ABOUT APARTMENT ZERO

Celebrating its 20th year in 2018, Apartment Zero sets the standard for representing the world’s most iconic and innovative objects, created by established and emerging 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 best in furniture, lighting, floor textiles for corporate, hospitality, multi-family, cultural and institutional clients in both commercial and residential projects. To view our full collection, please see our 2018 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 a 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 avant-garde 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. Apartment Zero marketed quality products to design conscious 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 showroom, the public programs series and most recently the interior design studio all became champions of the contemporary movement both through the products they represented, as well as the support they gave to talented contemporary designers. Christopher and Douglas encouraged young artists who had the vision to create the products of the future today, and showcased 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 continues 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, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Shelburne Museum, American Institute of Architects, The Industrial Designers Society of America, The World Trade Center, Dallas, The Seattle Gift Market, The High Point International Market, I-Strategy Labs, International Appraisers Association, The European Union in the United States, The Art Institute, and the Embassies of Spain, Australia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Canada, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Latvia, Italy and Switzerland.

COLLABORATION WITH DESIGNERS

The following industrial designers and curators appeared on behalf of Apartment Zero: 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, Josh Owen and David Trubridge.

MUSEUM DONATIONS

To celebrate its 20 year anniversary, Apartment Zero is proud to announce that it has donated a large portion of its extensive design collection to the following museums: The Museum of Fine Arts Houston www.mfah.org gifts and bequests. The Indianapolis Museum of Art www.discovernewfields.org gifts and bequests. and the Museum of Arts and Design New York www.madmuseum.org gifts and bequests.

EXHIBITIONS | PROGRAMS

Continuing its public program series and exhibition schedule, Apartment Zero produced and curated the first Washington DC International Design Festival in 2013. It was the culmination of its over 50 different events and exhibitions that had taken place years prior. To view our entire exhibition series, please see Apartment Zero Celebrates 20 Years of Design.

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, Abitare, Architonic, Hospitality Design, and Dezeen among others.

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 and Marcel Wanders.

DOUGLAS BURTON

CO-FOUNDER

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, marketing and special events arena for more than 10 years. He worked with independent retailers, shopping mall developers, restaurants, museums, and art galleries. He also served as Visual Director for 4 retail shopping mall developments in the Houston area while creating and designing complete shopping mall displays and holiday installations, and additionally 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 and has spoken before The Phillips Collection – Washington DC, Hillwood Museum and Gardens – Washington DC, The Embassy of Sweden – Washington DC, the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) – Washington DC, The International Appraisers Association – Washington DC, The European Union – Washington DC, The World Trade Center – Dallas, The Seattle Gift Market, the High Point NC International Market, The Specialty Leasing Conference, The Netherlands Embassy – Washington DC, The Art Institute – Washington DC, The Spanish Embassy – Washington DC and the Corcoran Gallery of Art – Washington DC. Douglas has been a guest critic of student design work at Marymount University, Catholic University and George Washington University.

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 an expert in his field and has traveled 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. See examples of his work, such as “Beach Theme For Country House”, “Contemporary Suburban” and more at 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.