Urban safari mixes with Eastern-inspired accessories and heritage furniture at And Beige, an Adams Morgan home design store. Photograph by Yassine El Mansouri
And Beige
1781 Florida Ave., NW; 202-234-1557
The most dreaded color in interior design becomes a cool canvas at And Beige. Owner Daren Miller’s attention to texture and pattern means that sleek coffee tables mix beautifully with safari-inspired pillows and mirrors. The result? A luxe look befitting the poshest of penthouses.
Commonwealth
1781 Florida Ave., NW; 202-265-1830
Rapper Pharrell Williams was an early investor in this urban-streetwear emporium, which also has an outpost in Norfolk. The inventory includes Crooks & Castles tees, Gitman Bros. oxfords, and an in-house line of light hoodies for spring, but we can’t stop staring at the kicks—slips-ons from SeaVees and Sperry, statement-making Nikes and New Balances, and Gourmet sneaks, which can’t be found anywhere else in Washington.
Kramerbooks &
Afterwords Cafe & Grill
1517 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-387-1400
Bookstore, bohemian cafe, or after-hours pickup joint? It’s hard to tell at Kramerbooks. Open since 1976, this Dupont Circle institution—open all night Friday and Saturday—stocks everything from Dostoyevsky to snarky children’s tales. While DC literati size one another up over books up front, food lovers fawn over shelves of cool cookbooks.
Meeps
2104 18th St., NW; 202-265-6546
With turquoise walls and a quirky approach to vintage, Meeps would fit well in Austin, Texas. This favorite of Howard University students stocks men’s and women’s vintage finds, mostly from the ’70s and ’80s. There’s also space dedicated to clothing and accessories made by Washington artists.
Proper Topper
1350 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-842-3055
At this whimsical shop, you’ll find men’s and women’s hats, dresses, kid’s clothing, gifts, and accessories. Retro prepsters and arty moms will love the jewelry selection, coffee-table books, and colorful collection of Tracy Reese frocks—one of the largest in town.
Secondi
1702 Connecticut Ave., NW, Second Floor; 202-667-1122
Stuart Weitzman oxfords for $95. Theory tweed for $75. They’re not exactly steals, but the prices at this second-floor consignment boutique are accessible to a wide range of buyers. The sunny shop has the largest secondhand inventory in the area, and the classy, professional looks are known to include such names as Marc Jacobs and Gucci.
Skynear and Company
2122 18th St., NW; 202-797-7160
This two-story shop brings together contemporary home furnishings and women’s accessories. Owner Lynn Skynear’s pieces seem to target the jet-setting city dweller—shoppers will find everything from vintage pillbox hats to multipurpose tables designed to fit in small studios. Skynear also has an architect and textile designer on staff for consultations.
Tabletop
1608 20th St., NW; 202-387-7117
This cheerful Dupont Circle shop makes eating and drinking a design-conscious activity with dozens of cool kitchen accessories. Display cases are packed with sleek barware, brightly colored coffee and tea carafes, and Jonathan Adler’s cheeky ceramic table accessories. There’s also a small selection of textiles and furniture, offbeat cookbooks, and Orla Kiely handbags.
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Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.
