Libby Rasmussen’s blog, Libby Living Colorfully, is a collection of interior design, cooking, travel, beauty, fashion, and everything in between, and it showcases her genuine and affable personality… just like her incredibly colorful DC home. When she’s not blogging or decorating her apartment, Libby works as an event planner and runs her own social media firm where she creates, consults, and manages profiles for some of the hippest brands.

“My apartment has been my home for the past five years and has been a place of transition, from post-college IKEA furniture and hand-me-downs, to pieces I’ve collected all over DC, Philly, and Baltimore,” Libby describes. “While I’m excited to move out of this apartment in spring into something older, with more character and hopefully a garden, I love the sunlight, the large space, my plants, and hosting Wisconsin cheese parties here.”

My Style: I’m a Maximalist who loves color and patterns. I also have a penchant for old furniture, Depression glass, velvet, florals, etc. I recently saw this term called “Grandmillenial,” which is a twenty- or thirty-something person who shows an affinity for design trends considered to be stuffy or outdated. I’ve incorporated some of that in this apartment in a way but my next apartment will be Grandmillenial’d to the max. Think lots of mid-century modern wood pieces, large grandma couch, groovy prints, and textures.

Inspiration: My room probably screams the most inspired in the apartment. Last year, my close friend and designer, Shannon Claire Smith designed and put together my incredible room for the One Room Challenge—a blog challenge where designers around the country have six weeks to transform a space.  At the time, I was really inspired by this idea that we jokingly called the #projectsexycoffin.  I wanted the room to be like grandma’s house meets 1970’s adult film set (I know, so strange but hey.) Disco balls, neon, floral, a custom butt vase, and tons of velvet. I have horrible popcorn ceilings in my apartment that I wanted to cover up with velvet and it ended up giving the room a coffin-like feel, which of course, I love. Shannon is one of the most talented people I know. I text her regularly late at night with absurd design ideas, and she and I will brainstorm until 2 a.m. 

Favorite Element: All of the light! I live in the corner unit of my building with both east and west sun exposure. My plants and I love this! I rarely have to turn the lights on in my apartment, which is great and the best part, golden hour in my room is incredible, especially with my disco ball catching the reflections.

Biggest Challenge: The biggest challenge I have with my apartment is how new it is. I have a penchant for old homes… the creaky floors, the worn cabinets, and clawed bathtubs, even the smell of an old home. My next apartment will definitely have these characteristics. But for now, I’ve learned to just lean into my newer space and make it my own.

Biggest Indulgence: As you can tell, I am completely overindulgent with my house plants. At a total of 55 plants and counting, my friends have joked about giving me a plant intervention. I feel a little less guilty about the hoarding because most of my plants come from Craigslist and propagations from friends. I know it’s a little overwhelming but I am a maximalist and I love that my plants showcase that. It’s also a fun component when I have guests; they usually want a tour of the plants and to learn more about them.

What’s your best home secret? I find a use for every corner in this apartment. Every space here is used with intention, whether it’s a side table next to the toilet in the bathroom or a console I built for behind the couch. I keep an IKEA dresser in my kitchen that blends in with the cabinets. I use it to store my Tupperware and random knickknacks. 

• “Pink Ground” by Farrow & Ball

• Nipple Art – Painted by Me
• Painting – Rose Jaffe from my best friend AJ Dronkers

• Burgundy Victorian Chair — GoodWood DC
• Vintage Bar Cart — Wishbone Reserve in Baltimore
• Cusco Pillow — CB2
• Area Rug — Rugs USA
• AOC Poster – by Absurdly Well (I love his work. I saw street art more than 2 years ago and DM’d him. We’ve become friends since then, and he’s commissioned art for me and I love this poster so much, especially when I see it around DC.
• Smear brushstroke paintings – Me
• Pink Bookcase – from AJ

• Rattan Chairs from Second Chance in BaltimoreBurled Bowl – Mitchell Gold Bob Williams DC
• Paloma Resin Gumwood lamps from Couture Lighting
• Vintage Depression glass from all over the country and my grandparents
• Rattan Light fixture – Target
• Rug – RugsUSA
• Table, Bookshelf, Console – IKEA
• Planters – Thrifted

• Credenza — Overstock  
• Large Disco Ball — Overstock 
• Small Disco Ball — Overstock  
• Handprinted coper bowl — Jill Rosenwald
• Wooden nightstands — Bellacor 
• Pink table lamp — Bellacor 
• Teal lumbar pillows — Bellacor 
• Chandelier —  Craftmade 
•  “Lemonade Stand” by Gray Malin 
• Gold wall shelves — Bellacor 
• “Bath” framed print — Minted
• “Hermosa” bedside lamps — “Hermosa” bedside lamps 
• Garden Bloom wallpaper — Wayfair
• Custom neon sign —  Brite Lite Tribe 
• Persimmon side chairs — Home Pop 
• Butt vase — Meegan Barnes 
• Rattan side table —  Target 
• Euro shams — Pom Pom at Home
• Blush knit throw — Pom Pom at Home 
• Linen Bedding — Kip & Co
  Faux fur throw — Pom Pom at Home 
• Greek key lumbar pillow —  Arianna Belle 
• Serpentines framed prints —  Arianna Belle 
• Monaco area rug — eSalerugs 
• “Vessel” bust prints —  The Aestate 
• Velvet fabric in “Ruby” — Fabricut 
• Gold velvet curtains —  Houzz 
• Octagon closet door knobs — Emtek 
•  Custom striped art painting — Gina Julian 
• Record player — UTurn Audio 

• Gold tray — One Kings Lane 
• Teal and bone inlay boxes —  Bellacor 
• York wall cover in “Atmospheric Blue” — Bellacor
• Toilet paper holder —  Hansgrohe
• Towel hook — Hansgrohe
• Faucet — Hansgrohe
• White wall shelf —  Overstock 
•  Metal accent table — Homepop 
• Turkish towel — Amazon
•  Macrame shower curtain — Target
•  Seagrass basket — Amara 
• Lucite pull hardware — Schaub and Co
•  “Hold my Hand” framed print — Minted 
•  “Rock in Style” framed print — Minted
• “Vista 3” art print — Minted

• Teal runner rug — Bellacor 
•  Ceiling fixture — LampsPlus 
•  “Associate 1” art print — Mint
• “Hidden Paths” art print — Minted 
• Beaker plant holder — CB2

Thanks, Libby!

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