Nearing its 20th year, Apartment Zero sets the standard for representing the world’s most iconic and avant-garde objects, created by established and up-and-coming industrial designers whose vision resonates with those who interact with their creations. Originally a visual retreat for the style-savvy consumer from 1998-2010, Apartment Zero now acts as manufacturer’s rep group covering the categories of lounge furniture, lighting, floor textiles and outdoor furniture for corporate, hospitality, multi-family, cultural and institutional clients in both commercial and residential projects. To view our full collection, please see our 2017 Line List and visit our Manufacturers Page. For information about any of these services, as well as our cultural public program series in conjunction with area embassies and museums , please contact us at info@apartmentzero.com.
In 1998, Apartment Zero captured the attention of design enthusiasts nationwide by pushing the boundaries of industrial design and locating its business in the heart of the nation’s capital. Partners, Douglas Burton and Christopher Ralston, quickly became Washington DC’s leading resource for cutting-edge contemporary design by providing area residents with international objects never before seen in the region. Their large selection of well-edited products represented industrial design innovations, new materials and developing technologies for over 10 years.
Their large selection of well-edited products represented industrial design innovations, new materials and developing technologies for over 10 years. Apartment Zero marketed quality products to design savvy consumers who appreciated style in all its forms while quickly becoming a contemporary cultural center for the community as well as a destination for design education and incubation.
In a city where Corinthian columns are still the order of the day, the owners of Apartment Zero offered a refreshing alternative. The store, the public programs series and most recently the design studio all became champions of the contemporary movement both through the products they represented, but also through the support they give to talented contemporary designers. Christopher and Douglas encouraged young artists who had the vision to create the products of the future today, and showcase their wares through exhibits and special events in venues as varied as embassies, museums, universities and cultural institutions. Working as a gallery, as well as a retail space, Apartment Zero committed to present the work of the up-and-coming with the same enthusiasm bestowed upon their network of renowned contemporary designers from around the globe.
COLLABORATION WITH INSTITUTIONS
Apartment Zero has collaborated with the National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, The National Building Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, The Phillips Collection, Hillwood Museum and Gardens, MICA, the Cooper-Hewitt and the Embassies of Spain, Australia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Latvia and Switzerland.
COLLABORATION WITH DESIGNERS
The following industrial designers and curators appeared on behalf and collaborated with Apartment Zero at its showroom in DC: James Dyson, Marcel Wanders, Karim Rashid, Roberto Palomba, Ingegard Raman, Constantin and Laurene Boym, Harry Allen, Peter Danko, Martin Azua, Juli Capella, Jonah Takagi, Robert Foster, Jurgen Bey, Ellen Lupton, Oiva Toikka, Norway Says, Jonathan Adler Angela Adams and David Trubridge.
EXHIBITIONS & PROGRAMS
Nearing its 20th year, Apartment Zero has reinvented itself again by concentrating its efforts in a new direction. Continuing its public program series and exhibition schedule, Apartment Zero curated and produced the first Washington DC International Design Festival. Gearing up for an exciting future, Apartment Zero will represents over 35 product lines to architects and interior designers in the trade. They will also continue their residential and commercial interior design services and have recently brought on board a new team of experts to assist them in this endeavor.
AWARDS
Apartment Zero was the recipient of the Momentum Award from the city of Washington DC for its efforts to raise awareness of poverty through design fundraising with the Royal Netherlands embassy of Marcel Wanders.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Apartment Zero, has appeared locally on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC stations and appeared nationally on HGTV, the Style Network and the BBC and has been featured in the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Surface, Wallpaper, Dwell, Food and Wine, Travel and Leisure, Details, GQ, Metropolitan Home, Conde Nast Traveler, Azure, Elle Decor, In Style, Metropolis, Interior Design, I.D., Lucky, Domino, House Beautiful, Elle, Fodors, Dezeen, VM+SD, Home and Design, DC Modern Luxury, Southern Living, Oprah Magazine and Abitare among others.
DOUGLAS BURTON
Owner
Douglas Burton began his career in Houston, Texas as owner of Douglas Burton Visual Display and was a leader in the city’s visual merchandising and special events arena for more than 8 years. He worked with independent retailers, shopping mall developers, restaurants, museums, and art galleries. He also served as Visual Director for 4 large shopping malls in the Houston area creating and designing complete shopping mall displays and holiday installations, and was called upon to design fundraising balls for several leading non-profit arts organizations. In 1998 Douglas opened Apartment Zero with Christopher Ralston.
Douglas travels extensively as a featured public speaker on the topic of industrial design for The Phillips Collection-Washington, Hillwood Museum and Gardens-Washington, The Embassy of Sweden-Washington, the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)- Washington, The International Appraisers Association- Washington, The World Trade Center-Dallas, The Seattle Gift Market, the High Point NC Market, The Specialty Leasing Conference, The Netherlands Embassy-Washington, The Art Institute-Washington and the Corcoran Gallery of Art-Washington.
CHRISTOPHER RALSTON
Co-Founder
Christopher Ralston is a native of Chicago, Illinois and an expert in retail marketing and management. He spent the first 10 years of his career managing General Growth Properties shopping malls in Houston TX, Chicago, IL and Washington DC. For his work managing the Grand Opening of the sprawling Woodlands Mall in Houston, Texas, Christopher received the MAXI award, the retail industry’s highest marketing award. Christopher was featured numerous times in USA Today as a expert in his field and has travelled nationally speaking on the subject of portfolio management. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the National Retail Federation.
He moved to the Washington DC area in 1997 to manage the elegant Tysons Galleria in McLean, Virginia and then later launched CDR Group, a retail management-consulting firm.
Sensing the expansion of the 7th Street Arts District, Christopher secured a prime real estate opportunity and in 1998 opened Apartment Zero with Douglas Burton.
Christopher is also a recurring designer on the popular HGTV program “Curb Appeal” where he can be seen 8 times over the past few years collaborating with Washington DC metro homeowners as they reconstruct, renovate and redesign the exteriors of their homes. To see examples of his work, log onto www.hgtv.com.
Christopher travels internationally to conduct management seminars and to foster relationships between local venues in the U.S. and international contemporary designers.