Last week’s House of the Week was a charming row house in Chestertown. Since I try to keep readers engaged by changing house styles, sizes,  etc. each week, this week’s property is something completely different -“Kimbolton”, an estate comprising sixty-six +/- acres with approximately 3/4 mile of water frontage on the West Fork of Langford Creek with panoramic, broadwater views. The approach to the house between an allee of trees passes by the outbuildings on one side and water views through the trees on the other side. The drive ends at the motor court with the building grouping of the garage with guest quarters and the “L” shaped house with the water beyond. The lawns are dotted with mature trees that allow clear views to the water and next to the house is a waterside pool and a terrace with an outdoor grille.  

The exterior of the two and a half story main house is simply detailed with gray lap siding and crisp white trim. The entrance is marked by a small brick stoop covered by a low gable roof with handrails on either side and brick steps leading to the drive.  The massing of the three-bay main wing of the house is broken down by a slight telescope to another one-bay wing. The addition that created the “L” shape of the house contains the kitchen, family room and service areas. The screened porch that spans the full length of the main wing and the greenhouse shaped sunroom off the kitchen become indoor-outdoor spaces to connect the house to the water.  

Many period details have been carefully preserved and I especially admired the built-in millwork in both the living and dining rooms.  The glass doors of the dining room full-height millwork is detailed with arched tops ready for the next owners’ china and crystal.  The living room millwork flanks the fireplace and has upper cabinets with glass doors over paneled base cabinets below.  Both the living and dining rooms have beautiful hardwood floors and the wide plank pine flooring in the dining room must be original to the house. The pair of front doors opens into the spacious living room with a vista through the pair of three-panel wood doors to the screened porch and views to the landscape and water.

The kitchen-family room addition has a sunroom at the rear with greenhouse style windows and roof over a brick base and is open to the kitchen so both rooms have water views.  The kitchen is detailed with white cabinets and appliances with exposed stained wood beams, white decking and track lights. The family room has a pitched ceiling with exposed collar beams and a side wall articulated with a four-unit window and transoms, topped with another arched window. I could well imagine having a seating area grouped around the massive fireplace chimney and enjoying the water views. 

The master suite is located in the secondary wing on the main floor and the other bedrooms are on the second floor. With the stairs located along the exterior wall, the hall connecting the bedrooms is filled with daylight from several windows. Some bedrooms have wallpaper, others have painted vertical paneling but all have beautiful hardwood floors. 

The property also has a multi-slip dock, tennis court, several ancillary buildings and two ponds -truly a Tidewater Treasure ready for the next owner to make their own improvements. 

For more information about this property, contact Miles Norris with Select Land &  Homes at 410-810-3900 (o), 410-708-5423 (c) or [email protected].  For more pictures 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 classic historic Victorian house caught my eye for its being one of the two-story “bookends” of the Mill Street block infilled with one-story Colonial style houses that create a charming streetscape. This house has the bonus of a side buffer of landscape to the rear of the properties along High Street and is close to the Cannon Street shops. The exterior color palette of red brick exposed foundation and white lap siding is enhanced by the teal shutters and front door. The window in the front foundation wall provides daylight to a full basement for storage. 

The one-bay house is perpendicular to the street so there is ample sunlight throughout the day from the front, rear and side windows. The front door opens into an alcove next to a parlor with a fireplace. Behind the parlor is a spacious family room that is connected to the kitchen and dining area to create an open plan arrangement clear through the house to the rear French door and window overlooking the covered porch. 

The covered porch was my favorite room-how could one resist the eclectic mix of two wrought iron chairs with cushions, an iron ottoman with a cushion that doubles as a coffee table, a rattan chair with cushions and a rattan chaise anchored by a rug that creates an outdoor room for warm weather enjoyment. A meandering path of brick and stone pavers leads to an outbuilding that is equipped with a sink to service outdoor parties. All one needs is a chimenea to extend outdoor enjoyment into the late fall. At the end of the path is a fence to the adjacent parking lot for access to the nearby bike trails.

The family room with its wood burning fireplace, hardwood floors, high ceiling and light gray walls for art is beautifully furnished with a mix of upholstered pieces, a large wooden chest for a coffee table and a Bertoia chair. I loved the kitchen-dining area with corner windows and window seat below with storage,  the French door to the landscape, and the storage unit with both open shelves and closed compartments with translucent fronts.  The warm honey tones of the cabinets, flooring and dining table top, the darker countertops, stainless steel appliances and the white coffered ceiling create an enjoyable gathering space for family and friends and easy access to the covered porch for al-fresco dining. 

The second floor is entirely devoted to the master suite and the laundry. The bedroom is located at the front of the house with two windows and another side window for ample sunlight.  A generous closet and bath with hardwood floors, tiled shower floor and a window complete the master suite. 

As appealing as the second floor suite is, I would opt for the third floor suite tucked under the eaves with its bird’s eye views of the Historic District.  The front dormer window and double side windows above a long cushioned seat add daylight and create a quiet retreat with built-in millwork for books and photographs.  The adjacent bath has a high window in the wall next to the bedroom for a clever way to add indirect daylight.   There is also an area for a home office.

Classic historic architecture, high ceilings, preserved details including window and door trim, updates including the open plan family-dining-kitchen, generously sized bedrooms and the deep rear yard with the covered porch, outbuilding with sink, and verdant landscape- the perfect oasis with easy access to Town amenities.

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 [email protected]. 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.

 

This great family house is located in the original section of Coventry Farms with upgrades to the master bath in 2016 and the kitchen in 2020. The front elevation of the house has a center two-story wing with a secondary two story wing set back slightly to break up the massing and an attached one-story side-opening garage completes the composition.  The house’s light gray lap siding, darker gray shutters, white trim and brick steps and stoop stand out against the surrounding green of the shrubbery lining the side walk and the mature trees. The tall white fence at the back of the driveway turns to surround a fully fenced private rear yard  with a spacious deck, firepit and play equipment for kids of all ages.

The foyer opens into the stair hall with vistas through the house to the rear windows at the breakfast area. Cross vistas to the dining/music room and a front room set up as a playroom create an easy flow and the 6/6 windows in the front rooms add sunlight. I am an avid scrabble player and I loved the art between the front windows with the family names spelled out in letter squares. Another artful touch was the oversized vertical ruler to measure changes in the children’s height. 

The hub of the house is the open plan family room-breakfast area -kitchen that span the full length of the rear of the house.  Sliding doors from the family room, double windows over the breakfast table opposite the bar stools at the kitchen and the window over the sink overlook the deck and the fenced yard.  The family room sofa has views to the wood-burning fireplace, TV and the sliding doors leading to the deck. The kitchen renovation added light gray cabinets, white countertops, upper cabinets to the underside of the ceiling, a patterned backsplash and stainless steel appliances with the beautiful wood floors. 

At the top of the stair landing is an alcove perfectly sized for a home office or homework with shelving and task lighting. The yellow desk with drawers and the red trash create a cheery space for work.  The corner spacious master bedroom has two windows overlooking the rear yard and another window at the side for sunlight throughout the day. I was charmed by the interior design of the children’s bedrooms.  One has a turquoise, purple and white color scheme and the panda bear perched over the headboard reminded me of my own childhood bear, who now graces my quest room. The other bedroom has a pale green and pink scheme with a colorful quilt, pink pillows and curtains.  I love a touch of whimsy and  the trio of colorful trees opposite the bed with their green leaves, red buds, yellow birds and turquoise butterflies were the perfect touch.

Wonderful upgraded family home in a neighborhood close to Town amenities with a spacious deck, firepit, gilling area and fenced yard for relaxation. 

 

 For more information about this property, contact Retha Arrabal with Doug Ashley Realtors at 410-810-0010 (o), 410-708-2172 (c) or [email protected], “Equal Housing Opportunity”. Photography by Thru the Lens Photography, Janelle Stroup

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.

 

On the East Fork of Langford Creek are five properties that consist of an exclusive farming community named the Cacaway Farm Cooperative Housing Corporation. This waterfront lot has a gently sloping lawn leading to its own private sandy beach where you can sunbathe, picnic, launch canoes or kayaks. You can also launch your sailboat from the community dock slip for a day on the water. The architectural style evokes the simple rural vernacular of barns and outbuildings. The original part of the house was built in 1990 and a later addition created two separate living quarters that are now joined to create a great space for entertaining with duplicate kitchens and sitting rooms.   The floor plan works very well with all of the main rooms on both floors having water views .

One cozy sitting room at one corner of the house has triple-unit wrap-around windows for panoramic water views for the informal dining area/sitting area open to the large kitchen.  The four-unit window over the kitchen sink gives the cook water views and the angled base cabinets and countertop overhang to accommodate bar stools provide company for the cook.  Next to the kitchen is the dining room that spans the full depth of the house for family celebrations or large dinner parties with French doors leading to the waterside deck.

The other two-story sitting room and the second kitchen are located at the addition with a second stair that leads to a loft around the perimeter of the space with bird’s eye views of the water.  Windows at the loft level spill light onto the first floor below and French doors at the main level lead to another side deck.  The second floor master bedroom is located at the opposite corner of the house and has an offset cozy sitting area with wrap-around windows.  The bed is opposite a four-unit window so one wakes up to views of the water.

The detached three-car garage has two heated garage areas with a third area for storage. At the front of the garage, the center bay is set forward slightly from the exterior wall of the other two bays that have column supports at each end to break up the line of garage doors. The center gable bay also provides headroom front to back for the spacious one-bedroom apartment above and the end gable walls provide more headroom and windows for sunlight throughout the day. At the rear of the apartment, two pairs of French doors lead to a large deck that is ideally placed to take maximum advantage of the view to the West Fork.

Great waterfront setting, private beach and community dock, separate spacious one bedroom guest apartment with deck- the perfect family compound!

For more information about this property contact Chris McClary with Gunther McClary Real Estate at 410-275-2118 (o), 410-708-2614 (c) or [email protected], “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.

Over the past three and a half years of writing articles celebrating the houses of the Eastern Shore, many of the most interesting houses in Kent County have been designed by the architect Peter Newlin, FAIA. Being elected to the AIA’s College of Fellows is the highest honor my profession can bestow and of the current 90,000 AIA active members, there are only 1,250 active FAIA architects and 500 emeritus architects in the US.  Only a gifted architect like Peter would tackle a project like the house he and his wife Gale Tucker discovered during their search for a waterfront property which ended with their purchase of a dilapidated house that was advertised  “as is”. The previous owner had gutted the house with the intention of a total renovation but it soon became a “money pit” and he abandoned the project.  Peter had the vision to realize that the hodgepodge of disparate architectural styles had potential but what closed the deal was the site on a high hill above the Chester River with pastoral views on the opposite shore.

Peter is a master of geometry and daylight and soon his sketches began to transform the grandfathered hodgepodge’s  footprint into a house with an easy flow from room to room with expansive views of the water from French doors and multiple windows. He added a steep roof to create a second floor that contains the master suite and office. From the front, the house appears to be a simple rectangular shape articulated with a large center gable dormer, bay window, skylights and a porch with a curved metal roof. The rear elevation opens up to the river with two shed dormers at the second floor, one on top of a first floor gable, main floor French doors set back slightly to create a full height box bay of windows across the living room.  The rear porch with its curved metal roof spans the full length of the living room and is a delightful space for watching the sunsets over the river.   

When I stepped up to the front porch, the vista from the French front door is aligned with the rear French door and the river view beyond for total transparency. As I walked through the entrance hall, it is was clear that fellow arts and crafts lovers lived here (along with four cats). I loved the flow of the living and dining rooms and the furniture, accessories, art and decorative touches made me linger to savor the delights.  I realized when I sat down that Peter had designed the large rear windows’ narrow muntins so they did not interfere with sightlines whether I was standing or sitting down. Peter’s signature curved wall free-standing chimney has corbeled sides that become ledges for artisan treasures.  The offset dining area with the table custom designed by Peter centered with the rear and side windows offers a panoramic view of the water. The large kitchen completed the open plan of the living areas. 

On the other side of the entrance hall are two rooms and a full bath.  The front room is another sitting room and much appreciated by one contented cat.  The rear room next to the full bath could easily be a main floor master suite with the adjacent full bath in the hall.  I was struck by the view to the water through the trio of windows and the hazy light reminded me of a Plein Air painting.  

Another of Peter’s signature designs is a curved stair and this one is daylit by a square shaft that pierces through the roof above to a skylight inset into the roof slope for an ingenious layered effect.  The master bedroom at one end of the house has a pitched ceiling with a skylight and a trio of windows on the gable side wall. The center unit is slightly higher than the end units and the accent window above completes the composition.  The rear shed dormer between walk-in closets creates a cozy inglenook- all it needs is a gas fireplace and bookcases to complete this restful retreat.  Next to the master bedroom is Peter’s home office with a pitched ceiling from the shed dormer and exposed wood collar beams.  When he is seated at his desk the vista through the window is water, water, everywhere.

Since the Second Annual Spy Tour of Houses Designed by Architects cannot occur this year due to Covid, I am grateful to Peter and Gale for sharing their home with me. Bravo for another great design!

 

 

 

Architecture by Peter Newlin of Chesapeake Architects,  410-778-4899, [email protected], www.chesarch.com. Contractor: Patrick Jones, Allen/Jones Inc.

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.

The design of this house on Davis Creek was inspired by the early 20th century farmhouses that dot the landscape of the Eastern Shore updated with a main floor open floor plan desired by most home buyers.  The three story wing of the house has a front wrap-around porch that connects to the French doors at the dining room.  What caught my eye as I looked at the front of the house was the total transparency of the main floor-the front storm door and the windows of the kitchen and dining room align with the  wall of windows at the rear of the house so you can see straight through the house to the water.  

The pleasing massing contains a story and a half wing that projects from the three story main wing with the third floor tucked under the roof with dormers to reduce the height.  The story and a half wing contains a one-car garage with a bedroom above that is connected to the main wing’s second floor. Another short two-story wing is set back deep from the main wing at the end of the wrap-around porch. A free-standing two-car garage is perpendicular to the driveway so the garage doors do not face the street. The garage’s ceilings are high enough for a boat or two on a trailer and the unfinished space above could has myriad uses including workshop, office or studio.

The front door opens into a foyer with the kitchen on the right open to the rear  great room’s sitting area with French doors between a four unit window and the bay-shaped window wall of the dining area. A wide wall opening leads from the great room to another sitting room whose focal point is a fireplace that rises to the underside of the one and a half story wing’s gable roof.  A balcony off the second floor bedroom overlooks this room. On either side of the fireplace, French doors lead to the deck and tall transoms next to the chimney bring additional light into the room. 

The rear wall of windows and doors opens up fully to the water beyond the deck that spans across the great room and sitting areas. Steps lead down from the deck to the lawn and pier. The second floor master suite has French doors from both  the bedroom and the bath to the deck that is covered by a shed roof that is an extension from the main roof.  The third floor sumptuous bedroom suite has pitched ceilings with a stained wood collar beam and end wall of window with arched transom above.

Great waterfront property shaded and protected by trees, with a floor plan designed for relaxing with family and friends! 

 

For more information about this property contact  Lynn Hilfiker with Gunther McClary Real Estate at 410-639-2118 (o), 443-480-1163 (c)  or [email protected]. 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.

If I could have lived at the turn of the last century, I would have wanted a house designed by either of the two giants of the English Arts & Crafts Movement, Edwin Lutyens and Charles Francis Annesley Voysey. The latter architect was also known for his furniture and textile designs and his English residential architecture draws inspiration from the vernacular buildings of the English countryside. He was also one of the first designers to appreciate how significant the impact of industrial design would be. 

Annapolis based architect Chip Bohl drew inspiration from Voysey’s work when he was retained by a Washington based couple who wanted a weekend and summer retreat on the Eastern Shore for themselves and their young son. Bohl had designed a kitchen for the wife’s cousin which the couple had greatly admired so they knew they had found their architect and began their search for the right property.  They found a spectacular waterfront site with a less than spectacular 1925 house whose initial charm had been lost during a 1960’s neo-Colonial revival. The couple and Bohl then began a ten year collaboration to update the house, guest house and detached studio/ workshop as well as the design of a new caretaker’s cottage. 

When I saw the side elevation of the main house, framed by mature landscaping, I was immediately reminded of Voysey’s style. The massing and materials of smooth stucco, dark window trim and 6/1 Craftsman style windows paid homage to Voysey. The house’s large rooms, high ceilings and period detailing were enhanced by adding larger windows and fixed glass panels to open up the house to the water views.  The screened porch on the corner of the house was rebuilt with large expanses of bronze screening panels for minimal glare. The small windows and doors leading to the screened porch were replaced with tall French doors to maximize the view and to capture the summer breezes.  A new terrace was added next to the screened porch to extend enjoyment of the outdoors.  

The charming guest cottage was completely renovated.  New large double hung windows and a terrace were added to enhance the views of the water. The interior was reconfigured to create a more open living-dining-kitchen space. Areas of the ceiling plane were raised to add volume to the rooms and the sculptured ceilings created by adding troughs and other cut-away elements hid the light sources from view. The result is soft, indirect, ambient lighting that highlights the forms of the ceiling and roof structure. 

The details of the house and guest house are outstanding.  The main house kitchen is simply exquisite- I loved the ingenious detail of the table that extends through the window and the sensuous stucco curvature of the stove hood. In the guest house bedroom, two free-standing closets (or cupboards as the English say) flank a window seat below a window with an arched header.  Instead of surface mounted hardware to open the doors, a bookmatched design is carved into each wood door and the teardrop shape at the bottom is perfectly shaped for one’s hand to open the door. On the exterior, stained triangular wood brackets project underneath the deep eaves and are mounted to the window jambs.  A similar treatment creates a canopy over the front door. 

The decade of work on this property exhibits Bohl’s signature style of embracing ambiguity. The historic homes that dot the Eastern Shore were built over time in many phases as the needs or tastes of generations of homeowners evolved. Echoes of past historic styles or details are seen in his work for a particular project as he strives to replicate the rich character of the architecture and interior details from the past. Voysey would be very pleased.  

Architect:  Bohl Architects, www.bohlarchitects.com, 410.263.2200, [email protected]

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.