Extreme Home MakeOver - Edition Magnifique

While I occasionally cringe at the idea of building a home for one, I also believe things happen for a reason. So when I was presented with the opportunity to take over and Linh up this studio in Logan Circle, I couldn't say no.

So I closed my eyes and signed the lease.

The studio was located on a quiet tree-lined street of DC, in a building dated back to the 19th century when heat came through the hot-water system and cool air didn't exist unless improvised through a window-unit AC. Against that historical background, I wanted to mix the old and the new in a classic contemporary look: clean lines, simple furnitures, but strong color blocks and personalized accents to create a warm and cozy home for myself.
With that in mind, I painted the living room in a light grey tone to differentiate it from the kitchen and to allow indirect lighting to create a warm cozy feeling for the apartment. With the space neither too small nor too large, I used a half-level bookshelf to separate the living and sleeping spaces without blocking too much and cramping the apartment.

The white furniture also pop on the grey background, keeping a clean, classic, but still contemporary look. The orange couch was borrowed from a dear friend of mine as an accent piece to the apartment. While the orange color is extremely retro-chic, it is so beautiful simple that it fits perfectly in the modern setting. On a separate wall, a slim working table also elevated a small lamp that illuminated on a collaged wall of different framed arts.

The kitchen and bathroom were painted in a breezy blue to complement the white cabinets. Iconic art pieces accentuated the walls, giving them a personal touch: Tintin frames, propaganda posters, and beautiful fashion shoots from FT How to spend it.

I lucked out with a walk-in closet, which was quite rare in this area, big enough to hold all my stuff. It was a bit cramped, but with a little organization, I managed to keep the same tidiness that I had always been known for.

With a beautiful apartment, I was now ready to explore a whole new lifestyle that was undoubtedly denied from me for the past 3 years.

Photo Credit: Will Thomas