• The never-ending story of the Shaw Library continues with another round of redesigns. The project’s date of completion is set for 2010, but at this pace... [DCMud]

• With a little help from singer Feist, this video breaks down McCain’s seven houses.  [Examiner]

• DC Metrocentric finds the greenest building in the city, and it’s not one you’d expect. [DCMetrocentric]

Style > Best Bargains Package 

Sea of Savings: Cmart

We would suggest not heading to Cmart without your room dimensions and door widths—this former Kmart is so cavernous that large pieces can look small amid rows of chests, chairs, sofas, tables, armoires, bars, and vanities.

While remaining true to its off-price-clothing roots, Cmart added furniture in 2001 and today scavenges bankruptcy sales and furniture marts in High Point, North Carolina, and Las Vegas.

Brands include E.J. Victor, Haversham, and Stone International. Markdowns can be substantial: A Maitland-Smith blond-wood entertainment center, originally $11,700, was $4,329 recently. A Gail Steele black glass sink with brass and cut-glass faucets in an ornate vanity was marked down from $3,100 to $1,082.

The best deal? Free delivery.

Cmart, 1000 Joppa Farm Rd., Joppa, Md.; 410-538-6100; cmart.com.

This one-bedroom condo is in a gated building with a garden just a few blocks from Union Station. The unit comes furnished with a queen-size bed, 32-inch flat-screen TV, living room furniture, a dining table, a projection theater sytem, and more. In the living room, where the projection screen retracts to hide behind a cornice, there are hardwood floors and a fireplace. The kitchen has maple cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and dark granite countertops, and the bathroom features travertine tiles and a Jacuzzi tub. The unit opens onto a shared patio.

Address: 615 Third St., NE
Price: $1,950 a month
Move-in: Early September

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

More>> Open House Blog | Homes | Real Estate  

Where: 6113 Franklin Park Road, McLean
Listing price: $2,950,000
Time on the market: Two months
Bedrooms: Five
Bathrooms: Five

Built in 1997, this contemporary home in McLean packs lots of luxury amenities into a one-level space. The most breathtaking feature is the great room, which has a wall of windows and 14 skylights. On one wall are built-in shelves and cabinets, and on the opposite, a large stone fireplace. The great room opens onto the front patio, which looks out over the wooded property. Other neat features include a gourmet kitchen, refrigerated wine closet, and a greenhouse.

Have a tip about a luxury property on the market? Send it to eleaman@washingtonian.com.

More>> Open House Blog | Homes | Real Estate  

Before I walked into my freshly de-walled apartment and gazed directly into the kitchen from the living room, I had begun to doubt myself. Dealing with contractors and my building managers while trying to operate a normal work and social life is a massive and unpleasant undertaking. What’s more, after working on this for months, I had nothing to show for it.

But now that there is a giant hole where that wall used to be, I am back on board. It is fabulous! My apartment suddenly feels huge and bright, and even in its Beirut-like condition, I love being home. Welcome to my emotional roller coaster.

Set the kids up with some crayons and coloring books at this pint-size wood table, available for $40 in Potomac. It comes with a pair of matching chairs—which may need seat cushions. The set would be great in a playroom, or as a kids’ table in the kitchen.

Other good finds:

• Maple china cabinet for $250
• A small bookshelf (that could double as a side table) for $50
• A pair of oak barstools with wicker seats for $75
• Centipede, the arcade game made by Atari in the 1980s, for $650

Thanks, Craig! 

• Metrocentric has the floorplan of John McCain’s three bedroom luxury condo in Crystal City. [Metrocentric]

• Check out NPR’s neat interactive feature on 52 O Street Studio, the 94-year-old former warehouse that's now home to more than 20 artists. There’s video, slideshows, and a brief history of the space.  [NPR via Bloomingdale]

• A former bank on 14th and F streets will undergo extensive renovation before reopening as the Armenian Genocide Museum of America. [DCMUD]