WOMAN: Support for If You Lived Here comes from... MAN: The Yuen Foundation, committed to bridging cultural differences within the greater Washington DC community.

WOMAN: And now, If You Lived Here, a WETA original series.

JOHN: Hi, I'm John Begeny.

CHRISTINE: I'm Christine Louise.

We're producers at WETA and the best of friends.

JOHN: And we love living in the DMV.

Finding a place to live here can be challenging and exciting, Tina.

CHRISTINE: So, join us as we tour three homes at three price points.

JOHN: And try to guess the listing price of each house without going over.

CHRISTINE: And find out what it would be like.

BOTH: If You Lived Here.

(doorbell) JOHN: It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

DAVID: Welcome to Adams Morgan.

CHRISTINE: Hello, David.

JOHN: Hi, David.

DAVID: Hi.

How are you?

It's a beautiful day.

And this is one of my favorite parts of Adams Morgan.

We're really close to 18th Street, which as you know, is what Adams Morgan is known for.

JOHN: Yeah.

I love Adams Morgan.

I've come here for years.

Goodness knows, you're in your 20s, you spend a lot of time in Adams Morgan.

DAVID: That's true.

That's the main strip of 18th Street where people love to go for a good time.

But that's not all Adams Morgan is.

As you can see, Adams Morgan is so much more than just 18th Street.

You have this beautiful architecture.

JOHN: Yes.

DAVID: These beautiful old buildings from the turn of the century.

One of my favorite blocks in DC is actually right here, in Adams Morgan.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

DAVID: Come and I'll show you.

JOHN: All right.

This is a really great block.

DAVID: Curve in the street, which is lovely.

A little gentle hill.

The trees are gorgeous here.

But the architecture is what it's all about.

JOHN: Mm-hmm.

CHRISTINE: Oh, definitely.

DAVID: These were all built around 1905 and 1915.

And on top of that, there's some bigger buildings too, like some of the apartment buildings, and those are beautiful as well.

So, you kind of have a little bit of everything here.

CHRISTINE: I think we're, we're okay with that.

DAVID: Yeah.

JOHN: I'm in, let's do it.

DAVID: Okay, let's do it.

(doorbell) Welcome to house number one.

And we are right along 16th Street, and this is the Park Tower.

CHRISTINE: This is a beautiful art deco building.

Is that common around here?

DAVID: Not so much.

If you wanna look next door, they have much more detailed ornamentation, built around the 1910, 1920 range.

This was built in 1928.

This is one of the few lots that were... CHRISTINE: Wow.

DAVID: Left to build in that new style.

And then, you can see at the very top here, is the loggia, it's a traditional architectural element, and you see it in Roman villas.

This is where you might go and, uh, have an Evita moment, perhaps.

(laughter).

JOHN: I do every day.

DAVID: Or at least get some... And it overlooks Meridian Hill Park, which was, at one point, suggested as the new location of the White House.

JOHN: Wow.

CHRISTINE: Oh, wow.

DAVID: Yeah.

JOHN: I never knew that.

CHRISTINE: We have learned so much just at the first home.

DAVID: Why don't you guys go inside and take a look, and we'll chat later?

JOHN: Dynamite.

CHRISTINE: Okay, sounds good.

Let's check this out.

Oh.

JOHN: Nice starter property.

CHRISTINE: For being built in 1928, I would've never guessed it.

JOHN: It's obviously been renovated.

And speaking of renovations, the kitchen.

CHRISTINE: This is a very generous kitchen.

JOHN: It is.

It's big, and a little alfresco dining, here.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm, yeah.

JOHN: These pendant lamps.

But you know, it does have all these warm tones.

Nice wood, and then you have the hard surfaces of tumbled marble, granite.

CHRISTINE: Let's continue.

JOHN: All right.

CHRISTINE: Right into your formal dining area.

JOHN: How did they fit everything into this small space?

A round table.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: Great for small spaces with that glass top, looks dynamite.

And then, you have these great windows too, Tina.

I like that they're deep set.

I can't wait to see more.

And we have a bedroom.

CHRISTINE: Oh, this is very spacious.

JOHN: It is.

CHRISTINE: And look behind you.

JOHN: Wow.

CHRISTINE: Right.

JOHN: Look at those closets.

CHRISTINE: Yeah, but look at the doors that kinda change this room into more of a modern vibe.

JOHN: Yes.

Fantastic little bedroom.

CHRISTINE: All right, so let's keep going.

JOHN: All right.

CHRISTINE: All right.

Oh, let's check... JOHN: A-ha.

CHRISTINE: Washer, dryer.

And look how cute.

Little, petite.

JOHN: It's perfect.

CHRISTINE: Yeah.

JOHN: That's all you need but... CHRISTINE: Really.

JOHN: A nice thing to have.

CHRISTINE: Nice.

All right, renovated bathroom, okay.

JOHN: These are new tiles, for sure.

CHRISTINE: Right.

But you know, it's just kinda giving me a, a masculine feel to it.

JOHN: I can dig that.

CHRISTINE: I think part of it might just be the size of this cabinet.

JOHN: I think you need storage in this place.

CHRISTINE: Definitely.

JOHN: What if you just painted it white?

CHRISTINE: I think that's the solution.

JOHN: It would help.

CHRISTINE: But it is so nice to have an updated bathroom.

JOHN: It is.

Okay, well let's stick a fork in this place 'cause it's done.

Let's go.

Wow, look at this!

DAVID: Isn't this incredible?

CHRISTINE: This is amazing.

DAVID: Yeah.

Got a wonderful view of Meridian Hill Park.

And then, if you look down 16th Street, you could see the Washington Monument.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

DAVID: How about the unit itself though?

CHRISTINE: It's manageable and efficient.

JOHN: I love the proportions of the kitchen.

Great lights.

DAVID: Yeah, right.

JOHN: Living room is a great space.

Nice sized bedroom.

DAVID: And the location can't be beat.

JOHN: It's great.

CHRISTINE: Definitely.

DAVID: For sure.

It's a one bedroom, one bath home, 590 square feet, and it was built in 1928.

JOHN: Mm.

DAVID: So what do we think the price is?

JOHN: I'm going to give you a list price, David, of $375,000.

CHRISTINE: Oh.

DAVID: Wow, okay.

Okay.

CHRISTINE: I'm going higher.

DAVID: Are you?

CHRISTINE: I'm gonna go in at $425,000.

DAVID: The list price is $355,000.

CHRISTINE: $355,000?

JOHN: $355,000?

DAVID: I mean, that's not a bad value for this neighborhood, right?

JOHN: No, it's a great value.

DAVID: Absolutely.

We're about to see house number two.

JOHN: Yeah.

DAVID: It's not far from here.

JOHN: Let's take off.

CHRISTINE: Sounds good.

DAVID: Okay.

CHRISTINE: All right.

Wow, not off to a great start.

JEANNE: People say Adams Morgan goes from Connecticut Avenue to Harvard, to Florida Avenue.

But you know, it's, Adams Morgan is a new name and it incorporates a number of older areas.

EDDIE: You have Kalorama Triangle, Washington Heights, Reed-Cooke, and Lanier Heights.

So this was a self-contained neighborhood when it was first being developed by the settlers.

And before the Civil War, this was the outlying farmland beyond the boundary of Florida Avenue.

There was a creek that ran down what's now Champlain called Slash Run.

And on that creek was a slaughterhouse, and that became where they would allow people of color to live.

Around, uh, 1900, they begin to build all of these townhouses, and different developers come in.

This was for an emerging class that came out of the post-Civil War period when there was an, a tremendous accumulation of wealth.

JEANNE: By 1887, a woman by the name of Mary Foote Henderson, the wife of a senator, moved into this area, uh, probably kicking and screaming because her husband bought property up here when it was totally rural.

So, once she moved in, she decided she'd make some changes.

And uh, she was going to have all these embassy people move up here 'cause she was gonna buy up the property and build embassies, which she did, she built 12 beautiful homes by well-known architects.

And other people started to think maybe they would build a house here.

And these luxury apartment buildings started to go up.

Luxury apartment buildings were for the wealthy, however, that building right there was built, I think in the 1920s, as the first co-op, so they were for working class people.

Of course, Washington DC had segregation.

And the fact that Adams Morgan is the name of the community now goes back to the segregation of the two schools, the Morgan school was a Black school, and the Adams school was the White school.

The community here said, "Whoa, wait a minute."

You know, "We all know each other," and they began to integrate.

And they were so proud of it that they actually took the names of those two schools to apply to the neighborhood.

(doorbell) DAVID: Welcome to house number two.

This is the center of Adams Morgan, and this is the Beverly Court.

This building is even older than the last one, this is built in 1915.

JOHN: Ooh.

CHRISTINE: Oh, wow.

DAVID: So it, it's at the very end of that Beaux-Art period, the Gilded Age period, so you can see a lot of those details on the outside of the building, but also on the inside.

JOHN: Well, we are definitely in the middle of all the hustle and the bustle.

DAVID: Everything good about Adams Morgan is literally within a couple blocks of here.

This went from being an apartment building to being converted to a co-op in the '60s or the '70s.

And so, artists lived here.

JOHN: Hey.

CHRISTINE: Wow.

DAVID: Artists were able to afford it.

JOHN: I like that.

DAVID: Yeah.

Go take a look at the unit, and I'll see you out here when you're done.

JOHN: Great.

CHRISTINE: All right, sounds good.

Let's go.

(laughs) JOHN: Oh, man!

CHRISTINE: Okay.

JOHN: You just don't see places like this anymore.

CHRISTINE: No.

JOHN: These arches, that glass at the end of the hallway, which is a transom, this is a real treat to be able to experience this.

CHRISTINE: Oh my gosh.

So here's the big question.

Where, where do we start?

JOHN: Well, why don't we start on this side and then we'll keep it going?

CHRISTINE: Okay.

Oh, let's take a look at the fireplace.

JOHN: Look, it has a gas insert, so that's really nice.

CHRISTINE: It is really nice.

JOHN: These ceilings are really high, right?

CHRISTINE: I would say at least ten.

And it feels like, you know, everybody should be sipping on a brandy or something.

It just has that kind of feel to it.

JOHN: Yeah, it's like, welcome to the grand salon.

CHRISTINE: Yes.

JOHN: You know?

CHRISTINE: But this is not the only sitting area.

JOHN: So let's go from the east salon... CHRISTINE: East salon...

BOTH: To the west salon.

CHRISTINE: Obviously with the two windows in this room, when you walk in, it is brighter.

JOHN: Yeah, it sure is.

I spy something in the next room, and I think it's gonna knock our socks off.

CHRISTINE: All right.

JOHN: Let's go check this out.

One, two, three... CHRISTINE: Whoa.

JOHN: Voila, dining room.

CHRISTINE: It's encased in wood.

JOHN: It's encased in wood.

Somebody brought the drama to this room.

CHRISTINE: They did.

JOHN: It is gorgeous.

CHRISTINE: It is just rich.

It's warm with this dark burgundy tone.

JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: Thank goodness that we have two windows.

JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: I get like, a Great Gatsby kinda feel.

JOHN: Little Tiffany-like chandelier there.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: This is a grand condo.

CHRISTINE: But I'm also seeing some other light.

JOHN: All right.

CHRISTINE: Okay?

JOHN: To the kitchen, I think.

I like this kitchen.

CHRISTINE: All right, I...

I don't know.

JOHN: You don't know?

CHRISTINE: Well, there's not a lot of counter space.

JOHN: This house was built in 1915.

I think this is a pretty big kitchen for that era.

CHRISTINE: Well, talk about old school, look behind you, there's a dumbwaiter.

JOHN: From another era, and I love it.

CHRISTINE: And, you know, lovely cooktop.

JOHN: Yeah, they've got nice appliances.

And I love the glass tile.

We have granite on the floors.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: Granite on the countertops.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

I still would like to see a little more counter space.

Is that wrong?

JOHN: I don't think you need a bigger kitchen.

Back into this great hallway.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: Wait, we missed a room.

CHRISTINE: I was ready to go this way.

JOHN: Hey.

CHRISTINE: I'm glad, I'm glad you're with me.

JOHN: Don't go yet, there's more down here.

Oh, look.

It's a great den/living room.

CHRISTINE: Oh, see?

I envision it different.

I envision it as a bedroom.

JOHN: A bedroom?

CHRISTINE: Right, 'cause we have all those sitting areas.

JOHN: Yeah, I feel like this is still the front of the house.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: You know?

CHRISTINE: But it's a really nice size room.

JOHN: It is.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: All right.

CHRISTINE: All right, now down.

JOHN: Now... CHRISTINE: Yeah, we... JOHN: Down the promenade.

CHRISTINE: This is what drew us in the minute we walked in that door, because you came down these archways.

JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: And then, the light coming through this window... JOHN: Yes.

CHRISTINE: It was like that little bit of an awe moment.

JOHN: Totally.

Okay, this could be a bedroom.

CHRISTINE: Oh no, I'd use it as an office.

JOHN: Or an office.

CHRISTINE: No, you can use it as a bedroom.

(laughter).

JOHN: Equally good.

Now... CHRISTINE: All right, but this really is a bedroom, here.

JOHN: This is really a bedroom.

And I'm assuming this is the primary.

CHRISTINE: I would guess you're correct.

JOHN: Yeah.

Hey, talk about all these great old details, Tina, look at these closets.

CHRISTINE: Yeah, but what I like is, the mirror... JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: On the closet doors, because it reflects the light in this room.

JOHN: It also looks really cool, and you can check yourself out in it.

CHRISTINE: And down here, ooh, another closet door?

Ooh.

JOHN: Oh, bing, bing, bing.

CHRISTINE: Washer, dryer.

JOHN: You get the prize, washer and dryer, and that is the perfect place, right next to your closet.

CHRISTINE: All right, let's check out the bathroom.

JOHN: All right.

CHRISTINE: Ooh.

Okay, the unexpected is in this bathroom.

JOHN: Well, I can think of a lot of things.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

JOHN: I can't wait to see.

Hey.

CHRISTINE: This is the biggest Jacuzzi I've ever seen in a house... JOHN: In a bathroom.

And I love the creative touches with like, this blue, is that granite?

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: What is that?

CHRISTINE: I can't tell actually.

JOHN: Could be quartz.

CHRISTINE: Right.

JOHN: Yeah.

And you have this, look at this shower, what a great... CHRISTINE: Is that a steam shower?

JOHN: No 'cause it's up in the top, but it has a ton of nozzles.

That's quite a nice shower and water closet.

And Tina, look at this.

CHRISTINE: That door, look at how big that door is.

JOHN: That's a good old door.

It's heavy too.

CHRISTINE: I... JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: Yeah?

JOHN: All right.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

So, this was a nice surprise.

JOHN: It's a great bathroom.

Great primary suite.

Tina... CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: Looks like this is the final wing of this beautiful place.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: Okay, I've got a bedroom with great windows on both sides of this corner room.

CHRISTINE: Okay, I'm just gonna take your word for it because I was so distracted and enamored with this bathroom, okay?

I love this tile.

And clawfoot bathtub.

JOHN: Yeah, and did you see the sink?

CHRISTINE: I know, and it's hammered copper.

I'm just gonna say it, this is one of my favorite bathrooms.

JOHN: Okay, come on.

I can't wait to tell David what I think about this place.

DAVID: So... CHRISTINE: Hey.

DAVID: What do you think, guys?

CHRISTINE: Well, can we just talk about another great view?

JOHN: It's okay.

(laughter).

JOHN: It's gorgeous.

DAVID: This is one of the best views from any condo or apartment building I've honestly ever seen.

You've got all of the best DC skyline from one rooftop.

JOHN: And what a place.

DAVID: What a place, right?

JOHN: Where do we start?

Can we talk about that dining room?

DAVID: Right?

JOHN: What?

DAVID: It looks like it could have like, a big murder mystery dinner party there, right?

CHRISTINE: Well, that's, you know... JOHN: Yeah.

You are transported to another time.

DAVID: Even the dumbwaiter is still there.

Isn't that great?

JOHN: We saw that with the little buzzer, even.

DAVID: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: Along with some of the original items of the home, you know, there were some new things.

DAVID: Mm-hmm.

CHRISTINE: Some new renovations.

JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: You know... JOHN: Which one?

CHRISTINE: Like Jacuzzi.

JOHN: Was there a Jacuzzi in there?

CHRISTINE: There was a Jacuzzi.

JOHN: I didn't see it.

CHRISTINE: Now, you know, I'm guessing that wasn't original to the building.

DAVID: I don't think so.

Yeah, that wasn't a big thing in 1915.

So, a co-op, do you guys know what the co-op is?

CHRISTINE: Can you refresh us?

DAVID: Sure.

Instead of a condo where you really own your unit, in this building, you own shares of a corporation that owns the whole building.

And then, you're given this kind of endless lease to your unit, as long as you own those shares.

$1400 a month pays your property taxes, pays your heat.

CHRISTINE: Oh, wow.

That's a big one.

DAVID: Your hot water... JOHN: Mm-hmm.

DAVID: Your water.

So, about this unit, we have four bedrooms roughly, okay?

Two full bathrooms.

JOHN: Mm-hmm.

DAVID: 2,650 square feet.

JOHN: Enormous.

CHRISTINE: Nice.

DAVID: Quite enormous.

Bigger than most houses, by the way... JOHN: Yeah, right.

DAVID: In DC, okay?

Built in 1915, the whole building.

What do you think the price is?

CHRISTINE: I've been thinking about this.

DAVID: Okay.

CHRISTINE: I'm just gonna come in at $950,000.

DAVID: Okay.

CHRISTINE: Okay?

DAVID: That's a big leap from, uh, the last one, isn't it?

CHRISTINE: It's a big leap.

JOHN: Well, this is a way bigger place, yeah.

I'm gonna go higher.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

JOHN: I'm gonna go with a cool million.

DAVID: $1 million?

JOHN: Mm-hmm.

DAVID: The actual price is a million bucks.

You got it.

CHRISTINE: No.

JOHN: Bada-bing, bada-boom.

(scoffs) DAVID: He's really got a knack for this, you know?

JOHN: Well, you know... (laughter) JOHN: I think that's a good price.

CHRISTINE: Well yeah, you do, 'cause you won.

(laughter).

JOHN: Well, that's why it's a good price.

DAVID: One more shot is house number three.

You guys ready?

CHRISTINE: I'm ready.

JOHN: We are ready.

DAVID: It is really close, so let's go on over.

JOHN: Let's walk.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

TONY: I've lived in Adams Morgan, uh, about 40 years.

I think cities are for people.

Cities are where there's people getting together to accomplish something.

Dealing with challenges of community, and democracy, and diversity.

And makes you feel more alive.

I see these trendy kinds of signs for ADMO, when it used to be Adams Morgan.

It's just that people who are coming after us will have no idea of why it was called Adams Morgan.

And that with that name and with that history, there's a certain responsibility to maintain the spirit of that effort.

BILL: Obviously there's a lot of changes have gone on in this neighborhood, you know?

It was, it's still probably the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in the city, but it was extremely so back in, you know, the '80s and '90s.

It's crazy but we literally celebrated 30 years, yesterday.

MAN: How you feeling out there?

BILL: Back then, there was supposedly no live music in Adams Morgan.

♪ ♪ We literally haven't changed since the day we opened.

The music, the people, the staff, I think they represent the city, the place.

You know, on any given night, looks like the United Nations.

There are not many places where you have different people, ethnicities, economics, et cetera, that they all mix.

And Madam's does.

SAIED: This is one of my restaurant that's in Adams Morgan, it's called Perry's.

And it's been here since '84.

Adams Morgan was mostly made of different nationalities.

And normally, immigrants makes what goes in every city.

They start with a pocket of doing something really great, and then it becomes too expensive, they move to another neighborhood.

After the '90s, we had the small riots that we had in Mount Pleasant that came over here.

We had no business for brunch.

Because we didn't have no business, I had to create something to bring people in here.

And right now, it's one of the longest drag show in DC.

INDIA: I am your hostess and emcee here, each and every Sunday, at Perry's Sunday Drag Brunch.

When I first got here, Perry's was the only, uh, drag brunch, and it was like a badge of honor to be on this stage.

At any time, anybody ever asks me about Perry's, first thing I always mention is Sophia, because without her, we wouldn't even be having this interview right now.

SOFIA: We been doing this show for over 25 years.

We started in summer of 1996.

I was living just across the street.

I was very young, I wasn't even 20 yet.

At the beginning, I'm not gonna lie to you, it was only three or four tables, but I never give up.

INDIA: When I got here, it was already a wonderful following.

And she built this for us, and I'm just carrying it on.

I will say that this area is very diverse.

You have so many different people... SOFIA: Mm-hmm.

INDIA: And you also have alternative entertainment, which that's what I consider us to be.

It's not everybody's taste and we're not forcing anybody.

But I promise you, if you come, you will feel the love that we have.

And we all bring a little something different, which makes for a wonderful recipe, I feel.

(doorbell) DAVID: Welcome to house number three.

JOHN: This is a good looking Wardman.

DAVID: A Wardman, that's right.

And this house had the floor plan of about 30,000 other townhouses of this era, almost identical.

So for me, this is a lovely example of how a Wardman style townhouse can bring a community together because everyone can see each other... JOHN: Yeah.

DAVID: On their porches.

CHRISTINE: This is the best shot.

JOHN: It's... CHRISTINE: 'Cause you really do see right down all the porches.

JOHN: Super cool.

DAVID: This is great for getting to know your neighbors as they walk by, or even talking to them from one porch to another.

CHRISTINE: Exactly.

DAVID: We are on a pretty big incline.

When you have these hills here... JOHN: Yeah.

DAVID: It means that you have to have curvier roads, which I think makes it a little more interesting.

JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: It does.

It almost gives almost, kind of like a European feel.

JOHN: Yeah.

DAVID: This house was built in 1920, so it's already... CHRISTINE: Wow.

DAVID: Over 100 years old.

But it's standing tall, and it's a wonderful example of both an old style mixed with new amenities.

I think you're gonna love it.

JOHN: I think you're right.

DAVID: Okay.

You guys, take a look, make sure you come outside to see the rental unit downstairs.

JOHN: Oh, rental unit, that's handy.

CHRISTINE: Oh, rental unit.

DAVID: That's, that's right.

And when you're done, I'll be right out here.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

JOHN: Okay.

CHRISTINE: Sounds good.

JOHN: Okay, wow.

This is one wide entryway.

CHRISTINE: I know.

I think that's what grabs you the minute you walk in.

JOHN: Look at all the space in this good old Wardman.

CHRISTINE: Right.

So, already we're seeing some of the original elements.

JOHN: Yeah, classic details.

CHRISTINE: And I can see some new things here and there, already.

JOHN: Yes.

But first, let's start in the living room.

CHRISTINE: Right.

JOHN: All right, classic.

CHRISTINE: Well, let's talk about these entryways.

JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: Because in the '20s, they were much bigger.

JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: And look at how it just opens up this space and just, it adds drama almost.

JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: They're a little more on the simple side but still very elegant, and just all balances out.

JOHN: I think that's classic Wardman, really.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: And you've got a great fireplace.

We love fireplaces on an angle.

All right, into the center of the home, a center hall.

CHRISTINE: Oh.

JOHN: Oh, and now we're seeing a lot of great, old details.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: Like these ceilings and these beams.

CHRISTINE: Do you think those are original?

JOHN: And I've been in other Wardman homes, and so, they do have details just like that.

CHRISTINE: Well, speaking of original, this flooring is definitely original.

JOHN: And those floors have a lot of character.

CHRISTINE: They do.

JOHN: Okay, from classic into new.

CHRISTINE: To modern, yep.

JOHN: All righty.

CHRISTINE: Oh, okay, so you know what we've just done?

JOHN: What's that?

CHRISTINE: We've stepped out of the 1920s to the 2020s.

JOHN: Oh, we've arrived.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

JOHN: Okay, there's a lot to appreciate in this room.

CHRISTINE: Oh, wow.

Well, you know how I love having a window over the kitchen sink?

JOHN: Yes.

CHRISTINE: Well, see?

You've got the kitchen sink, you still have a window.

JOHN: You still do.

It's so nice to have a living room, family room right here, you know?

You could have the kids even be here while you're cooking.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: And then, you've got a cook's kitchen.

CHRISTINE: Cook's kitchen, um... JOHN: Doesn't ring a bell?

CHRISTINE: No.

JOHN: Well, a cook's kitchen would be a kitchen that has everything a cook would need.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

JOHN: And this kitchen does.

What I love about this giant island is that it's hiding some good stuff.

So, underneath you have your dishwasher.

But this is really deluxe.

CHRISTINE: Oh, an extra freezer.

JOHN: You have freezers, two of them.

CHRISTINE: Oh, that's nice 'cause you can, you never have enough freezer space.

JOHN: Now, you save more space by putting things under counters, like a wine fridge.

CHRISTINE: Okay, there's a room over there I need to check out.

JOHN: All righty, Tina, this is perfect.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: And right off the kitchen, the modern trend continues in this room.

CHRISTINE: This almost feels a little mid-century to me.

JOHN: It does.

I think the paint color especially.

CHRISTINE: Well, that and the skylights.

They renovated the space, and I think it's a perfect spot for the dining room.

I really do like the flow.

JOHN: Me too.

Okay, and the last part on this floor, we have a half bath.

And they carried that lime theme from the dining room.

CHRISTINE: Okay, let's get upstairs.

JOHN: Tina, this is so nice and open.

CHRISTINE: I know.

Can I just comment on that brick?

JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: The exposed brick just gives so much character.

JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: To a home.

And you know, all the bedrooms are on the side of the windows.

JOHN: Well, that's very smart, isn't it?

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

So, let's start with bedroom number one.

JOHN: Cute, little bedroom.

CHRISTINE: Right.

You could fit a full-size bed and dresser with no problem.

JOHN: And you have a closet.

CHRISTINE: All right, so I need to see what's behind this door.

'Cause I think I have an idea of what it is.

Oh, okay, it's your sleeping porch but it's enclosed to a four-season room.

JOHN: Ah, nice.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

JOHN: How about bedroom number two?

CHRISTINE: Right, and you were so right when you said they're taking advantage of all the windows on this side.

JOHN: And more light coming through that Transom from that porch.

CHRISTINE: Right.

JOHN: Love this room.

But you know, I think there's another old closet here, as well, which is nice for more space.

CHRISTINE: No!

JOHN: No!

CHRISTINE: It's the bathroom.

JOHN: It's the bathroom.

Voila.

CHRISTINE: Ah.

I really like what they've done in this bathroom.

JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: And I like the way they carried the blue on the ceiling.

JOHN: I like a deep, rich color on the ceiling.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: And then, are these original floors?

They sure look of the era.

CHRISTINE: But I don't think that they are.

JOHN: The grout is very clean.

That'll let you know they're not super old.

CHRISTINE: But I also like the wainscoting paneling.

JOHN: Yeah, they did a nice job.

And I do love how they renovated this bathroom but made it look original.

CHRISTINE: Kudos.

JOHN: Kudos to them.

CHRISTINE: Kudos to that design.

JOHN: Oh Tina, we've gotta open up this door 'cause this definitely is going to...

It's an unfinished attic.

There's 80% chance of ghosts up there.

CHRISTINE: I know.

I, I'm so staying right here.

JOHN: Okay, so... CHRISTINE: Just, just lock that baby back up.

JOHN: Okay.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

JOHN: There.

CHRISTINE: Thank you.

JOHN: Okay Tina, this is probably the primary.

CHRISTINE: I would say so.

The benefits of having a corner bedroom is you do see the neighborhood, you see the trees, just... JOHN: Yeah, you see the Tudor architecture... CHRISTINE: I know.

JOHN: Across the street.

That is what Adams Morgan is all about, right?

CHRISTINE: Right.

So, let's see our en suite.

JOHN: Ah.

CHRISTINE: Full bath.

Obviously this bathroom has been updated, renovated.

JOHN: Mm-hmm.

CHRISTINE: And they went with the honeycomb, which I think is in keeping with more of the period of the home.

JOHN: I love the sink, Tina.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: Yeah, it all looks of the era.

I love how they did it.

I wouldn't change a thing.

Well, this is a very nice primary suite.

CHRISTINE: Okay, but you know what I'm noticing now that we're leaving?

There's no closet.

JOHN: Oh, there is no closet.

Well, maybe you, uh, would get a wardrobe for that corner maybe?

CHRISTINE: Yeah, you'd have to.

JOHN: All right.

Ah... CHRISTINE: Ah.

JOHN: Okay.

Well, this would've been a bedroom but they've made it into a luxury closet.

You know what they say, lose a bedroom, gain a closet.

CHRISTINE: A nice closet, at that.

JOHN: You could always change it back to a bedroom if you needed to.

CHRISTINE: It's true.

JOHN: Next up... CHRISTINE: Rental.

JOHN: Rental, let's do it.

CHRISTINE: Okay, so let's... JOHN: You can really see how big the house is from the outside.

CHRISTINE: Oh, here's the entrance.

It's a cute, little entrance.

JOHN: Hey, this is great to have a... CHRISTINE: Oh my gosh.

JOHN: A rental property down here.

CHRISTINE: You're not kidding.

Okay.

Oh, this is a very generous size kitchen.

JOHN: Especially for a rental.

And a washer and dryer, to boot.

CHRISTINE: Oh boy, that's nice.

JOHN: Could use a little updating.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: If you just sweetened it up a little bit... CHRISTINE: Right.

JOHN: You're probably gonna get higher rent, right?

CHRISTINE: Right.

Okay, moving on.

And the living room area.

JOHN: Okay, good size area.

Nice light to the street.

And you have an air conditioner.

CHRISTINE: Oh, nice.

JOHN: In DC, that's a must.

Washer, dryer, A/C... CHRISTINE: See... JOHN: Sign me up.

CHRISTINE: Ooh.

JOHN: All right.

Tina, take a look at this.

Dining room.

CHRISTINE: It is fun having your own dining space.

JOHN: All right, I see there's a light in this one.

Here's let's see what's... Look at this bathroom.

All righty.

I love how this wall is angled.

The, the depth in here is something you don't expect.

It's like being on a boat.

CHRISTINE: You know, but there's plenty of counter space for... JOHN: Yeah.

CHRISTINE: Whatever you need.

That's kinda crazy cool.

JOHN: Cool detail.

CHRISTINE: So, I know if there's room for a full dining room, then there's got to be a bedroom.

JOHN: Yep.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

JOHN: And here it is.

CHRISTINE: And we have a step down.

JOHN: A step down, which allows for more head room in this room.

CHRISTINE: Boy, you're not kidding, it does make a difference, doesn't it?

JOHN: It does make a difference.

CHRISTINE: You have an income generating apartment to help with the mortgage.

JOHN: Okay, so when we're calculating the value of this one... CHRISTINE: I know, we're gonna have to really incorporate this whole thing.

JOHN: Well, the time is now, let's go.

CHRISTINE: Okay.

(laughter).

CHRISTINE: Hey, David.

DAVID: Well guys, what'd you think?

JOHN: Okay, now that is an awesome Wardman.

DAVID: Right?

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

Well, it just, you know, you walk in, you see the details from the 1920s, and then you walk into that kitchen.

JOHN: Mm-hmm.

CHRISTINE: That has a living room.

DAVID: Right.

CHRISTINE: And it's just like, wow.

JOHN: And then, that funky dining room.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: Which we both loved.

DAVID: Right?

JOHN: With the skylights.

DAVID: With skylights, right?

JOHN: Yes, please.

Yeah.

DAVID: Absolutely.

And how about that basement?

The rental unit's great 'cause it could pay half your mortgage.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.

JOHN: Half, wow!

CHRISTINE: That's nice.

JOHN: Okay, sign me up.

And this is such a good location for a... DAVID: Absolutely.

JOHN: Short-term rental.

DAVID: Right.

CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm, and speaking of, uh, things to offer in this home, three parking spots.

DAVID: You could do a lot with that backyard.

You could keep it three parking spaces, which around here is worth gold.

JOHN: You could rent them out.

DAVID: You could rent them out.

Or you could perhaps change it up a little bit, make a little backyard or a garden.

For some of those families that I help, these prices are a little on the high side.

JOHN: Mm.

DAVID: Things like this can really help them afford it.

JOHN: Sure.

DAVID: The house has five bedrooms, three and a half baths, then we've got about 3450 square feet, built in 1920.

So, where do you think that puts the value?

CHRISTINE: Mm.

JOHN: I'm going to give you a guess of $1.8 million.

DAVID: $1.8 okay.

CHRISTINE: I'm gonna come in a little lower.

JOHN: Okay.

CHRISTINE: Okay, I'm just gonna, uh, $1.6.

DAVID: $1.6.

CHRISTINE: I can't... (laughter) JOHN: These faces are really messing me up.

CHRISTINE: I know.

JOHN: I don't know if we're right or... DAVID: The current list price is $1.55 million.

CHRISTINE: Oh.

JOHN: Wow.

DAVID: So pretty close.

CHRISTINE: Can't... DAVID: That's right.

CHRISTINE: Can't you just give it to me?

DAVID: Uh, sure.

Just take it.

CHRISTINE: Thanks.

JOHN: You're still over.

And I still won one, and it was on the nose.

DAVID: That's true.

CHRISTINE: Wow.

DAVID: I've got a great idea.

How about we go get some gelato at Pitango?

JOHN: Ah.

DAVID: It's right there, on Columbia Road.

CHRISTINE: Oh, goodness.

JOHN: That sounds great.

CHRISTINE: Yep.

DAVID: Sound good?

JOHN: All right.

CHRISTINE: Sounds good.

DAVID: All right, let's go.

CHRISTINE: All right.

Wow, I just did not fare well here.

(laughter) HANNAH: If you lived here, in Adams Morgan, you would know that there's actually a super tight knit community of dog owners.

MINDY: If you lived here, you would know that Adams Morgan has two elementary schools, a middle school, multiple grocery stores, two large city parks, and a, and the best Halloween in all of the city.

That's gonna get me in trouble for saying that.

BILL: Five minutes, you're in Rock Creek Park.

Eight minutes, you're at the National Zoo.

INDIA: If you lived here, you would know the legendary Perry's, where for over 25 years, we have been cross-dressing each and every Sunday.

(laughs).

WOMAN: To find out more about living in the Washington Metro area, visit WETA.org/IfYouLivedHere.

Support for If You Lived Here comes from... MAN: The Yuen Foundation, committed to bridging cultural differences within the greater Washington DC community.