Step Inside a Washington, DC Apartment That Once Belonged to Jazz Legend Duke Ellington

There's a lot to consider when公寓狩猎: rent, location, square footage, and even shower pressure (yes, you should really check the shower pressure before you commit.) While those are all important pieces of the puzzle, some people也寻找一些东西less tangible, like a certain feeling they get inside the space or maybe even a place with some history.

This 900-square-foot apartment in the U Street Corridor in Washington, DC has it all. The home, which was once one of jazz composer and pianist Duke Ellington's residences, has the perfect mix of history and function. Though the home was likely built in the 1860's, DC government records were destroyed in a fire in 1886, so the updated records aren't accurate, designer Joy Williams of快乐的设计工作室告诉Mydomaine。

“家里是维多利亚时代的，这是该地区的大棕色岩石行之一，”威廉姆斯说。“大多数人有类似的英国地下室。房屋是在1920年代的德克林顿住所。我设计空间的目标是提升业主客人的经验。”

And she did just that by adding a second small bedroom to the previously one-bedroom apartment that fits a full-sized bed, desk, and closet. The unit, which only had sleeping space for two before the redesign, now sleeps five to six people comfortably between the two bedrooms and a spacious pull-out sofa.

"I wanted guests to have an experience when entering the space," Williams says. "The wallpaper invigorates the space and makes the living area feel larger than it is. The space is well suited to how I imagined Duke Ellington would have used it—perhaps as a speakeasy kind of getaway with music and lounging away from the main house."

继续滚动，看看威廉姆斯如何将历史性的属性转变为现代化的客人撤退。

Joyful Design Studio, Photo: Keyanna Bowen, Prop Styling: Joy Williams & Keyanna Bowen

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威廉姆斯解释说，设计的主要焦点是客厅。她使用Mitchell Black的声明 - 在融合中进行墙面覆盖，以定义空间并增加兴趣。

"Ironically, even with the big statement wallpaper, the room needed another artful touch to really make it standout," Williams explains. She chose a bright pop of color in从CB2中拉出的沙发, a gorgeous piece that doesn't overwhelm the space. After all, the best design advice she's ever received is to "go big in small spaces as it only makes them feel bigger and more interesting."

“我喜欢策划和艺术空间，”威廉姆斯说。“当我为客户设计时，我喜欢与他们在与他们的生活方式交谈的空间上与他们合作，我指导和支持伟大的设计原则。”

Joyful Design Studio, Photo: Keyanna Bowen, Prop Styling: Joy Williams & Keyanna Bowen

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In this reading nook in the living room, Williams chose a gorgeous swivel chair from Arhaus, a favorite piece for both her and her client, which adds a luxurious touch to the shared space.

"The unit was dated and tired after years of use as a monthly rental," she explains. "I wanted it to welcome visitors, and for it to be a comfortable, yet functional space for a family as well. Style, Form and function were the goals."

虽然威廉姆斯将这个公寓转变为豪华的客人度假屋, she had to stay within a budget, as the entire renovation, which included adding a bedroom, cost between $18,000 and $24,000.

“在厨房里，我们通过绘制现有的橱柜和添加硬件来为我们的资金大爆炸，”威廉姆斯解释道。“改变花岗岩台面不在预算中，但我们确实在骑灰色瓦片中添加了一个大理石背板，为炉子区域添加了兴趣。我们希望无论我们慷慨地使用，都不会与壁纸竞争。cover bulkheads we couldn’t change."

Joyful Design Studio, Photo: Keyanna Bowen, Prop Styling: Joy Williams & Keyanna Bowen

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在现有的主卧室，威廉姆斯和她的客户选择了深入的海军，选择使用颜色作为那里的陈述。决定一个配色方案是容易的。

“灰色和蓝色总是与这个客户的趋势，”威廉姆斯解释道。“因为她非常喜欢那些阴影，我们喜欢让他们以一种破坏常态的方式为她工作。”

Joyful Design Studio, Photo: Keyanna Bowen, Prop Styling: Joy Williams & Keyanna Bowen

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The real challenge of this project was creating an extra bedroom.

"If we did not have the budget constraints, we could have lessened the footprint of the kitchen and created a larger living area and perhaps a second bath," Williams explains. "So the challenge was to make the new bedroom size worth the trouble of lessening the size of the living area. I think we accomplished that and more."

因为这款第二间卧室距离起居区的一定程度的镜头，新房间更难以提供。

Joyful Design Studio, Photo: Keyanna Bowen, Prop Styling: Joy Williams & Keyanna Bowen

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“对于新的较小卧室，我们再次非常具体，尺寸占有更多的工作，因为这些空间真的被呼吁定制家具，”威廉姆斯说。“如果压力，虽然值得她盐的良好设计师值得从她的贸易和非贸易来源中找到正确的规模。”

通过途中的一些帮助专业，威廉姆斯只是在房间里适合的正确日间，但也锚定。

虽然威廉姆斯在公寓出来的方式中被爱了，但她的客户的反应，最终成为她最喜欢的空间。

"Of course, I, as a designer, love great design," Williams says. "However, I love how my clients love their spaces more. My aim is to give them great design和他们爱的空间。“