This property is aptly christened “Gratitude” since it would be difficult not to be grateful for a house and grounds along the shoreline of Shipshead Creek leading to the Tred Avon River. The two and half story Colonial style house with its painted white brick façade stands out against the lush backdrop of the leafy green mature trees. The landscape design of the 3.76 acres include an English garden and a path of large stones between landscaping of hydrangeas and azaleas that provide seasonal color below the elevated brick terrace complete with a hot tub. The weathered wood lattice at the perimeter of the terrace handrail disappears into the views of the landscape and water beyond. In addition to the planted areas, there is plenty of lawn space for sports, exercising the family pet or hosting a party for one hundred fifty close friends.
Step down from the sunroom parallel to the water and stroll along the brick path that meanders to meet the wood of the pier next to a hammock strategically placed for water views. Claim a spot in the cushioned rattan chairs on the deck after you dock your boat in the two-level boathouse and settle in to watch the sunset. Sit side by side in two Adirondack chairs with unobstructed views of the water or join the group around the firepit. Fly through the air on the swing suspended from a sturdy tree branch or choose one of the benches throughout the grounds to simply savor the landscape.
The interior of the house offers many delights as well. The front door opens into a foyer with vistas to the den on the right and the living room to the rear. The cozy den has a corner fireplace with an arched brick surround under paneled walls and a front deep bay window behind two deep club chairs that beckon you to linger by the fire. The living room’s beautiful proportions and interior architecture is articulated by the fireplace that projects slightly from the wall, the rear French doors leading to the adjacent sunroom and the bowed wall of the inglenook the full width of the living room that is the perfect enclosure for the grand piano. The wood floors, and furnishings of wood and upholstered pieces reminded this Anglophile of an English country house.
Past the stairs is the dining room with the paneled side wall surrounding the fireplace centered between recessed built-in cabinets. In contrast, the recesses have dark paneling to draw one’s eye to the china and crystal. The inlaid wood table and chairs float on a large rug with a diagonal pattern with one color matching the deep color of the walls.
Of course, my favorite room is the exquisite sunroom with a clear view to the water. French doors to both the living and dining rooms create a natural flow for entertaining and the French doors at the rear wall connect the sunroom to a deck that leads to paths to the pier and the gardens. I especially appreciated the painted floors and the painted wood slat ceiling that breaks at the center for the arched transom inserted into the exterior pediment above the three beautifully proportioned exterior walls of French doors and transoms with minimal framing. The large rug, upholstered sofas and accents of wood furnishings convey an elegant space for relaxation.
On the other side of the dining room is a short hall and butler pantry next to the kitchen that flows into the wrap-around space containing the family room and breakfast area. The corner window and wide side window give the cook diagonal views of the landscape and water and the pitched ceiling over the breakfast area intersects with the family room’s pitched ceiling to create a delightful ceiling plane. The remainder of the first floor has a side entry leading to the mud room, full bath, bedroom and one car garage.
The bedrooms and baths are located on the second floor. The master bedroom has an angled fireplace that divides the room into sitting and sleeping areas and French doors lead to a curved deck above the inglenook overlooking the English garden. The master bath has luxurious finishes including the marble waterfall shower next to the spacious dressing room with custom closets. Two other bedrooms complete the second floor.
When these bedrooms are occupied, I am sure other guests would express their “gratitude” for their stay in the third floor suite tucked under the roof pitch with sunlight and views from front and rear dormer windows and a side window. Still another choice would be “The Retreat”, the guest house on the grounds. For me, if I were lucky enough to be a guest, I might be found in the basement tasting room next to the wine cellar and perusing the wine labels…
Webster would define “Gratitude” as the perfect definition of an Eastern Shore waterfront retreat with classic architecture and immaculate grounds-simply splendid!
For more information about this property, contact Cliff Meredith with Meredith Fine Properties at 410-822-6272 (o), 410-924-0082 (c), or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.cliffmeredith.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.
Photography by HomeVisit, www.homevisit.com, 703-953-3866
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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