Like many waterfront houses, this house was built on property that once belonged to an early 19th century estate. Alas, brick pillars with signage on plaques stating “Waverly” at Oxford Rd. that once marked the original driveway to the house is all that remains of “Waverly.” Today’s featured house was built in 1993 on 1.8 acres and the property includes a contemporary styled residence and a detached garage with guest quarters above along Jack’s Creek leading to the Tred Avon River. The house is set back approximately in the middle of the property that gives both the house and waterside pool privacy.
From the front, the massing is dominated by a tall gable projection that is centered on the story and a half wing of the house. The tall gable is detailed with a front window with paneling that hides the lower run of the stairs, double window units above the landing and a tall transom with an arched top. Each side of the stair gable has two high windows whose sills align with the mullion of the front gable. The two-story gable wing sloped down to gracefully meet the eave of the one-story part of the house. Pergolas with small square cut-outs at each rafter are located at several parts of the front elevation that cast shadows onto the lap siding.
The front wall of the one-story part of the house is set back from one trellis to create a front porch. I admired the detailing of the porch columns and wondered if the imaginative design was inspired by one of my favorite architects, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The front wall of the porch ends at the main floor bedroom suites with the front suite having full glass sliding doors leading to steps under a trellis. Starting my walk around the exterior of the house, I soon discovered this was a house for serious entertaining.
The first discovery was the outdoor kitchen covered by a low slope roof and equipped with “Egg” and gas grilles and bar stools along one side that face away from the adjacent property. Next was a pavilion with a side wall containing a brick wood-burning fireplace below the TV flanked by large framed openings. Opposite the fireplace wall are two columns with another counter and bar stools in front of the “L” shaped rattan furnishings with cushions for respite from the sun. There is also an outdoor shower, hot tub and a swing for relaxing by the large pool edged with low landscaping.
The rear elevation opens up to the water views with multiple long windows, glass sliding doors, the wall of windows that wraps around the living room’s rear wall, the dining room’s double pairs of glass sliding doors and the bay shaped wrap-around windows of the sunroom off the family room. The primary suite has both long windows and glass sliding doors to a deck over the sunroom.
The front door opens into a spacious foyer that has a variety of coat and other storage from the pie safe, wall hung combination hat-umbrella stand with a drawer for keys and a wide hall tree unit. The long foyer ends at a hall to the two bedroom ensuites, each with its own identity. One has a side wall bay window and a sliding “barn” door to its bath; the other has water views from its sitting room with windows that wrap-around one corner.
The front door with its full height sidelights also provides a view through the living room the rear wall of windows and glass sliding doors for water views. The living room’s interior wall has built-in millwork and a fireplace. I admired the uplights hidden behind the cove trim above the rear windows and how the pattern of light follows the rhythm of the exposed ceiling rafters. The rooms throughout the house are now primarily unfurnished which accentuates the angled partial height walls in both the living and family rooms that had once enclosed seating.
From the living room, a wide cased opening leads to the open plan dining-family-sunroom-kitchen. The walls of the dining area continue the white wainscot of the living room but here the ceiling is coffered and the expanse of space could easily accommodate family holidays and other celebrations. The family area is defined by another low partial height wall set diagonally across from another fireplace with built-in millwork. The spacious kitchen spans across the room and is a cook’s dream with stained cabinets, granite countertops, a very long island with double sinks and stainless steel appliances. The square motif reappears as cut-outs for back lighting the row of doors above the upper cabinets. The coffered ceiling ends at the kitchen area and becomes a flat ceiling with recessed light fixtures for better task lighting over the workspaces.
Off the kitchen is a powder room and the “U” shaped stairs to the primary suite with pitched ceilings. Along the wall that leads to the bath and bedroom, shelving is recessed into the eave areas for books, family photos, display and memorabilia. The primary bath has a skylight for privacy and the shower seat is cleverly tucked under the low knee wall and the seat seamlessly continues to the corner whirlpool tub with the glass panel beside the glass shower door notched over the seat.
The primary bedroom has a partial height wall with shelving that divides the sleeping area from the walk-in closet area. Additional shelving is recessed into the eave walls of both sides of the sleeping area. Long windows overlook the pool area and glass sliding doors lead to the terrace with a Chippendale patterned railing over the sunroom below for water views.
The property also includes a detached two-car garage with a separate stairway to the second floor guest suite. If I were a guest, I would claim the cozy corner double bed enclosed by walls on three sides where I could lie and watch TCM or PBS after a day on the water or just relaxing in the Adirondack chairs around the firepit at the pier.
For more information about this property, contact co-listing agents Cliff Meredith with Meredith Fine Properties at 410-822-6272 (o), 410-924-0082 (c), [email protected], or Jeanne Shannahan with Shoreline Realty at 410-822-7566 (o), 443-786-1131 (c),[email protected]. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.cliffmeredith.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity.”
Jennifer Martella has pursued her dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. Her award winning work has ranged from revitalization projects to a collaboration with the Maya Lin Studio for the Children’s Defense Fund’s corporate retreat in her home state of Tennessee.Photography by Jenn Martella
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