AHR Designs

10/13/2026

Tidbits of some of what I’ve learned thus far - year 15.

10/05/2026

Thrilled to have been included NOT once but TWICE in marthastewart.com Martha Stewart
“The 12 Best Bookcase Paint Colors According to Interior Designers”

Thank you Heather Bien!! Heather Bien ∙ Writing + Interiors

7 Benjamin Moore Wales Gray
9 Benjamin Moore Vintage Vogue

Benjamin Moore

🔗 Article in bio

09/28/2026

Thank you Homes & Gardens and editor Eleanor Richardson for including my designer advice in this story about transitioning your bedroom from Summer to Fall.
“5 Easy Bedroom Swaps Interior Designers Always Make Before Fall”

Tip #4
Drape a Wool Throw At the End Of Your Bed
‘As the temps cool, it’s nice to give your bed an extra layer,’ says designer Alexa Harris-Ralff, founder of AHR Designs. ‘When making the bed, I like to add a quilt or coverlet to a bed and then fold the duvet at the bottom for a layered look. If our clients only sleep with a duvet cover and insert, then oftentimes they will swap the insert for a heavier version for the cooler temps. A chunky throw blanket is also a nice addition in the fall.’

🔗Artical link in Stories and Linktree.

09/21/2026

Thank you Yahoo News and Amanda Garrity for sharing my thoughts on “Paint colors that make your house look more expensive!”
Black and white are a classic ALWAYS. We design homes that feel timeless and comfortably elegant for the families that live there. Our “tradition with a twist” Upper Northwest DC project is a perfect example of this.



photo credit christinegattiphotography

08/27/2026

I keep seeing everyone’s pics of their kids being moved into their dorms for the first time and I remember that feeling so specifically. It’s a special kind of melancholy- an equal parts “sadness & joyfilled” sandwich dressed with some angst and a sprinkle of excitement for what’s to come.
My own delightful kin left last week to go back to college and while I love my kids wyatt_ralff avery SO much I am choosing to focus on the things I enjoy while they are away.

Empty nest things I am choosing to celebrate:
1. A clean house
2. Reuniting all of your glassware to its appropriate cabinet
3. A reasonable number of baseball hats on the mudroom hooks
4. A foyer without shoes
5. Fluffed pillows
6. Leftovers
7. Towels off the floor
8. Empty jars, bottles, cans thrown away
9. Matched socks

What else have you got for me?

Photo credit
christinegattiphotography

08/15/2026

08/11/2026

I’m going to be super controversial here. I still like a pillow chop. A good pillow fill will naturally give you that sweet little divet. I was never into the aggressive rabbit ear look, just a subtle valley.

In the meantime- make sure your fills are 2 inches bigger than your covers. Don’t listen to retail sites who tell you a 20x20 pillow takes a 20x20 fill. It needs a 22x22 insert!
Etsy can be a great resource for pillow covers. Pick a down alt insert to avoid being poked by sharp feathers. The Company store has some good ones.

04/17/2026

This was a really satisfying Maplewood bathroom reno project. This lovely young family needed a major upgrade. We optimized every inch of the space and solved for all sorts of weird conditions. These changes allowed for improved clearance space around the vanity and a bigger shower. The shower feature wall is the perfect playful balance to this otherwise simple and timeless palette. It’s equal parts groovy and preppy (in the way us elders use the term).

Note the slippers are mine and are my absolute favorites. She upcycles designer stuff (in this case an hermes scarf) onto things like ugg slippers and birkenstocks.