Continuing on the heels of my Etsy Round Up: Washington DC feature apartment decorating finds, I ventured over the CB2 in Georgetown recently to check out their Fall 2011 collection. The latest and greatest from this Create&Barrel and Land of Nod, “affordable” sister shop centers on providing innovative, space saving options for DC’s small apartment, loft and efficiency occupants.  Although that is not a revolutionary concept (see IKEA, West Elm, etc.) and was not chosen to meet the particular needs of DC urban dwellers, it is well executed.

One of the things (as a 1 bedroom DC apartment renter) I look for in furniture is meeting a variety of needs and functions.  CB2 is overflowing with pieces that meet this requirement. The Max Felt Ottoman (pictured above) is both a leg rest and a fold out twin mattress, the Julian Storage Ottoman provides storage for blankets, pillows, books,etc., and the wooden Caliper Coffee Table has a slide out shelf for remote controllers, magazines, pens or whatnot.

Many of CB2’s Fall “work line” pieces are also multifunctional with the Ernest Pool Bar in electric blue (above, that I’m in love with) and the Go-Cart Console Table (above) perched on metallic wheels, so they can serve as a bar and desk, or be rolled around and used as side or dinner tables.

The line also features a solid mix of textures and fabrics, although the color palette  is too heavily centered around dark grey, brown and orange for my taste. But highlights like the Parlour Bold Chair, the music studio-esque Cloud 16 Lounge Chair and the Grid Media Console do help to round out the collection with some spunk and lighter wood contrasts.

While I definitely liked many of the items I saw in CB2, the price tag that came along with them seem hefty. Yes, you are getting a good, stylish, well made product, but the frugal, IKEA shopper in me thinks $750 for a chair seems a bit much; that is unless it was the centerpiece of my room. Whatever your furniture budget or shopping mentality, CB2 is definitely worth a stop in.

Rebecca Johnson

A born and bred New Yorker, Rebecca made the big trip “down south” to DC in 2006 and hasn’t looked back. She spends her days strategizing/planning/ideating how interactive products can help her clients and change the world. In her free time, she explores DC’s ever expanding bar, restaurant and small business scene, plays a crap ton of soccer, attends concerts that contribute to her sleep deprivation and embarks on local adventures. Read why Rebecca loves DC or follow her on twitter.