View Gallery
Jolie laide is the French term for something that’s beautifully imperfect,” says Sara Swabb, founder of interior design firm Storie Collective in Washington, D.C. “It would be easy to rip things out, but we work hard to embrace what exists and bring its beauty to life.”
A perfect case in point: this 1903 Dutch Colonial in Chevy Chase, Maryland—a spacious, gracious six-bedroom home peppered with turn-of-the-century charm. You can see it in the architectural moldings, original cabinetry, and heart-of-pine flooring. But it had also acquired some unfortunate baggage over its many years. So Swabb came in with a mission: to retain and fix the historic elements that made sense, but rethink some of the more recent additions.
Swabb restored the original millwork and mantel in the living room, then wrapped the entire space in Pacific Sea Teal by Benjamin Moore. A quartet of Stockholm lounge chairs offers an intimate alternative to the classic sofa-and-chairs pairing. Scalamandré Tigre pillows; Four Hands coffee table; Rush House rug.
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
The library is steeped in Quell limewash by Portola Paints. The antique English barrel-back armchair in gold mohair and vintage Dutch modern armchair atop a custom tulu rug add layers of history and personality. Chandelier and coffee table, Soho Home.
Stacy Zarin GoldbergSwabb concentrated much attention on the kitchen, which had undergone a very 1990s renovation with heavy wood cabinetry, a stocky peninsula, some seating here, a desk over there. “It was very piecemeal,” says Swabb. The various elements needed room to breathe. “Our task was to scrape away that noise to see what the floor plan could give us.”
She rethought the layout to open up the room and create a natural flow between high-use areas such as the island and the banquette-lined dining nook. A mix of marble and wood ground the space while boldly scaled pendant lighting, brass hardware, and a dramatic floral fabric on roman shades add color and character.
Designed around the client’s love of games, the open family room was zoned into two areas: a ready-for-play game table and a cozy lounge space. Here, furnishings like the Maiden Home sofa, Four Hands armchairs, and teak-root coffee table invite laid-back living.
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
A fringed pendant lampshade from 1stDibs helps define the game area above a round concrete table and cowhide rug. DWR chairs; Made Goods leather stools.
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
This jewel box of a powder room draws on the home’s palette, with deep green zellige tiles from Clé and and House of Hackney wallpaper. Sconce, Urban Electric.
Stacy Zarin GoldbergIn opening up the kitchen, Swabb transformed the previously overlooked butler’s pantry into a hardworking extension by adding drink fridges and storage. The pantry seamlessly connects the kitchen and dining rooms. Midnight blue paint and tile set the tone for the mood shift, subtly guiding diners from one space to the next.
Swabb leaned into deep blues and blue-greens, favored by the owners, to create a narrative thread throughout the house. In the living room, the vibrant teal adds a fresh, modern appeal to the house’s turn-of-the-century character. Swabb paid special attention to the original cabinetry here, as well as in the library and family room. “It wasn’t spectacular,” she admits, “but it had a past worth honoring. We repaired it, then made it modern with rich color.” The result in the living room is an energized space grounded in Dutch Colonial classicism.
In the dining room, a family heirloom rug grounds crisply striped wallpaper from Farrow & Ball, midcentury Gio Ponti–style wood dining chairs with sleek metal Milo Baughmann armchairs, and a Urban Electric pendant above the Four Hands dining table.
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
The midnight blue butler’s pantry—painted Railings by Farrow & Ball with glossy navy tile from Clé—bridges the transition between kitchen and dining room. A vintage Sasco ceiling fixture from 1st Dibs and vintage rug from Passerine add warmth.
Stacy Zarin GoldbergA mixture of midcentury pieces and vintage furnishings layer additional character and history throughout the house. “I love to weave in vintage and small makers,” Swabb says, citing the lampshade made with vintage silk and fringe which hangs over the backgammon table in the family room. It elegantly grounds the arrangement and reinforces the shift between active gaming and laid-back lounge spaces.
Vintage armchairs also take pride of place in the library, a particular triumph. Before the rework, “my client didn’t even want to go in there,” the designer says. So Swabb covered the walls and ceiling in a deep blue limewash to create a “cocooned oasis.” A custom tulu rug and modern chandelier blend history with fresh personality. It’s now one of her client’s favorite spaces. “Turning a room that someone didn’t love into a little jewel box is really exciting ,” Swabb says.
Swabb connected the eating area to the rest of the kitchen with a reeded-base banquette that ties into the island. A lively House of Hackney jacquard fabric animates Roman shades and cushions. The Saarinen table and Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs introduce light, sculptural silhouettes to this cozy dining nook.
Stacy Zarin GoldbergPerhaps one of the most transformative moments, however, was in the dining room, where Swabb decided to incorporate a family heirloom rug. “It certainly wasn’t one of my client’s favorite pieces,” Swabb says. ”It was headed for the basement.” She introduced traditional wainscoting to accentuate the room’s Dutch Colonial roots, adding black-and-white striped wallpaper above it and across the ceiling for a modern edge. Ultimately, though, Swabb kept things neutral so the rug could speak. “The client loves it and her family is touched,” she says, “which brings another layer of joy to them in the home.” Jolie laide, indeed.
