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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I was immediately captivated by this house’s design rooted in the rural vernacular of barns and reinterpreted with a contemporary flair. The “L” shaped main house is offset from the detached garage and this geometry creates a delightful courtyard with a pergola that spans from the house to the brick sidewalk by the garage to define the private space of hardscape and landscape. The pergola is broken in the center by a higher pergola that defines the courtyard’s entrance to create a framed view of the landscape beyond. On the day I visited, the large camelia bushes and daffodils were in bloom and the unlimited vista from the courtyard’s pergola to the fields and guesthouse of this 168 acre preserve was peacefully pastoral. 

One of the wings has a full gable end and the other has a smaller gable end that becomes a shed roof to break down and enhance the massing. The color palette of the buildings’ light grey metal roof, pale yellow vertical siding, white trim and contemporary casement windows is framed by the woods that surround the house on several sides.  A deck zigzags around the base of the house and then wraps around the front of the house. I loved the play of light that filtered down through the entry trellis between the garage and the house and the red accents of the garage and house half-French entry doors. 

The house’s two wings have gable ends with pairs of triangular windows at the underside of the eaves of one wing that were clues of a contemporary interior and indeed it was.  The front door opens to a clear vista through the house with the kitchen and dining areas at the side and the sitting areas divided by the stunning Finnish “Tulikivi” slate blue soapstone wood stove.  A four-unit sliding door/sidelight unit and a double window unit offer outlooks to the courtyard and distant views of the farm fields and pastures.

The ceiling is open to the underside of the stained wood decking above and exposed wood collar beams cleverly contain the recessed track lights for ambient lighting.  At the front of the house, a square accent window above the collar beams offers additional light and strategically placed skylights further along the roof’s ridge provide additional light. The kitchen has a sloped ceiling finished in stained wood slats and pairs of double windows over the sink offer views of the landscape. I like the large pantry instead of upper cabinets and the large island that separates the work area from the entry hall. The adjacent dining room has a sloped ceiling finished in wood slats and the partial height wall between the sitting and dining rooms filters light into the dining room from the windows and skylights.

At the end of this wing is the “L” shaped stair and above the landing is a window with a triangular shaped transom and a triangular window at one side.  The inside corner of the stair wall is the perfect place for a home office area and a sunroom opposite the stair could be a great screened porch. The other wing of the main floor contains two bedrooms and the laundry/ mud room, connected by a hallway that ends at an exterior half French door.  Windows along the hall also illuminate the space and offer views of the courtyard and the end bedroom has corner windows with views of the woods.

The stairs lead to a loft that would be a great spot for a family/TV room. The stair landing windows and the pair of triangular shaped windows at the underside of the pitched ceiling above the loft add sunlight.  Another hall is stacked above the main floor hall with windows for bird’s eye views of the courtyard below. The rest of the second floor contains the master suite. The bedroom has windows on three sides and a pitched ceiling with a pair of triangular shaped windows at the underside of the pitched ceiling.  The spacious master bath has both a tub and shower with a European style pedestal lavatory. 

Wonderful composition of buildings and courtyard, interiors filled with sunlight from multiple sources of French doors, windows, skylights, triangular windows under the eaves, accent windows, enhanced by interior track lighting and recessed spots. Various ceiling planes of pitched, sloped and flat surfaces, partial height walls and cross beams to define spaces create great interior architecture. This unique house was built in 2002 and designed by an architect who was a family member of the owner. The property  is forever protected from any subdivision or commercial development, with woods and two ponds to encourage wildlife. 

 

For more information about this property, contact Nancy McGuire with Maryland Heritage Properties  at 443-480-7342 or nmcguire@MDHeritage.properties. For more photographs and pricing visit  www.marylandhistoricproperties.com,  “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

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

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