In an Arlington home, an heirloom quilt tops the primary suite’s hand-welded steel bed from Room & Board; the vintage oil painting adds character. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
In an Arlington home, an heirloom quilt tops the primary suite’s hand-welded steel bed from Room & Board; the vintage oil painting adds character. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Nature-inspired wallpaper by Fayce Textiles enlivens the home office, where Billings designed built-ins featuring shiplap shelf backs; Brave Custom Woodworking Solutions fabricated the cabinets. The Article desk rests on a handwoven rug. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
A Room & Board sofa and leather ottomans from McGee & Co. anchor the adjoining sitting area. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Billings revamped a dated Leesburg kitchen, painting the dark cherry cabinets white and adding a new custom island, countertops and appliances.
Designer Kevin Billings likes to incorporate vintage accents into his work. Photo: Michael Ventura.
Interior décor has been a passion for Kevin Billings since his Leesburg childhood, when he spent many a weekend redecorating his room.
After studying communications and marketing in college, Billings worked for eight years in residential property management, honing his skills remodeling and staging luxury apartments. “When covid happened,” he recalls, “I burned out and decided I was ready to go out on my own.” In 2021, he launched the design firm Dexter & Plaid.
A thread of nostalgia is woven into all of his projects. Even when clients request a modern look, he typically incorporates vintage accents, scouring Etsy, 1stdibs and antiques shops. “Adding things that have been worn and loved and have a patina makes interiors feel less stark,” he explains.
Billings traces this affinity for timeless treasures to his mother and grandmother. “They both had meticulous homes where everything felt very intentional,” remembers the designer, whose current home in Leesburg contains many family heirlooms.
Likewise, Billings urges clients to select furniture, art and accessories that elicit fond memories. As he reflects, “I want people to walk into their finished homes and feel like they’ve lived there already.”
Interior Design: Kevin Billings, Dexter & Plaid, Leesburg, Virginia.