We’re excited to share the latest home we visited, camera in hand. We couldn’t stop taking photos of this charming local house—featured in Domino magazine last summer—and its warm, gracious homeowner, Katie Ukrop, was a delightful host. Here she is now to show us around.
Katie is a familiar face in Richmond. She founded the gallery Quirk, which later evolved into the Quirk Hotel, and her reputation for warmth and style precedes her. Her entryway sets the tone for the whole house: grand, welcoming, and grounded by painted wood floors that continue across the entire first level. The pattern and color shift slightly from room to room, giving each space its own character. When Katie’s original floors needed attention, she left town while they were sanded and painted; local artist Sunny Goode handled the stenciling, leaving Katie a delightful surprise when she returned.
The stenciled floors pair beautifully with Katie’s airy, delicate furnishings, which are a curated mix of pieces from specialty shops and accessible retailers like Storehouse and West Elm. A stately marble fireplace and lofty ceilings add to the serene, dreamy atmosphere she has created.
The bay window fills the living area with soft light, enhancing the calm palette and highlighting the thoughtful styling.
Adjacent to the living room is an intimate sitting area with built-in bookcases and a second fireplace. We love the Oly light fixture, the elegant pocket doors, and the painted border on the dining room floor that connects the spaces with subtle flair.
Katie favors soothing symmetry, and she uses it cleverly here: a radiator beneath one window is balanced by a parson’s desk beneath the opposite window, creating a pleasing visual rhythm and a practical workspace. A soft blue bird painting above the mantel echoes the painted floor tones and is a piece from her gallery, reflecting the creative mix of art and everyday living throughout the house.
A muted palette and feminine details keep the rooms soft and inviting. Pale pink linen pillows and glossy white surfaces create a calm backdrop, while brighter accents—a hot-pink ottoman fabric or a whimsical ceramic deer head—introduce personality without overwhelming the space.
Katie mixes finishes and eras with confidence. An ornate antique chandelier hangs above a sleek lacquered dining table, proving that contemporary and vintage can coexist beautifully when balanced thoughtfully.
The kitchen is cheerful and highly functional. Clean white cabinetry and a beadboard backsplash keep the space feeling open, while plentiful built-ins provide storage for a busy family. Framed prints of pink mixers on the backsplash add a playful, personal touch and nod to the gallery’s aesthetic.
White ceramic collectibles appear throughout the home, grouped on windowsills and shelves. These repeated elements bring cohesion and a collected, lived-in feeling—an especially lovely touch above the cooktop where a small collection of pottery adds visual interest.
There are built-ins everywhere in Katie’s kitchen, and they’re impossible not to admire—so practical and so stylish. The cut-out chandelier is a standout piece, adding graphic charm above the work area.
Beyond the kitchen lies a sunny, casual sunroom with more white built-ins and a few pops of greenery. Katie’s dog Charlie lounges comfortably on a hot-pink floor pillow atop the blue-painted floors, making the room feel playful and relaxed.
A painted and distressed hutch in the sunroom echoes the floor color and houses another assortment of white pottery—another example of Katie’s layered, collected approach to decorating.
So, what do you think of Katie’s home? It feels effortless and lived-in while maintaining a soft, cohesive look—no small feat for a household with two kids and a dog. The combination of muted colors, layered textures, thoughtful symmetry, and artful details makes the house feel like a breath of fresh air. We’re grateful to Katie and her family for welcoming us and sharing their space, and we hope this tour inspires you to mix vintage and modern pieces, embrace soft palettes, and let your home reflect the people who live in it.