The early decade of the 20th century  was the “golden age” of steamships on the Chesapeake Bay. Some catered exclusively to Western Shore city residents who wanted a weekend or a summer vacation on the Eastern Shore to escape the heat of summer. Today’s feature began its life as the “Hilltop Hotel” that welcomed seasonal travelers to its 4.74 acre property. Two years ago, the building and its property underwent a significant renovation without compromising any of the estate’s original historic charm.

As I drove up the access drive that circles around the building to reach the top of its hillside location, I admired how the building’s white siding, dark window trim, door trim and mansard roof stands out against its background of mature trees, manicured lawn and flowering shrubbery. From the angle of the sun, I imagined that the building offers stunning sunsets from seating along its porch that wraps around three sides of the building to also take advantage of the gentle breezes from the Chesapeake Bay.

The building’s one room deep layout with multiple windows and doors offer views of the surrounding landscape. Along with the wrap-around porch, the spacious brick terrace offers another outdoor room for enjoyment of the outdoors. The terrace is well situated for indoor/outdoor flow with pairs of French doors from the living room and the kitchen as well as single doors from the main entry foyer and the mud room.  

The half glass, half paneled front door with its original transom opens into the large foyer with a mix of antiques and other wood pieces that create a welcoming space to greet guests. The dark wood of the stair’s balustrade and furnishings contrasts nicely with the beautiful wood floors that have been restored to their original beauty. A powder room is discretely tucked under the stairs to the second floor.

An original door leads from the foyer to the living room that spans the depth of the house. The white window treatments blend into walls of a deeper hue to reflect the sunlight. The large multi-colored Oriental rug sets up the seating arrangement with a stylish collection of eclectic furnishings including the roll top desk, Scandinavian chairs, wood bench and leather sofa that invites one to linger. Accents of the open hanging shelves, the exposed brick chimney and the door to the foyer that was not completely refinished adds additional charm. 

Opposite the foyer is the combo family-dining area with another exterior door to the porch. The sofa in the seating area wraps around the front corner of the room with two front and one side windows overlooking the porch. Like the one in my house, the former sewing machine base is the perfect height for an end table and the long mirror on the wall behind the dining area expands the space. 

The kitchen is sunny and bright from the  front window and the rear pair of French doors leading to the terrace. The spacious layout with its “L” and island arrangement, white cabinets and countertops and stainless steel appliances contrast with the beautiful wood floors. 

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Opposite the island is a long row of base cabinets that provides extra storage and serves as a buffet for the adjacent dining room. Door openings at both sides of the cabinetry expedites the flow between the rooms. The mix of open wood shelves, closed and upper glass fronted cabinets is a very pleasant design touch. 

Between the family-dining area and the kitchen is a mud room with exterior doors to both the rear yard and the porch and a second set of stairs to the second floor.

There are three bedrooms and two baths on the second floor and the spacious primary bedroom includes the second set of stairs to the first floor. Two windows on both of the room’s two exterior walls brings sunlight and offers bird’s eye views of landscape.  The pencil post bedframe with a dark wood tone and the neutral tones of the room with accents of the bed throw and the pillows create a serene space.  

 

White is the color of cleanliness and the spacious primary bath with its stylish updates of black and white tile flooring, slender dual lavatory cabinet with dual mirrors, sleek black hardware, glass fronted shower and linen closet creates a very appealing space for two to easily share. 

The second floor contains two other bedrooms and a hall bath that are located at the front of the house. 

The third floor’s charming interior architecture is shaped by the mansard shaped roof that is one of my fave architectural styles with its steep lower portion of the roof and low knee walls that maximize the floor space. Stairs lead to the corner sitting room with windows on three sides for views of the landscape’s tree tops. The exposed brick chimney is a textured sculptural element and the wrap-around sofas provide ample seating for relaxing or watching TV. Opposite the stairs is a large bedroom at the front corner of the house.  Two other bedrooms are arranged along the hall at the side wall of the house with a bath at the end of the hall.

If I were a guest, I would claim the peace and quiet of this corner bedroom on the third floor with its black and white theme of the iron bedframe and patterns of the duvet and wallpapered accent wall that creates a restful retreat. The wood nightstand and blue ottoman add warmth and color to the space.

Conveniently located between Chestertown’s amenities and Rock Hall’s marina and beach, this property is zoned “Crossroads Commercial” so a B&B use is possible but I believe it could also be a wonderful family home. There appears to be enough space to add an elevator to the foyer to access all three floors of the for whatever use the next steward would desire for this unique building.  The meticulous restoration/renovation with significant upgrades of this house and grounds is an important part of ongoing efforts to preserve Kent County’s past. Bravo to the current owners for their contribution!

For more information about this property, contact Retha Arrabal with Doug Ashley Realtors at 410-810-0010 (o), 410-708-2172 (c) or [email protected], “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Janelle Stroup, Thru the Lens Photography, 410-310-6838, [email protected]

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

 

It is unusual that three modern houses this month have caught my eye but I could not resist this one.  It exceeds all my selection criteria; a waterfront site along the shoreline of Caulk Cove, distinctive architecture by Paul Rovinelli of HP Rovinelli Architects of Cambridge. MA, interiors that complement the architecture and landscaping with Jan Kirsh’s finishing touches. 

The property contains the main house with a breezeway connection to a three-car garage with a large storage loft, a lighted platform tennis court, a 50 ft. heated lap pool with a pool cabana furnished with a kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor shower, a dock with 6 MLW depth, a boathouse with mechanical lift, two jet ski lifts and two floating docks. In short, the perfect family home!

 

As I drove up the short drive to the house, I admired how the architect had used light colored cedar siding in a mix of horizontal and vertical cladding that de-emphasizes the house’s large footprint and how the clerestory tower at the center of the “T” footprint breaks up the massing. The house’s wings with pitched roofs and the cottage style 2/1 windows pay homage to the Eastern Shore vernacular houses.

 

At the rear waterside elevation, I especially appreciated the architect’s use of angled forms to soften the corners of rooms for diagonal views and the deep triangular gable roof extension over the spacious terrace at the second floor primary suite. Sunlight pours into the house from the tall windows, doors, clerestory and skylights. The fascia of the terrace and balcony areas echoes the color of the deep gray roofing that contrasts with the light colored siding for a very pleasing composition.

 

The focal point of the spacious foyer is the stair to the second floor that is offset from the rear wall to float above the foyer floor. There is also an elevator at the corner of the space.  The beautiful limestone flooring in subtle shades of gray creates a monolithic look as it flows into the adjacent rooms. The floor plan is zoned very well to maximize the water views from all the main rooms and to separate the bedrooms from the living-dining kitchen areas. 

On one side of the foyer, a short hall passes two identical guest bedrooms opposite a large bath with front angled walls and the laundry. At the end of the hall is a box bay with a center window for a vista of the landscaping and water. The rear wall of the bedrooms begins as a box bay projection then ends in subtle angled walls so each bedroom has diagonal views of the water. This projection not only creates both a cozy nook in this bedroom and its adjacent twin bedroom but also provides a shared balcony above for the second floor guest bedrooms. All of the bedrooms are detailed with built-ins for storage and an open shelf at the top for display.

On the other side of the foyer is a hall ending in a door to the pool area. Off the hall are the media room and the game room, and both rooms are fully enclosed for quiet. The door to the media room has a direct vista like a telescope through the house to the rear wall’s windows. I admired how the room’s interior design takes its cue from the colors of the abstract still life painting.  

 

Behind the media room is the game room at the front corner of the house. Windows on three sides create a sunny space for relaxation and play. The blue accent walls define the sitting area and the artwork extends the perspective. The exterior door leads to the breezeway connection to the garage.

 

The longer leg of the “T” shaped floor plan contains the kitchen, living room, dining room and sunroom that is the hub of the house. The space containing the elevator, powder room and pantry separates the kitchen from the two-story hall. I especially liked how the kitchen floats in its space to define halls on either side and how a cut-out in the wall opposite the side wall give the cook a view of the landscape. The words “When you love what you have you have everything you need” that are painted on the wall are the perfect “recipe” for happiness. The sleek modern design of the white cabinets, very striking Brazilian Nero Marinace granite counters, top of the line appliances, two separate sinks and bar seating create a kitchen this cook coveted. 

 

The rear wall of the kitchen is open above the top of the countertop backsplash to the sitting area that is the middle space of the dining-living-sunroom trio of spaces overlooking the water from doors and full height windows. The double-sided fireplace and partial height wall with cabinets divides the sitting area from the dining area. The large textured rug over the beautiful quarter sawn white oak flooring defines the seating area and the blue accent of the sofa defines the edge of the hall. 

 

The dining room has the architect’s motif of slightly angled walls for panoramic views and the patterned rug over the limestone floors defines the stylish dining furniture with its combination of bench and chair seating with the modern pendant lighting above. How especially delightful it must be to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner in this space illuminated by the fire’s glow and the pendant light above. 

 

The sunroom is opposite the sitting area and is a mirror image of the dining room in its geometry. The interior moveable folding glass wall open up the space to the living room and I liked how the horizontal trim between the windows links them together.  After an afternoon on the water or in the pool, this is the space that would beckon me to take a nap or to curl up to read my current book.

 

The stairs to the second floor open into a sitting room that spans the depth of the  space with windows on both the front and rear walls. The firebox enclosure is centered on the two-story hall and the exposed chimney pipe rises to the underside of the sloped ceilings. Playful cut outs in the walls, windows and the clerestory windows at the tower element add more sunlight to the sitting room. This space is located between two guest rooms and the sumptuous primary suite. Opposite the guest rooms is another laundry and dumbwaiter between a large nook with closets on the side walls and a clever detail of a triangular shaped wall sloping into the space with windows on each leg of the sloped walls. 

The primary bedroom with its rear wall of sliding doors and triangular transoms to the underside of the sloped ceiling creates dramatic interior architecture.  The sloped ceiling extends beyond the rear wall to offer shade for the deck. The small accent window over the fireplace is a clever detail and provides direct sunlight. The side walls of the bedroom are infilled with built-ins and closets to minimize the furnishings. 

My fave room is the large terrace off the primary bedroom for panoramic views of the landscape and water since the thin deck posts and cable railing disappear into the background. The IPE decking and the outdoor furniture are low maintenance.    I could easily imagine sinking into the upholstered furnishings and spending a sunny afternoon enjoying being outdoors. At twilight, it would be the perfect spot for watching the sun set.

The primary spa-bath has a window overlooking the two-story hall for sunlight and  privacy. The accessible shower surround of glass and tiled walls include a seat that sets the height of the band of accent tiles around the walls. 

In keeping with the excellent zoning of the floor plan, opposite the primary suite and the two-story hall at the front corner of the house is an office suite with two identical shaped offices and doors to a shared balcony for a break from computer work. Leading to the offices is a spacious storage area with side walls of built-in shelving lining the hall surrounding the walk-in closet in the center of the office suite.

Realtors are sometimes accused of “puffing”, or exaggeration of a property’s feature. In this case, superlatives are quite appropriate for this stunning property. The architecture and interiors combine to create spaces of pure delight with ceiling heights varying from flat to sloped that soar to the underside of the roof rafters above floors of limestone and white oak, spacious rooms, cross vistas ending in windows or doors throughout the house to bring the outdoors inside and the clever use of angles in plan and elevation that give this house its distinctive design. 

The systems were also carefully planned and include a geothermal HVAC system, radiant floor heating throughout, a back-up generator, and a fire-suppression sprinkler system. The grounds are fully irrigated, and the site design utilizes a sub-surface French drainage system with river rock that eliminates the need for gutters. With the elevator, the next young couple to call this house home could raise a family and welcome their children and grandchildren to this unique property for years to come-Bravo to the design and construction team!

For more information about this property, contact Gene Smith, at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, 410-745-2596 (o), 410-443-1571  (c), or  [email protected] . For more photographs and pricing visit genesmith.sothebysrealty.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Janelle Stroup, 410-310-6838, [email protected]

Architecture by Paul Rovinelli of HP Rovinelli Architects

Construction by Ilex

Landscaping by Jan Kirsh, for the current owners

Since tomorrow is a day of giving thanks, as I start the eight year of writing this column I would like to express my thanks to my readers, the Owners/Sellers of their amazing properties and the realtors who brought us together-Happy Thanksgiving! 

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

 

During my drive to preview today’s feature, I was listening to my fave NPR program, Scott Simon’s “Weekend Edition”. He interviewed the VP of Chicago’s Morton Arboretum who spoke about 2023 being a “mast” year in which trees drop an overabundance of acorns and other nuts. I learned that “mast” years tend to happen every two to five years from a number of factors, including pollen. After parking my car under a canopy of oak trees, I gingerly made my way across the front yard to the sound of acorns crunching beneath their blanket of leaves. I soon reached a meandering path of random sized stones that enlarged into a welcoming freeform terrace leading to the front door. How fitting that today’s feature is an “Acorn” house!

 

I admired how well this Acorn house nestles in a clearing with sunlight filtering in from the tall trees and how its exterior palette took its cue from the trees’ bark color. The simple arrangement of shed roofs of different heights and lengths creates a very pleasing composition. I especially liked the bay projection at the side elevation with its “greenhouse” arrangement of glazing, skylights and the triangular accent window under the side eave.  

This side elevation reveals the walk-out partial lower level and the wrap-around deck above. The walkway covered by the deck leads to steps beyond to access the deck and the upper deck off the primary suite.  The deck at the main level of the house accommodates a hot tub and a table and chairs under the shade of the red umbrella. I especially liked the deck’s railing design of slender light gray posts supporting the thin cable that disappears into the landscape to maximize the view of Bolingbroke Creek.

As I walked around the site high above Bolingbroke Creek with expansive views of protected woodland, I paused several times to savor the peace and privacy of the house’s unique location. I followed the meandering path of large stones and discovered the stone terrace with a table and chairs under an umbrella. This terrace is the perfect spot for relaxing after a day on the water or enjoying an al-fresco meal.

The front door opens into a foyer across from the stairs and I glimpsed white walls and sloped stained wood ceilings beyond for further exploration.  The centrally located “L” shaped main stair is above the shorter flight to the lower level and introduces the spatial organization of the floor plan. One shed roof two-story wing contains the main floor bedrooms and bath with the primary suite and an office/bedroom on the second floor. The other shed roof two-story wing contains the open plan living-dining-kitchen area above the partial lower level family room. 

At the top of the stairs is the living area with beautiful wood floors and ceilings. The “Goldilocks” slope of the ceiling was “just right”-enough height to create a sense of enclosure without being too high. The wide opening of the wood sliding door and the dual transom with its header to the underside of the sloped ceiling frames the view of the deck, woods, water and sky.  I admired the eclectic interior design with its mix of an antique Hoosier cabinet, craftsman coffee table and end tables, contemporary lounge chair and ottoman. 

As I turned around from the door to the rear deck, the spatial geometry opened up with the sloped ceilings, the foyer’s full height window with the header of the transom that stretches to the underside of the ceiling, and the partial height walls surrounding the kitchen. The plan offsets and the diagonal vista outlined with expanses of doors and full height windows projects one into the surrounding landscape as if you were in a treehouse. 

 

At the corner of the living room, the wood doors and full height windows to the wrap-around deck offer stunning panoramic views of Bolingbroke Creek. 

 

My fave space is the dining area that projects beyond the main floor walls to create a delightful space. The trio of picture windows and sloped roof windows maximize the view of the water and the low awning windows provide natural cooling in the warm weather months. Round dining tables are conducive to conversation and this table can expand to accommodate more guests. The clever detail of two rows of tile below the awning windows creates space for potted plants and herbs. 

The galley kitchen is opposite the dining area and the kitchen’s walls of varied heights provides views of both the foyer below from the deep ledge behind the sink wall and the wood railing of the second floor office/bedroom above. Sunlight streams into the kitchen through the transom over the front door. The tile flooring matches the tile along the dining area’s baseboard and the efficient layout with its neutral palette awaits the next cook’s color accents.  

Overlooks are a great way to experience spatial volumes and this overlook provides a diagonal view from the second floor bedroom/office’s down to the main floor’s open plan kitchen-dining-living area to the deck and water beyond. The kitchen’s partial height walls inserted into the open plan further defines the spatial relationships. The deep ledge behind the kitchen sink’s counter would be a great space for plants or a display of colorful ceramics. 

The second floor primary bedroom at the rear corner of the house also has wood floors and a wood sloped ceiling. Opposite the bed is a wall of closets for ample storage space. The wide sliding glass door with an uplight/downlight fixture over its header leads to the private balcony overlooking the woods and the water beyond. Stairs lead down from the balcony to the main level deck with the hot tub. The adjacent primary bath has a skylight over the whirlpool tub for natural light and privacy. 

Opposite the primary suite at the end of the second floor hall is a large office overlooking the foyer. This pleasant work area has space for two desks, a sitting area for breaks from computer work and sunlight from both the transom window over the front door and the side wall’s window. 

The lower level contains a spacious family/media room/fitness area  with a freestanding stovepipe fireplace on the opposite wall. Built-in wood millwork along one interior wall has storage for family photographs, books, games and mementos. A wide sliding glass door with a full height window opens onto a terrace that spans the length of the space underneath the wrap-around deck above. 

The Acorn Deck House Company has been  designing and constructing prefabricated custom homes since 1947 and this home one of the best examples in their portfolio that I have seen. Nestled in a clearing surrounded by almost five acres along Bolingbroke Creek, opposite protected woods, this site offers peace, privacy and the soothing sight and sound of water. You feel part of nature as you walk along the meandering stone paths, relax in the outdoor rooms of the lower level covered terrace, main level wrap-around deck and the primary bedroom balcony or launch your boat from the pier and spend the day on the water. The house is sited on high ground which provides long vistas of the water from both the outdoor spaces and from the interior rooms’ large expanse of sliding doors and full height windows-wonderful contemporary design! 

For more information about this property, contact Meg Moran, GRI, with Long and Foster Real Estate-Christies International Real Estate at 410-770-3600 (o), 410-310-2209 (c), or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing visit www.megmoran.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity.” 

Photography by Eve Fishell, Chesapeake Pro Photo LLC, 443-786-8025, www.chesapeakeprophoto.com, [email protected]

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Perhaps it is the luck of the Irish that “Shamrock Shores” status went from coming soon to under contract in just four days!  Having toured this property, I would believe several factors also contributed to its speedy status trajectory. It would be hard to resist a private 7.5 acre waterfront property with SW views, a main house, guest house and barn and the main house’s spacious rooms with accessibility for aging in place. On the day I visited, I drove along a winding drive shaded by mature trees past the guest house and barn before I reached the main house; the Owner told me later they had relocated the driveway to create a more appealing entry sequence.

As I walked around the house, I admired its close proximity to the shoreline that would not be allowed now and how well the house was sited to reach out to the water.  The “L” shape places the garage at the front corner, maximizing the water views for the rest of the house. The architecture is articulated by gables of varied heights that either step down or project from the “L” shape. Not surprisingly, a variety of wide windows punctuate the waterside elevation to open up the house to the water. I especially liked the triangular shaped room at the end of the house for panoramic views of both the water and the landscaping. The exterior color scheme of multi-colored earth toned stone foundation exposed up to the  window sills anchors the house to the ground and the blue siding and white trim is quite appealing.  

As the Owners welcomed me into the foyer, the house’s open floor plan was immediately apparent through wonderful direct and diagonal vistas. The ceiling pitch throughout the house and wood planks painted bright white both create the perfect scale of enclosure and reflect the sunlight streaming through the windows and sliding doors.  The exterior blue color continues inside with the charming faux finish of the foyer’s walls and the blue and white pattern of the rug was the perfect finishing touch. The beautiful floor finish of white oak introduces this finish throughout the house for a Scandinavian touch. 

The foyer opens into the family room with its indoor-outdoor feel from the rear wall infilled with sliding door units that tie the space to the deck and water beyond. I imagined how one could spend very pleasant late fall and winter evenings by the fire in this room, watching TV and enjoying the sunset. The wood floating shelves with accent lighting below each shelf flanking the fireplace are a contemporary alternative to built-in millwork. When you are sitting in the comfortable furnishings, all you see is the deck and water beyond as if you were in a suite on a luxurious barge.

The spacious dining room is open to the foyer with a view beyond to the wood paneled sliding barn doors for access to the guest and garage wing. The flat ceiling works well here since it a cozy height for dining and the blue drapery rises to the underside of the ceiling to accentuate the room’s height. The table and chairs are centered on both the triple window for views of the landscape and the hutch between additional chairs to create a pleasing composition. 

Behind the dining room and opposite the living room is the kitchen with its water views through the adjoining sunroom. The kitchen’s “L” shaped arrangement, island and top of the line cabinetry and appliances would please any cook. The large island has two levels;  one for food prep and a lower level at seating height for breakfast or informal meals. The white cabinets and backsplash blend seamlessly into the surrounding white walls of the adjacent spaces. The upper cabinets rise to the underside of the flat ceiling with some glass fronted doors to display the Owners’ collection of ceramics.

The sunroom must be the hub of the house since it is open to the kitchen and has sliding doors to both the screened porch on one side and to the bluestone terrace on the other side. The expanse of glass of the wrap-around windows and sliding doors without any muntins frame the views of the water.  The neutral furnishings emphasizes the spatial volume and the blue accents of the drapery, ottoman/coffee table and pillows create an inviting space in which to linger.

From the sunroom, a hall behind the kitchen and dining room leads to the garage. Off the hall is a spacious laundry, mud room, pantry and two guest bedrooms with a “Jack and Jill” bath.

Regular readers of my column know my favorite room in Houses of the Week is usually the screened porch. This screened porch is exceptional with its serene interior design of the ceiling planks painted white, pale stone flooring in gray tones, teak furnishings and cushions that take their color cue from the flooring. Since the wide screened panels are full height, this room is the perfect spot during warm weather for panoramic views of the landscape and for watching the sun set!

At the other end of the house is the primary suite with the waterside bedroom and bath across the hall from the office and walk-in closet. Pocket doors open into the office furnished with a table desk and a swivel chair for working or turning around to views through the triple unit window and side windows to the landscape for relief from computer work. The color of the paneled walls, millwork on both sides of the room and the wood desk tie the room together.

The sumptuous primary bedroom has both sleeping and sitting areas. The sitting area is offset with a diagonal wall of triple windows for both water and landscape views. The bed in the sleeping area is strategically placed for water views through another triple window above a seat between the built-in millwork. The glass door leads to the deck with steps down to the lawn and pier. I loved this suite’s interior design of the warm sage green walls, creamy white coverlet with earth toned accents of the duvet and pillows and the antique rocker in the sitting area.  

The luxurious primary bath has a large window to the water and warm earth tones of the dual lavatory cabinetry with separate storage towers, marble flooring and tub-shower walls.  The inset pattern in flooring becomes a “rug” and I especially liked how the flooring seamlessly passes under the glass walls of the shower for accessibility.

The owners lived in the two-story guest house while their home was undergoing its

multi-year, multi-year million dollar renovations of the main house and other structures that incorporated up to date materials, electronics and systems.  The two-bedroom guest house is finished to the same level of quality as the main house so guests must reluctantly leave this haven with its large deck overlooking the landscape and water beyond. Nearby is a large barn with ample room for a party space, or to store a car collection or motor home. 

Shamrock Shores is a one of a kind property sited at the confluence of Glebe Creek and the Miles River. The main house’s one level, accessible living floor plan is zoned for both family living and privacy and built to the highest level of materials and quality of construction. Bravo and Brava to the Owners for their thoughtful planning, meticulous renovation and interior design of this exceptional property-I will eagerly await to feature their next project!  

For more information about this property, contact Tom Crouch with Benson and Mangold Real Estate at 410-745-0720 (o), 410-310-8916 (c) or  [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing, visit https://thomascrouch.bensonandmangold.com/ , “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens Photography, 410-310-6838, [email protected]

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

 

When I moved to the Eastern Shore and began my search for a home, I fell under the spell of the village of Claiborne for it was appealing for so many reasons. Its history includes being the point of disembarkation of vacationers from the Western Shore ferries and the nearby Miracle House property provided a summer of fresh air, nutritious food and swimming in the Bay to children who had been exposed to the TB virus to build up their resistance.  The village’s small size, few roads and historic architecture with a majority of  open land under private ownership was very appealing. Unfortunately, my house search did not end in Claiborne but this house overlooking the Eastern Bay is a one of a kind property for another lucky buyer. As I stood at the shoreline, I marveled at the view across the Eastern Bay and then the long view over the Chesapeake Bay whose distant shoreline was a thin blue strip that blended into the blue of the water.

 

On the day of my visit, I walked along a meandering path of a slate path lined with  

lush landscaping between the house and the outbuildings. Gambrel roofs are one of my favorites and I admired how the long gambrel roofs intersected with the short gambrel roofs to break up the massing. I also admired the exterior palette of earth tones with deep brown shake shingles infilling the gable form as a contrast to the creamy light brown lap siding below the eave line. It was clear that the house’s basic rectangular form was articulated with projections and offsets that enhanced its architectural character as the offset sunroom and the bay projection does for this elevation. 

The slate path ends at the entry porch at the corner of the house with two sets of steps; one from the path and another at the rear of the house leading first to a deck at the stairs’ landing and then more steps down to a stone pad and the lawn. At the shoreline, there are Adirondack chairs near the pier and a table and chairs for al-fresco dining. This elevation was a feast of architectural delights from the main level’s triple window next to a bay wall projection infilled with windows, a gable with a single window next to an oval window above a rounded  projection that is the stair landing with segmented windows along the curve and finally the offset sunroom with wrap-around windows.  The mature landscaping was carefully thought out to complement the architecture.

 

The side elevation has a simple and elegant design of triple units. The center glass door and full sidelights is between triple window units and at the second floor is another triple unit. I especially liked how the white molding at the joint of the lower and upper gambrel roofs brakes up the expanse of the brown shake siding and the railing completes this lovely composition.

 

The  entry door opens into a deep foyer opposite a short hall with a closet and a pantry. The beautiful wood flooring introduces the floor finish throughout most of the rooms. The long window seat below the triple window serves multiple uses-a perch for the family pet or a drop off for packages after shopping. The vista through the cased opening in the opposite wall beckoned me to the breakfast area. 

When I entered the breakfast room with its bay window so aptly named with a center picture window and single windows on the other walls, I could easily imagine eating breakfast in this charming room full of sunlight and augmented by the beautiful glass pendant lights. The wood round table and chairs encourages conversation and lingering over a second cup of coffee in the morning, feeling refreshed by the water view, to begin one’s day.   

The breakfast room is opposite the kitchen, so the cooks have water views as they prepare meals. The spacious kitchen is laid out well with the “L” section around the center island with a deep countertop to accommodate bar stools. Behind the island is another row of cabinetry including a wine cooler and glass fronted upper cabinets for display of glassware.

The spacious dining room is located at the front of the house and the graceful bowfront triple windows offer views of the landscape. I admired the interior 

design of the large rug in blue and salmon tones that complement the warm wood of the flooring and the trestle table with Windsor chairs. Window drapery provides privacy as needed.

 

The spacious living room is connected to the dining room by a wide cased 

opening and to the sunroom by pocket doors for easy flow among the rooms. I especially liked how the fireplace is placed diagonally at the corner and how the furnishings are grouped around it to also enjoy the water views through the adjacent rooms. The aqua color of the fireplace surround is echoed in the background of the painting on the mantel.

The sunroom is a delightful indoor-outdoor space with partial height lap siding walls and wrap-around windows for panoramic views of the water. The exterior glass door and the interior door to the rest of the house are centered in the space to free up the room’s corners for dining and sitting areas.  

 

The main floor also contains a large “bonus” room that is currently furnished as a bedroom with windows on all three exterior walls for sunlight throughout the day. Since the room includes a bath, it would be easy to add a closet to create a main floor ensuite.

The stunning  primary bedroom is my fave room with two of its exterior walls full of windows. The focal point of the room is the wide eyebrow window infilled with a pair of glass doors and full sidelights. The white curvature of the eyebrow’s ceiling defines a seating nook. The glass doors lead to a balcony for watching sunsets or star gazing later at night. The light aqua walls, bed linens and upholstered chairs create a serene retreat.

The primary bath is tucked under the gambrel roof and has the serene color scheme as the primary bedroom. The first compartment contains the dual lavatory cabinet and the tub; the second contains the toilet and shower. The walk-in closet behind the primary bedroom completes the ensuite. 

Two other bedrooms, a hall bath and laundry completes the second floor.

Stunning waterfront site overlooking the Eastern Bay and the Chesapeake Bay beyond, historic architectural style, spacious rooms with sunlight from multiple window types, easy flow among rooms, upgrades that makes this house move-in ready-hard to resist! 

For more information about this property, contact Barb Watkins with Benson and Mangold at 410-822-1415 (o), 410-310-2021 (c), or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.easternshorehomes.com,   “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens Photography, 410-310-6838, [email protected]

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

I am always on the lookout to feature one of my fave house designs, the  American Four Square. Its design elements include a two and a half stories high massing, a boxy floor plan that minimizes halls and maximizes floor area, usually four rooms per floor plus an attic area, full front porch, wide windows and a center roof dormer. This charming American Four Square has all these elements and much, much more. As I walked up the sidewalk, I admired the reddish color of the roofing and the brick foundation, the porch’s brick piers and solid brick railing. I especially liked the slight curvature of the porch railing’s top brick course between the piers and down the steps. Along with the porch’s white tapered half columns, brown shake siding and white trim, the exterior color palette projects great curb appeal. 

 

I walked around the house and discovered the fully fenced rear yard shaded by mature trees. The house’s massing is enhanced by the one-story sunporch/office at one side of the house and the two-story projection that contains the main floor breakfast area and powder room below the primary suite. There are several outbuildings, one of which is a two car garage and potting shed next to the pergola covered terrace. The gate in the fencing at the rear of the property leads to the alley parking. 

 

 

After walking up the steps to the porch, I discovered a spacious outdoor room with areas for both sitting and dining.  Since my porch needs painting this year, I envied this porch’s brick railings and herringbone patterned floor that are low maintenance.  The triple unit 9/1 windows provide a clear view of the outdoors from the seating in the living room within.

 

When the Owner greeted me at the door, she told me they had loved this house and it loved them back. I firmly believe houses have vibes and this house clearly exudes love as I savored the view of this house’s spacious foyer. Sunlight filters in from the front door’s half French style door, the large side window and another window above the stair landing. The “L” shaped stair creates space for an antique icebox and the other furnishings of the Oriental rug, settee and white armoire create a warm and welcoming space. From the foyer, wall openings of various sizes beckoned me to further explore the rest of the house.

 

The foyer’s beautiful wood floors continue throughout the house and a wide wall opening leads to the living room with seating anchored by a large Oriental rug grouped around the triple window and the brick fireplace. The fireplace surround is the same brick color as the porch railings and I admired the detail of the brick corbeling that creates brackets to support the fireplace’s mantel.  

 

The French door in the living room leads to this delightful space with double unit windows at the front and rear walls and a triple unit window at the side wall. The exposed rafters and ceiling are painted white to reflect the sunlight throughout the day. Even though this room is furnished as an office, it is easy to imagine replacing the office furniture  with cushioned rattan furnishings and pots of plants to create a sunroom.

 

Another wide wall opening separates the living room from the spacious dining room whose size can accommodate family meals or larger holiday celebrations. The white paneled wainscot accentuates the soft aqua walls sunlit by both the double unit window at the side wall and the  single window at the rear corner of the room.  The graceful curvature of the Queen Anne dining set centered over a large Oriental rug adds a touch of warmth to the room’s geometry.

 

As I left the dining room, I appreciated how the wall opening from the dining room to the kitchen is centered on both the dining room’s side windows and the windows above the kitchen sink to continue the vistas of openness throughout the house. Part of the rear wall of the kitchen was removed to create a large wall opening to the breakfast room and the powder room. The charming breakfast area has both a cushioned banquette and chairs to enjoy the view through the rear window to the landscape. The kitchen’s color scheme of soft taupe walls, white cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances would please any cook. 

 

The second floor contains the primary ensuite, two other bedrooms and a hall bath. The spacious primary bedroom is located at the rear corner of the house and its soft lilac blue walls, wood floors, accents of wood beams and the wood sleigh bed over a large Oriental rug create a restful retreat. 

The other two bedrooms are equally spacious and are located at the front corners of the house. Both bedrooms have double windows at the front and single windows at the side walls for abundant sunlight.

The large primary bath’s glass walled shower maintains the space’s expansiveness. The wood floors, Oriental rug, wood cabinetry with dual sinks and separate mirrors create a space any duo could easily share.    

The bath’s French door leads to a private balcony overlooking the rear landscape- a perfect spot for a second cup of coffee in the morning or a night cap while star gazing at night.

The third floor has been renovated as a fabulous multi-purpose space with charming interior architecture from the hipped roof’s sloped ceilings with wood accents, double unit dormer windows at the front and rear of the space and carpeting. 

The house also has a basement that contains the laundry, storage rooms and an enclosed room that is now a music room. The basement has an exterior stair to the rear yard.

Ideal location on a wide street in the heart of Easton’s Historic District -the American Four Square’s compact floor plan creates easy flow among the spacious rooms filled with sunlight from large windows that set up vistas throughout the house. This gem has been fully renovated in 2005 with updates that complement the original wood floors, substantial moldings and trim.  The large front porch is a perfect warm weather sitting and dining room-move-in ready!

For more information about this property, contact Kelly Showell with Benson Mangold Real Estate at 410-822-1415 (o),  410-829-5468 (c) or [email protected]. For more pictures and pricing, visit https://kellyshowell.bensonandmangold.com/, “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens, 410-310-6838, [email protected].

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Today’s feature is about a house but it is also a love story. Oscar Wilde wryly noted that second marriages are the triumph of hope over experience. The Owners of today’s featured house are proof of Wilde’s observation and their house is also testament to their love of Eastern Shore vernacular houses. The husband grew up in Bethesda and spent weekends boating in Annapolis before he fell under the spell of the Eastern Shore. He and his wife, a professor At George Mason University, were married with their blended family in attendance on the H.M. Krentz Skipjack at the end of the dock of one of their previous properties.

After his retirement from medicine, the husband soon found he had a knack for discovering properties that needed renovation and his second career as an Eastern Shore developer began. This three acre property is very special to the couple since it is the seventh house project for the husband, the first collaboration for them both and is also their first new construction house. The property is located on a single loaded dead end road with pastoral views of the surrounding farmland and Dixon Creek. I have featured another house on this street and the day of my visit, I was reminded of how peaceful and quiet the street is with only three built houses and two others under construction.

I admired the massing of the house with the main two-story wing balanced by the one-story “L” shaped hyphen of the garage with service spaces and the gable wing that projects from the front elevation with a box bay projection. I love board and batten siding and when it is painted white the shadow lines are most prevalent and enlivens the façade. The white color also is a prelude to the interiors’ neutral color scheme of whites, creams, grays and earth tones. The metal shed roofs over the front porch, the box bay and the window above add more texture and a color accent. I especially liked how the supports for the front porch were stained wood instead of being painted white as it defines the bays of the porch much better.

The waterside rear elevation is equally appealing with its three gable projections and the shed roof over the porch aligned with the front porch for views through the house. The fifty foot long pool’s hardscape of beautiful slabs of travertine in shades of white and gray blends into the flooring of the pool pavilion that, along with the porch, offers respite from the summer sun after a dip in the pool. During the winter, you can relax in the pavilion as you watch the sun set over the water.

There is also a dock for spending an afternoon of paddle boarding, kayaking or boating on the water and nearby is a group of Adirondack chairs around a firepit. The Owners named their boat “River Mist” in honor of the beautiful mist that covers Dixon Creek and the fields across from the house in the early morning.

When the Owner greeted me at the front door, I paused to savor the spatial variety from the living room that soars twenty feet to the ceiling and back down again to the one story kitchen and dining room. The white walls and ceiling planes reflect the sunlight through tall windows, glass doors and transoms with accent windows above. The beautiful Chardonnay” white oak flooring is used throughout most of the main floor. This wonderful introduction made me eager to explore the rest of the house!

The view of the water from the three pairs of opened glass doors in the living room create an irresistible warm weather indoor-outdoor room. The neutral color scheme with blue accents creates a space for relaxation with family and friends.

I could easily imagine sitting in one of these chairs and joining the conversation in the living room against its backdrop of water and trees.

The Owners designed the state-of-the-art kitchen so they could fully interact with family and guests while they prepare meals. The island’s slate blue cabinetry and the veined Cambria countertop contrasts with the white of the other cabinetry with Hanstone countertops. The husband built the dining room table from a single slab white oak felled tree. The wood took a year to dry out but the result was worth the wait. The living room mantel was also created from the same wood.

To the right of the foyer is the office for the wife who teaches from home. She has both a desk (designed and built by her husband) and an adjustable height workspace. The restful slate blue wall color, the serene view of the farmland through the bay window and millwork create a very pleasant work environment.

The spacious primary bedroom faces the water and the clean lines of the modern canopy bed and other furnishings create a restful retreat. I admired the hand-blown glass pendant lights with swirls of blue over the nightstands and the other blue accent in the art, pillows and upholstered bench.

The primary bath has both a soaking tub opposite the shower with dual lavatories in between. The wood cabinets, dark Silestone countertops and the matchstick blinds over the tub add warmth to the space. I admired the oval mirrors hung with rope and the slender modern wall mounted fixtures. Two walk-in closets complete the primary suite.

The stairs to the second floor end at an overlook to the living room below with the solid walls of the stairwell blending into the surrounding spatial volume. The three guest bedrooms have bird’s eye views of the landscape and water. The two baths have skylights for additional light and privacy.

This couple’s vision of sustainability with eco-conscious building practices was one of the guiding principles of the property’s development. One of the unique features of the construction is the safety and security provided by the Integrated Concrete Form (ICF) wall construction that can withstand over 220 mph winds as well as provide both wall insulation and sound attenuation.

The house design was a wonderful collaboration between the husband who built the living room mantel, dining room tabletop, the console, office desk and the pool pavilion’s bar countertop and the wife’s innate interior design skills that combined to create a unique house that embodies their love of the Eastern Shore outdoor/indoor lifestyle. Bravo and Brava!

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: Svetlana Leahy Photography. Builder: Stephen Doyle, Excel Builders- www://excelbuilders.com/ Landscaping: F.A. Hobson

Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.