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March 8, 2021

The Chestertown Spy

An Educational News Source for Chestertown Maryland

  • Home
  • Arts
  • Food
  • Ecosystem
  • Education
  • Habitat
  • Health & Recovery
  • Local Life
  • News
  • P.O.V.
  • Senior Nation
  • Donate
  • About
    • The Chestertown Spy
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising & Underwriting
      • Advertising Terms & Conditions
    • Editors & Writers
    • Dedication & Acknowledgements
    • Code of Ethics
    • Chestertown Spy Terms of Service
    • Technical FAQ
    • Privacy
Habitat Habitat Homepage Habitat House of the Week

House of the Week: “Woodlawn Farm”

December 22, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

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This classic house, circa late 19th century, is included in the Maryland Historic Trust’s Inventory of Historic Properties. Their preliminary research found many of the characteristics of the house’s late Federal Period architectural style-two story five-bay wide main wing with hipped roof, a side one-story two-bay wide wing, brick façade and wood cornice articulated with modillions. The front porch spans across the full length of the house and the hipped shed roof is supported by Doric columns with piers below and lattice infill between the piers. Brick steps lead up to the front door.

The windows are 4/4 and the first floor windows that open to the porch become full French doors with transoms. The windows and French doors have beautifully paneled wood shutters in a dark color that completes the classic color palette trio of red brick, white window headers, sills and white moldings. The center hall main floor plan has a front entry pair of wood paneled doors with sidelights that open to a clear vista to the two paneled doors at the rear wall leading to a screened porch overlooking the gently sloping lawn to the pond, gazebo and lawn below.

The magnificent drawing room that spans the depth of the house has a pair of fireplaces on the side wall between two windows with wood panels below. The arrangement of a single side window on the opposite of side of each fireplace combined with the two front and two rear windows opposite each other completes the symmetry. Even though the room is unfurnished, I appreciated the opportunity to admire the beauty of the interior architecture surrounding the wood floors without the distraction of furnishings. I also appreciated the dining room’s details with the three paneled door design of pairs of rectangular middle panels between the square top and bottom panels and the built-in corner cabinets. The spacious room with its wood flooring and crystal chandelier would set the scene for elegant dinner parties.

The original stair leads to the second floor hall that is lined with built-in millwork to become a library with sunlight from the window above the stairwell. The two bedrooms above the corners of the drawing room below have fireplaces and windows for abundant sunlight and views of the pastoral landscape below.

The 306 acre property includes 200 tillable acres with 30 acres in hay and pasture and two three-bedroom tenant houses. For the outdoor enthusiast, the grounds offer 100 wooded acres for hiking and scenic riding trails. For the hunter or fisherman, there are excellent hunting and fishing opportunities including a three acre stocked pond. The outbuildings include a six stall stable with Run-In shed, hay barn, loafing shed, shop and equipment shed. This property is fortunately surrounded by preserved farmland to further preserve its privacy. What a wonderful opportunity to own a historic house!

When I first saw the site aerial of this house with its red metal roof, I knew I had found my “Christmas Card” to wish all my Chestertown Spy Habitat readers the happiest of holidays! Thank you all for your support for the past four years and in the immortal words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us everyone!”

For more information about this property, contact Francis “Joe” Hickman with Cross Street Realtors, at 410-778-3779 (o), 410 -708-0536 (c) or joe@csrealtors.com. For more photographs and pricing, visit https://csrealtors.com/listings/exclusive, :Equal Pricing 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.

Filed Under: Habitat Homepage, House of the Week

A Chat with Architect/Town Planner Jay Corvan on Denton’s Tragedy and Trappe’s Promise

December 20, 2020 by Dave Wheelan Leave a Comment

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Not so long ago, the town of Denton had given tentative approval for a significant housing development that would have permitted 2,500 new homes to be constructed. The community leaders showed minimal hesitation in giving the go-ahead since it doubled the town’s size, increased the tax base, and presumably added significantly to its economic development.

But on closer inspection, the planned community showed significant flaws. Denton’s doubling in less than two years would have caused major stresses on the town’s infrastructure, contrasted significantly to the community’s historic rural aesthetic, and highlighted fundamental weaknesses in how small municipalities can control this form of aggressive development.

As the town began to push back on the developer’s plans, investors lost interest in Denton, and in the end, the project was scrapped entirely.

According to Jay Corvan, who has practiced architecture and town planning for decades from his office in Trappe, the Denton case perfectly outlined what can happen when developers are on their own in determining the scope and design of housing projects on the Eastern Shore.

Jay’s solution, supported by many of his colleagues, is creating a “pattern book” that can be applied to an entire region like the Mid-Shore to provide clear and straightforward guidelines for developers to avoid what took place in Denton.

The pattern book approach would give towns like Trappe, the location of another major housing development on the other side of Route 50, the tools needed to appropriate scale these new communities with far more precision than existing zoning and planning regulations. The result being a better build project, a more intact community, and far less risk for the developer and their investors.

This video is approximately twelve minutes in length. For more information about town development pattern book approaches please go here.

Filed Under: Habitat Homepage, Habitat Portal Lead

Spy House of the Week: Delightful Victorian

December 15, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

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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.

 

Filed Under: Habitat Homepage, Habitat Portal House of the Week

Mid-Shore Housing: Easton’s Daly Gardens

December 9, 2020 by Dave Wheelan Leave a Comment

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For years now in Talbot County, the mantra heard most often has been the critical need for workforce housing. While affordable houses are also in need, the demand to find reasonable rents for teachers, medical technicians, and other professionals, particularly those of color, has reached a crisis level as these valuable workers must live farther and farther from where they work.

Derick Daly, the co-founder of BAAM in Easton, along with his sons, has come up with a novel idea to accomplish this goal and extend the BAAM community in Easton to both sides of Jowite Street. To do so, the Dalys have formed NAIMA Ventures and have commissioned RAUCH iInc., Inc. to design a new approach that will double the number of residents over ten years.

A few days ago, the Spy talked to the principal designers of the project, Paul Rogers and Virginia Richardson, as well as Derick, to understand the plans and the primary goals of ensuring that current residents are not “outplaced” while expanding the housing options for a new generation of Talbot County’s workforce.

This video is approximately five minutes in length. For more information about RAUCH, Inc. please go here. For BAAM please go here.

Filed Under: Habitat Homepage, Habitat Portal Lead

House of the Week: Byford Court

December 8, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

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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.

Filed Under: Habitat Homepage, Habitat Portal House of the Week

Habitat House of the Week: Church Alley Charm

December 1, 2020 by Jennifer Martella 1 Comment

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I have so many favorite streets in Chestertown’s Historic District to which I have returned many times for inspiration and once again I have revisited Church Alley for several reasons. Its prime location one block off the main intersection of High and Cross Streets, pedestrian scaled buildings along the narrow street, minimal traffic and the zoning flexibility for this property to become a live-work building gives it broad appeal. 

The two-story building has a brick foundation, lap siding and a metal roof for minimal maintenance.  The two-bay front elevation has wood steps up to the half glass/half wood entry door with a transom and stacked box bays on both floors. The rear elevation has stacked angled bay windows and a door at the main level to access the rear yard.  The compact footprint and generous window sizes bring sunlight into the interior throughout the day. All of these features offer myriad possibilities for further development. 

The owners, both professionals in different fields, shared the building as their offices with the main floor front room serving as a reception/office and the rear room serving as a private conference/consultation room.  The original staircase was restored and leads to the second floor plan layout open from the front wall to the rear wall. Beautiful custom cabinetry located to remove glare from the workspaces, track lighting and low partition heights to maintain the views to the windows create a very pleasant work environment. 

If this became a live-work building, the main floor interior architecture would continue to function as-is. The front office area with its custom built-in workstation has room for a two chair-sized reception area and the rear  conference room could be updated with a coffee bar and restroom.  With the conference table and chairs arranged under the bay window, a wall could be built in front of the existing built-in shelving to become a storage/office equipment room 

Upstairs, the half bath at the front of the building could be expanded into a full bath.  The front of the building could be the bedroom with closets separating the rear living-dining area overlooking the rear yard and the nook at the top of the stairs could contain the kitchen.  

The building could also revert to its original residential use and the main floor would be an open plan living-dining-kitchen area with two bedroom suites on the second floor.  Replacing the main floor bay window with French doors to a screened porch addition on the main floor would expand the living space. The roof of the screened porch could become a deck for the second floor bedroom suites. The rear yard under the shade of the mature tree in the corner is ready for a gardener to enhance the space with landscaping and hardscaping. 

Prime location with close access to Chestertown’s amenities, flexible use for live-work, primary residence or investment potential with space for an urban garden-great opportunity!

For more information about this property ,contact Richard Budden with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Company at 410-778-0330 (o), 443-480-1181 (c)   or rbudden@easternshoremdre.com.  For more photographs and pricing, visit www.easternshoreofmarylandrealestate.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.

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

 

Filed Under: Habitat Homepage, Habitat House of the Week, Habitat Portal House of the Week

House of the Week: Captivating Cape Cod 

November 17, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

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The quintessentially American Cape Cod-style houses (symmetrical story and a half, center door flanked by two pairs of windows, dormers in the roof) were built throughout New England into the mid-1800s until the Victorian styles became popular.  In the first few decades of the 20th century, the Cape Cod style came back in fashion during the revival of colonial-era architecture and the style spread to other parts of the country. 

This house in one of downtown Easton’s popular neighborhoods has all the architectural elements of the style; centered front door flanked by two windows with shutters and steep roof with front dormer windows.  This Cape Cod design was expanded with a one-story sunroom addition at one end of the center wing and another one-story master suite addition at the other end that breaks down the massing. The rear shed dormer spans the full length of the center wing and provides greater headroom at the second floor. The light brown shake siding adds texture and dimension to the facades and the classic white trim and gray roofing offers a very appealing exterior color palette.  

The house is on a prized corner lot with alley access to the one-car garage and two parking spaces. The hammock under the shade of the tall mature tree beckons one to relax and the stone terrace with table and chairs offers al-fresco dining with easy access to the back porch that leads to the kitchen. 

The front door opposite the stairs next to back-to-back closets creates a foyer open to the living room with a vista through to the sunroom.  The spacious living room with hardwood floors spans the full depth of the house with windows on the three exterior walls.  The brick fireplace is centered in the side wall with a French door leading to the sunroom with views to the side and rear yards.  The brick chimney, tile flooring and painted wood slat ceiling add texture and color to the sunroom and the full height windows and sliding doors to the yard make this a cozy indoor/outdoor room that would also be a great study/home office. 

I see so many neutral walls in homes that are on the market so I appreciated how this owner understood how to use color in her choices of the deep butter yellow of the living room warmed by the sunlight in contrast to the cooler sage green of the dining room. I have several hooked rugs in my home and I loved the multicolored runner cascading down the stairs that reminded me of a hooked rug and its pattern of circles was perfectly scaled to the treads and risers.  I also love eat-in kitchens and this one’s corner banquette is just the spot for that last cup of morning coffee or helping a child with homework. Behind one side of  the banquette is a tall slender cabinet that cleverly uses the space between studs in the wall for pantry storage.  Recent kitchen upgrades include hidden accent lighting above the upper cabinets, stainless steel appliances, white cabinets and dark granite countertops.  

The master suite has both a walk-in closet and a floor to ceiling IKEA storage unit outfitted with shallow and deep pull-outs for storage from scarves to sweaters so there is no need for dressers or chest of drawers.  The master bath has a dual lavatory cabinet finished in a deep stain against the white bead board wainscot.  Next to the bath is the laundry with another closet for storage.

My favorite spaces in one and a half story houses are most often the second story rooms tucked under the slope of the roof with knee walls and dormers.  This house’s upper rooms are quite large since they span the full depth of the house and two of the bedrooms have ample sunlight from both a front dormer window and two rear windows in the shed dormer.  The bonus room with its gable end window over the master suite is connected to one bedroom and would be a great playroom.  The upstairs bath is conveniently located at the front end of the stair hall between the two bedrooms. 

Corner lot in a wonderful in-Town location, one of the most popular architectural styles, detached garage with ample surface parking, great floor plan with a main level master suite, floor plan with easy flow and updates that would appeal to most buyers-all this and a large dry basement for storage!

 

For more information about this property, contact Diane Taylor with Benson and Mangold Real Estate at 410-770-9255, x 315 (o), 410-924-1586 (c) or dtaylor@bensonandmangold.com,  “Equal Housing Opportunity”. Photography by TruPlace, 301-972-3201, www.go.truplace.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.

Filed Under: Habitat Homepage, House of the Week

House of the Week:  “Honest Point Farm”

November 17, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

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This serene setting on twenty-six acres along Horner Cove off the West Fork of Langford Creek contains a main residence and two guest cottages.  All three houses have their own individual setting with water and wooded views that gives all three residences their own private haven.  The Colonial style main house with its classic exterior color palette of pale yellow lap siding, white trim and dark shutters has been lovingly maintained by its current owners.  The brick walk leads up to a brick stoop covered by an elegant portico supported by Ionic columns below the entablature. The front door with its elliptical fanlight transom and half glass, half paneled sidelights opens opposite the “L” shaped stairs detailed with stained wood treads and cap rail with white pickets and risers.

A wide wall opening trimmed in molding leads to the living room which spans the full depth of the house with views of the water.  The walls between the large 6/6 windows on each side of the room are paneled and accented with swags in the Adam style and painted in an accent color. The furniture grouping around the fireplace has two neutral colored sofas linked by a corner piece opposite two red upholstered chairs and decorative pillows.  Art, sculpture and the discrete recessed lighting create a serene space for relaxing by the fire.

The adjacent family room also spans the depth of the house with built-in millwork on each interior wall with the furniture arranged around the fireplace and TV. The rear wall of the family room has a French door flanked by windows overlooking the screened porch. Screened panels on three sides are designed to minimize the framing and to maximize the panoramic views of the landscape and water beyond. The space is sized for both sitting and dining and has a door to the rear terrace off the kitchen for a great indoor-outdoor entertaining space.

On the other side of the living room is the charming dining area centered around the wide bay window and French door to the deck.  The wood table and chairs are anchored by an Oriental rug and paneled doors lead to the kitchen. I especially liked how the crown molding was set slightly below the ceiling to hide the uplights around the perimeter of the room for a magical effect at night.  I loved the spacious galley kitchen with its surprise contemporary look in colors and textures in shades of gray with wood floors.  At either end of the island are seating areas to keep the cook company-a sofa at one end and at the opposite end are benches with cushions to create a banquette below the corner windows.  The wide corner windows and the two wide sliding doors create a window wall that frames the deck, landscape and water beyond.  On the opposite end of the house is a ground floor bedroom suite with a large bath. Leading off this corner of the house is a hyphen linking the service areas with the garage. The hall area has sunlight from the glass doors that slide behind the full height windows on either side.  Steps lead down to a small deck for access to the lawn and gardens.

The second floor master suite has water views from the long window seat below a triple-unit window flanked by built-in millwork for books and family photographs. The contemporary styled master bath has sleek cabinetry and hardware with dual lavatories below mirrors with vertical uplights/downlights on either side.  High windows above the mirrors add sunlight and the large shower with tiled rear walls and front glass wall expand the space. There are also three other bedrooms (the smallest one would make a great home office) on the second floor and two bathrooms.  One large bath has a clawfoot tub against the knee wall between two dormer windows and a wide shower with a glass front underneath the ridge of the ceiling.  

The property also has two cottages, christened the “summer cottage” and “winter cottage”  for myriad uses such as guest house, caretaker residence or rental.  One cottage has a small front screened porch and the other has a  screened porch the full width of the cottage  The interior finishes of wood floors, exposed ceiling joists and cozy rooms maintain the cottage feel.  

Close to the main house deck is a waterside gunite pool with a brick surround that expands to a terrace area with umbrellas over tables and chaises for relaxing after a dip in the pool. One can also stroll through the orchard, gardens and around the pond or enjoy walks through the twenty acres of woods with vistas to the water.  Enjoy sunsets from the pier or relax on the Adirondack chairs at the water’s edge.  There is also a barn, several outbuildings and a pond for other diversions-Honest Point Farm has it all! 

For more information about this property, contact Trey Rider with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-280-5600  (o),443-786-0235 (c) or trey@treyrider.com.  For more photographs and pricing, visit www.treyrider.com or view the property video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dW-HSkn6rU,  “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.

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

Filed Under: Habitat Homepage, Habitat House of the Week, Habitat Portal House of the Week, House of the Week

House of the Week: Peninsula Perfect

November 10, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

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This house’s waterfront site is very near the end of a peninsula where Swan Creek empties into the Chesapeake Bay. This Colonial style house was built in 2002 and its very pleasing massing steps down from the main two story wing with a  slight gable projection at one end the depth of the front porch next to the one-story wing that contains the living, family and kitchen areas. The front porch, side deck off the living room and screened porch off the family room/kitchen and the pool area are wonderful outdoor spaces to enjoy panoramic water views.  

The front door opens to a spacious foyer with a cross hall to the master suite on one side and the living, dining, family and kitchen areas on the other side.  The dining room has corner cabinets and both its front windows and the wide wall opening between it and the adjacent living room give it water views. Sunlight from the three windows, the beautiful hardwood floors and the Chippendale furnishings create a lovely setting for family celebrations.  The living room is located at the corner of the house and has side windows, rear sliding doors with transoms flanked by full height windows leading to a deck for water views.  Back to back fireplaces with built-in millwork on either side separate the living room from the family room.  

I imagine the charming open plan family room/kitchen/screened porch is the hub of the house. The family room’s  Craftsman style furnishings grouped around the fireplace and TV are anchored by a multi-colored kilim.  Sunlight from the wide bay window, four-unit windows and French door to the screened porch also filter sunlight to the adjacent kitchen with its  hardwood floors, Craftsman style white cabinets solid surface countertops and stainless steel appliances.  The cook has great views from both the island cooktop and sink at the exterior wall. One side of the island ‘s open shelves and several glass fronted upper cabinets artfully display the owners’ collection of colorful ceramics.  An exterior door leading down to the pool area is handy for poolside parties. The gambrel ceiling of the screened porch provides space for a fan high above the screened panels to keep both the sitting and dining areas cool on a humid day.  

The ground floor master suite has a spacious study  at the front corner of the house with a bay front bay window, side window to the front porch and a double-unit window at the other side for sunlight throughout the day.  One wall of the room is lined with built-in millwork and the room is generously sized for both work and relaxation.  I liked how the master bedroom’s windows have bottom mount translucent shades that filter sunlight while maintaining privacy.  The colorful quilt on the bed was a prelude to the other unique quilts in each of the second floor bedrooms.  I was delighted to see one design that was almost a match for the quilt pattern and colors in my guest room that was made by my paternal grandmother.  At the top of the stairs, three oval hooked rugs are arranged over the hardwood floors in the hall that lead to the guest bedrooms. 

Along with the outdoor spaces, the 300 foot pier has five ft MLW at the end along with a 30 x 50 covered boat shed for power boats that parallels the pier opposite multiple slips for guests arriving by boat. You can also launch your boat from the ramp on one end of the property. At the other end of the property is a small beach that is ideal for launching canoes, kayaks, or jet skis. Since I am sports challenged, I would be quite content to relax on the brick terrace surrounding the salt water gunite pool after a swim. Outbuildings at the end of the property opposite the house include a large 4-bay, two-story garage, another shed/workshop and a building that could be used as a pool cabana.

Great waterfront site around the tip of a peninsula from the Chesapeake Bay, appealing Colonial architectural style, easy flow among the main floor rooms for relaxing with family and friends and outdoor rooms of the front porch, side deck and screened porch-irresistible!


For more information about this property contact  Lynn Hilfiker with Gunther McClary Real Estate at 410-639-2118 (o), 443-480-1163 (c)  or lynnhilfiker@gmail.com. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.rockhallrealestate.com,  “Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

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

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.

Filed Under: Habitat Homepage, Habitat House of the Week, Habitat Portal House of the Week

Eastern Shore House of the Week: Orem’s Delight

November 3, 2020 by Jennifer Martella Leave a Comment

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When I first saw this waterfront property on Fox Hole Creek, I was enchanted by the two small cottages; one was clad in Flemish bond brick and the other was clad in white German shiplap siding. I wondered if they were all that remained after an estate house had been destroyed by fire but I soon discovered there never was a main house. I also discovered from the many entries in my primary reference book, “Where Land and Water Intertwine” by Christopher Weeks, that this small house has a big place in Talbot County’s architectural history. William Smythe sold the land known as Fox Hole to John Morris in 1676 and Morris’ grandson, Morris Orem, built the brick house.  One of his later descendants, Andrew Orem, retained a surveyor to confirm the tract’s size and Orem then patented the property as ’Orem’s Delight”. 

The brick house was built in 1720 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Immaculately restored and loving maintained by the current owners, the house is celebrating its 300th birthday this year. It is remarkable that its compact 20 x 25 foot story and a half footprint has never been incorporated into a larger house on this approximately 50 acre tract. 

You don’t have to be a historic preservation architectural buff to appreciate its many original details such as the brick gable north end with a glazed interlocking pattern above the two-brick wide belt course, the stepped water table brick around the perimeter and the late 18th century interior paneling and woodwork. The south end telescopes down to a one-story addition clad in white siding that replaced a much earlier wing that had been demolished in the early 1960’s. 

The front door of the brick house opens into a charming living-dining-kitchen area with wood floors, painted wood plank ceiling and windows on both exterior walls for water views.  The seating is grouped around the brick fireplace flanked by built-in cupboards, one slightly recessed and behind the sofa is a drop-leaf table for dining. The “L” shaped stair with white risers and wood treads has winders as it ascends to the upper floor. The other end of the room is a galley kitchen separated by a wall opening leading to a hall with a closet, front and rear exterior doors, and another door that opens into a suite containing  a bedroom, bath, and laundry room. 

The upper floor master bedroom is simply enchanting with its interior architecture defined by knee walls, sloped ceilings underneath the roof rafters, wood collar beams stained a slightly darker color than the wood floors and the doors with quarter circle tops leading to the walk-in closet and to the bathroom.  I loved the symmetry of the end gable windows being on axis with the bath and walk-in closet doors that are opposite the windows in the gable wall flanking the chimney, the front and rear knee walls with a dormer window opposite the other and the knee walls with pairs of doors to access storage under the eaves. The black iron bedframe is placed opposite the exposed corbeled brick chimney and the soft sage green walls, off-white trim and the light blue and sage green bedding create a soothing retreat.

The one-story “white house” has a totally different design for a delightful contrast with its much older companion. The entry door is slightly recessed into the lower wing of the telescoped massing to create a foyer with a closet that links the open plan living room and dining room to the screened porch. The living, dining and kitchen areas have pitched ceilings accentuated by stained wood collar beams, lightly stained shiplap wall covering and terra cotta floors for a great flow. In the living room,  double unit windows opposite each other, the higher windows on either side of the fireplace and the comfortable furnishings create an inviting space for relaxing by the fire for TV watching with family and friends. The end wall of the dining area has a centered French door with an arched window above and full height windows leading to the porch that spans the full width of the house. 

The kitchen has light wood cabinets, white appliances and the wall area above the upper cabinets provides display space for the owners’ collection of baskets, trays and other collectibles.  I especially liked how the small tile squares of the backsplash were the same terra cotta color as the floors. This house has two wonderful outdoor rooms-the main floor porch and the rooftop deck.   The porch has the same terra cotta tile as the interior rooms, a flat stained wood slat ceiling and wide framed openings for panoramic water views. The white house is located near the brick house but the latter’s side solid brick wall with small windows only at the second level provide privacy for both houses. The roof top deck above is accessed by an exterior stair so this space and its panoramic water views could be enjoyed by both houses’ owners.

Approximately fifty acres of farmland, woods and water views from the dock or the shoreline, numerous sites to build your own dream home, pool, a water pond popular with waterfowl and other wildlife and two existing houses that could become guest and/or caretaker houses makes this site unique. Even though it is impossible to state which house in Talbot County is the oldest, “Orem’s Delight” offers a rare opportunity to own one of a unique group of about thirteen houses that give a glimpse of life on the Eastern Shore in the 17th century.  

 

For more information about this property, contact Cornelia Heckenbach at Long and Foster Real Estate Inc., 410-745-0283 (o), 410-310-1229 (c) or info@corneliaheckenbach.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”. For more photographs and pricing visit www.stmichaelsmdwaterfront.com or watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB5JnAQN4Kk , “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.

 

Filed Under: Habitat Homepage, Habitat Portal Lead

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