Name: Amy
Occupation: Real Estate Agent
Location: Mt. Pleasant in Washington, DC
Type: row house built in the late 1800's
Size: 1900 sq/ft
Years lived in: owned for 2 (renovations took a year)
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A real estate broker for over 8 years, Amy was tired of seeing the bad quality of homes being quickly but inefficiently built. Amy set herself the goal of proving to builders that an energy efficient home made from local resources is less costly in the long-run. Mt. Pleasant was the perfect place because of the similar neighboring houses, which can be easily compared...
Using environmentally-friendly products and design, Amy completely revamped her house. Amy's goal was to minimize the environmental impact of renovation and create an energy-efficient home using local resources. Along with the exposed brick walls, the floors were the only part of the original house that didn't need to be gutted.
The systems, like the solar water heater, were the most expensive, but they are what make the home truly green. Amy used local resources wherever possible, like the walnut and mulberry lumber chosen for the trim, window sills and breakfast bar that came from felled trees in Montgomery County, MD and provided by Treincarnation . She also installed acrylic roofing and recycled materials, including concrete bricks, carpet tiles and drywall.
While the upfront costs were high, Amy's renovations are already paying for themselves. She is saving more than a third in utility bills each month compared to her neighbors. The house received platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council - the highest possible certification. Amy's house is the first LEED certified house in DC, and the first historical house in the U.S. to be certified platinum.
AT Survey:
Style: Contemporary and country, warm and neutral but modern.
Inspiration: Proving that installing high quality, energy-efficiency products and local resources is more sustainable and cost effective in the long term.
Favorite Aspect: The roof deck. It's the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine, hang out with friends and sleep under the stars.
Proudest Aspect: Surviving the DC government. One-on-one, the staff were very cool but, as usual in DC, the big bureaucratic system was the problem.
Proudest Design Aspect: Creating something new in a space built in the late 1800's.
Biggest Embarrassment: Used to be the front yard, but that was recently fixed.
What Friends Say About Amy's Place: They are totally wowed. They went through the process with me, and saw what the house was like before I renovated. Neighbors love the feeling of depth and openness on the main floor.
Dream Resource: Durat bathtub made from recycled materials (costs over $10,000).
Best Advice Given or Received: Each piece in your home should be important to you. Filling in the blank with catalogue furniture is not creating a home.
RESOURCES:
Floors: Original hardwood floors. Parts of the original floors were moved around to suit the new layout of the house.
Furniture and Accessories: Ikea, Craigslist, Millenium, stores on the U Street Corridor, Community Forklift, Second Chance in Baltimore.
Landscaping: All DC-native trees and plants, including paw-paw trees, blueberry bushes, oak leaf hydrangea, huckleberry, native ferns and creeping flocks.
Artwork: All art was recovered from the basement of the house. I found 28 paintings buried in dirt in the basement. About 5 or 6 were damaged beyond repair. I had the rest cleaned and hung in the house. I later found out that the paintings were all by E.J. Marlin, a renowned local artist. Marlin lived in the house while a student at the Corcoran College of Art and Design. The former house owner allowed his tenant Marlin to trade art for rent. The paintings, which were created in the house in the 1960s, belong in the house.
Amy's website has an extensive list of local resources for green building materials.
- Rachael Grad
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view particlebored's profile
The pictures are not working for me. Keeps saying there is an error and unable to load. I am sad...I really want to see these photos.
view DawnMarie04's profile
Bah! tour is not working!
view suzy8track's profile
the teensy thumbnails look promising
view DahliaCactus's profile
only the thumbnails are working, but thru the magnifying glass it is impressive. love the breakfast bar. your work is an inspiration ! thanks for sharing.
view sassydo's profile
Thanks for the heads up on the ERRORS. We're working on the problem and will have it fixed. Check back later!
view Maxwell's profile
The slideshow is working. Thanks for your patience!
view rachael in dc's profile
Um, except that the slideshow actually isn't working. I'm only able to look at the photos by clicking on each individual thumbnail.
What a bummer that AT home tours have become such a tiresome chore to look at. They used to be my favorite feature, but the hassle of going backwards, forwards, scrolling down, scrolling up, going back again, etc., just isn't worth it.
view Anna at D16's profile
great job with the house! i actually have those same chairs ottoman in the living room. when i see them in my home i dont like them so much... but when i see them in yours i do. weird how that works.
view erinpearce's profile
Ruthie from Community Forklift here (one of the building materials thrift stores that Amy used). Wow, that counter is breathtaking! I always see folks coming in our store to buy the Treeincarnation wood, and wonder what they're doing with it. So nice to see the gorgeous results!
I also love the dining table and chairs, they look great contrasted with all the wood. Your house is so beautiful - you have a real talent for combining old and new stuff. Thanks for letting us tour it!
view RuthieatCommunityForklift's profile
Really nice house. Glad to see it's not one of the typical DC "clonealike" interiors. Good job!
view onephatcow's profile
enjoyed the story on the art. it reminds me of a home renovation in provincetown last year where the new owners found over 100 mudhead paintings from the 1920-30's (and valued at about $3000 each, used as walling.
none of the furnishings really wow me (though i'm oddly liking that round bed) BUT WHAT A SPACE.
the free edge lumbar, the open stairs, the glass door, the recycled glass tiles, the floors, all that brick. a really inspiring tour
view healthyhome's profile
Love the dining room table and chairs! Lucky you to find all that art. Nice space.
view citygirlincountry's profile
I am so thrilled to read about someone who renovated with green in mind - that kitchen counter/bar is fantastic. The furnishings leave a bit to be desired for me - that couch on the porch needs a great throw over it. But inspiring to see the hard work. Just needs some interior decorating tips...congrats!
view pugluv's profile
I am seriously inspired by all of Amy's efforts and her home looks absolutely beautiful. I especially love those wood slabs for the bar in her kitchen. As a green interior designer and writer of Planet Pink n' Green - http://www.planetpinkngreen.com I can really appreciate the commitment and dedication to this project. It serves to show us that with a little bit of consciousness and effort we can keep our footprint on the planet low and make a difference in saving Her. Thank-you for sharing the story here. Cheryl Janis, writer of: http://www.planetpinkngreen.com - Exploring the 'pink' side of the green movement.
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Whoo hoo!!! Represent Amy for us agents :-)
Great home and congrats on being the "first historical house in the U.S. to be certified platinum". You've done a wonderful job!
Nia Knowles
view Nia Knowles's profile
what an interesting space and great choice for a house tour! I love reading about DC...
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