PUTTING THE “NEW” IN NEW YEAR

I absolutely love spending time at home during the holidays with our adult children, their partners, my Mother and our friends. But there is such a thing as too much time at home, especially in the winter. And if you're like me, when you have this extra time, you really start analyzing your home—what’s working and what’s not.

You might start asking yourself questions like; is my dining room big enough for hosting? Is our guest bedroom comfortable? Is our furniture a little too well-loved? The good news is the New Year is the perfect time to decide what your home's NEW will be in 2026. For Mark and I, we decided this year it’s time to transform our first-floor powder room into a full bath. (We'll keep you posted on that one.)

How about your NEW this New Year? Don’t hold back. It’s time to dream big. Maybe it’s a new lower-level entertainment area? Maybe a refresh for your primary bedroom suite? Or maybe it’s the year to just gut the whole darn thing and start from scratch? That’s what our clients in Arlington’s Lyon Village neighborhood decided to do in a project we recently completed.

Our clients wanted to completely transform their newly purchased house to meet their needs, reflect their style and support their family life. They brought in Manlove and Company Interiors for luxury interior design services at the very start of the project (which was perfect) and together with our clients, the architect, the builder and our trusted trades to create their forever home!

Here’s how the renovation came together, step by step.

Photos: Robert Radifera

Building The Right Team

For most people planning a renovation or building a home, hiring an interior designer usually isn’t at the top of the to-do list. They think of the architect and builder first. Designers are often thought of as coming in once the major decisions are made, helping pull everything together visually. But there are BIG advantages to having an interior designer—or in our case, a full design team—on your project from Day One.

Your design team will ask a lot of questions to get to know your family’s day-to-day life, digging into how you want to live in your home. We can spot opportunities to fine-tune layouts for better furniture flow and functionality. We can help with showroom visits, and selections for all the essentials like molding profiles, tile, countertops, lighting, and hardware. In this project, we worked closely with the architect team to enhance their early concepts, solving things like: which doorways to modify to optimize furniture layouts, redesigning the two fireplace profiles, and adding millwork enhancements to the original ceiling design in the primary bedroom.

The Design Process

Designing beautiful interiors requires time and a clear vision of the big picture—how the entire home flows seamlessly in style, palette, and mood from room to room. Alongside making the many selections required for the builder, the design team also develops thoughtful floor plans to detailed elevations for custom elements like built-ins. We then source furnishings and materials, collect pricing, and share the complete design with you so we can talk through feedback, make any adjustments, and confidently move forward.

This cozy reading nook becomes a focal point in the long 2nd floor hallway, turning a dead area into a continuation of the main level.

Implementing The Plan

We take care of ordering, tracking, receiving, and inspecting all furnishings, coordinating with manufacturers, freight providers, and warehouse partners so everything arrives as expected. Our team collaborates onsite with trades and craftspeople to clearly communicate the design and ensure every detail is thoughtfully executed.

We kept the original china hutch cabinets in this transformed dining room, highlighting them and the trim in a beautiful dark teal.

The Big Install

Now it's time to bring the entire design to life. We supervise all trade-related installations, including carpeting, window treatments, wallpaper, and more, and then install and style each finishing touch, from furnishings to accessories and art, to complete your home. With everything in place, it’s time to toast your beautiful new home!

Click here for more photos from this project.

This classic kitchen continues the color themes of soft blues, greens and grays. Striking quartz covers the counters and walls.

If you’re planning a new home and thoughtfully selecting the professionals who will bring it to life, we’d love to be considered. With nearly 20-years of experience in luxury interior design in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland and beyond, we’ve successfully led dozens of projects from early concept to final completion.

Take the next step by completing our short Design Survey and we’ll schedule a COMPLIMENTARY Discovery Call to chat about the possibilities.