More than a century ago, two row houses were built on North Royal Street in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, each with an elegant brick facade, including charming swooping pediments over the windows.
In the 1990s, an enterprising group of architects, designers, builders, craftsmen and artists worked together to combine the two homes into a unique mansion with space for luxurious living.
While combining the two homes in an ingenious manner, this group of experts also combined the authentic historic ambience of the buildings with contemporary styling for the ultimate in sophisticated living.
Now on the market for $2,595,000, the home at 218 N. Royal St. offers surprises beyond the unexpected combining of two homes.
The original brick facade hides the home’s plentiful outdoor living space, which includes brick patio courtyards on either side; a fully fenced rear yard with a swimming pool, garden beds and a gazebo; and a wide balcony off the master suite and a smaller one off a secondary bedroom.
The property also comes with an important bonus for Old Town: three off-street parking spaces accessible from an alley behind the house. A gate leads from the alley to the gazebo and to the back yard.
While sunbathing by the pool or relaxing by the barbecue with friends, it may be impossible to imagine that just beyond the fenced yard lies the cornucopia of delights that is Old Town.
Historic Gadsby’s Tavern is on the next block; shops and restaurants tempt passers-by on nearly every corner.
The marina and riverfront parks along the Potomac are just a few short blocks away, yet within the confines of this elegant home, the bustle of Old Town is muted.
The front door of 218 N. Royal St. opens into a vestibule with an etched-glass door and transom.
The vestibule leads into the main level’s inspired foyer, with a central staircase twisting away to the skylighted upper level and a marble floor underfoot.
The foyer opens onto a salon, or formal reception area, with hardwood flooring and a fireplace flanked by archways leading into the formal living room.
Hardwood flooring extends throughout most of the main level and the upper level, and elaborate moldings are a testament to the period of the home.
The living room includes a fireplace with a mantel, along with two tall windows facing the street. Two sets of columns separate the living room from the formal dining room, a grand and elegant space with three sets of French doors that open onto a brick patio.
Along one wall of the dining room are built-in cabinets with faux marble panels. This room has been painted a subtle shade of yellow with a pale blue ceiling, giving a sky-like effect.
An arched portal links the dining room to the butler’s pantry, which leads into the kitchen, updated with tile flooring, a large center island and granite counters.
The kitchen has abundant cabinet and counter space, including a set of cabinets above the center island with glass doors on two sides and open shelving along one wall.
The cabinets have been washed with a pale teal paint, filling the room with color.
Upgraded appliances include a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a Viking range. Adjacent to the kitchen is an addition with a wall of windows, including a Palladian window overlooking the swimming pool and garden. This addition includes a breakfast bar and space for casual dining, or it can be furnished as a sunroom.
Both the kitchen and the sunroom have arched brick entrances to the family room, which has a wood-beamed ceiling, a wall of brick, a corner fireplace with a marble hearth and an angled reading alcove with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool.
The family room opens onto a small morning room with a corner wet bar. This level also includes a powder room and a second staircase to the upper level. A side door off the family room leads to a deck, which wraps around the house leading into the back yard.
The upper level of the home has been brightened with multiple large skylights above the stairs, hall and bedrooms.
At the front of the home, two bedrooms face the street, each with three tall double-hung windows. Near these two bedrooms is a full bath with a window and shelves built to match the marble vanity top.
The upper-level den includes a brick wall, built-in shelves and a wood-beamed ceiling, plus two windows overlooking the side garden. This den can function as a third bedroom.
Another bedroom has a dressing area with a double-sink vanity and a private full bath, plus an angled set of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool and garden. This unique bedroom has two brick walls, a beamed ceiling, wood shutters for the side windows and wood stairs leading to a narrow loft perfect for a study or reading room.
An atrium door leads from the loft to a tiny balcony overlooking the yard.
This bedroom could be converted to a master sitting room.
The adjacent master-bedroom suite features a wall of windows including a Palladian window and an atrium door to a private deck with an arched gable overlooking the garden.
The bedroom has a cathedral ceiling and a marble fireplace. Along the hall connecting the bedroom and master bath are multiple closets including a walk-in closet, plus a coffee bar. The master bath has a corner whirlpool tub, a pedestal sink, a second dressing area with a sink and a glass-enclosed shower.
The lower level includes an extensive unfinished storage area in addition to the finished sections, allowing for expansion.
Tiled floor has been installed in a lower lobby area and the laundry room, and two doors lead to the side yard and swimming pool. A recreation room or exercise room is at the back of the lower level.
The rest of this level functions as an in-law suite or apartment, with a living area including a two-sided brick fireplace, a bedroom, a separate kitchen and a full bath. The living area also includes a beamed ceiling, track lighting and an atrium door to the side yard, which offers access to the street and the back yard.
The “secret mansion,” hidden behind the brick facades of 216 and 218 N. Royal St., is an Old Town treasure with plenty of indoor and outdoor space to fill with family and friends.
Address: 218 N. Royal St., Alexandria, VA 22314
Community: Old Town
Age: Built 1880
Price: $2,595,000
Size: About 4,400 square feet, on homesite of 5,227 square feet
Taxes: $18,128 in 2003
Exterior features: Two Colonial-style brick town homes combined into one mansion, brick sidewalk, brick and stone patios on three sides, three off-street parking spaces in alley
Interior features: Six bedrooms (one is currently used as an upstairs den); five full baths; two half-baths; two staircases; foyer opens onto salon with marble flooring; original hardwood flooring on two upper levels; formal living room; embassy-size dining room with built-in cabinets and shelves; library; family room with a reading alcove including floor-to-ceiling windows; kitchen with breakfast area overlooking pool; master suite with private terrace, bath; three additional bedrooms on the upper level; upper-level den with beamed ceiling; finished lower level with recreation room, laundry and storage rooms and bedroom with living area, full bath and kitchen
Amenities: Fenced courtyard with swimming pool, gardens, gazebo, fountain; master-bedroom private deck overlooking pool; balcony off fifth bedroom; five fireplaces.
Close by: Walking distance to shops and restaurants of Old Town, Potomac River parks and marina; near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, minutes to downtown Washington
Schools: Jefferson-Houston Elementary; George Washington Middle; T.C. Williams High
Open house: By appointment only
Contact: Realtor Pat Derwinski of Weichert Realtors at 703/821-8300
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