An Italian-Inspired Colonial Infused with Modern Edge in Washington, D.C.

On a street of buttoned-up red brick colonials, one home now stands out thanks to Fowlkes Studio and its Italian expat owners. The homeowners wanted a backdrop for their mix of modern European furniture and a layout that could flex from quiet mornings to lively dinner parties. Fowlkes answered with custom millwork that serves as both storage and architecture, as well as plaster and terracotta finishes that nod to Italy, and just enough color to push the house beyond predictability.

Design: Fowlkes Studio | Photography: Jenn Verrier

Italian Notes in a Washington Setting

Inside, the design draws directly from the clients’ roots. Geometric terracotta tile, a marble fireplace surround, and hand-troweled plaster walls in the bathroom all evoke the essence of Italy. The palette shifts between Farrow & Ball Ammonite in the front living room and Purbeck Stone in the rear living room, layering soft neutrals with warmer earth tones.

The furniture mix tells an equally personal story. The homeowners brought Raffel sofas purchased from Balsti, an Italian design store in Milan, pieces that have followed them from house to house, even into their parents’ country home in the South of France. Iconic modern designs punctuate the rooms: blue Womb Chairs by Eero Saarinen, an Eames Walnut Stool, and a Finn Juhl Orange Sideboard. The lighting throughout is from Catellani & Smith, a brand from the owner’s hometown in Italy.

Millwork that Shapes the Flow

The north side of the home was redesigned to create a more open and fluid feel. The wall separating the hall from the public rooms was removed and replaced with a millwork partition that accommodates a coat closet, a bar, and kitchen storage. Stopping short of the ceiling, the partition allows light to pass through, blurring the line between furniture and architecture.

The cabinetry, built in white oak with walnut hardware and bases, forms a warm backdrop for the dining area, where tomato-red wishbone chairs surround a long central table. With so much storage built into the partition, the kitchen was freed from the need for upper cabinets. Instead, a large picture window was installed behind the range, its exhaust hood tucked discreetly into a gentle curve so the view remains unobstructed. And because the kitchen opens directly to the dining area, the design team carved out additional space from the garage to create a secondary scullery-style kitchen where dishes and prep could happen out of sight.

A Suite with Warmth and Restraint

Upstairs, the primary suite was expanded into an adjacent bedroom to allow for a walk-through closet, its surfaces wrapped in the same white oak millwork used downstairs. The palette shifts warmer here: Kelly Wearstler’s Faded Terra Cotta on the walls echoes the earthiness of the Italian finishes, while Belgian Black/Petite Blue limestone grounds the bath.

The bathroom layers geometric terracotta tile on the floor with hand-troweled plaster on the walls, creating a cloistered, tactile atmosphere. A Victoria + Albert freestanding tub anchors the space, paired with burnished nickel fixtures from Phylrich and a stone vanity in honed limestone. Like the rest of the house, it’s a careful cocktail of old-world materials and modern restraint, elevated by the homeowner’s own eye for timeless pieces.

Standing Out on a Street of Red Brick

In Spring Valley, a neighborhood defined by its buttoned-up brick colonials, this home now feels like the exception. Fowlkes updated the exterior with a fresh color scheme and replaced the double-hung windows with slim casement units. New exterior lighting and accessories punctuate the facade, while an orange handrail at the front walk offers a playful pop of color.

Scroll on to see more from this home and shop the look below.