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House of the Week: Brice’s Mill Farm, circa 1752

September 21, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

Just beyond the outskirts of Chestertown is this pastoral setting of pasture, fields and towering trees that surround a group of buildings including a main house, guest cottage and two barns. The property, once known as Mill Ford, is located on the upper reaches of Langford Creek’s east branch. Its history begins in the eighteenth century with its purchase by Daniel Perkins Jr., whose father had established a fulling mill, grist mill and saw mill on Morgan Creek. Daniel Perkins, Jr. built the main house and later renovations were made by his son and grandson. Subsequent owners included John Brice and his son, Joseph Brice, who continued to operate the mill until it was destroyed by fire in 1910. The original grist stone remains at the front corner of the main house and the Brice name lives on in the sign “Brice’s Mill Farm” at the entrance to the property.

The original house was a two-bay, two-story structure, with a brick chimney in the middle of each side gable elevation. The original kitchen may have been located in the basement since it has a brick fireplace sized for cooking. After the property sold in 1930, the current kitchen wing that telescopes down from the main wing was added, the stable was renovated and the dairy barn was built. On the day I visited, I drove along a gravel road under the shade of huge oak trees to arrive at the main house. The driveway continues past the detached garage with its “barn” style doors and the guest house opposite the barns. The simple forms of the white brick main wing and the white lap siding of the kitchen wing stand out against the green backdrop of trees that surround the clearing for the buildings. Wood steps lead up the center front door painted deep coral surrounded by moldings of olive green.

The front door opens opposite the “L” shaped stairs and the living room. Sunlight pours in from windows on three sides and is reflected off the bright white walls. I especially liked the crisp detailing of the windows set into the deep brick exterior walls. Instead of wood trim, the drywall continues around the recessed windows, accented by window sills of 400 year old stained pine. Next to the front door, a built-in cupboard and bench with a wood seat accommodates a neat row of wellies below and pegs above for coats.

The focal point of the living room is the wide brick chimney flanked by windows on each side. The white walls, pine floors, exposed beams stained a darker color and multiple windows create charming interior architecture. The living room leads to the dining room in the secondary wing with a built-in corner cabinet next to the front window and French doors on the rear wall leading to the screened porch. With tomorrow’s equinox signaling the beginning of fall, how delightful it will be to open the French doors to the cool fall breezes and enjoy dinner with family and friends.

As readers know, I love galley kitchens and I admired this kitchen’s olive green base cabinets, wood countertops interrupted by the Delft tiles on either side of the stove for easier transfer of hot pots after cooking, wood floors and a bead board wall for texture. I have missed radiator heat since my move from Pittsburgh and at the end of this kitchen, the radiator cover becomes a piece of furniture. The rear door of the kitchen leads to the screened porch with a hipped bead board ceiling and a colorful wood mermaid sculpture over the dining room’s French doors. The bistro table and tiled top beckon one to linger over that second cup of morning Joe to enjoy the peaceful landscape and the sounds of nature as the day begins.

A short hall off the kitchen passes by the powder room. Small spaces can have a big impact like this powder room with its tiled floor of small white octagon tiles with a black border, porcelain enamel wall mounted white lavatory top and black base and the white shiplap wainscot. Above the wainscot is a charming wallpaper pattern with an olive background featuring pairs of birds facing each other as if they are about to begin a minuet. Past the powder room are the stairs to the basement with its above ground windows for daylight and the original fireplace. What a terrific space with myriad uses from office to teen rec. room with its exterior door and steps up to the side brick terrace.

The second floor stair hall along the rear wall is sunlit by a window and I admired the wall hanging with its design of animals and geometric designs in earth colors. The primary bedroom is located above the living room and shares the chimney. Here the fireplace has a wood firebox surround painted white to blend into the white walls. The kilim over the wood floor, the twig rocking chair, wood chest of drawers and the white coverlet with flowers is a serene retreat for all, including the family dogs. Two other bedrooms and a bath complete the floor.

This family compound includes a cozy cottage currently occupied by a doting grandmother. The exterior siding of white board and batten siding casts playful shadows on the facades of the cottage that was built in 2017 from a Southern Living design by Patrick Jones. The floor plan works very well with the entry door opening opposite the wall behind the stairs to the loft bedroom and office space. The stairs overlook the living-dining area leading to a screened porch with views of the landscape. Behind the stairs are the mudroom/laundry with its own entry, kitchen and the main floor bedroom and bath. I especially liked the kitchen with its white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and island with double windows over the sink for more landscape views.

Brice’s Mill Farm is a private haven and unique opportunity for three generations to live together in a pastoral setting of farm fields and pasture with an architectural mix of the historic main house and the four-year old cottage. The property includes eight tillable acres, three acre pasture, ¾ acre paddock, horse stable, historic brick barn, workshop, and farm office. The only thing missing is a pond to replace the Mill Pond that once bordered the property!

For more information about this property, contact Richard Budden at Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company, 410-778-0330 (o), 443-480-1181 (c) or rbudden@easternshoremdre.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: Widehall

September 14, 2021 by Jennifer Martella 1 Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

House of the Week: Stylish Queen Anne

September 7, 2021 by Dave Wheelan Leave a Comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

House of the Week: Queen for Today

August 31, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

When I saw the pictures of this exquisite house, I was immediately hooked by the combination of historic architecture and the stylish Mid-Century Modern interiors. Located in Chestertown’s Historic District in the middle of a block on Queen Street, the house has charming curb appeal. The front gambrel roof is infilled with scalloped shingles accented by the double hung window with diamond-patterned muntins flanked by smaller windows on each side. Three windows at the second floor are centered over the side entry door next to the double window of the living room and the two-bay front porch with its low slope roof adds the finishing touch. The white lap siding separated from the plum scalloped shingles by a turquoise band and the lilac colored shutters creates a soft and pleasing palette. I especially liked the bold choice of the bright turquoise storm door against the deep yellow entry door with it unique arrangement of panels. The rear yard is a fenced urban oasis with its mix of hardscape and landscape, with lilies and crape myrtles blooming now against the green of the garden.

I hoped the colorful front doors were a prelude to the interior design and I was not disappointed. The front door opens into the deep foyer that follows the stairs along the side pale yellow light wall and the stairs’ stain is slightly darker than the beautiful honey colored wood floors. In front of the stairs is a side table with an eclectic arrangement of artisan pieces including a ceramic teapot that I coveted for my collection. I learned from the Owners that the distinctive original artwork above the table was painted by Vincent Price that they bought at auction. The colors of goldenrod, deep rose and slate blue are echoed in the other art throughout the house and it was a pleasure to discover them as if I were on a scavenger hunt.

From the foyer, several vistas beckon one for further exploration from the glimpses of deep red at the end of the hall, peacock blue in the dining room and the living room’s vibrant goldenrod walls that must glow as they soak in the late afternoon sun from the front windows to the porch and the side wall window. The living room wall color is the perfect backdrop for the artfully arranged Owners’ Scandinavian, modern and artisan furnishings and I loved the Danish wing back chair with upholstery that picks up the colors of the Vincent Price artwork. From the leather chairs at the front of the room, the vistas to the corner fireplace, and through cased openings in the side walls to the foyer mirror and the dining room’s artwork above the wainscot is a panorama of visual delights.

The dining room has an angled wall backing up to the living room corner fireplace that is the perfect focal point for another artwork reminiscent of Edward Hopper’s work. The large floral piece seen from the dining room is a colorful explosion of flowers and the corner cabinet adds storage space for special serving pieces.

The red wall seen from the front door vista is the tongue and groove wainscot of the butler pantry conveniently located for entertaining between the hall and the kitchen. The galley layout of the kitchen with the refrigerator at one end wall frees up space for a breakfast table and chairs. The side window and rear window overlooking the sunroom keeps the space sunny and bright. The kitchen’s wood four-panel door leads to the rear sunroom with its wrap-around windows on three sides that is furnished as a family room with comfortable seating for watching TV. The bead board hipped ceiling makes the space cozy and the skylights add daylight and moonlight.

The second floor stair hall has a tableau of objects displayed on a hunt table with a distressed finish including descending heights of candlesticks, artwork and an antique floor lamp stand. My favorite room was the corner sitting room off the primary suite with pale yellow walls, Scandinavian oversized chairs and colorful pillows as accents. Two bedrooms and two baths complete the second floor and the primary bedroom has three windows with damask drapery and lilac walls. Both baths have tiled floors, beadboard wainscots and pebble mosaic shower floors. The third floor has two bedrooms and delightful interior architecture from the sloped ceilings that follow the roof framing. The front accent window, the dormer window with its arched top and the side windows and roof windows flood the space with light. If I were a teenager, this would be the space I would claim for my domain.

I am indebted to the Owners for their insights about their color choices and I greatly admired the special items in their collection that are so artfully arranged. I learned that they are moving soon and I will eagerly await their next house to see how they transform it. Clearly, they have an innate sense of style and I am sure it will be fabulous. Bravo!

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: Lauretum

August 24, 2021 by Jennifer Martella 1 Comment

Little did I know when I drove through Chestertown on my way to meetings with an architectural client in Rock Hall that I passed by one of Kent County’s architectural treasures,“Lauretum”, a National Register property, circa 1881. Latin for “laurel grove”, this magnificent house is sited on six acres on a hill above Chestertown and was commissioned by the prominent Vickers family. George Vickers became a US Senator and is best known for casting the deciding vote that saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment. Architect Edmund George Lind, FAIA, was chosen to design “Lauretum” and one of the most accomplished builders at that time, R. K. Pippin, was the contractor.

Born in England, Lind received his architectural education in London and after working for several offices, he emigrated to New York City. His talent soon found him employment in the office of Nathan G. Starkweather, designer of Baltimore’s First Presbyterian Church. Lind moved to Baltimore to supervise its construction and later left to form a partnership that became Lind & Murdoch. Their most well-known project was Baltimore’s Peabody Institute. Before Lind moved his practice to Atlanta, he designed “Lauretum”.

On the day I visited, I drove along a gravel driveway that climbs up a high hill shaded by mature trees accented with crape myrtles and laurel that lined the drive. At the top of the hill I reached a clearing surrounded by trees and two sides of the house came into view. I stopped the car to savor the beauty of the gambrel roofed three-story structure of light yellow stucco, multi paned windows with elliptical arched headers, granite window sills and pale blue trim. I thought at first the roofing shingles were slate but as I grew closer I realized they were actually architectural shingles in a clever mix of straight and scalloped edges with long exposures to simulate slate.

The elevations visible from the driveway illustrate the exuberant details of the house’s late Victorian style with the stepped down massing from the three-story gable wing at the front and the two-story wing at the side, hipped gable eaves, one with a triple oriel window, dormer windows, exposed rafters, decorative bracing at the porch columns, pierced fretwork, tower elements and multiple porches. The windowpanes ranged from 16/2 to 42/4 and many of the windows are infilled with random accents of red and white colored glass. Several articulated reddish brick chimneys pierce the chimney.

The three-story entry elevation has a welcoming scale with the porch leading to the front door covered by a hipped gable roof infilled with fretwork above pairs of wood columns separated by bracing. Flanking each side of the front door are pairs of double hung 24/2 windows on the main floor. The front gambrel roof eaves end in artfully detailed triangular brackets perpendicular to brackets below to the front face of the wall. I liked the asymmetry of this elevation with three of the second floor windows under the gambrel roof and the third under the eave of the projecting wing at the side of the house. The elevation is balanced by a one story porch at the driveway side and a one-story addition at the rear side.

The rear addition’s rich mix of details include the third floor dormer windows and the tower element penetrating the gambrel roof, the long windows with 20/2 on the second floor and 42/4 on the main floor, stacked porches and the one-story shed roofed addition meeting the gambrel hipped addition. Steps lead from French doors to the broad lawn bordered by trees. The massing steps down to a two-story elevation then to a one-story roof over a porch to the side terrace.

This magnificent house was built for the ages with its walls of thick brick and has been a residence, B&B and currently is the corporate offices of a national firm. The office furnishings are unobtrusive so the original interior architecture and finishes can be admired. Beautiful wood floors, high ceilings, moldings, ceiling medallions in the living and dining rooms and interior transoms above doors all attest to the beauty of the house when it was a private residence. The unusual jib-way doors in the adjacent sitting and dining rooms access the porch for pre-dinner cocktails and post-dinner coffee. I admired how the current owners’ relocated kitchen incorporated the long original windows and the fireplace into the layout and their high-end design would be the envy of any cook.

My favorite room was the main floor study for its exposed brick chimney with corbeled sides and a front 20/2 double hung window with the upper panes of random colored glass. The recessed alcove for a pre-cell rotary phone is a wry anachronism for the current office use. When one has writer’s block, time out in the adjacent porch overlooking the grounds would get the creative juices flowing again.

The second and third floors contain the bedroom suites currently furnished as offices and the third floor oriel window enhances what was once the schoolroom for young children.

My wish for “Lauretum” is that it once again becomes a residence for new owners to appreciate a wonderful opportunity to continue the stewardship of this house that is so significant to Chestertown’s architectural history!

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

House of the Week: Cottage Charmer

August 17, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

From the front of this charming house you have a view of Chestertown across the Chester River. The Cape Cod style house is located on a desirable corner lot and shaded by mature trees, one of which began its life as a sapling of the great Wye Oak tree. The front entry door has a pedimented roof with double supports and steps leading down to the sidewalk. Double windows on either side of the front door, two dormer windows above and the side screened porch set back slightly from the front elevation to break down the massing create great curb appeal. The white siding of the house stands out on the street from its backdrop of mature landscaping that surrounds the rear and sides of the house.

The front door opens to the spacious living room and flanking the red brick fireplace at the side wall is a single window and a French door to the screened porch to extend your living space. I am sitting in my screened porch as I write this and I envy the privacy of this porch with its mature landscaping that wraps around the corner to obscure the side street and driveway. White rattan furnishings with blue and white cushions, the painted wood floors and slat ceiling encourages relaxation. The wide screened panels offer clear diagonal views of the rear landscaped yard.

Between the living room and the rear open plan kitchen-dining area are the stairs to the second floor. The “L” shaped kitchen layout has white Shaker style cabinets, darker countertop and stainless steel appliances. I liked the Period style open shelves at the end of the one upper cabinet run that is a perfect display space. The soffit above the upper cabinets could be easily removed to for glass-fronted cabinets above to add height to the wall and extra storage. At the corner of the dining room, another curved built-in shelving unit echoes the kitchen unit. The dining table is centered around the side window and the double window at the rear wall for views to the landscape. One stained hand hewn exposed rafter separates the kitchen ceiling from the dining area and another beam in the dining room adds texture and color.

Two bedrooms and one bath at the side of the house complete the efficient floor plan. I liked how one bedroom has wood shutters on the lower part of the double hung windows to provide seated privacy so the fabric valance over the upper part of the window is purely decorative. The third bedroom and second bath are located on the second floor with the open stair railing dividing the open space into the bedroom and bonus area with paneling on both the ceiling and walls. Since the paneled batten board knee walls end at the spring line of the sloped ceiling area above, I would remove the ceiling paneling and substitute a smooth ceiling of painted gypsum board that would reflect more light into this delightful space.

The property also includes a partial basement with the laundry that could be relocated to the main floor and a two-car detached garage. Great location with water views, charming cottage architecture with a screened porch for a warm weather family room, two main floor bedrooms, desirable corner lot with room for expansion if needed and mature landscaping-wonderful family home!

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

Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens Photography, 410-310-6838

House of the Week: Down by the Riverside

August 10, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

This property caught my eye for its very convenient location one block from highway 213 and Chestertown’s Historic District amenities. The property has great curb appeal from its exterior color palette and variety of hardscape and landscape. The two-story, two-bay house with light yellow/brown lap siding and the reddish-brown colored shutters stands out against its setting in the lush perennial garden on either side of the brick sidewalk and the mature crape myrtle that fans out from the landscaping frames the front elevation beautifully. At the side yard, the hardscape changes texture from brick to white pebbles inlaid with individual deep gray flagstone pavers. At the end of the pavers is another texture change of the wooden privacy fence with a delightful iron artisan gate design of a half-sunrise arched top festooned with vines and miniature lights. The gate separates the public space from the private rear yard enclosed by the wooden fence.

The brick stoop with black iron handrails has a pedimented roof over the front door with a beadboard ceiling painted the siding color and the trim and the support brackets are painted the shutter color for contrast. The front door opens into the living room with a sectional sofa, rocking chair and ottoman for entertaining with the white firebox surround that has cleverly become a bookcase. The deep wall opening at the rear of the room leads to the dining room with a horizontal beadboard wainscot and the table and chairs below the window overlooking the side yard. The side stairs leading from the corner of the dining room has storage below the steps and a doorway leads to the shed roofed one-story kitchen at the rear of the house.

The sloped portion of the kitchen’s roof intersects the flat ceiling area to create space for upper cabinets on the interior wall and the lower rear wall has open shelves. Two skylights over the low rear window bring more sunlight/moonlight into the kitchen and the half-French door leading to the brick terrace is handy for serving al-fresco meals. The white cabinets and white appliances makes the efficient space seem larger and using the same color for both the tile floor and the countertops maintains the neutral palette. The glass fronted white upper cabinets give depth to the space and the wood slat ceiling and walls add texture.

Each of the second floor bedrooms has different ceiling treatments. One bedroom has a full height ceiling and one has a high knee wall with a sloped ceiling that intersects the flat portion of the ceiling. Two low windows flank the bed and the wall space in between cleverly becomes the “headboard” with its strips of multicolored wood. The bath has been renovated with a glass fronted shower and a rear wall of white subway tile. The floor tile that continues into the shower is the same black and white pattern I selected for one of my bathrooms. The pattern of the center black square surrounded by white rectangles is perfectly sized for the space. An open shelving unit between the shower and the toilet conveniently holds towels and other supplies. The lavatory cabinet has a white undermount lavatory set into a berry colored granite countertop for an accent and the round mirror with sconces completes the upgrades.

Great starter house, downsizer house or weekend getaway with an established garden ready for the next owner to enjoy, low maintenance yard without grass and a private rear fenced terrace for relaxation, all within a short distance to the Chester River or to the amenities of Chestertown’s shopping area.

For more information about this property, contact Peter Heller with Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company at 410-778-0330 (o), 410-708-3301 (c) or pheller@cbchesapeake.com. For more photographs and pricing visit www.hellertheseller.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

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

House of the Week: Before and After on Cannon

August 3, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

On my way home from touring a previous House of the Week, I took a detour to stop by the Chester River Wine & Cheese Company at the corner of Cannon and Cross Streets. As I drove down Cannon St., I passed today’s featured house and stopped to admire its symmetrical and colorful front elevation with the side door next to two windows, three windows aligned above and the center roof gable with an accent curved top window. The symmetry is enhanced by the exterior color palette of light aqua lap siding, white trim and the butter yellow front door and accents of bright blue cushions on the rattan chairs are the finishing touches. The house appeared to be either brand new or totally renovated and I discovered the house had indeed undergone a total renovation from the foundation to the roof. The current owners purchased the property from sellers who had owned the house for several generations and they hoped for buyers who would restore the house and love it as much as they did. I believe these buyers exceeded the seller’s expectations.

The condition of the house might have deterred all by the most enthusiastic renovationists; in fact, one developer submitted a bid at double the cost of the house to tear it down and rebuild, due to the existing conditions. Fortunately the new owners had the vision to look beyond the suspended ceilings that had been installed under the original ceiling finish, paneled walls, etc. and focused instead on features like the original wood floors, wood fireplace mantelpiece and long windows that could be saved and refinished.

The house was stripped down to the studs, new collar beams were added as lateral support for the roof rafters, the front porch was liberated from the former screen framing and a new foundation was poured. The original addition at the back of the house was widened to create room to relocate the stair for better flow. During demolition, they discovered both an old wooden peg and a horseshoe that were left undisturbed. The result was well worth the effort and now the house proudly reclaims its place in the urban streetscape. The open front porch is a cozy spot for relaxation and offers opportunities to connect with neighbors on their daily stroll.

The main floor open-plan layout is similar to the “shotgun” style since you have a clear view from the front door to the pair of French doors at the rear wall. The Craftsman style front door and the windows bring sunlight into the room. The side brick chimney was left exposed and the original mantelpiece with its narrow firebox opening is now decorative. The wide wall opening leads to the dining room and the “L” shaped side stairs are in front of the former exterior/now interior rear window and lap siding of the living room wall that was left exposed. The landing of the L” shape stairs is centered on one of the original side exterior windows.

The expansion of the rear wing creates both a spacious dining area for entertaining and the large galley kitchen with a large center island, built from reclaimed wood from the demolition. The bar sink and an overhang for bar stools creates both a secondary food prep area and a cozy space to keep the cook(s) company. The R/F is conveniently located on the rear wall between the sink cabinetry and the range cabinetry. The beautiful oversized wood exterior door opens to the driveway for ease of unloading groceries and restocking the large pantry. I liked the combination of open shelves on the kitchen sink wall of cabinets and the upper cabinets on the opposite range wall. Another wide wall opening leads to a room with the laundry along the side wall opposite the door to the power room. Since the French doors access the rear yard, I would be tempted to move the W/D to the pantry and free up this pleasant space to become another seating area.

The second floor hall is sunlit by the two exterior windows above the run of the stairs. The primary suite overlooks the rear yard from a delightful private deck complete with rattan seats for family pets. The primary bedroom is enhanced by the former ceiling rafters stained to highlight their hand cut edges, the pair of leaded glass mirrors above the bed’s headboard and the French doors leading to the deck. The primary bath has separate European style lavatories below a long mirror and a bowed shower rod with the curtain’s aqua background picking up the exterior wall color against a pattern of white branches. The front bedroom is furnished as a charming nursery and the side door accesses the attic area for storage.

The tax records note the house’s construction as 1920 but while cleaning the chimney interior, the contractor found the date “1890” carved into the brick, perhaps by the mason who was proud of his work. Whatever the date, this meticulous restoration/renovation was done with loving care and the open plan main floor is updated for today’s lifestyle without compromising the original charm. Some of the past owners’ family still live on Cannon St. and I am sure they are very pleased with the current owners’ efforts. Bravo!

For more information about this property, contact Lacey Sutton with Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company at 410-778-0330 (o), 443-480-35 80(c) or lacey@cbchesapeake.com. For more photographs and pricing visit https://suttonteamhomes.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity”. Photography by Justinian Dizpenza, Andover Media, 410-204-1992

House of the Week: Haven Cove Farm

July 27, 2021 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

I looked forward to visiting this house after seeing the aerial picture of the waterfront site bordered by woods and how the house and three outbuildings curved around the drive. My hectic day slowly began to dissipate as I drove along the gravel drive between a pond where goslings were having their swimming lesson across a grove of mature trees. The drive becomes a “doughnut” with plantings in the center on axis with the front door of the house and then curves around to access the garage/guest house and the other outbuildings.

Brick steps with deep landings between plantings on either side lead up to the front door. After opening the door, it was immediately apparent that this 2009 house was built to the highest standards of construction and finishes. The center entrance hall creates an open vista through the cross hall to the rear windows of the two-story living room. Instead of furnishings, the interior architecture of the entrance hall is the “star” with the stairs to the left opposite the wood wainscot painted white below a warm light apricot wall. The artful eight-pointed star compass of two toned wood inset in the beautiful wood floor and the serene marsh landscape on the wall set the tone for the serene interiors within.

Three columns define the edge of the living room at the cross hall. The steeply pitched ceiling has two rear dormers above the rear wall of French doors to the adjacent porch flanked by large picture windows with operable units that frame the views to the landscape and water beyond. One side wall has a fireplace centered in built-in millwork that rises to the underside of the second floor hall molding. The other side wall has a wide elliptical arched opening to the kitchen between the dining and breakfast room. I loved the breakfast room’s simplicity of the sloped ceiling, three sides of large picture windows and French doors to the porch off the living room. The lack of window coverings brought the landscape and water views into the room and the three Danish Christmas plates were the only decoration except for the wood table and spindle backed chairs.

Beyond the spacious gourmet kitchen with a center island is the dining room at the front of the house. Beautiful wood furnishings including a sideboard, hutch, wood table and Windsor chairs anchored by the Oriental rug surrounded by walls of blue above the white wainscot create a setting for a relaxing dinner with family and friends.

Before dinner, most guests would convene in the large family room that spans the full depth of the house. As I stepped through the wide cased opening of the dining room, the interiors change dramatically into a hunting lodge with pine paneled floors, stained dropped beams to break up the expanse of the ceiling and brick fireplace. Hunting is the theme of the art here with mounted fish and the parade of duck decoys on their wooden shelf perch. One bay window encloses the table for cards and the other rear bay window offers views of the landscape and water.

The cross hall off the living room leads to the primary suite. The master bedroom is perfectly sized as a bed-sitting room with the bed opposite the fireplace and a rear bay window defining a waterside seating area. The clever touch of Plantation shutters over the lower pane of the double hung windows only gives seated privacy while allowing light in from the upper pane and transom. I was envious of the roomy laundry with side by side washer and dryer above drawers below that creates a comfortable height for loading/unloading clothes.

The upper stair landing off the hall has a large nook by one dormer window with an oversize chair and ottoman centrally located to the guest bedrooms for a cozy bedtime story with children or grandchildren. The spacious bedrooms have different room arrangements ranging from double beds to a daybed and twin beds to accommodate guests. I especially liked the symmetry of one bedroom with double beds covered in colorful patchwork quilts opposite each other with identical oval hooked rugs and wooden nightstands with lamps. The space between the beds aligns with the space between the rear wall’s two windows completes the symmetry and creates a serene mood for sleeping below the ceiling with its slightly chamfered ends at the side walls for extra height.

Both the front and rear porches have great bird’s eye views from their elevated floors and the rear porch has brick steps down to a deck that connects to the primary suite and more brick steps to the raised gunite pool level. The progression continues to the large bluestone terrace at grade level at a wonderful outdoor room with a fireplace, chairs for relaxing and a table and chairs for crab feasts.

While the main house was under construction, the owners lived above the detached two-car garage in a sunny open plan suite with windows on all sides and stained knotty pine walls and ceiling. This is now a guest suite for extended stays.

What is a rare opportunity to own this parcel and the adjacent waterfront property containing 100 acres of privacy and protected views from additional ownership of the view opposite Swann Creek. Perfect setting for enjoying the abundant wildlife including deer, ducks, eagles, fox, herons and turkeys that also call the property home. This splendid house is sited for iconic water views of Swann Creek and Rock Hall Marina. I could well imagine relaxing on the rear porch as the sun sets and how magical the lights on the masts must be at twilight. Launch your boat from the private pier and enjoy the short ride past four marinas to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Splendid!

For more information about this property contact Gunther McClary Real Estate agents Chris McClary at 410-639-2118 (o), 410-708-2614 (c), mcclary21@hotmail.com, or Lynn Hilfiker 410-639-2118 (o), 443-480-1163 (c), lynnhilfiker@gmail.com. (For more pictures and pricing, visit https://show.tours/DYRRVb76G0gz1xuK1TL2 “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

House of the Week: Tolchester Estates

July 20, 2021 by Jennifer Martella 1 Comment

I have featured several homes in this neighborhood and love its breathtaking setting on the Chesapeake Bay. Since I moved to the Eastern Shore only seventeen years ago, researching the history of the neighborhoods I feature always unearths intriguing insights. I learned Tolchester Estates was established in 1920, during the heyday of steamboat crossings that docked at Tolchester Beach and unloaded happy vacationers or day trippers to enjoy the sandy beach that had been a popular spot by swimmers for many generations. After a day in the sun, the amusement park beckoned that was inspired by New York’s Coney Island that also included a dance pavilion, grandstand, many rides and a racetrack to extend the fun into the evening. The popularity of Tolchester declined after the Bay Bridge was constructed and the steamboat era survived only in historic photographs.

Everything old is new again and Tolchester Estates is now sought after for its cottages on the Bay, the park, marina and for incomparable sunsets. The drive to this cottage is lined with mature trees and ends with a vista to the Bay. The concrete sidewalk leads to the front door and continues to a covered terrace at the waterside corner of the house and to the screened porch on the opposite side of the house. The cottage’s rectangular shape is sited with the long wall parallel to the shoreline to give the open plan living-dining-kitchen-breakfast areas Bay views from wide and long windows and sliding doors for an easy flow from inside to outside. The corner of the living room has a four-unit window on one wall and a sliding door between double window units for great diagonal views of the Bay.

The wood floors and the retro patterned ceiling was a delightful surprise to tie the living and dining areas together. I imagined how pleasant it would be to attend a dinner party here and sit at the table on axis with the sliding doors to the terrace with views of the Bay and the distant Western Shore beyond. The finishes in the kitchen-breakfast area change to an easy care vinyl sheet flooring and pine boards for the wall, painted white to contrast with the stained pine board ceiling. The spacious kitchen has a center island and abundant sunlight from the double window over the sink with glass shelves containing a charming collection of miniature lighthouses and the triple window above the breakfast table and chairs.

If I were a guest, my favorite spot would be the waterside covered terrace. Sitting here you feel as if the water were just beyond the edge of the lawn instead of forty feet below. What a delightful space for relaxing in the shade and enjoying the Bay breezes on a lazy summer afternoon! Another outdoor space is the screened porch with its Bay view from its extension beyond the side of the house. Screen panels on three sides open the space to the landscape and the Bay view. A short hall from the screened porch passes by two of the bedrooms, the bath and laundry to end at the open plan area. The primary bedroom is located at the rear corner which gives windows on both exterior walls. The property also includes an additional lot with its own sewer allocation for a possible garage/guest house to create a family compound.

Bay front property, one-level floor plan with great flow among rooms and between the outdoor rooms of covered terrace and screened porch, low maintenance brick exterior, mature trees and landscaping-and did I mention the stunning sunsets….

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