Page’s Happy Georgetown Home

Name: Page Evans, daughters Peyton and Katherine, and Angus the Lab
Location: Georgetown; Washington, DC
Size: 1,800 square feet
Years lived in: 8 years; Owned

Page and her two daughters moved into this two bedroom in the heart of Georgetown eight years ago — they were downsizing after a divorce. Upon moving, Page, an art consultant and writer, set out to bring the small, 19th-century house up to date. Gone were the dark burgundy walls and the chunky brass chandelier: Page wanted light, bright and happy.

To achieve this she painted the walls Navajo White, opted for plantation shutters instead of curtains, installed recessed lighting where that brass chandelier used to be, and put down simple oatmeal-colored sisal rugs throughout. Where mahogany might have gone, she used glass and Lucite.

“I wanted it to feel chic and open, yet accessible and comfortable for two little girls — and a burly black Lab,” said Page (their now 6-year-old Angus arrived shortly after the move). “Since the dining room also serves as base for homework and art projects, I opted for a glass table. It’s practical and feels spacious.”

Most of the house has been furnished with neighborhood finds: she found the Lucite dining table base at a local consignment shop, and had the thick glass top made at Columbia Glass. The rugs are from Georgetown Carpet, and the colorful landscape paintings come compliments of Page’s mother, Delaware artist Mary Page Evans, who shows at Georgetown’s Addison/Ripley Fine Art. Page’s favorite sources include neighborhood antique shops, HomeGoods and the Sunday morning Georgetown flea.

“It’s a mixture of old and new, high and low,” said Page. “Sometimes it’s more shabby than chic, depending on whether the girls’ schoolbooks and shoes are strewn across the floor. But it works for us. It’s comfortable and filled with light. Friends call it a happy house.”

My Style: I love to mix the old and the new, the high and the low. The more natural, the better. I’m not a big fan of fancy silk curtains; they detract from the art. I prefer linen and cotton. My house is not big, so I like to keep things open in terms of color and texture. I use lots of glass and lucite to create an airy feeling. I also adore art books, particularly catalogues from shows I’ve seen. But along with the more contemporary things, I’m a big fan of old silver, antiques, and black and white family photographs. My style is not fussy. I would say comfortable yet chic. I love a neutral background so I can add color with art and pillows. I love changing my pillows, depending on the season and depending on what art I have hanging. Because my mother, Mary Page Evans, is an artist, I’m able to borrow from her work and switch things up from time to time. In the summer, celery and apple green are my go-to colors. In the winter, I’ll add some chocolate brown.

Inspiration: I’m often inspired by colors I see in the woods. I’m obsessed with natural ferns and the lichen you see on rocks and trees. There are so many shades of brown and green in the woods. I find nature very inspirational.

Favorite Element: I feel my house has soul. It is filled with things I love and that have meaning to my children and me, whether that be a flea market find, a HomeGoods purchase, my grandmother’s Queen Anne chairs, or a painting I can’t live without.

Biggest Challenge: My bedroom is small, and it was hard to find room for storage. I finally decided to put chests of drawers on either side of the bed. Frankly, I’d rather have bedside tables, but I have no choice. Another challenge is that I love cream and neutral colors. Having a big black dog that sheds all the time can wreak havoc. That’s why I’m a big proponent of slipcovers.

What Friends Say: “You need to edit!” With two teenagers and a big dog, our house collects a lot of clutter. I need to get rid of some stuff. Of course, my habit of going to the flea market in Georgetown almost every Sunday does not help!

Proudest DIY: I created storage under a bamboo console (found at the flea market) by creating a curtain with a tension rod and a beige cotton shower curtain from Target. It’s a great place to store filing cabinets and school supplies.

Biggest Indulgence: The Wolf Kahn oil painting in my bedroom and the sideboard from John Rosselli.

Dream Sources: Circa Lighting and D. Porthault.

• Benjamin Moore Navajo White throughout most of first and second floor
• Duron Cut Hay in Page’s bedroom

• Large Painting – Seascape by Mary Page Evans (shows at Addison/Ripley Fine Art in Georgetown)
• X-Benches – HomeGoods
• Console table – Marston Luce
• Mirror above console – HomeGoods
• Lamp on console – Christopher Spitzmiller

• Lucite side tables – CB2
• Throw pillows – Crate & Barrel
• Coffee table – Knoll; Design Within Reach
• Painting above fireplace – Mary Page Evans
• “Shell” lamps under window – HomeGoods
• Silver ice bucket – Georgetown flea
• Black and white painting on shelves – William Christenberry (shows at Hemphill Fine Arts)

• Bamboo chairs – David Bell Antiques
• Table – Lucite base from a consignment shop in Georgetown
• Wooden horse – From a big antique barn off Route 404 near the Eastern Shore
• Sideboard – John Rosselli in Georgetown
• Painting by garden doors – Wolf Kahn
• Queen Anne chairs – From Page’s grandmother
• Painting at bottom of steps – From Page’s grandfather

• Painting – Mary Page Evans
• Little cow painting – Robert Andrew Parker
• Bamboo console – Georgetown flea
• Chairs – Fabric from Haute Fabrics of Middleburg

• Furniture – Restoration Hardware
• Cute yellow pillow – Wild Thyme in Wilmington, Delaware

• Sofa – Oliver Dunn
• Throw pillows – Oliver Dunn
• Lamps – Moss & Co.
• Coffee table – CB2
• XOs – HomeGoods
• Painting – Graham Dougherty, a Delaware artist

• Lamps – Jean Pierre Antiques
• Mirrors – Jean Pierre Antiques
• Rug – Georgetown Carpet
• Bedside chests – left Susquehanna, right from family
• Painting over bed – Wolf Kahn

• Headboards – Kellogg Collection; fabric from Haute Fabrics
• Linens – Abrielle

• Painting – Ann Kaye
• Shower curtain – Target

Thanks, Page, Peyton and Katherine!

(Images: Natalie Grasso)

• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE: Check out past house tours here.
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.

Re-edited from a tour originally published August 2013 — AB