Reflections on Home: The Kensington Insider
By Stacey Kuzma
When we married in 1983 life was simple. My husband Paul was renting in Kensington Estates on Matthews Lane, and we knew we liked the soft-shell crabs from Hawkins Market. At the time we wondered if we would ever be able to afford a starter home. Providentially we found a tiny two bedroom cape cod on Maybrook Avenue in Kensington Heights that we scooped up for $90K. In the beginning, I would walk over to Kensington Library to find my books and browse the bulletin board for new mom groups in the area, crochet lessons, and volunteer opportunities at local nursing homes.
Paul was busy starting his construction firm, and as our family grew, he created built-in shelves for our encyclopedias; and added the second floor for two more bedrooms and the beloved “cubby” room off the girls’ room. Our two-person-capacity kitchen blossomed into an open kitchen with a family room addition and a deck. After 15 years and six children, we had deep roots with Holy Redeemer Parish, Kensington Girl Scout Troops, Oakland Terrace fields, and Noyes Library for Miss Nelson’s story hours and finger puppet shows.
A second nudge from friends about a home in Chevy Chase View that would be for sale with a nice big yard, within walking distance of the kids’ school got us thinking about our second home. The existing home was tiny but to our surprise, we were able to purchase for what we could sell our home for on Maybrook. Paul teamed up with architect Paul Gaiser and built a family home for the nine of us!
It has been 24 years here on Cedar Lane. Five weddings later, the home has allowed our now-adult children to launch their own lives. Back in 1999, we questioned whether we were crazy to be creating a home on Cedar Lane at a value over $400,000. At that time, our friends reasoned with us by offering the consolation that “it may be a bad investment, but you will live and raise your family here and that will be the real treasure of the home.”
Needless to say, our investment has grown exponentially. But our friends were right. There is no value that can be placed on the family memories of grandparents, children, and grandchildren who have made memories in that nice big yard.
As a K-Town native and real estate agent, placing young families in this amazing town is one of my great joys. On weekdays kids stream through the streets to and from Parkwood, Holy Redeemer, and Brookewood. Saturday mornings offer a stroll through the train station farm market to see friends we have known for decades shop and listen to live music! December brings the Kensington Antique Row Open House.
Over the years, Paul’s firm, Kuzma Construction, has remodeled many Kensington homes. We like to say that we offer a full view on a property, whether you are looking for gems off-market, or need insight into how a mid-century could be redesigned for your family.
