For many years on my way to Easton, I drove past a long straight driveway lined with mature trees that soon curved out of sight to obscure any view of the house. The property was surrounded by farmland, so I surmised this house was a quintessential Eastern Shore farmhouse. I learned it was originally the farmhouse for the farm but for or nearly 25 years, and this house has also been home to a talented duo of artists whom I met through Piazza a few years ago. They retained me as their architect to help them evaluate a renovation and/or addition vs. selling and buying another house that could offer them one-level living. When they gave me their address, I realized my curiosity would soon be satisfied! 

I went back this week to tour the grounds and I again appreciated how a large group of blooming day lilies on each side of the drive marked the transition to the curved portion of the drive. The vista opens up to the house, framed by mature Willow Oaks, massive English boxwoods, and heirloom plantings. I admired the arrangement of large hostas that stretched out in the planting beds at the front and side of the house.  The driveway blends into a sizeable parking area that also serves the detached three-car garage and a large barn that is the workshop of the artisan woodworker husband of the couple.  The compact massing of the two-story house is articulated by gables on each side, with several one-story areas that create a lively composition. The front hipped roof covers a screened porch that leads to the main entry to the house.  

At the rear corner of the house, a towering Magnolia tree provides both shade and its large beautiful blooms. Entrances to both the family room with its single door flanked by long windows and the door at the other side that leads to the kitchen results in an easy indoor/outdoor flow for entertaining. 

On my first visit as their architect, I told them I love topiary and I christened the shed behind the house the “topiary shed” since except for the single door on one side, it is covered entirely with ivy. Its side wall borders the brick terrace opposite a raised bed containing a dwarf red Japanese Maple and other plants along with pots of annuals. The blue umbrella can be positioned to provide shade when needed over the outdoor dining area.

Most of the property is screened by mature trees but at this spot there is a break in the greenery for this long vista to unfold over the farm fields. On the day of my visit, young shoots of corn were asserting themselves upward in the fields to the far distance line of trees. The wooden planter containing herbs for cooking is directly opposite the door to the kitchen. 

I ended my tour of the grounds with another tour of the interiors. I went back to the front door that opens into a foyer between the office and the living room and I remembered the first time I saw this exquisite room. I had just returned from my annual art visit to NYC, which included a visit to MOMA’s modern furniture gallery. I was amazed at the iconic pieces the artistic couple had acquired or the talented husband had crafted for this room that would grace any gallery. My eyes lingered first over the cardboard chairs made famous by architect Frank Gehry, then over the husband’s creation of both the desk and the table that proudly have their place amongst the iconic pieces. Between the two windows are the “Cone Chair“ by  Verner Panton and the fantastic “Carlton” bookcase of many colors by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis that is clearly the focal point of the room.  

The simple palette of white washed pine paneling that adds texture, white ceiling and the texture of the rug over the beautiful original white oak floors provide an enclosure for the colorful furnishings. The geometry of the black sofa by Jasper Morrison is perfectly complemented by design icons Charles and Ray Eames’ round wood coffee table and their LCW cowhide chair. Jean-Marie Massaud black “Ace Chair’ for Viccarbe. Lighting by Martine Bedin’s floor lamp for Memphis in the corner and the large organic uplight by Ingo Maurer  on top of the bookcase on the side wall provide accent lighting.  

 

I love vistas through imaginative spaces and  I savored this one that ends at a large vintage poster.

It’s quite rare that I can include all four walls of a room, but this living room is the exception. I liked the layering of the wood-burning fireplace surround in front of the bookcases and the simple mantel with the steel candle holders by Albert Paley I had first seen in the wife’s office. The photo of the magnolia by George Holzer pays homage to the massive Magnolia outside.  

After reluctantly leaving the living room, I discovered more treasures. A large rug anchors the Jean Prouvé table by Vitra and the sleek black Maarten Van Severn Chairs with their tubular steel legs. When I asked who designed the one-of-a-kind Chiffonier and the Courtier cabinet, the husband modestly but proudly claimed them as his own designs that he crafted – simply elegant! My fave piece of his was the exquisite Courtier next to the white corner cabinet original to the house. The cabinet slopes front to back and I can’t imagine how many hours it took to design and create this gem!

I love trestle tables and the Trestle Table sideboard was designed and crafted by the husband. The pair of steel candleholders match the design of the  candleholders by Albert Paley in the living room. This view of the dining room shows how connected the spaces are-doorways lead to both the living room and the adjacent family room for easy flow among the rooms. 

The cozy family room off the living room has bespoke millwork by the husband in the corner as well as his “Pirouette” table as a plant stand underneath the double windows. I liked how the millwork height stops just short of the ceiling so the white molding can seamlessly surround the walls and the juxtaposition of the off-white millwork with the plush tufted black seating. It is easy to imagine relaxing in this room for binge watching TV. 

The family room has two zones-one for watching TV with the bespoke millwork creating a cozy enclosure for the sofa. There is ample space for snacks and one’s fave beverage on the oval  “Park Lane” coffee table by Ettore Sottsass for Memphis. The other zone in the rear corner of the room opens up to the landscape with the double window and the glass door flanked by long windows with two chairs for reading in the warmth of the summer sun.   

Even the powder room was carefully and artfully planned. I admired the two- toned finish of the cabinetry and the black lavatory countertop that highlights the white rectangular vessel lavatory. The upper cabinet for storage tucked under the ceiling molding maintains the lines of the room. The frameless round mirror with a beveled edge and the brown hand towel with white oval design adds more geometry. The painting by artist Michael Mota is the perfect finishing touch.  The window adds daylight and the slats of the shutters over the lower panes provide privacy when needed.  

The exterior door to the kitchen opens into a shallow mud room space. The ‘Hang-it-All” coat rack by Charles and Ray Eames is placed strategically over the radiator to dry out damp jackets or gloves and an open-end cabinet in the kitchen provides space for wellies and boots. I liked how the couple kept the original vintage cabinetry and accented it with the rich, warm khaki walls. The graceful arch over the kitchen sink was added by the husband and the pendant lights provide ample task lighting over the sink. The commercial vinyl flooring is highly durable with easy maintenance.  

The stairs to the second floor end at a landing leading to a “T” shaped hall connecting three bedrooms and a hall bath. Opposite the landing is a closet containing the washer and dryer. The short part of the “T” leading to the primary bedroom passes a storage room and closet that could become a bath for the guest bedrooms. Adding a high window to the new bath directly opposite the window over the stairs would provide sunlight into the new bath. Since the existing hall bath is next to the primary bedroom, it could easily become a bath for the primary bedroom. I loved the semi-transparent light fixture from IKEA.

 

The huge primary bedroom spans the full depth of the house with windows on all three walls that clast sunlight onto the light blue wall and beautiful heart pine flooring. The floor lamp by Artek and table lamp by Noguchi add soft lighting. I coveted the large abstract rug by Natalie DuPasquier for Memphis and the wood furnishings of the “wishbone” chair in the corner, the chest of drawers and maple bench that were all designed and crafted by the husband of the couple. The colorful bedspread and artwork are perfect finishing touches for a delightful retreat.  

If the existing storage room becomes a bath for the guest bedrooms, the hall bath would become the primary bedroom by adding another  door to the adjacent primary bedroom. Since the existing bath door is next to the hall laundry closet, leaving it as-is provides easy access for doing laundry. The beadboard wainscot and geometric curtains add charm and the clever open shelf over the lavatory stores everyday items for convenience. The vintage style light fixture adds ample lighting. Like the kitchen, the commercial vinyl flooring is highly durable with easy maintenance.  

The spacious corner guest bedroom has a high shelf above the window trim for display of the couple’s grown son’s childhood toys and collectibles. The two windows offer panoramic views of the landscape below. I appreciated how the oval mirror over the wood chest of drawers is on axis with the door to the hall. The abstract rug and the orange RAR Rocker by Charles and Ray Eames add splashes of color.

The other guest bedroom has total privacy since it only shares one interior wall with the rest of the second floor. Windows at the front and rear walls offer panoramic views of the landscape below. I admired the antique spool bed and the “Angel” artwork that were designed and crafted by Susan Tiffany and the husband of the couple. I appreciated how the oval wood top of the nightstand stretches out to echo the wings of the Angel above. Painting the exposed beams and the ceiling trim blue with the blue and white window treatment were perfect finishes touches in this charming bedroom

 

This special 2+/- acre property is just over a mile from Easton, yet the house’s location at the end of a long and curved driveway, surrounded by farmland, offers privacy and peace. The quintessential Eastern Shore farmhouse has been well maintained by the Owners for nearly twenty-five years. They enhanced the existing mature landscape under the canopy of mature Willow Oaks and a majestic Magnolia with English boxwoods, hostas and annuals for seasonal color. The outdoor room of the brick terrace at the rear of the property provides vistas of the wooded border along the property line, broken by a gap that extends the vista across the fields to the wooded area in the far distance.

The house’s compact floor plan is zoned very well and as their architect, I   collaborated with them for an addition of a main floor primary ensuite. Since they chose to seek another property, a lucky Buyer has the opportunity to make this unique property their own and to explore the myriad possibilities of the various outbuildings, including the huge 125 year old pegged post and beam barn that is a heated and insulated for a workshop or studio, the three car garage and two additional outbuildings on grandfathered footprints. 

The Owners have become treasured friends and I look forward very much to seeing their exquisite collection of iconic furnishings, art and accessories in a new home. Bravissimo and Bravissima!  

---

For more information about this property, contact Denis Gasper with Benson and Mangold at 410-822-6665 (o), or 410-310-8437 (c).  For more photographs and pricing, visit www.bensonandmangold.com or contact Dennis at  [email protected],  “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Open Houses:
June 15th,  10:00-1:00
June 21st, 10:00-Noon
June 22nd, 11:00-1:00[email protected] 

Photography by Broadview Interactive LLC, [email protected]

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Since one of my criteria for selection of a House of the Week is Landscape Design, I always look forward to featuring the work of Landscape Designer Jan Kirsh. Several years ago, the historic Miracle House property was a House of the Week, so my focus then was on its architecture and its unique history. The property with a cottage and one room school house was once a ten week summer haven for Baltimore children whose parents had been exposed to  tuberculosis. The Miracle House’s tranquil setting on the Chesapeake Bay and the fresh breezes, swimming in the Bay and nutritious food helped the children build up their resistance to the disease.  The Miracle House is now a private residence with a main cottage and a school house is now a guest house.  

Soon after the Owner acquired the property, he realized that his existing random collection of plantings did not maximize the site’s potential. Four years ago, he retained Jan Kirsh to re-invent the spaces to “turn the garden around, and to make it into a head turning garden.” 

Kirsh began by accenting the majestic Oak and Loblolly pines with three native flowering Viburnum shrubs strategically placed to act as visual anchors in the entry bed. On the day of my visit,  I admired the golden yellow carex (sedge) a grass-like plant, that are evergreen and how they lighten the shady garden. A texturally rich combination of shrubs and ground covers provide seasonal interest, with flowers, glossy leaves and various shades of green foliage. Many shrubs are evergreen so the garden is not dormant throughout the winter.

Seeing the transformation of the entry drive to the property, I remembered its  “before” look. The Owner was quite fortunate to have these extraordinarily  towering Loblolly Pines and Oaks that evoke an almost ‘Cathedral like’ feeling. The dappled shade they and other trees provide were an asset in his vision for the gardens that would have breathtaking views of the Chesapeake Bay. 

As I slowly drove along the gravel entry drive that is parallel to the front elevation of the house, I admired how one side of the drive faces the grove of pines and the other side facing the house now has a profusion of green plantings with accents of color. Kirsh told me she had slowly walked the pine area and sprayed white paint in a meandering line to show her landscaping crew the demarcation line where the bed of pine needles would meet the grassy area along the gravel drive. 

New plantings of  epimedium (heart shaped ground cover) and shrubs of dwarf nandina, viburnum, and boxwood offer shades of green. The Owner is especially fond of annuals so  Kirsh added the purple sunpatiens in front of the white dwarf abelia (flowering shrubs).

At the parking area by the main house, I recognized the deep lavender butterfly bushes next to the golden yellow sedge’s thin strands with the evergreen shrub chamaecyparis obtusa (false cypress) as a sentinel in the background. 

After parking my car, I admired how Kirsh’s mix of blue-gray gravel for the driveway and parking area and the 3/8” Delaware gravel walkway areas defines their common edge. The driveway curves to provide parking for the Guest House. In between the houses, more plantings surround the pool area with views of the Bay. Kirsh deftly handled the adjustment and redesign of the parking areas to define +how guests would approach the three entries to the main house and the one entry to the Guest House. 

Groups of Lamb’s Ear, Panicum Virgatum (native ‘switch grass’) and the tall Northern Bayberry that is a native, very hardy shrub, form the edge of the 3/8” Delaware gravel walkway.  

At the corner of the blue chip gravel parking area, a single stone paver marks the transition from the parking to 3/8” Delaware gravel walkway to the main house. I admired the textures of the Lamb’s Ear, Hydrangea shrub and Molinia (commonly called muhly grass). In the early fall, this native grass displays a cloud of delicate pink flowers that is a surprising visual treat. 

What was once a somewhat barren area under the majestic oak and loblolly pines near the entrance to the main house is now a vibrant mix of boxwood, sarcoccoca and viburnum shrubs, pots of tropical plants, “elephant ears” with annual torenia and the low epimedium ground cover. Kirsh’s keen eye for texture, shapes and sizes of plant leaves and how the composition rises from the low epimedium to the tall elephant ears comes together beautifully in this tranquil spot.  

I have long admired Kirsh’s special talent for creating hardscapes. To expand the Owner’s deck onto a terrace that would blend into the front walkway, Kirsh recycled ‘left overs’ from the pool surround, and the masons saw cut the bluestone pavers into strips. Kirsh’s  scale drawing was transferred to the ground and was actually drawn with paint; then Kirsh oversaw the team of masons who installed the work. I loved the textures and colors of the hand selected oversized river rocks and the Owner was quite appreciative of Kirsh’s artistry. 

 

One of Kirsh’s signature paths with random large stone using Mexican beach pebbles as “mortar” connects the deck at the side of the house to the pool.  (This photograph shows the work when it was in progress.)  The grasses to the right are calamagrostis and the grasses to the left are acorus and dark green perennial allium ‘Millenium’ (its splendid small globe shaped flowers are not in bloom yet.)

Before Kirsh was involved with the landscape design, the Owner had turned his keen eye to the design and construction of the swimming pool and its surround of bluestone paving.  Kirsh designed complementary plantings with sweeps of acorus with patches of ornamental grasses and summer blooming allium that continued the very contemporary tone of the Owner’s vision. 

The pool area highlights how unique this site is. The expanse of the Chesapeake Bay could have been too dominant but here it is a partner. The grand view of the Bay is balanced by color, foliage, hardscape and new planters..  

The Owner’s design for the bluestone pool surround widens to include a dining area and wraps around the diving board at the waterside edge of the pool. Blocks of color draw your eye from indoor and outdoor entertaining areas, across the expanse of the glistening pool water’s surface to the maturing background hedges. At the edge of bluestone are yellow acorus, allium, calamagrostis (feathered red grass) with the northern bayberry and callicarpa dichotoma (Beauty Berry) at the back corner.

The trio of texture and color of this part of the landscape at the rear corner of the pool area is exquisite when summer turns into fall. Yellow acorus is between the allium ‘Millenium’ with mature seed heads in the fall and the tall, narrow Calamagrostis (feather reed grass) in flower with plumes is the backdrop to this delightful late season composition.

I have always loved Elephant’s Ears and these newer hybrids with their yellow “spine” and their giant leaves are set against the rear wall of the main house. Steps from the classic restored sunroom lead down to the Bayside hot tub deck.

Given the strong cold winter winds over the Bay, Kirsh specified hardy shrubs and trees. She chose evergreen boxwood as accents along the expanse of lawn to the Bay. At the BBQ grille location, Kirsh chose a tree lilac that is another solution to withstand winter’s cold temperatures and winds from the Bay. Spots of annual color add summer interest to the shrub borders. The flashes of color here are annual Lantana, whose delicate flowers belie its being a tough, deer resistant plant that requires minimal care.  I love to play croquet and the wide and deep lawn would be perfect for the game.

Kirsh specified shrubs including hydrangea paniculata, abelia, weigelia and Osmanthus to both screen the pool equipment shed and to also provide a colorful rotation during the season when the pool is the primary outdoor room. The shrubs form a background for the plantings surrounding the pool, which was Kirsh’s intentional painterly backdrop for the planting. When Kirsh created the  mixed ‘privacy shrub borders’ of paramount importance was her respect of  the views from neighboring properties so that their long views to the broad water of the Bay would remain open. 

 As I strolled past the pool area, I was struck by how Kirsh located the shrubs in offset parallel rows perpendicular to the Bay so one can see the Bay between the rows as you stroll the grounds. When I reluctantly reached my car, I looked back and the diagonal vista of the shrubbery rows seemed to form a continuous  meandering line. I was also impressed how Kirsh creatively re-used existing plants and transplanted them so they could happily thrive in their new locations. She also added kousa dogwoods along the lawn edge where it meets the existing woodland to make a crisp and clean bed line that defines the lawn. 

As I drove away, I contemplated how the grounds were transformed in the years since I last visited this magical spot. The Owner was a true collaborator with Kirsh and he clearly articulated the specific feeling he wanted the grounds to represent. His primary goal was to make the property a space of pure delight for family, friends and visitors with the hope that they celebrated this naturally beautiful setting, enhanced by seasonal gardens, as much as he does. He was fortunate to have had a Landscape Designer as gifted as Kirsh is for his collaborator. She attentively listened when he described his vision, which enabled her to not only meet but also to exceed his goals.  Kirsh appreciated how the Owner’s enthusiasm for the project affected everyone from the contractors to the  installation crew and how he also contributed his labor to artfully placing some of the Mexican beach pebbles in the paths. 

I don’t use these Italian superlatives lightly but bravissimo to the Owner and bravissima to Jan Kirsh for their transformation of this exquisite property! This novice gardener thoroughly enjoyed passing her mini-course on identifying plants by their correct names.

---

Landscape Designer: Jan Kirsh, Jan Kirsh Studio, www.jankirshstudio.com, 410-745-5252

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Design with Jenn Martella:” The William Smith House, c. 1794”

On one of my recent Sunday drives, I discovered the quaint town of Hillsboro, just over the Talbot County line.  I learned it is the oldest town in Caroline County and it was named for Lord Hillsboro of Maryland’s Calvert family. Earlier this month, I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and saw many paintings by Charles Wilson Peale, who briefly resided in Hillsboro. He was  a leading portraitist of the American Revolution, particularly for his depictions of George Washington. 

After crossing the Tuckahoe River, I drove up Main Street for my visit to the William Smith House. This distinguished brick dwelling stands out in its surroundings streetscape of  frame dwellings. The brick was befitting for the residence of a successful grain merchant who lived in an important hub for grain and tobacco.  As I walked up one of the two sets of steps that led the wide stoop, I noticed the white areas of the red brick.  I wondered if the house had once been painted and later during my tour,  I saw an earlier picture of the house with white facades. 

The house is set close to the Town sidewalk so the majority of the deep 0.66 acre corner lot is devoted to its mature landscaping with a parking area off the side street. Passing the side yard, I admired the dogwood as tall as the second floor and one of the largest oak hydrangeas I have ever seen. The house’s exterior color palette of red brick, dark shutters and  white trim is classic and I especially admired the 4/4 wide and tall windows

The house has been altered slightly through many decades, but the character of the original building dominates the architecture and retains the feeling of its 1794 era. Later additions included a brick addition and two frame additions that telescope down from the two-story portion of the house. The story and a half addition contains the kitchen, a side entrance past the laundry area and a full bath. Above is the primary suite’s bathroom and walk-in closet. The one-story addition is a family room surrounded by the lawn and gardens .

The side yard adjacent to the neighbor’s property is fully fenced and I later saw a large formerly feral cat whom the Owner has patiently coaxed him to call her garden home. The crape myrtle will bloom midsummer but now the red roses are preening in the filtered sunlight.  

In the open landscape, giant trees are grouped together and at the ground the cluster of hellebores are beginning to bloom. The pineapple, symbol of hospitality, in the middle of the bird bath stands ready to welcome all avian friends. 

Near the rear of the property, there are two outbuildings, one for lawn and garden maintenance and another for myriad uses-studio, playhouse, etc. 

After my stroll around the house and garden, I was eager to explore the house. The listing agent met me at the wide front door that opened into the foyer of the center hall floor plan.  I admired detailing of the original stairs to the second floor with the dark newel post and cap rail, light colored pickets, stained treads and painted risers and the decorative molding below the edge of the treads.  Opposite the front door is another exterior door that leads to a short flight of steps to the lawn and garden. The stairs have indirect daylight from the window in the hall above.

One could add a glass storm door to the garden door to bring both light into the foyer and also to create a long vista of the garden from the front door. I loved the choice of one of my fave historic colors for the doors and trim. The long Oriental rug adds color and the period pendant light fixture’s glass shape floats serenely in the space. 

 Next to the stairs is the charming living room with a fireplace and original mantel between bespoke millwork. I did not need to turn on a light since there was ample sunlight from the wide and tall windows at the front and rear of the room. The upholstery of the seating around the coffee table pick up the colors in the Oriental rug and I especially admired the upholstered antique settee. Placing the curtain rods for the window treatments very close to the high ceiling accentuates the room’ high ceiling.

On the other side of the foyer is my fave room, the elegant dining room. Sunlight streams into the room through the front and side windows that offer views of the side garden. On top of the refinished mantel is a collection of Native American ceramics and I was delighted to see several pieces from the Acoma Pueblo that are very similar to ones I own. The large Oriental rug anchors the antique wood table and Chippendale chairs and the bespoke millwork at the side of the fireplace with closed cabinets above and glass fronted doors above for display provide ample storage. The Georgian chandelier is the perfect finishing touch.

The focal point of the dining room is a stunning Maryland Eastern Shore “ cross raised panel tombstone arch raised panel barrel back” corner pine cupboard with iron hinges in a deep cranberry color. The listing agent confirmed the Owner once had an antique store in St. Michaels. Small world-I then realized I had bought an iron bed for my guest room from her several years ago!

From the dining room, I stepped down to the open plan kitchen-gathering room. I appreciated how this kitchen combined old and new elements. Combined with the exposed stained beams and the brick wall of the stairs to the attic, this kitchen has so much character. The light colored cabinets’ design have low “feet” instead of a full knee kick. The large island cabinetry with a butcher block top is perfect for baking. At the side of kitchen is a short hall past the laundry area and a full bath to an exterior door leading to a deck that offers a secluded retreat in the fenced garden.

The kitchen overlooks the gathering room with its pitched ceiling and stained collar beams in homage to the kitchen’s older exposed beams. The wide picture window and side window provide panoramic  views of the fenced garden. The half glass/half paneled exterior door is another window overlooking the landscape and leads to a stoop and a paver path to the parking area. The mix of antiques and other furnishings create a charming space for end of workday relaxation. 

There are so many charming details in this house but my fave one is how the steps end at a landing with risers on either side up to the second floor. The graceful curvature of the baseboard and molding flows seamlessly onto each side of the landing and the stair’s cap railing echoes the curvature to the railing above overlooking the foyer.

The width of the hall allows space for a corner mini-office with an antique writing desk and chair for checking emails with daylight from the hall window overlooking the garden. The bookcase holds memories of loved ones to keep one company. Beyond the doorway is the primary bedroom at the corner of the house.

The antique corner cabinet, wood trunk, Oriental rug and wood chair and footstool create a cozy corner for relaxing and the fireplace’s trio of iron candlesticks and waterfowl are charming accents.

I can’t resist canopy beds and this one with its gentle curved open frame is beautiful as it is, but one could easily add a lace canopy.  The front windows provide plenty of sunlight and views of the neighborhood.

The second floor’s bathroom has a claw foot tub outfitted with a shower head. The beadboard wainscot, chair rail, wood floor, rug and both the arched top plantation shutter and window treatments create a charming bath that evokes the house’s period.

I would be a contented guest in this charming bedroom with the bowfront antique chest of drawers, fireplace, Oriental rugs wood pencil post bedframe, duvet and the chair by the window.

The story and a half addition to the house is reached by stairs from both the kitchen and from the primary bedroom if an ensuite is desired. This space is more than mere circulation with its bright yellow walls, the exposed brick of the original part of the house and the beautiful wood floors.  Accents of  the boat sculpture in the window and the large artwork on the brick wall give this space a unique personality.  Windows at each side wall of the stairs keeps the space sunny and bright.

The addition contains a large bathroom and walk-in closet. The antique pie safe is a much more charming storage closet than door to a linen closet.  Along with the pie safe, the wood antique storage unit between the two porcelain vintage pedestal lavatories, wood floors accented with small Oriental rugs and artwork all create a charming eclectic look.  

Desirable deep corner lot with mature landscaping in a small historic town very close to Easton’s shopping, arts and cultural events. Highway 404 is also close by for quick access to the beaches and DC. The Hillsboro Public Landing on the Tuckahoe is only a block from the   property. The house’s appealing architectural style, and the interior’s high ceilings, wide and tall windows, multiple fireplaces, built-in millwork and beautiful original wood floors are combined with modern conveniences for today’s lifestyle.  Brava to the Owner’s interior design and her collection of antiques that give this house its individual personality. If you are seeking a historic property, this gem is one not be missed, at a very competitive price compared to  a restored house in another Eastern Shore Historic District.  

---

For more information about this property, contact Broker Nancy McDonald McGuire at Maryland Heritage Properties , 410-778-9319 (o) ,443-480-7342 (c), or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.marylandheritageproperties.com/home , “Equal Housing Opportunity.” For decades, Nancy McDonald McGuire has specialized in representing historic buildings in Maryland in general and the Eastern Shore in particular. 

Photography by Jennifer Martella

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

This is the second opportunity for me to feature a project by Jones & Jones Properties. For the last four years, this talented brother and sister duo has specialized in the restoration of significant residential properties in Chestertown’s Historic District.  Together they develop a vision for a property; then Patrick as craftsman builder makes the vision a reality, assisted by Kathleen’s eye for design elements and finishes. Their first two ventures were the restoration/renovation of historic houses on Water and Cannon Streets and the latter was a previous House of the Week.

Today’s feature is their most ambitious project to date. As Owners and Builder, their restoration/renovation of “The Tilley House” was a labor of love for them. The house’s distinctive mansard roof identifies it as the “Second Empire” architectural style, with its steep lower roof pitch and low higher pitch. Popular from 1855-1885, the style’s name honors Napoleon III’s Second Empire. He retained Baron Haussman for a massive urban renewal project of Paris that created boulevards lined with apartment blocks with mansard roofs that are highly prized real estate today. 

This property’s prominent site at the corner of High and Water Streets offers vistas to the Chester River  from both the front and side porches and many rooms. This photo shows the original part of the house where the mansard roof ended;  later additions had lower gable roofs. I admired the articulated front elevation with the main floor porch and its metal hipped roof, angled bay wall projections at the corner of both floors and the mansard roof’s dormer containing a double unit window. No detail was too insignificant; even the bars of the vents in the brick foundation wall pay homage to the ones in the historic Custom House across the street!  

The bay wall projects into the front porch to expand the view of the Chester River  from the living room. The rest of the porch floor is deeper to easily accommodate chairs. On the day of my visit, it was easy to linger enjoying both the garden of the property cattycorner to this property and the view of the Chester River. High Street slopes down to the waterfront and combined with the height of the porch floor above the brick sidewalk, this porch becomes a private outdoor room.

I first saw this house before renovation work began and I was amazed to see how splendid the spaces have been transformed.  The beautiful original staircase that rises to the third floor was restored and is now a sculptural element against a background of white. Jones & Jones decided to give buyers the option of selecting one’s choice of finishes so they created a list of allowances for buyers to choose finishes that fit their budget. What was formerly a wall behind the stairs is now an arched doorway to the dining room that also extends the perspective from the front door. Another wide wall opening in the stair hall leads to the front parlor.

The solar orientation of the corner living room casts sunlight deep onto the room’s beautiful wood floors that flow throughout the house. The angled bay is a delightful nook in this spacious room and the gas fireplace’s mantel was crafted to be in keeping with the period of the house. Throughout the house, the original window and door trim with rosette corners have been carefully restored.

Behind the parlor is the kitchen-breakfast area and the kitchen layout was carefully thought out around the long existing windows. The window next to the cabinetry is centered on a space that was sized wide enough to accommodate a breakfast bar at the higher countertop. The sleek cabinetry design with a mix of light gray and deep slate blue island should please any cook and the countertop material is another allowance item to suit a buyer’s own taste. I especially liked the design of the cabinet pulls that echoes the R/F door pulls and how the mix of glass and solid fronts of the upper cabinets rise to the underside of the ceiling to maintain the spatial volume. The  kitchen’s location in the middle of the main floor’s open plan layout makes it the hub of the house. 

To support the wide wall opening between the kitchen and dining room, slender offset columns and a corner post define the dining area. The windows are very close to the adjacent neighbor’s house so a window treatment of plantation shutters would add both texture, daylight and privacy. The beadboard wainscot around the perimeter of the space adds texture and an opportunity to add either an accent paint color or wallpaper.

The doors at the corner of the family room lead to a full bath next to a closet facing the kitchen. The other door at the corner is another closet so this flexible space could be a family room with a sofa bed for guests who prefer a main floor bedroom. Throughout the house, the style of the new four-panel doors look like original period doors. 

The pair of French doors and full sidelights overlooks a deck and the yard that is a blank canvas for a gardener to plan their private dream garden. Fences on either side of the yard provide privacy and creates a safe play space for young children and the family pet. At the end of the yard is a garage that can accommodate a single vehicle. The garage’s loft storage is a bonus. 

Beyond the gorgeous staircase at the second floor landing is another wide wall opening framed by a graceful elliptical arch leading to the laundry room and to the primary ensuite at the rear of the house. 

The sumptuous primary bedroom has a gas fireplace opposite the bed wall and views of the Historic District from the two windows. The door next to the fireplace leads to the primary bath and walk-in closet.

The primary bath is compartmentalized with a walk-in closet at the rear corner opposite the dual lavatories. The door to the toilet compartment backs up to the shower-tub area under the window.

The tiled wainscot defines the location of the tub on axis with the window. I admired the dual recessed niches at the shower wall, the options of both a wall mounted and hand held shower heads and the herringbone pattern of the floor tile.

Lucky is the guest who gets to stay in the second-floor corner bedroom with a view of the roofs and treetops of the surrounding Historic District and the Chester River from the bay window and the single window!

Kathleen Jones has a flair for selection of finishes and I loved the leaf pattern and colors of the second floor bath’s shower wall. The size and color of the floor tile evokes the flooring found in Second Empire houses.  

I love mansard roofs for the full height spaces they provide. The front part of the third floor tucked under the mansard roof is finished with two guest bedrooms/offices with the clever detail of the perimeter HVAC built out to form a ledge. Truly a breathtaking bird’s eye view!

The site aerial shows this corner property’s prominence on two of Chestertown’s Historic District’s earliest streets with the neighboring properties of Widehall and the Custom House, the latter of which was one of the original British Royal Ports of Entry to the Americas. The Tilley House was completely renovated last year, including all systems, kitchen and bathrooms. Original period details including the majestic wood stair that rises up three floors, many doors and molding were carefully preserved. The original layout of rooms connected by doors were creatively modified with graceful arches or wide wall openings supported by columns that opened up vistas between the rooms. Sunlight now penetrates deeply onto the beautiful hardwood floors. Instead of a mix of rooms, the main floor is now an open plan living room, kitchen, dining and family room with easy flow among the rooms. 

The front porch for interacting with neighbors on their daily stroll or simply relaxing to enjoy the tranquil view of the Chester River and the rear fenced yard that awaits your own garden design are semi-private and private outdoor rooms.  Other bonuses include the partially finished basement’s ideal temperature for wine storage and the one-car garage for off street parking. 

You can truly make this exquisite property your own by selecting finishes from the Allowances List. This is a rare opportunity to become the next steward of this unique property that combines both 19th century charm with 21st century conveniences that has been meticulously restored and renovated by one of Kent County’s renowned craftsman builders, Patrick Jones. Jones & Jones have set the bar very high for the Historic District and I eagerly await their next project—Bravissimmo and Bravissimma to this talented duo!   

---

For more information about this property, contact Murphy O’Neill at Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company, at 410-778-0330 (o),443-480-4275 (c), or  [email protected] .For more pictures and pricing, visit  www.easternshoreofmarylandrealestate.com “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

Photography by JM real estate photos [email protected]

Upcoming Open Houses Dates: 
Saturday, May 17th from 9:30-11:30 
Sunday, May 25th, 11:00-1:00

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Several of my friends have very fond memories of growing up in this neighborhood off Goldsborough with its long blocks, wide streets with parking on both sides of the streets and rear alleys. This house on a corner lot has been well maintained and it is now being offered for the first time in forty years. Its Dutch Colonial architectural style with its signature gambrel roof maximizes the sizes of the second floor rooms. The symmetry of the front door and windows, exterior color palette of the charcoal gray architectural roofing shingles, light yellow lap siding and white shutters in a mature landscape creates great curb appeal.

The massive deciduous trees provide shade in the heat of summer but now their bare branches frame the distinctive shape of the side elevation’s gambrel roof. A later addition with a low sloped roof and a wide bow window expanded the living space. The high wood fence surrounds the rear yard for total privacy.  

This view of the house shows the distinctive shape and shallow depth of the roof dormers in the steep pitch of the lower portion of the gambrel roof. The low slope roofed addition of a family room and the pitched roof addition of a sunroom overlook the pool area. From the sunroom, sliding doors open onto a  wrap-around deck. 

The large deck has a picnic table and grille awaiting al-fresco dinners by the pool. Two one-car garages at each corner of the property are accessed from the alley.

Between the two garages is a small shed for lawn and garden maintenance. The large pool will soon provide hours of fun in the sun!

The front door opens into the living room with its serene palette of neutrals accented by the Oriental rug, footstool, pillows and the red splash of the throw over the sofa. The pale color of the window treatments and the valances placed directly below the ceiling blend into the wall so the room feels larger than it is. Tall windows provide ample sunlight. 

The rooms flow easily from one to another since they are connected by doors instead of a hall. This room next to the living room was originally the dining room with the stairs at the rear wall leading to the second floor. Sunlight from the front window is projected deep into the room.

Another door leads to the kitchen at the other corner of the house and the layout is divided into two work areas. This area contains the sink, cooktop and island with a butcher block countertop. The row of cabinetry behind the island contains the R/F that creates a compact work triangle. The white cabinetry with upper cabinets rising to the ceiling blend into the white walls and maintain the spatial volume.

The vista from the former dining room’s door is to the charming breakfast table and pair of Windsor chairs that separates the two areas of the kitchen. The wall behind the table contains the wall ovens. Recessing open shelving into the wall was a clever way to provide extra storage.

The second length of cabinetry also contains a second sink for extra prep space or space for crafts. The easy care vinyl flooring is also easy on the feet!

Between the kitchen and the rear sunroom is a full bath opposite the short hall to the family room. Plantation shutters provide both sunlight and privacy. The white background and the green chamfered corners of the floor pattern are reversed in the green background and white diagonal strips of the wallpaper

The long family room is accessed from both the living room and the hall from the kitchen to the sunroom. The sunlight from the wide bow window and rear window TV area balances the cozy feel of the seating around the fireplace.

Since the sunroom is a one-story space, opening up the ceiling to the underside of the roof’s framing gives it architectural character and the pairs of wide sliding doors around the perimeter give the space total transparency for easy indoor/outdoor flow. The white wicker furnishings with colorful cushions create areas for seating and dining. The track lighting can be adjusted for ambient lighting as needed.

The stairs to the second floor rise against the rear wall to a hall connecting the two corner bedrooms and the third bedroom in between. The front wall high knee wall at the spring line for the  gambrel roof adds charming interior architectural character and a comfortable sense of enclosure. I  admired the color palette of this lovely bedroom with the gold bedspread and plaid bed skirt and the design of roses on the pillows and window treatments. Three windows provide ample sunlight and the wood furnishings of the pencil post bed and other pieces add warmth.

The width of both the stairs and the hall creates space for the bathroom at the end of the hall. The white fixtures stand out against the butter yellow walls and the foot of the tub is set against the high knee wall so the shower head is against the high wall. 

The other corner bedroom mirrors the other corner bedroom’s interior architecture of the high knee walls, dormer window in the front gambrel roof and a side window for ample daylight. Blue and gold are complementary colors and here the color scheme creates a serene space for any guest.

Great in-town corner lot location close to the Rails to Trails and the amenities of Easton’s Historic District. Lovingly maintained by its Owner for forty years, it awaits another Owner’s individuality. Charming Dutch Colonial architecture, main floor with a living room, family room and sunroom for relaxing with family and friends. Both the living room and the family room have fireplaces and the sunroom is aptly named for its exterior walls are infilled with wide sliding doors for easy flow to the deck and in-ground pool and hot tub area. The two separate garages off the alley are a unique plus as well as the large pool and deck with outdoor lighting. For the gardener, there is small shed  to maintain the lovely gardens. Great family home!

For more information about this property, contact Mary Haddaway with Benson and Mangold at 410-745-0415 (o), 410-924-8574 (c), or 

[email protected]. For more photographs and pricing visit  www.bensonandmangold.com,  “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Greta Clopper

 

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

When I began my search for this week’s feature, I looked no further than this Craftsman Bungalow, since I am besotted with bungalows in general and this one in particular! I coveted it when it was on the market before and I enjoyed my tour to reacquaint me with its many charms. This bungalow has the classic design elements of its style: one-and-a-half stories, compact building footprint, gabled roof with overhanging eaves, shed dormers at the front and back, large windows, connecting rooms instead of hallways and natural materials.

The textures of the red brick chimney, the smooth creamy yellow bands that separates the lap siding from the scallop pattern under the eaves and the beams for the porch’s openings, along with the sage green of the façade creates an irresistible curb appeal!

My fave feature of this Craftsman Bungalow is the large, covered front porch with its tapered columns resting on a solid railing. I especially admired the mix of materials and textures used for the house and porch’s  foundation. At the porch, alternating layers of rusticated concrete masonry units to simulate stone, running bond brick, brick laid to create square openings for ventilation at the porch’s railing, and a topping of concrete like icing on a slice of torte wrap around the porch. Finials mark the beginning of the solid railing at the sides of the steps. 

The rear elevation’s deck and steps with a shed roof supported by brackets has the potential to be infilled with walls to become a mud room/laundry. The shed also has potential as an office, studio or a potting shed. The majestic crape myrtle will add color in the summer.

The terrace formed by random stones has grass instead of mortar between the stones and its irregular shape blends into the deep rear yard. Behind the shed are garden beds and at the end of the property is the original garage that would be just right for my Ford Focus!

The porch was originally open but when the porch was screened, solid wood paneling covered the ventilation spaces in the railing’s brickwork at the interior of the porch. The solid railing offers seated privacy and the wood slat ceiling is painted in the traditional pale blue color. This color selection is rooted in the Gullah people’s belief that spirits would not cross over water and painting ceilings blue to resemble water would ward off evil spirits. 

The front porch’s NW orientation provides cooling breezes during the warm months. The entry door is centered in the porch to define spaces for sitting or dining and the Craftsman style light fixture is the perfect touch. I would spend Sunday afternoons on the porch swing reading a book with my cat in my lap!

The front door opens into a foyer and the stairs. The typical Craftsman detail of separating rooms with columns and bases with hinged doors for storage always provided great vistas between adjacent rooms. I imagine at one time the woodwork and stair balustrade were stained wood but the white color does lighten the space. The white risers accentuate the stained wood of the stair treads and the beautiful wood floors flow through the main rooms.

The spacious living room spans two-thirds of the house’s depth and the long windows cast sunlight deep into the room.  The craftsman style window trim is accentuated by rosette corners that project slightly past the top and side of each window for emphasis. 

The green color of the exterior palette becomes lighter green walls in the spacious living room. The side wall’s fireplace between two long windows is simply detailed with deeper green brick and a wood mantel. At the rear wall, a wide wall opening infilled with a pair of French doors leads to the den.

The den at the corner of the house has high wood wainscoting and an exterior door to the covered deck overlooking the rear yard. The short hall past the adjacent full bathroom leads to the kitchen at the other corner of the house.

I admired the bathroom’s black and white color scheme with the checkerboard tile floor and white tiled walls with accents of black. The full bath’s soaking tub could be removed for use in a second floor primary bath. The pedestal lavatory is opposite the lavatory but it could easily be relocated next to the toilet to create more floor space. 

Removing the wall between the kitchen and the dining room created an open plan with windows on the three exterior walls. The current Owners updated the kitchen with craftsman style wood cabinets, granite countertops, tile backsplash, farmhouse sink and stainless steel appliances.  The high counter facing the dining room creates a spot for a breakfast bar. The double-unit windows over the sink and the single window at the rear wall add to the ample sunlight from the dining room’s windows. 

The spacious dining room could easily accommodate family dinners or larger celebrations and the period pendant fixture is the perfect touch. I surmised that instead of a single door opening in the wall to the foyer was not original.  That portion of the wall probably matched the Craftsman style opening to the living room. Since the framing probably is hidden in the wall, opening up the foyer wall would create great vistas and easier flow between the rooms. 

The stairs to the second floor lead to a hall with a window for daylight. The side by side washer and dryer are located in the corner but with a little creative space planning, the appliances could be relocated to a closet. The door opposite the stairs opens into the centrally located full bath.

The full bath is tucked under the shed dormer with triple windows for sunlight and privacy. The wood wainscot highlights the white fixtures and lavatory cabinet. Opposite the windows is the tub/shower.

Although this room is not labeled as the primary bedroom, this bedroom in the center of the floor plan would be my choice for its charming interior architecture from the wide shed dormer infilled with triple windows. Since the windows face north, soft daylight with no glare would be a plus.

At each side gable walls are the other two bedrooms with storage rooms at the front and back of the house. Since two closets would not be necessary, making one of the front rooms a bath for the shed dormer bedroom would be my choice for to create a primary ensuite.

At the other gable end of the house is the third bedroom that spans the full depth of the living room below. This bedroom could easily be shared, or could also be a bedroom with a play space for a child. I imagine the square window with its sill at floor level would be claimed by the family pet for his/her sleeping space!Charming Craftsman Bungalow on a desirable and deep corner lot location, only four blocks from the center of St. Michaels’ shops and restaurants along Talbot St. After crossing Talbot St., Railroad Ave. becomes Cherry St., which ends at the pedestrian bridge to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and the harbor restaurants are nearby. At the other end of this street is a park and the entrance to the Rails to Trails. The bungalow’s compact floor plan with minimal halls maximizes the room sizes and creates easy flow among the rooms with abundant sunlight from the long windows. Original Craftsman details, especially the millwork between the foyer and the living room, stair balustrade, moldings and beautiful hardwood floors set the scene for gracious in-town living. The screened porch that spans the full length of the house and the rear stone terrace overlooking the yard are great outdoor rooms for relaxing with family and friends. I am so grateful for having the chance once again to become captivated by this charming bungalow! 

---

 

TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-745-2596 (o), 410- 310-0225 (c), or [email protected] . For more pictures and pricing, visit monicapenwell.sothebysrealty.com “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Eve Fishell, Chesapeake Pro Photo LLC, 443-786-8025, www.chesapeakeprophoto.com, [email protected]

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Two years ago I wrote a special feature about the Sears Roebuck pre-fabricated houses that I illustrated with images of houses I discovered on the Eastern Shore.  From 1908 to 1940, Sears Roebuck offered a complete package of house plans and materials that were shipped throughout the US. There were five series of 447 house designs in architectural styles that included the most popular, the American Four-Square. Today’s feature, “The Dover” cottage design, was built throughout the US, including the brick version in my home town of Kingsport, TN.  

The cottage style design elements of compact floor plan, distinctive one-story steep roofed entry with one long curved side against the story and a half massing, jerkinhead roof pitch at the sides, window boxes and tapered brick chimney give this cottage great curb appeal. 

 

The cottage’s very desirable corner lot and the house’s classic color palette of white siding and green shutters stands out against its background of mature trees for shade. The front brick stoop’s steps lead down to each side of the lawn.  

 

The deep lot is bordered on the side street by a white picket fence that connects the house to the outbuilding at the rear. The Owner added a one-story addition to the original house and added a screened porch to the existing outbuilding. 

 

Connecting the house and addition to the outbuilding and screened porch is a brick terrace with an irregular edge that blends into the planting beds. From the side street, I passed under a white arbor festooned with vines. The majestic tree will provide ample shade during the warm weather months for al-fresco dining. The house’s exterior door leads to the corner sunroom and to the kitchen.

 

The graceful arched wall opening defines the foyer with its coat closet, wood wainscot and the cottage style door of vertical wood planks. The living room’s light colored walls accentuate the beautiful wood floors and the front single window and side double unit window provide ample sunlight. I admired the chimney’s deep mantel and simple detail of soldier bricks (tall side exposed) and header bricks (short side exposed) that breaks up the brick running bond pattern. Above the mantel, the vertical boards add extra texture.

 

The original “Dover” model had a bedroom behind the living room but the Owner opened up the rear wall to create an open plan living-family room. The side wall pairs of windows provide extra sunlight for both areas. I admired the earth tones and subtle patterns of the living room’s upholstered furnishings.

 

The corner windows of the living room creates a sunny space for relaxing. The combination of plantation shutters that cover the lower part of the windows and the translucent pleated shades above are a great solution for both sunlight above and seated privacy below. The exposed radiator could be encased with a lightweight metal cover and cushions for extra seating.  The  wide wall opening with a gentle elliptical arch leads to the dining room and the dropped beam separates the family room from the living room.

 

Converting the former bedroom into a family room created a cozy sitting area for watching TV. I could easily imagine stretching out on the sofa’s ottoman with my cat stretching out over the radiator! The beautiful wood antique pieces add warm accents to the room. 

 

The wide wall opening continues the open plan into the dining room and the room’s corner location with windows on each wall offers panoramic views of St. Michaels. The room’s spacious size can accommodate family dinners or larger celebrations.  The corner cabinet contains shelving and a glass upper door to highlight china and  glassware and the grandfather clock is also angled against the opposite corner. The window treatments continue the look of the living-family room.

 

Two open corner doorways connects the kitchen to both the dining room and to a short hall past the stairs to the family room for a continuous flow throughout the main rooms.  I love checkered patterns and the soft hues of this blue and white floor expand the space.  The original “Dover” kitchen’s layout had free-standing appliances and work areas but this kitchen’s layout saves steps for the cook. I once had an antique oak dresser like the stylish one next to the fridge that I converted to a bathroom lavatory. This piece could be a great bar for parties since it is close to both the dining and family rooms.

 

The kitchen’s mix of craftsman and solid panel cabinetry adds style. The upper cabinets extend to the ceiling and are a mix of solid and glass doors. The double window over the sink and the wide window at the rear wall overlooking the terrace keeps the space sunny and bright. 

 

The kitchen corner blends the addition into a short hall for access to the stairs to the basement, and to the addition’s primary suite and the sunroom. The hall also does dual duty as a mini mudroom. The exterior door leads to steps down to the brick terrace for ease of serving meals from the kitchen. 

 

The hall blends into the corner cozy sunroom overlooking the brick terrace. Its location away from the living and family rooms and the soft hues of the walls and furnishings makes it a quiet haven for rest and relaxation. The soft pleated shades filter the sunlight and provide seated privacy.

 

The primary bedroom is located in the corner of the addition away from the streets for peace and quiet. The light blue and cream interior design creates a setting for a restful sleep and the height of the up/down translucent shades can be adjusted as desired. 

 

The light blue and cream design of the primary bedroom extends into the primary bath. The front glass wall of the shower extends the space visually and I admired how the smaller tiles of the shower floor contrasts with the larger tiles of the floor and shower surround. The vintage style porcelain enamel pedestal lavatory pays homage to the original fixtures of “The Dover”.

 

The “U” shaped stairs to the second floor are sunlit from the side window and the stairs end at a closet between two mirror image bedrooms. Moving one side of the closet wall to align with the side wall of the stairs should create enough space to add a bathroom for this floor.

 

Each bedroom has a double unit window in the side gable walls of the house for sunlight and doors to access the closet storage under the eaves of the roof. 

Desirable corner lot in St. Michaels on the edge of the residential area with close proximity to Town amenities without having to drive through the commercial district; charming English cottage style with many architectural details that give it great curb appeal. Entry vestibule, main floor primary suite, second-floor guest bedrooms, open plan living-family-dining area with graceful arched openings that define the spaces, corner sunroom, partial basement, outdoor rooms of the brick terrace that wraps around the house to the screened porch attached to the single car garage, landscaping with majestic trees for shade; all this in St. Michaels! 

 

---

 

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

Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens Photography, 410-310-6838, [email protected]

Are you wondering if your house is a Sears House? Several clues might remain, such as stamped lumber exposed in your basement or attic. Framing members were stamped with a number and a letter to expedite the carpenters’ work. Other clues would be a shipping label, found on the back of moldings around doors and windows. In the 1930’s, hardware fixtures often had a small circle around the letters “SR” that would have been cast into the lower corner of a bathtub or the underside of kitchen sinks or bath lavatories.  

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

As I was searching for this week’s feature, I had just finished watching Season Five of “The Parisian Agency” so France was on my mind and this house spoke to me. The Second Empire style became popular in France during the reign of Napoleon III, France’s “Second Empire”. Its origin was actually in the 17th century designs created by the French architect Francois Mansart, for whom the distinctive roof style is named. The mansard roof with dormers, flared, shallow eaves and the bay window are the most recognized Second Empire design elements that made this style the dominant one in America between 1860 and 1880. 

Some Second Empire houses also had full front porches, but this house’s front porch has been modified and infilled with windows. The  mansard roof with its very low upper pitch and steep lower pitch is both stylish and functional since the steep lower pitch enables the entire third floor level to be fully usable.

Slate was the common roofing material for the steep lower slope of a mansard roof but this house’s horizontal cladding in a contrasting color to the siding accentuates the roof’s form well. I admired the two-story bay wall projection that was probably a later addition and how the upper portion flares out to create a box bay with decorative fretwork. 

The rear addition contains the kitchen and the laundry on the main floor and two bathrooms on the second floor. This clever solution both upgraded the house and also consolidated the plumbing layout for cost savings. I was sorry that my visit was too early to see the majestic Magnolia in bloom! 

The original front porch now has a new life as a four seasons room with easy care brick flooring and the mix of furnishings creates a cozy space for relaxation.

When I opened the front door, the magnificent curved stair reminded me of historic houses in Charleston or Savannah. I especially admired the detailing of the two curved lowest treads, how all the stained wood treads stand out against the white risers and the contrast of the dark and sinuous cap rail. I especially liked how the sunlight from the side window cast its shadow onto the wall and the jamb of the front parlor’s doorway and the window on the second floor cast another shadow that caught the curvature of the cap rail. 

The front entry’s original door, transom and half paneled/half glass sidelights with layers of molding and trim introduces the extensive trimwork found throughout the house. Even though my tour was on an overcast day, the entry had ample daylight from the large window at the side wall and the door surround. The period pendant light fixture was the perfect touch.

Before exploring the house, I walked around the stairs to fully appreciate the curvature of the stair’s molding and the interlocking decorative trim underneath the treads. I especially admired the dual curvature of the stair trim below and the cap rail above.

From the stair hall, a doorway leads to the front parlor with its focal point of the stunning stained oak mantel infilled with a mirror and iron firebox cover. Three windows wrap around the corner of the room and a wide wall opening connects the parlor with the adjacent family room and dining room to create an open plan. The family room and dining room are separated by  a partial wall of storage with a center opening framed by partial height columns and pilasters at each corner. The nine and half foot ceilings make the main floor rooms look larger than they are.

The family room’s focal point is the wide bay wall projection infilled with windows for panoramic views of Trappe’s Historic District. The space is furnished with a tabletop chess board and two chairs but its solar orientation would also make it a charming spot for breakfast. The wall opposite the sofa and coffee table can easily accommodate a wall mounted TV. The beautiful white moldings and cornices tie the room together to complement the wall color. The window and door openings are trimmed in fluted trim with rosette corners throughout the house.

Standing between the columns in the partial height wall, I savored how the family room’s bay wall projection is on axis with the identical bay wall projection in the dining room. The beautiful wood antiques add warmth to the space and the round dining table is the perfect choice to complement the angled wall. The deep open shelves on the side wall can easily accommodate platters or serving pieces.  The console table is tucked into the recessed wall space with accent lamp lighting  and the mirror above becomes another window. 

Passing through a doorway in the family room, I discovered the powder room, kitchen and laundry areas located in the addition to the house. The window next to the sink overlooks the rear yard so the cook can watch children at play and the side exterior door leads to a porch at the side street for ease of unloading groceries from one’s car. The kitchen’s stylish upgrades of stainless steel appliances, white cabinets and black granite countertop and full backsplash that surround the center island appealed to this cook.  The breakfast table and chairs  are next to another stair to the second floor.

The laundry/mud room has an exterior door that leads to a small deck overlooking the rear yard. If one needed counter space, the dryer could replace the sink and a shallow shelf or table could be placed under the high window.

Instead of using the kitchen’s single flight of stairs to the second floor, I returned to the entry hall’s original staircase so I could again admire its geometry of curves and angles.  Another full flight of stairs leads to the third floor.

The second floor of the original part of the house contains a center hall between two back to back large bedrooms and a smaller bedroom across the hall. Both of the large bedrooms have windows on two exterior walls for ample daylight. The nine foot ceilings create very pleasing spatial volumes.

The space on either side of the parlor’s chimney contains closets for each large bedroom and this bedroom at the rear of the house also has a window on each exterior wall for ample daylight.

It is easy to be charmed by diminutive spaces and the small bedroom has a big asset in its box bay infilled with windows for panoramic views of Trappe’s Historic District.  At the left side of the box bay is a recessed area that could accommodate a crib for a nursery or a desk for an office.

The second floor’s two baths are side by side and this large one with its wood wainscot, lavatory cabinet and lower cabinets for storage is a great family bathroom so the smaller bath could be a dedicated primary bath.

The view from the third-floor stair landing highlights the continuous railing that unwinds itself down to the first floor.  The third floor has not been renovated and is a blank canvas awaiting one’s imaginative use-playroom, teen hangout, studio long-term storage…? The views through the windows of the rooftops and treetops is truly a bird’s eye view!

Even though the Lakeside development offers new homes, I much prefer Trappe’s Historic District gems like this Second Empire-style three-story house that offers both historic charm and a newly renovated condition. Its location equidistant to both Oxford and Easton in a quiet town has great appeal. High ceilings, extensive moldings, beautiful wood floors and the stunning staircase with its continuous handrail that rises to the third floor, open plan parlor-family room-dining room and newly renovated kitchen offers a great layout for family living. The deep corner lot also has a detached storage building and the house’s furnishings may be purchased separately from the real estate!

---

For more information about this property, contact Bob Shannahan with Shoreline Realty, Inc,  at 410-822-7556 (o) 410-310-5745 (c) or [email protected].  For more photographs and pricing, visit www.shorelinerealty.biz , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

“Where Land and Water Intertwine, An Architectural History of Talbot County, Maryland”, by Christopher Weeks, with Contributions by Michael O. Bourne, John Frazier, Jr., Marsha L. Fritz and Geoffrey Henry.

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

As an ardent proponent of historic preservation, I am honored that today’s feature is “Highfield”, the home of Michael and Ann Bourne since 1989. Michael Bourne was a giant in the field of historic preservation in the Mid-Atlantic region. His research and drawings of historic structures and sites in Kent County are now housed in the Historical Society of Kent County. His dedicated effort to document for future generations almost every historic building in Chestertown led to the formation of the non-profit group, Preservation. Inc. and many philanthropic projects that rescued houses in danger of demolition. His book “Historic Homes of Kent County”, and his contribution to “Chestertown Maryland, An Inventory of Historic Sites”  are my go-to sources for background information on historic houses I have featured. 

The five-acre site offers peace and privacy and includes two outbuildings; one is outfitted as a wood-fired brick oven bakery and the other is a storage building for lawn maintenance.

The design of this special house was a labor of love for the Bournes; his degree in architecture and the couple’s fondness for the vernacular farmhouses of Suffolk County in England they had admired during many visits to that region resulted in the design of this one of a kind house. Details including the steep pitched roof, “catslide” roof slope at the east end of the house, the tall, articulated chimney, multipaned windows,  and enclosed front entry reflect their sophisticated taste and serious attention to every detail. The landscape design was also carefully considered and includes multiple perennial beds, including this border along the brick path leading to the front door which starts with daffodils in the spring and moves to columbine and yellow lilies in late summer.  

I especially admired the careful attention to the window arrangement and how the sill of the tall and wide window above the stair aligns with the headers of the first-floor windows.

Every elevation of this house is beautiful; I loved the massing of the main roof’s hip to the vent just below the roof’s ridge and how the lower pitched roof over the screened porch also provides a wide dormer for the primary suite above. The house’s colors of nature in shades of brown blend into the surrounding trees.

The rear and other side elevation is my fave one-the wide two-story window dominates the façade and the trim caramel color accentuates each window and the eaves for contrast against the light lap siding. From my weekly viewing of the BBC House and Garden Network’s architect George Clarke, the Brits love their conservatories and the corner wrap around windows of the mini-conservatory await the flowering plants of spring.

 

The custom front door opens into a foyer tucked under the stairs and the “bridge” that links the two bedroom ensuites on the second floor. The tall triple window unit above the stairs floods the stairs with sunlight and the warm butter yellow walls with the stained floors and trim enclose a cozy space for relaxing. 

Throughout the house, the Bournes’ art collection includes many of their daughter’s works, including  four miniatures in the Great Room.

The front door’s artisan unique wrought iron hardware introduces both the antique and reproduction hardware found throughout the house.

The spacious living room with its warm blue walls, custom grey carpet, and red accents spans the depth of the house. Its focal point is the Hamstone fireplace surround with detailed beveled trim that forms a gentle ellipse around the opening to the firebox’s lining of oversized brick. Front and side windows offer direct views of the landscape and the pair of French doors between full height windows leads to the adjacent screened porch. 

The deep screened porch is a wonderful outdoor room for easy outdoor-indoor flow to the living room and to the terrace. I admired the flagstone flooring with a brick border and the slight elliptical shape of the header trim of the screened panels. The dark structural framing and the darker screened framing contrasts with the warm white of the ceiling planks.

To fully appreciate the spatial height of the two-story Great Room, I walked back under the one-story foyer and then into the magnificent two-story space with its triple height windows in a 5-4-3 vertical pattern overlooking the landscape. As I was mesmerized by the window wall, the side warm butter yellow wall appeared to change color as a ray of sun cast its shadow on the wall. This room blends historic elements and the Bournes’ love of British vernacular design with energy efficiency of the window wall’s SSE solar orientation combined with a six-zone heating system results in low energy bills!

The earth tones of the interior design are enlivened by accents of color in the deep slate blue freestanding Danish stove and the discreet Runtal panel radiator underneath the window sill along with the red wing chair. Having written an article several years ago about Chestertown’s talented Deep Water Landing’s artisan chandeliers, I recognized their work floating above in the space.

The simple elegance of the wood table, Windsor chairs, and centerpiece of a copper container of African violets between two brass candles sets the scene for memorable meals with views through the window wall to the landscape beyond. I especially liked how the window muntins cast a checkerboard of shadows onto the tabletop. 

The very wide wall opening between the Great Room and the kitchen creates an open plan for easy flow between the rooms. The spacious “U” shaped kitchen with another row of cabinetry behind the island appealed to this cook. I admired the contrast of the butcher block countertops for chopping or kneading bread with the darker cabinetry, another accent of red in the walls and another Deep Water Landing artisan chandelier.

I admired the openness of the kitchen with the pairs of double units at the rear wall and the triple window overlooking the adjacent mini-conservatory. The space is full of sunlight since there are no upper cabinets!  I much prefer the Brits’ preference of a pantry off the kitchen that this layout has.   =

 

At the corner of the house next to the kitchen is a space divided into a stairwell to the basement and a mud room. The wrap-around window sills will soon be adorned with colorful plants.  The stairwell leads to the full basement with a large ante-space, laundry room, playroom, and workshop.

The mud room’s easy care quarry tile flooring flows through the space with pegs for jackets, a bench for taking off one’s Wellies after time in the garden and an umbrella stand. At the end of the mud room is a powder room. The exterior door leads to large stone pavers that curl around the corner of the house to the terrace and the screened porch.

 

The study at the front of the house is accessed from both the Great Room and a short hall between the kitchen pantry and a row of kitchen cabinetry. The projection of the pantry’s side wall creates a nook in the study. With a cushion and pillows, the nook becomes a cozy break from computer work or a spot for the cat to bask in the sunlight from the quad window unit. The ergonomic chair, leather-topped mission oak desk and the bespoke millwork are all one needs in a quiet corner study for work.

The bridge at the top of the stairs is offset from the front wall to allow open space for the large window at the front of the house to provide daylight for both the foyer below and the bridge. The windows at the rear wall of the Great Room below also provide daylight and views of the landscape. Beyond the bridge is a wall opening leading to the guest ensuite and the stairs to the second guest ensuite on the third floor.

The primary bedroom is located over the spacious living room at the west end of the house. The tray ceiling, triple unit window on the west and  two double unit windows provide ample sunlight throughout the day. The room’s focal point of the canopy bed with its delicate leaf pattern, the oversize chair for reading before bedtime, the antique wood pieces and the expanse of the teal carpet create a restful retreat. Since the laundry is located in the basement, there is a laundry chute hidden in the built-in cupboards next to the chimney wall behind the bed.

The five piece primary bath has two lavatory cabinets with hexagonal Kohler sinks, an over-sized soaking tub, shower, and toilet and is handsomely accented by deep blue Portuguese delft tiles, several delicate watercolors, and  pots of plants.

The second floor guest ensuite bedroom has serene light green walls and mix of wood, rattan, and upholstered furnishings. The mahogany closet doors for this bedroom were reclaimed from an antique armoire. A full bath and a dressing room with a laundry chute complete the ensuite.

The third floor guest bedroom has delightful interior architecture from the knee walls and the sloped ceiling. The spatial geometry creates chamfered corners for both the wood doors and trim. I admired the four-poster bed’s colorful bedspread and the wooden trunk that is now a stylish table. 

Walking around the grounds, I appreciated the pastoral views and marveled that this peaceful haven was only three miles from downtown Chestertown! I lingered on the terrace by the flower bed bursting with texture and color from the arrangement of low to tall plants and flowers that are  beginning to awaken from their winter dormancy.

 

As I strolled through the grounds of this five acre property and the rooms of this unique house, I felt I was visiting one of Great Britain’s National Trust properties.  ”Highfield” personifies the Bournes’ deep commitment to both preservation and their appreciation of Great Britain’s historic architecture. The Bournes’ attention to detail is evident in the planning of the gardens and every room of the house.  Details like the Hamstone fireplace, newel posts in the stairs, antique doors and antique hardware, stained floors and trim, etc., give the house its inviting warmth and unique character that make “Highfield” a rare gem. The outbuilding that is equipped as a bakery with a brick oven could be transformed into a charming guest house, but guests would be reluctant to leave this peaceful haven, only three miles from downtown Chestertown. Lucky indeed is the person who becomes the next steward of this magnificent property. My highest praise for “Highfield”-Bravissimo!

---

For more information about this property, contact Nancy McDonald McGuire at Maryland Heritage Properties , 410-778-9319 (o) ,443-480-7342 (c), or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.marylandheritageproperties.com/home , “Equal Housing Opportunity.” 

Contractor: Phillips Home Builders
Photography: Stephen Buchanan, Nancy McDonald McGuire, and Ann Bourne.
Aerials: Stephen Buchanan, buchananphotography.com

Selected botanical art by Atwater Designs, www.atwaterdesigns.com

“Chestertown Maryland, An Inventory of Historic Sites” , based upon an historic site survey conducted by Robert Neill, Michael O. Bourne, and Kathleen B. White, with additional survey information by Marsha Fritz, Robert J.H. Janson-La Palme and Peter Newlin

“Where Land and Water Intertwine”, An Architectural History of Talbot County, Maryland, by Christopher Weeks, with contributions by Michael O. Bourne, John Frazier, Jr., Marsha L. Fritz and Geoffrey Henry; published by the Johns Hopkins University Press and the Maryland Historical Trust.

The Historical Society of Kent County, www.kentcountyhistory.org, 301 High Street, Chestertown, MD, (410) 778-3499

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

This unique house, designed by its Architect/Owner, is sited on a narrow peninsula between the Honga River and the Chesapeake Bay. The 0.9 acre lot includes a dock with a boat lift across the entry road, a driveway that can accommodate two cars and a bayside outbuilding. The aerial shot illustrates the house’s simple form, but make no mistake, there is nothing simple about this house- it is simply elegant. Every vista and detail have been carefully thought out by thinking inside the box to create a harmonious whole.  

Since the Architect was his own client, he was free to incorporate minimalist design elements he always wanted into this house. He chose a metal roof to hear the sound of rain as it hit the metal; maple flooring instead of the ubiquitous oak;  “allthread” suspension steel rods and turnbuckles to support the entrance canopy and interior exposed steel structural elements. His finishing touch was the small balcony off the second floor where he could feel suspended in air as he savored mid-summer sunsets on the far horizon. 

Before I went in for my tour, I admired the front façade’s carefully composed arrangement of large and small windows that identify the hierarchy of the functions within. The uniform color palette of shades of gray from the exposed foundation of concrete masonry units covered in dark gray plaster, lighter gray Hardie lap siding and the very light gray steel roofing makes the building seem larger than it is. 

The rear elevation has spectacular views  of the Chesapeake Bay and is almost totally transparent except for the solid portion that covers the staircase to the second floor. The elegant grid of the large windows was carefully thought out to utilize stock picture windows and sliding doors from the Home Depot! The waterside outdoor rooms of the first floor’s deck that spans across the length of the house has steps to the lawn and the balcony at the corner of the second floor provides front row seats for the parade of small craft and freighters to and from Baltimore. The small accessory structure was reclad and reroofed to match the house.

The Architect/Owner greeted me at the front door and even though I had seen the MLS pix, I was mesmerized by the living room’s spatial volume and the play of sunlight through the window grid onto the side wall. Both the detailing of the window wall with steel tubular columns and the minimalist window shades in their fully open position maximizes the view across the Chesapeake Bay to the far horizon.

The expanse of white walls and ceiling reflect the sunlight on the walls and the beautiful maple flooring. The combination of the first floor being elevated above the grade and the high sill height of the front windows blocks the view of cars on the street. Except for the trim around the entry door, all of the doors are frameless and have latches instead of hinges. That detail and the windows framed in drywall instead of trim maintain the minimalist look. 

I admired the juxtaposition of the classic “Arco” light and the antique wood piece from Venezuela. The Architect/Owner told me he meticulously stripped and restored the treasured family piece so it now has pride of place in the living room.   I also admired the clever arrangement of holders arranged on the wall near the front door-so easy to drop one’s keys, etc. upon arriving home. The room’s soothing neutrals of the large kilim, the deep caramel seating that picks up the rug’s background color, pillows and the granite top that matches the kitchen countertop create a serene space for relaxing. 

The window wall grid wraps around the corner to offer a panoramic view with the bonus of delightful shadows cast onto the wall. The Swedish wood stove that accommodates vertical logs is a sculptural element and does not block the water view from its position diagonally across from the corner structure. I was quite surprised to learn from the Architect/Owner that what I thought was bespoke  low sleek cabinetry actually came from IKEA! The mix of the top open shelf and closed door provides great storage for DVD’s and I was lucky that one of my fave  Bach pieces was providing background music during my tour.

The open plan living-dining-kitchen’s ceiling plane drops in height at the dining-kitchen area below the second floor loft. Another kilim anchors the glass tabletop and sleek modern chairs. The stylish triangular pendant lighting fixtures are by Fuschia and their transparency blends into window wall beyond.

The partial height wall separates the dining area from the kitchen and I admired the waterfall detail at each end that frames the white insert. The upper cabinets float just under the ceiling plane and their frosted panels both contrasts with the white panels of the other upper cabinets and also expands the space visually. The stairs with the treads’ pine grain contrasts with the monolithic look of the maple flooring and the white risers clearly define each step. 

This compact yet highly efficient kitchen also contains IKEA cabinetry and the Architect/Owner carefully thought out the cabinetry layout. He cleverly set an upper cabinet that is usually placed above a range over a base cabinet to house his “wall” oven above the range.  The stainless steel appliances, white cabinets and the veined granite countertops pleased this cook very much.

Behind the core area of the kitchen and adjacent primary bath is a hall connecting the living room with the primary ensuite. The wall depth was designed to have a recess to accommodate the IKEA adjustable shelving units that are set on casters for ease of cleaning and/or moving. The high square windows provide both daylight and privacy. The break in the shelving units leads to the primary bedroom’s four-piece bath that is also a powder room for guests. The hall vista ends at the full height mirror set against the wall for added perspective.

The spacious primary bedroom spans from the front to back corners of the house. The soft window treatments allow sunlight to filter into the room while maintaining privacy. The kilim anchors the reading and writing area of the bedroom with the stylish woven chaise and IKEA desk with its wood pull down surface. I dearly coveted the stylish lamp with its striped base and mesh metal shade.

The low cabinetry is a twin to the living room’s unit and the nightstands are also from IKEA. Sconces above the bed are mounted the perfect height for reading  and the simple right-angled uplights above add ambient light. The rear wall facing the water fills half the wall and the low horizontal window is set at the perfect height for a first look at the water each morning before rising to begin the day.

The spacious dressing room is outfitted with both a Closet Maid system and wood storage units with ample storage for two. The window tucked below the stair run adds sunlight and a view of the water.

The four-piece primary bath includes a corner shower and a tub. The IKEA shallow lavatory with a porcelain top and tiled high backsplash floats above the tiled floor that extends around the shower walls.

The mirror with a shelf below extends to the corner of the tub with ample storage for both lavatory and tub. The floor tile continues up and around the tub enclosure for a seamless look that expands the space visually.

Retracing my steps back to the stairs, with each step upward I enjoyed an increasingly expansive view of the water, ending at the maximum view at the wide window with its sill just above the second floor landing.  I turned around to savor the angled framing like buttresses at the exterior window wall that were the source of the diagonal shadows on the living room’s wall. The Architect/Owner explained how the window wall at the landing is the only unit that was required to have tempered glass.

At the top of the stairs is a room with another wrap-around window at the corner that matches the living room’s corner unit for symmetry. A sliding door leads to a balcony for a bird’s eye panoramic view of the water, a fresh air break from work or a spot to enjoy spectacular sunsets. The room is currently used as an office-workout area but with some modification it could become a bedroom. Off the short hall from this room to the loft overlooking the living room is a large storage room that contains a stack washer/dryer and a full bath. 

The balcony is a perfect spot for a break from work, or for savoring the sunsets at the end of the work day.

The loft area is furnished as a TV room with a grid of open shelving creating a partition separating this area from the drafting area beyond. The splash of the red futon and the black and white accents of the rug and pillows create a cozy space for watching TV. The railing’s glass panels and slim wood cap disappear into the upper wall of the living room. 

I dearly envied having this fab workspace with its views of the water for breaks from drawing or writing! 

The view from the loft work space overlooking the living room shows how deep the sunlight penetrates the room to create delightful patterns on the wall through the day. Who needs artwork when you have a daily kinetic play of light on the wall?

One of Le Corbusier’s famous quotes was “ Space and light and order. Those are the things that men (and women) need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep.”  This fab nocturnal shot highlights how well the talented Architect/Owner “thought inside the box” to create a simple yet elegant design through this remarkable house’s transparency, skillful space planning, white walls and ceilings to reflect the sunlight, carefully chosen color accents and stylish lighting fixtures throughout the house. 

Great design is not necessarily expensive-in the hands of a master architect and his clever use of materials and products from Home Depot and IKEA, he created  a truly unique and tranquil haven  without blowing his budget. Bravissimo!

---

For more information about this property, contact TTR Sotheby’s International Realty agent Joan Wetmore  at 410-673-3344 (o), 410-924-2432 (c) or [email protected]  or TTR Sotheby’s International Realty agent Melissa Tippett at 410-280-5600  (o), 410-241-7409 (c) or [email protected] For more photographs and pricing, visit redfin.com/MD/Fishing-Creek/2522-Hoopers-Island-Rd-21634/home/14735018, “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Moses George Cohen, 202-688-8581, [email protected]

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.