This cottage reminds me of an idyllic vacation many years ago on Nantucket where I used the Town of Nantucket as a base and explored the island on a bike. My favorite village was Siaconset, or “Sconset,” with its cottages of weathered lap or shake siding above the dune-backed beaches. Privacy was often achieved by tall privet hedges enclosing outdoor spaces and/or white picket fences festooned with fragrant roses along the streets.
This charming cottage off the Bozman-Neavitt Rd would be right at home in Sconset; all it needs is a tall privet hedge along the side yard at the access road or a low white picket fence with flowering vines or roses. All of the bungalow elements I love are evident here-the pitched roof that slides into the wrap-around porch shed roof, other shed roofs of varying heights with short or long windows, the quirky one and two-story tower additions and the weathered siding with crisp white trim-this cottage is simply irresistible!
From the parking area, the gravel continues along the walkway interspersed with accent rows of stone pavers up to the brick steps to the front porch. The light gray flooring and the blue beadboard of the ceiling that almost matched the sky on the day I visited create a relaxing spot to welcome the cool breezes at the end of the day. When I opened the front door, I realized the cottage’s compact exterior size belies the interior that has been thoughtfully renovated to open up the main living area while zoning the main and upper floor bedroom suites for privacy.
The living area spans the full front of the cottage with the center entry door and the side stairs to the second floor dividing the space into a seating area and office area. The sofa in the corner alcove underneath both a front and side window is opposite two armchairs for a cozy conversation area next to another wall offset highlighting a beautiful armoire for stylish storage. The interior architecture is beautifully detailed with the underside of the “L” shaped stair finished in stained wood slats, stained rafters with their hand hewn edges that break up the expanse of the white ceiling, the pine window trim with a clear coat and the Craftsman detail of the header’s slight overhang. The neutral tones of the upholstered furnishings with accent pillows are the perfect finishing touch.
The office area with its side double windows is a very pleasant space for work but it could also become a dining room since the kitchen is around the corner. A wide wall opening trimmed in stained wood connects the eat-in kitchen to the living room/office. The depth of the wall indicates this was the original exterior wall of the house. The “L” shaped kitchen has a delightful eclectic look with its base cabinets of warm wood, upper white cabinets with white vertical planks as a backsplash to emphasize the space’s height. The stainless steel appliances are a contemporary touch, and as the Weekend Wine Woman at Piazza Italian Market, I was pleased to see the kitchen layout included a base cabinet with inserts for wine storage! Opposite the work wall of the kitchen is a lovely antique chest for storage and the mirror above becomes another ‘window.” Sliding glass doors lead to a deck and a fenced area containing playground equipment against a backdrop of tall cypresses.
The main floor bedroom suite is located at the rear corner of the cottage has windows on each side wall for diagonal views of the landscape. Both a closet next to the full bath and another antique armoire provide storage. The room’s furnishings include twin beds with neutral colored bedding and a desk under one window for catching up on email before turning in for the night. I especially liked the closet and bath doors with their stained vertical planks and the stained window trim with white slatted blinds. Between the kitchen and the main floor bedroom is a spacious laundry/utility room.
The stairs to the second floor end at my favorite room, the other bedroom suite. Its square layout is notched to contain closets and the stairs that define sleeping and work/sitting areas offset from each other. Windows on all four sides bring sunlight throughout the day and the full bath has a high knee wall with a large window under the sloped ceiling.
Great location close to St. Michaels, cozy yet spacious Craftsman style cottage with an open plan main floor, primary suites on both floors, outdoor rooms of front porch and rear deck overlooking a fenced yard with playground equipment, low maintenance exterior-perfect starter home or vacation rental!
For more information about this property, contact Melissa Tippett with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-280-5600 (o), 410-241-7409 (c) or .com. For more photographs and pricing, visit , “Equal Housing Opportunity.”
Photography by TruPlace, www.truplace.com, 301-972-3201
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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