Guest Post: Mariella Cruzado

It’s been a while since I’ve had a guest post here, and I can’t think of a better way to make a comeback than with DC designer Mariella Cruzado, the talent behind Splendor Styling.

In this post, she takes us through a dramatic—and colorful—upgrade to a formerly drab foyer, living room and dining room in a Woodley Park home. Take it away, Mariella!

With a cheerful Caribbean heritage and a fine eye for timeless design, our lovely client asked for a traditional approach with a sparkling feel for her Washington DC home in Woodley Park.

We did it in phases, one room at a time, with infusions of color at each step. I got inspired by the traditional bones of the house, the beautiful cherry blossom tree blooming in her backyard, and some great pieces my client already had. Her gold dining chairs and the violet-toned calacatta marble on her fireplace mantel were the starting point for a color palette that evokes the tropics – and reminds us of her native Dominican Republic.

First, the foyer got a coat of deep blue paint that brought new energy into the space. A bold capiz-shell chandelier is a happy statement that welcomes you home.

 

Shades of blue naturally flow from the foyer into the living room, where arm chairs, table lamps and grasscloth wallpaper work together to look like ocean waters. The pops of color create a lively contrast against white pearlized wallpaper by Thibaut, which brightens the space and elevates the look.

 

I also wanted the living room to complement the garden views through its windows. A multicolor floral fabric by Vervain does the trick for the built-in bench, paired with lilac and blue velvet pillows that have a touch of magenta.

As a final touch, a whimsical butterfly mirror above the mantel becomes the star of an elegant, all-white vignette that’s visible as soon as you enter the house.

“Quiero que se un color apetitoso y que se vea bello a la luz de las velas – I want an appetizing color that looks gorgeous under candlelight.”

The dining room was designed last around the idea of endless banquets and gatherings filled with laughter and joy. The walls are covered in a yummy violet shade to complement the blue foyer and reinforce the color combinations coming from the living room. The entire space reminds us of a delicious raspberry mousse with a bit of meringue on top. A big gold chandelier and a pair of bone-inlay mirrors create balance and with the traditional pieces and antiques from our client’s collection.

The result is a sparkling home full of color and a Caribbean feel for a family of five that knows how to live cheerfully.