One of the many lessons I have learned while renovating my kitchen is that “finished” can be  subjective. A week ago, my kitchen was definitely not finished. Most of the tile was up, but it was not grouted. The lower edges of the cabinets had no trim. One cabinet was not installed, and half of the countertop was missing.

Now that all of those items are in the “done” column, I am declaring victory. The kitchen is finished. Bring on the dinner parties. The before and after pictures are going up. Let’s fire up those appliances and make some food. Finally.

And yet, it is not finished.

This glass-top dining table is available for $1,750 in Bowie. The sleek design is simplistic and modern, and the wood legs give it a traditional touch. The table comes with six chocolate leather chairs. The seller says he purchased the set for $3,500 from Casa Nostra in Georgetown.

Other good finds:
• A side table with extension leaves for $75.
• A nine-drawer mahogany-stained dresser for $150.
• A pair of chairs made from Yugoslavian pine for $600.
• A glass-top breakfast table with four chairs for $350.

More>> Open House Blog | Homes | Real Estate  

The September Washingtonian featured this triangular-shaped house on a sliver of land at the corner of 10th street and Florida Avenue in Northwest DC. To read the full article—and see more than a dozen pictures of the house—click here. 

• The New York Times called the NoMa neighborhood, “Washington’s newest and hottest commercial neighborhood.” It also noted, however, that “NoMa has 836,000 square feet of vacant office space” and the number may soon increase as more buildings in the area near completion. [NYT]

• According to a national survey, most real estate agents don’t think the real estate market will recover until 2010. The survey also revealed that most think foreign investments will drive the market in the coming years. [WBJ]

• A $73 million apartment building is planned for the intersection of Glebe Road and I-395 in Shirlington. The building will feature 217 units, 20 of which are slated to be affordable housing. [Bisnow]

After some delay, the seven-story Metropole in Logan Circle opened its doors to the public last night with as much flash and glamour as can be mustered for an open house. The Metropolis Development Company called in some old friends for the preview—including Humphrey Bogart and John Wayne, displayed in full black-and-white cardboard—to help launch its “Golden Age of Hollywood” theme. Spotlights on the corner of 15th and P streets helped direct foot traffic to the building, where two life-size Oscar statues flanked the front entrance.  

Although real estate agents love to throw around the phrase “one of a kind,” properties rarely live up to that description. Evermay, which hit the market this morning for $49 million, fits the bill.

The two-and-one-half story brick mansion sits on three-and-a-half acres in the heart of Georgetown. British architect Nicholas King, who helped Pierre L’Enfant design Washington, created the Federal style mansion in 1801. Last sold in 1923 to diplomat Lammot Belin, it’s now rented out for special events like wedding receptions and corporate parties.

If the estate goes for the asking price, it would shatter the record for the most expensive home sale in DC—in 2007, another Georgetown mansion, the Bowie-Sevier house, broke the previous record by $10 million when media entrepreneur Robert Albritton bought it for $24 million.  

Considering the economy, we expect this one to sit on the market for quite a while.

What: Sheridan Garage

Where: 2516 Q Street, NW

Number of Units: 34

Floor Plans and Sizing: No two units are the same—floor plans range from a 500-square-foot studio to a 2,400-square-foot three bedroom, 2.5 bath penthouse.

Prices: Studios start at $399,000, one-bedrooms at $499,000, and two-bedrooms at $699,000.

In Each Unit: Red oak floors, granite countertops, cherry cabinets, limestone bathrooms, and gas fireplaces.