My Houzz: Sweet Styling Details in a D.C. Apartment
Roommates in Washington’s Dupont Circle neighborhood decorate their 1890s rental with budget-friendly vintage finds
The roommates initially connected with each other through their blogs. Lyon, pictured at left, is a Houzz contributor and works in alumni relations and was ready to move on from her previous apartment in Georgetown. Waltemeyer, at right, works in communications and public relations and was ready to move into the city after living in Virginia.
“We’d both been living alone, and in some ways this apartment still gives us that feel,” Waltemeyer says. “There are two distinct living areas that give us both a ton of privacy, but we also still have a big living and dining area that’s great for catching up with each other and hosting friends.”
“We’d both been living alone, and in some ways this apartment still gives us that feel,” Waltemeyer says. “There are two distinct living areas that give us both a ton of privacy, but we also still have a big living and dining area that’s great for catching up with each other and hosting friends.”
Two armchairs create a little nook that looks out onto a busy street. “They are a great place to sit and people-watch. In the fall, we have a nice view of foliage, which makes it an especially pretty place to sit,” Lyon says.
“We do get the occasional motorcade given that we’re less than a mile from the White House,” Waltemeyer adds.
The women enjoy starting their mornings with a cup of coffee in these chairs. “In the winter, we kept our Christmas tree between the two chairs,” Lyon says.
Washington, D.C., hand-embroidered pillow: CatStudio
“We do get the occasional motorcade given that we’re less than a mile from the White House,” Waltemeyer adds.
The women enjoy starting their mornings with a cup of coffee in these chairs. “In the winter, we kept our Christmas tree between the two chairs,” Lyon says.
Washington, D.C., hand-embroidered pillow: CatStudio
The roommates enjoy catching up with each other over dinner with a glass of wine after work at the dining table.
Atelier artwork by Makewells: Minted
Atelier artwork by Makewells: Minted
This vintage faux bamboo bar cart is from Miss Pixie’s in Logan Circle. Lyon collected many of the glasses over time at vintage and thrift shops.
Lyon found the campaign dresser that doubles as a TV stand on Craigslist and had it painted white. “Emily Henderson provided inspiration when it came to styling the built-in shelves in our living room,” says Lyon, who’s also a fan of Alaina Kaczmarski’s decorating style.
Waltemeyer enjoys the spacious size of her bedroom and having an en suite bathroom. “I wanted my room to have a cozy, relaxing feel and opted to keep bold colors to a minimum,” she says. “The majority of my room is clean, crisp white, natural wood and small touches of blue and gold.”
“It’s hard to say exactly what my personal style is, but I knew I wanted my room to have a cozy ‘stay a while’ feel to it,” Waltemeyer says. “A lot of the major pieces in my room are sentimental pieces that have memories attached, so I often come into my room and am reminded of a funny story or a really happy memory. It’s a good reminder to just be thankful.”
The framed letters on top of the headboard are notes from her parents. “I truly wanted this to be a place where I could come and just feel like I’m surrounded by the people and things that make me happy,” Waltemeyer says.
The framed letters on top of the headboard are notes from her parents. “I truly wanted this to be a place where I could come and just feel like I’m surrounded by the people and things that make me happy,” Waltemeyer says.
Waltemeyer uses a minimal wall shelf as a place to work and to display mementos.
Lyon’s bedroom is in a loft-like space. She wanted it to be simple and a change from the feel of her previous apartment‘s decor. “I enjoyed the whimsical gallery wall prints and pops of pink, but I’m more drawn to the timeless, well-curated look now and am trying not to get too trendy,” she says.
“I wanted my bedroom and the sitting area outside of it to reflect the historic nature of the home. One thing I’ve been into lately is Turkish rugs,” Lyon says. A rug found on Etsy is layered over a jute rug underneath her bed.
“I wanted my bedroom and the sitting area outside of it to reflect the historic nature of the home. One thing I’ve been into lately is Turkish rugs,” Lyon says. A rug found on Etsy is layered over a jute rug underneath her bed.
Lyon’s room is accessed by these narrow, wrought-iron spiral stairs. “This definitely was a challenge on move-in day,” she says. “Remarkably, the movers got all of my furniture upstairs — even my mattress, box spring and headboard — but it definitely was a long, costly process!”
Since she likes to redecorate frequently, Lyon has learned to be judicious about her purchases, since it can be difficult to transport furniture up and down the stairs.
Since she likes to redecorate frequently, Lyon has learned to be judicious about her purchases, since it can be difficult to transport furniture up and down the stairs.
The vintage wood dresser was a Craigslist find for $65.
“I love all of the exposed brick — it was something I really wanted in a home,” Lyon says. “I included it in my Craigslist searches sometimes when browsing for spaces. Since I do like to hang pictures on the walls, I’ve had to be more selective, as I don’t want to damage the brick but also like how it looks on its own.”
Browse more wall mirrors
“I love all of the exposed brick — it was something I really wanted in a home,” Lyon says. “I included it in my Craigslist searches sometimes when browsing for spaces. Since I do like to hang pictures on the walls, I’ve had to be more selective, as I don’t want to damage the brick but also like how it looks on its own.”
Browse more wall mirrors
Lyon bought this secondhand vanity table and spray-painted it light blue. The apartment comes with a private roof deck, where the roommates grow plants and lounge with a book during the warmer months. “I also frequently use the roof to spray-paint furniture, which has made it easy to do DIYs,” Lyon says.
This seating nook is at the top of the spiral staircase.
The landlord built a half wall to add some privacy to Lyon’s bedroom. “I like having this division of space — partly because it means there’s more of an opportunity to experiment with fun decor,” she says.
The upholstered and caned love seat is a local flea market find, and Lyon found matching chairs at a rummage sage. “Orange isn’t my usual color of choice, but I wanted to mix things up a bit,” she says. The gallery wall features artwork from flea markets and various prints bought online. A vintage side table found at Goodwill for $8 is used to display a Sansevieria plant. “I’ve definitely become more of a plant lover in recent months and love adding greenery here and there,” Lyon says.
The landlord built a half wall to add some privacy to Lyon’s bedroom. “I like having this division of space — partly because it means there’s more of an opportunity to experiment with fun decor,” she says.
The upholstered and caned love seat is a local flea market find, and Lyon found matching chairs at a rummage sage. “Orange isn’t my usual color of choice, but I wanted to mix things up a bit,” she says. The gallery wall features artwork from flea markets and various prints bought online. A vintage side table found at Goodwill for $8 is used to display a Sansevieria plant. “I’ve definitely become more of a plant lover in recent months and love adding greenery here and there,” Lyon says.
“There are a lot of interesting, old features,” Lyon says of the apartment’s built-in details. “There’s a wood-framed mirror attached to one of the walls in my bedroom that adds a lot of character. It definitely prompts some questions when people come in because it isn’t something you’d expect to see in a downtown apartment,” she says.
A built-in shelf that hugs an irregular-shaped wall is used to display books and other items.
See more of this apartment
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.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
See more of this apartment
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.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Apartment at a Glance
Who lives here: Sarah Lyon and Carrie Waltemeyer
Location: Dupont Circle area of Washington, D.C.
Size: About 700 square feet (65 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Year built: 1890s
Roommates Sarah Lyon and Carrie Waltemeyer were drawn to the exposed brick, high ceilings and roof deck of their Washington, D.C., apartment in a converted 1890s building. “It was located within the Dupont Circle neighborhood, which is a vibrant, safe and central spot in the city, and the place itself was full of interesting architectural details,” Lyon says.
Together they’ve blended their styles and filled their place with vintage finds. “I like to change things around frequently, but [Carrie] has been supportive of my random midweek redecorating sprees,” Lyon says. “We wanted to make our living space welcoming and comfortable, and I think we achieved that.”
Their shared main living area includes a sofa and TV area that, in Waltemeyer’s words, “is a good place to catch up and watch cheesy Hallmark movies”; a window-side seating area; and a dining area.
“We hosted a holiday brunch in this space and had a great time bringing our friends together in our apartment,” Lyon says. “Everyone gathered on the couch and around the coffee table to eat and catch up.”
Karlstad sofa: Ikea; Sauder soft modern cocktail coffee table: Amazon