Lindsay and Garrett’s Pursuit of Style

Name: Lindsay Souza, author of the blog The Pursuit of Style, and boyfriend Garrett
Location: Capitol Hill; Washington, DC
Size: 900 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years; Rented

The Capitol Hill apartment that Lindsay shares with her boyfriend looks like a real life manifestation of her popular lifestyle blog, The Pursuit of Style. And indeed, that’s what the apartment has been: a pursuit.

They’ve furnished the space with an elegant jumble of Craigslist finds, Etsy artwork and cheerful antiques. Lindsay’s decorating mantra is to “collect over time,” and what has resulted is a space that is layered with things that she loves; it’s as though Matisse met Miles Redd and they decided to decorate a little apartment by the sea (Lindsay grew up on Cape Cod, and that coastal influence still holds sway over her style).

The one bedroom unit feels much more spacious than its 900 square feet would suggest, due in part to the fact that it’s spread out over two floors. In addition to the blog, Lindsay works as a design assistant at Haddon Interiors, where she’s honed her eye and learned a few tricks of the trade. For example: the twelve frames stacked on the wall over the stairway make the ceiling seem to soar; a table skirt draped over a simple table base in the living room adds shape and texture to a corner that might otherwise be lost; and paint and little bits of fabric go a long way in introducing color and pattern to a small space (as in the case of Lindsay’s freshly painted lavender desk chair, which she picked up at an estate sale for $3).

“I love the thrill of the hunt, shopping flea markets and antique stores,” she says, and that, combined with her DIY streak, means the apartment — her pursuit of style — will continue to evolve.

My Style: I have the hardest time defining my style because it’s always evolving, but I’d say I’m a traditionalist at heart. I appreciate the classics, but almost always updated with a splash of color or a healthy dose of pattern. I think the most interesting interiors are collected over time rather than decorated in a day, and mix a variety of styles — maybe a modern piece of art over a French antique or a little bit of chinoiserie and Lucite. I grew up on Cape Cod, so there’s definitely a coastal influence to my style as well.

Inspiration: Interior designers: Anna Spiro, Miles Redd, Albert Hadley, Ruthie Sommers, Tom Scheerer, Peter Dunham, Celerie Kemble. Fashion: Aerin Lauder, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Lee Radziwill, Olivia Palermo. Artists: Matisse, Cy Twombly, Virginia Johnson, Hugo Guinness, Caitlin McGauley, Happy Menocal, Rene Gruau.

Favorite Element: Our apartment is a one bedroom, but has two floors, which has made a world of a difference! It’s so nice to feel like we each can be in our own space when we want to, and it gives our golden retriever more room to roam.

Biggest Challenge: There’s a really tight corner in our entryway that made finding a couch we loved and would fit almost impossible. We learned the hard way when the beautiful English roll arm sofa we bought couldn’t make the turn by just one inch! I had to sacrifice a bit and settle for a World Market sofa that we were able to assemble inside the apartment, but I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised by the quality and comfort.

What Friends Say: “Where did you get that?”

Biggest Embarrassment: Not necessarily an embarrassment, but our kitchen drives me crazy. If we owned that would be the first thing I’d change. Goodbye ugly cabinets, hello subway tile, open shelving, and Carrara countertop!

Proudest DIY: That’s a toss up between our striped entryway and our headboard. I should probably go with the headboard since my dad did most of the hard work measuring and taping out the entryway.

Biggest Indulgence: Linens. Nothing makes me happier than an insanely comfy bed.

Best Advice: Decorating a home takes time — enjoy the process and surround yourself with the things you love. Impulse buys just to fill a void are almost always regretted.

Dream Sources: Gracie wallpaper, Stark’s antelope carpet, a George Smith sofa, pretty much any Quadrille fabric, and peonies year round.

• Benjamin Moore Decorators White
• Benjamin Moore Starburst Orange

• Table – Old Lucketts Store
• Mirror – Antique Center of Cape Cod
• Bust – Old Lucketts Store
• Photos on wall – Christian Chaize

• Sofa – World Market
• Throw pillows – Mirrored: Etsy, Leopard: custom
• Striped chair – Inherited and reupholstered
• Pink side chairs – Craigslist, reupholsterd
• Coffee table – Craigslist
• Bamboo side table – Craigslist
• Rug – Overstock.com
• Shelving – Home Decorator Collection
• Artwork over shelves – Etsy
• Rhino artwork – Natural Curiosities
• Turquoise table lamp – Antique store in South Carolina
• Round side table – Decorator table base, custom table skirt
• Artwork over side table – Brimfield
• Sconces behind windows – Gallery St. Elmo
• Dining table – Ikea, re-painted
• Bamboo chairs – Craigslist
• Artwork over table – Antique store
• Bar cabinet – Craigslist, re-painted

• 12 pieces of artwork over stairs – Ikea frames, antique French constellation charts
• Chandelier – found in Palm Beach
• Rug – eBay
• Chair – Craigslist
• Throw pillows – Ikat: One Kings Lane, Cowhide: Ivy & Vine
• Flamingo artwork – Antique store in Charleston

• Dresser – Ikea
• Artwork over dresser – Tracey Kafka
• Pair of lamps on dresser – Craigslist
• Desk – CB2
• Lamp on desk – lamps.com
• Desk chair – Estate sale, re-painted and reupholstered
• Rug – Safavieh
• Headboard – DIY
• Bed linens – Matouk
• Bamboo mirror – Antique Center of Cape Cod
• Bedside table under mirror – Craigslist

• Shower curtain – Custom, monogrammed at The Little Monogram Shop
• Colorful artwork – Lulu DK
• Giraffe print – Alabama antique store
• Stool – Craigslist, reupholstered

Thanks, Lindsay and Garrett!

(Images: Natalie Grasso)

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