This Week's Find: Warm Wood and a Loft in an Architect's Home

• October 16th 2013

by Shilpi Paul

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This Week’s Find is a Pleasant Plains condo that was designed from the studs by a local architect.

When architect Greg Gardner and his wife, Ellen Richardson, bought their Pleasant Plains rowhouse in 2009, it needed a complete overhaul. They set about gutting the house down to the studs, digging out the backyard to even out the levels, and rebuilding it with a contemporary flair.

In the process, Gardner also changed the layout of the building from a single-family four-bedroom into two two-bedroom units. A friend helped with the renovation, and now lives in the bottom unit.

The condo currently for sale is Gardner’s home, which is on the top. Generally, the aesthetic is warm and contemporary, while staying true to the historic skeleton. The “hard” elements, Gardener told us, like the floor, doors and trim, are as original as possible, while the forms inside, like the bathrooms and built-ins, have been rethought in modern ways.

In addition to two bedrooms, a former attic space has been incorporated into the main living area as a loft, accessible by a modern floating staircase. The living room area has a higher-than-normal ceiling as a result, and the loft looks down onto the space.

Gardner also likes the master bathroom and closet area. In order to make good use of the small space, Gardner floated the vanity off the floor, used a glass wall to separate the bathroom and closet, and added a skylight.

They also expanded the back; a former sleeping porch was ripped off the second floor, and a dig-out necessary for drainage purposes sunk the backyard down to a more private level. The back of the master bedroom is now equipped with more windows, and the back facade has a thoroughly modern look. More photos and details below.

• Address: 753 Fairmont Street NW #1 (map)
• Price: $799,900
• Bedrooms: Three
• Bathrooms: 2.5
• Square Footage: 1,782
• HOA Fees: $167
• Listing Agent: Andrew Riguzzi, DCRE Residential

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/this_weeks_find_warm_wood_and_a_loft_in_an_architects_home/7699.