This home is located in McLean, Virginia, nestled in a neighborhood filled with mature trees and generous green space. “Our clients relocated to the DC area from Palm Beach for work,” says designer Kristin Harrison. “They have three wonderful children and chose not to bring any furnishings from their previous home, as they are keeping it.”

They called Kristin’s firm, Georgia & Hunt Design House, at the beginning of March and needed the entire house done by June 7th—their move-in date. “Which, needless to say, was a bit of a time crunch,” Kristin admits. 

The goal was to rid the home of anything builder-grade. “They wanted us to make it feel like an extension of their current home for the kids, since this would be a huge adjustment for them,” Kristin shares. “We were trying to blend the coastal aspect that they are used to in Florida with some of the more traditional elements of the DC area.”

The team began with light renovations in the bathrooms—primarily updating tile and repainting cabinetry. Throughout the rest of the home, wall treatments played a central role in creating a customized look. Wallpaper, wood-planked walls, and plaster finishes were incorporated in nearly every room.

“The timeline was by far the biggest challenge, given the lack of lead times,” Kristin admits. “I called in so many favors from vendors/trade, and the amount of support I got was unbelievable. We had every single piece of furniture ready for them to move in, except the primary bed, which was still being upholstered. Our construction team literally drove to North Carolina to pick up the bed so that it would be ready for move-in. What I learned is that anything is possible if you give it the amount of effort necessary to get it done.”

Now, the home is a happy haven for the family. “They absolutely loved everything about the home, but most importantly, the kids were thrilled,” the designer shares. “I can’t imagine the pressure of going to a new school, having to make new friends, and being in a completely new environment; it must be incredibly taxing. Being able to play a very small part in some comfort for them was an honor for all of us.”