14th and Q NW: Well Built is having a retail store liquidation sale, Tuesday through Thursday. (Luis Gomez Photos)
Well Built furniture store at 1541 14th Street NW is having a store-closing sale starting today and lasting through Thursday. The business is not going closing, just the retail store.
Owner Ann Blackwell said they will be offering discounts of 50% or more on most items remaining in the store. Hours are noon to 6:30 pm, January 24-26.
As for Blackwell’s future plans she said in December, “WellBuilt has gone commercial! We will still offer our residential customers our online services and an office/showroom by appointment only — but commercial sales to the office and restaurant sector continue to be our main focus. I have loved having a storefront on 14th and hope to find an office space here.”
Standard BBQ owner Tad Curtz has applied for a liquor license for the Well Built space, with plans to open an Italian restaurant.
Borderstan: News from Dupont-Logan-U Street
There are two opening receptions for artists on Thursday evening, December 1 on the 14th Street corridor. Both are at local purveyors of high-end furniture and accessories, so it’s a great opp to check out local artists and see some fab items for the home.
6:30 to 8:30 pm at Well Built, 1541 14th Street NW: Well Built presents “HighCrafted for the Holidays”with local woodworkers Caleb Woodard, Kaleo Kala, Andrew Christenberry and Bob Etchells. Works on display through December 31. (See Well Built: Style Meets Sustainability on 14th Street.)
6 to 8 pm at Vastu, 1829 14th Street NW: Vastu presents “Elegant Corrosion,” new photos from noted DC photographer Colin Winterbottom. “Visually organic with an industrial feel, Colin’s pieces from “Elegant Corrosion” would be an excellent addition to any art lover’s collection.” (Vastu)
Well Built owner Ann Blackwell. (Luis Gomez Photos)
From Tom Hay
For Borderstan‘s continuing series on business owners and entrepreneurs I spent some time with Ann Blackwell, owner of Well Built at 1541 14th Street NW in Logan Circle. She opened the specialty furniture store in April 2010, occupying the space of the former travel bookstore, Candida’s World of Books. The common themes among the various furniture lines in the gallery-like showroom are beautiful design and sustainability.
The themes are a natural progression for Blackwell who has a degree in art, an early career in marketing, an LEED AP green building certification and several years of experience at national furniture retailer, Design Within Reach. Blackwell left the Georgetown DWR last fall and within a week had written a business plan for Well Built.
Blackwell says her customers are mostly from DC, represent all demographics and recognize that exceptional quality in design and construction are a luxury.
Borderstan: Can you tell us about a few of the manufacturers and designers you sell?
Blackwell: We have a Portuguese company, De La Espada, that only uses sustainable woods — we also carry Russell & Mackenna out of Jessup, Maryland, that does many classic forms in fun colors — many people also recognize the Autoban line, which is by a Turkish architectural firm.
