One of the best things about being inside this contemporary home in downtown Washington DC is the view of the outside world. The home is as close to nature as you can get in the city, and the property's understated gray exterior appears to blend in with and absorb the greenery of Rock Creek Park.
However, until recently renovated, the property's tired and outdated home design simply did not match its beautiful surroundings. So the new owner asked the professionals at Lorla Studio to update the entire house for him and his young family.
Laura Herr, founder of the design studio, explained the challenge outlined and how they arrived at the best solution for the homeowner. “He wanted the house to feel minimal, modern, and peaceful,” says Laura. “And we did that, but also added warmth and a reflection of the nature outside.”
This balance was key, as minimalist interiors can look bleak and uncomfortable without some natural, warm elements. Definitely what this family was looking for.
Laura gave us a tour of the reworked space and shared her insights on how to increase the heat and comfort factors in a cool, minimalist space.
1. Soften the boundaries between inside and outside
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
The lush parkland setting is one of the main selling factors for this home, and our front garden landscaping ideas feature lush, dense plantings around the home's approach and entryway, resulting in , the boundaries between the site and the park, as well as the boundaries of the house, become blurred. garden and house. Overlapping plantings soften the quiet, dark gray exterior of the tidy grounds. Otherwise, it might have looked bleak.
“Exterior space was very important to the interior design, as there are large windows throughout the house. Nearly every room in the house has views of the park, trees, and deck. Color, light, and natural elements influenced the design. ”says designer Laura Herr. We were able to keep the existing exterior structure intact and include high ceilings and lots of large windows overlooking the park below. ”
2. Use outdoor trees as a natural screen
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
And when it comes to windows and window treatments, why add curtains when the landscape outside provides a perfectly beautiful natural screen? Minimalist plans often eliminate the clutter of adding curtains or blinds. It makes sense to avoid clutter and let the architecturally durable windows speak for themselves.
“Only four bedrooms have window treatments,” says designer Laura. “We didn't want anything in the interior to compete with or take away from the great views of the park that are visible from almost every room in the house.”
3. Layer warm neutrals to create balance and comfort
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
The home has an open plan living and dining room, so it was important to create harmony and balance between the two spaces. There are two main points from Lorla Studio on how to achieve this. First, maintain a limited natural color palette. Second, make sure no single feature stands out more than others in the space.
To bring balance to your living room ideas, designer Laura says: “We realized that bold veined marble would overwhelm the room and didn't want any one element to draw too much attention, so we designed a custom travertine fireplace surround. All design elements worked together. The design creates a sense of restrained elegance and pays homage to the original architecture, which placed nature at the forefront of the design.”
When it comes to the color scheme, Laura explains, “We were very intentional with the colors we introduced and the furniture, to let nature and the large windows take center stage.” “The colors of the travertine are reflected in the colors of the park seen through the windows and reflected in the furniture: soft greys, browns, tans and creams.”
“Although the living room is open, sitting in the living room feels intimate thanks to the soft furniture and relatively low seat height,” Laura continues. “We went for sculptural lines, as seen in the sofas and decorative lighting, and soft, warm colors that effectively keep the space cool without drawing attention.”
4. Create standout features to add personality to a minimalist setting
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
Now that we know that the minimalist room plan doesn't have a single attention-grabbing element, how does Laura explain this impressive feat?! A custom piece to draw will be used as a home bar.
“It was the perfect moment to provide a high-performance storage credenza that would make a splash and entertain,” Laura says, adding that the screwdriver was her favorite design element of the entire project. “We designed the design in black stained oak for the depth and texture of the wood grain, using honed silver travertine for the countertop and extending it all the way to the ceiling for a dramatic full-height backsplash. .'' Travertine brings a sense of movement to the space, but it's an elegant, muted color, so it was exactly what we needed here. ”
5. Get the details right – it makes a big difference
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
It's all in the details, and for this redesign, the custom finishes and unusual style inspiration came from nature, classic cars, vintage watches, and modern architecture, all of which were of strong interest to the client, Laura Herr said. I will explain.
“This was reflected in small but impactful details. kitchen ideasThey can also be found elsewhere in the house, such as on handles integrated into kitchen cabinets,” says Laura. “It also inspired the browns, blacks, and tans that we see throughout our color palette. The custom cabinet fronts we designed for the kitchen and entry closet are one of my favorite details. Designed with warm walnut wood and integrated hardware/pulls, it creates a very chic, warm and minimalist feel.
6. Make the most of your storage
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
For our kitchen storage ideas, we established the language and style of walnut cabinet fronts with integrated hardware that brings warmth and a minimalist feel. We combined warm walnut cabinet fronts with cool gray Caesarstone countertops to capture the contemporary feel that our clients loved. Allied Maker's frosty white arc globe pendant light was the perfect piece of jewelry for this minimalist, slightly utilitarian space. ”
7. Consider the size and location of furniture
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
It's not a good idea to cram a dining nook into a minimalist kitchen if you don't have enough space. However, there are ways to tackle space issues with eat-in kitchen ideas that add comfort to your minimalist plan. Common solutions include using space-saving round tables or installing fixed banquettes.
But neither option would work in this kitchen, where a large window is the focal point. Instead, Lorla Studio commissioned his Crump & Kwash for a custom-sized dining table. “We were using it at the end of the kitchen, in an area we called the breakfast nook,” Laura says. “We had to have a table here, but it was a tight space with lots of circulation around it. So we custom-sized it, paired with a stunning bench and sculptural chairs from Fern in Hudson, New York. The table provided just the right amount of circulation space and interest, was functional and stylish without being too noisy.”
8. Enjoy display with open shelves, but keep things tidy.
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
Who doesn't love decorating with shelves, creating one or more display shelves, filling them with objects, stacks of special books, or overflowing with memorabilia? Well, it must be said that this is not the best storage solution for most minimalists.
But take a closer look. The placement of this horn shelf in the home's basement game room is easy on the eyes due to its symmetry, softens the space by holding a beautiful vase or china, and its slim profile minimizes its impact on the space. It is being And most importantly, it's neat. Therefore, it can be considered to have sufficient benefits for minimalists.
9. Try cozy dark colors
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
This cozy seating area is located in a home office, where textured dark green walls (Portora Paint Roman Clay by Lorne Park) create a cozy, cocoon-like atmosphere while staying true to the minimalist spirit of this home. It's creating an effect.
But how to decorate dark colors in a minimalist scheme? The secret is to keep the furniture to the bare minimum, to have a classic and clean interior, and to avoid waste in upholstery Stick to a neutral color palette with no clutter. Meanwhile, green plaster walls, large plants, and an area rug soften the look and add life to the room.
10. Hide clutter while looking beautiful with smart storage
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
Designer Laura Herr explains her quiet, reserved personality. hallway ideas It fits perfectly with the overall concept of her home. “The client prioritized a minimalist, clean home and disliked a cluttered home. The key to achieving this aesthetic is ample storage space to keep the rooms clutter-free,” she says. “To achieve a warm, minimalist look and feel, we designed a number of attractive, custom storage ideas and incorporated this quote into the coat closet door in the entryway, complete with integrated walnut handles. It's very functional and very elegant.
“We all had fun combining Pinch’s Soren Globe Light with a rustic bench from Spartan Shop and a framed print from Block Shop Textiles to create a moment in an often-overlooked area of the hallway. That moment is one of my favorites,” she added.
11. Use luxurious upholstery and textiles to contrast with contemporary architecture.
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
To soften the hard lines of the architecture throughout the home, the designers selected furniture with subtle curves and soft edges, such as the sofa and armchair in the living room.
for her bedroom ideas, For the same purpose, Laura chose a fully upholstered bed frame. 'We selected textiles that are durable and age beautifully. We used plenty of luxurious, soft textiles (velvet, bouclé, linen, etc.) and curves, all of which play an important role in ensuring the home doesn't feel too modern or cold. ”
12. Understand the power of curves and textured finishes
(Image credit: Jenn Verrier)
Continuing the curvaceous theme with bathroom ideas, see how Victoria & Albert's framed curved tub and vaulted ceiling soften the space. However, there is another factor at play here. It's a careful selection of materials and finishes.
“Specifying handcrafted materials is another way we sought to balance the home's modern elements,” says designer Laura Herr. “This can be seen here in the zellige tiles and hand-applied clay-lime finish on the walls of the master bathroom. Stucco walls are also used throughout the house, and this subtle texture lends a sense of softness. It was a great way to add on.”
Design: Laura Hur (Lorla Studio)
Photo: Jen Berrier
styling: courtney favini
