Jennifer Martella

House of the Week: Southern Living Charm

May 19, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

This classic Tidewater one and half story Colonial style house in the Kinnairds Point development was built in 2005 from Southern Living magazine plans. The house is centered in the middle of the two acre site so it is set back deep from the street for privacy. The curved drive is lined with several Japanese maples and other mature trees as it passes the broad expanse of lawn enhanced by landscaping. The center hall plan has a full front porch and a “hyphen” is set back from the main wing with its own exterior door and connects to the two-car garage to break down the massing. Another free-standing three-garage provides additional parking. The full brick foundation, white lap siding, dormer windows, entry door with sidelights and fanlight, accents of the red door and dark green shutters, elliptical arch over the hyphen’s entry door and the cupola with weathervane atop the attached garage’s gambrel roof gives this house great style.

The entry hall is open to the second floor and the vistas define the main areas of the house. To the left is a parlor and to the right is the formal dining room. The stair is open to the hall that leads to the family room and sunroom beyond. The parlor is currently used as an office/music room. The large family room has a fireplace on the side wall with windows on either side and the rear wall has a large picture window with Plantation shutters in between French doors to the sunroom at the rear corner of the house. My favorite room was the spacious sunroom with its brick floor, wrap-around tall windows with transoms, a fireplace on the side wall and French doors leading to a covered deck that is also accessed by the kitchen and master suite.

The dramatic kitchen is open to the second floor hallway and the skylights in the pitched ceiling of the kitchen and the cable detailing of the handrail keeps the space light and airy. The kitchen is a cook’s dream with its “L” shape and island arrangement supplemented by another wall of cabinets opposite the island. The island has a deep recess with ample knee space for barstools and the turned leg supports breaks down the large footprint of the island. White cabinets, granite countertops, tile flooring and backsplash in complementary colors, stainless steel appliances and period pendant lighting would inspire any cook.

The master suite is located at the other rear corner of the house so it has windows on three sides and the large bedroom has a coffered ceiling over the sleeping area. The fireplace, TV, sitting area and the rear covered deck offer places for private relaxation and the master bath has a soaking tub under the rear windows, vessel lavatories and a shower with generous floor space for two.

The guest bedrooms on the second floor have high knee walls that can easily accommodate headboards, bookcases, etc. for easier layout of furnishings. The 6/6 dormer windows and windows at the side gable walls bring in plenty of sunlight and one bedroom has its own stair to the main floor.

The views of the rear yard from the house show a serene mature landscape with steps leading down from the covered deck to a brick terrace ending at a waterfall pond with brick paths leading to a gazebo and to a potting shed. Clearly a master gardener has been at work here. Classic architectural style, move-in ready floor plan with great flow, mature landscaping and a site in the Kinnairds Point Community that offers many amenities, including two community water access locations (one across from this house), beach, pavilion, seating areas and a dock.

For more information about this property, contact Doug Ashley with Doug Ashley Realtors at 410-810-0010 (o), 410-708-0408 (c )or doug@dougashleyrealtors.com. For more photographs or pricing visit www.dougashleyrealtors.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”. Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens, 845-744-2758, or Janelle@Thruthelensphotos.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.

House of the Week: Urban Living

May 12, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

Chestertown’s Historic District’s range of architectural styles is so appealing and I have found myself returning once again to the charm of Kent Street. This street was the northernmost boundary of a plat of Chestertown, circa 1706, illustrated in my primary reference book, “Chestertown, Maryland: An Inventory of Historic Sites” published by the Town. S. Kent Street has a special charm since the houses are detached but similar in scale to attached townhouses which gives the pedestrian scale of the streetscape great appeal.

This house is a classic three bay Colonial style with two dormer windows centered above the second floor windows. The light colored lap siding, white trim, corner boards, cornice articulated with eave joist extensions, window boxes under the first floor windows and the transom above the front door give the house curb appeal. A brick sidewalk at one side of the house beckons one to discover the delightful fenced back yard with its mix of hardscape and planting areas.

Once inside, the extent of an extensive and tasteful renovation is evident from the spacious open plan extending the full depth of the house from the front living room, through the dining area to the kitchen. The flooring defines the function; hardwood for the living and dining areas and tile for the kitchen that leads to the rear covered porch. I liked how the front windows have window coverings for only the lower portion of the double-hung windows so one has privacy from the street without blocking the sunlight. A stained wood beam separates the entry and stairs from the sitting area and the stairs are beautifully detailed with stained treads, balustrade and white risers. Some of the original four-panel doors are painted, some are stained but all have stained trim at the header for an accent. The dining area is also defined on each side by stained pine paneling whose pattern contrasts nicely with the wood flooring.

The galley kitchen is wide enough for an island and a single French door to the side brick walkway and a wall of French doors at the rear to the porch and yard makes this a sunny space. The second floor has two bedrooms and one bath. One bedroom has painted hardwood floors and chair rail while the other bedroom has carpet and both bedrooms have windows on two walls for sunlight throughout the day. The third floor has another bedroom with carpet and another bath tucked under the roofline and the bedroom’s front dormer windows have bird’s eye views of the urban landscape. The southeast facing dormer windows make this space sunny and bright and it would also be a great office or studio.

Charming urban house on a quiet street yet close to downtown amenities with preserved original historic details enhanced with a full-scale renovation-the perfect combination!

For more information about this property, contact Miles Norris with Select Land & Homes at 410-810-3900 (o), 410-708-5423 (c) or mnorrisselect@gmail.com. For more pictures and pricing, visit www.selectlandandhomes.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

House of the Week: Classy Contemporary

May 5, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

It is always a pleasure to feature a house designed by another architect and this contemporary house is a special pleasure since traditional architecture is the predominant style in our area. This house’s aerial first caught my eye for its being nestled in the woods above Fairlee Creek. The architect graciously shared his site sketch that illustrated his thinking about the sequential approach to the house. After pulling up to the gravel parking area, one passes under a trellis between the carport and garden sheds. The raised wood walkway then shifts 45 degrees and passes by the bluestone central courtyard patio and the house becomes visible. Its playful varied geometry of shed roofs against gable roofs and gray vertical siding casts shadows and enlivens the walls that blend into the natural surroundings. Lush native and ornamental plant gardens watered with an automated in-ground irrigation system surround the house and point the way to steps leading down to the dock with electric service. Accents of a bright blue front door and a reddish-orange tower element hint of further artistry within from this owner/architect and his equally talented wife who is a ceramics artist.

The house is zoned very well with the front door opening into a wide hall gallery of art with pitched ceilings covered in stained bead board, tile radiant floors and a clear vista to the rear wall of windows and doors to the terrace, landscape and water beyond. Halfway along the hall a dropped beam is a perfect perch for a family of waterfowl gymnasts and the beam defines the hall area that widens to create a home office space. Above the dropped soffit at the rear wall are transom windows whose headers follow the slope of the ceiling opposite the transoms over the front door to brighten the space with sunlight. The white walls are the perfect background for the owners’ collections and I especially liked the grouping of baskets and ceramics over ledges in the living room and the masks on the wall to the dining room.

One side of the gallery hall is the entertaining area with the open plan living-dining area, kitchen, pantry, den and screened porch connecting to the waterside terrace. The dining room has delightful varied wall heights-the wall at the gallery hall stops below the header that supports the transom windows at the front of the house and a pair of windows at the front wall for additional light. The wall at the kitchen side extends to the underside of the sloped ceiling and a perpendicular wall creates a niche for the fireplace with an exposed chimney pipe that is open to the kitchen.

The tile floors and stained wood beadboard ceiling extends into the kitchen. I love corner windows for their diagonal panoramic views and the pair at the rear of the kitchen offer views of the landscape. Under Cabinet and above cabinet accent lighting further enhance the space. The living area at the rear of the house has a brick wood-burning fireplace and the walls at the gallery hall have “cut outs” for light and openness and windows and a French door lead to the waterside screened porch. The cozy den at the front of the house has a sloped stained wood beadboard ceiling, corner windows and a niche for the TV with a ledge above for display.

On the other side of the gallery hall is a shorter hall between the front guest suite with its Murphy bed and the Master suite at the rear. At the end of the hall is the great room with its own exterior entrance, terrace and loft studio/bedroom. The master bedroom has windows at each waterside corner between a “bump-out” for a closet and a recessed niche for a wide wardrobe unit that does not protrude into the circulation area.

The vista from the short hall ends at the great room with its dramatic architecture. One corner has stacked windows at both the first and loft levels since the loft handrail is set back on one side for an overlook from the loft. The one-story corner has a window and a door to the private terrace. Built-ins for books and space for a large screen TV would make it easy to linger here over a lazy Sunday afternoon of reading or binge watching TV. The loft wall opposite the overlook railing has double stacked windows below a sloped ceiling and a ships ladder stair leads from the loft up into a delightful tower space that offers birds-eye views of Fairlee Creek or star-gazing at night. This wing of the house can be closed off to create a very private guest space.

The other option for guests is the detached guest house that is located next to the carport. The space is currently furnished as the owner-architect’s office and has its own full bath, kitchenette and sleeping loft. Between the guest house and the main house is a heated workshop/storage shed.

Private wooded waterfront site on Fairlee Creek, one nautical mile off the Chesapeake Bay, captivating contemporary architecture, imaginative interior architecture, stylish interiors and a building complex of approximately 3,500 sf-who could resist?

For more information about this property, contact Paula Reeder, GRI, Associate Broker, Long and Foster Real Estate at 410-643-2244 (o), 410-708-4947 (c) or paulareeder1@gmail.com. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.longandfoster.com/paulareeder “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

House of the Week: Gorgeous Gambrel

April 28, 2020 by Jennifer Martella 2 Comments

If you are dreaming of owning a waterfront house on the Chester River, it could not get much better than this. The south facing end unit of this distinguished row of attached houses along Water Street overlooks Washington College’s Presidents Garden. Access to off-street parking behind the houses is from High Street and this house has its own fenced rear yard. Beyond the paved access drive, the spacious rear lawn gently slopes to the public brick sidewalk dotted with benches along the river’s edge.

The row of houses share common architectural details such as the gambrel shaped roofs, dormer windows, front porches with hipped roofs, brick foundation and chimneys, light colored siding and articulated cornice boards. Slight variations in color of siding and roofs, number and arrangement of dormer windows, and shutters of one unit all combine to create a lively streetscape that would make one stroll past slowly to fully appreciate the appealing architecture.

The door of this house opens from the front porch onto an entry area with a “L” shaped stair and a dropped beam that separates this area from the adjacent living room. Windows on three sides of the living room maintain sunlight throughout the day and views of the Presidents Garden below. The corner fireplace sets up the comfortable arrangement of neutral colored sofas and chairs anchored by a multi-colored kilim over the hardwood floors.

Next to the fireplace is a wide doorway with pocket doors to the dining room. I loved everything about this charming room-the corner fireplace, oval wood dining table and chairs so conducive for conversation, the pair of square windows over a wooden chest, the French door and pair of windows overlooking the rear covered porch’s river views and the built-in china cabinet. Next to the dining room is the galley kitchen connected to the sunroom/breakfast area with its row of windows for river views. A side door to the covered porch allows easy access for meals on the porch.

When I first saw the photograph of the stairs shot from the second floor, it reminded me of the famous “zoom” shot from Hitchcock’s famous masterpiece “Vertigo”. This stair’s geometry is its own striking design element with stained risers, treads, and top rail with white balusters for contrast. There are two bedrooms and a bath on the second floor that this owner has furnished as a master suite. The front TV room with its off-white upholstered pieces over the multi-colored kilim with its zig-zag and diagonal pattern and sunlight filtering through the sheers over the front and side windows made this an irresistible space for relaxation. The rear master bedroom is a serene retreat with a French door to its own screened porch for bird’s eye views of the water and corner windows for panoramic views of the Presidents Garden and urban landscape beyond.

I am envious of the third floor’s cozy nook off the stair landing for an office-mine is only on the second floor and this one has great ever-changing aerial views from its window for computer relief. Each of the spacious two bedrooms has unique interior architecture with the short knee walls meeting the steep slope of the gambrel roof shape. The dormer windows at the front wall and the windows at the side wall create sunny retreats.

There is also a basement at the rear for storage with windows and an exterior door to the parking area. This corner house’s floor plan works so well with the entry, stairs, kitchen and baths located along the common wall of the adjacent house for sound isolation and the living room and bedrooms located at the corners for unobstructed views, maximum sunlight and breezes. The porches and ground level fenced yard/parking area offer great opportunities to enjoy being outdoors and the river is your backyard boundary in the heart of the Historic District-who could ask for anything more?! Bravo to the owner for great interior design!

For more information about this property, contact Lisa Raffetto with Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company at 410-778-0330 (o), 410-708-0174 (c) or lisar@cbchesapeake.com. For more photographs and pricing visit www.lisaraffetto.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Patty Hill, www.pattyhillphotography.com, (410) 441-4719

House of the Week: Bungalow Bliss

April 21, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

Once again a charming bungalow caught my eye not just for the architectural characteristics of this style (side gables with shed roofs, dormers, etc.,) but also for its wooded private setting close to the Tolchester Marina and its stylish and imaginative interiors. The front and rear rooms under the shed roofs might originally been porches since their floors are lower than the main house. Their exterior walls are clad in lightly colored concrete block, laid with sloped faces to resemble siding that contrast with the rest of the house’s deep slate blue Hardiplank siding. Whatever the reason, the effect breaks up the massing and adds to its charm.

The French door opens to an entry that does dual duty as a mud room next to the laundry with tile flooring and built-in seats with hinged tops for storage. Sunlight streams in from two windows on opposite sides of the room and the French door is on axis with the living room’s pocket door. Instead of a mantel, three bricks corbel out in a diagonal pattern from the living room’s chimney and provide ledges for display. The beautiful hardwood floors, mix of neutral traditional and modern style furnishings anchored by the large Oriental rug, vertical paneling for more texture, the gambrel shaped ceiling that adds height and the large sliding barn door creates a cozy space for gathering around the fire or the TV.

From the living room, a short hall between the full bath opposite two bedrooms leads to the open plan kitchen-dining-family room with another exterior French door. The “U” shaped kitchen has a deeper counter at the dining area for bar stools below. The slate blue accent color continues with the cabinets and the light upgraded countertops with veining add contrast. I liked how many of the rooms had mint green accent pieces and a long mint green metal filigreed etagere opposite the “U” shaped layout is an imaginative way to have the cook’s essentials close by.

The dining and family room area feels like a sunroom since it is surrounded by two pairs of triple windows along the rear wall, a double window unit at one end and a single window next to the French door for sunlight throughout the day. I especially liked the eclectic dining room area with the mix of chairs in modern wood, painted slats and thin metal around a wood table over a colorful patterned rug. The seating in the corner of the family area enables the cook to be part of the pre-dinner conversation.

The wood stairs that lead to the second floor have stained wood treads and deep blue risers for another deft design touch. The knee walls and sloped ceilings create wonderful interior architecture for the bedrooms. Both the bathrooms in the house have deep blue walls, white fixtures and tile floors and large white tile surrounds for the tub and the shower. I loved the detailing of the master bath shower with its multicolored “pebble” style floor, deep blue wall accent band, glass door and side panel.

This private wooded setting is a great spot for relaxing with family and friends with the interior/exterior home stereo system and horseshoe pit. The outdoor shower is perfect after a day boating on the Bay. The property also includes three adjacent lots for additional privacy. Marvelous interiors with the light gray walls of the main rooms, blue walls of the baths, and accents of mint green in the accessories-the perfect weekend or summer retreat or full time home.

For more information about this property, contact Miles Morris with Select Land & Homes at 410-810-3900 (o), 410-708-5423 (c) or milesselect@gmail.com. For more photographs and pricing visit www.selectlandandhomes.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

House of the Week: Chester River Landing

April 14, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

This popular development is bounded by Quaker Neck Rd., a side row of mature trees and the Chester River on the other two sides. Although there are only forty-nine residences there is wide a range of amenities usually found in larger developments. The residential units are located in buildings grouped from one or more that breaks down the massing to a pedestrian scale. The buildings are linked by sidewalks that also lead to the waterfront park, private deep water floating dock marina, pier for crabbing or fishing, waterside fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs and outdoor dining areas with BBQ grilles. The private sandy beaches are perfect for an al-fresco picnic after a day spent sunbathing by the pool or on the river on your boat, paddle board or kayak.

This unit is located in one of the buildings that has only two units per floor, separated by the entrance hall. The building’s upscale interior halls have a blue and beige theme with blue raised panel wainscot and white trim outlining the wall panels. At the end of the upper floor halls is a seating area with rattan chairs, ottomans and a side table with a lamp for visiting with neighbors and the elevator provides easy access.

This 2nd floor unit has a waterfront deck that is shaded by the underside of the upper unit’s deck. Large windows on three sides bring in an abundance of natural light to the interior. The entry door opens to a hall that leads to the open plan living, dining and kitchen. The living area spans the width of the unit with a fireplace at one end with built-ins. The rear wall is all glass and water views with a center pair of French doors flanked by long windows.

The unit’s interior design continues the building’s blue and white interior design scheme and I especially liked the blue pendant lights over the bar island in the kitchen. Hardwood floors, high white wainscot walls, white kitchen cabinets, silestone countertops and stainless steel appliances give this unit a fresh, crisp look. This 1600 sf unit has three bedrooms off the main hall and the master bedroom also has a fireplace. The bedrooms have plush carpeting and ceramic tile baths. This unit also has a detached garage close by with overhead storage.

After 24 days of quarantine and seeing all the home maintenance items I need to address here in my own home, living here would be a welcome change!

For more information about this property, please contact Richard Keaveney at Cross Street Realtors, 410-778-3779 (o), 410-708-6470 (c). For more photographs and pricing, visit www.csrealtors.com, “An Equal Housing Opportunity”.

House of the Week: Classic Bungalow

April 7, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

This classic bungalow has all the very appealing elements of that architectural style-the main roof extending to shed roofs that create front and back porches, center front door with double windows on each side, a center gable dormer above, and side bay window. The full front porch was beautifully detailed with low elliptical headers at the front and sides and half brick/half wood tapered columns with white wood railing infill and white lattice to cover the crawl space. I especially liked how the underside of the elliptical header was painted white to contrast with the light gray of the fascias and that the porch ceiling was supported by pilasters opposite the columns. Brick steps lead up to the front door with piers on either side and I could picture relaxing with a neighbor on the two lower piers for an evening chat with fragrant scents from pots of colorful flowers on the top piers.

The living room spans the full front of the house and is filled with sunlight throughout the day from the two pairs of double windows flanking the front door and double windows at each side wall. The stairs are located at one side of the house and are open to the living room. Their “U” shape is articulated with stained newel posts, treads and risers and white spindles.

A wide doorway connects the living room to the dining room and a diagonal wall with a beautiful armoire points the way. Another armoire in the living room opposite the front door adds more storage. The interior design was quite charming and I wasn’t surprised to learn from the listing agent that the owner was an artist and the art collection that adorn her walls included her own art as well as other artists. I loved the dining room’s interiors with the circular table, blue and white tablecloth, rattan chairs, the low chest in the alcove under the bay window and the armoire with glass doors that showcases a collection of blue and white ceramic pieces. The diagonal wall next to the wide doorway has another antique hutch with glass doors for more display. Open doorways lead both to the rear enclosed porch and to the adjacent kitchen.

The “U” shaped kitchen cabinet arrangement of cabinets encloses a kitchen table and chairs for informal meals. Triple windows above the sink add sunlight and the French door to the rear enclosed porch adds filtered light. The stained wood slat ceiling contrasts well with the white of the cabinets. The wood bookcase with glass doors and the rattan etagere filled with cookbooks indicate a serious cook lives here.

I liked how the original five-panel interior doors in this room and throughout the house have been stripped and stained for a wonderful accent to the white trim and light colored walls. One door from the kitchen leads to the laundry/half bath, conveniently located by the rear yard and another to the sunroom. I would be tempted to add two comfortable chairs for a cozy TV spot.

One of the three bedrooms is furnished as a study/studio with light from the shed dormer triple window. The master bedroom with white iron bed and white linens reminded me of my own bedroom and the stained wood armoire provides storage. The third bedroom has a slight chamfer in its ceiling and a double window for a cozy sleeping space.

The large rear yard has an expanse of lawn with mature trees at the rear property line and there is a storage shed that could also be a playhouse for children. One of my favorite architectural styles, great flow among rooms, lovingly maintained with open and closed porches to extend your living space. Kudos to the owner for her interior design flair and support of our area’s talented artists!

For more information about this property, contact Retha Arrabal with Doug Ashley Realtors at 410-810-0010 (o), 410-708-2172 (c) or rarrabal@hotmail.com. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.dougashleyrealtors.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Janelle Stroup, Thru the Lens Photography,845-744-2758

Commerce: Chloe Meyerhoff, Horse Therapist

April 6, 2020 by Jennifer Martella 1 Comment

Of the top five businesses in Talbot County, three are in health care, one is Walmart and one is a producer of “No Antibiotic Ever” chicken. How can a young person remain on the Eastern Shore and support themselves after they complete their education if their passion is something else? A great example is Chloe Meyerhoff, Equine Physiotherapist and Personal Trainer for Riders. One of my young friends introduced me to Chloe Meyerhoff, who began riding horses at age three. While many girls her age wanted Barbie dolls, she and her father built a wooden barn together and filled it with toy horses. She still has this wonderful memento of how her early childhood passion for horses led to her riding competitively and how caring for her horses led to her career.

Chloe Meyerhoff, Equine Physiotherapist

Throughout high school, riding and fitness were top priorities for Chloe. She rode as much as she could and enjoyed taking care of her and her grandmother’s horses. Chloe’s beloved grandmother passed away when Chloe was eighteen; at that point she chose to defer a semester from college to dedicate time to caring for the horses and the barn. When she did begin her studies, Chloe chose Exercise Science as her field of study and after graduation obtained her license as an Exercise Physiologist. She was especially interested in the athletic side of training for both horses and their riders to maintain endurance and minimize injuries. Both horse and rider must be constantly attuned to each other’s physical and mental state as well as be in perfect unison and balance at all times.

During her senior year, she traveled to a competition but after the long drive, she unloaded her horse from the trailer and immediately realized something was wrong with him. He seemed stiff and uncomfortable and clearly they could not compete. When she returned home, her vet took x-rays and ultrasound to discover her horse had sustained a back injury several years ago and the long trailer ride had exacerbated the old injury.

After the horse’s vet had diagnosed Sago with a torn “Psoas Major” muscle in his back, Chloe focused on finding the best therapy for her horse, all the while not knowing if he would make a full recovery and regain strength to go back to the demands of training and competition. After treatments of shock wave therapy and vibrating devices similar to those used by chiropractors and other deep massage techniques, coupled with cross training intervals; Chloe’s horse rebounded and Chloe realized she had found her calling.

Her success with her own horse further piqued her interest in Equine Physiotherapy and she began an internship in Equine Physical Therapy and searched for colleges to continue her education in this specialized field. At that time, local colleges were difficult to find. With her responsibilities of barn maintenance and caring for her horses, she enrolled in an accelerated full time eighteen month online program with a month of hands on classes and clinicals based out of California.

Upon her return, word of her success spread in the Eastern Shore equine community and she found clients through the best marketing, word of mouth referrals from satisfied clients. Her therapeutic program emphasizes massage, body work, stretching, muscle activation, vibration therapy and myofascial release on the horses as well as personal training, stretching, balance training and target strength training for the riders. Her keen observation skills keeps hers and her clients horses and riders working at a top level.

Her equine companions now include her own horse, two miniature ponies she rescued as well as six boarders and she revels in caring for them all.

After my self-quarantine period is over, I look forward to meeting the Eastern Shore’s “Horse Therapist” who has found her calling and career. I hope Chloe’s story helps other young people to pursue their dreams.

For more information about Chloe Meyerhoff’s services, please call or text 410-443-8450. 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.

House of the Week: The “Sweet Spot” on the Sassafras

March 31, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

When I first saw this spacious cottage style house, it reminded me of a delightful vacation years ago in Nantucket. I quickly fell under the spell of the wee village of Sconset and this house would fit seamlessly into that charming village’s streetscapes- all it needs is pink roses intertwined along the white picket fence. This property also includes a guest house, waterside pool, outbuilding and an open pavilion by the tennis court. I discovered the owners’ passion for tennis was the inspiration for the name of their house. I am sports challenged but when I asked the listing agent about the name, she graciously explained that the “sweet spot” is the perfect spot on the tennis racket for the player to make contact with the ball.

The site aerial shows a panoramic view of the Sassafras River and the house complex that sits on a slight knoll along 300 feet of shoreline. The arbor over the picket fence frames the meandering stone walkway to the light blue front door. The front elevation is charming with offsets that create two end gables, 6/6 windows with light blue shutters, white lap siding and a red brick chimney as an accent.

The floor plan of the main house flows very well with the bedroom wing at one end, the main entry and living room in the middle and the laundry/mud room, kitchen, and dining at the other end. The waterside sunroom spans across the living and dining rooms and has a wall of windows that wrap around the corner for diagonal views of the water. I love corner windows in rooms since they expand spaces and the kitchen, laundry/mud room and master bedroom all have corner windows to maximize views of the water. Wide wall openings connecting the living and dining rooms to the sunroom create an open plan that is the hub of the house. The focal point of the living room is the fireplace’s chimney of river rock, flanked by built-in millwork ready for books, collectibles and family photographs with wall space in between for a large screen TV.

Since this has been a beloved family compound for over fifty years, this is a unique opportunity to upgrade the finishes and materials to one’s taste and lifestyle. The wood floors are in great shape and the kitchen already has a white ceramic farmhouse sink, light colored backsplash tile and period hardware for the cabinets. Paint is an easy way to upgrade a space and would transform the main rooms into light and airy spaces for relaxing in the evening as the sun sets over the water.

The story and a half guest house is sited perpendicular to the water and its sunroom with a gambrel shaped ceiling, wrap around windows and the adjacent waterside deck would be the perfect gathering spot after a dip in the pool. The open plan living-dining-kitchen has a freestanding fireplace and the upper level bedrooms are tucked under the roofline for cozy retreats.

This property is part of the Kentmore Park Community Association and offers a deep sandy beach with access to two docks, boat ramp and moorings, swimming and picnic areas for a modest voluntary annual fee.

“The Sweet Spot” has been lovingly maintained over the years and is ready for the next owner to make it even sweeter.

For more information about this property, please contact Jennifer Mobley at Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company, 410-778-0330 (o), 443-350-5917 (c), or jmobley@cbchesapeake.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”. For more photographs and pricing visit www.jenseasternshorehomes.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

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