An Inside Look at U Street’s Foundry

An inside look at U Street’s Foundry

Opening vintage furniture store Foundry had been designer Yvette Freeman’s dream for years; she waited until she found the perfect U Street location to make it a reality. Photograph by Erik Uecke

An inside look at U Street’s Foundry

Freeman scours estate sales, rummages through old barns, and combs Parisian flea markets to find pieces to restore and reupholster­— “the older and uglier, the better,” she says. Photograph by Erik Uecke

An inside look at U Street’s Foundry

Every object at Foundry has been cherry-picked by Freeman, who loves to tell customers the stories behind her pieces. Photograph by Erik Uecke

An inside look at U Street’s Foundry

“Our motto is ‘Past, present, and possible,’” says Freeman, whose passion is collecting. “Anything can be made beautiful.” Photograph by Erik Uecke

An inside look at U Street’s Foundry

This Union Jack chest ($2,800)—restored and handpainted by Freeman—boasts original hardware.  Photograph by Erik Uecke

An inside look at U Street’s Foundry

“I guess I’ve been having a hide moment,” says Freeman of pieces like this church pew ($1,600) and midcentury modern armchairs, which she’s refinished in cowhide. Photograph by Erik Uecke

An inside look at U Street’s Foundry

This Chesterfield sofa ($1,245) was too beautiful to recover, says Freeman. “It’s like a Ralph Lauren bomber jacket—the rougher it gets, the better it feels.” Photograph by Erik Uecke

An inside look at U Street’s Foundry

The bench ($395) was originally a row of seats in a Knoxville movie theater—Freeman uses a similar set on one side of a farm table in her kitchen. Photograph by Erik Uecke

An inside look at U Street’s Foundry

Freeman’s store and barn (where she holds monthly tag sales) are overflowing with vintage suitcases ($50 to $125). Photograph by Erik Uecke

An inside look at U Street’s Foundry

This 1940s silk chandelier ($565) came from an estate in the French countryside. Photograph by Erik Uecke

An inside look at U Street’s Foundry

“I’m truly a traditionalist,” says Freeman. “I was taught to write a thank-you note and to use my good silverware every day.” Photograph by Erik Uecke