Where Classic and Comforting Combine
Interior designer DuVäl Reynolds explains how he turned a house into a home for a family in Alexandria, Virginia.
How did your design journey begin?
I actually went to college for neurology but left school and worked in New York for a bit before moving to the DC area. I got a job at the design firm California Closets, where I discovered that I had much more of a knack and passion for design than I had realized. So, while holding a full-time job, I went back to school full-time at night to get my bachelor’s degree in interior design. I opened my own firm in 2017.
Many of your clients are attorneys. How did that happen?
My firm is in the DC metro area, so it was kind of inevitable, but they also keep finding us. On our website, we talk about our process, not how the final results look, which attorneys appreciate. I also think somewhat like an attorney—I ask a thousand questions, am very detailed and streamlined about everything, and anticipate well. That’s appealing to clients, especially attorneys, who are very busy, very hands-off, and do not like having to micromanage to get the job done.
Let’s talk about the Alexandria house, which you dubbed The Meaning of Home. How did it come about?
One of the clients found us on Instagram—funnily enough, neither he nor his wife is an attorney. He said one of the things they liked about our work was that we include before photos on our website for each project, which we do to show clients the work we put in and where we can take their homes.
The primary goal for this project was to combine the couple’s aesthetics. He is very traditional, loves color, bling, and “wow” factors, and enjoys having fun. She favors a modern farmhouse vibe that also focuses on comfort, especially for their children.
The design is stunning, right from the home’s entrance. Would you explain your ideas for this area?
In the foyer, where the pulse of the home starts, our first goal was to create effect. It needed to be high impact but also classic enough that it didn’t need to be redone in a few years. A black-and-white checkered floor achieved just that. In addition, the stair runner is wool, which is durable yet comfortable, softens the space, and is welcoming. For the chandelier, I obviously wanted it to be impressive but gave the piece a silhouette so it wasn’t distracting.
In fact, there’s never really a star or focal point in any room I design; every element stands on its own. In this foyer, the floor is impactful, but so are the walls—which are clad with molding and heavy detail work—and, of course, the chandelier. Even the table by the banister, though it has a chaotic floral arrangement, holds its own weight rather than drawing all the attention in the room.
The adjacent office is much darker and more traditional. Tell us about your inspiration for it.
It’s the husband’s office, so I wanted it to feel like his space. For a masculine touch, we painted the walls a deep blue that was darker than the room’s original shade of blue, added molding on every single wall right up to the built-ins, and peppered in leather tones, substantial hardware, and even whiskey glasses—in short, a classic smoking-room vibe. Since he’s also an avid reader, I added a Chesterfield sofa for a scholastic touch.
Would you talk about your choice of colors in the home?
We absolutely love playing with color. Every project we do usually has a baseline of three colors that run throughout. In this one, there are mostly shades of greens, blues, and browns. One room is fully blue, while the next has accents of blue. And another room has shades of gray with green or blue touches. I wanted each space to have a major color impact but still thread the hues together in ways that aligned with our original foundational aesthetic.
As an example, the wife wanted an amazing kitchen because she’s in there so often; I leaned into comforting modern-farmhouse colors for her. But there are also a few pieces that bring in a very traditional feel for him, such as the antique-brass handles and knobs. So it was very much a blended kitchen.
Would you explain what wallpaper adds to a project such as this?
Wallpaper brings a sense of depth and movement that paint cannot. It often creates storylines that spark the imagination, immersing you in the room—you simply cannot get away from it, which I love.
What were some of the most satisfying aspects of this project?
Definitely the dining room. Because it was huge, I decided to shorten it by about four feet, despite the wife’s nervousness. She wanted it to be used a lot, though, so I suggested a saloon style that feels relatable and accessible for everyone. I feel like we just nailed this room, probably more than any other one I’ve ever designed, because there were so many things we were trying to accomplish. Even the last window treatment I found, which features unusual cranes, felt so right.
The wife also said she wanted a “girl’s room,” which became the living room. When we presented the pink sofa and flowery wallpaper for the space, the husband wasn’t thrilled, but he trusted us. He then became obsessed with that room! He was shocked at how much of a masculine undertone it had, which we achieved through some of the furniture silhouettes and color profile choices mixed in with the feminine touches that are blanketed and layered in. I’m happy it worked for both of them. In addition, I love the family room with its heavy traditional elements like the coffered ceilings, the gray-patterned rug, and the white fireplace we created along with the soft, rounded sofa that brings a sense of family comfort.
What’s the meaning behind the name The Meaning of Home?
I don’t think the clients ever liked their house or felt comfortable in it, but they were adamant about making it a place where they could build memories with their kids. So I was really trying to emphasize how in a finished home, there’s no worry about anything needing to be worked on right away—instead, you’re inviting family over and the kids are having sleepovers. This is what the meaning of home is. Home isn’t just about the pretty stuff in it; it’s about the memories that start being made as soon as the project is done and enjoying the beauty of family.
For more info, visit duvalreynolds.com