If You Lived Here
A Federal Style Row House with Modern Updates and Historic Charm on Capitol Hill
Clip: Season 4 Episode 5 | 5m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
A 1916 federal-style row house in the Hill East neighborhood.
Step inside this beautifully renovated 1916 federal-style row house in the Hill East neighborhood on Capitol Hill in Washington DC! This home combines modern updates with historic charm, including original brick walls, elegant window casings, and a cozy backyard. With three bedrooms, two baths a location near Congressional Cemetery could this be your dream home?
If You Lived Here is a local public television program presented by WETA
If You Lived Here
A Federal Style Row House with Modern Updates and Historic Charm on Capitol Hill
Clip: Season 4 Episode 5 | 5m 49sVideo has Closed Captions
Step inside this beautifully renovated 1916 federal-style row house in the Hill East neighborhood on Capitol Hill in Washington DC! This home combines modern updates with historic charm, including original brick walls, elegant window casings, and a cozy backyard. With three bedrooms, two baths a location near Congressional Cemetery could this be your dream home?
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JOEL: Welcome to property number two.
This is a 1916 row house built in a series of six.
This is its original footprint, but it's been renovated in phases inside.
JEN: What are the features of a federal-style row house?
JOEL: Sure.
I should say that it's a blend of styles.
In the older sections of Capitol Hill, closer to the Capitol, they were constructed in the 19th century.
They were narrow, they were Victorian, they had a lot of ornate bay fronts.
Here, what we find is cleaner lines.
We find eaves, we find front porches, and you're really able to look through the trees to the front gates of Congressional Cemetery.
It's not only a truly historic place if you're a history buff, but it's also a great place to stroll with your dog.
RICARDO: But what are we gonna find once we get inside?
JOEL: What you'll find is a really fascinating blend of new and old, some historic textures and original features, and then the casing around those windows with original Capitol Hill bullseye rosettes.
JEN: Well, I'm looking forward to finding all of these little hidden gems inside.
RICARDO: And we will see you afterwards for the game.
JOEL: I look forward to it.
JEN: Yeah, I need a win, so let's go.
JOEL: Let's do it.
(laughter) JEN: Eyes open.
All right.
Oh, this is big.
RICARDO: Oh, my gosh.
JEN: We have a really nice living room space and I love that there's enough room for a little dining area.
RICARDO: I love this wall, too.
This is so nice.
And it's all original.
Not painted over or anything.
JEN: They really would've just, like, taken all the life out of it.
RICARDO: And the charm.
What a great piece of history.
Yeah, and these floors, these are the original floors that he was talking about.
It looks like there's a wall here.
JEN: Oh, oh.
I like this better without the wall.
RICARDO: With the open concept.
JEN: Yeah, well, and I really like being able to just see all the way through.
You know, like, the flow in here is really good.
RICARDO: Yeah, let's flow into the kitchen.
JEN: Oh, okay.
Let's flow then.
The countertops make it feel modern.
I really like the color, too.
It's quartz greenish but grayish.
I think it's... RICARDO: Yeah, like the updated appliances.
JEN: Really nice gas range and I love the transom window, which I imagine is an original.
RICARDO: Yeah.
It's just a lovely feature.
JEN: And the original window casings are so charming with the rosettes.
They just really kind of make you feel the history.
RICARDO: Yeah, I love it.
It looks like there's a little bit of a patio out here, maybe some backyard space.
JEN: Whoa.
RICARDO: Oh.
JEN: I like the stonework a lot.
RICARDO: That's nice.
Plenty of space for seating out here.
You could add a grill.
JEN: Yeah, this feels low maintenance but high reward.
RICARDO: Mm-hmm.
So wanna go check out the basement?
JEN: Let's go.
RICARDO: Thank you.
JEN: Oh, geez, you might wanna watch your head.
RICARDO: Oh, okay.
JEN: I mean, this works for me.
RICARDO: I see.
JEN: This whole room feels very fresh.
RICARDO: Yeah, vinyl flooring.
Great for pets, it's great for kids.
JEN: Game night down here.
RICARDO: Yeah, if we had game night down here, I would have to sit the entire time.
JEN: Should we head back upstairs?
Watch your head, though.
Watch your head.
Watch your head.
RICARDO: All right.
JEN: Okay.
RICARDO: The wall comes all the way upstairs.
JEN: Oh.
RICARDO: And then the floor is different up here, too.
I think this is heart of pine.
JEN: And original.
RICARDO: And original, yeah.
JEN: Oh, I like how they have this set up as an office.
This built-in is really cool.
It makes it feel a little more modern.
Oh.
RICARDO: A full-size bath... JEN: And this is very refreshed.
RICARDO: Mm-hmm.
I might do two instead of three different tile shape.
JEN: Well, you know I love a honeycomb, so I'm gonna excuse it this time.
(Ricardo laughs).
JEN: All right.
RICARDO: Uh-huh, nice bedroom.
JEN: Maybe the guest or kid's room.
RICARDO: Mm-hmm.
Yeah, and great size window.
JEN: Cool.
RICARDO: Okay.
And here we have the primary.
JEN: Oh, this is nice.
This is big.
RICARDO: Yeah, it is.
And I love this little nook.
JEN: I could see a little reading chair over there.
RICARDO: And these window casings are so stylish.
JEN: I'm so glad that they kept them throughout the entire property.
RICARDO: So classy.
JEN: Really nice.
You know, I thought I had a number in mind, um, but now I'm not feeling so confident.
RICARDO: Oh, well, we gotta go get you some redemption.
JEN: All right, let's give it a try.
Let's go find Joel.
RICARDO: Okay.
JOEL: All right, Ricardo and Jen, what did you think?
RICARDO: I have to say, the first thing that I noticed that I loved was the brick wall.
JEN: Yeah, beautiful.
And the fact that they went all the way up and all the way back to the kitchen.
It really tells a story.
JOEL: This 1916 bricklayer never intended it to be ever seen again, but now their work is being appreciated.
JEN: Some other interesting touches were the window casings with the rosettes.
They really make you feel the history.
JOEL: That's right.
And I don't know if you noticed above the front and rear door, somethin' that looked familiar.
RICARDO: The transom.
JOEL: That's right.
It was certainly the inspiration for the condo developer that we saw earlier.
RICARDO: Yeah, that's such a classy feature.
JOEL: Absolutely, so we have three bedrooms, two full baths, 1,485 square feet across all three levels.
It was constructed in 1916 and renovated in stages since then.
Ricardo, what's your best guess?
RICARDO: I am going to guess 922,000.
JEN: Oh.
JOEL: Okay.
JEN: Very close to what I was thinking.
JOEL: Interesting guess.
RICARDO: Okay.
JEN: I'm thinking 930,000.
RICARDO: Okay.
JOEL: The correct answer is $927,700... RICARDO: Oh, no.
JOEL: Making Ricardo the victor for the second round.
JEN: I can't believe it.
RICARDO: I am excited for me.
I'm sorry for you.
(laughter).
Congressional Cemetery Is More Than a Resting Place
Video has Closed Captions
Congressional Cemetery is a community hub for residents of the Hill East neighborhood. (3m 18s)
The Hidden History of Hill East
Video has Closed Captions
Explore the history of Washington D.C.'s Hill East neighborhood. (2m 41s)
Is This Your Dream Home on Capitol Hill?
Video has Closed Captions
A beautifully renovated row house on Capitol Hill. (7m 27s)
Jen, Ricardo, and realtor Joel Nelson visit three homes in the Hill East neighborhood of D.C. (30s)
See Why This Mid-Century Condo Is a Gem in One of DC’s Hottest Neighborhoods
Video has Closed Captions
Jen and Ricardo tour a condo at "The Brinkley," a charming 10-unit building in Hill East. (5m 7s)
If You Lived Here is a local public television program presented by WETA