Tight Space, Abundant Ideas
(Originally written by Becca Milfeld. Appeared in the Express on January 27th, 2012)
In the middle of his 400-square-foot studio, in a small space carved out between a bookshelf, sundry chairs and a bed, Jeff Watkinson, who is 6 feet 1 inch tall, balances on a 2 1/2-foot imitation surfboard with a roller underneath it, lurching back and forth across the floor.
“This is a very strong workout; it just mimics surfing,” he says.
His objective is not so much to demonstrate his athleticism as it is his knack for saving space via multifunctional furniture. Having moved into his Kalorama studio 18 months ago, the 32-year-old who works in investment sales has employed a number of tricks to create room for activities like exercise. He stores his clothes in his TV console, he converted his bookshelf into a bar, and he has a gateleg table that, unfolded, seats seven or eight.
Watkinson’s apartment represents one of the most fundamental ideas in small-space living: multifunctional decor. Considering the minimal square footage of a studio, furnishing one requires an inordinate amount of thought.
“Rarely would we design a studio where a piece of furniture only serves one function,” says Jason Claire, the co-owner of furniture and design store Vastu (1829 14th St. NW; 202-234-8344), which has been fashioning Washington interiors, teensy and grand, for almost a decade.
Wallpaper in 2012
Check out this cool video from one of our favorite wallpaper vendors:
Is Bigger Really Better?
Mark Veltman for the New York Times
The New York Times had an article last week titled “Relax. There’s Plenty of Room” by Steven Kurutz. Apartment Therapy highlighted it and posed the question “Is Bigger Furniture Better?”
When it comes to interior design, the short answer is “no”. However, this doesn’t mean that smaller is a more suitable choice when choosing furniture for your space either. You need to find the happy medium and go with pieces that are in the right scale for your home and lifestyle. Read more
Vastu Gift Guide: Last Minute Dash
We’re quickly approaching Christmas and I understand that some gifts can get forgotten until the last minute. Trust me, last minute shopping is no fun.
But Vastu is here to help! If you’re finishing up your shopping in MidCity in the next couple of days then why not stop by and get some great gifts for the home?
And don’t forget to check out our 14th Street neighbors for more great gift ideas:
Pantone’s 2012 Color of the Year
While we don’t necessarily encourage following trends when it comes to your home decor it is always interesting to wait and see what Pantone, the “global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries”, dictates as the Color of the Year.
For 2012 it turned out to be Tangerine Tango!
Winter White
In the spirit of the Herman Miller Holiday Sale, which is going on now and ends December 11th, and the dropping temperatures that indicate the imminent change in seasons, I rounded up some wonderful products that come in white finishes, fabrics and leathers.
1. Eames Soft Pad Side Chair – A cousin of the Aluminum Group Chairs, this simple yet classic design comes with or without arms and has three frame/base finishes.
2. Setu Chair – Designed by Studio 7.5, this chair is beautiful to look at and comfortable to sit in due to its suspension material and lightweight frame.
3. Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman – A classic known the world over, this lounge chair and ottoman declares luxury. Even more so with its new white ash shell and premium MCL leather in ‘Pearl’.
4. Nelson Swag Leg Chair – Retro and modern at the same time, this chair designed by George Nelson looks right at home in both contemporary and traditional spaces.
5. Noguchi Table – Designed by sculptor Isamu Noguchi, this table achieves the perfect balance between form and function, art and furniture.
DC: Home to the Small (But Mighty) Home
Image by flickr user tvol
A recent Curbed article written with data from Realtor.com shows that Washington, DC has the smallest median home size in the country.
At 1,000 square feet, DC falls below the national median square footage of 1,761. We’re also home to the smallest median lot size (2,375 square feet) and the second-highest median list price at $432,500. First was Hawaii at $575,000. The typical home in the District has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths while the rest of the top 10 have 3 bedrooms. Read more for tips on how to maximize the space you do have.
As Seen On TV!
It was while watching last night’s episode of Glee, that co-owner Eric Kole noticed the Aluminum Dining Table and black Bertoia Side Chairs in a scene with Ms. Corcoran and Puck (played by Idina Menzel and Mark Salling, respectively). This got us to thinking…we actually see a lot of the products we sell and fabrics we offer on TV shows on a fairly regular basis, and we LOVE IT!
Like on the new ABC show Suburgatory, the new folks in town (the Altmans) own a Cyclone Dining Table and Eames Wire Chairs (George Altman, played by Jeremy Sisto, is an architect as was Charles Eames).
Now while we’re not saying you have to come out and immediately buy what you see on these popular TV shows, this can be a fun and entertaining way to see these great pieces in different settings. Stay tuned as we keep an eye out for more TV appearances of Vastu products and fabrics!
Modern Wood Furniture
Media Room - Corcoran Street Rowhouse
When people think of modern furniture, they can tend to picture cold and sterile spaces and materials. This isn’t always the case however. Vastu designers all believe in a warm, comfortable, modern aesthetic that’s achieved through the use of textiles, finishes and color. An easy way to soften a modern space is by using wood furniture.
Think pure, clean lines and simple forms. Stains can range from dark ebony’s to light natural walnuts and ash.
Great examples of today’s modern wood furniture are the Zoe Media Cabinets (newly added to the Vastu website)
Zoe 2 Drawer Open Media Cabinet
and the Zoe Low Dresser,
Zoe Low Dresser
as well as the Zoe Bed.
Zoe Bed
New Vastu Design Project – the Kalorama Loft
We’ve added a brand new, recently completed, design project to our Portfolio!
The clean lines and fresh, cool finishes on the pieces chosen by Vastu designer and co-owner Eric Kole only help to bring attention to the genuine loft details in this hip and unique space.
Living Room
Loft/Media Room
Dining Area
We’d love to know what you think; let us know in the comments!
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