Design with Jenn Martella: “Highcroft”, circa 1780/1840
The open side yard, makes for a perfectly sun-drenched home. Just a few blocks away from the center of Chestertown’s downtown is this property on a narrow and deep lot like others along the urban streetscape. Unlike its neighbors, this house has the advantage of abundant sunlight on one long side of the house […]
Design with Jenn Martella: Chesapeake Sunset Cottage
It is always a pleasure to feature designs by my fellow architects and I am very pleased to kick off the new year to feature another design by architect Mark McInturff, FAIA. When the Owner purchased this property eight years ago, the cottage was a wreck caused by a broken frozen pipe on the second […]
Design with Jenn Martella: Historic Rebuild in Chestertown
The first time I drove across the bridge over the Chester River to Chestertown, the houses on Water Street whose back yards sloped down to the river reminded me of Charleston, SC. One of my fave writers, Bill Bryson, included Chestertown in his 1989 book, “The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America”. His quest […]
Design with Jenn Martella: “Baycup”
The real estate mantra of “location, location, location” certainly applies to this A+ site with approximately 624 linear feet of riprapped shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay. 21.7 acres provide peace and privacy since all but four acres are taxed under agricultural use. Both the house’s west orientation and the panoramic views of the Chesapeake Bay […]
Design with Jenn Martella: Bungalow Bliss in St. Michaels
I have been besotted with bungalows since early childhood, when my family would drive every Sunday to visit my paternal grandparents. Instead of the rectangular brick rancher that was my childhood home, my grandparents’ red brick one and a half story bungalow had a steep roof and deep front porch that wrapped halfway around each […]
Design with Jenn Martella: Waterfront Haven
I always enjoy featuring a house in my neighborhood and this custom designed house is nestled in a clearing, surrounded by mature trees. There are only a few houses along this short lane so peace and privacy is ensured for the residents. This house’s rear yard gently slopes down to tranquil Harris Creek, where a […]
Design with Jenn Martella: “Point Taken”
I have featured several houses along this street in Bozman and the tantalizing glimpses of this house always intrigued me as I slowly drove past it. I am so pleased to be finally showcasing this exceptional property today. The house is sited on more than 10 acres along the tranquil shoreline of Caulk Cove and […]
Design with Jenn Martella: Small Changes Make a Big Impact
Five years ago, I featured this distinctive property in St. Michaels’ Historic District. The property now has a new Owner whom I met recently and she told me about her changes to the landscape and interiors. I was quite intrigued as her style differed from the previous Owners. Since many of you take advantage of […]
Design with Jenn Martella: Old and New in Rock Hall
When I first moved to the Eastern Shore, I worked part time for another architect in Wilmington until I could establish my own practice. One of my colleagues had a weekend cottage in Rock Hall and encouraged me to discover this charming village that is known as the “Pearl of the Chesapeake”. After that first […]
Design with Jenn Martella: New Year-New Duplex
Since today is the first House of the Week for the new year, it is fitting that a new house rings in this new year. As an architect who has designed houses for several urban design projects, I know how important it is to infill older neighborhoods’ vacant lots with new housing that blends seamlessly […]