The 25th Street Project
This project did not begin the way most do.
Our clients first hired us to make their charming Arlington, Virginia bungalow more livable for a growing family. With two tween daughters, a beloved dog, and very full lives, their home was bursting at the seams. We began conversations about improving flow, refining function, and maximizing every inch of storage and play space.
Then, one weekend, everything changed.
They called to share that they had purchased a newly built home nearby in Arlington. The bungalow chapter closed quickly, and an exciting new chapter began. Rather than renovating room by room, we could shape the experience of an entire home from the start. Thus began the 25th Street journey.
A Beautiful Home, Ready for Personality
The new house was thoughtfully built and beautifully finished. What it lacked was personality. It had strong bones and quality craftsmanship, but it didn’t feel like their family’s home.
For a family defined by energy, warmth, and joy, that distinction mattered.
Our role shifted from renovation planning to full-service interior design and transformation. We layered character, softness, and meaning into an already solid foundation. From the outset, we focused on translating the family’s spirit into a cohesive design language that would feel welcoming, personal, and lived-in from the moment you walk through the door.
Nature and animals became gentle guiding themes. Soft blues and greens, warm neutrals, and tactile textures created a comfortable, cohesive palette. We incorporated faux bois fabrics, natural materials, touches of faux fur, and nature-inspired art and accessories, thoughtfully woven together with meaningful family photos and mementos.
Designing for Real Life, Room by Room
The Primary Suite
The primary suite was designed as a true retreat. Layered textiles, tailored furnishings, and thoughtful lighting create a space that feels restorative and intentional without becoming formal. It’s calm, comfortable, and provides respite at the beginning and end of each day. A reading nook anchored by an oversized chair creates a cozy spot to enjoy bedtime stories together, adding warmth and intimacy while reinforcing that even a private retreat can hold shared family moments.
The Family Room
This is a room meant to be used in the heart of the home. Comfortable seating, durable fabrics, and thoughtfully placed storage and occasional tables make it the natural gathering place for movie nights, casual conversations, and cocktail parties. Custom draperies soften the windows and frame the light, while a hand-painted wall finish by a decorative artist—created to our exact specifications—adds subtle texture and depth to the architectural envelope.
Art plays a defining role in the space. Above the fireplace hangs a striking bunny painting by the client’s favorite artist. Although it was not the first piece the family selected, it became the element that truly brought the room to life, anchoring the space with personality and a confident sense of whimsy.
Opposite the painting, a custom bird sculpture commissioned from England sweeps across the faux-painted wall, introducing movement and dimension. The dialogue between these two pieces gives the room balance and energy, transforming it from simply comfortable to distinctly personal.
The Kitchen and Breakfast Nook
As the heart of the home, the kitchen needed to encourage connection as much as function. A custom live-edge table paired with an oversized banquette full of comfortable cushions adds warmth and coziness. It’s a space designed for lingering breakfasts, homework sessions, and impromptu dinners with friends. Thoughtful space planning ensures the kitchen supports both daily routines and easy entertaining.
Reimagining How the Home Is Used
A Fresh Approach to the Dining Room
Rather than defaulting to a formal dining room that would see only occasional use, we reimagined the space as a sitting area. It better reflects how this family lives: flexible, comfortable, and welcoming. It easily shifts from homework hub to hosting space without feeling precious.
We pushed the color boundaries here, building the room around rich greens, warm browns, and layered brass accents. A sofa that gently envelops you anchors the space and invites lingering. Thought-provoking art adds depth and dimension, completing a room that has quickly become the adults’ favorite place to enjoy coffee and conversation.
A Dedicated “Hers” Office
In many homes, the main floor office is designed with patriarchy in mind. We turned that on its head and created one just for her.
Light-filled and airy, the space features custom built-ins that display prized collections and art while providing concealed storage for everyday office essentials. A reading nook for the kids includes swivel chairs, flexible nesting tables for crafts, and ottomans that can be pulled out for extra guests. The result demonstrates how thoughtful residential interior design can balance beauty and utility seamlessly.
Tween Bedrooms
Each daughter’s room was designed as a fully tailored retreat—expressive, organized, and built to grow with her. Custom floor-to-ceiling millwork anchors each space, integrating desks, adjustable task lighting, open shelving, and concealed storage so everything has a place while the rooms remain visually calm. One even includes hidden compartments tucked behind a custom upholstered headboard, offering a secret place to store treasured keepsakes.
Bespoke upholstered seating in durable performance fabrics provides spaces for reading and creative activities. In one room, vibrant wallpaper transforms the shelving into a cheerful architectural backdrop; in the other, a built-in bench framed by cabinetry creates a natural lounge for reading, studying, and hosting friends.
Color and pattern were selected with the girls’ input, reflecting their personalities while remaining timeless enough to evolve. These rooms balance creativity and structure, resulting in spaces that feel personal today and thoughtfully designed for the years ahead.
The Screened Porch
Extending the living space outdoors was especially important for this family, particularly during the height of COVID. The porch needed to be comfortable and flexible enough to support playdates, Girl Scout meetings, and evening cocktails.
Today, it functions as a true extension of the home. Bespoke, easy-care furnishings, arbor-inspired occasional tables, and commissioned artwork based on the map of the special place where the husband proposed add personal meaning. With built-in heating and inviting seating, the space supports quiet mornings, relaxed evenings, and easy gatherings for much of the year.
A Home That Reflects the People Who Live There
The 25th Street project is a reminder that great interior design is not about starting over. It is about recognizing possibility and shaping a home around the rhythms, relationships, and rituals that define daily life.
What began as an unexpected pivot became a joyful opportunity to create something more expansive and intentional than originally imagined. Every room now carries the imprint of this family’s energy—from quiet bedtime stories in the primary suite to laughter spilling out onto the screened porch.
The result is a home that feels confident, layered, and deeply personal. It supports the ordinary and the celebratory alike: weeknight homework, spontaneous gatherings, holiday traditions, and the evolving chapters still to come.
Never Worked with an Interior Designer ? Here are four things to know before you do.
Creating a home that feels effortless, refined, and uniquely yours starts with hiring the right designer. Here’s what you need to know.
Meet Christine
Welcome! I’m Christine, Principal at Lindsey Abrams Design. I love getting to know my clients, working together to create homes that feel warm, inviting, and authentic.
For me, great design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about how a space makes you feel the moment you step inside. Your home should reflect your lifestyle, tell your story, and function seamlessly for the way you live. With years of experience in residential interior design, my goal is to blend style with functionality, crafting spaces that are as beautiful as they are livable.
My approach combines expert project coordination, custom-tailored design, and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring every element is thoughtfully curated for a timeless, cohesive result. I take care of every aspect—from concept to completion—so you don’t have to.
Whether you need help with a renovation, a kitchen and bath transformation, or a full-home furnishing and décor project, I collaborate with the best artisans and industry professionals to bring your vision to life.
Let’s create a home that’s not just beautiful, but distinctly yours.
