7108 Holly Ave Takoma Park, MD 20912

This home is an artful blend of historic charm and new green practices. This beautiful home acts as a sundial, bringing sun and light into the house all day, making the abundant wood and plaster glow. The rear addition to this classic bungalow cottage, built in 2006, is straw bale and natural plaster construction. Green roofs, creative building with salvaged materials and locally milled wood, heating with a corn stove, and a storm water management plan integrated with beautiful native plantings and a retention pond are just some of the sustainable features. Rooftop solar panels fulfill about 15 percent of the home's electricity needs, with 2 people in the apartment and 5 people upstairs the load is high. Even on a frigid day, the home is warm, thanks to the corn-fired stove in the corner of the kitchen, the room at the center of the house. The addition to the historical part of the house includes a kitchen, 2 offices/libraries, pantry/laundry, powder room and mudroom, as well as a charming sunroom downstairs. Upstairs there are four bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a porch. But the walls on the addition aren't made of drywall, they were built using straw bale construction, a method that involves stacking up bales of straw and plastering it inside and out to protect it from the elements and achieving exceptional insulation characteristics. The transformation of the existing home into an ethereal gallery creates a counterpoint to the intimacy and materiality of the rest of the house. Rain barrels in the backyard collect runoff for use in the garden. A collection pond captures water that would normally run downhill and pool in the basement, turning it into a habitat for birds and other animals. All energy-star rated appliances (at the least) and an ERV system (energy recovery ventilation) also add to the environmentally conscious design. Legal accessory apartment in basement with one bedroom and one bath, spacious kitchen and high ceilings. Can be used as in-law suite or for rental. Don't miss this one, you'll never see another like it!