Architecture Wednesday: A.F. Maxwell House

While most residences in Washington DC are row homes, stately manors, or condos, this home, designed by George T. Ward in 1961, is distinguished by its midcentury-modern aesthetic with its sweeping glass facades and spacious cantilevered terraces.

The 3,344-square-foot, four-bedroom dwelling has had one major, though seamless, renovation when some of those decks, as well as a living room, were added in 1987. The original steel beams were extended to the roofline, creating additional indoor and outdoor spaces. The sellers renovated the kitchen and bathrooms in keeping with the midcentury modern aesthetic.

The home was custom-built, so there are lots of unique features such as the nearly 10-foot ceilings and the walls of glass. The addition opened up the kitchen and adjacent family room, and the addition of a large frosted sliding window can close the kitchen off from the dining room. The kitchen has orange cabinetry along with a modern eight-burner BlueStar commercial-grade range.

The living room addition is bright and airy with lots of natural light, built-in cabinets, floor-to-ceiling windows, and beautiful hardwood flooring. There’s also a built-in bookcase near the floating staircase, which leads to the primary suite with a private terrace off the bathroom.

It doesn’t fit the Washington aesthetic per se, but would you want to live in a house that does that?

Dwell