This Week's Find: Logan Circle Laundromat Turned Townhome

• November 16th 2022

by Ashley Hopko

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This Week's Find is a Logan Circle townhouse that was formerly the Louise Hand Laundry, a laundromat which catered to the washing needs of notable and wealthy DC residents. During its operation from 1912 until 1977, the business laundered one of George Washington's bedspreads, a few of John F. Kennedy’s shirts and John Quincy Adams’s christening gown, according to the Washington Post. It was also rumored to have laundered a tablecloth that once belonged to Napoleon. 

Architect Robert Lewis redesigned the space in the 1980s to become a private residence. The townhome is currently owned by Anna Kahoe, the co-founder of GoodWood, a U Street antique shop. 

Broken down into two residences, the bottom unit, currently for rent, has exposed brick, high cement ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, modern finishes and floral wallpaper accents - which all contribute to the industrial-chic aesthetic. 

New tenants will enter through the front door into a large living room. The kitchen features butcher block counter tops, white cabinetry and shelving, stainless steel appliances, a square white tiled backsplash and an arched cutout in a sidewall to accommodate the professional stove. Overhead copper lighting above the breakfast bar adds rustic charm.

Cement flooring continues from the kitchen into the living room - which is spacious enough to accommodate a fireplace, a formal dining area and an alcove for a bar cart. In the back of the main room, there is a private den that could function as an office or bedroom. Off the living room, a bedroom has a door leading to a small terrace and the street beyond. 

Downstairs, the basement offers a storage area and laundry room, and there is a garage for use by renters. More details below. 

• Full Listing: 1405 12th Street Northwest, Unit 1 (map)
• Rental Price: $5,500/ Month 
• Bedrooms: Two
• Bathrooms: Two
• Square Feet: 2,000
• Listing Agent: Matt McHugh, Compass

Photos Courtesy of Constance Gauthier

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/this_weeks_find_logan_circle_laundromat_turned_townhome/20320.