A Real Estate Treasure Hunt Led This D.C. Renter to a 403-Square-Foot Studio Apartment

published Aug 3, 2023

A Real Estate Treasure Hunt Led This D.C. Renter to a 403-Square-Foot Studio Apartment

published Aug 3, 2023
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Bedrooms
Square feet

403

Sq ft

403

Finding the perfect rental apartment — the space that checks all the boxes — sometimes means getting creative. For Heidi Becker, who works at a public relations agency called CLYDE in Washington, D.C., that meant turning away from traditional real estate websites. 

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Becker had a couple of staunch nonnegotiables. For starters, her future home needed to be within walking distance to her office so she could easily walk her 2-year-old Cocker Spaniel named Bernie. Secondly, it had to have ample closet space to house her overflow of thrifting and vintage-store finds. Lastly, it needed to be within her budget. 

“I scoured Zillow and Trulia, and after not having much luck, I took to Google Maps and started calling apartment buildings directly for pricing,” Becker says. “That’s when I found my current building, and everything fell into place!”

In September 2022, Becker moved into her new pad, a 403-square-foot studio rental apartment in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. Luckily, it has all the closet space she needs and more luxurious features like built-in shelving, high ceilings, and a separate kitchen. 

When it comes to filling her wardrobe, Becker compares the experience of sifting through flea markets or vintage stores to treasure hunting. And it’s safe to say that finding (and filling!) her gem of an apartment was a similar experience. 

“My personal style is bold, youthful, and eclectic,” Becker, who pulled decor inspiration from her favorite movies and her childhood in the Poconos, shares. “As a vintage-lover and flea-market frequenter who gets a thrill out of finding unique treasures, my space has developed a charismatic identity that mirrors my own personality.”

Resources

ENTRY

  • Square gold mirrors — Thrifted
  • Chalkboard — Thrifted
  • Objects/bowls/decor — Thrifted
  • Long gold mirror — Amazon
  • Arched gold mirror — Wayfair (no longer sold)
  • Dresser — Wayfair (Knobs were replaced from Amazon)
  • Runner rug — Safavieh (gifted)

LIVING ROOM

  • Trunk — Thrifted/DIY
  • Gold mirror — Thrifted
  • Quilt — Sewed by my grandma!
  • Throw pillows — Urban Outfitters
  • Sofa — Wayfair
  • Rug — Walmart
  • Acrylic side table — Wayfair
  • Checkered tray — Anthropologie
  • TV stand — Wayfair
  • Artwork above TV on shelf — Etsy
  • Tall black table — Wayfair (no longer sold)
  • Bar stools — Wayfair
  • Artwork above black table — Ozone Art Gallery
  • Blue canvas artwork — Rose Art
  • Bar cart — Gifted
  • Blue shelving unit — Thrifted DIY
  • Arched floor length gold mirror — Home Depot
  • Book stand — Thrifted
  • Wall desk — Wayfair
  • Boyfriend candle — LA Ahern

CLOSET

  • Curtains — Amazon
  • Suitcases/trunks — Thrifted
  • Mirror — Amazon 
  • Artwork — Thrifted
  • Rug — Amazon
  • Stools — Wayfair

KITCHEN

  • Black matte contact paper — Amazon
  • Rug — Wayfair
  • Wall shelf — Amazon
  • Green knobs — Thrifted
  • Peel-and-stick backsplash — Amazon

BEDROOM

  • Canopy bed — Amazon
  • Canopy bed curtains — Amazon
  • Duvet — Urban Outfitters
  • Pillows — Urban Outfitters
  • Rug — Wayfair
  • Mirror shelving unit — Thrifted
  • Shadowbox artwork — Thrifted

BATHROOM

  • Shower curtain — Urban Outfitters
  • Bath mat — Urban Outfitters 
  • Feather print — Barloga Studios
  • Overall, a lot of the smaller objects/trinkets/books are thrifted or gifted!

Thanks, Heidi!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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