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Inside Gold Leaf Studios

A rundown building in Washington, D.C.'s Chinatown has become a haven for artists and designers. Narrating this gallery are landlord Mike Abrams and artist Tendai Johnson, with music from a US Royalty practice session.

Paul Thornley of D.C.-based band US Royalty helps unload the band's equipment after returning from a series of shows in New York City. They cart the gear into Gold Leaf Studios, a space that was once a ramshackle auto garage but now houses a community of Washington artists, designers, musicians and other creative types.

Paul Thornley of D.C.-based band US Royalty helps unload the band's equipment after returning from a series of shows in New York City. They cart the gear into Gold Leaf Studios, a space that was once a ramshackle auto garage but now houses a community of Washington artists, designers, musicians and other creative types.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

Inside the former auto garage at 443 I Street NW in Chinatown, artists looking for a studio or bands seeking a place to practice can score space for cheap monthly rent.

Inside the former auto garage at 443 I Street NW in Chinatown, artists looking for a studio or bands seeking a place to practice can score space for cheap monthly rent.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

Painter and sculptor Mike Abrams has been the landlord at Gold Leaf Studios for 11 years. He set his sights on the building in 1998 and negotiated a break on the rent for the first six months while he converted the interior into individual studios. He's equal parts handyman, scoutmaster and visionary for the building and the creative community that thrives within its walls.

Painter and sculptor Mike Abrams has been the landlord at Gold Leaf Studios for 11 years. He set his sights on the building in 1998 and negotiated a break on the rent for the first six months while he converted the interior into individual studios. He's equal parts handyman, scoutmaster and visionary for the building and the creative community that thrives within its walls.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

FFFever's Aaron Baird, Justin Rodermond and Alex Clarke talk with landlord Mike Abrams from the window of their band's practice space.

FFFever's Aaron Baird, Justin Rodermond and Alex Clarke talk with landlord Mike Abrams from the window of their band's practice space.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

Jewelry handmade by Sarah McLaughlin hangs in her space at Gold Leaf Studios. A graduate of the Corcoran College of Art and Design, she works on commissioned pieces in the studio space she shares with two others, and makes ends meet with a bartending gig at a nearby restaurant.

Jewelry handmade by Sarah McLaughlin hangs in her space at Gold Leaf Studios. A graduate of the Corcoran College of Art and Design, she works on commissioned pieces in the studio space she shares with two others, and makes ends meet with a bartending gig at a nearby restaurant.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

The staff of Durkl, a streetwear clothing company, includes Lucas Pierce, left, Will Sharp and Cole Sharp. Here, they unpack a new shipment of merchandise and prepare for their grand opening party in their space at Gold Leaf Studios.

The staff of Durkl, a streetwear clothing company, includes Lucas Pierce, left, Will Sharp and Cole Sharp. Here, they unpack a new shipment of merchandise and prepare for their grand opening party in their space at Gold Leaf Studios.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

"Spaces like these are a necessity, but they're rare," says painter Tendai Johnson, who occupies a second-floor studio.

"Spaces like these are a necessity, but they're rare," says painter Tendai Johnson, who occupies a second-floor studio.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

John Thornley, left, Luke Adams and Jacob Michael of US Royalty rehearse at Gold Leaf Studios. Missing from the picture is the band's guitarist, Paul Thornley. They practice together about 30 hours per week, working on a sound that blends pop hooks with classic rock and Memphis soul.

John Thornley, left, Luke Adams and Jacob Michael of US Royalty rehearse at Gold Leaf Studios. Missing from the picture is the band's guitarist, Paul Thornley. They practice together about 30 hours per week, working on a sound that blends pop hooks with classic rock and Memphis soul.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

Painter Tendai Johnson at Gold Leaf Studios. He moved to Capitol Hill in 2004 with dreams of being a full-time artist and building a studio above his garage. When D.C. zoning laws made that impossible, he heard about Gold Leaf and moved in almost immediately.

Painter Tendai Johnson at Gold Leaf Studios. He moved to Capitol Hill in 2004 with dreams of being a full-time artist and building a studio above his garage. When D.C. zoning laws made that impossible, he heard about Gold Leaf and moved in almost immediately.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

"I like that this place isn't just about the fine arts -- you've got filmmakers, musicians, clothing designers," says artist Tendai Johnson. "I love going to wash up down the hall and hearing those guys play their music ... And it helps that they're good."

"I like that this place isn't just about the fine arts -- you've got filmmakers, musicians, clothing designers," says artist Tendai Johnson. "I love going to wash up down the hall and hearing those guys play their music ... And it helps that they're good."

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

Jewelry designer Sarah McLaughlin and graphic designer Nick Pimentel share a workspace with artist Kristina Bilonick (not pictured) at Gold Leaf Studios. Their airy space is illuminated by a skylight and decorated with their work.

Jewelry designer Sarah McLaughlin and graphic designer Nick Pimentel share a workspace with artist Kristina Bilonick (not pictured) at Gold Leaf Studios. Their airy space is illuminated by a skylight and decorated with their work.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

Hand-screened ties by Kristina Bilonick hang in her space at Gold Leaf Studios. "I feed off seeing other artists," Bilonick says. "There's something about this particular building that makes me never want to leave."

Hand-screened ties by Kristina Bilonick hang in her space at Gold Leaf Studios. "I feed off seeing other artists," Bilonick says. "There's something about this particular building that makes me never want to leave."

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

Graphic designer Nick Pimentel, here with some of this own posters, is something of a Renaissance man -- he occupies his time with a record label, a graphic design firm, his 9-month-old son and Room 11, his newly opened wine bar in Columbia Heights.

Graphic designer Nick Pimentel, here with some of this own posters, is something of a Renaissance man -- he occupies his time with a record label, a graphic design firm, his 9-month-old son and Room 11, his newly opened wine bar in Columbia Heights.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

Lucas Pierce, left, Will Sharp and Cole Sharp of Durkl, a streetwear clothing company, stand outside their ground-floor studio at Gold Leaf. "We just needed raw space; we don't need dropped ceilings or fluorescent lighting," says Will Sharp. Their 2,300-square-foot warehouse space was a former taxi garage that required weeks' worth of powerwashing, painting and cleaning before they could move in.

Lucas Pierce, left, Will Sharp and Cole Sharp of Durkl, a streetwear clothing company, stand outside their ground-floor studio at Gold Leaf. "We just needed raw space; we don't need dropped ceilings or fluorescent lighting," says Will Sharp. Their 2,300-square-foot warehouse space was a former taxi garage that required weeks' worth of powerwashing, painting and cleaning before they could move in.

David S. Holloway-Reportage by Getty Images

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