How We Modernized a Traditional D.C. Home Without Starting Over

Washington D.C. homes rarely feel like blank slates. Center-hall colonials, historic rowhouses, and post-war builds all carry a strong architectural presence (and charm!). The question for many homeowners looking to renovate is not how to start over, but how to modernize their home without losing its character.

When it came to our Forest Hills project, the Traditional-style home was built with strong proportions and a clear structural logic, but the interiors no longer reflected how the homeowners wanted to live.

Start With What Should Be Preserved First

In most traditional homes, the most successful interventions begin with restraint.

There is a temptation to remove or replace what feels “dated,” but in many cases, those original elements are what give a home its character.

In our Forest Hills project, we preserved:

• The original floor plan and circulation

• The symmetry and scale of openings

• The architectural rhythm of the home

These decisions allowed the original identity of the house to stay intact. New layers were introduced carefully, working with what was already there.

It’s Not the Structure it’s the Finishes

Instead of altering the bones of the house, we focused on interior architecture and finish selections to change the overall feel.

After Forest Hills Project photography by Jenn Verrier and Styling by Courtney Favini

Key design decisions included:

• Custom walnut millwork in the kitchen and entry

• Travertine fireplace surround replacing polished marble

• A restrained palette of white walls, limewash, and natural stone

• Leather, linen, and velvet textiles

• Darker wood accents to anchor lighter surfaces

Together, these elements bring a modern California feel into the home through warmth, restraint, and natural materials.

Living Spaces and the Power of Restraint

In the living areas, we stepped away from contrast and focused on keeping things simple. The fireplace, once polished and reflective, was reimagined in travertine. It’s a subtle change, but it really shifts how the room catches light throughout the day.

In older homes, it’s often these kinds of decisions that bring a modern California sensibility–small material changes that soften the space without taking anything away from it.

The architecture stays present, and the interiors feel warmer, and more welcoming.

Keeping the Bedrooms Simple

Forest Hills Project photography by Jenn Verrier and Styling by Courtney Favini

The bedrooms were kept minimal and paired back. Soft palettes, natural textiles, and layered textures doing most of the work.

We leaned into linen, wood, and subtle tonal shifts in color and texture.

A Consistent Material Language

One of the most important lessons in updating traditional homes, and was certainly the case for this project, is consistency. When materials shift too dramatically from room to room, the home begins to feel fragmented.

In contrast, when a restrained palette carries throughout, the architecture begins to unify the experience.

In this project, natural stone, warm wood, and soft neutrals create continuity while still allowing each room to have its own identity.

This is where modern California style becomes most effective – not as a theme, but as a set of recurring material decisions.

Indoor and Outdoor Connection

Forest Hills Project photography by Jenn Verrier and Styling by Courtney Favini

While D.C. isn’t California (ha!), there’s still a strong connection to the outdoors.

In our Forest Hills project, large windows already framed the surrounding landscape. Rather than interrupting that relationship, we leaned into it.

Soft transitions between materials and exterior views allow the home to feel open, even with a more traditional architectural envelope.

How it All Came Together

This project wasn’t about replacing what was there, but refining it through a California lens: lightness in palette, warmth in materials, and a focus on proportions.

Instead of flattening a home’s original character, the updates work within it: wood, stone, and softened finishes bring a more relaxed feel to the interiors.

The house remains distinctly D.C., just reworked with a California style that favors ease, material consistency, and a lighter hand in layout and detailing.

---

How You Can Work With Us

Lorla Studio is a full-service interior design and architecture firm based in Washington, D.C. Our talented team of designers craft modern, livable and functional spaces throughout the district and beyond. Hire us for a seamless renovation process, and a warm, approachable design you are sure to love!

Serving Washington D.C. • Bethesda • Chevy Chase • Kensington • Potomac

Check out the five questions to ask yourself before hiring an interior designer in Washington D.C. If you think we’d make a good team, contact us today!

Ready to transform your space with us?

---