This carefully detailed house belies its age of only thirteen years. I loved the interior vistas beginning with the view after opening the front door. Like historic Maryland Tidewater houses, the entrance hall spanned the full depth of the house and ended at French doors leading to a terrace. The focal point of the entrance hall was the beautiful stair with a white balustrade and a stained wood cap that began with wide slightly curved treads that decreased in width with each step, ascended to a landing and ended in a graceful arc at the second floor wall.  

My favorite room was the living room’s one-story wing that was offset from the main house. The high ceilings were accentuated by the tall windows with transoms on the front and back walls. The fireplace was centered on the side wall and was flanked by a window with a seat below on one side and the other side contained built-in millwork.  Instead of transoms, these vertical openings were detailed with wood panels to match the size of the transoms over the other windows. The light yellow wall color, random width wood floors, Oriental rug, antiques, art and comfortable upholstered furnishings with accents of color and windows on three sides of the room created great interior architecture.

Two arched openings in the other side wall of the living room led to the spacious dining room with an antique trestle table resting on an Oriental rug, antique chairs and sideboard. The chair rail delineated the spaces for art and the double windows at the rear offered views of the pastoral landscape.

I especially liked the vista at the rear of the house with a view from the kitchen through a small butler pantry, then through one of the arched dining room door openings that was centered on the side window of the family room beyond. I have the same style white kitchen cabinets but I liked this Owner’s mix of both wood and granite countertops, the light slate blue “subway” style backsplash and the mix of upper cabinets and open shelves to display their collection of ceramics.  Another pair of French doors led to the rear terrace and connected the kitchen to the terrace and the landscape beyond.

On the other side of the entrance hall was a study and hall leading to the master suite in its own one-story wing. The master bedroom was very serene with its tall windows on two sides, pale blue walls, cream colored carpet, white quilt with accents of blue in the pillows and bedskirt and warm wood antique chests.  The second floor contained the rest of the bedrooms and one room that the Owner used as her studio. Views to the rear landscape and skylights made this a delightful work space.

Ten acres of pastoral landscape, Georgian architectural style built by Mennonite craftsmen, windows on at least two sides of every room for daylight, elegant interiors-this house came on the market just five days ago so Spy readers are getting a sneak preview!

For more information about this property, contact Richard Budden at Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company, 410-778-0330 (o), 443-480-1181 (c) or rbudden@easternshoremdre.com,  “Equal Housing Opportunity”. Architecture by Andrea Lombardini

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.

When I first saw this contemporary house nestled among the trees above Shipyard Creek I liked how the lower floor was half a level above grade so windows would bring in daylight on all sides. The main floor above was a half flight above grade so its roof line could then continue to slope down at the front to create a carport. The rear of the house opened up to the water with a wide center gable that floated above a wall of glass up to the pitched ceiling. The deck spanned the length of the gable wing and the deck piers were carefully spaced to not obstruct views from the lower level windows.

On one side of the center gable wing was the master bedroom and on the other side a screened porch opened off the dining area to expand the living and dining spaces. I liked how the pitched ceilings faced with wood added volume and warmth to the spaces throughout the house. The various types of windows-from the gable infilled wall of glass, the horizontal ribbons of windows, the side gable walls with a windows and transoms to the sloped ceiling above and the skylights in the kitchen-dining area opened the entire house to the outdoors. I also liked the sleek design of the kitchen with minimal upper cabinets and the long window seat that was part of the seating for the dining area.

I especially liked the master bedroom with its water side window band of alternating picture and ventilated units and the side double window with a transom above that ended at the sloped wood ceiling. The contemporary wooden four-poster bed and other furnishings created a restful retreat.

The wood ceilings and wood floors continued to the lower level. The high windows on the water side and the lower windows on the side of the house brought daylight in and the wood stove, TV and comfortable furnishings made this space a great gathering spot. Three other bedrooms completed the ground floor of this wonderful contemporary house.

For more information about this property, contact Christine Burgess at Gunther McClary Real Estate at 410-275-2118 (o), 410-708-3551 (c), or cburg21905@gmail.com. “Equal Housing Opportunity”. Photography by Steve Buchanan Photography,410-212-8753, steve@buchananphotography.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.

Over the past year, I have been drawn many times to the historical properties along Langford Creek and the Chester River. What attracted me to this farmhouse was its simplicity with a hint of Shaker design, its modest scale and the fact that it is one of the few surviving Federal houses in Kent County. The two-story part of the house stepped down to a secondary wing with a front porch. A two-story rear addition added screened porches on both levels of the house, a kitchen on the first floor and a small study and bath on the second floor.

The serene picturesque landscape over thirteen acres includes various outbuildings from its farming heyday including a large barn, granary, a milk house now used as a studio and a garage at the water’s edge waiting for a creative new use.

When you opened the front door to the entrance hall, the vista led you through the house to the sunroom and views of the landscape and the Creek beyond. Both the dining room and the sitting room had floor to ceiling built-in cabinetry in soft hues. Both rooms had the original working fireplaces as did the two upstairs bedrooms. The compact kitchen at the rear of the house had tall windows for views to the water and access to the sunroom for al-fresco dining.

I loved the first floor bedroom suite that was the one-story wing of the house. . The bedroom had beautiful wide pine flooring and exposed ceiling rafters stained very dark brown under the white washed decking above. The antique wood bed frame with its low headboard and footboard, white bed linen, other antique furnishings and art accents created a restful retreat. The wing was set back from the two-story part of the house that created space for a deck with views to the landscape and water beyond.

Both second floor bedrooms had built-in cabinetry and other unique features. The master bedroom had an alcove for a small study with a window overlooking the landscape and water and a door to the sunporch. The other bedroom had a Dutch door to the sunporch. As lovely as these bedrooms were, if I were a guest I would claim the porch as my sleeping space. I especially appreciated how the original railing had been preserved and the wall of glass panels made the spaces four-season rooms.

It was very easy to take a fancy to Tulley’s Fancy. The soft muted tones of the painted wood work that differed from room to room, the wide plank pine flooring, the Shaker simplicity of the details, the compact floor plan and the serene setting made this unique property the perfect weekend retreat for the harried city dweller.
If you are looking for a picture perfect Christmas card, this house in the snow would be hard to resist!

For more information about this property, contact Nancy McGuire with Maryland Heritage Properties at 410-778-9319 (o) 443-480-7342 (c) or nmcguire@MDHeritage.properties, “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.

To me, the eclectic look to this house with its Romanesque tower “castle” element and the steep gables evoked the Tudor style – all that was missing was the wooden wall cladding and a more elaborate chimney. The house commonly referred to as the “Moseburg” Mansion has a captivating history. It was built in the 1900’s and remodeled in 1926. During Prohibition it was a Speakeasy and purportedly a bordello in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

At the end of a gravel driveway the “L” shaped house with a compact footprint wraps around a tower and a flagstone walkway with cream colored mortar leads to the entry door at the base of the tower. The low plantings and canopy trees stand out against the cream colored stucco of the house and the hint of water beyond for great curb appeal. One gable side elevation shows how this wing expands to accommodate the kitchen and laundry wing.

You entered the house from the ground level of the tower with its stairwell that wraps around to the upper levels. The main floor living area would be great for entertaining with its seating group arranged in front of the river rock fireplace. Opposite this grouping is a TV /music room with two bay windows. Behind the sofa is a wall of French doors that leads to a sunroom with a covered porch on either side with views to the water. Two bedrooms also with bay windows complete the main floor.

Half a stair flight up was the kitchen and laundry areas and angled in a corner of the kitchen was a large river rock fireplace. The stainless steel appliances and the triple sink date from the house’s days as a hunting lodge. The cooktop was surrounded by an enormous granite countertop that took ten men to bring it into the room and position it. The cookware was arranged on stainless steel open shelving and hooks instead of upper cabinets. I liked how during the 2010 renovation by the current owners, the original vintage sink was currently moved to the laundry room.

At the next level was the master suite with a huge master bedroom with ample room for sitting, reading and sleeping areas. The porcelain ceramic vessel-type lavatories were miniature versions of the soaking tub on its dais of tile above the hardwood floor of the rest of the bath.
Interesting eclectic architecture, a fascinating history, the secret garden, the dock with a pergola by the water-who could resist making history of your own here?

For more information about this property, contact Pat Kern with Gunther McClary Real Estate at 410-275-2118 (o), 443-480-0299 (c) or cdkplk@gmail.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”. Photography by Steve Buchanan Photography, 410-212-8753, 310-996-7295, steve@buchananphotography.com, www.buchananphotography.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.

When I saw this charming cottage, the stained wood shingle style reminded me of my family’s summer vacations in Gatlinburg at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains.  Each year we rented cabins and I have very happy childhood memories of wading and tubing in the creeks and exploring the hiking trails with my siblings.

At first glance, this cottage appeared to be a simple form with a pitched roof; however, the side elevations showed how the cottage expanded. Two gable end wings telescoped down behind the front wing to create headroom for the second floor bedrooms. The stained wood theme continued indoors with hardwood floors throughout the house, wood windows, doors, trim and wood details.

The family room had pitched wood clad ceilings with exposed wood collar beams and wood wainscoting. The wide sliding doors on three sides opened up the room to the outdoors so the room felt like a sunroom. The family room was the hub of the cottage with its wood stove, TV, and bar ready for entertaining. The wide sliding doors led to the wrap-around deck which was the perfect spot for watching the sunsets over the Bay.

The kitchen cabinets were wood with granite countertops and a wood wainscot continued from the dining room into the breakfast room. The spacious master bedroom and bath had lighter finishes of painted drywall.

A cozy cottage that has been meticulously maintained for the perfect weekend or full time resident.

For more information about this property, please contact Sarah Dean at Cross Street Realtors at 410-778-3779 (o), 410-708-2528 (c), or sarah@csrealtors.com, “An 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.

As I write this, it is sunny and ninety-two degrees outside-even my cats have forsaken the screened porch on the shady side of the house. On this last weekend of summer, I wish I were spending today at a beach house and this cozy two-bedroom cottage one block from the Bay caught my eye. A gabled front porch, upper deck and rear deck expanded the living space and the blue siding and white trim were the perfect color palette for a beach house.

The living, dining and kitchen areas were one open plan that spanned the front of the house and I appreciated how the front door was shielded from a view of the kitchen upon entry by the wall at the refrigerator. The hardwood floors, crisp white kitchen cabinets and windows on three sides of the room created a light and clean look.

Of course, every beach house needs a mud room/ laundry to shake off sand, discard wet clothes and towels and store beach toys for another day. I liked how this spacious mud room/laundry was at the exterior corner so light from French door and a window made this a room a pleasant space for getting ready for a trip to the beach or cleaning up. There were hooks for towels, a bin for beach toys and a bench with storage for crocs or walking shoes. The stair to the second floor opened off this room for easy access upstairs.

One bedroom was located downstairs and the other was upstairs for privacy. The main floor bedroom had direct access to the rear deck and the loft bedroom had its own private deck. Skylights in the roof deck and windows at each side gable wall of the loft created a cozy retreat.

This very appealing renovation led to the cottage’s being sold in just over two months. The only thing I would add would be a gas fireplace in the living area to make this charming cottage a great winter weekend retreat too!

For more information about this property, contact Michele Palmer with Doug Ashley Realtors, LLC at 410-810-0010 (o), 410-920-9435 (c) or michele@dougashleyrealtors.com, “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.

Spy House of the Week:  Cape Cod Charmer

The very pleasant approach to this house was first from a tree lined driveway that becomes a circular driveway open to the landscape with a direct vista to Davis Creek. The property had 772 feet of shoreline for strolls along the creek, a dock  and a pool for enjoying these last days of summer. I liked the cottage scale of the Cape Cod architecture with wings that projected from the center of the house and multiple gables for architectural interest. I especially liked how the rear of the house embraced the water view with large picture windows, a long shed dormer and dormer windows on each side.

The house was sited to give water views from all of the main rooms. The front door opened to an entrance hall with the stair at one side and another direct vista through the living room and sunroom beyond to the creek. My favorite room was the sunroom with its large windows on three sides that offered panoramic views of the water. The kitchen was open to the cozy breakfast area with a built-in cabinet and a drop leaf table for dining centered under the picture window for another water view.

The house was zoned very well for family and guests. The main areas of entry, living, sunroom and kitchen are located at the center of the house. One side contained the family bedroom wing with the master bedroom on the first floor and two bedrooms tucked under the dormers above on the second floor.  On the other side was the guest wing with its own stair to the second floor bedrooms also tucked under dormer windows and the ground floor bedroom had French doors for views to the creek. A great house for family and friends!

For more information about this property, contact Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company agents Richard Budden at 410-778-0330 (o), 443-480-1181 (c) or rbudden@easternshoremdre.com, or Mary Carlisle at 410-778-0330 (o), 410-703-3820 (c) or m.carlisle@cbchesapeake.com “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.

It’s hard to believe it has been a year since the Spy launched the Habitat section! Since the first house in Chestertown was a house in the Historic District, I wanted to celebrate today’s anniversary with another Town house. This house immediately intrigued me for its unique style-the flared roof eaves, smaller top dormer and finials said Queen Anne to me but the low-slope front porch roof and symmetrical arrangement of front windows and entry door said Victorian.  Whatever you may wish to call it, this gal has great style.

I loved all of the elevations-the geometry of the gable wing that went from front to back was broken at one side by a hipped roof with a slight bay projection and a dormer window on the third floor. The front side hipped roof wing was offset slightly behind the front gable wing with the full front porch for great curb appeal.

The living room focal point was the fireplace and picture frame molding around the lower walls and a chair rail gave the room charm and style. The same wainscot treatment was repeated in the adjacent dining room. The kitchen was at the rear for ease of access to the deck for al-fresco dining under the trellis overlooking the rear yard.  

With two bedrooms on the second floor and a spacious third floor suite you can choose either the bird’s eye view of the second floor or the treehouse view of the third floor.  The log cabin black and white pattern and the vintage fixtures of the master bath might be the determining factor.

Many thanks to the owners who welcomed me into their homes, the realtors and their administrative assistants who shared their listing photographs with me so I could tell each house’s story over the past year!

For more information about this property, contact Liddy Campbell with Cross Street Realtors at 410-778-3779 (o), 410-708-5433 (c) or liddy@csrealtors.com, “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.

I don’t often find a contemporary or modern house to feature but this contemporary house on a bend of Fairlee Creek in the Fairgale Properties subdivision caught my eye for several reasons. The aerial view showed the variety of windows from skylights, clerestories, transoms and large panes of glass, some floor to ceiling, for sunlight and views to the Creek. The variety of outdoor spaces varied too from terraces on the ground level to decks and balconies on the first floor. The sleek deck handrail didn’t obstruct the views to the water and part of the deck was set below the main floor so one looked over, not through, the outdoor dining furniture to the Creek beyond.

I especially liked the interior architecture of the living room. An interior trellis with inserts to filter the sun streaming through the long skylight above. At the rear wall of the room, a floor to ceiling window wall faced the Creek. At the front wall, a high clerestory set back from the front living room wall brought light into the room. A smaller horizontal wall opening through to the dining room, the comfortable furnishings grouped around the fireplace and the owners’ collections also gave this room great appeal.

The kitchen with its hardwood floor, floor to ceiling wood cabinets, dark countertops, stainless steel appliances and cooktop island was the perfect work-triangle arrangement. A double window with a transom spanned from the top of the counter to the high ceiling for light and views to the landscape. I especially liked how the upper cabinets were along one wall which left the other walls for art and made the room more spacious.

The master bedroom’s interior architecture included a recessed area with a lower ceiling for the bed and triangular window at the higher interior wall. Double doors and full height sidelights became a wall of glass toward the Creek. The doors opened onto a private deck for a nightcap after a dip in the stationary lap interior pool.

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, “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.