It seems fitting that the 2024 redesign of a dated 1990s main level began with a TikTok video — that’s how the owners of this now-renovated home found Alexandria-based interior designer Corinne Back of Corinne Victoria Designs.
The owners, who purchased the five-bedroom, 4,498-square-foot North Arlington home in 2020, told Back that they wanted a stylish yet livable space with room for entertaining.
Attorneys in private practice, the owners chose the property because it is set back from the street on a lushly wooded, private lot, while situated close to Washington, DC, where they both work.
“The homeowners brought me in to make their ‘empty white box’ house feel like a home. They wanted to incorporate their style and personality, and refresh some of the outdated ’90s elements,” Back says.
The interiors were once painted in a vanilla-cream, with beveled cherry wood cabinetry, orange-toned wood floors, and decorative column details. Staining the hardwood floors in a rich brown was the first step in refreshing the home. The pair of faux columns in the formal living room were also on the must-go list.
“We replaced the outdated columns with custom bookcases on either side of the cased opening into the dining room,” says Back, who also added shelf lighting. “They gave the living room a sense of character and charm, while the lighting added instant ambiance for evening entertaining.”
The bookcases lent the living room a sophisticated library look, which, along with a New York boutique hotel vibe, became the design inspiration. “We layered decorative picture molding onto the walls to add depth and character to the otherwise flat space,” Back says of the architectural detailing introduced to the living room walls.
She finished the room in a soft white paint and began acquiring furniture for the space, including two tufted leather chocolate-brown sofas facing each other across a moody marble-topped and iron-based cocktail table. A pair of curved-backed, olive green velvet armchairs, a geometric-patterned monochrome rug, and a tawny blown-glass bubble chandelier complete the stylish art deco–influenced look.
“Since the architectural details leaned more classic and traditional, we chose most of the furniture with a minimalist aesthetic, focusing on pieces that had clean lines, organic shapes, and functional comfort,” Back says.
Due to the home’s wooded setting, as well as an early selection of the remodeled kitchen’s countertop-and-backsplash stone, Macaubas Fantasy Quartzite, the color palette for the design was set.
“It is a magnificent natural stone, with teal veining,” Back says. “We incorporated deep saturated teals, blues, and greens into our overall neutral palette. The contrast between the quiet neutrals and jewel tones creates a sense of warmth and richness, while the saturated colors add depth and a touch of unexpected elegance. It’s a beautiful way to strike the perfect balance between inviting and refined,” she adds.
Other than the stone, the kitchen underwent a massive transformation. Working alongside Fairfax Kitchen Cabinets, the kitchen’s footprint now includes an oversized island, with a dark base to contrast with the lighter inset cabinets on the periphery, all embellished with brass hardware.
“The kitchen’s island allowed our clients to gain optimal hidden storage, while complementing the overall open-concept design, facing into the family room,” Back says. “We also added traditional details to the island, such as the turned legs and furniture base molding, for a classic foundation that would stand out beautifully next to more modern stools and lighting.”
Beyond the kitchen, the refreshed butler’s pantry sports moodier dark wood cabinets and a ‘bridge’ peacock-feather patterned wallpaper in blue that connects to the saturated teal dining room.
“We color drenched this whole room with a rich, dark, jewel-tone paint,” Back says. “This approach adds depth, drama, and sophistication to the dining room, creating a moody yet inviting atmosphere that complements the home’s wooded setting.”
The striking chandelier above the long, linear dining table sports an organic yet glamorous form. The dining table seats up to eight and sits atop a shaved Persian rug that is the only furnishing the homeowners kept in the redesign.
Meanwhile, the powder room, also on the main level, is wrapped in a metallic-and-blue geometric patterned wallpaper reminiscent of the living room’s rug, bringing the design full circle.
“We had talked in detail about creating a cozy, comfortable home that felt like a retreat from their professional lives after work, while also functioning as a stylish space to entertain, like an expensive NYC hotel. Stylish comfort was a priority,” Back says, adding, “Even the family room off the kitchen is a comfortable yet elegant after-work retreat to sip wine and make conversation while cooking dinner.”
Feature image by Robert Radifera for Stylish Productions
This story originally ran in our February Issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
