MARCH/APRIL 2026
coastal STYLE
LAPS OF LUXURY
ROOTED IN REHOBOTH
BUILT FOR MILESTONE MOMENTS
TidalHealth Community Pharmacy
locations
Delaware
Seaford 801 Middleford Road
Seaford, DE 19973
O 302-297-2420
Maryland
Berlin 9733 Healthway Drive Berlin, MD 21811
O 410-641-9240
Ocean Pines North 11101 Cathage Road Berlin, MD 21811
O 410-543-4769
Ocean Pines South 10614 Racetrack Road Suite 7 Berlin, MD 21811
O 410-629-6240
Salisbury 100 E. Carroll St. Salisbury, MD 21801
O 410-543-4798
New name, same great service
TidalHealth Home Scripts and AGHRx RediScripts are now TidalHealth Community Pharmacy. You’ll still see the same friendly faces and get the same trusted, personal care you count on, now together under one name.
Refills made easy. Expert help close to home.
Visit tidalhealth.org/easyrefills
THE INSPIRATION PROCESS™
A COORDINATED APPROACH TO NAVIGATING RETIREMENT
Retirement isn’t just about managing investments - it’s about coordinating the many financial decisions that shape your lifestyle, security, and legacy.
At Montgomery Financial, our Inspiration Process™ helps you align your investments, income, taxes, and legacy with what matters most to you - working together, not in isolation.
Investment Options
Aligning your portfolio with your goals, time horizon, and comfort with risk.
Income Planning
Designing reliable cash flow strategies to support your lifestyle in retirement.
Tax Planning
Planning proactively to help reduce tax exposure and preserve wealth.
Estate & Legacy Planning
Protecting your legacy and ensuring your wishes are carried out.
Scan to Watch the Inspiration Retirement Webinar
Learn how Investments, Income, Taxes, and Estate Planning work together in retirement.
We believe the most important feature of any outdoor project isn’t the stone or the greenery—it’s the trust you place in the hands of your contractor.
We remain a small, specialized team by design. By keeping our crews tight-knit and our standards high, we ensure that every project receives our full attention from the first shovel in the ground to the final walkthrough.
Front left to right: Jeanna Terzano, Stephanie DiGristine, Mary Rice, and Lisa Jackson. Back left to right: Rick Foster, Kara Hawkins, and Kevin Heselbach.
LUXURY
LUXURY
MARCH/APRIL 2026
62 BUILT FOR MILESTONE MOMENTS
A thoughtful collaboration led by Live Oak Home Builders shapes a beautiful waterfront home.
68 ROOTED IN REHOBOTH
A bayfront residence blends layered design, natural textures and inviting spaces to foster comfort and connections.
BAYWATCH
A picture-perfect evening along Rehoboth Bay is captured at the Strittmatter residence. Our two-part story detailing the construction of their home and pool begins on page 68 and continues on page 74.
74 LAPS OF LUXURY
A deep dive in design defines a cocktail-style pool built by Carter Aquatics for relaxation and enjoying property views.
Photo by Krista Valliant Architectural & Design Photography
The Pohanka Nissan of Salisbury team is racing past the local competition.
The Broker and License Partner for Engel & Völkers leads talented teams across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Painter Meg Walsh creates works that emerge from her time spent outdoors.
We share delicious carrot-themed recipes designed to celebrate the return of spring.
Julie Borden’s musical instruments are played by an impressive cast of characters.
The latest news and advice from TidalHealth, the Shore’s leading healthcare provider.
Molly Carson turns coastal life into intricate designs in her new adult coloring book.
Photographer Jill Jasuta recounts her artistic connection to her cherry tree and its bees.
Author Jim Loveless fulfills a lifelong pledge by publishing his father’s military stories.
Photo by Jill Jasuta
Photo by Dana Marie Photography
Photo by Jill Jasuta
Photo by Krista Valliant
COVERAGE coastal Featured Locations IN THIS ISSUE
EASTERN SHORE COMMUNITIES
AS THE SHORE AWAKENS FROM WINTER, WE EXPLORE.
The arrival of spring brings warmth and vibrancy to our coastal communities—a time of blossoming landscapes and renewed energy. In this issue, we traveled to six locations to bring you stories of local innovators and neighbors who are breathing creativity into our region. From home transformations to artistic endeavors, we hope this issue inspires your own spring renewal. Drop us a line at info@coastalstylemag.com or tag us on socials as you enjoy the warmer weather!
Activities for
Fast Forward
POHANKA NISSAN OF SALISBURY RACES PAST
THE COMPETITION AS THE REGION’S PREMIER
DESTINATION FOR NATIONALLY RANKED QUALITY AND INNOVATION
P
ohanka Nissan of Salisbury is entering a bold new chapter. While the dealership has long been a staple of the Salisbury automotive landscape, a new energy is pulsing through the showroom thanks to the appointment of General Sales Manager Caheim Drake and Sales Manager Shane Leatherbury.
Shaina Hearn and Faye Brobst
POHANKA NISSAN OF SALISBURY
Photography by Jill Jasuta
From left: Finance Manager Chris Hasson, Finance Manager Aaron Justice, Sales Manager Shane Leatherbury and Inventory Manager Blake Hoyt
Innovation on the Lot
The arrival of the 2026 model year has transformed the Pohanka Nissan lot into a showcase of cuttingedge design. Leading the charge is the fully redesigned 2026 Nissan Sentra, which has evolved from a practical compact into a sophisticated sedan featuring premium materials and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen.
Alongside it, the new 2026 Nissan Rogue continues to dominate the SUV segment with its refined turbocharged performance and updated ProPILOT Assist technology. With new models arriving daily, the selection has never been more diverse or exciting.
Nissan Ranks at the Top
Nissan has secured the top spot among mass-market brands in the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, ranking second overall in the industry. The achievement is led by top-performing models like the Sentra and Altima, with the Rogue, Frontier and Pathfinder also earning top-three segment honors. This recognition of Nissan’s successful commitment to enhanced manufacturing and testing solidifies its reputation for reliability and competitive quality in the automotive market.
TOTALLY REDESIGNED
The 2026 Nissan Rock Creek Rogue and Sentra, pictured left, lead their segments in initial quality, offering a blend of sleek redesigns, advanced ProPILOT technology and impressive fuel efficiency for modern, reliable daily driving.
Known as a “deal maker” focused on customer satisfaction and securing trade-ins regardless of vehicle condition, Caheim leads sales efforts at the dealership. He is associated with promoting inventory upgrades, including special “Push Pull Drag” trade-in events.
Shane is a results-driven Account Sales and Relationship Manager recognized for exceptional client engagement and product knowledge. He brings experience as a professional athlete and possesses strong determination, commitment and excellence.
Together, Caheim and Shane produce a forward-thinking approach to leadership, focusing on a “customer-first” philosophy that matches the innovation of the Nissan brand.
A New Way To Drive: The Pohanka Rental Program
Recognizing that the community’s needs extend beyond just purchasing, Pohanka Nissan has launched a premier New Rental Program. Led by Owner and Loyalty Manager Shaina Hearn and Rental Manager Faye Brobst, this program offers a seamless solution for those needing a temporary vehicle without the typical “rental car” hassle.
Whether you are in town for a visit, your personal vehicle is in the shop, or you simply want an extended test drive of the latest technology, Faye and Shaina have made the process effortless. New Nissan rentals are available starting at just $75 per day, providing an affordable way to get behind the wheel of a brand-new vehicle with the same reliability and style that defines the Pohanka name. CS
A Moment in Time
FORMER NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EDITOR AND PROLIFIC PAINTER MEG WALSH CREATES WORKS THAT EMERGE FROM TIME SPENT OUTDOORS, WATCHING LIGHT, SHADOW AND ATMOSPHERE UNFOLD
Written by Kristen Hampshire
Photography by Jill Jasuta
Apattern of light and shadow will stop Meg Walsh in her tracks. Reflections across water, mist lifting off the ground after rain, the layered haze of humidity at sunset—these are the moments that move her from observer to painter.
Now based in Easton, Meg spends her days attuned to the subtle shifts of the Eastern Shore landscape. Deer crossing a field near her home, herons threading through marsh grasses and the nightly theater of Chesapeake Bay sunsets all find their way into her work.
“You walk out your door and it’s right there,” she says of the setting that has shaped her recent paintings. “It’s much easier here to be outside and paint.”
Meg’s work includes landscapes, animals, still lifes and a growing collection of nocturnes inspired by evening skies against water. Many begin the same way: she’s outside, watching how light transforms a subject that might otherwise go unnoticed.
“I love shadows,” she says. “They will hook me every time.”
Painting Her Way
Meg has painted since childhood. At Wake Forest University, where she studied history, a class during her senior year clarified what she already sensed. “This is what I really want to do,” she knew.
Life, however, followed a different path for a time. Meg moved to the Washington, D.C., area and built a 21-year career at National Geographic, eventually working as an editor. Along the way, she kept one foot in the art world, taking evening classes at the Art League School in Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory.
There were pauses and shifts. But by 2000, she was working steadily as an artist, eventually showing in galleries and building a full-time practice.
Portrait commissions—including children and beloved family dogs—once filled much of her schedule. Recently, one of those early connections resurfaced. A woman whose daughters she painted decades ago tracked her down to commission a portrait of her granddaughter.
“It’s amazing how it comes full circle,” Meg says.
THE ARTS coastal
IN THE MOMENT
Meg’s work is born from standing outside and witnessing how a shift in light can completely transform a subject.
In Plein View
Meg has worked with oil paints and pastels, though oil is her primary medium for now. She’s drawn to its handling and the practical ease of framing. Her process often begins outdoors, even if she finishes painting in the studio.
Earlier in her career, Meg participated in plein air festivals and competitions, setting up with easel, paint box and a backpack full of supplies. She loved the camaraderie, but less so the competitive atmosphere. “Painting outside is kind of a sacred space,” she says. “What I really love is being out there.”
These days, she approaches plein air differently.
Rather than aiming to complete a painting on site, she gathers color, light and atmosphere to bring back to the studio. “I get the feel of the place,” she says. “Then I can be more thoughtful about it.”
Her outdoor kit is streamlined yet substantial: a compact paint box attached to a tripod, a limited palette of warm and cool primaries, white, brushes, solvent and the practical extras—hat, sunscreen, bug spray and water. “I look like I’m going camping,” she laughs.
Translation Through Art Meg gravitates toward landscapes, farms and old farmhouses, as well as tractors she paints with affection. “I’m anthropomorphizing,” she says. “They have such fun personalities.” (The connection runs deep; she learned to drive on her grandparents’ farm in South Carolina.)
Wildlife also threads through her work. Deer, egrets and herons appear against fields and water. Night scenes have become another focus, shaped by the sweeping sunset views near her home. “We get a sunset every night. It’s like a show,” she says.
Sometimes the subject is unexpected. One favorite painting began while she waited at a car service shop, watching light bounce across metal, concrete and glass through a large window. Another, titled After the Deluge, grew from a rainsoaked parking lot, where puddles and reflections suggested a landscape once she began translating the scene.
Meg often sets creative constraints,
limiting a painting to three values or working within a complementary color scheme such as orange and blue. “It makes it more fun,” she says. “Not just trying to copy something but translating it.”
Instilling Creative Sensibilities
Meg teaches at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, where she leads introductory oil painting classes and courses on value studies and tonalism. She enjoys the moment when concepts click. “When you see the light go on in someone’s head,” she says, “it opens up a whole new world.”
As for her own work, she resists easy labels.
“I want the freedom to pursue different techniques and subject matter,” she says. Still, one aspect of her work is clear: a devotion to observing the world closely and responding to what she finds.
“I want people to see the world through my eyes,” Meg says. “I hope the excitement I feel about what I’m painting comes through.” CS
Written by Kristen Hampshire
INSTRUMENTAL ARTIST
JULIE BORDEN’S HAND-PAINTED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS ARE PLAYED AROUND THE WORLD AND FOUND ON DISNEY SETS
Her work has appeared in places few artists ever expect to reach: Disney sets, international concert stages, music videos seen millions of times and corporate spaces far beyond the Eastern Shore. Yet at the heart of Julie Borden’s art is something intimate: color, form and the unmistakable pull of music.
From her Delaware studio, Julie creates hand-painted musical instruments— cellos, violins, saxophones, trumpets and more—that are collected, displayed and played around the world.
“I have a lot of personal stories shared with me that are captured in these pieces,” says Julie, who designs works for celebrities, music shops, musicians and others who simply find her and are drawn to her approach.
“It’s about taking their ideas and making them happen,” she relates.
Julie’s expressive, one-of-a-kind painted instruments in vibrant colors showcase technical expertise and whimsical character.
Photography by Jill Jasuta
Some are commissioned by clients looking to commemorate an occasion or memorialize a loved one. Others are instrument collectors or art enthusiasts who appreciate her bold, bright visual language.
Then there are calls from viral musicians with global followings, like The Piano Guys, known for reimagining Disney scores and creating official Disney-collaboration music videos. Julie’s first project with TPG was for a Jungle Book-inspired video filmed among the Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá. The second came with a daunting request: a cello that glows for an Avatar video filmed with UV lighting.
And Julie’s Millsboro gallery is teeming with fine art paintings, posters, prints, home décor and gifts. She personally designs and paints each piece—some small in scale, others expansive and immersive.
Setting the Tempo
Julie’s dynamic artistic journey started early.
“I’ve always been an artist, from when I was little,” says Julie, who went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in painting and illustration, with a minor in ceramics and English literature.
Julie, who listens to a steady stream of movie soundtracks while she works, jokes, “I’m a wannabe screenplay writer.” In a way,
she’s arrived—at least visually—with painted instruments that tell layered, cinematic stories.
Even early on, her creativity extended beyond the canvas. “I used to design and build furniture and paint it,” she recalls.
One project changed the course of her career: a baby grand piano-shaped table surrounded by chairs cut in the silhouettes of musicians. “I was looking at the cello chair and thought, ‘What would happen if I painted a real cello?’” Julie says. She ordered one, painted it and placed it in her gallery window. “And it sold.”
That was more than 20 years ago, and Julie has never stopped painting instruments since.
But, Julie clarifies, she isn’t a musician. “I do not play any instruments,” she says plainly. But music’s reach, she has learned, is universal. “Everyone seems to love music art.”
As commissions followed, new challenges emerged. One client arrived with a trumpet and saxophone. “I said, ‘I haven’t painted horns or woodwinds yet,’” she recalls. “He said, ‘I don’t care. These are going to be your first.’”
She discovered that saxophones are the most complex. “They have about 275 parts,” she says. “I have to wrap each key three times.” Preparation alone takes seven to eight hours, and a full saxophone can take two to three weeks from start to finish.
“It’s a process,” Julie says.
Some commissions are purely aesthetic—art for rooms filled with musical instruments. Others are deeply personal. “I get people who want to tell their story on the instrument,” Julie explains. “Tributes, memorials, gifts for people’s life stories.”
An Evolving Score
Julie’s work continues to expand in movements that unfold in her artistic score. She’s designing art-printed carbon-fiber cellos with Forte3D and recently completed a new cello design for Jodok Vuille, known to millions online as Jodok Cello. She has also watched young musicians grow up with her instruments.
“One of my painted violins is played by Nina Sofie Berghammer,” Julie says. “I’ve watched her grow up playing my instrument all over Europe. I have a lot of pride in that.”
Beyond instruments, Julie sees every surface as possibility. “I can see any surface as a painting,” she says, pointing to murals, puzzles, product designs and wall art.
She also founded an arts festival called Colorscape Chenango more than 30 years ago, an effort her hometown of Norwich, New York, recently honored.
From glowing cellos to dinosaur jazz bands painted on French horns, the themes in Julie’s work are diverse and deeply personal. She says, “I’m honored to capture these stories.” CS
Coloring the Coast
Written by Kristen Hampshire
Photography by Molly Carson
MOLLY CARSON TURNS COASTAL LIFE AND MARINE SCIENCE INTO INTRICATE DESIGNS MADE FOR SLOWING DOWN
For Molly Carson, the coast has always been more than a vacation spot it’s a creative home base.
Her family’s summers began in places like Long Beach Island and Cape May before settling into a rhythm at the Delaware beaches. About a decade ago, that connection deepened when home became Ocean View, a place that continues to shape her art today.
“It’s just always been part of who I am,” Molly says of the ocean.
That lifelong pull toward the water now flows through By the Seaside Coastal Coloring Book: 60 Patterns to Transport You to Your Happy Place (Better Day Books/ Schiffer Books), a skillfully designed collection of black-and-white illustrations that blends marine science, coastal life and a touch of whimsy.
Creative Flow
Molly recently graduated from Penn State, where she studied wildlife and fisheries science with a minor in marine biology. That academic background finds its way into her drawings—from fish and marine life to intricate underwater scenes—adding authenticity to the relaxing, beachy aesthetic.
“I’ve always had a passion for the ocean and marine life,” she says. “A lot of the ocean drawings and fish designs come from what I’ve learned through my major.”
But this isn’t a field guide in disguise. Alongside realistic sea life are mermaids, flowing wave patterns and playful, quotefilled designs that celebrate coastal living.
“I like drawing fantasy and whimsical things,” Molly says. “If I can add that in and balance something scientific with something more imaginative, that’s my favorite.”
Molly began developing coloring book illustrations in high school, when she was drawn to the calming focus of line art. She still starts the same way today: with pencil and paper.
“I don’t like drawing directly on my iPad,” she says. “I sketch everything first in a notebook, then photograph it and trace it into Procreate.”
“I like drawing fantasy
and whimsical
things. If I can add that in and balance something scientific with something more imaginative, that’s my favorite.”
— MOLLY CARSON
During her junior year of college, as coursework intensified, creating the designs became a welcome reset.
“It’s very therapeutic for me,” she says. “It was a nice break from academics to be able to draw.”
This spirit carries through the book’s thoughtful extras: perforated pages, colorplanning worksheets and prompts that encourage readers to reflect on and care for the marine world.
Anchored to the Shore
The project’s path to publication began close to home. Peg Couch is a publisher and founder of Better Day Books, and a neighbor of Molly’s. Peg saw Molly’s illustrations and planted the seed. At the time, Molly had been planning to selfpublish.
Beyond being in the right place, it was the right relationship. “Do you want to work with us?” became an invitation she never imagined possible.
She adds, “But there are always ways to get your art out there. Don’t be afraid to put your work out into the world.”
Now, with a woodland-themed book set to follow and a summer road trip to national parks inspiring future designs, Molly’s creative map continues to expand. But the coast remains the anchor.
“All of the mermaid designs are especially meaningful,” she says. “That’s really where the whole book started.” CS
HIGH CHOLESTEROL? HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
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Your journey to a healthier heart starts here. Call to schedule an appointment.
Publishing a Family Promise
AUTHOR JIM LOVELESS FULFILLS A LIFELONG PLEDGE, TURNING HIS FATHER’S WWII BOMBARDIER EXPERIENCES INTO A STORY OF LEGACY, SURVIVAL AND ADMIRATION
Written by Kristen Hampshire
Photography by Jill Jasuta
Some promises take a lifetime. For Jim Loveless, the vow was given quietly in 1972 on Father’s Day, shortly after he graduated from high school. The gift to his father wasn’t wrapped. It was spoken. He promised his father that his story would never be forgotten.
More than 50 years later, that promise became Avoiding Muddy Foxholes: A Story of an American Bombardier. It’s a deeply personal and meticulously researched account of Jim’s father, Dick Loveless, who flew B-17 bombing missions over Europe during World War II with the Eighth Air Force. He survived being shot down, captured and forced into a brutal winter march across Europe as a prisoner of war.
But this is not just a war story. It is a story of family, memory and the endurance of those who waited at home.
Jim had collected pieces of his dad’s story like nuggets that were offered at opportune times. He reflected on these nuggets during a January trip to Times Square to honor what would have been his father’s 106th birthday, where the weight of the story his father had shared “really hit home.”
All of these accounts are thoughtfully woven into a remarkable history that started with the question: So, you want to be a flyboy?
Collecting Memories
Jim grew up in suburban Maryland in the late 1950s and 1960s like many boys of his era—playing war games in the yard, sketching airplanes, and absorbing the echoes of a global conflict that still lived in living rooms and holiday conversations.
His father didn’t talk much about the war.
“He was a modest man,” Jim says. “He didn’t think it was something anyone would be interested in. But I was.”
To Dick Loveless, surviving bombing runs over Germany, bailing out of a crippled aircraft, and enduring life as a POW weren’t heroic tales. They were simply things that happened. He got through it.
But Jim listened. He gathered stories in snippets: a comment here, a memory there, something his grandmother recalled. As a boy, he would caddy for his father during Saturday golf rounds. The deal was simple: Carry the bag and earn a story.
“Do you want a story?” his father would ask during a 6 a.m. wakeup call for an early tee time.
Over the years, a larger picture took shape.
History Gets Personal
On Sept. 6, 1943, Dick Loveless’s B-17 was shot down over France during a bombing mission.
Ten men had been aboard. Five died when the aircraft crashed near the town of Champigny. Dick survived the bailout but broke his leg on landing near the village of Serbonnes, along the Yonne River.
Local residents took him in and hid him, despite enormous risk. When German forces discovered that the family was sheltering an American airman, Dick insisted on surrendering to protect the family that had saved him.
That decision forged a bond with the Bouchy family that holds strong to this day.
WORDS OF HONOR
Vowing to never to let his father’s remarkable story go untold, Jim not only published his award-winning book, he serves at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines as a storyteller/docent for local school students who visit the memorial.
Every year since 1947, the Serbonnes community has commemorated the events of Sept. 6. A monument honors the crew who were lost.
For Jim, visiting the French town on the 75th anniversary of the crash was a turning point. The story he had grown up with wasn’t just family history. It was part of a living legacy overseas. He became further committed to writing his father’s story.
Delivering on a Mission
Jim had followed family tradition into the electrical contracting field, becoming a third-generation estimator. Writing was a side passion, mostly penning entertaining dog stories for an agility club newsletter.
Then Jim’s father passed away in 2003.
Years later, a sense of urgency to start and complete this passion project settled in the day after Jim retired in 2020. What he thought might be a short project became a two-and-a-half-year journey of research, cross-checking records, and weaving together memories, letters and historical context.
COVID closures complicated access to archives, but when records departments reopened, nearly all of what Jim had pieced together
proved accurate.
“I didn’t want it to read like a history textbook,” he says. “I wanted it to feel like you were there.”
Avoiding Muddy Foxholes describes the combat story, the crash, the POW experience and the harrowing winter march. But it also widens the lens.
Jim incorporates his mother’s perspective, including how a telegram reported her husband missing in action. There were months of uncertainty while she was pregnant, then letters eventually came through via the French underground.
The book combines battlefield and home front.
As for the title, Jim borrowed his father’s words to a recruiter when he chose the Army Air Corps over the infantry. “Why do you want to become a flyboy?” the recruiter asked Dick. “I’m not so fond of muddy foxholes and I hate cold K-rations,” he replied.
Now living in Ocean Pines, Jim shares his father’s story with visiting students at the local Veterans Memorial, bringing history out of textbooks and into lived experience.
The book, he says, was never about awards or sales. “It was a promise,” he says simply. CS
COMPLETE COVERAGE
Rick Foster, Broker/ Owner, manages Engel & Völkers’ premier shops in Annapolis, Ocean City, Washington D.C. and Richmond, delivering elite real estate expertise across the Mid-Atlantic.
Get to Know
Rick Foster
ENGEL & VÖLKERS
Real estate is less about the transaction and more about the trajectory for Rick Foster. As the Broker and License Partner for Engel & Völkers across the Mid-Atlantic—with shops spanning Annapolis, Ocean City, Washington, D.C. and Richmond—Rick has redefined the role of the modern broker by blending high-level financial precision with a deeply personal, local touch.
Rick isn’t your typical real estate executive. An attorney with an LLM in Corporate Tax from NYU, his background in private equity and corporate finance provides his clients with a distinct advantage. Whether navigating the complexities of a luxury waterfront estate or advising on an investment portfolio, Rick’s ability to see the “big picture” is backed by two decades of personal investing and a sharp analytical mind.
“We are big on culture. We look for people who fit our vibe— professionals who act as Advisors rather than just agents. Our role extends far beyond a listing; it’s about empathy, integrity and a concierge level of service.”
— RICK FOSTER
This commitment to excellence was cemented when his Annapolis shop earned the Engel & Völkers Cup, the firm’s highest national accolade for service and productivity. Yet, despite the global reach of the E&V brand, Rick remains “boots on the ground” on the Eastern Shore. Residing in Eastport, he balances the demands of a multicity brokerage with the relaxed simplicities of coastal life. CS
CITY, MD • 410-520-4555
Photo by Dana Marie Photography
DELICIOUS CARROT-THEMED RECIPES DESIGNED TO WELCOME VIBRANT COLORS AND SPRINGTIME FLAVORS TO YOUR KITCHEN TABLE
Carrot Loaf Cake with Pistachio Nuts
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup roasted pistachios, finely ground, plus extra for topping
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
⅛ tsp each ground allspice, nutmeg and ginger
1 cup carrots, finely grated
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup sunflower oil
½ cup plain full fat yogurt, thinned out with 1 tsp milk
1 large egg, room temperature
½ tsp vanilla extract
Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting:
½ cup cream cheese, very soft
⅔ cup heavy whipping cream
3-4 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9x5-inch metal baking pan with parchment paper.
Make the cake batter: Combine flour, granulated sugar, ground pistachios, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices in a medium bowl and whisk to blend evenly. Combine carrots, brown sugar, oil, thinned out yogurt, egg and vanilla in another medium bowl and whisk until combined. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet mixture. Fold until evenly combined. Spread evenly into the pan and bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Make the frosting: Beat soft cream cheese in a large bowl using an electric hand mixer until very smooth. Add 2 Tbsp of cream and beat until there are no lumps. Then gradually add remaining cream a few tablespoons at a time and beat well between additions until it forms soft peaks. Gradually beat in sugar 1 Tbsp at a time until it is thickened to a spreadable consistency, then mix in lemon juice and vanilla extract. Spread the frosting over the cooled cake and then top with more crushed and chopped pistachios before serving. The frosting will be soft at first, but it will thicken as it sets and after it is refrigerated.
Roasted Carrot and Beetroot Quiche with Feta Cheese
For the Roasted Vegetables
1 cup beets, peeled and cut into wedges
2½ cups carrots, cut into chunks
¼ cup red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
For the Quiche Crust and Filling
1 x 9.5 oz package fresh store-bought quiche/pie crust (12.5-inch diameter) or homemade crust
1 cup milk (your choice)
4 large eggs
1/4 tsp sea salt or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced 11/4 cup Feta cheese, cubed or crumbled
Instructions
Preheat to 400ºF and grease your pie dish with a nonstick spray.
Roast the Vegetables:
In a small bowl, mix together the red wine vinegar, sugar and olive oil. Place the beetroot and carrots in a medium roasting pan, pour over the dressing and toss until evenly coated. Season lightly with salt and pepper and spread in a even layer without crowding.
Roast for 35-40 minutes, or until soft, tossing once halfway through. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Prebake the Crust:
Press dough into the pie/quiche form and poke several holes in the crust with a fork. Line the crust with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
Transfer to the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the weights and parchment paper, and bake for 5 more minutes.
Reduce the oven heat to 350°F.
Layer the Quiche:
Arrange the roasted vegetable mixture in an even layer in the prebaked pie crust and sprinkle evenly with the red onion and the crumbled feta cheese.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper until combined, then pour the mixture evenly over the roasted vegetables and cheese.
Transfer to the oven and bake until the crust is golden brown and filling set, about 35-40 minutes.
Serve warm or at room temperature, garnished with micro greens, if desired.
Carrot and Zucchini Salad with Asian Dressing
Ingredients
1 zucchini
1 large carrot
1 seedless cucumber
1 clove garlic, minced
1 red pepper
½ tsp ground turmeric
1 Tbsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Spiralize zucchini, carrot and cucumber or peel and cut veggies into ribbons. Add sliced red pepper and garlic.
In a small bowl, whisk together turmeric, sesame oil and vinegar. Season the dressing with salt and pepper to taste. Toss with veggie noodles and serve.
Carrot Soup with Coconut Milk & Ginger
Ingredients
2 Tbsp olive oil or coconut oil
1 lb carrots, peeled and sliced into ⅛-inch thick disks
3 stalks celery chopped
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
4 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp kosher salt
4 cups vegetable broth
1⅓ cups russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 Tbsp brown sugar, packed
½ cup coconut milk
2 Tbsp Thai green curry paste
1 Tbsp lime juice
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large pot, such as a Dutch oven, over medium heat.
Add the carrots, celery, onion, ginger, garlic and salt and toss to coat. Sauté until the vegetables slightly soften, about 10 minutes.
Pour in the stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the potatoes and simmer for another 5 minutes or until ingredients are tender.
Pour the soup into a blender (in batches, if necessary) and puree until completely smooth. Pour back into the pot and stir in the brown sugar, coconut milk, green curry paste and lime juice. Serve hot.
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Carrot and Zucchini
Ingredients
11/2 lbs zucchini, shredded
Fritters
1 large carrot, shredded 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp onion powder
Instructions
Combine shredded carrot and zucchini in a bowl and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Stir to combine. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes. Next, with your hands, squeeze out as much liquid as you can over the sink. Return to the bowl. Add the remaining ingredients to bowl with carrot and zucchini and stir to combine.
Over medium-high heat, heat a large skillet with 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil until oil begins to shimmer. Spoon a heaping Tbsp into the pan for each fritter and flatten with the back of the spoon. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan.
Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until bottoms are golden brown and carefully flip. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, then remove to a paper towel lined plate or paper towel lined baking sheet.
Sprinkle with a little more salt, if desired, and repeat the process with the remaining batter. Allow to cool briefly, then serve and enjoy.
Carrot-Orange
Smoothie with Walnuts
Ingredients
4 carrots
2 oranges
2 bananas
2 oz walnut halves
4 tsp chia seeds
2 cups milk of choice
1 tsp cinnamon
4 tsp honey (optional)
Parchment paper
Instructions
Peel and segment 2 oranges, then peel and quarter 2 bananas. Place on parchment-lined sheet pan and freeze for 1 hour.
Remove the oranges and bananas from the freezer and place the following in a quart-sized freezer bag: ½ orange, ½ banana (2 segments).
Repeat 3 times.
Place the bags in the freezer, laying each flat in single layers to keep ingredients from sticking to each other. Wait one additional hour before using first smoothie bag.
In a blender, add the following: 1 smoothie bag, 1 carrot (2-3 segments), ½ oz (7) walnuts, 1 tsp chia seeds, ½ cup milk of choice, ¼ tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp honey (optional).
Blend until smooth. Add water as needed for consistency. CS
Delaware
Laurel
30549 Sussex Highway Laurel, DE 19956
Seaford
8472 Herring Run Road Seaford, DE 19973
Maryland
Cambridge
300 Sunburst Highway Cambridge, MD 21613
Easton 8163 Ocean Gateway Easton, MD 21601
North Salisbury 2425 N. Salisbury Blvd. Salisbury, MD 21801
Ocean City 1001 Philadelphia Ave. Ocean City, MD 21842
Our urgent care teams are open seven days a week to help you feel better faster, with convenient options to walk in or reserve your spot online.
Walk in or reserve online.
tidalhealth.org/getcarenow
Pocomoke City 1511 Ocean Highway Pocomoke City, MD 21851
South Salisbury 1135 S. Salisbury Blvd. Salisbury, MD 21801
Finding balance on the road and at the bedside
By Shawn Yonker
Contributing Writer
Doctors Salahuddin Siddiqui, MD, FACP, and Mohammed Saad, MD, took different paths to TidalHealth, but have found themselves traveling a common road both inside and outside of the health system.
Siddiqui, the TidalHealth Hematology & Medical Oncology Fellowship program director, and Saad, who is a core faculty member in the same graduate medical education (GME) program, each have a passion for teaching but have also connected over a shared enjoyment of road cycling and the benefits to mind and body.
“Any sport requires pushing through and remaining focused and balanced, and I think cycling is the best example,” Saad said. “Sometimes there are rough conditions. In clinical situations, sometimes there are rough days. In medicine, we are professionals and deal with humans and human emotions and the human condition in general. You have no choice but to remain balanced, composed, ethical and humanistic.”
While they have pledged to help prepare a growing group of residents and fellows for the challenges of careers in medicine, they also
provide an example of what connection to colleagues and the community can do to help provide balance in a field full of mental and emotional challenges.
“We cannot tell people not to be empathetic and just become cold,” Dr. Siddiqui said. “You have to take care of yourself to be able to take care of the patients. I make sure to talk to the fellows about wellness. I think wellness is about finding something that makes you passionate outside of work and following through on that.”
After attending medical school in his home country of India, completing his residency in Pittsburgh, and his fellowship in Lexington, Kentucky, it was working in Indiana where Dr. Siddiqui rediscovered cycling and developed his passion.
While growing up in a lower middleclass family, he had always used a bicycle as his major mode of transportation. So, when he had the means and opportunity, he bought a nice bike and began exploring trails like the Cardinal Greenway, a 62mile rail trail which is the longest in Indiana.
He chose to join TidalHealth because he knew there was an opportunity to help guide the growth and development of the emergent GME program.
In his first few months on the Shore, he missed the trails of Indiana but found he was able to ride the roads in West Salisbury and Hebron in the evenings after work. He also began making connections with others who he drew to the sport, including Dr. Saad.
Before accepting his current role, Dr. Saad graduated from medical school in Lebanon, where he first began cycling. He had also completed his residency in Baltimore and then a pair of fellowships in North Carolina.
He was drawn to TidalHealth by the role’s focus on community oncology and teaching, and by the chance to return to his “home state” of Maryland, where he first immigrated to the U.S. Ultimately, it was the people he met who made the decision easy.
“At the end of the interview, I knew that this was the place,” Dr. Saad said.
Dr. Saad describes Dr. Siddiqui as sort of a Pied Piper of cycling who has convinced several colleagues to purchase bikes and begin riding, so it wasn't long before the two began after-work rides where they were able to talk about anything from teaching to nature to nothing at all.
Both registered for the Sea Gull Century this past year, but after a family issue prevented Dr. Saad from competing, Dr. Siddiqui completed the 100-mile race alone and has vowed to push his friend to complete it with him in the upcoming year.
“I think one of the signs that we have a healthy culture in medical education is that we like hanging out with our colleagues after work and the same thing goes for the fellows as well as other people,” Dr. Siddiqui said. “I have always believed that fancy buildings and fancy things don't make a place. What makes a
place is the people inside and what you provide for the patient and how you interact.”
Winter has brought their rides to a temporary halt, but as spring comes around, Dr. Saad plans to sometimes end his commute back to Salisbury from the TidalHealth Allen Cancer Center in Seaford, Delaware, at Dr. Siddiqui’s house, where their bikes are stored together in the garage, waiting to get back on the road.
“I think the thing about these kinds of activities is not just about what they are for Salah and I,” Dr. Saad said.
“We hope to get engagement from the fellows and other clinic staff as a way to bond and decompress out of work. So, I think as the program grows, we are hoping we become the nucleus of something bigger within the program like a Hematology & Oncology cycling club that can grow beyond us.”
Two trusted teams have come together with one focus: to care for this community, today and for years to come.
By joining forces, we’re bringing more resources, more coordinated care, and more ways to access the services you need, close to home. That means a stronger network of practitioners, more connected medical records and smoother transitions between offices, specialists and hospital care.
What won’t change: the people you count on, the compassionate care you expect and our commitment to treat every patient like family.
tidalhealth.org/bettertogether
Take these steps to stop smoking
By Michael R. Atkins, MD
TidalHealth
Primary Care
Even if you’ve smoked tobacco for many years, there are major benefits to stopping. Cigarettes contain more than 7,000 chemicals, and smokers are at risk for numerous health problems.
Those who quit before age 40 reduce their excess risk of cancer-related death by 90 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.
And it’s not just lung cancer — smokers are also at risk of many other types of cancer, such as cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, pancreas, stomach, liver, cervix, colon and rectum, the American Cancer Society says. Among the additional health concerns are heart attack and stroke.
If you’re ready to stop smoking, follow these steps.
Set a quit date.
Important dates are planned in advance — for example, a wedding or a house closing date. Pick a date to quit and make sure you stick to it.
Quit with a friend.
If your friend or loved one smokes — especially if you live in the same house — it can help to quit together and motivate each other.
Taper down on nicotine.
Once you choose your quit date, make a schedule of how to taper the amount of nicotine you’re using. For example, if you currently smoke a pack of 20 cigarettes a day, move down to 15, before decreasing that number further.
Use medication
Medication can be extremely helpful to stop smoking. It won’t do the work for you — you must commit to quit — but medication makes quitting easier and more successful. Talk to a healthcare practitioner to see what the best fit for you is, which may be a combination of medications. There are nicotine replacement therapies like nicotine gums, patches, lozenges, inhalers and nasal sprays; antidepressants like Wellbutrin and Zyban (bupropion); and Chantix (varenicline). Wellbutrin, Zyban and Chantix are all prescription medications.
Because it’s common for smokers to use smoking as a coping strategy, it’s important to have another coping strategy in place — something that is not an intoxicating substance. It’s also helpful to talk to a therapist as part of this process.
Once you stop smoking, your body starts reaping the benefits almost right away and only continues to improve over a lifetime as an exsmoker.
These tips can also be used to stop vaping, and for those who vape, there are ways to taper down the amount of nicotine in the liquid.
If you’re looking to stop smoking, vaping or using tobacco, Dr. Atkins can help. Board-certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine, he cares for patients at TidalHealth Primary Care in Crisfield. To schedule an appointment, visit tidalhealth.org.
The latest edition of HealthFocus is here
A fresh look at the people and progress shaping care across our region. We
In this edition, you’ll find inspiring stories, helpful health information and highlights from across TidalHealth. From new ways we’re supporting patients to behind-thescenes efforts that strengthen care close to home, this issue reflects the work happening every day to serve our communities.
Read the full issue: Scan the QR code or visit tidalhealth.org/healthfocus.
talk about what you Google at 2 am
Some health questions don’t make it into a conversation; they make it into a search bar. Dr. Taboo is where those late-night questions get real, clear answers.
In each episode, TidalHealth’s Dr. Chris Snyder breaks down the stuff you’re curious about but don’t always say out loud. Expect straight talk, practical takeaways and a better read on what’s probably nothing, what’s worth watching and when it’s time to call your doctor.
To tune in, scan the QR code or visit getwelldelmarva.com/taboo
Important note: This podcast is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have symptoms or concerns, always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 right away.
TidalHealth's Dr. Chris Snyder tackles some of your most pressing health questions on Get Well Delmarva's weekly podcast, Dr. Taboo.
Join TidalHealth for Walk with a Doc
Walk with us
Learn about a health topic, get some exercise and make new friends during Walk with a Doc, held monthly in Salisbury and Ocean Pines.
The Walk with a Doc nonprofit has been around for the past 20 years, and associated walks are held across the country. It’s free to participate, and all are welcome.
During these events, a practitioner shares information on a current health topic before leading the group on a walk for the rest of the hour.
The Salisbury events are held on the first Saturday of each month at 10 am from Unity Square, while the Ocean Pines events are held on the third Saturday of the month at 9 am at the South Gate Pond.
The first Salisbury walk was held in September 2025, when TidalHealth Peninsula Regional partnered with the Walk with a Doc nonprofit and Downtown Salisbury to host these events.
“Walk with a Doc is the perfect way to combine exercise and education – while also enjoying fun with other community members,” said Bobbi McDonald, community health educator at TidalHealth.
TidalHealth Atlantic has hosted these walks year after year.
“We encourage everyone to come out to learn something new, get to know your local healthcare practitioners and enjoy the outdoors,” said Kaylee Hanway, who also works in the community wellness field for TidalHealth.
The Salisbury event is part of REACH — Rural Equity and Access to Community Health, which involves a coalition of partners working together to improve health outcomes in our community. REACH is part of the Health Equity Resource Communities Grant that TidalHealth received from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission.
Below are a few upcoming Walk with a Doc dates. Walks may be canceled due to weather conditions.
Ocean Pines
Unity Square, 100 Circle Ave, Salisbury
• 10 am March 7: Susan Cottongim, RD, will discuss nutrition for National Nutrition Month.
South Gate Pond, right inside the South Gate of Ocean Pines
• 9 am March 21: Katie Dorsch, RD, will discuss nutrition for National Nutrition Month.
• 9 am April 18: Patti Stevens, chair of the Worcester County Bike and Pedestrian Coalition and appointee to Maryland’s Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, will talk about progress and efforts relating to awareness and safety for non-vehicle transportation, like cyclists and pedestrians.
Salisbury
At TidalHealth, we begin with medical weight management — a safe, effective, physician-guided program designed around you. Led by Dr. Sandra Palavecino, our team helps you find the right tools, medications and lifestyle changes to support real, sustainable results.
And if you ever need more advanced options, you’re already in the right hands.
Small steps lead to big changes. Start your journey with medical weight loss at TidalHealth.
H+G
for Built for
Milestone Milestone Moments Moments Built
A FAMILY-FOCUSED VISION, SEAMLESS INDOOR-OUTDOOR FLOW AND THOUGHTFUL COLLABORATION SHAPE THIS WATERFRONT RETREAT
Written by Kristen Hampshire | Photography by Svetlana Leahy Photography
They’d owned in the area before. They knew the rhythm of the community, the waterways, the ease of weekends by the Shore. But this time, Chris and Melanie Carroll weren’t just looking for another beach house—they were thinking ahead.
“We started talking about what we really wanted long-term,” Chris says. “We wanted a home base—a place for family, for holidays, for future grandkids.”
The Carrolls purchased a waterfront lot in Bay Point Plantation near Ocean Pines and, like so many builders in recent years, began with a plan but ended up pausing. When COVID hit, the project was put on hold, giving the Carrolls time to reconsider how they truly wanted to live in the space. What emerged was a clearer vision: connection, flexibility and easy movement between indoors and out.
Working with owner and builder Justin White of Live Oak Home Builders and architect Daniele Haley, the couple reshaped the design from the ground up. “Daniele helped take what were basically boxes on paper and turn them into the right spaces,” Chris says. “And Justin was the quarterback who made it all come together.”
One-Level Living
A major shift came in how the home would function day to day. Rather than stacking key spaces on multiple floors, Daniele redesigned the layout so the kitchen, living room, primary suite and pool all sit on one elevated level.
“We wanted to live on one plane,” Melanie says. “When we’re here, we’re here to relax, to be together and to be outside as much as possible.”
Retractable glass panels in the living room—hurricane-rated and engineered to pocket fully into the wall—open the main gathering spaces to a covered, screened lanai and the waterside pool beyond. Tracks are in place to add glass in the future if desired, giving the space long-term flexibility.
“You can have the doors wide open and feel like you’re outside, or close things up and still have all that light,” Melanie says. “It works year-round.”
THE MORE THE MERRIER
A seamless flow from inside to out allows Chris and Melanie to entertain family and friends comfortably.
“We wanted to live on one plane. When we’re here, we’re here to relax, to be together and to be outside as much as possible.”
– MELANIE CARROLL HOMEOWNER
The result is a home designed to handle a crowd without ever feeling crowded.
“We wanted to be able to have larger gatherings and still feel comfortable,” Chris adds. “You can spread out, but you’re still connected.”
Purposeful Choices
Inside, the Carrolls leaned into a palette that feels open and bright without going stark. Wide-plank LVP flooring runs throughout the main spaces; it was chosen for durability and ease with entertaining in mind.
In the kitchen, countertops continue seamlessly up the wall as a backsplash, creating a clean, uninterrupted surface. The island, finished in a deep Parisian Blue, is treated as a piece of furniture, grounded by a warm wood base that echoes tones used in the home’s catwalk and banisters.
Melanie worked closely with Gail Lednum of Creative Concepts to deliver the design throughout the home. From lighting selections that add sculptural interest overhead to furniture and accents, no details were overlooked.
In the lanai kitchen space, details include vertical-set glass subway tile in soft blue tones that subtly reinforce the home’s coastal setting.
Beyond this indoor-outdoor entertaining space, the pool deck features Italian porcelain pavers with a mitered edge detail that creates a refined transition into the water.
A specialty micro-thin drain, a detail Chris had his eye on, was integrated through close coordination between Live Oak and the pool team.
“These weren’t always off-the-shelf choices,” Justin says. “Our job is to make ideas work, and they were very thoughtful about what they wanted.”
Successful Collaboration
From framing to finishes, the Carrolls credit the team’s communication and collaboration for the project’s success.
This cooperative spirit extended to specialty vendors and subcontractors, from custom cabinetry and closet builders to the window and glass team responsible for the expansive panels. Engineering behind the scenes—including steel supports and hurricane-rated systems—ensures the home performs as robustly as it looks.
ROOM TO GROW
The Carroll home on Turville Creek was designed with large gatherings in mind— holiday entertaining, hosting family and friends and special celebrations.
For Justin, the project stands out for its balance. “It’s a lower-profile home, but it feels expansive because of how it’s laid out and how it connects to the outdoors,” he says. “Every decision supported how they actually live.”
And now, the home is already fulfilling the role the Carrolls envisioned. They’ve hosted holidays, family and friends and a recent baby shower as they await the arrival of their first grandchild.
Mornings bring views over Turville Creek, wildlife sightings—including bald eagles—and easy access to boating and the beach. The home is a relaxing retreat and an easy drive from Montgomery County, making long weekends part of the family’s routine.
“This is our base,” Melanie says. “It’s where everyone can come together.”
Chris agrees. “We’ve built before,” he says. “But this is the one that really feels like it fits our life.” CS
Rooted in Rehoboth
Written by Kristen Hampshire | Photography by Krista Valliant Architectural & Design
THIS BAYFRONT RESIDENCE BLENDS LAYERED DESIGN, NATURAL TEXTURE AND INVITING SPACES TO FOSTER COMFORT AND LASTING CONNECTIONS
Photography
Leslie and Rob Strittmatter thought they were settled. Their home on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach was everything they had planned— thoughtfully designed, expertly finished and exactly where they expected to stay. “We loved that house. It was a jewel,” Leslie says. “Everything I had ever wanted was in it.”
But timing, and life, shifted. Rob retired and their long-term plan to spend more time at the beach began to take shape. Then, quite unexpectedly, an opportunity surfaced: a rare waterfront lot on Rehoboth Bay, just a few homes from the country club. It never officially hit the market.
“We got lucky,” Leslie says. “There’s so little waterfront left. When this came along, we knew this was it—the forever, forever house.”
Designed for Connection
The Strittmatters approached the project as an evolution. They wanted a space designed around family, gathering and the freedom to entertain effortlessly.
With four adult children, five bedrooms were essential, but the heart of the home centers on shared living. The kitchen, family room and Rob’s adjoining lounge— affectionately called “the basement,” though it sits fully above grade—function as interconnected spaces meant to keep conversation flowing.
“He wanted his own spot, but still connected,” Leslie says. “When we entertain, everyone is together without feeling on top of each other.”
That philosophy extends outdoors, where layered gathering zones surround a Carter Aquatics pool: a sun shelf lined with umbrellas, intimate seating areas and a fire pit positioned for evening conversation. Conway Bristow and Jerry Dougherty designed the landscape to feel less like a backyard and more like a sequence of outdoor rooms.
“When we had an open house for the neighborhood, we had more than 100 people here,” Leslie says. “The house just absorbed everyone. That’s exactly what we wanted.”
PERFECT PARTNERSHIP
The Strittmatters have utilized the interior design services of reIMAGINATION Design on four different occasions, which allows for a true understanding of philosophies, styles and aesthetic preferences.
Texture and Tone
Working alongside interior designers Lucille Cavan and Lauri Chastain—collaborators
Leslie had partnered with previously—the interiors became an exercise in balance: layered but restrained, expressive yet calm.
“This is the fourth home we’ve done together,” says Lucille, CEO and principal designer at reIMAGINATION Design in Millsboro. “We understand each other. There’s a shared sensitivity that allows ideas to evolve naturally.”
Leslie describes her aesthetic as eclectic, unexpected and deeply tied to materials.
“I love pattern, color and texture,” she says. “But I didn’t want anything loud. I wanted it muted—a retreat.”
Natural materials anchor the palette: woven lighting, warm wood, organic textures and Thibaut fabrics in soft blue-gray tones with hints of coral throughout the home. Much of the furniture was reupholstered or repurposed, blending new pieces with those the couple already loved.
“It’s a mixture of history and newness,” Lucille says. “Nothing feels placed just for the sake of it.”
Art plays an equally important role. Paintings by Leslie’s late grandmother, an artist and interior designer, are displayed alongside commissioned works, ensuring that every wall tells a story.
“There’s nothing here that doesn’t mean something to us,” Leslie says.
Decisions That Define
If there’s a theme that defines the Strittmatter home, it is intentionality. Leslie selected nearly every finish herself, from hardware to tile to lighting, often spending hours refining choices that might go unnoticed at
“When we had an open house for the neighborhood, we had more than 100 people here. The house just absorbed everyone. That’s exactly what we wanted.”
– LESLIE STRITTMATTER HOMEOWNER
first glance but collectively shape the experience of the space.
“I picked every knob,” she says, laughing. “Hardware was the hardest decision.”
Custom cabinetry by Atlantic Millwork & Cabinetry introduces furniture-like elements into the kitchen, including walnutaccented details designed to echo the shape of nearby tilework. Each bathroom was uniquely composed with detailed mosaic installations that required months of meticulous craftsmanship by installers. Even the pool’s waterfall was treated like an art installation. Each tile was handarranged over two days to create variation in tone and movement.
“We turned them over, rearranged them, studied every piece,” Leslie says. “It had to feel right.”
Lighting selections from Visual Comfort and Palecek were chosen to complement and never compete with the home’s expansive views of the bay. Many fixtures incorporate woven fibers, Capiz shell or beaded elements, reinforcing the tactile language of the interiors.
“We wanted warmth,” Lucille explains. “Lighting that felt organic and beautiful but didn’t take away from the landscape.”
A Sense of Place
Architecturally, the Strittmatters resisted trends that felt disconnected from Rehoboth’s character. While initially tempted by a more modern, glassforward aesthetic, they ultimately leaned into a design reminiscent of Nantucket and the Hamptons that combines timeless forms with coastal familiarity.
“Rehoboth is a classic beach town,” Leslie relates. “We wanted the house to belong here.”
Round windows, custom mullion details and a carefully composed front elevation reinforce that connection, while the rear of the home opens fully to the water—a daily backdrop for boating, wildlife sightings and family visits.
Built by CRx, the approximately 4,500-square-foot home balances architectural presence with livability, on a scale designed to host grandchildren, holidays and spontaneous weekends.
For Leslie, the most rewarding moment came not during construction, but afterward, seeing the many individual decisions finally coming together.
“You’re choosing everything in isolation and hoping it works,” she says. “Lucille and Lauri helped make sure it all flowed. They kept it cohesive but still unexpected.”
Lucille sees the result as a house that feels both elevated and entirely at ease.
“It’s stylish, but completely livable,” she says. “It’s built for relaxed mornings, easy gatherings and time enjoying the view.”
CS
Laps of Luxury
A DEEP DIVE IN DESIGN DEFINES THIS CARTER AQUATICS COCKTAIL-STYLE POOL BUILT FOR GATHERING, COMFORT AND VIEWS
Written by Kristen Hampshire | Photography by Krista Valliant Architectural & Design Photography
SOAKING IN THE SCENERY
To ensure the pool didn’t compete with the panoramic waterfront, designer Kathleen Mahon used sandblasted Pera Cream marble and an interior finish of Luna Quartz by WetEdge Technologies, finished in its St. Maarten color—selected to mimic the property’s natural surroundings.
When the Strittmatters first began envisioning a pool for their Delaware home, they knew they wanted something that felt refined, relaxed and deeply connected to the landscape— nothing that competed with the view. What they created with Carter Aquatics is a layered, detail-driven backyard retreat where materials, light and water quietly do the talking. “This one is special,” says Kathleen Mahon, owner and lead designer at Carter Aquatics in Lewes. “It’s understated, but everything about it is intentional.”
Rather than a traditional deep pool, the design centers on a cocktail-style layout, with water between 3.6-4.6-feet deep.
REFINED RELAXATION
Designed for gathering, this cocktail-style pool ranges from 3.6-4.6-feet deep, creating an intimate environment for guests to relax.
A generous sun shelf—holding about eight inches of water—creates a place to sit, cool off and linger.
“It’s more of a lounge pool and a space to relax and be together,” relates Kathleen, whose experience blends formal training in industrial design with hands-on pool construction. Carter Aquatics specializes in custom concrete pools and renovations, delivering projects that are designed with close attention to site conditions, material choices and how homeowners plan to use the space.
This was exactly the case at the Strittmatter property.
Originally, the plan included both a pool and spa, but as the homeowners’ vision evolved alongside landscape plans, the focus shifted. A walkway element that bridged spaces in early designs became a defining feature, leading to a layout that feels integrated.
With every client, landing on a final design happens through conversation, collaboration
and edits. Kathleen says, “Custom features and quality are always at the forefront.”
Waterfront Forward
This project called for color and texture that complement the environment and water views. There was no room for competition.
The pool’s interior finish is Luna Quartz by WetEdge Technologies, finished in its St. Maarten color—selected for its soft, natural hue. “It’s a perfect match for our natural water here,” Kathleen says, noting a focus on blending in rather than creating a punchy statement feel.
Steppingstones and coping are sandblasted marble in Pera Cream, a choice driven as much by performance as by aesthetics. Marble stays cooler underfoot in full sun, and the sandblasted finish provides traction when surfaces are wet.
“It’s not a stark white,” Kathleen describes of the overall finish. “It’s softer, more in line with the overall palette.”
Your Health & Wellness Headquarters
SUPPLEMENTS, ORGANIC GROCERY
Piece by Piece
The project’s “big moment” is surely its raised wall, where three LED-lit waterfalls spill water into the pool. Behind them, hand-selected tile creates a mosaic.
The tile, from a line called WOW, arrives randomly packed—no two boxes are the same. For this installation, Kathleen and Leslie Strittmatter unpacked, sorted and laid out 135 individual pieces by hand.
“You don’t know what you’re getting,” Kathleen says. “We opened every box, grouped similar pieces and laid them out like a giant puzzle.”
They spent hours arranging and rearranging the composition to balance tones of blue, gray and subtle gold accents. The result is textured and layered, but not busy.
“It’s a focal point, but it’s not in your face,” she says. “It’s all in the details.”
Smart and Seamless
Lighting in the waterfalls syncs with the pool’s LED system, all controlled by smartphone. Path lighting along the walkway extends the design’s glow into the surrounding landscape.
But for Kathleen, the true highlight was the collaboration.
“We work closely with all of our clients,” she says. “But this one felt like being back in art school—laying everything out, adjusting, refining. It was really rewarding and the client’s involvement made the project really stand out.” CS
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In Search of Spring
Photo and description by Jill Jasuta
More than 16 years ago, I planted an ornamental cherry in my front yard. Long before the dogwoods stir or the maples leaf out, this tree unfurls its soft pink blossoms and declares that winter is finished, whether winter agrees or not.
In the early days, I photographed the
blossoms with a modest point-and-shoot camera, because that’s all I had. But after my photography epiphany came the “big camera”—and the experiments in snow, rain, fog and afternoon sun. Some springs I teetered on a ladder while chasing tight buds; others, I was flat on my belly, capturing the confetti of petals scattered across my
brick walk. As my skills grew, I began waiting for the bees. Standing beneath the tree’s branches, I would feel the air thrum with the wingbeats of hundreds of bees.
The blossoms are dainty, yes, but brave— opening wide to a world still shrugging off its chill, offering sweetness to anything willing to hover and gather. CS
Lawrence Michnick, DDS
Christopher Takacs, DMD
Kristen Mazzei, DMD
