An Unlikely Nest, But a Definite Winner on the Water

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In the fall of 2021, a full-blown renovation project was never part of the plan for our feature homeowners when they set out with their realtor to find a move-in-ready waterfront property in one of their favorite Annapolis neighborhoods. That search would provide only discouraging results because at that time—the pandemic era—existing housing inventory was at historic lows. Potential home buyers were generally steering clear of renovation projects for fear that supply chain issues would turn their dream home projects into nightmare scenarios.

A happenstance of an online query then pointed the couple in just that direction. A nearly instantaneous connection to a fixer-upper provided them with the fortitude to proceed despite the property’s current situation.

“It was in pretty rough condition, and I think our realtor figured it was probably [not a prospect]. We didn’t ask her for a renovation; we were looking for something that we could go right into,” explains the wife. “So, when we looked at this property, it doesn’t look like much from the street and the house was in bad shape, but when we got near the house and we could see over onto the water, it was instant—we knew immediately that we loved this property and the house deserved to be fixed up.”

The setting would include a semi-wooded lot with one particularly popular Sycamore tree and a view of both a lagoon, formerly Lake Heron, and the Severn River.

No Easy Build

The home had been somewhat of an already abandoned remodel when Bayview Builders came on the scene. The couple had been referred to Bayview by their realtor for their experience with a number of successful builds and remodeling projects in that specific area of Annapolis. 

“We chose Bayview because they probably were the only ones that saw the vision of a renovation over a tear-down,” the wife says.

The couple also chose ABS Architects of Annapolis to help them devise the design that could take their particular wish list and make it work with the home’s pre-existing footprint.

President and Founder of Bayview Builders, Dave Carlisle, referred to this project as a “large-scale renovation” and of the type that the company takes pride in re-establishing on better footing for the future. 

“As is the case with a lot of these kinds of waterfront properties, the houses were sort of developed and then re-envisioned over the years,” says Carlisle, referring to the outdated add-ons that usually come with an older house that dates back to1930. 

Additionally, that big old Sycamore on the property was majestic for more than just its age. The couple would soon realize they were not home alone, because at the very tip top of that tree, two bald eagles were in residence in their own cozy nest.

“There was no way it was going to be an easy build,” says the wife. “Then interestingly, because we found out about the eagles’ nest the day before we closed on the property, we were really worried that we would be delayed in the construction because of the regulations about building around an eagles’ nest.”

The couple called the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the Chesapeake to allay any fears they may have about building around their new neighbors.

“We learned that as long as we kept our building (process) outside of the nesting season, we would be fine. And it turns out the nesting season is from December until June. So, we had to wait until the end of that season before we could build.”

Once the wait was over the homeowners and their teams could begin in earnest. Structurally, the home required upgrades in several areas, including the roof which had been breached. The original first floor layout had several areas of step up and step down when entering another room, which the couple wanted to remedy with smoother transitions. There were also some substantial structural issues on the second floor and four feet of underutilized crawlspace to address. 

The 4,000-square-foot result is a transitional space with a quasi-traditional floorplan on the main level, meaning not totally open, but with intentional room carve-outs that maintain a nice flow throughout.

“We didn’t want a full open plan. We wanted to have a distinct living room, dining room, kitchen, and not just one giant room,” the husband says.

Working to further assess that existing home structure was ABS Principal Architect, Angela Phelan. Upon initial review, Phelan says, she was impressed with the property’s countenance, its exquisite water views, and with the homeowners’ intentional approach to retaining its footprint.  

“They had a really sweet little farmhouse with a very large lot. It has probably one of the most phenomenal views from any part of the house that looks out onto the Bay Bridge. And the [owners] wanted to keep a farmhouse feel, so we pretty much wanted to renovate it in the spirit of what existed,” Phelan says. To make things work on the second floor, Phelan says, they needed to address the issue of unusually low ceilings. 

“I think we were referring to it as the Hobbit house because the ceilings were so low, and so we were able to raise the ridge height and we created dormers off of the sides of the rooms just in the spirit that you’re living under the same eaves,” Phelan explains.  This, she says, would help replicate the attic feeling associated with the original farmhouse.

Upstairs, Downstairs

Solid oak stained with two rich shades of brown, an espresso, and a walnut, was chosen for the wide plank hardwood floors throughout. Detailed, and expertly crafted wood treatments, including a totally redefined staircase, ceiling enhancements, and gorgeous windows showcasing the views, combined with the wife’s natural instincts for color, tone, and texture create a sense of beauty and balance that flows seamlessly along the first-floor plan.

“It’s sort of restrained,” conveys the wife, of the aesthetic created. “I’m also really nuts about symmetry. So, I think that there’s a really strong balance in many of the views through the house, which was intentional.”

A transitional, all-white kitchen with crisp quartzite countertops is punctuated with high-pitched ceilings with white beam detail, high-end hardware, and the ultimate above-the-sink view of the waterfront. The couple, who love to cook, is thrilled with the way the room ultimately works for them. 

“Our grown kids also like to cook,” the wife says. “So, when they’re here, we all have plenty of space to do that.”

The couple chose to have two incredible primary suites, including theirs on the lower level. Both capture that relaxing feeling of being on the water. The owners’ suite, however, would answer a question that the wife said she posed to herself when thinking about what she wanted: ‘Why don’t I see if I can make my bathroom seem like a spa?’

It turns out she could, and the results are luxurious and immersive.

“So, I got my head around the idea of a Japanese soaking tub,” she explains. “And this one in particular just really moved me. It is very modern and clean-looking and interesting. And we decided to put it in the middle of the room, which is quite a large room rather than along the front windows, which is where the original design had placed it.”

Rather than looking out to the front yard or the street, the owner’s choice to center the tub in the room provides an optimal view.

“It turns out, when you’re sitting in the bathtub, you have a perfect view out to the water.”

Once she chose the bathtub, she says, she had another chance to get creative with the room’s finishes, fixtures, hardware, and lighting.

“I seized on this concept of a curve or a roundness. So, we have all round things where we have something hard.” 

One of her favorite online finds for the room, she says, was the pendant light fixture suspended above the tub. “It just reminded me of bubbles.”

The Nature of It 

The upstairs primary suite has the advantage of a spacious walk-out deck overlooking the water, keeping with the couple’s theme of intentional use of their amazing natural environment. This is seen all around the home’s landscape, which provides the couple with the optimal amount of land and mature perennials and trees.

An inviting circular driveway was carved out, and a series of raised garden beds were installed alongside a precious greenhouse. The couple loves to garden and just be outdoors. And from their waterfront backyard it’s a breeze to hop in a kayak for a peaceful paddle and wildlife scout.

Meanwhile back at the nest, the couple says their other neighbors whimsically assigned names for the Mom and Dad eagles that live in the treetops to honor the new homeowners. But once the babies came, the couple says, they came up with their own regionally appropriate names for the babies, “Anne” and “Cal.”

At last report, the happy family of six were well and were all enjoying their bird’s eye view of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.