I have featured several homes on Mt. Vernon Ave and they have great appeal from their mix of architectural styles and their location between Washington College and the amenities of downtown Chestertown. This story and a half house reminds me of the cottages built shortly after WWII with its Georgian Colonial architectural style. The house has a deep lot and the gravel drive at the side of the property leads to a detached single-car garage. At the rear of the house is a two-level spacious deck off the mud room and kitchen.  Tall crape myrtles at the back of the deck provide shade and seasonal color and other mature trees, a row of evergreens at the rear, the partially fenced driveway and other planted evergreens add privacy.

The house has the classic front elevation of a center front door flanked by double unit windows on either side with single window dormers centered above each pair of windows below.  The front 6 panel pale yellow wood door surround is detailed with fluted pilasters and molding and the top panels are glazed to bring additional sunlight into the interior. At the driveway side of the house is a one story cozy space with an exterior door and triple side windows that is currently being used as a home office but would also be a great sunroom. The exterior door to the office has the same six panel light yellow door as the main entry door and the triple windows provide ample sunlight for work. White siding, white trim and blue shutters completes the curb appeal. 

The front door opens into the living  room with the stairs to the basement and the second floor in between the living and adjacent dining room.  The living room has the front double windows and two other windows flanking the side wall fireplace.  This room and the dining room was artfully staged by the listing agent and one could easily imagine sitting on the living room sofa opposite the fireplace or the loveseat under the front windows and relaxing by the fire. The paneled walls have been painted white to reflect the sunlight and I liked how they add texture to the room. The wide wall opening to the dining room has a vista to the wood corner hutch containing a dry sink under the glass fronted upper cabinet for displaying serving pieces.  

The “L” shaped kitchen has a side window over the sink and is connected to the dining room, center hall in the middle of the floor plan and the rear mudroom/laundry. I would enjoy doing laundry there since the room has wrap around windows and a door plus a pet door  to the rear deck.  In between the two bedrooms at the rear of the house is the bath off a hall with built-in storage  Both bedrooms have a window on the rear and side walls for sunlight throughout the day. The bathroom has pink tile flooring and pink tile wainscot below wallpaper but to viewers of HGTV, the tile could be covered with painted beadboard and cap trim, paint could replace the wallpaper and a new light fixture would be a quick upgrade. 

The open plan second floor is divided by the center stairs and the single dormer windows at the front and back and a side gable window provide ample daylight.  The cedar lined walk-in closet is a plus and the large bath with its corner shower with glass doors and the blue and white striped wallpaper is scaled well for the room. Readers are  well aware of my love of second floor spaces tucked under knee walls and sloped ceilings-this space that spans over the living and dining room below sets the stage for a very appealing master bedroom with sleeping and sitting areas or a bonus room. 

Great location on a one-way street, deep lot with outdoor areas and privacy, well maintained very popular Colonial architecture style, compact and flexible floor plan with bedrooms and baths on both floors as well as a large basement for storage-great opportunity!

 

 

For more information about this property contact Krystina Hyland with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Company at 410-778-0220 (o), 410- 725-9225 (c). For more pictures and pricing, visit www.khylandhomes.com ,  “Equal Housing Opportunity”. Photography by Patty Hill, www.pattyhillphotography.com, (410) 441-4719

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.

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

 

Chestertown has many captivating Victorians such as this house with its simple and appealing symmetry.  The three-bay front elevation with its blue and white color scheme has a side entry door and two windows on the first floor, three windows aligned above and a double unit window dormer for the third floor. The eave bracket extensions and the brackets on either side of the front porch’s turned columns become frames for the 2/2 long windows and the door with its transom above. I especially liked the third floor dormer with the double windows and  9/2 muntin pattern. The white lap siding is accented by the blue accents in the stair treads, porch flooring and the shutters and the exposed red brick foundation piers infilled with white lattice.

The front door opens to a spacious hall with a “U” shaped stair. The hall has daylight from the half-French door and transom, the side window and the window at the stairs on the landing above that filters sunlight below. Tucked  into the corner of the stair with its stained wood treads, newel posts, trim and corner board is a comfortable upholstered chair and floor lamp that transforms the space into a mini-library with hardwood floors, Oriental rug and period pendant lighting fixture.  

The beautiful hardwood floors also flow throughout the main rooms.  A French door on axis with the foyer’s side window leads to the living room with its two front and one side window.  The wide opening with pocket doors in the rear wall leads to the adjacent dining room with its side and rear windows.  The space could easily accommodate dinner for two or a large dinner party. The dining room door to the rear screened porch has a storm door with glass that becomes another window with a vista to the deep rear yard. The screened porch is a cozy space to relax with your favorite beverage before moving inside for dinner or for that last cup of coffee in the morning before the start of your workday.

As an important part of the recent and extensive renovations, the kitchen now shines with its new flooring, white cabinets, dark countertops, gray subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances.  I admired how the center island is finished in dark wood with a light butcher block top as a counterpoint to the white and gray palette and how the two side windows bring sunlight into the space.

The three bedrooms are located on the second floor.  The master bedroom is located at the front corner and has two front windows and a side window for sunlight throughout the day.  The full bath has been renovated with beadboard wainscot and cap trim, European style dark stained cabinet and white porcelain top and the side window above the tub brings sunlight within. Of course, my favorite room was the renovated third floor with all the architectural elements I love-knee walls, sloped ceilings that intersect the side gable roofs and sunlight from the front dormer and the side single windows flanking the chimneys.  What a great space that is ready for whatever use you envision with bird’s eye views of the town below.

The restoration and renovation of this house was very well done-the hardwood floors, moldings, original four-panel wood doors and the pale gray walls with white ceilings create a serene background for your own interior design. The rear deep yard is also ready for a gardener to add their personal touch of hardscape and landscape areas to complement the mature trees and the decorative crape myrtle. The only thing I would do is remove the metal awning over the screened porch since it blocks the view of the rear yard from this delightful space. I would rather install matchstick blinds that could be lowered when the sun is low for a quick and easy fix.  

Great renovation, off street parking back to the rear of the house, rear yard potential-great opportunity to live in Chestertown’s Historic District close to Washington College. 

For more information about this property, contact Grace Crocker with Doug Ashley Realtors, LLC at 410-810-0010 (o), 410-708-5615  (c) or crockettgm@ymail.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”. Photography by Janelle Stroup, Thru the Len Photography, 845-744-2758, janelle@thruthelensphotos.com

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.

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

 

The area between Washington Ave., E. Campus Ave. and the Chester River was once Byford Farm and the original Victorian style farmhouse was located between this property and the Chester River. When the farm was sold and divided into lots, the streets were named Byford Court for the farm and Richard Drive, David Drive and Waldo Drive for the family’s three sons. This one level house was built in 1969 and the front elevation’s pleasing massing is due to the center wing being set back from both the rear entry garage at the right side and the bedroom wing at the left side. The front porch spans from the garage wing to the bedroom wing with an exterior door to the porch. The setting of mature trees, a rear yard that is a private verdant oasis surrounded by mature shrubbery and other landscaping, a large stone terrace and a screened porch that is open to the both the living room and breakfast area create indoor-outdoor rooms for relaxation.

The pair of half-glass, half paneled entry doors lead to a foyer open to the cross hall that connects the two wings and becomes a gallery for art. To the right of the foyer is the living room that spans the full depth of the house. The triple windows at the front offer glimpses of the Chester River and French doors at the rear open to the screened porch. Comfortable traditional upholstered chairs are grouped around the fireplace and the mix of wood and upholstered furnishings including a Regency style sofa under the front triple windows create a lovely room for entertaining.

The dining room has a double window to the screened porch and landscape beyond. On both sides of the window are corner cabinets with closed doors at the wainscot height and open shelves above. The rose colored upper cabinet walls are the perfect backdrop for china display and the Hepplewhite dining set anchored by the Oriental rug with the chandelier above completes the elegant look. The kitchen has a color palette of honey colored cabinets, wood floors in a lighter stain, light colored solid countertops and white appliances.

My favorite room was the breakfast area with its five-unit bow window offering panoramic views of the rear landscape and French doors to the adjacent screened porch. The family room has a fireplace with full height millwork on either side for books and family photographs and the triple window at the side wall has views to the landscape.

The bedroom wing is zoned for privacy with the guest rooms at the front of the house. Each room has windows on two walls for sunlight throughout the day. The master suite is located at the rear of the house with a triple window overlooking the landscape.

Relax on the front porch after dinner and enjoy the views of the Chester River or have dinner al-fresco on the private screened porch surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. Great floor plan with wood burning fireplaces in both the living and family rooms, windows placed for views and sunlight augmented by skylights, hardwood floors and one level living close to the heart of Town- great family home!

 

For more information about this property, contact Lisa Raffetto with Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company at 410-778-0330 (o), 410-708-0174 (c) or lisar@cbchesapeake.com. For more photographs and pricing visit www.lisaraffetto.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”. Photography by Patty Hill, www.pattyhillphotography.com, (410) 441-4719

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.

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

Having lived in two Craftsman style bungalows, I simply cannot resist their quirky charm and this bungalow caught my eye for its several unique features.  The front entry is a pair of French doors that open into a small vestibule to the living room that spans the length of the house. Between the entry French doors are two identical delightful nooks with arched openings into the living room.  I wondered if the house once had a full front porch that had been infilled but the nooks are charming.  Each nook has a center window between two narrower windows and a side window creating miniature sunrooms, libraries, offices or myriad other uses. 

The stairs are located at the side wall of the living room and begin with one tread up to a landing and then to a single run to the second floor.  The stairs are open to the living room and finished with stained wood treads and white risers.  The living room has sunlight from three sides from the French entry doors, the nooks’ windows, two side windows and another side window above the stair landing. The front door is on axis with the wide wall opening in the opposite wall of the living room leading to the dining room. The spacious room has a pair of windows above a cushioned seat below and the easy flow continues through the house to the kitchen, sunroom and another room that the current owner uses as an office. The main level also contains one bedroom and bath.

This corner “office” with windows at each side overlooks the rear yard and with the adjacent sunroom with its sloped ceiling open to the roof joists and decking and the wrap-around windows would make great family gathering spaces. The eat-in kitchen  has a window above the table and chairs and a double unit window above the sink for sunlight.  Stairs lead from the sunroom to a terrace and a sidewalk through the fenced yard to the off-street parking off the alley.  The yard has mature trees for shade, crape myrtle for color and plenty of lawn for play. Garden tools, lawn maintenance and toys can be stored in the detached outbuilding. Doors on the rear foundation wall lead to the basement for additional storage.

The second floor has great interior architecture with identical long shed roofs with four-unit windows that add character to both the front and rear elevations. Along with knee walls for recessed storage, the two spacious bedrooms tucked under the shed roofs have both sleeping and sitting areas.  The knee wall in one bedroom is decorated as an entrance to a child’s size nook that becomes a play house.  A mirror mounted on the wall is set at a child’s height and becomes a “window” to the play house.

Prime location in  Chestertown’s Historic district and close proximity to shops and restaurants. Great period details including the arched openings, stained five-panel interior doors and a main floor plan that flows to the rear fenced yard gives this charming bungalow great appeal! 

For more information about this property, contact Lisa Raffetto with Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company at 410-778-0330 (o), 410-708-0174 (c) or lisar@cbchesapeake.com. For more photographs and pricing visit www.lisaraffetto.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

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

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.

In the days before the opening of the Bay Bridge, “Gratitude” was one of the many steamboat ferries that carried passengers from Baltimore seeking the sun and beaches of the Eastern Shore.  There is even a book named after her-“Days of Gratitude, A Brief History of a Chesapeake Steamboat and the Town Named After Her ”, written by historian William M. Denny. Gratitude is now a populated place within the Town of Rock Hall. This charming property with its farmhouse style exterior and contemporary interior was designed by the late award-winning architect and first owner, Walcott Etienne, of Washington, DC, as his weekend retreat. 

The massing of the house is quite pleasing; between the two wings that are perpendicular to each other is the entry link with a pair of French doors to the landscape the front door with sidelights to the deck.  The wrap-around deck creates a delightful entry sequence with its trellis that casts shadow patterns on the Hardie plank siding and floor decking.  To the right of the entry link is a TV room with a white framed and stained surface sliding barn doors that can be closed for sound privacy. Double windows on the side wall of the TV room are aligned with the double windows of the opposite wall at the short hall by the stairs leading to the main sitting room. With the full bath on the main level, the TV room can have a dual use as a guest bedroom. 

The lower run of the “U” shaped stair is open to the spacious corner room that is the main sitting room with the fireplace centered in the rear wall.  Windows on three sides of this charming space bring sunlight throughout the day. The neutral walls, upholstered furnishings anchored by the Oriental rug and accents of wood pieces create a serene space for relaxing.  I especially liked how the window frames were stained instead of painted that accentuated the openings against the white trim.

On the other side of the entry link is another sliding barn door that leads to the open plan kitchen and dining area. The gambrel shaped ceiling, radiant heated tile floors laid on a diagonal that stretches the space and the free-standing three-sided fireplace on a raised hearth can be enjoyed by the cook as well as the dining table area. The wrap-around windows and upholstered banquette seating below enclose the dining space and additional chairs defines a very appealing area to linger over a meal.  

As a cook I especially liked the kitchen with the honey colored Craftsman style cabinets, dark colored countertops, stainless steel appliances and a table a deux for breakfast. The R/F was framed in white trim with a deep cabinet above with glass doors for a clever way to fully utilize the deep storage space above the R/F. 

The second floor contains two bedrooms separated by the stairs and another full bath.  The larger bedroom is located over the main sitting room and has the same wrap-around windows for views of the water. The chimney for the fireplace below is the perfect backdrop for the wood armoire and the gambrel-shaped ceiling and light aqua green walls with the floral bedlinens is a serene retreat.  The second bedroom is also charming with its two wood pencil-post bedframes centered between the double window, the white painted nightstand with dual lamps, floral sheets, white and blue windowpane checks and aqua green walls. The bathrooms on both levels are designed with a subway tiled wainscot with a molded tile cap, a tile floor with a border of square tile inlaid with period octagonal tile, a recessed medicine cabinet with a shelf below the mirror and porcelain white pedestal lavatories. The shower wall has one partial height tiled wall with glass above to capture the daylight from the window. The second floor also contains a deck for bird’s views of the water.

Wonderful layout for full time or weekend living, creative outdoor rooms of the Bay view decks on both levels and the stone terrace off the dining-kitchen wing with low stone walls facing the garden and rear lawn that sweeps toward Swann Creek.  

 

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”. 

Construction by D & D Contracting, Dave & Patti Eason, 410-810-0430

 

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.