Habitat Portal House of the Week

House of the Week: Townhouse Living

February 23, 2022 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

I am beginning to think of downsizing and the idea of a townhouse has great appeal to me. This townhouse’s floor plan caught my eye for several reasons. Its ground level contains a one car garage, foyer with a coat closet, laundry, bedroom and bath. The bedroom could also be a great office and/or very private guest room. It reminded me of my featuring a house in the Talbot Spy that had a very clever solution to a guest/office space. That space contained a chest that hid a Murphy bed that served a dual purpose as a credenza when the space was used an office. Sliding doors from the bedroom lead to a deck covered by the framing of the second floor deck above but I would be tempted to add screened panels to create an outdoor room for me and my cat.

The main level is an open plan living-dining-kitchen area spanning the full depth of the second floor with amenities of the living room’s corner gas fireplace and sliding glass doors to a spacious deck. Bay window nooks in both the dining area and the kitchen break out of the rectangle for architectural interest. I would enjoy cooking in this kitchen with daylight from both the French door next to the double window in the kitchen’s box bay that could be a cozy breakfast space. The neutral colors of the cabinetry and countertops would a blank canvas for my colorful ceramic pieces. Tucked into the corner of the kitchen is a powder room and off the kitchen is a small balcony just the right size to accommodate my portable charcoal grille.

The third level has two bedrooms at each end of the house that share a large bath with both a corner tub and a separate shower and there is a linen closet in the hall for additional storage. The front bedroom has two closets and a balcony above the kitchen’s balcony below that would be a cozy spot for my second cup of morning coffee.

The location and setting have great appeal too since the town home is only two blocks from the Chesapeake Bay and the activities of Rock Hall’s main street. The woods and views from the house of a pond across the street create a peaceful setting. The site includes a shed for lawn and garden equipment and a children’s play set complete with a slide for children of all ages.

Having designed many town homes throughout my architectural career, it is always a challenge to “dress up” a narrow building. This building contains two town homes that are mirror images of each other with gable roofs over the vertical box bay projections and taller gable roofs that extend to also cover the balconies on the two upper floors. Between the box bays at the garage/main entry level is a shed roof to cover the side by side front doors to each unit and the front doors have a half moon shaped upper window for light into the hall. Additional box bays add interest to the side elevations and bring sunlight into those sides of each unit.

The interior photos are interesting since they are virtually staged so one can see how the room sizes can accommodate one’s own furnishings. All of the rooms are freshly painted and with hardwood floors throughout this town home. As they say, it “move in ready” in anticipation of the this year’s summer season in Rock Hall.

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”.

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: 105 Cannon St.: “Before”

February 16, 2022 by Jennifer Martella 5 Comments

In past years whenever I featured one of the houses designed by the Architect Peter Newlin, I also admired the work done by his long time collaborator, the contractor Patrick Jones. Peter has retired but the work of his talented collaborator lives on in the company Patrick has formed with his sister Kathleen, Jones and Jones LLC. Their passion and focus is restoration of Chestertown’s older properties so these houses can once again proudly take their place in the Town’s streetscapes. I was very pleased to discover they were Spy House of the Week fans when they contacted me about their current project, the restoration and renovation of 105 Cannon St.

I have featured several houses both on or near Cannon Street since that part of Chestertown is very appealing to me. Except for the Cross Street traffic that passes over Cannon Street, it is a quiet street with close proximity to both the main shopping area and the waterfront. Perhaps the best attraction to me, being a wine and cheese lover, is the house’s location across the alley at the side of the house to the Chester River Wine & Cheese Co.!

When Kathleen and Patrick invited me for a “before” visit, I discovered the house’s layout is a “shotgun” plan, one room wide and four rooms deep. The front elevation has a simplified Victorian style with its 2/2 wood windows, lap siding, corner boards, fascia board, main metal roof and a low sloped metal roof over the full front porch. One of my architectural pet peeves are skinny square posts masquerading as columns to support a porch roof. This house’s small posts are in the process of being replaced with turned columns in keeping with the Victorian style and are better proportioned for their height. The Town’s brick sidewalk reaches the front of the brick foundation of the porch and I could well imagine a new owner adding a row of ceramic pots full of seasonal color for just enough privacy from the street.

Before going inside, I walked along the side elevation and saw the offset in the wall that marks the transition from the front pitched roof that meets the gable roof of the three-room long rear wing. The offset widens the side yard and its brick terrace that extends to the property line creates a shady mews for relaxing with neighbors. The rear yard perimeter is lined with a wood slat fence detailed at the top with wood lattice that has weathered nicely to create a wonderful urban room awaiting a new owner to transform it with plants and landscaping.

The original front door is a vision of delight with a diamond pattern window at the top outlined with triangular paneled infill to make a square, fretwork sill above three square raised panels and two rectangular panels in a sunburst design over the last row of three vertical raised panels. Next to the door is the original iron “papers and packages” slot. The door opens into the original parlor whose focal point is a red brick fireplace that has been liberated from its former drywall enclosure. The exposed chimney is smaller than the firebox surround with its brick headers which leaves ledges at each side for display. It reminded me of a brick chimney in a recent Talbot Spy house that had been meticulously restored by the masonry artisan Miriam Maynard. I noticed the high window in the back of the parlor and when I went into the next room and saw the stairs I realized it was a clever way to bring filtered light into the stairwell.

The stairs are open to the dining room with a bottom landing one step above the last tread that wraps around the newel post telescoping up to its cap. The dining room has windows on both side walls and a half French door leading to the bricked side terrace for easy indoor/outdoor access for parties. The next room will be a full bath and laundry with the rear room containing the kitchen overlooking the yard. Throughout the house, original four-panel doors with elongated upper panels and the trim of the windows have been removed to be sanded and patched. Even though it was overcast on the day of my tour, I was impressed with the amount of light from the many windows.

The meticulous demolition of the first floor was underway showing exposed floor joists above a moisture barrier and insulation being installed in the exterior walls. I liked how they left the second floor joists and decking exposed on the first floor and its white finish will reflect light from the windows. As a cook, I look forward to the new kitchen’s design when I return for my “after” visit. The second floor has a hall along one side that maximizes the size of the bedrooms and bath. On this floor, the window frames and trim are stained and will be beautiful above the original floors that will be refinished.

This talented duo is off to a great start in their new venture and I am looking forward to touring the finished house to report soon on its “after” state. If you are seeking a home in Chestertown, this is a great opportunity to purchase an in Town property that will be fully move-in ready!

For more information about this property, contact Patrick Jones or Kathleen Jones at 410-708-2534 or jonesandjonespropertiesllc@gmail.com.

House of the Week: Little Neck Farms

February 9, 2022 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

The neighborhood of Little Neck Farms in Rock Hall offers a unique setting with its 200 acres of open space and a community pier in the private community marina on Swann Creek for quick access to the Chesapeake Bay. The house is sited on a corner lot with a front porch for watching sunsets and a rear terrace for early morning risers to enjoy that second cup of coffee to begin their day. This traditional styled house has a main three-bay story and a half wing with double doors in the center between single windows and three single dormer windows aligned above. The full front porch is covered by a shed roof extending from the main roof’s eave and is the perfect spot for unwinding at the end of the day.

The one-story hyphen links the main wing with the story and a half two-car garage wing. I especially liked how the garage doors do not face the street so the front wall becomes a full gable with a shorter one story gable box bay for additional architectural interest. This box bay alcove offers a spot in the garage for trash and recycling bins, one feature I would love for my own garage.

The floor plan is zoned very well with the entry doors opening into a foyer with the guest bedrooms and bath to the left connected by a short hall. To the right of of the foyer is a sitting room that is currently used as a music room with light from the front single window and the pair of French doors to the foyer. From the front doors there is a clear vista through the house to the rear wall of the family room with its trio of long windows overlooking the landscape and sliding doors to the concrete terrace below. The side wall of the family room has floor to ceiling built-in millwork finished with crown molding and open shelves around the opening for the TV.

A wide cased opening connects the family room with the dining area and kitchen. The “L” arrangement of the kitchen cabinets and an island with bar stools is opposite the dining area defined by an angled bay window for diagonal views of the landscape. The dining table blends with the wood color of the kitchen’s base cabinets and the vertical pattern of the cabinets’ doors creates a uniform look. The upper cabinets stop below the ceiling to allow for display and I like how the backsplash continues up the wall space between the side of the cabinets and the window to end at the top of the window’s trim and the cabinets. Stainless steel appliances and the subway tile backsplash in earth tones completes the look.

A smaller wall opening in the kitchen-dining area leads to the gable wing containing the two-car garage, the primary suite, laundry and the “L” shaped stairs to the unfinished attic. I envied the primary suite’s sumptuous bath with a corner tub under a window, separate shower, dual sinks, toilet room with a window and a linen closet and off the bath is a large walk-in closet. The bedroom is located at the terrace side of the house and has two rear windows overlooking the landscaping.

The bonus room of this house is the entire attic area with framing carefully thought out for maximum headroom for future uses. The attic area over the garage has daylight from the windows at each gable end and the attic area over the main wing of the house has daylight from the three single window dormers over the front of the house and another window at the gable side wall. Huge potential for finished space-another bedroom suite, playroom, studio, etc.

Great location with wide open spaces and sunsets, floor plan with an easy flow and privacy zoning with the guest wing on the opposite side of the house from the primary suite. Full front porch and rear terrace are outdoor rooms to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature of this pastoral setting, with close proximity to Rock Hall and a short drive to Chestertown.

House of the Week: “Marsh House”

December 29, 2021 by Jennifer Martella

If you are a nature lover, is doesn’t get much better than this- imagine your house floating above the marsh in total privacy and enjoying the sights and sounds of waterfowl who share this unique site with you. The house is sited close to the driveway for minimal disruption to the surrounding marsh and its main floor is a story above the ground for flood control. The house’s footprint is angled from the access road to provide spectacular unobstructed views of Swann Creek and its marina in the foreground against the background of the Chesapeake Bay. Further down the access road is a carriage house with guest quarters above near a long wooden walkway through the marsh to the pier. The discreet lighting below the edge of the walkway guides your way for a twilight stroll.

From the parking area, a few steps lead up to the main house’s front deck then double doors lead to the entrance hall with a “U” shaped stair to the great room’s three bays defined by the post and bean framing. The compact floor plan has minimal hallways and multiple floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors with French railings giving the living and dining rooms across the rear and sides of the house panoramic water views. At the bottom of the stairs leading to the second floor, dramatic model sailboats sculptures introduce the marine theme. As you come closer into the great room, you are mesmerized by the center bay’s wide wall of glass whose height rises above the ceilings of the side bays of glass. Two club chairs are strategically placed to beckon you to sit and savor the stunning vista of marsh and water.

I loved the Stickley rocker in the corner of the left bay of the sitting area and if one could reluctantly turn one’s back from the view, this reading area with the Craftsman floor lamp and narrow, tall bookcase could be a very pleasant diversion. This bay is the full depth of the house and with the rear sliding door with a French railing and the side wall of sliding doors to the screened porch, these adjoining spaces become an aerie with wrap-around views of the water. The boat shaped coffee table with its glass top was a clever detail and continues the marine theme throughout the house.

The stairs to the second floor divide the center bay from the other corner bay that is also the full depth of the house with the dining area at the march side and the kitchen at the front. The dining room’s corner location offers panoramic diagonal water views from its matching sliding doors with a French rail and sliding doors to another screened porch and deck. I could well imagine being a dinner guest at the wood table with its lighthouse centerpiece and watching the sun set during dinner. The spacious kitchen can accommodate several cooks and the corner secondary sink facing the dining area has water views from its side window and the corner windows of the dining area. The wood cabinets are stained a lighter color than the exposed timber framing and the beautiful hardwood floors for contrast.

The steps to the second floor end at a short hallway connecting the three bedrooms and baths. At the center bay, a few steps up lead to the open sitting room with a deck for a bird’s eye views of the marsh and water. The primary suite spans one side of the house with the bedroom’s corner windows for panoramic views and sunlight throughout the day. The hall bath serves the other two bedrooms, one located at the rear corner overlooking the marshes. I liked how the bath mirror captures the reflection through the house to the windows of the sitting room at the rear wall.

My favorite room is the third floor’s full length treetop space that is tucked under the center of the house with gable walls at each end. The circular stair divides the long space into a work area and seating area with a half bath at one gable wall.

Lucky guests would claim the upper level suite of the carriage house between the main house and the walkway over the marsh to the pier. Steps lead up to a cozy porch then to the open plan layout with everything one needs for an extended stay with its sitting room and a kitchen and full bath at each gable end (when may I sign up?).

One of a kind site set into a serene marsh, simple architectural massing that reminded me of a large bird house, quite fitting for this dramatic site; sound timber frame construction, full height windows and sliding doors with French railings for maximizing sunlight and views, outdoor rooms of screened porches, great flow among the main floor rooms for entertaining, gorgeous sunsets over Swann Creek, carriage house and pier-who could ask for anything more!

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: Fit for a Queen

December 15, 2021 by Jennifer Martella

Queen Street has been the source of several of my Houses of the Week and this charming house has great appeal for many reasons. Closer to Cannon Street than High Street with its traffic, this tree lined block is ideally situated close to the Historic District’s shops and restaurants, the Chester River, the Town Marina and Wilmer Park. This two-bay house is set perpendicular to the street with a front porch that wraps around one side with two other exterior doors, one to the stair hall and one to the office area off the kitchen. Instead of a planting strip between the porch and the Town’s brick sidewalk, brick hardscape continues from the sidewalk to the front porch steps, creating more space for visiting with neighbors on their daily strolls.

The fenced rear garden is a serene haven of lawn with a border including crape myrtles, honeysuckle, hydrangeas and on the day I visited, roses were still in bloom. I especially liked the fence’s weathered wood combination of lattice at the top for air flow with vertical boards below for privacy. The 1900’s house’s immediate past life was as a true urban live/work building with a family run business on the main floor and the family’s living quarters above. A 2009 renovation reverted the use to fully residential with an addition that created a stunning kitchen-study/office -family room at the rear of the house as well as a new roof and HVAC.

When I opened the door for my tour, it was immediately apparent that the foyer’s interior design was a harbinger of many other visual delights. An antique wood chair in one corner opposite an antique dry sink, beautiful hardwood floors, soft butter yellow walls enhanced by posters and original art lit by a pendant light and filtered light from the translucent window treatment provides a warm welcome. The long vista from the foyer was through a spacious hall with a beautiful Stickley style wood bookcase with glass doors on the wall next to the side stairs. At the end of the hall, an open doorway leads to the addition containing the kitchen, office/study and family room.

The short vista to the adjacent living room is framed by columns set back from low walls on axis with the side window of the living room next to the corner fireplace. The cased opening from the living room to the dining room frames a high chest with a mirror above that reflects the living room wall. Unlike the living room’s fireplace, the fireplace in the dining room is set perpendicular to the side wall with its two windows.

The doorway at the rear wall leads to a short hall with a mini bar/butler pantry at one end and a powder room. The hall opens into the kitchen to complete the continuous flow among the main floor rooms. Here the wall color changes to taupe which complements the kitchen’s stainless steel appliances, creamy white cabinets and granite countertops. The office/study at the side wall with a door to the wrap-around porch has full height millwork between a window and the kitchen’s upper cabinets on the wall facing the office/study have glass fronts on both sides for transparency.

The family room’s box bay window wall supported by two columns inset from the rear wall extends into the fenced rear lawn and garden to create a relaxing space in which to unwind after a work day. More visual delights of art and sculpture caught my eye, including one stunning colorful glass piece which I coveted.

The stairs to the second floor are located at the side wall with sunlight from both the frosted panels in the half glass door to the porch and the window at the top landing which makes this a very pleasant connection between the two floors. The primary bedroom is located at the front of the house with window on three walls for sunlight throughout the day. I loved the large contemporary rug in earth tones, craftsman wood furnishings and white bed linens. The middle bedroom was charming with lilac walls, wood craftsman pieces and two colorful canvases that becomes a mural above the bed. Underneath lay an alert but benevolent stuffed tiger holding court.

The rear spacious room was once the living room of the former apartment but would make a great bed-sit for a teen or a shared bedroom with windows on both the side and rear walls and the coffered ceiling with white framing and light blue coffers. Above the fireplace mantel is a mural featuring two of my favorite childhood book characters, Babar and Celeste, in a hot air balloon floating over a scene of beach and sea. Next to this room is the former apartment kitchen which could also become a dedicated bath for a primary suite. The laundry room is located at the rear corner of this floor and with a little creative space planning, the laundry and former kitchen area could be reworked so the laundry could be accessed from the hall.

Wonderful house and garden with a blend of the original early 1900’s National Folk style house with the contemporary addition of kitchen and family room. My compliments to the Owner for his impressive collections and interior design. I believe I recognized a large Acoma Pueblo piece that is similar to my own. Bravo!

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.marylandheritageproperties.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

House of the Week: Colonial Exterior with a Contemporary Interior

November 24, 2021 by Jennifer Martella

Recently I featured a house on the corner of High and N. Kent Streets that was a triplex with great potential as a renovation into a single family residence with the rear unit perpendicular to the main building remaining a rental unit. If a total renovation is not appealing, this charming property two doors down has great appeal. The front planting strip at the edge of the Town sidewalk is defined by a low brick border the same height as the first brick step leading up to the front porch and the front door is located at one side of the house to maximize both the planting and porch seating areas. The streetscape is enhanced by the Town’s grass area between the sidewalk and High Street with mature trees for shade.

The exterior palette of the two and a half story three bay house has light blue lap siding and white trim with a cheerful accent of the six panel bright yellow front door surrounded by a full transom and half glass sidelights. Combined with the exterior palette, the front elevation’s symmetry of the entry door next to two windows, three windows aligned above and two dormer windows gives this house great curb appeal.

The rear elevation has a two-story wing perpendicular to the front wing and two one-story sloped roof additions to break down the massing. The exterior door opens onto a terrace with privacy from the fencing along both sides of the yard. The deep rear yard stretches back to a shed and an off-street parking space at the alley. Another shed further back blocks the view of the back yard from the alley for total privacy.

The front door opens into a foyer with a paneled wainscot with the staircase winding up to the second floor. Filtered sunlight from the transom and sidelights and direct sunlight from the diamond shaped window at the stair landing create a warm and welcoming space for greeting guests. From the foyer, diagonal vistas through the wide cased openings connects the open plan living room, dining room and kitchen. The focal point of the living room is the beautiful stacked stone wall around the electric fireplace with deep recesses at both sides for shelving. I liked how the diagonal placement of the sofa in front of the windows sets up a comfortable seating grouping around the fireplace. The dining room has French doors with sheer panels on axis through a room with a double window at the exterior wall. The sheer panels cleverly disguise this multi-use room that contains an armoire opposite the laundry area leading to a full bath.

The side exterior wall of the kitchen contains a built-in butler pantry with a wine cooler between base cabinetry and open shelves between upper glass-fronted cabinets. Next to the butler pantry are double windows opposite the “L” shaped kitchen arrangement with an island. The sleek contemporary look includes the “bucket” shaped bar stool tucked under the island’s dark wood finish that contrasts with the white of the cabinetry and the granite countertops, the texture of the backsplash that mimics the living room’s stacked stone and the stainless steel appliances.

Behind the kitchen is a room currently furnished as a TV room but it could easily be a main floor bedroom suite since there is a door to the full bath off the laundry area. The rear small room off the TV area could then become a walk-in closet. The double windows in the laundry room could be replaced with another pair of French doors for access to the side and rear yards.

The primary suite on the second floor is located at the corner above the living room and also has a fireplace. The iron bed frame doesn’t block the sunlight from the two front windows and a sliding “barn” door opposite the bed has alternating wood and frosted glass panels to filter light into the bath. Free-standing dual lavatories with marble tops, separate shower and tub creates a luxurious space. I also liked the second bedroom with its earth toned interiors and another sliding “barn” door to its bath with a colorful mural on the face of the door.

Wonderful property toward the end of the block that contains the Public Library and within walking distance to the center of Town, great curb appeal, easy flow among the main floor rooms, fireplaces in both the living room and second floor primary suite, potential for three en-suites including a main floor primary bedroom, private outdoor spaces in the rear yard, off-street parking-who could ask for anything more in a downtown location? Brava to the Owner for her stylish contemporary interiors!

For more information about this property, contact Doug Ashley with Doug Ashley Realtors at 410-810-0010 (o), 410-708-0408 (c) or doug@dougashleyrealtors.com. For more pictures and pricing, visit www.dougashleyrealtors.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

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

House of the Week: Mill St. Marvelous

November 3, 2021 by Jennifer Martella

One of the past House of the Week properties located on this very appealing block of Mill St. was a charming Colonial cottage and today’s feature is an equally charming Victorian. Its classic style is evident from the three-bay house’s front elevation with a full front porch, entry door at the side next to two windows with three windows aligned above on the second floor, fretwork at the porch’s columns and eave extension brackets at the second floor roof. The exterior color palette of light blue lap siding and yellow shutters with white trim is very pleasing.

I like how the entry door and sidewalk from the porch are located at the driveway side of the front elevation to maximize the porch’s seating area. The Town’s brick sidewalk extends to the front edge of the porch and the brick infills the off-site parking area to the white fence that marks the entry to the side yard. Hanging pots of colorful seasonal plants or flowers over the porch’s railing would be the finishing touch for this house’s great curb appeal.

The floor plan responds very well to the deep and narrow lot with a one room wide, four rooms deep layout. Past the fence, the brick paving continues along the driveway side of the house by a one-story shed roofed half screened, half open outdoor room that spans the full depth of the main level. The red brick and foliage along the brick wall of the adjacent house provides a colorful backdrop to the porch/terrace and the windows high above the ground provide privacy. This delightful outdoor area with its great back and forth flow from the side yard to porch to terrace creates a great party space! The hardscape ends at a verdant oasis shaded by trees and the landscape contains a colorful accessory structure that would be a perfect office or playhouse for young children.

The front door opens into a foyer with the side stairs leaving wall space for a small lunette table, decorative objects and art and behind the foyer is a powder room. From the foyer, the living room’s side wall is visible with a fireplace between built-in millwork detailed with centered open shelves below arched trim flanked by upper and lower cabinets. The living room is connected to the dining room by a wide cased opening to a vista of the dining room table and chairs to another fireplace beyond. The wainscot around the dining room is broken by the arched top corner cabinet, the pair of French doors to the screened porch and two single windows opposite each other. These windows and doors and the living room’s windows overlooking the front porch provide both direct and filtered light for the open plan living-dining rooms. Behind the dining room is the kitchen with an “L’ shaped arrangement of white cabinetry and stainless steel appliances with space for a breakfast table. At the rear of the house is the family room with the washer and dryer tucked under the another stair to the second floor and a French door to the side terrace.

The front stair landing at the second floor enlarges to a hall with doors to the primary suite and the adjacent room that leads to the two rear bedrooms. The primary bedroom has a closet next to the chimney for the living room fireplace below. The Owners cleverly added a fireplace surround to the chimney wall and all it needs is an artist to paint a firebox in perspective like I did to one of my former homes. The primary bath’s floor tile is the same as mine but alas, I lack a vintage claw foot tub this bath has. The white wainscot around the tub and toilet area adds texture and the soft blue walls are soothing.

The next room between the primary bedroom and the middle bedroom could be a sitting room or office. The middle bedroom and the rear bedroom share access to the second stair down to the family room. The rooms also share a bath that is cleverly tucked into the offset of the exterior walls. I especially liked the rear bedroom with its three windows, one of which overlooks the landscape below.

Wonderful property with a front porch, side screened porch and terrace to access the landscaped rear yard. Charming Victorian architecture, compact floor plan with many windows for sunlight and easy flow among the rooms and very convenient location off High Street close to the amenities of Chestertown’s Historic District!

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.csrealtors.com, “An Equal Housing Opportunity”.

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

House of the Week: Fairlee Creek Cottage

October 13, 2021 by Jennifer Martella

This 1.36 acre wooded property is located high above Fairlee Creek with a progression of outdoor spaces leading down to the water from the screened porch, deck and Adirondack chairs grouped around a firepit. Nearby are the stairs that lead to the pier to enjoy sunrises and sunsets. Now that fall is here, it is easy to imagine roasting marshmallows over the pit or enjoying a nightcap by the fire’s embers before bedtime.

The three bay traditional style house was built in 1994 with upgrades and renovations about six years ago that included foam insulation, new plumbing and electric. The kitchen was also transformed with white paneled cabinets, upper cabinets to the underside of the ceiling, quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances including a high speed ice maker for entertaining and an over-sized island with a second oven.

The house’s massing has a center wing higher than the side wings that both increases the headroom for the second floor and a creates a deep front porch. The center wing is clad in brick to contrast with the lap siding and green shutters of the side wings for a very pleasing color palette. I liked how the house is elevated above the ground with steps leading to the porch between low plantings in front of the foundation wall and how the house is nestled in its verdant setting of mature trees and low plantings.

The compact main floor plan is zoned very well with the entry door opening into the open plan living-dining-kitchen area between two spacious bedroom suites at each end of the house. The white walls and hardwood floors flow throughout the house and the large Oriental rug in the living room with its blue and red tones introduce the interior design accents in each room.

The deep blue chairs in the living room may have been part of a sectional and here they are angled to the sofa so one could sit either facing the water views or facing the sofa to join the conversation. The blue bar stools with their upholstered seats and backs surround the kitchen’s island for family and friends to enjoy a quick meal or to keep the cook company. The blue backsplash of the kitchen extends over the wall of the dining area to tie the spaces together and accentuates the white cabinetry. A pair of glass doors lead to gable extension off the rear wall for the screened porch with the frames for the screened panels carefully placed to maximize the views. Off the screened porch is a deck with a grille for outdoor meals.

Both the living room and the two main floor bedroom suites have six foot long windows for abundant sunlight. The primary bedroom has clever accents of red on some walls and the corner location with two windows on each exterior wall provides landscape and water views.

The stairs overlooking the living room access the second floor that spans the full length of the house with its own HVAC system, a bedroom suite and a spacious bonus room for myriad uses. Double windows at each side gable wall and skylights provide daylight but dormer windows could be added for more water views.

Panoramic views high above Fairlee Creek, a pier with six foot + water at high tide and minutes from the Chesapeake Bay, great family house with two main floor bedroom suites, wooded waterside setting, all this just a ten minute drive from historic Chestertown’s amenities!

House of the Week: Chester River Post and Beam

September 28, 2021 by Dave Wheelan

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

“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.

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

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