AHM May/June 2024

ANNAPOLIS HOME

ISLAND LIVING IN THE ABACOS LIVING SHORELINES

EL GRECO IN TOLEDO, SPAIN

For the last 21 years, David and Dawn Orso have served the real estate needs of over 1500 families in the Annapolis area. David is peerless as the top-selling agent in Anne Arundel County in total sales since 2013. An obsession with the client’s needs have led to curated systems for maximum results with minimal stress. David’s educational foundation in Psychology, an MBA in Strategic Marketing and negotiation training from Harvard University is tailor-made to give his clients a competitive advantage.

A reputation built on superior real estate RESULTS; David has 284 unsolicited FIVE STAR reviews from happy clients.

Consider a confidential conversation with David when you are ready to take the next step in your real estate journey. His professional and approachable style will showcase the substantial value he can add to your real estate journey.

HIGH PE R FO RM A NC E. IN PROGRESS.. .

CUSTOM HIGH PERFORMANCE WATERFRONT HOME ON KENT ISLAND

Kimmel Studio Architects

We Explore Endless Possibilities

LePage windows and doors o ers homeowners and architects the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of options and models. With virtually unlimited design possibilities, let us help showcase your personal style and bring your dream home to life. TW Perry’s window specialists and consulting sta have factory-trained expertise, years of industry knowledge and experience to be a valued resource in the product selection process. Contact a TW Perry Consultant today to start building your custom home with us: kclark@twperry.com

Annapolis, MD | Gaithersburg, MD

Silver Spring, MD | Baltimore, MD | Hyattsville, MD Springfield, VA | Leesburg, VA

kclark@twperry.com | 240-687-4782

STAGED • MARKETED • SOLD

COMPLIMENTARY PROFESSIONAL STAGING FOR EVERY LISTING

1679 BRICKHOUSE BAR COURT

ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401

MULTIPLE OFFERS

UNDER CONTRACT IN 3 DAYS

SOLD FOR $821,000

$72,000 OVER LIST PRICE

The SBG team collaborated closely with the seller to orchestrate enhancements and executed a comprehensive complimentary Staging and Design installation for this vacant home.

273 MICHENER COURT W

SEVERNA PARK, MD 21146

MULTIPLE OFFERS

UNDER CONTRACT IN 3 DAYS

SOLD FOR $805,000

$30,000 OVER LIST PRICE

The sellers utilized the complimentary Staging and Design service package. This home underwent a complete staging installation, the transformation resulted in multiple offers and minimal days on the market.

308 SADDLE RIDGE ROAD

ANNAPOLIS, MD 21403

MULTIPLE OFFERS

UNDER CONTRACT IN 4 DAYS

SOLD FOR $739,000

$24,000 OVER LIST PRICE

The SBG team curated a marketing plan that allowed this already stunning home to shine. It photographed beautifully and was met with great interest as soon as it hit the market.

The Snyder | Bradshaw Group is led by two real estate veterans, Carol Snyder and Tina Bradshaw, who partnered to create an unmatched real estate experience. By aligning their Sotheby’s brand with their local expertise and in-house Staging and Design department, The Snyder | Bradshaw Group is able to present properties as no one else can and attract the most qualified buyers. Carol and Tina artfully unite extraordinary properties with client’s aspirations across all price points.

The High-Heeled Gardener Living Shorelines

El Greco in Toledo, Spain

by Brett Davis

Tides of Color in the Abacos

An Annapolis designer brings all the colors of the sea into this island home.

Photography

Publishers

Kymberly B. Taylor

Robert E. Haywood

Editor

Kymberly B. Taylor

Creative Director

Ryan Gladhill

Senior Designer

Samantha Gladhill

Director of Advertising & Business Development

Elizabeth Davis

Account Executive, Advertising & Client Services

Marjorie Boyd

Photographers

David Burroughs

Brett Davis

Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Writers

Christine Fillat

Dylan Roche

Grace Schneider

Copy Editor

Patricia Stainke

Bookkeeper

Amber Trainer

PUBLISHERS’ LETTER

With Spring come fresh breezes and tulips—but also tons of yard work and the impulse to paint your boat’s bottom or expand last year’s garden. We applaud random bursts of enthusiasm! However, sometimes, it is necessary to simply sit down, break from your routine, and exhale—while holding a fresh Annapolis Home Magazine in your hands.

That is exactly why we have created this issue for you. Put your feet up and rest assured that we have a spicy array of homes for you to explore, from elegant to daring when it comes to color. These include a palatial island home in the celebrity resort community of Baker’s Bay in the Abaco Islands, home to Tom Brady, Bill Gates, and many A-list celebrities seeking privacy and the serenity of the sea. Closer to home, we have an article about a mini-renovation in Murray Hill that includes rooms flooded with Monet-like florals. In another story, we feature an architectural remodel in Turkey Point, a special locale south of Annapolis that we love for its eclectic character and serene waterfronts. Travel with us to Spain to see some great art, where a masterpiece by 16th-century painter El Greco graces the Church of Santo Tome in Toledo. Nestled on the northern bank in a bend of the Tagus River in central Iberia, Toledo was once the capital of the Visigoth kingdom. We also have an intriguing article by guest author Grace Schneider from McHale Landscape, in which she shares how a living shoreline is like a fingerprint; each project is one of a kind and requires a different restorative technique.

Kymberly Taylor & Robert Haywood

Publishers

kymberly@annapolishomemag.com | robert@annapolishomemag.com

Annapolis Home is published bimonthly by Taylor Haywood Media, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without express written consent of the publishers. Publishers disclaim any and all responsibility for omissions and errors. Publishers disclaim any and all responsibility for an advertiser’s products, services, or claims. The views expressed in this magazine are solely those of the writer.

All rights reserved.

© 2024 by Taylor Haywood Media, LLC.

For subscriptions and advertising visit: annapolishomemag.com

For operations, contact Robert Haywood at robert@annapolishomemag.com or call 443.942.3927.

For mailing, contact ahm@annapolishomemag.com

ROBERT’S PICKS

The visual arts can be an enormous source of mental challenge and stimulation and can open your mind to how an artistic, intellectual person sees the world differently. The visual arts make our lives richer and, I think, make us even more interesting people with whom to converse. With this in mind, we offer a list of some of the museums and galleries in our area that offer changing exhibitions. This list includes local commercial galleries where you can purchase artworks and museums where art is shown for the viewer’s enlightenment and enjoyment.

Annapolis

Jo Fleming Contemporary Art

“Contemporary Still Life,” running May 15 to June 30, brings together the work of four regional artists—John Petr, Jodi Ferrier, Edmond Praybe, and Cindy Winnick—each with their own interpretation of the style. Info: www.joflemingcontemporaryart.com

The Mitchell Art Museum at St. John’s College Art and literature come together in “Some Light Reading,” which features artwork about light alongside text by four female writers. The exhibit opens May 4 and runs through July 7. Info: www.sjc.edu/mitchell/exhibitions

The Earl Gallery at Maryland Hall

A new exhibit, “Connection,” opens in the Earl Gallery on June 4 (reception at 5:30 pm). This exhibit showcases work from the artists of Open Eye Gallery at Arundel Lodge who are living with mental health and substance use disorders. Info: www.marylandhall.org/exhibitions

Maryland Federation of Art Experiences passed down through community and family are the subject of an upcoming exhibition, “Voices of our Ancestors,” a collaboration between Maryland Federation of Art and the Black Art Today Foundation. The exhibit runs June 26 to July 25.

Info: www.mdfedart.com

Eastern Shore

The Academy Art Museum

See how light affects the subjects of abstract-turned-realist painter Philip Koch, who is best known for his colorful, panoramic landscapes. His current exhibition, “Light: Paintings by Philip Koch,” runs now through July 14. Info: www.academyartmuseum.org

Metro D.C.

Hirshhorn Museum

See the largest U.S. exhibition of work by Brazilian twin brothers Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo, best known as “Osgemeos,” or “the twins” in Portuguese. Their exhibition “Osgemeos: Endless Story” opens May 18 and runs through July 2025.

Info: www.hirshhorn.si.edu/exhibitions

Hemphill

Hemphill is a leading commercial art gallery in the metro D.C. region. The exhibitions change almost monthly, so check their website regularly or follow them on social media to learn about exhibitions currently on display and others that are forthcoming. www.hemphillfinearts.com

The Phillips Collection

See the 55 drawings that Bernardí Roig completed while confined to his home in Mallorca, Spain, during the pandemic—all inspired by the lost, severed head of Spanish artist Francisco José de Goya. This special installment runs through July 7. Info: www.phillipscollection.org

Photo of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.

With its pitched roof, shake cladding, windows, and spacious verandas, the home is designed for open-air living.

Tides of Color

ANNAPOLIS DESIGNERS IN BAKER’S BAY IN THE ABACOS

BY KYMBERLY TAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRETT DAVIS

This home, with guest house, private pool, owners’ wing, and lush grounds, is part of Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club, a private resort community on Great Guana Cay, situated between the Sea of Abaco and the Atlantic Ocean.

Located

in Baker’s Bay, a private hideaway in the Abaco Islands, this Bahamian-style home faces the best of both worlds: an 18-hole golf course on one side and a sparkling sea on the other. Despite being 18,000 square feet, this residence has a welcoming ambiance and reflects the lifestyle of its owners, according to interior designers Arlene Critzos and Andrea Blamphin of Interior Concepts, Inc.

When it comes to the Bahamas, there is an ease in the air. Rules relax and seem to dissolve as night falls. The very voices of the Bahamians have a musical lilt. Critzos and Blamphin have managed to channel the island’s rhythms and free spirit into an interior awash in soft tides of color that mirror the many hues of the sea.

A custom circular sectional ensures seating for 12.

This glass table is tinted the color of the sea. Opposite: Its unusual pedestal is a hand-carved coral reef.

Unlike many beach homes, no starfish or wall-mounted marlin is in sight. Yet, ocean and isle are ever-present “with a more sophisticated flair” in the array of colors, organic forms, and materials, says Critzos. With its subtle visual harmonies, you could say this home exudes “coastal elegance.” But what makes it especially unique are furnishings from all over the world, including Indonesia and Madagascar.

After working with these clients on previous homes, the design team understood their style. With this in mind, they chose creamy white walls for the living room and a sand-hued local coral stone fireplace surround. Billowing sheer window treatments beckon Caribbean breezes.

Accentuating this room’s cool palette is a mindful geometry. Well-placed furniture groupings invite intimacy but can comfortably seat twelve. “This circular plan of upholstery lets them come in and out every which way all at once,” explains Critzos. The couches have durable slipcovers that can

The third floor “hang out room” is devoted to entertaining kids and guests.

The kitchen backsplash recalls the movement of water; the light fixtures hover above the island like a school of fish.

A low-hanging chair is brightened by cushions the colors of tropical fish.

be washed. Throughout the space, cultural artifacts and lively art create intriguing vignettes or “moments” that invite reflection. A driftwood lighting fixture behind a rattan chair adds spectacular drama in the evening light.

Centering the great room is a one-of-a-kind glass table tinted the color of the sea. Its pedestal is composed of spectacular hand-carved fish nibbling at a coral reef, a rare discovery sourced on one of the designers’ many buying trips.

One glides through the living room onto a generous veranda that opens to the ocean. Furnishings invite one to lounge, converse, or simply dream. They include a hanging chair, casual plush couches, and a low-key dining area with tables that can be extended, seating up to 30. An authentic Tiki bar from Madagascar was assembled on site by a crew flown in for the occasion. Polynesian bongo bar stools add a quintessential island vibe. Steps away, a generous pool runs the entire length of the house. In this lush oasis, a swim pad awaits, lined with pillows as colorful as tropical fish. Complete with a hot tub and over a dozen lounge chairs that beckon, one can relax all day without the need to step inside.

If you do, there is plenty of room to roam. The kitchen is spacious and well equipped; a shimmering turquoise tile backsplash mirrors the movement of small waves ruffled by the wind. Oval light fixtures hung at different heights hover playfully like a school of butterflyfish over the neutral-toned kitchen island and custom stools.

Dominating the third floor is “a guest kids bunk room, a contained area for family outfitted like the perfect hangout,” note the designers. The bedroom spaces adjoin a central “morning room” distinguished by a striking steel light fixture. Equipped with TV, game table, refrigerator, and coffee maker, it is an ideal place to have breakfast without having to go downstairs.

The home has nine bedrooms, each with its own color palette. Several have no color at all, just calming whites and neutrals. One bedroom is brightened by three vintage swim caps, positioned proudly over a coconut shell custom headboard.

The primary bath has a door that leads to a private deck, outdoor shower, and a path to the sea.

A guest room has three vintage framed bathing caps above the bed. The headboard is made of coconuts.

Lively art becomes a focal point in a muted color palette.

A dramatic driftwood light fixture adds texture to the space.

Furniture groupings define dining and lounging spaces.

The primary suite is in the owners’ wing. Separate from the rest of the house, it has soft washed coral and lavender hues. A sculptural free-standing bed was created by another one of the designers’ talented sources. The master bath, composed of soothing whites, is brightened by a masterful tile mosaic that glistens, revealing every color in the sea. A door leads right out to a deck, past an outdoor shower, and then to the beach.

As one meanders through peaceful rooms opening onto the sea, a joy seems to follow. The home is a voyage all its own.

INTERIOR DESIGN: Arlene Critzos and Andrea Blamphin, Interior Concepts, Inc., Annapolis, Maryland. ARCHITECT: Raul Lastra, VC VitaliniCorazzini Architects

For more photos, visit annapolishomemag.com.

A bright pink bar cart and a painting by Charleston-based painter Teil Duncan add color to the dining room.

BOLD BALANCE

A Mini-Restoration In Murray Hill

BY DYLAN ROCHE PHOTOGRAPHY BY STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG

Whimsical. Colorful. Fun. These are just a few ways to describe the project Katie Carlin recently undertook in Murray Hill. But on top of everything, the project also had to be durable and approachable. A family with small children, her clients had to find a way to balance the home’s vivid aesthetic with the practicality that family life demands: something Carlin knows is possible with the right approach. “Everybody lives differently, and some families are harder on things than others,” she explains, emphasizing that this doesn’t mean sacrificing style. “You have to be intentional.”

In this case, style meant “something that was happy,” Carlin says. The clients gravitated toward lots of color, with echoes of “Charleston preppy,” bright pinks, and greens that define a certain “yachting style” in many coastal towns, including Annapolis. Thanks to the home’s original mid-20th-century architecture, though, even the most contemporary design choices still feel rooted in tradition, but not too much. It’s more transitional than traditional. “It almost has a whimsical take to it with the patterns,” Carlin says. “It’s transitional with color.”

The front door opens into a predominantly white foyer with rich hardwood floors and accents of bold color. From there, however, the color starts to dominate in each room. “Moving in from the front door, we want it to feel light and bright, and then as you’re walking through the house, you’ll see these bits and pieces of the color, and it kind of draws you in,” Carlin says.

As the house has sectioned rooms rather than a wide-open contemporary floor plan, it was easy to give each room its own personality. However, Carlin also had to consider sightlines. Because you can glimpse one space while in another, there must be consistency in the design, a kind of harmonious drama that Carlin has achieved.

One major advantage she had was an abundance of natural light, which made it easier to work with all the bright colors and patterns. “Some homes, they can feel a bit darker,” she says. “But because this had great windows, it influenced what kind of color tones we could pick. I think the color kind of comes to life a bit more when it’s getting a nice spread of natural light.”

seat covers on the chairs are as attractive as they are practical.

Durable

Floral wallpaper and geometric flooring work well together because of the different scale in patterns.

In the eat-in kitchen, a vivacious floral Schumacher wallpaper in the breakfast nook influenced other pops of color, such as the bold blue chairs and yellow throw pillows on the built-in bench. Even with such a busy pattern, the wallpaper still works well with the kitchen’s flooring, thanks to the contrast between the scales of the patterns. Carlin notes there’s a secret to avoiding a clash while pairing two patterns. In this case, combining one large floral pattern with a smaller geometric pattern adds sophistication and depth. Even two florals can work together, she says, as long as the scale of one pattern differs from the other.

Another room where the wallpaper led the design is the powder room on the main floor. Carlin carried its bright color into the painted ceiling and trim work but balanced it out by keeping the sink and mirror frame white, which gives the room “a breath.” Round “penny” tiles on the floor add more color and interest.

Bright blue dominates the children’s toy room, with the walls and trim painted the same color: a shade Carlin chose because it’s not navy, which can sometimes feel too predictable in Annapolitan homes. The monochromatism of all the blue is broken up by the Roman shades on the window and a statement light fixture. Touches of green tie the toy room in with the dining room, where lively floral wallpaper serves as the dominant statement. Blue seat covers add a pop of a different color while serving a practical purpose as well—they are durable, perfect for children.

When choosing materials, Carlin is particular. She considered the double rub of most fabrics, referring to the number of times a fabric can be rubbed back and forth before it starts pilling. This is frequently used as a way of measuring how resistant the fabric is to abrasion. A high double rub count means that these textiles can hold up to the wear and tear of frequent use.

Painting the china cabinet and the house’s original trim work the same shade of green gives the room cohesion.

The white sink and mirror frame balance out the bright wallpaper in the powder room.

Another durable textile in the dining room is the jute sisal rug that covers nearly the entire floor. This rug adds texture and balances out the bold color, but the jute sisal material will hold up well to foot traffic.

The home’s original elements in the room—wood wall paneling, a radiator, and a built-in shelf—received a coat of paint to re-enliven them. Carlin says she likes reimagining a home’s touches this way instead of removing them. “It depends on what it is, but I would say I generally like to work around it because I think there are just so many details that we don’t always have in new builds,” she says. “I like to keep them and see if there’s a way we can freshen it up, so to speak.”

Another example is the fireplace in the toy room, which was painted the same blue as the walls and trim. “I want to keep those details in as much as possible. I think by painting it that fun color, it just comes back to life.”

With its bright colors and eye-catching patterns, this house is certainly full of life. Each bold choice balances nicely with all the others, creating a cohesive aesthetic with surprises around every corner.

The walls, trim, and door of the toy room are all the same shade of blue.

INTERIOR DESIGN: Katie Carlin Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland, katiecarlininteriors.com

For additional resources and photos, visit annapolishomemag.com.

ARCHITECTURAL MAKEOVER IN TURKEY POINT

BY DYLAN ROCHE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID BURROUGHS

Because the property is designated as in a critical area, the redesign stays close to the house’s original footprint.

Tall windows in the sunroom look out onto the waterfront view.

The primary living space feels open and flows from one room to the next.

from the rest of the Mayo Peninsula by a small bridge over tidal waters, Turkey Point Island exudes the tranquility of a bygone era. The residential community of fewer than 200 homes co-exists with abundant natural wildlife, including foxes, herons, and ducks. A gentle breeze carries the scent of brackish water, and the sound of gently lapping waves can be heard from most places on the island.

As with many other waterfront communities in the area, it’s a place where small summer cottages have given way to homes that meet the demands of modern living. This was the case with the project that Melanie Hartwig-Davis, principal, and John Richards, senior project designer of HD Squared Architects recently undertook for the Kress family. “It was all about expanding because they have a blended family with so many kids,” says Hartwig-Davis. “So, it was about expanding to give them more living space, but making so much more function available to them.”

Of course, this expansion presented a few challenges. For starters, because the property sits in a critical area zone, the footprint itself could be expanded by only a small amount. The other challenge was that the original house, which was built in 1949, had been expanded and added onto throughout the years to the point where it appeared to have undergone “Frankenstein remodels,” as owner Heather Kress puts it. Too many additions made the house feel as if it didn’t have consistency or flow. “It was compartmentalized spaces with no connectivity, and we wanted to open that up for the family, friends, and kids,” reflects Hartwig-Davis.

space.

The original house did not have a defined entry, so the reconfiguration created a new formal entry from the street side of the house. Hartwig-Davis also conceived a secondary entry with a functional pantry, mudroom, and storage area where the clutter of everyday life can be hidden when guests come over. Downstairs bedrooms were relocated to the second floor; the space they previously occupied became a sitting area just inside the front door.

As one steps inside, it’s possible to see through to the main living area, where tall windows look out onto the water from the backyard. By removing a central fireplace that compartmentalized the original house, Hartwig-Davis and Richards transformed the primary living space into something open and airy, where people can gather on the sofa and easily talk to someone working in the kitchen. Handsome wood coffer beams across the ceiling create designated areas, whether it’s the living room, kitchen, or dining area. The fireplace stonework adds character.

Just off the main living space sits an airy sunroom with tall windows that overlook the pool deck and Ramsey Lake beyond. “It was definitely all about maximizing the views,” Richards says. “And then also kind of a blending of the inside and outside space. So, wherever you are in this end of the house, you really do have a connection to outside... the connection to the outdoors and the waterfront was key.”

Some aspects of the renovation evolved throughout the process. Originally, the owners were not inclined to worry about the rooftop deck because they thought they wouldn’t use it. However, when they realized a simple covering would make it much more comfortable, they agreed to it. Now, the home has one more space that blends inside with outside.

Wood coffer beams create designated areas in the primary living

The blue island brings a pop of color to the kitchen.

Part of the project included rethinking the primary suite to give it more privacy, so anyone in the sunroom would not be able to see up into the suite.

The basement was yet another area that was not part of the project. At least initially. But as part of an “evolution,” Richards says they decided to turn it into more living space and a home gym. A glass door at the top of the stairs creates a sense of seamlessness. “The addition of the glass door at the top, that was very closed off, but now you’re actually a part of the house when you’re down here,” he says of the basement. “It’s a much more connected feeling and less of a dingy basement.”

Even though the footprint of the house is similar to the one it had before, every space now feels much more useable. As Kress says, her favorite spot is at the kitchen table, where she’s able to enjoy the view of the lake. “This is my favorite part of the house,” she says. “You’re inside, but you really do have a connection to the outside.” Feeling connected and in tune with the beautiful environment of Turkey Point just outside their walls makes all the difference for the owners. And that is what architecture can do: begin with a “Frankenstein-like” jumble and find a way through. Hartwig-Davis and her team used the bones of the old space to fashion a home with beauty, clarity, and a new identity.

ARCHITECT: HD Squared Architects, John Richards, Senior Designer; Melanie Hartwig-Davis, Architect, Annapolis, Maryland. CUSTOM BUILDER: Greg Younger, Younger Construction, Davidsonville, Maryland. KITCHEN DESIGN: HD Squared Architects and Tina Colebrook Kitchens LANDSCAPE DESIGN/INSTALLATION: Homestead Gardens. POOL: Arcadia Pools.

STONE AND TILE: In Home Stone and Compass Stone & Tile, Annapolis, Maryland.

WINDOWS AND DOORS: Weather Shield, Architectural Window Supply, Annapolis, Maryland.

For more photos visit annapolishomemag.com.

Green modern living. Where nature meets design.

The High-Heeled GardenerLiving Shorelines

BY GRACE SCHNEIDER

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY M c HALE LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Guest author and landscape architect Grace Schneider of McHale Landscape Design takes us behind the scenes of a recent project.

Living shorelines are more resilient to the forces of wind, waves, rain, and overland stormwater than hard bulkheads.

Addressing shoreline erosion is especially urgent for Maryland and other Mid-Atlantic states where the land surface is sinking because of geological processes, even as seas are rising because of climate change.

There is a peacefulness experienced while listening to gentle waves lapping against the shoreline with salt marsh grasses swaying in motion, birds dipping in and out, fish swimming, and crabs scurrying. Today, we use many techniques to re-create these ecosystems in a “living shoreline,” thus helping to prevent severe erosion of your waterfront property and encouraging natural habitats. These include planting native grasses such as Spartina and installing structural or organic materials such as sand fill, stone, or coir fiber logs.

Erosion and loss of land can be caused by many sources, including powerboat wakes, natural wave motion, overland drainage, or a combination of all. Have you noticed erosion along your shoreline or community beach? If so, installing a living shoreline may be the solution. In fact, in many cases, living shorelines are more resilient to the forces of wind, waves, rain, and overland stormwater than hard bulkheads.

Maryland has been protecting our shorelines for over 30 years, yet the term “living shoreline” first surfaced in the 1970s and 1980s. Environmentalists realized that the traditional hard shorelines composed of bulkheads, wood retaining walls, and stone revetments redirect energy rather than reduce it, increasing erosion. If left unchecked, a cosmic web of shore life may begin to unravel as depleted soil levels coupled with the disappearance of downed trees and small beaches reduce habitat. Rising water levels drown sea grasses that stabilize and build up the seabed. These grasses filter pollutants and nurture juvenile blue crabs, horseshoe crabs, turtles, finfish, and other seminal intertidal species. Realizing this, the

State of Maryland enacted legislation called the Living Shoreline Protection Act in 2008. In 2013, the state passed legislation called New Tidal Wetland Regulations for Living Shorelines, formalizing the 2008 law. Today, shoreline repair must consist of “marsh creation” or similar stabilization measures unless a waiver is obtained.

Living shorelines are not suited for a steep hillside; rather, they best serve sheltered areas such as creeks with low energy waves and low banks. However, some waterfront properties need additional protection. If situated on open water, some may need stone armor to protect from powerful, high wave energy. In this case, homeowners may get a waiver allowing them to use alternate protection if the area is subject to excess erosion from very steep banks, high tides, extensive wave energy, or if the surrounding waterway is too narrow.

A word of caution: every shoreline is different. There is no such thing as “one size fits all.” Each project calls for its own techniques, structural solutions, and number of plantings. Sometimes, a hybrid approach is used. A living shoreline can work in conjunction with stone sills or stone revetments that break the power of the waves, reducing their energy before they hit the shoreline and protecting tender grasses as they grow.

This was the case with a client on the Patuxent River in Calvert County, whose steep shoreline failed after a storm. In the Fall of 2022, high winds blowing in from the south for two days weakened the slope around the pier, causing it to fall into the river.

To repair the shoreline and pier, the homeowner engaged McHale Landscape and an engineering firm, who submitted plans to the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) in 2021. The firm proposed creating a hard shoreline by armoring the shoreline with a stone revetment. However, MDE required the installation of a living shoreline with stone sills to protect the live grasses and underwater life. This essentially doubled the cost since two projects were being installed in one application. In 2023, plans were approved, and installation began.

This slope was exceptionally steep. To ensure success, McHale’s crew planted approximately 5,000 square feet in the critical area buffer zone, located 100 feet from the water’s edge. At the beach level, we focused on native marsh plantings, installing approximately 3,000 one-quart Spartina alterniflora, which can live underwater. Our team worked at low tide and, wearing waders, planted approximately 5,000 one-quart Spartina patens. On the slope and in the area just above, we planted approximately 50 three-gallon shrubs, 600 one-gallon perennials, and about 800 one-quart grasses and ground cover.

Last but not least, we planted “forest mitigation plantings” or more trees since the existing forest coverage was less than 15% of the entire lot. We planted 18 2" Red Maples and 12 2" Pin Oaks. Every project, every job, and every shoreline is unique. In this case, although it was a long and arduous road requiring over 11,000 plantings, results are attractive, benefit the Bay, and, best of all, protect the homeowner’s shoreline.

Innovative systems work with nature to preserve not just your property but the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Experience tells us that living shorelines are not only more resilient to the forces of nature, they last much longer, too. Lesson learned: it is better to be proactive than reactive and take care of your shoreline before it is an emergency.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN: McHale Landscape Design, mchalelandscape.com, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

SUGGESTED READING:

“Living Shorelines” An Historical Perspective from Chesapeake Bay, Living Shoreline Summit 2013. dnr.maryland.gov/ccs/Documents/training/hardaway.pdf

Grace Schneider has been a landscape designer with McHale Landscape Design since 2011. She loves nature, landscape design, and integrating the challenges of stormwater management, which includes living shorelines.

Meagan Buckley and Reid Buckley Real Estate Advisors

High Design

Fast Company

MOTOR BOAT OF THE YEAR 2024

The Finnish-made Flipper 900 DC has won the prestigious 2024 Motorboat of the Year Award for a dayboat over 30 ft. This compact yet well-designed family weekender with two guest cabins is available for approximately $200,000. Classical and elegant, it is also fun to drive, according to a performance review in Yachting News. “At the helm of the Flipper 900 DC, you feel like a kid: she is fun, agile, and fast, and the turns are performed in a handful of meters with very pronounced roll angles. The result is an excellent evolutionary ability with safe maneuvers even on waves.” | www.flipperboats.fi

Flipper 900 DC is 9.02 meters with a draft of 0.70 meters and can reach speeds of up to 48.6 knots.

Nancy Hammond

FINE DESIGN

and drainage company.

Use the QR Code, Call, or Email to Book a Quote Today!

WORLD HERITAGE SITE

El GrecoTOLEDO, SPAIN

BY ROBERT HAYWOOD

Follow the artists. This is what we did on a recent trip to Spain when we found ourselves entering the Church of Santo Tome in Toledo. Built in the 12th century but entirely rebuilt in the 14th, the church is famous for housing artist El Greco’s The Burial of Count of Orgaz, a fifteen-foothigh mural painted over two years, from 1586-1588.

Every country has a select group of artists and architects who create works of such significance that, over time, they start to elucidate the character of the nation itself. Just by knowing and tracking down a country’s greatest artists and architects, you will end up seeing many of its primary cultural landmarks.

Born Doménikos Theotokópoulos, this Greek artist was called El Greco (“The Greek”) in Spain, where he spent most of his mature life, eventually making Toledo his home.

In 1586, El Greco was contracted by the Church of Santo Tome to create an oil painting to commemorate the miraculous burial of Spanish aristocrat Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo, the Count of Orgaz. (Orgaz was given the title of ‘Count’ after his death.) As a reward for the Count’s good deeds—including the generous sum he donated to the Church—St. Stephen and St. Augustine descended from heaven to lower the Count into his tomb.

When viewing a painting, two things must be addressed simultaneously—the subject or content of the painting and the manner and technique in which it is painted. When these two features reveal the highest level of skill and invention, including breaking from and even shattering previous norms of painting, such a rare work of art stands a chance of making a mark in history.

Toledo, Spain

This is surely the case of El Greco’s The Burial of Count of Orgaz. The burial scene represents the earthly realm, with the heavenly realm depicted in the upper half of the painting. The painting is replete with detailed historical religious figures and events, as well as contemporary figures of the era.

El Greco approaches the painting as a mode of storytelling with all the characters of the miracle and burial in place, notably, the two saints elaborately garbed in gold in the foreground. Most of the men—monks, clergy, and men of the city—face the viewer, with the church’s treasurer turning away from us toward the densely packed crowd. The artist includes himself in the painting, as well as his son, who, dressed in black, stands in the foreground and points and directs our eyes toward Orgaz in the center.

El Greco’s distinct painting style is most immediately recognizable by his moody brushwork and colors, as well as his expressive, elongated figures. Note the men’s long, pointy fingers.

Seeing El Greco’s impressive mural is a reason alone to visit Toledo. There is much more to discover about this city, with its cobblestone streets on the banks of the Tagus River. Known as the “City of Three Cultures” for its Christian, Muslim, and Jewish influences, UNESCO named Toledo a World Heritage Site in 1986 for its historical and topographical importance.

To learn more about El Greco, see El Greco: Ambition and Defiance (Art Institute of Chicago, 2020)

Robert Haywood has a Ph.D. in the history of art and architecture.

A side street in Toledo

LEADING PROFESSIONALS

ADVERTISING INDEX

ARCHITECTS

ABS Architects pg. 85

410.268.1213 | absarchitects.com

Becker Morgan Group pg. 51 beckermorgan.com

Hammond Wilson pg. 15 410.267.6041 | hammondwilson.com

Three B Architecture pg. 82 443.791.6193 | threebarchitecture.com

CUSTOM BUILDERS

Bayview Builders pgs. 8-9 410.280.0303 | bayviewbuildersmd.com

Blackketter Craftsmen, Inc. pg. 86 410.923.3111 | blackcraft.com

Fichtner Home Exteriors pg. 87 410.519.1900 | fichtnerexteriors.com

Gate One Builders pg. 21 410.268.0778 | gateonebuilders.com

Lundberg Builders, Inc. pg. 89 410.643.3334 | lundbergbuilders.com

Lynbrook of Annapolis pg.39 410.295.3313 | lynbrookofannapolis.com

Maxim Building Group pg. 86 443.871.4584 | maximbuildinggroup.com

Mueller Homes pgs. 42-43 muellerhomes.com

Procopio Homes pg. 64 410.551.8454 | procopiohomes.com

Pyramid Builders pgs. 2-3

410.571.7707 | pyramid-builders.com

Winchester Construction Inside Back Cover | 410.987.5905 winchesterinc.com

Younger Construction pg. 83 410.626.8602 | youngerconstruction.com

DESIGN PROFESSIONALS

C. Newman Interiors pg. 16 410.507.1308 | cnewmaninteriors.com

Farnady Interiors pg. 23 443.822.3248 | farnadyinteriors.com

Fitzsimmons Design Associates, Inc. pg. 41 410.269.1965 | fitzsimmonsdesign.com

Melissa McLay Interiors pg. 63 melissamclayinteriors.com

Sew Beautiful Interiors pg. 53 410.544.3300 | sewbeautifulwindows.com

Simply Wesley Interior Design pg. 84 | 443.994.6757 simplywesley.com

EXCLUSIVE KITCHEN OR BATH DESIGN

314 Design Studio pg. 18 410.643.4040 | 314designstudio.com

Kitchen Encounters pg. 14 410.263.4900 | kitchenencounters.biz

Severna Park Kitchen & Bath 410.777.9526 | spkitchenandbath.com

Stuart Kitchens Back Cover 410.761.5700 | stuartkitchens.com

BEAUTY

ProMD Health pg. 81 410.449.2060 | promdhealth.com

HOME SERVICES

84 Lumber Kitchen & Bath

Design Studio pgs. 4-5 410.757.4684 | 84designstudios.com

ADU, Your Appliance Source pg. 40 | 410.267.7110 | adu.com

Atlas Marble & Tile, Inc. pg. 87 410.315.8720 | atlastile.com

Architectural Window Supply pg. 74 | 410.266.5254 | archwin.com

Blinds to Go pg. 19 866.968.3818 |blindstogo.com

California Closets pg. 66 410.247.8088 | californiaclosets.com

Elite Hardwood Flooring pg. 22 | 410.280.1420 elitehardwoodflooring.com

In Home Stone Marble & Granite pg. 82 | 410.626.2025 | inhomestone.com

MAI Interiors pg. 84

410.490.0690 | maiconstruct.com

TW Perry pgs. 12-13

443.808.1481 | twperry.com

WalterWorks Hardware pg. 89 | 410.263.9711 walterworkshardware.com

OUTDOOR LIVING

Bay Pile Driving pg. 52

410.879.3121 or 888.886.1213 baypiledriving.com

Burge Sprinkler Company pg. 86 443.333.8782 | burgesprinkler.com

Clinton+Ries Landscape Architects pg. 67 301.699.5600 |clintonriesla.com

Coastal Pools 443.775.2880 | coastalpoolbuilders.net

Himmel’s Landscape & Garden Center pg. 55 410.255.7730 | himmelsgardencenter.com

McHale Landscape Design

Inside Front Cover + pg. 1 410.990.0894 | mchalelandscape.com

Scapes, Inc. pg. 17 410.867.6909 | scapesinc.net

Walnut Hill Landscape Company 410.349.3105 or 410.690.0977 walnuthilllandscape.com

Walpole Outdoors pg. 93 866.757.6979 | walpoleoutdoors.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Brennan Title Company pg. 76 410.224.1400 | brennantitle.com

Green & Bean Boutique pg. 86 greenbeanboutique.com

Jo Fleming Contemporary Art pg. 87 | 410.280.1847 | 703.989.9043 joflemingcontemporaryart.com

Nancy Hammond Editions pg. 85 410.295.6612 | nancyhammondeditions.com

Welcome Home pg. 86 welcomhomemarkets.com

REAL ESTATE

Brad Kappel of TTR|Sotheby’s International Realty pgs. 10-11 m. 410.279.9476 | o. 410.280.5600 bradkappel.com

David Orso of Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices pgs. 6-7 c. 443.691.0838 | o. 443.372.7171 davidorso.com

Georgie Berkinshaw & Jean Berkinshaw Dixon of Coldwell Banker Realty pgs. 68-69 | gb. 443.994.4456 | jbd. 443.995.279 o. 410.263.8686 | gberkinshaw.com

Joanna Dalton of Coldwell Banker Realty pg. 77 | c. 410.980.8443 | o. 410.263.8686 joanna.dalton@cbmove.com

Michele Deckman of The Tower Team, TTR|Sotheby’s International Realty pg. 65 c.410.353.3703 | o. 410.280.5600 micheledeckman.com

Reid Buckley’s Mr. Waterfront Team of Long & Foster Real Estate pg. 75 d.410.266.6880 | o. 410.260.2801 waterfronthomes.org

Snyder Bradshaw Group of Monument Sotheby’s International Realty pg. 20 | o. 443.906.3848 d. 410.216.0018 | snyderbradshaw.com

Washington Fine Properties pg. 83 202.944.5000 | wfp.com

SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY

Maddox Audio Visual Design pg. 54 |maddoxav.com

ULTIMATE HOME SERVICES

Quality Services for the Home pg. 88