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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Row Home Reno: Introduction to the Fixer Upper

A friend has purchased a fixer upper row home in Shaw and has agreed to let me document the renovation on this blog. As my friend plans a complete gut job and modern renovation (see his prior work here), it should be an interesting project to follow. I hope to capture a little bit of everything that goes into reconstructing a home in our great neighborhood in this blog series.

Architectural plans are still in the works (once they're finalized, I will post), so construction is still a few months off. For now, therefore, I will just introduce you to the house.


The house is conveniently located between the O Street Market and the Shaw/Howard Metro and sits in the heart of the Shaw Historic District. It is zoned R-4. The former owner lost it through foreclosure, and my friend purchased it from a bank for about $400,000.

The house is three stories, including an English basement unit and a two story main living quarters. At three thousand square feet (and change), it has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two kitchens and in all. The layout on every floor is a bit choppy, with meandering hallways and small, closed off rooms.

The current condition of the home is, well, not pristine. The facade is covered in a bleak gray-blue aluminum siding. The dingy carpet-covered floors don't seem very sturdy. The kitchens are dated. The bathrooms are insufficient in number and a hot mess in appearance.My friend plans to completely overhaul the structure, layout and look -- interior and exterior -- of this manse. The new place will likely feature a brick and stone facade with a re-done porch, all new windows and doors, a roof deck, and open, ultra-modern interior. Preliminary renderings look great; I can't wait to share them. It's an exciting, ambitious project that will undoubtedly add to the stock of amazing homes in Shaw.

More posts to come in this new series soon!

2 comments:

Mr. Q said...

Wow...I believe I know exactly where this house is and that IS exciting news...and a very big project! Good luck to your friend! Can't wait to watch the progress...

ML said...

Beware of the historic preservation boogie monsters... lurking out there, just waiting to drive up the cost of your renovation.