A D.C. Home Inspired by Family, Photography and Frida Kahlo

updated Jul 1, 2020

A D.C. Home Inspired by Family, Photography and Frida Kahlo

updated Jul 1, 2020
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Home Type
Location
Bedrooms
Square feet
870
Sq ft
870

Name: Gina Martin
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: 870 square feet
Years lived in: 16 years, owned

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Gina knows exactly where everything is in her 870 square foot Washington, D.C. condo. She’s impeccably organized, and fiercely loves every item in her space. She’s custom designed this home to house all her treasures.

Credit: Liz Calka

Gina’s lived in her colorful home for 16 years, approximately the same amount of time that she’s been working at National Geographic. (She’s currently the Managing Account Executive in editorial sales for National Geographic Creative). She has a great appreciation for photography and is a big supporter of photographers, whether she’s collecting their books or hosting them in her home (she has quite the guest book!). The selection of photography on display in her apartment is, quite simply, magnificent. In fact, each year when National Geographic celebrates its annual Photo Seminar in D.C., the after party is always at Gina’s.

Credit: Liz Calka

Her home is also very much an homage to her parents, Bob and Diane, for whom she created the Bob and Diane Fund, a grant for visual storytelling about Alzheimer’s and dementia. Gina has a wonderful eye for antiques, and has incorporated family heirlooms and vintage furniture into her space. From items she found in her father’s and grandfather’s workshops to the torch her mother carried in the 1984 Olympics, Gina honors their legacy while also representing her own adventurous and independent spirit.

Reader challenge: How many Frida Kahlo references can you spot?

Credit: Liz Calka

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Vintage meets photography.

Inspiration: My mother.

Favorite Element: Mixture of family antiques with my love of photography.

Biggest Challenge: Lack of wall space.

What Friends Say: “Where are you going to fit that?”

Biggest Embarrassment: How organized I am!

Credit: Liz Calka

Proudest DIY: Kitchen design and my coat rack.

Biggest Indulgence: Jonathan Adler chair.

Best Advice: Surround yourself with things you love.

Resources:

Credit: Liz Calka

ENTRY

  • Coat rack – Custom made with hooks found in my father’s tool shop
  • Ceiling light fixture – My grandparent’s
  • Bench – My father made this bench in 1957 when he was in wood class. I have the original plans he drew for class. One of my prized possessions.
  • Paint color – Green
Credit: Liz Calka

LIVING ROOM

  • Brown Sofa – Crate & Barrel
  • Yellow chair – Crate & Barrel Citron Grayson Chair (SKU: 270517)
  • Orange Chair – Jonathan Adler Whitaker Swivel Chair & Ottoman
  • Coffee Table/Ottoman – Anthropology
  • Camel back trunk – Family antique
  • Old school desk – Family antique
  • Medicine cabinet – Good Wood
  • Olympic Torch – My mother was a torch carrier in the 1984 Olympics
  • Book shelf – Custom made book shelf to hold my 800 photography books
  • Brown rug – Lilah Solid Shag Brown Area Rug by Andover Mills from Wayfair
  • Paint colors – Moroccan yellow and green
Credit: Liz Calka

KITCHEN

  • Cabinets, Cubbies and kitchen table/island – Custom made
  • Orange Fridge & Stove – Big Chill
  • Hutch – Family antique
  • Kitchen light fixtures – Home Depot
  • Grocery scale – Family antique
  • Large format camera stand — Family antique
Credit: Liz Calka

BEDROOM

  • Antique dress – Family antique
  • Field desk – Antique desk found online and drove to Philly to buy it
Credit: Liz Calka

BATHROOM

  • Vintage sink – Salvage store
  • Vintage medicine cabinet — Salvage store
  • Shelf — Custom made

Thanks, Gina!

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