By Lisa A. Lewis
At the end of a private drive, nestled on a 20-acre wooded lot on the cape of Swan Point on the Severn River, stands a peaceful, resort-like waterfront retreat. The stunning California villa-style home is absolutely awe-inspiring—an elaborate work of art appointed with every conceivable luxury. Located in the highly coveted community of Swann Point in Severna Park, the exquisite gated property, which was built in 1995, boasts four levels of living space (with an elevator) and 11,927 square feet in the main house.
“This waterfront home is such a eathtaking, unique property,” says Creig Northrop of the Creig Northrop Team of Long & Foster Real Estate, the listing agent for the property. “With 20 secure acres, it’s like a private island surrounded by beautiful water views. And the quiet, secluded atmosphere only adds to its appeal.”
A sight to behold, the home’s superior craftsmanship and meticulous attention to architectural detail instill a sense of admiration in everyone who gazes upon it. The home features beautiful stucco siding, stately pillars, custom windows, and multiple balconies, patios, and porches. But the exterior design only hints at the grandeur that awaits inside this architectural masterpiece. Indeed, the home’s numerous interior spaces, including eight bedrooms, six full baths, and one half bath, can be described as palatial, and an atmosphere of absolute elegance is apparent in even the most minute detail.
Luxurious Interior and Exterior Spaces
Upon entering the home, guests are greeted by a stunning three-story grand foyer that features a painted Trompe-l’oeil ceiling, accentuated by a tiered crystal chandelier and cove lighting, and a sweeping, curved staircase with a custom iron railing. Trompe-l’oeil is also utilized in the formal dining room, and realistic imagery painted on the walls creates the illusion of large three-dimensional masonry walls and carved stone pediments above the door. Beyond the curved staircase and open foyer is an extended receiving foyer that becomes a great hall with decorative square and concave oval niches on each side.
“I wanted to stage the grand foyer, great hall, and waterfront great room so that they would interact harmoniously,” says Kim McCarl, director of luxury home marketing for the Creig Northrop Team of Long & Foster Real Estate. “With custom picture windows on three sides, guests can see the water from the moment they enter the front door. The two-story great room is wrapped in atrium doors, and clerestory windows above bathe the great hall with light.”
The grand foyer, great hall, and waterfront great room are truly captivating. But all the living spaces are beautifully designed, and McCarl’s keen eye for detail is impressive. Her inspiration for staging the home was to create an elegant, yet relaxed, atmosphere in each room. To achieve this, she juxtaposed formal architectural elements with informal furnishings. This approach gave the house a warm, cozy feel—indicative of a home that is meant to be lived in and enjoyed to the fullest.
On the main level, the kitchen, which is designed to maximize water views, features tall windows, low built-ins, a low circular granite eakfast bar, industrial stools, an industrial cage chandelier, java wood flooring, white cabinetry, a fireplace that is painted white, and a beamed ceiling. The informal living room includes a media built-in, a fireplace, a wet bar, and blackout draperies. Additional spaces include two master suites, a boat-shaped li ary, and a waterside mezzanine on the third level and four guest suites with attached baths, a gallery hall, and an amazing observation deck on the fourth level. The lower walkout level features a recreation room, a wine cellar, a sauna, and an au-pair suite with a kitchenette.
A waterfront paradise, the home’s picturesque grounds include a private pier with multiple boat slips and three lifts, a boardwalk that leads to the waterside and can accommodate a golf cart, a boathouse, a wisteria-covered pergola, an expansive wrap-around patio, a heated in-ground pool, a built-in spa Jacuzzi, an exercise facility, and a guest house. Indeed, this luxurious estate is an absolute gem—the perfect setting for entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying the delights of living and playing on the water.
Listed on January 26, 2017, for $4,200,000, the property went under contract on Fe uary 28 and closed on May 11 at $3,900,000. This is especially noteworthy for a home in this price point. However, Northrop attributes the quick sale to McCarl.
“I love inging my team’s talents together,” says Northrop. “In this case, Kim literally transformed this home with her expert staging talents. It was already an amazing property, but the staging transformed it into a masterpiece, which was reflected in the photography and filtered down to help market the home.”
Property information and photos courtesy of The Creig Northrop Team of Long & Foster Real Estate.
