House Tour: Color, Calmly
When our clients came to us, they were looking for a refresh. They had previously worked with designers during renovations to their historic Alexandria home, seeking to enliven the space with bright pops of color — in keeping with the wife’s New Orleans-native sensibilities — and to forge the perfect, playful and family-friendly backdrop for raising three young kids. As time went by and the children reached high school and college ages, the owners were ready to evolve from the vibrant festival of colors in their original design to create a more refined, elegant, and tranquil space…but this didn’t mean abandoning color altogether, of course.
With so many good pieces in the home, we didn’t want — or need — to start from scratch. Instead, we used the original color palette as a starting point, then softened the spaces using quieter hues within the same color family. So while a fun, bold purple sofa remains in the family room, as you travel to the other main floor spaces, you see the hue echoed in softer lilacs and lavenders. Where the bold colors once packed a pop, we opted to rely upon layers of texture to provide depth and interest, resulting a home that feels cohesive, welcoming, and calm across the many spaces, unified by a soft wash of blues and blushes.
📸:: Angie Seckinger
Living Room
Dining Room
Powder Room
Sitting Room
Homework Nook
Guest Suite
Guest Suite
Lower Level Guest Suite
- About the studio
Alex Deringer and Courtney Cox combine their formal training in design and fashion with their renowned sense of style in Ivy Lane, a full-service interior design firm that curates casually elegant family dwellings that are elevated by a unique spark. Whether an entire house renovation or a one-room makeover, Alex and Courtney’s extensive experience and collaborative dynamic inform a successful design philosophy: thoroughly understand the client’s lifestyle, bring a thoughtful spatial perspective, and enliven the space with the freshest aesthetic interest.
309C Cameron Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
studio@ivylaneliving.com
703.566.6582
