Sam Pardoe, the mid-century Washington, DC builder, was legendary for putting surprise details like hidden stairways, pass-throughs or corridors in every home he designed. Wittingly or otherwise, the new build at 2939 Stephenson Place NW in Chevy Chase channels his impish spirit with secret rooms and unexpected design elements, all executed with high and meticulous style.
Built in 2019, the shingle and clapboard home—a blend of Colonial and Craftsman—offers approximately 5500 square feet of living space on four levels and includes six bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, screened-in porch, two fireplaces, fully finished lower level and professionally land- and hardscaped front and rear yard. There is also a detached garage fitted with electric car charger. It is on the market for $2,350,000.
A flagstone path leads up to a teal glass-paneled main door with sidelights. Inside, a wide entry hall with center staircase opens to a powder room and library on the left and, to the right, a deep hall closet and formal dining room. Straight ahead, a hall leads to the family room and kitchen. White oak flooring runs throughout.
The library features built-in bookcases flanking an interior window that looks out onto a large screened-in porch with flagstone flooring. Folding French doors open from the family room to the porch creating a seamless indoor-outdoor living and entertaining space while a wall of windows lets in plenty of light. The family room also features a beamed ceiling, built-in bookcases and a wood-burning fireplace with white wood mantel.
In the open plan kitchen, cool greys and warm whites predominate with white cabinets, a grey island/breakfast bar, marble-veined quartzite counters and white chevron-patterned subway tile backsplash. Stainless appliances—all Thermador—include a wall convection oven, microwave, six-burner gas cooktop, oven and hood and massive French door refrigerator/freezer. The kitchen also boasts a deep pantry closet with shelving and a mudroom with coat rack, cubbies and door leading to the side yard.
A bedroom with a deep closet and full hall bath with a grey/white colorway sit right off the second-floor landing. Next door is another bedroom with en-suite bath, a double-doored linen closet and, then, the master suite, which has a gas fireplace framed by custom bookcases. Two spacious walk-in closets with custom storage systems leads to a marble tiled en-suite bath with extensive cabinetry and dressing table, statement tub, double sink vanity and frameless glass-door shower with bench and geometric-patterned floor. Down the hall is another bedroom and full laundry room with chrome sink, shelving and side-by-side Electrolux washer and dryer.
Up on the fully carpeted third floor is a family room, study, full bath with encaustic cement geometric patterned flooring, bedroom with private terrace (tower porch) which looks out over the trees to Rock Creek Park. And, if you look carefully, hidden behind a swinging bookcase at the top of the stairs, is a secret playroom (shades of Pardoe!) with a built-in bookcase and a muntin-decorated dormer window.
Downstairs on the lower level is a double rec room with high windows, wet bar with dark wood cabinets, separate exercise room, full bath, bedroom and exit to the side yard.
With its numerous windows (some in unexpected places like closets), light color palette and open layout, the house is designed to take advantage of its bright southwest exposure and outside spaces. It is conveniently located near Broad Branch Market, the Chevy Chase shopping district, Rock Creek Park and numerous metro and bus lines.
The six-bedroom, five-and-a-half bath eclectic Colonial at 2939 Stephenson Place NW is listed for $2,350,000 with Compass. For more information, contact Steve Agostino at [email protected] or 202-321-5506. For a visual tour, visit http://tour.homevisit.com/view/260911.
