Good Deal or Not? Weekly Wed. House Porn
27 January 2010 1:00 PM | By Prince Of Petworth in Good Deal or Not?, Real Estate - Van Ness
This home is located at 3017 Gates Road, NW:
The flier says:
“Spectacular New Contemporary built for grand entertaining. Constructed w/ the finest materials & amenities beyond imagination. Guest Wing w/ 2 full suites, Spectacular Master Suite, Theater & Gym. Private Cabana with Kitchen, Dressing/Shower Room and Powder Room for Heated Saltwater Pool & private garden. 2-car Garage. Buyer Registration Form Required.”
You can find more info here and a virtual tour here.
Well this was a very controversial House of the Day post back in Dec. I was psyched to see it for sale so we could get a virtual tour. If you’re not a big fan of the architecture what do you think of the inside? And how ’bout that pool? It’s yours for $6,500,000.
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27 January 2010 1:06 PM | ah Said:
Why would you have a salt-water pool when you’re not filling it with ocean water (and, presumably, are close to the ocean)?
27 January 2010 1:08 PM | ah Said:
And I can’t say I’ve ever seen two double beds in a single room, other than a hotel. What’s up with that–convenient wife-swaps?
“These vassal” captcha
27 January 2010 1:38 PM | Jake Said:
it’s a different kind of pool system that uses much less chlorine than an ordinary chlorine pool system. It’s better for your hair and skin as a result. It doesn’t rely on adding salt water as you suggest.
27 January 2010 2:56 PM | ah Said:
Okay, so you’re adding salt (and other less harmful chemicals) than chlorine to keep the algae away?
27 January 2010 9:44 PM | Anonymous Said:
You’re more buoyant.
27 January 2010 1:10 PM | WDC Said:
Nah. Looks like a hotel. Looks like it would require a hotel-style cleaning crew, as well. That bathroom would be a nightmare to keep clean, with those smooth white floors.
I do admire the current owners’ ability to stick with a coherent style, though.
27 January 2010 1:11 PM | Fausmane Said:
That’s what I call house porn!
27 January 2010 4:10 PM | Amelia of Gradually Greener Said:
For real. This is the best Wednesday house porn ever.
I’ll be in my bunk…
27 January 2010 1:12 PM | Mal Said:
Oh. My. God. I want this house so bad it’s not even funny. Even the decorating is amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever been this jealous before. *le sigh*
27 January 2010 1:17 PM | Anonymous Said:
I LOVED looking at this house. No way in hell will any of us know whether this is a GDoN though. This is a house that may go for full list price or may go for $2m under list price. Basically, it will appeal to a certain buyer. If that buyer is looking right now– they’ll get full price. If that buyer isn’t looking, they may mistakenly believe it is because the house is priced too high and start to lower the asking price. This type of house has NOTHING to do with price and everything to do with finding the two or three buyers that love it and have the means to pay. If this were a less distinct house, it would be easier to judge whether it is a GDoN. If I had the money, I would buy this house in a heartbeat and would not mind getting into a bidding war either (really– what is the difference between 6.5 and 8 million if you have that amount anyway?!). You won’t find many houses like this in DC. If there is an interested buyer out there, they’ll get full price.
27 January 2010 1:19 PM | DC Observer Said:
If you can afford that much, you don’t need to worry about getting a “good deal.” I would imagine the rich or would be rich are being a little more careful about how many millions they are paying for a house these days. I can easily see this thing coming down a few million. The 6.5 mil figure is pretty much just pulled out of thin air. And no, you won’t be getting 8 mil for it five years from now.
27 January 2010 1:26 PM | neener Said:
Won’t sell for over $6 million
27 January 2010 1:32 PM | ah Said:
I’d say under $5m, probably closer to $4m+. Lot isn’t that large (.44 acres, next to a couple of much larger lots), and it’s built nearly to lot lines. Indistinct views/area (not looking over park; no trees). Size is large, of course, with costs, but does that make up for it? Maybe they hope a country will oil money is looking for a new ambassador’s residence.
27 January 2010 1:33 PM | Anonymous Said:
I want to go to there!
27 January 2010 1:38 PM | RD Said:
BAD DEAL. You can get a house in Petworth for 1/20th the price.
27 January 2010 2:51 PM | lordscarlet Said:
Comment of the year.
27 January 2010 1:40 PM | Sully Said:
Beautiful- yes. 6 million- no.
27 January 2010 1:45 PM | elizqueenmama Said:
I wonder if the high red chairs along the kitchen counter convey with the house? Or, really, any number of other pieces of furniture.
That is something I always wonder about with these over the top houses. One must really decorate a house like this – the furniture that people have in their previous over the top abode most likely won’t fit in the new over the top abode, whether spatially or stylistically.
Anybody have any insight?
27 January 2010 1:48 PM | 'Nonmiss Said:
It totally reminds me of a Richard Meier. It’s gorgeous!
27 January 2010 2:02 PM | $$$$ Said:
i think you can buy a whole bock over in Carver or Rosedale for that.
also, totally worth 8 million. this is priced to start a bidding war.
27 January 2010 2:04 PM | ro Said:
how much for just the closet.
27 January 2010 2:18 PM | MK Said:
Why go through all the trouble of having that beautiful house built and then turn around and sell it? I guess that’s why they’re rich and I’m not.
27 January 2010 2:59 PM | ah Said:
Maybe they’re a little less rich now, though.
27 January 2010 8:45 PM | Brian Kraft Said:
Because it is too damn big! It is ridiculously unlivable. Nine stools at the kitchen counter. And you can’t eat at home, because you’d burn more calories cooking in that mammoth kitchen than you could possibly eat. You’d slowly, luxuriously starve to death.
Hey, where’s that dude who is always wise-assing about outrageous real estate prices. I guess this one lampoons itself!
27 January 2010 2:34 PM | ET Said:
Love the closet. But it does make me wonder if he or hes have spent a long time getting just right just so that can sell. Was there ever any intent to live in the house or was it all about getting a certain architecture and decorating just so. The dining room seats nine and there are nine bar stools and that is in addition to mammoth sofa and chairs. That is a lot of seating that the owner designed for only to sell. There seems to be oh so much style – self consciously so. While I like the stuff (and the house )- not all at one time.
Ditto the 1:17 PM anon post.
Is it just me or do the orb chandeliers look like those coffee table Tchochkes where the ball on either end moves like a metronome?
27 January 2010 2:50 PM | K Said:
It looks like a DMV or something from the outside. No thanks.
27 January 2010 2:58 PM | Angry Parakeet Said:
Places like that are often compounds of extremely wealthy middle Eastern extended families associated with their diplomatic corp or govt.
27 January 2010 3:38 PM | Mark Said:
I’d be mightily surprised if anyone got the same utility out of this house as the person who built and furnished it. Based only on that I’d guess that it will sell for lower than the initial asking.
It’s funny, though: I wonder if the furnishings pictured are the owners? Because this seems like a great example of a property that should be totally redecorated by the real estate agent. The furnishings are really distracting.
27 January 2010 4:39 PM | KStreetQB Said:
Looks like a post office from the outside and a hotel on the inside. Do not like.
27 January 2010 5:51 PM | Victoria Said:
I just love it that hoi polli of this blog are commenting so seriously here! It’s like debating new drapery choices for Buckingham Palace or how best to gild the rings of Saturn!
27 January 2010 8:27 PM | Andy(2) Said:
Love this house. It would be the best place to through crazy fun parties.
Salt water pools are great – the Four Seasons in Georgetown has one. Much better than chlorine and cheaper/easier to maintain.
I like the driveway and how the garage is hidden from the street. Its an odd shaped lot but they built the placed the house perfectly.
Only seven blocks to the metro!
The neighbors houses are equally amazing.
My Christmas wish list is finished.
27 January 2010 9:15 PM | Petworth Newbie Said:
I love it. As if you’d be doing your own cooking if you lived here – it is to laugh.
27 January 2010 9:46 PM | Anonymous Said:
Blech…those kitchen and bathroom cabinets look like cheap West Elm crap.
28 January 2010 11:28 AM | new hampy Said:
the architecture of this house is amazing. the open flow and natural lighting are a dream! reminds me of some of the amazing mid-century homes in palm springs.
28 January 2010 1:06 PM | Shawn Said:
To quote George S. Kaufman when he first saw Moss Hart’s spread in Connecticut: “This is what God would do if he had money.”
28 January 2010 3:19 PM | Ron Said:
These comments are interesting–even the negative ones–Why don’t you contact the Architect at Alter Urban (johncoplen@alterurban.com)and arrange to see it. That line about West Elm did crack me up by the way.