Washington, D.C. Townhome Renovation
Superior Construction recently completed a townhome renovation project at 1809 A St. in Washington, D.C., and I think it is a perfect example of how we can transform a home.
We completed this project according to the client’s design to make it come out just the way they wanted it. For five months, I lived in a mud hole, wrestling with pipes, steel bars, tiling, and more. That’s what our job is about. We take care of the dirty, difficult part of renovations to provide a solid, functional base so the aesthetics pros can make it beautiful. These are our tales from the trenches.
1809 A St. is a tear-down rebuild of a former row house, now converted into two units that both manage to feel bigger on the inside than the original. Don’t believe me? Take a look at these photos and read along to see more of what we did.
One big thing the client wanted for 1809 A St. was a whole new floor plan. Following their design, we opened up the floor plans for intuitive space division, with an easy flow from the kitchen to the dining space to the entertaining space before moving upstairs. We used high-end finishes for a polished, contemporary look and installed new lighting. Both units now have a light, airy feel that literally makes you breathe easier.
Remodel, Renew, and Refresh
What did this building look like before? If I was to sum up this Washington, D.C. townhome in its former condition, I’d describe it as cramped and lacking natural flow.
The stairwell and hallways were narrow without much room to move. Look at these pictures and imagine trying to carry something big through there. Many of the rooms were too small to lay out furnishings in an ergonomic way.
There was very little counter space in the kitchen, with appliances taking up most of the real estate. The small dining room was detached from the kitchen and had a confined feeling. One of the bedrooms was so tight that there was little room for more than a twin bed and chest of drawers. The bathroom had two kinds of old tile on the floor and walls.
A Contemporary Refresh for a Hill East Townhome
Now for the fun part — the makeover montage.
We gave 1809 A St. an underpinning to add more usable space. Underpinning added so much space to these units, transforming the basements into well-lit, comfortable spaces.
For an older home, the basement is often a dark, low-ceilinged space full of dust and spiders where no one wants to go if they don’t have to. Underpinning makes the space livable and adds value to the house. For this townhome, we dug a series of holes beneath the footing, which bears the weight of the structure evenly, and cleared out the rocks and soil. After that, we laid down concrete and removed more soil. We kept each stage safe and made as little of a mess as possible. In fact, we can underpin a structure while it is still in use.
With this project, taking care of the plumbing was a big part of my mudhole residency. We had to figure out the above and below ground plumbing. This means the size, slope, and position of pipes, plus the enormous boulders we encountered beneath the surface. Plumbing is one of those things that you don’t notice much unless there’s something wrong with it, and that’s the way it should be. I made sure that this Hill East building’s plumbing will do its job well for decades to come.
The brand-new HVAC system we added to the units produces clean, even airflow. We also installed wall-mounted gas fireplaces that can retreat into the decor or stand out as a feature. I love a good fireplace — one that is safe, easy to use, and of course, nice and warm.
The units have skylights opening to a spacious, flat roof with a fine view of the city skyline. The roof is now an easily accessible space.
The eat-in kitchens show off an enormous island with bar seating that makes efficient use of the already abundant space and offers lots of working surfaces and storage beneath. The kitchens feature shiny chrome fridges and stone countertops, plus some hanging lights over the island for a contemporary look.
Modern Improvements Create a Light, Airy Space
We used recessed lights with clear white light. These are strategically placed to create an overall glow but also highlight places like the kitchen range.
Let’s go upstairs. The L-shaped staircases leading to the bedrooms and bathrooms feature custom handrails.
The bathrooms are done in white with black trim and accents of blue and silver. New sink and shower fixtures in matte black resist dulling and spotting.
The bedrooms have plenty of room to make them the user’s own. What used to be the little bedroom is now an office space perfect for working at home.
Outside, the dated dark red paint has been replaced by glowing white with slim black window frames.
Overall, we couldn’t be happier with how this townhome renovation project turned out. 1809 A St. in Washington, D.C. has gone from one house desperately in need of renovation to two contemporary units. It was my pleasure to direct this Hill East transformation, and I look forward to the next time we can bring a space to its full potential.
To find out more about how we work and what we can do for you, contact us any time. We look forward to hearing from you!