About 5201 38th St Nw
First Time Available in 35 Years - Historic Mediterranean Revival Elegance
Designed by celebrated Washington architect A.H. Sonnemann — best known for Meridian Mansions on 16th Street — and builder George S. Rees, this 4-level, 4,505 sq. ft. Mediterranean Revival residence is a rare offering in Chevy Chase DC. Lovingly maintained and thoughtfully renovated, the home blends early 20th-century character with modern livability.
While the home offers a convenient entry from Harrison Street, its true orientation and grand entrance face 38th Street. Step through the gracious gabled portico into a sunlit foyer, where natural light spills across the original hardwood floors. The main level flows effortlessly from the formal living room to the elegant dining room and into the renovated kitchen with built-in breakfast seating. Beyond the kitchen, a charming sunroom with restored original windows catches the morning light and opens to the outdoors, creating an easy connection to the Harrison Street side. Completing this level, a rare covered dining terrace extends the living space outdoors — perfect for alfresco meals and evening entertaining under the stars.
The lower level, taken down to the studs during renovation, reimagines the home’s footprint for today’s lifestyle. What was once a garage is now a fully finished living space with a private guest suite (bedroom 6), full bath, exercise room, wet bar, and a spacious family room. French doors lead directly to the professionally designed hardscaped terrace — one of three distinct outdoor areas — creating a natural extension of the home for entertaining, play, or quiet evenings by the fire.
Upstairs, the second level offers three spacious bedrooms and two full baths, with two light-filled sitting rooms adjoining the primary suite and bedroom 3 — the latter once a sleeping porch, now an inviting bonus space. The third floor, fully renovated in 2002, provides two additional bedrooms and a full bath, perfect for guests, offices, or creative studios.
Nearly every window was replaced with Pella windows in 2004 for efficiency and light, while the sunroom retains its beautifully restored original windows, honoring the home’s 1918 character.
With four finished levels, six true bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and multiple outdoor living spaces — including a dining terrace, side-yard entertaining patio, and a sun-filled Harrison Street entry garden — this home offers a level of versatility and indoor-outdoor connection rarely found in Chevy Chase DC. A once-in-a-generation opportunity to own an architect-designed corner-lot residence where historic elegance meets modern livability.
