More On Home Additions
What We Build
Designed for Multiple Jobs
A lot of DC homeowners are sitting on more than they realize. Not just equity. Actual space that could be generating income, housing family, or giving someone in the household independence that the current layout does not allow.
Two-unit conversions are one of the more practical decisions you can make with a DC rowhome. Done well, you end up with two complete, livable spaces and a property that works harder for you. Done without the right team, you end up with code violations, a Certificate of Occupancy you cannot obtain, and a basement nobody wants to rent.
Most clients come to us with one of a few situations. A basement used for storage for a decade. A layout that made sense for a previous life but not this one. A parent or adult child who needs their own space but cannot afford their own place in the district. Or a mortgage that would be easier to carry with rental income coming in every month.
How It Works
The Details That Matter
The things that make or break a two-unit conversion are not the ones that look good in a floor plan. They are the ones you notice six months after move-in.
Is there real sound separation between units or just drywall? Does the lower unit get enough natural light to feel like a home rather than a finished basement? Do both units have genuinely separate entrances, or does one tenant end up walking past the other’s front door every day? Is the kitchen functional enough that someone would actually want to live there long term?
We think about all of it:
- Sound isolation between floors and shared walls, not just minimum code compliance
- Natural light and ceiling height in lower units, because both matter more than most people expect
- Separate entrances that feel intentional, not like an afterthought
- Kitchens and bathrooms that work for someone living there full time, not just reheating
- Utility separation and metering so both units can function independently
- Fire separation and egress that meet DC requirements without making the spaces feel like a safety checklist
DC rowhomes are tight. The constraints are real. The goal is a finished product where neither unit feels like it gave something up to make the other one work.
Why Blue Star
The Right Team Makes All the Difference
A two-unit conversion is not a standard renovation. Zoning, building separation, egress, mechanical systems, and unit privacy all have to work together before a single wall comes down. It takes a team that has done this before and knows where the complications hide.
Blue Star is an Architect-Led Design Build firm, and on a two-unit conversion that distinction is everything. When the architect and builder are the same team, the design is built around what is actually constructible on your specific property. Our process is built around three things: Lifestyle Driven Client Design, Craftsmanship with Architectural Details, and a Transparent Process.
Lifestyle Driven Design
Whether you are creating a rental unit, housing a family member, or maximizing the value of your property, we start by understanding exactly what you need each unit to do before we ever touch a floor plan. The design follows the life you are planning for, not the other way around.
Craftsmanship & Quality Details
A two-unit conversion lives or dies on the details you never see. Soundproofing, shared systems, unit separation, and code compliance all have to be resolved with precision. We are deliberate about every decision that affects how both units perform long after construction is complete.
A Transparent Process
Zoning approval, building permits, and historic review are all part of the process in DC. We manage all of it and keep you informed at every step. You will know what your project requires, what the timeline looks like, and what drives the budget before any work begins.
Let’s Figure Out What’s Possible
We do not do high-pressure consultations. We start by asking questions and being straightforward about what is realistic for your specific home, your zoning situation, and your budget.
Some clients come in ready to move. Others are still working out whether the numbers make sense. Either way, you leave with a clearer picture than you came in with, including what the project would actually cost and what it would realistically generate in rental income.
If you are somewhere in the early stages of thinking this through, that is exactly the right time to call.
Recognized by the Industry, Trusted by Our Clients
Thank you to our wonderful clients, exceptional employees, trusted partners, and everyone who helps us produce work we’re proud of. We’re honored to be recognized again as a multiple PRO MidAtlantic award winner in 2026, our 8th year in a row.
- Dream
- Design
- Build
- Enjoy
Most DC rowhomes were built for one household. A lot of them could be doing more. Blue Star designs and builds two-unit conversions that are fully legal, beautifully finished, and built to function for the long haul.
We are based in Washington DC and have been navigating this city’s regulatory environment long enough to know where the process gets complicated and how to help you navigate the process.
Happy Clients
Blue Star’s best trait is their attitude. Everyone is unfailing polite, even when things got hard. And when things went wrong, which I fully anticipated would happen, you guys did the right thing every single time.
When you buy from Eric and his team, you can rest assured that they will address problems your inspectors couldn’t see.
The craftsmen used were excellent. We were impressed with their work and attitude and ability to creatively work around issues. The addition seamlessly integrates into the rest of the house and it’s hard to believe that the new spaces haven’t always existed as part of the original home.
Blue Star loved the architectural and design challenges I handed them, and each time I came up with a new idea, they were driven to figure out the best way to deliver.
I was very pleased with my experience with Blue Star. The reason for the top 5-star rating is three fold- the quality of the work, the prices they obtained for materials and the design elements. I did a large renovation (kitchen, 3 bathrooms, HVAC, plus knocked down some walls) which took about 4 months.
Blue Star came in on budget and ahead of a very, very tight and critical schedule. We highly recommend them to anyone considering a renovation.