Success stories
Graduating to a “grown-up” home, Arlington, VA
When their neighbors put their house on the market, the Hagan family of Arlington leapt at the chance to buy the place next door. As they upgraded their real estate, they decided to refresh their décor. “We’d been living like graduate students and we were ready to invest in some furniture,” says Karla Hagan.
Karla knew the style she liked, yet she faced so many decisions to be made. “I needed an outside perspective,” she says. She asked Suzanne to decorate her living room and home office, and help her choose a new dining room set.
As a mother of two and physics professor, Karla’s comfortable making calculations. “But when I buy for the home, I tend to think of the decisions individually: choosing a chair or a paint color. Suzanne can picture it all together,” says Karla.
One goal was to create a living room that flowed easily from the front door to the office and dining room. Suzanne found family-friendly furniture that fit in the odd-shaped rooms, and selected wall colors that worked together.
“Suzanne really understands the needs of a family and she’s flexible working with a budget. She would suggest several options and I could make the final decisions.”
Because the office and living room were adjoined, Suzanne recommended drapery to define the spaces and hide office activity. She also recommended some eclectic pieces that Karla has come to love: including a faux-bois carpet for the office and an orange leather chair for the living room. “It doesn’t feel like something out of a Pottery Barn catalog. Our home feels tailored, while being sensitive to our tastes and way of living.”
“We live in a grown-up house now! It feels like us and it’s comfortable—and it’s also beautiful.”
Karla’s recommendations when choosing a designer:
“Find someone you can easily communicate with. You’re going to need to be honest about what you do and don’t like. Suzanne brought great aesthetics and she was always sensitive to my reactions.”
Neglected basement transforms into friendly family room,
Arlington, VA
John and Dana Pulley had the typical basement—full of cast-off furniture, kids’ toys and a futon for the occasional guest—until they got serious about reclaiming their space and creating a haven the whole family could enjoy. They hired Suzanne to design a family room that would satisfy their kids’ need to play and their own desire to relax in a grown-up space.
No detail was overlooked. From the floor covering and the wall color to the furniture and throw pillows, now it all fits together.
At one end a kids’ zone features a moving game/art table on castors, a computer workstation and bookcases to store supplies, games and books. At the other end, adult space beckons with an inviting pullout couch, leather club chairs, media stand and movie-night flat-screen. Kids and grown-ups square off in the middle of the room at the foosball table. Suzanne tied it all together using fun, patterned carpet squares in warm hues.
“Having Suzanne make over our basement is one of the smartest things my wife and I have ever done as homeowners. We’ve added a whole other floor to our home,” says John Pulley, a writer. “She has a great eye for color, texture, layout, fabric and furniture—and the ability to combine those elements into a unified whole.”
“We’re thrilled with the result. The room is functional, fashionable and comfortable,” he adds. “Unlike some designers, Suzanne doesn’t have an agenda and she didn’t insist on doing things her way. She listens and makes suggestions, which we readily followed. Her recommendations were impeccable.”
John’s suggestions when choosing a designer:
“Be practical about what you’ve got time to do yourself. We installed our own carpet and bought most items ourselves, yet we really needed Suzanne’s advice on layout and product choices.”
Older home is refreshed for simple, styled elegance, Falls Church, VA
Deb and Barry Deville of Falls Church loved their 1940s home and leafy neighborhood, yet they were stumped when it came to making their great older house flow like today’s homes with open floor plans.
“We like to entertain but felt our spaces were crowded and weren’t conducive to large groups of people mingling,” says Deb Deville.
They contacted Arlington Home Interiors, hoping they could update their main living areas without resorting to a major remodel.
Because Deb and Barry had accumulated many possessions over time, Suzanne first encouraged the couple to de-clutter, which freed up valuable space. Next Suzanne proposed new plans for each room, with furnishing options at various price points.
“She impressed us with her ability to blend our current furnishings with new pieces to get the look we wanted,” says Deb.
Suzanne shared her Rolodex of preferred contractors who removed wallpaper, painted and installed window treatments. “Every contractor was totally professional, gave us exactly what we wanted (and more), and came in on schedule and budget,” she adds.
Barry DeVille thought white walls were the only solution, but some gentle coaxing helped him reconsider a neutral palette. The Devilles repainted their white walls with soothing, contemporary paint colors. “She really nailed it on our wall color choices. In fact, several of my neighbors have now used the same colors in their homes,” says Deb.
“What could have been a stressful redecorating experience became organized and, yes, I’ll say fun, with help and guidance from Arlington Home Interiors. I recommend the firm to anyone looking for help with a decorating challenge. We were so happy with the results that we’re using Suzanne for our next project.”
Deb’s recommendations for choosing a designer:
“Prioritize what’s most important for you to get done. That way, if you must you can complete your project in phases. Suzanne helped me by narrowing the scope to focus on furniture style and color choices.”
A peaceful retreat, Alexandria, VA
When Marina and Jim B. moved with their young son from a 1,200 traditional cape cod to a 3,600 square-foot home with contemporary architecture, they knew they needed some help. The busy family of three was looking for furniture and a clean-lined décor that would allow them to have adult spaces with a modern flair.
“We didn’t want to mess it up! We turned to Suzanne to help us find furniture, paint, and lighting that would work together,” says Marina. “Our last home was traditional and tiny and we had too much stuff everywhere.”
Before Suzanne, Marina had never worked with a designer: “I thought only rich people could afford the items that a designer picks out. But Suzanne doesn’t work like that.”
Instead Suzanne helped create a modern style with unique, handcrafted touches. Some of the special pieces include a custom, hand-loomed Tibetan carpet and a Thos. Moser bed, crafted in Maine to last a lifetime. The living room is anchored with an ultra-contemporary, white leather sectional.
Their favorite design feature is the new artwork. “You may know what you like, but we’d never commissioned a piece of art. Suzanne introduced us to the contemporary artist Allen Levy. We bought a few of his finished pieces and decided to commission a large piece for our family room. Suzanne took some photos and paint swatches to Levy and asked him to interpret them into an original painting. It’s become the focal point of the whole room.
“Our home conjures a sense of calm, through the layout and clean lines,” says Marina, “I feel more relaxed and we all enjoy being at home. We had fun creating our sanctuary.”
Marina’s recommendations when choosing a designer:
“Talk to your friends to learn from their experiences, then think about how you want the design process to go. Suzanne is worth every penny! She took us to shops we would have never ventured into on our own.”
