I always enjoy writing about Dutch Colonial style houses since they remind me of many visits to my New York state relatives. My sister had a weekend house in the Hamptons and on Sunday walks or drives this future architect would admire the distinctive house style with broad, double-pitched roofs whose top slopes were fairly flat and wide at the ridge with second slopes that became very steep angles straight down to the eave. This shape is now called a “gambrel” or “barn roof” and maximizes the useable floor area below. Along with windows at the gable ends and dormer windows integrated into the roofline, the attic area could become a sun filled second floor.
This house that was built in 2001 features the Dutch Colonial gambrel roof shape and has a truncated “L” footprint to maximize the views of Dun Cove. At the inside corner of the “L” is the entry foyer with a diagonal corner and wrap-around porch that links the two wings of the house. I especially liked the rear elevation that faces the water with the two story predominant gambrel shaped roof that spans the full depth of the house detailed with French doors flanked by full height side windows at both the living room on the first floor and the master bedroom above. The balcony at the master bedroom, a circular window at the attic level, four pairs of windows with shed dormers and the bluestone patio that spans across the rear elevation with its partial red metal shed roof enliven the façade.
The patio has a bay shaped center portion that matches the shape of the breakfast room behind it and wraps around to the front corner of the house for access to the mudroom/laundry area. Steps from the patio lead down to the lawn and at one corner are steps to the waterside pergola and pool that is perpendicular to the house.
The entry/foyer has vistas to the hallway past the kitchen and dining room and beyond the beautifully detailed stairway are vistas to the kitchen and living room. At the front corner of the house is the family room/den with built-ins and triple windows for the water views. Behind the family room/den is the living room detailed to showcase the 10 foot ceilings. The rear wall has a pair of French doors with windows on either side and transoms above for water views. Coffered ceilings play off the fireplace wall with full height built-ins hidden by paneled doors on either side of the fireplace. French doors at each corner lead to the screened porch that is the full depth of the living room and its bay shaped perimeter walls offer diagonal views of the landscape and water.
The hub of the house is the gourmet kitchen with multiple sinks and prep areas for the cooks and the island with the cooktop and bar stools echoes the bay shape of the breakfast area. A French door at the corner of the breakfast area provides easy access the patio and the pool. The adjacent dining room has a triple unit window overlooking the patio and water beyond. Beautiful furnishings, light blue walls with white chair rail and moldings, crystal chandelier and a stunning large landscape painting that reminded me of the California coastline create an elegant setting for a dinner party.
The second floor plan works very well with the short side of the “L” containing the master suite and the other bedrooms arranged along the long side of the “L”. The spacious rear corner master bedroom contains sitting and sleeping areas with two deep dormers tucked into the side gambrel roof. Each dormer contains built-in drawer units below the windows on either side of the bed. I appreciated how the rear wall was carefully designed with enough wall space for the drapes to be fully open against the walls without blocking sunlight through the windows on either side of the French doors leading to the private balcony.
The other two bedrooms and office/bedroom are located along a single loaded hall and have the same dormer/window treatment for water views. I especially liked one guest/child’s room with one wall covered in wallpaper in a playful pattern of white sailboats against a blue background. The blue and white theme continued to the white bedframes covered in white quilts accented with stars of different shades of blue and a blue chest of drawers.
In addition to the bluestone patio with a partially covered area, screened porch, pergola, pool and private pier, the outdoor areas feature colorful plantings of perennials, native grasses and specimen trees including a magnificent willow. The fenced and raised bed garden next to the potting shed would entice even the most novice gardener.
This is a unique opportunity to purchase a home from the original owners who also converted the former farm barn into a three bedroom, two bath guest house including a one car garage. The renovation carefully preserved and highlighted the original beams and exposed framing members that along with the wide plank wood flooring create delightful interior architecture that would encourage any lucky guest to extend their stay.
Since this is my last post for 2020, I would like to thank the owners and sellers who graciously gave me tours of their homes, the realtors and their assistants for their coordination and my fellow architects for their stunning designs.
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]
Architecture by Pamela P. Gardner AIA, (410) 820-7973, www.pamelagardneraia.com.
Construction by Willow Construction LLC, 410-822-6000, www.willowconstruction.com
Spy House of the Week is an ongoing series that selects a different home each week. The Spy’s Habitat editor Jennifer Martella makes these selections based exclusively on her experience as a architect.
Jennifer Martella has pursued her dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. Her award winning work has ranged from revitalization projects to a collaboration with the Maya Lin Studio for the Children’s Defense Fund’s corporate retreat in her home state of Tennessee.
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