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Architect: Atelier Verre

Interior Designer: Eric Chang Design

Construction: Atelier Verre

Photography: Douglas Friedman

Eric Chang Design has reimagined a historic Federal style estate in Georgetown, transforming the once ten bedroom residence into a refined six suite home that bridges heritage architecture with contemporary living. The project carefully balances preservation and innovation, creating interiors that feel timeless while establishing a strong connection to the property’s celebrated hidden garden.

The redesign by Eric Chang Design focused on reshaping the expansive residence into a series of immersive and highly personal spaces. Historic architectural details, including original walnut parquet flooring and fireplaces, were meticulously restored, while contemporary interventions introduced a new layer of craftsmanship and modernity. The studio approached the home as a sequence of experiences, allowing each room to evoke a sense of discovery through changing light, texture and scale.

Central to the transformation was the removal of a large fireplace to create a dramatic spiral staircase positioned beneath a tunnel of natural light. Throughout the day, shifting sunlight highlights the hand applied clay plaster and wabi sabi inspired woodwork, creating constantly changing atmospheres within the home. Eric Chang Design used this relationship between light and material to guide movement through the property, from intimate spaces to larger, cavernous rooms layered with contrasting textures and wall coverings.

The interiors draw heavily from the estate’s garden, bringing natural references indoors through carefully selected materials and bespoke furnishings. A custom Gingko chandelier by Andreea Breascu hangs above a sculptural stone inspired table by Stefan Bishop, reinforcing the connection between architecture and landscape. Marks of the hand are celebrated throughout the interiors in millwork, plaster and artisanal detailing, strengthening the dialogue between organic forms and Federal architecture.

Eric Chang Design describes the project as a study in experience, emotion and memory. The home remains deeply respectful of Georgetown’s historic character from the exterior, yet inside reveals a contemporary environment where craftsmanship, light and nature create a residence that feels both rooted in history and entirely timeless.