From the sidewalk, there is something about this Arlington home that indicates something else is afoot. Maybe it’s the chocolate brown shutters, or the slate roof with a trio of dormers, or simply the copper pots hoisting up red geraniums beneath the front porch eaves, but this is not your typical neighborhood home.
“The house was built by BCN Homes but has a lot of European flair,” says interior designer Ame Gold of the six-bedroom, 5,600-square-foot home. “And then you go inside and meet the homeowners, and it all makes sense.”
Gabriel and Crystal Birnie have lived in the house since it was built in 2016. They live with their children, Fiona, 17, and Ian, 16, plus their two dogs. They are a cosmopolitan family, with a lifelong passion for traveling and for collecting multicultural artifacts and interesting artworks. Once they decided to work with an interior designer, it was very important for them to connect with someone who would be fully compatible with their vision of home.
“Our priority was to find a designer that we could closely collaborate with, as we had strong opinions regarding the design,” says Crystal. “It was crucial for us that our house truly reflect our personalities and values.”
Gold, whose firm is based in Arlington, understood completely. Her approach to interior design is founded on the principle that clients’ homes should be an expression of who they are.
“It was clear to me right away that the Birnies loved antiques, leaned to the maximalist side of the design spectrum, and loved the art collected on their extensive global travels,” Gold says.
The dining room, the first room she decorated, featured a teardrop-tiered contemporary chandelier and nothing else.
“Our wish list was ultimately to cultivate a space that exuded warmth and hospitality,” says Crystal.
“Gabriel had wanted pattern, brass accents, and something bold; Crystal wanted soft and neutral,” Gold says. “So I stayed in neutral colors but found a bold pattern for the walls. This satisfied both of them.”
Gold covered the tray ceiling with a textured taupe wallcovering, while adding a quiet botanical wallpaper. Tufted, cream strie-chenille upholstered chairs pair beautifully with a glass-topped rectilinear table that has twin statement-making sculptural brass bases.
Pops of vivid color come from the Birnies’ paintings: an Orlando Agudelo-Botero piece from Colombia and two Hossam Dirar paintings from Egypt.
“They take center stage and depict strong women, infusing the room with a sense of empowerment and artistic elegance,” says Crystal.
“Ame incorporated an array of our art (and accessories) in her overall design, each piece reflecting our love for travel and cultural diversity, unique pieces that hold special meaning for us,” she says.
Going from room to room with her designer’s eye, Gold selected furniture to complement each space, from the timeless leather Chesterfield sofa in Gabriel’s office that’s filled ceiling-to-floor with books, to the comfy overscale cream sectional in the living room that opens to the kitchen.
“My aim was to blend traditional with modern, to make the spaces neutral to better showcase the family’s bold artworks and highlight all the antiques they’ve collected over the years,” says Gold.
Every item — Buddha sculptures from Southeast Asia, ceremonial masks from Mexico, whimsical Gustav Klimt throw pillows — found its place in the home, as Gold added everyday comfortable furniture.
“Our goal was always to create a home that highlighted the couple’s travels and collections, but still felt like a family and two dogs could live there,” says Gold. “We played with a mix of modern furniture; tried patterns in curtains, rugs, or wallpapers; and used bold pops of color here and there.”
Wallpapers are used throughout the house as design statements. In Fiona’s room, a contemporary linear green-and-gold botanical paper defines the headboard wall tucked beneath the eaves, while Crystal’s home office features a more sophisticated botanical print. The kitchen’s ceiling features a gold-on-cream cloud print. The eat-in kitchen is furnished with a painted glass Scandinavian-style pedestal table with a gold base that sits atop a custom-cut hexagonal carpet. Its upholstered dining chairs are in the same style as the bar stools.
“I feel that our home feels like us and embodies our passions, adventures, and the beauty of diversity that defines us as individuals and as a family. It’s an extension of our lives, filled with meanings, stories, and emotions,” says Gabriel. “Thanks to Ame’s skillful design, our home has become a sanctuary that demonstrates who we are and how we want to live our lives.”
Feature image by Robert Radifera for Stylish Productions
This story originally ran in our October issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
