Union Station

The vibe and feel of Takoma House grew to form over several years. Our founder, Malik Wilson began working an overnight shift at Kramerbooks for nearly 7 years, developing a thirst and appreciation for books along the way. In his small room in Takoma Park, he needed simplicity, and the use of all available space. Using milkcrates from the attached restaurant, the style was formed. 

Simple plug-in scatter lights shine light above the crates, with switches tucked into the bookcases, helping to illuminate the room. Speakers are placed on top of the crates, with small artworks held against the walls. This sense of being encompassed, of a life in books – or rather, of a life of consideration, of a measured life, is a key principle we want to share with you. 

The lovely 70s vintage chairs you see are from Mikey O’Brien, who Malik has known since high school. Mikey has run his own vintage shop in Kensington for over a decade – yes, you heard us, the dude literally makes a living that way. More on him here.

Zachary Morgan is the architect-of-license at Takoma House, and in case we are blessed with a seven-figure endowment, Zachary has plans for us. Plans that you can find here. 

You’ll also notice many found objects on organized boards throughout the property. This kind of blessed flimflam is sourced from places serious and unserious, noble and ignoble. Some are vintage prints or objects, others are thrift store finds. We believe such physical objects anchor not only a sense of place – but better stated, convey the kind of accrued memory and value that grows from dwelling somewhere over time. 

But many of these objects are linked to a dear friend of Takoma – James Rutherford, whose unique style and eye for beauty have greatly impacted our work. Mr. Rutherford’s story is worth telling on its own merits, and indeed, he is linked to several ongoing projects Takoma is doing. If you like what you see here, there is significant thanks and credit to him. 

Mr. James Rutherford

James Rutherford represents a unique take on material objects, on beauty, and on what we like to call a proper vernacular mode of preservation. But though it starts with a simple human impulse – the eye catching a thing that speaks to it, there is a lot to unveil before we describe what happens next. 

That attraction, even that longing, to have a thing for one’s own, with little regard for traded wares, represents a kind of purity of form, of intent. A man enamored as it were, before, and even without the considerations of love, in its whys. Those quickly come however, framing what the French philosopher Gaston Bachelard says:

 “This frail, ephemeral thing…can bear witness to the most forceful realities”

 -page 180, “The Poetics of Space”

It is these kinds of mixing of intents, Jim’s, and the original producer, that then produce a third item – an object not only preserved but revalued, guided gently to a new intent, a new subscription. 

If all this sounds slightly hokey and academic-y, that’s because we are hokey and academic-y at Takoma. The dude also just has cool stuff, that we like, as Jim does, without always wondering why. It is that cry of the heart that has been a sustaining convenience for us, presenting a familiar ache to us that is the common parlance of all those slightly lonely, slightly sentimental, tender towards the passing away of things. And just to get in one more good one, let us not forget our old buddy William Carlos Williams, the doctor with the plums, who inspired that great movie with Adam Driver, Paterson – “no ideas but in things”.

We at Takoma are so much the better for having some of Jim Rutherford’s things.

Takoma is proud to announce that in October of 2026, “Jim Rutherford: 40 Objects”, will be on display at Takoma House. Half of the proceeds of the show will go to the Takoma Foundation, specifically its efforts at what we have longed called, “Vernacular Preservation”, and for whom Jim is a leading light and inspiration for us. The other half will go to Jim himself, and we are proud to bring recognition to a man who never asked for it, but labored in quiet fulfillment for decades. 

In October 2027, “Jim Rutherford: 120 Objects” will be shown at Takoma House – DC. 

In October 2028, our final showing, “Jim Rutherford: 1,200 objects” will be shown at Takoma House. We think you all are getting the picture. 

In the meantime, our esteemed leader and founder, Malik Wilson, who, it must be mentioned, also had the good sense to marry Jim Rutherford’s daughter, Emelie Rutherford Wilson, who uses her well-established and congratulated maiden name in publishing through Takoma (honoring her long career as a writer, journalist and educator), will publish a small monoscript of his father-in-law in December 2025. Well, of his father-in-law’s things. Quietly published in conjunction with Union Station, our architecture-focused imprint and public-facing concern, it will also be a part of our ongoing Preservation Institute series, which examines organic steps towards preservation undertaken by regular people. 

In any event, stay tuned. We hope to raise $1,200 at our first event, $2,400 for our next event, and $120,000 for our final event. The money goes to a good cause – our Foundation and Malik’s father-in-law, which has to be good for our leader. We look forward to seeing you along our journey.