THE JOHNSON JOURNAL  NOVEMBER 2015
Real Estate, Design, Travel, and did we say Real Estate?
     
Greetings from Kara & Wayne Johnson,

Happy Fall! In this newsletter, we'll take you to our cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, feature a local interior designer who has had huge success , and introduce you to the CEO of KWCP. Also check out our latest featured listing and properties under contract

We would also like to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!
NCA River Runs Through It

About 22 years ago we had the opportunity to purchase a run-down circa 1930s cabin on the headwaters of the Cullasaja River in Western North Carolina.  Our purchase price at the time was an unheard of price by today's standards. The cabin needed a complete "gut job" which we did over time adding a master bedroom suite, upper and lower decks, 27' of sliding glass doors, a fireplace, and more recently a dining/family room on the lower level off the kitchen.  Our cabin is located in the idyllic and picturesque town of Highlands with an elevation of 4,118 feet and an average summer temperature of 70 degrees.  Rhododendrons and mountain laurel grow wild.  No wonder it is referred to as  paradise by everyone who visits.
 
Most people are familiar with coastal NC and the beaches but our home is all the way across the state to the mountains and the far Southwest corner. The next town is in Georgia.
The drive from DC takes 9-10 hours through Virginia and Tennessee and follows the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Southern Appalachians and up the Cullasaja Gorge. While this may seem remote to many, Highlands is just a 2-hour drive from Atlanta and it seems like everyone from there has a grand 2nd home in a gated golf community. Ours is not. However, the Atlanta affluence helps sustain some of the local businesses, which we particularly like - fine dining, wine bars, shops, and did we say fine dining? It even has #5 of TripAdvisor's Top Hotels in the country, Old Edwards Inn
 
Of course we do climb mountains when we are there, take walks along our river to feed the ducks and geese, or take our canoe to Cullasaja Falls or to the old damn which forms Mirror Lake. Once we are there we are in another world, and the long drive just serves to help us unwind and leave behind any stresses there may be. We'll be going there for Thanksgiving this year and can't wait. Here is wishing you and your family and friends a very happy turkey day from our house to yours!

DarrylA Local Designer: Darryl Carter

Darryl Carter is a renowned interior designer right here in DC. Darryl began his career 18 years ago after realizing that being a lawyer was no longer his passion. Darryl creates tailored and bespoke environments for his clients. He is known for his neutral palettes allowing the artwork selected to take center stage.  He is a talented designer who blends the old and new, modern and traditional.  We love his knack for using neutral color palettes in combination with traditional and transitional pieces (furniture, lighting, accessories).* His work has appeared in Architectural Digest and he has two books out, The New Traditional and The Collected Home, which make great gifts for the design lovers on your holiday shopping list. Darryl also has his own furniture line and recently added his own line of paint colors through Benjamin Moore Paints.
Custom-designed table at The Foxhall
Purposefully Classical Design
Recently, we had the opportunity to attend a preview party at a spectacular luxury condo Darryl designed at The Foxhall in Wesley Heights. This condo is now listed for sale and we would love to show it to you if you are interested in seeing Darryl's work firsthand. We also stopped by his shop and design headquarters on 9th Street in Shaw, one of our new favorite neighborhoods. The commercial building has a showroom in the front, which is more like a museum of intriguing artifacts and special finds, and the carriage house in the back functions as his design studio.   He is also the designer for a new condo project called 10Eleven at the corner of 10th and M Streets NW.  While the project is still under construction, sales have started and we would be happy to set up an appointment for you at the sales gallery if you're interested in this project.  For more information about Darryl Carter, visit his website  www.darrylcarter.com.  
10Eleven Condo Rendering
*Bio excerpts from blogher.com
Meet Our CEOCEO
    
We are pleased to introduce you to  Bo Menkiti , our CEO and Co-Founder of Keller Williams Capital Properties (KWCP).  This year Bo was named one of Washington Business Journal's 40 under 40 honorees, a list acknowledging 40 of Washington, D.C.'s brightest young business leaders under age 40.  In 2004, Bo Menkiti founded the Menkiti Group, which was ranked as the largest minority-owned business in the District of Columbia in 2015. In 2006, Mr. Menkiti co-founded KW Capital Properties, the fastest growing real estate brokerage in the Washington D.C. region. Under Bo Menkiti's leadership, KWCP has witnessed a meteoric climb in the past nine years, reporting $1.5 billion in closed sales volume in 2014 across its five offices throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Earlier this year, Keller Williams Realty, the #1 real estate company in North America, honored Bo Menkiti as its 2015 'Entrepreneur of the Year' at its annual Family Reunion convention in Orlando, FL.  Bo was also recognized by the Washington Business Journal as one of the most influential business leaders in the Washington metropolitan area in 2014. 

Bo is a graduate of Harvard University and lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Kymber, and their three young sons. 

Kara and Wayne are proud to be affiliated with Bo Menkiti and KWCP's Dupont Circle office.  Kara joined KWCP in 2009 while still employed as an international program manager with the Federal government.  Wayne joined KWCP in 2011 after twice retiring from special education administration in Maryland and Virginia.  He was named his company's Rookie of the Year in his first year.  Kara was named Rookie of the Year the following year in 2013 in her first year as a full-time agent.  Together they have represented buyers, sellers, and investors throughout DC and earned a reputation as consummate professionals and top producers. 
FeaturedListingFEATURED LISTING: 1414 22nd St NW #1
New Listing!
Welcome to this luxury condo at Dumbarton Place in Dupont Circle adjacent to Rock Creek Park and Georgetown. This unit features an open floor plan with wide-plank solid oak hardwood floors throughout and high-end finishes and upgrades. Enter through the South-facing private gated patio. The Chef's kitchen with Viking gas range, Sub-Zero panelized refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher, custom cabinets, pantry, granite counters, and breakfast bar are an entertainer's dream. The spacious bedroom has a large walk-in closet with custom organizers. Enjoy the convenience of the in-unit oversized washer and dryer. Relax in the spa-like Carrera marble bath with double vanity, Koehler fixtures, tub with shower, and linen closet. The Western exposure overlooking Rock Creek Park provides lots of natural light. A 2-car garage parking space completes the package. Dumbarton Place is an elegant, boutique building offering concierge, fitness facilities and roof deck with gas grill and spectacular views. Conveniently located walking distance to Dupont Metro, restaurants, Trader Joe's, Rock Creek Park, and Georgetown. List price: $579,000. For more information, contact Kara
 

UnderContractBlocksUNDER CONTRACT: 2332 Fairview Terrace, Alexandria, VA
Under contract in 1 week!

Welcome to  this semi-detached duplex Colonial townhouse conveniently located in Alexandria minutes to the Metro. This 3-level home features 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths including a finished lower level with separate laundry and storage room.  You'll love the solid oak floors throughout and recently renovated open kitchen with gas range, stainless steel appliances, and quartz countertops. The house has a welcoming front yard with paved walkway leading to the front door and the 2-car driveway makes for easy off-street parking. The large deck in the rear of the house just off the kitchen overlooks the lush private backyard ideal for grilling and entertaining. The 6-foot privacy fence is great for pets. Easy access to 495, Route 1 & Old Town. List Price: $349,900. Contact our colleague, Lauren Donnelly, ldonnelly@kw.com, for more information. 
UNDER CONTRACT: 1415 Chapin Street NW #408

Spacious 2-bedroom (1BR + large den), 2-bath condo in the heart of 14th Street Corridor. This unit features nearly 1,000 square feet of living space, 9 1/2' ceilings, solid oak hardwood floors throughout, and recessed lighting. Unit #408 was combined with unit #409 to create a unique and desirable floor plan with a kitchen open to the living area, separate dining area, which accommodates a large dining table, and a nook off the kitchen ideal as an office or breakfast area. The sunny master bedroom has an en-suite bath with marble countertop and plenty of closet space. The large den with windows and a closet can accommodate a queen bed and is easily converted to a true 2nd bedroom. In-unit washer/dryer. Conveniently located half a mile between U Street and Columbia Heights Metro stations. Meridian Hill Park, restaurants, Trader Joe's, Yes! Organic Market, CVS, and shops just around the corner along 14th Street Corridor. Pet-friendly. List price: $479,000. Contact  Kara  for more info.


Spacious 2BR/1BA home in Cleveland Park. Welcoming living room features large windows & gleaming hardwood floors. Gourmet, eat-in kitchen is complimented by the stainless steel appliances & granite counter tops. Large bedrooms that have built-in cabinets for additional storage & great closet space. Parking available for rent. Great location, close to Cleveland Park METRO. List Price: $379,900. Contact Wayne for more information. Wayne is representing the buyers. 
Kara Johnson
Keller Williams Capital Properties 
1918 18th St NW
Washington,DC  20009 
202.243.7700 office
202.378.4240 cell
202.315.3889 efax
karajohnson@kw.com  
Keller Williams Capital Properties        
1918 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009  
202.243.7700 office
202.494.0714 cell
202.315.3889 efax 
waynej@kw.com   

Did you know that we have a network of top KW agents all over North America and many cities worldwide?

Do you have family or friends who are thinking of buying or selling?  If they are in the DC area, we would love to be the ones you call to refer them to us.  However, if they live somewhere else or are moving out of the area, we can make referrals to top KW agents almost anywhere.

We are grateful for your business and for all your referrals - near and far!