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

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

---

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

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

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

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

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

---

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

---

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

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

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

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

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

As I walked down the Town of Rock Hall’s sidewalk to tour today’s featured house, “Mermaid of the Rock-The Lodge on Main”, the house’s eclectic architectural details of an American Four-Square massing, hipped roof and shed dormers with the  Victorian 1/1 windows creates a very pleasing curb appeal. The elevated front porch faces the street but dense shrubbery provides privacy. The house may have originally been a rectory for the church but its current use is a successful Airbnb with a main floor unit and another unit on the second and third floors for a total of four bedrooms and three and a half baths. 

The elevation that faces the side off-street parking area shows the Queen Anne details of the wrap-around porch and the two-story bay wall projection. Combined with the other architectural styles of the front elevation, this building has great architectural character. 

I was charmed by the diminutive scale of the two buildings at the rear of the parking area. Both are currently offices but the larger building could become a cozy honeymoon cottage and the other building could remain an office to generate additional income.  

Next to the office is a small terrace with a table and benches underneath a pergola supported by four columns and covered with dense vines for shade. The perfect spot for a warm weather picnic or for relaxing after a stroll around town.

After touring the grounds, I walked up to the deep and spacious  wrap-around porch with cushioned rattan furnishings for relaxing and a table and chairs for dining. Ceiling fans add cooling during the dog days of summer. With plenty of seating and ample space for circulation, the porch is a delightful outdoor room. 

The front door opens into a large foyer that serves both units. The stair’s upper run is open to the first floor below for convenient storage of bikes, strollers, etc. The building’s renovation carefully maintained the house’s original details, including the beautiful wood floors, high baseboards, paneled doors, fluted window trim and the stair balustrade. 

The main floor living room’s side wall is a full bay wall projection for panoramic views of the townscape. Along with the front window overlooking the porch, the living room has sunlight throughout the day. The armoire covers a pair of pocket doors to the adjoining room that may have been the original dining room.

The eat-in kitchen has a corner wood hutch containing all the basic essentials for setting the table. Four Windsor chairs around the table create a cozy dining spot. The “L” shaped kitchen area has plenty of counter space with one side containing the sink and dishwasher and the other side containing the R/F and range/microwave.

The main floor bedroom has a quiet location in the rear corner of the building. I admired the mix of the contemporary light fixture and rug with the iron bedframe. The blue and cream color scheme creates a serene sleeping space.   

The main floor bath and laundry area has plenty of storage for linens and towels and the exterior door leads to the steps down to the rear yard and parking area.

The second-floor living room is located above the main living room below and enjoys the same side bay wall projection and front window for sunlight throughout the day. The light wall color reflects the sunlight, and the spacious living-dining area can accommodate a large group for watching TV. 

The second floor’s galley kitchen’s windows on the two exterior walls is sunny and bright. The craftsman style cabinets with the upper cabinets reaching to the underside of the ceiling provide plenty of storage and the cabinet on the opposite wall could become a buffet. The four-panel door leads to the stairs to the third floor bedroom.

The second floor’s corner bedroom’s carpet over the original wood floors provides sound control from the unit below. The corner location with windows on each exterior wall is a plus with bird’s eye views of the townscape below.

The second floor bath also has a stack washer/dryer if a buyer wanted to keep the Airbnb on the first floor and live on the second and third floors.

The third floor corner bedroom is my fave room in the house whose shed dormers create delightful interior architecture. Opposite the beds are a large closet and another closet for the HVAC equipment. The adjacent bath is tucked under the windows of another shed dormer.

This is a unique opportunity for acquiring an Airbnb for investment property; or to continue the successful Airbnb designation for the main floor only for extra income; or to revert the four bedroom, 3-1/2 bath house to its original use as a single family residence. Charming architectural style and spacious interior rooms with multiple windows for views and sunlight.  Outdoor rooms of the wrap-around porch that offers front row seats to enjoy local parades and festivals and the terrace in the rear yard, shaded by a pergola and dense vines, expand your living space. All this and a location in the heart of picturesque Rock Hall’s shops, restaurants and the Mainstay live performing arts venue that offers a year-round weekly calendar!

---

For more information about this property, contact Retha Arrabal with Doug Ashley Realtors at 410-810-0010 (o), 410-708-2172 (c) or [email protected], “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

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

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

Locust Grove  is one of the historic properties included in my primary reference book for Talbot County’s architectural heritage , “Where Land and Water Intertwine, An Architectural History of Talbot County, Maryland”. This aerial view shows this house nestled in its “grove” of mature trees with panoramic vistas of the site’s twenty-two acres (including four acres of woodland), farmland, pastures and eight hundred linear feet of shoreline along Island Creek. Since the site is located at the upper reaches of Island Creek, there is no motor boat noise to disturb the peace and quiet of this special place that is completely surrounded by land protected from development. Locust Grove is both an operating farm and a turn-key horse farm in what has become an equine “neigh”borhood and year round habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

 

“Where Land and Water Intertwined” dates the house as early 19th century and the book’s photograph of the house shows a three-bay hipped roof porch that no longer remains. As I walked up to the welcoming red front door, I was relieved that the porch had been removed so I could fully appreciate the charm of the original part of the house. Additions to many Eastern Shore historic houses telescope down, but here the five-bay, story and a half gambrel roofed original part of the house rests next to the later and higher two-story addition. I also learned from my research that the dormers were unusual for the time this part of the house was built. To me, they enhance the elevation and their quirky rhythm, slightly off alignment with the door and windows below, along with the classic color palette, adds to its charm.    

The house was thoroughly renovated in 1987 with updates that preserved with great care the original materials and details, including beautiful pine flooring, exposed beams and the staircase to the second floor. The renovation included the one-story shed roofed space that projects from the rear wall of the house that augments the pleasing massing. 

The house’s delightful outdoor rooms include a deck that spans the length of the two-story addition with an exterior door to the living room. The deck’s elevation above the ground provides a better view of the water and enables one to keep an eye on young children and pets at play on the large expanse of lawn. Steps that lead down both to the lawn and to the hardscaped terrace next to the deck create a continuous flow for entertaining.

The deck blends into a stone terrace and then into a brick terrace at the kitchen wing. The perfect touch would be adding a covered breezeway from the kitchen to a new garage perpendicular to the house. 

Near the deck is one outbuilding and a fenced vegetable garden with raised beds bordering the expanse of lawn leading to the shoreline of Island Creek.  The Owner’s two dogs were my guides on my tour of the grounds and they soon engaged me in a game of toss and fetch with their fave ball as I basked in the midday sunshine. 

It is easy to be charmed by a diminutive scale and this charming small garden shed’s white walls and green accents caught my eye as I strolled the grounds and marveled at the mature trees that dot the property and provide shade. 

This turn-key horse farm includes five pastures, a protected riding ring  and this three-stall barn with a tack room.

 Since I am sports-challenged, I checked with my colleague, Alex, who told me this field is for practicing clearing the jumps spaced at the end of the field.

After my stroll around the grounds, I was eager to explore the house. The Owner opened the front door and greeted me at the foyer. The beautiful wood flooring, original stair with wood treads and railing with white treads and spindles, the lovely antique settee and the Oriental rug create a welcoming space to begin my tour. From the foyer, there is a clear vistas to the dining room and to the living  room beyond.  

The house is one-room wide so windows on both the front and rear walls provide welcome breezes and vistas to the landscape. The elegant dining room with one of the four wood-burning fireplaces is defined by the large Oriental rug and family antiques.

The spacious living room’s bright yellow walls and the vivid colors and pattern of the Oriental rug that covered most of the wood flooring sets up two conversation areas with one area grouped around another wood burning fireplace. A door leads to the deck for easy indoor-outdoor flow. The Owner shared with me that the room’s large size enabled her and her husband to set up three tables of eight for memorable dinner parties.

The family room at the corner of the original part of the house has soft sage green walls and the exposed beams below the family room’s ceiling end at the support beam that creates an open plan family-kitchen space.  With another wood burning fireplace, TV and full bookcases, it would be so easy to linger in this inviting space.  

The “L” and island arrangement is my fave layout for kitchens and the triple window overlooks the landscape. The large island with space for stools on two sides is the perfect spot for breakfast and/or informal meals. 

The “U” shaped stairs to the second floor lead to a short hall opposite a bath next to a bedroom in the original part of the house. The bedroom is tucked under the gambrel roof for delightful interior architecture from the high knee walls and sloped ceiling. Since the chimney becomes a shaft at the second level to the roof, the high windows augment the daylight provided by the two pairs of dormer windows at the front and rear walls. This spacious room easily accommodates either a king or pair of twin beds and the niches created by the dormer windows maximizes the floor space and create spaces for the chest of drawers and a writing desk.

The other rooms on the second floor are located in the two-story addition of the house. From the stair hall, I first passed through a space that could be a nursery or an office to reach the spacious primary bedroom. Pairs of windows at the front and rear walls keep the bedroom sunny throughout the day and the room’s size accommodates both sleeping and sitting areas. I am an avid reader and I wish I had space for bookcases like these, instead of the stack of books on my bedside table!

Between the primary bedroom and this primary bath is a large walk-in closet to complete the primary ensuite. There is ample space between the shower/toilet side and the lavatory/storage tower side for a couple to easily share. 

Locust Grove is a unique property in Trappe between Cambridge and Easton and its appealing blend of historic charm and 1987 updates are an irresistible combination. The bonus of twenty-two acres (including four acres of woodland) surrounded by land protected from development and eight hundred linear feet of shoreline along Island Creek creates a private and peaceful haven. 

The house is set into the site’s gently rolling topography that encourages strolling for daily exercise and the expanse of lawn dotted with mature trees for shade is a perfect play area for children and grandchildren. The outdoor rooms of the deck and terrace expand your living space. This operating and turn-key horse farm is an equestrian’s dream but if one prefers swimming for exercise, there are plans for a pool and a perc test ready to go. Truly a one of a kind property and the opportunity to be the next steward to continue the preservation of this unique part of Talbot County’s history!

---

For details about this property, contact Jim Corson with Benson & Mangold Real Estate at 410-822-1415 (o), 410-310-6275, or [email protected]. For more pictures and  pricing, visit www.jimcorson.bensonandmangold.com ,“Equal Housing Opportunity”.

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

Other Photography by TruPlace, www.truplace.com ,(301) 972-3201

“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 L. Fritz and Geoffrey Henry

---

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

As I drove along a gravel driveway lined with Loblolly trees to reach this house, I thought how fitting this tree is to the Eastern Shore, for early St. Michaels colonists boiled the resin into pitch or tar from the trees to preserve their ship riggings and wooden boats. This 4+ acre property’s Loblolly pines’ tall, straight trunks not only do not obstruct the views of Broad Creek from the house but they also provide shelter for wildlife, especially bald eagles. This house was built in 1982 and its compact footprint is nestled in a clearing among the trees. The current  Owners expanded the original single car garage to provide two car spaces and two office spaces above.

With unobstructed views through the tall tree trunks, the house’s “L” shape provides peaceful vistas of the tranquil waters of Broad Creek and captivating sunsets from the main rooms of the house. The house’s massing steps down from two-story to one and a half stories at each end, with shed dormers and room projections at the main floor that enhance the massing. The earth tones of the house’s roofing blends into the trees and the light colored siding is punctuated with multiple windows and doors to maximize the water views. 

 

   

The stone terrace wraps around the corner of the house for panoramic views of Broad Creek. Luckily, my visit occurred before the rain from Hurricane Helene and the water glistened in the sunlight. The terrace has both sitting and dining areas for relaxing outdoors after a day on the water. 

The house is zoned very well with an exterior door leading to a hall and laundry area that separates the garage/office wing from the main part of the house. The two offices provide maximum quiet from their location over the garage.

As a native Tennessean, after watching the heartbreaking news coverage of how Hurricane Helene devasted areas of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, I envied this property’s location on the highest point of land along Broad Creek and its protected shoreline.

As much as the house’s terrace’s beckoned me to linger, I soon discovered two Adirondack chairs on this mini-deck.  With south-westerly views, the chairs are front row seats for breathtaking sunsets overlooking the tranquil expanse of water of aptly named Broad Creek. I marveled at the long view of trees and water that frame the horizon line in the far distance that is Oxford’s shoreline. 

After my tour of the grounds, one of the Owners greeted me for my tour. The front door opens into a hall between the stairs and a powder room and the vista ends at the waterside living room.  The living room’s spacious size accommodates two sofas and wing chairs grouped around the wood burning fireplace. I admired the deep red sofas that complement the colors of the Oriental rug over the stone flooring. The rear wall’s triple windows and sliding doors leading to the terrace maximize the view of the water. 

The living room’s ceiling slopes up to the overlook along the second floor hall. The cap rail for the partial height wall displays the Owner’s collection of model ships. The living room’s beautiful stone floor flows into the dining room and their easy care encourages indoor-outdoor flow to the adjoining terrace.

I enjoyed this vista from the dining room to the fireplace chimney’s colorful accent wall that projects slightly into the room and the overlook’s overhang that provides lighting for the artwork below. I admired the room’s combination of antiques and comfortable upholstered pieces and the exquisite parade of model ships paused on the railing’s trim cap. I especially admired the one majestic ship that had its own place of honor on the side wall.  The Owner told me he had purchased it in Cape Cod because it was a replica of an 1850’s Clipper Ship. The Owner’s great-grandfather was a clipper chip captain who sailed many voyages across both the Atlantic and Pacific at that same time period-what a treasured memento! 

 

 

The corner location and triple window in slight side wall projection of the spacious dining area provide panoramic water views. The drop-leaf table behind one of the living room sofas can become a second table for family holidays or entertaining. The wide sliding doors open onto the terrace.

The stone flooring continues into the kitchen with its light wood cabinets, light colored countertops and stainless steel appliances. The upper cabinets rise to the underside of the ceiling with a mix of closed and glass fronted cabinets. The “L” and island arrangement, with a separate wall of cabinets for a wine cooler, glassware and a bookcase for cookbooks and display, with ample workspace for preparing family meals or entertaining, would please any cook.

The backsplash color matches the cabinet color that emphasizes the height of the room. The island’s sink and dishwasher location provides water views through the adjacent den area and long views through the dining room’s windows.

The charming den with a wide window and wide sliding doors offer more panoramic water views.  The flooring changes to wood to define the space and the interior design creates a cozy spot in which to relax. 

The primary suite is located in its own wing next to the foyer and living room. The spacious primary bedroom has a triple unit window for water views and another double-unit window facing the landscape. The room’s spacious size accommodates both sleeping and sitting areas and the pencil-point bed frame doesn’t break up the space’s volume as a wood footboard and headboard would.

The primary bath has two compartments, one with a large closet opposite the long dual lavatory cabinet with generous countertop space.  The double window at the side wall offers views of the landscape and the full mirror visually expands the space. 

The second floor of the main wing contains two bedrooms, one bath and a bonus room over the primary ensuite.  The bright walls of this waterside guest bedroom become even more golden as the sun sets over the water. The spacious size of this bedroom easily accommodates a king bed or twin beds.

Each of the two shed dormers in the garage roof defines two equally sized deep spaces and a full bath. The shed dormers create interesting interior architecture and separate the two areas from each other. A secondary stair off the hall below leads to this space currently used as a sitting room with a sofa bed for extra guests.  The triple windows offer bird’s eye views  of the water.

The other space is my dream “corner” office, with a double-unit window in the gable wall for additional sunlight. With windows on two walls, it would be easy to take a computer break to focus on the landscape or the water views. 

This four + acre unique site is located at the highest elevation of any waterfront property on the Church Neck Peninsula and its microclimate keeps the property 10 degrees cooler than St. Michaels in the summer.  The house is nestled in a clearing of tall loblolly pines for unobstructed south-westerly views of tranquil Broad Creek.  The outdoor rooms of the stone terrace and cozy deck perched above the water’s edge capture the prevailing southwesterly breezes. Along with the gentle lapping of the water against the riprapped shoreline and the scent of the pine needles that fall onto the grass, this site encourages total relaxation. 

The house’s compact footprint that is closer to the water than is allowed today; varied roof ridges, shed dormers and room projections for pleasing massing; water views from all the main rooms; spatial variety of ceiling heights; bonus rooms over the primary suite and the garage for flexible uses-all this and a connection to James Michener, who lived nearby and took breaks from writing to walk over to observe the construction of the house. Great family house or retirement home close to St. Michaels!

---

For details about this property, contact Chuck Mangold, Jr., at 410-822-6665 (o), 410-924-8833 (c), or [email protected]. For more pictures and pricing, visit www.7930churchneckroad.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Photography by Jennifer Madino
Aerials by Suzanne Silverstein

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

The online pictures of this house totally captivated me since the house and the guest cottage embody design features of two of my fave architectural styles, Farmhouse and Craftsman. The Owners’ nephew is an architect and they retained him to design a new home for them to resemble a farmhouse that would be a befitting complement to this peaceful rural setting. The 9.6 acre site along the Chester River near Chestertown originally contained a small cottage. The cottage was demolished down to the foundation and was reborn as the new guest house that became the weekend house for the Owners until their main house was completed.  The main house was sited in a clearing to maximize the water views and the guest house is nestled in a clearing surrounding by pine trees to maintain privacy for each house.

 

On the day of my tour, I slowly walked up to the front porch to fully appreciate the exquisite massing of the main house with its “T” shaped footprint connecting the main wing to the breezeway and the garage.  The simple geometric shape is artfully embellished with multiple gables, roof ridges that vary in height with steep shed dormers and deep eaves; one-story shed roofed spaces that project beyond the gable wings and the variety of window sizes. The Architect separated the main wing from the primary suite wing with a low-roofed connection infilled with floor-to-ceiling windows for total transparency and included imaginative details of the flared sides of the window trim and the small square attic vents arranged in a checkerboard pattern. I especially appreciated the use of wood, brick and stucco on the facades and how the thin layer of stucco over the brick walls allowed faint outlines of the brick edges to appear for texture. The finishing touch is the color palette’s earth tones of cream and taupe, accented by the texture of the corrugated tin roof.

As I walked around the main house, I discovered to my delight that each elevation has its own unique charm and the mix of solid/void spaces and sunlit shadows enliven the façade. Passing through the breezeway, I discovered the screened porch with its craftsman-styled framing enclosing the screened panels and the three-gabled roof form. The breezeway also frames views of the pool/pergola area and the charming guest house.  

 

The stunning waterside elevation shows the Architect’s skillful capture of sunlight and views of the water for every room on the main level by floor to ceiling windows in a mix of picture and operable windows with muntins. Additional windows inserted into the roof’s shed dormers and single windows tucked under the ridges of the gable projections provide additional sunlight. I especially liked the tall narrow window that enhanced the portion of the two-story wall and the terrace that wraps around the living-dining room, breakfast room and screened porch.

After savoring the elevations, I walked up stone steps to the front porch sheltered by a deep roof overhang and the one of the Owners greeted me as I was admiring the wide entry half glass, half paneled entry door. I stepped into the circulation spine with its wood floor and wood ceiling that offers vistas to both the screened porch and the primary suite at opposite ends of the house. From its nine foot ceiling height,  I stepped down into the two-story living-dining area and admired the space’s stone floors, the detailing of the front upper wall with sloped portions meeting the sills of the shed dormer windows and the music nook with its wrap-around windows whose sills were just above the height of the upright piano.  

 

 

The living room’s two-story rear wall was carefully detailed with a grid of wood framing. On the main level a wide and tall picture window is flanked by narrow doors to the covered terrace. Above, windows with mullions filter daylight from the porch’s dormer window through the living room’s upper windows. Echoing the exterior window trim, the windows’ headers have the same slanted sides. The Owner pointed out the custom metalwork framing the firebox opening and the hardware for the exterior doors. I especially liked the two curved sofas that complemented the room’s geometry and the neutral color palette with accents of the rug and pillows.   

At the dining area, the deep recessed wall opening encloses millwork with a sliding ladder for easy access to the upper shelves at the second floor.  The stylish modern light fixture above the table was a housewarming gift from the Architect to his aunt and uncle. I noticed the fixture was hung to align perfectly with the width of the tall window at the rear wall of the dining area. 

Walking through the wide wall opening to the kitchen, I looked back to admire the spatial volume of the dining-living room and the wall of windows that wrap around the corner of the living room. Through the picture window, I could see one of the giant Craftsman style brackets that support the roof over the terrace. All of the design elements and the serene color palette create a picture perfect vista.

I love galley kitchens for their lack of corner cabinets and this kitchen’s sleek design with details of the full height backsplash and accents of the stainless steel appliances pleased this cook very much. The side panels of the island gently curve to create space under the countertop for the stylish stools and the wood flooring and ceiling are different wood species for added interest.

Across the circulation space from the kitchen is a short hall connecting the mud room, laundry, powder room, breezeway and garage.

The full height windows of the breakfast room offer panoramic views of the water and create a delightful space to begin one’s day. The side door with the custom iron hardware leads to the covered area of the waterside terrace and the stone flooring flows through the terrace to connect these indoor-outdoor spaces.

The spacious screened porch adjacent to the kitchen is divided into two areas. The space next to the kitchen is a dining area with an exterior door to the rear lawn and the water. The kitchen’s pass-through window to a counter in the dining area makes it easy to serve refreshments to family and friends.  

The other area is this spacious and delightful sitting room. It is easy to detail simple vertical and horizontal supports for screened panels but the Architect was more creative with his distinctive design of framed panels with sloped sides that become giant windows to frame views of the landscape.  The Owner told me he and his wife found the craftsman styled sofa that now has a second life as a swing-I can well imagine the framing needed to support a fully loaded sofa! The pool house and pool are nearby for exercise before relaxing in the porch.

I doubled back along the circulation space to tour the private areas of the house and first discovered the study that is next to the living room. Both the front and rear walls of the study are infilled with floor to ceiling windows and/or doors. The other interior wall contains built-in millwork on either side of a fireplace with wood paneling above. The Architect exposed the wood beams and decking and specified wood for all of the other surfaces for a cohesive and cozy look. The Oriental rug defines the sitting area and reading lamps encourage sitting down with a good book. As I am an avid reader, this was my fave room!

The primary ensuite is located behind the study and the sleeping area is defined by the large Oriental rug and the slim iron pencil post frame. The wood floor flows into the adjacent sitting area, with its lower wood ceiling and floor to ceiling windows. The interior door leads to the five-piece bath and at the front of the house is a walk-in closet that spans the width of the bedroom.  

I loved how the Architect mixed floor-to-ceiling picture windows with operable windows in the sitting area for architectural interest. The two picture windows at the corner of the room join together to offer a panoramic view of the lawn and the Chester River, whose water was gently flowing on the day of my visit. 

The stairs to the second floor end at an enlarged landing leading to two bedrooms, two baths and this informal gathering space overlooking the living-dining area below. Sliding barn doors enclose a delightful nook that is just the right depth to accommodate twin beds for an extra bedroom for wee ones and the thick exterior walls creates niches in the wall for books or toys.

After touring the main house, I was eager to explore the enchanting guest house that incorporates the design details the Architect included in the main house. I was enchanted by the massing that evoked a barn and here the sliding barn doors provide protection for the tall window. Actual lengths of trees have a new life as supports for the porch roof. Since the guest house was built on the foundation of the existing cottage, it is located much closer to the water than the main house. 

The guest house’s entry door opens into an open plan living-dining-kitchen. The two-story living room has a pitched wood ceiling and the space’s focal point is the dramatic tall window with its lower picture plane without muntins to maximize the water view. Flanking the window are recessed wood built-in millwork and the furnishings are arranged to enjoy views of both the water and the fireplace opposite the front door. 

 

In the dining area, the ceiling changes to a flat surface finished in wood. The lower picture plane window is part of another tall window in the gable wall and the dining room’s notched ceiling area allows sunlight to filter into both the dining room and the loft above. Built-in wood storage closets on either side of the dining room’s window create a window seat over the HVAC  and the side wall sconces add soft lighting. I loved the touch of Gothic in the frame of the door, centered on the window in the bathroom. 

The Guest House has two shed roofed one-story rooms; one is the kitchen area of the living-dining-kitchen open plan and the other is this cozy bedroom. The wood ceiling follows the underside of the roof framing and the window trim with the flared side edge echoing the design motif of the main house. I could well imagine being a guest in this delightful space!

I don’t have enough superlative adjectives to express my deep admiration to both the Architect for his imaginative and masterful design solution for his aunt and uncle’s house and to the Builder for the highest level of construction achieved by him, his subcontractors and artisans. My selection criteria of site, architecture, interiors and landscape were met 100%+. Bravo, Bravo to the Owners for their vision and their interior design and to the design and construction team for a unique and fascinating house and guest house that have set the bar very high for future Houses of the Week!

 

---

For details about this property, contact Rob Lacaze, Senior Vice President with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty at 410-745-2596 (o), 410-310-7835 (c), or [email protected] , “Equal Housing Opportunity”.

Architect: Purlsey Dixon Architecture Inc, www.pursleydixon.com, 704-334-6500

Builder: Joseph A. Balderson, 410-476-4676

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

 

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

Sited on 5+ acres with a 327 foot natural shoreline along Plaindealing Creek, today’s featured house is nestled in a clearing surrounded by mature trees. After turning off a private tree lined road that leads to only five houses, I drove down a gravel driveway that weaved its way through the trees to arrive at this house.  Before going in for my tour, I walked around the house and admired the beautifully manicured lawn and landscaping and the waterside deep deck that spans the length of the house for 180 degree views of the water next to the heated saltwater pool. For boating enthusiasts, the private pier offers two boat lifts, three deep water slips and a large floating dock for launching one’s kayak.

The one and a half story traditional style house stretches out parallel to the water so the main rooms enjoy direct and/or indirect views of the water from the breezeway infilled with windows and sliding doors, the breakfast room’s bay window, the sunroom’s sliding doors, the primary bedroom’s bow window and the windows in the second floor shed dormer. The multi-gabled roof telescopes slightly down to break up the house’s long footprint.  Two delightful outdoor rooms of the main floor’s deep wrap-around deck and the second floor’s large deck provide panoramic views of the landscaping and water. The main floor deck blends into the concrete hardscape around the pool to easily accommodate family celebrations or large parties. The pool is also near the breezeway between the garage and the house and the full changing suite that opens onto the pool deck.

I lingered on the deck to admire the serene view across the lawn to the water from the expanse of the deck that spans across the length of the house and ends at the two-car garage. Instead of a railing that would diminish the view, a continuous bench edged with shrubbery offers both a boundary and also extra seating for entertaining. 

From the parking area, a brick walkway laid in a herringbone pattern between low plantings leads to the brick stoop up at the front door. The foyer has an indirect view of the water through the adjacent living room and sunroom and opens up to the ceiling of the second floor above the “L” shaped stairway. Above the foyer’s front wall is a dormer window that provides daylight. 

A  wall opening trimmed with molding frames the view from the foyer to the spacious dining room. The Oriental rug anchors the wood table and chairs and both the chandelier and the wall sconces offer soft lighting for dining. The chair rail offers options of adding trim to simulate paneling and/or wallpaper, to suit one’s taste. A wider wall opening to the adjacent living room offers views to the landscape and water beyond.

The living room’s blue and white palette with subtle patterns of the upholstery and the rug create an appealing space to gather around the fire. The built-in millwork next to the fireplace has both a closed cabinet for storage and open shelves for display. The rear wall of the room is totally open, broken only by columns that frame the views of the sunroom and water beyond.

The sunroom’s three sides have sliding doors that maximize views of the lawn and water. The very large room has ample space for both sitting and dining areas, and the sliding doors surrounding it create easy indoor-outdoor flow to the deck and pool area.

The large kitchen is connected to the living and dining rooms, mudroom/laundry/powder room and breezeway. The rear wall’s wide bay window creates a charming space to enjoy breakfast or informal meals with views to the water. The arrangement of the “L” shaped cabinetry and island opposite another row of cabinetry provides ample storage and work space, accented by some upper cabinets with glass fronts. The island’s black countertop breaks up the neutral color scheme and the backsplash adds texture to the space.

 

The brick walkway to the house flows through the breezeway with accents of the white vertical shiplap and stained wood ceiling for this informal space. A mix of floor to ceiling sliding doors and full sidelights at both the front and rear walls make this a four-season room and continues the easy flow between the indoor and outdoor rooms of the house.  Steps lead down to the two-car garage with stairs to attic storage.  

 

From the foyer, a pair of French doors leads to a double-loaded hall containing  the waterside primary suite and an office. Another pair of French doors leads to  the office, with a wall of built-ins and counterspace for work. From the corner desk, one has a side view of the long window overlooking the front landscaping for visual breaks from computer work.

Another pair of French doors leads to the primary bedroom.  The entire rear wall of the spacious primary bedroom has a bowed window for panoramic views of the landscaping and water. The slight pitched ceiling adds volume to the space and the white walls and ceiling reflect the sunlight. Throughout the house, I enjoyed viewing the Owner’s art collection as I did the abstract painting above the bed that complements the colors of the rug.

The five-piece primary bath is arranged very well with the tub at the rear window, the dual lavatory cabinetry with knee space for a stool, shower compartment and a toilet compartment The trio of center mirror and dual mirrored medicine cabinets becomes another “window” and reflects the art on the opposite wall. The large walk-in closet off the bedroom completes the primary suite.

At the end of the house is a huge family room. The story and a half space includes a secondary stair to the second floor bedrooms. One wall created by the vaulted ceiling has a light shelf to illuminate the tapestry and other artwork. The bright colors of the walls, rug and upholstery create a space for family relaxation around the TV and the large wood-burning fireplace. Next to the family room is a large fitness room with a steam shower/steam room.

The main stairway to the second floor ends at an enlarged landing opposite the hall bath that serves the bedrooms. If I were a lucky guest, I would choose this waterside bedroom for its door leading to a large deck. The other waterside bedroom has two skylights and French doors leading to the secondary stairs to the family room below.

 

The large deck has great “bird’s eye” views of the lower deck, pool, lawn and water below.  

Location in popular Royal Oak, 5+ acres of westerly views along a 327 foot natural shoreline along Plaindealing Creek with a private pier at 6-7′ MLW; mature trees that filter the sunlight onto the meticulously manicured grounds; delightful outdoor rooms of the second floor deck, main floor breezeway, wrap-around deck and hardscaped pool area to keep one attuned to the sights and sounds of nature; panoramic water views from all the main rooms from multiple types of windows including bay windows, bow windows and  sliding doors; spacious rooms, main floor primary suite and office; second floor bedrooms and bath; extensive storage space in the walk-in attic, great family house! 

---

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

Photography by Broadview Interactive and HD Bros.

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

The aerial view of this twenty acre property shows the main house that is sited along a secured shoreline shaded by mature trees along Gross Creek with the Wye River in the distance. The main house’s symmetrical wings are angled to maximize long views across and down Gross Creek. Inland vistas of abundant open space bordered by woods creates a peaceful rural setting. As I drove down the gravel driveway under a canopy of Willow Oaks, I passed by several accessory structures including a guest cottage, caretaker cottage next to a tractor shed/utility shop, greenhouse/workshop and a huge pole barn for myriad uses. As I savored the peace and quiet, it was hard to imagine I was only nine miles from downtown Easton. 

The gravel driveway leads to the house’s rear-facing two-car garage and then curves across the front of the house to loop back to the entry drive. The original house was built in 1970, and major renovations in 2018 opened up the main rooms and updated the kitchen and baths.  

The house’s center wing flanked by angled side wings reached out to welcome me. As I walked along the brick path, I admired the transition from the driveway to the front door with the low brick walls, brick and stone pavers and the low landscaping that enhances the house. I especially admired the wide and beautiful, lightly stained mahogany front door with glass panes and the color palette of white brick, black cottage style windows and light green shutters. 

The rooms along the waterside rear elevation are linked by brick paver walkways that expand to create deep terraces off the living and dining rooms. I especially appreciated how the hipped roofs disguise the length of the house’s long footprint that is also augmented by the center wing containing the living room, dining room and kitchen that projects beyond the rear walls of the side wings.

At the rear of the property, the lawn gently slopes down to the riprapped shoreline. The spacing of the tall trees provide shade without obscuring the views of the water from the outdoor spaces of the wrap-around porch.

 

How enjoyable it must be to relax in the porch’s swing or rocking chairs to contemplate the sights and sounds of nature, especially in the fall with the warmth of a wood fire in the firepit to take the chill off the evening after sunset. The easy indoor-outdoor flow from the porch to the open plan living-dining-kitchen area is great for relaxing with family or entertaining friends.

The front door opens into a hall with a direct vista between large columns that both defines the boundary between the hall to the side wings and the living-dining rooms but also frames the back to back wood burning chimneys in both rooms. I loved the wide cottage style 3/1 windows and how the low sills maximize the views of the water. The beautiful light oak floors and the light colors of the walls and ceiling reflect the sunlight and the wood wainscot adds a layer of texture to the exterior wall.  

The wood wainscoting continues around the exterior walls of the dining room and is interrupted by both sliding doors at the rear wall and a single door at the side wall for water views and access to the porch.  The oak antique sideboard stands out its white background and enhances the very pleasing eclectic look of the dining room’s wood table and white antique rattan chairs. 

Behind the living area is a spacious breakfast area against a backdrop of blue built-in millwork as an accent wall for display. Sliding doors lead to the dining area of the rear porch for one to enjoy that second cup of coffee to begin the day or to dine al-fresco. 

Behind the breakfast room is the large kitchen with a second sink in the cabinetry between the breakfast area and the kitchen’s exterior door. The room’s white cabinets with a mix of upper cabinets’ glass doors and deep wood open shelves, thinly veined white quartz countertops and the gray accents of the bar stools’ upholstery, backsplash and the stainless steel appliances would inspire any cook.

Adjacent to the kitchen is  guest ensuite with a bedroom, full bath and walk-in closet that could also be a playroom for young children, TV room or office.

I began drinking coffee in architectural school to stay awake during too many all-nighters in the design studio. This coffee bar off the hall behind the guest ensuites is a cheerful and convenient spot for espresso!

The primary bedroom is located at the end of the bedroom wing with triple and single windows at the corner for panoramic views of the water.  An exterior door to the porch is convenient for one last stroll with the family pet before bedtime. The blue and white color scheme creates a serene sleeping space.

The primary bath has great texture from the shiplap and the tile walls. Opposite the soaking tub and shower are the dual vanities and toilet that completes the efficient arrangement.

My meager closet space pales in comparison to this space that is as long as primary bedroom. Three windows provide ample daylight and the island’s countertop above cabinetry is a great spot for packing/unpacking one’s bags for travel. I also envied the dressing table by the window and the corner space that is a sauna.

Two other guest ensuites complete the bedroom wing, but I would choose this charming bedroom for the triple window overlooking the lawn and water, its blue and white color scheme, and mix of the wood pieces and the brass bedframe.

Four accessory buildings are also located on the property and this building does double duty as a greenhouse and conditioned workspace. Another accessory building is a 7,200 gsf conditioned Pole Barn at a remote area of the property.

Two of the accessory buildings are dwellings, located at an appropriate distance from the main house to provide privacy for all. This Guest House is located nearest to the primary residence and contains a waterside living room with a fireplace, a farmhouse-style kitchen, three bedrooms, one and a half baths, with updated finishes and systems. The front porch is a mini-outdoor room with water views and the swing hanging from the tall tree beckons children of all ages. The Guest House is ideal for family holidays, summer weekends or extended stays.

After touring the other accessory dwelling, the Caretaker Cottage, I made a mental note to send in a rental application to the next Owner! The cottage is located at an appropriate distance from the main house for privacy and contains a living room with a fireplace, eat-in kitchen, laundry, sunroom, three bedrooms, and two baths. 

 

Court Road Farm is a one of a kind property in a rural setting offering twenty acres of peace and privacy with water views of Gross Creek; riprapped and bulkheaded shoreline, pier with boat lift; renovated main house with low maintenance exteriors, one-level living for aging in place and open plan living-dining-breakfast area-kitchen; large windows for water views, rear waterside wrap-around porch; accessory buildings of a Guest House, Caretaker Cottage, Greenhouse/Workshop and Pole Barn; abundant open space for livestock pastures, tennis courts and/pool; location in a historic waterfowl staging area; all this and only seven miles to the Easton Airport and nine miles to downtown Easton!

---

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/presquile, “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

Photography by Jim McKee, BroadView Interactive LLC. 703-593-4392,  [email protected]

 

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

 

To visit today’s featured house, I drove along a single loaded road lined with marshes against a backdrop of dense mature trees on one side and driveways discretely leading to only seven houses nestled in the verdant landscape. After parking my car, I walked along a curved walkway of large stones edged in brick next to low shrubbery, liriope and Russian sage. Before I went up the steps to the front porch, I paused to savor the quiet and the privacy due to the groups of dense trees and mature landscaping that surround the property. 

The house is set back far from the road and its shoreline along the quiet waters of Boone Creek has a dock with a boat lift for launching one’s boat for a day on the Choptank or Tred Avon Rivers. 

 

 

The house is nestled into its site on a slight rise and I admired the very pleasing massing of the house with its multiple gables, pitched and shed roofs, the main two-story wing, the garage’s story and a half wing and the front porch that wraps around the two-story gable projection. The light sage green lap siding, light plum shutters and the gray/brown tones of the roofing are the finishing touches to this property’s great curb appeal. 

 

The exterior materials on the house and the porch are low maintenance. Giant crape myrtles and other landscaping enhance the house without blocking the views of the property from the porch. All the porch needs are rocking chairs to enjoy the long view across the deep front lawn to the marshland across the road.

 

The rear elevation opens up to the water with a screened porch behind the garage wing, triple windows at the breakfast room, pairs of sliding doors at the family room and a two wide and long windows at the primary suite.  I especially liked the second floor’s small accent windows that I later discovered on my tour of the house’s interior cast sunlight into a hall to the bedrooms on the second floor.

The spacious brick terrace’s graceful arc reaches out to the expansive rear lawn to create a delightful outdoor room for relaxing with family or friends. Steps leading to the screened porch and sliding doors to the family room create easy indoor-outdoor flow.

 

From the terrace, the deep rear yard ends at the shoreline of Boone Creek and a pier for launching a boat for an afternoon on the water. The houses across the Creek are hidden by trees to create a peaceful view from this house’s terrace.

The front door opens into the foyer with the “L” shaped stairs to the second floor ending at an overlook to the foyer from the hall above. Daylight streams into the foyer from the side window and the upper hall’s high windows. When I admired the beautiful flooring that flows through the house, the Owner explained its provenance. When they lived in New Jersey, two storms in the 1990’s took down various trees on their property. The Owners had the trees cut down into lengths for flooring that now enhances this house with ash, locust, sycamore and white oak flooring! 

 

The foyer’s clear vista through to the rear wall of the spacious family room, the landscape and water beyond  beckoned me to explore that room first.  The focal point of the room is the exquisite custom made fireplace surround with mixed colors and grains of woods, double doors to conceal the TV and single doors to contain DVD’s, etc. On either side of the fireplace, pairs of sliding doors leads to steps down to the terrace. Since the family room is a single story room, the sloped ceiling follows the underside of the roof rafters to add volume to the space and to reflect the light.

The large dining room is located between the foyer and the kitchen. I admired the mix of antiques and more recent pieces and I especially liked the design of the chairs and the oak sideboard with the mirror and the upper shelf supports. The wide and long windows overlook the front yard and break up the deep teal wainscot that inspired the choices of artwork.

The large kitchen’s arrangement of an “L” with an island and another row of cabinetry has ample work and storage space. Most of the upper cabinets have glass fronts for transparency. The neutral colored cabinets, stainless steel appliances and the accent of the island’s dark finish set the stage for cooking with family and friends.  

The long island provides more prep space and accommodates both stools and chairs for informal meals. The wide wall opening is open to the adjacent breakfast room and the door in the corner of the room leads both to a large pantry/mud room and the two-car garage. 

 

I loved the bright apricot color of the charming breakfast room’s walls, the lovely oval table and chairs with spindle backs anchored by the large rug. To me, this would be a perfect dining room with its large triple window for views of the landscape and water beyond. The French door leads to the screened porch for warm weather dining.

I am writing this article on my narrow screened porch and I envied this delightful outdoor room’s width that easily accommodate both seating and dining areas overlooking the lawn and the water.

 

The corner of the screened porch has a panoramic view of the landscaping through the wide and tall screened panels. How easy  it would be to sink into one of the cushioned rattan chairs to read a book on a Sunday afternoon!

The original living room was converted into a spacious primary bedroom with two windows at the front wall and the triple window unit at the rear wall bringing in abundant sunlight and views.

The large primary bath has space for both the dual lavatory wood cabinet and a chest of drawers. The side wall of the bath contains the toilet and tub/shower unit. The dual lavatory cabinet has shared drawers for storage and surface mounted mirrored medicine cabinets. The pair of doors leads to the large walk-in closet.

If I were a lucky guest, I would claim this charming bedroom with its gambrel shaped ceiling formed by the gable wall. The light pink walls, patterned rug, wood post bedframe, white coverlet and quilt, along the wood accents of the bedframe, chair and table and the wood armoire create a serene space for sleeping. This bedroom shares a hall bath with the other three bedrooms, one of which is currently used as an office but it could also be a great playroom for children or teen gathering space.

 

Another guest room is an ensuite with light aqua walls, wood furnishings and quilt whose colorful pattern picks up the colors in the Oriental rug. The two windows overlook the front lawn for a bird’s eye view of the house’s pastoral setting.

Great location on tranquil Boone Creek leading to the Tred Avon and Choptank Rivers and Oxford’s many amenities. Deep lot surrounded by woods and enhanced by mature, meticulously maintained landscaping and outdoor rooms of the front porch, rear screened porch and terrace for easy indoor-outdoor flow among rooms. Main floor primary ensuite, five total bedrooms and three and a half baths; beautiful wood floors, ceiling heights that vary from flat to sloped to gambrel shapes. The two-car garage has stairway access to storage above and there is a Bilco door to access the concrete floored crawl space underneath the house.  If one wanted both a main floor ensuite and a living room in addition to the waterside family room, the charming breakfast room could become the dining room and the dining room could become the living room. 

---

For more information about this property, contact Henry Hale with Benson  Mangold Real Estate at 410-226-0111 (o),  410-829-3777 (c) or [email protected].  For more pictures and pricing, visit www.henryhale.bensonandmangold.com , “Equal Housing Opportunity.”

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

---

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