My Houzz: Houseplant-Happy in a Boho-Style D.C. Home
Neutral walls serve as a backdrop to this family’s easygoing, eclectic decorating style
Welsh’s first furniture purchase for the house was this rustic-style dining table and chairs. “The room gets a lot of light, so naturally I keep most of my plants in this space. I like to think of it as my indoor jungle,” she says. “I have lots of succulents and a big schefflera in the corner.”
The couple initially ate a lot of their meals in this space together until having their son, Thomas. “Now that we have a baby and work full time, it’s hard to sit down together every night. So as much as I hate to admit it, we usually end up on the couch,” she says. “Once our son is older, we want to make it a habit to all sit down for dinner in this space again.”
Browse rustic-style dining tables in the Houzz Shop
The couple initially ate a lot of their meals in this space together until having their son, Thomas. “Now that we have a baby and work full time, it’s hard to sit down together every night. So as much as I hate to admit it, we usually end up on the couch,” she says. “Once our son is older, we want to make it a habit to all sit down for dinner in this space again.”
Browse rustic-style dining tables in the Houzz Shop
“I credit my love for design from my mother, who always inspired me growing up. She was constantly redecorating our home and tackling projects,” says Welsh, seen here.
New to Houzz? Here’s How to Create and Use Ideabooks
New to Houzz? Here’s How to Create and Use Ideabooks
The homeowner also credits her mother for her green thumb. “She gave me my first plants when I lived in my condo, and all of them survived during the move to this house. I have had a lot of plant casualties over the years, and I think the most important tip would be to stop watering so much,” Welsh says.
High-Impact Houseplants for First-Timers
High-Impact Houseplants for First-Timers
This corner of the dining room features a dieffenbachia plant in an elevated planter that Welsh’s mother gave her several years ago. This grouping of plants also includes a money tree, a cactus, a peace plant and a Zanzibar gem plant.
Welsh tries to buy decor pieces from independent and emerging artists as much as possible. “I am a big believer in supporting small businesses. There’s something special about surrounding yourself with pieces that have been made by someone’s own two hands,” she says. The painting is by folk artist Juniper Briggs in Virginia, the ceramic chimes are from Michael McDowell of Mudpuppy Ceramic Studio in Denver and the woven macramé wall hanging is by Heidi Fylling of The River Haze in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Welsh tries to buy decor pieces from independent and emerging artists as much as possible. “I am a big believer in supporting small businesses. There’s something special about surrounding yourself with pieces that have been made by someone’s own two hands,” she says. The painting is by folk artist Juniper Briggs in Virginia, the ceramic chimes are from Michael McDowell of Mudpuppy Ceramic Studio in Denver and the woven macramé wall hanging is by Heidi Fylling of The River Haze in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
This wall was challenging to decorate because of the thermostat and alarm box display. “I knew a framed picture wouldn’t work,” Welsh says. Instead, she hung a collection of round woven baskets. She had the mini bench re-covered in kantha fabric.
All of the lower-level interior walls are painted in French White by Benjamin Moore. Welsh says she turned to Houzz stories to learn more about selecting neutral paint colors.
White vs. Cream: Which Neutral Paint Color Is Right for You?
All of the lower-level interior walls are painted in French White by Benjamin Moore. Welsh says she turned to Houzz stories to learn more about selecting neutral paint colors.
White vs. Cream: Which Neutral Paint Color Is Right for You?
The framed photo in this seating area was taken on a trip to Iceland four years ago. “My husband and I rented a car, and driving around the country was my favorite memory from that trip,” Welsh says. “The Icelandic ponies are everywhere, so finally on the last day, we pulled over to take some pictures, because they were right by the edge of the road.” The hanging wall plant is Spanish moss, or Tillandsia usneoides.
The reclaimed-wood side table with hairpin legs was handmade by Ryan and Jess Mead of Tyler Kingston Wood + Supply in North Kansas City, Missouri.
The Secret to Keeping Your Houseplants Happy and Healthy
The reclaimed-wood side table with hairpin legs was handmade by Ryan and Jess Mead of Tyler Kingston Wood + Supply in North Kansas City, Missouri.
The Secret to Keeping Your Houseplants Happy and Healthy
The couple wanted their master bedroom to feel cozy, and they filled it with Scandinavian-inspired elements. “One day I love a colorful, eclectic vibe, and the next day I’m inspired by the minimal look that I see right now, so I think I have a mix of that in my own home,” she says. Above the upholstered nailhead headboard is a metal wall hanging by artist Sarah Perez of Electric Sun Creatives. The walls are painted in Tundra by Benjamin Moore.
Velvet accent pillow: Zigzag Studio
Velvet accent pillow: Zigzag Studio
This midcentury-style bench doubles as a place for the couple to sit while putting on shoes and a display space for terra-cotta pots filled with succulents and pilea.
Pilea May Be Your Next Favorite Houseplant
Pilea May Be Your Next Favorite Houseplant
Next to the bed, Welsh added a little picture ledge to serve as a floating nightstand. “Our bedroom is tiny, so I knew an end table would be too big,” she says. “I bought the mug during a trip to Ojai, California.”
“I always asked my husband if he approved of the furniture that I picked out, but usually he was on board with everything as long as I didn’t go crazy with the color pink, which is my favorite color,” Welsh says. Perfumes are delicately displayed on a classic tray on top of a cream-colored dresser with ceramic knobs. “The two framed prints are pictures that I took during my travels. The big print is from Cartagena [in Colombia], and the succulent print is from L.A.,” she adds. The woven wall art is from Erin Barrett of Sunwoven in Charleston, South Carolina.
Browse round wall mirrors
Browse round wall mirrors
“Whenever we have guests stay, they always comment that our little home is super cozy — and I love that, because I believe a home should be warm and welcoming and feel lived in,” Welsh says. This room receives a lot of natural light.
The homeowner loves the guest room because of all of its bright natural light. “The hanging plant is currently my favorite type of plant. It’s called a silver leaf philodendron — also almost impossible to kill!” Welsh says.The macramé banner is by artist Sara Banner of the Forest Fern in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The homeowner loves the guest room because of all of its bright natural light. “The hanging plant is currently my favorite type of plant. It’s called a silver leaf philodendron — also almost impossible to kill!” Welsh says.The macramé banner is by artist Sara Banner of the Forest Fern in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
“I gained a lot of inspiration from the Houzz Tours when I was decorating my home,” Welsh says. Both real and artificial flowers are a staple in every room of the home; here some are seen on a dresser in the guest bedroom.
How to Grow an Urban Jungle at Home
How to Grow an Urban Jungle at Home
“I also have an accordion rack hanging in every room upstairs. I love that I can switch out items to hang and display,” Welsh says. This rack is used to hang accessories and other boho-style textiles. Welsh loves the original crystal doorknobs on nearly every interior door.
“Over time, the guest room became one of my favorite rooms in my home. Initially I hated it, because I couldn’t seem to figure out how to decorate the space using the antique furniture my mom handed down to me,” Welsh says. “I initially painted the walls a sage green, a color that looked better in the can, and none of the details seemed to mesh. Finally I repainted the walls a crisp white and changed out my lavender comforter for a linen one, and I let the antique pieces be the star of the room.”
Smart Shopper: How to Judge Antique Furniture Quality
Smart Shopper: How to Judge Antique Furniture Quality
The nursery decor is simple but cheerful. The midcentury-style dresser is, in Welsh’s words, “a piece that Thomas can grow into and use even when he’s older and he actually has a say in how to decorate his room.”
She adds, “I always strive to fill my home with pieces that are handmade or picked up during my travels, because they tell a story and I can be transported back to that time or place in my life.”
The small woven rainbow hanging is by California artist Ana Coon of Mimi & Lei.
She adds, “I always strive to fill my home with pieces that are handmade or picked up during my travels, because they tell a story and I can be transported back to that time or place in my life.”
The small woven rainbow hanging is by California artist Ana Coon of Mimi & Lei.
In the corner of the nursery, picture ledges are used as display shelves for Thomas’ books. Lidded baskets also add stylish storage.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
High-Impact Houseplants for First-Timers
Find an interior designer near you
Browse popular nursery furniture
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
High-Impact Houseplants for First-Timers
Find an interior designer near you
Browse popular nursery furniture
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Amy Welsh, Nathan Mitchell and their 9-month-old son, Thomas
Location: Brookland neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Size: 1,400 square feet (130 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
“The one constant element in my home is my obsession to add plants to every corner and empty surface,” homeowner Amy Welsh says. “Plants are my go-to if I need to bring some warmth into a space.” Welsh, who works for a bank, and her husband, Nathan Mitchell, bought their 1920s Craftsman in northeast Washington, D.C., in 2015. In their front living room area, a brick fireplace painted white is surrounded by a variety of houseplants. “My living and dining area evokes a ‘Jungalow’ and boho style inspired by the incredibly talented Justina Blakeney,” Welsh says.
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