Name: Susan and Fred Blavin, and Bob Barker
Location: Dupont Circle — Washington DC
Size: 668 square feet
Years lived in: 1
It's hard to develop your own style when you spend half a decade moving every year. You collect a few things along the way and hope for the best when it all comes together. Our nomadic life has finally come to an end, and it's time to assemble a stylish home. Deciding what style it will be is what makes it complicated.
Becoming a first-time homebuyer was exhilarating, until I realized I no longer had an excuse for living in a poorly decorated space. I knew what my ideal home would feel like, but I wasn't sure how to achieve the qualities I wanted in each room: the sophisticated living room, humorous bathroom, soft delicate bedroom and energetic office.
My solution was to apply the basic composition principles I'd learned through graphic design and maybe they would work in interiors. The most helpful design principle for me is to always remember, "nothing should ever match, but things should always be coherent." Another lesson I like to keep in mind is that texture is just as important as color. I think it's easy to focus on color because it's more flashy, but there is subtly to texture that should not be underestimated. It can direct the energy of a room and make the difference between living in a showroom and living in a well designed home. Also, my grandfather taught me that a space always looks purposeful if it has interesting art on the walls. I always remember his house being beautiful, even though I can't recall one piece of furniture. I just remember his walls being filled with Matisse sketches and Picasso prints. So with a few of these principles in mind, I'm slowly building the interiors I want. I don't know if I'll ever be fully satisfied, but I know I'm content with my first real home.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: I don't have a style, at least not one that is fully developed. I've moved 4 times in the last 5 years! Until about a year ago, I never had a space to decorate around. Since the shape and style of my apartment kept changing, in the past it was hard to make design decisions. I just bought pieces of furniture that I liked, hoping it wouldn't look hideous. Putting everything together was an organic process without a master plan. I would say that is my biggest regret. I wish I had developed a detailed vision before I started buying things. Although, in my mind, everything I owe is merely temporary. I'm just waiting until I have the money to buy what I really want. I'm looking forward to the day in the near future where I'm rich and can afford a $5000 electric blue velvet camelback sofa. To make myself feel better about my hodgepodge, I often think about a quote I once read by the irrepressible Dixie Carter. She said, "I don't worry about the style of my house. I only buy things I really love. And I figure, if I really love everything then it's naturally going to go together." I think this is true. If you love everything you put in your home, then your home is going to represent who you are. Most people can't be summed up in one style. In know I can be boho one moment and industrial chic the next. It all depends on my mood. Being one definable style is like having a one note personality, predictable and boring. Still, there is nothing wrong with using a specific style as a helpful guide, especially if you don't have an eye for design.
Inspiration: I am inspired by almost everything. Sometimes, I think I might have inspiration burnout. The things that inspired me today are: Emma Watson's clothes, looking through the windows of my Dupont Circle neighbors (in a non-creepy way), Tokujin Yoshioka's installations, teal walls and black leather furniture, cute corgis, and Inverse Lighting Design, a company that swept the 2010 Lighting Design Awards.
Favorite Element: I think it's obvious lighting is very important to me. Not many people keep up with the Lighting Design Awards. My favorite elements are my bedside table lamps. I like them because of the way they look, and the way they make my room look. Plus, they were inexpensive. I got them from Ebay for less than $100 and, when I ordered them, I thought they were a smaller size. I was delighted when I received them in the mail. They were three times larger and much more substantial than I assumed from the picture online. They're from the 1920's and have the most amazing details. The orbed glass has a cubist design. Also, the neck of the lamp, where the switch is located, branches out into this beautiful filigree. However, I received the best surprise when I turned them on for the first time. Inside the bottom of the glass orb is a tiny little night which projects the glass pattern throughout the bedroom. My lamps along with my chandelier light panel make the bedroom peaceful and enchanting before I go to sleep. It's something to look forward to at night.
Biggest Challenge: My biggest challenge was arranging the furniture in the living room. The room is rectangular and there is no proper place to put a television. We decided to mount a TV against the back wall and place our sofa in the middle of the room. However, we had to push our sofa against the wall because we needed to create a pathway to give access to our bookshelf and kitchen entrance. It's not ideal, but it works. The second biggest challenge was finding a place for everything in our small space. The console under our television was the most practical piece of furniture I bought when we moved into our place. It's 72 inches by 30 inches of pure storage. The best kind of storage is closed because you can stuff the drawers full of junk and not worry about making things look pretty. Also, closed storage disguises clutter, making small spaces seem less crowded and therefore bigger. Having everything on display is a luxury that should be reserved for large houses, unless you're the type of person who is effortlessly tidy. I am not.
What Friends Say: Most of my friends aren't involved in design, so they ignorantly think my place looks great.
Biggest Embarrassment: I hate that my apartment is always coated in a thick layer of orange fur from my adorable corgi. No amount of vacuuming with a Dyson can make the fur go away. I've learned to live with it, and I don't even notice it until we have guests over. Then I get really embarrassed because I realize most people don't live covered in dog fur. I'm also embarrassed by our kitchen cabinets. They are those cheap white laminate cabinets with the wood grain trim. I painted the trim white so it's less noticeable, but there is only so much you can do to improve these type of doors- those who've experienced the horror of these "standard" cabinets know what I mean. Whoever designed these wood trimmed plastic cabinets and whatever construction company decided to put them in every single kitchen in the 1980s and 1990s should be punished. Would it really have cost that much more to install plain wooden cabinet doors? It could have prevented so much heartache. My first major improvement will be refacing my kitchen cabinets and installing a tile backsplash.
Proudest DIY: I used to be handy and loved DIY projects. Now, I find it hard to do anything because I'm older with less free time, and it's almost impossible to find the workspace. One of the few DIY projects in my house is the yellow painting in the living room. It didn't take artistic genius to paint a canvas yellow, but I spent a lot of time choosing the shade of yellow. Also, it is asymmetrically textural, which makes it more interesting to view in real life. The final effect of the painting works well in our living room. It's centerpiece and pulls everything together.
Biggest Indulgence: I splurged on the black chair in our living room. The area next to the couch is very small, but I wanted to put a chair in the space that would be comfortable enough to sit in everyday. So I needed a chair that was compact, preferably semi-circle so there would be room to move around it and black. For some reason, I became obsessed with having a black chair. A few weeks after I moved into my apartment, I went window shopping on U street and wandered into a little shop called Urban Essentials. There I found the exact chair I had envisioned for my living room. It was also on sale, otherwise, I could never have afforded it. Even on sale, it was much more money than I wanted to spend, but I bought it because it's rare that you find exactly what you're looking for when you need it. My husband grumbled about the price for a few weeks, but even he admits the chair works perfectly in such a tight space. I almost forgot about my ridiculous chandelier light panel. It was love at first sight. I kept daydreaming about it for months, and one day I broke down and ordered it off the internet. Though, I still haven't been able to convince my husband the panel was worth the money.
Best Advice: If you're moving in, take your time. When I move into an apartment, my first instinct is to get everything settled as soon as possible so I can nest. However, as long as you have the essentials, there is no need to rush into decorating. Sometimes you need to live in a space, get to know a space, before you start designing it. Things like proportions, walkways and sunlight need to be experienced in order to make informed decisions about how you want to set-up your home. If you've already moved in, use what you already own as a foundation for a larger vision of what you want. Be reasonable about what you should keep and what you should sell or give away. Oh and never buy a matching love seat and sofa, ever.
Dream Source: 1st Dibs, Hidden Art, Graham and Green, Christie's.
Resources of Note:
ENTRY
• Runner: Anthropologie
LIVING ROOM
• Black Console: Ikea
• Egon Schiele Art: Art.com
• Teak Side Chairs: Etsy
• Rug: Overstock
• Coffee Table: Craig's List
• Black Chair: Urban Essentials
• Corona Sofa: Macy's
• Pillows: Etsy
• Desk: Overstock
• Lamp: HauteLook Sale
• Desk Chair: found on the sidewalk
• Yellow Lacquer Box: West Elm
KITCHEN AREA
• Lenox Chirp China: Bed Bath and Beyond
• Perfume Bottles and Depression Glass: Ebay and Anthropologie
BEDROOM
• Hotel Collection, Rings Bedding: Macy's
• Side Tables: Ikea
• Side Lamps: Ebay
• Console Chest: Craig's List
• Dresser: Craig's List
• Chandelier Light Panel: Lamp Lust
OFFICE
• Desk: Home Decorators Outlet
• Tord Boontje Light Fixtures: Ebay
• Art: Etsy
• Chair: Ebay
BATHROOM
• Mirror: Ebay
• Shower Curtain: Bed Bath and Beyond
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
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• Are you a designer/architect/decorator interested in sharing a residential project with Apartment Therapy readers? Contact the editors through our Professional Submission Form.
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WOW! I am weeping that I live all the way out in souless Reston and praying that one day I'll have a city apartment as cool as that!
I love all the touches of bright colors balanced by the black furniture, and the light colors used to balance everything else. I love how you've got Ikea stuff but that it looks sophisticated and intentional and not "Oops I need a TV console better get a cheap one". This is seriously one of the BEST house tours I've seen and I love everything!
Although, that towel rack/cabinet looks like it's puking blue terrycloth :)
""nothing should ever match, but things should always be coherent." This is funny because...well..you have things that match down to the T. Matching chairs, matching lamps, matching side tables. There's nothing wrong with it, I just thought it amusing that you went with the principle of "nothing should ever match" and you have matching things.
Also, adorable corgi graphic in the bathroom, but does that ever get weird cause he basically is watching you in the bathroom? I have a friend who has a cat that can get into the bathroom..imagine that surprise!
One bit of advice. Please, please, please move that couch away from the wall. PLEASE!
The ceiling tiles in the kitchen are TO DIE FOR. Seriously, so cool. I'm assuming these were already a feature of the house? But definitely something I would consider adding to an older home. I am also loving your art in the bedroom of the chandelier as well as your purple phone in the office - such great pieces! Only thing that would drive me nuts its the bed without a headboard. A DIY upholstered headboard would look amazing in that room!
Oh and can we get a picture of the yellow painting in the living room? None of the photos, as far as I can tell, show the whole painting.
Now it's time for paint questions! I LOVE that blue color in your bedroom. Where did it come from and what's the color name? I've been searching for a blue for a living room wall forever and I like the way yours plays with the light!
Thanks for the comments! I always appreciate them. Pi, a couple of people have previously commented on the sofa being against the wall so I thought I'd address your comment. It's there by necessity. The pictures don't do a good job showing the dimensions of the room. The TV is mounted on the wall facing the sofa and the kitchen entrance is only a few feet away from the side of the sofa- so there isn't enough room to push it away from the wall unless we wanted to climb over it to get to the food. Although it's not a bad idea as a diet aid. Just block the kitchen entrance to stop the snacking:) As I say in the post, it's not ideal but it works. One day we're going to remount the TV on another wall so we don't have to put the sofa in the middle of the room. Also, I don't have a pic that shows the yellow painting. But, it's really just a boring piece of canvas. There is not much else to see. Also, I think a DIY headboard is a great idea. I think I'll find a How To article on apartment therapy! One more thing, the towels do look like blue vomit. I'm taking them down now:)
I second Pi"s advice about moving the couch. It looks a bit claustrophobic pushed up against the wall like that. If you move it even half a foot it would be so much better.
OOps, I posted without reading your response! Sorry :)
Just saw the paint question. The color in the bedroom is Benjamin Moore, heavenly blue (709). It took me weeks to find this color blue, and I still love it a year later.
I second @lonestarstateofstyle. That kitchen ceiling is AMAZING!!! Also love that window with the glass shelves and dishes. Provides so much light and a pretty view at the same time.
Was going to make a comment about the couch, but it sounds like you have tried many options. At least you have space for a couch:)
This may be considered a snide comment, but we have the white Eames knockoff chairs, featured in the main image at the top of the post, and I can only tell any interested party to stay away from them... absolutely terrible. We have a bunch of them in our office, and every one is in some state of falling apart... many with barely any use.
But, the apartment looks very cute.
That's exactly how I feel about our place too! We're first time buyers and although we've been there nearly 2 years now, it's only recently that we've figured out exactly what we'd like to do with it. Or what we think we'd like to do with it :-) I think it's really important to get to know a place first and see how the light works throughout the day and throughout the year. But 2 years is a bit long I admit! Well done. Hope ours works out as well as yours.
HARRY POTTER!
As a fellow Corgi owner, I feel your hair-covered pain. A minimum of twice a week Swiffering and vacuuming sessions are required, especially when you have dark espresso stained floors like we do. You could make a whole new dog with the amount of hair they shed! Oh, and we had the same Corona couch, which loves to hold on to dog hair. We recently replaced it with a leather couch, so we can wipe the fur off easily before we sit down. (I've left the house with fur-butt more times than I care to admit.)
Your apartment looks great!
I LOVE the colors in the bathroom! I would never have thought of that combination, but it's amazing.
I like your colors, and understand what you're doing with the sofa because the best I could do with my TV seating is a similar arrangement, with my dining table behind its back.
Your bedroom is itchin' for a headboard.
I really like your TV wall! I also like that rainbow outside your bedroom window. Where did you get it? I want one. :)
Awesome job!!! The yellow bathroom is sublime and I really like the rainbow canvas's in your home office...did you create them yourself and is it acrylic or water color????
Thanks for sharing your lovely home!!!
Love the chandelier art!
I LOVE Bob Barker :)
Your home is very design-y, but very cozy. Not an easy feat! You've done a great job. Congrats on your first real home!
Fellow Corgi owner here, I feel your fur pain. Luckily our carpets are similarly coloured but man do Corgis shed!
your friends may not be involved in design but they're right. Your place looks amazing!!
I see you've addressed the sofa agains the wall issue, but given that you can't really move it, could you at least pull it away by 6 inches? One rule of thumb for beautiful homes is that nothing "kisses" the walls so tightly and while I appreciate your tight space (I live in something just as small), you should be able to add a few inches in there as well as with some other places.
wow - very fresh!! love it!
www.jungerbeer.at
Stunning! I always thought personal style was the best style there is and you definitely have it. Every shot was just...straight up juicy. P.S. my corgi says your corgi is hot :)
Regarding the sofa against the wall I think it looks fine. I personally love the look of turning a piece of furniture out and anchoring a side of it against the wall. ex. a bookcase stick out of the wall, lengthwise to create a half-wall.
However, to make that area look less crowded I would take out or get a smaller end table (the one between the back of the couch and the desk) so that you could push the couch back away from the tub chair a few inches to give the illusion of much more space and for some legroom. But you guys have obviously already done wonders with the placement.
I love the dresser in your bedroom! If I saw it on Craigslist, I would have dismissed it as old-fashioned....but it looks perfect against the blue.
I also love your use of yellow in the living room and bathroom. You have a great place...you should be proud!
I LOVE that desk in the office - the one with the pull-out tray for your laptop. I can't find it on Home Decorators Outlet - do you remember the name? Maybe it's discontinued...
Sorry but I am not so crazy about this. The house doesn't feel coherent at all. I would feel very stressed out living there.
I like mismatch things but they have to have a similar feel.
I also think that the coffee table is too big for the space as is the couch.
Am I the only person who doesn't understand this sentence? :
"It's hard to develop your own style when you spend half a decade moving every year"
Love,love your bedroom wall paint...what is that lovely shade of blue?
If this was my bathroom, I would do this: 1) Remove the faux mirror. It takes away from the real mirror. One dark-framed ornate mirror in the bathroom is good enough, methinks. 2) Get *one* towel to hang that's a little shorter and doesn't skim the top of the bowl. I'd probably put a white towel there. 3) Take the corgi pic out of the cabinet and hang a fun, colorful corgi painting in place of the faux mirror, something along the lines of a Blue Dog painting, altho not as pricey: http://www.artbrokerage.com/artist/Blue-Dog-George-Rodrigue/A-Life-of-Many-Colors-33914
Sorry, I just had some very, very specific ideas re: your bathroom :-)
I love your place and especially love the colorful prints on your desk in your office... would love to know the exact store to buy those from. :)
Love your Corgi, love the bedroom lamps, love those fun ceiling tiles! I also really like your shower curtain. Would you mind sharing where you found it?
I'd love to have such a nice apartment and in D.C. no less. I'm about to start redecorating my own little rental apartment. I've decided not to do it until I clear out all of the "stuff" that is standing in my way first and that part is the least enjoyable ;)
Thanks for sharing your new home with us.
P.S. Sorry, I just realized that you posted that the shower curtain came from Bed Bath & Beyond! You read my mind. Of course, the tile in my bathroom is an ugly muddy pinkish brown. But, maybe this would make me forget about that fact ;)
All this talk of your beloved corgi and no pics of him anywhere in the space. :(
OK, so far I have not been able to fully view the photos because there is some football advert banner on the side that is covering a good portion of the photos, and has no option to close it. AT, could you please think about how these banners show up on your site, especially when they cover your house tour photos. Very ANNOYING! I hope to be able to return and post a comment about the actual apartment.
I felt very comfortable touring your home, Having a pet is worth lint on the glass shelves and a hairy black chair. Furniture doesn't meet you at the door! I happen to love the bathroom colors-the yellow,blues and tile colors are eclectic! I hope you will feel proud of your home-don't take all that criticism to heart-no one else lives in your space with your belongings on your budget. It takes guts to open your home to others opinions-I'd like to see the homes of those above who have the most to say!
after viewing all the pictures i don't get a feel for who lives here. it is all over the place. and a good space, to me, is one that reflects who lives there...
I love your place! I think you have done a great job of making it feel homey. The whole space feels bright and cheerful. I really like your drinking glasses in the kitchen on the glass shelves. The only thing I would do is maybe move the little table next to the bigger desk table behind the sofa. It only has a small plant on it and doesn't feel like it belongs there. Otherwise, great place!
Great job camouflaging the TV-- the surrounding pictures make it "disappear" without it looking like you're just trying to hide it. I'll have to try this approach when we finally make the move to flatscreen.
Great details in this home.Good job!
I am seriously envious of the lamps in the bedroom. The office watercolors are great too!
nice work, love the desk area... nice colours of art, lovely bedroom.. great pad.
I can't help thinking that there must be another way to position that sofa. What about a slight angle? And those 2 chairs cramed up against the black credendza would drive me crazy.