Name: Stefan of ArchitectDesign
Location: Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington DC
Size: studio 475 square foot studio, owned
Years lived in: 2½ years
Most people may think that being a collector of beautiful things is incompatible with dwelling in a studio apartment, but Stefan shows that big style can exist in small spaces. With careful arrangements and clever storage, he manages to create intimate conversation zones and large-scale displays of his expansive art collection while still preserving an overall feeling of spaciousness. And of course, the open floor plan, high ceilings, and wall of windows don't hurt.
The first thing that struck us about Stefan's home — aside from the spaciousness of its small footprint — was the artful integration of traditional and modern elements. It's common to see classical architecture decked out in mod furnishings, but it's a rarity to see a successful execution of the reverse where industrial modern architecture looks at home filled with very traditional embellishments. However, Stefan manages to pull it off by sticking with clean-lined, contemporary styles for most of the large furniture (i.e.- the long narrow bookcases that run the length of most of the room) while reserving more ornamental pieces for the gallery-styled display wall. It's this balance of styles that first attracted us to Stefan's famed blog, ArchitectDesign, where he continually awes us with an inspiring mix of contemporary and classic design.
Although he jokes that he's been accused of decorating with doilies, we found Stefan's refined style to be timeless and distinctly masculine. He mixes warm woods and gold accents against a crisp, cool backdrop of gray, blue, and white paints, and creates contrast with touches of black and steel that play up the industrial style of his modern apartment. However, despite his careful attention to detail, Stefan's home is not overly styled. It's comfortable and inviting, and clearly filled with things that have both personal and aesthetic meaning to Stefan.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Style: Simple lines spanning neoclassical through modern. I like an eclectic mix!
Inspiration: Magazines and books! World of Interiors, Elle Décor, Domino (no longer), Architectural Digest…
Favorite element: Lots of light and glass
Biggest challenge: Size — it's so small!
What friends say: It's very grown up for my age
Biggest embarrassment: I don't like to dust! Again, the size — it's so small!
Proudest DIY: Bathroom shelves built into an unused nook.
Biggest Indulgence: Basic pieces — a good sofa, good table and chairs, etc. The basics need to be right. And candles…
Best Advice: Craigslist and eBay are godsends! Don't worry about it being 'used' — the finest antiques are 'used'!
Dream Source: 1stDibs
Other Inspiration: artwork and china. They bring life to a space and life to my existence!
Resources
Appliances: stainless steel GE monogram (came with apartment)
Furniture: Crate & Barrel, DWR, IKEA, auctionhouses, craigslist and eBay
Accessories: everywhere under the sun
Lighting: CSNlighting online or vintage, Ms. Pixies here in DC, The Brass Knob in Adams Morgan, eBay
Rugs & Carpets: hand-me-down 'orientals' and eBay
Tiles & Stone: black granite, ceramic faux stone slabs from Italy
Window Treatments: roller shades
Beds: West Elm — but I love Restoration Hardware beds
Artwork: family, eBay and friends!
Paint: Duron - 'titanium' walls, 'shell white' trim, 'intellectual gray' ceiling
Accent color - 'blue slate'
Flooring: tile that came with the apartment
Thanks Stefan!
Images: Leah Moss
Originally published 3.26.2009 - AA
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Comments (56)
I like this house tour because many people faced with downsizing to studio apartments this gives inspiration and really how much space do we need.
Stehan you really utilized that long wall making it very interesting and your own. I think just having two pieces of art with a console which is what I might have done would be boring and would make the space feel closed in.
Love it!
I love the gallery wall, it is such an inspiration.
great job, Stefan.
Yay for a DC house tour that is local! Love the gallery wall and the bookcases.
It is a great job!
Do you remember where you got the bookcases?
I love your space Stephan...especially the gallery wall, the colorful rug and the great antique dining set. But the magic is really in how you have brought it all together. Bravo!
I have been struggling with how to create a gallery wall in my own small space. I bought some great prints, but haven't been able to make a decision about how to frame them. This post has reassured me that the frames do not all have to match in order for the wall to look cohesive.
Stephen, Did most of these works come framed, or did you choose the frames? If you chose them could you share your selection process? My local frame shop is choice overload for me, and I am feeling a bit intimidated.
Thanks for sharing your space!
Bravo Stefan!
I love that you took care to stay consistent with your wood tones. I think this is the easiest way to mess up an eclectic assemblage, especially since there are colors of wood that we associate with particular time periods or design movements.
Matching wood bridges the gap between era-specific furnishings- warming the angular modern and taming the ornate antique.
Great job-- excellent use of space. And is that the Martine sofa from Crate and Barrel? I covet that sofa so much!
What a beautiful apartment and elegant taste!
Probably one of the first AT tours I'd actually like to live in.
I especially love the Boullée engraving on that unusual neo-classic easel, the odea of a gallery wall, and the dining table.
argggg typo : read "idea" not odea.
it's wonderful! i second the need to know where you got those great book cases! and also did the cabinets come with the apartment or did you get the handles in a particular place? they're great too and work so well with the bookshelves!
thank you for sharing :)
Hey guys, this is Stefan, aka ArchitectDesign - the housetour 'host'! The bookshelves are AMAZING -they're from IKEA but they sadly no longer sell them -the 'docent' collection. Try looking on craigslist for them! They look really stylish and not cheap.
My art wall is really a hodgepodge -a lot of the pieces came to me already framed from family members and auction houses. I just bought plain black frames in standard sizes for the others at a local art store - black matches everything! The art easel is from restoration hardware outlet! I like to rotate pieces on that!
The dining table and chairs are vintage BAKER that I got on craigslist -i LOVE craigslist!
PS the sofa is the 'grace' sofa from crate and barrel -i've had it for 5 years now.
I love this! What really surprised me the most is the cool galley kitchen! I love that!!!! I hadn't seen it before like this - it's so high tech and efficient. And I love the picture wall in the entry.
There's a print above the drawers that I have my eye on!!!! What is that Stefan? It looks like some kind of antique architectural drawing.
Great story and great guy!!
Joni
WOW! I am totally blown away. I happen to know where you live (not in a creepy way- i just recognized the studio because I sell homes- and no, I am not plugging my business). I sold a place similar to yours and CANNOT believe how efficiently you put everything together in that small space. You even managed a dining area. It is a lovely and functional space. And i 'heart' your gallery wall. Gorge. Good job Stefan.
Splendid use of space; the kitchen is ingenious. I am deliriously pleased to see that Stephan did not arrange his books by color ;-)
i cannot believe the bookshelves are ikea! now going to check out architectdesign blog :)
There's a little black easel on top of the bookcase: it holds a framed print.
I'd like to know more about this object. Is it new?
It may be small but it looks great -- really sophisticated yet comfortable. Excellent job!
This is great. The classic wood furniture, especially the gorgeous dining set, really warms up a hard industrial space, as do the rugs. And of course the art is a treasure. I'd live here in a heartbeat and I'm off to check out the blog.
I love how you took an industrial space and made it a warm and comfortable home. The wall of artwork and the bookcases are just amazing! You did a wonderful job with the arrangement and choice of furniture, your home looks much larger than the 475 sf. Well done.
what an amazing job! It feels very warm and personal. The art collection is themed beautifully, the modern pieces are complemented by traditional rugs. I would not change a thing! Yes, you may feel that it's small, but you use every inch of this studio well. Off to check you blog now...
That's a very nice place you've got there. Sad to here that those bookshelves aren't being sold any more, but surprised to here they were Ikea. I want those now... Thanks for sharing!
The art easel is new -I got it at Restoration Hardware. Thanks for all of the lovely, flattering comments everyone!
Great House Tour!! You've got great personal style.
Thanks for sharing!!
Whoa! It's the ALTA! Man, I never thought those concrete boxes could look good. Well done! What a transformation.
I 'heart' this!
yes, it's a small space, but the smallest details that you've made in your studio apartment make the biggest impact. bravo!
fyi the little waiter man holding the tray with the remotes... CUTE!
great condo.
I've been returning to this post over and over the last 24 hours. I just moved into a studio myself and these photos are inspiration indeed. Respect to you, Stefan! Love it.
well done. great use of space
yeah, way to go on this one AT!
Stunning! I love the way your art is displayed. Very electic, in itself. But, like a completed puzzle----every piece fits together beautifully.
I want all the appliances in your kitchen and I LOVE your bathroom! And your decorating is great! I love what you have been able to do with such a small space. Beautiful work :)
I think the sofa is the only impressive item in this room. All else look a bit mushy...no real form.
I really like this, but I hate to ask -- didn't we see this tour in 2009? Was something changed/updated, or is this a re-run?
Well, if I'd looked at the dates of posts, I would've answered my own question. D'oh.
Trish, don't feel so bad, I thought the same thing!
Trish and Suzy, see the early comments to confirm the dates, it is from March 2009. Having said that, as a recent Apartment Trerapy fan I'm glad to see it posted again. I really admire the mix of loft and traditional style. Though a little over cluttered for my tastes, overall I think Stephen did a bang up job.
I like it a lot.
I need to know - where do you put your clothes?
Your place is wonderful and well-put together.
I do have one question: Where did the small lamp with three heads next to the TV cabinet come from?
I second the question from emmelemm: Where is that three-headed lamp from? I love it.
Hi - Stefan the homeowner here. The author just let me know that this was reposted again! To answer your questions -the lamp was from CSNlighting.com -but they don't offer it any longer, unfortunately.
I keep my clothes in a closet by the front door and also in the bottom drawers of the bookcase.
I agree I have a lot of clutter -but I'm a collector by nature and it's a VERY small apartment! I try to make myself feel better by saying evertyhing is 'organized'. ha
Gallery wall is my favorite, I like mix of shapes, colors, texture - works very well
What a cutie.
A great place, I remember that I have allready seen some pics of this place before and I allways wanted to see more of this creative young guys home. I often see pics in shelter mags where people decorate a perfect place without any challenges like limited space, ugly buildins and so on with their perfect designer's stuff where you hardly can translate it to your renters reality. This place really breathes, it is alive and full with good inspirations for other renters.
Warm, stylish, tasteful--I could totally live here. And I love how the captions point out features that make the space work so well. Great apartment, great post.
Beautifully done! A stylish and functional studio. Great use of color and attention to details. The gallery wall is really inspiring.
Adding more love for the gallery wall, fantastic!
absolutely wonderful space, thank you for sharing!
I love this so much. I also have a bit of the "collector mentality", and I find it hard to integrate all the cool things I want to display without getting into grandma territory. I think this place is a wonderful example of how well it can be done, even in a tiny space! There are few obviously modern elements, but somehow the little updates have a huge impact in making everything seem contemporary and fresh. Fitting a dining area, living area (complete with 2 chairs and a couch!), and bedroom area into one room is majorly impressive. My 1 bedroom apartment could take a lesson from you. And the rug in the living area is gorgeous! Also a huge fan of your art wall.
echo the comments on the gallery wall, and i simply love the place in general. extremely inspirational as somewhat of a packrat myself, but it the sense that i just want to collect and keep all sorts of cool, quality finds. everything fits together so well here. where did you get the rug under the coffee table?!! i heart it. i have been looking for the perfect living room rug forever...
I like the space and the varied taste - interesting to look at
i'm so jealous that you can put all those pics and do-dads on the wall and have it look so inviting. i would feel better if you said you labored over the layout for an extensive period of time. also very envious of your rug...have been looking for a similar one on craigslist forever already...lovely place, impeccable taste.
I'm sorry to report that the rug is a hand me down from my parents from 25 years ago so not available anymore.I love it but it's nothing special -it came from the homestore of a department store in Pittsburgh that is now Macys.
The gallery wall started with 3 large pictures that slowly over time evolved into what it is today. I've even added a few more pieces since these pictures were taken!
Ok I would love to see the floor plan and what is the length of your kitchen?
bravo!
I love that kitchen!