Special offer

The French Mistress House

By
Real Estate Agent with RLAH@properties AB95346

In Washington, DC, there are many houses with a history, or perhaps we should call it a "past".

When I left management and went back into selling, I was listless.  And to remedy the situation, I spent a weekend harassing FSBO's,, including the people who had been trying to sell this home near Dupont Circle. And by Monday morning, this pretty place was one of three homes that I had converted to listings.

Then I discovered this home had an interesting story.

It was built by a wealthy gentleman who owned the house next door for a beautiful French woman - who was reportedly his mistress.  The shape was triangular with a little over 1000 square feet of above grade living space,  and the rooms were tiny.  That was in the late 1980's, and I think it was listed in the $200's.  The last sale was in 2009 for $664,150.This house is still what we call very "buyer specific".

I took the picture with my Sony Mirrorless and then edited it in Movani, trying to see if I could to an oil painting effect, then I blurred it a little bit. 

Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Marte, the program doesn't work well with a lot of houses, but this one did.

Jan 08, 2017 11:28 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I love to hear the history of houses. I wonder who the mistress was!

Jan 09, 2017 03:35 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

She was probably a small woman to be able to fit!

Jan 09, 2017 05:56 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Pat -- I'm sure there are lots more stories that could be revealed in this interesting home's history.  The editing of your photo enhances the home even more.  

Jan 09, 2017 06:26 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning again Patricia. The idea of a home with a past is very intriqing to me. Neat shot

Jan 09, 2017 07:55 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Pat - I like what you're doing with Movani - that's a great effect, and matches the story nicely.

Jan 09, 2017 01:52 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Pat, wiouldn't it be great if we knew all the secrets of this house?  Looks like you're having fun with the special effect photo too.

Jan 09, 2017 02:35 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

In Washington DC there have to be a lot of residences that would carry the same stigma.   Nice job with the photo

Jan 09, 2017 05:16 PM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

The effects certainly make the property standout from the surroundings.

Jan 10, 2017 06:40 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

It surprised me a lot when I asked people living on a street for years and years about anything, even where the name of the street came from, and they do not know, and they do not care.

When you know these "small" things, it is so much more interesting. It is alive, with history and present.

It adds color and dimension to life

Jan 10, 2017 08:57 AM
Yolanda Cordova-Gilbert
Richmond, TX

Pat,

 As they say if these walls could talk, I often wonder that when I walk in historic homes! Have a great week!!

Jan 10, 2017 10:53 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Michael,  I wish I had had this photo editing program back when I had the listing, but computers were pretty basic back them!

Jan 10, 2017 03:18 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Sheila, so many homes here have interesting histories - even mine!

Jan 10, 2017 03:18 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Dick, it's been great for cleaning up house photos and sharpening the brickwork, but this was the first house that I've played with that I made look good in the "artistic" mode.

Jan 10, 2017 03:20 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Maureen, when I listed the house, a family was crammed in and needed a lot more space.  It was definitely a one-woman house.  

Jan 10, 2017 03:22 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Ed, the real stigma with this place was that a big chunk of it was built on a DC easement that is owned by the city.  It was a little dodgy!  

Jan 10, 2017 03:24 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Joe, the effects are really fun to work with, and they're sort of making me want to take a Photoshop course.

Jan 10, 2017 03:26 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Jon, I remember getting most of the information from the next door neighbors, where the gentleman who built the house lived with his wife and children!

Jan 10, 2017 03:28 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Yolanda, it would have been a great place to have been the old fly on the wall!

Jan 10, 2017 03:28 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Who says 1,000 sf is a small house anyway?  Maybe it your area, since you'd be stuck indoors for a good part of the year.  I happen to live in a 1,000 sf house, but the deck is even larger and we spend a lot of time there... and there's a detached office too.

Jan 25, 2017 06:52 PM