Embassy Row Historical Restoration
This beautiful four level Kalorama rowhouse was a design/build firm’s dream. The previous owner had been there for forty years and had not done much upkeep. Bought by investors, they wanted to give the home more of a contemporary feel, without stepping outside its character.
Allen-Built approached it by starting with the bones. They put in structural steel to open the floor plan with a master suite on the third floor, and a combined dining/kitchen area on the first. Then Allen-Built put in all new plumbing, electrical, added central air, and a new kitchen in rear addition.
Finishing touches included restored pocket doors and original floors, Hansgrohe plumbing fixtures and marble. Period accurate painted trim was used the public areas to make it feel weighted with history. Simpler, stained woods were used in private areas to make it feel modern and warm.
Logistically, this was a very difficult job. Access was only through the front (first floor being 15 feet up from the street) and do to its proximity to a couple embassies, no dumpsters or staging areas were allowed in the public areas. Our impact to the neighbors was so minimal that they asked us to come and work on their own home. We remained working in the neighborhood for a couple years.
The owners received full asking price in only five days during a very difficult market.
