Name: Julie, Blogger
Location: Tenleytown, Washington D.C.
Size: 650 square feet
Years lived in: 1+ years; Rented
The first thing you'll notice about fashion blogger and graphic designer Julie (of the blog Julip Made) is her sunny personality. And the next is how it matches perfectly with her colorful and unmistakable artistic home in D.C's Tenleytown neighborhood.
Julie's apartment is a playful mix that shows her love for prints and mosaics, and her affinity for clean design and details. Many of the pieces that adorn her home, from the art to the textiles, are gifts from family members and their collections, gathered over the years. One of the many perks of having a mom who is an artist (Patricia Underwood) is being able to snag some of those original pieces for yourself. Such is the case with many of the pieces on Julie's wall.
Sometimes it's creating your own design that makes a space feel more personal. Julie has put her creative touch on a number of projects, including using printed paper to cover an otherwise unsightly gray fuse box in the kitchen. The little vanities on the coffee and end tables were covered with paper from PaperSource. Several of her DIY projects have also been featured on Refinery 29.
When she's not busy running her popular blog Julip Made and visiting stylish events around the city, Julie, a self-professed "home-body", spends her time at home watching movies with her dog Odin and her boyfriend, or uses the space to entertain friends.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Julie: Growing up, my mom was an artist and my parents liked to travel and collect different things from around the world. So with the pillows and the rugs and the Buddha, I like a little bit more of a worldly touch and also little bits of glam, like the gold in the cups or the lampshade. Boyfriend: I don't like clutter. I like things very clean and simple. I love wood pieces. For me, I love the living room coffee table. I like to let that be the piece that speaks the loudest.
Favorite Element: It's an older building and has great character. There are really tall ceilings and I love the view. Sometimes it makes me feel like we live in a tree house.
Biggest Challenge: Sometimes when you rent you don't have control over certain changes. But I think overall we've been able to make it our own with what we are able to do.
What Friends Say: That it's cozy. They're impressed that it's so put together. They say, "You actually have a home!"
Biggest Embarrassment: It's not really under our control, but the bathroom. We have boring tiles. Another thing that I thought was embarrassing was this ugly fuse box we had in the kitchen. So I covered a cardboard box with PaperSource paper.
Proudest DIY: One of the most popular is a tray from Ikea, Mod Podged and covered in Paper Source paper. Some of the art on the wall is mine. I recovered the inside of the white lampshade, and I painted the chair in the bedroom. It's just a bunch of little projects that help give the space some personality.
Biggest Indulgence: We just bought a new Mac desktop. We've been saving up for that for a while. I also think, because we don't own this place, we've made the decision that we're not going to put a ton of money into it. We have ideas for how we'd like to invest in a home when we buy.
Best Advice: Find out what makes the most sense for your space and how you use it most. Really think about how you're going to use something you buy and be most comfortable.
Dream Sources: First Dibs has some amazing pieces that I could probably never afford. So probably First Dibs and then I'd love to be able to explore flea markets, estate sales, and yard sales, which is something that is difficult to do without a car.
Resources of Note:
ENTRY
• Paintings: Her mother, Patricia Underwood's
• Coat rack: Ikea
• Rug: Home Decorators
• Tray: Free Cycle in her building's basement
• Mail slot and Napkin Holder from IKEA
• Mirror: Pottery Barn. Was in her bedroom as a kid.
LIVING ROOM
• Dog photograph Art.com.
• The plaid flower sketch and Goth painting: Julie's
• Marilyn Monroe: College store
• Original art from her mom, Patricia Underwood
• Horses print: From Grandfather
• Dog drawing: Georgetown flea market
• Box on floor by window: Odin's dog box for his toys
• Curtains: IKEA
• Shelf unit: IKEA (EXPEDIT)
• Baskets: Top: IKEA; Bottom baskets: Freecycle pile in our building's basement
• Buddha: Kensington Market, Toronto
• White Horse: Breyer Horse. She painted it white.
• Pot: Grandmothers.
• Rug: Gift from her dad. Bethesda flea market
• Coffee table: World Market
• Couch and the orange cushion: Ikea
• Other pillows: gifts from parents from the Bethesda Flea Market
• Tables: Belonged to grandparents.
• Trays: Ikea
• Candles: Ikea
• Vases: Dollar Store
• Lamp: Goodwill; lampshade was a DIY
• Vintage green clock: Not sure of source
• Guitar: Boyfriend's
• Paperweight: Grandfather's
• Bar shaker: Grandparents
• Piece over table: mom, Patricia Underwood
• Wicker chair: Ikea
KITCHEN
• Shelves: IKEA
• Magnetic Knife Racks: IKEA
• Fuse box:Covered in cardboard from PaperSource
• Poster: Brome County Fair, Quebec
• Teapot: Birthday gift
• Cake plate: TJMaxx
• Prints on wall: Art.com
• Picture frame: Goodwill
• Panda Salt and pepper shakers: Urban Outfitters
• Glass water bottles: Ikea
• Teapot: Le Creuset
BEDROOM
• Rug: Home Decorators
• Shoe Rack: IKEA As-Is bin for $10.
• Baskets and shelving: Ikea
• Mirror: Ikea
• Nightstand, bed, desk: Ikea
• Butterfly basket: Target
• Lamps: Pottery Barn.
• Frames: left and center charcoal piece are Patricia Underwood, right is a Matisse print from Art.com
• Pillows: Navy: Ikea. Unicorn: from childhood
• Bedding: Ikea
• Chair: Former neighbor was throwing it away. Julie repainted it.
• Hamper: Pier 1
• Letter cups: Anthropolgie, birthday gift.
Thanks, Julie!
(Images: Nicole Crowder)
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my all time favorite tour, I love everything about it.
love your dog just as much.
SUCH a beautiful home. Totally a style I'd like to emulate. And your dog is adorable, too.
So nice to see on AT a down to earth attainable apartment. Thanks for brining us back to earth Julie. And kudos on your masterful folding skills. Your clothing shelves are a work of art.
julie, you and i might be style soulmates! your layout and furniture choices are eerily similar to my apartment, right down to the guitars stashed in every corner. love this!
Love the 'ethnic' pillows that add pops of color & texture without looking like World Market. Also, I like how the place is uncluttered - while also NOT minimalistic. A hard balance, but you found it.
A lovely home.
I'll echo others in saying I love that this is an attainable, affordable look without seeming straight out of an Ikea showroom or like store. Is your couch the Ikea Manstad (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90198978/#/80198974)? Looks like it might be a little more grey, than blue? Would love to know what kind and if you like it...
Very cool. Feminine, without being overly girly. Shows a lot of personality.
i really love this spot. i love that it is practical, functional, and still beautiful. plus, you are a total cutie, julie! i particularly like the set up in your kitchen. do you have the links to the exact prints behind you in the kitchen (the cow one and the one to the right of that) also, what are those canisters called that house those straws? i see them everywhere in these tours and dig them.
i'm just really impressed by this place. it is stylish without being obnoxious, you have great taste and look very well put together. i'm envious (and not just because i'm graduating in may and want to move to DC SO badly but cannot afford it right now)
and by the way, you have lovely hair!
I love the bedroom/office curtains! Are they vintage? I want them!
This apartment is so nice and simple, and your dog is so cute! My only complaint is that I wish there were more pictures of the dog. I would be happy if the dog was in every picture!
I like how there are a bunch of books and photos but you keep the space light by just keeping everything organize. A clean home is certainly a happy one.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE
I love house tours that show every day "normal" people and what they can do using budget friendly items. Thank you! Very lovely place!
such an adorable apartment, put together and lots of personality...i love it!
Love the apartment! Also, thanks for featuring some DC spaces recently, it's nice to see what people can do here.
one expedit is never enough
What a lovely place! I second Tracy333.
I assume the pooch is allowed on the sofa on every day basis and not just for the purpose of the photo shoot. What is the sofa fabric? It looks so clean and free of dog hair.
I would like to know the price of a KitchenAid in the States, in Europe (well, I have checked in Spain and UK so far) it costs an arm and a leg, it's hard to believe 90% of house tours feature one! Does everybody love baking or is it just that it looks cool??
Love the tour by the way :))
My husband bought a Cuisinart stand mixer instead of the KitchenAid. Neither are cheap, but he decided to take up baking and he's a gadget guy. I probably wouldn't have bought it, but he wanted it.
BTW, I think the house looks great :)
Thank you all for the blush inducing comments! If you have questions about sourcing, feel free to e-mail me at julipmade@gmail.com. For the art, most sources are listed and for those interested, Patricia Underwood's website is here.
@KSTRICK The couch is Ikea KIVIK with chaise attached in Dansbo dark gray
@CDICA002 Both of the prints are from art.com. La Boeuf and Le Pain. The horse print is from the Georgetown flea market. The canister holding the straws is actually a vintage cocktail shaker.
@ALIRU The bedroom curtains are Ikea Alvine Spets
@SCHRAGSTER Odin did try to be in every picture and is a complete ham. More pictures of him can be found here
@CANADIANMANGO Odin is allowed on the sofa, but typically during the day we leave a blanket covering it. The fabric is cotton and polyester and with a good vacuum every now and then has stayed decently clean over the past year that we've had it (link to sofa above).
@MONTSEROMERO The Kitchen Aid is anywhere between $175 and $250 depending on the version you buy. I absolutely love mine for making bread, cakes, whipping cream, and I even use it with the meat grinder attachment to make sausages and meatballs homemade.
Love the look, the style and the simplicity. What a lovely place to live & relax!
THIS is a normal, beautiful, affordable apartment for a young couple. None of that custom kitchen imported fridge of my dreams shit.
I love your style, probably because it is so much like mine! I'm in CA, but visit my daughter, son-in-law and new granddaughter on the Hill regularly. I will borrow the car and we will shop! I want to know every little consignment boutique, thrift store and flea market in a 25 mile radius! I drool over CL in DC due to the huge variety if cool stuff this very transient population has to sacrifice when they are suddenly transferred to London ;)
Keep up the good work!
Your home is absolutely beautiful. I love your all-white kitchen as well as your artwork and its arrangement.
Awesome space!!! I have the same size but different layout, thank you for the inspiration... AND COOL BASS!!!
Nice but why no bathroom pics?
Love it!!! Will echo the other comments about it being attainable... Adorable dog as well!!!
You should start a blog teaching other 20-somethings how to do this. Too often, people go into debt trying to have everything showroom-perfect (ie: boring)....or they don't do ANYTHING because they don't think they can afford to do anything nice. This is a perfect young couple's apartment! Personal, approachable, and chic!
Gorgeous Malinois! Belgian Shepherds are the greatest. Really enjoy your displays of art, as well as the colorful ethnic fabrics. Delightful, live-able, individual home.
I really really love the IKEA sofa KIVIK. And your home looks amazing, job well done! I like it when people make an effort to find them selves in their homes, making them more personal. It's hard to go your own way when it comes to decorating and trusting your own taste. So this is a very inspiring example of someone who's brave.. Very beautiful home Julie! OH and also, love the green clock. :)
<3 Ida
What a home - warm, interesting, inviting, creative, inspirational and beautiful - best AT tour I've seen in yonks. I love it!
Nicole-- yay, beautiful photos! So nice to have you contributing such awesome tours.
And Julia, thank you SO much for sharing your colorful home. I echo the above in appreciating your put-together, attainable style. It looks like a joy to live in
One of the best things about AT is seeing the art other people have found or done. The drawback is thinking "D*mn, I want that!".
Nice light, pillows and rug in the living room. Your kitchen is cool too.
Very nice, but what I think is missing--and it's because you have so much lovely natural light everywhere--is plants. Not just a couple of pink rose or orange glads bought for the photos. Something green will add a depth of dimension to the grey and white with red touches. I wish I had a Dad who would buy me such a beautiful rug!
I agree with the above comments. This home reflects a suitable place for a young woman who is not focused on dazzling others. It is a lovely apartment, and fortunately doesn't demonstrate the trendy, expensive, awesome stuff that we mere mortals cannot afford. It is tasteful (old fashioned word, I know), functional, and pleasing.Well done.
@MONTSEROMERO: I don't think everyone in America has certain appliances. Some do because they look cool but then they are never used. But it seems most of the people featured on AT live in their homes in very full ways. They have made conscious choices about what small appliance is needed and how much to spend on it depending on the usage. I have a toaster (Cuisinart) and a blender that has some food-processing capabilities (Rival) and that is it. Wait, I have an old mixer in a cabinet, but I have not used it for years. I recently moved my microwave to the garage and will give it away soon. There might come a time when a higher end small appliance like a food processor is needed and I will buy higher end when I do, Kitchen Aid or Cuisinart. But for now I do not have one or know anyone who does.
Julie: your home is lovely. One of the things I try to do is make sure that everything in my house is beautiful, functional, or comfortable (I got those from Rachel Ashwell, and I often add efficient as a fourth, which is close to functional but a bit different). If an item is a combination of those, all the better. Things in your home seem to fall into those categories. BTW, love the colors of your kitchen appliances.
I love that she's got Peychaud's as well as Angostura bitters. A bit of a cocktail enthusiast?
Love the toss pillows on the sofa!
@Meme Larue I think it's made very clear in the writer's copy that Julie's mom, Patricia Underwood, is an artist and many of the pieces in her home are originals. But thanks for putting down quality sites like Art.com and Etsy and the people who use them EVERYDAY.
I LOVE your home. It's got such a strong Scandinavian design to it -- bold colours, perfectly edited accessories, so many soft textures and comfy looking spots. I would move in tomorrow! I think my favorite is the rug in your living room and the way the throw pillows complement it.
I love that your take on 'artistic' doesn't translate to "all sorts of random crap strewn about without any discernible order because I'm, like, sooooo eccentric." ;P
I love this apartment! What great style. It's simple, elegant, and not overwhelming with ridiculously expensive or dazzling stuff. This is what a tasteful, young professional's home looks like, it's real!
The "wall" of art works great with the rest of the living space, and I love the white kitchen area, small but workable.
Overall, A+
Oh yeah, and I LOVE your dog!!!! He's a handsome fella
How come I dont have that knack for hanging a bunch of random art and making it look so interesting?!? I hang a bunch,it looks cluttered! Lovely home,so warm,so LIVEABLE.
Man there has been a run on DC apartments being featured lately. Sorry, but this one was kind of boring (too much Ikea furniture, storage, shelving, hooks, kitchen towels, all too recognizable) but the artwork was nice. Would have preferred more closeups on that instead of the Cuisinart. But I agree, the placing of the artwork above the sofa was great. She could write a tutorial on that.
I'll have to disagree with the last comment! There is nothing boring about this apartment... The space is very well used, young, fresh and artsy. Julie should become a stagger in her spare time (if any), she displays lots of talent for choosing the right elements and tastefully put them together... just the right touch! What I also like is that it says you can be on a budget and still have an elegant space to live in... Bravo!
Very nice! Now, if I could only get my son to decorate his place like this instead of bachelor grandma's attic chic! Love that coach, but no Ikea near!
Oh my god, that rug in the living room!!
Very nice apartment. I like all the touches of color. The kitchen is great - not only is it pretty,
but seems very functional, too. Well done!
Loved the carpet + cushion match in the living room.
Great art.
I love this tour! Wonderful colors, great "things," nice attention to detail, fantastic organization! It is definitely motivating me to go home and change some things around in my own apartment. Thanks for sharing!
I lived near Tenleytown many years ago and I still miss it. Charming and convenient neighborhood. This lovely home fits right in.
i never understand why ppl insist on hanging or displaying pots and pans unless they are shiny and clean. for goodness sake, take some steel wool to the bottom of those pans. already.
Julie, There aren't many apartment tours that I love as much as my own. But I LOVE yours. I may even love it a little more (mostly because of the space and that damn cute dog of yours). I think Nicole Crowder did a great job at capturing the space. I can totally see how you use it, I can see the space. I love this tour. I love the amount of natural light, use of color and space. Great great tour!!