Liz Calka

Designer, photographer, explorer, and occasional violinist. Raised in New England, currently residing in Washington, D.C. Enjoys passionate debates about the fate of Tony Soprano.
A D.C. Home Inspired by Family, Photography and Frida Kahlo
Gina knows *exactly* where everything is in her 870-square-foot apartment; she's custom designed her home to house her treasures perfectly.
Jul 1, 2020
This 600-Square-Foot Home Is Full of Minimal Art and Enviable Organizing Ideas
Mariana's home feels the way she wants her heart to feel: happy, harmonious, calm, whimsical, and adventurous!
Jan 9, 2020
A 400-Square-Foot Liveaboard Yacht Shared by a D.C. Couple (& Their Pup!)
After struggling to find an apartment when they first moved to D.C., Abigail and Mark sold all their belongings and jumped into boat ownership headfirst.
Dec 16, 2019
This Custom Tiny House Has the Most Beautiful Craftsmanship
Built-in bookshelves, smart custom storage, and every inch used, this custom-built tiny house is defined by beautiful and fine workmanship.
Nov 8, 2019
This Light-Filled Loft Is Nestled in a Converted 1800s Schoolhouse
Apartment Therapy's Instagram Manager made a light and bright home in this oddly shaped loft with her roommate Jasmine and Jasmine's dog, Bambi.
Jul 29, 2019
This May Be the Most Stylishly Patriotic Studio Apartment Ever
Stanley's 525-square-foot studio is packed with American handcrafts, folk art, brass candlesticks, baskets and bold red, white and blue color palette.
Jun 29, 2019
The Plant Doctor’s Baltimore Home and Studio Are Absolutely Filled With Gorgeous Green Plants
Plant stylist, interior designer, artist, filmmaker, and author Hilton Carter shows us around his plant-filled industrial jungle loft home in Baltimore.
Jun 25, 2019
This Small Studio Apartment Has an Easy, Elegant Divider Solution
Name: Channing Foster and cat, Cosette Location: Mount Pleasant — Washington, D.C. Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 9 months, renting Channing Foster has lived in her Mount Pleasant apartment for less than a year, but she’s already made it her own. Drawing inspiration from the building’s mid-century foundations, she’s elevated the space with a disciplined color palette and an elegant selection of furniture, art, books, and heirlooms.
May 2, 2019
A Classy, Collected Capitol Hill Row House
Name: Brittany, Christian, and (pup) Ted Location: Hill East — Washington, DC Size: 2,200 square feet Years lived in: Owned 3 years Brittany, Christian, and their much-adored German Shepard mix, Ted, live in a classic row house in Washington, DC, just east of the U.S. Capitol. They’ve built an elegant and sophisticated home, lovingly filled with details collected over time.
Apr 30, 2019
A “Nostalgia Meets Now” 495-Square-Foot Home
Name: Irwin Gueco Location: The General Scott — Washington, DC Size: 495 square feet Years lived in: Rented 6 years / Owned 2 years “Your home should tell your story,” says Irwin. And everywhere you look in his home there is a good story, providing insight into Irwin’s personality. Filled to the brim with carefully selected mementos, artwork and furniture, his home feels like a lovingly curated museum. Which is fitting, because he spends his days at a museum.
Apr 30, 2019
A Crafty Designer’s Vibrant DIYed Apartment
Name: Teri Clar and Patrick Choquette, plus their dog, Nami Location: Arlington, Virginia Size: 925 square feet Years lived in: 3.5 years, Rented (1 of them including Patrick!) Ombre bedroom accent walls in Crushed Velvet and a moody, modern den in Hale Navy? Check and check. Welcome to the home of interior designer and business owner Teri Clar. Teri resides in in Arlington, Virginia with her fiancé, Patrick and their dog, Nami.
Apr 30, 2019
A D.C. Couple’s Quirky, Memento-Filled Home
Name: Ron Kelly and Emily Goodstein Location: Petworth — Washington, DC Size: 750 square feet Years lived in: Ron has lived here for 4.5 years, Emily moved in last year; owned Colorful, comfortable, and warm, Emily and Ron’s home is full of treasures with a tale. They’ve decorated with a combination of modern and bohemian elements that give a global feel to their Washington, D.C. apartment.
Apr 30, 2019
A Small Studio Has a Pink Kitchen With a Glitter Floor
Name: Grace Location: Washington, DC Size: 495 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, owned After a marvelous tour with Irwin, fate brought us Grace in the comments thread; she’s a resident of the same, beautiful Art Deco-style apartment building with precisely the same floor plan. Whereas Irwin’s studio was brimming with rich earthy colors, I was delighted to see Grace’s interpretation of the space—in top to bottom pink.
Apr 30, 2019
Cozy, Southern Charm in a Hundred-Year-Old D.C. Family Row House
Name: Meg, Glenn, Maddie and Isabelle Hoburg, and dog, Piper Location: Capitol Hill — Washington, DC Size: 1,500 square feet Years lived in: 14 years, owned Meg Hoburg is an interior designer with Southern roots, a true sense of Southern hospitality, and a fantastic eye for wallpaper. She and her family have been living in their Capitol Hill row house in Washington, DC for 14 years. Customizing the house throughout these years has been a steady work in progress.
Apr 30, 2019
A Casual Contemporary Home in Downtown D.C.
Name: Liz and Brendan, and cat Vincent Location: Mount Vernon Square — Washington, D.C. Size: 900 square feet Years lived in: Renting 10 months Inviting, modern, and thoughtful. Like most people, Brendan and I have sought to make our living space representative of who we are. When we combined our homes last year, we had to be intentional about what came with us. Brendan is a web developer and I’m a graphic designer.
Feb 19, 2019
An Artistic, Industrial Live/Work Loft in South Baltimore
Name: Nicole and Dave and dog Remy Location: Baltimore, Maryland Size: 1,100 square feet Years lived in: Renting 1 year Inspiring artists with an equally inspiring nest, Nicole and Dave have designed their apartment with true artistic vision. They’ve built their quietly brilliant, thoughtfully executed home in an old box factory in Baltimore, where it doubles as both a living space and a studio.
Feb 19, 2019
This Colorful Home Has Incredibly Creative DIYs and IKEA Hacks
You'll get tons of inspiration from this colorful, creative, and clever home!
Oct 1, 2018
The Afro Minimalist’s Small Apartment Is a Peaceful & Practical Oasis
This author's style is best described as "minimalist chic influenced by the beauty and diversity of the African diaspora."
Sep 10, 2018
A Baker’s 250-Square-Foot Studio Celebrates Art, Women, and Creativity
Name: Krystal Mack Location: Washington Hill — Baltimore, Maryland Size: 250 square feet Years lived in: 1 year, renting Krystal’s studio is peaceful, inviting, and full of inspiration. Cozy maximalism is the vibe. Everything holds meaning, and her belongings are arranged into what Krystal calls “moments”—be it a pair of pom-pom heels she wore on a special day in her career, or beer bottles she enjoyed with friends that now live on as bud vases.
Jul 17, 2018
Forgiveness, Not Permission: Inspiration & Advice for Living Your Best (Creative!) Life
Inside an old box factory in Baltimore, in a loft apartment with minimalist decor and structured industrial features, lies a studio bursting with color, erratic splatters of paint, and a kaleidoscope of paper scraps. This is artist Nicole Mueller‘s think space, a celebration of paradox. After an inspiring house tour with Nicole and Dave, I wanted to learn more about Nicole’s artwork and her relationship with the apartment as a living space, a working space, and a revolving gallery.
Oct 28, 2016