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May 18, 2021

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

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House of the Week: Goldsborough Gem

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One of my favorite books on my architectural library shelves  is “Painted Ladies: San Francisco’s Resplendent Victorians”, filled with pictures of the “great ladies” festooned with elaborate ornamentation and three or more colors.  Last year I featured the Federal style house at the corner of Goldsborough and Harrison and admired this irresistible house across the corner that combined the best of the Queen Anne and Victorian styles.  On the day I visited today’s feature, I first walked around the house and admired the massing and the rich range of details enhanced by a color scheme of light green, cream and deep purple.  

The street elevation is a delightful composition with its full front porch, two second floor windows offset above the front door and single window, the hipped roof punctuated by a single dormer window and the magnificent corner turret. I loved the textures of the scalloped siding that clads the roof dormer, second floor walls and accent walls of the first floor with a band of purple trim separating the scalloped shakes from the lap siding of the main floor. Other accents of purple include bands around the porch columns, skirt board, window, door and eave trim.  The turret is the “hinge” that connect the front elevation with the side elevation along the side street.  The gable projection at the side appears to be a later addition and is currently furnished as a billiard room but could also become a family room. At the end of the side elevation on the second floor is a room I coveted with its wrap-around windows that creates the ideal sleeping porch. Below the sleeping porch off the kitchen is an open porch festooned with fretwork between turned columns. 

The front door opens into a spacious foyer with a bay projection and a long vista past the “U” shaped open stair to a hall leading to a cozy library with a seat below the side window.  The magnificent stair of stained oak is beautifully detailed with paneled newel posts, treads and elaborate skirt boards accented by white risers. To the left of the foyer is the living room with its corner turret and bowed windows. Floor to ceiling ornamentation includes the chair rail separating the patterned wallpaper from the painted wall with a wallpaper border in another pattern below multiple layers of molding and the ceiling with a wide white border surrounding a third patterned wallpaper. The fireplace chimney projects into the room and backs up to the adjacent dining room’s fireplace and is detailed with fluted side molding and swag details underneath the mantel. 

The focal point of the dining room is its side wall bay projection and this room’s interior design includes a chair rail between the toile patterned wallpaper from the vertical striped  wallpaper below. The firebox is covered with a ceramic mural that reminded me of the artist Susan Stockman’s work and opposite the fireplace is a built-in china cabinet. The rear door leads to a short hall to access the billiard room opposite closets and a secondary stair next to the kitchen. The rear wall of the billiard room connects to an “L” shaped room with built-ins, exterior door and a ½ bath that would be a convenient office.  

I admired the kitchen’s brick herringbone patterned floor, tin ceiling and the windows at the side and rear walls that define the breakfast area. The kitchen sink could be switched with the Bertazzoni range on the exterior wall to give the cook a window overlooking the back porch.  

The three second floor guest bedrooms have great interior architectural appeal with two of the rooms having bay shaped projections and the third bedroom’s bonus of the exquisite turret. At the rear of the house is the spacious primary bedroom suite that includes the sleeping porch. The hall space between the secondary stair leading down to the kitchen and the primary bath could easily be incorporated into the master bath if an expansion is needed.

The third floor has the same trim detailing, paneled door and wood floors as the other two floors but here walls are painted to accentuate the delightful interior geometry from the intersections of the knee walls with the sloped ceilings that follow the underside of the roof framing above for a sculptural effect. 

One of Easton’s Historic District gems, with a level of detailing and construction quality not easily found today.  A corner lot that allows more sunlight and privacy,  great flow for entertaining with shops and restaurants nearby- I thoroughly enjoyed my tour of this “Great Painted Lady”!

For more information about this property, contact Chuck Mangold with Benson & Mangold Real Estate at 410-822-6665 (o), 410-924-8832 (c) or chuck@chuckmangold.com. For more pictures and pricing, visit www.122GoldsboroughStreet.com,  “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Jennifer Madino

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.

House of the Week: Talbot Street Transformation

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It is unusual to find both a large corner lot and a house that has been completely renovated as this property has in St. Michaels. The house is set back deep from the street and the front yard is surrounded by a white picket fence.  The style of the house appears originally to have been an American Foursquare house with a one-story addition that wraps around part of the rear elevation and a one-story sunroom at the side. Additional shed forms step down at the rear of the house. Two parking spaces are accessed from the side street and there is an outbuilding with a sliding barn door for storage. From the town sidewalk, a brick path leads to the front door at one corner of the three-bay house with the classic color palette of light gray lap siding, white trim and black shutters for the large 6/6 windows topped with a single dormer on three sides of the hipped roof.   

On the day I visited, light streamed through the living room’s two front and one side windows and the transoms and sidelights around the six-panel front door. Opposite the windows are the wood burning brick fireplace and hearth with the firebox surrounded by layers of stylish molding and a mantel that projects out above carved brackets. The “C” shaped stairs to the two upper floors are beautifully detailed with white newel posts, balusters and risers, additional trim below the stair stringer and stained treads to match the flooring with a darker stain on the cap railing. The wood floors, light gray walls and white trim create a serene space for relaxing by the fire. 

The spacious kitchen is connected to the living room, sunroom and dining area to create an open plan layout. The kitchen has white Shaker style cabinets, period hardware, white solid surface countertops and stainless steel appliances. Since the ceilings are high, the upper cabinets float below the ceiling plane to provide space for display. A pair of French doors from the kitchen open into the sunroom with its grid of fixed and operable windows that wrap around the side wall to meet the single French door with sidelights to the rear yard. It is a spacious room and is staged for both dining and seating or it could be a great family room.  

The bedroom suite at the rear of the house has its own exterior entrance off the driveway and the bedroom has windows on two walls and is separated from the bath by a wide hall.  I especially admired the detailing of the bath with the patterned marble floors, dual lavatory cabinet with framed mirrors and surface mounted lighting above and the tiled partial height wall between the cabinet and the tub/shower with glass door and panel. The walk-in closet is adjacent to the bath

The lower floor was artfully staged by Diane Albers but I also enjoyed walking through the second floor empty bedrooms flooded with sunlight and easily imagined how I would furnish the rooms and I noted that the second floor bath is detailed as elegantly as the main floor bath finishes of tile and marble. The climb to the third floor was well worth it for the bird’s eye views of St. Michaels’ streetscapes from the three dormer windows inserted into the knee walls and roof framing. I also liked the texture of the ceiling from the battens over the ceiling panels and the bulkheads at the floor that become seats under the windows or ledges for home office materials.

Large corner lot with room for a pool with the outbuilding as a potential pool cabana/mini kitchen, classic American Four-Square architecture, large windows that flood the interior spaces with sunlight, renovation done to the highest standards of construction including all new rough-in plumbing, and a spacious sunroom that is the jewel in the crown-Bravo! 

For more information about this property, contact Cornelia Heckenbach at Long and Foster Real Estate Inc., 410-745-0283 (v), 410-310-1229 (c) or info@corneliaheckenbach.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”. For more photographs and pricing visit www.stmichaelsmdwaterfront.com ,  “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

Photography by Liz Baker, 361-813-9864, www.lizbakerphotography.com, lizbakerr@gmail.com

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.

House of the Week: “Tradewinds”, circa 1876

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During my tenure as Director of Marketing and Operations at Urban Design Associates in Pittsburgh, the firm was hired to design the master plan for the new neighborhood of Easton Village and to produce a “Pattern Book” of house designs. The team of urban planners and architects visited Easton, Oxford and St. Michaels and they were especially enchanted by Oxford in general and Morris St. in particular. Between the landmarks of The Church of the Holy Trinity and the Robert Morris Inn, the design team discovered  a treasure trove of houses like this two-story, five bay house with its center gable penetrating the roof and inset with a circular window with a diamond shaped muntin. The classic exterior color palette of white lap siding and  black shutters, 2/2 windows and a period four-panel wood door with arched tops, full transom and half-glass sidelights is simply elegant.

The house is set on a wide lot with ample room for a driveway to a rear one car garage with an office/studio above.  On the day I visited, I first walked around the lot and admired the mature landscaping and the charming brick mini-guest cottage.  Then I walked close to the edge of the shoreline along the Tred Avon River and  paused to gaze at the view of the Choptank River on the horizon and imagined how beautiful the sunsets must be from this property. 

The front door opens into a foyer with a winding stair to the second floor. The door to the adjacent sunroom was open to create a clear vista through the sunroom’s rear wall of glass doors to the garden, lawn and water beyond. A wide elliptical arched opening leads to the living room and another elliptical arched opening divides the room into an inglenook with the fireplace flanked by fan topped recessed niches of open shelves.  The backs of the niches were painted light blue to better highlight the collection of fine china and the light blue and peach color interior design created a serene setting.  I especially admired the exquisite identical twin antique settees beneath the front windows and the plantation shutters were the prefect solution for privacy on a main street while still allowing light to filter inside.

Across the foyer is a smaller elliptical arch to the dining room with another fireplace and cupboards on each side that serves as a butler’s pantry.  The room is beautifully appointed with antique furnishings including an exquisite sideboard and a period crystal chandelier. Behind the dining room is a second stair and a galley kitchen with an exterior door to the driveway. The kitchen’s wood floors, white cabinets, white veined marble countertops and stainless steel appliances have all the essentials any cook needs. 

A later addition to the house created stacked suites with full baths and closets and tall bay window projections on each level. On the main level, the rear room is the library with a fireplace and built-in millwork. I admired the deep red walls with white trim, the picture rail that is set at the height of the panels above the bay’s window frames and how the white open shelves of the built-ins contrasted with the deep red walls. The bay window is positioned to have a clear view of the water and even though it is a delightful library, this room could easily become a primary bedroom suite. 

The addition changed the geometry of the original footprint from a rectangle to an “L” shape with the sunroom at the inside corner of the “L”. This informal room with painted wood floors has ample space for breakfast and seating for relaxation. Four pairs of sliding doors access the delightful garden with brick walkways around the parterre, sculpture and long views to the water. 

To break up the massing of the addition, the connection to the original part of the house steps down to create a space with windows in the knee walls and a pitched ceiling. The built-in millwork creates a great office space that includes the secondary stair down to the kitchen.  The rear room of the second floor is the primary suite with a tall bay window in the bedroom overlooking the gardens that provides bird’s eye views of the water.  The pitched ceiling and trimmed exposed collar beam over the beautiful antique furnishings and the restful interior design creates a serene retreat.

The main stair landing in the original part of the house leads to the second floor two guest rooms located at the front corners with a shared  a “Jack and Jill”  bath. I loved the interior design of one bedroom with its twin beds’ pencil post wood frames and white bed linens. At the foot of each bed is a quilt rack draped  with colorful quilts for cool evenings. As lovely as this bedroom was, as a guest, I would claim the tiny one bedroom suite in the brick outbuilding beside the parterre garden as it is so easy to be charmed by a diminutive scale. The mini-cottage’s bonus is the pergola over the terrace behind the building for front row seats to watch the sun set. The side wall facing the adjoining property has a lattice panel for privacy and the lattice echoes the detail on the wall of the garage/studio across the garden. 

Breathtaking long views to the Choptank River on the horizon, historic town, period architecture, outbuildings for myriad uses, the parterre garden and mature landscaping-all in one of my favorite towns-simply delightful!

For more information about this property, contact Ray Stevens with Benson & Mangold Real Estate at 410-226-0111 (o), 410-310-6060 (c) or ore@goeaston.net. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.oxfordmdrealestate.com, Equal Housing Opportunity”.

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.

  

House of the Week: Corner Classic Colonial

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Having a house location on a corner lot in any urban area is a plus and having a two-car garage is rare but this property in St. Michaels’ Historic District has both.  The house is very close to San Domingo Creek for access to the boat launch, park and the Rails to Trails over the picturesque covered bridge that spans the water at the park. This two-story house was once a classic two room wide, one room deep house with the Colonial exterior color palette of white lap siding and black shutters.  A rear addition is offset from the front elevation to respect the original streetscape and telescopes down with a shed dormer and two gables to the one-story kitchen area along the side street.  This geometry also creates a delightful sheltered outdoor area with a terrace for relaxing in privacy from both streets.  

The front door opens into a foyer with an “L” shaped stair between two sitting rooms.  The stair is open to both rooms at the lower run and becomes a sculptural element with its artisan cherry newel posts that are among the most imaginative I have ever featured.  At the ceiling level where walls once separated the two rooms, more cherry trim outlines the edge of the stair shaft above a lower trim piece at the handrail height infilled with white pickets. At the living room side, white trim follows the angle of the winders above and a shallow niche separates the paneled wall.  At the hall side, the area under the stairs has a clever series of drawers for extra storage.

The living room at one side of the stair has a fireplace as its focal point from its projection into the room and the firebox’s highly detailed surround in white contrasts with the black marble around the opening.  Above the mantel is a mirror with a spotlight above to enliven the frame’s highly articulated carving.  The vista from the fireplace to the family room is a dramatic change from the original two rooms and enclosed stair.  Now the space is filled with sunlight from the front windows, the side window at the living room, the skylight over the stair winders and the French door in the family room for access to the rear yard and terrace. The family room’s interior design takes its cue from the fall foliage color in the artwork over the sofa with the foliage color repeated in the contemporary leather chairs. 

A wide wall opening in the living room leads to the dining room and its vista of built-in millwork and open shelves that display the owners’ collection of beautiful blue and white ceramics and crystal pieces.  I admired one of several contemporary rugs with this one’s wavy lines that anchors the wood table with an artful arrangement of white linen end chairs and side chairs whose pattern  reminded me of branches whose red and white colors complements the large shallow red bowl centerpiece.

The spacious kitchen is sunlit from windows and doors on three sides and from the skylight over the wood trestle kitchen table with contemporary black molded chairs in the center of the “L” shaped layout. Wood floors, lighter wood cabinets, darker countertops and stainless steel appliances make this the gathering space with easy access to the terrace for al-fresco meals. 

The primary suite spans across the front of the second floor with the upper stair hall leading to a cozy office/sitting room at one corner and the second bedroom suite over the addition.  The primary bedroom’s beautiful three-paneled two-toned wood artisan headboard is the backdrop for crisp white bedlinens. I loved the zig-zag pattern of the master bath flooring with small tiles at diagonal ends of larger creamy colored tiles. 

The guest room over the dining room below has niches for a display of artisan wood pieces between the wall behind the headboard and the light blue and white color scheme with a honey gold accent color creates a serene retreat. For extended stays, lucky guests can claim the upper floor over the garage with access by an exterior stair.  The space includes a recreation room with a mini kitchen tucked under the shed dormer triple window, office, storage/gym and full bath. On the lower level behind the garage is a multi-purpose room filled with light from the windows and French doors.  It is currently set up as a workshop and then I understood where the wood details I had admired in the house had originated, especially the distinctive carved wood newel post at the upper stair hall that had been crafted by one of the owners. 

Great corner lot in the heart of St. Michaels’ Historic District near San Domingo Creek, a serene interior palette of gray blue with white trim, wonderful abstract rugs over beautiful wood floors, contemporary and antique furnishings, a collection of art from abstract pieces to landscapes, all artfully arranged for maximum appreciation-my compliments to the Owners!

 

For more information about this property, contact Skipper Marquess with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Annapolis Church Circle at 410-263-8686 (o) ,410-924-3212 (c) or skipper3212@gmail.com. For a virtual tour, visit  https://tour.vht.com/434139917/200-w-chew-ave-st-michaels-md-21663, “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

Photography by TruPlace , (301) 972-3201

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.

House of the Week: Mansard on Maple

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I first saw this property several years ago when I met a friend at the restaurant that is now Momma Mia’s. Since that was my first visit to Trappe, I took a walk down Maple Ave. before heading home. As I approached this property, a towering magnolia set slightly back from the equally majestic hollys on each side provided privacy for the side yard facing the street.  Through the trees I then saw this exquisite three-story white confection of “layers” with windows placed symmetrically on each floor of the five bay, three-story house. Above the heavily articulated cornice with dentils, other moldings and the flared eaves is the mansard roof of light gray slate with alternating bands of scalloped and square shingles. The white brick walls are accented by the light gray granite window sills below the 4/4 long windows and the dark green shutters.  

The gravel drive to the house circles around the front elevation and then parallels the side elevation where a porte-cochere extends toward the drive from the wrap-around porch with its copper roof that has weathered to a wonderful patina. The semicircular dark red brick sidewalk in a herringbone pattern under the porte-cochere connects to the driveway at both ends.  On the day of my visit, I walked around the lawn areas bordered by mature landscaping, a tennis court and a pool with landscaping along the rear to camouflage the agricultural outbuildings beyond the fence. 

Brick piers between mature shrubbery of privet topiary and white azaleas beginning to bloom flank the brick steps up to the porch flooring of mahogany. The entry door has double screen doors with a detail that reminded me of a halved pomegranate, the symbol of life.  The front door opens into the foyer of a center hall plan. On one side of the foyer are double parlors defined by back to back fireplaces and semicircular transoms above the doors between the rooms.  The long windows are well proportioned to the high ceilings and the Victorian furnishings evoke the late 19th century when the house was built. On the other side of the center hall is another sitting room and the dining room.  I especially liked the dining room furnishings of warm wood antiques, including a floor to ceiling hutch with glass fronted upper doors to display china and crystal, the subtle patterned wallpaper and the period pendant light. I could easily imagine enjoying being a dinner guest in the winter by the warmth of the fire. The sitting room windows overlook a cozy “conservatory” full of plants that clearly thrive in their sunny environment of long wrap-around south facing windows with views to the landscaping.

The eat-in kitchen is located in an “L” addition and its interior design has a vintage look. The raised fireplace can be seen from the table and chairs in the middle of the room opposite a wide picture window overlooking the side yard corner. Off this room is a spacious mudroom/laundry that made my stack W/D in an alcove seem woefully inadequate and I envied the beautiful linen press for storage of linens.

The exquisite curved stair spirals upwards to the second and third floor under the mansard roof. The 19th century carpenter who crafted this design of wood treads, white risers and balusters and the wood stained cap with its sinuous flow was truly a master craftsman. The spacious bedrooms on the second floor and fireplaces are filled with sunlight from windows on two exterior walls and the sleeping porch at the rear of the house would be a great spot for summer slumber.   In most houses, my favorite floor is the one defined  by any gambrel or mansard shaped roof that creates imaginative interior architecture.  This house’s third floor has several bedrooms, baths, and a sitting room with a fireplace. One charming bedroom has deep red twin beds at right angles to each other, infilled with a corner nightstand and storage drawers below each bed.  The dormer windows with their sloped sides give bird’s eye views of Trappe’s pastoral and Town views.

If you are a historic architecture buff, this solidly built house surrounded by mature landscaping over three acres creates a peaceful setting just a block away from the main intersection of Trappe’s shopping and restaurant area.  High ceilings, transom windows over interior doors, heart pine floors, moldings, nine (!) fireplaces and the magnificent three-story staircase are design elements not often found in new construction.  The tennis court and pool await restoration for warm weather exercise. If that’s not enough, the property also includes an 800 sf guest house for income potential.

For more information about this property, contact Brett Schrader with Taylor Properties at 800-913-4326 (o), 410-490-6075 (c) or brettschrader6@gmail.com. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.easternshoremdrealestate.com “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

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.

House of the Week: Historic Charm

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When I first moved to this area, I had an apartment on the second floor of the building that now houses the Nancy Hammond Gallery. I loved taking walks with my beloved Sheltie along the streets near the property and I always paused by this house to admire its double lot that created spacious side and rear yards for privacy. I also admired the simple elegance of the three-bay house with the center front door and original transom, 6/6 sash windows and the painted common bond brick façade that needed no other ornamentation to add to its charm. 

Perhaps my years of watching PBS’ Masterpiece Theater influenced me to imagine “a Rector’s wife” would open the door to the brick walk that ended at manicured boxwoods and give me a friendly wave. How fitting since the house’s provenance includes being the Parsonage for the Methodist Episcopal Church in the mid 1800’!  The deed noted the house was formerly the residence of John Wrightson. The house is also distinctive for its being one of few brick houses in St. Michaels’ Historic District and was probably rebuilt around a one-story house dating from 1825-1850. The house’s architectural history continued with an 1877 expansion with a final  extensive renovation and updates from 2006 -2020. 

On the day of my visit, I noticed that the windows have wood lintels underneath brick jack arches and once inside, I saw clues in the flooring that indicated  the original stair had been centered opposite the front door to create two front parlors, each with its own fireplace on the side walls.  I much prefer how the renovation relocated the stair to the rear part of the house. Now both the sitting area and the dining area are next to fireplaces and sunlight streams into the room throughout the day from its south-east-west orientation. 

The rear of the main floor is an open-plan family/kitchen area and one side of the relocated stairs has an open railing that overlooks the space.  The powder room is discretely tucked under the stairs and decorated with one of my favorite Henri de Toulouse Lautrec posters, “Divan Japonais Music Hall”.  The “L” shaped kitchen with an island has historic olive green colored cabinetry with one of my favorite granite countertops that I often specify for my architectural clients. My only change would be to remove the soffit above the upper cabinets and replace them with glass fronted units for storage of pieces for special occasions or paint the soffit the color of the cabinetry for a uniform look. French doors lead from the family room area to a spacious deck overlooking the side and rear yards.  

The second floor bedrooms are located at the front and rear of the house between the stairs, laundry closet and bath.  A smaller open room next to the front bedroom could be used as a nursery or office. As tempting as it would be to make the  front bedroom the primary bedroom with its one wall of closets, I prefer the interior architecture of the rear bedroom with its knee walls, sloped ceilings, dormer side window and rear double windows giving bird’s eye views of the landscaping below.  I would replace the rear double unit windows with French doors to a screened porch over the deck below for a warm weather outdoor sitting room overlooking the side and rear yards.

Even though the house is located in the heart of St. Michaels’ Historic District, the wooden fence on one side and the hedge on the other side make this property a private oasis. The studio building at the rear yard also contributes to the privacy since it blocks the view of the adjacent rear property. With cabinets and a sink, the studio building is ready for the next artisan or other creative endeavors. Great provenance and historic charm with modern updates-an irresistible opportunity! 

For more information about this property, contact Joan Wetmore with Meredith Fine Properties at 410-822-6702 (o), 410-924-2432 (c) or JoanWetmore@msn.com. For more photographs and pricing visit www.meredithfineproperties.com ,  “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

Photography by True Place, (301) 972-3201, www.go.truplace.com

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.

 

House of the Week: Historic District Landmark

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This stately home on a double lot in Easton’s Historic District was built in 1930 and is on the market for the first time in over forty years. On the day of my visit, I drove up the gently curving drive and greatly admired the house’s classic Georgian and Colonial detailing, along with the Craftsman styled stencil cut-outs in the deep green shutters and the deep eave brackets. The drive passes by the detached two-car garage and ends at another street and there is also a rear alley behind the back yard for service. 

The main wing of the brick two-story five bay long, three bay wide house has a hipped roof that is accented by two dormer windows with double hung windows whose upper panes have overlapping arched muntins.  The lower floor windows have arched brick headers and the middle triple window on the second floor is centered over the front door with half glass sidelights and a fanlight transom protected by a pedimented roof over the brick stoop. On either side of the main wing are two delightful one-story rooms.  On the left is a terrace with a hipped roof and striped awnings for privacy and on the right is my favorite room, a sunroom/conservatory that spans the full depth of the main wing. Wrap-around windows with transoms give a light and airy feel to the space.  At the rear of the house is a smaller  two-story wing that breaks down the massing of the house.  

As I opened the front door, I was happy to see that the house was unfurnished so I could fully appreciate the original interior architecture and finishes.  I also was happy to see radiators as the heat source as I prefer that method paired with high velocity AC to central HVAC.  The front door opens into the foyer that becomes a center hall the full depth of the house with the stairs to the side.  To the right is a wide wall opening to the living room that also spans the full depth of the house.  Two pairs of French doors flank the fireplace and lead to the sunroom/conservatory to create great flow between the rooms for entertaining.  On the other side of the foyer another pair of French doors leads to the corner study with a fireplace centered on the rear wall and built-in millwork to one side.  I envisioned how pleasurable it would be to work by the fire and in warmer months to take a break on the adjacent private terrace shaded by the awnings with Variegated Aucuba as a year round landscaped screen for privacy. 

The spacious dining room is behind the study at the rear corner of the house and is detailed with chair rail, crown molding and a corner cabinet with glass fronted doors and an interesting original detail that is now an anachronism is the floor button to summon servants.  A door at the rear leads to the secondary entry, another stair and a short hall to the kitchen.  On one side of the hall  is the powder room with an original wall mount porcelain ceramic lavatory and the charming breakfast room with an exterior wall that now overlooks the family room addition. Since there are many sitting rooms, the family room addition could easily be removed so the sunroom/conservatory and breakfast rooms could reclaim their views of the landscape and additional sunlight. 

I love galley kitchens and one leg of the layout has upper cabinets to the ceiling for extra storage.  The cabinets were solidly built and with new door fronts, hardware and countertops, the kitchen could be easily transformed.  Behind the kitchen is an enclosed porch with the original trash incinerator.  Removing it would open up the space up to its wrap-around windows and door to the rear lawn and gardens.  This could also be a lovely breakfast area and the existing breakfast room could then become the laundry/mud room.

The second floor contains the primary bedroom suite that stacks above the living room below with windows on three sides.  The bathroom has the triple window above the front door for sunlight and the original stylish floor pattern of interlocking tiles that give it a three-dimensional look.  Two other bedrooms are located at the other corners so they have windows on two sides for sunlight throughout the day. Closets and the shared bath create a “Jack and Jill” suite. The fourth bedroom is located over the kitchen area so it has access to the secondary stair as well.  Like the primary bedroom suite, it has windows on three sides overlooking the lawn and gardens.  Since it shares the master bathroom, this could be a wonderful family TV room. 

The attic is completely open and has fantastic interior architecture from the roof angles of the hipped roof framing. The brick chimneys penetrate the floor and roof and become sculptural elements.  With a floor area of approximately 1000 sf, this space offers many possibilities and terrific bird’s eye views of Easton’s rooftops. There is also a full basement under the main wing of the house with an exterior stair for access from the driveway. 

As I walked through this beautiful house, I was very impressed by how solidly it was built considering the house was constructed in the early years of the 20th century.  Low maintenance exterior, copper gutters, beautiful hardwood floors, high ceilings, moldings, built-ins and large windows add character and craftsmanship rarely found in new construction today. One of Easton’s landmark homes that has remained primarily untouched and just waiting for the next owners to claim it for their own! 

For more information about this property, contact Barb Watkins with Benson and Mangold at 410-822-1415 (o), 410-310-2021 (c), or barb.c.watkins@gmail.com. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.easternshorehomes.com,   “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens Photography,  845-744-2758, Janelle@Thruthelensphotos.com 

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.

 

House of the Week: “Steering House”

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Like so many of Talbot County’s historic houses, this property has a unique provenance. Shortly after Maryland became a “Proprietary Colony” of the Calvert family, a British colonist named George Prouse emigrated from England and became one of the group of the earliest settlers who arrived on Maryland’s shores in 1632. He commissioned a survey in 1664 for a 100 acre tract that became known as “Mulberry Point”. Over the years, the property had several interesting names from “Prouse’s Point” to “Hap Hazard” (my personal favorite). Subsequent owners of the property had surnames that are well known now in the history of Talbot County; Harrison, Haddaway and Benson, among others. 

The property was enhanced by construction of a house in 1752, under the tenure of Colonel William Webb Haddaway. Original features remain from that time, such as hand-cut beams with the “kerf” marks from the pit saws. The house became known as the “Steering House” since fishermen used the house on its  promontory of land at the confluence of Leadenham, Grace and Broad Creeks to guide them home safely. One of the most well-known owners of “Steering House” was Brigadier General Perry Benson, who distinguished himself in the War of 1812. He successfully defended the Town of St. Michaels from the British in their first assault on the harbor in early August and in the second defense in late August.

The original house’s one-room deep architecture has a center bay with two side telescoping wings. The symmetry of the center door surrounded by windows and the classic white siding accented by black shutters are hallmarks of its Colonial style. Three of the main floor’s four rooms have fireplaces and I loved how the brick chimney between what is now the kitchen and family room has side corbels from the firebox to the chimney to become a sculptural element.  

My favorite room is the original parlor at one corner with its two windows front to back with the rear windows overlooking the stunning water views, the original hand hewn beams, decking, wood floors and partial wood wall. On one side of the room, the rear of the adjacent dining room’s corbelled chimney is exposed. On the other side, the room’s fireplace is tucked under one of the original stairs to the second floor bedrooms  What a wonderful library this would be!

The dining room table is centered on the fireplace and the rear windows for  water views and I admired the owners’ collection of blue and white china displayed in an antique hutch at one corner.  The open plan galley kitchen-family room has great views of the landscape and water from the additions of the front bay window, another bay window on the side wall  and a breakfast room.  The family room’s herringbone patterned brick extends into the breakfast room that feels like a sunroom with French doors on each side and a four-unit window at the rear wall. To maximize the views of the endless horizon of Broad Creek framed by two peninsulas, the current owner added a terrace at the original house’s main floor and a porch above that spans the length of the second floor.   

To update the house for today’s lifestyle, the house was expanded with a large two-story addition with a wrap-around porch on the main floor and an upper porch to break down the massing.  The wrap-around porch ends at both a second sitting area in the transition from old to new and the sumptuous master suite.  The second floor of the addition has a great room with windows on three sides, a loft, two full baths and an adjacent bedroom suite with a bath and walk-in closet-the perfect layout for guests with children. The rear of the addition is stepped back to respect the original house’s form and the addition’s two-story porches also minimize its massing and create a rhythm of solid and open spaces in light and shadow.

The property also contains a charming one-room building that is currently used as a dance studio.  The “shotgun” style architecture has a steeply pitched front gabled roof with a hipped metal roof over the full front porch.  The dramatic interior has great texture with the exposed wall studs, roof rafters and decking and the windows filter sunlight into the space.

The outdoor room of the pool area is separated from the house by a white picket fence with an arbor marking the entrance.   The pool is on axis with the endless horizon of water and the spacious wood pergola over random stone flooring is the perfect space for an al-fresco lunch after a dip in the pool or respite from the summer sun.  

I always advise my architectural clients to find the best site they can for a new home.  On the day I visited, I was mesmerized by the endless horizon of water and I imagined how picturesque the sunrises and sunsets would be from the multiple porches. This site’s 4.93 acres with 300 feet of shoreline, porches from every main room in the house for incomparable water views, historic architecture dating from 1752,  and updates to please today’s buyers-a rare find! 

 

For more information about this property, contact Laura Carney with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-673-3344 (o), 410-310-3307 (c) or laurahcarney@gmail.com. For more photographs and pricing, visit https://lauracarney.com/properties/7308-quaker-neck-rd-bozman-md-21612-mdta140394 , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

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.

House of the Week: Craftsman Perfect 10

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This two-story craftsman style house was built in 2008 on one of the few remaining lots in St. Michaels’ Historic District. The house setback respects the streetscape and the exterior palette in earthy tones of brown, green and red blends into the landscape. I especially liked the green color of the trim against the texture of the light brown lap siding and the green shutters against the texture of the brick.  The property extends to the rear alley where the two-car garage eliminates space for a driveway in the front yard that also maximizes the area for lawn and landscaping added by the current owner. 

To break down the massing, the front elevation has a four-bay brick section with a one-story porch that spans over three of the bays with a gable at one end to mark the entrance. The other section of the elevation is a side bay that steps back slightly and is clad in lap siding. This setback sets the stage for a series of clever offsets in the floor plan that define the spaces within the open plan layout while maintaining each space’s boundary as part of the whole. The discovery begins by opening the beautiful pair of custom wood paneled doors into the entry enclosed by the “L” shaped stair and coat closet. 

On the day I visited, I was immediately captivated by the interior architecture and the stunning interior design by the owners. High ceilings, wood floors that flow throughout the open plan, long and cross vistas from the entry of the living area, dining area, side porch and through the house to the rear French door create very special spaces. The side porch off the dining area was created by another offset that not only defined the shape of the dining area but also created an inglenook for the living room’s fireplace. 

Sunlight filtered through the house from the variety of windows carefully placed to balance views from within and privacy.  I especially liked the low window at the stair landing that provided light without views of the neighbor’s windows.  In the living room, the entry’s double molding ceiling detail becomes a coffered ceiling that is centered over the wide fireplace mantel.  The modern furnishings of white sofas opposite the glass topped coffee table hinted of other delights to discover and the serene light gray walls are the perfect backdrop for the Owners’ art collection.  

In addition to the offset, the interior architecture of the living-dining area is enhanced by an opening framed by a single free-standing column at the porch  and a pair of columns at the other end of the dining room.  The dining table is on axis with the pair of French doors flanked by windows to the terrace with views to a dense row of hollys that rise to the roof eave. 

The open circulation space separates the dining room and the kitchen.  As I cook, I coveted this stunning kitchen that was part of the current owners’ renovation with its spacious “U” shape, row of windows overlooking the rear landscaping, partial upper cabinets’ glass fronts that added more transparency, wood floors, white cabinets, white tile backsplash, dark countertop and stainless steel appliances.  The center island at the boundary of the circulation space has a white quartz countertop for contrast and Modern black cushioned bar stools. My favorite vista through the open plan layout was from the living room fireplace to the dining room and kitchen with carefully placed blue accents in the large artwork at the dining room wall, the coats in the Oriental scene at the entry closet wall, the urn at the stairs and the tones of the artwork at the entry.   

Behind the dining room is the main floor bedroom suite that the Owners use as a study with a wall of built-in millwork and furnishings including Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona designs of the chair and daybed in black leather opposite an Eames chair and ottoman. A French door leads to the side terrace opposite a high accent window overlooking the rear landscape. Even the rear mudroom has great style with its cushioned seat, colorful pillows, wall hooks for jackets and built-in millwork with a display of Italian ceramics and posters of Portofino and St. Michaels.

The stairs to the second floor open out onto the TV room between the primary suite at the front of the house and the second bedroom suite and laundry. The luxurious primary bedroom is located over the living room below and also has a fireplace.  I loved the airy openness of the pitched ceiling intersected by roof trusses trimmed and painted white against the light mocha gable wall. The thin profile of the “U” shaped bench at the foot of the bed, the millwork that both supports the slanted headboard and provides nightstands on each side of the bed, the blue and white accents of the rugs, ceramics and the fantastic “Lillet” antique poster create a sleek and serene retreat.  

As lovely as the other bedroom was with another fantastic antique poster,  “Veuve Amiot”, I loved the third floor suite with both double and twin beds, perfect for a family stay. The sloped ceilings create a cozy retreat and the two  seats below the dormer windows provide wonderful views of St. Michaels’ rooftops. There is also an office/additional sleeping area at this level.

Between the house and the detached garage are wonderful outdoor rooms created by the current owners and wooden fencing surrounds the spaces for privacy. The hardscape at the kitchen side of the house has weathered teak furnishings for seating and sitting areas. The hardscape continues from the rear door of the house to the garage and separates the relaxation area from the landscaped area. A gate in the fence leads to a paver path that meanders past the row of hollys to the front lawn.  Above the garage is an open space that could be another guest suite but is currently furnished as an office. I imagine guests would claim the loft space for its bird’s eye views of the Town below.   

It is not often that I find a property that meets all of my criteria of site, architecture, interiors and landscape as this property does that also has the highest quality of construction and materials.  Bravissimi to the Owners for their interior design and landscape that enhances the original house!

For more information about this property, contact Skipper Marquess with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Annapolis Church Circle at 410-263-8686 (o) ,410-924-3212 (c) or skipper3212@gmail.com. For a virtual tour, visit https://mls.truplace.com/property/237/95830, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.  Photography by TruPlace , (301) 972-3201

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.

 

House of the Week: Historic District Transformation

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Before my visit to this exquisite historic property in Easton’s Historic District, my thoroughly enjoyable “homework” included watching videos the owners had prepared. The videos show how both the house and gardens have been expertly and lovingly transformed by the owners (a landscape designer and a wood artisan) and their contractor, James Sebastian of Alchemy Works, who has extensive expertise in the restorations/renovations of older properties.

In the house video, https://youtu.be/ybcZitUNHno, the owners’ narration of the house’s provenance begins with the purchase of the lot by William Wright in 1879 and the construction of the house in 1890. By 2014, the house had deteriorated to such an extent that a full restoration was necessary. Alchemy Works stripped the house from the roof to the foundation and exposed all the floor and wall framing. After the demolition of an existing rear addition, the house was both leveled and squared. Footings were added as needed along with new roofing. The windows and shutters were cleaned, repaired and painted for reuse.

The exterior transformation continued with the color palette of yellow wood shakes, deep green shutters and white trim on the exposed roof brackets and window/door trim, porch columns and railing to make this Victorian beauty feel young again. The front of the wrap-around porch remains open for catching up with neighbors on their daily strolls and the side portion is screened for privacy and relaxation. The new rear addition has proportions much better suited to both the house and the streetscape.
Original details/materials included stripping the exterior front wood door for repainting and cleaning and polishing the original Victorian era pendant light over the staircase. New oak flooring was added throughout the main floor and a Vermont Castings wood burning fireplace was added to the corner of the front parlor and the side and front windows bring daylight within. The chair rail, window and doorway moldings and the picture molding around the perimeter of the room are painted the same color to give the walls layers for character. The spacious dining room behind the front parlor is dominated by the beautiful Oriental large rug in deep blue and here the wainscot is the deep red color of the rug. The large wood table is balanced by the lightness of the Windsor chairs and the exterior doors with full glass inserts lead to the screened porch for dining outdoors.

The vista from the dining room to the large kitchen ends at the windows and doors that wrap around the corner to maximize the views of the side and rear gardens. I could well imagine enjoying cooking in this kitchen with its “L” and island arrangement while friends sat on the bar stools. Beadboard for the wainscot and the island side panels adds texture and the white cabinetry with some glass fronted upper cabinets, darker solid surface countertops and stainless steel appliances completes the appealing look. The separate pantry is a definite plus for any cook.

The second floor bedrooms and baths are different sizes for flexibility. The cozy rear bedroom/office has a pitched ceiling and is furnished with a futon and desk for dual uses. The front bedroom spans the width of the house to the stairwell and is furnished as an office and has bird’s eye views of the streetscape from the side and front windows. The middle bedroom is the primary bedroom suite with double windows overlooking the side garden. I especially liked the interior design of the bath with the dual lavatory cabinet in a warm light wood with dual framed mirrors, blue accents of the solid surface countertop and tiled shower surround and the rain glass pattern of the shower door and side panel.

The property extends to the alley with two sheds, one that could be deep enough for a garage but is currently used as a workshop. When I went upstairs to the guest suite, I understood then the owner who is the master craftsman had designed and fabricated the unique headboard. Wood slats extend up the knee wall and under the sloped ceiling in varying lengths like the tree that probably inspired this ingenious design. The same gifted hand fabricated the beautiful inlaid wood free-standing lavatory pedestal with a stainless steel vessel bowl and the mirrors. Lucky is the guest who claims this creative domain for a sojourn!

The other part of my homework was to watch the two videos of the garden design evolution, https://youtu.be/nPuMhw7WCO0 and https://youtu.be/pjpXHZqOZCw. Clearly this landscape designer thinks three-dimensionally and designed the front border, side and rear gardens with careful planning of color, scale, texture and bloom time. Sustainability guided the design and selections were made for a diversity of native plantings that would attract butterflies and other pollinators. The raised borders and no grass are very low maintenance. As many of the original bricks that could be salvaged from the house began their second life as pavers for the brick terrace.

Beyond the terrace is an arbor leading to the raised beds. Seeing the arbor in the video adorned with spring finery of New Dawn roses and clematis gave me hope that perhaps post-Covid this exquisite garden will be part of a future Atkins Arboretum Garden Tour as it was meant to be last year.

Bravissimo to the Owners, Jim Sebastian and his team at Alchemy Works who were all alchemists and turned this property’s “base metals into gold”!

 

For more information about this property, contact Meg Moran, GRI, with Long and Foster Real Estate-Christies International Real Estate at 410-770-3600 (o), 410-310-2209 (c), or megmoran007@gmail.com. For more photographs and pricing visit www.megmoran.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity”. Construction by Alchemyworks, (410) 693-9049, www.alchemy-works.net, jim@alchemy-works.net Photography by Eve Fishell, Chesapeake Pro Photo LLC, 443-786-8025, www.chesapeakeprophoto.com, eve@chesprophoto.com

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.