P Street Victorian loves its neighborhood

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Admirers of Victorian-style architecture used to walk along P Street in Northwest Washington bemoaning the state of some of this style's best representatives: dilapidated, broken into small apartments, and sometimes uninhabitable.

Today the length of P Street between Dupont Circle and Logan Circle includes some of the most expensive and sought-after real estate in the city, as owners and builders have spent the past decade renovating and remodeling the stately homes that line these blocks.

Not only have the homes been improved, but the adjoining streets represent some of the best amenities the city has to offer: small museums, theaters, chic cafes, ethnic restaurants and an eclectic mix of shops. The Metro station at Dupont Circle links residents of this neighborhood to every part of the city and into the Maryland and Virginia suburbs.

A prime example of a lovingly restored Victorian home at 1708 P St. NW, is now on the market for $1,525,000. Built around 1900, this four-level brick home has stone front steps and a tiny professionally landscaped front garden.

At the back of the home, a wood deck has steps to the back yard -- a fenced and landscaped oasis in the city. A small balcony off one of the upper-level bedrooms adds space to enjoy a cool evening or a pleasant spring morning.

While the brick exterior, steeply pitched roof and box bay windows appeal to passersby, the interior of this home reveals a dedication to detail by the owners. The original hardwood floors, wood banisters, wood stairs and crown and base moldings have all been restored.

Even modernizations, necessary in the kitchen and baths, have been accomplished with a reverence for the Victorian style of the home.

The wood front door opens onto a vestibule entrance with a second door of original glass and wood, creating a buffer on cold days. The main level features a central foyer with one of the home's six wood-burning fireplaces. Each fireplace includes a restored, unique mantel, often with the original tiles surrounding the fireplace and with detailed woodwork.

Pocket doors have been restored on the main level, connecting the formal dining room with the foyer. Every level of this home includes high ceilings of 9 to 11 feet, adding to the sense of space in the rooms.

The formal dining room, generously proportioned at 26 by 15 feet, includes a box bay window with transoms overlooking P Street. A fireplace is situated in one corner.