“Room Service”: Union Market Motel Gets a Designer Dream Makeover

From drab to dreamy, dated to divine… that once-forgotten Motel 6 near Union Market has gotten a swanky, stylish second life with “Room Service,” a creative, limited-time pop-up turning hospitality into high art.

Why we love it: This isn’t your typical design show. “Room Service” is a bold, boutique-style blow-up of interiors, ideas, and inspiration — a full-on DC design takeover where 16 former motel rooms are completely reimagined by 27 of the District’s most dynamic interior designers, artists, artisans, and gallery curators.

Each room? A one-of-a-kind, walk-in work of art. And yes, some of the curated décor, original artworks, and hand-selected home goods will be available to take home, meaning your next conversation piece could come with a backstory as bold as your new throw pillow.

Who’s behind the glow-up? Big names and bold talent. Expect to see vivid visions from artist Maggie O’Neill, the eclectic eye of home goods shop Well Rounded, the mural-minded crew from the DC Walls Festival, and gallery partners like De Novo lending their curated collections to the cause.

When to catch it: The showcase runs over two weekends — and you can still catch it October 16–19.

Why it matters: In a city where style often lives behind closed (and heavily coded) doors, “Room Service” flings them wide open, offering an immersive invitation to experience DC’s design scene in its raw, radical, and refreshingly real form. It’s interior inspiration without the intimidation, and the perfect fall outing for aesthetes, amateurs, and everyone in between.

So skip the showroom and head to the motel… where the beds are made, the walls are wild, and creativity checks in for a stay you won’t soon forget.