This 1790s row house, located in the historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D.C., had evolved over time—but was largely in need of a major overhaul when lawyer-turned-designer Azali Kassum first purchased the home with her family in 2015. Over the next several years, she revived the home with one main goal: to let the light in. She gravitates towards a pared-down approach and a warm, minimalist aesthetic, drawing from multiple design eras and natural materials. As Azali’s vision came to life, so did her career as an interior designer. She tells us more. 

Tell us about your home. How did the history and the neighborhood or history influence the current design?
We loved how the house had evolved over time, from the double parlor and the patina of the flooring to the original plasterwork, and the central dining room which was the original structure of the house and once a cobbler shop. We were living around the corner when this house came on the market and knew as soon as we walked inside that this was the one. With its bones and layered nooks and crannies just brimming with character.

What was your scope of work? 
The scope for this project went quickly from a light remodel to a full-fledged gut and designing a new three-story addition to the back. Not an easy undertaking! As with any home in an historic district, we had to consider the existing architecture against the proposed addition and how this would feel seamless within the context of the surrounding homes. Working with architect Christian Zapatka, I was really drawn to the idea of maintaining the original envelope and creating this sense of lightness as you transitioned from original structure into the more contemporary addition. We also wanted to bring in as much natural light as possible which resulted in the large steel-cased window at the back of the house which spans two floors and anchors the floating stairway we designed into the kitchen. 

Were there any other collaborators who helped with the home’s transformation?
Collaborating with Shawna Dillon of Snaidero DC Metro was pivotal in the process, bringing in sleek white lacquer cabinetry with a custom hood to tie the space together, which I accented with lighting by Ochre and Allison Berger, Forbes & Lomax light switches and vintage brass coat racks. 

To complement this, I took a deconstructed approach to the interiors, removing all the existing molding and doors, opening transitions and coating everything in a plaster finish so that the materiality of the home takes center stage. Drawing from renovations of rowhomes in Amsterdam or apartments in Paris, and Axel Vervoordt interiors, I wanted to find that intentional balance between old and new such that this federal row house merged with modern farmhouse. Thoughtful layering of vintage pieces and textured furnishings create serene spaces which capture and reflect the sunlight throughout the day. I also embraced the idea of contrast in each space with dark stone and Benjamin Moore’s Simply White to create consistent base layer for each room on this floor so that they felt seamlessly connected to one another.

Do you have any favorite features?
My favorite features of the home absolutely revolve around the parlor floor and the visual and textural journey you experience as you walk through the front door, past the exposed brick foyer and into the living room with the dining room and kitchen beyond. The dining room where the original exposed ceiling beams, which we stripped down to reveal their natural beauty, float on the plaster ceiling is truly the heart of this house. The room glistens at night and envelopes you in warmth and has been the stage for all our family celebrations.

Outside in the bluestone paved gardens, the wheeled mechanism of a 19^th-century lift, uncovered in a ceiling during the renovation, takes on new life as a piece of sculpture anchors the seating area. For us it is a daily reminder of those that lived here before us and the home’s rich history spanning over 200 years.

What were some of the biggest challenges of your renovation? Can you tell us how you overcame a few of the hurdles?
The biggest hurdle was completing a restoration of the envelope of the home with a new addition in a way that honored the federal era architecture of our block. The front door, transom and windows were all painstakingly restored by the Craftsman Group, with restoration glass to maintain that old world feel. We retained the original floors in the parlor and sourced heart pine flooring in the updated spaces. Our initial plan for the foyer was to knock down the wall in the hall to create an open plan. But, once we removed the dry wall a second opening to the original double parlor revealed itself and we decided to preserve the brick and the openings instead and a challenge became an opportunity. Now when you come through this space you see the powder room nestled into what was once the back entrance of the carriage way with the original weathered stone threshold. Ultimately, the surprises we discovered during the renovation ended up taking new life adding to the depth of each space.

It’s clear you’ve found your calling, but when did you first discover your love of design?
I have had a love of architecture and designing spaces ever since I was little. From art projects to endless redecorating of my childhood bedrooms, I would immerse myself in these imagined spaces. I also developed a love for curating a room from my mother. She would take us to antique shops and auctions when we were young, and I would watch how she would mix in treasures from our travels around the world to each space of our home. Our travels too, were and continue to be an endless source of inspiration. I had hoped to study architecture and design out of high school, but it was not an obvious career path back then. I would continue to use design as my refuge through college, law school and beyond. My tiny walk-up railroad rental apartment in New York became a canvas for me to experiment with color palettes and furniture layouts which would change from year to year as my taste evolved.

What have been some of the biggest challenges in leaving your law career behind and diving into design?
Pushing past one’s comfort zone is always challenging. I had not really entertained a career change until we started this project. I was expecting our twins and still practicing law when we found this property and the design concept on this home began. And the process allowed me to engage all my design aspirations but with the purpose of creating a home for our growing family. It was not until a friend asked me to help with their own renovation in the neighborhood that I seriously considered a career change, and my design work started to transition from a beloved hobby to a business. My children often ask me if I preferred being a lawyer and I tell them that I am still solving problems, but here they can see the creative process unfolding before them with each project I work on.