Interview with DuVäl Reynolds
Images by MW Ideas
Inside designer DuVäl Reynolds explains how he turned a home into a house for a household in Alexandria, Virginia.
How did your design journey start?
I truly went to school for neurology however left faculty and labored in New York for a bit earlier than transferring to the DC space. I received a job on the design agency California Closets, the place I found that I had far more of a knack and fervour for design than I had realized. So, whereas holding a full-time job, I went again to high school full-time at night time to get my bachelor’s diploma in inside design. I opened my very own agency in 2017.
Lots of your purchasers are attorneys. How did that occur?
My agency is within the DC metro space, so it was form of inevitable, however additionally they maintain discovering us. On our web site, we speak about our course of, not how the ultimate outcomes look, which attorneys recognize. I additionally assume considerably like an legal professional—I ask a thousand questions, am very detailed and streamlined about all the pieces, and anticipate effectively. That’s interesting to purchasers, particularly attorneys, who’re very busy, very hands-off, and don’t like having to micromanage to get the job completed.
Let’s discuss in regards to the Alexandria home, which you dubbed The That means of House. How did it come about?
One of many purchasers discovered us on Instagram—funnily sufficient, neither he nor his spouse is an legal professional. He mentioned one of many issues they appreciated about our work was that we embrace earlier than pictures on our web site for every venture, which we do to point out purchasers the work we put in and the place we will take their properties.
The first purpose for this venture was to mix the couple’s aesthetics. He’s very conventional, loves coloration, bling, and “wow” elements, and enjoys having enjoyable. She favors a contemporary farmhouse vibe that additionally focuses on consolation, particularly for his or her kids.
The design is gorgeous, proper from the house’s entrance. Would you clarify your concepts for this space?
Within the lobby, the place the heartbeat of the house begins, our first purpose was to create impact. It wanted to be excessive affect but additionally basic sufficient that it didn’t have to be redone in a couple of years. A black-and-white checkered ground achieved simply that. As well as, the stair runner is wool, which is sturdy but comfy, softens the area, and is welcoming. For the chandelier, I clearly needed it to be spectacular however gave the piece a silhouette so it wasn’t distracting.
In truth, there’s by no means actually a star or point of interest in any room I design; each component stands by itself. On this lobby, the ground is impactful, however so are the partitions—that are clad with molding and heavy element work—and, in fact, the chandelier. Even the desk by the banister, although it has a chaotic floral association, holds its personal weight slightly than drawing all the eye within the room.
The adjoining workplace is way darker and extra conventional. Inform us about your inspiration for it:
It’s the husband’s workplace, so I needed it to really feel like his area. For a masculine contact, we painted the partitions a deep blue that was darker than the room’s authentic shade of blue, added molding on each single wall proper as much as the built-ins, and peppered in leather-based tones, substantial {hardware}, and even whiskey glasses—in brief, a basic smoking-room vibe. Since he’s additionally an avid reader, I added a Chesterfield couch for a scholastic contact.
Would you speak about your alternative of colours within the house?
We completely love enjoying with coloration. Each venture we do normally has a baseline of three colours that run all through. On this one, there are principally shades of greens, blues, and browns. One room is absolutely blue, whereas the subsequent has accents of blue. And one other room has shades of grey with inexperienced or blue touches. I needed every area to have a serious coloration affect however nonetheless thread the hues collectively in ways in which aligned with our authentic foundational aesthetic.
For instance, the spouse needed an incredible kitchen as a result of she’s in there so usually; I leaned into comforting modern-farmhouse colours for her. However there are additionally a couple of items that usher in a really conventional really feel for him, such because the antique-brass handles and knobs. So it was very a lot a blended kitchen.
Would you clarify what wallpaper provides to a venture resembling this?
Wallpaper brings a way of depth and motion that paint can not. It usually creates storylines that spark the creativeness, immersing you within the room—you merely can not get away from it, which I like.
What had been a few of the most satisfying facets of this venture?
Positively the eating room. As a result of it was enormous, I made a decision to shorten it by about 4 toes, regardless of the spouse’s nervousness. She needed it for use loads, although, so I advised a saloon type that feels relatable and accessible for everybody. I really feel like we simply nailed this room, in all probability greater than every other one I’ve ever designed, as a result of there have been so many issues we had been making an attempt to perform. Even the final window therapy I discovered, which options uncommon cranes, felt so proper.
The spouse additionally mentioned she needed a “woman’s room,” which grew to become the lounge. Once we offered the pink couch and flowery wallpaper for the area, the husband wasn’t thrilled, however he trusted us. He then grew to become obsessive about that room! He was shocked at how a lot of a masculine undertone it had, which we achieved by means of a few of the furnishings silhouettes and coloration profile decisions blended in with the female touches which are blanketed and layered in. I’m blissful it labored for each of them.
As well as, I like the household room with its heavy conventional components just like the coffered ceilings, the gray-patterned rug, and the white hearth we created together with the tender, rounded couch that brings a way of household consolation.
What’s the that means behind the identify The That means of House?
I don’t assume the purchasers ever appreciated their home or felt comfy in it, however they had been adamant about making it a spot the place they might construct recollections with their children. So I used to be actually making an attempt to emphasise how in a completed house, there’s no fear about something needing to be labored on immediately—as a substitute, you’re inviting household over and the youngsters are having sleepovers. That is what the that means of house is. House isn’t simply in regards to the fairly stuff in it; it’s in regards to the recollections that begin being made as quickly because the venture is finished and having fun with the fantastic thing about household.
For more information, go to duvalreynolds.com
