Front exterior of lovely Dutch Colonial home in Royal Oak, MD

If I were looking for a house, I would concentrate on Royal Oak for several reasons, primarily its close proximity to both Easton, St. Michaels’ and Oxford’s amenities.  The bonus would be taking the ferry from Bellevue to Oxford for ice cream from The Scottish Highland Creamery! This charming 2 + acre wooded property along the banks of Edge Creek is a peaceful haven with the Dutch Colonial style house set back far from the road at the end of a meandering driveway through pine trees. I especially admired how the one story wings of the entry and the garage wings step down from the center two-story wing to create a very pleasing massing and how the exterior colors of the roofing, siding and  shutters echoes the surrounding colors of nature . I also love bay windows and the symmetrical main wing with two bay windows adds to the wonderful curb appeal.

View of rear elevation from the water-facing backyard.

When I walked around the house, I admired how the rear elevation opened up the house to the water from the expanse of windows at the living room and the shed dormer windows in the bonus room above the garage that along with the screened porch provide panoramic views of the water. The single dormer windows at the second floor offer water views for both the primary bedroom and the primary bath.  From the terrace, a stone path leads to the pier with long views of Edge Creek.

Enjoy views of Edge Creek from the comfort of a screened in porch

My fave room is the screened porch with its flagstone floor, exposed wood rafters and decking and the wide screened panels for panoramic views of Edge Creek. I especially liked how the ceiling is sloped and the side wall screening reaches up the ceiling. It would be so easy to linger here for a second cup of coffee to begin the day with the background of the sights and sounds of nature. 

The rear of the home features a lovely terrace perfect for outdoor dining or catching a few rays.

Another outdoor space is the spacious stone terrace with low brick walls that both defines its boundary and provides extra seating. I especially liked how the edge meets the rear wall of the screened porch with a curve instead of a right angled wall.

With the terrace spanning the full length of the house, it is easy to access both the back door and the garage

From the screened porch, the terrace spans the length of the house‘s main wing and ends at steps down to the lawn by the garage. The door at the top of the steps leads up to the main wing’s stair hall to the kitchen for easy access for grilling and dining al-fresco.

A scenic pathway to the private pier.

The tall trunks of the pines offer unobstructed water views from both the terrace and  the path of irregularly shaped light colored stones that leads to the pier. I could easily imagine keeping kayaks in the garage for easy access and taking them down the path to the pier for an afternoon on Edge Creek. 

Living on the creek is hard to beat – boaters rejoice; the boat ramp and floating dock will make hitting the water a breeze!

On the day of my visit, I enjoyed relaxing on the blue bench on the private pier,   basking in the sunshine and enjoying the long view of the opposite shore of Edge Creek. Boating enthusiasts would also appreciate the concrete boat ramp with hoist and the floating dock.

Warm wood and neutral colors allow the outside scenes to steal the show in this cozy den

After my tour of the grounds, I was eager to explore the house. The front door opens into a foyer with built-in wood shelving for a mini-library. I learned from the listing agent that one of the Owners had been a botanist and she had written several books on flora and fauna. I enjoy learning about the origin of a house’s name and I remembered the “Spartina Cove” sign at the road.  After a google search, I learned that spartina cymarosides, or big cord grass, is a saltmarsh and brackish grass-how appropriate for a botanist! 

Past the foyer/library is a den/family room with its corner walls infilled with a four-unit window overlooking the landscaping and the three-unit door and full sidelights to the screened porch for views to the water. The wood floors and wood wainscot has an informal feel and the wood stove takes the chill off winter nights of TV binging. The flat ceiling could also be replaced with drywall ceilings in a gambrel shape, keeping with the Dutch Colonial architecture. 

Large windows line the exterior wall of the long living room, soaking it in natural light.

From the family room, a pair of French doors leads to the spacious living room with four pairs of long windows overlooking the terrace, lawn and water. At the end of the room is a row of built-in millwork for books, family photographs and display. The framed doorway next to the sofa leads to the dining room for easy flow among the living room, dining room, family room and screened porch.

The dining room is perfectly sized for daily dining with the family but offers plenty of room for more formal hosting.

The front bay window is the focal point of the large dining room and the chair rail and paneled wainscot ties the room together. The room size can easily accommodate six chairs or more for holidays or other family celebrations.

The U-shaped kitchen features plenty of storage and counter space for the at-home chef. However, with the good bones already in place, a kitchen upgrade would be as easy as pie.

The spacious “U” shaped kitchen could be opened up more to the adjacent breakfast room by removing the one leg of the “U” to create an “L” and island layout. Since the cabinet “boxes” are solid, replacing the fronts and adding hardware, new countertops and flooring would be a relatively easy but dramatic change to suit one’s taste.

A charming informal breakfast room would be great for enjoying a waffle while studying!

The breakfast room also has a bay window and the wood table and the Windsor chairs create a charming space for breakfast or other informal meals.

View of kitchen and breakfast area gives you a complete picture of the possibilities this space holds

The corner of the breakfast room is flooded with sunlight from both the front bay window and the side triple-unit window. The paneled door leads to the garage and the trimmed opening next to the laundry closet leads to a hall between the stairs opposite the powder room. The hall ends at the exterior door to the terrace and to the wall opening at the living room for easy flow throughout the main level of the house.

The second-floor great room (over garage) has endless potential. High ceilings, sweeping windows, and A LOT of space for activities

The “Wow” room is the second-floor bonus room over the garage with varied sources of light from the four-unit windows in the shed roof with views of the water, the gable end wall infilled with operable, fixed and transom windows to extend the water views and two single windows at the front wall for landscape views and cross ventilation during months when AC is not needed. This fab space could become a family TV room, teen gathering space, studio, etc. The wood walls, ceiling and roof trusses add great architectural character.

The primary ensuite is one of 3 bedrooms on the second floor; upstairs, there are also 2 bathrooms.

The second floor contains three bedrooms and two baths, including a primary ensuite. The great advantage of gambrel roofs, with their dual slopes of the high lower slope and shallow upper slope, is that they now maximize the headroom for flexible furniture placement. These high knee walls could easily accommodate a tall headboard, and the floor below the dormers, inset into the roof slope, creates space for window seats, drawer units, nightstands, etc. 

The primary bathroom hits all of the necessities for comfortability, large vanity has room for a dual sink upgrade.

The primary bath includes a tub/shower and the vanity cabinet could be adapted for dual lavatories.

One of the two other upstairs rooms is perfect for a quiet WFH office. A darling gambrel roof and built-ins at the side wall give it a “tucked away” feel

One of the two guest bedrooms is used as an office. Clever storage is tucked under the gambrel roof, and built-ins are at the side wall. This space is located at the top of the stairs, and its quiet corner location is conducive to work.

This serene haven has so much to offer; both privacy and quick access to the amenities of Easton, Oxford and St. Michaels; a waterfront property with a living shoreline along Edge Creek, concrete boat ramp with hoist, private pier with 4.5’ +/- MLW and floating dock; a workshop, storage shed and a spacious boat storage building, charming Dutch Colonial house with an attached two-car garage set back far from the road for peace; outdoor rooms of a screened porch and a stone terrace for relaxing with family or entertaining friends, With a few cosmetic upgrades to suit one’s taste, this gem in Royal Oak would shine even brighter!

For more information about this property, contact Jane Baker with Benson  Mangold Real Estate at 410-822-1415 (o),  410- 924-0515 (c) or 

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

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual architecture and real estate careers since moving to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has re-established 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 afternoon.

This week’s house is nestled in the waterfront village of Neavitt.

When I began my home search after moving to Talbot County twenty years ago, I fell under the spell of the charming waterfront village of Neavitt. I liked both its location near St. Michaels’ amenities and its privacy from being a peninsula at the southern end of Route 579, surrounded by various creeks and the Choptank River leading to the Chesapeake Bay; its primarily late 19th and early 20th century houses and the community’s Post Office, Community Park, and Neavitt Landing. I ended up in another village but always look forward to featuring a house in Neavitt. 

Charming L-shaped home with a wrap-around porch, vibrant siding, and shade from majestic trees

Today’s featured house has great curb appeal from its massing of a simple “L” shaped two-story main wing with a one-story wing wrapping around three sides of the house. The one-story wing contains a wrap-around screened porch that ends at a conditioned space at the rear of the house. I especially liked how part of the house is a full bay-shaped wall projection on both floors. Like the Painted Ladies of San Francisco, this house has a colorful mix of green siding, broader green accents, and the shake siding that infills the front gable wall with rows of different shapes, including diamond, round, and sawtooth in white, green, and raspberry colors. The porch enjoys shade from two mature trees with wide crowns and privacy from the shrubbery.  

Side view with original columns, bright blue pots, and a cozy shed-roof window blending into the landscape.

The porch was originally open, and then screened framing was seamlessly added without compromising the original turned columns. At the side of the house, bright blue pots in front of each column contain plants, and the shallow shed-roofed four-unit window next to the porch reaches out to the landscape.  

Enjoy bug-free views from the screened-in porch

With its privacy and shade, the screened porch is a delightful outdoor room with rattan and rocker seating for enjoying the cool south-westerly breezes and the opportunity for al-fresco dining.

The rear view features a deck with a lattice privacy wall, stunning Balls Creek views, and steps leading to a deep lawn—potential for added space with a roof extension.

At the rear of the house is a deck above the flat roofed portion of the house that blends into another gable wing.  The lattice wall at one side of the deck provides both safety and privacy and from the deck one has views of Balls Creek. Steps lead down from the deck to the deep lawn. The one-story gable wing has a shed roof covering an open porch. If one wanted more space, eliminating the shed roof and extending the gable roof could create additional depth for a separate dining room or sunroom.

Private backyard with mature trees and off-deck paving.

Stone paving with an irregular edge blends into the deep lawn with a shed at the property boundary lined with mature landscaping for privacy.  Another massive tree offers shade and has a tire swing for kids of all ages. Tucked under the stairs to the upper deck is a grille for warm weather entertaining. 

The living room, with buttery walls and crisp trim, is cozied up by the original mantel. There is potential for adding a gas fireplace for extra winter warmth.

The French front door opens into the charming living room with bright yellow walls and the original mantel against the chimney. The chimney could be modified by opening up the firebox and adding gas logs for additional winter warmth. I admired the interior design with a mix of furniture from the multicolored upholstery of the floral sofa to the deep red side chair and the Windsor chair, grouped around the glass topped coffee table. 

Bay wall projection in the primary first-floor bedroom gives the space an extra special feel.

A pair of French doors leads from the living room to the primary bedroom, which has dramatic deep blue walls, white furnishings, and bed linens with soft yellow accents. The bay wall projection, with a single window in each angled wall and the side window, brings in ample sunlight.

The primary bathroom has lots of storage for linens and more.

The primary bath has a green and white color scheme. Linen storage is tucked under the run of the stairs and there is also a second closet for additional storage next to the vanity cabinet.  The pebble pattern in the shower floor has a non-slick surface and adds great texture.

Clear vista from the living room to the rear porch showcases a bright kitchen with green chairs, a tiled backsplash, and a convenient laundry closet.

From the front door in the living room, there is a clear vista through the kitchen-dining area to the rear porch. The deep green wood chairs around the table are colorful accents for the “L” shaped kitchen area that has plenty of work space and storage. Above the Corian countertop is a tiled backsplash with accents of smaller tiles. On the wall opposite the gas range is the convenient laundry closet. 

The living room features an artful leaded glass window, beautiful wood floors, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow with a gas fireplace.

The kitchen’s ceiling has a gambrel shape tucked under the pitched roof and the leaded glass window adds an artful touch. The beautiful wood floors flow into the adjacent family room and at one corner is a gas fireplace whose enclosure provides a wall for the exterior door to remain open for easy indoor-outdoor flow.

Spacious family room with deep-sill windows, perfect for decor, and a glass door for natural ventilation. Ideal workspace with a convenient interior desk.

The spacious family room’s four-unit window has a deep sill that is the perfect spot for the arrangement of duck decoys. Another rear single window is aligned with the glass door to the screened porch for cross-ventilation when the AC is not needed. The desk at the interior wall is a convenient spot for work or homework.

Upstairs-landing with a cozy nook leads to two bedrooms and a bath.

The second-floor stair landing is deep enough to create a reading nook defined by a circular rug and an antique rocker. The window brings sunlight into the hall, and the mirror adds additional transparency. The short hall leads to two bedrooms and a bath, accessed from the hall. 

The secondary bedroom’s bay windows offer panoramic treetop views, complimented by warm wood floors and historic details. 

Above the primary bedroom on the first floor is a guest bedroom with the angled walls of the bay wall projection. The windows offer panoramic views of the treetops and roofs of Neavitt’s streetscapes. The bedroom’s muted shades of cream and pink and the wood furnishings with open backs create a restful retreat. I especially liked the antique dressing table with its triple mirror.

The sizeable second-floor deck gives “outdoor room” a whole new meaning!

My fave room is the large second-floor deck, which is a delightful outdoor room with space for both sitting, dining, and sunbathing. The canvas umbrella over the table casts a wide shadow for comfort from summer’s heat.

This home has been lovingly maintained, expanded and renovated, keeping its historic character intact. Charming Folk Victorian style architecture, compact floor plan with few halls to maximize room sizes and to create easy flow among rooms; wonderful range of outdoor rooms from the wrap-around screened porch, upper deck for views of Balls Creek and open porch below for easy access to the deep rear yard; primary suite on the main floor for aging in place.  All this in the welcoming village of Neavitt with its community events, public park and public landing. This property’s bonus is the option of replacing the existing septic system with a connection to a future public sewer-hard to resist!

For more information about this property contact Wink Cowee with Benson and Mangold at 410-745-0415 (o), 410-310-0208 (c) or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing visit  www.buythechesapeake.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

Photography by Janelle Stroop, 845-744-2758, [email protected]

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual architecture and real estate careers since moving to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has re-established 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 afternoon.

A charming yellow door and a freshly painted gate draw your eye to this classic Colonial-style home. The warm brick and symmetrical windows invite you to take a second look. 

Chestertown’s upper Historic District’s undergoing revitalization has been dramatically enhanced by this property’s transformation- both the house and grounds have undergone extensive interior & exterior renovations. The house’s classic Colonial style with its symmetrical arrangement of the windows around the center entry door, brick façade in shades of red and black, multi-paned windows with black shutters, and the roofing’s color and pattern that resemble slate give it great curb appeal. However, several clues told me this was no ordinary Colonial;  stylish gates that mark the front yard’s private area pay homage to Chippendale with a contemporary flair; instead of a portico, an awning in black with yellow stripes covers the front door and the bright yellow accents of the front door and the gate’s star detail welcome one within. 

Lovely front yard landscaped to last the years.

Before I went in for my tour, I first admired the entry sequence from the Town sidewalk to the house’s front door. After walking a short distance along the property’s sidewalk, I then passed through the gates between rows of cherry laurel, like pawns on a chessboard, that signify the boundary of the private part of the front yard. In a few years, the cherry laurel will grow into a hedge that will obscure the cars on the street from the house. The sidewalk ends at a step up to a wide porch with two large turquoise ceramic pots containing flowers on either side of the step. The settee with accent pillows and the pots of colorful flowers were the finishing touches to the porch and I imagined how pleasant the vista will be when the cherry laurel has fully matured. On either side of the porch are low brick walls with raised beds of additional shrubbery. 

Cheerful entryway into vestibule and foyer

The yellow front door has good Feng Shui both from its color, which represents the earth, joy, and stability, and also from its being offset from the center hall. The door opens into a vestibule with a painted floor accented by a medallion instead of a rug.  As I passed through the open doorway to the interior, I admired the decorative pieces on the wall from the Owner’s travels and the light walls against the darker wood floors that flowed through the house.

The living room area is bright and washed in natural light through large front-facing windows.

A wall opening frames the view from the stair hall to the living room. The large front window and the two side windows flanking the wide fireplace bring abundant sunlight within and the translucent top down, bottom up shades are perfect for privacy in an urban setting. I loved the restful feel of this room with its earth tones of the muted colors of the large rug that anchors the two deep olive green sofas. The Owner noted that the firebox’s enclosure has a special coating and the color echoes the accent pillows on the two sofas. The round mirror between the wall sconces is the perfect finishing touch.

The dining room continues the curved edge motif from top to bottom accented by chair rail, beautiful millwork built ins.

Opposite the living room and across the stair hall is the dining room with two windows for sunlight. The chair rail and the deeper lower wall color becomes a band that ties the room together. After seeing the living room’s  circular mirror, the circular element re-appeared in the interior design of the dining room’s exquisite wood chairs with interlocking rings, the ceiling medallion, the pendant light, the round table  and the scalloped edge of the rug. The Owner explained the arched built-in millwork once had glass fronted doors but she had a cleverer idea for them which I saw later on my tour.

The dual-entry kitchen is dressed in style, from the mocha cabinets to the Spanish-tiled backsplash.

The stylish kitchen is accessible from both the doorway to the dining room and through an expansive wall opening to the stair hall. The galley arrangement with a large island for food prep and space for two chairs works very well. I admired the texture of the wicker pendant shades, the imported Spanish tiled backsplash, the individually handcrafted brick floor, the sleek mocha cabinetry and the stainless steel appliances. 

It’s easy to fall in love with the bright hues and natural textures throughout the kitchen!

The side window in the kitchen has a stained glass panel both for privacy and to add a splash of color.  I admired the detailing of the open shelving that floats against the fully tiled wall and how the horizontal tiles become headers beneath the ceiling. Instead of upper cabinets, at the corner of the rear wall is a sliding door with translucent panels for easy access to the pantry. 

The rear-facing office provides a quiet space to read, work or just admire the built-ins.

The quiet rear corner of the house is the perfect location for the office with the table-desk placed on a diagonal and the French door to the office opposite the kitchen for convenient coffee breaks.  Built-in millwork with base cabinets and open shelves to the underside of the molding at the ceiling provide ample space for business items and family photographs. I admired how the deep blue walls pick up the blue in the large rug’s design and how the rattan chairs add texture. The Owner explained the chairs were family pieces updated with geometric fabric. 

The sunroom is ALL texture – a perfect place to stay all-day.

Between the kitchen and the office is this delightful sunroom full of color, pattern and the textures of the room’s enclosure from the painted brick of the original exterior wall of the house, the vertical boards beneath the windows, the wood slat ceiling  and the wood floors. Window treatments can be closed or opened with the translucent panel at the side wall facing the neighboring house, maintaining privacy.

Fenced-in rear yard.

I interrupted my tour to explore the rest of the deep property that extends to a service alley. The sunroom’s windows that wrap around two sides of the room offer panoramic views of the landscaped area that is surrounded with wood fencing for privacy and safety for children and pets. Next to the sunroom’s exterior door is another door to the full basement for storage. The accessory structure is painted white to complement the sunroom’s one-level massing, and its depth can accommodate an SUV.

The additional structure can accommodate an SUV.

The expanse of lawn is edged with a path of small earth-toned stones that connect to gates in the fencing on each side of the house and to the path along the accessory structure to the gate for access to the alley. The neighborhood’s mature trees are a verdant backdrop.

Beautifully hardscaped terrace calls for evening meals outside.

The side wall of the accessory structure completes the enclosure of the charming hardscaped terrace off the sunroom and kitchen. What a delightful space to enjoy being outdoors with family and friends or to savor an al-fresco meal!

The accessory structure is spacious, with comfortably high ceilings and room for various uses.

The interior of the accessory structure has a standard garage door at the alley side and a pair of “barn” doors opening onto the hardscape. I liked its current use as a warm weather party space with the exposed structure, the four windows and a clerestory for additional daylight or moonlight in the wall facing the landscaping. 

Cozy reading nook welcomes you to the second floor.

After enjoying my stroll through the rear yard, I resumed my tour and climbed the original grand stairway to the second floor. My fave room is usually a sunroom or screened porch but seeing this cozy nook at the front of the house,  I could easily imagine sinking into the rocker with its zebra fabric and reading a book. I also liked how the space is subtly defined by the support beam with its elliptical edge that separates the nook from the hall’s circulation space.

Corner windows bring an abundance of light to the second-floor primary ensuite.

The second floor also contains the primary ensuite, two other bedrooms, a hall bath and a laundry. The primary bedroom is located at the front corner of the house with the wide front window and the two side windows providing abundant sunlight. I admired the serene look of the furnishings’ dark woods combined with the neutral colors of the large rug with its leafy pattern, the antique coverlet and  the splash of red in the upholstered chair. I especially liked how the posts of the bedframe create a focal point of the artwork above the bed. The large closet on another wall has sliding “barn” type doors for easy access.

Spacious primary bathroom is elevated by black accents and patterned floor-tile

The spacious five-piece primary bath is behind the bedroom and its “L” shape accommodates a dual lavatory, a free-standing soaking tub below a window overlooking the rear yard’s landscaping and a spacious shower.  The neutral color palette complements the primary bedroom and I especially admired the tile floor pattern and the contemporary black accents of the fittings, the shower frame and the stool.

One of two guest bedrooms

Off the stair hall are two guest bedrooms separated by closets. The bedrooms are located at the front and rear corners of the house with ample sunlight from windows on the front and side walls. I especially liked this bedroom with its light peach walls, colorful bedding that reminded me of fabric from India and the retro chair with deep raspberry upholstery and an accent pillow. The artwork above the bed of a chandelier continues the theme of chandeliers throughout the house.

A large third-floor suite includes a living-dining-kitchen area.

The third floor of the house has been transformed into a fully conditioned, spacious yet cozy multi-use space that spans the full width of the house with windows at each gable end wall. The stairs open into an “L” shaped living-dining-kitchen space with high knee walls. Off the kitchen is a full bath and partial height walls separate the living area from the sleeping area. I then saw how the former dining room’s arched top glass doors have a new life as closets for the sleeping area and feel like windows. 

Garage and off-street parking from rear alley

I reluctantly ended my tour by walking along the alley to my car and I admired how even the alley elevation was carefully considered in the renovation. The white garage with the black garage doors and the brown vertical slats of the fence was a fitting coda to my delightful tour of this gem. The property scored 100 on all my criteria of site, architecture, interiors, and landscape-my compliments to the Owner whose innate sense of interior design made this special house such an appealing home-Brava!

For more information about this property, contact Beth Ostrander with Doug Ashley Realtors, LLC at 410-810-0010 (o), 610-256-3704 (c.) “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

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

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual architecture and real estate careers since moving to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has re-established 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 afternoon.