From The Archives

The marriage . . .

This exceptional residence has been created by an award winning architect and his wife who founded an Annapolis architectural firm 30 years ago. Since retiring, they have specialized in creating high quality, one-of a-kind houses, both in the USA and Europe.

Whether the buildings are new or restorations, designs have several things in common. Each building is intensively designed, individually crafted with quality finishes and construction standards. The location of each building is also carefully selected for its unique potential. Historic Chestertown on Maryland's Eastern Shore was a major incentive to do something special. And that they have done. The building and grounds lack nothing.

As an entrance to the Carriage house with Studio and two-car garage, one passes through the garden. It is designed as an “outdoor room” and is a day and night extension of the first floor of the house. The main feature of the garden is an active fish and aquatic life pond with a water chute cascade. The pond has been designed for an algae-free environment, and has a ultra-violet filter system. The rest of the garden is planted with perennial vegetation, including ornamental grasses and growing vines along the fence.

CHESTERTOWN IN THE COUNTY OF KENT

Kent County is located along the Chesapeake Bay on the Eastern Shore and is known worldwide for its wildlife, wildfowl hunting, seafood and gracious way of living. Biking, water sports, cultural programs, continued learning and the environment are important to its residents.

Kent County derives its name from the shire of Kent on the southeast coast of England. Referred to as early as 1642, the county is steeped in colonial history. Kent County has a population of about 18,300 and is the smallest geographically in Maryland with about 280 square miles of land and 209 miles of shoreline. Agriculture is the largest income producer along with commercial hunting, harvesting of seafood and tourism. Kent County has largely escaped industrialization and, thereby, retains the attributes, which brought settlers to this “land unto itself.”

Chestertown, the county seat, was recently designated by three major publications as one of the nation’s top ten “best communities for retirement.” Founded in 1706, it has a population of 4,500. It is located along one of the most beautiful Eastern Shore Rivers. The Chester River winds its peaceful way for more than twenty-five miles from the Bay. This broad river begins over a mile wide and averages half a mile almost to the head of navigation. It forms a boundary between Kent & Queen Anne’s County to the South. The residents in both counties are proud of the river and actively participate in its stewardship.

During the 18th & 19th centuries, Chestertown was an important port. In 1774, when a British brigantine with a cargo of dutiable tea arrived in Chestertown, the indignant inhabitants threw the tea overboard. The event is reenacted at the foot of High Street at the popular Tea Party Festival each May.

Washington College, located in Chestertown, is an independent, coeducational, non-sectarian, liberal arts and sciences college with about 1,000 students. It was founded in 1782, the first chartered in Maryland and the tenth oldest institution of higher learning in the nation. By the consent of George Washington, the new college was given his name. The college plays an important part in the vitality of Kent County.

Chestertown is a swift 50-minute drive from Annapolis, 1 hour and 30 minutes from Baltimore and Washington, and 1 hour from Wilmington. New York lies 3.5 hours away. Daily shopping needs can be met locally at Chestertown’s specialty shops within the historic district & at two complete shopping centers. Other major shopping plus national and international cultural events are available in the nearby metropolitan areas.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONTEMPORARY LIVING

SPECIFICATIONS


WINDOWS AND EXTERIOR DOORS:

• Original windows and doors fully restored according to Historic District Commission requirements.
• New windows and exterior doors: Anderson, clear pine, paint-finished interior; clad finished exterior.
• Glass: High Performance “low E” ultra violet protection Thermopane.
• Tempered glass in French doors.
• Insect screens on all operating windows.
• Hardware: Estate style, oil rubbed bronze.

ROOFING AND GUTTER SYSTEMS:

• On entire house and carriage house, new 24-gauge, prefinished, standing seam roofing, historic double-lock profile, Hartford green color.
• Metal roof has 20-year finish warranty.
• 5-Year labor warranty.
• Eaves and valleys have self-adhered ice and water shield underlayment.
• 30Lb. roofing felt throughout.
• Seam mounted, butterfly style, snow guards on rear of roof.
• Half-round copper gutter and downspout on front porch.
• 5” “K”-style, .027 gauge gutters and downspouts rest of roof.

PLUMBING SYSTEMS:

Entire new system with new water and sewer connection in Mill Street.

• 80-Gallon, high recovery water heater with drain pan.
• Second floor washing machine with drain pan. Dryer vented to the exterior.
• Sump pump in crawl space.
• Internal drain lines insulated in floor and wall spaces.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:

• Entire new electric service wired in preparation for new underground service on Mill Street. (Scheduled for 2006 by the Town).
• 300-AMP service to the house, and additional 100-AMP to the Carriage House.
• Voice-intercom from front door to kitchen and master bedroom.
• Whole-house surge suppressor.
• Under floor electric heating in both bathrooms.
• Ceiling fans are located in the living room, master bedroom and guestroom, as well as in the carriage house.
• Interior lighting includes low voltage tilt picture lights, Kichler glass halogen pendants, and European cable halogen lights.
• Exterior power outlets on house and carriage house/garage, and fishpond, as well as path lighting, motion detection lights and general building illumination.

BROADBAND, TELEPHONE AND SATELLITE SYSTEMS:

• DSL and telephone service is provided by Verizon and is wired to each floor of the house, as well as the carriage house.
• High Definition satellite service is by Direct TV and is wired from the dish on the carriage house to both the carriage house and each floor of the main house.


HVAC SYSTEMS:

• All new mechanical systems are by Bryant. First floor system is a 60,000 Btu gas furnace/electric air conditioner system 2-ton unit. Second floor system is 2-ton heat pump with Puron.
• Bryant mechanical systems are the “Evolution” series with multi-function programmable thermostats, providing variable fan speed control and separate heat/cool humidity settings.
• Each HVAC system has an electronic air filter with automatic monitoring from the thermostat.
• The systems are rated with a SEER of 16, and have a 10-year warranty on the compressors and 5 years on the rest of the equipment.
• The electronic air filters improve air quality and trap air pollutants as small as .01 microns.
• Heating/cooling for the carriage house is provided by a 14,600 Btu through-wall GE heat pump. The garage also has an electric fan heat unit. In addition, a cast iron wood burning stove provides primary heat in the cold months. Intrepid Model 1640.

AUXILIARY HEATING:

• A Danish built JOTUL F3CB wood-stove in living room produces 42,000 Btu/hr and burns 7 hours per load.
• Gas fireplace in dining room is by KOZYHEAT and produces 14,700 Btu/hr. This fireplace has a variable speed fan and remote control.

THERMAL INSULATION PACKAGE:

The house exterior walls, roof space and crawl space are insulated with expanding spray foam ICYNENE. The also includes sealing of window and doorjambs. Additionally, a layer of air filtration product, TYVEK, was added to exterior walls.

Icynene is a non-CFC/HCFC foam insulation that seals exterior walls, roofs and crawl spaces and is suited to older structures that have many crevices and cracks that allow air infiltration and humidity penetration. R-values are as follows:

• Attic assembly R-22
• Exterior walls R-19
• Crawl space R-15

The carriage house has 8” ceiling batt insulation and 6” wall insulation.

KITCHEN:

• This kitchen is designed as a central aesthetic statement in the house, and is for serious cooks.
• The custom cabinets are built by Crown Point in New Hampshire. They spent many months working with the owner/architect on the design and fabrication. Crown Point uses some of the finest design, quality control and manufacture in the industry.
• The architectural exhaust hood treatment is a special feature and uses recycled ornamental corbel brackets, with glazed Mexican wall tile splash back.
• Countertops and farmhouse sink are built with Vermont soapstone. This material has long history of use in kitchens and laboratories.
• A wet bar (with sink) and matching glass door pantry form one wall of the kitchen and maintain the architectural sequence of the spaces.
• Appliances consist of:
? DACOR dual-fuel EPICURE stainless steel range with 6 burners and combi gas/electric convection oven.
? DACOR MILLENIA stainless steel, under counter warming oven with a moist/crisp function.
? Exhaust hood system: DACOR power pack with 1,200 CFM variable speed exterior fan unit and interior halogen lighting.
? Refrigerator: KITCHEN AID “Architect Series” 24.5 cu.ft. stainless steel. It has a water filtration system for exterior ice and water dispensing.
? Dishwasher: KITCHEN AID “Architect Series” stainless steel.
? Insinkerator disposal.
? Faucet and soap dispenser are by Grohe.
? Kitchen lighting consists of pendant halogen Kichler fixtures and separate recessed 110-V fixtures, and undercabinet lighting.

BATHROOMS:

The master bathroom has a Vermont soapstone countertop, ceramic tile shower and diagonal tile flooring. Fixtures are by Kohler. Shower door is 3/8” tempered glass. Lighting, base cabinet and wall cabinet are Art Deco style. Walls are finished with painted wainscot paneling.

Guest bath has whirlpool tub by American Standard, vanity with European vessel bowl and faucet. The washer and dryer are located in the laundry closet behind painted wooden louver doors in this room.

The powder room also has wainscot paneling, and has a pedestal sink.

DRESSING ROOM:

The dressing room off the master bedroom is fitted with a California Closet system, providing hanging space for long and short garments, shoe storage and drawer wardrobes.

FLOOR FINISHES:

The living room, kitchen and dining room floors are Old Ash select grade in widths of 4” to 8”, ¾” thick, T&Groove, manufactured by Carlisle Wide Plank Floors of New Hampshire. Finish on this flooring is multiple layer applications of Carlisle High resin Tung Oil. This flooring has a lifetime guarantee from Carlisle.

Front of second and third floors are refinished original plank flooring with a urethane finish.

Master bedroom suite has Berber carpet by Mohawk, over 10-pound Midas Touch underlayment.

The Carriage house living area has a urethane finished 6” plank floor.

GARAGE DOOR:

The insulated steel garage door is by CLOPAY, from their Coachman collection. It has black iron exterior decorative hardware and a Chamberlain “Lift Master” automatic door opener.

The garage door has a 5-year warranty and a lifetime limited paint finish warranty.