Season 3 Episode 3 | 28m 24s | Video has closed captioning.
Once home to George Washington’s farmland, Mount Vernon prides itself on its history. Led by realtor Lauren Kolazas, hosts John and Christine guess the listing prices on a quaint starter home built in 1950, a mid-century modern home designed by architect Charles Goodman, and a breathtaking colonial with influences from the 1770s.
Aired: 01/23/23
ANNOUNCER: Support for If You Lived Here comes from... MAN: The Yuen Foundation committed to bridging cultural differences within the greater Washington, DC community.
ANNOUNCER: 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 best friends for what feels like centuries.
JOHN: You know, Christine, I cannot tell a lie, we love living in the DC area, but finding a place to live here can be challenging and exciting.
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: Hey, good morning.
CHRISTINE: Hello.
LAUREN: Hi John and Christine.
Welcome to Mount Vernon.
CHRISTINE: Well, we are so excited to be here, because we know exactly where we're at... JOHN: Mm-hmm.
CHRISTINE: Because we can see Mount Vernon from here.
LAUREN: Yes, right now we are looking out at George Washington's backyard.
This is kind of the backside of Mount Vernon.
JOHN: So Lauren, how did you end up in the area?
LAUREN: So, when my husband and I had two rambunctious boys and were living in a tiny townhouse, we knew we needed more space.
As soon as we came down here for the first time, I felt like I could take a deep breath.
And I've actually had many clients tell me the same thing after moving down here.
JOHN: I feel the same way.
CHRISTINE: Well, tell us a little bit about the housing inventory here.
LAUREN: So as you know, it was originally George Washington's farmland.
JOHN: Mm-hmm.
LAUREN: And then in the 1950s and 1960s, it was developed.
And you can get a one-level single family home for around $600,000.
There's a lot of mid-range properties.
And then if you continue down south into Mount Vernon, you're gonna get into the higher price points where you're looking at multi-million dollar mansions that are waterfront with boat docks.
CHRISTINE: Well, in addition, the green space in this area.
I mean, how many communities have lovely parks, trail and water views?
LAUREN: Exactly.
I think it's really unique.
JOHN: Mm-hmm.
LAUREN: And it starts with Fort Hunt Park.
You run right into the trail, and you can take this trail all the way down to the Mount Vernon Estate.
JOHN: And all the way up to Old Town and beyond.
LAUREN: Mm-hmm.
Exactly.
CHRISTINE: Yep.
LAUREN: Let's get going.
CHRISTINE: Okay.
JOHN: Let's do it.
(doorbell) LAUREN: Welcome to house number one.
We are in the Bucknell Manor neighborhood of Alexandria.
CHRISTINE: The curb appeal of this home, this landscaping and this garden is absolutely adorable.
LAUREN: Yeah, you can tell that they put a lot of love and care into this yard.
And I think maybe because the houses are on the smaller side, people really use the outside as part of their living space as well.
And I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to see what is in the backyard.
Why don't you guys head on in through this periwinkle door and I'll meet you in the back.
JOHN: All right.
CHRISTINE: Okay.
JOHN: After you.
CHRISTINE: Wow.
How pretty.
This window is definitely the focal point of this room.
JOHN: I feel like I'm on display, look at that.
CHRISTINE: You are on display.
But this is why you need a lovely garden, so you can overlook it.
JOHN: Yeah, all this natural light.
CHRISTINE: Yeah.
JOHN: Let's go back here.
Oh, hey.
CHRISTINE: Oh.
JOHN: Nice bathroom.
Full bath.
I love the tile work and this mosaic strip.
CHRISTINE: Yeah, it makes it pop.
JOHN: It is move in ready.
CHRISTINE: But standing here, look at the unique angles.
And I don't know if this was just part of remodeling, and rethinking the layout.
JOHN: I don't think so, I think this is original.
CHRISTINE: This is the original?
Because here I've got the front bedroom.
You know, not the biggest, but nicely remodeled.
JOHN: But this one, you know, a little bit bigger than that one.
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: It's nice, cozy.
CHRISTINE: Right.
JOHN: Small house, small bedrooms.
CHRISTINE: Well, there's more to see.
JOHN: That's right.
Okay, kitchen.
CHRISTINE: Wow, what a nice kitchen.
JOHN: Yeah, nice updates.
CHRISTINE: Plenty of cabinet space, counter... JOHN: Mm-hmm.
CHRISTINE: And even room for an island.
JOHN: And hey, take a look at this.
It's a whole kitchen garden.
CHRISTINE: And with these garden boxes.
JOHN: Yeah.
And I love this trellis on the side.
Wow.
CHRISTINE: All right.
Oh, I like the dining area.
JOHN: Nice open space.
I love the light too.
CHRISTINE: Yeah.
But, look at this addition.
JOHN: Oh.
What is this?
Look, they have a fireplace.
CHRISTINE: Very nice touch.
This whole addition is just a great use of space.
JOHN: Sure enough.
CHRISTINE: All right.
And let's see what's in here.
Oh.
JOHN: Oh, a full.
CHRISTINE: A full bath.
JOHN: Wow, I didn't expect that.
CHRISTINE: Look at the nice floor, that stone look.
JOHN: I can't believe they have two full baths on this floor.
CHRISTINE: I know.
JOHN: That's crazy.
CHRISTINE: That's what I'm saying, good use of space.
Upstairs.
JOHN: Upstairs we go.
Tina, another full bath.
CHRISTINE: Full bath.
That's a small full bath.
JOHN: It's teeny.
CHRISTINE: But I really give them credit for being able to fit this shower in this small space.
JOHN: Yeah, they get the prize.
That's three full baths in this house.
CHRISTINE: It is.
Okay.
JOHN: And, very nice, good sized bedroom.
CHRISTINE: Oh, it is.
And I like the roof lines.
JOHN: Yeah.
Makes it interesting.
You could read a book there.
This could be your book nook.
CHRISTINE: It could be the book nook.
JOHN: I like it.
CHRISTINE: Okay, and this is the fourth bedroom.
JOHN: Yeah, and it's the cutest.
CHRISTINE: It is the cutest.
And this is the perfect size for the kids room.
JOHN: For kids, it's perfection.
CHRISTINE: Perfect.
Yep.
JOHN: Okay, I think that's it.
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: Let's go try to guess the price of this one.
CHRISTINE: Okay.
JOHN: Hey.
CHRISTINE: Hey.
LAUREN: Hello.
So what did you guys think?
CHRISTINE: I think they've done a really great job with space.
And can we just talk about this outdoor space?
JOHN: Who wouldn't want an outdoor kitchen with those concrete counters?
CHRISTINE: That outdoor kitchen is amazing.
JOHN: And this living room out here.
LAUREN: Yeah, I think it feels like it's almost doubled the square footage of the home.
Because if you're entertaining, you could have everybody out here.
JOHN: This would be the hottest house on the block.
LAUREN: Exactly.
This is a four bedroom, three bath, 1,500 square foot home built in 1950.
What do you think the list price is?
JOHN: I'm going to give you a price, Lauren, of $650,000.
LAUREN: Okay.
CHRISTINE: I'm gonna go higher.
I'm gonna come in at $700,000.
LAUREN: Okay.
The list price is $695,000.
JOHN: Ah, yes.
CHRISTINE: Oh, no.
LAUREN: So she was closer, but you didn't go over.
CHRISTINE: Oh.
JOHN: I didn't go over.
Strategy.
LAUREN: Yeah.
JOHN: Yeah.
CHRISTINE: Nice.
JOHN: But that was really close.
Good job.
CHRISTINE: Yeah, but, oh, you still win though.
(laughs).
LAUREN: And we are going to move on to the second home.
We are going to head a little bit south to the Hollin Hills Neighborhood.
JOHN: It's one of my favorites.
LAUREN: Yes.
JOHN: I'm so excited.
LAUREN: Well, let's go check it out.
JOHN: Okay.
CHRISTINE: Okay.
JOHN: Let's do it.
CHRISTINE: At least I get another shot.
STEVE: When Washington was a younger man, he inherited about 2,100 acres of land when his older half-brother, Lawrence, died.
But he ended up purchasing a lot of land over a period of years.
So as its peak, where we are today, was actually an 8,000 acre estate.
A lot of neighborhoods right around here are on original land that was Washington's farmland.
We are about three miles from the mansion itself on a piece of property that was one of Washington's four outlying farms.
And this is where he had a distillery and also his water-powered grist mill that ground grain for the estate.
Washington made whiskey late in his life, after the presidency.
His mill was really important to the region, because local farmers also brought grain here to be ground.
We have a very accurate building here based on records and research so visitors can come and really see what distilling was like in the 18th century.
Well, what we make in the distillery is rye whiskey, because that's what Washington's men made here.
So we do really a 1790s fermentation distillation process.
The neat thing is, we do create spirits here that are sold at Mount Vernon.
So we make the original recipe whiskey.
When you come here, you're really stepping back in time to see living history and how some of the work was done at Mount Vernon.
SHAWN: We're standing in front of Woodlawn Mansion, which was finished in 1805, and it was one of George Washington's five farms that made up Mount Vernon Plantation.
This was a gift from Martha Washington and George Washington to their granddaughter.
Nelly Custis was quite responsible for protecting the legacy of George Washington after he passed away, but she was also known for her needlework that she did.
DEB: Eleanor Park Custis Lewis, as we call her, Nelly, uh, was the first owner of Woodlawn.
And she was renowned as a needle woman in her time.
She learned needle arts from her grandmother, Martha Washington.
And so in her honor, uh, we have this wonderful organization, Nelly's Needlers.
In 1975, Woodlawn was in pretty sad shape.
These two women who are members of the community here, uh, saw a need and tried to do something about it.
So they started displaying some of their own needlework here.
They brought in teachers from around the world to teach classes here.
We have members who have never stitched before all the way up to people who are masters at one particular craft or another.
NEEDLER: I've been a stitcher on and off for about 50 years, over 50 years.
NEEDLER: This one that talks about Washington DC, I designed myself and I stitched myself.
NEEDLER: This is my artistic outlet.
Sometimes I get frustrated and I have to put it away, but on the whole, I have found it over the years to help me relax.
DEB: I wanna dispel the myth that you have to be a stitcher to be a Nelly's Needler.
You do not.
You just have to be interested in, in helping Woodlawn and enjoying the needle arts.
(doorbell) LAUREN: Welcome to house number two.
We are now in Hollin Hills.
JOHN: What a treat.
LAUREN: And not only that, but we're standing in front of what is now the oldest house in the neighborhood.
JOHN: What?
CHRISTINE: Oh, wow.
LAUREN: Yeah, it was actually the second house built.
The first one no longer exists.
JOHN: I'm geeking out here.
CHRISTINE: He is geeking out.
LAUREN: Charles Goodman partnered with a local developer, and they created a plan to build 450 mid-century modern homes right into the hills of Alexandria.
JOHN: Wow, 450, I had no idea it was that large.
LAUREN: Yes.
The whole idea of the mid-century modern architecture is to accommodate the home to the landscape, not the other way around, which is what you would typically see today.
CHRISTINE: I know you wanna go in so bad, so... JOHN: Let's not wait another minute.
CHRISTINE: Okay.
JOHN: Yeah.
LAUREN: Go take a look, I can't wait to see what you think.
JOHN: Okay.
CHRISTINE: Okay.
I'm noticing the door.
JOHN: Yeah.
Oh, yes.
This is what you're expecting.
CHRISTINE: Talk about bringing the outdoors in.
JOHN: Well, these windows say Charles Goodman to me.
There's a door at the end that looks like one of the windows, but it's a door that goes to the patio outside.
CHRISTINE: Right.
Can you imagine seeing the four seasons?
JOHN: Yes, I can.
CHRISTINE: I mean, ah, this room, you just would never wanna leave it.
JOHN: This is why you buy these homes.
CHRISTINE: This home has been renovated.
JOHN: Yeah.
CHRISTINE: But one original feature is the fireplace.
JOHN: Yeah.
And that brick is gorgeous.
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: I like the choices that were made in here.
CHRISTINE: Completely open concept.
JOHN: Nice dining room.
Nice, updated fixtures.
Let's talk kitchen.
Can we?
CHRISTINE: This kitchen.
JOHN: Look at all these beautiful details in this kitchen.
CHRISTINE: Modern and sleek.
JOHN: Mm-hmm.
CHRISTINE: But my eye was drawn to that backsplash.
That hexagon with the black outline.
JOHN: It just looks so darn good... CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: From the color of the cabinets and the clean white look, I love it.
CHRISTINE: Well, speaking of looking so darn good, on the front of this island... JOHN: Yeah.
CHRISTINE: Is a walnut panel.
JOHN: I've got walnut on my side as well, drawers and another thing we love, the microwave down below.
CHRISTINE: Well, there's more house to see.
JOHN: Okay.
CHRISTINE: Okay.
JOHN: Bedroom wing.
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: A thing that Charles Goodman did, he didn't have long hallways so that you could maximize space.
Isn't that smart?
CHRISTINE: Ah, that is really smart.
JOHN: So, you know, we have this short little jaunt from the living room... CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: To our first full bath.
CHRISTINE: Oh, wow.
You know, this whole design, it's just so cohesive.
You have the mid-century modern vanity out of walnut.
JOHN: Mm-hmm.
CHRISTINE: And then they added the vessel sink, which gives it a modern vibe.
JOHN: It sure does.
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
And the honeycomb tile on the floor to the honeycomb tile in the shower.
And look how fancy the mirrors are.
JOHN: They have a feature for anti-fog.
CHRISTINE: Well, you need that with that size of a rain shower head.
JOHN: Sure do.
Okay.
This must be the primary suite, because this is a big room.
CHRISTINE: It is a large bedroom.
We've got the lovely outdoors.
JOHN: Nice view.
CHRISTINE: But I'm curious about this brick wall.
That almost looks like an exterior wall.
JOHN: Yeah, I don't know.
CHRISTINE: Maybe it was an addition.
JOHN: Yeah, that is a pretty significant wall there.
CHRISTINE: It is.
Ooh.
JOHN: Wow.
Hallway bath, wow.
I've never seen tile like this.
It is really handsome.
CHRISTINE: I think it's just a little pattern can just really make a room.
JOHN: That's more than a little pattern.
But, you know, it is such a big impact, and I'm gonna steal that myself.
CHRISTINE: And when you add the brass fixtures, and just the whole style.
Again, you've got the modern vanity.
It just really makes for a wow bathroom.
JOHN: Yeah.
Just love it.
Okay, here's another bedroom slash office.
CHRISTINE: I'm looking at the view outside the windows.
JOHN: It's like a painting.
CHRISTINE: This is an absolutely incredible workspace.
JOHN: Well, it looks like those are original built-ins for sure.
I love the character.
This house is built well.
Alright, into another bedroom... CHRISTINE: Oh.
JOHN: With these glorious windows.
CHRISTINE: The deer can literally come up to the window and greet you.
JOHN: It's like a storybook, my gosh.
All right, let's see if there's anything on the other side.
CHRISTINE: So, huh, do you feel, like when you walk?
It's almost like a transition.
JOHN: Huh.
This almost seems like another main entrance, but it's not.
But, It sure seems like a foyer doesn't it?
CHRISTINE: I know.
I know.
I'm wondering, do you think this was an addition?
JOHN: If it is an addition, it's done mighty well.
CHRISTINE: Oh.
JOHN: All right, look at this groovy room with a vaulted ceiling, nice.
CHRISTINE: Right.
JOHN: And I love the light in this room.
This house is dreamy.
CHRISTINE: Hey Lauren.
LAUREN: Hi.
What did you guys think of the house?
JOHN: I'm packing my bags, I'm moving in.
(laughs) JOHN: I want this house.
CHRISTINE: It's true.
LAUREN: I agree with you.
This house is a piece of art.
JOHN: It's a perfect size.
CHRISTINE: It is.
When you walk in, you know the whole home has been renovated, but you can still see Goodman's vision throughout the house.
LAUREN: Exactly.
And there were actually two additions put onto this property.
JOHN: Oh, two, you were right.
CHRISTINE: Oh, okay.
Yep.
LAUREN: So you probably noticed the brick wall in the primary bedroom.
So that used to be the exterior of the property, and that was a small bedroom which was expanded.
JOHN: Good choice.
LAUREN: Yes.
And then the entire left wing of the property adding an additional bedroom, a storage area and a half bath.
CHRISTINE: You'd never be able to tell, because the flow and the design is all so cohesive.
JOHN: I think Charles Goodman would approve.
LAUREN: I think he would've too.
JOHN: Yeah.
LAUREN: This is a four bedroom, two and a half bath house with 1,800 square feet built in 1949, on a half-acre lot.
What do you think the list price is?
CHRISTINE: Oh.
I'm just gonna say one million.
LAUREN: Okay.
JOHN: Hm, that's a good guess.
That's where I would've landed too.
LAUREN: Okay.
Uh-oh.
Well, you can't pick that one now.
JOHN: Do I do $950 or do I do $1,050,000?
I'm going to say $950.
LAUREN: Okay.
The list price is $1,050,000.
JOHN: Ah, nuts.
(laughs).
Are you kidding me?
Oh, man.
CHRISTINE: Oh.
JOHN: I've been robbed.
I'm gonna call the police.
CHRISTINE: Oh, I love it.
LAUREN: Congratulations.
JOHN: Oh man, I don't wanna play this game anymore.
LAUREN: Well, you're gonna get another chance at the next property.
JOHN: All right.
Okay.
LAUREN: So let's get going to property number three.
JOHN: All right.
CHRISTINE: Sounds good.
JOHN: Nuts and bolts.
BARBARA: We were looking for a Hollin Hills house, but we did not know it.
We did not know about Charles Goodman.
We didn't really understand that Hollin Hills was a special place, but you can't be here long without realizing that this is a very special place in terms of architecture.
Charles Goodman is a renowned architect.
And that actually could be a controversial statement, because he was a bit of a renegade.
He had the modern aesthetic, but what he was bringing to it was this idea that you would build to encourage the community but also build a house plan that encouraged family interaction.
Charles Goodman brought real vision and real philosophy into it, and part of this philosophy was this idea of the new world, this tremendous optimism of the 50s.
And I think this neighborhood and these houses in many ways embody that.
Hollin Hills was built as affordable housing at that time.
They were creating new materials using, like, stainless steel for gutters, things that people weren't doing.
And one of the really unique things about the community is the siting, where they placed the houses on the land.
PETER: Charles Goodman grew up in Chicago.
He was exposed to Frank Lloyd Wright.
He picked up on the concepts that Wright was doing.
He did open space plans.
He's using slab floor construction.
He uses window walls.
The houses in Hollin Hills are connected to the natural environment, and Wright would've loved the way they're connected to the nature.
Wright wants the house and the land to be happier because they're together.
He wants you to feel like you're living in a natural environment.
SHAWN: We've got two historic homes that are on this site.
And when you look at the architecture and the messages that are being sent with the two types of architecture, it's really two different visions.
I like to think of it as two different ways that Americans like to identify themselves.
With the early federal period, it was really establishing the wealth and the power of the United States as kind of emerging as this new nation state.
And then in the mid 20th century, you have Frank Lloyd Wright, who describes his architecture as organic architecture that is meant to be affordable for the middle class.
PETER: One of the fun things about having this house on the Woodlawn site is that we can compare how people lived.
In 1804 when they moved into Woodlawn, the people that had that house built expected slaves to make them comfortable.
Wright is using design and technology to eliminate the need for servants.
SHAWN: I think that what you're seeing is kind of an arch that mirrors or at least reflects the nation's history at large.
The house behind me is this kind of ostentatious display of wealth and power that was literally the mansion on the hill.
Whereas the Pope-Leighey House is meant to just blend right into the landscape.
(doorbell) LAUREN: Welcome to house number three.
CHRISTINE: Well, this definitely has that Mount Vernon colonial feel.
LAUREN: We're actually standing on what was once George Washington's farmland.
CHRISTINE: That is really cool.
JOHN: Mm-hmm.
CHRISTINE: I mean, that'd be the selling point for me to have that historical piece of property.
JOHN: Yeah, bragging rights.
LAUREN: The residents who live on former George Washington land are considered neighbors of Mount Vernon, and they get a little special membership at the Mount Vernon Estate.
So that's also cool.
JOHN: Ah, I want a special membership.
LAUREN: Yeah.
This house was built in 1974, but it's probably hard to tell because they've brought in some of the features of GW's Mount Vernon Estate... JOHN: Mm-hmm.
LAUREN: Including Neoclassical, Palladian and Georgian architecture.
CHRISTINE: When you said GW's estate, is that kind of like the term?
Everybody is like, "Hey, that's G W's... LAUREN: Yeah, I think we all feel like we know G Dub pretty well.
JOHN: The cool kids talk that way.
LAUREN: Exactly.
CHRISTINE: Exactly.
LAUREN: There's a lot of square footage to cover, so you guys should head in.
CHRISTINE: All right.
JOHN: All right.
CHRISTINE: Let's go.
JOHN: Let's do it.
There we go.
CHRISTINE: Wow.
You're such the gentleman, like George Washington.
JOHN: We have a lot in common.
Okay, this is what you think of when you think of... CHRISTINE: Ah.
JOHN: A traditional colonial.
CHRISTINE: This is a lovely foyer to walk into.
JOHN: It is.
CHRISTINE: The ornate woodwork.
JOHN: Yeah.
CHRISTINE: The fancy wainscoting.
JOHN: Yes.
And then this beautiful curved staircase.
Oh, and into a very nice living room.
This is traditional... CHRISTINE: This is traditional.
I like the way they went with the mint green, which is probably more of the reflection on the period again.
JOHN: Yeah.
So let's check out these French doors going to the side porch.
CHRISTINE: Don't you mean the veranda?
JOHN: The veranda.
CHRISTINE: Oh, this is a lovely outdoor area.
JOHN: Yeah, I love a good porch.
Here's a little thing that I learned.
Do you see the ceiling is light blue?
You know why they do that?
CHRISTINE: It's soothing?
JOHN: Nope, it tricks the bugs.
It looks like sky, so it keeps the bugs away.
CHRISTINE: I think you're right, because I don't see any bugs.
JOHN: Yeah, bug-free.
There you go.
Okay, Tina.
CHRISTINE: Oh, a den?
JOHN: A nice den right off of this formal living room.
CHRISTINE: Right.
JOHN: Which, I like this as an office.
They really did a nice job with wainscoting.
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: And you have these doors to the back.
CHRISTINE: I know, another patio area.
JOHN: Let's check out the kitchen.
CHRISTINE: Okay.
I love a kitchen window above the sink.
This really is a wow in this home.
JOHN: And it's huge.
CHRISTINE: All right, so you know I have to comment on these cabinets.
JOHN: Yes.
CHRISTINE: All right?
With columns on the doors.
You know, they're just so GW.
JOHN: They are so G...
So G Dub.
CHRISTINE: So what do you think about the floors?
JOHN: Okay, I personally love those floors.
Uh, they do say 70s to me.
I do like the dark color.
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: I would keep them.
Okay, hey.
CHRISTINE: Ooh.
JOHN: Breakfast room.
CHRISTINE: How wonderful to have a table sitting right under a skylight?
And the pine tongue and groove ceiling gives it kind of a rustic feel.
JOHN: It does.
CHRISTINE: But, you know, I, I'm hearing running water.
JOHN: Well, I see water.
There's a good reason for that.
CHRISTINE: Oh.
JOHN: Let's check it out.
CHRISTINE: Oh, wow.
I thought I was hearing a water fountain.
JOHN: You were, a giant one going into a pool.
CHRISTINE: Yeah, not a pool and a jacuzzi.
JOHN: And a jacuzzi.
Nice.
CHRISTINE: Okay.
JOHN: This is great.
And this room has sliding doors so you can open the doors and let the fresh air in.
CHRISTINE: Right.
Well... JOHN: Or you can close them and swim in the winter.
CHRISTINE: Yeah.
JOHN: I want this.
CHRISTINE: I know, I am so sold.
I'm sold on this room.
That's warm.
JOHN: Wow.
It is.
Hey, I love how open this is.
CHRISTINE: Oh, that is nice.
JOHN: It really opens up the whole floor.
Doesn't it?
CHRISTINE: Right.
JOHN: The family room.
CHRISTINE: I feel like I've walked into a cottage now.
JOHN: Yeah.
CHRISTINE: Because I think it's the paneling on the walls... JOHN: Yeah.
CHRISTINE: The wainscoting and I think the fireplace.
JOHN: Yeah.
Now, this is a nice room, but wow, what's this bonus room?
CHRISTINE: Oh, now, this is a surprise space.
Yeah.
And, you know, this would be, my game room.
JOHN: Game room.
CHRISTINE: Game room, yep.
JOHN: Have to have a billiards table.
CHRISTINE: I have to have my game room.
JOHN: Okay.
Hey!
CHRISTINE: Oh, the formal dining room.
JOHN: Now, this is very formal.
CHRISTINE: So this really has that Mount Vernon feel.
JOHN: Yes.
CHRISTINE: The ornate moldings carry through.
JOHN: Yeah, you know, I love this color too.
And I think it makes those moldings pop more.
CHRISTINE: Oh, it does.
Here's something fun, so George Washington loved to dance.
JOHN: Oh.
Yeah.
CHRISTINE: So in his dining room after they had dinner, they would simply move the dining room table... JOHN: Mm-hmm.
CHRISTINE: And open it up for a dance floor.
JOHN: So they probably pushed the chairs to the... CHRISTINE: Right.
And... JOHN: You know, exterior of the room to the chair rail.
CHRISTINE: Right?
And so the chairs don't smack up against the wall.
Now we know why there's chair rail.
JOHN: When you have your combination dining slash ball room.
CHRISTINE: Exactly.
JOHN: Good story.
CHRISTINE: Let's head upstairs.
Oh, okay.
So I am drawn completely to this center bedroom.
JOHN: Oh, yes.
CHRISTINE: It's a really pretty room.
JOHN: Well... CHRISTINE: Let's go to this... JOHN: Bedroom one down.
CHRISTINE: Yeah.
JOHN: This one.
CHRISTINE: This one.
JOHN: Oh.
CHRISTINE: Oh.
JOHN: Okay, primary suite.
CHRISTINE: Wow, this is such a lovely space.
You've got great windows... JOHN: Yeah.
CHRISTINE: Of course.
But then you have two French doors.
JOHN: Yeah, that go to a, yet another outdoor space to enjoy.
It's beautiful.
And a big fireplace.
CHRISTINE: Oh, I know.
I mean... JOHN: Come on.
CHRISTINE: How many people wouldn't want a lovely fireplace in their bedroom?
JOHN: But you can see some modern touches and updates, like the marble around the fireplace.
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: And I see some other modern touches over here.
CHRISTINE: Oh.
This is not a 1974 bathroom.
JOHN: They've updated the double vanity.
CHRISTINE: Lovely clawfoot soaking tub and the shower, it's got that basket weave tile, all updated fixtures.
And it comes with a TV too.
JOHN: A TV too.
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: And, you know, this is so beautiful and spa-like down to the robes in here.
CHRISTINE: True.
JOHN: Let's look at this bedroom.
Oh.
CHRISTINE: Oh.
JOHN: This is very nice.
CHRISTINE: You kind of have a mix of the 1770s and the 1970s.
JOHN: Exactly.
CHRISTINE: With the mirrored closet doors.
JOHN: But you have these beautiful valances, you know... CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: That harks back to George Washington's time.
And it just feels fitting.
Okay and a little bathroom.
This is nice having a sink here, right?
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: And so... CHRISTINE: So it goes into full bath, shower, toilet.
Oh, and we have a sink.
JOHN: Another sink?
CHRISTINE: So... JOHN: Oh my gosh.
CHRISTINE: It's a Jack-and-Jill.
JOHN: It's a Jack-and-Jill!
CHRISTINE: I have to say, yellow is one of my favorite paints for a bedroom.
JOHN: It's very calming.
CHRISTINE: It is.
A really pretty room.
JOHN: Okay.
I think that's it, Tina.
Let's go find Lauren.
CHRISTINE: Okay.
JOHN: And try to guess the price of this beauty.
CHRISTINE: Hey Lauren.
LAUREN: Hey.
JOHN: Hey there, sorry I'm late.
I just was taking a little quick dip there in the pool.
(laughs) CHRISTINE: Okay, that is a great feature of this home.
LAUREN: Isn't it?
I think like an indoor pool could go either way, but this one is really appealing.
JOHN: I'm a big fan.
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
LAUREN: Yeah.
CHRISTINE: And where we're standing right now, this whole patio area... LAUREN: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: Amazing.
CHRISTINE: This is great.
LAUREN: The first time I saw this house, I thought someone needs to have a party here.
JOHN: Oh, for sure.
CHRISTINE: Oh, definitely.
Okay, so is there an HOA fee?
LAUREN: Yes, this community is in a homeowner's association and the fee is $600 a month.
CHRISTINE: Okay, that's not bad.
JOHN: Not bad.
LAUREN: Yeah, not too bad for the pool, the tennis courts, basketball, privacy of the gated community.
CHRISTINE: Mm-hmm.
JOHN: Yes.
LAUREN: And then the home itself is four bedrooms, three baths.
It's 6,300 square feet, and it was built in 1974.
What do you think?
JOHN: It's a very hard house to, um, price, but I'm gonna go for $1.3 million.
CHRISTINE: Oh.
LAUREN: Okay.
CHRISTINE: Darn it.
That's exactly what I was gonna go for.
Uh, so I'm gonna come in at $1.35.
JOHN: Okay.
CHRISTINE: Okay.
LAUREN: Okay.
The list price on this house is $1.475.
JOHN: $1.475.
I'm far off.
CHRISTINE: Well we were both a little off, but I still win.
LAUREN: The day doesn't have to end right now.
Let's head over to the Cedar Knoll Restaurant on the Potomac River and enjoy some wine overlooking the water.
JOHN: All right, let's do this thing.
(laughs) CHRISTINE: We'll probably get the best seat in the house because of that.
JOHN: They're gonna be like, "He's here, he's here."
(laughs) STEVE: In Washington's day, the big difference was they didn't barrel age whiskey.
It went to market in Alexandria, Virginia right away.
People drank it as clear alcohol.
So we always make some un-aged dry whiskey here to be true to history.
PETER: We're 15 miles from the White House.
It's just absolutely amazing that, you know, we have this little respite, this wonderful green space that's part of the natural area.
It's really a wonderful place to come visit.
BARBARA: If you lived here, you would know how to party.
ANNOUNCER: 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.
