My Houzz: A Vibrant and Cozy Apartment in Washington, D.C.
Color fuses with mementos and eclectic finds in this blogger’s Columbia Heights rental
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Libby Rasmussen and two roommates
Location: Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C.
Size: 1,200 square feet (111 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Pink and green hues and tribal print rugs decorate Libby Rasmussen’s Washington D.C. rental. The 26-year-old Wisconsin native, an event planner and author of the blog Libby Living Colorfully, says she’s always been drawn to color. “Anytime I try to tone down my decor or style with more neutral elements, it hardly works,” she says. “I always come back to quirky decor and fun colors.”
Moroccan Prestige leather pouf, Bloomingdale’s; burled bowl: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Who lives here: Libby Rasmussen and two roommates
Location: Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C.
Size: 1,200 square feet (111 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Pink and green hues and tribal print rugs decorate Libby Rasmussen’s Washington D.C. rental. The 26-year-old Wisconsin native, an event planner and author of the blog Libby Living Colorfully, says she’s always been drawn to color. “Anytime I try to tone down my decor or style with more neutral elements, it hardly works,” she says. “I always come back to quirky decor and fun colors.”
Moroccan Prestige leather pouf, Bloomingdale’s; burled bowl: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Rasmussen moved from H Street Northeast to her current Columbia Heights neighborhood two years ago. “My previous room was massive. I had a fireplace, hardwood floors and tall ceilings with crown molding,” she says. “It was so big I even had room for my bar cart. So when I moved into this new space, with the industrial feel and my tiny little bedroom, I thought I would hate it. Turns out, I love my little room and have the best lighting of any room I’ve lived in.”
Painting: Christine Olmstead
Painting: Christine Olmstead
Blue garden stools, blue and white vases and a blue and white indigo-dyed table runner pick up the colors in the Tuscan-inspired rug that anchors the dining area. “I use my table as a desk when I blog from home,” Rasmussen says. The ginger jar vases on the table are from Shop Waiting on Martha.
Indigo table runner: Salt and Sundry
Indigo table runner: Salt and Sundry
A large patterned area rug laid over the existing plain carpet adds color to the living room. “I didn’t realize how much [rugs] would transform my apartment until I got them,” she says. “I’m so happy I pulled the trigger.”
Elena table lamp: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams; Enid in blush pillow: Kaeley Youd, Kaekoo; woven basket: Bloomingville, Amara; Shop similar woven basket
Elena table lamp: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams; Enid in blush pillow: Kaeley Youd, Kaekoo; woven basket: Bloomingville, Amara; Shop similar woven basket
“I love sitting in my room on my bed, listening to my Fleetwood [Mac], Dylan and Drake records and working on content. I’m a morning person, which is good because three sides of the apartment are all windows. In the morning I immediately make my bed and open the blinds to see 14th Street,” Rasmussen says. “I live and work on this street and am absolutely in love with the neighborhood.”
Three framed Gray Malin Coogee Wave prints add a beachy feel to the room. “The wall vases were a gift and I always keep fresh flowers in them. I almost spend more on fresh flowers a week than groceries — sad but true,” Rasmussen says.
Bedding: Pottery Barn; floral pillows: Society Social; blue pillows: The Kellogg Collection; mirrored nightstand: Target; pompom garland: Salt and Sundry made by Nativa
Three framed Gray Malin Coogee Wave prints add a beachy feel to the room. “The wall vases were a gift and I always keep fresh flowers in them. I almost spend more on fresh flowers a week than groceries — sad but true,” Rasmussen says.
Bedding: Pottery Barn; floral pillows: Society Social; blue pillows: The Kellogg Collection; mirrored nightstand: Target; pompom garland: Salt and Sundry made by Nativa
Hanging above the mirror is a custom neon sign modeled after her signature. “At night it feels like my own personal nightclub,” she says.
“I really tried to furnish my apartment with companies, stores and artists that are D.C. local,” Rasmussen says. “West Elm D.C. on 14th Street is my go-to for large furnishings, small vases and bookshelf knickknacks. I also am a huge fan of Salt and Sundry and their blankets, rugs and baskets. The Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams on 14th has also been a great place to shop.”
Colorful Hermes and Kate Spade boxes and design books are displayed on the vertical shelf tucked perfectly in a corner nook.
Lack wall shelf unit, Ikea; pendant: Maskros, Ikea
“I really tried to furnish my apartment with companies, stores and artists that are D.C. local,” Rasmussen says. “West Elm D.C. on 14th Street is my go-to for large furnishings, small vases and bookshelf knickknacks. I also am a huge fan of Salt and Sundry and their blankets, rugs and baskets. The Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams on 14th has also been a great place to shop.”
Colorful Hermes and Kate Spade boxes and design books are displayed on the vertical shelf tucked perfectly in a corner nook.
Lack wall shelf unit, Ikea; pendant: Maskros, Ikea
On the nightstand is a Gray Malin book and a custom-made watercolor painting Rasmussen’s friend had made for her bridesmaids by artist Kathryn Selbert.
Rasmussen draws her decorating inspiration from the work of a few local interior decorators such as her friend Shannon Smith of Shannon Claire Smith Interiors. “I’ve always admired her aesthetic and bold choices,” she says. “Her former apartment was literally my colorful dream, with a banana leaf-print headboard, pink ceilings and Designer’s Guild orangerie rose florals everywhere.” Rasmussen also admires the work of Kerra Michele Huerta. “Kerra is someone I really aspire to be like, as a creative and an entrepreneur. She’s so talented and fosters and supports others’ talents with her creative workspace for women, Bureau.”
Gold hand: Etsy
Rasmussen draws her decorating inspiration from the work of a few local interior decorators such as her friend Shannon Smith of Shannon Claire Smith Interiors. “I’ve always admired her aesthetic and bold choices,” she says. “Her former apartment was literally my colorful dream, with a banana leaf-print headboard, pink ceilings and Designer’s Guild orangerie rose florals everywhere.” Rasmussen also admires the work of Kerra Michele Huerta. “Kerra is someone I really aspire to be like, as a creative and an entrepreneur. She’s so talented and fosters and supports others’ talents with her creative workspace for women, Bureau.”
Gold hand: Etsy
Rasmussen, in her words, is obsessed with wicker, woven or bamboo furniture and the color green. “When I was looking on Etsy for vintage peacock chairs and found this lime green number available in Annapolis, I knew it needed to be mine,” she says.
On a weekend her parents happened to come for a visit from Wisconsin, they drove to Maryland to pick it up. “I rode back home to D.C. with the chair on my lap in the back of a tiny rental car and didn’t complain one bit,” she says.
Art: Gray Malin; dresser: Malm, Ikea
On a weekend her parents happened to come for a visit from Wisconsin, they drove to Maryland to pick it up. “I rode back home to D.C. with the chair on my lap in the back of a tiny rental car and didn’t complain one bit,” she says.
Art: Gray Malin; dresser: Malm, Ikea
Framed photos of Rasmussen’s grandparents as teenagers are displayed on top of her bedroom dresser. “Growing up, I was lucky to have all four of my grandparents in my hometown, only a quarter mile away from one another,” she says. “I keep them in my room and close to my heart.”
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My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
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See more photos of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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