Imagine Design

When a house is more than 150 years old, it’s safe to say it’s been through some things. And I think that kind of history gives you permission to mix pieces from different periods that probably shouldn’t work together, and yet somehow do.

In this historic Georgetown entry, an antique chest and rug live alongside a black and gilt mirror, a very modern vase, and one of my favorite details in the house, the sculptural ceiling light from Gong in London.

Then there’s the staircase. The beautiful old wood newel post, the original floors, the millwork. It really is the embodiment of “they don’t make them like they used to.”

And as with so many things in design, I think it’s the contrast that makes the room interesting: warm old wood against crisp white millwork, traditional pieces next to cleaner modern shapes, and that almost-black front door framing the view outside.

An entry should tell you something about the house right away. Not everything, but enough to make you curious about what comes next.

I’m curious, in a space like this are you more drawn to the old pieces or the modern ones?

Design: Liz Mearns Interior Designer Imagine Design
Architect: BarnesVanze Architects
Build:
Photo: Molly Smith Watson

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I am so excited to share this room. It looks deceptively simple now, but believe me, getting it right was anything but.

One of our first decisions was the enormous sectional. One of our last, and by far the hardest, was deciding to tear out a brand-new fireplace.

Swipe through to see where we started. This is the main living room in a newly built townhouse in Old Town Alexandria, and when we were brought onto the project, the room was completely finished but completely blank. The builder had added a floating electric fireplace on the only solid wall, which left us with a problem: the television needed to go there too. Hanging it above the fireplace would have given us two black rectangles stacked on top of each other, with the TV far higher than is comfortable.

We went through dozens of versions trying to make a fireplace work, but without the ability to vent or recess one into the wall, none of them felt right. Eventually we asked the more important question: why were we decorating around the ugliest element in the room?

So out it came.

In its place we designed a full wall of warm wood cabinetry that gave the room what the fireplace never could: architectural weight, storage, a bar, a little sitting ledge and a television at a comfortable viewing height.

The rest of the room was really about softness and scale. The oversized sectional gives everyone a place to sit, while custom draperies and woven shades soften the enormous windows and add privacy. The palette is intentionally quiet because the owners wanted this room to feel like a sanctuary at the end of a busy day, but also somewhere they could fill with friends.

I often say that ideally you hire an interior designer early in the process. It is incredibly difficult to look at something brand new and give yourself permission to tear it out. But when you’re creating a home you’ll be living in for years, you don’t want to stare at something you never would have chosen just because it was already there.

Design: Liz Mearns Interior Designer Imagine Design
Photos: John Cole
Cabinetry: Master Design Cabinetry

When you’re working with a quieter palette, it’s important to remember that neutral doesn’t have to mean beige, and it certainly doesn’t have to mean bland.

When furnishing this northern Virginia home we used cream, dusty rose, chocolate brown, warm wood, black, brass and the deep blue-green tones of the painting to create contrast without making the room feel busy.

The painting does much of the work of anchoring the main seating area. We gave it plenty of space on the wall and flanked it with a pair of sconces rather than surrounding it with other artwork. One large piece of art can do so much for a room, and this home is a good reminder that you don’t need soaring ceilings or an enormous space to use large-scale art.

The living room also flows directly into a family room/second sitting area, which presented another interesting design challenge. We used the pair of white swivel chairs to help define where one space ends and the other begins. They create a boundary without closing anything off, and because they swivel, they can participate in either seating area.

This wasn’t an interior project that called for major construction, new millwork or even overhead lighting. We pulled the rooms together largely through furniture placement, art, lamps, textiles and scale.

Sometimes the best changes come from being more deliberate about what you put where, rather than simply adding more.

Design: Liz Mearns Interior Designer Imagine Design
Photos: @gmail.com

Some projects are about dramatic change. Others are about thoughtful refinement.

This Arlington, Virginia, home already had good bones and a timeless foundation. Rather than starting over, we focused on adding layers—richer color, natural materials, antiques, custom furnishings, sculptural lighting, and textiles that brought more warmth, depth, and personality to each room.

I think that’s one of the most rewarding parts of interior design. A home doesn’t always need a new identity. Sometimes a series of thoughtful changes—even something as simple as painting the ceiling—can completely change the way a room feels and better reflect the people who live there.

The quiet transformations are often the ones that stand the test of time.

Interior Design: Liz Mearns Interior Designer
Photography: John Cole

One of my favorite rooms in our newly completed Old Town Alexandria townhouse is this home office.

Like many new-build homes, this room had wonderful bones but was nondescript and in need of some personality. The architecture gave us beautiful natural light and generous proportions. Our job was to layer in warmth, texture, and color until it felt less like a new build and more like home.

We wrapped every wall in olive green grasscloth to create a richly colored an textured backdrop, we then installed floor-to-ceiling custom linen drapery to soften the light, and designed a custom bound broadloom rug with a tailored border to ground the room without overwhelming it. The sculptural walnut desk, comfortable seating, and layered textures complete the space, creating a room that feels every bit as inviting as any living room in the house.

Home offices have become such important rooms in our projects. Whether you work from home every day or simply need a quiet place to think, they deserve every bit as much attention as a living room or dining room.

This ended up being one of my favorite rooms in the house. If this were my office, I’d probably find myself looking up from my computer far more often than I should.

Design: Liz Mearns Interior Designer
Photo John Cole

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I always love designing entryways, so when it comes to introducing this recently finished project, there’s no better place to start than at the front door.

This foyer is in a newly built townhouse we recently completed in Old Town Alexandria, just steps from the waterfront. It was an especially fun project because, although the home is unmistakably contemporary (lots of large, light-filled rooms) it sits in one of the most historic neighborhoods in the country.

Rather than trying to make the house feel traditionally “Old Town,” we leaned into clean lines, restrained materials, and a quieter sense of luxury. A sculptural travertine console, oversized abstract artwork, warm brass, and an antique rug provide just enough contrast to soften the space without competing with the architecture.

I think a good entryway should make you want to see what’s next. It doesn’t reveal everything at once. Instead, it offers a glimpse of the home’s personality and invites you farther inside.

I’m so looking forward to sharing more of this home over the coming weeks. I think you’re going to enjoy this one.

In the meantime, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.



Design: Liz Mearns Interior Designer
Photo John Cole

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One of the things I enjoy most about decorating is creating a little tension.

Not the kind that makes a room feel uncomfortable, but the kind that keeps it from feeling too literal or predictable.

Traditional architecture becomes more interesting when it’s paired with contemporary art. An antique rug feels fresher beneath clean-lined upholstery. Warm rust and cool blue make each other richer than they would on their own.

I think people sometimes assume a room comes together because everything matches. In my experience, it’s usually the opposite. A room comes to life when each piece brings something a little different to the conversation.

That’s the balancing act. Enough contrast to create interest, enough common ground to make it all feel intentional.

It’s something I find myself chasing on almost every project because when you get that balance right, a room doesn’t just look beautiful—it keeps revealing itself over time.

Design: Liz Mearns Interior Designer
Photo John Cole

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collectedhome

Today’s post is a bit of a treat for me because I get to share an entire home we’ve had the privilege of decorating.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I usually share one room at a time. I enjoy slowing down and talking about the details that make each space special. But that’s also the reality of residential design. Homes aren’t finished all at once. While one room is ready for photographs, another may still be waiting on wallpaper, custom upholstery, or the perfect finishing touch. By the time the house is complete, you’ve often already seen it in little pieces.

Today, though, I thought it would be fun to take you on the full tour (more or less).

One of the things I love most about designing a home is that every room gets to have its own personality. The breakfast nook feels light and quiet. The library is moodier. The children’s rooms are a little more playful. Even the basement gets its own moment (yes…with ochre wallpaper!).

They’re all different, but they still feel like they belong together. That’s always the goal. Not for every room to match, but for the whole house to feel like one story.

There are quite a few spaces in this carousel that probablyhave had a post of their own, and I think that’s a shame because sometimes it’s the supporting rooms that make a house feel complete.

I hope you enjoy the tour. And I’d love to know…which room would you photograph first?

Design: Imagine Design
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People sometimes describe this room style as having a Ralph Lauren feel. The deep green walls, worn leather, books, antiques, and a little Americana are all there.

In this home it comes very automatically.

Nothing in this room was purchased because it fit a theme. The gallery wall wasn’t ordered as a matching collection or copied from Pinterest. It’s made up of pieces the homeowners have collected over years of traveling, family photographs, old maps, paintings, and objects that simply meant something to them. In fact, we were back at the home this week to help them add even more to the wall as the collection continued to grow.

That authenticity is what keeps a room from feeling like a set. It’s also what keeps Americana from feeling theatrical. When every piece has its own story, the room feels layered rather than themed.

One of my favorite details is that this has become the family’s “analog” room. The record player is often playing. Books come off the shelves. Conversations last longer here. And, as you’ll notice in the last photo, the family’s dog has officially claimed it as his room too. If you look closely, you’ll find him in more than one place, his puppy portrait dressed as a soldier hangs in the gallery wall, his framed photo sits on the bookshelf, and now, all grown up, he insisted on being part of the photoshoot.

The best rooms reveal something about the people who live in them. This one tells the story of a family who values books, music, travel, conversation, and a very well-loved dog… who, apparently, has impeccable taste in interior design.

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