This Northwest D.c. Renovation Is Mostly an Inside Job

When Joyce Harp, a doctor from New Jersey, decided that she wanted a second home, in the District, one of her priorities was to buy a place that didn't require renovation."I live in a 130-year-old house in New Jersey that I just recently finished renovating, so I wanted a new condo," Harp said. "I had a checklist before I started looking at places, but I also knew there would be an 'it factor' that would make it feel like buying a particular place would be the right thing to do."Harp found the "it factor" at the Cooper, a new 17-unit condominium at 2007 Wyoming Ave. NW in the Kalorama neighborhood. The main building had been converted from a grand 1890 Georgian-style mansion and most recently was a bed-and-breakfast."The Cooper has lots of character, and the condo I bought isn't just a white box like some of the other places I looked at," Harp said.The Cooper has a lawn, gardens and low steps leading to a deep front porch that provides a covered entrance."This building offers a unique opportunity because of the way it's set so far back from the street and is separate from other, nearby buildings," said Matt Shkor, principal of Potomac Construction Group.Historical yet modern: The building's facade and mansard roofline were maintained to comply with the neighborhood's historic-preservation designation. But the goal for the interior, Shkor said, was to give a modern edge to the historical spaces."The inside was a complete gut renovation, so we were able to raise the ceiling heights and yet keep the tall windows and front columns of the building," Shkor said. "We chose light-colored white oak flooring in a herringbone pattern because the pale color reflects light and makes the units as bright as possible."The condos are small. The 15 one-bedroom units range from about 450 square feet to about 700 square feet. The Cooper's largest unit - the only one with two bedrooms and two bathrooms - has just under 800 square feet."We designed them for a mix of young professionals who want to live in this location and for people who want a second home in the city," Shkor said.The predominance of one-bedroom units responds to a need in the neighborhood, Shkor said."There's a shortage of one-bedroom units in this location that have higher-quality finishes," he said. "We chose heated marble floors for all the bathrooms and high-gloss cabinets that go to the ceiling and appliances we would put in a $2 million condo."A carriage house, behind the mansion, was divided into two units, including one of the Cooper's two units with two bedrooms. Each carriage house unit has about 700 square feet, a vaulted ceiling and a private patio.Glass railings: No two floor plans in the Cooper are alike. Some have a patio or a balcony. Some have two levels. Some have a powder room. Some have dormer windows. One unit has double glass doors that open onto a covered and screened balcony.The units with a second level have glass railings for the staircases and a glass half-wall for the loft-level bedroom. Pocket doors are used in most units to maximize space.The four one-bedroom units on the cellar level are each about 500 square feet and are priced from $459,000 to $499,000.The smallest unit, No. 8, has about 450 square feet and is priced at $519,000. This first-floor unit has an open living and dining area with the kitchen along one wall. A pocket door links this space to the bedroom, which has windows facing a wall of the brick building next door. The condo's one small closet has a stacked washer-and-dryer. The bathroom has a glass-enclosed shower with marble flooring. The entire unit has high ceilings and detailed crown molding.The main building's two-bedroom unit, which has about 800 square feet, is priced at $799,000. This unit has an open living and dining area with the kitchen along one wall and a glass door to a private terrace that has a Brazilian ipe wood deck. The guest bedroom has an exposed brick wall, a walk-in closet and a private full bathroom. The master bedroom also has a private full bathroom.The carriage house units have one shared wall. The one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is priced at $599,000. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is priced at $749,000.What's nearby: The eastern section of Kalorama, where the Cooper is located, is within walking distance of Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle and Woodley Park, three neighborhoods that have numerous restaurants and shops.Schools: Oyster-Adams Bilingual (prekindergarten to eighth grade) and Wilson High.Transit: The community is within walking distance of the Woodley Park and Dupont Circle Metro stations, both on the Red Line. The area is served by numerous Metrobus lines and the Circulator bus.