The before and after photos of this Grasonville guest house project say it all. Before: a cluttered and whimsical interior design with odd splashes of color, an abundance of mismatched décor, and underwhelming use of space. But after Cathy Purple Cherry and her architecture team met with homeowner Paul Klaassen to review the dwelling, ideas began to flow about how best to transform, utilize, and outfit the smaller of three buildings on the property—to enhance hospitality, functionality, and aesthetics. The goal: Make an amazing guest house for an amazing guest experience.
“I bought the property 30 years ago for a weekend home, as we were living in Washington, D.C.,” Klaassen explains. “And it was a weekend home for about 25 years, before becoming my permanent residence.”
Klaassen met Purple Cherry several years prior to this renovation, while he was bidding architects for an addition project on a property in Annapolis. “I found every experience with her to be wonderful,” he says. That job parlayed into renovation and addition work to the main house on the Grasonville property, which in turn led to the guest house, featured on these pages.
“Our favorite feature of the property is how it was reimagined,” Klaassen says. “We completely changed the layout of the cottage. It had been built in the 1950s. And I had done a very simple, basic renovation of it [before this renovation]. Now, it’s our most popular place among guests to stay.”
Instrumental to the new layout of the cottage was its spatial relationship to the peninsula views of Greenwood Creek and Eastern Bay, looking toward the Chesapeake Bay. “An important element that Cathy recommended was the addition of two large windows, facing the bay view,” Klaassen explains. “Oddly, the best [possible] view of the water from that guesthouse didn’t have windows. Now it does.”
Purple Cherry and Klaassen agreed that the feel of the cottage should evoke a seaside cottage. “Paul desired a coastal spa-like interior, which was implemented in the design,” Purple Cherry says.
“We chose the color palette because we felt grays and soft blues would do that beautifully,” Klaassen says in agreement. “And I think she [Cathy] was right.”
Additionally, Klaassen wanted a small-scale kitchen that would function well for long-term visiting guests. “We have fights over who gets to stay in this cottage,” Klaassen says with a laugh.
As for the creature comforts within, the furniture was selected from a variety of resources, both retail and trade vendors. “Paul wanted classic and clean lines, so we went to our go-to for upholstery—Lee Industries for the sofa,” Purple Cherry explains. “The sofa sits atop a custom braided wool rug. The master bedroom cabinet and bed add texture and a modern element to the design. Our nautical twist is seen in the whitewashed rope side table, driftwood cocktail table, and pops of blue and white fabrics.
“The balance of masculine and feminine can be seen in the touches of iron in the console and the neutral floral wallpaper. Good design can be found anywhere and we found it with the leather and metal counter stools.
“Overall best part of the design is how it makes you feel in the space,” Purple Cherry says. “The neutral and cohesive palette with the varying textures and materials has a calming effect that instantly puts you at ease.”
Klaassen agrees. “We call it the ‘Happy Cottage.’ That’s the new name it got after the renovation was complete.”
