The pi猫ce de r茅sistance inside one of 鈥檚 recent home renovations isn鈥檛 a large-scale painting or an ornate lighting fixture. The highlight is a continual wall of floor-to-ceiling steel and glass windows that separate the indoor living space from the outdoor world.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need art when you鈥檙e looking out at nature. I mean, it鈥檚 just an incredible view,鈥� Zapatka said about the design that captures a perfectly landscaped backyard and floods the first floor with natural light.
The home, located on the quiet street of Dent Place in D.C.鈥檚 Georgetown neighborhood, has many modern qualities. Storage closets are hidden behind jib doors, the staircase sports stainless steel and polished nickel rails, and built-in alcoves serve as custom cases for the homeowners鈥� collection of art and artifacts.
But the home is also steeped in history. Half of it was built in the 1890s, and the other half was added on in the 1940s. Then in the 鈥�50s, the four-level abode, which sits behind a black wrought iron gate, had a famous neighbor: Jacqueline Kennedy.
鈥淎nd there鈥檚 a very lovely photo of Mrs. Kennedy walking down this street with a big poodle 鈥� well dressed, of course 鈥� and you see to the left this unmistakable pair of gates,鈥� said Zapatka, a well-known architect in the D.C. area.
On Saturday, April 27, the revamped Dent Place home, along with seven others in the neighborhood, will be featured in the annual , which serves as a fundraiser for the nearby St. John’s Episcopal Church.
The theme of this year鈥檚 tour, now in its 88th year, is all about bringing the outdoors in.
鈥淥utdoor spaces are just few and far between,鈥� said house tour co-chair Hannah Isles.
Single-family homes are a scarce sight along Georgetown鈥檚 brick-lined sidewalks. Row houses account for a majority of the neighborhood鈥檚 real estate, and few come with large, lush lawns.
鈥淚 think everyone in Georgetown is always trying to figure out how to blend the peace of the outdoors and bring it in,鈥� Isles said.
Other homes on the tour include a property that was once part of the former Evalyn Walsh McLean mansion (McLean was an heiress and the last private owner of the hope diamond), as well as two other residences renovated by Zapatka.
($50) include entry into the eight featured homes, plus an afternoon tea and panel discussion with architects and designers at Saint John鈥檚 church.
