Name: Amna & Paul Werdel
Location: Adams Morgan — Washington DC
Size: 750 square feet
Years lived in: 2 — rented
Take a good look, because these are some of the last pictures snapped of Amna and Paul's Adams Morgan gem before it goes under the knife…or the sledge hammer as it were. Their turn of the century building is being turned into condos, and part of the process is a major renovation of all the units. Thankfully, Apartment Therapy got in for a few pre-demo shots just in time.
The first thing you notice when walking into Paul and Amna's cheerful apartment is the color! And the calm. The bold accents! And the sense of order. In short, they've managed to create a lively spot while still preserving an overall spirit of peacefulness — the perfect landing spot for a couple whose jobs require a busy travel schedule.
Like many newlyweds, Paul and Amna built their rooms around a few keys pieces from big retailers like IKEA and CB2, but they've put their own (BOLD) spin on each room with vibrant paint applications in the form of oversize stencils and high contrast bands of color. In the living room and bedroom the bands serve as anchors for their posters and photographs, while else where on closet doors and the bathroom walls a crisp stripe adds an unexpected punch.
Leaving, I couldn't help but think about what small corner of my home could be spiced up with a little paint too.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: A comfortable mix — things we love and things from people we love.
Inspiration: The places we've been and the people we've met along the way. We try to carry away with us a little bit at each turn.
Favorite Element: Impossible to pick just one. It's filled with pieces, big and small, that make us smile.
Biggest Challenge: The biggest challenge is also what we really like about the space — the quirkiness of it all. Crooked floors, mismatched doorways, odd-shaped radiators. Challenging to work around, but they make it unique.
What Friends Say: That it's very "us." We think they mean that in a good way.
Biggest Embarrassment: That we're not here to enjoy it more :)
Proudest DIYs: Amna's sick-day wall stencil — remarkably clean despite her heavy medication. Paul's floating shelves, platform bed, and the bedroom wall-of-bureaus — heavy-lifting for a one-man project but he muscled through with love while Amna was away on assignment.
Biggest Indulgence: We can never have enough photos or ways to display them. They're hung on the walls, tucked into shelves and hanging from the ceiling. We're surrounded by little reminders of people and places we adore.
Best Advice: Only what you love. Make it yours. Build a safe place from the outside world.
Dream Sources: Amna: Container Store (some day, my closet will look like their displays — some day.)
Other Inspiration: Our families. We were lucky to both grow up surrounded by the things that matter.
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • foyer: Valspar Island Orange
• bedroom: Valspar Iron Frost
• bathroom: Valspar Mocha
APPLIANCES
- • vintage — in that came-with-the-place sort of way
FURNITURE
- • RCKNDY
• Gus
• IKEA
• CB2
• bed: IKEA
• and rescued from second hand stores
ACCESSORIES
- • everything! — from Crate & Barrel to a Zimbabwean market
LIGHTING
- • CB2
• IKEA
• etsy
RUGS & CARPETS
- • none! easy clean up!
WINDOW TREATMENTS
- • clean white shades — always open to let the light in!
ARTWORK
- • Paul's photography
• band posters
• vintage ads
• calligraphy & paintings from family friends
FLOORING
- • we suspect there's lovely hardwood hiding beneath this veneer. Stay tuned until after the renovation…
Thanks, Amna & Paul!
Images: Leah Moss
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Nice Use of color-if I see that sectional in one more house I am gonna puke though
It's modern, homey, and charming. The only thing that bothers me is the art that's hung too high.
The city/forest thing on the wall is a Threadless Tshirt design! Is Paul the designer? Supercool!
Supergraphics, Stencils and Accent Walls - Oh My!
Supergraphics, Stencils and Accent Walls - Oh My!
Supergraphics, Stencils and Accent Walls - Oh My!
(My apologies to Herman J. Mankiewicz and the other screenwriters of the Wizard of Oz)
love the wall of bureaus...
would have liked to see the bathroom, not just a quick cutaway shot.
oh, and is the couch from cb2?
even though 'montreal modern' might puke if they see another one, it's just what i've been looking to put in our tiny apartment.
I like the idea of the stripe across the walls, and might try to create a similar look using contact paper. Also curious how the light in the kitchen is hung, and where it's from. I have a hideous light in my kitchen and want to hide it.
Hi April-not its not cb2 its from GUS modern
Lots of fun. I especially like the stripes with pictures hung on them. These are very tall apartment-dwellers, yes? My 5'4" self would have a neck ache trying to view the artwork.
And I'm with aprilheartsaaron - that sectional is essentially a classic and not going to go away soon. Nor should it.
Great job, Amna and Paul. Your place looks really charming and very liveable. Your paint work is terrific.
It's very sad that all that architectural quirkiness is going to vanish. I used to live in an old, non-rehabbed building and while there were frustrations they were outweighed by the solidity and uniqueness of the place.
I used to want red walls, and still like red a lot. Even so, I feel that this orange is much better for walls than red would be, if red were used in such quantity.
The art work is hung high for sure-as far as the sectional-
100% True there's nothing "wrong" with it-its just available everywhere on line in the same fabric, made in china and in my opinion over priced for imported upholstery( I used to be partners in a retail store)
You can buy small scale made in the USA for less, choose from 100's of fabrics to personalize it and not have the same sofa as everyone else in your building. But whatever floats your boat!
I love it. Knew I would when I saw the first preview shot. I like the photo mobile-going to have to do that one myself-going to be hard to pick which ones though to include. Personally I love the couch and the color of it, I've been looking at one myself.
Go Gator!
I love what you did with the walls! the wall papers are amazing! You have lots of pictures and books everywhere! that makes a home really cosy! love it!
I love the colors! What's the ceiling light fixture in the entryway or dining room? I've been searching for something similar. Thanks for sharing your home!
@aprilheartsaaron: I love that couch, too. I saw it on AT not long ago and had to have it. I tracked it down at Gus Modern (it's the Jane sectional), but the $3000 price tag stymied me. The Paramount sofa from Blu Dot is, while not a sectional, almost identical and nearly half the price. Since my boyfriend's a big guy, however, I figured the Paramount's single cushion would be sagging within a year. I ended up purchasing the Eugene sofa in Smoke from Room & Board.
Basically, after falling in love with the same sofa you have, I ended up with the Eugene, but only after weeks of research, hand-wringing, and second-guessing. I hope this little synopsis saves you some of that. :)
Wow, can't wait until I've purchased that sectional to banish montreal mouth vomit from my place. Dig your BEDDING! Where did you find it?
Where did you get the ceiling light fixture in the entryway or dining room and the bedding?
I love the contrast between bold blocks of colour and delicate details like the light shade over the dining table, the wall stencils/graphics, and the bedspread.
Speaking of which, that bedspread is awesome. I second the call to know where it came from.
I'm with soldier1 too, where is that ceiling light fixture from?
Sorry,
i just don't get it. Nice try at adventurous use of color and space. It just doesn't look comfortable to me. Its a well arranged group of objects. the color is inviting, but for an installation or a painting. In a home I look for comfort and contemplation. To jarring for me.
I *think* I recall seeing that bedspread from Urban Outfitters a while ago, but don't quote me on that.
@coarsetalk
No no no, acquiring the sectional invites montreal's mouth vomit. There, now I've saved you from a tragic misunderstanding.
The bedding is CB2.
I love all the wall stencils and accent paint. :)
Please lower those painting above the sofa. They need to hang the top frame on the art, should be in line with the bottom of the orange boarder - it would also look like a cool visual effect, and by lowering the frames, you get them out of the way of clashing (visually) with the shade of the floor lamp.
I love the space. I think you did a fabulous job. Love the dining room most of all.
FYI, Gus Modern has a 20% off sale every year. They just had it, I will venture a guess that it is in July? Keep your eye out and purchase then, that is what I did and I love my sectional.
Cool space!
I hope they're not going to be destroying all of those cool old architectural details, etc... too. So sad when that happens!
Wonderfully perfect use of bold color!! Bravo!
Don't listen to the nay-sayers.
PS- I also wish there was more to see of the bathroom- that cocoa color looks very interesting.
Love it Love it Love it! inspired, modern, comfortable, and personal. The paint colors and placement are very clever. Also love the cityscape mural - where did you find that? And I LOVE your sectional - I think "Montreal Modern" secretly wants one for him/her self :-) I looked at it too @ Gus but the price tag was a bit daunting. I am currently coveting the Petrie Sofa from Crate and Barrel (similar look) - any comments/reviews?
Where can you buy the decal of the city reflecting as a forrest?! Love it.
Thanks :)
Is that stencil from a Threadless print?
does anybody know where the light fixture is from?
Also would love to know where light fixture is from.
I love the colors! And I love the paint bands as a framing device for the photos. Great job, I hope we get to see what you do with your new place.
Very energizing space and yet the symmetry calms it down. Unfortunate that much of the artwork and bands of painted color are too high. Makes things feel unrelated.
Goodness gracious! If one doesn't have anything nice to say, why bother posting at all? It's just plain rude. Anyway, Amna and Paul, your home is quite lovely. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Love your space. So modern, but the dining room table seems out of place with the rest of your furniture.
Love the prints along the horizontal color line - great idea!
Amna & Paul Paint it Bold..Where did you find the City Scape bedding? I am a architect and love that bed spread! I checked Crate & Barrel but could not find it.
The bathroom looks like it is nice. The horizontal color and prints over the couch are hung way too high in comparison to the couch. Maybe you had a higher backed couch before?
So my dream of being a featured house tour completely went out of the window after seeing this one and realizing that their sofa and coffee table are identical to mine. I was also considering throwing in a bit of that very same orange as well. Maybe since its been 2 years no one would notice....At least I got my sofa 50% off retail.