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<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nRoger and Susan Gendron looked at about a dozen houses before choosing this rowhouse in Dupont Circle. They were drawn to its location and history. Designed by architect George O. von Nerta and built for lawyer Myer Cohen in 1892, the house was later home to Emmett J. Scott, chief aide to Booker T. Washington and the highest-ranking African American in Woodrow Wilson\u2019s administration.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
At first, the couple had modest renovation goals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen we started the process, we were just going to do a small rehab,\u201d Roger said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Like a lot of renovation projects, this one kept expanding. The expansion was driven in part by a health scare Susan endured during the four-year project. The renovation was a welcome distraction, giving her something other than her illness to focus on.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe sat down, and we said, \u2018You know, we may never get an opportunity to do something like this again,\u2019\u2009\u201d Roger said. \u201cWe don\u2019t know what our future is. Let\u2019s do it all now, do it the way it should be done.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n