Design with Jenn Martella: Historic American Four Square
This two-and-a-half story American Four-Square sits on a deep lot with a rare urban two-car garage.After you cross the bridge over the Chester River in Chestertown, the road soon forks and becomes Washington Ave. I always enjoy driving along this street that has many distinctive houses across from the beginning of Washington College’s campus.
I have long admired today’s feature, a two and a half story American Four-Square house on a very deep lot surrounded by mature trees. The long driveway leads to a two-car garage that is quite unusual for an urban lot.
Privacy fencing lines the driveway while meticulously maintained plantings frame the property.The long paved driveway blends into an extended paved area for guest parking. For privacy, the rear yard has fencing that also extends both along the driveway and the side yard up to the front corner of the house. As I walked along the side yard, I admired the beautiful plantings that have been meticulously maintained against their background of mature trees.
The rear addition’s hipped roof complements the original home, with French doors opening to a pergola-covered deck.One mature tree’s branch bends down to provide partial shade for the spacious deck that was designed to accommodate the tree. At the other side of the deck is a pergola that spans across the deck’s full depth. The stair down to the parking area divides the deck into two sitting areas, or one could replace one side with a table and chairs for al-fresco dining.
The addition at the rear of the house created a main floor open plan kitchen-family room and a second floor sumptuous primary bath. The hipped roof matches the main house’s roof and the symmetrical rear wall has a pair of French doors between long windows with boxes awaiting their seasonal colors.
The spacious deck offers sweeping views of the lush rear lawn extending to the property line.Walking onto the deck, I stood and admired the long vista of the lush mature landscape and the rear lawn that extends past the side wall of the garage to the property line. The deck is a serene outdoor room for relaxing with family and friends; I could easily imagine reclining on the chaise lounge for a Sunday afternoon nap.
Stylish fencing encloses a verdant retreat ideal for relaxation or safe outdoor play.On the sunny day of my visit, I was tempted to pause on the weathered bench in front of the stylish fencing to savor the peace and quiet of this verdant oasis. This wide and long space is also a safe play space for children and pets.
Two-story bay projections and a striking Palladian dormer enhance the home’s classic square massing.Having explored the grounds, I was eager to tour the house’s interiors since the only architectural style that is truly American, the Four Square, is one of the house styles I once called home. This house’s square shape is enhanced by a two-story bay wall projection on one side and a box bay on the other side that projects beyond the “L” shaped stair. The compact massing is also enhanced by the front porch and the steep roof’s dormers, especially the exquisite Palladian style dormer at the front of the house.
Brick piers with lattice infill support the three-bay porch beneath symmetrical triple windows and leaded glass transom.From the town sidewalk, a meandering brick path leads up to the three-bay front porch supported by brick piers infilled with lattice. The symmetrical arrangement of the triple windows on both floors identify the main floor’s parlor and a second floor bedroom. The front door is surrounded by half glass, half paneled sidelights and full transom of leaded glass that aligns with a single window at the second floor. The exquisite third floor dormer with a Palladian window offers panoramic bird’s eye views of the urban landscape.
Rich mahogany flooring and freshly painted pale yellow siding define this welcoming outdoor room.The deep front porch is a charming outdoor room with ample space for seating. The color palette of the white railing, columns, wood ceiling, window and door trim, along with the pale yellow siding that has been freshly painted, highlights the beautiful mahogany color of the flooring and the door.
The U-shaped stair with paneled storage showcases seamless views to all four connected rooms.When the owner greeted me at the door, I first admired the high ceilings and the detailing of the “U” shaped stair with paneling below the landing for access to storage. Then I admired the vistas from the foyer to all of the four rooms that were seamlessly connected- the hallmark of the American Four-Square style.
Wide openings with pocket doors and a vintage pendant fixture create an elegant entry.Looking back from the stair, the foyer’ s interior design of a long Oriental rug, antiques and the vintage pendant light fixture create an elegant space to welcome guests and introduced the beautiful interior design found throughout the house. The foyer’s wide wall opening with open pocket doors then beckoned me to the parlor.
Light green walls and a prominent chimney breast anchor this refined parlor space.Another beautiful Oriental rug defines the seating group around the focal point of the chimney breast. The triple window offers filtered daylight from the front porch and the side window offers direct daylight. I admired the soothing hue of the light green walls and the lovely antique furnishings.
An original recessed cabinet with leaded glass doors highlights this gracious dining space.From the parlor, another wide wall opening is centered on the dining room’s table and Chippendale chairs that must have set the scene for many happy memories of family celebrations or holidays. I especially appreciated the lovely Chippendale sideboard and the original recessed cabinet with leaded glass doors at the end of the room.
The box bay’s double windows and traditional chair rail preserve period architectural character.The Chippendale hutch provides additional display of treasured pieces. The double window in the box bay projection filters light through the sheers and the chair rail gives one the option for paint, wallpaper or a combination of the two. The vintage pendant light fixture is the perfect finishing touch.
High windows hint at this cozy library’s origins as the home’s original kitchen.Next to the dining room is a stylish library with its high windows that are a clue to the room’s original use as the kitchen. The gas fireplace and the breakfront filled with books create a cozy library and the sheers over the high windows filter sunlight into the space.
Five-panel sliding doors and deep red walls complete the classic four-room floor plan.The secretary and chair at one wall is a great spot for computer work. The deep red walls echo the colors of the beautiful Oriental rugs. Next to the fireplace is a wide closet with five-panel sliding doors for coat storage. Behind the secretary is the main floor’s full bath and the foyer beyond completes the four room floor plan.
Ceiling-height white cabinetry and French doors connect the modern kitchen to outdoor living.The open plan kitchen-family room addition connects seamlessly with the original part of the house. The classic design of white cabinetry, stainless steel appliances that highlights the warmth of the wood flooring has great appeal. The cabinetry extends to the ceiling to maximize storage and the owner demonstrated her clever idea of substituting a drawer for the standard toe kick trim. I made a note to suggest that idea to one of my architectural clients who is beginning her kitchen design. The pair of French doors lead directly to the deck for easy flow of food and drinks for entertaining.
A center island and built-in millwork define this bright, functional family gathering space.The island defines the edge of the kitchen area to the family room. This open plan space is sunny and bright from both the double unit window over the sofa and also the French doors to the deck. The recessed millwork holds books, family photos or memorabilia and the TV is positioned for family movie nights.
Bay windows and soothing blue walls create a tranquil retreat at the quiet rear of the home.There are three bedrooms and two baths on the second floor. The primary bedroom is located at the quiet back of the house with both a double unit side window in the bay wall projection and a rear window for daylight. The light blue walls and muted colors of the rug and bedding are conducive for restful sleep. I love pencil post frames for beds like this one since they don’t take away from the spatial volume of a bedroom.
Five-panel doors access clever under-eave storage in this dual-vanity ensuite with walk-in closet.The primary ensuite contains both a spacious walk-in closet and a bathroom with dual lavatories and a tub/shower. Five panel doors, to match the doors in the original part of the house, access storage under the eaves of the addition.
Triple windows and soft colors make this front-facing bedroom a sunlit guest retreat.This spacious guest bedroom at the front of the house would be my choice if I were a guest. The triple unit window and the side window provide ample daylight and the soft colors of the interior design, including a chair and ottoman, create a restful retreat for a guest.
Corner windows frame views of Washington College while book-themed wallpaper adds personality.This guest bedroom with corner windows offers panoramic views of Chestertown’s streetscape and Washington College’s grounds. As a bibliophile, I admired the accent wall of wallpaper with its design of books on a shelves above and around the wall with the five paneled door.
Knee walls, sloped ceilings, and a Palladian dormer window create versatile third-floor living space.The third floor with its steep hipped roof, knee walls, and the Palladian window at the front dormer creates irresistible interior architecture for a myriad uses-bedroom, studio, etc. The white walls and ceilings blend into each other and reflect the sunlight from the dormer windows on three exterior walls.
This charming home that has been meticulously maintained is located on one of Chestertown’s main thoroughfares across from Washington College’s campus and near Chestertown’s Historic District’s shops and restaurants.
All of the key features of this architectural style are evident-two and a half stories high, hipped slate roof with a distinctive dormer at the front of the house, spacious four-room plan and full front porch with mahogany flooring with a depth that makes it a wonderful outdoor room, set high above the ground.
The American Four-Square was designed for narrow urban lots and this property’s bonus is its deep lot that easily accommodated a former addition of a kitchen-family room opening onto a deck and a deep fully fenced back yard that offers safe play for children and pets. The two-car garage is a welcome bonus in this urban streetscape.
From the foyer, the “U” shaped artisan stair rises to the third floor and the main floor’s living room, dining room, bathroom and library are seamlessly connected to maximize the rooms’ sizes. The rear addition of an open plan kitchen-family room has easy indoor-outdoor flow to the adjacent deck. The second floor’s three bedrooms contain a primary ensuite, guest bedrooms and hall bath. The third floor with delightful interior architecture from the knee walls, sloped ceilings and dormers created by the hipped roof offers additional bedrooms. Throughout the house, details of original wood floors, moldings and trim, five-panel doors, corner guards and bespoke millwork evoke an earlier era of gracious living.
Uniquely American architectural style, with an addition and updates for today’s family lifestyle; freshly painted exterior, meticulous mature landscaping, fenced rear yard that is a verdant oasis, two-car garage- who could ask for anything more than this American Four-Square as we near the end America’s semiquincentennial year?
For details about this property, contact Mary Carlisle with Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Rea Estate at 410-778-0330 (o), 410-703-3820 (c), or mcarlisle@cbchesapeake.com. For more pictures and pricing, visit www.chestertownhomesearch.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity”.
Open House: Saturday, October 3rd, from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM