A 450-Square-Foot D.C. Home Is Small But Sweet

published Oct 29, 2018

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Name: Anne Feldman
Location: Columbia Heights — Washington, DC
Size: 450 square feet
Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting

I live in a one-bedroom apartment in Columbia Heights in Washington D.C.. Most recently, I lived in Columbia, Missouri, where I worked on a campaign. Campaigns are a lot of fun, but it usually means living in an atypical housing situation – in my case that meant a basement apartment that I shared with two other roommates in an off-campus house near Mizzou. After that experience, I was definitely ready to live on my own (and above ground!). My apartment now is on the top floor of a three-story building and is right across the street from the great row of bars and restaurants on 11th Street, and walking distance from the metro, grocery store, and Target.

The bookshelf is my favorite thing in the apartment. It is filled with some of my favorite books and souvenirs from my travels. (Image credit: Anne Feldman)

I love to travel and am constantly collecting blankets, old maps, far too many bowls and other tchotchkes from my trips, but until now I kept them in storage. Now that I’m living on my own, I get to decorate my whole house with them.

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Eclectic, cozy, and relaxed.

I got the matchboxes from a shop in Cusco (Image credit: Anne Feldman)

What is your favorite room and why? The living room. It has these huge eastern-facing windows that fill the apartment with natural light. And like a good millennial, I also have a small army of succulents growing by the windows.

If I have one complaint about the apartment it is the lack of counter space. (Image credit: Anne Feldman)

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? More counter space! The minute I start cooking, the kitchen feels messy. I also wouldn’t be opposed to a dishwasher.

I bought the rugs while backpacking in Morocco and Peru. I love them but man (Image credit: Anne Feldman)

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? It’s not the most recent thing, but I love buying rugs when I travel and have two area rugs from Morocco and Peru in bedroom. They weren’t the easiest things to carry home in a backpack (!) but they make such a big statement in the room and I plan on having them forever.

(Image credit: Anne Feldman)

Any advice for creating a home you love? Try to think outside the box when it comes to decoration. My favorite pieces are items that were never intended as artwork but I’ve found ways to display—like Ankara fabric that I hung in my living room or a campaign editorial cartoon that I framed—it goes a long way to making an apartment feel personal and engaging.

Thanks, Anne!

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