An Artful, Clever, Playful Maryland Bungalow

updated Apr 30, 2019

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About this tour

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Home Type

Bungalow

Location

Maryland

Style

Eclectic

Bedrooms

Square feet

1200

Sq ft

1200

The public space in the house wasn’t always so open. As expected in an older home, the living room, dining room, and kitchen were all separated. While this may reflect how homes were used, that layout style has become significantly less desirable (and useful) now that people prefer a more casual, interactive living experience. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Annie and Rush on their front porch. Annie’s father helped the couple with their renovation, demolishing the dining room walls, and opening up the space significantly. Lots of light in the new open space make the house inviting and great for entertaining, while still allowing the bedroom spaces and Rush’s basement studio to be private. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
This sunny, open living and dining space didn’t always exist: after buying the house, Annie and Rush undertook a renovation, removing two interior walls which previously enclosed the dining room. Coffee table is B Wells Green Cabinetry, Beltsville, Maryland. Wall Sculpture at left: Amy Rinaldi. Art by Kenny Rivero, Julia Bland, Sam Vernon, John Szlasa, Sydney Vernon, Troy Michie, Abigail DeVille, Justin Hunder Allen, Evan Nesbit, Devin Troy Strother (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
The view towards the front door. On the floor in the foreground, you can see evidence of the house’s previous layout: the wood needed to be patched where a wall was removed. China cabinet is a family heirloom. The gold chest is from Value Village. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Record cabinet/console is from B Wells Green Cabinetry, Beltsville, Maryland. Eames Lounge Chair (reproduction) is from Craigslist. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Rug is a family heirloom. The green leather chair if from Value Village. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
After moving into the house, the couple needed to pare down their art collection significantly. (An impressive feat!) Bertoia Cage Chairs were found. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Dining table is B Wells Green Cabinetry, Beltsville, Maryland. Art – Austin Lee. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
At left, one of Rush’s paintings is exhibited. At right, a painting by Annie’s grandmother Carrie Sue Crosson can be seen in red. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Bar is from B Wells Green Cabinetry, Beltsville, Maryland. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
The kitchen “separates” the dining space and the stairwell to the basement, in the background. The door to the back porch can also be seen. Danish dining chairs were found. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Open cabinets help the kitchen feel very open and airy, even with the black finish. These are kept very orderly, so aren’t necessarily the best choice for everyone! Black cabinets are B Wells Green Cabinetry, Beltsville, Maryland. Rug is a family heirloom. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
The kitchen is not quite finished: for example, the backsplash still needs to be selected and installed. What do you think would look great here? White cabinets and countertop are IKEA. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
The office. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Art – Quinci Baker. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
A Cooper Union poster adorns the wall of the office, showing, in a way, two major themes of the home in one: socio-politics and bold, colorful art. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Annie’s father, owner of B Wells Green Cabinetry, built this custom bed frame for her as a graduation present. The art is:Eric N. Mack, Doron Langberg, John Szlasa, and Kyle Coniglio. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Nightstands are IKEA, DIY. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
The mirrored closet doors make the bedroom feel ample and illuminated. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
The couple’s cat enjoys the sun on a bright, geometric throw. Looking fierce, Osmond! Alarm clock is from West Elm (sold out). (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
This Karl Marx poster used to belong to Annie’s grandmother, and is just one of the many politically-related pieces in the house. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
The door on the papered wall opens into a bathroom, currently unused as a result of a burst pipe prior to the couple’s purchase of the home. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Rush’s basement studio. (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Bench is by B Wells Green Cabinetry, Beltsville, Maryland. The hoop chair is from Anthropologie (no longer available). (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
Metal cabinet is a vintage office furniture (NASA). White chair is IKEA (no longer available). (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)
The ground floor plan, for reference only. (It’s not remotely perfect, neither is it to scale, but hopefully it helps!) (Image credit: Caitlyn Cartlidge)

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Name: Annie and Rush
Location: Prince George’s County, Maryland
Size: 1,200 square feet
Years lived in: Owned 1.5 years

I was lucky to visit Annie and Rush’s house, in the suburbs of Washington, DC, on an unseasonably warm day. Somehow I felt like I’d been there before, maybe because of the sun, or the cat walking in and out, or the comedic absurdism of a bright blue, stuffed shark toy resting on an old Eames lounger. It could be because their style acknowledges (and refutes) the dichotomy of politics and humor, something strangely appropriate these days. More likely, it’s because the home matches Annie and Rush perfectly: artful, clever, and gracious.

The public space in the house wasn’t always so open. As expected in an older home, the living room, dining room, and kitchen were all separated. While this may reflect how homes were used, that layout style has become significantly less desirable (and useful) now that people prefer a more casual, interactive living experience. Annie’s father helped the couple with their renovation, demolishing the dining room walls, and opening up the space significantly. Lots of light in the new open space make the house inviting and great for entertaining, while still allowing the bedroom spaces and Rush’s basement studio to be private.

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: Evolving, with nods to Swedish minimalism, MCM, and Norman Rockwell.

Inspiration: Good art, bad art, early 2000s, vintage communist propaganda, Gershwin, politics, McDonalds.

Favorite Element: The pair of red paintings in the dining room that Annie’s grandma made in the ’70s.

Biggest Challenge: Knowing we have two bathrooms but having to share one. A pipe burst in the second bathroom right before we bought the house (discount!) so we’ve never really been able to use it. But we have big dreams for renovating it — eventually.

What Friends Say: “We’re coming over.”

Biggest Embarrassment: The unfinished kitchen. We still need to install the vent hood, even though we bought one when we first moved in. The thought of cutting into the exterior wall is enough for us to keep putting it off, for now, at least. Oh, and the backsplash of course. Tile suggestions are welcome!

Proudest DIY: The black and blue dining chairs. Rush painted and reupholstered the pair after we found them on the side of the road.

Biggest Indulgence: Restocking the bar.

Best Advice: Be patient! Rush’s grandfather told us that when we first bought the place. You don’t need to buy everything or complete all your projects right away. Stick to a budget and take the time to do it right.

Dream Sources: Design within Reach; Room and Board; a Rietveld chair; Serge Mouille lamps; the National Gallery of Art (East Wing for Rush).