The owners of this property looked to convert a dilapidated 19th-century carriage house on their property into a private urban oasis, a “third space” inspired by their love of travel and literature. As a site in Georgetown, the project required careful deliberation with the committee of the historic review board and cohesive integration with the entirety of the townhouse lot. We took advantage of the elevation of the site to create a holistic approach, integrating the new “carriage house” within the property. High brick walls frame an Italian garden wall fountain and a flagstone and brick patio, creating a private enclosure that leads to the new space and signals its playful rustic aesthetic. We turned to the property’s natural incline to achieve two distinct storeys within height restrictions, setting the wine cellar and tasting room slightly below ground and a separate library for quiet reading and relaxing above. With vintage Italian terracotta tile floors, rough-hewn distressed wooden panels, decorative iron work, oak beamed ceiling, yellow ochre walls, and rustic antique fixtures, the wine cellar evokes the intimacy of the small Tuscan vineyards so loved by the owners. A more formal elegance marks the library. Cherry built-in bookcases are answered by the cherry wall punctuated by the bold black granite fireplace. The herringbone-patterned walnut flooring, a nod to the natural wood of the tasting room below, adds tangible warmth to the room. A wall of windows affords a view of the patio. A cherry-paneled octagonal dome fills the interior with natural light, an Italian villa concept appropriate for this sophisticated retreat in the heart of the city.