As I walked down the Town of Rock Hall’s sidewalk to tour today’s featured house, “Mermaid of the Rock-The Lodge on Main”, the house’s eclectic architectural details of an American Four-Square massing, hipped roof and shed dormers with the  Victorian 1/1 windows creates a very pleasing curb appeal. The elevated front porch faces the street but dense shrubbery provides privacy. The house may have originally been a rectory for the church but its current use is a successful Airbnb with a main floor unit and another unit on the second and third floors for a total of four bedrooms and three and a half baths. 

The elevation that faces the side off-street parking area shows the Queen Anne details of the wrap-around porch and the two-story bay wall projection. Combined with the other architectural styles of the front elevation, this building has great architectural character. 

I was charmed by the diminutive scale of the two buildings at the rear of the parking area. Both are currently offices but the larger building could become a cozy honeymoon cottage and the other building could remain an office to generate additional income.  

Next to the office is a small terrace with a table and benches underneath a pergola supported by four columns and covered with dense vines for shade. The perfect spot for a warm weather picnic or for relaxing after a stroll around town.

After touring the grounds, I walked up to the deep and spacious  wrap-around porch with cushioned rattan furnishings for relaxing and a table and chairs for dining. Ceiling fans add cooling during the dog days of summer. With plenty of seating and ample space for circulation, the porch is a delightful outdoor room. 

The front door opens into a large foyer that serves both units. The stair’s upper run is open to the first floor below for convenient storage of bikes, strollers, etc. The building’s renovation carefully maintained the house’s original details, including the beautiful wood floors, high baseboards, paneled doors, fluted window trim and the stair balustrade. 

The main floor living room’s side wall is a full bay wall projection for panoramic views of the townscape. Along with the front window overlooking the porch, the living room has sunlight throughout the day. The armoire covers a pair of pocket doors to the adjoining room that may have been the original dining room.

The eat-in kitchen has a corner wood hutch containing all the basic essentials for setting the table. Four Windsor chairs around the table create a cozy dining spot. The “L” shaped kitchen area has plenty of counter space with one side containing the sink and dishwasher and the other side containing the R/F and range/microwave.

The main floor bedroom has a quiet location in the rear corner of the building. I admired the mix of the contemporary light fixture and rug with the iron bedframe. The blue and cream color scheme creates a serene sleeping space.   

The main floor bath and laundry area has plenty of storage for linens and towels and the exterior door leads to the steps down to the rear yard and parking area.

The second-floor living room is located above the main living room below and enjoys the same side bay wall projection and front window for sunlight throughout the day. The light wall color reflects the sunlight, and the spacious living-dining area can accommodate a large group for watching TV. 

The second floor’s galley kitchen’s windows on the two exterior walls is sunny and bright. The craftsman style cabinets with the upper cabinets reaching to the underside of the ceiling provide plenty of storage and the cabinet on the opposite wall could become a buffet. The four-panel door leads to the stairs to the third floor bedroom.

The second floor’s corner bedroom’s carpet over the original wood floors provides sound control from the unit below. The corner location with windows on each exterior wall is a plus with bird’s eye views of the townscape below.

The second floor bath also has a stack washer/dryer if a buyer wanted to keep the Airbnb on the first floor and live on the second and third floors.

The third floor corner bedroom is my fave room in the house whose shed dormers create delightful interior architecture. Opposite the beds are a large closet and another closet for the HVAC equipment. The adjacent bath is tucked under the windows of another shed dormer.

This is a unique opportunity for acquiring an Airbnb for investment property; or to continue the successful Airbnb designation for the main floor only for extra income; or to revert the four bedroom, 3-1/2 bath house to its original use as a single family residence. Charming architectural style and spacious interior rooms with multiple windows for views and sunlight.  Outdoor rooms of the wrap-around porch that offers front row seats to enjoy local parades and festivals and the terrace in the rear yard, shaded by a pergola and dense vines, expand your living space. All this and a location in the heart of picturesque Rock Hall’s shops, restaurants and the Mainstay live performing arts venue that offers a year-round weekly calendar!

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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]

Contributor 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 real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Locust Grove  is one of the historic properties included in my primary reference book for Talbot County’s architectural heritage , “Where Land and Water Intertwine, An Architectural History of Talbot County, Maryland”. This aerial view shows this house nestled in its “grove” of mature trees with panoramic vistas of the site’s twenty-two acres (including four acres of woodland), farmland, pastures and eight hundred linear feet of shoreline along Island Creek. Since the site is located at the upper reaches of Island Creek, there is no motor boat noise to disturb the peace and quiet of this special place that is completely surrounded by land protected from development. Locust Grove is both an operating farm and a turn-key horse farm in what has become an equine “neigh”borhood and year round habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

 

“Where Land and Water Intertwined” dates the house as early 19th century and the book’s photograph of the house shows a three-bay hipped roof porch that no longer remains. As I walked up to the welcoming red front door, I was relieved that the porch had been removed so I could fully appreciate the charm of the original part of the house. Additions to many Eastern Shore historic houses telescope down, but here the five-bay, story and a half gambrel roofed original part of the house rests next to the later and higher two-story addition. I also learned from my research that the dormers were unusual for the time this part of the house was built. To me, they enhance the elevation and their quirky rhythm, slightly off alignment with the door and windows below, along with the classic color palette, adds to its charm.    

The house was thoroughly renovated in 1987 with updates that preserved with great care the original materials and details, including beautiful pine flooring, exposed beams and the staircase to the second floor. The renovation included the one-story shed roofed space that projects from the rear wall of the house that augments the pleasing massing. 

The house’s delightful outdoor rooms include a deck that spans the length of the two-story addition with an exterior door to the living room. The deck’s elevation above the ground provides a better view of the water and enables one to keep an eye on young children and pets at play on the large expanse of lawn. Steps that lead down both to the lawn and to the hardscaped terrace next to the deck create a continuous flow for entertaining.

The deck blends into a stone terrace and then into a brick terrace at the kitchen wing. The perfect touch would be adding a covered breezeway from the kitchen to a new garage perpendicular to the house. 

Near the deck is one outbuilding and a fenced vegetable garden with raised beds bordering the expanse of lawn leading to the shoreline of Island Creek.  The Owner’s two dogs were my guides on my tour of the grounds and they soon engaged me in a game of toss and fetch with their fave ball as I basked in the midday sunshine. 

It is easy to be charmed by a diminutive scale and this charming small garden shed’s white walls and green accents caught my eye as I strolled the grounds and marveled at the mature trees that dot the property and provide shade. 

This turn-key horse farm includes five pastures, a protected riding ring  and this three-stall barn with a tack room.

 Since I am sports-challenged, I checked with my colleague, Alex, who told me this field is for practicing clearing the jumps spaced at the end of the field.

After my stroll around the grounds, I was eager to explore the house. The Owner opened the front door and greeted me at the foyer. The beautiful wood flooring, original stair with wood treads and railing with white treads and spindles, the lovely antique settee and the Oriental rug create a welcoming space to begin my tour. From the foyer, there is a clear vistas to the dining room and to the living  room beyond.  

The house is one-room wide so windows on both the front and rear walls provide welcome breezes and vistas to the landscape. The elegant dining room with one of the four wood-burning fireplaces is defined by the large Oriental rug and family antiques.

The spacious living room’s bright yellow walls and the vivid colors and pattern of the Oriental rug that covered most of the wood flooring sets up two conversation areas with one area grouped around another wood burning fireplace. A door leads to the deck for easy indoor-outdoor flow. The Owner shared with me that the room’s large size enabled her and her husband to set up three tables of eight for memorable dinner parties.

The family room at the corner of the original part of the house has soft sage green walls and the exposed beams below the family room’s ceiling end at the support beam that creates an open plan family-kitchen space.  With another wood burning fireplace, TV and full bookcases, it would be so easy to linger in this inviting space.  

The “L” and island arrangement is my fave layout for kitchens and the triple window overlooks the landscape. The large island with space for stools on two sides is the perfect spot for breakfast and/or informal meals. 

The “U” shaped stairs to the second floor lead to a short hall opposite a bath next to a bedroom in the original part of the house. The bedroom is tucked under the gambrel roof for delightful interior architecture from the high knee walls and sloped ceiling. Since the chimney becomes a shaft at the second level to the roof, the high windows augment the daylight provided by the two pairs of dormer windows at the front and rear walls. This spacious room easily accommodates either a king or pair of twin beds and the niches created by the dormer windows maximizes the floor space and create spaces for the chest of drawers and a writing desk.

The other rooms on the second floor are located in the two-story addition of the house. From the stair hall, I first passed through a space that could be a nursery or an office to reach the spacious primary bedroom. Pairs of windows at the front and rear walls keep the bedroom sunny throughout the day and the room’s size accommodates both sleeping and sitting areas. I am an avid reader and I wish I had space for bookcases like these, instead of the stack of books on my bedside table!

Between the primary bedroom and this primary bath is a large walk-in closet to complete the primary ensuite. There is ample space between the shower/toilet side and the lavatory/storage tower side for a couple to easily share. 

Locust Grove is a unique property in Trappe between Cambridge and Easton and its appealing blend of historic charm and 1987 updates are an irresistible combination. The bonus of twenty-two acres (including four acres of woodland) surrounded by land protected from development and eight hundred linear feet of shoreline along Island Creek creates a private and peaceful haven. 

The house is set into the site’s gently rolling topography that encourages strolling for daily exercise and the expanse of lawn dotted with mature trees for shade is a perfect play area for children and grandchildren. The outdoor rooms of the deck and terrace expand your living space. This operating and turn-key horse farm is an equestrian’s dream but if one prefers swimming for exercise, there are plans for a pool and a perc test ready to go. Truly a one of a kind property and the opportunity to be the next steward to continue the preservation of this unique part of Talbot County’s history!

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For details about this property, contact Jim Corson with Benson & Mangold Real Estate at 410-822-1415 (o), 410-310-6275, or [email protected]. For more pictures and  pricing, visit www.jimcorson.bensonandmangold.com ,“Equal Housing Opportunity”.

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

Other Photography by TruPlace, www.truplace.com ,(301) 972-3201

“Where Land and Water Intertwine, An Architectural History of Talbot County, Maryland”, by Christopher Weeks, with Contributions by Michael O. Bourne, John Frazier, Jr., Marsha L. Fritz and Geoffrey Henry

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Contributor 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 real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

As I drove along a gravel driveway lined with Loblolly trees to reach this house, I thought how fitting this tree is to the Eastern Shore, for early St. Michaels colonists boiled the resin into pitch or tar from the trees to preserve their ship riggings and wooden boats. This 4+ acre property’s Loblolly pines’ tall, straight trunks not only do not obstruct the views of Broad Creek from the house but they also provide shelter for wildlife, especially bald eagles. This house was built in 1982 and its compact footprint is nestled in a clearing among the trees. The current  Owners expanded the original single car garage to provide two car spaces and two office spaces above.

With unobstructed views through the tall tree trunks, the house’s “L” shape provides peaceful vistas of the tranquil waters of Broad Creek and captivating sunsets from the main rooms of the house. The house’s massing steps down from two-story to one and a half stories at each end, with shed dormers and room projections at the main floor that enhance the massing. The earth tones of the house’s roofing blends into the trees and the light colored siding is punctuated with multiple windows and doors to maximize the water views. 

 

   

The stone terrace wraps around the corner of the house for panoramic views of Broad Creek. Luckily, my visit occurred before the rain from Hurricane Helene and the water glistened in the sunlight. The terrace has both sitting and dining areas for relaxing outdoors after a day on the water. 

The house is zoned very well with an exterior door leading to a hall and laundry area that separates the garage/office wing from the main part of the house. The two offices provide maximum quiet from their location over the garage.

As a native Tennessean, after watching the heartbreaking news coverage of how Hurricane Helene devasted areas of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, I envied this property’s location on the highest point of land along Broad Creek and its protected shoreline.

As much as the house’s terrace’s beckoned me to linger, I soon discovered two Adirondack chairs on this mini-deck.  With south-westerly views, the chairs are front row seats for breathtaking sunsets overlooking the tranquil expanse of water of aptly named Broad Creek. I marveled at the long view of trees and water that frame the horizon line in the far distance that is Oxford’s shoreline. 

After my tour of the grounds, one of the Owners greeted me for my tour. The front door opens into a hall between the stairs and a powder room and the vista ends at the waterside living room.  The living room’s spacious size accommodates two sofas and wing chairs grouped around the wood burning fireplace. I admired the deep red sofas that complement the colors of the Oriental rug over the stone flooring. The rear wall’s triple windows and sliding doors leading to the terrace maximize the view of the water. 

The living room’s ceiling slopes up to the overlook along the second floor hall. The cap rail for the partial height wall displays the Owner’s collection of model ships. The living room’s beautiful stone floor flows into the dining room and their easy care encourages indoor-outdoor flow to the adjoining terrace.

I enjoyed this vista from the dining room to the fireplace chimney’s colorful accent wall that projects slightly into the room and the overlook’s overhang that provides lighting for the artwork below. I admired the room’s combination of antiques and comfortable upholstered pieces and the exquisite parade of model ships paused on the railing’s trim cap. I especially admired the one majestic ship that had its own place of honor on the side wall.  The Owner told me he had purchased it in Cape Cod because it was a replica of an 1850’s Clipper Ship. The Owner’s great-grandfather was a clipper chip captain who sailed many voyages across both the Atlantic and Pacific at that same time period-what a treasured memento! 

 

 

The corner location and triple window in slight side wall projection of the spacious dining area provide panoramic water views. The drop-leaf table behind one of the living room sofas can become a second table for family holidays or entertaining. The wide sliding doors open onto the terrace.

The stone flooring continues into the kitchen with its light wood cabinets, light colored countertops and stainless steel appliances. The upper cabinets rise to the underside of the ceiling with a mix of closed and glass fronted cabinets. The “L” and island arrangement, with a separate wall of cabinets for a wine cooler, glassware and a bookcase for cookbooks and display, with ample workspace for preparing family meals or entertaining, would please any cook.

The backsplash color matches the cabinet color that emphasizes the height of the room. The island’s sink and dishwasher location provides water views through the adjacent den area and long views through the dining room’s windows.

The charming den with a wide window and wide sliding doors offer more panoramic water views.  The flooring changes to wood to define the space and the interior design creates a cozy spot in which to relax. 

The primary suite is located in its own wing next to the foyer and living room. The spacious primary bedroom has a triple unit window for water views and another double-unit window facing the landscape. The room’s spacious size accommodates both sleeping and sitting areas and the pencil-point bed frame doesn’t break up the space’s volume as a wood footboard and headboard would.

The primary bath has two compartments, one with a large closet opposite the long dual lavatory cabinet with generous countertop space.  The double window at the side wall offers views of the landscape and the full mirror visually expands the space. 

The second floor of the main wing contains two bedrooms, one bath and a bonus room over the primary ensuite.  The bright walls of this waterside guest bedroom become even more golden as the sun sets over the water. The spacious size of this bedroom easily accommodates a king bed or twin beds.

Each of the two shed dormers in the garage roof defines two equally sized deep spaces and a full bath. The shed dormers create interesting interior architecture and separate the two areas from each other. A secondary stair off the hall below leads to this space currently used as a sitting room with a sofa bed for extra guests.  The triple windows offer bird’s eye views  of the water.

The other space is my dream “corner” office, with a double-unit window in the gable wall for additional sunlight. With windows on two walls, it would be easy to take a computer break to focus on the landscape or the water views. 

This four + acre unique site is located at the highest elevation of any waterfront property on the Church Neck Peninsula and its microclimate keeps the property 10 degrees cooler than St. Michaels in the summer.  The house is nestled in a clearing of tall loblolly pines for unobstructed south-westerly views of tranquil Broad Creek.  The outdoor rooms of the stone terrace and cozy deck perched above the water’s edge capture the prevailing southwesterly breezes. Along with the gentle lapping of the water against the riprapped shoreline and the scent of the pine needles that fall onto the grass, this site encourages total relaxation. 

The house’s compact footprint that is closer to the water than is allowed today; varied roof ridges, shed dormers and room projections for pleasing massing; water views from all the main rooms; spatial variety of ceiling heights; bonus rooms over the primary suite and the garage for flexible uses-all this and a connection to James Michener, who lived nearby and took breaks from writing to walk over to observe the construction of the house. Great family house or retirement home close to St. Michaels!

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For details about this property, contact Chuck Mangold, Jr., at 410-822-6665 (o), 410-924-8833 (c), or [email protected]. For more pictures and pricing, visit www.7930churchneckroad.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Jennifer Madino
Aerials by Suzanne Silverstein

Contributor 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 real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The online pictures of this house totally captivated me since the house and the guest cottage embody design features of two of my fave architectural styles, Farmhouse and Craftsman. The Owners’ nephew is an architect and they retained him to design a new home for them to resemble a farmhouse that would be a befitting complement to this peaceful rural setting. The 9.6 acre site along the Chester River near Chestertown originally contained a small cottage. The cottage was demolished down to the foundation and was reborn as the new guest house that became the weekend house for the Owners until their main house was completed.  The main house was sited in a clearing to maximize the water views and the guest house is nestled in a clearing surrounding by pine trees to maintain privacy for each house.

 

On the day of my tour, I slowly walked up to the front porch to fully appreciate the exquisite massing of the main house with its “T” shaped footprint connecting the main wing to the breezeway and the garage.  The simple geometric shape is artfully embellished with multiple gables, roof ridges that vary in height with steep shed dormers and deep eaves; one-story shed roofed spaces that project beyond the gable wings and the variety of window sizes. The Architect separated the main wing from the primary suite wing with a low-roofed connection infilled with floor-to-ceiling windows for total transparency and included imaginative details of the flared sides of the window trim and the small square attic vents arranged in a checkerboard pattern. I especially appreciated the use of wood, brick and stucco on the facades and how the thin layer of stucco over the brick walls allowed faint outlines of the brick edges to appear for texture. The finishing touch is the color palette’s earth tones of cream and taupe, accented by the texture of the corrugated tin roof.

As I walked around the main house, I discovered to my delight that each elevation has its own unique charm and the mix of solid/void spaces and sunlit shadows enliven the façade. Passing through the breezeway, I discovered the screened porch with its craftsman-styled framing enclosing the screened panels and the three-gabled roof form. The breezeway also frames views of the pool/pergola area and the charming guest house.  

 

The stunning waterside elevation shows the Architect’s skillful capture of sunlight and views of the water for every room on the main level by floor to ceiling windows in a mix of picture and operable windows with muntins. Additional windows inserted into the roof’s shed dormers and single windows tucked under the ridges of the gable projections provide additional sunlight. I especially liked the tall narrow window that enhanced the portion of the two-story wall and the terrace that wraps around the living-dining room, breakfast room and screened porch.

After savoring the elevations, I walked up stone steps to the front porch sheltered by a deep roof overhang and the one of the Owners greeted me as I was admiring the wide entry half glass, half paneled entry door. I stepped into the circulation spine with its wood floor and wood ceiling that offers vistas to both the screened porch and the primary suite at opposite ends of the house. From its nine foot ceiling height,  I stepped down into the two-story living-dining area and admired the space’s stone floors, the detailing of the front upper wall with sloped portions meeting the sills of the shed dormer windows and the music nook with its wrap-around windows whose sills were just above the height of the upright piano.  

 

 

The living room’s two-story rear wall was carefully detailed with a grid of wood framing. On the main level a wide and tall picture window is flanked by narrow doors to the covered terrace. Above, windows with mullions filter daylight from the porch’s dormer window through the living room’s upper windows. Echoing the exterior window trim, the windows’ headers have the same slanted sides. The Owner pointed out the custom metalwork framing the firebox opening and the hardware for the exterior doors. I especially liked the two curved sofas that complemented the room’s geometry and the neutral color palette with accents of the rug and pillows.   

At the dining area, the deep recessed wall opening encloses millwork with a sliding ladder for easy access to the upper shelves at the second floor.  The stylish modern light fixture above the table was a housewarming gift from the Architect to his aunt and uncle. I noticed the fixture was hung to align perfectly with the width of the tall window at the rear wall of the dining area. 

Walking through the wide wall opening to the kitchen, I looked back to admire the spatial volume of the dining-living room and the wall of windows that wrap around the corner of the living room. Through the picture window, I could see one of the giant Craftsman style brackets that support the roof over the terrace. All of the design elements and the serene color palette create a picture perfect vista.

I love galley kitchens for their lack of corner cabinets and this kitchen’s sleek design with details of the full height backsplash and accents of the stainless steel appliances pleased this cook very much. The side panels of the island gently curve to create space under the countertop for the stylish stools and the wood flooring and ceiling are different wood species for added interest.

Across the circulation space from the kitchen is a short hall connecting the mud room, laundry, powder room, breezeway and garage.

The full height windows of the breakfast room offer panoramic views of the water and create a delightful space to begin one’s day. The side door with the custom iron hardware leads to the covered area of the waterside terrace and the stone flooring flows through the terrace to connect these indoor-outdoor spaces.

The spacious screened porch adjacent to the kitchen is divided into two areas. The space next to the kitchen is a dining area with an exterior door to the rear lawn and the water. The kitchen’s pass-through window to a counter in the dining area makes it easy to serve refreshments to family and friends.  

The other area is this spacious and delightful sitting room. It is easy to detail simple vertical and horizontal supports for screened panels but the Architect was more creative with his distinctive design of framed panels with sloped sides that become giant windows to frame views of the landscape.  The Owner told me he and his wife found the craftsman styled sofa that now has a second life as a swing-I can well imagine the framing needed to support a fully loaded sofa! The pool house and pool are nearby for exercise before relaxing in the porch.

I doubled back along the circulation space to tour the private areas of the house and first discovered the study that is next to the living room. Both the front and rear walls of the study are infilled with floor to ceiling windows and/or doors. The other interior wall contains built-in millwork on either side of a fireplace with wood paneling above. The Architect exposed the wood beams and decking and specified wood for all of the other surfaces for a cohesive and cozy look. The Oriental rug defines the sitting area and reading lamps encourage sitting down with a good book. As I am an avid reader, this was my fave room!

The primary ensuite is located behind the study and the sleeping area is defined by the large Oriental rug and the slim iron pencil post frame. The wood floor flows into the adjacent sitting area, with its lower wood ceiling and floor to ceiling windows. The interior door leads to the five-piece bath and at the front of the house is a walk-in closet that spans the width of the bedroom.  

I loved how the Architect mixed floor-to-ceiling picture windows with operable windows in the sitting area for architectural interest. The two picture windows at the corner of the room join together to offer a panoramic view of the lawn and the Chester River, whose water was gently flowing on the day of my visit. 

The stairs to the second floor end at an enlarged landing leading to two bedrooms, two baths and this informal gathering space overlooking the living-dining area below. Sliding barn doors enclose a delightful nook that is just the right depth to accommodate twin beds for an extra bedroom for wee ones and the thick exterior walls creates niches in the wall for books or toys.

After touring the main house, I was eager to explore the enchanting guest house that incorporates the design details the Architect included in the main house. I was enchanted by the massing that evoked a barn and here the sliding barn doors provide protection for the tall window. Actual lengths of trees have a new life as supports for the porch roof. Since the guest house was built on the foundation of the existing cottage, it is located much closer to the water than the main house. 

The guest house’s entry door opens into an open plan living-dining-kitchen. The two-story living room has a pitched wood ceiling and the space’s focal point is the dramatic tall window with its lower picture plane without muntins to maximize the water view. Flanking the window are recessed wood built-in millwork and the furnishings are arranged to enjoy views of both the water and the fireplace opposite the front door. 

 

In the dining area, the ceiling changes to a flat surface finished in wood. The lower picture plane window is part of another tall window in the gable wall and the dining room’s notched ceiling area allows sunlight to filter into both the dining room and the loft above. Built-in wood storage closets on either side of the dining room’s window create a window seat over the HVAC  and the side wall sconces add soft lighting. I loved the touch of Gothic in the frame of the door, centered on the window in the bathroom. 

The Guest House has two shed roofed one-story rooms; one is the kitchen area of the living-dining-kitchen open plan and the other is this cozy bedroom. The wood ceiling follows the underside of the roof framing and the window trim with the flared side edge echoing the design motif of the main house. I could well imagine being a guest in this delightful space!

I don’t have enough superlative adjectives to express my deep admiration to both the Architect for his imaginative and masterful design solution for his aunt and uncle’s house and to the Builder for the highest level of construction achieved by him, his subcontractors and artisans. My selection criteria of site, architecture, interiors and landscape were met 100%+. Bravo, Bravo to the Owners for their vision and their interior design and to the design and construction team for a unique and fascinating house and guest house that have set the bar very high for future Houses of the Week!

 

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For details about this property, contact Rob Lacaze, Senior Vice President with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-745-2596 (o), 410-310-7835 (c), or [email protected] , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Architect: Purlsey Dixon Architecture Inc, www.pursleydixon.com, 704-334-6500

Builder: Joseph A. Balderson, 410-476-4676

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

 

Contributor 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 real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Sited on 5+ acres with a 327 foot natural shoreline along Plaindealing Creek, today’s featured house is nestled in a clearing surrounded by mature trees. After turning off a private tree lined road that leads to only five houses, I drove down a gravel driveway that weaved its way through the trees to arrive at this house.  Before going in for my tour, I walked around the house and admired the beautifully manicured lawn and landscaping and the waterside deep deck that spans the length of the house for 180 degree views of the water next to the heated saltwater pool. For boating enthusiasts, the private pier offers two boat lifts, three deep water slips and a large floating dock for launching one’s kayak.

The one and a half story traditional style house stretches out parallel to the water so the main rooms enjoy direct and/or indirect views of the water from the breezeway infilled with windows and sliding doors, the breakfast room’s bay window, the sunroom’s sliding doors, the primary bedroom’s bow window and the windows in the second floor shed dormer. The multi-gabled roof telescopes slightly down to break up the house’s long footprint.  Two delightful outdoor rooms of the main floor’s deep wrap-around deck and the second floor’s large deck provide panoramic views of the landscaping and water. The main floor deck blends into the concrete hardscape around the pool to easily accommodate family celebrations or large parties. The pool is also near the breezeway between the garage and the house and the full changing suite that opens onto the pool deck.

I lingered on the deck to admire the serene view across the lawn to the water from the expanse of the deck that spans across the length of the house and ends at the two-car garage. Instead of a railing that would diminish the view, a continuous bench edged with shrubbery offers both a boundary and also extra seating for entertaining. 

From the parking area, a brick walkway laid in a herringbone pattern between low plantings leads to the brick stoop up at the front door. The foyer has an indirect view of the water through the adjacent living room and sunroom and opens up to the ceiling of the second floor above the “L” shaped stairway. Above the foyer’s front wall is a dormer window that provides daylight. 

A  wall opening trimmed with molding frames the view from the foyer to the spacious dining room. The Oriental rug anchors the wood table and chairs and both the chandelier and the wall sconces offer soft lighting for dining. The chair rail offers options of adding trim to simulate paneling and/or wallpaper, to suit one’s taste. A wider wall opening to the adjacent living room offers views to the landscape and water beyond.

The living room’s blue and white palette with subtle patterns of the upholstery and the rug create an appealing space to gather around the fire. The built-in millwork next to the fireplace has both a closed cabinet for storage and open shelves for display. The rear wall of the room is totally open, broken only by columns that frame the views of the sunroom and water beyond.

The sunroom’s three sides have sliding doors that maximize views of the lawn and water. The very large room has ample space for both sitting and dining areas, and the sliding doors surrounding it create easy indoor-outdoor flow to the deck and pool area.

The large kitchen is connected to the living and dining rooms, mudroom/laundry/powder room and breezeway. The rear wall’s wide bay window creates a charming space to enjoy breakfast or informal meals with views to the water. The arrangement of the “L” shaped cabinetry and island opposite another row of cabinetry provides ample storage and work space, accented by some upper cabinets with glass fronts. The island’s black countertop breaks up the neutral color scheme and the backsplash adds texture to the space.

 

The brick walkway to the house flows through the breezeway with accents of the white vertical shiplap and stained wood ceiling for this informal space. A mix of floor to ceiling sliding doors and full sidelights at both the front and rear walls make this a four-season room and continues the easy flow between the indoor and outdoor rooms of the house.  Steps lead down to the two-car garage with stairs to attic storage.  

 

From the foyer, a pair of French doors leads to a double-loaded hall containing  the waterside primary suite and an office. Another pair of French doors leads to  the office, with a wall of built-ins and counterspace for work. From the corner desk, one has a side view of the long window overlooking the front landscaping for visual breaks from computer work.

Another pair of French doors leads to the primary bedroom.  The entire rear wall of the spacious primary bedroom has a bowed window for panoramic views of the landscaping and water. The slight pitched ceiling adds volume to the space and the white walls and ceiling reflect the sunlight. Throughout the house, I enjoyed viewing the Owner’s art collection as I did the abstract painting above the bed that complements the colors of the rug.

The five-piece primary bath is arranged very well with the tub at the rear window, the dual lavatory cabinetry with knee space for a stool, shower compartment and a toilet compartment The trio of center mirror and dual mirrored medicine cabinets becomes another “window” and reflects the art on the opposite wall. The large walk-in closet off the bedroom completes the primary suite.

At the end of the house is a huge family room. The story and a half space includes a secondary stair to the second floor bedrooms. One wall created by the vaulted ceiling has a light shelf to illuminate the tapestry and other artwork. The bright colors of the walls, rug and upholstery create a space for family relaxation around the TV and the large wood-burning fireplace. Next to the family room is a large fitness room with a steam shower/steam room.

The main stairway to the second floor ends at an enlarged landing opposite the hall bath that serves the bedrooms. If I were a lucky guest, I would choose this waterside bedroom for its door leading to a large deck. The other waterside bedroom has two skylights and French doors leading to the secondary stairs to the family room below.

 

The large deck has great “bird’s eye” views of the lower deck, pool, lawn and water below.  

Location in popular Royal Oak, 5+ acres of westerly views along a 327 foot natural shoreline along Plaindealing Creek with a private pier at 6-7′ MLW; mature trees that filter the sunlight onto the meticulously manicured grounds; delightful outdoor rooms of the second floor deck, main floor breezeway, wrap-around deck and hardscaped pool area to keep one attuned to the sights and sounds of nature; panoramic water views from all the main rooms from multiple types of windows including bay windows, bow windows and  sliding doors; spacious rooms, main floor primary suite and office; second floor bedrooms and bath; extensive storage space in the walk-in attic, great family house! 

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For more information about this property, contact Laura Carney, Senior Vice President with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-673-3344 (o), 410-310-3307 (c) or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing, visit  www.lauracarney.com ,“Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Broadview Interactive and HD Bros.

Contributor 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 real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The aerial view of this twenty acre property shows the main house that is sited along a secured shoreline shaded by mature trees along Gross Creek with the Wye River in the distance. The main house’s symmetrical wings are angled to maximize long views across and down Gross Creek. Inland vistas of abundant open space bordered by woods creates a peaceful rural setting. As I drove down the gravel driveway under a canopy of Willow Oaks, I passed by several accessory structures including a guest cottage, caretaker cottage next to a tractor shed/utility shop, greenhouse/workshop and a huge pole barn for myriad uses. As I savored the peace and quiet, it was hard to imagine I was only nine miles from downtown Easton. 

The gravel driveway leads to the house’s rear-facing two-car garage and then curves across the front of the house to loop back to the entry drive. The original house was built in 1970, and major renovations in 2018 opened up the main rooms and updated the kitchen and baths.  

The house’s center wing flanked by angled side wings reached out to welcome me. As I walked along the brick path, I admired the transition from the driveway to the front door with the low brick walls, brick and stone pavers and the low landscaping that enhances the house. I especially admired the wide and beautiful, lightly stained mahogany front door with glass panes and the color palette of white brick, black cottage style windows and light green shutters. 

The rooms along the waterside rear elevation are linked by brick paver walkways that expand to create deep terraces off the living and dining rooms. I especially appreciated how the hipped roofs disguise the length of the house’s long footprint that is also augmented by the center wing containing the living room, dining room and kitchen that projects beyond the rear walls of the side wings.

At the rear of the property, the lawn gently slopes down to the riprapped shoreline. The spacing of the tall trees provide shade without obscuring the views of the water from the outdoor spaces of the wrap-around porch.

 

How enjoyable it must be to relax in the porch’s swing or rocking chairs to contemplate the sights and sounds of nature, especially in the fall with the warmth of a wood fire in the firepit to take the chill off the evening after sunset. The easy indoor-outdoor flow from the porch to the open plan living-dining-kitchen area is great for relaxing with family or entertaining friends.

The front door opens into a hall with a direct vista between large columns that both defines the boundary between the hall to the side wings and the living-dining rooms but also frames the back to back wood burning chimneys in both rooms. I loved the wide cottage style 3/1 windows and how the low sills maximize the views of the water. The beautiful light oak floors and the light colors of the walls and ceiling reflect the sunlight and the wood wainscot adds a layer of texture to the exterior wall.  

The wood wainscoting continues around the exterior walls of the dining room and is interrupted by both sliding doors at the rear wall and a single door at the side wall for water views and access to the porch.  The oak antique sideboard stands out its white background and enhances the very pleasing eclectic look of the dining room’s wood table and white antique rattan chairs. 

Behind the living area is a spacious breakfast area against a backdrop of blue built-in millwork as an accent wall for display. Sliding doors lead to the dining area of the rear porch for one to enjoy that second cup of coffee to begin the day or to dine al-fresco. 

Behind the breakfast room is the large kitchen with a second sink in the cabinetry between the breakfast area and the kitchen’s exterior door. The room’s white cabinets with a mix of upper cabinets’ glass doors and deep wood open shelves, thinly veined white quartz countertops and the gray accents of the bar stools’ upholstery, backsplash and the stainless steel appliances would inspire any cook.

Adjacent to the kitchen is  guest ensuite with a bedroom, full bath and walk-in closet that could also be a playroom for young children, TV room or office.

I began drinking coffee in architectural school to stay awake during too many all-nighters in the design studio. This coffee bar off the hall behind the guest ensuites is a cheerful and convenient spot for espresso!

The primary bedroom is located at the end of the bedroom wing with triple and single windows at the corner for panoramic views of the water.  An exterior door to the porch is convenient for one last stroll with the family pet before bedtime. The blue and white color scheme creates a serene sleeping space.

The primary bath has great texture from the shiplap and the tile walls. Opposite the soaking tub and shower are the dual vanities and toilet that completes the efficient arrangement.

My meager closet space pales in comparison to this space that is as long as primary bedroom. Three windows provide ample daylight and the island’s countertop above cabinetry is a great spot for packing/unpacking one’s bags for travel. I also envied the dressing table by the window and the corner space that is a sauna.

Two other guest ensuites complete the bedroom wing, but I would choose this charming bedroom for the triple window overlooking the lawn and water, its blue and white color scheme, and mix of the wood pieces and the brass bedframe.

Four accessory buildings are also located on the property and this building does double duty as a greenhouse and conditioned workspace. Another accessory building is a 7,200 gsf conditioned Pole Barn at a remote area of the property.

Two of the accessory buildings are dwellings, located at an appropriate distance from the main house to provide privacy for all. This Guest House is located nearest to the primary residence and contains a waterside living room with a fireplace, a farmhouse-style kitchen, three bedrooms, one and a half baths, with updated finishes and systems. The front porch is a mini-outdoor room with water views and the swing hanging from the tall tree beckons children of all ages. The Guest House is ideal for family holidays, summer weekends or extended stays.

After touring the other accessory dwelling, the Caretaker Cottage, I made a mental note to send in a rental application to the next Owner! The cottage is located at an appropriate distance from the main house for privacy and contains a living room with a fireplace, eat-in kitchen, laundry, sunroom, three bedrooms, and two baths. 

 

Court Road Farm is a one of a kind property in a rural setting offering twenty acres of peace and privacy with water views of Gross Creek; riprapped and bulkheaded shoreline, pier with boat lift; renovated main house with low maintenance exteriors, one-level living for aging in place and open plan living-dining-breakfast area-kitchen; large windows for water views, rear waterside wrap-around porch; accessory buildings of a Guest House, Caretaker Cottage, Greenhouse/Workshop and Pole Barn; abundant open space for livestock pastures, tennis courts and/pool; location in a historic waterfowl staging area; all this and only seven miles to the Easton Airport and nine miles to downtown Easton!

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For information about this property contact Coard Benson with Benson & Mangold Real Estate at 410-770-9255 (o), 410-310-4909 (c) or [email protected].For more pictures and pricing, visit 

www.coardbenson.com/presquile, “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Jim McKee, BroadView Interactive LLC. 703-593-4392,  [email protected]

 

Contributor 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 real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

 

To visit today’s featured house, I drove along a single loaded road lined with marshes against a backdrop of dense mature trees on one side and driveways discretely leading to only seven houses nestled in the verdant landscape. After parking my car, I walked along a curved walkway of large stones edged in brick next to low shrubbery, liriope and Russian sage. Before I went up the steps to the front porch, I paused to savor the quiet and the privacy due to the groups of dense trees and mature landscaping that surround the property. 

The house is set back far from the road and its shoreline along the quiet waters of Boone Creek has a dock with a boat lift for launching one’s boat for a day on the Choptank or Tred Avon Rivers. 

 

 

The house is nestled into its site on a slight rise and I admired the very pleasing massing of the house with its multiple gables, pitched and shed roofs, the main two-story wing, the garage’s story and a half wing and the front porch that wraps around the two-story gable projection. The light sage green lap siding, light plum shutters and the gray/brown tones of the roofing are the finishing touches to this property’s great curb appeal. 

 

The exterior materials on the house and the porch are low maintenance. Giant crape myrtles and other landscaping enhance the house without blocking the views of the property from the porch. All the porch needs are rocking chairs to enjoy the long view across the deep front lawn to the marshland across the road.

 

The rear elevation opens up to the water with a screened porch behind the garage wing, triple windows at the breakfast room, pairs of sliding doors at the family room and a two wide and long windows at the primary suite.  I especially liked the second floor’s small accent windows that I later discovered on my tour of the house’s interior cast sunlight into a hall to the bedrooms on the second floor.

The spacious brick terrace’s graceful arc reaches out to the expansive rear lawn to create a delightful outdoor room for relaxing with family or friends. Steps leading to the screened porch and sliding doors to the family room create easy indoor-outdoor flow.

 

From the terrace, the deep rear yard ends at the shoreline of Boone Creek and a pier for launching a boat for an afternoon on the water. The houses across the Creek are hidden by trees to create a peaceful view from this house’s terrace.

The front door opens into the foyer with the “L” shaped stairs to the second floor ending at an overlook to the foyer from the hall above. Daylight streams into the foyer from the side window and the upper hall’s high windows. When I admired the beautiful flooring that flows through the house, the Owner explained its provenance. When they lived in New Jersey, two storms in the 1990’s took down various trees on their property. The Owners had the trees cut down into lengths for flooring that now enhances this house with ash, locust, sycamore and white oak flooring! 

 

The foyer’s clear vista through to the rear wall of the spacious family room, the landscape and water beyond  beckoned me to explore that room first.  The focal point of the room is the exquisite custom made fireplace surround with mixed colors and grains of woods, double doors to conceal the TV and single doors to contain DVD’s, etc. On either side of the fireplace, pairs of sliding doors leads to steps down to the terrace. Since the family room is a single story room, the sloped ceiling follows the underside of the roof rafters to add volume to the space and to reflect the light.

The large dining room is located between the foyer and the kitchen. I admired the mix of antiques and more recent pieces and I especially liked the design of the chairs and the oak sideboard with the mirror and the upper shelf supports. The wide and long windows overlook the front yard and break up the deep teal wainscot that inspired the choices of artwork.

The large kitchen’s arrangement of an “L” with an island and another row of cabinetry has ample work and storage space. Most of the upper cabinets have glass fronts for transparency. The neutral colored cabinets, stainless steel appliances and the accent of the island’s dark finish set the stage for cooking with family and friends.  

The long island provides more prep space and accommodates both stools and chairs for informal meals. The wide wall opening is open to the adjacent breakfast room and the door in the corner of the room leads both to a large pantry/mud room and the two-car garage. 

 

I loved the bright apricot color of the charming breakfast room’s walls, the lovely oval table and chairs with spindle backs anchored by the large rug. To me, this would be a perfect dining room with its large triple window for views of the landscape and water beyond. The French door leads to the screened porch for warm weather dining.

I am writing this article on my narrow screened porch and I envied this delightful outdoor room’s width that easily accommodate both seating and dining areas overlooking the lawn and the water.

 

The corner of the screened porch has a panoramic view of the landscaping through the wide and tall screened panels. How easy  it would be to sink into one of the cushioned rattan chairs to read a book on a Sunday afternoon!

The original living room was converted into a spacious primary bedroom with two windows at the front wall and the triple window unit at the rear wall bringing in abundant sunlight and views.

The large primary bath has space for both the dual lavatory wood cabinet and a chest of drawers. The side wall of the bath contains the toilet and tub/shower unit. The dual lavatory cabinet has shared drawers for storage and surface mounted mirrored medicine cabinets. The pair of doors leads to the large walk-in closet.

If I were a lucky guest, I would claim this charming bedroom with its gambrel shaped ceiling formed by the gable wall. The light pink walls, patterned rug, wood post bedframe, white coverlet and quilt, along the wood accents of the bedframe, chair and table and the wood armoire create a serene space for sleeping. This bedroom shares a hall bath with the other three bedrooms, one of which is currently used as an office but it could also be a great playroom for children or teen gathering space.

 

Another guest room is an ensuite with light aqua walls, wood furnishings and quilt whose colorful pattern picks up the colors in the Oriental rug. The two windows overlook the front lawn for a bird’s eye view of the house’s pastoral setting.

Great location on tranquil Boone Creek leading to the Tred Avon and Choptank Rivers and Oxford’s many amenities. Deep lot surrounded by woods and enhanced by mature, meticulously maintained landscaping and outdoor rooms of the front porch, rear screened porch and terrace for easy indoor-outdoor flow among rooms. Main floor primary ensuite, five total bedrooms and three and a half baths; beautiful wood floors, ceiling heights that vary from flat to sloped to gambrel shapes. The two-car garage has stairway access to storage above and there is a Bilco door to access the concrete floored crawl space underneath the house.  If one wanted both a main floor ensuite and a living room in addition to the waterside family room, the charming breakfast room could become the dining room and the dining room could become the living room. 

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For more information about this property, contact Henry Hale with Benson  Mangold Real Estate at 410-226-0111 (o),  410-829-3777 (c) or [email protected].  For more pictures and pricing, visit www.henryhale.bensonandmangold.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

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

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Contributor 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 real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

It is always a pleasure to feature a property that I know well.  I have enjoyed  attending parties and other events at “Dunrovin”, hosted by the gracious and fun couple who have become treasured friends. This property combines the best of both worlds; privacy in a pastoral setting of a small neighborhood with large lots, with the convenience of being minutes away from the airport, Highway 50 or Easton’s amenities. 

The 11-acre site is bordered by the tree-lined entry road to the neighborhood and thick woods at the rear of the property. The meandering gravel driveway leads up to guest parking spaces, continues past a fenced flower garden to end at the side entry garage. The white Colonial/Cape Cod style house stands out against its backdrop of mature trees and large expanse of meticulously cared for lawns. In the distance, the two-stall horse barn and white fencing reinforces the Eastern Shore vernacular of this special place.

The wings of the multi-gabled house are offset and the end gable garage wing overlooks a large paved area for additional parking. At the edge of the paving is a small outbuilding that once was the domain of previous Owners’ dogs. With the fenced kitchen garden next to it, the building would also be a gardener’s dream potting shed. Next to the outbuilding is a cleared sunny area that would be perfect for a pool. I could well imagine a terrace with a pergola covered in wisteria or other flowering vines to provide shade for swimmers, after a dip in the pool, to relax and enjoy the long pastoral vista to the barn. 

The horse barn contains everything an equestrian would require-a spacious and finished tack room, turnouts, wash stall, hayloft with a pull-down stair and a reverse osmosis water system. The large fenced pastures provide ample grazing and room for horses to roam. If one is not equestrian inclined, the barn could become a great workshop or artist’s studio. 

Multiple gables of the house telescope down to break up the massing with the last gable of the garage facing forward for additional architectural interest. The symmetry of the main wing’s centered entry door between pairs of long and wide windows below single dormer windows is classic and the light aqua door represents growth and strength in Feng Shui. The offset in the wings creates a kitchen garden with an exterior door to the secondary entry leading to the kitchen.

The side of the house reveals my fave room, the spacious porch that spans across the rear of the main wing. It is a delightful outdoor room in late fall evenings for conversation by the warmth of the fire.

In summer, the porch is shaded by pairs of towering crape myrtles  that flank a paved path from the porch to a terrace. Recently, I sat on the terrace with my friends in late afternoon and savored both the waning sunlight and the refreshing breeze filtering through the crape myrtles.  

The free-standing brick fireplace floats above the side edge of the spacious porch and the height of the porch above the ground gives a bird’s eye perspective view to the hardscape terrace enveloped by its canopy of trees and  borders of manicured boxwood and shade loving hostas. 

Over time, the branches of the four trees planted at the corners of the space have grown toward each other to become a canopy of foliage. The hardscape mix of both pebbles and smooth stone pavers and the grouping of rattan chairs and table creates a wonderful open space for relaxing with family and friends while enjoying the pastoral views.

The front door opens to a spacious foyer with vistas to the dining room and the living room’s wall of windows to the porch and landscape beyond. Wall openings of different sizes frame views of the contemporary furnishings and outstanding artwork collection that stand out against the neutral colored walls. The absence of rugs enable the wood floors to flow through the house without interruption and make the spaces seem larger. 

The curves of the round coffee table  and the sofa set on a diagonal are a soft counterpoint to the angles of the room. The neutral colors enable the black grand piano with its background of artwork to be the focal point of the sitting area.

The living room’s built-in lighted millwork displays some of the Owners’ collection of ceramics and sculpture. Next to the millwork is the main stair to the second floor. The window wall of paired doors and transoms open up the room to the porch and landscape beyond and the walled opening behind the piano leads to the open plan kitchen-family room.

The gourmet kitchen arrangement has my fave “L” and island layout, and the lower counter at the end of the island is the perfect spot for breakfast. The neutral palette of the white cabinetry, quartz countertops, and stainless steel appliances is very pleasing and the cooktop, double ovens and wine fridge make entertaining easy.

Beyond the kitchen is a large secondary foyer with brick flooring that is convenient for caterers to service large parties. At the end of the foyer is a full bath, a door to the garage and stairs to the office area above the garage.

Behind the kitchen is a convenient multi-purpose room containing  a workspace, pantry and laundry.

 

Opposite the kitchen is the cozy sitting room with the pair of glass doors to the porch and the single windows between the fireplace offering panoramic views of the landscape . The large multicolored Oriental rug defines the seating area with deep and comfortable chairs and sofa for settling in for an evening of watching TV. 

The sumptuous primary suite spans the full depth of the house with the bedroom’s wall of doors and windows next to the porch. The light blue walls punctuated by the white plantation shutters create a restful retreat, accented by the large Oriental rug in deep colors and the artwork over the bed.

I coveted the primary dressing room with ample hanging space, open shelving  and the island cabinetry for storage. Since the couple travel frequently, the countertop over the cabinetry is the perfect space for laying down one’s suitcase to pack or unpack.

The focal point of the large primary bath is the large window for sunlight to filter through the glass block pattern for maximum privacy  and the front glass wall of the shower continues the transparency.  Opposite the shower are dual lavatories and a toilet compartment.

Many houses have rooms that could be offices or bedrooms but this office that is located above the garage is a “corner” office fit for an executive. The spacious room contains both a workspace with Barcelona chairs as well as a large sitting area for informal meetings. Windows at the front and rear gable walls and two dormer windows on either side of the fireplace bring sunlight in throughout the day.  Part of the high knee wall is covered in white wainscoting around the fireplace to break up the blue expanse and reflect the light.  

The rest of the second floor contains two additional bedrooms with a Jack-and-Jill bath and a large climate-controlled room.  

This exquisite property offers an ideal location close to the airport, Route 50 and the amenities of Easton with the privacy and tranquility of eleven acres in a small neighborhood of large lots. Classic and very appealing Cape Cod architecture, great floor plan with minimal halls for easy flow among rooms and outdoor spaces of the covered porch and hardscaped terrace; main floor with a sumptuous primary suite, second floor with two guest rooms and a spacious executive office. For the garden enthusiast there is both a flower garden and an herb garden with shed. The two-stall horse barn with fenced pasture would please any equestrian but it also offers myriad other uses such as a workshop, artist’s studio, etc. A great home for a family! 

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For more information about this property, contact Monica Penwell, Realtor with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-745-2596 (o), 410- 310-0225 (c), or [email protected] . For more pictures and pricing, visit monicapenwell.sothebysrealty.com “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

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

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Contributor 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 real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

It is hard for me to believe, but today marks the eighth anniversary of the debut of House of the Week. I chose August 29th to honor my mother, who had wanted to be an architect. She encouraged my interest in art and design and lived vicariously through my choice of profession culminating in her visiting me in my own architectural firm in Knoxville, TN. 

 

 

Like the first HOTW, today’s feature’s architectural style is another homage to a bungalow, one of my fave house styles.  The three-bay, story-and-a-half house with a sunroom on one side combines the “jerkinhead” roof profile (gable roof with hipped and truncated ends) with a graceful Georgian Revival portico over the front door. I loved the exquisite symmetry of the main wing and the portico’s detailing with its columns, articulated beams, moldings, curved ceiling, fanlight transom and sidelights-sheer perfection!

 

 

The wide brick porch spans across the length of the house and the color palette of the red brick of the exposed foundation wall, porch, chimney, sidewalk and driveway, the large 9/1 windows, white lap siding and trim, along with massing and landscaping create great curb appeal. The location in the West End of Cambridge’s Historic District is also quite appealing- just three blocks to the Choptank River and five blocks to the heart of Downtown.  

 

 

The brick driveway ends at concrete paving in front of the two-car garage. An exterior door leads to the full basement with windows for daylighting the four rooms of utility areas and storage. Brick steps lead up to the family room that was probably an addition. This was confirmed when I later saw a recessed space the size of the house’s windows in the wall of the bedroom next to the family room. The space now has a clever use as built-in shelving. 

 

 

Between the house and the garage, the concrete paving extends beyond the edge of the garage to create a sitting/dining area framing the view of the fenced rear yard’s landscaping.

 

 

The white fencing adds an accent color and texture with its vertical boards and lattice that stands out against the green backdrop of mature trees and shrubbery.  One can relax on the bench under the shade of the giant trees, settle into one of the Adirondack chairs to bask in the sun or enjoy al-fresco seasonal meals on the terrace.

 

 

The side yard’s planting bed is edged in brick, and the blue umbrella over the entrance to the chicken coop and the majestic crape myrtle add splashes of color. The cozy sunroom’s wrap-around windows offer panaromic views of the landscape.

 

 

The front door opens into the living room with arched openings on the side walls aligned in both the adjacent sitting room and the sunroom. I noted how the mirror on the wall catches the image of the sunroom’s arched opening and windows. The soothing light aqua walls, deeper blue swag window treatments, wood floors, and the large double unit window create a warm and inviting room. I always enjoyed my past homes that had covers over the radiant heating units became a piece of furniture as they do here. 

 

 

The cozy sunroom is a combination music room, office area, and mini conservatory with a Queen Anne table and chair for working on a laptop. Pots of flowers on top of the radiator cover add seasonal color. 

 

 

My fave room is the sitting room adjacent to the living room that continues the living room’s interior design of aqua walls, wood floor and swag window treatments. The large double-unit window adds ample sunlight and the wood-burning fireplace is the focal point, on axis with the arched openings in the living room and the sunroom walls. The soft colors of the upholstered pieces and the subtle colors of the rug encourage putting one’s feet up on the ottoman to binge watch TV by the warmth of the fire on a winter’s day. 

 

 

Another arched opening frames the dining room view from the sitting room. The dining room has a Chippendale theme from the chairs and table that are centered in the room and the detail of the corner built-in cabinet tops. The red pattern of the window treatment and the table runner add colorful accents to  this elegant room.

 

 

The kitchen’s bold, bright blue and white color scheme is quite appealing. I especially liked the detailing of the island’s end panel, the geometric blue and white wallpaper and the backlighted glass doors of the free-standing upper cabinets that add a layer of transparency. The white surfaces of the cabinetry, countertops and the stainless steel appliances stand out against the wood floors.  Another arched opening to the rear nook might have been an original breakfast area but is now the domain of the family pet, located conveniently next to the steps down to the exterior door to the patio and yard. The slim pair of French doors with fabric covering hide the pantry shelves.

 

 

From the front door, there is a direct line of sight down a double loaded hall past the dining room and kitchen on one side opposite two bedrooms and a bath. The vista ends at a pair of French doors to the family room overlooking the rear yard’s landscaping. The picture molding offers flexibility for hanging artwork and the colorful and casual furnishings set the scene for a relaxing evening. At the other side of the room are the stairs to the second floor.

 

 

Even though there is a primary suite on the second floor, this bedroom on the main floor appeals to me more for its triple unit window overlooking the side yard, beautiful wood floors, Craftsman style wood headboard and the neutral color scheme. 

 

 

The bonus of sleeping on the first floor is this exquisite bath with white trimmed wainscot, light blue and white wallpaper, white vanity top and tiled shower with a deep recessed shelf, and the pattern of the black and white tile flooring that is perfectly scaled to the room’s size.  I especially liked how the lovely framed mirror reflects the artwork on the opposite wall.

 

 

The stairs to the second-floor end at an enlarged landing that could become an office area. One door off the hall leads to a long cedar-lined closet opposite the door to the hall bath. The hall ends at two bedrooms that are almost identical in size. Both have double-unit windows in the side gable walls of the house.This spacious primary bedroom has high knee walls that easily accommodate a bed’s headboard. 

The street on which this house is located has a rich history; the property is one part of the original fifty-three acres of Oakley Farm purchased by William Hopkins in 1878. Hopkins and his son W.D. Hopkins either sold or gifted almost all of the fifty-three acres over the next forty years. This charming house was built in the late 1920’s for R. Leland Insley on two parcels purchased from the daughters of W.D. Hopkins.  

Great location and curb appeal, charming architectural style, large windows for abundant sunshine, original details of many graceful arched openings, moldings, and millwork that have been thoughtfully preserved during updates to the house, outdoor rooms of the full front porch and the concrete terrace and fenced rear yard all create a charming property that is move-in ready-– just three blocks to the Choptank River and five blocks to the heart of Downtown Cambridge. Bravo to the Owners for their vision and interior design!

Once again, many thanks to the Owners and Realtors who have enabled me to feature such exquisite properties as this one over the past year; I am also very grateful to my readers!

 

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For more information about this property, contact Gary Marquardt at Long and Foster Real Estate Company at 410-820-7707 (o), 410-725-6238 (c) or [email protected] , “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

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

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Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has re-established her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoon.

Aurora Street in Easton’s Historic District is a treasure trove for me when I am seeking a House of the Week. I drive along the street frequently and make mental notes of properties I hope to feature, so I was very pleased when I saw this house listed in the MLS. Three of the houses I have called home were either Craftsman or American Four-Squares, and this house combines the best characteristics of both styles- compact square floor plan with minimal halls that maximizes room sizes; usually four rooms/floor; full front porch; symmetry of the front door and window arrangement; shed dormers and shake siding. Add a highly desirable corner lot, mature trees, shrubbery for privacy, nearby Idlewild Park and you have the definition of curb appeal!

The three-bay front porch creates a wonderful cozy enclosure with the multicolored striped fabric awning for privacy from the street. The corner supports, beam and walls clad in light gray/green shake siding, paired with the white railing, large columns, ceiling and trim, creates an outdoor sitting room for relaxation and interaction with neighbors.   

 

On the day of my tour, I walked up five brick steps to reach the front porch and appreciated the privacy the floor height allows. The depth of the front porch provides ample space for chairs and circulation, unlike newer houses I have seen with shallow porches that make passing someone who is seated rather challenging. I especially liked the vertical muntins on the upper panes of the double-hung windows and the stylish iron container for firewood that is positioned for quick access to the living room’s fireplace. 

The front door opens into a spacious foyer because the stairs are located at the side exterior wall. The beautiful wood floors and soft yellow walls accented with white trim flow between the foyer and the living room. The foyer’s antique hall tree is a perfect touch for a visitor’s coat or umbrella and I learned from the Owners that the hall tree was actually a cleverly repurposed paneled door with the addition of a cabinet and upper shelf.  

One of my fave distinguishing features of Craftsman houses is the use of partial height walls instead of full walls to define walls between rooms.  Here a dividing wall is detailed with a support beam with trim resting on short tapered upper columns and lower paneled walls to create a wide opening to connect the foyer and the living room.

The foyer’s wide wall opening frames the beautiful living room with its two exterior walls infilled with large windows of vertical upper panes and lower picture panes for clear views of the neighborhood when one is seated. The triple windows overlooking the front porch and the single windows on either side of the fireplace give the space a light and airy feeling. I also admired the color scheme’s earth tones, especially the deep brown club chairs. Being an avid reader, I could easily imagine sinking into one chair on a cold winter’s evening and savoring the warmth and scent of a wood fire while I read a book. 

Another wide wall opening leads from the living room to the dining room with a double-unit window for daylight. I loved the wide corner cabinet filled with serving pieces; red is the color of celebration and the red walls highlight the white cabinet so it becomes the focal point of the room. The wood trestle table and chairs, another repurposed piece, the Oriental rug and the period chandelier create an inviting space for family meals and celebrations.

On Friday and Saturday afternoons, I host wine tastings at the Piazza Italian Market so I was very pleased to see the wooden wine boxes beneath the windows that indicate fellow wine enthusiasts.  I also liked the detail of the slim white chair rail positioned at the same level as one of the horizontal muntins of the French doors that lead to the family room at the rear of the house.

  The spacious family room was an addition and the wide double-unit windows at the corner walls offer panoramic views of the streetscape. The sage green walls and the peach sheers are soothing colors for relaxation. I love an eclectic look for interiors and here the boxy gray sofa and the modern white TV stand are softened by the warmth of the wood bar and the wood table doing dual duty as a sofa table. When I admired the stylish wood pieces, the Owners told me both were actually repurposed antique Italian work benches they acquired when they lived in Italy.

At one exterior corner of the family room is a powder room, closet and exterior door to a deck overlooking the rear yard. 

Beyond the foyer’s “L” shaped stair and a short hall is the kitchen that is also connected to both the dining and family rooms. The kitchen’s “L” shaped arrangement opposite the other cabinetry with the gas range works well and with a few cosmetic changes to suit one’s taste, this kitchen could be updated with new cabinet doors, hardware and countertop to please any cook. Since the kitchen is located in the original part of the house, perhaps the sheet vinyl flooring was laid over the original wood floors like it was in one of my former houses-so it could be removed and the floors refinished to match the rest of the house. 

The primary ensuite is located over the entire addition and contains a spacious  bedroom, large walk-in closet and compartmentalized bathroom. The rear window matches the original windows in the house but the shorter triple windows over the bed could easily accommodate a high headboard. The blue tones of the wall, bedding and Oriental rug create a restful retreat.   

 

The primary bath has two compartments with sage green walls with a pocket door connecting them for easy back and forth flow. The wood floors and darker wood cabinetry in the lavatory area contrast with the tiled floor in the shower and toilet compartment. The exterior window is centered on the door between the two compartments to provide indirect light to the lavatory area and the wide mirror above the lavatory cabinet becomes another “window” to expand the space.

In the original part of the house are three other bedrooms, a hall bath, laundry and stairs to the third floor attic. This is the largest of the three bedrooms and  the chimney of the living room below separate the sleeping area from the homework area. The double chest of drawers provides ample storage underneath the window. Seeing the black and white checkerboard coverlet reminded me of one of my fave childhood books, “The Land of Counterpane” a four stanza poem by Robert Louis Stevenson about how a creative child made his counterpane (bedspread) a magical land… 

“When I was sick and lay a-bed,
I had two pillows for my head,
And all my toys beside me lay,
To keep me happy all the day.

And sometimes for an hour or so,
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bedclothes, through the hills;

And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.

I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill,
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.

The third floor attic offers myriad possibilities since the HVAC was wisely located at the perimeter of the space as much as possible to maximize the useable floor area and headroom. There are three rooms in the attic and the two with windows at each gable end could become one large space for a playroom, teen gathering space, studio, etc., with the windowless third room for storage. There is also additional storage space in the basement.

Desirable corner lot in the heart of Easton’s Historic District, rear yard outlined by a tall hedge and rose bushes, outbuilding for yard maintenance, charming American Four-Square/Craftsman architecture, outdoor rooms of the full front porch and the wrap-around rear deck, compact floor plan with minimal halls for maximum room sizes and easy flow, wood floored attic for myriad uses, basement with both interior and exterior access, many original details that have been well maintained including the beautiful pine flooring, Craftsman columns, wood corner guards, dining room built-in corner cabinet, interior French doors- great family home!  

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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]

The Land of Counterpane” by Robert Louis Stevenson; this poem is in the public domain.