Fond memories are what legacy homes are all about. Linda Washington has her fair share of those and recently had the opportunity to reclaim a legacy home that means the world to her. The journey to get the historic property back may not have been an easy one, but she and her husband, Mark, would be the first to admit that the end result is all the more precious for having endeavored it.
And so, begins a great example of what can happen when an ambitious architect, a family with an enduring dream, and more than a century of history come together. This dream would not only re-establish a residence, but it would ensure the future for the landmark brick row home among Annapolis’ most storied dwellings.
“My parents purchased the home in 1957 when I was in fifth grade,” Linda says, of the house which dates back to 1875 in the historical record. Linda remarked that her father grew up in Annapolis and her mother was a native of South Carolina.
But 1957 was a very different time in Annapolis, before there were rules in place about altering historic properties. Shortly after purchasing the home, her mother wanted to put her own stamp on it.
“She changed the large historic windows in the front to a large picture window because that’s what she remembered growing up in South Carolina,” Linda explains. “She also added an awning in the front for shade.”
Linda says she and her two sisters enjoyed many years of celebrating milestones and growing together as a family in their precious brick row home.
“There was a time when I could tell you every family that lived on that block,” Linda says. “Today I think there are just two families remaining from that time, including us.”
Time & New Space
Once the girls had grown and left home, and her father passed away in 1982, her mother continued on in the home until her passing in 2006.
“After my mother passed, the house sat dormant for a while until we could decide what we wanted to do. We always had a vision of renovating, but after someone passes you really want to put some thought into it.”
And here’s where that ambitious architect comes in. Not to mention, some gracious and knowledgeable preservation experts.
“Will was recommended to us by an acquaintance of ours; he was a young and upcoming architect…he grew up in Annapolis and he had a real appreciation for historic Annapolis,” Linda says of Will Adrian, Principal of Adrian Development.
One of the first things that Will and his new clients had to do was assess the structure with two primary considerations in mind: its present condition and its status as an historical structure and how they would mitigate issues consistent with town home living; most notably, the amount of space and natural light.
To say they were met with some challenges from the onset, would be an understatement. It was determined that some roofing issues rendered the interior structure unlivable in its current condition and denoted a total replacement, not just a remodel. What some homeowners would consider the worst news in the world to hear, the Washingtons saw as an opportunity to dream.
“It just gave us a blank slate again,” Linda says.
Their architect, who was already so excited about working with a property like this, said he was inspired all the more by her resolve.
“She knew that the interior was going to be completely new and different, but she wanted that home back,” Will says.
History Lessons
The couple and their architect worked closely with the Annapolis’ Historic Preservation Commission to determine what was required to meet the criteria for the historic exterior. That had to be restored to its original condition as far as the overall architectural characteristics of the façade were concerned.
Linda, who had wanted to return the two lower and three upper Victorian style windows to the front of the home for some time, was excited to get started.
“We had a wonderful opportunity to work with Lisa Craig (former chief of historic preservation)…and Roberta Laynor (current chief of historic preservation). They were very helpful to us in working to ensure the historic preservation guidelines for the exterior of the house were met,” Linda explains.
Mark adds that his wife was so inquisitive about the home’s history that they hired Dr. Jean Russo, an Historic Annapolis consulting historian, to compile a complete narrative of the home. Mark said he was immediately impressed with the lineage of property owners and it inspired them both to learn more about the home’s Italianate architectural style. The plan to realize what the home’s interiors could look like soon began in earnest.
“While we knew we had to adhere to Historic Annapolis on the exterior of the home, our taste has always been contemporary, although we have an appreciation for other styles as well,” Linda says.
This presented a wonderfully challenging opportunity for the architectural team.
“They really wanted contemporary. I said, ‘that’s awesome.’ It will be an interesting juxtaposition to have a very historic exterior and then a modern interior that people will never really understand until they walk through the front door,” Adrian says. “What are the chances that you get to build this modern custom interior behind a restored historic façade?”
And build they did.
“It’s just like we built behind that front wall a whole new home right down to the foundation,” Adrian says.
The interior demolition, however, was not incurred without a substantial amount of apprehension, according to Adrian.
“It had to be a controlled demo of certain sections,” Adrian explains. “It was dangerous because parts of [the interior] were collapsing.” Meanwhile they needed to maintain the integrity of the front wall and, if possible, salvage some of the elements within the home that were in better condition. The wall required specific and tedious bracing, if it were to withstand the rest of the demo process and be safe enough for his crew to do their job around it.
Fortunately, the meticulous attention to detail paid off—and they were also able to reclaim some precious assets from the home’s interior.
“I did notice during the demo all these old floor joists that hadn’t been affected by water and these are old—not like any size you’d see today, three-inch by eight-inch pine joists,” Adrian says. “I had my workshop cut them down to three-quarter by eight-inch joists. The original structure was [built] and it’s pine and if the pine tree has been cut down, then it could be another 50 to 75 years old.”
Face & Other Values
Adrian explains that they were fortunate to be able to use neighboring historic homes that were already well preserved as benchmarks when it came to the façade. Exceptional care, outstanding materials, and attention to detail were employed to recreate the windows and sills of the home. The Washingtons were impressed with the use of a proprietary 3D architectural design system that enabled them to see an exacting 3D architectural model of what their home would look like upon completion.
Once the primary exterior issues were addressed the team could concentrate on carrying out their plan to take this historic home into the 21st century from an interior standpoint. This was accomplished in various ways with intelligent and progressive design. The improvements start right at the front door. An unremarkable front stoop was transformed to a stately entrance more befitting an historical Annapolitan home by customizing a columned portico to frame the front door. Another wonderful design element uncovered during the demolition, a lovely transom above the front door, was refurbished as well, helping to complete that all important first impression.
Once inside, your eyes will be immediately drawn to the main level statement maker, the floating infinity stairs. Constructed of cumaru, a dense, dark Brazilian wood, and accented with integrated in-stair LED lighting, this focal point is art in itself.
The cumaru extends throughout the first floor and strikes the perfect balance against space-enhancing white walls and a gleaming all-white and thoroughly modern contemporary kitchen. It is in this room we see where that salvaged pine floor joist was recrafted into a rustic pantry door. Storage-rich wood cabinets with a white, high-gloss acrylic finish and minimal hardware soar toward the ceiling, up-lit at the top to create interest and further illuminate the space.
The kitchen counter of white quartz wraps to a waterfall effect peninsula that serves as a breakfast bar. Here, as in so many other locations throughout the home design, you find light flooding upward underneath the countertop to reveal three ultra-modern kitchen stools for informal early day meals.
The space flows cleanly into the main living area with another one of the home’s original features—a recovered red brick wall adjacent to a luxurious linear gas fireplace above which hangs the main level’s flat screen TV. The room is accentuated with treasures from the couple’s travels to Africa, the Caribbean, China, and Japan, as well as numerous decorative finds from local Annapolis artisans, in which they take great pride. Innovation makes its mark in the home too, such as their novel coffee table that converts into a dining table when the couple is entertaining family and friends—maximizing the space whenever the need arises.
“I calculated at one time that we could actually have 16 people seated in the living room, kitchen, and dining area, and for a small house that’s pretty incredible,” Linda says.
From the kitchen, there is also access to the basement. Previously, Adrian says, this space was best used for storage only due to its low, six-foot ceiling height. However, because the house required a complete rebuild, he was able to increase the floor height by two feet. This created a situation where just two feet can become so much more.
“The basement is set up as a guest suite with en suite bathroom access,” Adrian adds. “There is also access from the hallway into that bath so it serves as a powder room, as well.”
On the second floor, a grander entrance to the master bedroom was designed that Linda just loves by creating a three-sided paneled and recessed entry way. In so doing, they were able to carve out an office niche on the other side of the wall where Linda can do her consulting work.
There is a unique three-shelved wall pass-through in this area to the master bedroom, which again provides another way for natural light to do its thing, while creating an area of visual interest in the master. Below the pass-through in the master is an incredibly well-executed electric fireplace framed with a lighting element that allows the couple to change the color of the accent light whenever they are so inclined.
When reclining, the couple has plenty of room for their queen size bed that features a nostalgia-inducing headboard made from reclaimed wood from the original home. Other noteworthy details on this floor include a spa-like master bathroom with soaking tub and chandelier, a dual vanity, and heated towel rack. Another surprising aspect—this may be one of the few historic properties in the downtown area that offers a walk-in master bedroom closet. Linda remarks, “Sorry, not sorry” to the envious.
“It’s really a house that brought all of our likes together. We entrusted Will with that vision and he brought it to fruition,” Linda says. This distinction was not only noted by the homeowners; it was further confirmed in January 2017 when the Washington home was officially awarded with its plaque of historic significance by the Annapolis Historic Preservation Commission. The Washingtons affirm they couldn’t be prouder.
“This house is our true gem.”
