This is from our second DC finalist, Hilary. Comment away!
DC can be a very tidy place. Set out on a grid system of four mirrored quadrants, the District sometimes feel well manicured but a little bland, as if the city itself shops at Ann Taylor.
And yet, there is Ruff & Ready...
Open only on weekends and located on 14th St just off the revitalized U St behind an abandoned-looking façade, this used furniture store is a glorious mess. The inside is split into four parts: a middle maze of everything stacked to the ceiling, a courtyard piled with china frozen together in winter, another warehouse with larger furniture, and a turpentine-scented bargain basement.
>> Ruff & Ready Furnishings (no website, but good google listing)
It is also one of the few places in DC where the crowd is truly from every background. Diplomats, bus drivers, and students squeeze through the narrow passageways clutching copper candlesticks, crescent-shaped Moroccan mirrors, and a lamp made from an elk leg. Happy chaos prevails.
This time I bought an owl. My friend spotted him behind some teacups. Seven inches high, he seems to be cast iron. There’s no mark, but he is weighty with charm. He now keeps watch from my bookshelf.
Every city should have a crazy treasure house; what’s your favorite?
- Hilary P.
(Thanks, Hilary!)
Reader Vote:
Copyright © 2007 Apartment Therapy
great post - would have loved to see more photos.
view peaceyall's profile
Thanks for pointing out a great local resource and I really enjoyed the writing style of the post as well. :) Good job!
view Laura's profile
Three cupcakes! This is a true hidden gem, not an open secret like so many places in DC. Plus they will buy your used furniture.
view oliviadc's profile
I remember Ruff and Ready. I know pictures would not help advertise that store. But the treasure hunting was good. Haven't been back since I was living in a group home... Hmmm, may need to go shopping this weekend.
view madcow77's profile
I was just in Ruff & Ready last weekend, and have to agree, it's an awesome store. I do agree that you could've used some pictures of the store both inside and out (which more than likely can't be described accurately in words) -- it looks like an abandoned building to anyone not looking for it.
Still, great post (and great store to review)! Good luck!
view SexyAnteater's profile
Great post! I hadn't heard of Ruff & Ready. Now I can't wait to check it out!
view gnking's profile
Ruff&Ready used to be on 18th Street, as I recall -- I bought a wonderful old dressing table with a big round scalloped mirror from them in the early 1980s.
view Deborah's profile
Great post--your description of DC as "tidy" and feeling like it shops at Ann Taylor is right-on, without verging into that I-will-diss-DC-to-show-I'm-cool territory that I find annoying.
view Jenny in DC's profile
Like the choice of a hidden gem, but I found the post itself too wordy and self-consciously hip. It didn't feel like AT to me. Also, I'd prefer to see the store instead of the poster's apartment. That said, the owl is pretty cute. Nice buy!
view hindulovegod's profile
I loves it! Useful and cute!
view sparkle's profile
well written. good job!
yay DC!
view 335ktt's profile
the grammatical error in the 2nd sentence is making it hard for me to love this post. the info was useful however.
view SD913's profile
Good choice of subject- Ruff & Ready is a great store.
But I feel like there could be more information about the store- price points, a conversation with the owner. Who shops there is irrelevant.
Also, this needs more pictures. The included picture - like the rest of the piece- doesn't provide much information about Ruff & Ready. This is a good start, but it feels unfinished.
view HollyinDC's profile
I like the writing style and the owl pic. I just don't happen to like Ruff & Ready. It's too chaotic and claustrophobic -- it's really hard to move around in there. Plus, I think that most of their stuff is junk.
view jooly's profile
awww... i think a few readers are being a little hard on the posting. it takes a couple of tries to get the Apartmenttherapy-like feeling that we all love so much.
view 335ktt's profile
Great post! I just stopped in there a couple days ago and picked up a fantastic eames era end table for a real bargain...It is really difficult to get around and there is a lot of junk to dig through...but you may just find some treasures...I wish I had found that little owl, who cute!
view ZAshtianipour's profile
I love the post - your write very well - illuminating, funny, brief! It is nice to see more stuff about DC on here - there is much to explore in our Nation's Capital!
view BryanG's profile
Lovely writing - light and friendly.
view Laurita's profile
great writing!
view Anna Toy's profile
I'm so glad you chose Ruff and Ready as the topic of your first post. I live up the street from there and gotten a number of things there to furninsh my apartment. Looking forward to other posts...
view retrostyleguy81's profile
I think this is a great short blog that seems to have genuinely interested its readers and alerted them or reminded them about this store. Look forward to hearing more from Hilary!
view World's Strongest Girl's profile
The kind of insider knowledge we all yearn for. Excellent post, with great sense of DC and the store. Can't wait to visit.
view yell here's profile
Yea Ruff & Ready! I've gotten a few awesome pieces there, but it is truly claustrophobic. You've gotta prepare yourself for those tiny, tiny aisles.
view fourwalls's profile
Wow, wish I'd known about this place when I lived in DC, great post.
I do have to point out though that it's only NW DC and Capitol Hill that really have that 'Ann Taylor' feeling. DC is still a majority African American, majority poor city with a lot more interest (and problems) than that.
view ARC's profile
How are their prices?
(nice job on the post too)
view sixfive's profile
Thanks for telling us about this, I can't wait to check this place out!
view janeq's profile
I wish there were more pictures- this place sounds like fun.
view annhenry's profile