A Washington, D.C., family of four asked designer Sara Swabb of Storie Collective to update its 1936 Tudor-style home in a way that honored the home’s roots while bringing it into the modern era. In the entry, Swabb, who uses Houzz Pro business software, opened things up by widening doorways to keep sightlines clear to the kitchen and dining areas and allow natural light to be shared between the rooms.

In the kitchen, a warm green cabinet color, an arched range alcove and handmade terra-cotta tile flooring in a herringbone pattern create a fresh style that nods to the home’s past. A zellige tile accent wall spans the room, helping visually connect the main cooking area to a nearby zone containing a paneled fridge, a secondary sink and a built-in coffee machine. Textured wallpaper and patterned draperies energize the dining room, and midcentury modern furnishings perk up the living room.

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