When these Great Falls homeowners reached out about transforming their carriage house, they wanted spaces that felt personal, inviting, and anything but ordinary. We created a cohesive design that honors the home’s traditional bones while infusing it with pattern, color, and collected charm. From the sage-painted entry with its statement chandeliers to the romantic living room wrapped in vintage floral wallpaper, every room tells a story. The result is a carriage house that feels like it’s been lovingly curated over time, with layers of texture, unexpected pops of color, and thoughtful details that make each space feel truly one-of-a-kind.
Designed by: Blue Leopard Interiors
Photography by: Mary Pat Collins Photography | Falls Church, VA
Wallpaper Installed by: Designer Walls by Kik0u
Transforming a carriage house means honoring its beauty while making it feel vibrant and personal. For this Great Falls project, I wanted the entry to set the tone immediately, romantic, a little whimsical, and completely inviting.
We started with color. The walls and ceiling got a soft, sophisticated update in Sherwin-Williams Sagey SW6175, a muted sage that feels both calming and elegant. The trim, painted in Sherwin-Williams Softened Green SW6177, provides just enough contrast to highlight the home’s architectural details and creates a cohesive flow throughout the space.
The entry welcomes you with a rattan bench from Bali Parir, practical for sitting, but also bringing in that natural, woven texture that makes the space feel collected and layered.
Upstairs on the staircase landing, we placed a coordinating rattan console table, also from Bali Parir, styled with botanical print in a gilded frame, a ceramic planter, and vintage-inspired books. It transforms what could have been just a pass-through into a thoughtful design moment.
Lighting anchors both spaces. We installed a statement Crystorama chandelier in the entry. The upstairs fixture is dressed with custom woven shades from Ballard Designs, turning functional lighting into something truly special.
This living room in the Great Falls carriage house is where we really got to have fun. Starting with a complete blank slate, I wanted to create a space that felt romantic and collected, the kind of room that makes you want to curl up with a good book or settle in for game night with friends.
The star of the show is absolutely the wallpaper. We wrapped the walls in a stunning vintage floral pattern from Rebel Walls that sets the entire mood, lush, layered, and unapologetically pretty. The ceiling got its own moment with a coordinating pattern from Chasing Paper, creating an envelope of pattern that feels cozy rather than overwhelming. The trim, painted in Sherwin-Williams Sashay Sand SW6051, provides just enough warmth to ground all that romance.
For seating, we chose curved pieces that echo the organic, flowing feel of the floral wallpaper. The blush pink velvet chairs from Skyline Furnishings are sculptural and inviting, while a striped banquette (also from Skyline Furnishings) creates a built-in conversation nook. It’s the perfect spot for games, cocktails, or just catching up.
The marble-topped dining table from Modway anchors the seating area with its tulip-style base, a nod to mid-century design that feels fresh against all the vintage-inspired details. One of my favorite pieces in the room is the vintage dresser, which we gave new life with a coat of Sherwin-Williams Uncertain Gray SW6234. It’s now styled as a drinks station and display space—proof that sustainable design can be just as beautiful as buying new. Brass finishes throughout, wall sconces from Etsy, and candle holders add warmth and catch the light beautifully. Layered rugs, a mix of leopard print and floral patterns, bring in texture and tie the whole color story together.
The bedroom in this Great Falls carriage house proves that more patterns can actually feel more peaceful. We wrapped the walls in a delicate striped wallpaper from Chasing Paper, while the ceiling is painted in Sherwin-Williams Uncertain Gray SW6058 and trim in Sherwin-Williams Link Gray SW 6200. This subtle shift in tone adds dimension without competing with the pattern.
The real surprise? That gorgeous velvet ink bed from Skyline Furniture. It’s bold, saturated, and exactly the kind of unexpected choice that makes a space memorable. The ruffled headboard adds texture and softness, anchoring the room beautifully against all that delicate striping. We layered the bed with a mix of floral, geometric, and solid pillows that pull the whole palette together.
Flanking the bed are matching vintage nightstands and a dresser (the same set we refinished for the living room), painted in Sherwin-Williams Redend Point SW9081. Table lamps from Surya and custom Roman shades in fabric from Lacefield Designs complete the collected, layered look.
This Great Falls carriage house bathroom proves you don’t need a full renovation to create something special. We kept the existing vanity and gave it new life with a coat of Sherwin-Williams Clary Sage SW6178, the same soft sage we used on the walls. The ceiling is painted in Sherwin-Williams Misty SW6232, creating a cohesive envelope of color that feels calm and spa-like.
The real magic happens with the details. We added delicate striped wallpaper from Chasing Paper above beadboard wainscoting, creating that collected, layered look that makes a space feel considered rather than cookie-cutter. A stunning scalloped rattan mirror from Cooper Classics becomes the focal point, flanked by brass sconces dressed with custom shades from Ballard Designs and fabric wraps from Fabric Guru.
Botanical prints, brass hardware, and a café curtain in coordinating fabric (also from Fabric Guru) complete the transformation. It’s proof that thoughtful paint choices and well-chosen accessories can completely transform a space, no gut renovation required.
