French Country Style Homes in Washington DC Metro Area

Those seeking homes for sale in the Washington Metro area that are large and elegant, while also possessing a certain rustic charm, may want to consider the French Country style. This particular design has its own look but also shares influences with some other traditional types of architecture.

Rooted in the French rural countryside, the form initially applied to cottages, farmhouses and large estates. When it comes to DC, Maryland and Virginia however, these homes are almost exclusively large and expensive. French Country homes for sale have enjoyed a strong resurgence in recent years, including new custom home construction in upscale suburban neighborhoods.

The look entails multiple steep gable or hipped-gable rooflines, exteriors made from stone or stucco, archways and multi-paned windows. There are typically wings, and sometimes a front projecting wing to one side. Entering one of these spacious, luxury dwellings, you’ll often find high ceilings with exposed beam work, stone fireplaces and sometimes a stone wall or two. Classic French doors open out to patios and sometimes transition from one wing to another. The kitchens often have a signature style as well with an unusual amount of detailing for the wood cabinets. 

If you’re looking for a very large selection of available properties in one specific style in the DC area, you might want to focus on Colonials which are the most predominant style in the region, or perhaps English Tudor-style or Cape Cods.

But if your heart is really set on a French Country home, you will probably have to search in specific luxury communities. Those include Bethesda and Potomac in Maryland’s Montgomery County; McLean and Great Falls in Fairfax County, and Mount Vernon and Fort Hunt in the southern part of Alexandria.

Of course, it’s not set in country stone that you’ll find your French dream house in one of those exclusive places. But over the course of time, those are enclaves where they have been a significant number of high-end homes with an International flavor.

There’s also the no-so-small matter of cost. These are not the type of properties that you seek out on a bargain budget. Recent active listings in the French Country style have started around a million dollars, climbing quickly from there. But imagine the pleasure of relaxing in your giant study on a weekend afternoon as the kids play croquet out on the perfect lawn. Or perhaps inspecting the gardener’s progress on your roses? It’s the good life!

To learn more, call District Partners at Compass, at 202-798-3600.