Navy Yard Condo || Minimalist Guest Room

Hi friends! We are so tickled to finally get to share one of the coolest projects we've had the pleasure of working on recently! Today and tomorrow we'll be revealing the bedrooms from this condo you may recall from last Spring. Situated in the heart of the trendy Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington D.C., this home is where our young world traveler client can truly kick back and find rest. Just like with the main living spaces, we completed these bedrooms remotely through E-Design!

Here's a look back at what we did in her main living spaces, but you can catch the full tour here!

Our client had a real 'let's do it!' attitude so we were able to present some pretty big ideas to her, (wait until you see what we did with her master bedroom tomorrow)! Not only was she open minded, but she tackled them fearlessly, (serious kudos to her)! This is what E-Design is all about - TRUST! Fortunately, she was kind enough to let us drop by after the rooms were finished so we could snap some photos to share with you!

We're kicking off the reveal today with the guest room. Since our client may potentially rent out her guest space we wanted it to be fairly neutral but also very inviting. Although we kept the furniture and decor to a minimum, the right mix of pieces give this space a warm and stylish feel. Come on in!

You truly can't go wrong with ivory and rust. The plan from the start was a very simple color palette that mixed natural wood tones, black, brass, and ivory. We started with this design board and followed it pretty closely until we got to the dresser. The dresser was a fantastic Craigslist find with good bones but the surface of the wood was not in tip-top condition, so we had our client paint the piece in a dark hunter green, (which she had leftover from a little surprise we'll be revealing tomorrow), and added brass pulls, (which we found for her here).

We found these sconces affordably at World Market, and added a basket she already owned above the bed. The rusty brown pillow we found in Etsy shop, I Heart Norwegian Wood, completes that end of the bed, while a folded Mexican blanket our client found while in Mexico anchors the foot. Ivory linen duvet set from H&M.

This woven bedside table from IKEA adds subtle texture.

This woven mirror was one of the few pieces our client had when we first met, but it's so large there wasn't an appropriate spot for it in her main living spaces. It's absolutely the perfect piece over this dresser! We love looking at the items our clients have with fresh eyes and reworking them in new ways.

That completes today's reveal! We hope you'll come back tomorrow when we share the gorgeous master bedroom! It's got several treats we think you guys will enjoy.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Kesslyr's Artistic Flat

Mutts: Allow me to introduce you to Kesslyr. She not only has an incredibly unique name (as a 'McKenna,' which went from unique to fairly mainstream in the world for 4-year-old girls, I'm very jealous) but is also a wonderfully unique and inspiring artist - check out her website which has its soft launch TODAY! 

        Images source: Kesslyr's Pinterest

And her home in Brooklyn, New York is the perfect backdrop to showcase her work! 

Here's an important piece of information for you all to keep in mind as you read this post. Kesslyr and her husband moved in to this space in June. Of this year. I'm not telling you that to make you feel bad - but WOW! 

Now, over to the artist herself: 

“For us, we start firstly with bringing life into a room; in our case, this means plant life. Then we add a few pieces of necessary furniture, then sit back and let that soak in. Its easy for a space to get cluttered, so we take our time in choosing the mood of the room. The older we get, the fewer things we like to share in our spaces. So simplicity is key. ”

I know most of our Mutts have cultivated impressive green thumbs recently, but ladies & gentleman, Kesslyr's skills in this area should be taken seriously. Very seriously. 

“Our Brooklyn home is pretty small, and [I would describe our style as] simple & modern with an eclectic touch.

Throughout our home, we have tons of locally crafted pieces from our own art to pottery. One of our favorite spots is our office nook. Super cosy little nook with frosted windows that give off warm light throughout the day. The clash of stainless steel from the mirror and brass from the sconce is a unique contrast. ”

Green Thumb Badge EARNED, Kesslyr. 

Now, if I had you all guess where Kesslyr and her husband got married, do you think you could do it? I'll give you some hints: the natural plant life, the mid-century influences, the welcoming 'stay a while' vibe. Anyone guessing Palm Springs? GOOD! 

“We are constantly evolving as people and with that, so does our taste level. We are loving the feeling of modernity but not overtly sterile. We want our home to feel warm and still have character. Some modern homes can feel like museums and make you feel like you cant disturb anything or even sit on the couch. Which is the opposite of what we are going for.”

After only three months in this home, it feels so loved - and that is no small feat. 

“Its about collecting those quality in pieces that are timeless; lamps, mirrors and art seem to be what draw us in. Its a small collection that builds slowly and methodically and will be enjoyed for years to come. ”

Kesslyr, thank you for letting us in! And Mutts, show Kesslyr some love and follow her along on Instagram for more design and art inspiration! Now, everyone, go enjoy your weekends!  

Tina's Trendy Condo

Happy pre-weekend, friends! I hope you all have plans in the works in take advantage of the temperatures that are finally dropping - at least on the East Coast!

Today's Reader Design is the perfect way to end the week. Tina is actually my neighbor in the great Bloomingdale neighborhood of D.C. For those of you planning visits to our nation's capital, be sure to check out our far NW corridor for the local spots. And Tina here happens to have one of the best places in the neighborhood. 

First things first about Tina. After getting to know her over the past month, there are a couple of things she takes very seriously: her adorable dog Riley (who you will meet in a little bit, I promise), her 5 o'clock cocktails, and her perfectly-executed shelfies. If you're not yet convinced, check this proof from her dining room / kitchen area. 

Now, I'll turn the talking over to Tina. 

“My favorite part of our condo is the all of the amazing natural light. So I wanted to keep everything white, clean, and crisp — and let our furniture + textiles pop. I really love having white walls...it makes our 900 sq/ft condo feel so much bigger. ”

In every room of Tina's home that she shares with her husband Ricky, these white walls lend themselves to be the perfect backdrops for her styling. She's making our StyleMutt Home fave Emily Henderson proud! 

“My style is definitely ever evolving and I love that I’m able to integrate some of my favorite old pieces in with the new. At the moment, I would call my style very boho with a hint of modern. My pinboards are currently filled with tons of Scandinavian design — I love anything that is simple and clean looking. ”

What I love about Tina's place is that it pays homage to the trends of today - the casual boho ease of it, the greenery and plants, the styling simplicity - while still staying true to Tina & Ricky. 

“I think our place kind of represents a little bit of everywhere we’ve lived [on the list: DC, Austin, and San Francisco]. I think it’s a good mix of East + West coast styles! ”

“Our West Elm bed frame was the first nice piece of furniture Ricky and I ever bought together — six years later, it’s still my favorite piece. Also, since I’m not much of a DIY fanatic...I’m pretty proud of the hanging light chords in our bedroom. Avoided a Pinterest fail on that one :) ”

I'm sure Cate & Chelsea could spare some DIY advice, but I say those lights look just fine! As a fellow urban-dweller, I know how hard it is to find the space to really dig in to projects. We don't tend to have the luxury of spare rooms, garages, or yards like you rural folk! Y'all just don't know how good you have it.

Tina, thank you for sharing your home with us. I've been admiring it via Instagram for months - and Mutts, you all should absolutely follow Tina along too @tinaheileman.