Before & After
The Dream Team
District Home Magazine sits down with developer John Cecchi
to discuss an amazing renovation in Kalorama
District Home Magazine: Tell us about the Bancroft Place project…
John Cecchi: It had been a family estate for a long time, belonging
most recently to William H.G. FitzGerald, and it was sold off after
he passed away. It’s a 10,000 square foot lot with about a 5,200
square foot property, so it is quite expansive. The home had been
neglected in recent years, so it was a typical house that was ready
to be redone. We came in and revised the layout, which is what
we do with a lot of our projects in Georgetown and Kalorama—in
this case that means not only fixing up the existing spaces, but
literally adding a stairway, moving the kitchen and the master
bedroom, rearranging the guest bedrooms, and completely gutting
and redoing the third floor. What we got from doing so is a layout
that purchasers today are looking for—a more modern way to live.
It’s not just changing the skin, we’re changing the flow of the entire
house, which we were able to do while maintaining the home’s
historical characteristics. You really get the feel of a historical
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Kalorama property with all the benefits of modern day living and
amenities. Kelley Proxmire, who does a great job of showing buyers
how they can fill and live in the space, then staged the home—we
always find a lot of value in staging.
DHM: Why did you decide to work with Nancy Taylor Bubes?
JC: Well Nancy is great because she is so well connected, and she’s
always thinking of different angles that can benefit the sale.The value
in using Nancy is that from day one she is cultivating clients that
might be right for the property through floor plans and ideas, and
even working with me to decide on finishes. It’s a testament to her
that all of our projects together have sold in 45 days or less—the
last one sold in just 13 days, and she has presold multiple homes
during the construction phase. Nancy also stands out in unique
ways, setting up events, and giving back to the community. She is
known both as a neighbor and a friend to her clients.