“The Point at Broadview” is aptly named for its stunning 2.37 acre site located at a point of a peninsula that offers sweeping 270-degree “broad views” of Fishing Creek and the Little Choptank River. On the day of my visit, I drove down to the end of a road and then turned onto the curved, tree-lined private drive. Past the trees, the driveway straightens out to reveal the front elevation and I slowed down to savor the exquisitely detailed façade. The Shingle Style is one of my fave architectural styles and this house reminded me of many shingle style houses built among Long Island’s dunes that I admired on trips to my late sister’s East Hampton house.   

This aerial accentuates the low slope of the site with 1,145 linear feet of bulk headed shoreline along Fishing Creek and the Little Choptank River.  The cleared area offers both unobstructed panoramic water views from the house and also a blank slate for the next Owners to add landscaping to suite their own tastes.  At one side of the house is an in-ground pool and on the other side is a large garage to shelter boats, near the private boat ramp and deep water dock with 5 feet MLW and a 10,000 lb. boat lift.   

 

The house was built high above the flood plain and to lessen the height of the house’s foundation, a low retaining wall constructed of New England fieldstone separates the parking area from the landscaping beds that slope up to the partially exposed foundation, also of New England fieldstone. I loved the symmetry of the front gable wings at each corner of the house that project slightly from the center wing and their steep roofs that slope from the second floor’s ridge to the first floor’s eaves. The earth tones, texture of the shake siding, artful sizes and arrangement of windows, window boxes for seasonal color, blue operable shutters, copper lanterns and white trim evoke the timeless appeal of classic New England design. 

 

At each corner of the house’s rear elevation, bay-shaped wall projections infilled  with large windows maximize the panoramic views of the water. I especially liked how the architect specified the “cottage” type window that has a row of muntins above the picture plane for unobstructed views of the water. A variety of outdoor rooms for bird’s eye views of the water include the spacious stone terrace at the main level below a deck at the second floor and two private balconies at each end of the house.

The listing agent met me at the wide front door as I was admiring the custom wood door’s cottage style design of multipaned glass above a wood panel.  When I stepped into the wide foyer that extends to the rear wall of the house, the high ceilings, expanse of wood flooring, and multi-layered trim around doors,  doorways and windows were an introduction to the highest level of finishes I soon discovered throughout the house.  The vista from the foyer ends at a pair of French doors to the stone terrace but I especially admired the perspective of the mini-enfilade that began at the foyer and continues to the window in the last room. 

Next to the foyer is an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area. The living area’s interior wall has a gas fireplace flanked by built- in millwork in a mix of cabinets below open shelves with accent lighting for display. The rear wall of the living area is filled with a quadruple window/door unit with two center panels that slide to each side to create a wide opening for easy indoor-outdoor flow. On either side of the quadruple unit are sconces for soft nocturnal lighting. At the front of the living area is another mini-enfilade through the foyer, the hall past the powder room and ending at the mudroom/laundry.

The spacious living area offers a variety of seating arrangements to enjoy both focal points of the fireplace and the water views. I especially liked the diagonal vista to the bay-shaped wall with a built-in ledge with great panoramic views of the water.

I could easily imagine my wide, round dining table in the marvelous space that reaches out to the water. Since there is also a waterside dining room, another option would be to extend the ledge below the windows to create wrap-around seating with cushions and pillows and small round tables for relaxing with family or friends. 

This cook was quite envious of the kitchen area with its custom cabinetry, large center island and its accent of the beautiful mahogany countertop, top-of -the-line European appliances, handcrafted farmhouse style fireclay sinks, Waterworks faucets, gas range and combination convection oven/microwave. I appreciated the sleek lines of the craftsman style cabinet doors that blend into the walls and the upper doors that rise to the ceiling. The exterior door leads to a deck with steps down to the pool area. 

I love butler pantries and this compact one is perfect with its delicate English garden wall paneling, handcrafted fireclay sink, freezer, custom cabinets and brass hardware. I could easily imagine displaying my collection of colorful Italian ceramics from Simpatico and the crystal and serving pieces from my mother’s side of the family in the glass fronted upper cabinets. Sunlight streams fully into the space from the windows that makes this efficient space seem wider than it is. 

To explore the rest of the main floor, I  retraced my steps to the foyer and discovered the adjacent dining room with its focal point of triple windows overlooking the stone terrace and the water. The room’s length of eighteen linear feet could easily accommodate a large table for family celebrations. At the front of the room, a wide wall opening leads to the hall off the foyer for continuous  flow between the dining and living room.

Being a bibliophile, the library at the end of the mini-enfilade is a book lover’s dream with floor to ceiling built-in millwork and Nautical brass lighting of sconces mounted on the trim between the bookshelves. The wrap-around bay wall infilled with windows for water views defines a very appealing space for settling in on a comfortable upholstered chair and ottoman and getting lost in a new book. 

Before I went upstairs, I went back to the foyer to explore the English style service areas of the powder room, laundry and mud room. Since my laundry is a stack W/D in an alcove, I coveted this laundry with its checkerboard marble flooring set onto the diagonal to expand the space, front-loading washer and dryer, custom cabinetry, natural stone countertops and large sink. The storage in the mud room awaits a family with bench seating, built-in storage including a peg wall and boot rack.  The triple-unit window bringing sunlight into the space and the exterior door opens onto a small deck that leads to the rear yard for easy clean-up after an afternoon in the pool.

The stairs to the second floor lead to a landing opposite a pair of French doors leading to the waterside deck. The landing blends into a hall that leads to the primary suite at one corner of the floor and into another hall that leads to the other bedroom ensuites at the opposite corners of the house. This floor also includes an exercise room whose door is shown in the wall next to the stairs. I might be tempted to exercise in this waterside room with its mirrored wall and sliding glass doors to the deck!

The spacious deck extends beyond the rear wall of the two bay-shaped wall projections at each corner of the house. I was mesmerized by the view of the thin line of the opposite shoreline and the distant horizon line of the water meeting the sky. It was difficult not to linger in this fabulous outdoor room but I went back inside to tour the primary suite. 

A pair of doors leads from the stair hall to the primary suite. The  primary bedroom’s ceiling of triangular segments below the roof rafters that frame the bay-shaped walls creates delightful interior architecture. The right side of the bay has an extra window segment to maximize panoramic views of the water and the French door leads to a private balcony for star gazing at night. 

The stunning primary bath is a confection of soft colors and textures and the oversized tub floating on the marble flooring is the focal point of the spacious room. Sunlight filters deep into the space from the wide picture window and the side window that also offer water views.  Opposite the vanities is an alcove that separates the toilet compartment and the shower with all three spaces having windows for daylight.  

The hall from the stair landing leads to the other bedrooms and baths and to this bonus room in the other bay-shaped space at the corner of the house. Its distinctive shape and panoramic water views offer myriad uses such as a sitting room, playroom, office, etc. 

If I were lucky to be a guest, I would choose this bedroom ensuite behind the bonus room for its wrap-around window that casts sunlight deep into the room and the French door to a private balcony. 

I don’t usually feature a house that is unfurnished since interior design is one of the four criteria I use in selecting a House of the Week. This house is an exception for its exceptional architecture in one of my fave styles and for its exceptional site, high above the flood plain. It doesn’t get much better than an exquisite Shingle style house, designed by an architect, sited on a point of a peninsula with sweeping 270-degree views of both Fishing Creek and the Little Choptank River. The bonus- this newly finished house’s final inspection was issued in July of this year!

The lack of furnishings allowed me to focus on the beauty of the interior architecture’s ten foot ceilings, hardwood flooring that flows from room to room, large windows detailed with a row of muntins above large picture planes and glass sliding or paired doors leading to the waterside outdoor rooms of the main floor’s stone terrace and the second floor deck.  Natural materials of stone, marble and wood enhance the house’s exteriors and interiors, built to the highest level of construction. Brava to the Architect and her team!

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For more information about this property, contact Debbie McQuaid with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-673-3344 (o), 410-924-4482 (c) or [email protected] .For more photographs and pricing, visit  www.sothebysrealty.com/ttrsir/eng/office/766-b-85898-4000107/ttr-sothebys-international-realty. “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens, 410-310-6838, [email protected].       

Architecture by  Purple Cherry Architects, www.purplecherry.com , 410-990-1700

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

One of my criteria for selecting properties to be featured is the site. When  I saw this aerial of today’s feature with shades of blue from the rippling water of the Chesapeake Bay to the thin blue far distant horizon line below the sky’s gradation from white to blue, I was hooked. How could one resist having the Chesapeake Bay as an extension of your back yard?

Another aerial shows how the house is tucked into a clearing of trees that offer shade. The gently sloping lawn ends at a 150 linear feet rip rapped shoreline for unobstructed views of the sun as it slowly descends below the horizon for amazing sunsets.  

 

Unless the house is a townhome, one of my architectural pet peeves is a front-loading attached garage. This house gets high marks for its one garage at the side elevation at the end of a curved gravel driveway. On the other side of the house is a detached garage, set back to allow clear views of the landscape from the bedroom wing of the house.

Having grown up in a rectangular shaped basement rancher, I am always intrigued by a house that breaks out of the box as this one does. The  Owners changed the house’s massing by adding a new waterside gable roofed addition. The higher ridge of the addition’s roof above the house’s existing roof ridge created space for pairs of fixed glass transoms under each gable end.  Another smaller gable roof provides protection for the entry door. The high windows at this elevation provide privacy for the bedrooms and daylight for the single car garage.

The gable addition extends beyond the original rear wall of the house and its grid of wood and glass and long windows at each side wall offer panoramic views of the Chesapeake Bay. The steps that span the full length of the addition become grandstands to watch the Bay’s daily parade from merchant ships to pleasure craft.

The front door opens into a short hall that soon reveals the dramatic pitched ceiling created by the gable roof that spans from the rear wall of the family room to the front wall of the hall. The kitchen’s former flat ceiling now explodes into a spatial volume that drops down again to areas with flat ceilings framed by wide wall openings with stained beams.  One of the flat ceiling areas of the kitchen leads to the dining room. 

I admired the dining room’s wood furnishings and the front wall’s mix of closed cabinets, upper glass-fronted cabinets and open shelves that provide a variety of storage options. The long double unit window offers views of the landscaping and the high window minimizes the view of the neighboring house’s side wall.  

The spacious open plan dining-living area includes a free-standing wood stove  and French doors that lead to the adjacent family room. With plenty of room for relaxing with family or entertaining friends and multiple windows for views of the Bay, this is a great space for holiday celebrations.

The wide and tall side windows and rear sliding doors that wrap around the corner of the living room gives this delightful space the feeling of a sunroom with views of the Bay.

The giant stained wood trusses that support the family room’s pitched ceiling float above the beautiful wood flooring that flows through the main rooms of the house. The end gable wall is infilled with sliding doors, transoms and fixed windows that rise to the peak of the roof. Sliding doors lead to the waterside deck for easy indoor-outdoor flow. I loved the patterns on the floor from the sunlight that filters through the rear wall of glass and the trusses to the rear wall of the family room.

The vista of this truly great room with its spatial geometry from the trusses, wrap-around windows and the stepped wall of the kitchen at the interior wall illustrate what can happen when you creatively liberate the box!

I especially liked the vista of this portion of the rear wall of the family room for the design elements of the wide wall opening with the kitchen’s countertop extension to accommodate bar stools; notched white walls that meet the higher ceiling of the kitchen beyond and the end gable wall with the four transoms tucked under the ridge of the gable roof.  

From the family room, another pair of French doors on axis with the French doors to the dining room lead to the “corner” office with views of the landscape and the Bay. Even though there is a slightly larger bedroom at the front of the house, I would prefer this waterside room as a bedroom since the door to the adjacent bath is accessed from the office instead of the hall to the other bedrooms.

The front corner large bedroom has a full wall of closets and another closet for ample storage.  The high window could accommodate a tall headboard and another window overlooks the landscape .

The larger of the two bathrooms is accessed from the hall and has a long lavatory counter opposite the tub shower and toilet. The high window provides both privacy and views of the treetops. The remainder of the floor plan contains another bedroom and a laundry closet. 

Stellar location in popular Rock Hall with 150 linear feet of riprapped shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay; one-level living for aging in place; stunning spatial geometry of the family-kitchen area created by the gable wall of the family room infilled with glass and long windows at each side exterior wall for panoramic views of the water and awesome sunsets; easy flow among the rooms of the open plan main areas and the deck that spans across the waterside family room; attached garage and a separate garage that could become an office-Bravo for a great transformation!

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For more information about this property, Courtney Chipouras with Benson and Mangold Real Estate at 410-443-822-6665 (o), 410-200-1224 (c) or [email protected] .For more photographs and pricing, visit www.mychesapeakehome.com . Equal Housing Opportunity”. 

Photography by Steve Buchanan Photography, 301-996-7295,

http://www.buchananphotography.com .

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Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

This three -bay, cross gabled building with a full front porch is a great example of an architectural style that became popular throughout St. Michaels in the late 19th century . Sited close to the busy intersection of Talbot Street and Railroad Ave., with links to the Community Center and the pedestrian bridge to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, this building’s current commercial use continues with its stunning transformation by Realtor Cornelia Heckenbach of Long and Foster Real Estate- Forbes Global Network. 

When Long and Foster consolidated their offices into their Easton location, Cornelia saw a unique opportunity to maintain Long and Foster’s presence in St. Michaels by purchasing this building to create a boutique office. Her mix of commercial and residential uses includes two offices for her and her client/tenant, Tremezzo Stay, on the first floor and a two bedroom, one bath Airbnb, “Coco’s Nest” on the entire second floor, managed by Cornelia and Flaneur. 

On the day of my visit, I walked up new steps of stone and bluestone steps to the deep front porch between the two bay front wings with glass walls for total transparency. With the serene exterior color palette of pale gray walls and crisp white trim, this building proudly proclaims its place as the star of the block.   

 

Among the many accolades Cornelia has earned throughout her real estate career is her ranking among the top one percent of real estate professionals nationwide; due to her attention to detail and laser focus on her customers, whether they are first time home buyers or buyers of multi-million dollar properties. She brought those same traits to her role as a developer for this building’s transformation with her architect husband as a consultant. 

As I walked around the building, every surface has been considered as part of a unified composition. New roofing, siding and replacement windows updated the architecture. New hardscape of bricks and pavers replaced the expanse of the previous gravel surfaces. New native plantings enhance the building’s massing and new fencing provides privacy for the outdoor spaces.  The dilapidated storage shed was restored and behind the building are four assigned parking spaces.

 

The deep front entry with its original door, doorbell, new lever hardware, sidelights and full transom offers a shady spot on a warm day. Both residents and tourists enjoy viewing the pictures of Long and Foster’s properties for sale that float behind the glass.

 

The building’s interior was a challenge since there had been no HVAC, only space heaters, for many years. Cornelia’s contractor restored the beautiful staircase to its former glory and added another slim iron handrail at the wall opposite the balustrade.  I was especially pleased that the wood floors were not fully sanded and covered with polyurethane. Instead, the crew left some of the old paint that highlights the pine floors’ wonderful aged patina. The white interior walls reflect the sunlight from the front bay windows walls of glass. 

The door at the end of the hall by the stairs opens into the powder room with a wallpaper of colorful sea creatures cavorting amongst the coral in the sea. The tile backsplash picks up the orange of the wallpaper to create a backdrop for the white cabinetry and plumbing fixtures. The slats of the window’s blinds are angled to allow both sunlight and privacy to this delightful space.  

 

Doors on either side of the stair hall lead to the two office suites that span the depth of the building. The south suite is Cornelia’s office and the entry door opens into this reception area enclosed by the front bay window and side windows of glass overlooking the streetscape. I loved the Scandinavian design of the pendant light fixture and the sleek wood chairs with upholstered seats and pillows that continue the marine theme. This welcoming reception area was once part of the original front porch so the flooring in this area could not be restored and new wood flooring was installed.

 

Cornelia’s reception area and the two-person open plan work area open plan is flooded with sunlight from the front glass walls and the side window overlooking a courtyard. The white of the space’s enclosure, the sleek office furnishings with wood accents of the credenza and side chairs and the muted tones of the large rug create a soothing environment for work. The wide wall opening leads to the meeting room at the rear wall of the building.

 

The sunny meeting room has daylight from the side single window and the rear double unit window. I admired the telescoping pendant light fixture, wood chairs with rattan backs and cushioned seats paired with the round contemporary white table. The low storage unit below the side window with sliding panels infilled with rattan displays some of Cornelia’s many awards and publicity.  

 

The Tremezzo Stay tenant space is identical in size to Cornelia’s and its reception space’s front glass is inscribed with their logo and pictures of their portfolio of luxury rental properties. I admired the space’s Zen feel with the one round table, urn and pendant fixture suspended from the deep brown ceiling above the new wood floors of the former porch.

The open plan space is enhanced by a shiplap accent wall, light wood furnishings and a soothing neutral palette. The dropped beam defines the space into the working and seating areas. 

 

After touring the office suites, I was eager to explore the Airbnb that encompasses the entire second floor. The stairs end at a door that opens into a hall with a vista to this cozy nook with a window overlooking the streetscape below. I loved the octopus fabric and how even though the pillows are identical in design, tilting one pillow creates a fun dynamic between the two chairs.  

The cozy seating nook is between the two bedrooms that are located at opposite corners of the building with windows on two exterior walls for daylight throughout the day. Carpeting in a subtle, tight weave adds sound privacy from the office suites below. This bedroom’s white walls and bed linens are enlivened by a coverlet and pillows portraying more delightful sea creatures.  

The other bedroom can accommodate a king-size bed and a dual dresser with its splash of deep lime green is a great accent piece. When I admired the colorful floral pattern of the accent pillows and coverlet, I was surprised when Cornelia told me she ordered them from Target Online!

 

The stylish bath is conveniently located off the stair hall. The lavatory’s countertop has space for guests’ daily toiletries and the tile used here as a wainscot is a design I have also specified for several architectural clients for the texture it adds to the wall. The tiled shower’s sliding door spans the width of the space to expand the room’s transparency and the window’s layer of patterned glass provides both daylight and privacy.

At the rear of the second floor is a sitting area with earth toned carpeting and neutral colored upholstery that creates an inviting space for unwinding at the end of a busy day spent exploring St. Michaels’ shops and attractions before making dinner reservations at one of the many restaurants.  

During my tour of the rear hardscaped area, I had noticed a bay window projection at the second floor. When I reached the last room of the Airbnb suite, I realized how the bay window had become a clever window seat at the dining area opposite the wall of the mini-kitchen’s cabinets, under counter fridge and bar sink. The bamboo styled cupboard with both drawers and drawers contains all one needs to set the table for a meal. The artwork of an oversized crab adds a touch of whimsy to this delightful space with a partial sloped ceiling for spatial volume.

The icing on the cake of this exquisite Airbnb is this covered porch that is a delightful outdoor room, accessed by a door in the sitting room. Part of the roof follows the underside of the rafters above to add height to this cozy space. What a perfect spot for a cocktail before dinner or a night cap while enjoying the bird’s eye view of St. Michaels’ Historic District. 

Numerous locals who watched the transformation of this property have sought out Cornelia to compliment her on this exquisite property and grounds. They also appreciate Cornelia’s adding a bench to her landscaped side yard where one can relax in the shady space from the shadow cast by her building.  Brava to this great example of urban rejuvenation that has set the bar very high for future projects!   

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In addition to Cornelia’s ranking among the top one percent of real estate professionals nationwide, she is also ranked in the  Top 100 Long and Foster agents within Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., and has earned several prestigious awards. If you are a seller or buyer, contact Cornelia C. Heckenbach, Associate Broker at Long and Foster Real Estate, 410-310-1229 (c) or [email protected]  or visit www.stmichaelsmdwaterfront.com,  “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Vincent Ferrari Photography, (301) 395-3245

Tremezzo Stay, www.tremezzostay.com.   Tremezzo Stay’s current portfolio of four unique properties are personally owned, managed and hosted by Brandon and Marissa Lytle. Each home has been handpicked by them and extensively outfitted to their highest standards for the comfort of their guests. Visit their website for a tour of each unique property for a memorable vacation on the Eastern Shore.

Flaneur, www.flaneurvacations.com, (410) 745-8022

 “Historic St. Michaels, An Architectural History” by Elizabeth Hughes, Historic St. Michaels-Bay Hundred, Inc., Publisher, 1996

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Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

When I saw pictures of today’s featured house, I recognized the work of the Jack Arnold AIA, one of America’s leading architects of the French Country style. This house’s front elevation features elements of this style, from the brick exposed foundation that corbels into natural stone walls, slate roof with flared eaves, accents of wood beams set into stone facades, multi-paned windows, multiple gables of different heights and arched tops for windows and shutters that creates unique curb appeal.

The house’s site has a rich history. It is part of “Ratcliffe Farm”, named for “The Mannour of Ratcliff”, one of Talbot County’s great mid-century houses, patented in 1659, that was built on 800 acres along the Tred Avon River.  Part of the property was sold for development in the early 2000s to create Ratcliffe Manor Farm’s fifteen single-family lots as well as the Easton Village neighborhood. 

I began my tour by turning onto a tree lined boulevard that leads to the turnoff for this house’s street, named for “Fort Stoakes”, a fortress built during the War of 1812. When I reached the point where the two streets to access Ratcliffe Manor Farm’s lots intersect the boulevard, I was impressed how well the new streets were laid out to maintain the Manor House’s privacy in its surrounding woods. As I turned down the driveway to this house, I appreciated the gentle slope of the lawn with a low stone retaining wall at the front of the house, how the driveway was accented by bands of color to define zones and the beautiful earth tones of the exterior color palette. 

All of the elevations are exquisitely detailed, with this elevation’s arched brick headers above the garage doors and the triple window; the garage doors’ crisscross trim and wood accents around the recessed porch and the header over the triple window, and the variety of window shapes. The gable wing of the house juxtaposed with the façade of the garage creates a very pleasing massing.

The house reaches out to the water with the varied depths of its wings. I especially liked how the three-bay recessed porch echoed the three bays of the garage, the detailing of the chimneys with the stone changing to brick with chimney caps and the outdoor rooms of the main floor’s covered terrace, the pool’s hardscape and the second floor deck.  

The spacious elevated brick terrace blends into the hardscape of the pool surround for views of the lawn and water beyond. The thin black fencing around the pool area offers serene, unobstructed views of the landscape and the river. 

One of the Owners greeted me for my tour as I was admiring the custom design of the wide front door that  is recessed into the front façade. As I walked into the spacious foyer, I was immediately drawn to the view through the wide arched doors to the covered terrace. The foyer’s interior architecture is detailed with stone flooring, faux-finish walls that simulate stone and graceful elliptical arches for the doors and the wide wall openings on either side of the foyer to both the living and dining rooms.

The living room’s high tray ceiling is accented with stained beams, and the chimney wall that projects slightly into the room creates delightful interior architecture. I admired the gas fireplace’s cast concrete mantel that simulates stone, the accents of red in the sofa and chairs and the antique posters. The arched top at the side wall’s opening frames the hall past the powder room and the primary suite beyond.

Powder rooms offer great opportunities to accentuate a small space. This beautiful painted wall mural adds perspective to the room and the painted accents of the lavatory and toilet repeat the mural’s motifs.  The bow fronted lavatory cabinet and the round mirror in its “porthole” frame complete this charming look.

The study is located at the corner of the house with arched front doors opening onto the front lawn. Another tray ceiling with wood beams adds height to this space. The writing table, TV and comfortable furnishings creates a perfect spot for work or to unwind at the end of the day.

The sumptuous primary suite begins with the spacious primary bedroom with its tray ceiling and wood beams for greater height. The rear wall of glass from doors and full height sidelights offers views of the landscape and water beyond. The gas fireplace that is set into the room also creates niches for a chair and chest of drawers.

The current Owners undertook extensive renovations, including this transformation of the existing primary bath into a light filled oasis with a white tray ceiling to reflect the light. From the bedroom, a pair of paneled doors open to this vista of the soaking tub. The cut-outs in the wall behind the tub bring light into both the shower area and the toilet compartment. Off the bath is large dressing room with a center storage island whose countertop is convenient for packing/unpacking for travel. The surrounding walls of the dressing room lined with rods and open shelves provide ample storage.

After backtracking to the foyer, I looked forward to exploring the rest of the house, beginning with the dining room. I admired the flat ceiling accented with wood beams, the wood header to the adjacent hall and the full height arched top window that overlooks the front lawn. The round table, upholstered chairs and the etagere with cabinets below create an elegant space for dining with soft lighting from the chandelier and the sconces.  

Between the dining room and the kitchen is a bar area that backs up to a large pantry behind the kitchen. The ceiling of the open plan kitchen-breakfast-family room has spatial variety from the flat plane over the kitchen that changes to the vaulted ceiling of the family room. At the exterior wall of the kitchen are two pairs of doors leading to the covered terrace.

My fave room is the exquisite covered terrace, accessed from both the kitchen and the foyer for easy indoor-outdoor flow from the house to the pool area. How could one resist the rich texture mix of brick, stone and wood and the white tray ceiling accented by stained wood beams, areas for sitting and dining and the gas fireplace?

The dramatic space of the family room also has a bow-shaped area overlooking the pool area for breakfast or informal meals. I especially admired how the very high tray ceiling’s beams are detailed with an extra layer of wood trim underneath the break in the ceiling plane that adds great character to the space. The long windows that wrap around the corner of the room offer panoramic views of the lawn and water. The gas fireplace, millwork with TV and comfortable furnishings make this open plan kitchen-breakfast bay and family room the hub of the house.

The remainder of the first floor has a secondary entry with stairs to the partial second floor, the laundry, a bedroom ensuite and the three car garage with storage space. 

 

The partial second floor has two bedroom ensuites and this clever boat shaped bed’s frame was left by the former Owners. The current Owners continued the nautical theme with the porthole mirror and added the sleek wood dresser and chest that match the color of the boat’s bow. Since the front wall of the bedroom is tucked under the roof, the high knee wall and sloped ceiling with a double window dormer opposite the bed create a cozy space for boaters of all ages.

Between the two second-floor bedrooms is a bonus room furnished as a sitting room for guests. Several single dormer windows bring sunlight into the space, and the high-knee walls offer ample headroom. Built into the knee walls are doors to access storage space under the roof rafters.

No doubt, lucky guests who stay in this charming bedroom with access to the deck with bird’s eye views of the water may well be tempted to extend their stay!

This four acre property convenient to both Easton and St. Michaels offers a unique combination of a historic setting with approximately 300 feet of waterfront and a natural shoreline along the scenic Tred Avon River with a distinctive house design by one of America’s leading architects of the French Country style. Built to the highest level of construction with low maintenance, timeless exterior materials of stone and brick, this four bedroom, 4-1/2 bath French Country is tres’ magnifique! 

From the centrally located foyer, the main floor plan is zoned very well with the living room, study/office and master suite on one wing and the dining room, open plan kitchen-breakfast- family room, laundry, guest ensuite and garage on the other wing. Tray ceilings of various heights trimmed with wood beams offer delightful spatial variety to the indoor rooms. Outdoor rooms of the irresistible covered terrace that flow into the hardscape around the heated salt-water pool and the second floor deck expand your living space and provide peaceful vistas of the current Owners’ extensive landscaping.  Water enthusiasts will appreciate the dock with water, electric, boat and jet ski lifts with approximately 5 ft MLW.  The house’s motto inscribed on the plaque in the kitchen that proclaims “If you’re lucky enough to live on the water you’re lucky enough” says it all! 

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For more information about this property, contact Cliff Meredith, Broker, with Meredith Fine Properties at 410-822-6272 (o), 410-924-0082 (c), [email protected] ; or Laura Carney, Senior Vice President with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-673-3344 (o), 410-310-3307 (c) or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing, visit www.MeredithFineProperties.com or www.lauracarney.com ,“Equal Housing Opportunity.” 

Photography by-Townsend Visuals, www.townsendvisuals.com, (443) 279-8309

Architecture by Jack Arnold AIA, www.jackarnold.com, 800-824-3565

Construction by Ilex, www.ilexconstruction.com, (866) 551-4539

Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has re-established her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoon.