An Adorable D.C. Studio Full of Personal Touches

Name: Jen
Location: Adams Morgan — Washington, D.C.

My name is Jen; I’m a 27 year old baker, foodie, and policy wonk originally from Boston. I live in a 685 square foot studio in the heart of Adams Morgan, D.C. I work in foreign policy at a think tank in Dupont Circle, and moved into my current apartment two years ago after three years living in Eastern Market. My location is absolutely unbeatable—I’m surrounded by amazing restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, and an easy walk from favorite spots ranging from the National Zoo to the Phillips Collection museum.

Windows along two full sides of my sixth-floor apartment offer views of Kalorama Park and the bustling shops and restaurants along Columbia Road. I love how much room the 10 foot ceilings create and the front-row seat I have to stunning sunsets framing the National Cathedral each night.

I’m inspired by bright, bold colors and love the combination of my black, white and wood pieces alongside the historic features of my building. My furniture ranges from older and inherited (my farmhouse dining table and buffet) to budget-and small-space-friendly modern items I bought to fit the room.

Alongside design elements, it’s easy to spot touches of my personal and professional life, ranging from a navigational map of Cape Cod waters to the books on China and Russia on my bookshelf and a miniature Ginkakuji Temple I picked up in Japan. My bathroom is through my walk-in closet, where my penchant for brightly-colored dresses adds an unintended design touch when visitors pass through.

I love to entertain, so I was initially anxious about living in a studio, but the separation of space I’ve been able to create makes my apartment feel open without seeming too much like a bedroom. Fitting in my dining table along with a proper bar cart and wine rack was essential. The large window in my kitchen, along with the ample counter space, makes baking goodies for my office even more enjoyable.

Features I’m proud of include: my buffet, where my cookbooks add a pop of color to the room and I’m able to display glassware I’ve picked up from breweries, wineries and distilleries across the US and during adventures abroad; an entry console with a lower shelf that shows off my Staub and Le Creuset dutch ovens (as stylish as they are practical, in my opinion!); and the painting that hangs above my bed, which my grandmother painted of me and my sister looking out over the ocean on a hillside full of flowers

Thanks, Jen!

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