This Week's Find: A Texas Bunkhouse-Style Capitol Hill Carriage House

• April 28th 2020

by Nena Perry-Brown

While UrbanTurf has featured plenty of former carriage houses over the years, This Week's Find is one of the quirkier ones we have seen. Inspired by the Texas bunkhouse style, owner Jim Conner converted the Capitol Hill carriage house from its original use and customized it over about 15 years.

Originally built by architect Charles Gessford in 1893, Conner purchased the property around 2005 when it was parceled with 1009 Independence Avenue SE. At the time, the carriage house was rundown, but had sturdy bones, including a 270-pound front door and 8-inch steel I-beams. While converting the structure into a residence, Conner put wheel bearings beneath the door to make it easy for even a child to open.

Between his skills as an electrical engineer and a welder, and his interest in unique and reclaimed materials, Conner continued appointing and building out the property with an eclectic mix of items. These include accent walls of redwood logs and Catawba stone, and a violet marble-tiled decorative fireplace that doubles as a closet door.

Several types of reclaimed wood line the stairwell and cover the steel steps, affixed with railroad ties that are a nod to his father and grandfather, both of whom worked in the industry. Also in the stairwell are cuts of the same Minnesota Buff limestone that clads the National Museum of the American Indian. 

At the top of the stairs, a custom set of double doors are attached via bicycle chain so they open in sync, leading into the eat-in kitchen where the backsplash and under-shelving is made of woven maple. The cupola was also attached as part of the updates, with Louis Comfort Tiffany Holy Spirit-style stained glass above blue mirrors; the metal cherubs were sourced from a coffee table and welded to the mirrors.

Conner constructed the archways throughout the house out of concrete and plaster, while some other decorative details were custom-made on a trip to Italy. While Conner is leaving the house behind to move to Florida, he is willing to leave all of its trappings to the next owner — except maybe a few of his favorite printed artworks.

Additional photos and details are below.

• Full Listing: 210 Rear 10th Street SE (map)
• Price: $550,000
• Bedrooms: Two
• Bathrooms: Two
• Square Feet: 828 
• Year Built: 1893
• Listing Agents: John Smith, Aaron Smith, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/this-weeks-find-a-texas-bunkhouse-style-capitol-hill-carriage-house/16770.