The Story of Jason Reynolds' Cool and Creative Row Home

Jason Reynolds tells stories for a living — he’s the best-selling author of more than a dozen young adult novels, and also the coauthor of a recent book about racism. It makes sense, then, that when he went searching for a new home in Washington, D.C., in 2018, one with character and history was important to him. “Many places didn’t have stuff like the old moldings and doorknobs I was looking for,” he says. Then he discovered a 1,054-square-foot row house that was the perfect size and layout. Originally built in 1922, it had been completely renovated. “It was pretty much a clean white box, exactly the opposite of what I wanted,” he says. But he liked the idea of putting his spin on it (naturally), centered around the new and vintage art he collects. He teamed up with Annie Elliott, a designer and art historian. “We brought in bold colors in just the right places,” Annie says, “along with furnishings that look like they’ve been in the family for generations.” And now, everywhere you look, there’s a tale to tell.

The midcentury bookcase: It's from Chairish and shows off rare books — including a signed first edition of Toni Morrison's Beloved — and a rotating display of collected objects.

The style: “I always wanted to live in a classic row house, not some big fancy building with all that glass,” says Jason. “I’ve spent a lot of time in hotels because of work and didn’t want to live in one.”

The simplicity: “What sets this house apart from others on the block is what it doesn’t have — no added porch or awning,” he says. The deep gray color and black trim also help the home look streamlined and modern.

That yellow wall: Jason may wear exclusively black — “so much easier!” — but when Annie suggested painting the two-story gray wall an egg-yolk hue (Sun Valley by Benjamin Moore), he was all in. It brings out the paneling.

Those framed papers: Hung above the rustic-looking table from Urban Outfitters, a frame holds contents from Jason’s grandmother’s wallet, including her first application for a government job and voter registration card. “The right to vote was still fairly new for Black people,” he says. “You can trace a life history in these papers, and the story of her persistence.”

The gallery wall: The bigger piece right above the television is by Alim Smith, a self-described Afro-surrealist. Says Jason, “I like the distortion of it.”

That sofa: “I’ve always wanted a couch that looked like an old chesterfield,” says Jason, who stalked them for years at antiques fairs before going for this velvet beauty by Article.

Those carved wood mirrors: A mismatched vintage pair reminds Jason of the mix of wood and pattern in his childhood home. “My dad and I have been on a lot of antiquing trips,” he says.

The poem on the wall: It’s calligraphed on an old door. “My friend Jason Douglas Griffin made it 15 years ago — I wrote the words. It’s about my mother coming home from a hospital after getting treatment for cancer.”

That framed quilt: Jason bought this quilt by Bisa Butler when she was an emerging artist; today, her work is exhibited in museums such as the Smithsonian.