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Enduring Design

Durable furnishings and sly color tricks help keep a family home livable and bright.

Amy Mauser's Chevy Chase family room as re-done by Debbie Wiener of Silver Spring-based Designing Solutions. The rug is stain-resistant nylon and the armchair is from Wiener's new Slob Proof! With Crypton collection, with anti-microbial, stain-repellent fabric and a wood finish that can be touched up with a pen.

Amy Mauser's Chevy Chase family room as re-done by Debbie Wiener of Silver Spring-based Designing Solutions. The rug is stain-resistant nylon and the armchair is from Wiener's new Slob Proof! With Crypton collection, with anti-microbial, stain-repellent fabric and a wood finish that can be touched up with a pen.

Erik Johnson

The brightly painted wooden table and chairs are used for game playing; on top, a three-dimensional tic-tac-toe set doubles as decoration.

The brightly painted wooden table and chairs are used for game playing; on top, a three-dimensional tic-tac-toe set doubles as decoration.

Erik Johnson

The Mauser's main kitchen features hardy Congoleum DuraCeramic flooring, CaesarStone quartz-composite countertops and Groundworks outdoor fabric.

The Mauser's main kitchen features hardy Congoleum DuraCeramic flooring, CaesarStone quartz-composite countertops and Groundworks outdoor fabric.

Erik Johnson

With the objective of family-friendly, durable decor, Wiener started Silver Spring-based Designing Solutions in 2000 and in 2008 published "Slob Proof: Real-Life Design Solutions." She had done more formal interior decorating in the early '90s. "I was a lot more formal, more into chintz," Wiener remembers. "Then I had my two kids, ruined the house and had to go back to work. I went back with a whole different mind-set."

With the objective of family-friendly, durable decor, Wiener started Silver Spring-based Designing Solutions in 2000 and in 2008 published "Slob Proof: Real-Life Design Solutions." She had done more formal interior decorating in the early '90s. "I was a lot more formal, more into chintz," Wiener remembers. "Then I had my two kids, ruined the house and had to go back to work. I went back with a whole different mind-set."

Erik Johnson

The hanging lamps were handmade by local artisan Rick Sherbert.

The hanging lamps were handmade by local artisan Rick Sherbert.

Erik Johnson

Wiener's goal is to create interiors that are not necessarily jaw-dropping, but are attractive and, better yet, enduring.

Wiener's goal is to create interiors that are not necessarily jaw-dropping, but are attractive and, better yet, enduring.

Erik Johnson

The main kitchen was made over to accommodate mother-daughter baking sessions, weeknight family dinners and homework hour. Materials such as Congoleum's DuraCeramic flooring, a limestone composite, and CaesarStone quartz-composite countertops were easy on the budget, yet they are hardy enough to withstand years of abuse.

The main kitchen was made over to accommodate mother-daughter baking sessions, weeknight family dinners and homework hour. Materials such as Congoleum's DuraCeramic flooring, a limestone composite, and CaesarStone quartz-composite countertops were easy on the budget, yet they are hardy enough to withstand years of abuse.

Erik Johnson

Another view of the family room reveals the couch, also from the Slob Proof! collection.

Another view of the family room reveals the couch, also from the Slob Proof! collection.

Erik Johnson

The stairs leading to the Bethesda basement of Karen Dubin and Robert Litowitz feature stain-hiding shag rug.

The stairs leading to the Bethesda basement of Karen Dubin and Robert Litowitz feature stain-hiding shag rug.

Erik Johnson

The new rec room features a lime-green sectional sleep sofa from Lee Industries upholstered in Crypton fabric, a pool table, a 60-inch plasma TV and chairs covered in Groundworks fabric. The pop-art portraits of the family are from mydavinci.com.

The new rec room features a lime-green sectional sleep sofa from Lee Industries upholstered in Crypton fabric, a pool table, a 60-inch plasma TV and chairs covered in Groundworks fabric. The pop-art portraits of the family are from mydavinci.com.

Erik Johnson

Leeny and Keith Oberg, of Bethesda, hired Wiener to design their living room, which features a comfortable, Ultrasuede sectional sofa from Crate & Barrel.

Leeny and Keith Oberg, of Bethesda, hired Wiener to design their living room, which features a comfortable, Ultrasuede sectional sofa from Crate & Barrel.

Erik Johnson

The Obergs' living room also features a brightly patterned rug from Kane Carpet and striped chair and cubes from Slob Proof! With Crypton.

The Obergs' living room also features a brightly patterned rug from Kane Carpet and striped chair and cubes from Slob Proof! With Crypton.

Erik Johnson

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher Text Editor Amanda McGrath

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