In 1922, Anne Archbold purchased 78 acres on the hills of upper Georgetown, drawn by the serenity of the woods and ponds and inspired to create her own Tuscan-style villa on the property.
Today, Archbold’s paradise is the prestigious gated community of Hillandale, where residents still enjoy a serene and pastoral neighborhood with the added enticement of living within walking distance or a short drive of restaurants, shops and nightlife in Georgetown.
Hillandale, built in phases in the 1980s, is surrounded by Glover Archbold Park. The top of Georgetown University’s spire is visible from within the community, yet the dominant views are of woods, ponds, wildlife and fountains.
This meticulously maintained development has 24-hour security, a community swimming pool, tennis courts, a tot lot and the Hillside community center for meetings, neighborhood events and private parties. The elegant homes in Hillandale are clustered around flagstone courtyards with mature trees and perennial plants, with bursts of color in spring and fall.
The home at 4048 Chancery Court NW, on the market for $1,295,000, was built in 1988. This all-brick town home is filled with light through multiple windows at the front and the back. The back windows frame a cheerful view of French flags hovering above the adjacent French embassy.
This four-level home includes a private elevator that reaches every level. An attached private one-car garage includes plenty of storage space. In addition, a second garage parking space conveys with the home.
Flagstone steps lead from the courtyard to the entrance to this home, which has two columns and a covered front stoop. Above the portico entrance is a distinctive round window.
The front door opens into a foyer with marble flooring and a coat closet. The view from the foyer stretches across the entire main level and includes a glimpse of the French flag in the distance.
Just past the foyer is the hallway, which has hardwood flooring that extends into the open dining room and living room. The dining room has space for a large seated dinner. The living room, two small steps down from the dining room, has two sets of glass doors with an arched transom above each door. At one end of the living room is a wood-burning fireplace with a marble hearth and surround and a white-painted wood mantel. Recessed lighting is overhead.
The two sets of glass doors in the living room open onto the enclosed backyard, which has a deck with a step down to a flagstone patio. The patio is surrounded by garden beds and includes flagstone stepping stones to a gate. The yard provides a lovely setting for entertaining outdoors. The entire main level offers an easy floor plan for parties, with guests able to circulate easily in and out of the home and in the living and dining rooms.
The renovated kitchen includes granite counters, wood cabinets and high-end stainless steel appliances, including a five-burner range with a push-button-operated fan at the back. Other appliances include double wall ovens, a dishwasher, a refrigerator and a wine chiller. The kitchen and adjacent breakfast area share stone flooring in several shades of brown and red that complement the kitchen’s tile walls. The breakfast area has a triple window facing the courtyard as well as a side window that combine to fill the space with natural light.
The main level also has a powder room and a door to the elevator.
The first of two upper levels includes a spacious master suite overlooking the backyard and the French embassy. The master bedroom has two large double windows, a walk-in closet with built-ins and a double-door closet. The master bath has ceramic tile flooring, a double sink, a whirlpool tub and a separate shower with a glass door.
This level also has a front bedroom with two tall windows facing the courtyard. This bedroom can be used as a home office or a master sitting room. Double doors link this room with the master bath.
The uppermost level includes two large secondary bedrooms that share a connecting bath. The front bedroom has three windows facing the courtyard and a double-door closet. The back bedroom has two double windows overlooking the backyard and the French embassy. This bedroom has two double-door closets. The connecting bath has a double-sink vanity, an enclosed room for the combination bath and shower plus a skylight overhead for natural light.
The finished lower level has a media room with two windows and an adjacent full bath with ceramic tile flooring. The media room could be used for a playroom, a home office or a guest bedroom. The lower level also has a laundry room and a door to the garage.
This surprisingly spacious four-level home offers plenty of flexible rooms to meet the needs of a growing family or residents who enjoy having guests. Realtor Russell Firestone said many buyers initially choose Hillandale as a temporary home for a few years because of the security and convenience, particularly if they must travel often. He said the community amenities, comfort of the homes and the ease of the location often entice those homeowners to stay at Hillandale permanently.
Details:
Address: 4048 Chancery Court NW, Washington DC 20007
Community: Hillandale
Age: Built in 1988
Price: $1,295,000
Size: Approximately 3,200 square feet on three upper levels on a lot of 1,236 square feet
Taxes: $12,352 in 2011
Homeowners association fee: $570 per month
Exterior features: Colonial-style brick town house, gated and fully fenced backyard, deck, flagstone patio, one-car attached garage, second garage parking space
Interior features: Four finished levels, four bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, marble foyer, open living room and dining room with French doors and wood-burning fireplace, updated kitchen with breakfast area, master suite with two closets and luxury bath plus adjacent bedroom or home office, upper level with two bedrooms sharing connecting bath, lower-level media room, full bath and laundry room
Amenities: Elevator reaches all four floors, luxury master bath, crown molding, main-level hardwood flooring
Close by: Community includes swimming pool, tennis courts, clubhouse and tot lot; walk to Georgetown University Hospital, Georgetown shops and restaurants; quick access to downtown, Maryland and Virginia suburbs
Open house: By appointment
Contact: Realtor Russell Firestone with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 202/271-1701 or visit www.ttrsir.com/
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