Name: Sara, Blogger and Real Estate Consultant
Location: Dupont Circle, Washington D.C
Size: 718 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years; Owned
When you have a blog that focuses on how to achieve high fashion at a bargain, there is a good chance your home will reflect that same sensibility. Blogger Sara's home radiates world charm, luxury, and her keen ability to mix her taste in high-quality vintage pieces with great low-price steals from her favorite bargain shop, Home Goods, and D.C stores Good Wood and Miss Pixies.
A little over two years ago Sara found her home via a friend who was also in real estate. He had renovated his apartment with new moldings, flooring, track lighting, and carved-out nooks in the living room and bedrooms. After one visit Sara immediately knew she wanted a place just like it. The timing worked out perfectly, as her friend was looking to sell, and soon after Sara sold the condo she owned in Maryland and made the move to the District.
Her modern home in D.C is filled with colorful accents and original art, mixed prints and bold patterns. Rich pops of red, blue, orange and yellow play off white painted brick walls and black planked floors. Her Iranian heritage is folded into her aesthetic with the use of Iranian rugs gifted from family members. Her affinity for prints and patterns is evident in everything from her curtains (which she had custom made) to the pillows and poufs. Her home functions as her office, as she often works from home, but also as a place to entertain family and friends. "Having a dining area with plenty of seating was really important", she says. What's equally evident is Sara's ability to see design elements and furniture as having multiple functions. She converted what once was a vintage headboard into a black and white table stand for her foyer. To display her collection of shoes, she converted an old CD rack into a shoe rack. Antler décor from Home Goods transforms into a display stand for rings and necklaces. And heads up to anyone looking to get a piece of her style; Sara's looking to sell her couch very soon!
Apartment Therapy Survey:
MY Style/Inspiration: My style is a mix of rustic, modern, and vintage. I love mixing modern pieces with vintage pieces. There are two local stores that I go to often: Miss Pixies and Good Wood. I'm a big bargain shopper. You'll see me a lot at Home Goods and TJ Maxx.
Favorite Element: All the colors work well with one another. I really like to keep things clean and simple in my bedroom and bathroom. You'll see things are a bit more muted than the living room. Having a clean simple area that's relaxing is important.
Biggest Challenge: The built-in for the entertainment system. It limited how I arranged in this space, especially since I like to entertain. If it weren't for the entertainment center, I would have put two sofas facing each other. I wouldn't have put the entertainment system as the focal point.
What Friends Say: "Wow!" They can't believe I've done all this by myself. They also say, "Wow, it's so clean".
Biggest Embarrassment: After two years of living here I still haven't found a piece of artwork for that big white wall!
Proudest DIY: In my bedroom I have a jewelry and sunglasses display. I made that myself. I took a bulletin board from Home Goods and added wire and nails so I could display my collection.
Biggest Indulgence: My poufs from Gilt Group.
Best Advice: You can't rush the design or buying process. With the design process, when I found myself rushing I found myself returning things. I'm a firm believer in buying only what you love. If that means it takes a year or two years, wait it out and don't rush it. Definitely do your research.
Dream Sources: I really love Room and Board and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. I also love Gilt Group; their home section is amazing.
Resources of Note:
ENTRY
• Mirror: Home Goods
• Converted Vintage Headboard used in foyer : Miss Pixies
• Foyer Rug: Home Goods
LIVING ROOM
• Arm chair: Home Goods; Pillow: Marshalls
• Lamp and table: Miss Pixies
• Wine cart: Found along side of road
• Original Art: Her cousin Dr. Matthew Moshirfar
• Plant stand: Home Goods
• Blinds: Blinds To Go, customized
• Tassels: From Etsy shop.
• Dog sculpture: Home Goods
• Antler candle stick holders: Nieman Marcus
• Bamboo magazine stand: Miss Pixies
• Bike: REI Cruiser
• Antlers: Thrift store in Colorado
• Frame: Marshalls
• White vase and red coral: Z Gallerie
• Couch: Macy's
• Zebra pillows: West Elm
• Yellow pillow: Urban Outfitters
• Coffee table: Anora home
• Wooden horn: Home Goods
• Red faux leather tray: Home Goods
• Shells in glass jar: Home Goods and TJ Maxx
• Poufs: Gilt Groupe
• Entertainment System: Vintage Herman Miller cabinets; white cabinets from Ikea
• Rug: Target
• Décor: Home Goods
• White Lamp shade: Ikea
• Orange-painted flower decor: Home Goods
DINING ROOM
• Chairs: TJ Maxx (Black chair)
• White Chairs: Bax Studio
• Sheep skin backs: Ikea
• Green chair: West Elm
• Candle: Gilt Groupe
• Napkin holder: TJ Maxx
• Vintage wooden Table: Miss Pixies (She managed to bring it home in her Rav4 when the store wasn't able to hold it!)
• Curtains: Bought fabric and found a seamstress to make them into curtains
•Tray: Marshalls
• Rug: Iranian rug given as gift
• Light: Z Gallerie
KITCHEN
• Frames: TJ Maxx
• Home Goods
• Pot: Home
• Spice Containers: Anthropologie
• Cabinets: Ikea
• Saucer/Espresso cups: Target
• Stool: Home Goods
• Rug: Home Goods
• Tray: Home Goods
• Dining Room Rug: Iran. Gift from family member
BEDROOM
• Mirror/ decoration: Home Goods
• Headboard: Target
• End Table: Target
• Knobs: Anthropologie
• Telephone: Home Goods
• Mirror: Jewelry holder
• Reindeer jewelry holder: Home Goods
• Pillows: Target
• Gold/Cream pillows: West Elm
• Bedding: West Elm
• Throw: TJ Maxx
• Bed Stools: Home Goods
• Rug: Persian rug from Iran
• Curtains: Curtain Works
• Mannequin stands: Home Goods + Contest for ABC, gifted
• Chairs: Overstock
• Gold Vase: Ross
• Grass vase: Ross
• Bulletin Board: Home Goods with gold duck tape
BATHROOM
• Shower Curtain: Home Goods
• Towels: Anthropologie
• Accessories: Home Goods
• Trash can: Home Goods
• Perfume Tray: Home Goods
Patio
• Chairs and table from Home Depot
• Chair with blue pillow: TJ Maxx
Thanks, Sara!
(Images: Nicole Crowder)
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I like absolutely everything about the dining room. That green chair comes out of nowhere and I LOVE it.
I dont always like the home tours, but this one is right up my ally! Gorgeous and eclectic. I want to steal both mirrors!!
I LOVE this.
source for dining room rug? super cute.
I wish she could come organize my home. Impressive ideas. It doesn't hurt that she is beautiful too.. :)
Not bad and she has a nice place.
Great job, Sara! Your place is awesome :) Source for the crazy chair on the porch? It looks similar to the Anthropologie ones.
Lovely home and lovely dress! Source for your dress please? :)
I really love this place. Very cute and unique. All of my favorite things aren't sourced though! The flower thing on the entertainment center? That freaking light in the dining area? The chair on the balcony! I love how loved this place feels.
Absolutely love this space! Very clever and eclectic ideas. How did you create the entertainment center? Is it an Ikea head on a Herman Miller body?
Searched in vain for the DIY proudest moment object - something for sunglasses and jewelry display - but could not find it in any of the pictures. She describes it as a bulletin board from Home Goods "and added wire and nails so I could display my collection." Am I missing something?
as with many tours on here, I'd like more whole room pictures and less close ups, I would have liked to see the bedroom layout.
also AT, what's with all the recent gorgeous home tour owners? It's intimidating!
Just a photography suggestion, but try using HDR conservatively when taking indoor photos with daylight coming through windows.
Love love love a galley kitchen (which I think puts me in the smallest percentage possible).
nice... have you tried the sofa facing the fireplace with dining table behind?
Thanks for your comments everyone. For those who inquired about sources for certain items (light in dining room, chair on patio, decor), the post has been updated with those answers :)
And for the inquiry about Sara's dress, its from Urban Outfitters and the boots are from Dita. Thanks!
Very stylish apartment with a beautiful resident.
Would you please tell us about the white desk in your bedroom? Was it custom-made, or do you have a source? It's a great desk.
i love this a bunch. i'm looking to move out to dupont in the summer - i would kill for a place like this!
Stylish place, stylish women.
So there was a recent article on AT about Home Goods and there were a lot of negative comments concerning the products of Home Goods...just sayin'...see...Home Goods has a lot of very nice things. You've done an amazing job. Very lovely home!
This place is gorgeous. So chic, not overdone or underdone, it's a totally balanced space. The dark floors, painted brick walls and eclectic mix of decor... I love it!
Hi everyone. Thank you so much for your lovely comments. To answer a few of your questions:
1. The desk is custom built and was there when I moved in
2. The Herman Miller filing cabinets were vintage and the ikea white cabinets were built on top of it.
3. The dining room rug is a ghelim from Iran. http://www.rugs-direct.com/southwestern-rugs has a lot of similar rugs.
4. You can find pictures of my jewelry DIY here: http://highfashion4less.com/2011/10/jewelry-organizer-how-to/
Hope that helps. You can always visit my blog or contact me directly for more info:
http://highfashion4less.
Thank you.
Nicely done!
I, too, love the dining room kilim rug (among other things).
The couch looks SO comfy!
DC, represent! Nice cookbooks - veganomicon, real food daily, and vegan cupcakes take over the world
it's really all around beautiful-- so are you !!!
I love this space! So beautifuly done. I really love the fact you used sources such as Home Goods and TJ Max for affordable luxury!
Love the bar in the dining room and the shoe rack is BRILLIANT!! I need that. Beautiful home and great style. Love it!
Amazing apartment and the photos are beautiful!
Way too much TJ Maxx, Target, and West Elm to be "vintage."
The hanging light in the dining room from Z Gallerie is an exact copy of the Caboche by Foscarini. Are they allowed to do that??