BLOOMINGDALE, WASHINGTON, D.C.
WHOLE HOME RENOVATION, VICTORIAN ROW HOUSE | wASHINGTON, D.C.
Full Home Contemporary Renovation, Victorian Row House
in this whole home renovation in washington, d.c., we took this 1890’s victorian rowhouse, which was already completely gutted, and transformed into a modern open and airy space for today’s living needs while maintaining some of its old character. See the full case study below.
case Study
Restoring a 1900 Victorian Rowhouse in Washington, D.C.
When NGage Properties Group acquired this Victorian rowhouse in Bloomingdale, the home had remained in the same family for nearly seventy years. From the street, the façade suggested a home that had been carefully preserved. Yet stepping inside revealed a very different story.
The interior had deteriorated significantly over time—flooring had vanished in sections of the home, the staircase was gone entirely, and portions of the roof had failed, allowing water intrusion to compromise much of the rear structure. What appeared outwardly intact required a full architectural intervention to return the home to livable condition.
The restoration began beneath the structure itself. To establish an appropriate crawlspace and structural integrity, the team excavated nearly twenty-four inches below the existing grade, rebuilding the foundation conditions before construction could move upward. From there, the entire residence was carefully reconstructed, transforming what had once been a fragmented interior into a modern, open living environment while preserving the character of the original architecture.
The renovation embraced a design philosophy that balances historic authenticity with contemporary city living. Original brick party walls were restored and selectively left exposed, allowing the new owners to experience the texture and craftsmanship of a home built at the turn of the twentieth century. Throughout the main level, coffered ceilings, recessed lighting, and wide-plank hand-scraped white oak flooring bring warmth and architectural rhythm to the newly open floor plan.
Because the property’s rear yard measured just over one hundred square feet, the design team introduced an unexpected solution: a rooftop deck that expands the home’s outdoor living possibilities without sacrificing interior square footage. Elevated above the city, the terrace provides a private retreat rarely found in historic rowhouses of this era.
Today the home stands as a contemporary interpretation of its original 1900 design—distinctive, elegant, and unmistakably urban—demonstrating how thoughtful renovation can preserve the spirit of a historic structure while adapting it for modern life.
