Recently I traveled to Williamsburg, VA to drop my oldest for her sophomore year of college. I thought a little “me” time was in order after saying goodbye to her (doesn’t get easier the second year, by the way) so I planned to stay a couple of days in Washington, DC at my cousin’s apartment.
I knew I wanted to get out and shoot a bit, so I prearranged a meeting with two of my favorite Instagrammers from the DC area, Laurie aka @dccitygirl, and David aka @frenchieyankee, who were both happy to oblige in showing me around one of their favorite DC neighborhoods: Georgetown. They may have regretted it later due to the exceedingly hot and humid weather, but I was exceedingly grateful.
I was in Georgetown once quite a few years ago, before my photography obsession began, so I knew that the area had plenty of material to shoot. Once we started walking and I really began to pay attention to the details, I was delighted at my surroundings. Here just a few of the things that made photographing Georgetown so special:
- Georgetown is the oldest neighborhood in DC, founded even before the nation’s capital. The entire village, as some refer to it, is considered a National Historic Landmark and its buildings are protected under the Georgetown Historic District, the first historic district established in DC and the sixth in the nation. The age of most buildings makes the houses and streetscapes just a little bit crooked, a little bit crumbly, and a lot more charming!
Two historic homes, one with whitewashed brick and the other with a lively blue painted finish. Architectural details include the bay window on the left, and the trim on the right. 
Due to settling over time, this trio of rowhouses looks a little bit tipsy, which make them all the more charming.
- With the use of brick, cobblestones, and other materials, Georgetown is full of texture and pattern that adds instant character and interest to every scene.
A bright red door adds impact to this midnight blue rowhouse on a cobblestone street. 
This architectural gem is finished with a “German smear” treatment, or a brick mortar wash, to achieve the whitewashed appearance on the facade. And don’t worry, the caution tape railings are temporary!
- While Georgetown has a variety of architectural styles, it is perhaps best known for its rowhouses which were popular in the late 19th century. I enjoyed meandering down street after street lined with rowhouses, connected to each other and yet distinct from one another.
These rowhouses are a bit reminiscent of San Francisco architecture, don’t you think? Maybe it’s the colors! 
Almost mirror images of each other, these rowhouses distinguish themselves a bit with trim paint color and small details like the light fixture on the left.
- Georgetown is one place you might actually find me hanging around on the street corner. Almost every corner we passed was photo-worthy and provided a fresh perspective of the architecture.
Many of the street corners have lampposts with street signs, such as this intersection of O Street and 31st. 
A less common Second Empire rowhouse, with stunning triple chimneys.
- Although most Georgetown homes have very little space for a garden, homeowners make the most of what they do have – sometimes just letting the ivy take over!
Painted a dusky blue with a pop of red on the door, this rowhouse stands out not only for its color scheme but for its delightful front yard garden. 
With a front yard garden larger than most, this homeowner takes full advantage by filling it with colorful plants and shrubs. 
These homeowners may have a plant problem, but it works for me!
- Of course I have to mention the front doors themselves! Most homes still retain their original doors, often painted in bright colors and enhanced by a variety of light fixtures, door knockers, and other hardware.
These two doors are twins, but are trying so hard to differentiate themselves from each other. 
This elegant entry is topped with a delicate leaded glass fanlight, and has an unusual door knocker. Is that George Washington? 
The two shades of green add depth to this entryway, and the federal eagle door knocker and silver bell add unique touches.
- Undoubtedly my favorite thing in Georgetown is the painted brick on so many of the houses we passed. In the Northeast painted brick is much less common, and in cities like Boston it is almost non-existent, so it is fun to see the variety of colors and the creativity shown by homeowners.
This blue house is perhaps the most photographed house in Georgetown, with its richly painted brick, stained wooden door, and the interesting trees that grow in between each set of windows. 
A fresh mint green (or maybe pistachio green?) covers this rowhouse, and the turquoise blue door is the perfect complement. 
Nothing like a bright sunny yellow to perk up even the gloomiest of days. The coordinating bicycle is a bonus!
This virtual walk through Georgetown is just a small sampling of its treasures, and no doubt you would leave with own list of things that make it special to you. I hope to return to Washington DC sometime soon to explore other neighborhood gems that the city has to offer. In parting, I’ll leave you with this brightly painted floral confection – enjoy!
A preppy pink and green combination dress this floral shop up, with a cascade of blooms trailing over the front door.
[x_author title=”About the Author”]
My name is Deb Cohen, and I am a lifelong resident of Connecticut, a lover of all things historic and New England, and a realtor who helps buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals and dreams. When I’m not working, I enjoy life with my husband, our two adult children, and our two rescue pups. Renovating and decorating our historic home, dating to 1800, is another favorite pastime.
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Hello! Thanks so much for the kind words! I wouldn’t say running a blog is a massive amount of work, and the beauty is that you can post whenever you like! If you are doing it for pleasure vs as a business it can really be what you want it to be. If you want to blog for income, it takes time and quite a bit of work, so that’s a different story. I am not very technically savvy but I was able to set this blog up myself using WordPress. There are lots of articles and tutorials out there to help you! There are some other software options for creating a blog that may be easier like Wix or Square Space, so look into those as well. Give it a shot!
All these pictures are gorgeous, Deb! Definitely adding Georgetown to my must-visit list.
Oh you would love it Susie! And I just scratched the surface. There is some amazing history there!
Love these pics, and your comments. Heading to DC soon and looking forward to a walk through Georgetown.
Thanks so much Suzanne! Hope you have better weather than I did – I don’t think I have ever sweat so much in my life!
That is a very pretty area. I haven’t been there for a long time. It’s good to see some of the buildings.
Thanks Dan! It’s really an architecture lover’s dream!
Beautiful architecture, doors, glass, hardware, and landscaping. Good reminder to always visit Georgetown when in the area. 🙂
Thanks so much Judy! Just a wonderful place to wander and admire!