Before+After: Design – Home & Design Magazine

Designer Erin Paige Pitts takes a traditional DC dining room from stodgy to stylish

“My clients purchased their home in Northwest DC, then hired me to overhaul the traditional rooms in fresh, kid-friendly and transitional style,” says Erin Paige Pitts. “The dining room was an important component because it connects to the living room, kitchen and family room, which makes it a hallway of sorts. Even though we wanted to be able to seat 10 to 12 at the dining table with extensions, we had to keep the flow open.”

Then	Now
The dining room was dark and drab, with deep-red walls and not much natural light. The centrally located space connecting other main-floor rooms needed to make an impact.	Pitts enlivened the dark room with a strong shot of color “to make it memorable,” she says. Sherwin Williams’ turquoise-blue Open Seas inspired the color palette in the adjoining rooms.
Boring, dark-stained furniture contributed to the feeling of stodginess, as did a classic Oriental rug with strong primary colors.	Pitts exchanged wood-framed dining chairs for light velvet-upholstered seating by Mr. & Mrs. Howard for Sherrill. A creamy Kravet rug now covers the floor, with matching drapes in Romo fabric.
The room had no stand-out features.	Original artwork, including an abstract canvas by Deborah Barlow, adds interest. A Currey & Company chandelier imparts sparkle.