I’ve lived in the D.C. area long enough to know every corner of this city. Or so I thought.
Turns out, there’s a difference between living somewhere and actually experiencing it in new ways. That’s what I discovered when I decided to book a two-night staycation at ROOST White House for a pre-new year reset, just miles from my actual home.
ROOST White House, Method Co.’s newest apartment hotel that opened in September, sits at 1425 New York Avenue NW in the heart of the Central Business District. It’s their eighth location nationwide and first in D.C., steps from the White House and the National Mall. When I checked into my two-bedroom apartment, I immediately understood why more women are doing this. By “career reset,” I don’t mean quitting or starting over, I mean creating space to get clear on what’s next.
And let me just say, my unit had me at hello. The space (which was much larger than my first D.C. apartment, I might add) was designed by Method Studios had a perfect mix of custom and vintage furnishings that made everything feel curated but comfortable. Both bedrooms looked like they’d been pulled from a design magazine, they were clean, polished, and had a perfect model home aesthetic, where you kind of feel like you can only look and not touch or you might break or spill something. And the kitchen was fully equipped with full-size appliances and quality cookware, so I could actually cook if I wanted to (spoiler alert: I didn’t).
The layout gave me exactly what I needed for my reset. The living and dining areas became my strategic planning headquarters. I spread out my vision boards, my planners and my notes for upcoming projects. The dining table was big enough to actually work at, and the living room had seating that made me want to sit and think (comfortably), and not just scroll through my phone. Though, if we’re being honest here, I did some of that too.
On my second night, one of my girlfriends came to stay with me, and the two-bedroom setup was perfect. She had her own space and bathroom, which meant we could do our own thing but also come together when we wanted. The next morning we ordered Uber Eats and camped out at the dining table, catching up and mapping out what we wanted from the new year. Somehow it felt like a real getaway, even though we hadn’t left the city.
The amenities at ROOST White House are what really set it apart from other extended stay options that I’ve been fortunate enough to experience over the years. The 24/7 concierge meant I could focus entirely on my planning without worrying about logistics. And when I needed a change of scenery, I wandered down to one of the common spaces (even though it was beautiful, you can still feel cooped up if you spend all day in one space), spread out my planner and laptop to tackle my financial goals and plans for 2026. The whole property was remarkably quiet, like there couldn’t have been many people staying there since it was just before the holidays, so I had these gorgeous spaces basically to myself.
I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t make sure to hit the gym both mornings because a workout is non-negotiable for me, even on a reset weekend. And having the complimentary bikes available meant we could cruise around the neighborhood easily.
Though I didn’t make it to the rooftop since it was December, I’m already planning to check it out next time. The views of the city from up there, plus the fire pits and wet bar setup, look like the perfect spot to decompress when the weather cooperates.
ROOST has been doing the extended-stay thing since 2014, and they’ve got locations all over. This is their first D.C. spot, and honestly, they’re onto something. Not everyone needs a vacation, but instead, sometimes you just need a different environment to get clear on what’s next.
And look, I know I could’ve stayed home and tried to do all this planning. But at home there’s always laundry to fold or a Netflix show calling my name. At ROOST, I had nothing to distract me from actually sitting down and mapping out what I want my year to look like. That’s worth the two nights.
And I’m seeing more women do this: book a hotel in their own city just to think. Not because we’re running away from anything, but because sometimes your regular space keeps you in your regular patterns. You need somewhere else to see things differently.
I left ROOST with a clear strategy for Q1, renewed energy about my goals as I headed into 2026 and memories of quality time with my girlfriend that we wouldn’t have had over a regular dinner in our usual spots. You don’t have to leave your city to shift your perspective, but the right space to see yourself, and your possibilities, more clearly. And that’s exactly what I did!