Several years ago I featured an exquisite Georgian style property, Thornton Estate, that is now a rental property for family vacations or corporate retreats. Today’s feature is another exquisite property, The Brampton Inn, circa 1860, that is now a Boutique Inn just outside Chestertown. Low walls of stacked stone topped with colorful plantings on either side of the entry drive are a prelude to the carefully curated grounds and gardens of this thirty-five acre estate. As I drove along the entry drive that turned into a circular drive at the Inn, towering trees provided shade and enclosure and framed the front elevation.

In 1987, the property transitioned from a private residence to hotel. Many of the buildings on the property were restored or reconstructed to become private guest cottages. The present owners, Hilari and Dave Rinehart, acquired the property in 2020 and are spearheading a multi-year phased transformation that will restore, reimagine and breathe new life into this historic treasure.

As I turned onto the entry drive, low walls of stacked stone topped with colorful plantings were a prelude to the carefully curated grounds and gardens of this thirty-five acre estate. As I drove nearer to the Inn, towering trees provided shade and enclosure and framed the front elevation.

Before going in, I walked around the main house to savor its Greek Revival-Italianate architectural style. The five bay wide, two bays deep, three story house capped with a cupola with a two-story rear wing clad in white lap siding. A half flight of brick steps leads up to the wrap-around porch with square columns detailed with chamfered corners, trim and plinth blocks. The columns support the bracketed cornice and the brick piers below the columns and diagonal lattice panels complete the porch design. Given the outlooks to the beautifully landscaped grounds, I especially appreciated that the porch railing of thin black iron pickets disappears into the landscape.

The Brampton Inn’s striking facades are composed of pressed brick, oversized walnut windows with shutters and the low slope roof crowned by a grand belvedere that offers stunning 360-degree views of the 35-acre country estate. To reflect the hierarchy of spaces within, the main floor’s floor to ceiling 6/9 windows have headers of bracketed molding;  the second floor’s windows are shorter 6/6 with bracketed moldings and third floor windows have simple headers. The eave line of the roof breaks above the middle window into a gable and pairs of brackets enhance the eave line.  The side gable ends are identical and repeat the same window pattern as the front elevation.

The original frame house now contains the kitchen, breakfast area and the Fairy Hill Guest Suite on the main floor and guest rooms above. The breakfast area feels more like a sunroom with its wrap-around windows facing south and west for sunlight throughout the day. French doors lead to a brick terrace covered by a pergola for outdoor dining. Brick steps cascade down to a hardscaped terrace on axis with an arbor and a small pergola. To the side is a firepit surrounded by Adirondack chairs. The Brampton Inn is a popular wedding destination and as I walked across the hardscaped terrace, I could well imagine a bride and groom walking through the arbor onto the terrace for their first dance as man and wife.

After exploring the exterior, I began my tour of the interior through the pair of tall double doors. The layout of the main house is a center hall floor plan with a parlor on either side and I was delighted to discover that the first floor apparently remains unaltered. No expenses were spared for the interior – hand-carved marble fireplaces, intricate plaster medallions, crystal chandeliers, Georgia pine flooring and a three-and-a-half story curved walnut ash staircase. 

The open string type walnut stair is detailed with elaborately scrolled stair brackets and the heavy turned walnut newel post with acanthus and roped motifs rests on its octagonal base. Two turned balusters per each tread support the heavy walnut cap rail. I later learned from the Innkeeper that when the house was a single family residence, the young children would delight in sliding down the stairs! Walnut is also the material used for the four-panel doors with Greek ogee and bevel molding, as well as the door and window trim. This is no surprise, for walnut has a long history in America; Native Americans considered walnut to be the wood of mental focus and clear thinking. It is a high quality dark wood, with a fine straight grain that is perfect for the Inn’s flooring, trim and doors.

The Innkeeper met me in the front parlor and the golden yellow of the walls, upholstery and elegant window treatments with the wood antiques, anchored by the beautiful wood floors and the Oriental rug made me wish I could stay long enough to watch the sun set that must set the room aglow. I wondered if the long windows were jib windows, since the sills were at floor level. This type of door was important for houses in the South since the jib window opens like a door for maximum ventilation. The Innkeeper remarked that during restoration of one window, he found a business card of the company in Pennsylvania who made the window hardware and he contacted them about replacement parts. He was amazed that the original parts were still available from the company!

The other front parlor was set up for afternoon tea and I made a mental note to make a reservation for a later date. Like the other parlor, this parlor has the same original wood floors, fireplace detailing, plaster walls and ceiling medallions. This room’s wainscot, patterned wallpaper, the sheer window treatments and warm lighting set the stage for an elegant daily tea. 

Seven guest suites in the main house and five cottages dotting the grounds offer a range of choices for guests. The first floor of the main house contains the Fairy Hill Suite that was the original kitchen.

This suite is located at the rear of the frame addition and has its own private entrance. This spacious two-level suite has a living room with a wood-burning fireplace. 

The mezzanine level off the landing between the first and second floors contains the two room Emory Suite with a gas fireplace in the bedroom and a separate sitting room that overlooks the terrace and gardens off the breakfast room. The cozy sitting room is a perfect spot to watch TV. 

The second floor contains the Blue Room, the Yellow Room and Poppy’s Retreat. All rooms have gas fireplaces.

This Goldilocks would relish trying out all of the rooms but my favorite room would the front corner’s Yellow Room with its pencil post bedframe covered by a lace canopy, beautiful wood floors, Oriental rugs, and wood antiques. 

The third floor contains the Red Room and Green rooms for bird’s eye views of the landscape. 

The Green Room also has a canopy bed that faces the front and side walls of the Inn. The chimney projection creates a cozy sitting nook by the corner windows near the free-standing wood stove.  

The five cottages have different architectural styles and interiors so there is something for everyone’s taste and mobility. On the day I visited, I was only able to visit two of the cottages, Marley’s Cottage and Russell’s Cottage but the Inn’s website has descriptions and pictures of each cottage.

Marley’s Cottage is the farthest from the Inn’s Main House and is located at the edge of a meadow. This suite and others will undergo renovations to be ADA compliant. The multi-level suite will be renovated to become a one-level ADA Suite. Enjoy the peace and quiet from the front porch, swing or the two-person hammock near the meadow. The suite has a wood burning fireplace viewed from both the sitting area’s two club chairs and the bed. The luxurious bath has both a spa tub and steam shower as well as a large Japanese-style soaking infinity tub in a screened porch. The suite also has a breakfast nook and wet bar with a refrigerator.

If I were a guest, it would be difficult to leave the comfort of a suite or a cottage, but the grounds offer approximately one mile  of walking trails for daily exercise or to work off the Afternoon Tea’s treats. The trails pass by pastoral scenes including the barn, a run-in shed and a silo from the property’s past as a working farm.

After dinner in one of Chestertown’s restaurants (I highly recommend The Watershed for its atmosphere and gourmet cuisine) a guest would drive back to this lovely scene of The Brampton Inn at twilight. This unique property is one of Kent County’s gems and the Innkeepers’ commitment to historic preservation and hospitality will continue to draw both repeat guests and new guests for a memorable stay. Many guests return each year and ask for their same room.

The Brampton Inn is also a popular venue for engagements, weddings, honeymoons, renewal vows, family reunions, and other special occasions. It is also no surprise that the Inn was recognized this year by USA Today 10 Best as one of the top 10 Bed and Breakfasts in the country.

For more information about the Brampton Inn, or to make a reservation, visit www.bramptoninn.com/chestertown-inn, 410-778-1860. (I love how their telephone number is the date of the main house’s construction!)

Photographs courtesy of The Brampton Inn to illustrate the charm of the exteriors and interiors through all the seasons.

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 referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The phrase in one of my fave Joni Mitchell songs…”I felt unfettered and alive…” always reminds me of an idyllic summer in France after graduation from architectural school. I attended a 10 week session at the E’cole Des Beaux Arts and spent each weekend roaming Paris’ arrondissements with my fellow students. I came home with a deep appreciation for mansard roofs, (which has slopes on all four sides of a building, unlike a gambrel, with slopes on two sides). When I arrived at this property and saw the mansard roofs on both the carriage house and main house, I knew the top floors would be tres magnifique!

I began my tour by walking along part of the 200 feet of waterfront along the Choptank River as a family of ducks left the river to glide into the tidal pond along one side of the property. The house is sited perpendicular to the shoreline and a deep wrap-around porch offers broad vistas up and down the river. The exterior white color palette of stucco on the first floor and white siding on the second floor stands out against the background of tall trees, one of which a bald eagle has claimed for its nest. 

The roof of the main house’s side porch extends over to become a covered porch at the former two-car garage. The covered walkway leads to the front door that opens into a spacious foyer that is part of an open plan living-dining-kitchen area.

When the agent opened the door, I immediately realized that the French Eclectic exterior has an interior inspired by “barndominium” design. After the 2016 segment of HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” featured a transformation of a horse barn into a family “barndominium” with its free-span spaces, rustic wooden staircases, barn doors, wood flooring and reclaimed wood elements,  the design caught on across the country. I loved this house’s wood floors in varied colors, wood beams and the floating wood stairs that contrasted with the white walls to reflect the sunlight from the numerous long windows and glass doors. The stairs’ landing is supported by hand hewn tree limbs and a reclaimed wood framed window has a clever use as a railing for transparency. The dramatic three-sided stucco fireplace is the focal point of the open floor plan. 

The dining area is centered on a wide picture window with operable units on each side for tranquil views of the tidal pond. Between the cushioned window seat and the upholstered side chairs, there is plenty of seating for small or large groups. I especially liked the two white oak planks with live edges that combine to make the stylish table top floating above the slender deep gray iron frame. The kitchen’s light gray cabinets blend with the stainless steel appliances for a sleek contemporary look and most of the upper cabinets have glass fronts for transparency. The white countertops and the splashes of deep blue accents on the sides of the cabinetry add color. Uplights on top of the exposed beams provide soft accent lighting. Behind the kitchen is the family room that was the former two-car garage, a large pantry and a full bath. 

The stairs with open risers and thick wood treads with the landing enhanced by a ledge with a wood cap built into the steep roof. Three tall woven vessels on the ledge are back lit and combined with the exposed beams above that are top lit to create a dramatic effect. The hall off the stairs leads to barn doors to access the bedrooms and baths. At the end of the hall is a large room currently furnished as a laundry but it could easily be converted to a secondary sitting room or TV space. 

The primary bedroom is located at one corner with windows offering views of the river.  The dormer windows’ pitched headers, exposed wood collar beams and open ceiling that follows the roof rafters’ slope accented by wood trim at roof intersections creates simple and elegant interior architecture. 

White is the color of cleanliness and this bathroom’s white walls and ceiling accentuate the interior architecture. The white plumbing fixtures resting on the wood floors, the exposed beams and the water views creates an inviting place for a soothing soak. This bathroom has a clever detail of the reclaimed wood ladder in its role as a towel rack. 

All of the bedrooms have great individual style and although it was difficult to choose, this Goldilocks would choose this bedroom with the bed against the mansard roof and windows on either side-wonderful geometry and materials!

The third floor waterside corner bedroom would be a perfect child’s bedroom with the window seat that connects the front and side windows. It is easy to imagine this room with toys, favorite stuffed animals and books arranged on the window seat. 

If I were lucky to be a guest for an extended stay, I would claim the carriage house with its gambrel roof. The entry door opens into a foyer/laundry then another door opens into the open plan living-dining-kitchen area that spans the full depth of the house. 

From the front bay window to the wrap-around windows at the rear dining area overlooking the water, this space would delight any guest.  The front bay window is a cozy spot for two and the main sitting area is centered on the fireplace and the TV. The exposed beams are uplighted by a continuous light cove that cast a gentle glow. The light cove ends at the waterside dining area with its white drywall ceilings to better reflect the sunlight from the wrap around windows with a continuous built-in seat below around the large table. In between the living and dining areas is the galley kitchen with an island. 

A circular stair leads to the second floor bedroom and this space truly personifies the barndominium concept with the wood sloped walls, collar beams and ceiling accented by the white drywall knee walls. The entire space is a sumptuous bedroom ensuite complete with a soaking tub. 

The main house has the wrap around porch overlooking the Choptank River but the guest house has its own outdoor room, the deck overlooking the serene tidal pond.  What a perfect spot to end a day at the beach or boating on the Choptank River!

This ten acre property with the main house’s seven bedrooms over two floors and the guest house’s additional bedroom is currently a vacation rental that offers myriad possibilities to a new owner. Numerous amenities include a ramp for watercraft, a waterside canopy of mature trees, extensive shoreline bulkheading, sandy beach, tidal pond, main house wrap around porch, and the guest house second flood deck. Claim your spot on a hammock or sink into an Adirondack chair on the porch for watching dramatic sunsets over the river.  A bucolic setting with contemporary barndominium interiors-where else can you find all of this only an hour from the Atlantic Ocean?

For information about this property contact Coard Benson with Benson & Mangold Real Estate at 410-770-9255 (o), 410-310-4909 (c) or [email protected].For more pictures and pricing, visit www.coardbenson.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Interior design by Honor Moore, Honor Moore Studio, www.honormoore.com Photography and virtual tour by Broadview Interactive LLC,  [email protected]

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 referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

I always welcome an opportunity to fall under Oxford’s spell so when I attended an open house at this property, I knew this historic house would have an intriguing story and indeed it does. The house’s large lot is due to its being the location of both the Jeremiah Valliant Store that was built at the corner of the lot approximately ten years before this house, known as the Pastorfield-Valliant House, was built next door. As befitting a post-Civil War era house, the lot originally included a kitchen, carriage house, granary, small office, meat house and dairy. 

The original two and half story, five bays wide and one room deep house has been beautifully maintained. The color palette of  light brown lap siding, white trim and corner boards is classic and the 4/4 long windows on both the main and second floors and three single dormer windows arranged symmetrically over the second-floor windows create a very pleasing symmetry. The front porch is four-bays wide for expansive views of the charming townscape. Each bay is embellished with fretwork on both sides of the turned columns and a low elliptical trim spans from column to column with another fretwork detail marking the center of each bay. 

The side elevation shows the “T” shape of the original house with both a one and a half story pitched roof wing that telescope down with three shed roofed rooms attached to it at both the rear and side of the house.  

 The paneled entry wood door has a full transom and half glass/half paneled sidelights and opens into a gracious entry opposite the original L-shaped staircase. The staircase shape creates space for a former sewing machine to have a new life as a stylish table opposite a bench for storage of shoes. The dark stain of the  balustrade and treads are a pleasant contrast to the white risers and stair stringer. The foyer separates two original rooms that are identical in size. At the wide wall opening to the family room, turned columns are slightly offset from the wall to further frame the opening. 

On the opposite side of the foyer, a pair of French doors lead to the living room. This room has been modified from the original layout of two windows opposite each other at the front and rear walls. A closet was added next to the fireplace and one of the rear windows has been incorporated into a full bath, to offer the flexibility of using this space as a main floor bedroom.

Chesterfield style sofas have always appealed to me, probably from years of watching PBS’ Masterpiece Theater, so I was tempted to linger on this inviting room’s sofa to imagine winter evenings of watching TV by the fire.

Next to the family room is the kitchen that has exterior doors on its two side walls flanked by single windows. I loved the eclectic look of this kitchen’s wide galley layout that creates space for a large island with its “L” shaped higher counter and bead board wall against the stylish bar stools’ metal frame and deep gray cushions. At the island’s other side, the standard height counter has a dark finish with black cabinetry and a stainless-steel dishwasher. I admired the deep gray ceiling and the original wood floors that highlight the white of the walls and cabinetry and how the textures of the white bead board, red brick exposed chimney and mix of black and light quartz counters add character. On the opposite wall of the galley, the middle upper cabinet has glass fronted doors inset into deep gray frames between white upper cabinets that breaks up the wall of white cabinets as the stove does on the other side of the room. 

Behind the kitchen is the story and half wing with another stair for access to the playroom above. The sunny dining room has three windows on one side opposite the door and window to the side small porch. I admired the appealing variety of wood finishes from the flooring, table, chairs, and the sideboard with its glass fronted doors. Behind the dining room is the laundry area and a full bath, including a clawfoot tub.

At the second floor, the corner room over the family room is a spacious ensuite.  The original mantel at the chimney wall and the wallpaper design of oversized flowers give this space great character. The two front windows and one side window provide abundant sunlight.  

Off the stair landing to the second floor is a short flight of steps leading to another bedroom in the original “L” part of the house. The bedroom is furnished as a nursery with a closet opposite the chimney creating a window seat that is a perfect spot for a bedtime story. Behind this space is the attic area over the dining room below. The high knee walls and sloped ceiling create a cozy space for this delightful children’s playroom. The ductwork at the floor level is disguised by a long window seat and black cubes above provide storage for toys and games. At the rear of the room is the secondary stair to the dining room and kitchen below.

The entire third floor is a sumptuous primary suite with the bedroom area and the bath at the front of the house with both dormer windows and low windows in the side gable walls. The amount of floor space would allow flexible furniture arrangements. With two closets in my entire house, I envied the dressing area with chests on each side that leads to a deep walk-in closet with windows at the rear gable wall for sunlight. The spacious bath’s soaking tub in front of the other exposed brick chimney between windows creates a private space for a long soothing soak.   

Large lot in Oxford’s Historic District surrounded by a traditional Oxford wooden fence, close to the waterside park and shopping area, beautifully maintained home with many original details, wrap-around porch to expand your living space, spacious rooms filled with sunlight from large windows, upgraded kitchen and baths- a unique opportunity to become the next steward of this historic home rooted in Oxford’s history!

For more information about this property, contact Jane McCarthy at Benson and Mangold Real Estate, 410-822-1415 (o), 410-310-6692 (c) or [email protected] .For more photographs or pricing, visit  www.marylandseasternshorehomes.com , Equal Housing Opportunity.” Photography by Janelle Stroop, Thru the Lens Photos, 410-310-6838, [email protected]. 

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 referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Ken Daly, Owner of both Naima Ventures and Jack Construction has reached out to the Spy to publicize the plight of a homeowner with an urgent need. In May of 2022, the homeowner contacted Mr. Daly for urgent help. The homeowner recently retired from her position as a special education instructional assistant and served Talbot County public schools for over 20 years. 

Currently, she resides in a makeshift trailer on Main Street in Trappe. Unfortunately, the trailer has suffered significant structural damage to the roof from rain infiltration over the past five years. 

Each time it rains, the trailer floods, making most of the house uninhabitable. Water infiltration has caused the ceiling finish materials to buckle and patches have now become saturated with water.  The homeowner is now without running water, and the electricity poses a safety hazard.

The homeowner won a contest sponsored by Mid-Shore Exteriors for new roofing materials only.  When the roofing company went to the site to assess the existing conditions, they observed that roof framing and sheathing would be needed before they could install their donated materials. 

In the kitchen, wood studs were nailed against the ceiling to avert the increasingly saturated ceiling’s collapse.

Mr. Daly went to the site and concurred with the roofing company’s assessment.

He told the homeowner that he felt the only viable solution was to demolish the current structure and build her a new home and that he was committed to help her.

Mr. Daly first referred the homeowner to Habitat for Humanity. Unfortunately, her ownership of the property meant her situation fell outside their scope. Mr. Daily’s company, JACK Construction, is committed to providing pro-bono labor for the construction, and he retained architect Richard Lyew, AIA, of Washington, DC who graciously offered to provide pro bono design and permitting services.

The one-bedroom, one bath home design features a front porch accessed by both steps to the front door and an ADA compliant ramp up to the porch. 

The house’s compact rectangular shape contains a living-dining-kitchen open plan with the living room overlooking the front porch to extend the living space. A short hall leads to the bedroom, walk-in closet, bath and laundry closet at the rear part of the house.

Mr. Daily next contacted Polaris Village Ministries, a registered 501(c)(3) organization, who will administer the goal of raising approximately $150,000 to cover the costs of materials and outside contractors for the mechanical and sprinkler systems. 

To donate online, visit https://paypal.com/donate/?campaign_id=RGK74RT3SGK2J&source=url. 

To donate by check, the address is:

Polaris Village Ministries
P.O. Box 987 Easton, MD 21601
Memo: Peggy Brooks

When the fundraising goal is met and construction can begin, the Neighborhood Service Center will pay for a motel room for the homeowner until she can move back to her neighborhood. This is an emergency situation for this homeowner. The architect, construction company and the Neighborhood Service Center have stepped up to offer pro bono assistance. Please join their effort by donating to help this homeowner who for many years helped so many children in our community.

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 referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.

This property was patented as “Mount Mill” in the 17th century. Although the date that the mill was constructed is not known, the mill was operational through most of the 18th century and served the Bloomingdale estate across U.S. Route 50. The mill residence known as the Sally Harris Mill House was sited on high ground and built in 1793 along the west bank of the Madam Alices Branch, near the site of the mill. The house is one of a small group of brick houses with gambrel roofs that still exist in Queen Anne’s County. 

The center story and a half, three-bay wing is the original two rooms wide, one room deep design. The exterior walls and chimneys at each gable end wall are brick, with the front façade facing west laid in Flemish bond with a plain brick water table over the foundation laid in English bond. The south facing chimney is distinguished by a band of white plaster “necking” under the corbeled portion of the chimney top. Later additions at both the north and south side are clad in light colored siding that accentuates the original brick house. Both the open front porch and the rear screened porch are wonderful outdoor rooms for views of the landscape.

The asymmetrical arrangement of the front entry door flanked by single windows is due to the location of stair at the NE corner and this pattern is repeated at the rear elevation. The gambrel shaped roof is clad in wood shingles with two single dormer windows  at the front elevation and three dormer windows at the rear elevation projecting from the roof.

The original house has been modified with wings at each side. The south wing probably replaced an original, smaller wing dating from the 1800’s  and now contains the family room, kitchen, mudroom/laundry and full bath on the main floor with a bedroom above. At the opposite side, another wing built in the late 1990’s now contains a primary suite on the main floor and space above that could be another primary suite or a family/games room. The original two room space is now the living and dining room.

The fireplace wall is enhanced by the original bolection molding (decorative molding that projects beyond the surfaces). 

The living room is connected to the dining room by an opening the width of the two fireplaces directly opposite each other. The room is currently furnished as a music space, office area and dining area. 

The kitchen has been updated with creamy white cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The kitchen opens into the adjacent family room with a fireplace and a four-unit bow window with views to the landscape. The door at the rear wall of the family room leads to a pantry closet, mudroom/laundry, and a full bath with an exterior door for access to the pool area. Another door leads to the partial basement below for storage. 

The main floor primary suite includes a spacious bedroom with pine flooring to blend with the original flooring and a wide bay window for views of the landscape. The dressing area includes cabinetry with a lavatory and linen closet opposite two walk-in closets next to a separate full bath with a shower. 

My favorite room is the second floor bedroom with its wall and ceiling geometry defined by front and rear low knee walls below the long sloped wall/ceiling of the gambrel roof framing. This charming bedroom has slate blue molding at the wall/ceiling joint that extends down to the windows also framed in blue, against bright white walls to reflect the sunlight. The furnishings echo the slate blue color and I especially admired the large rag rug over the beautiful pine floors.

Two other bedrooms, both of which have fireplaces, are arranged along the hall between the stairs and the full bath at the end of the hall. Closets are cleverly added in the sloped gambrel roof along the hall’s exterior wall to maximize floor space in each bedroom.  

The game room/second primary suite is located above the spacious main floor primary suite. Windows on its three exterior walls flood the space with light throughout the day; the windows on the gable end wall face north so this area could also become an artist’s studio or office area. The suite includes a full bath and a walk-in closet. 

The same family has owned this 31 acre property for almost fifty years. The entry approach off SR 50 is shaded by tall evergreens and you immediately feel the drop in temperature as you drive under the trees. The house is set between additional structures of two barns and the pool area. The largest barn has a workshop with storage space above a two-car garage and the smaller barn contains kennels. The surrounding woods of mature trees provides privacy on two sides of the property with the heated pool and hot tub nestled in a clearing. There is plenty of lawn for children’s play and/or to exercise horses. A grape arbor and multiple planting beds add color and fragrance.

A charming blend of old and new that preserved period details including wrought iron hinges, wood batten doors and pine flooring; space flexibility with primary bedrooms on both floors, outdoor rooms of the screened porch and open porch, and myriad possibilities for the outbuildings. All this and the proximity to Easton, St. Michaels, Chestertown and points west. 

For more information about this property, contact Benson and Mangold Real Estate agents Jim Bent ( Jim Bent: 410-770-9255 (o), 410-924-0901 (c), [email protected] or Anna Larkin (410-770-9255 (o), 410-829-3549 (c), [email protected], who helped sponsor this article. For more photographs or pricing, visit www.jbent-midshorehomes.com, or https://annalarkin.brightmlshomes.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity

Photography by Imagesbystara 

Historic Photograph from the Maryland Historical Trust 

Jennifer Martella is an architect with Bohl Architects’ Annapolis office and a referral agent for Meredith Fine Properties. Jennifer is an integral part of Bohl Architects’ design team for projects she brings to the firm. She is also the writer of  Bohl’s website’s  bi-monthly blog “Tango Funhouse” where she highlights the firm’s vision and other fun aspects of life by design. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday.