West Maple Street in St. Michaels has a mix of bungalow, shotgun, Colonial, Cape Cod and contemporary architectural styles that creates a delightful streetscape.
Its appeal is also due to its close proximity to San Domingo Creek and the Rails to Trails. Two blocks away there is a small park at the Creek’s edge with a boat ramp, shade trees for a picnic spot, a swing set and several benches at the water’s edge for contemplating nature. In short, the perfect neighborhood meeting place against the backdrop of the picturesque covered wooden bridge over the creek.
I had the pleasure of first seeing this bungalow just after the current owner’s renovation. I was intrigued that the original bungalow may have been a Sears and Roebuck house since “The Starlight” model was strikingly similar. The original house was a classic bungalow with a full front porch, center door with a window on either side and a hipped roof with a triple window in the attic.
During the renovation, the interior architecture of the original house was completely changed by the elimination of the ceiling joists in the center of the house. The roof joists then supported a sloped ceiling and met at a new collar beam in the middle for a dramatic high ceiling with the sloped sides finished in wood.
The triple attic window was now a focal point of this open plan room with living and dining areas defined by the angled kitchen. A multi-purpose nook at the rear wall opposite the kitchen contained the side by side washer and dryer with cabinetry for the microwave, other storage and a counter for small appliances or folding laundry. Beautiful Georgia heart pine floors throughout the house added color and warmth.
A seamless addition that complemented the original house in scale, style and materials created a spacious bedroom wing. The master bedroom had a tray ceiling and windows on three sides for sunlight. The master bath’s vintage accents of the clawfoot tub, free-standing furniture piece converted to a lavatory and bead board wainscot evoked the house’s original period that was updated by the large contemporary glass wall shower.
The second bedroom had a wide bay window with a window seat overlooking the rear yard and a Murphy bed for guests. The guest bath had been the original house’s bathroom and was upgraded with a glass walled shower and tile floor with a black & white checkerboard border. A bungalow with great style and personality!
For more information about this property, contact Joyce Wallace with Ashley Premier Properties at 410-822-1900 (o),410-829-5031 (c) or [email protected], “Equal Housing Opportunity”.
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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