Monali Chowdhurie, who acquired this second-floor nook condominium in an property sale in 2013, described it as a “sociological treatise on how Washingtonians lived as soon as upon a time.”
“It was simply fascinating,” Chowdhurie stated. “It was fairly amusing the way in which they should have lived and the way in which we stay now.”
Distinguished houses on the market within the D.C. area
James M. Goode, in his 1988 guide, “Greatest Addresses,” about Washington’s distinguished condominium buildings, known as 2101 Connecticut the “best condominium home to look in Washington between the 2 World Wars.”
Designed by Joseph Abel and George T. Santmyers, the constructing opened as rental residences in 1928. The structure resembled two Hs — H-H — giving every condominium three exposures to pure mild. The placing facade has parts taken from Gothic, Moorish and Spanish Colonial structure. Terra cotta grotesques add a bit of caprice to the roof. The constructing transformed to a co-op in 1976.
Douglas MacArthur II, who was named for his uncle, the well-known normal, was among the many luminaries who known as 2101 Connecticut house. He was a profession diplomat and served as U.S. ambassador to Japan and Belgium. His spouse, Laura, had resided within the constructing together with her mother and father, Alben and Dorothy Barkley. Alben Barkley lived right here whereas serving as Harry Truman’s vp. (Vice presidents didn’t have an official residence till 1977 when Walter Mondale moved into One Observatory Circle.)
Adm. John McCain and his spouse, Betty, the mother and father of Sen. John McCain of Arizona, have been among the many many navy {couples} who settled right here. Lt Gen. Leslie Groves, chief of the Manhattan Challenge, which produced the primary atomic bomb, was a resident as have been Gen. William Quinn and his spouse, Betty, the mother and father of Sally Quinn, the creator and journalist.
Invoice Maillard, a congressman from California and ambassador to the Group of American States, and his spouse have been recognized for his or her July Fourth fireworks-watching celebration on the constructing. Different notables who lodged at 2101 Connecticut have been U.S. Supreme Courtroom Justice Tom C. Clark, Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas and Rep. H. Malcolm Baldridge of Nebraska, whose daughter Letitia served as first woman Jacqueline Kennedy’s social secretary.
Chowdhurie doesn’t know who the earlier residents of her condominium have been. She and her husband have been drawn to it primarily for its proximity to Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle and Rock Creek Park.
“Though we appreciated the skin of the constructing, we’re very into minimalism, elegant straight strains, not too lots of these curlicues that that they had,” she stated. “It was truly fairly tough fascinated by renovate it as a result of we’re very completely different individuals.”
As a result of Chowdhurie and her husband had transformed two earlier houses, this undertaking didn’t intimidate them. However modernizing the condominium, which hadn’t been up to date lately, was a problem.
“For a while, we have been stumped,” she stated. “We spent loads of time simply fascinated by do it earlier than we began the renovation.”
The couple employed Armin Bondoc of Landis Architects-Builders, who had labored with them on earlier initiatives. One of many greatest challenges was including a powder room.
“I stored considering, ‘How on earth are we going to do that?’ As a result of the plumber stored saying no,” Chowdhurie stated. “What I did was I went and checked out different residences — persons are very good — after which I discovered somebody who had a powder room. I requested them how they managed to place it there.”
Chowdhurie additionally employed EcoNize Closets to put in extra closets.
“I’m closet loopy,” she stated. “I like the place I stay to be neat, and I don’t wish to cram issues into closets so I at all times joke that I create closets out of nowhere.”
When enlarging the kitchen, Chowdhurie had a request. She needed the counter tops on one aspect to be decrease than the opposite.
“Girls are shorter than males,” she stated. “No one takes that into consideration.”
Now when she moist grinds spices on a flat stone, Chowdhurie can use extra of her higher physique energy to push down on the cylindrical pestle.
The couple was considerate about how paintings can be displayed all through the house. They designed the alcoves on the finish of the gallery for vases manufactured from Makrana marble, lighting them from above and under. As a result of the marble, which was utilized in constructing the Taj Mahal, is translucent, mild passes by means of the vases.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 3,200-square-foot co-op condominium is listed at just below $2 million. The month-to-month co-op charges are $4,407.
- Bedrooms/loos: 4/4
- Approximate square-footage: 3,200
- Co-op price: $4,407 month-to-month
- Options: The co-op condominium was renovated by Landis Architects-Builders. It has nine-foot ceilings, oak flooring, and light-weight from northern, japanese and southern exposures. The kitchen has black granite counter tops. The walk-in pantry has a second full-size fridge. The constructing has a 24-hour concierge desk, doorman service, a gymnasium, wine storage, a gathering room, and an expansive roof deck with grills, D.C. monument views and eating areas. One parking area and two storage models convey.
- Itemizing agent: Christopher Burns, TTR Sotheby’s Worldwide Realty
