Blog

Our Latest ReDesign: The Calvert County Seaside Cottage on a Bluff Overlooking the Chesapeake Bay, CIRCA 1932

Welcome to 130 Dares Wharf Road, an abandoned, dilapidated historic cottage perfectly situated on two and a half acres overlooking the Chesapeake Bay, specially crafted recently for all the wonderful old house lovers and dreamers out there.  I really do walk around wishing I could fix up every fixer-upper, restore every bygone-looking home, and salvage every old door and mantel. This was my second old home renovation (remember 4100 9th St, North Beach, CIRCA 1940?) But this home, this special cottage is the most challenging I have ever had to give up. So, for all of you asking me when I see you at the office, at church, at the grocery store, and even at the doctors office, go ahead…indulge. Browse. Take a look at this two and half minute video of our most recent renovation. I hope you love it as much as we do…because its never just a house. This is a home.

I watched this gem from the minute it hit the newspapers. I was so interested in the story. I researched public records. I respected the family who held this sweet, rare property in their family for so many years, but it wasn’t one month after we picked this distressed home up from auction we were immediately contacted by the family. What a rare blessing. It inspired every inch of my timeless, precious design of gold tones, marble, porcelain, and classic antique vintage farm house seaside feel.

The process was unforgettable. I am so grateful that my husband (and project manager of our redesigns) never questioned any of my design ideas for this home. When I requested he find gold schluter for grout in between the carrera marble tile backsplash, he found it within hours. When I drew out the custom range hood on a receipt at a restaurant on a rare date occasion and asked that it be painted black, he found a talented carpenter and carried out every request just perfectly, never questioning (even when I questioned myself.) We kept with the Sherwin Williams SHOJI White exterior theme because this has always been my favorite exterior paint color, embellished with Benjamin Moore EDGECOMB GRAY accents. I will never forget when I walked in to the house after Rich told me the original floors had been restored and stained and to go “check them out’…I cried (a painful cry.) The contractor had used a red toned stain, instead of the Puritan Pine I had requested to bring out the natural color and markings. We had the contractors crew sand and refinish the floors immediately. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy! From the wallpaper installed over the clawfoot tub in the Master Bath upstairs to the restored radiators atop the original hardwood flooring on each level, this home is so unique. We spent my sons 15th birthday here at this house on this bluff, many days of just breathing and taking in the sensory moments of time. 2,000 square feet of story…history. Makes me truly wonder, if walls could really talk… Enjoy, my friends.

 

2 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *