The idea behind this development in sought after Royal Oak was to meet the needs of the community by offering different size dwellings initially to meet the needs of the rental market then to move renters towards home ownership. I applaud this philosophy because I saw how successful it was for the several HUD neighborhood revitalizations for which I was privileged to be the architect of the houses during the Clinton administration. Pride of ownership is a powerful tool to maintain the vitality of any neighborhood.
This two-story three-bay house is separated from the detached garage by a gravel path bordered by bricks and landscaping. Both buildings have hipped metal roofs, vinyl light gray German shiplap siding, white trim and exterior doors painted bright blue as an accent. The front door of the house is protected by a pedimented roof over the porch that is wide enough to cover both the door and the window opposite the stairs. The rear door of the garage leads to the door in the screened porch at the front corner of the house for quick access to the kitchen for unloading groceries. The porch is carefully detailed with a wide header board over the screened panels outlined by thin black frames separated by square columns with capitals, moldings and plinth blocks. The screened porch breaks down the massing of the house by its being half the depth of the house and a third of the width that provides space for seating and dining. Other outdoor rooms include a rear open porch whose roof becomes a deck accessed from the primary bedroom on the second floor.
The compact house feels spacious because the single run stairs to the second floor are located at the side of the house to maximize the main floor open plan living-dining-kitchen area and the hardwood floors unify the spaces. Windows around the front and side walls, as well as the sliding glass doors to the deck bring sunlight throughout the day. Tucked under the stairs is a powder room opposite the galley kitchen that is detailed with oak cabinets and granite countertops. The peninsula of the galley layout contains the cooktop with one side of the countertop changing from granite to a large butcher block insert for food prep. The base cabinets are back to back to create knee space for bar stools that make a cozy breakfast spot or a perch to keep the cook company. The long rear wall of the galley has abundant storage from the wall of pantry base cabinets that rise to the bottom of the upper cabinets with glass fronts that align with the other glass front upper cabinets next to the sink and dishwasher under a window. Next to the R/F is a wall opening that leads to a rear room with stacked ovens next to a space for a W/D. The base cabinet opposite the appliances does double duty for folding clothes or taking food out of the ovens. An exterior door leads to the screened porch.
There are three bedrooms on the second floor with the primary suite spanning across the rear of the house. Sliding glass doors in the rear wall of the bedroom lead to the large deck overlooking the lawn and landscape. A short hall leads past dual lavatories opposite a walk-in closet and additional vinyl coated metal shelving next to the toilet/tub-shower compartment. The front corner bedroom has two closets and the smallest of the three bedroom could be an office or nursery.
Great location in Royal Oak between Easton and St. Michaels, a house that was carefully sited to maximize sunlight, a detached garage, a trio of outdoor rooms surrounded by landscaping to enjoy the fall weather, public landings to access both the Tred Avon and Miles Rivers, all combine to make a property with great appeal!
For more information about this property, contact Kelly Showell with Benson & Mangold, LLC at 410-822-1415 (o), 410-829-5468 (c), [email protected]. For the virtual tour, visit https://thru-the-lens-ivuf.view.property/1909389
“Equal Housing Opportunity”.
Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens, 410-310-6838, [email protected].
Spy House of the Week is an ongoing series that selects a different home each week. The Spy’s Habitat editor Jennifer Martella makes these selections based exclusively on her experience as a architect.
Jennifer Martella has pursued her dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. Her award winning work has ranged from revitalization projects to a collaboration with the Maya Lin Studio for the Children’s Defense Fund’s corporate retreat in her home state of Tennessee.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.