold fixtures with the feminine vanity,” Maggie says. "It’s so cool that this vanity doesn’t look typical. It’s like a piece of furniture."

Middle daughter Frida’s fascination with pandas inspired the black-and-white walls and decor. “It was a way to incorporate something she loves, and it’s a room she can grow into,” Maggie says. Yellow accents, like the Liven Up Design daybed, are a nod to one of Frida’s favorite colors.