My Houzz: A Snug D.C. Condo Packed With Personality
Gallery walls of art, family heirlooms and collectibles reflect the style and passions of the apartment’s owner
Alexandra Crafton
December 7, 2016
Houzz Contributor: Specializing in interior photography and lifestyle journalism, Alexandra loves getting to know the people and stories behind the houses she shoots.
Houzz Contributor: Specializing in interior photography and lifestyle journalism,... More
“Decorating is autobiography.” Gloria Vanderbilt’s quote resonated with Irwin Gueco the minute he heard it, and his junior one-bedroom condominium in Washington, D.C., is proof that he took it to heart. His renovated and extensively decorated space is a cohesively designed and color-filled home that reflects who he is, shows off his personal taste and tells the story of where he came from. The creative combination of his eclectic pieces, highlighted by gallery-style walls to display his artwork, ingeniously unite the different design eras and styles that speak to Gueco.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Irwin Gueco
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: 495 square feet (46 square meters)
Year built: 1945
Looking at the salon-style, textured gallery walls in Gueco’s condo is like reading a virtual story about who he is. “When I heard [Gloria Vanderbilt’s quote], I said, ‘That is succinctly what decorating is all about, because what you put up and what you arrange should say something about you,’ ” he says. “It doesn’t have to be blatant. But when people who know you see your home, they go, ‘This feels like you.’ ”
Who lives here: Irwin Gueco
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: 495 square feet (46 square meters)
Year built: 1945
Looking at the salon-style, textured gallery walls in Gueco’s condo is like reading a virtual story about who he is. “When I heard [Gloria Vanderbilt’s quote], I said, ‘That is succinctly what decorating is all about, because what you put up and what you arrange should say something about you,’ ” he says. “It doesn’t have to be blatant. But when people who know you see your home, they go, ‘This feels like you.’ ”
Collections that have meaning for Gueco are intentionally placed on his walls and shelves, and almost all of his artwork reflects something significant about his life experiences. Photos of him and his family can be spotted throughout the space. Accessories resemble items from his childhood home. Posters and memorabilia from events he’s attended have a place as well. And some pieces simply reflect Gueco’s decorative taste.
Chesterfield sofa: Restoration Hardware
Chesterfield sofa: Restoration Hardware
Gueco’s love for the Olympics is prominently displayed. “I’m interested in Olympics industrial design,” he says. “I have two torches from the Munich and Berlin Olympics. When Munich created their Olympic torch, they remade it to look like the original Berlin torch. My medals are fake, made in China, but I like them.”
Some original signage from the ’84 Olympics that Gueco bought on eBay 15 years ago hangs on the wall. “It was an information sign, but I like the colors of it; they’re very ’80s,” he says of the magenta and turquoise piece with an encircled question mark. “And when people look at it, they think, ‘What is the meaning of life?’ because of the question mark.”
The walls also hold some artwork Gueco made in the eighth grade. “Each of these pieces mean something to me, to my taste.… I love comic book art, so there is some original comic book art dispersed through the apartment.”
The walls also hold some artwork Gueco made in the eighth grade. “Each of these pieces mean something to me, to my taste.… I love comic book art, so there is some original comic book art dispersed through the apartment.”
Gueco also has some pieces he got from his parents, such as the 1973 orange Knoll Stephens chair and accompanying side table.
“The chair has some sentimental value to it because when i was getting it reupholstered, they called me and they said there was some graffiti on the leg. On the leg it read, ‘I hate Mommy.’ ” Gueco says he looked at the graffitti and thought, “That’s my younger sister.’ She was probably having a temper tantrum when she was like 8 years old, and she was in the living room, under the chair, and took a ballpoint pen to the chair.”
“The chair has some sentimental value to it because when i was getting it reupholstered, they called me and they said there was some graffiti on the leg. On the leg it read, ‘I hate Mommy.’ ” Gueco says he looked at the graffitti and thought, “That’s my younger sister.’ She was probably having a temper tantrum when she was like 8 years old, and she was in the living room, under the chair, and took a ballpoint pen to the chair.”
When the upholsterers asked if he wanted the words removed, Gueco said no. He felt the hidden idiosyncrasy added to the chair’s story. So he left the words but had the chair reupholstered in Cato fabric. “The chair is now tagged for posterity,” he says.
Gueco, now an architect by trade and working at the National Gallery of Art, first came to Washington to get his master’s in architecture from Catholic University. He began renting in a different apartment in the same Art Deco building he lives in now. He rented for about eight years before buying his condo.
Gueco drew up before and after plans of his condo, exploring how the layout and circulation would work both with and without the wall in the kitchen. His eventual renovation allows for better circulation around the apartment and makes the space seem bigger than it is. “Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best!” he says of his redesign.
Gueco drew up before and after plans of his condo, exploring how the layout and circulation would work both with and without the wall in the kitchen. His eventual renovation allows for better circulation around the apartment and makes the space seem bigger than it is. “Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best!” he says of his redesign.
In the image above, the dotted lines by the kitchen column show where the wall was removed. This allowed Gueco to create a wall to house all of his kitchen, dressing and home office essentials.
The entire renovation, including the kitchen, was about $35,000. Gueco hired Ikea contractors to take up the original kitchen wood floor and remove the kitchen wall. “Ikea was very helpful, and, being a designer, I was able to go to their website to design my plan on their 3-D program,” he says. Because the walls in the condo are concrete masonry, it took a lot of effort to remove the one small wall, making the demolition portion of the renovation fairly costly.
The entire renovation, including the kitchen, was about $35,000. Gueco hired Ikea contractors to take up the original kitchen wood floor and remove the kitchen wall. “Ikea was very helpful, and, being a designer, I was able to go to their website to design my plan on their 3-D program,” he says. Because the walls in the condo are concrete masonry, it took a lot of effort to remove the one small wall, making the demolition portion of the renovation fairly costly.
BEFORE: The wall separating the kitchen from the living room was partially removed to open up the space. Gueco had his own contractors, found through friends in residential architecture and construction, do the electrical and plumbing work. He notes that they collaborated nicely with the Ikea contractors.
AFTER: One of Gueco’s gallery walls sits between the renovated kitchen-living room partition. Part of the budget went toward new cork kitchen floors. “When I renovated my kitchen, I did not want to go the regular route of using porcelain tile because it was too cold and hard underfoot. I chose cork because it closely matches the finish of the wood floor [in the living area] and I wanted the new kitchen-dressing floor area to be visually seamless,” he says.
Gueco also redid the subflooring, recognizing that any imperfections would show up over time. He kept the original wood and tile floors in the rest of the condo.
Gueco also redid the subflooring, recognizing that any imperfections would show up over time. He kept the original wood and tile floors in the rest of the condo.
The freshly designed kitchen not only opens up the condo but also makes way for creative storage options using Ikea cabinets.
“When I did the kitchen, I did a galley kitchen so everything would be consolidated to one wall. I wanted the kitchen to look like a wet bar when not in use,” he says. “And because I live in such a small space, I didn’t want anything exposed, like spoons or toasters. Everything is hidden in cabinets, and my wardrobe is off to the right near the bathroom.”
“When I did the kitchen, I did a galley kitchen so everything would be consolidated to one wall. I wanted the kitchen to look like a wet bar when not in use,” he says. “And because I live in such a small space, I didn’t want anything exposed, like spoons or toasters. Everything is hidden in cabinets, and my wardrobe is off to the right near the bathroom.”
BEFORE: This wall, which blocked off one end of the kitchen, was removed.
AFTER: Gueco moved the refrigerator location and put Ikea panels on both it and the dishwasher to help create a seamless look.
BEFORE: The closet was a separate room that made the condo seem smaller.
AFTER: Gueco created a desk and work area within one of the sections of wall where the closet had been. Everything slides out and, when not in use, goes back into the unit. He added a small drawer and made a top with products from the Container Store.
A red Uten.Silo organizer from his childhood home hangs on the wall opposite the sink. It, along with the orange Knoll chair, are some of his favorite pieces in the home. “The stuff from my parents are obviously my favorite pieces because they mean something to me,” he says. “I grew up with them, and they’re a part of my life now.”
Photos of his grandparents, parents and other family members from the Philippines are displayed on another kitchen wall. Gueco remembers well the advice his father gave him: “Don’t forget your roots. You may be a U.S. citizen, but don’t forget where you came from.”
Although the center of the wall separating the kitchen from the rest of the space was kept, both sides were removed.
AFTER: The credenza doubles as audio-visual storage and a buffet when Gueco has dinner guests over.
He mounted the TV to one side so it wouldn’t be the centerpiece of the room. The gallery wall around the TV helps it blend in as part of the overall design.
He mounted the TV to one side so it wouldn’t be the centerpiece of the room. The gallery wall around the TV helps it blend in as part of the overall design.
Gueco purposefully extended the gallery wall from the living room into the bedroom for a continuous look. Of all of his gallery walls, Gueco likes his bedroom wall most because of how it turned out proportionally.
The big center painting was given to him by a friend who bought it in England. “It was depicting Montgomery Clift in a film noir called I Confess, about a priest who was having an affair with a woman…. It freaks me out sometimes because I wake up and see someone staring at me,” Gueco says.
More of his collections, including his action figures, can be found in the bedroom. Of his action figures, Gueco says: “There is a theme going on here. They are gay cartoon characters going back all the way to the 1950s. I put them in shadow boxes because Joseph Cornell, who is one of my favorite artists, did a lot of collages within shadow boxes.”
He has some advice for other collectors: “Don’t spread out your collections. Have them consolidated. Bring them together to create a consistent language.”
The mirror behind the bed is original to the condominium and helps expand the perceived size of the room. To go along with his other Ikea hacks, Gueco is considering creating a Murphy bed so the room can double as a social gathering space for guests.
Next to the window is a series of movie lobby cards from the 1972 adaptation of the John Knowles novel A Separate Peace. Gueco notes that such cards were used in addition to posters to advertise movies at that time. “They reminded me of Bruce Weber’s photography,” he says.
Gueco found the lamp at GoodWood in Washington, D.C. The light can be raised and lowered along the spine so it can be used as a reading lamp or to create a wash of light on the wall.
Gueco found the lamp at GoodWood in Washington, D.C. The light can be raised and lowered along the spine so it can be used as a reading lamp or to create a wash of light on the wall.
Gueco also grouped three clocks, one vintage and two modern, that he wanted to display on the nightstand next to his bed. “The books are my current reread list that I can easily grab before I go to sleep,” he says. “The majority are graphic novels, nothing too deep.”
The French sunroom doors are original to the building. The open doors and windowed frames keep the open feel of the space while acting as a separation between the living area and bedroom.
The bathroom features original tile from the 1940s and the original cast-iron tub, toilet and sink.
When asked if he has splurged anywhere in his home, Gueco answers: “The Tom Dixon table. I think it was $2,500, and it was the most I would spend on a table. The reason I rationalized it was because Italian folding tables that serve the same function look like ironing tables and cost $3,000.”
The stone top and iron base make it a solid and heavy piece. Gueco put glides underneath so he could easily move it around. “I love this table. This is my ‘splurge’ and it’s multifunctional,” he says. “When I have parties, I can raise it or use it to teach my friends mahjong. My mom gave me her mahjong set when she left for the Philippines.”
The stone top and iron base make it a solid and heavy piece. Gueco put glides underneath so he could easily move it around. “I love this table. This is my ‘splurge’ and it’s multifunctional,” he says. “When I have parties, I can raise it or use it to teach my friends mahjong. My mom gave me her mahjong set when she left for the Philippines.”
“There are things from my parents I would not ever sell: the chair, the ivory tusks,” Gueco says. He treasures the tusks, which were given to his grandfather when he was in Thailand (then called Siam) in 1947. They’re engraved at the base and Gueco remembers them being in his living room while growing up in the Philippines.
“Back in 1947, the knowledge of elephant conservation wasn’t even on the world’s radar yet,” he says. “Today is a different story. I would never buy ivory today.”
“Back in 1947, the knowledge of elephant conservation wasn’t even on the world’s radar yet,” he says. “Today is a different story. I would never buy ivory today.”
Gueco also has a collection of photos of his grandfather with British Concord model planes. “I love aviation and I’m currently obsessed with plastic accessories from the 1970s,” he says.
He frequents eBay and his favorite D.C. stores, GoodWood and Miss Pixie’s, where he finds accessories like the stacking plates and pop art orange screw containers seen here that were designed by Massimo Vignelli. Coincidentally, his father owned a similar set, which is important to him.
“I only keep what means something to me, and each piece tells a story,” he says. “If you have to buy something, follow the adage: Take something in, take something out.”
He frequents eBay and his favorite D.C. stores, GoodWood and Miss Pixie’s, where he finds accessories like the stacking plates and pop art orange screw containers seen here that were designed by Massimo Vignelli. Coincidentally, his father owned a similar set, which is important to him.
“I only keep what means something to me, and each piece tells a story,” he says. “If you have to buy something, follow the adage: Take something in, take something out.”
Gueco repainted all the walls in his condo. The variations of whites he used helps the color on his gallery walls pop.
“I had the hardest time finding a piece of art to hang on that wall,” Guerco says about this space in the kitchen. His solution was simple: a big wooden spoon and fork, found, according to him, in every Filipino kitchen. “It adds kitsch/whimsy to balance out the sleek modern kitchen,” he explains.
“I had the hardest time finding a piece of art to hang on that wall,” Guerco says about this space in the kitchen. His solution was simple: a big wooden spoon and fork, found, according to him, in every Filipino kitchen. “It adds kitsch/whimsy to balance out the sleek modern kitchen,” he explains.
“Don’t be afraid to put quirky stuff up that says something about you,” Gueco says. “There is no right or wrong when it comes to design. If you feel good about it, that’s all that matters. Just go out and get stuff. Don’t be afraid the artwork won’t match the furniture. Mix and match. It’s almost like fashion — Sharon Stone when she wore the white Gap top and Vera Wang gown to the Oscars and yet looked great.”
He adds: “Everyone has an eye. Just follow it.”
See more of this project
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
He adds: “Everyone has an eye. Just follow it.”
See more of this project
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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I love this home! Such a great and thoughtful use of a small space. I own the same Bill Stephens bentwood chair and this reminds me mine is in need of reuphulstery. Can you tell me how many yards yours took? By the way, the Cato fabric looks totally gorgeous.
Love this story and the stories behind the family pieces. I am about to move into a condo and wish to have it express my personality. I also have family pieces and a large collection of artwork by family members and people known to me. I had most of it spread out over 2 stories in my home but now I am doing a gallery wall like his