At first glance, you could imagine that this house is a beautifully crafted restoration/renovation project since the house fits so seamlessly into its streetscape in St. Michaels’ Historic District. However, the site was actually an empty lot and this house was actually built in 2017 and carefully designed by Atelier 11 Architects. The street façade has a main wing and a secondary wing that telescopes down to break up the massing in the tradition of the older houses.
The inviting front porch extends across the front of the main wing and the low slope metal roof has a gable at the end to mark the entry. The front elevation has been carefully detailed with large 2/2 windows, shutters and all of the elements of an older home, such as corner boards, lap siding and cornice boards. One of the benefits of new construction is the opportunity to create interior spaces that flow together well for today’s lifestyle. Locating the staircase to one side of the house maximizes the floor area of the adjacent living room. I loved the details in this room that make it special-the fireplace is set into the room and creates space for window seats on either side with double windows above, the recessed bookcases, the wide wall opening that connects the living room to the dining room, the open balustrade at the lower run of the stairs and the beautiful Hickory floors.
The dining room has daylight from both sides of this corner space from tall windows on either side of a hutch and French doors with a transom above that lead to the rear terrace. I was enchanted by the artisan designed “children’s table” and chuckled remembering my younger sister and I having to sit at a rickety card table for large family gatherings! As a cook, I also loved the kitchen with its white cabinets, light gray Quartz countertops, the farmhouse sink at the exterior window, another prep sink and light blue stools and the upper cabinets that extend to the ceiling with glass fronts for display of special pieces. Another recessed bookcase has space for serving pieces, art and ceramics.
A vista from the kitchen leads through a short hall to the ground floor bedroom suite and through the mud room/laundry to the rear door that opens onto a hardscaped area along the length of the house with a table and chairs for al-fresco dining. Careful placement of fencing, a delightful open air pavilion and a detached two-car garage provide perimeter privacy for this true “outdoor room” and its planting areas. The pavilion is a study in open/closed wall planes and the pitched ceiling is open to the underside of the decking above. Space for seating and a dining table makes this a cozy warm weather family room.
At the top of the stairs is a wall of built-in millwork with two knee spaces for access to computers. The second master suite has pitched ceilings that intersect the collar beam for additional ceiling height and a wide wall opening shows the master bath beyond with a deep soaking tub with its underside painted black and bold black & white floral wallpaper that reminded me of William Morris’ Chrysanthemum pattern. Another bedroom has the same ceiling treatment with a pencil post bed between two windows and a beautiful Craftsman settee. My favorite bedroom is a child’s bedroom with an enchanting “playroom” with its door and windows sized for wee folk.
Colonial Revival architecture that seamlessly fits into the historic streetscape, great floor plan and connections to indoor and outdoor spaces, new construction with careful detailing, trim and moldings-kudos to the architects for another great project!
For more information about this property, contact Carolina Barksdale with Benson & Mangold Real Estate at 410-745-0417(o), 443-786-0348 (c) or [email protected], “Equal Housing Opportunity”.
Architecture by Atelier 11 Architects, 410-822-3680, www.atelier11architecture.com, [email protected]
Spy House of the Week is an ongoing series that selects a different home each week. The Spy’s Habitat editor Jennifer Martella makes these selections based exclusively on her experience as a architect.
Jennifer Martella has pursued her dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. Her award winning work has ranged from revitalization projects to a collaboration with the Maya Lin Studio for the Children’s Defense Fund’s corporate retreat in her home state of Tennessee.
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