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!