Name: Dan, Shannon and daughter Violet Roberts
Location: Capitol Hill, Washington D.C
Size: 1200 square feet
Years lived in: 3 ½ months, Owned
Finding a home in Washington D.C's coveted neighborhood of Capitol Hill is a dream for any homeowner or renter. The tree-lined streets and residential locale are home to some of D.C's best local fare, bars and great music venues, parks, and the ever-popular indoor/outdoor farmers market, Eastern Market. And after moving to the neighborhood just a little over three months ago, Dan and Shannon Roberts are adjusting quite nicely to their new digs.
The two had previously owned a home in D.C's Logan Circle neighborhood--a smaller one bedroom that they shared with their dog Monk, cat Quimby, and Dan's piano (he plays for the US Army Band) But after the arrival of the couple's beautiful little girl Violet, the two realized they would need to expand their square footage to accommodate their growing family.
The first impression of the two-story home is undeniably comfortable, cozy and familiar. A great collection of pop and landscape art hand-drawn or painted by family members is sprinkled about the living room, stairwell, bedroom and nursery. Retro posters of famous concerts that were passed down from a family member's collection adorn walls and help reinforce that is this, after all, the home shared by a musician. Landscapes drawn by Shannon's mother hang on the bedroom's lilac-painted walls, helping to enhance the serene mood. Photos taken by Dan, of a tree that used to sit outside their previous home, transitioning with each season, are placed on the wall by the stairwell. One of the best elements was there before the family moved in - a thin atrium with a colorfully painted mural that streaks across the brick wall . And, though the two are just starting to get comfortable in their new home, they already have big plans for expansion, including adding on one or two more bedrooms and knocking out an entire wall to open up the living room.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Modern, eclectic, personal
Favorite Element: The atrium with the colorful mural. We have not entertained much out there yet, but it's nice to sit there from time to time.
Biggest Challenge: Making it "ours": Updating the fixtures, landscaping, etc.
What Friends Say: It's big and has lots of light
Biggest Embarrassment: The Home Depot light fixtures
Proudest DIY: Removing the wet bar and building elfa closets
Biggest Indulgence: Hard-wired surround sound. Dan's a musician so this must comes in handy
Best Advice: (Received) How to organize our very small backyard. (To Give) We're not DIY'ers and believe that a professional can do a much better time in half the time
Dream Sources: Dwell
Resources of Note:
LIVING ROOM
• Rug: West Elm
• Bookshelves: Ikea
• Lamp: Wedding present
• Piano: Rick Jones Piano in MD
• Armchair: gifted from parents from their first apartment from the 70s. Reupholstered in 2009
• Monk painting from Chicago
• Couch: Rock Candy in D.C (now closed)
• Pillows: Etsy
DINING ROOM
• Dining room table and chairs: CB2
• Worlds Fair Art: Gift from friends
KITCHEN
• Rug: Ikea
• Green Tray: CB2
• Refrigerator: Kitchen Aid
BEDROOM
• Art painted by family members
• Dresser: CB2
• Closets: DIY project
BATHROOM
•Art from Shannon's grandfather
NURSERY
• Diaper and Crib station: Bye Bye Baby
• Giggle chair
• Piggy bank: CB2
• Guatemalan shirt hanging
• Hamper: Container Store
Thanks, Dan and Shannon!
(Images: Nicole Crowder )
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Stanley Console by ...
Love the huipile in the baby's room.
The rest of the house is also wonderful!! This Guatemalan textile caught my eye right at the start though. Nice work.
That atrium is amazing.
I think that replacing some of the photographs and artwork with larger pieces that are more proportional to the space would do wonders. Atrium is awesome.
I don't understand how people have time to get their entire house together in only 3 months.
@JaeTea - I think it has to do with how much you have to do beforehand. If all you really have to do is paint, then moving all of your things in isn't a big deal. We've lived in our home for about four months now and we have all sorts of plywood, tools, and machinery lying around because we've spent all this time renovating. If you find a home that doesn't have anything to renovate, it's not as hard to get settled.
I might be the only one who cares, but what is that light blue color on the walls please?
please shut the lid on your toilet if you having your home photographed.
@ruka Why? Is that a rule somewhere? Is it dirty? Everybody knows what is under the lid so why pretend?
I would love if future home tours included a survey question about paint colors people use. Would love to know what the color in the bedroom is.
"I hate styled homes!"..."This house is too ordinary"...cracking me up!
Although I will admit the crooked kitchen towels and flipflops on the pet bed made me cringe, but that's just because i'm a crazy person..
My favorite part would be the living room/dining room area. It looks very balanced and finished.
I knew the shirt hanging in the baby's room was from Guatemala! We have plenty of those around. I have one myself! and let me tell you they are very colorful and pretty. I wonder how Dan and Shannon came across one?
I'm interested in how you planned for and prepared the outside wall for the mural - I 'd like to do one on my balcony too...
Kinds of paint and whether you prepped the walls in a special way....
If one pet is named Quimby, the other must be named Ramona or Beezus regardless of gender. Anywho, nice house and I love the patio and infinity stripe.
i'm just going to take a moment to appreciate "it's always stormy in tillamook" hanging on the wall. thank you.
I liked the wall colors but the dark furniture seemed to clash with it. Maybe it's better to see it in person instead of a photo though. And let's be real, our homes are what we like. I loved the patio.
Oh my G-d! HANON! Bane of my youth and ruiner of lovely summer days! Thanks for making me laugh. I preferred Kohler since the exercises were more like actual music but still very challenging and really improved agility.
I loved your home and loved that it looked like someone actually lives there. While tours of photo-ready homes are lovely, they usually make me despair since no one can actually live like that for more than a camera click.
I do have a question about the tub, though. It's awesome, but what will you do when your slippery child goes to the other end? LOL I foresee a lot of plunged in the tub while fully clothes for mama and papa!
I love that you showed a real couple, in a real house, showing their real life. "Prime time" - seriously??? The Shannon's have done a wonderful job of integrating style, design, & even occasional whimsey into their very busy lives. For them, there is only "Real time". Interesting use of the lengthwise space for the bath/shower. Kudos all around.
This house looks lived in and loved.
If people keep posting snarky comments (ahem, ruka), nobody will be brave enough to open their homes up for us to have a look inside.
Gorgeous atrium...lucky family!
AT, I could do without a close-up of somebody's (admittedly lovely) necklaces. More wider shots, please!
I really like their home, I also like that they showed what it looks like while their living in it (open toilet and all). I find myself wondering what some of these living rooms while they're being used. Lets face it, we don't live in our homes while their perfectly staged, lets see how they look the other 99% of the time. Thanks for showing us the truth!
Great to see DC house tours on AT. Lovely home - I especially like the mural in the back yard. Thanks for sharing
Lovely home, but again I don't have a good feel for the floor plan. Looks like a huge first floor and tiny second floor. It would e so nice to have a layout.
love this place! can you tell me which blue and green paint you used?
Used to live on the Hill, I miss Eastern Market! House looks great, love the skylight in the bathroom, I had one in my old bathroom as well. Enjoy!
clever idea to hang your necklaces, is it for sale or did you make it yourself?
I love this home because it is a home not a staged mansion. I like the idea it isn't staged, the open toilet and crooked towels are a part of all peoples lives.
I've always loved AT home tour but really enjoy reading the comments. Like every tour I've viewed here on AT is different, so are each one of us who comments. Our preferences, likes/dislikes is what makes us each individual and unique. Like every home on AT, although different; I have my faves and not so fave, but I do admire and continue to thank all these lovely people/families for allowing us to take a view of their unique lovely homes. Dan & Shannon lovely lived in home flips on the dog bed and all - it's home.
This is a Home not just a House or an Apartment, Its a democracy and there are no rules. Toilet seat up or
down, who cares, overall its warm and lived in, not an empty shell, and if crooked towels upset people, well
they are just to obsessed with form. Live and let live, overall a gorgeous warm family and pet too, oops, home, and as for me, I loved the Flip Flops on the Pet bed , thats how I live too.
I love the vivid colours of the interior... Well... And the exterior!
How about this sofa - a strong colour accent too?
http://www.brabbu.com/upholstery/maasai.html
Nice tour, in just a few months you've created an interesting comfortable home.