This review is for the Toolbox as a wedding venue. Alex, Irina, Crystal, and the Toolbox team were delightful to work with. Their experience working with other wedding parties was invaluable to us, as it allowed us to host a wonderful wedding for our guests with little stress. Their ideas and recommendations took away most of the guesswork, and Crystal made the day much easier with great attention to detail and her tireless effort as our Day of Coordinator. Our wedding guests have already let us know that we created an unforgettable experience and Toolbox was the centerpiece! read more

The studio is very spacious, nice, clean, and unconventional. I really like to take my Pilates classes with instructor Darina. She is very customer oriented and attentive to each individual. Her knowledge is outstanding, she is a professional. It is fun, relaxing to take her classes. Every class is different. I feel well. I would highly recommend both the studio and this instructor. Oli. read more

Toolbox Art Studio was the perfect place for our wedding. On our initial visit, Irina was friendly, warm, and super helpful. She even followed up in an email with a list of her recommended vendors (some of which we went with) and other logistical information that made the planning so much easier. Irina was also always easy to reach and extremely supportive and helpful. On our wedding day, Toolbox looked incredible. We really didn't have to do much decorating, as the space looks beautiful with the lights, exposed brick walls, and artwork downstairs. We highly recommend hiring Irina for the day of coordinator, as she took care of everything and made the ceremony and reception run smoothly. We couldn't be happier with our experience at Toolbox and highly recommend others use it for their events as well! read more

I purchased a 10 class mat class package off of Gilt,and was very excited to try out Toolbox. I'm a yogi, and barre fanatic. My physical therapist recommend I add some mat pilates to the mix to really focus on the core in an effort help alleviate pain from an old cheerleading back injury. Redeeming my voucher was a breeze, the owner quickly responded to my emails about the exact location (it's in the back of an alley, but not scary or hard to find), and let me know they provided mats for use. Great, why the low rating? Upon, walking into the beautiful space thirty minutes early to fill out the mandatory paperwork, there wasn't anyone at the check-in table. It was eerily empty. I had no idea where to go, being it was my first time so I did what any grown up with common sense would do, and patiently sat in the plush waiting area for a receptionist, owner, instructor, heck anyone to show up. After about ten minutes another instructor came in, and we were both waiting in the reception area. Odd, there's no one around and class starts in fifteen minutes or so. I told her on the website it asks you to come in fifteen minutes early to fill out forms, so hopefully someone shows up soon. She gets up, and we go to the table and there are forms with people's PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION all over the table. Names, telephone numbers, and addresses. Not cool in this day and age where identity theft is so prevalent. This instructor (she was not the one teaching my class) sees a form on the printer, and hands it to me to fill out. Meanwhile, she disappears upstairs. Once I finish filling it out, I wait a while longer, and by now it's 11am. My class should be starting. I don't think I should wander around a building hunting down my class at a studio I've never been to before. And I've been to many fitness facilities! I tip toe upstairs not knowing if it's like the rest of dc and tenants live upstairs, or another business is up there. Nope, it's who I guess is my instructor teaching the next class. My class! Seriously! ?! Complete lack of service. How am I supposed to know where to get a mat/equipment/ change/ use the restroom. I left. If you're putting up deals, you should expect new customers, and in a unique space such as this some sort of reception is definitely needed. I emailed the owner, and she said if I ever come back she will add a class to my account, and to enjoy the weather. Um, okay. I felt blown off. And the wasted 30min I sat here and 45min commute each way too huh!?! Verdict: I walked to Pure Barre where they have people manning the desks even while another class is going on, and are ready to take your business. read more

My first personalized class with Ivan was amazing. She knows what she's doing, and she's really nice. The studio is beautiful!

It's hard to imagine a better Pilates venue than a gorgeous art studio. The location is a bit tricky- in the alley behind Chipotle- and when you walk in the first floor of the studio is completely deserted, which is a bit confusing. Just head upstairs and you'll see the workout spaces and restrooms. Like any workout venue, the classes are entirely dependent on the instructor. I've take reformer classes with Carlos and a Pilates mat class with Vivian. Carlos is the best Pilates instructor I've ever had! He is so descriptive and helpful, and really takes the time to make sure each student has correct form and is getting the most out of the workout. I did not enjoy my class with Vivian- I found her rather rude. She was performing the exercises herself rather than walking around the room, and she would basically yell at students who needed corrections (i.e., "Head down!" when you have to raise you head to see what she is doing so that you can copy it). I did not really appreciate this teaching style, especially since it was meant to be a beginner class. read more

I looked into A LOT of venues for our wedding, but as soon as I saw Toolbox I knew it was perfect for us. The venue itself is absolutely gorgeous and I loved the two story layout- we had the ceremony upstairs, cocktail hour downstairs, dinner upstairs, and reception downstairs (we had a little over 100 people). It worked really well for us to have everything in the same space, especially as DC weather can be tricky. As we were on a strict budget, it was important to me to be able to provide my own alcohol, etc. to cut down on costs- this was a no go for most venues we looked at, but Toolbox was fine with it. We loved the privacy and intimacy of the alley and the art/lighting is amazing. While the alley location (it the middle of the city but so private!) was one of the things we liked the most about the venue, we were sure to send very clear instructions and put a sign on Conn. so guests didn't get lost. We didn't do any decorating because the space is so gorgeous. Irina was by far the BEST PART of this venue. We were hesitant about spending so much on the venue, but working with Irina sold us. She is amazing (literally, AMAZING) at her job and went above and beyond to make sure everything went smoothly. She might be the most communicative/responsive/professional person I have ever met, which was worth the piece of mind alone. If there were any kinks that night, I had no idea. She also had great recommendations of other vendors that were spot on. read more

So I've only taken one class here, and am totally basing this review off that class. BUT I'm writing this to save others from the horrible experience of taking a class with Vivian. She's hands down the rudest, most insulting fitness instructor I've ever encountered. After the "beginner" class I took, it took me a solid month to shake off how bad she made me feel about my Pilates abilities and try another class. I felt like she was weirdly targeting me with criticism, but after talking to a friend who took her class, this is apparently a common feeling when she's teaching. She was literally barking commands and scolding people when they were struggling to get a position. Since then, I've taken other Pilates classes around the city and am confused why this woman is on such a high horse, because she's not even that good of an instructor. I've heard some of the other instructors here are fantastic, so it's a shame this woman is hurting their reputation. read more

I have been working out with Iva for two years. She is knowledgeable, reliable, friendly, patient, and fun. It's the only exercise routine I've stuck with and still look forward to every time I go. Now she's gone and built this stunning studio with her husband and artist friend. The space is inspirational and by far the best Pilates studio I've visited in many cities throughout the US. It certainly is the most remarkable in this city. No question that this is the new place to be for exercise if you're serious about a healthy body for life and enjoy beautiful, contemporary surroundings. read more

See all

Toolbox made the absolute perfect venue for our 200-person wedding reception. I can't speak highly enough about the space or the team. We were looking for something funkier than a traditional hotel or wedding venue and Toolbox's gallery vibe with its historic brick walls, reclaimed wood floors, and large glass staircase made for a modern and interesting space. We were even able to pick and choose which paintings by resident artist Kiril Jeliazkov we wanted to have hung and where. We used all three rooms at Toolbox for our party--the large downstairs gallery and the two upstairs pilates rooms (which were completely cleared out for us). For 200 people, the space was nicely full without feeling too crowded. There are also three bathrooms which worked perfectly for all of our guests. Toolbox is located in an alley behind Connecticut Ave and my only advice would be to encourage people to enter from 19th Street. It can be a bit hard to find but we liked the fact that it was tucked away. Finally, the team at Toolbox lead by event planner Irina Batchelor helped with everything from facilitating our deliveries to set up the day of our event to even clean up at 2am after our party ended. They were flexible, gracious, and absolutely wonderful to work with the entire time. read more

I signed up for a 6:30 am Beginner Reformer class this morning. I arrived at 6:15 as instructed by the website to fill out forms as a new student. I was surprised when I arrived that the studio was locked and all lights were still off. I waited a few minutes and then called. A woman answered and sounded surprised that the studio was locked (I'm assuming that she was answering the phone remotely?). She said she would try to locate the instructor and call me back. I waited around for another 5 minutes in 37 degree weather. No one ever called me back so I left and went home. Reading other reviews here, it seems like this has happened before. What an unprofessional way to run a business. I will not be back. read more

I'm going to ignore the fact that it was a task to locate this studio from the outside (and inside---no one is at the front desk/downstairs, you need to walk up the stairs. Thanks past yelp reviews that mentioned this). Aside from those factors, this is certainly one of the most eclectic and gorgeous pilates studios I have ever been to. Class level was not too easy but tough enough to feel some type of burn. My biggest recommendation is to plan at least an extra 15 minutes before getting to the studio for your first time. It will not be too easy to find. read more

Love this studio! Great owners and staff! Also the place is gorgeous which helps when your abs are suffering :)

Definitely the most beautiful Pilates studio I've been to in DC. A little difficult to find, but just look for the sign on the sidewalk on 19th, go down the alley and look for the red door. The downstairs has some great art. There are two studios upstairs - one for mat class and one for reformer, chair, etc. I took a mat class with Kethia. She was both encouraging and technical, and offered plenty of modifications. read more

I've been doing pilates with Iva multiple times a week for almost three years. She is a wonderful person and a great instructor. I look forward to every class, and we always have a great time. As for ToolBox - it is a beautiful pilates studio built by Iva, her husband, and their close friend. It has all the tools that will help you to get in shape and maintain good shape. It displays amazing artwork. The amount of thought, time, care, and passion that went into this studio is clear. I'm so excited about ToolBox's Grand Opening this week, and I look forward to pilates with Iva this weekend! read more

Toolbox was the perfect venue for our company's 10th Anniversary Party. Not only was the space itself gorgeous, Irina, the coordinator was a gem to work with. We had ~150 guests which fit the space perfectly for a cocktail-style event with dance floor. Irina gave us quite a few money saving tips which helped our overall bottom line and went above and beyond for us. Hope to work with her again soon, and will be suggesting to friends and colleagues. read more

Not a fan of the 24 hour cancellation policy. The bathrooms are gorgeous, just wish the bag hook wasn't over the toilet. Would be nice to have somewhere to hang my clothes while changing. The reformer classes are have fantastic teachers with different teaching styles done on a modern metal reformer machine. I appreciated that they gave free water. read more

Toolbox has an impressive space in a great neighborhood. But the main reason why Toolbox is so amazing is because of Carlos. Carlos is a fabulous Pilates teacher. The classes are small so that you get a lot of individualized attention, and Carlos makes class really fun so you don't even realize how hard that you've been working out. read more

I love this studio! The space is gorgeous, so full of light and striking. It was hard to find, because it is the alley behind Chipotle but in a separate building with a red door. The downstairs is an art exhibition space and upstairs are the classes. Carlos is a wonderful teacher. His workouts are supertough, but he has an encouraging, fun demeanor. I hope it doesn't get TOO popular because I want to be able to get in! read more

I live in both NYC and Washington, D.C. and take reformer classes at each and can easily say this is the nicest studio all around period. Modern machines great teachers and unique location - absolutely check this place out. read more

I recently moved to DC metro area from NYC and loved using Class Pass while was there. I signed up for a Pilates Reformer class at Toolbox through Class Pass again and ended up absolutely amazed the professionalism of the staff and especially my instructor Iva. She was very attentive, personable and really experienced! She made me feel comfortable and wanting to come back ! They also have a gallery on the first floor of the building and a nice girl at the reception greeted me and showed me around ! I felt very welcomed and will definitely come back and recommend it to my friends ! read more

Love love this place, the teachers really know what they are doing! I have been coming twice a week for a while now, and the change in my body is certainly noticeable. Plus, the studio itself is gorgeous. This spot is a gem. read more

As a wedding photographer I was very impressed by this place. It's very artsy, modern and unique place for weddings and other events. Highly recommend this place for weddings and other kid of events! read more

Toolbox Pilates Art Studio - Photographer Mantas Kubilinskas www.mantasphoto.com - Pilates Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Good space, very clean. I did get confused when trying to find the studio (entering off 19th street alley is much easier) I prefer a different type of pilates machine but enjoyed the class I took here. read more

Beautiful space, great location, modern equipament and amazing customer service! This upscale studio have everything you are looking for, the space is absolutely beautiful, very spacious, their equipment is the very best and modern...Iva the pilates instructor is amazing, she is very friendly, fun, patient with great techniques! The space is sophisticated and full of beautiful people! The walls are covered by brilliant paints from one of the owners making it a perfect atmosphere! I do recommend this for anyone tha wont settle for nothing less than the best! read more

Over the past 3+ years I have followed Iva from two previous studios just to keep training with her, so I was very excited when she opened her own studio. First, the space is one-of-a-kind. Beautiful and sophisticated. And, all of the equipment (e.g. reformers, cadillacs, chairs) is top of the line. Second, the instruction is unrivaled. I have taken pilates classes from other instructors all over the country and even abroad over the past several years, and I have yet to find a class that compares in terms of the quality of the instruction and full-body workout that I get from Iva's classes. Iva is phenomenal. She is knowledgeable, attentive, and fun to work with. Carlos is also great--his reformer classes are invigorating and fun. I highly recommend this studio--it is truly one-of-a-kind. read more

Awesome awesome awesome!!! Had reformer classes with Carlos and Iva who are both fantastic. Sarah from my old Pilates place just joined the team and I feel like I don't need to go anywhere else. Great art, great space and a perfect friendly atmosphere. Check them out! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Toolbox - the venue and the staff. My husband and I held our wedding ceremony and reception there 2 weeks ago and had an amazing experience. The venue is absolutely beautiful so there was a very minimal need for decorations. There are large paintings hanging all over and we were able to select which pieces we wanted up during our wedding. The event coordinator, Irina, and the owners were so nice and accommodating, they went out of their way in helping us with the final details and decorations. Irina was a huge help in giving suggestions for all vendors, organizing tastings and making sure everything came together seamlessly and stress free. The location is fantastic. It's in an alley in the center of DuPont and provided an intimate setting in the middle of the city. It is easily accessible by the metro (1 block away) and our guests were able to walk there from the hotel, also only a block away. I would recommend this venue to anyone for any event. read more

Love this place! it's such a nice studio. Debbie and Greg are great instructors. However, I took one of Duncan's classes and felt snubbed - it felt like simply stretching and I didn't accomplish anything! Other than that, the other instructors are pretty good. read more

Toolbox is the coolest event space in DC. It is in a great location, has gorgeous exposed brick walls and big windows upstairs with lots of natural light. The staff and owners are incredibly helpful and professional and go above and beyond to make your event perfect. It is an idea space for a wedding, corporate event, product launch, bat mitzvah, special birthday celebration for friends and family, a themed hip party... Come by to see it, you will love the space!! read more

The Space - It's gorgeous, clean and absolutely an amazing event space. There are 2 floors and the attention to detail in these spaces are incredible. It's beautiful and works as a fitness studio, art gallery, event space and anything in between! The Staff - Irina is absolutely incredible. She is a go getter and do-er and if she is running your event, you are in the BEST hands. She is efficient, kind and overall a wonderful person to work with. You won't want to leave! I could not say better things about the staff and space here at ToolBox. Highly recommended and hope to hold another event there soon! A+!!! read more

This is a beautiful studio, probably the prettiest pilates studio in DC. It's very relaxing and when the sunlight comes in through the windows, it's beautiful. The staff have always been very friendly and they have a great range of instructors. Jennifer B - She is so incredibly sweet. I took my first reformer class with her and she was very informative, helpful and welcoming. Suzanne - Great instructor who focuses on challenging yourself and she gave some great tips on trying classes with multiple instructors since each one has their own style. She is very keen on listening to your body and doing what works for you, which I always appreciate. Duncan - He is on the quiet side, but very nice and always open to modifications if you need it. Pinling - HOLY MOLY. Pinling knows how to push you and I've never left a reformer class with my abs so sore. Pinling can take the most basic moves, but make them challenging because she pushes you to hold positions longer and she works really hard to make sure that your form is always correct. Though she pushes you, I've never felt bad for not being able to do everything. read more

We are so thrilled with our decision to hold our wedding at Toolbox! We were sold the moment we walked in, but the Event Coordinator, Irina, really sealed the deal for us! The space ticked every box on our wishlist (Amazing location! Industrial, yet warm vibe! Quaint, yet accommodating! Unique! The list goes on!), and Irina let us know she would be readily available anytime we had questions or wanted to come back and check out the space with a vendor. She also made amazing recommendations for vendors, suppliers, and decor that made our wedding extra special, AND she went above and beyond to make sure our wedding day went off without a hitch! We are so pleased with to have worked with her! Highly, highly recommend considering Toolbox!! It's just gorgeous and completely unforgettable! Our guests couldn't stop talking about how beautiful it was! read more

Imagine starting your day in an open, light-filled loft space, enjoying beautiful, original works of art hanging on exposed brick walls, while getting your ass kicked (in a good way!). This studio is truly a gem, having both substance and style. This is by far my favorite pilates studio for several reasons: - The instructors are very well trained. I have taken classes with Keira, Carlos, Emily and Iva (the owner): While each has their own style, they all pay close attention to form and provide varied, fun and challenging workouts. - The studio is well equipped with reformers, cadillacs, chairs and a barrel, and the instructors often take advantage of the equipment to diversify the workouts. - Group classes are relatively small, ensuring that you get very individualized attention. - They have an attractively priced monthly membership option that makes it possible to participate in pilates equipment workouts on a regular basis. Note: The street address of "1627 Connecticut Avenue" is somewhat confusing as the studio cannot be accessed from Connecticut Avenue. It is tucked away in a quiet alley right behind Connecticut, and can be accessed from R, Q or 19th street. read more

My husband and I were married here. Clean space with unique feel. No strings to caters and rental companies, you have the ability to mix and match with no hidden fees (adds to the personal touch). You have the ability to pay for a few parking spots offsite (but very close to the venue) for your wedding party and special guests. The venue also comes with a few rentals. Finally, there is Irina. She is worth her weight in gold. Very responsive (responds within the hour), professional, and flexible. I couldn't ask for a better coordinator. PERFECT. read more

We could not have asked for a better wedding day, mostly because of Toolbox. The minute we saw the space, we know it was perfect for us. The small art studio is modern, intimate, centrally located, and simply beautiful. We held both our ceremony and reception for 120 guests at Toolbox. Alex was *fantastic* to work with throughout the planning process. He was super communicative and went far above and beyond to ensure we had a perfect day, helping out with everything from logistics surrounding decor to selecting great local vendors. Olivera, our day-of-coordinator who frequently works with Toolbox, was absolutely AMAZING. She ensured every single minute of our wedding day went smoothly. She coordinated with all of our vendors, set up our decor perfectly, swiftly rounded up our guests, and made sure we ate :) Between Alex and Olivera, no detail went unnoticed. If you're looking for a beautiful, modern venue in the middle of the city, look no further than Toolbox! read more

I have to say, I'm giving this 4 stars because this studio is awesome! Such a cool studio that I found through ClassPass and will totally return based on everyone else's reviews below, but if Yelp reviews didn't make or break a business, I'd give this a one-star based on my experience with my INSTRUCTOR Vivian.. I signed up for a Mat class which clearly stated "Beginner/Intermediate" class. First off, she was late to the class which, no big deal, that happens. But she literally opened her class with "This is an intermediate class so for those of you who are new, well, we're all going to find out real fast HA". She proceeded to call me out on every sequence, but wouldn't come over and correct me specifically, would just yell from her mat... She was being so rude I considered getting up an leaving mid class but didn't because I didn't want to interrupt anyone else. I walked out thinking hmmm maybe it was me who just didn't vibe with her, but then I read other reviews on here and saw others felt the exact same way! This lady is by far the rudest instructor I have ever experienced and is ruining their reputation! Get off your high horse, Vivian. If I'm paying to come to class, I want to enjoy my experience and absolutely refuse to tolerate rudeness. On that note, will absolutely go back and encourage everyone else to try it- just avoid Vivian's class!! Also, looks like an awesome venue to host weddings!! read more

I recently held a large birthday party at the Toolbox. The manager, Irina, was incredibly helpful, upbeat and creative. She helped me create a unique and special night for my friends. My guests felt like they were at a secret neighborhood spot that nobody else knew about. Irina went above and beyond my expectations. The Toolbox is a gem in Washington, DC. read more

This is a review for the pilates classes although I have also been to art openings at ToolBox and have a stellar impression of those events as well! I am not an exercise class person by nature - I love to work out - but I usually prefer to just play outside - tennis, running, hiking, skiing, walking my doggie, etc. The pilates classes at ToolBox have turned me into an exercise class person! I love Toolbox pilates and look forward to the classes with great enthusiasm. The space is gorgeous with it's beautiful wood floors, exposed brick walls, twinkling lights and interesting art on the walls throughout and I love it that it's tucked in the alley in Dupont Circle; makes it feel like a real destination spot, very special. It is also very clean and the equipment is new and well-maintained. I've taken classes with Eva, Crystal, Carlos, and Pinling and have appreciated each of them and have learned something different and valuable from each. I've tried different types of organized work outs with friends from spin classes to yoga and I typically lose interest after a couple weeks. My body actually craves these magic pilates work outs. They are different every time and I'm in the best shape of my life after about 20 classes and look forward to continuing this awesome workout at this beautiful place! read more

I agree with all the other reviews on here for Toolbox & Irina - this place is a hidden gem with an absolutely incredible event coordinator! We held our ceremony and reception at Toolbox with ~75 guests for a seated, buffet dinner. We barely had to decorate the venue because of all the textiles and art that already filled the studio. I just can't say enough amazing things about Irina - from pre-wedding meetings, emails, phone calls, walkthroughs and rehearsal she was professional, friendly, and very trustworthy. Every wedding should come with an Irina - she made the whole process easy which helped us to focus what really mattered, marrying each other! Go check it out and you'll see what we all mean! Thanks, Irina! read more