This desk-and-file-cabinet duo, available in Columbia Heights, is a steal at $30. The dark wood desk is a simple, sleek design with almost four feet of tabletop space and three drawers. The matching two-drawer cabinet fits snuggly underneath, or can be pulled out for more leg room. Put it next to the desk and turn it into a printer stand.

Other good finds:
• Glass and wrought-iron dining table for $175
• Eight-by-ten Karastan rug for $650
• Oak butcher block for $99
• Two white bookcases for $600, or one for $325
• Pair of Dansk candlesticks for $70

Thanks, Craig!

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• Montgomery County has chosen a development company for the Silver Spring Transit Center, a three-story complex that will support Metro, commuter rail lines, and local bus lines. The complex is set to be constructed adjacent to the Silver Spring Metro station. [Live on the Red Line]

• Mayor Fenty announced the launch of the Columbia Heights Public Realm Plan this week. Though construction doesn’t start until September, the plan includes a fountain near the intersection of 14th Street and Park Road, road and sidewalk paving, and new lighting. [The Heights Life]

• DCMetrocentric has an illustration of what the Old District Courthouse building will look like after its new addition. [DC Metrocentric]

This one-bedroom condo in Silver Spring is on a side street near Paint Branch Park—the Craigslister says the balcony has a wooded view. Inside, there are wood laminate floors throughout, which nicely compliment the sunny yellow walls in the living room. The galley kitchen, which the poster says was recently renovated, has Silestone quartz countertops and a small pass-through window into the living room. The bathroom has a pedestal sink and ceramic tiles. There is also a washer and dryer in the unit, and pets are welcome on a case-by-case basis.

Address: Old Columbia Pike and Carriage House Drive, Silver Spring
Price: $1,100 a month
Move-in: September 1

Know about a great rental? Send it to eleaman@washingtonian.com.

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Where: 1714 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Listing price: $17.5 million
Time on the market: one-and-a-half months
Bedrooms: six
Bathrooms: eight

Built in 1890, this brick Dupont Circle rowhouse was designed much like its embassy neighbors: It features grand public entertaining rooms on the first floor—including front and rear parlors and a wood-paneled formal dining room—and living space on the three upper floors. The kitchen, stocked with granite countertops and a refrigerator disguised as cabinetry, is just off the family room on the second floor. It has a central island with a cooktop and hood, and it’s anchored by floor-to-ceiling pillars on each corner. The white-painted library—a sunny change from the wood paneling that frequently defines these spaces—has a fireplace and built-in bookshelves. The master bath has a glass shower, double sinks, and a claw-foot soaking tub.
 

I hope you’ve all enjoyed reading this column as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it over the past few months. With the kitchen completed and my house fully functional—if not quite “pretty” yet—I have to take a break from the renovations, both for my sanity and my checkbook. Over the summer I hope to tackle some landscaping, while saving up for the last BIG project: the upstairs bathroom. I don’t even want to think about living without a shower for however long that will take.

For now, it’s time to look back and see if I’ve been spending my money well. Since I haven’t done an official appraisal, I have to do my best guess based on comparable homes in my neighborhood, so take my guess for what it’s worth. Rowhouses with about 1,100 square-feet that are totally renovated and have two bedrooms and 1.5 baths are going for about $400,000 in my neighborhood. Even though my upstairs bathroom still needs work, some of the drywall is banged up, the yard isn’t landscaped, and I still have some painting to do and electrical outlet covers to install, I don’t think a $375,000 estimate is out of the question. So let’s do the math:

Neat!

This all-in-one bed/desk/dresser/trundle was just too neat to pass up for our weekly treasure hunt. Selling for $500, it’s a huge—and, presumably, heavy—one-piece bedroom set that would be great for a kid’s room. There’s a bunk bed on top, seven dresser drawers, and a desk with pull-out top and storage shelves. Hidden underneath is a twin trundle bed for overnight guests. The poster is also including a matching desk chair with the purchase and writes that there are other matching pieces available for an extra charge.

Other good finds:
• A modern black leather futon for $600
• A white cottage-style nightstand for $40
• Walnut secretary with lots of storage for $500
• Dining table with four leather chairs for $400

Thanks, Craig!

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