My Houzz: Budget-Friendly Style for a Downtown D.C. Studio
Vintage pieces mixed with modern finds personalize a new graduate’s 450-square-foot rental in Washington
She adds, “I absolutely love waking up on the weekends with the apartment full of sunlight and then walking across the street for a coffee-and-flower run, followed by a stroll to visit my favorite shops.”
Natural crystal geode: Target
A leaning mirror on the floor helps make the living room feel larger.
Displayed above the sofa are various framed prints ordered online from Minted.
Men in Red, Southern Cotton Series 4 and Malibu View No. 2 prints: Minted
Men in Red, Southern Cotton Series 4 and Malibu View No. 2 prints: Minted
The open studio layout makes it equally easy for Fassbender to entertain or unwind. “Having enough table and seating for friends was important,” she says.
Mixing upscale and affordable furniture pieces is part of Fassbender’s decorating strategy. She splurged on a couch from West Elm but saved money by buying a side table on Amazon for less than $100; she uses it to display fresh flowers. Fassbender also enjoys finding decorative accents at stores like McGee & Co., Waiting on Martha and Minted.
Laredo teakwood accent table: East at Main, via Amazon; Everett love seat: West Elm
Laredo teakwood accent table: East at Main, via Amazon; Everett love seat: West Elm
She’s also been collecting vintage pieces for her bar cart, including a mini decanter and records. One of her favorite cocktails is a gin and tonic, a drink that became a favorite after she spent a summer studying in London.
Wood-and-brass bar cart: Target
Wood-and-brass bar cart: Target
Along with items she’s found, Fassbender also displays throughout her studio items collected from family members. “The salt and pepper shakers came from my grandparents — they bought them while on one of their many antiquing trips — along with a couple gold vases I keep on my bookshelf and a small gold frame on my nightstand,” she says. “I feel like gold is really trendy these days, but I love that a lot of the gold in my apartment is actually older or vintage with a great history.” She recently found a vintage painting that she thinks is perfect for the kitchen counter.
“I wanted my space to be clean and uncluttered, but also cozy,” Fassbender says. “I make sure that everything has its place or can be stored away, but I also have comfortable furniture with soft throws and pillows. I think having a base of earthy and neutral colors mixed in with richer, warm textiles helps a lot.”
While she spends most of her time on the nearby sofa, she appreciates her peaceful bedroom nook. “It’s super comfortable and quiet, so it’s great for winding down at the end of the day,” she says.
While she spends most of her time on the nearby sofa, she appreciates her peaceful bedroom nook. “It’s super comfortable and quiet, so it’s great for winding down at the end of the day,” she says.
Fassbender says sometimes the smallest update can really make a piece pop. “Even spray-painting the knob of my nightstand gold substantially changed its look,” she says.
Hemnes nightstand: Ikea
Hemnes nightstand: Ikea
Though it’s a small city apartment, Fassbender’s space includes more storage than she’s had before. “I love my big closet directly across from my bed,” she says. “It makes getting ready in the morning so much more enjoyable than digging through drawers like I’ve had to do in other homes.”
Some of Fassbender’s favorite sources for home design inspiration are The Everygirl, Apartment 34 and Emily Henderson.
Living in a 450-square-foot studio has taught Fassbender how to make the most of her floor plan. “The long hallway was more of a challenge to decorate, but I was able to find the right-size rug and create a little vignette with a mirror and tote that is a great spot for kicking off my heels when I walk in the door,” she says. “I know a small space has its challenges, but again, the location is really wonderful, and I feel like I’ve been able to make everything work for me.”
Fassbender relaxes in her favorite spot in the living room.
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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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
Who lives here: Liz Fassbender
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: 450 square feet (41.8 square meters)
Liz Fassbender recently graduated from Georgetown Law School after four years of part-time study and has now shifted her focus to personalizing her rental apartment in downtown Washington, D.C. “I wanted a space to come home to that would be a kind of sanctuary where I could curl up and relax at the end of the day,” she says.
Among her changes were some DIY updates she made using gold spray paint and marble contact paper to jazz up her budget-friendly Ikea furniture. “I loved the design of the Ikea bookcase and coffee table,” she says. “They are the right size and aesthetically what I was looking for, but I also didn’t want them to look like Ikea.”