How One Designer Turned a Cookie-Cutter Builder-Grade House Into a Characterful Family Home in Just 3 Months

Moving your family across the country is one thing, but getting your new home ready in three months certainly brings an additional challenge into the mix. This was the predicament presented to Kristin Harrison, founder of Georgia & Hunt Design House.

Her client, a family of five moving from Palm Beach to the Washington, DC area for work, had purchased an 8,200 sq ft. new builder-grade home in the suburb of McLean. They had hit the jackpot with the location in a neighborhood with beautiful, mature trees and ample space for each lot, but needed to move fast to make it feel like theirs. 'They called us at the beginning of March and needed the entire house done by June 7th,' Kristin says.

With the family keeping their Florida property, they planned to bring nothing in terms of furniture or decor to their new McLean home, and Kristin had her work cut out transforming the spaces. 'They wanted us to rid the home of anything builder-grade and make it feel like an extension of their current home for the kids since this would be a huge adjustment for them,' Kristin says.

When it came to the house design aesthetic, it was a blending of two worlds. 'We combined the coastal aspect that they are used to in Florida with some of the more traditional elements of the DC area, Kristin explains.

As the home was newly built, Kristin and her team focused on light renovations and fully furnishing the home. 'The timeline was by far the biggest challenge, and the amount of support I got was unbelievable. We had every single piece of furniture ready for them to move in, except the primary bed, which was still being upholstered. Our construction team literally drove to North Carolina to pick up the bed so that it would be ready for move-in!' Kristin says.

Adding texture to the walls in various spaces also made the home feel more custom. 'In builder-grade homes, expanses of drywall can feel flat and generic. Introducing wall paneling throughout added character and depth, immediately giving the home a considered feel rather than something that felt like an afterthought. We echoed this approach with wallpaper in select areas, using texture and pattern to create visual interest and enhance the dimensionality of each space,' Kristin says.

On a mission to retain a sense of coastal ease while embracing traditional Virginia architecture, Kristin chose a clean, neutral palette accented with softer, kid-friendly hues like layered greens and muted blues that bring color without feeling overpowering.

This is clear as you enter the house, the entryway and stairwell create a calm introduction with white walls and wooden floors. 'The floors were original and beautiful so we didn’t touch them throughout the house,' Kristin says.

Moving through to the kitchen, the bare bones stayed the same, but some smart upgrades transformed the space. 'Paint, tile, texture, and lighting can go a long way. What was once a very builder-grade kitchen quickly turned into a fun, custom-looking place for the family to gather,' Kristin says.

The china cabinetry was painted in blue to echo other elements throughout the home and create continuity. Meanwhile, zellige tiles were added to the island to create a focal point, with coordinating tiles used on the backsplash. Layered kitchen lighting, including new pendants and stools, further warms and grounds the space. 'This transformed areas that once felt like afterthoughts into clear design statements,' Kristin says.

The open-plan kitchen extends into a casual dining area, dubbed by Kristin as the breakfast nook. This opens out onto the terrace and pool area and is the most used room in the house, whether it’s for eating, homework or gathering. 'We wanted to make this feel both fun and functional. The swag lighting added some unexpected movement and we paired that with a reclaimed pine table, caned chairs and an upholstered bench,' Kristin says.

In the adjacent formal dining room, a mural wallpaper creates elegance and a point of difference from the kitchen and breakfast nook areas. 'We wanted you to feel engulfed by the mural wallpaper, but also notice all of the little details throughout,' Kristin says.

Statement design details elevate things further in this entertaining space. 'The chandeliers are show-stopping and add the perfect pop of color in an otherwise light and airy space,' Kristin says.

The family room was transformed with a similarly light touch. 'Our approach here was largely decor and furniture-driven, as the existing architectural details felt well suited to the home,' Kristin says.

The space was repainted in Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee at 70%, replacing the mix of five or six different whites used originally throughout the house. Custom curtains spanning the full length of the side wall add depth and softness, while a custom rug – jute in appearance but crafted from wool – brings warmth, durability and comfort to the space.

'We wanted the family room to feel airy and fresh, but not boring. The seafoam green sectional was the perfect addition to ground the space,' Kristin says.

Kristin took a curated approach to the mudroom and transformed something practical into a very charming space. 'We added wallpaper, painted the built-ins with a moodier color, and layered in texture anywhere possible,' she says.

The downstairs powder room is equally inviting. 'We wanted the space to feel playful and Palm Beach–esque without tipping into anything too cutesy,' Kristin says. She refreshed the vanity with paint and left the remaining elements intact – an intentional decision that reflects the importance of choosing where to focus effort in a large home.

A home office was an important addition to the downstairs layout as the client does a lot of her day-to-day tasks in her office. For Kristin, the goal here was to make it feel happy, calm, and well-layered. 'My favorite part is the color combination and how it doesn’t feel too on-the-nose in terms of a coastal theme,' she says.

Moving upstairs, the primary bedroom was designed to feel like a calm retreat away from everyday life. 'We covered the walls in a beautiful woven wallpaper, added a slight pop of color with the upholstered bed, and layered in some texture with the chairs at the end of the bed,' Kristin says.

The adjacent primary bathroom is a real wow moment. The freestanding bathtub overlooking the garden was original to the house and was left as is. Meanwhile, Kristin added soft blue cabinetry to echo tones used elsewhere in the home and zellige tiles behind the sinks, where there had previously been only drywall. The original mirrors were retained, while sculptural sconces anchor the space and a warmer chandelier above the tub softens the overall feel.

Kristin transformed a white box into something special for the client’s daughter. 'We planked the walls in a white oak V-groove and added a custom bed. The combination of pale colors made it both relaxing and play-worthy,' she says.

While wrapping up the project within the timeline was no mean feat, all of Kristin’s hard work paid off. 'The clients absolutely loved everything about the home, but most importantly, the kids were thrilled. I can’t imagine the pressure of going to a new school, having to make new friends, and being in a completely new environment. Being able to play a very small part in some comfort for them was an honor for all of us,' Kristin says.

For more inspiring house tours, you can sign up for our newsletter so you never miss the latest features.