Welcome to my Capitol Hill apartment in Washington, DC. It’s a 540 square foot condo in one of the newer buildings in the area and I am absolutely ecstatic to invite you inside.
For the past two months, I have been promising friends, family and my YouTube subscribers that they would get a grand tour, but because I’m incredibly anal and wanted to have everything done just right, I kept stalling, giving people sneak peeks inside my new digs.
Now, I’m ready for the big reveal.
How I Found My Apartment
If you follow me on my YouTube channel, then you know that I went through hell and high-water to find my current home. I saw some real duds, dungeons and what-in-tarnation spots all over Virginia and DC. You can watch my video to see just what I mean.
I kept thinking I would have to settle for an apartment in Alexandria that was really nice, but it didn’t have all the bells and whistles. Then, I found this place on an apartment site. The funny thing is, the landlord said he never put his unit up on the site that I saw and he suspected that the listing agent had shared the details with the site I saw it on. That’s how you know God was involved. He kept this apartment just for me and it has been an absolute Godsend.
I remember the day I first walked through the doors. The landlord had already told me that it was a junior one-bedroom unit. I have never lived inside of a studio before and I thought it might be a dealbreaker because I’m a gyal who needs a door. But, the minute I stepped inside I knew this place was going to be my home. I literally cried because it had so many features that I wanted and the light that poured inside of the living room was heavenly. Because it’s not super big it also felt very cozy.
I immediately called my mummy on videophone and told her that I had found the one. I still pinch myself when I wake up in my new home.
My Apartment’s Style
I’m not a woman who likes to be pigeonholed into an aesthetic. I like what I like and that’s it. But, if I had to describe the style and vibe of my apartment, then it would be crazy lady chic with a Caribbean punch. But, it’s very cohesive.
There are parts of my home that have a shabby chic vibe and then all of a sudden, you’re hit with tons of colour. I’m both minimalist and maximalist. Some areas, like my bathroom and bedroom for example, have very clean, chic lines. But, when you walk into my living room, which is essentially my creative space, you’ll find that it’s very bold and full of colour and patterns.
A Disney Villain Was The Inspo For My Kitchen
My kitchen was inspired by the Disney film, Cruella. I absolutely love Cruella (such a kindhearted soul), and while watching that film I found myself gravitating towards the look of Dalmatians (FYI I owned one when I was a kid and she was beautiful. RIP Snow) and the black and white aesthetic.
Since my kitchen has such gorgeous, tall white cabinets, I thought I would take advantage and add some fun black Dalmatian spots to exterior. I scoured Etsy for the perfect spots and found them and they were all a girl could ask for.
I also have a beautiful white island in the centre of my kitchen and I use that to display my plants or fresh flowers. The appliances are chrome and very sleek. They make the kitchen feel so modern and elevated.
In Living Colour
My living room really is the star of the show. It’s definitely the place most people would fall in love with. The apartment is open concept, so you can see the living room right from the kitchen. It’s not huge, but I made great use of the space by getting the appropriately sized furniture, spacing everything out and making sure that I included fun accents in the area.
My living room is highlighted by two-and-a-half gallery walls that feature everything from inspirational quotes to illustrations of my favourite singer and rapper, Sade and Biggie Smalls, also found on Etsy. I also wanted little reminders of home, so I hung framed pictures of my twin nieces’ artwork. I also hung two paintings of Bahamian police officers that my brother, Rashad and I created when he visited me in March.
Instead of a traditional coffee table, I bought a black and white trunk from HomeGoods and use that as my coffee table. It’s both beautiful and functional because I can store documents, paint supplies and other knick knacks inside.
The best part is that everything was affordable.
Step Inside My Bedroom
As I mentioned, I don’t have a one-bedroom apartment, I have a junior one-bedroom studio, which means that my “bedroom” doesn’t have any windows or doors. I really thought that would bother me, so I ran out and scoured the DMV area for a partition. I searched high and low, but didn’t find what I was looking for.
So, I spent my first few nights paranoid about sleeping in such an open space. I eventually found a shabby chic cream-coloured partition with some intricate designs. I love when I find exactly what I’ve been looking for. It’s perfect for my space and provides the right amount of privacy. I found this piece at HomeGoods.
I have two Safavieh nightstands that I got from Target and two pineapple shaped lamps on those tables. The nightstands are cute and perfect for holding small clothing items like socks and underwear. But, if you have bulky items, you may want to pass on these nightstands.
I hung two black and white paintings on the wall that I created. You can read more about that here, and I have plants and fresh flowers by my bedside. That’s it. This is where my minimalist side kicks in. When it comes to my bedroom and bathroom, I want to feel clarity. Those are the places I go to decompress/think/meditate/pray, so I don’t want any distractions. So, I kept those areas as minimalistic as possible.
The Bathroom Was A Huge Selling Point
The bathroom is this unit really sold me on this place. It is huge. I have space to dance while I’m putting on my makeup or fixing my hair, the mirror is perfectly sized and I have tons of drawers and cabinet space – something that was lacking in my last place.
I do miss having a Jacuzzi tub like I did in my last place. But, that’s not a deal breaker. I love to light my candles, put on Sade and mellow out in this bathroom.
Plant Mom Alert
My apartment also has quite a few plants – both real and artificial. There’s a method to my madness. I love the look and feel of real plants. Some plants, like my snake plant, have air purifying qualities, which I love. And real plants add so much life to a space.
However, because all of my natural light pours in through my Juliet balcony sliding door, I’m forced to keep most of my plants in that area. So, I use faux plants when I want to put them in my bedroom or bathroom or basically anyplace where the light doesn’t hit them.
I recently bought a faux fiddle-leaf tree from Target. It was the Threshold brand. While it’s not as beautiful as the real thing, it also won’t die or turn brown. It was a nice substitute and it really adds life to the space – even if it is artificial.
I also have an artificial lemon tree that I bought from HomeSense and I love seeing the beautiful yellow hue poking out whenever I open my front door.
Did I Mention I Have A Dog?
Yes, y’all I have a dog. A Dalmatian to be precise. Told you I was obsessed with Cruella. But, like some of the plants in my apartment, she’s not real.
I spotted her (haha, see what I did there) on Macy’s’ website and knew instantly that I had to have it. I love that it’s so beautiful and lifelike and goes with the theme of my kitchen; it’s also a fun talking point when people walk into my home. I’m also not ready to commit to a real dog just yet. So, my plush dog will do for now. And for those wondering what her name is, it’s Cruella.
Location, Location, Location: What I Love About Capitol Hill
There’s so much to love about the historic Capitol Hill area. First of all, it’s super convenient. It’s so close to the highway that I’m literally on I-395 in five minutes, less if there isn’t traffic. It’s also a family-oriented community. It’s not uncommon to see couples holding hands, parents walking their dogs or families playing in the park with their children.
It also has a laid back vibe and is lined with tons of awesome restaurants, boutiques, bars and exercise studios. I can also see the Capitol on my drive or walk. That’s right up my alley.
So, there you have it, kiddies, my apartment in Capitol Hill. I hope you enjoyed the tour. Before I go, I recently created an Instagram account to showcase my new spot. Be sure to follow me: @thecutestlittlehouse. I will be posting design tips, how-tos, colourful inspiration and a few other things. I think you’re going to love it. Until next time!
XOXO,
This Bahamian Gyal
