Tucked discreetly along one of Cleveland Park’s most beautiful and storied streets, Lowell Street NW stands as a soon-to-be icon of timeless residential design, a breathtaking reimagining of a historic home that transcends renovation by establishing an identity both deeply rooted and quietly global. Originally constructed in 1916 as a classic American Four Square, long cited as an exemplar of the form, the residence has been meticulously re-envisioned. A comprehensive renovation, completed in 2023, honors its early 20th-century origins while introducing a refined sensibility shaped by years of living abroad, resulting in a home that feels simultaneously familiar and refreshingly modern.
Elevated above the street and approached with deliberate intention, the home enjoys a rare sense of privacy and presence, set apart from the rhythm of urban life. Positioned on an extraordinary double lot spanning 0.60 acres, the property occupies a tranquil enclave, offering a sense of openness and calm increasingly elusive within the city. Sweeping views of the Washington National Cathedral rise above a layered landscape of meticulously curated gardens, mature trees, and a private meadow, creating a setting that feels at once serene and sophisticated. Indoor and outdoor spaces are equally suited to gathering and celebration, offering the ease of entertaining amid greenery, light, and carefully composed sightlines, while remaining distinctly urban and urbane.
The transformation was led by Colleen Healey Architecture, whose restrained and thoughtful approach allows the original structure and contemporary interventions to exist in quiet dialogue. In partnership with Lynley Ogilvie Landscape Design, the team conceived Hidden Meadow, a residence where architecture, landscape, and light are inseparable. A wide meadow planted with native species and framed by Corten planters creates a contemplative pause between the main house and a detached garage and pool house, which includes a guest suite above, forming a secluded courtyard rarely found in Washington. The relationship between the house, outbuildings, and landscape feels deliberate and balanced, providing both visual interest and practical function.
At the heart of the project is a deliberate interplay between preservation and invention. The home’s elevated sleeping porches were carefully retained and reinforced, preserving their historic character while meeting modern standards. A lightweight steel-framed volume was introduced at the rear to house a luminous kitchen and dining space, infused with natural light from multiple orientations. Ten-foot triple sliding doors seamlessly connect the kitchen to a full-height screened porch with retractable screens and built-in heaters, extending living and entertaining spaces into the landscape. This transition unfolds subtly, allowing the home to open fully to its surroundings through expansive glass, with gentle shifts in material from warm wood to smooth concrete, marking the evolution from historic to modern with clarity and intention.
Inside, approximately 7,400 square feet reveal private bedroom suites thoughtfully distributed throughout the home, including six en suite bedrooms and two separate suites with full baths and kitchenettes, perfect for in-law, nanny, or guest accommodations, supporting true multigenerational living. Two offices and a sequence of living spaces feel both generous and intimate, offering flexibility for work, study, or leisure. The original three-story staircase and banister were meticulously refinished, anchoring the home in its past, while new interiors introduce sculptural plaster forms, gentle curves, and a serene palette of natural materials.
The lower-level features nine-foot ceilings and a fully equipped gym with rubber flooring and mirrors, enhancing the home’s versatility and lifestyle appeal. Walnut floors and cabinetry, slate hearths, and exposed original wood framing provide tactile richness, balanced by restraint and thoughtfully composed sightlines. Designed with a nearly square plan, the interior flows effortlessly, ensuring each room feels alive, connected, and intentional.
Japanese influence from years spent immersed in its culture subtly permeates the design, expressed not through overt reference but in proportion, restraint, and harmony with nature. Light is treated as a material in its own right. Skylights and soaring ceilings with exposed beams on the third floor enhance the home’s sense of openness and verticality, while reflective surfaces extend garden views deep into the interior, softening edges and amplifying the home’s ethereal quality.
The exterior addition, clad in Accoya siding and accented with expansive glass, provides a contemporary counterpoint to the original pebble-dash stucco. The detached garage and pool house, featuring a weathered zinc standing-seam roof and a trellis for climbing honeysuckle, are carefully massed to complement the historic district and enhance the overall composition. With a distinct mid-century modern character, the design conceals a spiral stair within a steel volume and emphasizes sloping rooflines intersected by generous glass panels. The heated garage is centrally positioned at the end of a driveway, with additional parking for a second vehicle, providing both privacy and convenience.
While architecturally ambitious, the home remains remarkably livable, effortlessly accommodating family life, entertaining, and moments of quiet retreat. Lush gardens frame the house, unveiling a heated pool and pool bath, ensuring complete privacy for summer gatherings. The residence is fully electric, with heated floors in the kitchen and primary bath, as well as a comprehensive water filtration system. Within easy walking distance of the region’s highest-rated schools and parks that evoke a private Central Park for the neighborhood, this property combines convenience with a warm, close-knit community atmosphere.
Lowell Street NW is not simply a restored residence. It is a rare synthesis of history, global influence, and modern craftsmanship. A home that respects its origins while confidently redefining them, Hidden Meadow stands as a singular offering in Cleveland Park and beyond, a residence that embodies both elegance and thoughtful modern living.
Tucked discreetly along one of Cleveland Park’s most beautiful and storied streets, Lowell Street NW stands as a soon-to-be icon of timeless residential design, a breathtaking reimagining of a historic home that transcends renovation by establishing an identity both deeply rooted and quietly global. Originally constructed in 1916 as a classic American Four Square, long cited as an exemplar of the form, the residence has been meticulously re-envisioned. A comprehensive renovation, completed in 2023, honors its early 20th-century origins while introducing a refined sensibility shaped by years of living abroad, resulting in a home that feels simultaneously familiar and refreshingly modern.
Elevated above the street and approached with deliberate intention, the home enjoys a rare sense of privacy and presence, set apart from the rhythm of urban life. Positioned on an extraordinary double lot spanning 0.60 acres, the property occupies a tranquil enclave, offering a sense of openness and calm increasingly elusive within the city. Sweeping views of the Washington National Cathedral rise above a layered landscape of meticulously curated gardens, mature trees, and a private meadow, creating a setting that feels at once serene and sophisticated. Indoor and outdoor spaces are equally suited to gathering and celebration, offering the ease of entertaining amid greenery, light, and carefully composed sightlines, while remaining distinctly urban and urbane.
The transformation was led by Colleen Healey Architecture, whose restrained and thoughtful approach allows the original structure and contemporary interventions to exist in quiet dialogue. In partnership with Lynley Ogilvie Landscape Design, the team conceived Hidden Meadow, a residence where architecture, landscape, and light are inseparable. A wide meadow planted with native species and framed by Corten planters creates a contemplative pause between the main house and a detached garage and pool house, which includes a guest suite above, forming a secluded courtyard rarely found in Washington. The relationship between the house, outbuildings, and landscape feels deliberate and balanced, providing both visual interest and practical function.
At the heart of the project is a deliberate interplay between preservation and invention. The home’s elevated sleeping porches were carefully retained and reinforced, preserving their historic character while meeting modern standards. A lightweight steel-framed volume was introduced at the rear to house a luminous kitchen and dining space, infused with natural light from multiple orientations. Ten-foot triple sliding doors seamlessly connect the kitchen to a full-height screened porch with retractable screens and built-in heaters, extending living and entertaining spaces into the landscape. This transition unfolds subtly, allowing the home to open fully to its surroundings through expansive glass, with gentle shifts in material from warm wood to smooth concrete, marking the evolution from historic to modern with clarity and intention.
Inside, approximately 7,400 square feet reveal private bedroom suites thoughtfully distributed throughout the home, including six en suite bedrooms and two separate suites with full baths and kitchenettes, perfect for in-law, nanny, or guest accommodations, supporting true multigenerational living. Two offices and a sequence of living spaces feel both generous and intimate, offering flexibility for work, study, or leisure. The original three-story staircase and banister were meticulously refinished, anchoring the home in its past, while new interiors introduce sculptural plaster forms, gentle curves, and a serene palette of natural materials.
The lower-level features nine-foot ceilings and a fully equipped gym with rubber flooring and mirrors, enhancing the home’s versatility and lifestyle appeal. Walnut floors and cabinetry, slate hearths, and exposed original wood framing provide tactile richness, balanced by restraint and thoughtfully composed sightlines. Designed with a nearly square plan, the interior flows effortlessly, ensuring each room feels alive, connected, and intentional.
Japanese influence from years spent immersed in its culture subtly permeates the design, expressed not through overt reference but in proportion, restraint, and harmony with nature. Light is treated as a material in its own right. Skylights and soaring ceilings with exposed beams on the third floor enhance the home’s sense of openness and verticality, while reflective surfaces extend garden views deep into the interior, softening edges and amplifying the home’s ethereal quality.
The exterior addition, clad in Accoya siding and accented with expansive glass, provides a contemporary counterpoint to the original pebble-dash stucco. The detached garage and pool house, featuring a weathered zinc standing-seam roof and a trellis for climbing honeysuckle, are carefully massed to complement the historic district and enhance the overall composition. With a distinct mid-century modern character, the design conceals a spiral stair within a steel volume and emphasizes sloping rooflines intersected by generous glass panels. The heated garage is centrally positioned at the end of a driveway, with additional parking for a second vehicle, providing both privacy and convenience.
While architecturally ambitious, the home remains remarkably livable, effortlessly accommodating family life, entertaining, and moments of quiet retreat. Lush gardens frame the house, unveiling a heated pool and pool bath, ensuring complete privacy for summer gatherings. The residence is fully electric, with heated floors in the kitchen and primary bath, as well as a comprehensive water filtration system. Within easy walking distance of the region’s highest-rated schools and parks that evoke a private Central Park for the neighborhood, this property combines convenience with a warm, close-knit community atmosphere.
Lowell Street NW is not simply a restored residence. It is a rare synthesis of history, global influence, and modern craftsmanship. A home that respects its origins while confidently redefining them, Hidden Meadow stands as a singular offering in Cleveland Park and beyond, a residence that embodies both elegance and thoughtful modern living.
