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.

 

This Maryland Historic Register Property is a 380 acre, eight parcel farm, nestled among old-growth trees along the Choptank River with broad southerly views. The farm is part of a 1659 land grant from Lord Baltimore and its rural and agricultural heritage including farm fields, tidal wetlands and woodland that combine to provide habitat for waterfowl and wildlife, has been maintained for generations.

The smaller wing of the house’s two brick wings was the first to be built between 1780-90 and the larger wing was built around 1815. Both wings were constructed of Flemish bond and the door and window openings in the larger 1815 wing have jack arches of stone to support the brick wall above. The large 6/6 windows have wood louvered shutters and the dentil molding under the eaves of the 1815 wing is also original. The 1780-90 wing had chimneys at each end and the 1815 wing has a double chimney at the side gable wall that serves two back to back rooms. Each wing has two single dormer windows at the attic level. The last addition was a one-story porch and kitchen built in the early 20th century. At that time, the front wall of the porch was demolished and moved forward to create more interior space. The exterior walls of the entire house were then painted white.

The property has great historical significance, not only for its architecture but also for the original owner of the property and his family’s military service to the nation.

Later owners were careful stewards of this remarkable property and maintained both the buildings and landscape. The distinctive barn, numerous outbuildings and two cottages were built, the former for guests and the latter for the caretaker of the property. Near the house, a brick arched opening marks the entrance to the pool area, bordered on one side by a pergola with a crown of vines for respite from the sun.

The mature trees and landscaping maintenance includes 200 linear feet of bulkheading for shoreline stabilization, reforestation, and creation of a wildlife preserve. I was speechless when I saw a majestic sycamore tree that is one of the largest trees in Maryland.

The current owners, who purchased the property in 1979, are restoration veterans and their previous project was a Colonial style house in Rhode Island; a fitting endeavor due to the wife’s thesis on Colonial architecture at Harvard. The owners had a dual mission of restoration balanced with their contemporary tastes and the creation of a family home with three active children.

Part of the waterside porch that spanned the full length of both wings of the house was enclosed, leaving the 1815 terrace intact.

After walking the site to immerse myself in the history of this unique place, I drove along a white gravel drive below an allee of trees of several species to begin my tour of the house. After I parked my car, I admired the simple and elegant exterior color palette of the creamy white brick and historic light olive trim that stood out against the majestic specimen trees around the property. Brick steps led to the front porch with its substantial columns supporting a low hipped roof.

I opened the wide front door of the three-bay 19th century addition into the foyer that spans the full depth of the house and is detailed with an elegant elliptical arch resting on paneled pilasters that defines the space between public and private spaces. The staircase begins past a small alcove with a powder room tucked discreetly underneath with the run facing the front of the house. I especially admired the wave-like design of the stair tread ends, the turned newels and rectangular balusters. Directly opposite the front door is the door at the rear wall leading to the wrap-around terrace with views to the Choptank River and the pool area.

The Owners modified the Period interior trim to reflect their goal of simplicity and one of the owners, who is an artist, selected a color palette of salmon, stone blue and tan. Removal of the carpeting revealed the beautiful original pine flooring and wallpaper was removed to reveal a blank canvas for the artist Owner to enhance with her own colorful work.

Doors from the foyer lead to two parlors identical in size that have two windows on both exterior walls to maximize views and daylight. The deep masonry walls create sills for display or a spot for the family pet. The identical size rooms provide flexibility in use with the rear corner room furnished as a music room and the front corner room furnished as a parlor. The current Owners installed hand carved mantels in each parlor. One mantel dates from 1740 and is the work of Grinnling Gibbons, the English artisan and woodcarver. The other mantel is the work of Robert Adam, the English artisan and architect.

Passing through the foyer to the living room, I walked down a few steps and changed centuries from the 19th century foyer to the 18th century in what is now the living room. This spacious room extends from the front to rear walls with two single windows on the front wall opposite two single windows at the rear wall on either side of a French door to the sunroom. The fireplace is located at one interior wall that was the original side wall of this wing. On the opposite side of the room, another set of stairs lead to the second floor.

Next to the living room is a large dining room with the other fireplace. Behind the dining room are a small kitchen and large pantry, created by the final addition that moved the original front wall forward.

The large “U” shaped kitchen has water views and the white cabinets and countertops reflect the sunlight. Opposite the kitchen is a charming banquette for breakfast, informal meals, homework, etc. and a second powder room.

An exterior door leads to several original outbuildings including a smokehouse and dairy.

Both the two outdoor rooms of the sunroom and partially roofed brick terrace are connected to the foyer, living room, and dining room and offer both sitting and dining areas to enjoy the landscape and the Choptank River beyond.

The 19th century addition contains two bedrooms, located over the piano parlor and the front parlor separated by deep closets in each bedroom. Two baths off the stair hall serve both bedrooms.

Steps lead down from the stair hall to a studio space created from the demolition of two bedrooms and contains a sink with cabinets for artist or clean-up from crafts. The solar orientation of the art studio brings sunlight throughout the day and offers myriad uses for new owners-a TV room, craft room for children of all ages, etc., with cabinetry that could become a mini-kitchen for popcorn and other snacks.

Next to the art studio/family room and the secondary stairs is the primary suite with the bedroom located at the rear corner for maximum views of the landscape to the Choptank River. At the front of the suite are two baths, one with direct access to the primary bedroom and the other bath is accessed from a short hall

The upper run of the “U” shaped secondary stair between the primary bedroom and the art studio leads to two other bedrooms on the third floor. Both bedrooms have charming interior architecture from the sloped ceilings that follow the underside of the attic roof rafters and single window dormers opposite each other on the front and rear walls for bird’s eye views of the landscape and the Choptank River. I especially liked the “porthole” windows in this bedroom.

The main stairs in the 1815 addition lead to a recreation room over the two parlors below. This is a sports haven for rainy day entertainment for children of all ages, surrounded by stained beadboard knee walls and ceiling. As an architect, I was drawn to the two chimneys from the parlor below and how their angled corbel shape creates wall space between them for a round window just below the ridge line of the roof. Alas, my knees were not able to climb the steep ladder/stair for what must be a killer view from that height above the treetops.

It is always a special pleasure to feature a house and property that is part of our treasured architectural past. My compliments to the Owners for respectfully renovating “The Wilderness” for their family home without compromising its original details. What a unique opportunity for a buyer to become the next steward for this remarkable property and to continue its being preserved for the next generation to admire!

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/thewilderness , “Equal Housing Opportunity.” Or contact Schuyler Benson, Benson & Mangold Real Estate 410-822-1415 (o), 410-310-3251 (c) or [email protected].

Photography by Jim McKee, BroadView Interactive, www.broad-view.net

Historic Photograph courtesy of “Where Land and Water Intertwine”, An Architectural History of Talbot County, Maryland, by Christopher Weeks, with contributions by Michael O. Bourne, John Frazier, Jr., Marsha Fritz, and Geoffrey Henry.

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.

 

One of my architectural clients highly recommended The Bohemia Trading Company in Chestertown and recently I had an appointment to preview a house that would be that week’s House of the Week.  As I drove by the Bohemia Trading Company, I saw that the store was open, so I stopped by for my long awaited visit. The building is located just before the bridge over the Chester River on the Queen Anne County side. 

The one-story white building has a two-bay deep entry porch with white columns on red brick piers below the eye catching sign with “BOHEMIA” in large white letters and “TRADING OMPANY ” in smaller letters with scrolls on a black background. Pots of greenery and colorful flowers next to a dry sink with a mix of colorful flowers and greenery separate the porch from the off-street parking. The goods for sale that are artfully arranged on a  collection of furniture including a metal bench, white bookcase and table, wood pie rack, baskets, wood and metal etageres is a feast for the eyes. 

I recently lost my beloved fifteen year old cat so I was immediately drawn to the white table and the large hand embroidered, hand applique pillow’s design of a cat’s face in nine squares on  different colored backgrounds that is a work of art. I read the label on the back and was happy to read that the art of hand embroidery and applique was passed down through many generations from women in the Indian state of Gujarat. These women often work from home and their creations both provides a livelihood for them and also helps keep these skills alive.

I tucked my pillow under my arm and slowly walked around to savor the offerings. Clearly, this was not your usual store and I was eager to see more of these one of a kind handcrafts. Clothing beckoned me as well as colorful rag rugs, painted metal strips adorned with a colorful hen and rooster with hooks below for jackets or keys. My mother had been a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild so I learned at a very young age to appreciate artisans who created one of a kind treasures like these.  

Once inside the store, more delights in two rooms awaited my attention. The front room offers women’s clothing, macramé pendants, totes, other accessories and I liked how some of the clothing displays primarily featured one color in different patterns.

Coasters with marine themes and a large piece of coral were displayed in an antique wood and glass case with a curved glass top below a two shelf unit with glass fronts.  

Another display case is a grid of white, so the colorful glassware, pitchers, stacks of small plates and more jewelry can shine. 

White etageres and a wood table display tempting shell and ceramic plates, mugs, crab pillows, and books. 

I then turned my attention to the women’s clothing and this black and white ensemble caught my eye. Behind it along one wall are racks of dresses and the polka dot designs especially appealed to me for summer nights.

Who can resist the diminutive scale?  I enjoyed shopping for my two great nieces from the time they were toddlers and I wish Bohemia Trading Company had been around then! The second room of this delightful emporium is devoted to children’s clothing, toys, books and other offerings for the wee ones. 

After touring the store and leaving with my cat pillow, I met the Proprietor, Susanne McLean, for coffee. I told her how much I loved my “cat of nine lives pillow” and she said there was another pillow by the same artisan of a trio of cats named “Tom, Dick and Harry”. I asked Susanna about her journey to the Bohemia Trading Company.  She began by telling me she is celebrating  forty years of business this year. She started the business in the basement of her home in Chevy Chase in 1983. She arrived in Washington, DC, from rural California because her former husband had taken a job with the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior. 

With an infant son and not having enough money to afford childcare, she started a home based mail order business with little over $100.00. She took out a small ad in a national  magazine called “Mothering”. Over the next seven years, the business grew from one product (leather baby moccasins made in Berkeley, CA) to a self-designed thirty-six page catalog offering natural fiber children’s clothing, wooden toys and maternity wear. Eventually the business outgrew her basement and she opened her first shop, “Classics for Kids”. Within three years, she had three shop locations; one children’s shop and two women’s clothing shops, named “Catch Can”, with locations in Kensington, MD and Chevy Chase, DC. 

From the beginning, the emphasis for the women’s clothing shops was always on originality and quality. Over the years, many of the vendors were manufacturing in the US. With so many factories relocating overseas, it became increasingly difficult to find Made in America companies. Unique fabrics, detailing and design are what drive her business and to round out those offerings, Susanne added a collection of unique housewares, jewelry, children’s clothing and toys. 

She credits her upbringing on Point Reyes Station, on the Northern California coast, for her aesthetic and the influence of being in 4-H for nine years. As a club member, she learned to sew and acquired other valuable financial skills from her being the club treasurer. Country life before the Internet led to creative endeavors not only for herself but also for her two brothers who both became sculptors. After college, Susanne’s daughter opened her own shop, “Dotter, in LA, inspired by Susanne’s shop.

In an effort to retire in stage her retirement, Susanne closed her Kensington, MD, shop eight years ago. Shortly after that, she discovered Chestertown and bought a second home there. In March of 2020, she  closed the Chevy Chase shop prematurely due to COVID. In the fall of 2019, she bought the former Larimore’s store building in Kingstown, just across the Chester River bridge. She has transformed the building into the delightful Bohemia Trading Company that is a small version of her former shop in DC and local residents of Chestertown and Kingstown soon became loyal customers. 

Susanne and her fiancé Dave are now full time residents of Chestertown. Four employees help run the shop that has enabled Susanne to launch an online business featuring much of the clothing and jewelry in the shop. Visit www.Bohemiatradingcompany.com .

Sherlock Holmes would find no scandal in this Bohemia-only one of a kind items, all carefully curated by Susanne. Customers of her former DC stores visit on a regular basis and so will I- but don’t take my word for it, plan on a visit soon.

Bohemia Trading Company, 7400 Church Hill Rd, Chestertown, MD, 301-968-5778, www.bohemiatradingcompany.com , [email protected] ,open 10-5 Monday through Saturday, Sunday 11-4;  closed Tuesdays. Log on to their website and subscribe to receive notices of special sales.  New arrivals are added daily and clothing markdowns are added to the clearance collection!

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.

 

Doncaster is a neighborhood I know well, since my sister and several friends live there. The neighborhood is private and quiet because there is no outlet for traffic, which makes it safe for walking and biking. After a recent visit, I took a walk to take a tour of today’s featured property and I slowed my pace to admire the exquisite original manor house that set the bar for architectural  styles in the neighborhood. I continued my walk and turned down a meandering gravel drive to arrive at this waterfront house set back deep in its lot with mature landscaping for privacy. The  drive becomes circular around the house for guest parking

Before going in, I walked around the house and discovered the house footprint is an “L” shape around a waterside pool surrounded by a brick terrace. The primary suite is located at the short end of the “L” and the living room, dining room and kitchen also face the water. At the inside corner of the rear elevation there is a bay projection infilled with sliding doors and windows to the living room. 

Unfortunately, the height of the main level finish floor elevation resulted in three sets of steps leading down from the primary suite, living room and kitchen to the pool area to create an indoor/outdoor flow. At each flight of steps, the top landing is only the depth of a step; even with sliding doors, a deeper landing depth would be easier for indoor/outdoor flow. Eliminating the three flights of steps and replacing the hardscape where the steps were with plantings would soften the expanse of the brick pool surround. New steps of composite decking with a larger landing could be built at one location, preferably the dining room. 

The front door opens to a spacious foyer with “U” shaped stairs at one side to the second floor suite and a short hall to a hall bath and two bedrooms on the other side. The deep recess in the wall that is the width of the hall above frames the view of the living room.

Behind the foyer is the living room with a fireplace on the interior wall, built-in millwork and French doors leading to an office/study with built-in millwork. Replacing the sliding doors with shorter windows would create a sunny spot for enjoying the water views while sitting on club chairs that could swivel facing the water views or toward the seating around the fireplace. Another option would be to add a window seat along the angled wall for additional seating.

 

The office/study’s exterior angled wall has windows set at just the right height to place one’s desk. 

From the living room, steps lead up to the dining room with four-unit windows on both the front and rear walls. Since the steps are located at the rear wall, that wall becomes the circulation path between the living room and kitchen. In my opinion as an architect, replacing the dining room rear windows with sliding doors and new composite steps down to the pool area would work well. 

Next to the dining room is the kitchen, with the best view of the water from the rear wall’s sliding doors flanked by full height windows to the steps leading to the pool area. This wall is another circulation space that could be changed by moving the sliding doors to the dining room and relocating the dining room windows to the kitchen. Then you could have a waterside breakfast area or add seating for guests to keep the cook company. In my kitchen, I have a cozy seating  area with a loveseat and two chairs so I can enjoy talking with my guests while I finish cooking. 

The gambrel ceiling creates a pleasant volume for the kitchen. At the front wall of the house, the four-unit window with an arched transom is located over the stairs to the garage below. The sink and dishwasher are located below the high backsplash. I would relocate the sink and dishwasher so the high backsplash could be lowered to a standard 4” height. This would enable the front window above the stairs to be fully seen from the kitchen and maximize the views of the front yard’s landscaping. Leaving the island color as an accent, painting the other cabinets a light color and  a new countertop in a lighter color are relatively easy upgrades that would dramatically change this room and make the beautiful wood floors stand out. 

 

Next to the kitchen is a full bath at the rear corner of the house, laundry and closets. The exterior wall along these rooms has a four-unit window with quarter circle transoms above the two center windows but the wall between the bath and laundry cuts off one end window in the row on the interior. Since there is another full bath on this level, removing the shower and relocating the toilet to the former shower space would free up the side window arrangement and provide direct access from the half bath to the laundry for drying towels and swimsuits. The washer, dryer and laundry sink would be relocated at the interior wall.

The remainder of the first floor contains two bedrooms and a hall bath off the foyer and the primary suite at the rear of the house. The primary suite includes a four-piece bath, both a hall closet and walk-in closet, and the waterside bedroom. 

The bedroom’s gambrel shaped ceiling adds spatial volume and windows on all three exterior walls provide sunlight throughout the day. The rear wall has a fireplace flanked by single windows. Removing the steps to the pool area, replacing the sliding doors with windows and moving the chairs against the windows would create a cozy area for direct water views. 

 

At the end of the hall on the second floor is a bedroom at the corner of the house where two roof gables intersect. This geometry results in knee walls and sloped ceilings that creates a delightful space and between the side exterior wall is a seat under the window. To me, the room would be enhanced and would seem larger if the aqua color were used only for the walls and the white ceiling would reflect more light.

Wonderful waterside property with mature trees and privacy in one of my favorite neighborhoods, main level primary suite, spacious rooms with beautiful hardwood floors and convenient location to both Easton and St. Michaels. Creative planning and upgrades to the house to suit one’s taste could be master planned to suit one’s budget. 

For more information about this property, contact Amy Berry with Meredith Fine Properties at 410-745-8060 (o), 410-310-0441 (c) or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing visit www.talbotfinehomes.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Eve Fishell, Chesapeake Pro Photo LLC, 443-786-8025, www.chesapeakeprophoto.com, [email protected]

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.

 

Whenever I drive to Tilghman to visit friends, I always glance at a one-story house that captured my eye several years ago. It is a great example of how breaking out of the box by adding porches, bay projections and details can transform a simple rectangular shape from Plain Vanilla to Neapolitan. The house is divided into two sections. One part contains the side facing garage and primary suite and is slightly offset from the other section; the other part contains the open plan living-dining-kitchen area, laundry, two other bedrooms and one bath. Taking advantage of the offset, a wide gable was added over the  living room and a shorter gable projects farther to emphasize the front entrance. Then a deep shed roof was added to create an open porch that extends to the corner of the house and wraps around to meet the screened porch at the side elevation.

I also write a bi-weekly column for Bohl Architects and a recent column addressed my architectural “Pet Peeves.” I was very pleased to see here that instead of plain posts masquerading as columns, this house has Craftsman columns of stacked stone bases below tapered wood columns that greatly enhances this elevation. I also admired the shake siding that infills the gable fronts to contrast with the house’s lap siding, the 6/1 windows and the light aqua shutters that I soon discovered were a preamble to the visual delights within.  

Before going inside, I walked around the house and saw the screened porch at the side of house that is a delightful outdoor room. The end gable is also clad in shake siding to match the gables at the front of the house. Inside the screened porch, the sloped roof rafters are exposed and the wide spacing of the openings frames panoramic views. At the rear elevation is a box bay projection and a deck off the mud room with views of the woods.

I opened the front door into the open plan layout and I was greeted by Hollace Kutay, a Marine Artist and Coastal Designer who reimagined every room of this house. She offers her coastal homes fully furnished and decorated with accessories and art to give each home its own distinctive personality. She explained how the living room was once the primary bedroom and how she reworked the interior layout to create vistas through the “L” shaped open plan living-dining-kitchen. She relocated the primary suite between this area and the garage for privacy from the other two bedrooms off the screened porch. To add spatial volume, she removed the flat ceiling to create a pitched ceiling plane over the dining-kitchen area. I admired her “Coastal Casual” design scheme with white walls that were the perfect backdrop for the splashes of color and texture from upholstery, colorful accessories and art that celebrates both waterfowl and sea creatures.

I coveted the kinetic and colorful design of the living room’s rug design of vibrant and whimsical oversize fish and the large octopus artwork over the fireplace, both of which are Kutay’s designs. The seating is grouped around the electric fireplace between built-in millwork and the triple window unit floods the space with sunlight. 

The focal point of the dining room’s wood table and rattan chairs is a large artwork featuring a giant Blue Osprey. Being a July Crab, I coveted the dinnerware set on the dining table with its crab design centered below a colorful border around each plate. 

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The kitchen’s island is centered on the double window at the rear wall with a stunning countertop of “Vetrazzo” fabricated from recycled sea glass/crushed oyster shell. The combination of white cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, aqua tile backsplash with open wood shelves matching the wood band around the stove hood, shiplap accents in the stove hood and end wall of the island create a fresh and sleek look. The long wood hunt table on the opposite wall is an accent as well as a buffet table for the dining area. 

 

The kitchen extends to the pantry’s galley layout due to the box bay projection that widened the space. The pantry is outfitted with a second sink, built-in microwave and beverage fridge, deep aqua cabinets, and live-edge butcher block countertops. A tall cabinet separates the pantry area from the washer and dryer and the hall to the primary suite. Next to the hall is the mudroom opposite the glass sliding door to the deck. The mudroom wall has a wide live-edge wood slab at a bench height for storing wellies below with hooks above for jackets against a full width and height wall of deep aqua shiplap. At the end of the panty/mudroom is the door to the attached garage.

The luxurious primary suite has a spacious bedroom with a double unit window and ample space for a bed with nightstands, an upholstered bench at the foot of the bed and a long dresser. The light aqua and blue colors create a serene retreat. Barn doors close off the bedroom from the spacious walk-in closet. 

 

The primary bath has double vanities with dual mirrors framed with shells, a tile floor and a large shower with deep sea green tile. A recessed area in the shower wall is tiled with the same polygonal tile in soft green shades that matches the floor tile.

The two guest bedrooms are located at the opposite end of the house from the primary suite and are side by side with exterior doors opening onto the screened porch. One bedroom has a delightful octopus theme with a blue padded headboard, blue chest of drawers below an octopus artwork, and an accent pillow with an octopus perched on top. 

 

The other guest bedroom has a light blue padded headboard and accent pillows of colorful seaweed and coral matching the panels of the armoire and  a light blue side table for guest luggage.

One House of the Week last year had a bath with delightful mermaid wallpaper-this bath’s wallpaper has a background of floating octopuses that complements the color of the lavatory cabinet and the white shiplap walls add texture. 

This two acre property in a water privileged community also includes a two-car attached garage, large deck, storage shed and broad expanses of lawn for play. High marks for a stylish exterior and interior renovation and the delightful interior design inspired by the sea and its creatures by Hollace Kutay who reimagined every room. This is the perfect time of year to claim this turn-key property for your summer sojourn or contact Hollace Kutay to enhance your existing home with special touches that remind you of the sea. I left “Barnacle Bungalow” smiling and humming the Beatles song that begins-

“I’d like to be 

Under the sea

In an octopus’ garden 

In the shade….”

For more information about this property, contact On Design sponsor Tiffany Cloud with Meredith Fine Properties at 410-822-2001 (o), (570) 751 8637  (c) or [email protected]. For more photographs and pricing visit www.meredithfineproperties.com, “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Interior Design by Hollace Kutay, whose background as a marine artist and her childhood summers on Grand Cayman Island influences her designs. Her paintings and whimsical ceramic sculptures of sea creatures have won her national recognition. Contact Hollace Kutay at 717-341-0518 or [email protected],  www.hollacekutay.com.

Photography by Atlantic Exposure LLC, 310-973-7325, www.atlanticexpoaure.com.

Lyrics to “Octopus’s Garden” by Richard Starkey

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.

 

 

 

Over the past six and a half years of writing House of the Week articles, I have discovered many historic houses but this one is unique in its being the oldest house in Chestertown, if not the state of Maryland. What is known about this property is that its use as a single family residence began in 1668 and has been continuous for three-hundred twenty-five years when the house became vacant. 

Captain John Palmer is believed to be the original owner of the house, christened “Rock of Ages” by a Kent County historian. The name refers to the large pieces of stone Captain Palmer carried in his wooden ship on voyages from England to his property that was located at the head of a cove that once existed off the Chester River. The stones were not only cargo but also ballast for stabilizing Captain Palmer’s wooden ship. Many other connections to Captain Palmer were found over the years.

A silver platter that was engraved with the image of the house and the name “Rock of Ages” was found on the U.S.S. Maryland. Investigations resulted in the discovery that Palmer family descendants had presented it to the Captain of the battleship. 

The house has undergone several renovations over its life. When repairs were needed for the living room fireplace, the original firebox was revealed that was modified in the 1880’s for a Latrobe stove that used coal for fuel. A previous owner, Chief Samuel E. Cooper, found an old ship’s clock that had been hidden under the attic flooring. The clock was inscribed with Captain Palmer’s name and the date of 1668. 

I have driven down so many times along High Street but this story and half house with attic dormers is hidden by trees along the sidewalk. The day of my tour I had time to appreciate the very pleasing proportions of the three bay front façade. The front door is detailed with half glass and half wood panels and is centered between two 6/6 double hung windows with true wood shutters and shutter dogs, with three dormer windows above. The three -bay front porch has turned columns arranged to create a larger middle bay on axis with the front door. The original brick steps have been demolished so a new owner could add wood steps to match the porch flooring or new brick steps to match the original brick steps. The textures of the large stone pieces, with a water table projection along the front façade, the uppermost part of the chimneys’ brick at each gable end of the house, the black wood shutters and the exposed wood rafters of the front porch’s hipped roof create a very harmonious façade.

At the rear of the house is the kitchen that completes the “L” floor plan. This room and the adjacent open porch were added later. The kitchen is clad in wood lap siding and the porch is open with turned columns to match the columns on the front porch. From the porch one exterior door opens into the stair hall and the other opens into the kitchen.

Since the house has been vacant for twenty-seven years, the house will require a gutting to the studs renovation The “L” shaped first floor plan has a center stair hall between the living room on the right and the dining room on the left. Since the exterior walls are thick masonry, the sills of the windows are deep and inviting for potted plants or a perfect spot for the family cat to bask in the sun. 

Both the living and dining rooms have identical dimensions and fireplaces at the side walls. The dining room fireplace will need to be restored.

Behind the dining room is the large kitchen and open side porch. 

If I were renovating the house, I would remove the porch roof and extend the kitchen roof over the porch for simplicity and better drainage. The porch could be screened or the wall between the kitchen and porch could be removed to add this space to the kitchen for a sunny family room with wrap-around windows overlooking the yard. 

I would leave the original built-in cabinet between the door to the dining room and the corner of the kitchen as it adds historical context and character to the space. The unit could have upper glass fronted doors to display china and glassware for the dining room. 

The stairs to the second floor lead to a bath at the front of the house and bedrooms over both the living and dining rooms. The bath is shared by both bedrooms and has a vintage clawfoot tub and lavatory. 

In each bedroom, the collar beam is set lower than the header height of the dormer windows. Raising the collar beam would solve this problem, add needed headroom and enable more sunlight to penetrate into each room. 

The deep rear yard extends to a row of eight contiguous carriage houses, built during the time when transportation was by horse and carriage. The building opens onto the rear street. There is also another anachronism of a wood clad privy, complete with a toilet(!) that should be demolished to open up the yard for longer vistas from the house. The rear yard has both shade from the large tree and space to develop the rear yard into a verdant oasis. The sunny space by the open porch would be the perfect space for a kitchen garden.

Great in-town location, deep lot with potential for a gardener to create an urban oasis, a cottage that needs a complete rehab with the reward of cozy spaces with deep windowsills, fireplaces, many original details such as the paneled doors, radiator heats and spacious second floor bedrooms. The best reward would be the satisfaction of being the steward who enables this historic house to proudly reclaim her place in Chestertown’s residential streetscape for future generations to admire. 

For more information about this property, contact Mary Fielding, who helped sponsor this article, at Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Company, at 410-778-0330 (o), 410-708-4852 (c) or [email protected]. For more pictures and pricing, visit www.cbchesapeake.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.  Photography by Patty Hill, www.pattyhillphotography.com, 410- 441-4719

Historic photograph from the publication “Chestertown, Maryland, An Inventory of Historic Sites, based upon an historic site survey conducted by Robert Neill, Michael Bourne and Kathleen B. White, with additional survey information by Marsha Fritz, Robert J.H. Janson-La Palme, and Peter Newlin.

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.