Habitat House of the Week

House of the Week: Contemporary Classic

October 6, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

Although Kent County has many historic houses whose designs have inspired my past articles, as an architect, it is always a special pleasure to feature a modern or contemporary design. When I drove up to tour today’s featured house, I passed by a picturesque older property named Fairgale Farms. I later learned that the owners of Fairgale Farms had retained the award winning New York City firm of Span Architecture LLC to design them a contemporary house for one of waterfront lots in the neighborhood of Fairgale Farm Estates on Fairlee Creek. The owners later decided to gift the house to their daughter.

The aerial view shows the topography of the lot sloping to the water and how the plan of the “L” shaped house evolved into a lower level with a front full retaining wall and side walls that follow the natural grade to the rear full height rooms below the main level. The front elevation’s light gray stucco walls inset with windows and light colored metal roofs contrasts dramatically to the rear elevation’s full height glass walls to maximize the water views. The wise choice of stucco made the later addition of the second primary suite seamless. Multiple roof planes from the pitched roof of the two-car garage, the lower front and higher rear roofs that intersect to create a clerestory along the circulation path, the hierarchy of the clerestory above the living room and the box bays that project from the main form break out of the box create lively massing.

The main floor plan rooms are organized along a continuous path between the two primary suites at each end of the house to create a series of pavilions. The primary suites are “bookends” between the kitchen and study at the front of the house opposite the living and dining rooms at the rear of the house. I planned my visit for a sunny day and when the listing agent opened the front door, I stood in the middle of the circulation hall to savor the vistas and the play of light and shadow on the white walls throughout the house from the windows, full height window walls, transoms, skylights above the stairwells and clerestories.

The circulation hall’s exposed ceiling rafters and decking flows into the dining room and extends over the stairwell into the living room below the skylight above. My favorite room is the stunning living room with its three-bay rear wall of glass and white side walls that follow the slope of the roof to reflect the light. Two seating groups, one around the massive Rumford fireplace and the other at the rear wall of glass with sliding doors at each side to access the deck that spans the full length of the house make this a great entertaining space. My favorite detail is the wall between the living and dining rooms with an inset vertical grid for books and display that begins at the lower level and rises up the wall to the underside of the exposed ceiling grid under the skylight. The top shelf of the grid aligns with the top of the stairwell railing with a cut-out above for views from the dining room chairs to the living room – pure genius!

The kitchen’s “L” shape and peninsula with bar stools is open to the circulation hall for views to the rear glass walls of the dining room and the landscape beyond. The juxtaposition of the sleek wall of floor to ceiling cabinetry on one leg of the “L” with the front wall’s double window and transoms above the kitchen sink to the underside of the ceiling with a wall for art is striking.

The original primary suite’s rear wall is infilled with glass sliding doors to the deck with its minimalist detailing for maximum views, built-in millwork and the sumptuous bath. The bath is beautifully detailed with tile floors that continue up the wall as a wainscot, glass walls that enclose the large shower and a Jacuzzi tub opposite the wood wall mounted shelf with stainless steel lavatories encased in wood. A double window at the corner and transoms above provide light and the double window over the tub is reflected in the mirror over the lavatories.

As tempting as this suite is, at the other end of the circulation hall is a delightful study that is a preamble to the second primary suite. The study’s built-in millwork, windows that wrap around the corners of the box bay that projects from the house’s front wall with transoms above and the full height interior glass wall at the hall create a very appealing space for work. The addition’s sumptuous primary suite has a rear wall of glass panels whose center door panels slide to each side to frame the view of the cozy deck with a table a deux for morning coffee or a nightcap. The deck’s solid side walls provide privacy and the cable handrail disappears into the landscape. At the corner of the side wall is another wide window overlooking the stairwell below.

The lower level contains guest suites and the former enclosed pool area at the corner of the house is now a spacious sunroom with outdoor rattan furnishings that would be a welcome respite from the sun if an outdoor pool were added. Window walls of wide fixed windows and awning transoms provide natural ventilation. The perimeter of the main floor deck creates various depths of shaded rooms at the lower level including one deep recessed area set up with a table and eight chairs for dining al-fresco.

As I reluctantly left this exquisite house, my last view was of the loft ledge above the main entry door with a telescope for watching daytime wildlife on the water or scanning the night sky. A+ architecture and interiors filled with light, very livable floor plan, imaginative details, waterfront site with room for a pool-who could ask for anything more?

For more information about this property, contact Casey Scattergood with Cross Street Realtors at 410-778-3779 (o), 201-312-1230 (c),or casey@csrealtors.com. For more photographs and pricing visit www.csrealtors.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Architecture by Span Architecture LLC, www.span-ny.com, 212-732-7012, Peter Pelsinski, Principal

Spy House of the Week is an ongoing series that selects a different home each week. The Spy’s Habitat editor Jennifer Martella makes these selections based exclusively on her experience as a architect.

Jennifer Martella has pursued her dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. Her award winning work has ranged from revitalization projects to a collaboration with the Maya Lin Studio for the Children’s Defense Fund’s corporate retreat in her home state of Tennessee.

House of the Week: Chester River Post and Beam

September 28, 2021 by Dave Wheelan Leave a Comment

I have passed by today’s featured house many times whenever I visited two very close friends who live on the same street. The neighborhood is down river from Chestertown on the Queen Anne County side. Nearby is the 110 acre Roundtop Park located at the head of the Rosin Creek off the Chester River, offering a playground, courts for basketball and tennis, several athletic fields and picnic areas with grills close to a pavilion. The aerial photos show the house surrounded by dense mature trees and the pastoral setting of farmland across the river. Two Adirondack chairs are strategically placed at the pier for the broad views of the river with outbuildings on the other side of the river appearing to be tiny sheds.

Going up the driveway, the view of the “L” shaped house is a framed by a towering tree at the corner of the garage with a glimpse of the river beyond. The post and beam house has a hipped roof and the attached garage has a gambrel roof with flared eaves. Steps lead up to the front door with a hipped roof overhead. The floor plan works very well with the “service” areas of stairs, kitchen and bath at the front and the living room, dining room and a bedroom at the rear for water views. The living room projects beyond the rear wall to provide space at the corner for a French door to access the deck that spans across the length of the house. Continuous steps wrap around the deck’s perimeter leading to the lawn and one corner of the deck has a railing that extends down one side of the steps for safety. At the second floor, the flooring for another deck off the primary suite becomes a porch for part of the main deck below. As appealing as the decks are, my favorite outdoor room is the brick terrace high above the river with light filtering in from the trees above and the seating group around a circular table for an alfresco lunch and relaxing conversation. The steps nearby lead down to the pier below.

The roof over the living room’s projection slopes down from the main roof to create a dramatic interior. Stained wood defines the post and beam frame with the stained decking ceiling above. Stained posts create bays around the rear of the room containing long windows or sliding doors with transoms above for views of the landscape and water beyond with the stone surround of the fireplace and the stained wood mantel for texture. The living room is open to the one-story dining area, tucked under the second floor above. The wide double window at the rear wall of the dining area has views to the water for a totally transparent space. The drop-leaf table is a great solution for an open plan space that can accommodate a family evening meal or can be extended for holiday celebrations. The galley kitchen has the sink wall of cabinets facing the rear wall for views with bar stools for breakfast or a quick snack. The main floor corner bedroom has double windows at the rear wall under the framing of the upper deck above for the views of the landscape and water. Additional windows at the side provide direct sunlight.

The “U” shaped stairs with its wood open railing overlooks the living room below and lead both to the basement under the footprint of the house and to the upper floor that contains the primary suite. At the stair landing is the door to the storage over the garage that could become a third bedroom. The second floor landing opens up to create a cozy secondary TV watching area and space for a home office with a handrail overlooking the living room below. The corner primary bedroom has delightful interior architecture from the intersection of the hipped roof with the same exposed stained wood decking ceiling throughout the house. Windows on two walls flood the space with sunlight and the sliding doors between the rear windows lead to the spacious deck for a bird’s eye view of the landscape and the river.

This wooded waterfront property offers privacy and a great sequence of outdoor rooms from the decks to the brick waterside terrace and down the steps to the pier. All of the main rooms have water views and the spaces flow into each other with minimum hall space. I loved how the wood ceiling and floors give the spaces character and warmth accentuated by the multiple windows that bring sunlight throughout the day. Great tranquil location on the Chester River yet close to Chestertown’s Historic District amenities.

For more information about this property contact Lynn Hilfiker with Gunther McClary Real Estate at 410-639-2118 (o), 443-480-1163 (c) or lynnhilfiker@gmail.com. For more photographs and pricing visit www.rockhallrealestate.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

House of the Week: Widehall

September 14, 2021 by Jennifer Martella 2 Comments

“Widehall” was built in 1769 on the Chester River at a time when Chestertown vied with Annapolis as an important port. Through the years, many prominent people called “Widehall” home. The builder and original owner, Thomas Smythe, was one of the wealthiest men of that time due to his being a merchant, shipbuilder and shipowner who traded with the British West Indies. He also became Head of the State’s provisional government and served in this office until 1776. In 1782, after service to Washington Collage as a founder and benefactor, he was appointed its first Treasurer. Other well-known owners were Robert Wright, Governor of Maryland between 1806 and 1809 and Ezekiel Chambers, State and United States Senator and Judge of the Court of Appeals.

Built on a high stone basement, the house’s many noteworthy details begin at the street. Two short flights of sandstone steps, interrupted by a sandstone terrace, lead up to the front door. In front of the landing, the stone retaining wall with brick piers capped by stone finials were once part of an original “claire-voie” (open-work gate or grille for a vista to the landscape beyond). Two towering trees next to the end piers frame the front of the house.

“Widehall” is one of the largest five-bay brick Georgian style houses along the Chester River and its corner location off High Street provides additional prominence. Its exterior color palette of red brick with white window frames, trim, superimposed keystones at the window headers, roof dormers and the Widow’s Walk railing is classic. The front door is centered in the middle bay, surrounded by a Doric style architrave supporting a full pediment with fluted columns below. The windows have twelve-over-twelve sashes whose louvered shutters were added later. In the 1910 restoration, both the two-stored kitchen wing on the northeast side and the magnificent waterside Ionic two-story portico that spans the full length of the house were added.

The compact floor plan has four rooms off the center hall for easy flow among the rooms. The front door opens to the center hall with arched molded openings to the stair hall opposite the front parlor’s deep wall opening with double pilasters. Another smaller arched opening leads to the hall past the dining room opposite the rear parlor and to the exterior door at the main level portico. The interior color palette of creamy white plaster walls, beautiful wood floors with the crown dentil and arched moldings painted a deep blue green with deep blue bases is striking. Each of the four rooms has a different cornice detail including one design’s alternating courses of dentils and beading. Throughout the main floor, the rooms are furnished with period pieces and other antiques.

In the stair hall, the staircase cantilevers from the wall as it gracefully ascends around three walls to the second floor. The six-inch stair risers, railing, fluted newels, wall pilasters and turned balusters are all crafted from mahogany. I could well imagine being greeted by the Owners as I arrived for an elegant party or fundraiser and being serenaded by a musician playing Cole Porter tunes on the grand piano.

The front and rear parlors are mirror images of each other with back to back fireplaces and above the front parlor’s mantel is a portrait of George Washington. Both rooms are detailed with broken pedimented headers over the wall openings to the center hall and the deep wall openings between the chimneys are clad in panels at the top and sides of the openings.

The moldings in the formal dining room are painted a warm mocha and flanking the fireplace are floor to ceiling built-in china cupboards with a clever detail of two drawers intersecting the paneled wainscot around the room. The period chandelier and the antique table and chairs set the scene for a memorable repast.
Between the dining room and the kitchen is the well equipped butler pantry with built in cupboards, some with glass fronts and a porcelain enamel sink with an integral drainboard. The deep exterior wall ledge at the window above the sink is a perfect spot for flowering plants or herbs to flourish.

When I spoke with one of the Owners, I told him I love to cook and he said the kitchen is one of their favorite rooms. How could a cook not enjoy the white cabinets with bases to resemble furniture, upper glass fronted cabinets for display, dark countertops for contrast, the recessed nook for the stainless steel gourmet stove, and the island furniture piece with a painted lilac base and a granite top. The kitchen is open to charming breakfast room with wrap-around windows for views to the landscape and water beyond. Between the kitchen and the stair hall is a service stair and powder room. I had noticed several appealing folk art pieces throughout the house, especially the one over the kitchen sink that was a view of “Widehall” from the water. The Owner told me they own several paintings by this artist, Jimmy Reynolds in their collection.

The main staircase ends at the front corner of the second floor that is used as a family/TV room with a mix of comfortable furnishings including the leather Chesterfield sofa and Scandinavian armchairs. Behind the family room is an office/ study with a French door and high arched transom leading to the veranda for breaks from work. The other side of the house contains a guest room and the primary bedroom with a wide French door to the veranda. The neutral palette of the primary bedroom’s trim, wainscot and furnishings creates a serene retreat. The primary bath has a tiled floor of small white squares with a border of black tiles and a claw footed high backed soaking tub. The edge of the tub is perfectly positioned at the height of the rear window for gazing at the landscape as you soak off the stress of the day.

If I were lucky enough to be a guest, the third floor and its fantastic interior architecture created by the sloped roof shape from the mansard roof and the deep dormers with arched tops that echo the arched window headers would be hard to resist. The corner room would be my choice for its high paneled wainscot that reaches to the ceiling’s spring line and the double curvature of the upper and lower mansard roofs’ intersection. Being on the third floor also places a guest closest to the Widow’s Walk for unparalleled views of the Chester River and the Historic District.

Listed on the National Historic Register in 1972, this exquisite house, lawn and gardens that gently slope to the water’s edge has been lovingly cared for by its many devoted owners who considered themselves stewards of this unique property from the Hubbards who christened the house “Widehall”, added the two-storied portico and the kitchen addition to the owners in this century whose updates included geothermal HVAC.

Over the years, “Widehall” has hosted elegant parties and philanthropic events. Currently, each bedroom is named in honor of an acclaimed figure with a close connection to both Chestertown and the Eastern Shore. Over the five years that I have selected properties for my weekly column, researching and writing about this historic property has been a special pleasure. To truly appreciate the many historic details throughout this unique property, please visit the website shown below.

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

Photography by Steven Buchanan, Buchanan Studios, 410-212-8753, www.buchanan-studios.com.

House of the Week: Stylish Queen Anne

September 7, 2021 by Dave Wheelan Leave a Comment

My reference book on architectural styles lists six subcategories for the Victorian style. One of my favorites is the Queen Anne style, with characteristics found in this house including the predominant octagonal three story tower, asymmetrical front porch, bay window projections, bracket eave extensions, multiple gables and dormers. The front elevation has delightful curb appeal with the three-bay porch whose low slope metal roof extends to the side wall of the octagonal tower. One of the tower’s windows faces the porch interior at the point where the stair handrail begins, creating wider stairs to the half-glass paneled door for a welcoming effect. The wood shake wall around the perimeter of the porch gives privacy from the street. Since all the facades of the house are rich in architectural details, the single siding choice of wood shakes ties it all together and adds texture. Instead of a simple band to separate the third story portion of the front gable wall from the other two floors, the band is detailed with the same molding as the gable’s eave extensions for a seamless look.

Instead of narrow side yards for its urban lot, this house is sited with a driveway at one side and it is separated from the adjacent building on the other side by a parking lot that provides abundant sunlight for all three floors. The perimeter of the fenced rear yard is shaded by a dense groupings of several types of foliage including hydrangeas, fig trees and viburnum under the canopy of towering mature trees including a magnolia. The crape myrtle and a tree with oval red leaves (perhaps a sweet gum?) provide color. The carriage house at the rear of the property dates from another era next to a garden of raised beds in full sunlight. The main floor deck leading to the brick terrace and the deck above on the second floor overlook this verdant oasis.

The front door opens into a parlor that extends into the turret infilled with windows with built-in seating below. The beautiful inlaid flooring has a border of interlocking shapes in alternating dark and light shades for a 3-D effect. I believe the stair once opened into the wide hall between the second parlor and the dining room but now the stair has a second landing near the bottom to place the final steps opposite the front door. A wide elliptical molded arched opening reaches up to the crown molding at the ceiling to separate the entry parlor from the main parlor with its corner fireplace. Here the inlaid wood flooring is laid on the diagonal and the border is composed of pairs of stacked black diamond shapes.

Another wide elliptical arched opening leads to the hall opposite the stairs and then through a wide cased opening with a paneled pocked door to the dining room. The side bay window sets up the octagonal shape of the dining room detailed with a paneled wainscot of deep slate blue. A period pendant light fixture and sconces on the two longer side walls create a candlelight like mood. I could well imagine buffets or sideboards below the sconces and a large table under the pendant light to set the scene for a memorable dinner party. Off the dining room is a hall with light slate blue bead board wainscot and a built-in corner cupboard for storage of serving pieces convenient to the dining room.

The hall leads to the adjacent kitchen where the bead board wainscot changes to a white finish. One side wall has a boxed bay that would be the perfect space for a banquette and table for a breakfast area. The kitchen’s “L” shape opposite a peninsula has been updated with wood cabinets, granite countertops and light stone flooring. The other side wall has a single window and an exterior door to the driveway, convenient for unloading groceries. Another stair that was probably once a service stair leads to both the second and third floors to what could have originally been servants’ quarters on the third floor.

Behind the kitchen is the family room addition with one side wall of built-in millwork flanking the fireplace. The wall adjacent to the kitchen has a bar equipped with a sink, undercounter fridge, wine cooler and cabinets waiting for guests to spill out onto the deck and terrace for a garden party. The rear pair of French doors and full sidelights frames the lush garden view.

At the top of the stair landing, another wide elliptical arched opening separates the primary suite from the other bedrooms. The turret space may once have been a sitting room for the primary bedroom but could be another bedroom since it is a separate room off the hall. The primary bedroom is located at the front corner with pairs of single windows on both walls for glimpses of the Chester River. I envied the primary suite’s bath with a free-standing soaking tub enclosed by the bay window, dual lavatory cabinets, tiled shower with a partial glass wall and the walk-in closet. The sunlit hall along the side wall leads to the washer-dryer closet, access to the second stair, another bedroom and bath. This bedroom may be the smallest of the three bedrooms but its bonus is the French door leading to the rooftop terrace that spans across the full width of the house over the family room below. What a perfect spot for warm weather star-gazing before you fall asleep on an air mattress!

The third floor has been used as an apartment with the kitchen at the rear wall. The dramatic interior architecture from the intersecting gables, double and single dormers and the exquisite turret create a very unique space. If one added an elevator next to the second stair, this apartment with views of the Chester River would be in great demand and I would be first in line!

Great location in the Historic District, rich details including inlaid wood floors, door and window frames with corner medallions and fluted centers, five-paneled doors and oversized pocket doors, exquisite spaces created by the turret on all three floors, a third floor with an open floor plan and views of the Chester River, private rear garden and mature landscaping-a true gem!

For more information about this property, please contact Tracy Stone of Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company at 410-778-0330 (o), 443-480-0610 (c), or tstone@cbchesapeake.com , For more photographs and pricing, visit www.Tracystonehomes.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

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

It is hard to believe but this article marks my fifth year of celebrating Chestertown and Kent County’s best architecture, interiors and landscape. It is also a happy coincidence that the first article for the Chestertown Spy was a listing by today’s Realtor, Tracy Stone. I am indebted to the owners who graciously gave me tours of their homes, the architects and realtors whose outstanding properties inspired me and their administrative assistants who provided the info I needed.

House of the Week: Townhouse Living in Style

June 8, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

Kent Street continues to draw my attention and this house attracted me both for its charming curb appeal and for the landscaped vista at the side of the house. A graceful iron gate leads to a brick walkway bordered with a landscaped bed full of plants about to bloom against the texture of the weathered wood fence. Past the corner of the house, the space opens up to a delightful outdoor room. The weathered wood fence continues around the entire rear yard bordered with mature trees including a tall maple shading the picnic table on the brick terrace. Lights strung along the side fence are waiting to illuminate festive early evening al-fresco dining.

The front elevation is as appealing as its verdant rear outdoor room. Two steps lead from the street’s brick sidewalk to the front stoop which leaves enough room for a row of flowering plants of various heights to soften the hardscape. Between the front door and the window is a trellis festooned with blooms and the window with its flower box is ready for a new owner’s seasonal flowers. The house’s serene exterior color palette of light blue lap siding, dark turquoise green wood shutters, white trim and corner boards is crowned by the white articulated cornice with extended decorative brackets to create great curb appeal. The top two of the six panels of the dark turquoise front door are glass that act as a transom would have to filter light within.

The side front door opens into an entry alcove opposite the original stairs with its stained newel post, cap rail and treads with white risers. The open plan living-dining room layout has offsets to define each individual space. Two windows at the corner of the living room and the side windows opposite each other in the dining room keep the spaces sunny and bright. The exposed brick chimneys in each room add accents of color and texture against the beautiful pine wood floors and light gray walls. I especially liked how the quarter molding at the wall/floor edge was stained to match the pine floor instead of being painted the white trim color. The bright red wood stove in the living room is a sculptural element and the other chimney has a cap over the original flue opening that would be the perfect spot for the wall clock in the living room.

Between the dining room and the kitchen is a powder room with a window to the rear yard and one wall has an accent wall clad in shiplap. A column is the “hinge” between the living and dining rooms and is next to a full height shelving unit ready for china and glassware. The dining room has a clear vista through the cased opening in the wall adjacent to the kitchen to the pair of exterior French doors leading to the rear yard.

The kitchen layout includes another cased overlooking the dining room and the pendant light defines a cozy breakfast spot. The white cabinets, gray and white veined granite countertops, white appliances and the pine floors is a neutral palette ready for the next owner’s color accents. The glass doors of the upper cabinets between the window above the kitchen sink expand the transparency of the wall.

The second floor contains two bedroom en-suites, one at the front of the house and the other overlooking the rear yard. The front bedroom has two windows above the living room’s door and window below and one side window for sunlight throughout the day. The nook below the side window would be a great space for a home workspace and the room also has a built-in unit for books and family photographs. The rear bedroom has delightful interior architecture from the sloped ceilings, skylight, windows in the knee walls, built-in shelving and the textures of the painted brick chimney and the recycled barn wood closet door. The bath includes both a claw foot tub for soaking and a shower with a wood wainscot around the tub.

Wonderful setting between Chestertown’s retail/restaurant area and Washington College amenities, quiet street with a charming pedestrian scale, great curb appeal of its architecture, private rear yard with landscape and hardscape for relaxation and stylish renovations- Bravo!

For more information about this property, contact Liddy Campbell at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, 410-673-3344 (o), 410-708-5433 (c) or liddycampbell@gmail.com. For more photographs or pricing, visit www.TTRsir.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Janelle Stroop, 410-310-6838, Janelle@thruthelensphotos.com

House of the Week: Bayside Cottage

March 23, 2021 by Jennifer Martella 1 Comment

This past weekend I spent most of my Sunday afternoon relaxing on my screened porch and enjoying the views of my small village. I imagined how even more enjoyable it would be to relax in this house’s front screened porch with 180 degree views of the Bay’s limitless horizon as a backdrop. One can also get closer to the Bay by sitting on a bench in the front yard, swinging on the hammock under the shade of towering trees or crossing the street to the bluff and going down the stairs to your private beach for a picnic. The sidewalk along the street is the perfect place to walk the family pet while enjoying views of the water.

This one-story house, built in the mid 70’s, has an attached one-car garage and is surrounded by mature trees and enhanced by shade loving landscaping. The front porch accommodates a seating area and a Bistro table and chairs for a quick meal and the tile floor makes clean-up easy. At the rear of the house, the front door leads to a hardscape path that enlarges to become a terrace then steps leading up to the in-ground pool surrounded by landscaping.

The front door opens into the living room and the wide window unit with a center picture pane and operable windows on each side overlooks the screened porch and Bay views beyond. The brick fireplace has a low hearth and brick surround with bricks corbelled out to support the wood mantel and the wood floors and white walls make the space feel light and airy.

The open plan dining-kitchen area is located behind the living room and the dining area has a wide bay window with views of the pool area. The table could be centered perpendicular to the bay window which might create enough space for an island in the kitchen. Between the kitchen and the garage is the roomy laundry/mudroom/pantry with an extra side by side R/F and a wall of cabinetry for storage.

The bedrooms and baths are located at the other end of the house and I especially liked the one bedroom at the front with a double window to Bay views and the colorful bedspread design of leaves that seemed to be inspired by the playful Matisse poster.

If I were living in Wilmington or Philly, this house would be the perfect weekend getaway or anyone’s downsizer or retirement home. Charming cottage with one-level living, the screened porch for watching magnificent sunsets and the rear terrace for relaxing by the pool after a swim!

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

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

House of the Week: Stylish Farmhouse

February 23, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

As the railroads began their expansion across the country in the mid to late 19th century, the “Farmhouse/National Folk” architectural style evolved from the log houses of early settlers. Large lumberyards located in the new towns along the railroad routes offered building materials for the new framing style of light balloon or braced framing covered by sheathing and lap siding. This two-story house was built in 1925 in a variation of the “hall and parlor” plan with a full front porch for summer shade and rear one-story extensions to expand the living space. This house has undergone a tastefully done renovation inside and outside by JLC Property Resources.

The front elevation’s rusticated block supports for the wood framed front porch and the vinyl siding add texture to the gray and white color palette. The two-story, two-bay front elevation is well-proportioned with the side entry door and double windows for the front living room below the single windows above. The eave roof is broken by a center gable with an attic accent window whose pitched header follows the steep gable pitch. The additional accent of the bright yellow front door is warm and inviting.

The front door opens into a foyer that has a feeling of spaciousness from daylight both from the oval glass insert in the front door and a side window that is opposite the wide wall opening to the living room’s side windows. Between these windows is a free-standing fireplace whose black color becomes a sculptural element. I especially liked how the grayish brown wood floors throughout the house complement the light gray walls with crisp white trim.

Behind the living room is the open plan kitchen-dining area. Perimeter soffits for recessed lighting and ductwork create a coffered ceiling. The Craftsman style white cabinets with a mix of hardware profiles add interest along with the granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The dining area is centrally located in the house and has sunlight from two side windows. The rear of the house has two one-story additions with shed and hipped roofs that contains the primary suite, laundry and stairs to the basement. The primary bedroom’s windows overlook the side yard and the bath’s window overlooks the rear yard. The finishes in the bath continue the kitchen’s color palette with the granite countertop, white cabinets and wood flooring. The laundry behind the kitchen would be a very pleasant space in which to work with daylight from the half-French door leading to a landing and steps down to the concrete terrace at the rear yard and the side window overlooking the side yard.

The window above the staircase to the second floor brings light into the hall that connects the bedrooms. One bedroom has a window seat between a single and double closet with another window close to the corner. Like the first bedroom, the chases for the fireplace chimney and HVAC divides the space into sleeping and sitting/play areas for another bedroom. The third bedroom has corner windows for diagonal views of the landscape.

The large basement for general storage is a plus and the placement of HVAC ductwork and lighting was carefully laid out to provide maximum headroom for storage.

The site is fenced at the back yard lined with tall evergreens for privacy. Mature trees surround the house on the other two sides and one deciduous tree separates the two parking spaces from the house. A concrete sidewalk leads from the Town sidewalk to the rear terrace.

Wonderful renovation-all the work has been done so when warm weather comes again you can relax on the front porch and savor the view to the park across the street.

Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens Photography, 845-744-2758. For a Video tour, visit https://thru-the-lens ivuf.view.property/public/vtour/display/1769196?idx=1#!/

Habitat House of the Week: Craftsman Charmer

February 16, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

I have always been attracted to stone houses-perhaps my years of seeing the stone manor houses featured on PBS’ Masterpiece Theater influenced me so this stone cottage immediately caught my eye. The one-level rectangular footprint is articulated with gables and hipped roofs with deep eaves. Along with stone walls, earthy colors and the house’s location on the Sassafras River at the Chesapeake Bay, this spacious three bedroom, 3-1/2 bath cottage has great appeal. I especially liked how the rear elevation opens up to the water with almost total transparency from the floor to ceiling windows and transoms.

The front door opens into the “L” shaped open plan living, dining and kitchen areas with a vista to the water through the living room’s rear wall full of windows and transoms. Pitched ceilings accented by dark stained beams at the point where the living room’s shed roof begins, wood floors and sunlight from its waterfront southeast-facing windows combine to make unique interior architecture. I admired the space’s deep gray blue trim color that was carried through into the kitchen’s color palette for the island and backsplash. As a cook, I could easily imagine working under the dramatic double window above the kitchen sink that rises to the underside of the ceiling. I also liked the upper cabinets with glass fronts, the warm finish of the perimeter wood cabinetry and stainless steel appliances. The living room’s rear wall of windows includes a door to the waterside spacious deck that extends the living space. The dining room is the “hinge” of the open plan and includes built-in cabinetry for additional storage and the pendant light above the table and chairs defines the dining area.

The house is zoned very well for family or guests with the master suite at the rear next to the living room and the two guest suites at the other side of the living room. Each suite contains its own bath. When I first saw the rear elevation with its eye catching hipped roof and its two rows of transoms that break through the main roof, I thought this space was the living room; however, this roof shape encloses the master suite. The spatial volume frames the rear wall of windows and transoms including a pair of French sliders under the transom picture window to access the waterside deck. The craftsman details of the bath include a lavatory cabinet of wood, marble counter and high backsplash to accommodate the vessel lavatory bowl, tile floor and shower. The mirror above the lavatory is strategically placed to provide a reflection of the bedroom’s window wall.

I would be quite happy to stay in either of the guest rooms with their sloped ceilings of warm wood, white walls accented by the blue gray trim of the windows and sunlight from the two windows, one of which has a transom with its headers following the angle of the sloped ceiling. The larger rear guest room has a pair of French doors flaked by full height windows to the waterside deck. Like the master bath mirror, both baths’ mirrors are located on axis with one bedroom window.

The attached garage with its barn-door style doors is unfinished for the next owner to complete or to finish it as conditioned space for myriad uses. For maximum flexibility, the rear wall was framed to accommodate doors and windows at each side for water views.

Great floor plan for family and entertaining, imaginative interior architecture with craftsman details, three en-suite bedrooms, waterside deck with broad views of the river and the Bay. Enjoy the sandy beach, nettle free swimming and the range of water activities possible from the boat ramp and dock. The parcel includes an adjacent undeveloped lot for additional privacy.

For more information about this property, contact John Burke with Gunther McClary Real Estate at 410-275-2118 (o), 443-206-3727 (c) or jburke57@gmail.com. For more photographs and pricing visit www.gunthermcclary.com/listings/, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

House of the Week: The Blake-Bryan-Willis House

January 12, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

I am always fascinated by the provenance of our area’s historic houses. The original part of this house was built about 1697 at the time of the marriage of Charles Blake to Henrietta Lloyd. That same year, Blake inherited over 1300 acres, named “Sayer’s Forest”. In 1803, the house and 323 acres of Sayer’s Forest was sold by Blake’s great grandson to William Bryan. The property later became known as “Old Bryan Farm” and in 1947, the house was moved to its current location.

The aerial of this approximately 11.3 acres property shows how private it is within its wooded setting and broad water views. Double gates between brick piers topped with the symbol of hospitality, the pineapple, define the approach of the gravel drive between the dense landscaping. As the house becomes visible, the drive curves past to the detached garage. Brick sidewalks lead to both the front door of the main house and to the guest house.

Two trees tower over the front of the house behind a low white fence broken by the brick walkway to the front brick stoop detailed with double columns and a gable roof. The two-story main wing of the house is clad in white lap siding with a center door and brick chimneys at each end wall. The linear plan of the house steps back and telescopes down to a one and a half story brick wing containing a front porch, second entry, pantry and dining room. The last part of the telescope form ends in a brick gable with shed roof extensions at the front and rear of the house clad in white lap siding that contains the kitchen. The effect of the white massing, deep green shutters with touches of red brick against its background of mature trees is very striking.

All of the rooms on the first floor are one-room deep for views of the landscape and water. The front door opens into the living room with beautiful paneled side walls probably crafted by a ship’s carpenter and windows at the front, rear and of the room. The end wall is detailed with a deep alcove and window above, the fireplace and a short run of wood stairs leading to a partial height door in the wall that leads to another run of steps up to the master bedroom. Next to the living room is a library with floor to ceiling millwork and a fireplace. Not surprisingly, my favorite room is once again this splendid sunroom spanning across the living room and library. Sitting and dining areas at each end are surrounded by floor to ceiling wrap-around glass from long windows and French doors with transoms above under the wood slat ceiling above the Mexican tile floor. The French doors lead to a stone patio with benches at the end for contemplating the landscape and the water.

The open doorway next to the library fireplace leads to the dining room with its light colored paneling and accents of white in the trim and chair rail. The table and Windsor chairs are centered under the hurricane lamp style pendant and the two rear windows offer views of the landscape and water. Off the dining room is the pantry area that leads to the kitchen. I loved the kitchen with its bow-shaped ceiling clad in wood, Mexican tile floor, light colored cabinets and stainless steel cabinets. It would be very easy for this cook to be inspired by the windows on three sides of the room for sunlight throughout the day, water views from the triple windows over the kitchen sink and the box bay window above the range overlooking the garden.

The second floor of the two-story wing has two bedrooms between the bathroom and each spacious bedroom has a fireplace. Serene wall colors, white trim and chair rail and beautiful wood floors create restful retreats. The delightful third bedroom is tucked under the roof with both a side window and a dormer window. The separate guest house has two other bedrooms as well as a game room for billiards and a sunroom with sliding doors.

After a career in agricultural horticulture, the current owner planted and maintained hundreds of trees to enhance the landscape that includes a kitchen garden with lattice fencing and brick walks emanating from the water feature, a stone waterside terrace under the shade of a majestic tree with teak table and chairs for six and a waterside pool. I especially liked the brick walkway between the house and the pool that passes under an arbor with a curved center portion. Flanking the walkway are dense shrubbery to focus your view on the pool beyond.

Wonderful waterfront site enhanced with hardscape, landscape and pier; Colonial architecture nestled under the mature trees on a point of land offering total privacy yet close to Town-an idyllic setting. Bravo to the owner for his endeavors to enhance this remarkable property with his landscape design!

For more information about this property contact Chris McClary with Gunther McClary Real Estate at 410-275-2118 (o), 410-708-2614 (c) or mcclary21@hotmail.com, For more pictures and pricing, visit https://show.tours/DiqLGCFMYfqYuatGqkfu, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Please support the Spy’s House of the Week project by making a donation here.

House of the Week: Four Square Plus

January 5, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

Last year as I drove through Rock Hall on my trips to meet with an architectural client outside of town this house always caught my eye. I admired the stately American Four-Square style house with its distinguishing characteristics of symmetry, center door surrounded by windows aligned horizontally and horizontally on both floors, hipped roof with a center two-window unit dormer and articulated cornice with eave brackets. At some time, the house was added on at the rear to create its current “L” shape footprint. Another addition was the one-story sunroom that wraps around the rear addition. The masonry façade of rose red brick laid in a running bond pattern, white stone window headers and sills and the front porch with its pitched roof creates great curb appeal. You can see shadows of former shutters at the sides of the windows and adding them back would add even more architectural character.

The side driveway leads to a garage behind the house. The depth of this outbuilding creates room for a range of uses including a home office, studio, apartment or storage. The lot can be accessed both from Main Street and from an easement off Liberty Street at the rear of the property. Although on the day I visited the landscape was dormant, the mature Magnolia, other mature trees and crape myrtles holds “promise of flowers that bloom in the spring-tra la”! The hedgerow at the front sidewalk is broken by an arbor with a gate leading to the brick edged sidewalk to the steps at the front porch.

The front door opens to a hall by the stairs with its original stained wood balustrade leading up to the unique double winder landing to each side of the second floor. To the left of the entry is a parlor and to the right is a double parlor divided by a wide elliptical arched doorway on axis with the fireplace at the rear wall. The original fireplace is detailed with corbeled brick that steps up to the mantel for a delightful focal point from both rooms. The front parlor is furnished as a sitting room and the rear parlor as the dining room. The other front parlor is currently used as a bedroom.

The original center hall plan now ends at a full bath opposite the front door. The bath had been added in a previous renovation but there are options to restore the original circulation pattern. One option is to modify the laundry/utility room behind the kitchen to include a full bath. Between the dining room and the laundry is the kitchen with another original winder stair leading to the second floor rear bedroom. Across the kitchen is the sunroom with wonderful diagonal views of the landscape from the wall of windows that wraps around the corner and sliding doors that open onto the brick terrace.

The “L” shaped second floor contains three bedrooms and one bath. In the middle of the bedrooms at each front corner of the house is a smaller room that could be a second bath or walk-in closet. The existing bath off the rear hall is centrally located to the bedrooms and has been renovated and detailed with a tile wainscot and top border that repeats above the shower wall. The wood floors and wood lavatory cabinet are a pleasant contrast to the white fixtures with sunlight from the large window. The third bedroom is located at the rear of the addition so its three exterior walls have a window on each side wall for sunlight throughout the day. This could also be a great master bedroom since the adjacent hall bath and walk-in closet would create a master suite with the second stair next to this room providing easy access to the kitchen for popcorn or other snacks! Bird’s eye views of the landscaping below would make this a delightful space.

Great opportunity to live in Town and work from home that could enhanced by more landscaping to create a private oasis in the heart of Rock Hall! The possibility of renovating the outbuilding to become a seasonal rental is a plus.

For more information about this property, contact Cindy Genther with Rock Hall Properties Real Estate at 410-639-4003 (o), 443-480-1953 (c) or cindy@rockhallproperties.com. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.rockhallproperties.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Please support the Spy’s House of the Week project by making a donation here.

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