1 East Nelson Avenue

This corner-lot was part of Northwest Alexandria’s 1890s subdivision, an early streetcar suburb along what is now Commonwealth Avenue. Although the lot was purchased in 1906 as an investment, the house itself was not built until the early 1990s. 

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The house has Craftsman elements, including cedar shingle siding, broad eaves, and grouped windows, but its strong horizontal lines give it a calm, grounded feel. When the current owners bought the property in 2012, they were especially drawn to those lines, including continuous interior trim and aligned windows.

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About a decade later, they completed updates in 2022 and 2023, including the horizontal fence, a detached study, a vaulted indoor-outdoor space in the former garage, and major garden improvements.

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The first floor moves in a simple line from living room to dining room tokitchen, and large windows  keep the house bright and open. Original artwork was collected during the owners’ time abroad.  

Outside, stone paths, stepped planting beds, a pergola with grape vines, and a central water feature create spaces that echo the home’s horizontal lines. Because this is the lowest lot on the block, the rear alley was regraded into a dry creek bed that carries stormwater toward the street. An elegant solution to flooding in Alexandria.