A Stable's Fine Renovation:
Clearing the Stucco to Revive the Past

In the late 1990s, Ken Richards, a teacher of religion studies at Gonzaga College High School, turned his focus to finding a new home; once he saw the charming house and private gardens at 408 D St., NE, he was sold. Like most of the homes on the 400 block of D Street, NE, his was built in 1850, and after doing a little detective work, Richards discovered that his new home had a rich history of renovation.

The son of an architect, he had enough personal knowledge to easily identify many of the home's structural changes over the years. He noted the meeting point of two types of brick about two-thirds of the way back, marking a clear line from where the house once ended and where it was extended. It's believed that the rear one-third of the home is the original structure, and Richards thinks it either served as a cook's house or possibly a stable.

Some of the most significant alterations, however, happened in the 1930s. It was at this time that the city flexed its muscles and claimed land on the western side of the property to create an alley. The driveway on the east was removed to create wonderful winding brick pathways to the entrance, which was relocated from the street side to the eastside of the house. A front balcony was installed on the second story above the original doorway. The entire yard was enclosed in brick walls to create the cottage courtyard feel, and the raised brick side-garden and brick formal entry stairs were added during the same time (evidenced by the perfectly matching brick). Access for off-street parking was moved to the rear of the property.

And then there was stucco…

Richards spent the first four years personalizing the house and its gardens to his liking, and things were coming along nicely until the day the stucco began to fly. In 2004, his neighbor's home - which is connected to Richards' courtyard and gardens on the east - underwent a major stucco replacement job. The workmen promised to be as careful as possible, but when the project was completed, Richards' peaceful garden oasis looked more like a gravel pit.

When Richards began the task of removing bags of soil that were littered with stucco, he realized that his beautiful garden had to be renovated completely. This time Richards decided to work with a professional and get some design advice on moving his garden to the spot where he always wanted it to be. For starters, the soils were amended, the landscaper added 500 pounds of composted soil to the garden beds, and a drip irrigation system was installed for those hot summer days.

When designing the plant layout, the designer exploited the microclimates that are quite drastic in Richards' garden. A wide palette of plants, varying from full-shade-loving Hosta and Azalea to sun-worshiping Rudbeckia and Echinacea, were added; and Bleeding heart, Daylilies, Sedum and Liriope were also included.

In the entry beds, the shrubs were saved where possible, and some of the more unruly, older shrubs were shaped and pruned, making them welcome friends in his garden. His mature Dogwood recovered quite nicely after four inches of stucco was cleared from its soil. New additions include a Hinoki Cypress, Acuba and Japonica in the entry beds; and a mature climbing Hydrangea, which adds contrast and “up motion" to the left entry just off the dramatic brick and column rounded formal entry stairs. A hedge was also added to soften the neighbor's new fence, using Nandina domestica.

In the spring, Richards plants his favorite annuals and fills numerous planters with brightly contrasting colors and textures. He also keeps a full-sun enclave in the northwest tip of the garden filled with herbs, and in the summer months, a few seasonal vegetables will share the herb garden. Over the last two summers, Richards has added the ornaments of a well-tended garden. The birds now flock to bathe in the bird bath, especially during the hot summer months. Richards' earth and gardens are experiencing a renaissance in the last year, after an especially rocky patch.