Washington City Paper Best of 2013
So the results are in and while Vastu didn’t win “Best Place to Buy Home Furnishings” we did see you guys are showing your support for a lot of local neighborhood retailers! That’s something we can definitely stand behind.
So congratulations are in order for the following winners!
- Place to Buy Home Furnishings
- Home Goods Store
- Vintage Clothing Store
- Coffee Shop
- Craft Beer Selection, Off Menu Special
- Ice Cream Shop
- Wine Bar
- Sandwich
- Place to See Local Music
Great job everyone!
UPDATE – 04/12/2013 – 1:00PM: It was just brought to our attention that Jordan Casale received a runner-up spot for Best Interior Designer. So a big congratulations goes out to Jordan and we wish him the best in his future endeavors!
Open House at Northern Exchange
It’s fairly obvious that 14th Street is in the midst of big changes. You read countless blog posts, even here on Design Clique, on the new developments, stores, restaurants and bars that are opening in our neighborhood.
Well, we’re just going to add one more. This weekend, October 13th & 14th, real estate development company PN Hoffman is holding an open house at their newest project, Northern Exchange, located at 1401 R St. NW.
Besides getting a close-up look of the progress on the converted and renovated telephone switchboard building, you’ll be able to tour the two model units which were designed and furnished by Vastu!
Check out some photos of Vastu co-owner, and model unit designer, Jason Claire setting up the model units with new Vastu designer Nadia Powell.
WHAT:
The Northern Exchange Open House
WHEN:
October 13 & 14, 2012 | 12 – 4PM
WHERE:
Northern Exchange
1401 R Street NW
Washington, DC 2009
Home & Design Weekend – April 21st & 22nd
On Saturday, April 21st and Sunday, April 22nd Washington Fine Properties, LLC will be hosting various workshops and presentations around the U and 14th Street areas in local businesses such as Room & Board, Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams, Arts @ 1830, LUX Stone & Tile and yours truly, Vastu!
Symposiums over the course of the weekend will include topics such as “Maximizing Your Furniture Layout”, “Using Color to Transform Your Home”, Gallery Seminars on local artists, and “Finding ‘Statement’ Pieces for Your Home”. Here at Vastu, we’re proud to be inviting Deena Stone and Dipti Sukumar from Knoll, Inc to give short presentations on Knoll Textiles and the History of Knoll the company (on the 21st and the 22nd, respectively).
This is a great opportunity to visit some of your favorite local businesses to “see Spring fashion trends and new lines, enjoy Artists-in-Residence original works, and learn great home decorating secrets from interior design professionals.”
More detailed information can be found here and you can also download a map of the weekend’s events here.
International Women’s Day
Happy International Women’s Day!!
If you’ve done anything on Google within the past several hours, you’ll have noticed today’s doodle for this holiday that ranges from a general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women’s economic, political and social achievements.
We’re big fans of equality in all its forms so International Women’s Day is right up our alley, especially when you think about all the great female designer’s that have contributed to the furniture, interior design and architectural industries. Here’s just a few… Read more
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.
Ladies’ Night at Ace Hardware
It’s almost time for the Second Annual Ladies’ Night, hosted by the 5th Street Ace Hardware.
RSVP and attend for a chance to win 2 hours of interior design services from Vastu (among other great raffle prizes)!
When:
February 7th, 6:00-8:00PM
Where:
5th Street Ace Hardware
1055 5th Street NW
RSVP Here by January 30th
Design Direction
“I have a cape cod contemporary two story on the water with large windows facing east. We have a beautiful whitewashed cedar ceiling. The floor has stark white 10″ floor tiles that are very hard to keep clean. I’d like to replace it with porcelain floor planking that looks like wood. I’m stuck trying to decide on the color for the floor. There are so many options. By the way, the doors are all whitewashed with a bright white wood trim. My style is classic with a bit of contemporary thrown in. We are planning on a redo of the fireplace as well as well as the kitchen.
Here is a summary of my decorating challenges:
- What color floor planking (porcelain) to put on the floor.
- What color to paint the new wood around our new fireplace.
- The kitchen cabinets are white washed. I’m selecting white painted ones. What color granite – light or dark for more or less of a contrast?
- The wood doors are all white washed too. As is the railing going up the stairs. Do I paint the railing white or?
- Do I paint the walls a lighter or darker color?
Whitewashed Cedar Ceiling
Here’s what Vastu senior designer Sarita Peresada had to offer: Read more
Vastu ♥’s Art
Art is one of those design elements that can really take a space from nice to amazing! It’s also an element that our designers take into consideration when working on a client’s space. Check out how we’ve used art in past projects!
Brian Petro - Church Street Flat
It’s National Design Week!
Running from October 15th to the 23rd and sponsored by the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, National Design Week is its “largest education initiative, [which] aims to draw national attention to the ways in which design enriches everyday life.”
As the 2011 winner of the 2011 National Design Award for Corporate and Institutional Achievement, Knoll knows a thing or two about good design.
Generation Chair by Knoll
Whether its an office chair you sit in everyday or a lounge chair that’s equal parts “art and industry”, Knoll products for both home and office are created by some of the best designers on the planet. This is something that Knoll has always strived for since its inception in 1938 by Hans Knoll. He founded the company “based on the conviction that good design enriches and improves our lives.”
Barcelona Chair & Ottoman
So what do you think? Where do you see design improving your daily life?
New Vastu Design Project – the Old Town Modern Townhouse
Check out these great photos from a recently finished design project from Vastu designer, Sarita Peresada.
The Family Room
Located in Old Town Alexandria, this townhouse is full of light, colors, and textures that combine to create a warm and inviting space while keeping a modern design aesthetic.
The Master Bedroom
The Living Room
To see the rest of the photos and to find out what pieces were used to furnish this beautiful home, check out Vastu’s Residential Portfolio.
If you’re ever in need of design help, contact us and one of our designers will assist you in setting up an appointment.
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