At the time, air-conditioning was still a bit of a mystery to most people in the District. According to a Nov. 16, 1935, story in The Post, “air conditioning is still so new that many people do not realize exactly what it is.”
But they were curious to find out.
An advertisement for the homes in the Sept. 1, 1935, Washington Post noted that, “Thousands of people visiting a home in two short weeks — that’s phenomenal. But no wonder — the home is phenomenal — it’s air conditioning.”
While 1930s Washingtonians were no doubt taken with the home’s modern features, it is Sternfeld’s art deco design that continues to impress.
“At first glance, [the homes] appear to be traditional houses of a quasi-Jacobean character,” according to “Washington Deco: Art Deco in the Nation’s Capital,” by Hans Wirz and Richard Striner. “But a closer examination shows a myriad of Deco and cubist features.”
In “Washington and Baltimore Art Deco: A Design History of Neighboring Cities,” Striner and co-author Melissa Blair also mention the homes.
The two-story dwelling is clad in red brick and with pink limestone arches and steps. A broken slate terrace leads to a cherry red entrance door. Maple paneling trimmed in aluminum adds warmth to the living room. The painting in the circle above the fireplace is original to the home. The circular artwork mimics the room’s porthole window.
The maple paneling continues in the dining room. Random-width oak floors add visual interest. The kitchen has been updated with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances.
An expansive deck is ideal for outdoor entertaining.
The three-bedroom, three-bathroom home is listed at $599,000. An open house is scheduled for Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.
Listing: 6113 14th St. NW
Listing agent: Marilyn Charity, Washington Fine Properties
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